How Congress works

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These short guidelines are intended to provide you with a better understanding of Congress and to enable you to make a full contribution, even if it is your first time. They are based on the Congress Rules (PDF 30KB).

Congress business

The Agenda Committee is responsible for setting the agenda for Congress. Resolutions and matters for discussion are selected from items put forward by submitting entities.

Read 2008's Congress agenda items and background reports. The Congress reports and agenda brochure and a limited supply of copies of other conference papers will be available at the Congress registration desk.

Emergency items or amendments

Slots are left on the agenda for debates on current issues. These should relate to events that have occured since 2 November 2007, the closing date for when resolutions and matters for discussion had to be submitted.

Submitting entities wishing to propose an emergency item or an amendment to an item that has already been accepted should complete the emergency resolution form (Word 60KB)and submit it to Jane Clarke, Director of Governance Support at RCN headquarters (telephone 020 7647 3599) prior to Congress and to the Agenda Committee during the week itself.

The Agenda Committee meets twice a day throughout Congress week to consider emergency resolutions and reports back to Congress on additions and changes to the agenda at the beginning of each day. Emergency items should be placed in the identified box located in the RCN lounge at the conference centre. The box will be emptied at 11.15am Monday to Thursday and at 4.15pm Monday to Wednesday. The last time it will be emptied will be 11.15am on Thursday.

As the last meeting of the Agenda Committee will be during Thursday lunchtime, the box will be removed at the close of the morning session on that day. Communications from the Agenda Committee to RCN representatives will be posted on a notice board in the RCN lounge. Representatives are asked to check this notice board at regular intervals.

During Congress sessions members of the Agenda Committee will be seated at the front of the auditorium.

Background information on agenda items

The background information to the resolutions and matters for discussion is prepared by RCN staff. This information aims to present the facts and explain the RCN position on particular issues and is intended to help members prepare for the debate.

Copies of the information referred to in the further reading section under each resolution/matter for discussion can be obtained from the RCN library information point in the RCN lounge in the Windsor Hall Foyer. In addition, copies of all the resolutions and matters for discussion considered by the Agenda Committee (including those not accepted) will be available for scrutiny at the library information point.

The rules of the meeting

Congress is governed by two documents: the Congress Constitution (PDF 25KB) and the Congress Rules (PDF 30KB).

The Constitution covers important facts such as who has voting rights at Congress; the function of the Chair, Vice Chair and the Agenda Committee; and who can submit items for debate. Changes to the Congress Constitution must be passed by a two-thirds majority of Congress voting delegates.