STANDARD
CONSTITUTION
MODEL
TEMPLATE
CONSTITUTION OF: ……………………………………………………….
ADOPTED ON: ………………………………………… (Day/Month/Year)
1. Name
The name of the Group shall be: ……………………………………………………………………
2. Aims (at least 3 aims)
The aims of the Group shall be to:
3. Powers/Objectives (list how you will achieve your aims)
In order to achieve its aims the Group may:
4. Membership
a) Membership of the Group shall be open to any person over 18 or an organisation
living or located in the …………………… area who is interested in helping the Group
to achieve its aims, willing to abide by the rules of the Group and willing to pay any
subscription agreed by the Management Committee.
b) Membership shall be available to anyone without regard to gender, race, nationality,
disability, sexual preference, religion or belief.
c) Every individual member and each organisation shall have one vote at General
Meetings.
d) The membership of any member may be terminated for good reason by the
Management Committee but the member has a right to be heard by the Management
Committee before a final decision is made.
e) Each member organisation shall appoint a representative to attend meetings of the
Group and notify the Group’s Secretary of that person’s name.
5. Management
a) The Group shall be administered by a Management Committee of the Officers and
not more than ………………other members elected at the Group’s Annual General
Meeting (AGM).
b) The Officers of the Management Committee shall be: the Chairperson, the Treasurer
and the Secretary.
c) The Management Committee shall meet at least …………..times a year
d) The Chairperson shall chair all meetings of the Group
e) The quorum for Management Committee meetings shall be …….. members
f) Voting at Management Committee meetings shall be by show of hands. If there is a
tied vote then the Chairperson shall have a second vote.
g) The Management Committee may by a two-thirds majority vote and for a good an
proper reason remove any Committee member, provided that person has the right to
be heard before a final decision is made.
h) The Management Committee may appoint another member of the Group as a
Committee member to fill a vacancy provided the maximum number is not exceeded.
6. Duties of the Officers
a) The duties of the Chairperson are to:
o Chair meetings of the Committee and the Group
o Represent the Group at functions/meetings that the Group has been invited to
o Act as spokesperson for the Group when necessary
b) The duties of the Secretary are to:
o Take and keep minutes of meetings
o Prepare the agenda for meetings of the Committee and the Group in
consultation with the Chairperson
o Maintain the membership list
o Deal with correspondence
o Collect and circulate any relevant information within the Group
c) The duties of the Treasurer are to:
o Supervise the financial affairs of the Group
o Keep proper accounts that show all monies collected and paid out by the
Group
7. Finance
d) Any money obtained by the Group shall be used only for the Group
e) Any bank accounts opened for the group shall be in the name of the Group
f) Any cheques issued shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other nominated
official
8. Annual General Meeting
a) The Group shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the month of ………….
b) All members shall be given at least fourteen days’ notice of the AGM and shall be
entitled to attend and vote. The quorum for an AGM will be …………..members
c) The business of the AGM shall include:
o Receiving a report from the Chairperson on the Group’s activities over the
year
o Receiving a report from the Treasurer on the finances of the Group
o Electing a new Management Committee and
o Considering any other matter as may be decided
9. Special General Meeting
A Special General Meeting may be called by the Management Committee or bay any
………. members to discuss an urgent matter. The Secretary shall give all members fourteen
days’ notice of any Special General Meeting together with notice of the business to be
discussed. All members shall be entitled to attend and vote.
10. Alterations to the Constitution
Any changes to this Constitution must be agreed by at least two-thirds of those members
present and voting at any General Meeting or the AGM.
11. Dissolution
The Group may be wound up at any time if agreed by two-thirds of those members present
and voting at any General Meeting. In the event of winding up, any assets remaining after
all debts have been paid shall be given to another Group with similar aims.
This Constitution was adopted at the General Meeting of the Group
on ……………………………………(date)
Signed by:
Chairperson ………………………………………………………………………………………….
Secretary ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Treasurer ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
