SRS Constitution

To take effect from the AGM, 1 May 2015

Article I: Name

There shall be constituted a Society for Renaissance Studies, referred to hereafter as ‘the Society’.

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the Society is to advance public education in and study of the Renaissance.

Article III: Membership

Membership of the Society is open to anyone interested in the study of the Renaissance. Membership can be applied for using the mechanisms set in place by Council and will be activated upon receipt of the appropriate annual dues.

Article IV: Organization

Section 1

There shall be six trustees of the Society: the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and two Trustees from the Council, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting [AGM]. These elected Trustees will be nominated and elected by the AGM and will serve terms of two years. The role of Trustee is compatible with that of any office or portfolio.

Section 2

The Chair of the Council shall ex officio be Chair of the Society.

Section 3

The governing body of the Society shall be a Council.

Section 4

The Council shall consist of the following officers: the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Irish Representative, the Scottish Representative, the Welsh Representative, the Editor(s) of Renaissance Studies, the Associate Editor of Renaissance Studies and the Editor(s) of the Bulletin. The Council shall also comprise the ex-Chair, the ex-Treasurer, and the ex-Secretary for one year following their term of office. The Council shall also contain up to twelve elected members. These members of Council will be asked to take on portfolios as advised by the officers and agreed by Council. As far as possible, all Council members should hold a portfolio. The Council shall have the right to co-opt three members.

Section 5

The Vice Chair shall be elected to serve for three years after which (s)he shall become Chair, in which capacity (s)he shall serve for three years and shall not be eligible for re-election.

Section 6

The Vice Chair shall be elected by the AGM of the Society. A call for nominations will be advertised to the membership, usually in the autumn and at least two months in advance of the vacancy. After the agreement of the candidate has been obtained, each nomination, signed by six members, should reach the Secretary by no fewer that twenty-one days before the AGM. At the meeting, ballot sheets will be distributed, votes counted, and results announced before members disperse.

Section 7

If vacancies for the Chair and the Vice Chair should occur simultaneously, the election of the Chair shall follow the same procedure as the election of the Vice Chair.

Section 8

The Editor or Editors of Renaissance Studies and the Editor or Editors of the Bulletin shall be appointed by the Council or by a sub-committee designated by the Council.

Section 9

The other officers and members of the Council shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting. Notice about vacancies arising shall go out with the AGM announcements. Nominations, signed by three members, should reach the Secretary by no less than twenty-one days before the AGM. The rest of the procedure shall be the same as for the Vice Chair. In the election of the Council, regard shall be had to the representation of the various disciplines.

Section 10

Apart from the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Editor or Editors of Renaissance Studies, and the Editor or Editors of the Bulletin, officers will be elected for a period of three years with the possibility of re-election for a further three years after which they shall not be eligible for re-election to the same office. Non-officeholding members of the Council will be appointed to named portfolios for a period of three years with the possibility of re-appointment for one further term of three years, after which they shall not be eligible for re-appointment to the same portfolio.

Section 11

If an officer should resign, the Council shall appoint a replacement who will serve until the next AGM, at which the vacancy will be filled as stated above.

Section 12

An officer may be deselected from an office, portfolio or from Council if a motion is approved by Council and the AGM.

Section 13

The Council shall meet at least twice per annum.

Section 14

Ten persons shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Council.

Section 15

The AGM shall be held every summer.

Section 16

Twenty persons shall constitute a quorum for the AGM.

Section 17

Apart from electing the Vice Chair and the members of the Council, the AGM shall determine the annual subscription of the Society; a reduced rate will be payable by registered students. The AGM shall receive and approve the Society’s accounts. The AGM shall approve the appointment of an auditor for the forthcoming financial year. The AGM shall also transact any other required business. Any member wishing to have a matter placed on the Agenda should inform the Secretary in writing not later than twenty-one days before the AGM.

Article V: Duties of the Council

Section 1

The duties of all the officers shall be specified in job descriptions, which shall be approved by Council.

Section 2

The Council shall be responsible for the general policies of the Society. It shall report on its activities at the AGM.

Section 3

The Council shall control payments and will order an annual audit of the Treasurer’s accounts.

Section 4

The Council shall not have power to incur a debt in excess of the current resources of the Society.

Section 5

The Council shall designate the signers of cheques.

Article VI: Publications

Section 1

The Society shall produce publications including a journal entitled Renaissance Studies and a newsletter entitled the Bulletin. The Society shall also have a website.

Section 2

The Editors of the Society’s publications will make full, regular reports to Council and to the AGM. An annual meeting should be held between the Society and the publisher of Renaissance Studies.

Section 3

Renaissance Studies shall have an Editorial Board. Members of the Renaissance Studies Editorial Board are invited to Society for Renaissance Studies summer meetings.

Section 4

Renaissance Studies shall have a Board of Advisors of members willing to read papers and encourage the submission of suitable papers to the journal. Members of the Board of Advisors will be appointed by the Editor in conjunction with the publishers to serve for three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment. In the appointment of the Board of Advisors, regard shall be had to the representation of the various disciplines.

Article VII: Amendments

Section 1

Alteration to this Constitution must receive the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting.

Section 2

A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Society at least twenty-one days before the Annual General Meeting.

Section 3

At least fourteen days’ notice of the alteration proposed must be given by the Secretary to the membership.

Section 4

No alteration to Article II (Purpose), Article VIII (Dissolution of the Society) or this Article shall take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commission or other authority having charitable jurisdictions shall have been obtained; and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Society to cease to be a charity in law.

Article VIII: Dissolution of the Society

Section 1

The Society may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose, for which twenty-one days’ notice shall have been given to the members. Twenty persons shall constitute a quorum for a Special General Meeting.

Section 2

Such a resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may determine, and if effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.