The Jersey Human Rights Group

Constitution and Rules

1.0 Name

1.1 The Association shall be called The Jersey Human Rights Group (hereinafter referred to as “The Association”).

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2.0 Aims and Objectives

The Association shall:

2.1 be a non-profit making organisation registered in accordance with the Non Profit Making Organisations (Jersey) Law 2008

2.2 promote knowledge of Human Rights standards through research, publication and the dissemination of information, monitor human rights standards in Jersey, examine existing and proposed laws and practices in Jersey for compliance with Human Rights standards and lobby for reform in order to achieve compliance with Human Rights standards

2.3 raise funds for the Association’s declared purposes.

2.4 recruit membership from any persons who share the aims of the Association.

3.0 Membership

3.1 Membership shall be open to any person who has attained the age of 16 years and agrees with the aims of the Association

3.2 All persons seeking membership of the Association shall complete an application form confirming their name and address and pay the appropriate annual membership fee

3.3 Membership fees shall be at rates agreed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

3.4 All members shall receive upon joining a copy of the Association’s Constitution and Rules.

3.5 Membership fees, where applicable, shall be payable within one month of the AGM.

3.6 Membership shall be refused or revoked for any person who demonstrates a lack of sympathy for the aims of the Association or who behaves in a manner likely to bring the Association into disrepute or who fails to pay the appropriate membership fee.

3.7 All disputes relating to membership, including the revocation of membership shall be referred to the next Regular meeting of the Association or a Special Committee meeting for adjudication and the relevant member shall be entitled to attend with or without a supporter of his or her choice.

3.8 All members shall be entitled to one vote at Association meetings which may be exercised in person or by written proxy.

4.0 Organisation

4.1 An AGM shall be held every year during the month of November. The date and agenda shall be notified to all members at least 21 days in advance. All members shall have the right to submit items for discussion up to 7 days before the date of the AGM.

4.2 The AGM shall have the purpose of;

a) The presentation of a report of works carried out over the year,

b) Presentation of the accounts for approval by the meeting,

c) Consideration of any amendments to the Constitution,

d) Making and/ or approving of regulations for the everyday running of the Association

e) Election of the Committee Officers to serve an annual term,

f) Determination of any other business on the agenda.

4.3 A Chairperson shall be elected at the outset of the AGM to conduct the business of the meeting. The Chairperson shall have only a casting vote.

4.4 At the AGM, Officers will be elected to serve the Association as a Committee for the following year as follows;

a) Chairperson

b) Secretary

c) Treasurer

d) Fundraiser

e) Membership Secretary

f) Press and Publicity Agent

And any other Officers deemed appropriate by the AGM.

4.5 A member may be elected to more than one post except that the Chairperson shall not also be appointed as Secretary.

4.6 The quorum for the AGM shall be 10 paid up members.

4.7 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by at least 5 members and shall be subject to the same considerations as included in paras 4.1 (except that it shall not be called for the month of November) 4.3 and 4.6 above.

4.8 The minutes of the AGM or EGM shall be presented to the next Regular Committee meeting of the Association and shall be submitted for approval at the next AGM.

4.9 In the event of a motion of “no confidence” being proposed in an elected Officer an EGM shall be called to consider the motion and such a meeting shall be in accordance with the requirements of para 4.6

4.10 Between AGMs the business of the Association shall be conducted by Regular Committee meetings open to all members.

4.11 The minutes of each Regular Committee meeting shall be recorded and presented to the subsequent Regular Committee meeting. Copies of the minutes shall be circulated to all members at least 2 days before the relevant Regular Committee meeting.

4.12 Regular Committee meetings shall take place at a frequency determined at the AGM which may be modified as necessary and shall be attended by at least 5 members.

4.13 Special Committee Meetings may be initiated by the AGM or EGM or a Regular Committee meeting to consider any urgent matters that arise or to deal with disciplinary disputes or revocation of membership cases. The minutes of any decisions taken at a Special Committee meeting shall be presented at the subsequent meeting of the Association, whether a Regular meeting, EGM or AGM. The quorum for a Special Committee meeting shall be the same as for a Regular Committee meeting.

5.0 Procedures

5.1 All meetings of the Association shall be open to members.

Non-members may attend social events but business meetings by invitation of the Chairperson only.

5.2 The agenda for all meetings of the Association shall be determined at the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting.

5.3 Any voted decisions taken at meetings will be on the basis of a simple majority of those voting. Abstentions will be recorded but will not influence the vote. The exact wording of any motion shall be recorded in the minutes.

5.4. Voting will generally be by show of hands but any member may ask for a vote to be taken by secret ballot except that any disciplinary votes shall be made by secret ballot.

5.5 Officers of the Committee who fail to attend 3 consecutive meetings without apology or notice shall be deemed to have resigned from the Committee.

5.6 All members will be included on the distribution list for agenda and minutes of meetings unless otherwise requested and members may require such information to be distributed by post if preferred.

5.7 The Association’s everyday business and correspondence shall be treated as confidential by all members and the Secretary shall ensure compliance with current Jersey Data Protection Law requirements. No data shall be used for any other purposes or given to any third parties except in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Association and the current Jersey Data Protections Laws.

5.8 Officers or members choosing to resign from the Association shall give one month’s notice in writing of their intention and return any documents or property of the Association to the Committee.

5.9 There shall be no repayment of annual fees to members who resign or whose membership is revoked.

5.10 Officers and members may issue statements or give information in the name of the Association to the Press or any others with the prior authorisation of the Committee.

5.11 All members may inspect the minutes of the Association after giving reasonable notice to the Secretary.

5.12 The Secretary shall keep an adequate permanent written record of the attendance at every meeting and of matters resolved and any other business discussed and the whole to be read out or circulated in writing and confirmed at each subsequent meeting, and signed by the Chairperson.

5.13 The Association shall endeavour at all times to ensure that its activities are accessible to persons without discrimination by reason of disabilities.

6.0 Finance

6.1 The Association may operate a current account.

Three Officers shall be authorised to act as signatories.

6.2 Two signatories shall be required on each cheque drawn from the account.

6.3 No person may sign a cheque payable to themselves.

6.4 Expenditure may be incurred by the Association provided that approval is obtained at a meeting of the Committee.

6.5 No donation shall be made without the prior approval of the Committee

6.6 The Treasurer shall keep proper records of the Association’s finances, issue receipts for membership fees and donations received and prepare annual accounts up to the 30^th September each year and shall have these records and accounts audited each year by a suitable person appointed by the AGM.

7.0 Changes to the Constitution

7.1 This Constitution may only be changed by a vote of 2/3rds of those voting members present at an AGM or EGM and then only if the proposal has been circulated to all members of the Association at the time of the announcement of the AGM or EGM.

8.0 Interpretation of the Rules

8.1. In the event of any questions arising over the interpretation of the Constitution and Rules of the Association the Chairperson shall adjudicate accordingly and his/her decision recorded and confirmed at the next meeting.

In the event of a failure to agree upon an interpretation then the matter shall be brought before an AGM or EGM which may be called for that purpose.

9.0 Dissolution

9.1 The Association may only be dissolved at an AGM or an EGM called for that purpose.

9.2 In the event of dissolution all remaining monies and assets after settlement of outstanding debts shall be donated to Charity.

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