Motion #16
This motion reflects suggestions made by members in consultation with Party Structure Working Group to make GPEx smaller and simplify it.
SOC notes: This motion will require a two-thirds majority to pass. If passed, changes will come into effect from the Annual Ballots of 2023 & 2024 as relevant.
Amend Clause 7 in the constitution as follows to
• Clarify the separation of duties as they affect other constituted bodies (7i) • Reduce the number of members of GPEx to 7, removing the coordinator and Trades Unions representatives (7ii), whose committees will be accountable to an assigned member of GPEx. • To require a forward plan to be presented to conference (7xvie)
Other parts of clause 7 are substantially unamended, except where they are affected by the above.
i) There shall be a Green Party Executive (hereinafter referred to as the Party Executive or GPEx) which shall be responsible for the overall and day-to-day direction of the Party. Certain duties and responsibilities are reserved to other Party bodies specified in this Constitution, in particular Conference, Standing Orders Committee, Green Party Regional Council, Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. The authority of the Executive does not extend over those reserved duties and responsibilities.
ii) The Party Executive shall consist of Leader plus Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders, Wales Green Party Leader, the co-chairs of the Young Greens as a job share and additional members to the following functional positions, elected to serve for two years:
a) Chair; b) Treasurer; c) Seven ordinary members.
iii) Elections for the GPEx Chair, Treasurer and Ordinary member posts shall be by a ballot of all members of the party with voting included within the Annual Ballot. The Chair and Treasurer shall be elected in one year in individual ballots by instant run off, at the same time as the Leader(s) plus Deputy Leader(s), and the ordinary members in the next year by a seven-seat single transferable vote, so that the two year terms of the two groups are staggered.
iv) Subject to the collective responsibility of the Executive set out in 7 i), 7 xvi) and elsewhere in section 7, within one month of the election of the Ordinary Members, GPEx will set out what their areas of responsibility are such that between the Chair, Treasurer and Ordinary Members, GPEx takes accountability for all sub-committees of GPEx and their individual accountabilities are aligned to the staff structures responsibilities using an appropriate methodology, to ensure an appropriate workload and that the skills within the Party Executive are matched to these responsibilities.
v) Procedures for the election of Leader and Deputy Leader(s) or Co-Leaders of the Green Party and their duties and responsibilities are outlined in Section 8 of this Constitution.
vi) Candidates for the GPEx Chair, Treasurer and Ordinary Members shall have been a member of the Party for the two complete years preceding the date of close of nominations, and shall be required to complete a standard application form. Nominations of candidates must be supported by the signatures of a minimum of ten members of the Green Party of England and Wales. Or, if they have been a member for a minimum of one complete year preceding the date of close of nominations, their nomination must be supported by a majority of GPRC members in attendance at a quorate official meeting of that body.
vii) Members of the Party may be nominated for no more than one GPEx post at any one time, and no member may hold more than one post on the Party Executive at any one time. Members of the Party Executive may not hold any other elected office in the Party at national level. Members of the Party may be nominated for both Leader and Deputy Leader(s).
viii) The Party Executive shall meet as necessary and at least once every six weeks.
ix) A quorum of the Party Executive shall comprise a majority of its membership eligible to vote.
x) The Party Executive may from time to time create such sub-committees as it considers necessary for the efficient conduct of its business and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition at least annually, retaining responsibility for the conduct of such sub-committees and accounting for the conduct of those sub-committees to the Annual Conference. Any such sub-committee shall include at least one member of the Regional Council.
xi) The Party Executive shall appoint the following posts:
a) a National Election Agent;
b) a Panel of Speakers, who shall each be responsible for covering a designated area of policy
c) In addition the Party Executive may create such posts as it considers necessary.
xii) The Executive shall elect from among its elected members a deputy chair, to assist the chair in their duties, and to act in the role of the chair at any time when the chair is unable to do so. Such elections are to take place at least annually and by the end of November each year.
xiii) By a two-thirds majority of its membership eligible to vote the Party Executive may suspend from office any member of the Party Executive, if there is evidence of sustained conduct which in the opinion of the Party Executive is against the interests of the Party, subject to any decision of the Regional Council under Clause 6(xii) and subject to the right of such a member to appeal.
xiv) In the event of twenty per cent of constituted Local Parties petitioning the Regional Council to recall the GPEx Chair, Treasurer or Ordinary Member, such a member shall be under suspension until a new ballot has been held for that post at a date to be determined by the Regional Council.
xv) In the event of casual vacancy (i.e. one not arising in the normal electoral cycle) for a GPEx Chair, Treasurer or Ordinary Member a replacement shall be appointed in an acting and non-voting capacity by the Party Executive until the next ballot is held.
xvi) The responsibilities of the Party Executive shall include the following at the national level:
a) to implement the decisions of the Annual Conference; b) to ensure the proper expenditure, administration, and raising of the funds of the Party; c) to act as the Green Party’s employer of Green Party staff; d) to keep records of its business, which it shall provide to the Regional Council and make available to the membership of the Party; e) to present a full written report on its activities and on the financial state of the Party to the Annual Conference; f) to present to the Annual Conference a plan for intended activities for the next 12 months xvii) The Chair, and other Executive members that the Regional Council may from time to time invite shall attend every meeting of the Regional Council to report on the work of the Party Executive, without prejudice to Clause 6(xiii).
Amend Clause 14 Campaigning, to make consistent the relationship with GPEx in light of the changes made to GPEx above, so it reads:
i. There shall be a Green Party Campaigns sub-committee (hereafter called the Campaigns Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of GPEx as set out in 7 iv, and shall be responsible for organising campaigning, consistent with the Objects and Aims set out in part 3.
ii. The Campaigns Committee shall include 5 members elected at the Annual Conference, with vacancies to be filled by election, or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference.
iii. The role of the Campaigns Committee link with the Comms team and refer to the Political Strategy and Pol Comm in order to review, evaluate, prioritise, plan and develop materials for campaigns
iv. The Campaigns Committee shall provide a report to each Annual Conference.
v. The Campaigns Committee is a sub-committee of GPEx.
Amend Clause 15 International Committee , to make consistent the relationship with GPEx in light of the changes made to GPEx above, and to remove repetition in the current constitution and to require a report to be made annually at conference so it reads:
i. There shall be a Green Party International sub-committee (hereafter called the International Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of GPEx as set out in 7 iv.
ii. The International Committee shall include 5 members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference.
iii. The role of the International Committee shall be to support the work of GPEx and organise the International work of the party . This includes, among other things, having responsibility, along with the international co-ordinator, for the selection of delegates and / or representatives to meetings of fellow Green parties and groupings of Green parties worldwide.
iv. The International Committee shall provide a report to each Annual Conference.
v. The International Committee is a sub-committee of GPEx.
Amend Clause 19 Equalities and Diversity Committee , to make consistent the relationship with GPEx in light of the changes made to GPEx above, so it reads:
i. There shall be a Green Party Equalities Equity Diversity and Inclusion sub-committee (hereafter called the EEDI Committee) which shall be convened by a specified member of GPEx as set out in 7 iv.
ii. The EEDI Committee shall include 5 members elected by Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co- option to be ratified at an intervening conference.
iii. The EEDI Committee shall also include a representative of each group that is recognised as a Members Working Group by the EEDI Committee.
iv. The EEDI Committee shall provide a report to each Annual Conference.
v. The role of the EEDI Committee shall be to support the work of GPEx to improve Equalities Equity Diversity and Inclusion within the Green Party.
Not yet debated
In Clause 7 iv insert the party’s relations with the Trade Unions, after ‘accountability for all sub-committees of GPEx’ , So it reads: 7 iv) Subject to the collective responsibility of the Executive set out in 7 i), 7 xvi) and elsewhere in section 7, within one month of the election of the Ordinary Members, GPEx will set out what their areas of responsibility are such that between the Chair, Treasurer and Ordinary Members, GPEx takes accountability for all sub-committees of GPEx, the party’s relations with the Trade Unions, and their individual accountabilities are aligned to the staff structures and responsibilities using an appropriate methodology, to ensure an appropriate workload and that the skills within the Party Executive are matched to these responsibilities. In Clause 7 xvi insert a new clause g) that reads: g) to lead the party’s relations with the Trade Unions.
Not yet debated
In Clause 14 iii replace The role of the Campaigns Committee link with the Comms team and refer to the Political Strategy and Pol Comm in order to review, evaluate, prioritise, plan and develop materials for campaigns
With: The role of the Campaigns Committee shall be to support and enhance agreed messaging and lobbying related to parliamentary and local council campaigns designed to change the law and policies in pursuit of the Political Strategy; and to give local Green Parties and individual members opportunities and resources to take part in non-electoral campaigns on issues of local and national importance
Not yet debated
Additional point after point 3:
International Committee members will elect one committee member (or two as a job share) to be the first point of contact for international work within the party and internationally. They will be known as the International Convenor(s). The International Convenor(s) will have responsibility and delegated authority to liaise with international Green Parties and organisations to further develop relationships with them, in particular with the European Green Party, the Global Greens Network and our sister parties in the UK. The international convenor will report to the specified member of GPEx as set out in 7.1v
Not yet debated
Amend 7. ii) so that it reads: “ii) The Party Executive shall consist of Leader plus Deputy Leader(s) or CoLeaders, Wales Green Party Leader, the co-chairs of the Young Greens as a job share and additional members to the following functional positions, elected to serve for two years:
a) Chair; b) Treasurer; c) Seven ordinary members; d) Trade Union Liaison Officer.”
Amend 7. iii) so that it reads: “iii) Elections for the GPEx Chair, Treasurer, Trade Union Liaison Officer and Ordinary member posts shall be by a ballot of all members of the party with voting included within the Annual Ballot. The Chair **, Trade Union Liaison Officer and Treasurer shall be elected in one year in individual ballots by instant run off, at the same time as the Leader(s) plus Deputy Leader(s), and the ordinary members in the next year by a seven-seat single transferable vote, so that the two year terms of the two groups are staggered.”
Amend 7. iv) so that it reads: “iv) Subject to the collective responsibility of the Executive set out in 7 i), 7 xvi) and elsewhere in section 7, within one month of the election of the Ordinary Members, GPEx will set out what their areas of responsibility are such that between the Chair, Treasurer, Trade Union Liaison Officer and Ordinary Members, GPEx takes accountability for all sub-committees of GPEx and their individual accountabilities are aligned to the staff structures responsibilities using an appropriate methodology, to ensure an appropriate workload and that the skills within the Party Executive are matched to these responsibilities.”
Amend 7. vi) so that it reads: “vi) Candidates for the GPEx Chair, Treasurer, Trade Union Liaison Officer and Ordinary Members shall have been a member of the Party for the two complete years preceding the date of close of nominations, and shall be required to complete a standard application form. Nominations of candidates must be supported by the signatures of a minimum of ten members of the Green Party of England and Wales. Or, if they have been a member for a minimum of one complete year preceding the date of close of nominations, their nomination must be supported by a majority of GPRC members in attendance at a quorate official meeting of that body.”
Amend 7. xiv) so that it reads: “xiv) In the event of twenty per cent of constituted Local Parties petitioning the Regional Council to recall the GPEx Chair, Treasurer, Trade Union Liaison Officer or Ordinary Member, such a member shall be under suspension until a new ballot has been held for that post at a date to be determined by the Regional Council.”
Amend 7. xv) so that it reads: “xv) In the event of casual vacancy (i.e. one not arising in the normal electoral cycle) for a GPEx Chair, Treasurer, Trade Union Liaison Officer or Ordinary Member a replacement shall be appointed in an acting and nonvoting capacity by the Party Executive until the next ballot is held.”
Amend 7. xvi) so that it reads: “xvi) The responsibilities of the Party Executive shall include the following at the national level: a) to implement the decisions of the Annual Conference; b) to ensure the proper expenditure, administration, and raising of the funds of the Party; c) to act as the Green Party’s employer of Green Party staff; d) to keep records of its business, which it shall provide to the Regional Council and make available to the membership of the Party; e) to present a full written report on its activities and on the financial state of the Party to the Annual Conference; f) to present to the Annual Conference a plan for intended activities for the next 12 months; g) guided by the Trade Union Liaison Officer, to supervise the Party’s relationship with trade unions and the labour movement”
Not yet debated
In D05 Changes to GPEx, add the following at the bottom of the motion:
“Add new Clause 16, renumbering other clauses in the constitution as needed, to create a Trade Union Liaison Committee to coordinate the Party’s relationship with the trades union movement and other workers’ organisations:
1 TRADE UNION LIAISON COMMITTEE
i. There shall be a Green Party Trade Union Liaison sub-committee (hereafter called the Trade Union Liaison Committee) which shall be convened by the Trade Union Liaison Officer should one exist, and failing that by a specified member of GPEx as set out in 7 iv. ii. The Trade Union Liaison Committee shall include 5 members elected at Annual Conference with vacancies filled by election or by co-option to be ratified at an intervening conference. iii. The role of the Trade Union Liaison Committee shall be to support the work of GPEx and coordinate and strengthen the Party’s work with the trade union movement and other workers’ organisations. iv. The Trade Union Liaison Committee shall provide a report to each Annual Conference. v. The Trade Union Liaison Committee is a subcommittee of GPEx.”