EMLD CONSTITUTION

Article 1: Name & Objectives

1.1 The name of the organization shall be the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats, hereafter known as EMLD.

1.2 The objectives of EMLD 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 ethnic minorities to promote the objectives of the Party;

(c) To encourage, guide and assist EMLD 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 ethnic minorities;

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

(f) To work towards an equitable representation of members of ethnic minority communities on public bodies and to elected public office;

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

(h) To promote Liberal Democrat policies and beliefs amongst ethnic minority groups;

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

Article 2: The Organization

2.1 EMLD 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 EMLD and any subsequent bodies created under its auspices.

2.3 EMLD 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 EMLD 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 EMLD shall be open, on payment of an appropriate annual subscription determined by the EMLD Executive and ratified by the EMLD 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 £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 EMLD General Meetings and any meeting convened under EMLD, unless it is deemed closed as laid out below;

(b) Hold elected or appointed office within EMLD or bodies created under it;

(c) Vote at EMLD General Meetings or other meetings convened under EMLD 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 EMLD Executive or an EMLD General Meeting, be awarded Honorary Life Membership, hereafter denoted HLM, subject to ratification by an EMLD General Meeting. They shall be expected to have shown commitment over and above the norm either to the objectives of EMLD, or to its general support, for no less than three years. Any member who has been subjected to a vote of no confidence by EMLD shall only retain or attain HLM after ratification by two consecutive meetings of an EMLD 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 Individual Local or Regional Branches or SAO's of the Party, or any individual member of the Party, may become Registered Supporters and thereby receive the regular mailings from EMLD which are sent to it's individual members. They shall also have the ability to send non­voting observers to any meetings convened under EMLD 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 members' 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 EMLD.

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

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

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

(c) Another reason substantiated by evidence, why their continued membership will be damaging to EMLD.

3.6 When considering membership under Article 3.5, the EMLD 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: Regions and Branches

4.1 There shall be Regional Groups, each headed by a Regional Coordinator, in so far as is possible and where there are enough members or interest to form them.

4.2 The Standing Orders and Constitution relating to Regional Coordinators shall be as laid out below.

4.3 There shall be Branches so far as possible where there are at least 20 members and interest to form them.

4.4 The body overseeing such Branches shall be the Regional Groups' Executive or equivalent, unless they apply to fall below the EMLD Executive directly.

4.5 The objects of Regional Groups and Branches shall include:

(a) To seek to achieve the objects set forth in the Preamble to the Party constitution and Article 1 of this constitution;
(b) To play a full part in the campaigning activities of the Party and EMLD at all levels;

(c) To admit and actively recruit new members of EMLD and encourage members to renew their membership.

4.6 Regional Groups and Branches shall operate in an open and democratic manner but shall not be required to have individual constitutions.

4.7 The EMLD Executive in accordance with internal procedures on the following grounds may suspend the rights of a Regional Group or Branch under this Constitution:

(a) The Regional Group or Branch is not adhering to this Constitution or Standing Orders, or

(b) Events have taken place or are imminent which are or may be seriously detrimental to the Regional Group or Branch or to EMLD.

4.8 Before suspending a Regional Group or Branch, the EMLD Executive shall

(a) inform the Regional Group or Branch of the grounds on which it proposes to take action, and

(b) give the Regional Group or Branch reasonable opportunity to answer the charges or take the necessary corrective action.

4.9 A suspended Regional Group or Branch shall have the right of appeal in accordance with the Articles and or Sections relating to appeals. Whilst suspended all of its members shall be treated as normal members, without post, unless action has been taken against specified individuals.

Article 5: The EMLD Executive

5.1 There shall be an EMLD Executive.

5.2 The EMLD Executive shall have as its voting members:

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

(b) Three Vice-Chairs, who shall aid the chair in the above;

(c) Treasurer;

(d) Secretary;

(e) Media Coordinator;

(f) Membership Coordinator;

(g) Policy Coordinator;

(h) Fund Raising Coordinator;

(i) Campaign Coordinator;

(j) Training and Development Coordinator;
(k) Ethnic Women coordinator;

(l) The Executive shall have at least one member of the EMLD Executive who is under 26 years of age and who will be the Youth Coordinator.

(m) All of the Regional Coordinators;

(n) Up to Four Co-opted Members with special knowledge or experience of Ethnic Minority issues; they shall be Co-opted for one year by a simple majority vote of the Executive and have voting rights after that point;

5.3 And in a non-voting capacity:

(a) A representative from each Branch having applied to fall directly under the EMLD Executive, to be determined by that Branch and who will be the Branch coordinator.

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

(a) Supervise the implementation of EMLD policy;

(b) Oversee the work of the EMLD Executive Officers;

(c) Oversee the financial affairs of EMLD;

(d) Supervise the employment of staff;

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

(f) To submit policy on behalf of EMLD 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 EMLD;

(i) To seek to maintain a register of the current constitutions, Sections or other defining documents of Regional Groups and Branch Organizations.

5.5 The EMLD 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.

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

5.7 The responsibilities of individual EMLD Executive Officers shall be governed by the Standing Orders.

5.8 The EMLD Executive shall have the power, exercisable on a two-thirds majority, to suspend any office holder within EMLD, with the exception of the Honorary Officers, for any period ending no later than the date of the next EMLD 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 EMLD or Party into disrepute;

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

(c) Another reason substantiated by evidence, why their continued tenure in office will be damaging to EMLD.
5.9 When considering the exercise of power under Article 5.8, the EMLD 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.

5.10 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.

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

5.12 The EMLD 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.

5.13 No person shall hold more than one EMLD Executive office of EMLD 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 EMLD Executive.

5.14 EMLD Executive Officers may be removed from office after the passing, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at EMLD 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 6: The Policy Committee

6.1 There shall be a Policy Committee. It shall be a Standing Committee of EMLD.

6.2 The Policy Committee shall be comprised of:

(a) The Policy Coordinator;

(b) Any EMLD member who is a member of the Party Federal Policy Committee subject to ratification by the EMLD Executive;

(c) Any members, who are co-opted by the group, or the Executive, should be ratified by EMLD Executive.

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

6.4 The remit of the Policy Committee shall be:

(a) To advise the EMLD Executive on policy matters;

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

(c) To resolve conflicts in EMLD policy;

(d) To undertake, on instruction from the EMLD General Meeting or the EMLD 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 EMLD General Meetings of policy due to lapse;

(g) To produce a report on its activities to EMLD Annual General Meeting;

(h) To resolve conflicts over policy jurisdiction.

Article 7: The Campaigns & Events Committee

7.1 There shall be a Campaigns & Events Committee. It shall be a Standing Committee of EMLD.

7.2 The Campaigns & Events Committee shall be comprised of:

(a) the Campaigns Coordinator;

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

(c) any members who are co-opted by the group, or the Executive, and ratified by EMLD Executive.

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

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

(a) To organize EMLD Campaigns;

(b) To organize EMLD events by agreement with the EMLD Executive;

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

Article 8: The Candidate Selection Committee

8.1 There shall be a Candidate Selection Committee. It shall be a Standing Committee of EMLD.

8.2 The Candidate Selection Committee shall be comprised of:

(a) The Training and Development Coordinator;

(b) Any members who are co-opted by the group, or the Executive, and ratified by EMLD Executive.

8.3 The chair of the committee shall be the Training and Development coordinator.

8.4 The remit of the Candidate Selection Committee shall be:

(a) To advise the EMLD Executive in matters relating to EMLD potential candidates;

(b) To coordinate EMLD training and development activities;

(c) To select and endorse candidates for Federal or other elections on behalf of EMLD;

(d) To implement Training schemes such as the EMLD shadowing scheme.

Article 9: Honorary Officers

9.1 There shall be the following Honorary Officers of EMLD. The implementation of Article 9 in its timing and fullness, would be decided by the EMLD Executive, taking due regards of the needs of EMLD and appropriateness of these posts with the best interests of EMLD in mind:

(a) An Honorary President;

(b) Up to Six Honorary Vice-Presidents.

9.2 Honorary Officers shall take office immediately following their election and shall serve for a period of three years thereafter.

9.3 The EMLD Executive may allocate responsibilities to Honorary Officers at its discretion.

9.4 Honorary Officers shall be entitled to attend meetings of the EMLD Executive and receive all documents that EMLD Executive Officers receive. They shall have the same rights as HLMs, unless paid up members in which case they shall have rights as normal full members.

Article 10: Elections

10.1 The EMLD Annual General Meeting shall, subject to the Constitution and in a manner laid down in Standing Orders, elect:

(a) The Honorary President at three year intervals;

(b) The Honorary Vice-Presidents at three year intervals;

(c) Members of the Appeals Panel under the relevant Sections or Articles at two year intervals;

(d) Representatives to the Federal Party, Regional and other Conferences, though these may be co-opted by a simple majority of the executive;

(e) Representatives to other bodies which the EMLD Executive deem to require election by an EMLD General Meeting, though these may be co-opted by a simple majority of the executive;

(f) Members of Additional Committees whose Regulations may from time to time provide for election by an EMLD General Meeting.

10.2 EMLD 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:

(a) The Chair, 3 Vice-Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary;

(b) Each of the Coordinators;

(c) Members of those committees, which are required to be elected by the membership in an all member ballot;

(d) Representatives to other bodies, which the EMLD Executive deems to require election by an all member ballot;

(e) The Regional Coordinators may be elected by those regions' members, if there are more than 20 recognized members, and provided it is done in accordance within the Constitution and Standing Orders relating to elections.
(f) The chair, the vice-chairs and all co-ordinators in sections 5.2 and 5.3 may not be nominated or elected for the same position for more than three terms in any five consecutive terms.

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

10.4 Any EMLD member shall be eligible to stand for election. Any member of the Party shall also be eligible to stand for the post of Honorary President or Vice-President.

10.5 All elections in EMLD, the Regional Groups, Branches and other bodies convened under the auspices of EMLD 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;

(c) Elections to single posts shall be conducted using the Alternative 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.

10.6 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 EMLD. In the Returning Officer's absence or re-election, the members of the EMLD Executive who are not standing shall compose an Elections Committee. Failing this, one of the Honorary President or Vice-Presidents may be nominated.

10.7 The Returning Officer shall be responsible for the running of all EMLD 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.

10.8 All elections for the EMLD Executive shall have provision for "Re-Open Nominations".

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

10.10 Vacant posts shall be filled by, or co-opted by, the EMLD Executive. The EMLD 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 EMLD General Meeting, or in a time frame which would make it impractical.

Article 11: EMLD General Meetings

11.1 The sovereign body of EMLD shall be EMLD General Meetings.

11.2 EMLD General Meetings shall be held at least once a year and up to twice a year.

11.3 EMLD 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 EMLD Executive.

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

11.5 The format and running of EMLD General Meeting shall be governed by Standing Orders.

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

11.7 Voting at EMLD General Meeting shall be limited to members of EMLD 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 EMLD on the date nominations closed for the elections to be conducted at the relevant EMLD General Meeting.

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

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

(a) The EMLD Executive;

(b) EMLD General Meeting;

(c) Twenty EMLD members, or one twentieth of the membership, whichever is the lower.

11.10 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.

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

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

Article 12: EMLD Policy

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

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

12.3 EMLD 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.

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

Article 13: External Affiliation & Representation

13.1 EMLD shall send representatives, and may submit policy to the following:

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

(b) Federal Party Conferences;

(c) Outside bodies to be determined in Standing Orders.

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

Article 14: Constitutional Amendments & Sections

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

14.2 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) EMLD Executive;

(c) EMLD General Meetings;

(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.

14.3 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 EMLD General Meeting.

14.4 Constitutional and Standing Order amendments shall take effect at the close of the EMLD General

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

14.5 The EMLD 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 EMLD General Meeting after their creation and shall be reported to that EMLD General Meeting.

14.6 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 EMLD Executive, and reported to the first EMLD General Meeting after their creation, otherwise they shall be deemed to have lapsed.

Article 15: Interpretations & Dispute Resolution

15.1 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.

15.2 In the event of an ambiguity arising during the course of a committee meeting or EMLD general

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

15.3 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.

15.4 Rules of Interpretation shall be binding precedents unless
(a) overturned by EMLD 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.

15.5 The EMLD Executive shall maintain a register of current Rules of Interpretation.

15.6 There shall be an EMLD Appeals Panel.

15.7 The implementation of this Article in it's timing and fullness, would be decided by the EMLD

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

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

(a) The EMLD Honorary President who shall convene and chair the Panel;

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

(c) One member from each Regional Group chosen by that Regional Group in accordance with its

internal procedures;

(d) The EMLD Honorary Vice-Presidents;

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

15.9 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;

(c) A dispute between a Regional Group or Branch and EMLD;

(d) A dispute between Regional Groups;

(e) Allegations of a breach of the Constitution, Standing Orders or Regulations by any member of EMLD;

(f) An appeal from a decision of Policy Committee on policy conflicts;

(g) Any other dispute relevant to EMLD, this relevance to be determined by the Appeals Panel.

15.10 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;

(c) Provide any accused individual or organization with full details of complaints against them and offer a

right to reply;

(d) Give written reasons for its decisions.

15.11 In the event of a matter being referred to the 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);

(c) one person under Article 15.8(d);

(d) one person under Article 15.8(e);

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

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

15.13 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.

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

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

15.16 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.

15.17 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 EMLD General Meeting after their creation, otherwise they shall be deemed to have lapsed.

Article 16: Definitions

16.1 Throughout this Constitution and any rules made pursuant to it

(a) 'The Party' shall mean the Liberal Democrats;

(b) 'Regional Groups' shall mean an EMLD grouping of members recognized by and corresponding to a Regional Party of the Liberal Democrats;

(c) 'Branch' shall mean a group of not less than twenty members serving a distinct community or covering a politically recognizable area that does not cross any boundaries between Regional Groups, unless they have applied to fall beneath the EMLD Executive directly;

(d) '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;

(e) 'Policy' shall mean the substantive resolutions and statements of opinion of EMLD General Meeting validly submitted as motions under Standing Orders;

(g) 'Standing Committees' shall mean those committees established in this Constitution;

(h) 'Additional Committees' shall mean those committees set up by the EMLD Executive in Regulations;

(i) 'Registered Supporter' shall mean group of the Party as laid out in Article 3, which has paid a subscription to be determined by EMLD as laid out above;

(j) '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;

(k) 'Executive' or 'Executive Committee' shall mean the Executive Committee of EMLD.