Constitution of ANUCS

The Australian National University Catholic Society

Constitution

Section 1: Name

1(1) The official name of the Club/Society to which this Constitution applies is “The Australian National University Catholic Society”.

Section 2: Interpretation

2(1) In this Constitution, unless the contrary intention appears:

  • academic day means a 24 hour period during any day or days that do not fall on a weekend or public holiday, and that fall during a teaching period of The Faculties;

  • Association means the Australian National University Students’ Association;

  • club means the Club or Society named in Section 1 above;

  • committee means the Australian National University Grants and Affiliation Committee;

  • executive means the Executive Committee of the Club;

  • general meeting means a General Meeting, Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting of the Club;

  • member means any full or associate member of the Club;

  • PARSA means the Australian National University Postgraduate and Research Students’ Association Inc.;

  • student means any student of the University who retains membership of either PARSA or the Students’ Association;

  • University means the Australian National University.

Section 3: Affiliation

3(1) This Club is affiliated to the Grants and Affiliation Committee of the Association and PARSA and anything in the Constitution which is inconsistent with the Association’s Grants and Affiliation Regulations is null and void to the extent of inconsistency”.

3(2) The Club must fulfill its obligations under the Association’s Grants and Affiliation Regulations.

Section 4: Aims and Objectives

4(1) The aims and objectives of the Club are to:

1. To foster and promote the spiritual and other interests of the Catholic community at the Australian National University.

2. To provide moral, social, cultural and spiritual support for students and staff.

3. To engage people in Gospel values and the principles of Catholicism.

4. To promote intellectual dialogue and mutual understanding among faiths.

Section 5: Membership

5(1) Full membership is open to all ordinary members of the Association and all ordinary members of PARSA who have paid the relevant subscription fee of the Club.

5(2) Associate membership is open to all other persons, subject to approval by the Club’s Executive, who have paid the relevant subscription fee of the Club.

5(3) Membership may be suspended or withdrawn by a resolution carried by a two-thirds majority of full members present and voting at a General Meeting of the Club. Appeals against such a decision may be directed to the Committee, whose decision is final.

5(4) Associate members are ineligible to vote at any General Meeting of the Club, may be charged a higher membership fee by the Club, and may be charged a higher fee to attend events staged by the Club, but otherwise are to have the same rights as full members.

5(5) A roll recording the name and membership number of all Club members, and the student number of all full members, is to be held and kept up to date by the Executive.

Section 6: The Executive

6(1) The Club’s Executive consists of at least 3 members and must include the Club trustees who are:

(a) the President; and

(b) the Treasurer; and

(c) the Secretary.

6(2) The Executive includes such other members as the Club from time to time determines.

6(3) All members of the Executive must be either full or associate members of the Club, and an absolute majority of the Executive must be full members of the Club.

6(4) The Executive is to be elected at each Annual General Meeting of the Club by a vote involving the full members, but not the associate members, of the Club.

6(5) A meeting of the Executive is to be held at least once during each teaching period of the academic year, when and where the Executive sees fit.

6(6) The quorum for a meeting of the Executive is the next whole number above half the number of members of the current Executive.

6(7) The Executive has the power to co-opt other members as it sees fit.

6(8) The Executive has the power to fill any vacancy in the Executive of the Club that may occur between Annual General Meetings.

6(9) The Executive has the power to do all things it believes to be in the best interests of the Club subject to the provisions of this Constitution and the Grants and Affiliation Regulations of the Association.

6(10) Individual members of the Executive are bound by a resolution of a quorate Executive meeting to the extent that the resolution directly relates to their activities as a member of the Executive of the Club.

6(11) The President has a casting vote at executive meetings. If the President is not present, then the chair of the meeting has the casting vote

Section 7: General Meetings

7(1) An Annual General Meeting of the Club is to held at least once each year, not more than 14 months after the previous Annual General Meeting of the Club, at which the members of the Executive of the Club are to be elected, and an Annual Report, statements of income and expenditure, and a current balance sheet are to be presented by the outgoing Executive.

7(2) A General Meeting of the Club may be convened no more than once each during each teaching period of the academic year at the discretion of the Executive.

7(3) A Special General Meeting must be called by the Executive within 10 academic days of being presented with a petition signed by 10 members of the Club setting out the purpose for which such a meeting is requested.

7(4) The quorum for a General Meeting is 10 members.

7(5) Except as set out in section 5(3) and section 8(2) of this Constitution, decisions of a General Meeting are by a simple majority of full members present in person who cast a vote.

7(6) The Club President must, where possible, Chair, or appoint another Club member to Chair, a General Meeting.

7(7) Where this is not done, those full members present must elect a Club member to Chair.

7(8) The Chair is to conduct the General Meeting in accordance with the Standing Orders Regulations of the Association.

7(9) The Chair has a deliberative and casting vote.

7(10) Any resolution of a quorate General Meeting binds all members of the Executive to the extent that the resolution directly relates to their activities as a member of the Executive of the Club.

Section 8: Interpretation and Amendment

8(1) If a dispute arises as to the interpretation of this Constitution, or a dispute arises for which there is no provision made in this Constitution, or a dispute arises for which there is no provision made in this Constitution, the matter must be referred to the Committee, whose decision is final.

8(2) This Constitution may be amended by a resolution carried by a two-thirds majority of full members present and voting at a General Meeting of the Club – however such amendments are subject to rectification by the Committee.

8(3) Notice of proposed amendments must be placed upon the front doors of the Association at least 5 days prior to the General Meeting.

Section 9: Dissolution

9(1) The club/society can be dissolved by:

  1. decision of the current membership at a general meeting,

  2. when the club/society ceases to operate due to no members being elected to the executive/trustee positions, or

  3. the club/society ceasing to function through natural attrition.

9(2) In the case of the club/society being dissolved any excess assets, property, funds or money remaining after all debts and liabilities are paid shall not be given to members but shall be given or transferred to the ANU Students’ Association.

Section 10: Non-Profit

10(1) The assets and income of the Club/Society shall be used only for the promotion of the Club/Society’s objectives and no portion may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to members of the club/society except as:

  1. bona-fide remuneration for services rendered by the members to the Club/Society,

  2. repayment of expenses incurred on behalf of the Club/Society,

  3. interest at a rate not exceeding interest at the rate for the time being which is or would be charged by the clubs/society’s bankers for money lent to the club/society, and

  4. bona-fide rent for premises let to the club/society

PDF: ANUCS Constitution 2013