Constitution
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General
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1. |
The name of the Society shall be the
British Society for
Human Genetics. |
| 2. |
The objects of the Society shall be
a) to advance the science of human
genetics
b) to promote study and research into human
genetics as it relates to health and
disease.
c) to promote public awareness of human
genetics as it relates to health and
disease.
d) to support, guide and inform the
professions contributing to applications of
genetics in the health care systems of the
United Kingdom.
e) to offer informed opinion on issues of
public interest in relation to genetics.
f) to co-ordinate and assist as appropriate
the activities of the Constituent Groups.
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Powers of the Society
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| 3. |
In furtherance of the above mentioned
objects but not otherwise the Society
through its Council shall be empowered to: |
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(a) hold seminars, lectures, discussion
groups, conferences and symposia.
(b) act as an authoritative body for the
purpose of consultation in matters of public
and professional interest
(c) invite and receive contributions from
any person or organisation by way of
subscriptions or donations
(d) collect subscriptions on behalf of
Constituent Groups from time to time
(e) borrow and raise money for the promotion
of the objects of the Society on such terms
as the Council shall consider expedient and
in the interests of the Society
(f) support by means of grants or guarantees
such activities of the Constituent Groups as
the Council may consider expedient and in
the interests of the Society
(g) undertake and execute any charitable
trusts which may be lawfully undertaken by
the Society
(h) invest the monies of the Society not
immediately required for working purposes in
such investments as the Council shall from
time to time determine
(i) do all such things as shall further the
above mentioned objects or any one of them.
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| 4. |
The income and property of the Society
whencesoever derived shall be applied solely
towards the promotion of the objects of the
Society as set forth in the Constitution,
and no portion thereof shall be paid or
transferred directly or indirectly by way of
profit to Members of the Society. Provided
that nothing herein shall prevent the
reimbursement of expenses or payment in good
faith of proper and reasonable remuneration
to any Officer, Member or servant of the
Society in return for services rendered to
the Society, or reasonable and proper rent
for premises demised or let by any member of
the society; but so that no member of the
Council or governing body of the Society
shall be appointed to any salaried office of
the Society or any office of the Society
paid by fees, and that no remuneration or
other benefit in monies worth shall be given
by the Society to members of such Council or
governing body, except repayment of out of
pocket expenses and reasonable and proper
rent for premises demised or let to the
Society. |
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Membership of the Society
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| 5. |
The Society shall consist of Ordinary,
Senior and Honorary members, Corporate
members and Overseas affiliates. Only
Ordinary and Senior Members of the Society
shall be entitled to vote in elections or at
meetings of the Society, or to be elected as
Officers. |
| 6. |
The membership shall be open to those with a
professional interest in human genetics. |
| 7. |
Ordinary members shall be normally resident,
or normally practise a relevant profession
in Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Such
persons who are also members of the
Constituent Groups and who pay the Society’s
membership subscription shall automatically
be members of the Society. Other persons may
be nominated in writing by two members of
the Society for election as Ordinary
Members. |
| 8. |
Overseas Affiliates shall normally be
resident outside Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and practising a relevant
profession. Such persons who are members of
the Constituent Groups and pay the Society’s
membership subscription shall automatically
be Overseas Affiliates of the Society. Other
persons may be nominated in writing by two
members of the Society for election as
Overseas Affiliates. |
| 9. |
The Council shall recommend candidates for
election as Ordinary Members or Overseas
Affiliates to any General Meeting of the
Society. If there is any objection to a
candidate his or her application shall be
referred back to the Council for further
consideration. All members of the founding
Constituent Groups on the date of formation
of the Society shall be entitled to
appropriate membership of the Society on
payment of the Society’s subscription. |
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10. |
Ordinary Members on retirement from relevant
professional appointments, may cease to be
Ordinary Members and may become Senior
Members. |
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11. |
Persons of eminence who have contributed to
the advancement of human genetics shall be
eligible for election as Honorary Members.
They shall be elected to the Society on the
recommendation of the Council and they shall
pay no membership subscription. |
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12. |
Companies may on the recommendation of the
Council be admitted to Corporate Membership
of the Society on payment of the Corporate
Membership subscription. |
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13. |
The annual subscriptions of the Society
shall be determined at the Annual General
Meeting. Non-payment of the subscription
within six months after it is due shall be
considered equivalent to resignation. |
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14. |
The Council shall have the power to
recommend to the Annual General Meeting,
after consultation as appropriate with any
relevant Constituent Group, termination of a
member if such termination appears to them
to be in the interests of the Society. |
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15. |
New Constituent Groups may upon application
be admitted to the Society by recommendation
of the Council followed by resolution at a
properly constituted General Meeting
approved by a two-thirds majority of those
present. |
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Officers and Council
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16. |
The Honorary Officers of the Society shall
be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary,
Treasurer and Conference Organiser. The
posts of Treasurer and Conference Organiser
may be held by the same person. |
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17. |
The Council of the Society shall consist of
three Members of the Society nominated by
each of the founder Constituent Groups,
normally including the Chairman or President
of each Constituent Group, together with
three Ordinary members elected by the
Members of the Society. The Members will
normally serve for a maximum of three years
and those representing constituent groups
should be changed on a rotational bases
arranged by the Constituent Group. Council
should be informed of these arrangements.
40% of Council Members will constitute a
quorum. In the event of a new Constituent
Group being accepted, the Council shall
determine the representation of that group
on the Council. The Treasurer and Conference
Organiser shall be elected by the Members of
the Society. They will hold office for three
years and be eligible for re-election on
expiry of their term of office. |
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18. |
Decision of the Council can be taken by
simple majority vote except on matters which
concern essential professional interests of
members of only one of the Constituent
Groups, in which case members of that
Constituent Group may reserve the right to
refer the matter back to the Council of
their own group. |
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19. |
The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary
shall be elected by the Council from Society
members nominated and seconded by the
Council and shall take office at the Annual
General Meeting of the Society. The
Secretary shall hold office for three years
notwithstanding whether or not they are a
member of a constituent group. The Vice
Chairman will be the Chairman elect and will
hold office as Vice Chairman for one year,
as Chairman for a further two years and as
Past Chairman for one year. Holders of these
offices will not be eligible for re-election
to the same office until one year after the
expiry of their term of office. |
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20. |
The Ordinary Members of the Council shall be
elected by the Members of the Society. They
will hold office for three years and will
not be eligible for re-election until one
year after the expiry of their term of
office. The periods of office of these
members will be staggered to ensure
continuity. |
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21. |
At least eight weeks before the Annual
General Meeting the Secretary shall send to
each Member of the Society the names of
elected members of Council (including where
appropriate the Treasurer and Conference
Organiser) who are due to retire from the
Council. Any Ordinary Member of the Society
or member of the Council may, with his or
her consent, be nominated in writing by two
Members to stand for election to such
vacancy. In the event of a contest, the
Secretary shall prepare and distribute to
all Members ballot papers listing the name
and other relevant professional information
concerning each candidate. |
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22. |
The Council shall have power to invite any
appropriate person to attend any of its
meetings from time to time as a non-voting
observer. |
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Meetings
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23. |
The Society shall hold an Annual General
Meeting at a place and time determined by
the Council. The Agenda for the Annual
General Meeting shall be arranged by the
Council. Members wishing to have matters
included on the Agenda shall inform the
Secretary in writing at least four weeks
prior to the meeting. |
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24. |
An Extraordinary General Meeting may be
called by fifty Ordinary Members of the
Society, or by the Council, and at least two
months’ notice must be given to the
Secretary. All Members shall be notified of
the time, place and agenda of any General
Meeting at least three weeks in advance. |
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25. |
The quorum of an Annual or Extraordinary
General Meeting shall be fifty Ordinary
Members and four members of the Council, one
of whom shall be an Officer. Resolutions
will be passed by simple majority vote, and
in the event of a tie the Chairman shall
have the casting vote. |
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26. |
The Council, on its own authority or if
requested to do so by a member or members
representing 10% of all the voting members,
may proceed to call a postal ballot on the
election of members of the Council, or on
any other resolution put to the members. |
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Alterations to Constitution
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27. |
Any alteration to this Constitution shall be
made only at a General Meeting of the
Society, and provided that notice of such
alteration has been given on the Agenda of
the meeting and that two thirds of those
voting on the alteration signify their
assent. Members unable to attend the meeting
may request permission to vote by post on
such alteration, such request to be in
writing to the Secretary at least one week
before the meeting. Any such alteration must
be proposed and seconded by Ordinary members
and must be notified in writing to the
Secretary at least two months before the
Meeting. |
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28. |
No amendment may be made to clause 1, clause
2, clause 4, clause 29 without prior consent
in writing of the Charity Commissioners. |
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29. |
If upon the winding up or dissolution of the
Society there remains, after satisfaction of
all its debts and liabilities, any property
whatsoever, the same shall not be paid or
distributed among the members of the Society
but shall be given or transferred to the
Constituent Groups or to some other
charitable institution or institutions
having objects similar to those of the
Society and which prohibit the distribution
of its or their income among its or their
members. Such charitable institution or
institutions shall be determined by the
Members of the Society at or before the time
of dissolution and if effect cannot be given
to this provision, the surplus funds shall
be devoted to some other charitable object
or objects.
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