CONSTITUTION OF:  The People’s Independent Party.

ADOPTED ON: 19th June 2025
 

 

Section 1: Name of the Party

1.1 The official name of the Party shall be The People’s Independent Party.

 

Section 2: Aims of the Party

The principal aims of the Party are:

2.1 Be a voice for local people. To effectively represent the interests and articulate the views of the residents within the community.

2.2 To diligently identify and pursue the priorities and aspirations expressed by local residents.

2.3 To seek tangible and sustainable improvements in the delivery of local public services, acknowledging and working within the constraints of available local resources and relevant national government policies.

 

Section 3: Objectives

To achieve its Aims, the Party shall pursue the following objectives:

3.1 To advocate for and implement practical, measurable changes that demonstrably benefit local residents.

3.2 To operate with political independence, focusing exclusively on local issues and priorities without adherence to national party-political agenda.

3.3 To actively seek cooperation and build political consensus where feasible to ensure continuous improvement in local governance and the delivery of services prioritised by the community.

 

Section 4: Membership

4.1 Eligibility and Subscription: Membership is open to individuals aged 18 or over, and to organisations. All members must support the Party's aims, agree to abide by its Constitution and rules, and pay the annual membership subscription. The subscription rate is determined annually at the Party's Annual General Meeting (AGM). Membership is open to all eligible applicants without discrimination based on protected characteristics such as gender, race, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or religion/belief.

4.2 Application and Declaration: Applications for membership shall be submitted to the Party Secretary for reporting to the Executive Committee. Applicants must declare any membership or affiliation held with other political parties or organisations within the 12 months prior to applying. Failure to declare truthfully will be handled under the Party's Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

4.3 Review and Approval: The Executive Committee reviews all applications and reserves the right to deny membership, particularly based on past or present political affiliations deemed incompatible with the Party. A proposal to deny membership, if moved and seconded within the Committee, requires a simple majority vote for approval (Chairperson has casting vote). Denied applicants will receive written reasons and a full refund of any fees paid.

4.4 Conditions for Members Formerly Active in Other Parties: New members who belonged to another political party within 12 months of joining are subject to a 6-month cooling-off period from their start date, during which they cannot vote at General Meetings (including the AGM). This rule exists to prevent entryism and protect the Party's independence. The Executive Committee may waive this period by a simple majority vote in exceptional circumstances (Chairperson has casting vote).

4.5 Member Rights and Termination: Subject to the conditions herein, particularly the cooling-off period, each individual member has one vote at General Meetings. Membership can be terminated according to the Party's Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

 

Section 5: Party Management

5.1 Governing Body: The overall administration and management of the Party shall be vested in an Executive Committee.

5.2 Composition of the Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall comprise:

a) Officers: The following Officer positions shall be members of the Executive Committee:

i. Chairperson

ii. Leader

iii. Deputy Leader

iv. Treasurer

v. Secretary

vi. Nominating Officer

vii. Compliance Officer

b) Elected Members: Two (2) additional Party members, elected annually at the Party's Annual General Meeting (AGM).

5.3 Executive Committee Meetings:

a) Frequency: The Executive Committee shall meet no fewer than six (6) times per calendar year.

b) Chair: Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson, or in their absence, the Deputy Leader, or in the absence of both, another Officer elected by the members present for that specific meeting.

c) Quorum: The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at Executive Committee meetings shall be five (5) members of the Committee.

d) Voting: Decisions at Executive Committee meetings shall be made by a simple majority vote conducted by a show of hands. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson (or acting chair for that meeting) shall have a second, casting vote.

5.4 Changes to Committee Membership:

a) Removal: The Executive Committee may remove any of its members (Officer or Elected Member) for good and proper reason by a resolution passed by at least a two-thirds majority of the entire voting membership of the Committee. The member concerned must be notified of the grounds for potential removal and given the right to be heard by the Committee before any final vote is taken.

b) Vacancies: Should a vacancy arise on the Executive Committee between AGMs, the remaining members of the Executive Committee may co-opt an eligible Party member to fill the vacancy until the next AGM. The total number of Committee members shall not exceed the number defined in 5.2.

5.5 Officer Roles and Responsibilities:

i. The duties of the Chairperson are to:

Chair meetings Maintain the membership list.

Deal with correspondence.

Collect and circulate any relevant incoming information within the Party.

of the Committee and the Party.

Schedule and organise the party AGM.

Act as spokesperson for the Party when necessary.

ii. The duties of the Leader are to:
Take a leading role in developing political strategy.

Represent the Party and its policies, when required, in the media and through other platforms.

Communicate Party campaigns, priorities and achievements internally.

Support Party candidates in elections and campaigns.

Work closely with the Deputy Leader to ensure continuity of leadership if he is unable to fulfil his responsibilities for any reason.
iii. The duties of the Deputy Leader are to:
Support the Party Leader in their responsibilities and duties, and to deputise for the Party Leader in their absence.

Support the Party Chairperson in their responsibilities and duties, and to deputise for the Party Chairperson in their absence.

iv. The duties of the Nominating officer are to:
Have overall responsibility for arranging the nomination of candidates and approving the party identity marks used on nomination forms and ballot papers at elections.

Appoint Party Election Agents as and where required during election campaigns.
v. The duties of the Treasurer are to:

Supervise the financial affairs of the Party.

Keep proper accounts that show all monies collected and paid out by the Party.

Ensure the party complies with the political finance rules set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).

vi. The duties of the Secretary are to:
To manage the committee’s business. This involves preparing agendas in liaison with the chairman, monitoring the progress and scheduling of the committee’s business.

Take and keep minutes of meetings.

vii. The duties of the Compliance Officer are to:

Be responsible for ensuring that the Party complies with laws, regulations, and internal policies. 

Investigate irregularities and non-compliance issues.

To book venues, appropriate catering and entertainment as required.

To promote events working closely with the communications officer.

Invite local dignitaries and sponsors where appropriate.

viii. In addition to the above officers the Executive Committee will appoint a Communications Officer who may attend Executive Committee meetings on request from the Committee but will not have voting rights on Committee decisions.

ix. The duties of the Communications Officer are to:

Manage the Party’s website, ensuring it is well presented and up to date.

Maintain and improve the Party’s social media presence and to support PIP councillors’ social media channels.

Lead, and work actively with others within the Party, on the process of producing print publications, including writing copy and designing layout.

Manage proactive and reactive output to the relevant media.

Section 6: Finance

6.1 Application of Funds: Any income, funds, or assets received or held by the Party shall be applied exclusively towards promoting the Party's stated aims and objectives and covering legitimate operational expenses. No funds shall be distributed among members except for the reimbursement of approved expenses incurred on behalf of the Party.

6.2 Banking Arrangements: All bank accounts necessary for the management of Party finances shall be opened and maintained strictly in the registered name of the Party.

6.3 Authorisation of Expenditure: All payments made from Party funds must be authorised. Authorisation requires the documented approval of at least two authorised Officers, one of whom must be the Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall determine and minute which Officers, in addition to the Treasurer, are authorised signatories or approvers for financial transactions.

 

Section 7: Annual General Meeting (AGM)

7.1 Convening the AGM: The Party shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year. The AGM must be convened no earlier than eleven (11) months and no later than thirteen (13) months after the date of the preceding AGM.

7.2 Notice of AGM: Written notice of the date, time, location, and proposed agenda of the AGM shall be issued to all members at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the meeting date.

7.3 Attendance and Voting Rights: All Party members are entitled to attend the AGM. Voting rights at the AGM are granted subject to the eligibility conditions specified in Section 4 of this Constitution.

7.4 Quorum: The quorum required for the transaction of business at the AGM shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of registered Party members eligible to vote at the time of the meeting. No substantive business shall be conducted unless a quorum is present.

7.5 Business of the AGM: The mandatory business to be conducted at the AGM shall include, but is not limited to:

a) Confirmation and adoption of the minutes of the previous AGM.

b) Presentation and reception of the Chairperson's annual report detailing the Party's activities over the preceding year.

c) Presentation, consideration, and adoption of the Treasurer's annual financial report and accounts.

d) Determination of the annual membership subscription rate for the forthcoming year

e) Election of the Party Leader, if the position is vacant or the term of office has expired according to the rules governing that position.

f) Election of the Officers of the Executive Committee and the two Elected Members of the Executive Committee.

g) Consideration of any motions submitted by members in accordance with procedures established by the Executive Committee.

h) Transaction of any other business pertinent to the Party, as specified in the AGM notice or as permitted by the Chairperson with the consent of the meeting.

 

Section 8 Removal of the Party Leader

8.1 Eligibility for No Confidence Proceedings: Only individuals holding elected positions within The People's Independent Party (referred to herein as "elected members") and the Party Chairperson shall be eligible to initiate or cast a vote in a 'motion of no confidence' concerning the Party Leader.

8.2 Initiation of a Motion of No Confidence: Any elected member may request a vote of no confidence in the Party Leader by submitting a formal written request to the Party Chairperson.

8.3 Threshold for Tabling a Motion: If formal written requests for a vote of no confidence, as described in clause 10.2, are received by the Chairperson from at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of current elected members within a single continuous period of seven (7) calendar days, a 'motion of no confidence' shall be mandatory agenda item at the next scheduled meeting of the Party's elected members.

8.4 Procedure at the Meeting
a. At the designated meeting, the Chairperson shall formally move the motion: "That the elected membership of The People’s Independent Party has no confidence in the current Party Leader."
b. This motion must be formally seconded by another eligible member present at the meeting.
c. If the motion is not seconded, it shall fail, and no vote will proceed.

8.5 Voting Requirement For the motion of no confidence to be carried, it must receive affirmative votes from a majority of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible members present and voting at the meeting.

8.6 Consequences of a Successful Motion:
a. If the motion of no confidence is carried, the incumbent Party Leader is immediately removed from the position.
b. The Deputy Leader shall immediately assume the responsibilities of the Party Leader in an interim capacity.
c. The Chairperson shall be responsible for convening an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) for the specific purpose of electing a new Party Leader. This EGM must be held within six (6) weeks following the date the motion of no confidence was carried.
d. The interim leadership of the Deputy Leader shall continue until a new Party Leader is formally elected at the EGM.

8.7 Eligibility of the Removed Leader: The Leader removed by the successful motion of no confidence shall remain eligible to stand as a candidate for the position of Party Leader in the election held at the subsequent EGM.

8.8 Suspension of Executive Committee: Following a successful vote of no confidence and until the conclusion of the EGM called to elect a new Leader, the Executive Committee shall suspend its functions. No meetings of the Executive Committee shall be convened or held during this period. Any meetings previously scheduled within this timeframe shall be postponed

 

Section 9. Election of the Party Leader

9.1 Triggering a Leadership Election: A Leadership election shall only be held under the following circumstances:
a. The position of Party Leader becomes vacant due to the resignation of the incumbent Leader.
b. A motion of no confidence in the incumbent Leader has been successfully carried, as outlined in Section 8. At a scheduled Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the leadership position is routinely open for contestation. Unless one of these conditions is met, no Leadership election shall occur, and the incumbent Leader shall continue in their role.

9.2 Nomination Process:
a. Leadership elections shall occur at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) convened for this purpose.
b. Nominations for the position of Party Leader shall be sought from the floor from eligible members present at the relevant meeting.
c. Any eligible member seeking nomination must be formally proposed by one eligible member and formally seconded by a different eligible member, both of whom must be present at the meeting.
d. An eligible member may only propose OR second one nominee for the position of Party Leader during a single election process.

9.3 Candidate Addresses (Initial): Each validly nominated candidate shall be permitted to address the attending membership for a period not exceeding three (3) minutes to present their case for election as Leader. The order of speakers shall be determined by lot, overseen by the Chairperson.

9.4 Contingency: No Nominations: If, during a scheduled Leadership election process (e.g., at an AGM where the position is open for contest), no nominations are put forward challenging the incumbent, or if the position is vacant and no nominations are received at the designated EGM, the procedure cannot proceed. If only the incumbent Leader is effectively nominated (or stands uncontested by lack of challengers at an AGM), they shall continue in post until the next AGM without a ballot, subject to any other provisions of this Constitution

9.5 Voting Method: Preferential Secret Ballot:
a. The election shall proceed by secret ballot using a preferential voting system (ranking candidates).
b. Each eligible voting member present shall receive a ballot paper listing all validly nominated candidates.
c. Members shall rank candidates in order of preference (1 for first preference, 2 for second, and so on). Members are not obligated to rank all candidates.
d. Balloting shall be administered by the Party's Compliance Officer under the direct supervision of the Chairperson.
e. Each nominee and their proposer shall have the right to observe the counting process.

9.6 Counting Process and Elimination:
a. Ballots shall be counted, initially allocating votes based on the first preference ('1') indicated on each valid ballot paper.
b. After each round of counting, the candidate with the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated.
c. The ballot papers allocated to the eliminated candidate shall be redistributed to the remaining candidates according to the next available preference indicated on those papers.
d. This process of elimination and redistribution shall continue round by round.
e. The Chairperson shall announce the results at the conclusion of each round of counting.
f. Tie-breaking during Elimination: In the event of a tie for the lowest number of votes during any elimination round, the Chairperson shall cast a deciding vote to determine which candidate is eliminated.

9.7 Determining Finalists: Scenario Specifics:
a. Scenario A: Incumbent Leader Seeking Re-election: If the incumbent Leader is a candidate, the preferential voting process described in clause 11.6 shall continue until one challenger candidate achieves more than fifty percent (50%) of the valid votes currently in play. This candidate becomes the sole challenger to the incumbent Leader for the final ballot.
b. Scenario B: Vacant Leadership Position: If the incumbent Leader has been removed, resigned, or is otherwise not seeking re-election, the preferential voting process described in clause 9.5 shall continue until only two (2) candidates remain. These two candidates proceed to the final ballot.

9.8 Final Candidate Addresses: The final candidates (either the two remaining as per 9.7b, or the challenger and incumbent as per 9.7a) shall each be permitted to address the attending membership for a final period not exceeding two (2) minutes. The order of speaking shall be determined by the toss of a coin, administered by the Chairperson.

9.9 Final Ballot:
a. Following the final addresses, a final ballot shall be conducted.
b. Eligible members present shall cast a single vote for their preferred candidate from the final two (or challenger vs. incumbent).
c. This final ballot shall be conducted by secret ballot, administered by the Compliance Officer and overseen by the Chairperson.
d. The result shall be determined by simple majority (the candidate receiving the most votes wins).

9.10 Declaration of Result: The Chairperson shall announce the result of the final ballot. The candidate receiving the majority of votes in the final ballot shall be declared elected as the Leader of The People’s Independent Party.

 

Section 10: Appointment of Executive Committee Officers

10.1 Scope: This section outlines the procedure for the appointment by election of the following officers to the Executive Committee: Chairperson, Nominating Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and Compliance Officer.

10.2 Exclusions: This process does not apply to the Party Leader, whose election is governed by Section 9 of this document, nor to the Deputy Leader, who shall be appointed by the elected Party Leader.

10.3 Timing and Venue: Elections for these Executive Committee offices shall typically take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).  Should a vacancy arise on the Executive Committee between AGMs, the remaining members of the Executive Committee may co-opt an eligible Party member to fill the vacancy until the next AGM. The total number of Committee members shall not exceed the number defined in section 5.2.

10.4 Nomination Procedure:
a. For each office being contested, nominations shall be sought from the floor from eligible members present at the relevant meeting.
b. Any eligible member seeking nomination for an office must be formally proposed by one eligible member and formally seconded by a different eligible member, both of whom must be present.
c. An eligible member may only propose OR second one nominee per contested office during the meeting.

10.5 Candidate Addresses: Each validly nominated candidate for an office shall be permitted to address the attending membership for a period not exceeding two (2) minutes to present their case for election. The order of speakers shall be determined by lot, overseen by the presiding officer (typically the Chairperson).

10.6 Uncontested Positions:
a. If, for a specific office open for election, only the incumbent officer is nominated, or no challenger nominations are received against the incumbent, the incumbent shall be declared re-elected to the post without a ballot, provided they consent to continue serving.
b. If an office is vacant and no nominations are received at the designated meeting, the position shall remain vacant. The Executive Committee may subsequently choose to use guidance in section 5.4.b.

10.7 Voting Method:
a. Election for contested offices shall proceed by secret ballot using a preferential voting system (ranking candidates).
b. Eligible voting members present shall receive a ballot paper for the contested office(s) listing all validly nominated candidates.
c. Members shall rank candidates in order of preference (1 for first preference, 2 for second, and so on). Members are not obligated to rank all candidates.

10.8 Administration and Scrutiny of Ballot:
a. Standard Administration: Unless specified otherwise below, the balloting and counting process shall be administered by the Compliance Officer under the supervision of the Chairperson.
b. Election of Chairperson: When electing the Chairperson, the Party Secretary shall administer the balloting and counting process. Supervision may be provided by another senior member agreed upon by the meeting if deemed necessary.
c. Election of Compliance Officer: When electing the Compliance Officer, the Chairperson shall administer the balloting and counting process, under the supervision of the Party Secretary.
d. Scrutiny: Each nominee for the specific office being voted upon, along with their proposer, shall have the right to observe the counting process.

10.9 Counting Process and Determination of Winner:
a. Ballots shall be counted, initially allocating votes based on the first preference ('1') indicated on each valid ballot paper.
b. After each round of counting, the candidate with the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated.
c. The ballot papers allocated to the eliminated candidate shall be redistributed to the remaining candidates according to the next available preference indicated on those papers.
d. This process of elimination and redistribution shall continue round by round until one candidate secures votes exceeding fifty percent (50% + 1 vote) of the valid votes currently in play, this candidate shall be declared elected to the office.
e. Tie-breaking during Elimination: In the event of a tie for the lowest number of votes during any elimination round, the officer administering the count (as defined in clause 10.8) shall cast a deciding vote to determine which candidate is eliminated.

10.10 Announcement of Results:

a. The results at the end of each round of counting, and the final election result for each office, shall be announced by the Chairperson.
b. Exception: The final result for the election of the Chairperson shall be announced by the Party Secretary (or the officer who administered that specific election as per 10.8.b).