RCN Congress Constitution

Title

1. The RCN Congress.

Purpose

2. To promote the objects of the RCN as laid down in the royal charter.

3. To promote all aspects of the profession of nursing.

4. To express views and opinions on matters of importance to nurses and the nursing profession.

5. To express views and opinions, and influence the health services the nursing profession provides to the people of the United Kingdom.

6. To express views and opinions, and influence health care policy for the people of the United Kingdom.

7. To be involved in international matters relating to nurses, nursing and health care.

8. To exert political pressure to further these aims.

9. To participate in and influence the policy making agenda of Council.

10. To express views and opinions, and influence the organisation of the RCN.

11. To recommend action by Council and national entities.

12. To initiate immediate action subject to the agreement of Council members present and meeting in formal session.

13. To provide a variety of educational opportunities for nurses.

14. To facilitate membership networking.

Convening meetings of Congress

15. A meeting of RCN Congress will be held at least once in every calendar year.

16. It is the responsibility of the general secretary to give at least 28 clear days notice of the date, time and place of the meeting.

Meetings

17. The rules of Congress are applied by the chair to guide the meeting.

18. Having previously been proposed by Council and accepted by Congress the rules shall remain in force until changes to them are agreed in accordance with the procedure for amending them as set out in the rules of Congress.

19. At the start of each Congress the chair will announce when the rules are in force.

20. Branches, national forums, the association of nursing students, the UK stewards Committee and the UK Safety Representatives Committee will receive interim progress reports from Council on work arising as a result of debates and the outcomes of voting during Congress.

Attendance and speaking

21. All RCN members (full, student and associate), have the right to attend and speak on any matter before Congress.

22. RCN members employed by the RCN at the time Congress takes place are permitted to speak only by invitation from the chair.

Submitting entities

23. The submitting entities recognised by Council are:

  • Branches
  • National forums
  • Association of Nursing Students
  • UK stewards committee
  • UK safety representatives committee
  • Council
  • RCN Boards

24. Each submitting entity is entitled to submit items (resolutions or matters for discussion) to the Agenda Committee for selection as agenda items for debate.

25. Submitting entities may be called upon to assist in work to further the agenda items passed by Congress.

26. The General Secretary may also submit items, in order to facilitate the business of Congress.

Voting

27. Submitting entities are entitled to voting members as follows:

a. Branches are represented on the basis of one voting member for every 1000 members or part thereof.

b. National forums are represented on the basis of one voting member for every 1000 members or part thereof up to a total of six.

c. The UK stewards committee has seven voting members.

d. The UK safety representatives committee has seven voting members.

e. The association of nursing students has six voting members.

28. The voting members of each submitting entity will be recorded at the time of registration for Congress.

29. A voting member must be a member of the submitting entity and in full, student or associate category of the RCN.

30. A voting member is entitled to represent one submitting entity only at any one time.

31. The following submitting entities and elected officers are not entitled to vote:

  • The Council
  • The chair and vice chair of Congress (except that the chair of Congress has a casting vote in the event of a second equality of votes)
  • The agenda committee

32. Employees of the RCN are not entitled to vote.

Chair and vice chair of Congress

33. The chair and vice Chair will be full members of the RCN. Any member who has been registered as attending Congress on at least two occasions in the four previous years is eligible to stand for election.

34. They will not hold office in any other United Kingdom membership nursing organisation or any United Kingdom health service trade union.

35. The elections of chair and vice chair will take place by postal ballot every two years. If applicable, the single transferable method will be used to count votes.

36. The elections will take place within and not more than three months after Congress in an election year.

37. The separate elections for chair and vice chair of Congress will be conducted at the same time.

38. The outgoing chair may work with the newly elected chair for not more than two months to ensure continuity of the work of Congress and the agenda committee.

39. The chair and vice chair are each eligible for re-election for one further consecutive two year term of office.

40. No person who has held each office twice within an eight year period will be eligible for a further and final term of office until a two year period has elapsed.

41. The following submitting entities may nominate candidates for the election of chair and vice chair:

  • Branches
  • National forums
  • The Association of Nursing Students
  • The UK stewards committee
  • The UK safety representatives committee

42. The submitting entities listed at paragraph 41 are entitled to cast votes in the election of chair and vice chair, on the basis of the number of voting members they are allowed, as set out in paragraph 27 of this constitution.

Mid term vacancy: chair of Congress

43. If a vacancy occurs the agenda committee will recommend one of the following actions:

a. that the Vice Chair takes over the remaining portion of the vacated term, or

b. that an election is held. The person newly elected will take over the remaining portion of the vacated term. Paragraphs 33, 34, 40, 41, and 42 of this constitution will be applied in the election, which will be conducted by postal ballot. If applicable, the single transferable method will be used to count votes.

44. The vice chair chosen by the agenda committee or a member elected to take over a term of office as chair is eligible to stand for election as chair of Congress for two further consecutive two year terms. The exception is when two Congress meetings have occurred during the shortened term of office. This will be considered a full term of office.

Mid Term Vacancy: vice chair of Congress

45. If a vacancy occurs in the office of vice chair the agenda committee will choose one of their members to take over the remaining portion of the vacated term.

46. The vice chair chosen by the agenda committee to take over a term of office is eligible to stand for election as vice chair of Congress for two further consecutive two year terms. The exception is when two Congress meetings have occurred during the shortened term of office. This will be considered a full term of office.

The agenda committee

47. The agenda committee consists of :

  • Chair of Congress
    Vice Chair of Congress
    Chair of Council
    Four members elected by Congress
    General Secretary (non voting)
    48. The powers and functions of the Agenda Committee are:

a. To receive agenda items (resolutions and matters for discussion) from the following submitting entities:

  • Branches
  • National forums
  • The Association of Nursing Students
  • The UK stewards committee
  • The UK safety representatives committee
  • The Council
  • The RCN Boards

b. To redraft agenda items subject to the agreement of the submitting entity.

c. To combine agenda items subject to the agreement of the submitting entities.

d. To determine the agenda items for debate during Congress.

e. To reject other agenda items.

f. To determine the order in which agenda items will be debated during Congress.

g. To review the progress of business during Congress and guide members about timing.

h. To receive and consider emergency agenda items for debate at Congress.

i. To receive and consider amendments to agenda items during Congress.

j. To be available as a source of advice to members regarding the business of Congress.

49. The General Secretary may also submit items, in order to facilitate the business of Congress.

Election to the agenda committee

50. Any member who has been registered as attending Congress on at least two occasions in the four previous years is eligible to stand for election.

51. The election takes place during Congress in an election year. If applicable, the single transferable method will be used to count votes.

52. Nomination papers must be signed by a voting member from any 3 of the following recognised submitting entities:

  • Branches
  • National Forums
  • The Association of Nursing students
  • The UK Stewards Committee
  • The UK Safety Representatives Committee

53. The term of office is two years and members are eligible for election for one further consecutive two year term but no more until a two year period has elapsed. They will then be eligible to stand for election for one further term only.

54. The first mid term vacancy among the four members of the agenda committee is filled by the person who received the next highest number of votes. This person takes over the remainder of the vacant term.

55. The agenda committee has the power to nominate persons to fill any further mid term vacancies. These require ratification by Council.

56. A member of the agenda committee who has taken over a term of office is eligible to stand for election to the agenda committee for two further consecutive two year terms. The exception is when two Congress meetings have occurred during the shortened term of office. This will be considered a full term of office.

57. Elected members of the agenda committee attend Congress to fulfil their role and have the same rights and privileges as other members except that they are not eligible to vote.

58. Members of the agenda committee may not serve concurrently on Council, UK stewards or UK safety representatives committees, or any national forum policy and practice group.

Amendments to the constitution

59. This constitution remains in force until it is amended by a proposal passed by a majority of two-thirds of members present and voting at Congress, and ratified by Council.

60. The following submitting entities have the right to propose and second amendments to the Congress constitution:

  • Branches
  • National forum
  • The Association of Nursing Students
  • The UK stewards committee
  • The UK safety representatives committee

61. Voting members of the submitting entities listed at paragraph 60 above may propose amendment of the Constitution using a procedural item card. This must be seconded by a voting member of a different submitting entity listed at paragraph 60 above.

62. If carried by the RCN Congress it is then submitted to Council in formal session for ratification.

63. Council may also propose an amendment and if carried by RCN Congress it becomes immediately effective.

April 2002