1. Frequency and Duration
Unless otherwise decided, the Dublin C & C Branch of the TUI shall meet monthly, during School or College term and all meetings shall begin at the time set out in the notice of meeting and end not later than 10.00 pm.
2. Quorum
16 members shall form a quorum. If within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting to commence a quorum is not present, the gathering will disperse.
3. Notice of Meeting
Members shall be notified of Ordinary Branch meetings at least seven days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall state the date, place, time and agenda of the meeting. The Area Rep shall also be informed of and invited to branch meetings.
4. Agenda
All items on the Agenda shall take precedence over all other business. Any member who wishes to introduce other business for the consideration of the meeting may, with the permission of the Chair, do so after the business of the Agenda has been completed.
The Chair has the right to alter the order of items on the Agenda, at his/her sole discretion.
5. Motions
Any member who wishes to place a motion on the Agenda may do so by giving notice in writing to reach the Secretary at least ten days before the date of the meeting: alternatively a member may give notice of motion at a Branch meeting for inclusion on the Agenda of the next meeting.
The names of the proposer(s), and seconder(s) are to be included with the motion, on the Agenda.
6. Special Meeting
(i) A Special Meeting of the Branch may be called to discuss any matter of urgency, provided that the business of the meeting is stated in the notice to members.
(ii) Such a meeting may be called by the Branch Chair on his/her own authority or on the written request of at least 1/5th of the members of the Branch, provided that the purpose for which the Special Meeting is called, is stated by the members concerned.
(iii) At least 2 days notice must be given of any Special Meeting.
(iv) Only the business stated in the notice may be discussed at a Special Meeting.
7. Raising Standing Orders
(i) At an Ordinary Branch Meeting, in the event of any matter of urgency, the Chairman may accept a motion for the suspension of the standing orders.
(ii) The member moving such suspension must clearly state the nature and urgency of his/her business and the length of time (not exceeding 15 minutes) he/she desires suspension to last.
(iii) At the option of the meeting one further suspension may be allowed.
(iv) No suspension shall take place except by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.
8. Conduct of Branch
(I)The Secretary shall read the Minutes of the previous meeting, but no discussion or motion shall be allowed on the minutes except in regard to their accuracy. After the confirmation of the minutes, the Chair shall sign them; the members shall then be at liberty to ask any questions in regard to matters arising out of them. Such questions shall be allowed for the purposes of information only, and no debate on the policy outlined in the minutes shall take place.
(ii) The ruling of the Chair on any question under the Standing Orders, or on points of order of explanation, shall be final, unless challenged by not less than one third, and unless two thirds of the members present vote to the contrary.
(iii) Speeches
No member shall be allowed to speak more than once whilst there is another member waiting to speak for the first time. Members desiring to raise points of order must first obtain the Chair's permission to do so.
(iv) Chair's Casting Vote
The Chair shall have a deliberative vote and in the event of tie a casting vote.
9. Motions and Amendments
The first proposition of any particular subject shall be known as the Original Motion, and all succeeding propositions on that subject shall be called amendments. Every motion or amendment must be moved and seconded by members actually present at the meeting before they can be discussed. It is permissible for a member to make his/her speech first and conclude with a motion.
Motions and amendments must be given to the Secretary, in writing, before being voted on.
10. Substantive Motions
If an amendment be carried, it displaces the Original Motion and itself becomes the substantive motion, whereupon any further amendment relating to any portion of the substantive motion may be moved, provided it is consistent with the business and has not been covered by an amendment or motion which has been previously rejected. After the vote on each succeeding amendment has been taken, the surviving proposition shall be put to the vote as the main question, and if carried shall then become a resolution of the meeting.
Voting on amendments and on motions shall be by a show of hands. Tellers may be appointed, if necessary.
11. Right of Reply
The mover of the Original Motion shall, if no amendment be moved, have the right of reply at the close of the debate upon such motion. When an amendment is moved he/she shall be entitled to speak thereon, and at the close of the debate on such amendment, shall reply to the discussion, but shall introduce no new matter. The question shall then be put to the vote immediately, and under no circumstances shall any further discussion be allowed once the question has been put from the Chair. The mover of an amendment shall not be entitled to reply.
12. Withdrawals or Additions
No motion or amendment which has been accepted by the Chair shall be withdrawn without the unanimous consent of the meeting. Neither shall any addendum or rider be added to the motion which has once been accepted by the Chair without such full consent. Should any member dissent, the addendum must be proposed and seconded, and treated as an ordinary amendment.
13. To Terminate Discussion
A motion that the discussion be terminated shall be moved and seconded without discussion. If such a motion be carried, the motion originally under discussion shall be put and decided without further discussion other than a reply by the mover thereof. If the procedure motion be lost, the discussion on the original motion shall be resumed.
14. To Move Next Business
Proceed to the next business. If a motion to proceed to the next business has been proposed and seconded, the proposer of the motion under discussion shall have the right briefly to speak in opposition, and the procedure motion shall then be put without further discussion. If the procedure motion be passed, the discussion on the motion under discussion shall be abandoned and Branch shall proceed to the next business on the Agenda.
15. Election Of Branch Officers
Properly proposed and seconded nominations for Branch Officerships, shall be with the secretary, in writing, not less than 14 days prior to the date of the AGM.
Branch Officership:
(Executive) Chair, Secretary, Treasurer;
(Ordinary)
Equality Officer, + 4 Branch Officers.
15(a) Area Rep: Branch Nomination
Properly proposed and seconded nominations for Area Rep., shall be with the secretary, in writing, not less than 5 (working) days prior to the date of the notified Branch Meeting which has Area Rep. Nomination as an Agenda item.
16. Mandating Delegates to Congress.
1 It is the policy of Dublin C&C Branch T. U. I. to mandate delegates to Congress.
2 Delegates are expected to vote according to the recorded Branch policy.
3 Important motions for Congress, subject to time, will be discussed at the Branch Meeting to determine Branch policy and the mandate.
4 There will be a Delegates' Meeting to mandate delegates on the remaining motions (e.g. five in each section). Delegates are expected to attend this meeting and be familiar with the Branch mandate and Branch policy.
5. Delegates to Congress will be expected to have a minimum 50% attendance record at Branch meetings for the previous year.
5.1) In the event of there being more than the required number of delegates nominated, priority will be given to those with the better attendance record.
5.2) In the event of a ‘tie' between nominee delegates, the Branch Officers will vote to decide on the delegates.
6 At the delegates meeting, if a motion is not clearly covered under the existing Branch policy, then a two thirds (2/3) majority of delegates voting will determine the mandate
6.1 The two-thirds (2/3) majority will not determine Branch policy, but only the Branch mandate for the following Congress.
6.2 If a two-thirds (2/3) majority of voting delegates is not secured, then delegates will have an open free vote on the motion in question,
7 If Branch policy is ambiguous concerning a Congress motion at a delegates meeting before or at Congress, then the two thirds majority vote (as at no. 6) will operate to determine the mandate.
7.1 Failure to secure a two-thirds (2/3) majority will leave delegates with a free, open vote.
8 If at Congress ‘significant' new information is made available regarding a motion, which renders it ambiguous regarding Branch policy, then a two thirds (2/3) majority of voting delegates is needed to change the mandate.
9. At Congress, the Branch chairperson, in consultation with Branch Officers (time permitting) will determine the ‘significance' of the new information.
9.1 If there is not sufficient time at Congress for delegates to decide the Branch mandate on an issue, the Branch Officers, taking into account Branch policy, will vote to decide the mandate or to allow a free, open vote.
9.2 If there is not sufficient time at Congress for the Branch Officers to meet on a motion, the Branch Chairperson, in consultation with the Branch Officers (time permitting) will determine the mandate according to Branch policy.
10 Free or open votes will normally be allowed on moral issues. In this regard there is normally a free vote for the ‘Miscellaneous' motions on the Congress Agenda.
11 Sanctions which may be imposed by the Chairperson, in consultation with the Branch Officers (where practical), for the misconduct of delegates while on duty, will be of a temporary nature and subject to the ratification of the Branch meeting and subject to the right of appeal of the delegate(s) concerned.