Hull & East Yorkshire Socialist Alliance

Constitution & Rules

Preamble

The body created by the adoption of this constitution is a political alliance of organisations and individuals who share basic socialist ideological principles and have sufficient similarities in their analyses of current developments to co-operate in opposing the forces of Capital and in seeking to persuade working people to withdraw their allegiance from those political parties who seek office merely to manage the state and society within a capitalist framework, rather than to change the economic system which underpins that society. The alliance is not a political party with a united ideology or a single political analysis and cannot, by its nature, have an agreed position on every single issue. However, the alliance will seek to adopt policies and decide on actions, as far as possible, by consensus amongst the membership. This in turn requires that a simple disagreement over tactics (as opposed to political principles) should not, except in extreme circumstances, cause an individual member or organisation to veto a proposed policy or course of action favoured by the rest of the members.

1. Title

1.1 The organisation shall be known as the "Hull & East Yorkshire Socialist Alliance"; hereinafter referred to as "the alliance".

2. Aims

2.1 To bring together individuals and organisations (campaign groups, political parties and others prepared to accept this constitution) within the East Yorkshire area and to organise and co-ordinate political and campaigning activities.

2.2 To promote progressive, socialist policies, and candidates for office who support these policies, in all public arenas, including working-class organisations, and to propose candidates for office in public elections where appropriate.

2.3 To advance the principles and practice of internationalism, working-class solidarity, racial equality and an environmentally sustainable economic system under collective ownership and control; and to co-operate with others who also promote these ideals.

3. Membership

3.1 Membership shall be open to individuals and groups in East Yorkshire (who may be campaign groups, political parties, trade union bodies or other types of organisation) who support the aims of the alliance and who accept the terms of this constitution. Voting members shall be those persons entitled to vote in a General Meeting, either as individuals or as named representatives of affiliated organisations.

3.2 Applications from individuals and organisations seeking to join or affiliate to the alliance shall be considered by a General Meeting of the alliance. Membership shall not be refused unless there are substantial grounds to question the applicant's commitment to the aims embodied in rule 2. Individual members may be asked to declare their membership of any political party affiliated to the alliance.

4. General Meetings

4.1 General Meetings of all members shall be held at least once a quarter, more often if required, and within twenty-one days of receipt by the Chairman/woman of a requisition (specifying the business or motion to be discussed) signed by 25% of the voting members or any one of the affiliated political parties. Non-members may attend and speak at General Meetings unless the voting members resolve otherwise. The quorum shall be six voting members.

4.2 The Annual General Meeting of the alliance shall be held in the third quarter of each year. All members and affiliates shall receive, as far as is practicable, ten days notice of the business to be conducted at any General Meeting, although this shall not preclude additional matters from being discussed where it is agreed that these are matters of genuine urgency.

4.3 Decisions at General Meetings shall be taken, where possible, by consensus among the members present. Where a vote is required then each member and affiliated organisation may cast one vote, except that individual members who are also members of affiliated political parties may not vote in addition to their party's vote. The votes of individual members and affiliated organisations shall be counted separately and resolutions shall require a majority in both sections of the vote.

5. Officers, Committee members and alliance candidates in public elections

5.1 The Annual General Meeting shall elect a Chairman/woman, a Convenor/Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as may be deemed necessary. The Annual General Meeting may also elect up to three additional members (who shall not be members of an affiliated political party) who, together with the officers and a member nominated from each affiliated political party, shall form the Committee.

5.2 Officers and Committee members shall serve until the following Annual General Meeting (where they may be nominated for re-election) or until they resign from office or cease to be members of the alliance. Officers and Committee members may be removed from office by a vote of no-confidence at a General Meeting of which all members have received ten days notice.

5.3 All internal elections within the alliance, including uncontested elections, shall be conducted on the basis of positive majority voting, with successful candidates for office required to obtain at least 50% of the available votes from those present. Nominations for elected office shall be treated as motions for debate.

5.4 Candidates for public office put forward by the alliance shall stand on a political platform, manifesto and election address agreed by the alliance as a whole. Election addresses may state the party political affiliation of an alliance candidate, at the discretion of the candidate him/herself.

6. Finance

6.1 Members of the alliance shall pay membership/affiliation fees as determined from time to time by a General Meeting. Affiliation fees for organisations may vary depending on the relative size and local membership of the organisation concerned.

6.2 The Officers and Committee shall be responsible for maintaining financial records and for presenting financial reports to General Meetings as required.

7. Constitution and standing orders

7.1 Standing Orders may be adopted by a General Meeting if these are deemed necessary.

7.2 Amendments to the constitution may be decided at the Annual General Meeting, or at a specially convened General Meeting, of which all members have received ten days notice, including notice of the specific amendment(s) to be proposed. A constitutional amendment shall require a two thirds majority amongst the votes available in a quorate General Meeting.

7.3 A proposal to dissolve the alliance shall be treated as an amendment to the constitution. In the event of the alliance resolving to dissolve itself, it shall, after discharging all outstanding liabilities, donate any remaining funds or assets to an organisation promoting aims similar to or compatible with those specified in rule 2.

This constitution was adopted at a General Meeting held on 7 September 2000