Little League Football Federation Constitution
INDEX
Section |
Constitution |
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| 1 | Name | ||
| 2 | Objects | ||
| 3 | Powers | ||
| 4 | Membership | ||
| 5 | Patrons | ||
| 6 | National Executive Committee | ||
| 7 | Reimbursement of Expenses | ||
| 8 | Finance | ||
| 9 | Trust Property | ||
| 10 | The Procedure | ||
| 11 | Annual General Meeting | ||
| 12 | Special General Meetings | ||
| 13 | Dissolution | ||
| 14 | Alterations to the Constitution | ||
| 15 | Notices | ||
| 16 | Interpretation | ||
Section |
Procedure |
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| 1 | National Annual General Meeting | ||
| 2 | National Special General Meeting | ||
| 3 | Committee Meetings | ||
| 4 | Election of Officers and Independent Examiners or Auditors | ||
| 5 | Finance | ||
| 6 | Affiliation | ||
| 7 | Divisional Structure | ||
| 8 | Alterations to the Procedure | ||
Constitution |
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1 |
Name |
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| 1.1 | The name of the Federation shall be Little League Football (hereinafter called the "the Federation"). The name of the governing body of the Federation shall be the National Executive Committee. | ||
| 1.2 | The Federation shall be divided into a number of Divisions. The name of the governing body within each Division of the Federation shall be the Divisional Executive Committee. | ||
| 1.3 | The basic units of the Federation shall be known as Leagues. Each League shall be placed within a Division in accordance with the Procedure. The name of the governing body within each League shall be the League Management Committee. | ||
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2 |
Objects |
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| The objects of the Federation shall be to provide children of school age with facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life of such persons. | |||
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3 |
Powers |
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| In furtherance of the above objects but not otherwise the National Executive Committee may: | |||
| 3.1 | Do all such things as shall further the proper administration and operation of all Leagues affiliated to the Federation and all Divisional Executive Committees and to encourage the highest standards of equipment and procedure. | ||
| 3.2 | Promote and assist in the formation of Leagues and Divisions nationally and internationally. | ||
| 3.3 | Do all such things as shall further the organisation, supervision and control of football matches and other games and sports. | ||
| 3.4 | Provide or assist in the provision of training for those children and officials registered with the Federation. | ||
| 3.5 | Assist any charitable body or bodies financially or otherwise. | ||
| 3.6 | Raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions and otherwise, provided that the Federation shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary charitable objects. | ||
| 3.7 | Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to borrow or raise money for the objects of the Federation on such terms and on such security as shall be deemed to be necessary. | ||
| 3.8 | Invest the monies of the Federation not immediately required for the said objects in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law. | ||
| 3.9 | Purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the promotion of the said objects and construct, maintain and alter any buildings, or erections necessary for the work of the Federation. | ||
| 3.10 | Make regulations for any property which may be so acquired. | ||
| 3.11 | Sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property which may be so acquired | ||
| 3.12 | Seek approval from a General Meeting of the Federation to appoint and fix the remuneration of a General Secretary and also to authorise the appointment and remuneration of all such other staff as may be necessary | ||
| 3.13 | Do all such other things as shall further the attainment of the above objects. | ||
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4 |
Membership |
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| 4.1 |
Members of the Federation shall be Honorary Members and Individual Members. |
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| 4.2 | Honorary Members shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting of the Federation, in accordance with the Procedure. | ||
| 4.3 | An Individual Member may be accepted by a League only, and if so accepted shall become an Individual Member of that League and also an Individual Member of the Federation. | ||
| 4.4 | Only those holding Individual Membership may stand for election to any Little League Football Committee, or continue to hold any Committee position, except for those seeking election to, or holding, the honorary positions of President and Vice Presidents. | ||
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5 |
Patrons |
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| The National Executive Committee shall be empowered to appoint individuals and corporate bodies as Patrons of Little League Football for a period and at a donation as may be from time to time determined by the National Executive Committee. A Patron will have no influence on the decisions made by any Official or Committee of Little League Football, and the Patron's donation shall be regarded purely as a means to support and further the objects of Little League Football. | |||
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6 |
National Executive Committee |
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| 6.1 | Subject as hereinafter mentioned, the policy and general management of the affairs of the Federation shall be directed by the National Executive Committee which shall consist of:
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| 6.2 | In addition, the National Executive Committee may co-opt up to four further persons who may serve until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Federation. | ||
| 6.3 | The National Executive Committee may appoint a person to fill any casual vacancy in the Committee and any person so appointed shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Federation and shall be eligible for election at that meeting. | ||
| 6.4 | The National Executive Committee may appoint such special or standing committees as may be deemed necessary by the National Executive Committee and may determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition, provided that all acts and proceedings of such special or standing committees shall be reported back to the National Executive Committee as soon as possible. | ||
| 6.5 | The Charity Trustees of the Federation shall be the Members of the National Executive Committee. | ||
| 6.6 | The proceedings of the National Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any failure to elect or defect in the election, appointment or qualification of any Member. | ||
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7 |
Reimbursement of Expenses |
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| 7.1 | Each of the members of any committee as is mentioned in the foregoing clauses may in the discretion of the members of that committee be reimbursed out of the capital or income of the Federation as the members of the committee may consider appropriate for any reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses which he/she shall actually have incurred for the purposes of carrying out his/her duties as a member of such a committee as aforesaid. | ||
| 7.2 | Any Trustee for the time being hereof being a solicitor or other person engaged in any profession shall be entitled to charge and be paid all usual professional and other charges for work done by him/her or his/her firm in connection with the execution of the trusts hereof. | ||
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8 |
Finance |
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| 8.1 | All money raised by or on behalf of the Federation shall be applied to further the objects of the Federation and for no other purpose. | ||
| 8.2 | The Honorary Treasurer of the Federation Executive Committee shall keep proper accounts of the Federation's finances. | ||
| 8.3 | Statements of accounts for the past financial year shall be submitted by the National Executive Committee to the Federation Annual General Meeting. | ||
| 8.4 | A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Federation with Midland Bank plc, 5 Dingwall Road, Croydon, Surrey, or with such other bank as the National Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. The National Executive Committee shall authorise in writing the Honorary Treasurer, the Honorary Secretary and at least one other member of the National Executive Committee to sign cheques on behalf of the Federation. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the authorised signatories. | ||
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9 |
Trust Property |
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| The title to all real or personal property which may be acquired by or on behalf of the Federation may be vested in a Corporation lawfully entitled to act as Custodian Trustee or in not less than three individual persons or more than six individual persons (not being members of the National Executive Committee). Custodian Trustees shall be appointed and discharged only at a General Meeting of the Federation. | |||
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10 |
The Procedure |
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| The National Executive Committee shall draw up the rules of procedure of all meetings of the Federation, Divisions and Leagues, and rules relating to Finance, Affiliation and Divisional Structure, which shall be known as "the Procedure". | |||
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11 |
Annual General Meetings |
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| The Annual General Meeting of the Federation shall be held at such place as the National Executive Committee shall determine. At such Annual General Meeting the business shall include the election of certain members of the National Executive Committee and the election of Trustees of the Little League Football Accident Fund in accordance with the Procedure, the consideration of annual reports, accounts and the transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be necessary. | |||
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12 |
Special General Meetings |
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| Special General Meetings may be called only in accordance with the provisions of the Procedure | |||
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13 |
Dissolution |
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| If the National Executive Committee decide at any time that on the ground of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Federation it shall call a meeting of all members of the Federation of which meeting not less than 21 days notice (stating the terms of the Resolution to be proposed thereat) shall be given. If such decision shall be confirmed at such meeting, the National Executive Committee shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Federation. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to any charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Federation as the National Executive Committee may, with the approval of the Charity Commissioners, determine. | |||
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14 |
Alterations to the Constitution |
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| Any alteration of this Constitution shall receive the assent of a meeting of the Federation specially called for the purpose PROVIDED THAT notice of any such alteration shall have been received by the Honorary Secretary of the Federation in writing not less than 21 clear days before the meeting at which the alteration is to be brought forward. Notice in writing of such a meeting setting forth the terms of the alteration to be proposed shall be sent by the Honorary Secretary of the Federation to each Individual Member of the Federation at least 14 days prior to the meeting PROVIDED FURTHER THAT no alteration to Clauses 2, 10 or this Clause shall be made without the approval of the Charity Commissioners. | |||
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15 |
Notices |
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| Any notice may be served by the Honorary Secretary or any member of a constituent League either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member at his or her last known address and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of original posting. Notices and other information to be issued by the Honorary Secretary of the Divisional Executive Committee may be sent to the Honorary Secretary of each League who shall forward copies to each Individual Member of that League. | |||
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16 |
Interpretation |
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| The Interpretation Act, 1978, shall apply for the interpretation of this Constitution as it applies to the Interpretation of an Act of Parliament. | |||
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Procedure |
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1 |
National Annual General Meeting |
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| 1.1 | The Annual General Meeting shall be held in June of each year at a venue, date and time determined by the National Executive Committee | ||
| 1.2 | Advance Notice, Formal Notice and Agenda | ||
| 1.2.1 | The Secretary shall give each League not less than fourteen weeks Advance Notice, and not less than four weeks Formal Notice of every Annual General Meeting. The Formal Notice shall be accompanied by an Agenda and a Proxy Voting Form, detailing Nominees, Propositions and Amendments. | ||
| 1.2.2 | The Agenda shall include the Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, the Reports of Officers, the adoption of the Accounts, the Election of Officers, Independent Examiners or Auditors, Honorary Members and Custodian Trustees, any valid Propositions and Amendments, the consideration of a report from the Trustees of the Little League Football Accident Fund and the approval of the Accounts of the Little League Football Accident Fund. | ||
| 1.3 | Seven Nominated League Representatives shall form a quorum. | ||
| 1.4 | Attendance and Chairpersonship | ||
| 1.4.1 | Any Individual Member of any League or any Guest invited by the National Executive Committee may attend the Meeting. | ||
| 1.4.2 | If a Nominated League Representative is unable to attend the Meeting, a Nominated Deputy League Representative may attend and vote in his/her absence | ||
| 1.4.3 | The Chairperson of the National Executive Committee shall chair the Meeting, and if he/she is unable to attend, the Nominated League Representatives present shall elect a person present to be Chairperson for the Meeting. | ||
| 1.5 | Propositions, Amendments and their Determination | ||
| 1.5.1 | Propositions, which must be proposed and seconded by Individual Members, must be submitted to the Secretary not less than ten weeks prior to the Meeting, and the Secretary must circulate all Propositions to Leagues not less than nine weeks prior to the Meeting. | ||
| 1.5.2 | Amendments, which must be made and seconded by Individual Members, must be submitted to the Secretary not less than five weeks prior to the Meeting. | ||
| 1.5.3 | Propositions and Amendments shall be determined by a simple majority. | ||
| 1.5.4 | All Nominated League Representatives present (or Deputy League Representatives in their absence) shall be entitled to a vote, and in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a casting vote. | ||
| 1.5.5 | If a League is unable to be represented at the National Annual General meeting and any adjournment thereof, proxy voting will be permitted for the Election of Officers, Propositions and Amendments. | ||
| 1.5.6 | Proxy Voting Forms must be signed by the League Chairperson or Secretary and received by the Secretary of the Federation at the address stipulated on the Form not later than 48 (forty eight) hours prior to the scheduled time of commencement of the National Annual General Meeting. | ||
| 1.5.7 | Proper receipt of a Proxy Voting Form will entitle the Chairperson of the National Annual General Meeting, or other Proxy, to cast votes as instructed, irrespective of the attendance of other person(s) from the same League, who shall not be permitted to vote on behalf of the League at the National Annual General Meeting. | ||
| 1.6 | Minutes | ||
| 1.6.1 | Minutes of each Meeting, which shall include a record of attendance, shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be circulated to all Leagues within thirteen weeks of the Meeting. | ||
| 1.6.2 | Minutes shall be approved at the next Annual General Meeting, and shall be signed by the Chairperson. | ||
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2 |
National Special General Meeting |
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| 2.1 | The National Executive Committee shall have the power at any time to convene a Special General Meeting. The National Executive Secretary must convene a Special General Meeting which must take place within one month of receipt of a requisition stating the objects of the meeting, signed by the Chairpersons and/or the Secretaries of not less than three League Management Committees. | ||
| 2.2 | An Agenda of the business to be transacted at any Special General Meeting shall accompany the notice convening the Meeting, together with a Proxy Voting Form, detailing Propositions and Amendments. | ||
| 2.3 | The Special General Meeting shall not transact any business other than that specifically mentioned in the Agenda. | ||
| 2.4 | Seven Nominated League Representatives shall form a quorum. | ||
| 2.5 | Attendance and Chairpersonship | ||
| 2.5.1 | Any Individual Member of any League or any Guest invited by the National Executive Committee may attend the Meeting. | ||
| 2.5.2 | If a Nominated League Representative is unable to attend the Meeting, a Nominated Deputy League Representative may attend in his/her absence. | ||
| 2.5.3 | The Chairperson of the National Executive Committee shall chair the Meeting, and if he/she is unable to attend, the Nominated League Representatives present shall elect a person present to be Chairperson for the Meeting. | ||
| 2.6 | Propositions and their Determination | ||
| 2.6.1 | Propositions shall be determined by a simple majority. | ||
| 2.6.2 | All Nominated League Representatives present (or Deputy League Representatives in their absence) shall be entitled to a vote, and in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a casting vote. | ||
| 2.6.3 | If a League is unable to be represented at the National Special General Meeting and any adjournment thereof, proxy voting will be permitted for Propositions and Amendments. | ||
| 2.6.4 | Proxy Voting Forms must be signed by the League Chairperson or Secretary and received by the Secretary of the Federation at the address stipulated on the Form not later than 48 (forty eight) hours prior to the scheduled time of commencement of the National Special General Meeting. | ||
| 2.6.5 | Proper receipt of a Proxy Voting Form will entitle the Chairperson of the National Special General Meeting, or other Proxy, to cast votes as instructed, irrespective of the attendance of other person(s) from the same League, who shall not be permitted to vote on behalf of the League at the National Special General Meeting. | ||
| 2.7 | Minutes | ||
| 2.7.1 | Minutes of each Meeting, which shall include a record of attendance, shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be circulated to all Leagues within thirteen weeks of the Meeting. | ||
| 2.7.2 | Minutes shall be approved at the next Annual General Meeting, and shall be signed by the Chairperson. | ||
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3 |
Committee Meetings |
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| 3.1 | All Meetings of the National Executive Committee shall be held at a venue, date, time and frequency determined by that Committee. | ||
| 3.2 | The Secretary shall give each Committee Member not less than one week's notice of every Meeting of the Committee, together with an Agenda, which shall include Minutes of the last Meeting. A Treasurer's Report shall be provided at least every three months. | ||
| 3.3 | Four committee members shall form a quorum, or such greater number as the Committee shall determine. | ||
| 3.4 | If the Chairperson is unable to attend a Meeting, the Committee Members present shall elect one of their number to be Chairperson for the Meeting. | ||
| 3.5 | Propositions, Amendments and their Determination | ||
| 3.5.1 | Propositions and Amendments, which must both be seconded, shall be determined by a simple majority. | ||
| 3.5.2 | All Committee Members present shall be entitled to a vote and in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. | ||
| 3.5.3 | Should any Committee Member be holding two or more positions, he/she shall be entitled to one vote only. | ||
| 3.6 | Minutes | ||
| 3.6.1 | Minutes of each Meeting, which shall include a record of attendance, shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be circulated to all Committee Members and to the Secretaries of the League Management Committees. | ||
| 3.6.2 | Minutes shall be approved at the next Committee Meeting, and signed by the Chairperson. | ||
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4 |
Election of Officers and Independant Examiners or Auditors |
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| 4.1 | Nominations for any position, including Trustees of the Little League Football Accident Fund, proposed and seconded by Individual Members, must be in writing and in the hands of the Secretary of the National Executive Committee not less than five weeks before the National Annual General Meeting. | ||
| 4.2 | No nomination may be made without the consent of the Nominee. | ||
| 4.3 | Should there be insufficient nominations, those already nominated shall be deemed elected and further nominations shall be accepted from those Individual Members attending the National Annual General Meeting. | ||
| 4.4 | Should nominations exceed vacancies, election shall be made by a vote by the Nominated League Representatives attending the National Annual General Meeting. | ||
| 4.5 | The election of the President shall be for three years, but shall be eligible for re-election. | ||
| 4.6 | Vice Presidents shall be elected for life. | ||
| 4.7 | The election of the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the National Executive Committee shall be for three years. One of these Officers shall retire annually, being the one who has been longest in office since his/her last election. The election of the Football Development Officer and Administrator of the National Executive Committee shall be for three years. | ||
| 4.8 | The election of the three other Members of the National Executive Committee shall be for three years. One of these three officers shall retire annually, being the one who has been longest in office since his/her last election. | ||
| 4.9 | The Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Football Development Officer, Administrator and three other Members of the National Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election. Should one retire prematurely, his/her elected replacement shall complete the retiring officer's term in office. | ||
| 4.10 | The Independent Examiners or Auditors shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election. | ||
| 4.11 | Any Honorary Membership may be cancelled by the majority decision of the National Executive Committee, or by the majority decision of the National Executive Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, but in the latter case, the Honorary Member shall have the right of appeal to the National Executive Committee. | ||
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5 |
Finance |
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| 5.1 | The Financial Year of the National Executive Committee shall be from 1st May in one year to the following 30th April, or such other dates as may be deemed necessary by the Committee. | ||
| 5.2 | Independent Examination or Audit of Accounts. | ||
| Accounts of the National Executive Committee shall be examined by the Independent Examiners or Auditors appointed at the National Annual General Meeting. | |||
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6 |
Affiliation |
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| All Leagues will affiliate to the appropriate Division at a fee of £20.00 per year, payable to the Divisional Executive Committee on 1st September to cover the period to the following 31st August. | |||
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7 |
Divisional Structure |
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| 7.1 | Each Division will consist of not more than six Leagues. | ||
| 7.2 | The National Executive Committee will place Leagues within a Division. | ||
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8 |
Alterations to the Procedure |
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| Propositions and Amendments to alter the Procedure may be submitted to a General Meeting of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of sections 1 or 2 of the Procedure, PROVIDED THAT no alteration to the Procedure shall be permitted that will conflict with the Constitution of the Federation | |||
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