!!! "#$%&'&(&'#$!"#$%&'&(&'#$!!!!! #)!&*+!#)!&*+!!!!! "#$%+,-.&'-+!/.,&0 First published February 1998 Amended October 1999 Amended July 2002 Amended July 2004 Amended April 2009 Including Schedules 7 and 7A (The Rules of Conservative Party Constituency Associations and Federations) ! 123433! Printed by Conservative Party, 30 Millbank, Westminster. SW1P 4DP Promoted by Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservative Party both at 30 Millbank, Westminster. SW1P 4DP www.Conservatives.com 1 2 INDEX PART I p.5 SCHEDULES NAME, PURPOSE, OBJECTS AND VALUES Schedule 1 p.18 PART II P.5 INTERPRETATION MEMBERSHIP Schedule 2 p.19 PART III p.6 RULES FOR THE ELECTION OF THE LEADER LEADERSHIP Schedule 3 p.20 PART IV p.6 THE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE THE BOARD OF THE CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION PARTY Schedule 4 p.22 PART V p.8 PARTY CONFERENCES THE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION Schedule 5 p.24 PART VI p.9 AREA COUNCILS, AREA MANAGEMENT AREA COUNCILS, AREA MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES AND REGIONAL CO- EXECUTIVES AND REGIONAL CO- ORDINATORS ORDINATORS Schedule 6 p.26 PART VII p.10 FURTHER RULES OF THE PARTY CONSTITUENCY ASSOCIATIONS Schedule 7 p.29 PART VIII p.13 RULES OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY THE CONSERVATIVE POLICY FORUM CONSTITUENCY ASSOCIATIONS PART IX p.14 Schedule 7A p.47 RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS RULES OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY FEDERATIONS PART X p.15 PARTY CONFERENCES Schedule 8 p.69 THE SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PART XI p.15 PARTY AND THE WELSH CONSERVATIVE PARTY FURTHER RULES OF THE PARTY Schedule 9 p.71 PART XII p.15 CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ETHICS, CONDUCT AND STANDARDS Schedule 10 p.72 PART XIIII p.17 COMMENCEMENT PROVISIONS CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION PART XIV p.17 COMMENCEMENT PROVISIONS PART XV p.17 INTERPRETATION 3 4 CONSTITUTION OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY PART I NAME, PURPOSE, OBJECTS AND VALUES 1 This is the Constitution of a political party which shall be known as “The Conservative and Unionist Party” (referred to in this Constitution as “the Party”). 2 Its purpose is to sustain and promote within the Nation the objects and values of the Conservative Party. PART II MEMBERSHIP 3 The Party is a political Party for the Nation, open to all who share its objects and values and who undertake to be bound by this Constitution. The Party shall consist of its Members. Membership of the Conservative Party is not compatible with Membership of or association with any other registered political party. 4 Its Members shall comprise: 4.1 Individuals (referred to in this Constitution as “Party Members”); 4.2 Constituency Associations, whose members shall only comprise Party Members; 4.3 Recognised Organisations, whose members shall only comprise Party Members, (other than expressly provided by the Board) being other organisations recognised by the Board. 4.4 The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, and its members (referred to in this Constitution as “Scottish Party Members”) subject to the provisions of Schedule 8. 5 Party Members, Constituency Associations, Recognised Organisations and (to the extent provided by Article 77 and Schedule 8 herein) The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and Scottish Party Members 5.1 shall each agree in the manner prescribed by the Board to be bound by this Constitution; and 5.2 shall work to sustain and promote the objects and values of the Party; and 5.3 shall pay such subscriptions (in the case of individuals) or affiliation fees (in the case of other Members) as shall be determined from time to time by the Board having regard to the recommendations of the Committee on Membership. 6 Subscriptions from individuals shall be received either by the Party or a Constituency Association. Subscriptions shall be received in relation to both the Party subscription and the Constituency Association subscription in the proportionate amounts (and shall belong to the Party and the Constituency Associations in such amounts) as determined from time to time by the Board in consultation with the Committee on Membership. 7 The payment by individuals to the Party or a Constituency Association of subscriptions shall, subject to Article 17.7 confer the following entitlements: 7.1 in relation to the Party, to be a Party Member; and 7.2 in relation to the Constituency Association which has received his subscription, (either directly or indirectly) to be a member of that Constituency Association. 8 A Party Member may apply to be a member of a Constituency Association notwithstanding that he is already a member of another Constituency Association provided that 8.1 a Constituency Association shall be obliged to account to the Party for the Party’s proportion of any subscription received by it from any Party Member who is a member of more than one Constituency Association; 8.2 a Party Member who is a member of more than one Constituency Association shall not be entitled to more than one vote in any election within the Party. 9 The names of Members shall be entered on the Party’s National Membership List which shall be kept, administered and up-dated from day to day by the Committee on Membership of the Board. Inclusion in the National Membership List shall be conclusive as to the membership of the Party. 5 PART III LEADERSHIP 10 There shall be a Leader of the Party (referred to in this Constitution as “the Leader”) drawn from those elected to Parliament, who shall be elected by the Party Members and Scottish Party Members in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 2. 11 The Leader shall determine the political direction of the Party having regard to the views of Party Members and the Conservative Policy Forum. PART IV THE BOARD OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY 12 There shall be established and maintained a Board of the Conservative Party (referred to in this constitution as “the Board”) which shall be the supreme decision-making body in matters of Party organisation and management. The Board shall consist of 12.1 The Chairman of the Conservative Party (“the Chairman of the Board”) who shall be appointed by the Leader and who will chair the Board in the absence of the Leader and act as the Leader’s representative on it; 12.2 Two Deputy Chairmen, 12.2.1 One of whom shall be Chairman of the National Conservative Convention and who, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board and the Leader, shall chair the Board; and 12.2.2 One of whom shall be appointed by the Leader; 12.3 Four further members elected by the National Conservative Convention (in addition to the Chairman of the National Conservative Convention), in accordance with the provisions contained within Schedule 3; 12.4 The elected Chairman of the 1922 Committee; 12.5 The Chairman of the Association of Conservative Peers; 12.6 The elected Deputy Chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party; 12.7 The elected Chairman of the Welsh Conservative Party; 12.8 The elected Chairman of the Conservative Councillors Association; 12.9 The Treasurer of the Party, who shall be appointed by the Leader; 12.10 Up to one further member who may, from time to time, be nominated by the Leader subject to endorsement by the Board; 12.11 A senior member of the professional staff of the Party, who shall be nominated to serve on the Board by the Chairman of the Board. 12.12 The Board may make one further appointment to its number, subject to the approval of the Leader. 12.13 Three Members of Parliament to be elected by the Members of the Parliamentary Party under rules determined by the Executive Committee of the 1922 Committee after Consultation with the Board. 13 The Board shall meet not less than six times each year. The Leader shall be invited to attend all meetings of the Board. 14 The quorum for any meeting of the Board will be eight. 15 The Board shall appoint a Secretary to the Board who shall support the Board in its proper and efficient administration and shall be Secretary of the National Convention. 16 The Board shall agree rules concerning the notice to be given in respect of ordinary and emergency meetings of it, and rules governing the circulation in advance of briefing and other papers. 17 The Board shall have power to do anything which in its opinion relates to the management and administration of the Party. It shall oversee all activities within the Party and in particular be responsible for – 17.1 the development and implementation of the strategies for the Party, for its campaigning, organisation, membership, and fund-raising at a National, European and local level; 6 PART IV - THE BOARD OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY (cont.) 17.2 the review and approval of the Party’s annual budgets, the monitoring of financial performance and the production and publication of annual accounts; 17.3 the appointment of senior staff within the Party; 17.4 the administration of the National Membership List in accordance with the provisions of Article 19.1 and Schedule 6; 17.5 the maintenance of the Approved Lists of Candidates in accordance with the provisions of Article 19.2 and Schedule 6; 17.6 the oversight of the management and administration of Constituency Associations, including the power to recognise Federations or other groupings of Constituency Associations; 17.7 the cancellation or refusal of membership, in its absolute discretion, of any Party Member or prospective Party Member; 17.8 the replacement or removal from office of any Officer of a Constituency Association or Recognised Organisation in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 6; 17.9 the establishment of a new or replacement Constituency Association in accordance with the provisions of Schedule