Constitution

1) The name of the Society is the CONFLICT RESEARCH SOCIETY, hereinafter called ‘the Society’.

2) The objects of the Society are to promote research into and the extension of knowledge in the field of Conflict Research. By the term Conflict Research in these rules is meant the investigation and study on a scientific basis of the following:

a) The basic CAUSES AND NATURE of cooperation and conflict between individuals, and particularly between groups of individuals, with especial reference to large-scale violent conflicts, including wars.

b) The FACTORS within social systems which cause them to approach or avoid constructive or destructive conflicts.

c) The PROCESSES of resolving or controlling conflicts, including such specific proposals as the modification of existing social or political institutions or the creation of new ones.

d) The LIKELY CONSEQUENCES of particular policies and proposals intended to avoid, resolve, or control conflicts, or to increase cooperation between groups of individuals, the steps necessary to realise such proposals, and possible obstacles in their way.

e) Any other problems directly relevant to conflict and cooperative behaviour. The investigation and study is directed as far as possible towards finding factual evidence and objective criteria for testing theories and hypotheses.

3) In amplification of the preceding Rule, the Society aims in particular to encourage research in the following ways so far as the same can properly be undertaken by a body of persons established for charitable purposes only:

a) By maintaining a Peace Research Centre and to this end may –

i) Appoint a Research Administrator to be responsible to the Research Committee for seeking funds and co-ordinating projects;

ii) Appoint a Research Advisory Board which shall give its opinion on long-range policy and shall be made up of researchers eminent in their own disciplines;

iii) Propose and initiate research projects;

iv) Appoint Research Fellows to work on the projects of the Research Centre;

v) Appoint Research Associates who, while employed mainly by other institutions, are engaged in work on the projects of the Centre;

vi) Appoint Research Officers and Research Assistants to work under the guidance of Research Fellows and Research Associates. 

b) By maintaining a library.

c) By promoting and publishing books, theses, articles, and other literature.

d) By establishing an information centre to collect and classify relevant factual material.

e) By arranging conferences and other opportunities for the exchange of relevant ideas and information.

f) By making grants for the promotion of the objects of the Society.

g) By co-operating with other organisations to promote any of the objects of the Society.

h) By raising funds for the attainment of the objects of the Society.

4) The income of the property of the Society shall be applied solely to the promotion of the objects of the Society. No portion of the income shall be paid by way of profit to any member of the Society, provided that nothing contained here shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any Officer, Servant or Member of the Society or other person for services rendered to the Society, provided that no Member may vote on any resolution or question relating to any fee or remuneration to himself.

5) The Society shall have three classes of membership. Member, Associate Member and Corporate Member. Admission to any class of membership shall be subject to approval of Council.

a) Membership of the Society shall be open to individuals.

b) Associate Membership shall be open to individuals who are full-time students or who have not attained the age of twenty-one. Associate Members shall not be entitled to vote at meetings, but shall be entitled to the use of such of the facilities of the Society as the Council shall decide.

c) Corporate Membership shall be open to organisations, but Corporate members shall not be allowed to vote. Members of organisations given Corporate Membership shall be entitled to the use of such of the facilities of the Society as the Council shall decide.

d) The amount of annual subscription shall be determined by the Council. Membership of any person or organisation may be terminated by the Council at any time.

6)

a) The Council of the Society shall consist of the Officers – namely the President of the Society, the Chairman of the Council, the Secretary, the Treasurer and not more than 12 other members. All Council places shall be filled by election at the Annual General Meeting of the Society and all members of the Council shall hold office until the next AGM of the Society when they shall be deemed to have resigned and are then eligible for re-election. The Research Administrator may attend meetings of the Council without power to vote. 

b) The Council shall be responsible for pursuing the objects of the Society as stated in Section 3b-h of these rules. The Council shall have full powers to conduct the affairs of the Society subject to the provisions contained in these rules and may by resolution make such provisions for the conduct of their business as they may think fit. The Council shall be responsible for all the expenditure of the Society. It shall meet at least three times a year.

7)

a) The Research committee of the Society shall consist of the Chairman of the Council, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Research Administrator and the Research Fellows of the Centre. The Research Committee shall elect one of its members to be its chairman and shall be responsible for the conduct of the Peace Research Centre under Section 3a of these rules. The Research Committee shall be responsible to Council for expenditure of funds on research projects.

b) The Council and the Research Committee shall meet together not less than once a year to discuss the policy of the Society and its Research Centre.

8) The Council may appoint two or more of its members or alternatively a single corporate body as Trustees to hold any investments or property belonging to the Society. The Trustees may deal with the property so vested in them by way of sale or mortgage, charge or lease or otherwise as directed by the Members of the Society. Such direction shall be given by a majority of the Members present at a duly convened meeting of the Society and when so given shall in favour of a Purchaser, Mortgagee, Chargee, Lessee or Grantee, be binding on all Members of the Society. A certificate purporting to be signed by the Secretary for the time being of the Society shall in favour of the said persons be conclusive evidence that a direction complying in all respects with the above provisions of this rule was duly given to the Trustees. Tenancy agreements for periods of not more than twelve months may be granted by the Trustees on the instructions of the Council.

9)

a) The annual meeting of the Members of the Society shall be held in each calendar year at such time and place as may be fixed by the Council. In addition to any other business that may be transacted, the report of the Council, officers and the Research Administrators, the Financial Statements and the report of the Auditors shall be presented and the Officers and Members of the Council shall be elected and Auditors appointed. All nominations for Council places shall, with the consent of the nominee, be received by the Secretary not less than 21 days before elections.

b) Special meetings shall be convened by the Secretary at the request of the Chairman or upon the written request of five members. In each case the notice calling such special meetings shall state the purpose for which the meeting is being called and the business to be transacted thereat.

c) All notices of meetings shall be in writing and shall be sent to each Member not less than fourteen days before the time designated for the meeting at the last address of such Members in the records of the Society. No accidental omission in giving notice of any annual or special meeting or any adjournment thereof shall invalidate such meetings or avoid any proceedings taken thereat.

d) The presence in person of a number of Members equal to the square root of the total number of members of the Society to the nearest integer shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at any annual or special meeting of Members. In the event of a quorum not being present within half an hour of the time for which the meeting is called the meeting shall stand adjourned for seven days at the same time and place and the Members then present shall constitute a sufficient quorum for the transaction of all business properly brought before the meeting.

e) Each Member shall be entitled to one vote at any annual or special meeting of the Members of the Society.

f) Members unable to be present at any meeting may vote by proxy. Forms of proxy as approved by the Council shall be valid if received by the Secretary not less than 48 hours before the meeting at which they are intended to be used.

10) A resolution to wind up the affairs of the Society shall be effective if passed by a majority of two thirds of the Members present at a special meeting called for this purpose. If passed, the Council shall take all necessary steps to wind up the affairs of the Society as speedily as possible and any surplus funds shall be handed to such Charitable Organisation as in the opinion of the Council has objects most closely coinciding with those of the Society.

11) The Society as a body shall not advocate any particular proposals for conflict avoidance, limitation, control or resolution, to the exclusion of other such proposals, but may study the possible consequences and applicability of such proposals. Any opinions expressed orally or in writing by Officers, Members or Associates of the Society shall be only the personal opinions of the person expressing them, and not of the Society as a whole. The Society shall not engage in political activities.

12) These Rules may be altered, repealed or added to by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members present at the Annual General Meeting or any special general meeting called for such purpose. A copy of any such proposed alteration shall be circulated to members with the notice convening the meeting. No alteration, repeal or addition shall however be valid which would have the effect of preventing the Society retaining its status as a charitable body.