Liberal Democrats Muslim Forum

The Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum (LDMF) Constitution

Article 1: Name & Objectives

1.1 The name of the organization shall be the Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum, hereafter known as LDMF.

1.2 The objectives of LDMF shall be:

(a) to promote the interests of all individuals within and outside the Party, regardless of their race, religion, age, ability, gender, sexuality or background;

(b) to campaign and work with the Muslim membership to promote the objectives of the Party;

(c) to encourage, guide and assist LDMF members to play a full role in the democratic processes of the Party at all levels;

(d) to ensure that formulation of Party policy takes due regard to the need and views of Muslim Party Members;

(e) to recruit new members of the Party and LDMF and encourage existing members to renew their membership;

(f) to work towards an equitable representation of members form Muslim communities on public bodies and to elected public office;

(g) to campaign and work with Muslims to promote and project a positive image of Muslims in the United Kingdom;

(h) to promote Liberal Democrat policies and beliefs amongst Muslim Communities;

(i) to raise the necessary financial aid and other resources to aid the achievement of these aims and objectives.

(j) to provide development, guidance, handholding and mentoring support to Muslim candidates for local and general elections

(j) to provide local parties with information to understand and to deliver strategies in support of gaining electoral advantage in areas where there is a substantial Muslim population.

Article 2: The Organisation

2.1 LDMF shall be an association of individual members under Article 3.

2.2 This Constitution and any Standing Orders or Regulations made under it shall be binding on LDMF and any subsequent bodies created under its auspices.

2.3 LDMF shall have the power to raise money in order to further its objects under Article 1.2. Financial procedures shall be laid out in the Standing Orders.

2.4 LDMF shall have the power to employ staff to further its objects. Staff protocols shall be in the Standing Orders and other documents relating to staffing matters that have been approved by the executive.

Article 3: Membership

3.1 Membership of LDMF shall be open, on payment of an appropriate annual subscription determined by the LDMF Executive and ratified by the LDMF General Meeting from time to time, to any person who broadly agrees with its objectives and who is a member of the Liberal Democrat Party. The current recommended annual membership subscription is £200 for Guardian Member, £25 the standard minimum amount is £ 10 while students and unwaged person may pay a minimum of £5 per annum. They shall have the right to:

(a) Attend LDMF General Meetings and any meeting convened under LDMF, unless it is deemed closed as laid out below.

(b) Hold elected or appointed office within LDMF or bodies created under it.

(c) Vote at LDMF General Meetings or other meetings convened under LDMF or by post, except where voting membership is defined in the Standing Orders or Constitution.

3.2 Any member of the Party may, on nomination by the LDMF Executive or an LDMF General Meeting, be awarded Honorary Life Membership, hereafter denoted HLM, subject to ratification by an LDMF General Meeting. They shall be expected to have shown commitment over and above the norm either to the objectives of LDMF, or to its general support, for no less than three years. Any member who has been subjected to a vote of no confidence by LDMF shall only retain or attain HLM after ratification by two consecutive meetings of an LDMF General Meeting. HLMs shall have the rights outlined in 3.1 (a) above, but may be normal members with the relevant rights in addition.

3.3 any individual member of the Party or any SAO’s of the Party, may become Registered Supporters and thereby receive the regular mailings from LDMF which are sent to it’s individual members. They shall also have the ability to send non-voting observers to any meetings convened under LDMF with the chair of that meeting’s permission.

3.4 Any application for membership shall be subject to ratification by the Executive, and shall last for one year from being entered onto the member’s register. Membership however shall be deemed to have lapsed, with no refund made payable if within a year, if:

(a) The member ceases to be a member of the Party for more than three months, for whatever reason,

(b) The member fails to pay their subscription within one month of its due date.

Should either of these occur, then they must re-apply for membership of LDMF.

3.5 In addition the LDMF Executive shall have the right to refuse or revoke an individual’s membership of LDMF on the following grounds:

(a) Conduct which has brought or is likely to bring LDMF or the Party into disrepute,

(b) Material disagreement, evidenced by conduct, with the objects of LDMF,

3.6 When considering membership under Article 3.5, the LDMF Executive shall act within the judicially established standards of natural justice and, in particular, observe the requirements of any Articles or Sections relating to Discipline or Appeal.

3.7 All members shall have the rights as laid out and defined in this Constitution and any Standing Orders and Regulations made under it, provided that they do not conflict with the above.

Article 4: The LDMF Executive

4.1 There shall be an LDMF Executive.

4.2 The LDMF Executive shall have as its voting members:

(a) The Chair, who shall convene and chair any meeting convened under LDMF, unless otherwise arranged

(b) Vice-Chair, who shall aid the chair in the above

(d) General Secretary

(e) Press and Media Coordinator

(f) Membership Coordinator

(g) Policy Coordinator

(h) Fundraising Coordinator

(i) Campaigns and Events Coordinator

(j) Training and Development Coordinator

(k) Women’s Co-ordinator

(l) Youth Co-ordinator

(m) Up to Four Co-opted Members with specialist knowledge or technical experience of pertaining to matters of relevance to the aims of LDMF. They shall be Co-opted for one year by a simple majority vote of the Executive and have voting rights after that point.

(n) Additional ordinary non-voting member can be co-opted to executive committee by the executive to represent and develop closer link with each constituency with large Muslim community and membership of the Party.

4.3 The LDMF Executive shall be responsible, subject to Standing Orders, for the day-to-day running of LDMF. In particular it shall:

(a) Supervise the implementation of LDMF policy,

(b) Oversee the work of the LDMF Executive Officers,

(d) Supervise the employment of staff,

(e) Undertake such responsibilities and powers vested in it by this Constitution, Standing Orders or policy passed at LDMF General Meetings,

(f) To submit policy on behalf of LDMF to the Federal Party Conference and external bodies,

(g) To maintain current copies of this Constitution, Standing Orders and rules made under it,

(h) To maintain a policy file containing all current policy of LDMF,

4.5 The LDMF Executive shall have the power to set up Additional Committees and determine their remits. Provision for such Committees shall be held within the Standing Orders.

4.6 The LDMF Executive may devolve any of its powers to Standing or Additional Committees at its discretion.

4.7 The responsibilities of individual LDMF Executive Officers shall be governed by the Standing Orders.

4.8 The LDMF Executive shall have the power, exercisable on a two-thirds majority, to suspend any office holder within LDMF, with the exception of the Honorary Officers, for any period ending no later than the date of the next LDMF General Meeting. This power may only be exercised on one or more of the following grounds:

(a) Conduct which has brought or is likely to bring LDMF or Party into disrepute,

(b) Material disagreement, evidenced by conduct, with the objectives of LDMF,

(c) Another reason substantiated by evidence, why their continued tenure in office will be damaging to LDMF.
4.9 When considering the exercise of power under Article 4.8, the LDMF Executive shall act within judicially established standards of natural justice and, in particular, observe the requirements under Articles and Sections relating to Discipline and Appeal. They shall have a right of appeal to the Appeals Panel.

4.10 Suspended office holders may perform none of the functions of their office, and may not use their title whilst suspended in any way, but shall be treated as a normal member.

4.11 Following a suspension, the next available LDMF General Meeting shall vote on an automatically submitted no-confidence motion in that officer, to be proposed by a nominee from the LDMF Executive.

4.12 The LDMF Executive members shall take office on a date defined in the Standing Orders or policy relating to that year in which they are elected, and shall serve for a period of one year thereafter.

4.13 No person shall hold more than one LDMF Executive office of LDMF at any one time. In the case of a vacancy though, they may take on aspects of the unfilled positions role subject to a majority agreement from the rest of the LDMF Executive.

4.14 LDMF Executive Officers may be removed from office after the passing, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at LDMF General Meeting of a valid No Confidence motion in accordance with Standing Orders. Proxy voting where a member cannot attend maybe allowed at the Returning Officers discretion.

Article 5: The Policy Committee

5.1 There shall be a PolicyCommittee. It shall be aStanding Committee of LDMF.

5.2 The Policy Committee shall be comprised of:

(a) the Policy Coordinator;

(b) any LDMF member who is also a member of the Executive Committee subject to ratification by the EMLD Executive;

5.3 The chair of the committee shall be the Policy Coordinator.

5.4 The remit of the Policy Committee shall be:

(a) To advise the LDMF Executive on policy matters,

(b) To draft policy motions on behalf of the LDMF Executive for submission to the Federal Party Conference and/or outside bodies,

(d) To undertake, on instruction from LDMF General Meeting or the LDMF Executive, or of its own volition, the commissioning, research, and publication of papers containing prospective policy. In the course of doing so, the Policy Committee shall consult as widely and appropriately as possible,

(e) To maintain a register of current policy,

(f) To advise LDMF General Meetings of policy due to lapse,

(g) To produce a report on its activities to LDMF Annual General Meeting,

(h) To resolve conflicts over policy jurisdiction.

Article 6: The Campaigns & Events Committee

6.1 There shall be a Campaigns & Events Committee. It shall be a Standing Committee of LDMF.

6.2 The Campaigns & Events Committee shall be comprised of:

(a) the Campaigns Coordinator;

(b) a representative of the local area where the event is to be held, if appropriate;

6.3 The chair of the committee shall be the Campaigns Coordinator.

6.4 The remit of the Campaigns & Events Committee shall be:

(a) To organize LDMF Campaigns.

(b) To organize LDMF events by agreement with the LDMF Executive.

(c)To organize LDMF activities at Federal Party Conferences.

Article 7: Elections

7.1 LDMF shall ballot its membership each year, in the case of a contested election at an AGM, in a manner laid down in Standing Orders, to elect for a term of office from the election at and following one AGM and the next:

(a) The Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, General Secretary,

(b) Each of the Coordinators,

(d) Representatives to other bodies which the LDMF Executive deems to require election by an all member ballot.

7.2 All LDMF members shall be entitled to vote in LDMF elections providing that their membership was valid at the close of nominations of the relevant election. For elections and by-elections conducted at LDMF General Meetings, Standing Orders shall contain a procedure for the use of postal, or if allowed proxy, votes.

7.3 Any LDMF member shall be eligible to stand for election.

7.4 All elections in LDMF convened under the auspices of LDMF shall be conducted in the following manner:

(a) All elections shall be by secret ballot,

(b) Multi-post elections shall be conducted using the Single Transferable Vote,

(d) For the purposes of counting elections where “Re-Open Nominations is a candidate”, “Re-Open nominations” shall be treated as if a single candidate. If, at any stage, “Re-Open Nominations” gains the required number of votes to be elected, it shall be deemed to be elected and any surplus and further votes for “Re-Open Nominations” shall be transferred to a new “Re-Open Nominations”. This process shall be repeated as often as required and the Returning Officer shall declare to be unfilled the number of posts equal to the number of “Re-Open Nominations” candidates elected,

(e) Any further requirements laid out in the Party Constitution.

7.5 Standing Orders shall provide for the appointment of a Returning Officer. He/she shall be a member of the Party but not a member of LDMF. In the Returning Officers absence or re-election, the members of the LDMF Executive who are not standing shall compose an Elections Committee.

7.6 The Returning Officer shall be responsible for the running of all LDMF elections and may make rulings from time to time, subject to appeals under the relevant Articles or Sections, providing those rulings are communicated to affected parties as soon as possible.

7.7 All elections for the LDMF Executive shall have provision for “Re-Open Nominations”.

7.8 All elections to LDMF Executive positions shall be open to job-share by two members of LDMF who shall be treated as one candidate for the purposes of the election. Provisions relating to job-share shall be in Standing Orders.

7.9 Vacant posts shall be filled by, or co-opted by, the LDMF Executive. The LDMF Executive shall call a by-election at the earliest available opportunity under Standing Orders, except if an election for the post in question is due to take place at the next LDMF General Meeting, or in a time frame which would make it impractical.

7.10 The chair, the vice-chair and all co-ordinators in sections 5.2 and 5.3 may not be nominated or elected for the same position for more than two consecutive terms.

Article 8 : LDMF General Meetings

8.1 The sovereign body of LDMF shall be LDMF General Meetings.

8.2 LDMF General Meetings shall be held at least Once a year but up to Twice a year.

8.3 LDMF Annual General Meeting shall be held no more than three months after the end of the Financial Year, at a time to be determined by the Steering Committee in consultation with the LDMF Executive.

8.4 The other LDMF General Meeting shall be held at a time to be determined by the Steering Committee in consultation with the LDMF Executive, and may fall on and at a Federal Party Conference that year.

8.5 The format and running of LDMF General Meeting shall be governed by Standing Orders.

8.6 Attendance of LDMF General Meeting shall be open to any member of LDMF, representatives of Registered Supporting Groups as laid out in Article 3.3, and others to be determined by the LDMF Executive.

8.7 Voting at LDMF General Meeting shall be limited to members of LDMF under Article 3, who

(a) have paid any reasonable registration fee required by Steering Committee to cover the costs of the event,

(b) were members of LDMF on the date nominations closed for the elections to be conducted at the relevant LDMF General Meeting.

8.8 Twenty members, or a fifth of the membership, whichever is the lower, at an LDMF General Meeting shall constitute a quorum.

8.9 A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Steering Committee on receipt by The Secretary of the LDMF Executive or the Returning Officer of a request from any of the following, with details of the specific business to be discussed:

(a) The LDMF Executive,

(b) LDMF General Meeting,

8.10 In the case of Article 11.9 (c), then these names shall be verified as members by the Secretary as outlined in 11.9, but need not be released, except that if a motion is to be proposed then there must be a designated proposer and seconder.

8.11 A Special General Meeting shall be run in the same manner as an ordinary LDMF General Meeting but shall be limited to the business specified under it’s calling notice.

8.12 The Secretary shall give at least 21 days notice of any LDMF General Meeting to all LDMF members including, in the case of Special General Meetings, details of the specified business.

Article 9: LDMF Policy

9.1 LDMF shall have the power to determine policy in areas falling within the remit of the LDMF as defined in Article 1 of the Constitution.

9.2 LDMF policy shall be ratified by a quorate LDMF General Meeting by a simple majority of those present and voting on a motion validly submitted in accordance with Standing Orders.

9.3 LDMF policy shall lapse at the end of the third Annual General Meeting after its creation. Standing Orders shall contain a procedure for ratifying policy due to lapse.

9.4 Interim policy, when required, shall be made by Policy Committee and ratified by the LDMF Executive. Ratification shall be withheld if the proposed policy contradicts current LDMF policy or is incompatible with the Preamble of the Party.

Article 10: External Affiliation & Representation

10.1 LDMF shall send representatives, and may submit policy to the following:

(a) Party Committees, by agreement with the Party, that the LDMF Executive shall from time to time determine in Regulations,

(b) Federal Party Conferences

10.2 LDMF General Meetings shall have the power to affiliate LDMF to external organizations, provided that they do not contravene Party policy and or any of the Objectives laid out in Article 1.

Article 11: Constitutional Amendments & Sections

11.1 This Constitution shall only be amended by atwo-thirds majority of those present and voting (including by Proxy if allowed) at an LDMF General Meeting on a motion validly submitted according to Standing Orders.

11.2 There shall be appended to this Constitution a set of Standing Orders to cover the implementation of

this Constitution. Standing Orders shall include sections on:

(a) Elections,

(b) LDMF Executive,

(d) Standing and Additional Committees,

(e) Finance,

(f) Staff- if applicable,

(g) Regional Groups and Branches- if needed,

(h) Other areas, which from time to time, may arise.

11.3 Standing Orders shall be passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting on a motion

validly submitted under Standing Orders at an LDMF General Meeting.

11.4Constitutional and Standing Order amendments shall take effect at the close of the LDMFGeneral

Meeting that made them, unless the General Meeting by two-thirds majority opts to adopt them immediately.

11.5 The LDMF Executive shall have the power to make Regulations to govern the implementation of the

Constitution and Standing Orders except that no Regulation shall conflict with any provision of the Constitution or Standing Orders. These Regulations shall take effect immediately but shall be subject to ratification by the first LDMF General Meeting after their creation and shall be reported to that LDMF General Meeting.

11.6 Any Standing or Additional Committee may make Regulations to govern its own procedure. These

Regulations shall take effect immediately but shall be subject to ratification by the LDMF Executive, and reported to the first LDMF General Meeting after their creation, otherwise they shall be deemed to have lapsed.

Article 12: Interpretations & Dispute Resolution

12.1 In the event of an ambiguity arising concerning the interpretation of this Constitution, Standing

Orders or Regulations, the matter shall be referred to the Chair for a Rule of Interpretation.

12.2 In the event of an ambiguity arising during the course of a committee meeting or LDMF general

Meeting, the matter shall be referred to the Chair of that Committee or LDMF General Meeting session for a Rule of Interpretation.

12.3 Rules of Interpretation shall be binding in the first instance although any party with a substantial interest in the matter, to be adjudicated by the Appeals Panel, may mount an appeal to the Appeals Panel under the relevant Articles or Sections.

12.4 Rules of Interpretation shall be binding precedents unless
(a) overturned by LDMF General Meeting by a simple majority in a motion validly submitted according to Standing Orders or

(b) the text of the rule concerned is amended or deleted.

12.5 The LDMF Executive shall maintain a register of current Rules of Interpretation.

12.6 There shall be an LDMF Appeals Panel.

12.7 The implementation of this Article in its timing and fullness, would be decided by the LDMF

Executive, taking due regards of the needs of LDMF and appropriateness of the need for the Appeals Panel with the best interests of LDMF in mind:

12.8 The Appeals Panel shall consist of but three members from amongst these would hear any appeal:

(a) The LDMF Honorary President who shall convene and chair the Panel,

(b) Three members elected by the LDMF Executive from its membership at its first meeting after an election under (b) above,

(c) If a member, or members, above are involved in the dispute then another person in the case of (a) to may be nominated by the remaining objective members of that group.

12.9 The Appeals Panel shall adjudicate on the following:

(a) an appeal arising out of a Rule of Interpretation,

(b) an appeal arising out of a ruling by the Returning Officer,

(d) allegations of a breach of the Constitution, Standing Orders or Regulations by any member of LDMF,

(g) an appeal from a decision of Policy Committee on policy conflicts,

(h) any other dispute relevant to LDMF, this relevance to be determined by the Appeals Panel.

12.10 The Appeals Panel shall act within judicially established standards of natural justice. In particular it

shall:

(a) have regard to relevant matters only,

(b) hear all interested parties, who wish to be heard,

right to reply,

(d) give written reasons for its decisions.

12.11 In the event of a matter being referred to Appeals Panel, the chair of the Panel shall, as soon as possible, convene a meeting whose members are chosen from the Panel to hear the matter. That meeting shall consist of the chair of the Appeals Panel and

(a) one person under Article 15.8(b)

(b) one person under Article 15.8(c)

(d) one person under Article 15.8(e)

none of who shall have any prior interest in the mailer.

12.12 In the event of the chair of Appeals Panel having a prior interest in the matter, the LDMF Executive shall select a chair from any of the members elected under Article 15.7(b), (c), (d) or (e).

12.13 In the event of the Chair of the Appeals Panel being unable, by virtue of the prior interests of any member(s), to call a meeting, the Chair of the Appeals Panel shall fill remaining vacancies using any available member of the Appeals Panel.

12.14 The Appeals Panel shall decide by simple majority with all members indicating a preference.

12.15 Determinations of the Appeals Panel shall be binding on all concerned. The Appeals Panel shall have the power to provide effective redress.

12.16 In the event of an appeal arising out of a Rule of Interpretation, the Appeals Panel shall consider

the appeal and either uphold the Rule of Interpretation or substitute another Rule of Interpretation

12.17 The Appeals Panel may draw up Regulations to govern its own procedure. These Regulations shall

take effect immediately but shall be subject to ratification by the first LDMF General Meeting after their creation, otherwise they shall be deemed to have lapsed.

Article 13: Definitions

13.1 Throughout this Constitution and any rules made pursuant to it

(a) ‘The Party’ shall mean the Liberal Democrats,

(b) ‘Rule of Interpretation’ shall mean an interpretation of the Constitution, Standing Orders or Regulations issued by the body empowered to do so under this Constitution,

(c) ‘Policy’ shall mean the substantive resolutions and statements of opinion of LDMF General Meeting validly submitted as motions under Standing Orders,

(d) ‘Standing Committees’ shall mean those committees established in this Constitution,

(e) ‘Additional Committees’ shall mean those committees set up by the LDMF Executive in Regulations,

(f) ‘Registered Supporter’ shall mean group of the Party as laid out in Article 3, which has paid a subscription to be determined by LDMF as laid out above.

(g) ‘Majority’ at any meeting shall mean a majority of more than half of those present and voting, unless two thirds or other requirement is set, where the chair shall have a single casting vote only.

(h) ‘Executive’ or ‘Executive Committee’ shall mean the Executive Committee of LDMF.