1. NAME The campaign shall be known as "The Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament", and is referred to in this constitution as "the Campaign" or "Irish CND". 2. AIMS 3. MEMBERSHIP Membership shall be open to all individuals who support the aims of Irish CND and who pay the appropriate annual membership fee as decided at the annual general meeting. 4. AFFILIATION Affiliation to Irish CND shall be open to all organisations which support the aims of Irish CND, which pay the appropriate annual affiliation fee as decided at the annual general meting, and which are accepted by a majority vote at a meeting of the Campaign's National Council. 5. BRANCHES Where ten or more members of Irish CND live, work or study on one defined area, the National Council of Irish CND shall encourage the establishment of a branch in that area. A branch shall be entitled to representation on the National Council and at the annual general meting of Irish CND, and its members shall be recognised as members of Irish CND provided the following are complied with: (a) it accepts the policy of Irish CND as decided by the annual general meeting, and it is recognised by the National Council; (b) it has a minimum of ten members; (c) it includes among its meetings every year an annual general meeting to which all of its members and supporters are invited with at least two weeks' notice, and that at the same, or any general meeting to which its members are invited with at least two weeks' notice, it deals with the business relating to the annual general meeting of Irish CND, and elects a council which shall include a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and a member of the National Council of Irish CND; (d) it contributes a yearly sum to the Campaign, this sum to be determined at the annual general meeting of Irish CND; (e) it campaigns in the defined area for the aims of Irish CND. Branches should meet to discuss the National Council meeting agenda, before the National Council meeting takes place. 6. AREA COUNCILS Where two or more branches are campaigning within the same geographic area, the National Council of Irish CND shall encourage the establishment of an area council. An area council shall be entitled to representation of the National Council of Irish CND and at the annual general meeting of Irish CND provided the following are complied with: (a) it accepts the policy of Irish CND as deiced at the annual general meeting , and it is recognised by the National Council; (b) it includes among its meetings every year an annual general meeting to which all constituent branches are invited with at least two weeks' notice to send delegations, and that at the same, or any general meeting to which all its branches are invited with at least two weeks' notice, it deals with the business relating to the annual general meeting of Irish CND, and elects a committee which shall include a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and a member of the National Council of Irish CND; (c) it contributes a yearly sum to the Campaign, this sum to be determined by the annual general meeting of Irish CND; (d) it campaigns in its defined area for the aims of Irish CND and it encourages the branches in is defined area to campaign for those aims. 7. SPECIALIST SECTIONS Where a number of individual members and/or affiliated organisations share a specialist concern, a specialist section of Irish CND may be formed. A specialist section shall be entitled to representation on the National Council of Irish CND, provided the following are complied with: (a) it accepts the policy of Irish CND as decided at the annual general meeting, and is recognised by the National Council; (b) it campaigns primarily for the aims of Irish CND; (c) it includes among its meetings every year an annual general meeting to which all members and affiliated organisations of Irish CND sharing its specialist concerns are invited with at least two weeks' notice, and that at that, or any general meeting to which these members and affiliated organisations are invited with at least two weeks' notice, it deals with the business relating to the annual general meeting of Irish CND, and elects a council which shall include a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and a member of the National Council of Irish CND; (d) it contributes a yearly sum to the Campaign, this sum to be determined at the annual general meting of Irish CND. No specialist section of Irish CND may have individual members or members who are not members of Irish CND. 8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The National Council of Irish CND shall call a general meeting not earlier than ten months after the previous annual general meeting and not later than fourteen months after the previous annual general meeting. All members, affiliated organisations, branches, specialist sections and area councils and councils of Irish CND shall be sent not less than three weeks' notice of the annual general meeting. (a) Every individual member of Irish CND shall be entitled to attend, speak at and have one vote at the annual general meeting. (b) Every branch of Irish CND, and every specialist section, and every area council shall be entitled to speak and vote at the annual general meeting, and each branch, specialist section and area council shall have five votes in all matters to be decided at the annual general meeting. (c) Each organisation affiliated to Irish CND may send up to two delegates, who are individual members of Irish CND, to the annual general meeting and each affiliated organisation shall be entitled to two votes at the annual general meeting. (d) Thy National Council of Irish CND shall decide on the time and venue of the annual general meeting and shall set deadlines for the acceptance of resolutions and nominations before the annual general meeting. (e) The annual general meeting shall elect the following officers and members of the National Executive: one president up to five vice-presidents one chairperson one vice-chairperson one secretary one treasurer five ordinary council members all being individual member of Irish CND, 9. NATIONAL COUNCIL The National Council of Irish CND shall consist of the officers and council members elected at the annual general meeting of Irish CND, a duly elected representative from each branch, specialist section and area council, and up to three additional members who may be co-opted by the National Council. The National Council shall: (a) have overall responsibility for deciding the policy of Irish CND along the lines laid down by the annual general meeting; (b) meet at least once every three months; (c) appoint sub-committees to deal with matters and prepare its meetings where appropriate; (d) call emergency general meetings if so requested by more than one third of the branches, or one third of the total membership, or on its own initiative; (e) present a report of its work to the annual general meeting; (f) rotate its meetings among venues at the invitation of branches. The quorum for any meeting of the National Council shall be one third of those entitled to attend and vote, including two officers. The president and vice-presidents shall not be counted as members of the National Council for this purpose, although in all other respect they shall be full members of the National Council. One third of members of the National Council may call emergency meetings. Individual member of Irish CND and representatives of affiliated organisations may attend the meetings of the National Council as observers. 10. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall consist of officers and ordinary council members elected at the annual general meting or co-opted members of the National Council. In the event of any positions on the National Executive becoming vacant, they can be filled by co-option by the National Executive and confirmed by the subsequent National Council meeting. The Executive Committee shall: (a) be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Campaign and all matters pertaining thereto; (b) present a report to each meeting of the National Council and to the annual general meeting; (c) meet as often as is necessary. The quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be one third of the members including two officers. The president and vice-presidents of Irish CND shall not, however, count as executive members for this purpose. Any member of Irish CND or representative of an affiliated organisation may attend the Executive Committee meetings. An emergency meeting of the Executive Committee may be called by the officers or one-third of the Executive Committee members. 11. INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATIONS Irish CND shall seek affiliation to appropriate international disarmament bodies. 12.AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION This constitution shall be subject to amendment by resolution carried by a majority of at least two-thirds at the annual general meeting of Irish CND.   Back to Irish CND home page