BCS-FACS Constitution

1. NAME

2. OBJECTS

1. To promote (the use of) formality in Computing Science
2. To develop awareness and competence in formal approaches
3. To represent the interests of BCS-FACS Group members with other bodies
4. To encourage research into formal aspects of Computing Science
5. To promote and develop standards in the area

3. CONSTITUTION

1. (President, Vice Presidents) Chairman, Committee Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer
2. Other officers elected at a General Meeting to represent sub-groups or to perform specific tasks such as publicity, conference organising, etc.
3. Individual fee paying members
4. Corporate and Institutional members, viz Companies, Groups or other organisations wishing to support the purpose of the Formal Aspects of Computing Science Group

4. APPOINTED OFFICERS (OPTIONAL)

1. A President shall be appointed at the discretion of the Management Committee for a period of one year with up to two renewals
2. Vice Presidents shall be appointed in recognition of service to the Formal Aspects of Computing Science community at the discretion of the Management Committee for a period of one year with up to two renewals
3. The appointed officers shall have the right to attend free of charge all general meetings and all events staged by the Group

5. ELECTED OFFICERS

1. The officers shall be Chairman, Committee Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer, the majority of whom should be members of the British Computer Society
2. Other officers may be elected to fill posts created by the Management Committee
3. Election: The officers shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shall serve from the end of the meeting at which they are elected until the end of the AGM following
4. Casual Vacancy: A vacancy occurring during the term of office may be filled by an appointment by the Management Committee

6. MANAGEMENT

1. The affairs of the Group shall be managed (subject to control of the AGM) by a Management Committee comprising the Elected Officers
2. Co-option: The Management Committee may co-opt members as required, normally to hold office until the next AGM
3. Meetings: The Management Committee shall meet at least twice in its year of office and frequently enough to carry out properly the business of the Group.
4. Notice: At least 14 days notice of the place, date and time of the meeting shall be given to each member of the relevant committee
5. Quorum: The business of the group may be transacted by not less than five members
6. In the absence of the Chairman, the Committee shall elect one of its number to take the chair for the meeting h. Voting: In determining a question by vote for the majority of the membership present, each having one vote, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote
7. Sub-Committees: At the first meeting following the AGM, the Management Committee may appoint sub-committees, each under the chairmanship of a Management Committee member, to assist in carrying out the business of the Group
8. Working Parties: The Management Committee may set up at any time working parties responsible to the Management Committee which shall appoint a Chairman and provide appropriate terms of reference

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1. Each year the Group shall hold an AGM in May
2. Notice: The Secretary shall send, at least 28 days before, notice of the date, time and place of the AGM, together with the agenda, to all members of the Group. For this purpose a notice printed in the official publication of the Group and/or the Computer Bulletin shall be considered sufficient
3. All members have the right to attend the AGM for which there shall be no attendance charge
4. Agenda: The following items shall be included:

   1. Minutes of the previous AGM
   2. Minutes of any Extraordinary General Meeting held since the previous AGM
   3. Chairman's Report
   4. Management Committee Officers' Reports
   5. Audited Statement of Accounts
   6. Proposals for alterations to Rules
   7. Proposals for alterations of Fees
   8. Election of Officers
   9. Election of Auditors

5. Nominations: Any member is entitled to nominate a person for any elected office on the Management Committee. Such nominations may be proposed at the meeting if not previously received by the Secretary
6. Voting: Every question at an AGM shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast. Individual members of the Group each have a single vote. The accredited representative of each corporate, institutional and sustaining member also has a single vote.

8. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

1. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be convened on a resolution of the Management Committee or within five weeks of receipt by the Secretary of a requisition signed by no less than 10% of the members stating the business to be transacted at the meeting
2. Rule 7, except sub-rules (c) and (d) shall apply
3. An EGM shall transact only such business as is specified in the resolutions or requisitions convening it

9. FINANCE

1. Bank account: In accordance with BCS guidelines, the Group shall have at least one Account (Account A) at Lloyds Bank, Langham Place Branch, used for normal running expenses. For Groups opting out of the centralised accounting system other accounts may be used for special events or for investment funds.
2. The Group shall follow the BCS Financial Guidelines as issued from time to time
3. The financial year shall start on 1st May each year
4. The Treasurer is responsible to the BCS for submitting draft budgets, recording ongoing expenditure and capital expenditure separately for each by 30th November in the preceding year
5. The Treasurer is responsible for making available to the BCS a receipt and payments statement at the end of every financial year (30th April) in respect of the Group's normal operations and special events, this statement to be included in the BCS annual accounts subject to audit by BCS auditors
6. All cheques drawn on the Group's bank accounts must be signed by any two of Chairman, Committee Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer
7. The accounts of the Group shall be audited each year by an auditor elected at the AGM
8. All income and property of the Group from whatever source derived shall be applied solely to the promotion of the Objects of the Group
9. No member of the Group shall receive payment for his services as a member
10. No member of the Group shall be expected to bear any personal financial loss as a result of undertaking legitimate business on behalf of the Group, such as attending committee meetings or events in which they are involved

10. DISSOLUTION

11. GROUP AND COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

1. The Group shall be governed by the rules of the BCS as these apply to Specialist Groups. Where it is considered that a rule of the Group is in conflict with a BCS rule governing Specialist Group activities, the BCS rule shall apply.
2. Elected officers of the Group should normally be members of the BCS
3. The Management Committee will nominate a member to represent the Group on the BCS Specialist Groups Management Committee
4. All members of the Group's Management Committee shall abide by the Code of Conduct relating to members of the BCS
5. The Group may use the BCS name to enhance the reputation of their own activities but must not bring the BCS into disrepute
6. No member of the Group may speak on behalf of the BCS without proper authority from the BCS

P. & P. The Secretary.