LIBERAL VANNIN PARTY CONSTITUTION, JANUARY 2011 1
NAME The name of the Party shall be the Liberal Vannin Party, hereinafter referred to as the Party.
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AIMS 2.1. 2.2. 2.3.
2.4. 2.5.
To bring back democracy to the Island To make MHKs and MLCs accountable to the electorate To preserve the integrity of the Island by: (a) Ensure the Isle of Man is governed by laws made to suit its own needs by Tynwald (b) Improve the scrutiny of the Isle of Man Government by The House of Keys and the Legislative Council Be guided by the principle of non-discrimination in all its forms Develop policies to achieve 2.1 – 2.4
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OBJECTIVES 3.1. To secure the election of Party members as MHKs, MLCs and all Local Authority Members by contesting all House of Keys and Local Government Elections as practicable. 3.2. To admit and actively recruit new members to the Party 3.3. To work with local people to achieve the Aims set out in 2.1 – 2.4 3.4. To help all local people regardless of Party, or any other affiliation, to secure their rights and protect them against oppression 3.5. To raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons by way of subscription, donation or otherwise within the limits established by electoral law.
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MEMBERSHIP 4.1.
4.2.
4.3. 4.4.
All persons shall be eligible to join the Party if they agree with the fundamental values and aims of the Party and live, work or study on the Isle of Man and are not member of other Political Party/Organisation. Any person not living, working or studying on the Isle of Man may join the Party as an Associate Member subject to approval by the NEC. Such members will not enjoy the voting rights of full members and must not belong to any other Political Organisation. If any member of the Party subsequently joins another Party his/her membership shall be immediately revoked. Any member who is deemed to have brought the Party into disrepute by word or deed, or undermines the reputation of the Party, including breaching confidentiality, shall have his/her membership revoked. 1
4.5.
4.6.
4.7.
4.8. 4.9. 4.10.
Any member who has his/her membership revoked may appeal against the decision, but must do so within one week of the notification of the revoking. Any appeal must be heard within 21 (twenty-one) days by no fewer than 3 members of the Executive Committee. Members must maintain their subscription at a level and on a date declared annually and voted on at the Annual Conference as recommended by the Executive in order to be regarded as ‘of good standing’. Concessionary subscriptions will be available to students in full-time Education, persons on Income Support and Pensioners. Members who have paid their subscription will receive a membership card and be entitled to vote in all internal Party matters for which a vote is necessary. Where Constituency or Regional Branches are established, membership shall be of the Branch and, by affiliation, the National Party. The Executive may accept affiliation from other organisations but such organisations will not enjoy voting rights. Special Interest Groups may be given formal recognition by the Party only if they are formally brought to the attention of the Executive and the Executive approves them.
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BRANCHES 5.1. The Party shall establish a Branch in every Isle of Man constituency or region. 5.2. It shall be the primary duty of each Branch to prepare, organise and fight all elections in its constituency or region as practicable and to this end shall nominate and campaign for a Party candidate or candidates as approved by the Party's Selection Committee. 5.3. Each Branch shall be responsible for administering its own financial and other matters subject to the Branch Constitution as approved by the Executive. 5.4. Where a Branch has not been established, it shall be the responsibility of the Party Chairman, directly or by delegation, to administer the Party in that area until such time as a Branch is established.
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THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE (NEC) 6.1. The NEC shall consist of up to ten Party members selected by ballot at the Party Conference and shall serve for a term not exceeding three years but may be eligible for re-election at the completion of the three year term. 6.2. Elections to the NEC shall be conducted in accordance with Party Rules as laid down from time to time and shall take place each year at the Annual Conference. 6.3. The NEC is the Party’s highest management committee entrusted with the duty of ensuring that the Party achieves its stated aims in an efficient and judicious manner. 6.4. The NEC shall be responsible for the Party’s funds, structure and publicity and may, from time to time, advise the Party Leader on political matters. 6.5. The NEC shall approve the Party’s election manifesto. 6.6. The NEC may establish Temporary and Standing Committees for the administration of the Party and the development of Policy. 6.7. The NEC may co-opt any number of ex-officio members for specific purposes on a short term basis. Such members shall not have a vote on the NEC. 2
6.8.
6.9.
6.10.
If any NEC member has his/her membership of the Party revoked or suspended that member will cease to sit on the NEC until such time as his/her membership is reaffirmed. Should a vacancy arise on the NEC by way of resignation, the revoking of membership or the incapacity in any way of a member, then the NEC may fill the vacancy by co-option until the following Annual Conference. Any member thus co-opted shall have the full voting rights of the member he/she replaces. Should that vacancy be the Chairman then an election will be held as described in 12.1. The NEC shall meet at least four times a year and be chaired by the Party Chairman or Vive Chairman or, in their absence, the Party Leader. If both these persons are absent, the NEC shall appoint a Chairman from amongst those present, for that meeting only. A majority of those members eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum.
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THE PARTY CONFERENCE 7.1. The Party shall hold an Annual Conference on a date and at a place to be decided by the NEC. This Conference shall include the Party’s Annual General Meeting. Notice for the Annual General Meeting must be given, in writing, to all members by the Party Secretary at least 28 days in advance. 7.2. The Annual Conference will be open to members, associate members and guests. 7.3. Only Party members in good standing may vote at the Annual Conference. 7.4. The Annual Conference shall receive reports from National Officers and on the Party’s funds, upon which members shall be allowed to vote. 7.5. All motions, with the exception of those to change the Constitution shall be passed by a simple majority of those eligible to vote. Motions to change or amend the Constitution shall require a two thirds majority to be passed. 7.6. All motions passed in accordance with 7.5 above shall come into force immediately. 7.7. Motions for debate at the Annual Conference shall be submitted to the Party Secretary, in writing, two months before the Annual Conference. 7.8. The Leader, through the NEC, or the NEC or no fewer than ten members of the Party may summon other Special Conferences for specific purposes. 7.9. The Party Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting, giving the membership 28 days notice, if requested to do so by no less than twenty percent of the registered members.
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THE PARTY LEADER 8.1. The Party Leader shall be elected by the membership by single vote from the current serving MHKs or MLCs and serve for a term not exceeding the following Parliament but may be eligible for re-election. The election of the Leader shall take place 18 (eighteen) months prior to the date of the ensuing General Election. 8.2. Should there be no serving MHKs then nominations for the position of Party Leader shall be accepted from within the membership. Such nominations must consist of a Proposer, a Seconder and ten Assenters all of whom shall be members in good standing. Should there be only one candidate a ballot shall still be held in order that the membership may show approval or disapproval. In the event of the membership not approving the Party leader, the process shall be re-instigated.
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8.3.
8.4. 8.5.
The Party Leader shall be a full member of the NEC and have the right to be a full member of any and all sub-committees and working groups set up by the NEC. The Party Leader shall be ultimately responsible for national statements on the Party’s policies and the manner of their communication. An election as laid down in 8.1 or 8.2 shall be held in the event of: (a) The Party Leader’s death, incapacity or resignation (b) A vote of no confidence in the Party Leader by the NEC endorsed by an Extraordinary General Meeting of the membership.
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THE PARTY DEPUTY LEADER 9.1. The election and duties/privileges of the Party Deputy Leader shall be the same as for those of the Party Leader. 9.2. The Deputy Leader will take control of the Party in the absence of the Party Leader. 9.3. In the event of a new Party Leader having to be elected/approved, the Deputy Leader shall undertake all such duties as necessary until such time as a new Party Leader has been elected/approved.
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THE PARTY TREASURER 10.1. A Party Treasurer shall be appointed by the NEC from amongst Party members in good standing. 10.2. The term of office of the Party Treasurer shall be twelve months. 10.3. The Party Treasurer may be removed from office at any time by a two-thirds majority of the NEC. 10.4. The Party Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of the NEC unless he/she is already a member of the NEC. The Party Treasurer does not hold voting rights on the NEC by virtue of his/her position. 10.5. The Party Treasurer shall be responsible for : (a) Managing the Party’s finances (b) Preparing annual accounts and presenting them at the Annual Conference (c) Chairing any Finance sub-committee should one be required by the NEC 10.6. The Party Treasurer shall carry out any other functions prescribed by statute in relation to the finances and financial reporting of the Party.
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THE PARTY SECRETARY 11.1. A Party Secretary shall be appointed by the NEC from amongst Party members in good standing. 11.2. The term of office of the Party Secretary shall be twelve months. 11.3. The Party Secretary may be removed from office at any time by a two-thirds majority of the NEC. 11.4. The Party Secretary shall be an ex-officio member of the NEC unless he/she is already a member of the NEC. The Party Secretary does not hold voting rights on the NEC by virtue of his/her position.
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11.5.
The Party Secretary is responsible for : (a) Ensuring that the administrative and other arrangements of the Party comply with all legal requirements (b) The administration of all elections within the Party except those where he/she is a candidate (in this case the NEC will nominate another member of the NEC to carry out this task). (c) Determining the composition of and chairing the Standing Orders Committee should one be required.
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THE PARTY MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY 12.1. A Party Membership Secretary shall be appointed by the NEC from amongst Party members in good standing. 12.2. The term of office of the Party Membership Secretary shall be twelve months. 12.3. The Party Membership Secretary may be removed from office at any time by a two-thirds majority of the NEC. 12.4. The Party Membership Secretary shall be an ex-officio member of the NEC unless he/she is already a member of the NEC. The Party Membership Secretary does not hold voting rights on the NEC by virtue of his/her position. 12.5. The Party Membership Secretary is responsible for : (a) Compiling and maintaining an up to date list of members (b) Issuing membership cards to members on payment of the relative subscription (c) Sending no more than two reminders to lapsed members
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THE PARTY CHAIRMAN 13.1. The Party Chairman shall be elected from amongst the NEC by members of the NEC by single vote and serve for no longer than three years but may be eligible for re-election at the completion of the three year term. 13.2. The Chairman shall chair meetings of the NEC, the Annual Conference and any Extraordinary General Meeting. 13.3. The Chairman will be responsible for ensuring that all properly constituted branches of the Party are financially able to support a local or parliamentary election campaign. 13.4. The Party Chairman may make administrative appointments as he/she sees fit and may suggest to the NEC the creation of paid administrative posts.
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THE PARTY DEPUTY CHAIRMAN 14.1. The election and duties/privileges of the Party Deputy Chairman shall be the same as for those of the Party Chairman. 14.2. The Deputy Chairman will take control of the Party in the absence of the Party Chairman. 14.3. In the event of a new Party Chairman having to be elected/approved, the Deputy Chairman shall undertake all such duties as necessary until such time as a new Party Chairman has been elected/approved.
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THE PARTY COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR 15.1. A Communications Director shall be appointed by the NEC from amongst Party members in good standing. 15.2. The Communications Director will be appointed annually. 15.3. The Communications Director shall be an ex-officio member of the NEC unless he/she is already a member of the NEC. The Communications Director does not hold voting rights on the NEC by virtue of his/her position. 15.4. The Communications Director shall be responsible for the production of an annual communications plan with associated costs for the approval of the NEC. He/she will also be responsible for the maintenance of the website, the production of all press releases, public relations activities, all advertising, all promotion and the organisation of the annual conference. 15.5. The Communications Director will be responsible for ensuring that all communications by Party members use the correct house style and are in line with agreed Party policy.
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SEPARATION OF OFFICE 16.1. The Party Leader, his/her Deputy, Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman, his/her Deputy and Communications Director may only be held singly.
17 STANDING AND TEMPORARY COMMITTEES 17.1 The NEC shall set up the following Standing Committees: (i) The Finance Committee, chaired by the Party Treasurer, with responsibility for overseeing the management of the Party’s finances and to appoint auditors. (ii) The Discipline Committee, chaired by the Party Secretary, and comprising up to ten Party members in good standing approved by the Annual Conference. The Party Secretary and a minimum of four members of the Discipline Committee shall conduct specific hearings in accordance with the appropriate rules that shall be made by the NEC from time to time. (iii) The Committee on Standing Orders, chaired by the Party Secretary, with the responsibility for making recommendations to the NEC for maintaining and updating the rules prescribed by the Party for various purposes and for reviewing proposals for amendments to the Party Constitution. (iv) The Conference Committee, chaired by the Party Chairman, with responsibility for all matters relating to the agenda of the Party Conference, including the selection of motions for debate. 18
THE PARTY RULES 18.1. The NEC shall establish the rules governing the Party which have not been laid down in the constitution. 18.2. Any rule which impedes on the constitution must be approved by the members.
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CANDIDATES 19.1. All candidates must be members in good standing. 19.2. Candidates shall make a written application, making full disclosure of any fact, political or personal, that may have a bearing on their suitability for selection as a candidate. 19.3. All candidates will be interviewed by at least three Party officials including the Party Leader. 19.4. The NEC shall have the overall responsibility for the interviewing process and the final selection of candidates for the constituencies. 19.5. A candidate may remove his/her application by informing the NEC in writing. 19.6. A candidate may be suspended by the Party Chairman or Leader if he/she has a good reason to do so, the matter will then be referred to the NEC for ratification. 19.7. A de-selected candidate will have the right to an appeal.
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ELIGIBILITY FOR NOMINATION AND VOTING. 20.1. Eligibility for voting shall be members in good standing, for at least 30 (thirty) days before the last date, for the receipt of ballot papers and not subject to any disciplinary action. 20.2. Nominees for Party posts must be members in good standing, for at least 12 (twelve) months. 20.3. Proposers, Seconders and Assentors must be members in good standing, for at least 3 (three) months
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DONATIONS 21.1. Any donations to the Party, Nationally, in excess of £5000 in any one year must be publicly declared. 21.2. Donations in excess of £200 cannot be made anonymously and are prohibited if made anonymously. 21.3. 'Blind Trusts' (trusts set up where the donor is not known to the Party) are prohibited. 21.4. Donations of less than £200 may be made anonymously provided the donors' names are known to the NEC. Such names will not be made public
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APPROVAL AND AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION 22.1. The members have the right to put separate and distinct elements or clauses to amending the Constitution, these amendments must be approved by the NEC before being put to a ballot of members. 22.2. Amendments will come into force immediately after the approval of members.
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