- Name
The name of the group shall be __________________________ (town, district, college or university) Green Socialist Youth/Student (Group) - hereinafter referred to as the group.
- Objects
The objects of the group shall be to promote the ideals, principles and political philosophy of Green Socialism as defined in the constitution of the Alliance for Green Socialism (hereinafter referred to as the AGS) and as interpreted by the AGS Annual Conference and National Committee, and in particular to seek to organise, mobilise and recruit young people/students in support of these.
- Membership*
Membership of the group shall be open to persons below age of twenty-six years who support the principles and broad policies of the AGS and who live, work or study within the area covered by the group (except in the case of a college or university based group where any student shall be eligible for membership). Members shall pay a subscription fee, to be determined by the group from time-to-time, and shall complete a membership application which will be considered by a meeting of the group (or its committee) and then forwarded to the AGS National Membership Secretary. Members will be asked to declare their membership of any other political organisation but such membership of another political organisation will not preclude them from membership of the group unless that other organisation promotes policies or principles which are profoundly incompatible with those of the AGS.
All members shall be entitled to vote at general meetings of the group and shall be eligible to stand for office.
- General Meetings.
General meetings of all members shall be held at least least four times in each calendar year (more often if required) and members should receive seven days notice of such general meetings. The first meeting held in the autumn shall normally be the Annual General Meeting. General Meetings shall require a quorum of four members or one fifth of the membership (whichever figure is the smaller).
- Officers and Committee Members*
The group shall elect a Secretary, Chairman/woman and Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting and may elect up to four additional members, who who may be given specific responsibilities. These persons may (if necessary - as decided by a general meeting) form a committee to conduct the detailed business of the group and carry out decisions of general meetings.
The Secretary will be responsible for recording the decisions of all meetings, , maintaining the register of members, notifying members of meetings and events and conducting correspondence on behalf of the group.
The Chairman/woman shall normally preside at meetings of the group and its committee (subject to rule 8 below) and shall be responsible for ensuring that the group conducts business in accordance with this constitution.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial business of the group, collecting and recording members' subscriptions and for managing any bank accounts, petty-cash or other financial arrangements. The Treasurer will be one of the signatories to any bank account opened in the name of the group (along with at least one other officer/committee member) and shall report on the finances of the group to a general meeting at least three time in each year (or more often if required).
The officers/committee shall present a report to the Annual Meeting of the group and shall send a copy of this report (which shall include a financial report) to the AGS National Committee.
- Relations with the AGS
The group shall affiliate to the AGS under that organisation's national rules and shall encourage all members to become full members of the AGS. The group shall be entitled to call on the AGS for advice, assistance and support in organising recruitment and campaigning activities. As an independent affiliated organisation the group will be entitled to adopt its own policies and mount its own activities independent of the AGS, as long as these do not contradict the basic political principles described in rule 2.
- Amendments to the Constitution
This constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called specifically for the purpose. Any proposal to amend the constitution shall be specified in writing to all members in the notice of the meeting. A proposal to dissolve or disband the group shall be treated as a constitutional amendment and, if carried by the required majority, shall result in any funds or assets of the group being donated to the AGS or another organisation with similar or compatible aims (after the the settlement of any outstanding liabilities).
- Disputes*
In the event of any serious dispute or disagreement over the interpretation of this constitution or on any issue of significant importance to the group which cannot be resolved within the group, the officers/committee shall ask the AGS National Committee to nominate a representative to take the chair at a Special General Meeting where the matter will be debated and resolved, as far as possible, in the best interests of the group and the objects it is set up to promote.
* Alternative versions of those rules marked with an asterisk will apply for those Green Socialist Youth / Student Groups which are constituted as AGS Groups rather than as affiliated organisations.
The AGS National Committee may authorise variations to these model rules for college or university based groups which are established under the rules of a Students' Union if these are necessary to comply with the Constitution of the Students' Union and/or related legal requirements.
