SRSM Articles of Association

SRSM ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

(Together with the Declaration of Aims & Principles this document consists the SRSM Constitution)

(ET) Article 1 The name of our Movement is, and shall be: The Scottish Republican Socialist Movement (SRSM).

(ET) Art. 2. The object of the SRSM is, and shall be: the secure establishment of the coming Scottish Socialist Republic.

(ET) Art. 3. Membership of the SRSM shall be open to those whose objective is the Scottish Socialist Republic

(ET) Art. 4. Only the Ard Fheis may undertake, renew and terminate the Movement’s external affiliations.

Art. 5. In accordance with the foregoing article the SRSM shall, as a body, be affiliated to the Scottish Socialist Party.

Art. 6. Every Commun of the SRSM may at its discretion admit persons qualified, in terms of these Articles, as Members and Associate Members of the Movement.

Art. 7. Each candidate for Membership shall: (a) be 16 years of age or upwards and (b) have successfully completed a probationary period of 3 months as an Associate Member.

Art. 8. Those only may become and remain Members who: profess agreement with and continue to adhere to the Declaration, act conformably to these Articles, pay the appropriate subscription and maintain a level and quality of behaviour and political activity acceptable to the Movement.

Art. 9. Persons otherwise qualified who work with the SRSM in an Ancillary Organisation or other relevant area of activity but who are prevented by circumstance from undertaking the full obligations of Membership, may become Associate Members.

Art. 10. Only the Ard Fheis of the SRSM may re-admit former members.

Art. 11. Every Member shall belong, and every Associate Member -whether or not in an Ancillary Organisation - be attached to, one - and only one - SRSM Commun.

III An Commun

Art. 12. The base unit of Movement organisation is and shall be the Commun.

Art. 13. A Commun shall normally consist of all the Members and Associate Members in a particular locality.

Art. 14. Exceptionally, the Ard Fheis may approve a non- territorial basis of organisation.

Art. 15. Except as provided in these Articles, each Commun shall be democratically self-governing and autonomous within its own sphere of operation.

Art. 16. The Constitution, Standing Orders and actions of each Commun shall be in conformity with these Articles.

Art. 17. It shall be the duty of a Commun to act in accordance with -and to strive to implement, the Declaration and Policies of the SRSM.

Art. 18. Each Commun shall: preserve the unity of the SRSM and maintain a level and quality of political activity, financial commitment and fraternal co-operation acceptable to the Movement.

Art. 19. It shall be competent for a Commun to establish within its jurisdiction, Organisations of (a) The Young Scottish Republicans and (b) Musicians and Marching Bands -and to require that all the Members thereof qualify as and become, at the least, Associate Members of the SRSM.

IV Ard Fheis

Art. 20. The supreme governing body of the SRSM is -and shall be The Ard Fheis.

Art. 21. Until, in the opinion of 51% of the registered membership, the Movement is of a size which necessitates its governing body being a delegate conference, the Ard Fheis shall comprise the entire Movement Membership.

Art. 22. The Ard Fheis shall have sole authority to determine SRSM Policy.

Art. 23. The Ard Fheis shall be the final court of appeal within the SRSM, in all matters.

Art. 24. The Ard Fheis shall set the Annual Subscription and approve, amend or reject all National Budgets and scrutinise, approve or reject the National Accounts.

Art. 25. No Parliamentary Election may be contested and no arrangement with any political party be entered into or concluded without the consent of the Ard Fheis.

Art. 26. The Ard Fheis shall elect, instruct, control, remove and replace from amongst its own number, the Ard Comhairle and all other the National Officers and Committees whatsoever, of the SRSM.

V Ard Comhairle

Art. 27. In the intervals between the sessions and subject to the decisions of the Ard Fheis, the affairs of the SRSM at National level shall be entrusted to the Ard Comhairle.

Art. 28. The Ard Comhairle shall consist of the National Officers and the Standing Committee, which is to say 10 members in all.

Art. 29. The function of the Ard Comhairle shall be to implement the decisions of the Ard Fheis and to lead, inspire and direct the whole work of the Movement.

Art. 30. In the intervals between the meetings and subject to the decisions of the Ard Comhairle, the day to day management of the Movement’s affairs shall devolve upon the National Officers.

Art. 31. The National Officers of the SRSM shall be The National Convenor, 2 Vice-Convenors, Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Editor of “Scottish Workers Republic.

Art. 32. The remaining 2 members of the Ard Comhairle shall, together with the National Vice-Convenors, constitute the Standing Committee of the SRSM.

Art. 33. The Standing Committee shall make all arrangements including the preparation of the draft Agenda, for meetings of the Ard Fheis and Ard Comhairle and the Election of National Officers.

Art. 34. The Standing Committee shall hear and determine, in accordance with the Rules of Natural Justice and these Articles all Disciplinary Cases, Disputes and Appeals referred to it.

Art. 35. All 4 Members of the Standing Committee shall receive intimation of the existence of all such matters but at the hearing any 3 of the 4 shall serve as Standing Committee.

Art. 36. Members of the Standing Committee shall advise upon and assist in the formation of each new Commun, enquire into any matter and do any other act or thing consonant with these Articles and the Declaration which the Ard Fheis or Ard Comhairle may properly request of them.

Art. 37. Each Commun shall send to each regular scheduled meeting of the Ard Comhairle a non-voting delegate not being a member of the Ard Comhairle and the Ard Comhairle shall send to each regular scheduled meeting of a Commun a non-voting delegate not being a member of the Commun. Delegates shall represent the views of, and report back to, the sending body.

Art. 38. There shall be an Honorary President and may be Honorary Vice-Presidents and Honorary Members, of the SRSM, elected by the Ard Fheis.

(ET) Art. 39. There shall be free speech and ease of mind in all the councils of the SRSM save only that, if any person shall at any time propose to amend the first of these Articles or otherwise change the name of our Movement: - (a) such person shall cease automatically to be a Member or Associate Member and (b) no such proposal shall be entertained.

(ET) Art. 40. The SRSM may, for good and sufficient cause proved to the satisfaction of a fair and impartial enquiry, conducted according to the Rules of Natural Justice, certified by democratic vote and subject to the right of Appeal to the Ard Fheis: - censure, suspend or expel any Member or Associate Member and dissolve any Commun or Ancillary Organisation.

(ET) Art. 41. The Ard Fheis -which must meet at least annually (and shall meet specially upon the requisition of the Ard Comhairle, Standing Committee or any 2 Commun or 30 Members) shall approve, amend and renew the General Standing Orders of the Movement. These Orders shall prescribe uniform democratic procedures for the implementation of these Articles and shall be circulated throughout the Movement.

(ET) Art. 42. Articles other than ‘entrenched’ Articles may be amended by simple majority of the Members present and voting at an Ard Fheis, provided that the intention to amend has been advertised.

Articles 1,2,3,4,39,40,41 and this present Article 42 (marked ET) may never be amended.

The Calton Declaration and Articles of Association -

Adopted by the SRSP Ard Fheis, Saturday 14th November 1987

Amended and re-issued by the SRSP Ard Fheis Saturday November 25 1989

Adopted by the SRSM Ard Fheis, 1999

Amended and re-issued by SRSM Ard Fheis, 11 January 2004

top