Constitution

From Pirate Party UK Wiki

This page contains our formally adopted constitution. Subsequent adoptions will appear here.

CONSTITUTION OF THE PIRATE PARTY UK

1. NAME
   1. The official name of the party shall be “Pirate Party UK”.
2. AIMS
   1. The principal aim of the Party is that the United Kingdom reforms its copyright and patent and privacy laws in a manner consistent with the opinions of the Party’s members.
3. ACTIVITIES
   1. The Party shall take part in democratic electoral processes. It intends to contest Westminster and European parliamentary elections, local elections, etc.
   2. In the furtherance of its aims, the Party may:
      1. raise funds and invite and receive contributions within the limits established by electoral law;
      2. invest any monies of the Party not immediately required, in accordance with the Trustee Act of 1925 and;
      3. do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the Party’s aims.
4. MEMBERSHIP
   1. Membership is open to citizens of Great Britain and resident foreign nationals who share its aims and who are not members of any organisation which the National Executive Committee (“NEC”) has declared is incompatible with membership of the Party.
   2. Members must pay membership fees as set by the NEC.
   3. If a member of the Party subsequently joins such an organisation which the NEC has declared to be incompatible with membership of the Party, or if the member is found to be a member of such an organisation then their membership of the Party will be automatically revoked without return of membership fees.
   4. Members shall be entitled to vote in all relevant internal Party elections.
   5. Members shall not act in a manner which brings the party into disrepute or is likely to bring the party into disrepute. If a member is suspected of behaving in such a fashion he/she will be asked to explain their actions to the NEC or a designated sub-committee to explain their actions. Their party membership may be suspended or removed by said committee.
5. THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC)
   1. The NEC shall initially comprise the Elected Officers (the Party Leader, Treasurer, Campaigns Manager, Data Controller and Nominating Officer) together with members selected in accordance with rules to be made by the NEC from time to time.
   2. At any time, members or the NEC may propose a vote of no confidence in any elected officer. Such a vote will be triggered if 25% or more of the fully paid-up membership or over 50% of the NEC members make their desire for a vote of no confidence known to the NEC. The NEC will then organise a vote of party members to retain or dismiss the officer, which will conclude within at most 28 days, and the officer will be dismissed if a simple majority of party members who take part in that vote, vote in favour of dismissal, subject to a quorum of 10% of members participating in the vote.
   3. A new election for each Elected Officer role will be held no less frequently than every 2 years and 1 month, and will also be triggered by the resignation of the officer performing that role, or any other circumstance that prevents said officer performing their duties. Any member may stand as a candidate in such elections.
6. FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
   1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for accounting requirements and control of donations, as described in Parts III and IV of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and other relevant legislation.
   2. The Campaigns Officer shall be responsible for campaign expenditure, third party expenditure and referendums, as described in Parts V to VII of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and other relevant legislation.
7. DISSOLUTION OF THE PARTY
   1. The party may be dissolved by a simple majority of members making clear their wish to dissolve the party. Any assets belonging to the party at the time of dissolution will be donated to a registered charity of the NEC’s choosing.
8. THE BOARD
   1. The Party members will elect a Board of twelve governors. Any member in good standing may serve on the Board. Elections of the Board will be held no less than once every five years.
   2. The Board will be responsible for proposing constitutional amendments and presenting them for ratification by a full vote of members at such times as they feel appropriate.
   3. The Board may have other governance responsibilities which are as yet undefined in this constitution.

The constitution was formally adopted 12th July 2009, as amended 9 May 2010 following the member vote which closed 13 March 2010.