CONSTITUTION OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT CAMPAIGN FOR RACE EQUALITY
As adopted by a resolution of the Annual General Meeting held on 9 June 2018
Preamble:
The Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality embraces the Liberal Democrats' aim to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, seeking to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity, upholding values of individual and social justice, rejecting all prejudice and discrimination based upon race, colour, religion, age, disability, sex or sexual orientation, and opposing all forms of entrenched privilege and inequality. In particular we are dedicated to the elimination of racial inequality.
We recognise that the long shadow of our country's colonial past continues to be cast over the centuries-old struggle for race equality, and that real integration within our society has yet to be achieved. Too many of those in positions of power and influence, no matter how great or insignificant, fail to recognise that our society has yet to reach the point where positive action is no longer required, nor recognise their own responsibility to work to bring this about.
Race discrimination continues to blight Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and individuals, within education, health, housing, criminal justice, government, politics, the arts and media, and in the world of work.
We accept the definition of institutional racism as defined by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry as "the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantages ethnic people."
We therefore seek changes in society to bring an end to racism in all its forms, working in partnership with like-minded organisations and harnessing the ideals and determination of our Party, to achieve the equal right of BAME individuals to live their lives free from discrimination, and to break out of the straitjacket of stereotype so often imposed by the majority.
In this way economic, political, social and community life will be enriched and enhanced by the achievement of real diversity, and will shine a light to fade the long shadow of colonialism and racism.
1 TITLE
1.1 The group shall be known as the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality, hereinafter referred to as "LDCRE".
LDCRE shall be the successor to Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats.
2 AIMS
2.1 LDCRE shall seek to achieve the objects set forth in the preamble to this Constitution. In order to achieve such objects LDCRE shall:
2.1.1 Assist the party in recruiting BAME members and encouraging and assisting their greater involvement in the political processes and campaigns of the party, including representation at every level.
2.1.2 To act as a forum for black, Asian and Minority Ethnic members, and all those wishing to campaign for race equality, within the party and to contribute towards party policy.
2.1.3 Pursue policies of equal opportunities for all and seek positive action to bring about equal opportunities for BAME members of the Liberal Democrats.
2.1.4 Campaign within the public arena to combat racism and promote race equality and be a public voice on race equality issues
2.1.5 Campaign for increased representation of BAME members in Parliament, UK members of the European Parliament, MSPs and AMs, members of local government and other elected public authorities; nominate candidates to appointed bodies.
2.1.6 Promote the party within minority ethnic communities
2.1.7 Undertake all such activities and do all such things as the Executive deems necessary in pursuit of these Aims and Objects.
2.2 LDCRE shall maintain its status as a Specified Associated Organisation in accordance with the Constitution of the Party.
3 MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership shall be open to any current member of the Party, provided that they subscribe to the group's stated aims, on payment of the prescribed annual subscription.
3.2 If a Member does not renew their annual subscription within 3 months of the subscription becoming due, or if they cease to be a member of the Party, their Membership shall cease.
3.3 Members must treat others with respect and must not bully, harass or intimidate any Party member, member of Party staff, member of Parliamentary staff, Party volunteer or member of the public. Such behaviour will be considered to be bringing the group into disrepute.
4 DIVERSITY
4.1 LDCRE rejects all prejudice and discrimination based upon race, colour, religion or belief, age, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation and opposes all forms of entrenched privilege and inequality.
4.2 LDCRE welcomes and encourages diversity within its Membership and in its governing bodies, and seeks to be inclusive in all its activities.
5 AFFILIATIONS
5.1 LDCRE shall seek and maintain the status of a Specified Associated Organisation within the Party.
5.2 LDCRE may also affiliate to other organisations within the Party, and to external organisations that further the aims of the group.
6 GOVERNANCE
6.1 The governance of LDCRE shall lie with its Membership through General Meetings; between General Meetings, and subject to the decisions of those meetings, the general and financial business of the group shall be controlled and carried on by the Executive Committee.
6.2 Only Members who are current Members at the date when a General Meeting is called shall be eligible to vote, or to stand for election, at that General Meeting.
6.3 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of LDCRE shall be held each year between 1st September and 30th November at a date and venue determined by the Executive Committee.
6.4 The AGM shall also be called if a written requisition, signed by at least one current Member, is received by the Chair or Secretary and an AGM has not been held during or since the preceding calendar year.
6.5 The business of the AGM shall include
6.5.1 The receipt of reports from the Executive Committee;
6.5.2 Consideration for approval of the examined annual accounts for the preceding year;
6.5.3 Determination of the annual subscription for the following year;
6.5.4 Acceptance and close of nominations for the election of Officers and Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee;
6.5.5 The appointment of an examiner of the group's accounts for the following year;
6.5.6 Discussion of the activities of the group.
6.6 Notice of the AGM, together with copies of the proposed agenda, minutes of the previous AGM, examined accounts for the preceding year and requests for nominations for all Executive Committee places, shall be sent to all Members, including any Members who cannot be reached electronically, at least twenty-one days before the date of the meeting.
6.7 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by the Executive Committee, and shall be called if a written requisition, signed by at least twenty Members or one quarter of the current Membership (whichever is less), is received by the Chair or Secretary.
6.8 Notice of the EGM shall be sent to all Members, including any Members who cannot be reached electronically, at least twenty-one days in advance of the meeting, and shall specify the reason or reasons for which the meeting is being called and the precise business to be transacted, which shall be the only business of that meeting. Members unable to attend shall be encouraged to advise the Secretary of their views on the matter to be considered.
6.9 Voting at an AGM or EGM shall be by a simple majority of those Members present and voting, except where otherwise stated by this Constitution. In the event of a tie on a simple majority vote, the Chairman shall have a second, casting vote.
6.10 The Secretary, or other person specially appointed by the Committee, shall keep minutes of proceedings at every general meeting.
7 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7.1 The Executive Committee (the Committee) shall comprise the following elected Officers: Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary; together with five elected Ordinary Members of the Committee.
7.2 Any Member of LDCRE may be nominated for election as an Officer or Ordinary Member of the Committee. Each nomination must be submitted to the Secretary or to another Officer nominated by the Committee, in advance of the AGM, or to the AGM, by two Members after obtaining the nominee's consent.
7.3 A Member may stand for election to more than one position on the Committee, but may not be elected to more than one position unless the elections to all of these positions are uncontested and the AGM consents by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
7.4 If there are any uncontested elections, the nominations for each uncontested election shall be subject to approval by a simple majority of those present and voting at the AGM, immediately after close of nominations for the relevant position;
7.5 If there are no contested elections, the election of all the approved candidates shall be declared during the AGM.
7.6 If there are any contested elections (where there are more candidates than vacancies):
7.6.1 the Committee shall appoint a Returning Officer, who shall not be a candidate in any of the contested elections, and who shall be responsible for the preparation and distribution of ballot papers, their receipt and counting on return and the declaration of the results;
7.6.2 the contested elections shall be decided by a secret ballot of all Members, using the Single Transferable Vote method;
7.6.3 each candidate for a contested election shall be invited by the Returning Officer to provide a statement in support of their candidacy;
7.6.4 ballot papers or links to an online voting facility, together with candidate statements, shall be circulated to all Members including any Members who cannot be reached electronically, between fourteen and twenty-one days after the date of the AGM;
7.6.5 the deadline for online voting or return of ballot papers shall be between fourteen and twenty-one days after circulation of voting materials;
7.6.6 within three days after the deadline for online voting or return of ballot papers, the Returning Officer shall conduct the count and declare the result for each election including any uncontested election, in the order shown in 7.1;
7.6.7 when the result of each election has been declared, the successful candidates shall have their nominations for any remaining elections declared void by the Returning Officer.
7.7 The Chair shall be eligible for election to that position no more than three times consecutively.
7.8 The Committee may co-opt a Member of LDCRE to fill any vacancy occurring among its Officers or Ordinary Members between AGMs.
7.9 The Committee may also, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, co-opt up to three Members of of LDCRE to join the Committee as Ordinary Members.
7.10 The term of office of elected Officers and Ordinary Members shall start on the 1st January following their election; or immediately after the declaration of the election results by the Returning Officer, if the term of office of the previous Committee has already ended.
7.11 The term of office of Officers and Ordinary Members (whether elected or co-opted) shall run until 31st December, or until they are removed from or resign from the Committee, or until their membership of LDCRE ceases, whichever is earliest.
7.12 The Committee may remove any Officer or Ordinary Member who does not attend three successive meetings without good cause. Before exercising this power the Committee shall give the Officer or Ordinary Member concerned an opportunity to state the reasons for their non-attendance.
7.13 If the office of Treasurer falls vacant at any time, the Chair shall immediately become the Acting Treasurer, until a new Treasurer has been co-opted or elected.
7.14 The Committee may assign special responsibilities to any of its members and may appoint sub-committees or working groups for any specified purpose.
The Committee shall appoint special responsibilities to individual executive members to assist the Chair and Vice-Chairs in the following areas:
- Policy Officer who has responsibility for assisting the co-ordination of the organisation's attempts to shape party policy at all levels in the interests of its members and the groups the organisation serves
- Campaigns Officer who is responsible for assisting the co-ordination of campaigns to achieve the organisation's aims and the co-ordination of the organisation's involvements in political election campaigns
- Communications Officer who is responsible for assisting in the upkeep and operation of the organisation's communication channels
7.15 The Committee shall hold at least four ordinary meetings each year.
7.16 Where there is a division of opinion matters shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes the chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
7.17 Members are entitled to attend Committee meetings but may not vote.
7.18 Non-executive members are not permitted to attend confidential matters unless given permission by the Committee.
8 PRESIDENT and Vice-Presidents
8.1 The Committee may nominate an Honorary President or Honorary Co-Presidents, and up to two Vice-Presidents, to be approved individually on an annual basis at the AGM, by at least two thirds of those present and voting.
8.2 The Honorary President or Co-Presidents are entitled to attend (but not to vote at) all meetings of the Committee.
9 REFUSAL, SUSPENSION OR WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
9.1 The Committee may, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, refuse, suspend or withdraw a person's Membership of LDCRE on the grounds that their activities or conduct are likely to bring LDCRE into disrepute or are not compatible with LDCRE's Aims or with the Party's fundamental values and objectives.
9.2 Before any meeting at which such a vote is to be taken, the Committee's Officers and Ordinary Members must be notified and the person must be given a reasonable opportunity to make a written statement in their defence to the Committee.
9.3 Any Party member who believes that their rights as a Party member have been infringed by such a decision may appeal against the decision to the Federal Appeals Panel of the Party. Such an appeal may only be made if they believe the process has not been correctly followed and not just because they do not agree with the outcome.
9.4 If the appeal is successful, the person's Membership shall be restored; the Committee may also restore the person's Membership by a simple majority of those present and voting.
10 FINANCE
10.1 The finances of the group shall be managed by the Treasurer subject to regular reports to, and guidance by, the Committee
10.2 It shall be the duty of the Treasurer and the Committee to ensure that the funds of the group are used solely in accordance with the group's stated aims and that the group never has debts beyond its available resources.
10.3 Group funds may be used to reimburse reasonable out-of pocket expenses incurred by Officers and Ordinary Members in carrying out their duties for the Committee.
10.4 The group's financial year shall be 1st January to 31st December.
10.5 Following the end of each financial year, the Treasurer shall prepare financial accounts for that year, and shall arrange an independent examination of the accounts, by a person who is not a Member, for consideration at the following AGM.
10.6 It shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer and the Committee to ensure that the group complies fully with any requirements that apply to the group under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 or any successor Act.
11 WINDING UP
11.1 The group may only be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting at an AGM or EGM. Notice of the proposed dissolution must have been given in the notice calling the meeting. Upon dissolution, the group's funds shall be applied to paying the group's debts, and any remaining funds and other assets shall then be passed to the Party or its successor body.
11.2 If the group ceases to function, and is no longer capable of holding an AGM or EGM, the group's assets, including any bank accounts, shall become the property of the Party or its successor body.
12 AMENDMENT AND VALIDITY OF THIS CONSTITUTION
12.1 Nothing in this Constitution shall conflict with the Federal Constitution of the Party.
12.2 This Constitution may only be amended by a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting at an AGM or EGM. Notice of the proposed amendment, including its precise wording, must have been given in the notice calling the meeting.