Party Constitution

ARTICLE I: PARTY NAME AND PURPOSE
1. The name of the party shall be “EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE” (“the Party”).

2. The purpose of the Party is to represent the interests of the people of the Edinburgh and Lothian East Region for elections to the Scottish Parliament, as well as the local Council and General Elections within the same area.

3. The Party’s geographic boundaries shall correspond to those defined by the Boundary Commission for Scotland for the Edinburgh and Lothian East Region for the Scottish Parliament. If the name of the region is changed or the boundary of the region is changed by the Boundary Commission for Scotland the party will consider adopting the new boundary. This will be confirmed by a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE II: PARTY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1. To promote community-based, democratic representation in the Edinburgh and Lothian East Region.

2. To ensure elected representatives act and vote on the instructions of local members.

3. To develop and promote policies that reflect the collective will of the people of the region.

4. To encourage openness, accountability, fairness, and direct democracy in all areas of Party activity.
ARTICLE III: PARTY MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership is open primarily to residents of the Edinburgh and Lothian East Region who support the aims of the Party. People who do not live in the region can also join the party but will not have voting rights.
2. Members agree to uphold this Constitution and any rules made under it.

3. All members who live in the Edinburgh and Lothian East Region will have the right to:
● Vote in the Party’s Policy Votes, Instruction Votes and Selectin Votes;
● Stand for office within the Party;
● Stand to be selected by the members to be a candidate for Local elections, Scottish Parliament elections and the General Election;

4. Membership may be suspended or terminated by the Executive Committee for conduct contrary to the Party’s Constitution or the law, subject to appeal at the next General Meeting. Suspended members will not have any voting rights while suspended.
5. Disputes over whether someone is a resident will be resolved by a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV: PARTY STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
1. Once the party has one hundred members the supreme authority of the Party will rest with its members.
2. The Party Leader and the Party Treasurer shall manage the Party’s affairs if there are insufficient members available to form the full Executive Committee.

3. Between General Meetings, the Executive Committee shall manage the Party’s affairs, which includes the Party’s adopted Financial Scheme, in accordance with this Constitution and member decisions.

4. Day-to-day decisions by the Executive Committee will need a quorum of two committee members and the vote shall be conducted by simple majority vote unless specified otherwise below as is the case with resolutions to expel members of the Executive Committee or resolutions to amend the constitution.

5. The Executive Committee shall consist of:
● Party Leader;
● Party Treasurer;
● Up to five additional members elected at the AGM.
● From amongst the elected committee members, a Party Secretary may be appointed for Executive Committee correspondence.

6. Excluding the Party Leader and the Party Treasurer Committee Members shall serve for a one-year term. All Committee Members may be re-elected.

7. Casual vacancies may be filled by a simple majority vote by the Executive Committee until the next AGM.

8. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Nominating Officer, responsible for the submission, authentication, and management of candidate nomination papers for public elections.
9. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Voting Officer, responsible for organising and overseeing the Policy Votes, Instruction Votes and Selection Votes.
10. The Executive Committee, may expel a member including the Party Leader and the Party Treasurer if a resolution to that effect is proposed, seconded and passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee present. The quorum for such a resolution shall be five Executive Committee members.
11. The grounds for expelling a member of the Executive Committee are if their conduct will cause the Party to be brought into disrepute, including breaching the confidentiality of the Executive Committee, abuse, harassment or bullying.
12. The member of the Executive Committee against whom such a motion is proposed will receive a week’s notice.
ARTICLE V: PARTY LEADER
1. The Party Leader shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a two-year term by a majority vote of party members present or voting online. This term may be extended by the Executive Committee for one additional two-year term upon passing a motion with a simple majority. The Party Leader may be re-elected.

2. The Leader shall:
● Serve as the public representative and spokesperson of the Party;
● Chair meetings of the Executive Committee and General Meetings;
● Ensure that the Party operates democratically and in line with its Constitution.
● Hold ultimate legal responsibility for the Party’s registration and compliance under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).

3. The Executive Committee, may expel the Party Leader if a resolution to that effect is proposed, seconded and passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee present. The quorum for such a resolution shall be five Executive Committee members.
ARTICLE VI: PARTY TREASURER
1. The Party Treasurer shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a two-year term by a majority vote of party members present or voting online. This term may be extended by the Executive Committee for one additional two-year term upon passing a motion with a simple majority. The Party Treasurer may be re-elected.

2. The Treasurer shall:
● Maintain accurate records of all income and expenditure;
● The Party operates under a Financial Scheme in full compliance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).
● Under this scheme, the Treasurer is responsible for legal financial reporting, campaign finance, and Electoral Commission compliance.
● Present an annual statement of accounts to the AGM;
● Advise the Executive Committee on financial matters and uphold financial rectitude.

3. The Party Treasurer may not authorise payments to themselves without the approval of another Committee member.

4. The Executive Committee, may expel the Party Treasurer if a resolution to that effect is proposed, seconded and passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee present. The quorum for such a resolution shall be five Executive Committee members.
ARTICLE VII: DIRECT DEMOCRACY – POLICY VOTES
1. When the party has less than one hundred members policies for the party will be voted on by the Executive Committee with a two-thirds majority of votes cast. The required quorum will be two members of the Executive Committee.
2. When the party has less than one hundred members and the Executive Committee only has two members, the Party Leader and the Party Treasurer would both have to agree for a policy to become party policy.
3. Policy Votes shall take place four times per annum and will determine official Party Policy.
4. When the party has one hundred or more members policies for the party will be voted on by the Party Members with a two-thirds majority of votes cast. The required quorum will be two-thirds of the members or 250 members whichever is smaller.
5. Once the Party has 100 members policy proposals must be proposed by a Party Member and seconded by 10% of the Party Members, or twenty-five Party Members which ever is smaller. Policy Proposals should be submitted at least one week prior to a Policy Vote.

6. For instances where there is no Party Policy and no Instruction Vote, elected representatives shall act according to their own judgement consistent with the Party’s Constitution.
7. Elected representatives should vote contrary to party policy if the members within their Ward, Constituency, or Region have instructed them to do so.
ARTICLE VIII: DIRECT DEMOCRACY – INSTRUCTION VOTES
1. Members resident in each Ward, Constituency, or Region shall be entitled to vote in an Instruction Vote to instruct their Elected Representatives on how to vote.
2. The Executive Committee will vote to agree under which circumstances an Instruction Vote will not be possible for practical reasons. Under these circumstances the Elected Representative will be guided by the Parties Policies as well as their intellect, judgement and conscience when voting on behalf of the Party Members.
3. There will be an Instruction Vote by members for each of the votes Elected Representatives will be casting.
4. The ballots for the Instruction Votes can occur through channels as decided by the Executive Committee including WhatsApp, online, email or in-person combined with video conference, administered by the Executive Committee or its delegated officers.

5. Instruction Votes shall be transparent and open to verification by members.

6. Elected Representatives are expected to adhere to Instruction Vote instructions absolutely, unless prevented by law, conflict of interest, or conscience – in which case an explanation must be provided to members.
ARTICLE IX: DIRECT DEMOCRACY – SELECTION VOTES
1. Candidates for election shall be selected by a Single Transferrable Vote of the Executive Committee and all members residing within the relevant electoral area, ward, constituency or region. The quorum for Selection Votes will be all the current members of the Executive Committee as this then caters for the situation where there are no Party Members within the ward, constituency or region.

2. Selection procedures and votes shall be transparently published to all members and administered by the Executive Committee.

3. The Executive Committee shall ensure selection processes are fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory.
4. Votes by the Executive Committee and the Party Members will have equal weight.
ARTICLE X: PARTY CONDUCT AND FAIRNESS
1. The Party shall operate in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and shall not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion, belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

2. The Party will take active steps to promote gender equality and wider diversity among its officers, candidates, and representatives.

3. All members and officers are expected to act with respect, integrity, and civility.
ARTICLE XI: PARTY FINANCE
1. The Party shall maintain a bank account for organisational purposes.

2. All income and expenditure must be authorised by the Treasurer and one other designated Committee member.

3. The Party shall submit financial reports to the Electoral Commission as required by law.

4. Funds must only be used to further the Party’s aims.
ARTICLE XII: PARTY MEETINGS
1. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held once each year to:
● Elect officers and Executive Committee members;
● Receive the Treasurer’s report;
● Review the Party’s performance and objectives.

2. Quarterly Policy Votes shall be held at least four times per year.

3. A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called by:
● A majority of the Executive Committee; or
● A petition signed by ten percent of members.
ARTICLE XIII: THE CONSTITUTION: APPROVAL AND AMENDMENTS
1. This constitution shall come into force immediately following a declaration of its approval by members at the Annual General Meeting.
2. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed at any time and must be proposed in writing to the Executive Committee.
3. Amendments to this constitution can be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board with a quorum of two members of the Executive Board including at least the Party Leader and the Party Treasurer.
4. Party Members can propose amendments to the constitution if 50% of the members write to the Chairman.

5. The Executive Committee shall review and approve or reject proposed constitutional amendments by vote. The quorum required for constitutional amendments is 100% of the current Executive Committee. A unanimous vote by the Executive Committee in favour of approving a proposed constitutional amendment is required before the constitutional amendment is referred to the Party Members for ratification.

6. If approved by the Executive Committee the Executive Committee shall refer constitutional amendments to the membership for ratification by a two-thirds majority vote at the next AGM or SGM. The quorum for such ratification is 50% of the Party Members including the members of the Executive Committee as Party Members.
ARTICLE XIV: THE PARTY RULE BOOK
1. The Executive Committee can choose to make rules and publish these in a Party Rule Book made available to the Party Members by email upon request. Rules made under the constitution will be read in conjunction with it. The Constitution will prevail if the Rules are in contradiction with it.