Constitution

Below is the constitution passed at the GM on 7 April 2009. Please see the links at the bottom of the page for an archive of recent Constitutions and minutes.

Constitution of The Russellian Society

1. NAME

The name of the Society shall be The Russellian Society (Hereinafter referred to as ‘the Society’).

2. AIMS

2.1 The aims of the Society shall be to:

i) promote issues broadly related to philosophy,
ii) engage the university community in philosophical discussion,
iii) contribute to the cultural life of the community.

2.2 The activities which the Society will undertake to achieve its aims may include, but are not limited to, the following:

i) public lectures by visiting and local philosophers,
ii) discussion groups,
iii) public debates,
iv) forums,
v) dramatic performances,
vi) the production of publications, including but not limited to assisting, where possible, in the publication of COGITO, the undergraduate philosophy journal of The University of Sydney, Macquarie University and UNSW.

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 The classes of annual membership shall be:

i) Ordinary Membership
All members of the University of Sydney Union in possession of a current Access Card shall be eligible for Ordinary Membership of the Society. Any Ordinary Member shall hold one vote at all meetings and elections of the Society at which they are present.

ii) Associate Membership
Persons other than those who qualify for Ordinary Membership may have Associate Membership conferred upon them by an Ordinary Meeting of the Society. Associate Members are not eligible to hold Executive positions, vote in elections or vote at meetings of the Society.

3.2 Upon payment of a subscription fee, a person shall be deemed an Ordinary Member or Associate Member of the Society and henceforth be bound by this Constitution.

3.3 The subscription fees for membership shall be:
i) Ordinary Membership $5.00
ii) Associate Membership $0.00

4. THE EXECUTIVE

4.1 The Society shall have an Executive consisting of:

i) a President,
ii) up to two Vice-Presidents,
iii) a Secretary,
iv) a Treasurer,
v) up to three First-Year Liaison Officers,
vi) up to two Postgraduate Liaison Officers,
vii) up to two Publications Officers,
viii) up to two Publicity Officers,
ix) up to two Event Managers,
x) and up to a further three Executive Members.

4.2 The Executive shall have power to manage the Society in accordance with the Constitution.

4.3 Attendance of Executive Members at Ordinary and General Meetings is obligatory. Any Executive Member who does not attend three consecutive meetings without leave can be dismissed from the Executive by a two-thirds majority vote of those Ordinary Members in attendance at an Ordinary Meeting.

5. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

5.1 The President shall:

i) plan the Society’s activities in consultation with the Executive,
ii) liaise with the Executive and any committees formed by the Society,
iii) ensure an adequate handover, including any documents and materials, to the following Executive.

5.2 The Vice-President(s) shall:

i) deputise for the President,
ii) organise the purchase of t-shirts, membership cards, and other such merchandise as required.

5.3 The Treasurer shall:

i) maintain the Society’s finances in accordance with the Treasurer’s Handbook produced by the Clubs and Societies Office of the University of Sydney Union,
ii) present to the Annual General Meeting of the Society a report detailing the financial activity and status of the Society,
iii) ensure an adequate handover, including any documents and materials, to the following Executive.

5.4 The Secretary shall:

i) conduct the correspondence of the Society,
ii) book meeting rooms for the Society,
iii) keep minutes of the proceedings of all Society meetings,
iv) maintain the records and documents of the Society,
v) maintain a list of current Members, in accordance with University of Sydney Union Guidelines,
vi) maintain the Society’s registration with the University of Sydney Union.

5.5 The First-Year Liaison Officer(s) shall:

i) liaise with first year students,
ii) encourage the involvement of first year students,
iii) promote the Society’s events to first year students,
iv) assist in organising activities aimed at first year students.

5.6 The Postgraduate Liaison Officer(s) shall:

i) liaise with postgraduate students,
ii) encourage the involvement of postgraduate students,
iii) promote the Society’s events to postgraduate students,
iv) assist in organising activities aimed at postgraduate students.

5.7 The Publications Officer(s) shall:

i) together with the COGITO editors from UNSW (if any) and Macquarie University (if any), ensure that COGITO (the student journal of Philosophy) is published and distributed,
ii) organise the production and distribution of other publications, such as an annual journal independent from COGITO, or a fortnightly newsletter.

5.8 The Publicity Officer(s) shall:

i) ensure that all of the Society’s events, including meetings, are submitted to usuonline.com – if possible, within time for them to be advertised in The Bull;
i) otherwise ensure online promotion of the Society’s events, including, where possible, via the Sydney Philosophy, and the Society’s, mailing lists;
ii) provide flyers, as required, for distribution at events or where other opportunities may arise;
iii) organise any rosters for, or liaise with the Department of Philosophy to ensure, advertising at lectures for any major events, and to increase awareness of the Society in general.

5.9 The Event Manager(s) shall:

i) liaise with the President and Secretary to organise lectures, debates, and other special events;
ii) liaise with the Treasurer to ensure the correct documentation, budgeting, funding of, and cash-handling at, each event;
iii) liaise with the Publicity Officer(s) to ensure the promotion of each event;
iv) organise venues and catering, where applicable, for each event, in consultation with the Clubs and Societies Office and the Department of Philosophy, where appropriate;
v) liaise with the President to organise regular discussion groups, where possible;
vi) liaise with other Executive Members as required, to organise any arising events pertaining to publications, first year students, postgraduate students, et cetera.

6. ORDINARY MEETINGS

6.1 The Society shall hold an Ordinary Meeting as required during semester (teaching period, Weeks 1-13).

6.2 Ordinary Meetings shall be called by the President, Secretary or Vice-President, or by the Secretary forthwith upon receipt of the written application of at least twenty percent (20%) of the Ordinary Members of the Society.

6.3 At least seventy-two (72) hours notice of the time and place of an Ordinary Meeting shall be given in one of the recognised publications of the University of Sydney Union and by a mail-out to all members, and, if possible, via a notice on the Society notice board. (A mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail.)

6.4 The President shall chair Ordinary Meetings. In the absence of the President, another Executive Member shall chair the Meeting.

6.5 Quorum at Ordinary Meetings shall be five (5) Ordinary Members if the Society’s current membership is no greater than seventy (70) Ordinary Members, or ten (10) Ordinary Members if the Society’s membership is greater than seventy (70) Ordinary Members. Quorum must include not less than three (3) Executive Members.

6.6 The agenda for an Ordinary Meeting shall include:

1. Apologies and leaves of absence
2. Minutes of the previous meeting
3. Correspondence
4. Reports of Executive Members
5. General Business

6.7 An Ordinary Meeting of the Society has power to carry motions relating to the affairs of the Society by a simple majority vote of those members present and voting, including:

i) giving direction to the Executive,
ii) determining the use of the finances and other assets of the Society,
iii) instituting Committees for any purpose of the Society and co-opting Society members onto any Committee,
iv) dismissing Executive Members under 4.3 of the Constitution.

7. GENERAL MEETINGS

7.1 The Society shall hold General Meetings as required during semester (teaching period, Weeks 1-13).

7.2 The Secretary may at any time, for any worthy purpose, call a General Meeting, and shall do so forthwith upon receipt of the written application of twenty percent (20%) of Ordinary Members of the Society stating the purposes for which the meeting is called. The business debated at a General Meeting shall be confined to the purposes named in the notice.

7.3 Except as provided in clauses 9.4 and 12.2, the Secretary shall give at least seven (7) days notice of the time and place of a General Meeting through one of the recognised publications of the University of Sydney Union and by a mail-out to all members, and, if possible, via a notice on the Society notice board. (A mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail.)

7.4 Quorum at General Meetings shall be the lesser of one-third of the Ordinary Members or fifteen (15) Ordinary Members. If within thirty minutes from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of members, shall be dissolved. In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned until the same day in the next week, at the same time and place. If, at such an adjourned meeting a quorum is not present, those members who are present shall be a quorum and may transact the business for which the meeting was called. The Secretary shall give fresh notice of such an adjourned meeting.

7.5 The procedure at all meetings shall follow the normal rules of debate.

7.6 The agenda for a General Meeting shall include:

1. Opening and welcome
2. Apologies and leaves of absence
3. Minutes of the previous meeting
4. Business arising from the minutes
5. Correspondence
6. Motions on notice
7. Reports of Executive Members
8. Other reports
9. General business
10. Date of the next meeting, if known

7.7 A General Meeting of the Society has the same powers as an Ordinary Meeting, and may also carry the following motions on notice relating to the affairs of the Society by a two-thirds majority vote of those members present and voting:

i) granting Associate Membership,
ii) filling vacancies on the Executive,
iii) repealing motions and the effect of motions carried at an Ordinary Meeting,
iv) amending the Constitution,
v) dismissing Executive Members for reasons other than that in 4.3 of the Constitution, provided that the Executive Member is given reasonable right of reply,
vi) dissolving the Society.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

8.1 The Society shall hold an Annual General Meeting annually in the month of August.

8.2 The Annual General Meeting shall be convened for the following purposes:

i) to receive a report and statement of accounts for the preceding financial period,
ii) to elect an Executive for the ensuing term,
iii) to transact any other business, notice of which shall be duly submitted to the Secretary.

8.3 The Secretary shall give at least fourteen (14) days notice of the time and place of the Annual General Meeting in one of the recognised publications of the University of Sydney Union and by a mail-out to all members, and, if possible, via a notice on the Society notice board. (A mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail.)

8.4 The Annual General Meeting shall be held between 9am and 9pm at a place on a campus of the University of Sydney during semester (teaching period, Weeks 1-13). The Annual General Meeting shall be chaired by the President or an Executive Member not standing for election to any position.

8.5 Quorum at the Annual General Meeting shall be the lesser of one-third of the Ordinary Members or fifteen (15) Ordinary Members.

8.6 The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall include:

1. Opening and welcome
2. Apologies and leaves of absence
3. Minutes of the previous meeting
4. Business arising from the minutes
5. Correspondence
6. Motions on notice
7. Annual Reports
7.1 President
7.2 Treasurer
7.3 Secretary
7.4 Other Executive Members
8. Election of the Executive
9. General business

9. ELECTIONS

9.1 The Executive shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

9.2 Only Ordinary Members shall be eligible to be candidates for election or to vote in the elections.

9.3 The term of the Executive shall commence immediately following the close of the Annual Election Meeting and conclude at the close of the Annual Election Meeting in the following year.

9.4 The Secretary shall give at least fourteen (14) days notice of the time and place of the annual elections in one of the recognised publications of the University of Sydney Union and by a mail-out to all members, and, if possible, via a notice on the Society notice board. (A mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail.)

i) the day on which nominations open, which day shall be at least fourteen (14) days before the day of the elections;
ii) the day and time on which nominations close, which shall be no later than the time of the meeting at which the elections are to occur;
iii) the time, date and venue of the election;
iv) that only Ordinary Members shall be eligible to be candidates for election or to vote.

9.5 In order to stand for election, nominees must accept nomination.

9.6 Before an election the Executive shall nominate a suitable person, not being a candidate for election, to act as Returning Officer. The Returning Officer shall be charged with the conduct of the election, and may appoint suitable persons, not being candidates for election, as Deputy Returning Officers.

9.7 The Clubs and Societies Manager shall serve as Electoral Arbiter and shall receive any appeals against the decisions of the Returning Officer.

9.8 Voting shall be by secret ballot, and shall be Single Transferable Vote.

9.9 The General Body of the Society may, in a General Meeting, elect any Ordinary Member of the Society to fill any casual vacancy that may occur in the Executive. (A casual vacancy occurs when an Executive Member is dismissed from the Executive or resigns before the term of office has expired.)

10. ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION

10.1 This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of those Ordinary Members in attendance at any General Meeting, provided that:

i) written notice of proposed changes has been given to the Secretary not less than seven (7) days before such a meeting,
ii) the said changes do not contravene University of Sydney or University of Sydney Union guidelines,
iii) the Secretary has given notice of those proposed changes to all members through one of the recognised publications of the University of Sydney Union and by a mail-out to all members, and, if possible, via a notice on the Society notice board. (A mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail.),
iv) a copy of the amended constitution, and minutes of the meeting at which the amendments were made, are presented to the Clubs and Societies Manager of the University of Sydney Union within fourteen (14) days of the meeting,
v) the amendments are approved by the Clubs and Societies Committee and ratified by the Board of the University of Sydney Union.

10.2 Constitutional amendments do not become effective until approved by the Clubs and Societies Committee and ratified by the Board of the University of Sydney Union.

11. PROPERTY AND FINANCES

11.1 All property of the Society shall be vested in the Executive, and shall be dealt with in such manner as directed by the Society in an Ordinary Meeting.

11.2 The Society shall maintain a bank account.

11.3 All payments of the Society shall be by cheque, signed by at least two members of the Executive, one of whom must be the Treasurer.

11.4 The assets and income of the Society shall be applied solely in the furtherance of its above-mentioned aims and activities and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the Society except as bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the Society. That is, the Society will be run on a non-profit basis in terms of tax purposes.

12. DISSOLUTION

12.1 The Society may be dissolved by resolution of a two-thirds majority vote of those members present and voting at a General Meeting. If on the dissolution there remain any monies or property, they shall, with the consent of the Clubs and Societies Office, be transferred to a cultural, charitable or educational organisation as the Society in a General Meeting may resolve.

12.2 The Secretary shall give at least fourteen (14) days notice of the time and place of such a General Meeting through one of the recognised publications of the University of Sydney Union and by a mail-out to all members, and, if possible, via a notice on the Society notice board. (A mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail.)

13. INACTIVITY

13.1 The Society shall be deemed inactive after any continuous six month period in which the Society does not hold any events or engage in financial activity. If upon inactivity there remains any monies or properties, the Clubs and Societies Auditor(s) and the Clubs and Societies Manager shall become signatories of the Society’s account and the Clubs and Societies Office shall control such properties, held in trust. After a further six month period, all money will be deposited into a trust account administered by the University of Sydney Union, and will be returned to the Society should it reform. After a total of eighteen months inactivity, all the Society’s funds will be transferred to a University of Sydney Union account for general use.

14. RECOGNITION

14.1 The Society shall comply with all requirements of the University of Sydney and the University of Sydney Union for recognition as a registered society of the University of Sydney Union.

This Constitution was adopted on the 7th day of April, 2009.

President’s Signature ____________________________
Secretary’s Signature ____________________________

Attachment	Size
OM MINUTES 24.04.09.pdf	67.69 KB
EGM MINUTES 07.04.09.pdf	47.62 KB
CONST AMENDS 07.04.09.pdf	123.85 KB
CONST AMENDS 18.09.2008.pdf	97.5 KB
CONST ADOPTED 12.08.2008.pdf	90.17 KB