5 The National Congress

5.1 The National Congress shall be the highest decision making body of the organisation. Control of the organisation shall be exercised through the following in this order of precedence:

National Congress

National Executive Committee

5.1.1 The National Congress will meet at least every two years to determine matters relating to the policy and direction of the organisation.

5.1.2 The National Congress shall normally be chaired by the National President.

5.1.2.1 On that person's absence, or inability to attend, one of the National Deputy Presidents elected by the other National Office Bearers.

5.1.2.2 Should these arrangements (either 5.1.2 or 5.1.2.1) be contested, delegates at the National Congress may vote, on a correctly proposed, seconded and numbered motion in accordance with 5.7.3, to elect a person, nominated and seconded from amongst and, by delegates at the National Congress, who shall vote on the matter in accordance with the procedures in paragraphs 7.4 and 7.4.1.

5.2 The National Congress will have the following functions:

5.2.1 to elect the National Office Bearers as required under section 7 below;

5.2.2 to formulate the policy of the organisation and to decide on appropriate programmes of action;

5.2.3 to consider reports from the National President, National Deputy Presidents, National Treasurer and General Secretary;

5.2.4 to utilise accumulated funds in accordance with section 16 of this Constitution and consider audited accounts presented by the National Treasurer, and choose auditors for the following financial period;

5.2.5 to determine subscriptions payable by members in accordance with section 12;

5.2.6 to make amendments to this Constitution in accordance with section 18;

5.2.7 to do whatever it deems necessary to advance the aims and objectives of the organisation;

5.2.8 to consider any written motions or resolutions proposed by member Branches, individual members or from the floor during the conduct of a National Congress.

5.3 The National Congress shall consist of:

5.3.1 The National Executive Committee.

5.3.2 Branch delegates, who shall be selected by the Branch Committees according to the following principles and who shall be registered as in attendance:

Number of  Branch members in good standing  

Number of Delegates  allocated

1 to 50

1

51 to 100

2

101 to 300

3

301 to 500

4

5

800 +

6

Quorum

5.4 The National Congress shall be quorate if both (a) half of all the delegates, and (b) half of all the National Office Bearers is present at any time. A written power to exercise a proxy vote on behalf of any not present Branch delegate shall be counted into the quorum, provided the proxy voter is present at the time.

5.4.1 The meeting shall adjourn if a quorum is not reached within one (1) hour of the time set for starting the meeting.

5.4.2 In the event of an adjournment under 5.4.1 the meeting shall reconvene within fourteen (14) days but not later than forty-five (45) days from the date of the adjournment.

5.4.3 A meeting reconvened under 5.4.2 will be quorate.

Voting

5.5  Delegates of Branches in good standing shall have the right to cast one vote each in respect of any voting taking place at a National or Special Congress, failing being in good standing such delegates will be observers. A written power to exercise a proxy vote on behalf of any not present Branch delegate shall be allowed provided the proxy voter is present at the time.

5.5.1 Voting shall be by ballot on an appropriate voting form specifying:

the year of the National Congress;

the motion or resolution number;

blocks providing for a vote for, against or abstaining from the voting.

5.5.2 Any vote unless otherwise required elsewhere in this Constitution shall be carried by a simple majority.

5.5.3 A vote shall be considered spoilt if more than one voting block has been or appears to have been marked.

5.5.4 The meeting Chairperson shall have a casting vote.

5.5.5 Ballot forms shall be folded and placed in a ballot box which at the conclusion of the voting period shall be opened and vote counting commence.

5.6 A Branch not in good standing and observing may petition, with motivations, to be accorded speaking rights, which rights may be granted by consensus of a quorate meeting.

5.6.1 The times, circumstances and restrictions on these rights shall also be decided by consensus.

Agenda, Motions and Resolutions

5.7 Notice of agenda, motions and resolutions:

5.7.1 The National Office Bearers, through the General Secretary, will inform all Branches of the date of the National Congress and call for nominations for National Office Bearers, motions and resolutions, at least three months before the Congress.

5.7.2 The General Secretary and the National Administrative Office shall circulate to all Branches, not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the Congress, all nominations received for the positions of the National Office Bearers, the agenda of the Congress and, any proposed motions or resolutions forwarded by Branches to be submitted to the Congress.

5.7.3 Motions or resolutions must be submitted in writing, indicating the proposer's and seconder's names and signatures and the year of the Congress to which it is being submitted, to the General Secretary either, by post at least forty-five (45) days before the date of the Congress or, during the conduct of a National Congress. The General Secretary will assign the motion or resolution a unique number.

5.8 Minutes of the National Congress shall be taken in an appropriate manner by the National Administrative Office staff under the direction of the General Secretary and shall be disseminated to the Branches within one (1) month of the National Congress.

5.9 Minutes of a National Congress shall be ratified at the next National Congress and signed as such by the National President and General Secretary.

5.10 Minutes of National Congress shall be stored for the life of the organisation.