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Motion #D15
The number one aim of this party is to “develop and implement policies”, and this party is proud to have a members led policy process. Therefore all of the party’s policy process should clearly be defined in one place and other governance documents should reference this one place.
Delete section of the current constitution entitled “Policy Making” and replace with section outlined below title “Policy section to be inserted into the constitution”.
In line with point (7) added to constitution by the previous sentence, create a standing orders document entitled “Standing Orders for the Policy Process” and insert the text below which starts with title “The Policy Process” and ends with “[END OF POLICY PROCESS DOCUMENT]”.
Make the changes laid out below title “Changes to other parts of the constitution required to ensure consistency” up until “[END OF CONSISTENCY CHANGES]”
Conference instructs the Policy Development Coordinator, with the support of Policy Development Committee and Green Party Executive to make the following change to the party’s policies to bring them inline with changes this motion makes:
• - Keep the current ‘Philosophical Basis’ unchanged. Keep the current ‘Policies for a Sustainable Society’ unchanged on the party’s public facing website, but inline with point 6) in part A of the new “Standing Orders for the Policy Process”, also published them on website only accessible to members along with the following for each chapter:
• ◦ Revision log (starting from changes made at spring 2021 conference)
• ◦ Background paper (if existing background paper cannot be found then a blank place holder should be published reminding members that one needs writing).
• - Take the current contents of Record of Policy Statements (RoPS) and split into Policy Statements in accordance with points 7) to 14) in Part A of “Standing Orders for the Policy Process”. The Party’s manifestos published since 2010 should be included as policy statements, and all but the most recent will be set as “inactive”. All of the other policy statements currently in RoPS will initially be ‘active’. Policy Development Committee will decide on initial expiry dates for all ‘active’ policy statements. These will be dates between 1 and 5 years time and will be included in the members facing publication of policy statements. Once this has happened and ‘active Policy statements’ have been published on the party’s external website and all policy statement are on the members website, remove RoPS from party’s website.
Standing Orders Committee (SOC) is empowered to make further changes to the constitution (and any Standing Orders this motion is being applied to) that are necessary to ensure that they are consistent with the contents of “Policy section to be inserted into constitution” and “Standing Orders for the Policy Process” document this motion introduces. Where relevant ‘#’ in the next text added by this motion should be replaces with appropriate section numbers and the remainder of documents should be renumber as needed. SOC are empowered to ensure “Standing Orders for the Policy Process” is formatted for accessibility and clarity.
Policy section to be inserted into the constitution
# Policy
1 Green Party Policy is defined by:
• ◦ Philosophical Basis
• ◦ Policies for a Sustainable Society
• ◦ Policy Statements
2 The Philosophical Basis outlines the party’s broad policy approach and all other Green Party policies must be consistent with the Philosophical Basis.
3 The Philosophical Basis of the Party may be changed only by a two-thirds majority at Conference, or by a two thirds majority vote of the membership through a party-wide ballot.
4 Policies for a Sustainable Society may be amended; new Policy Statements may be added and existing ones amended, by a majority vote at Conference, as outlined in the Standing Orders for Conduct of Conference and ‘Standing Orders for the Policy Process’.
5 The Green Party Regional Council can approve additional Policy Statements or amend existing policy statements between conferences providing that resulting Policy Statements are consistent with Policies for a Sustainable Society. These policy statement become inactive at the end of the next conference unless conference votes to keep them active and sets a new expiry date. In exceptional circumstance, where rapidly changing political circumstance mean it is not possible to respond to changing events in a way that is consistent with both Philosophical Basis and Policies for a Sustainable Society, the Policy statements don’t have to be consistent with all of Policies for a Sustainable Society.
6 The membership of the party shall be primarily responsible for the formulation of policy which they then approve via conference. To do this they can form Policy Working Groups or a Policy Network which the Policy Development Committee can recognise and support.
7 The ‘Standing Orders for the Policy Process’ document will define the processes for the development, drafting, formatting, presenting, approving, reviewing, amending and deleting/archiving party policy. This document shall be a single place, where all rules and procedures relating to party policy process shall be found and shall be referenced by standing orders for party bodies where relevant to their function. These standing orders for party policy can only be amended by a simple majority of conference.
8 There shall be a Policy Development Committee which shall be convened by the Policy Development Co-ordinator. The ‘Standing Orders for Policy Development Committee’ document will clarify the committees role, processes and procedures. The Policy Development Committee shall include five members elected by ballot of the entire membership. Up to an additional five non-voting members may be co-opted by the elected Committee. This co-option shall take place after an annual skills audit carried out immediately following the election of the elected members, and will take account of:
8.1 the views of Equality and Diversity Committee
8.2 the views of relevant special interest groups within the party
8.3 views of the Association of Green Councillors,
8.4 and should ensure that at least two members of the Committee have direct experience of serving as a principal authority councillor
Standing Orders for the Policy Process
Commonly used appreciations
⁃ ‘Party’ means The Green Party as established by the Constitution
⁃ ‘Conference’ means a Party Conference
⁃ ‘Council’ means a Green Party Regional Council
⁃ ‘SOC’ means the Standing Orders Committee
⁃ ‘SOCC’ means the Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference
⁃ ‘PSS’ means the Green Party’s policy book, Policies for a Sustainable Society
⁃ ‘DVP’ means a Draft Voting Paper,
⁃ ‘VP’ means a Voting Paper
⁃ ‘PWG’ means Policy Working Group.
Structure of this Document:
• Part A — What is Green Party Policy:
• ◦ The Philosophical Basis
• ◦ Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS)
• ◦ Policy Statements:
• ▪ Letters & Statements
• ▪ Published Summaries
• ▪ Manifestos
• Part B — Process for changing Green Party Policy
• ◦ Principles of approach
• ◦ Policy Working Groups
• ◦ The Role of Policy Development Committee
• ◦ Changing the Philosophical Basis
• ◦ Changing Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS)
• ▪ Background Papers
• ◦ Creating and amending Policy Statements
• ▪ Letters & Statements
• ▪ Published Summaries
• ▪ Manifestos
Part A - Green Party Policy:
1 The Green Party has 3 categories of Policy:
• ◦ Philosophical Basis
• ◦ Policies for a Sustainable Society
• ◦ Policy Statements
The Philosophical Basis
2 As set out in ‘# Policy’ section of constitution:
2.1 The party’s broad policy approach is laid out in the “Philosophical Basis”.
2.2 All other Green Party policy, as laid out below must be consistent with the Philosophical Basis.
3 The Philosophical Basis shall be published on the party’s public facing website. It shall also be published on the members website along with a revision log.
Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS)
4 Policies for a Sustainable Society is the Party’s democratically agreed set of policies which together layout the key specific changes the party wants to enact. These shall be made up of a set number of defined chapters each covering a specific area of policy. Each chapter shall:
4.1 Lay out the overall policy the party believes is needed in that policy area (although transitional policy may be included where appropriate).
4.2 Provide a clear and precise framework, which shows how the party approaches each area of governance. 4.3 Where relevant outline Local Government policies.
4.4 Not contain excessive policy detail, short-term policies, or responses to contemporary political issues.
4.5 Not contain factual information, explanation or rhetoric excepting that necessary to make Policies for a Sustainable Society accessible to the general reader. These should be contained in Background Papers.
4.6 Be internally consistent in both style, level of detail and policy proposals between and within chapters.
4.7 Contain numbered statements.
4.8 Have a Background Paper associated with it which should provide evidence, calculations, explanations and other information which supports the proposals in that chapter.
4.9 It shall be written in plain English.
4.10 It shall not encroach unnecessarily upon other chapters of Policies for a Sustainable Society, but should cross-reference where appropriate.
5 Policies for a Sustainable Society should aim to provide the party’s Leaders, Spokespeople, candidates and activists/campaigners with a comprehensive yet concise set of policy approaches for communication with the electorate and wider public. These in combination with the Philosophical Basis (PB) and Policy Statements should support them in robustly answering questions on all major policy areas.
6 Each Policies for a Sustainable Society chapter will be published on the members website along with its revision log and its Background Paper.
Policy Statements
7 Policy Statements as distinct from Policies for a Sustainable Society and Philosophical Basis express party policy for a limited period of time.
8 All Policy Statements will either be classed as active, or inactive and have an expiry date where they automatically become inactive. This date may not exceed ten years from when the statement is passed.
9 New or amended Policy Statements must not contradict Policies for a Sustainable Society, or existing active Policy Statements
10 Active Policy Statements will be published in the Party’s public-facing website. All Policy Statements will be published on the members’ website in date order along with their expiry dates, active/inactive status, and date and body which last amended them.
11 New Policy Statements will comply with either ‘Letters and Statements’, ‘Published Summaries’ or ‘Manifestos’ categories detailed below.
12 Letters and Statements
12.1 These Policy Statements either take the form of formal letters to officials or organisations, or brief statements of fact and/or belief on behalf of the Party.
12.2 These should clarify the party’s stance on a particular issue(s), call on another organisation or group to act in a particular way, clarify how our Philosophical Basis and Policies for a Sustainable Society should be interpreted in a certain context.
12.3 They should be clear, concise and in appropriate language for a general audience.
12.4 They should not contain reference to structures or processes of the party
12.5 They may contain appropriately formatted references to evidence, petitions or other relevant information or organisations.
12.6 The text of these will be included as a Policy Statement on the party’s website in accordance to active, inactive criteria, but they may also be published in other forms (e.g. Press releases, as a printed letter) which can include other non-policy related content.
13 Published Summaries
13.1 These are documents which presents the Party’s policy on a particular theme or topic, or to a particular group or audience.
13.2 They are published by the party in a way compliant with party’s branding guidelines but appropriate to the summary’s purpose. A working link to a version of the summary will be included as a Policy Statement on party’s website in accordance to active, inactive criteria.
14 Manifestos
14.1 These layout out specific proposals relevant to powers and term length of those being elected. These proposals should present a comprehensive plan for how the body in question, over the period in question, should work towards objectives laid out in Policies for a Sustainable Society & Philosophical Basis.
14.2 The Party may publish manifestos in the run up to elections.
14.2.a They are published by the party in a way compliant with party’s branding guidelines, and appropriate for a manifesto at that time. A working link to a version of the manifesto will be include as a Policy Statement on website in accordance to active, inactive criteria.
14.3 Local, regional and national parties as well as federations of these may also publish Manifestos for elections they are responsible for co-ordinating. These do not class a policy statements of ‘The Green Party of England and Wales’, so although they must be consistent with Philosophical Basis, Policies for a Sustainable Society & active Policy Statements they do not have to follow process outline in this document.
Part B - Process for changing Green Party Policy:
Principles of approach:
1 Policy decisions should be made inline with principles for all decision making within the party outlined in the constitution (see section ‘12. Decision-Making - Openness, Accountability & Confidentiality’).
2 Every effort shall be made to achieve effective consultation with appropriate bodies both within and outside the party, with a view to achieving consensus within the party or, where that is unattainable, the widest attainable agreement.
3 In seeking to ensure that Conference is provided with the best available policy options for consideration, the Policy Development Committee shall seek to ensure that policy proposals enable debate which is clear, and focused on the key issues and options, rather than points of detail.
4 Beyond these requirements Policy Development Committee shall not consider the content of policy proposals in deciding on matters of procedure.
5 Proposed alterations to the policies of the Green Party to be approved by Conference must have passed through the process of consultation specified in Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference.
Policy Working Groups:
6 Members of the party can come together to form Policy Working Groups (PWGs). A PWG shall be recognised by Policy Development Committee if:
6.1 It has its own constitution which is compatible with Party’s constitution and which must stipulate a unique area of policy it is focused on.
6.2 It holds an annual general meeting (AGM) which:
6.2.a elects officers including, at minimum, a convenor and a secretary.
6.2.b agrees a work programme for the following year.
6.3 It holds at least one other minuted meeting per year
6.4 Send quarterly reports to Policy Development Committee outline current activities and support needed including a report 6 weeks before each conference.
6.5 It is open to all members that wish to join & a record of current members is maintained.
6.6 It publishes its constitution, meeting minutes, contact details, information about how to join and working papers on the members website.
6.7 It operates democratically and openly and on the basis of evidence.
7 Policy Working Groups may come together to from a Policy Network, as an umbrella group for all Policy Working Groups. Policy Network must:
7.1 Meet all of the requirements of a policy working groups outlined above.
7.2 Maintain a membership of 50 party members with at least 5 active Policy Working Groups.
7.3 Elect officers from it’s membership including at least:
7.3.a a Coordinator
7.3.b a Secretary
7.3.c a Party Spokesperson and press team liaison
7.3.d an Association of Green Councillors liaison
7.3.e a policy dissemination & training officer
8 Providing that Policy Development Committee is satisfied the Policy Network meets the conditions laid out above, the Policy Network can:
8.1 Take over responsibility for recognising and maintaining the list of active Policy Working Groups.
8.2 Collaborate with the Policy Development Committee in the running of Policy Fest.
8.3 Take responsibility for updating Background Papers, where active Policy Working Groups do not exist to do so.
8.4 Take responsibility for coordinator the independent checking and scrutiny of motions, amendments and background papers prior to submission/adoption.
The Role of Policy Development Committee:
9 Policy Development Committee is empowered to respond to changing public perceptions and proactively review our public facing policies. Where it is deemed a change is needed, Policy Development Committee should use its’ powers laid out in this document to enact one.
10 Policy Development Committee relationship with rest of the party:
10.1 SOC may call on this committee to advise on policy related rulings as it requires to fulfil it’s own standing orders or Standing order for Conduct of Conference.
10.2 This committee will be contactable using a policy email address publicised to all party members and Policy Working Groups.
11 Each conference Policy Development Committee will submit a report to conference entitled “Policy Development Committee Policy Update” to be published in the final agenda. This will include:
11.1 All changes made to party policy since their last report to conference (e.g. Policy Statements passed by Green Party Regional Council).
11.2 Progress updates on groups working on all active enabling motions
11.3 An up-to-date list of Policy Working Groups meeting the criteria in this document along with their contact points.
11.4 At least every two years a review of active Policy Statements. This review can propose making some policy statements ‘inactive’, and changing expiry dates on others. [Amendment 3: Insert “Such proposals in this report should be considered by SOC as a motion to conference requiring a separate vote to the rest of the report.”]
11.5 At least every 10 years a review of Policies for a Sustainable Society chapters suggesting mergers, deletion, addition and re-writes. In consultation with Policy Working Groups and Policy Network (if it exists) Policy Development Committee should facilitate putting an Enabling Motion to the next conference to address these suggestions.
11.6 A review of Background Papers which haven’t been updated in the last 5 years or are deemed to be out of date. Where Policy Development Committee deems an update to be needed it should: 11.6.a Summarise changes it feels are needed.
11.6.b Approach a Policy Working Group (or consider setting one up) to undertake this work and reports these action to conference.
11.6.c Indicate in the report how members with relevant skills or knowledge can make themselves known.
Changes to The Philosophical Basis
12 As set out in ‘# Policy’ section of constitution:
12.1 the Philosophical Basis of the Party may be changed only by a two-thirds majority at Conference, or by a two thirds majority vote of the membership through a party-wide ballot.
13 Such a ballot will be initiated by a Conference in a resolution explicitly delegating this power. Such a resolution may only be proposed in advance of a Conference through the normal First Agenda process. A simple majority at Conference will be required to pass the motion.
Changes to Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS)
14 A Major Change, or Addition will follow this process:
14.1 An Enabling Motions passed by conference that shall:
14.1.a Indicate the policy areas to be considered.
14.1.b Indicate the nature of the policy to be developed, or policy options to be considered, issues to be included or excluded. It should propose the chapter(s) and or parts of chapters which should be displaced by any resulting Voting Paper (VP).
14.1.c State to whom the task of consulting, developing and drafting the VP it precipitates will be undertaken by. If a new working group is to be formed other than a Policy Working Group, the enabling motion must state any stipulation as to it’s membership and recruitment process.
14.1.d Layout a timetable for work involved, including deadlines for submission of DVP/VP, and set a reporting frequency. The maximum time limits are two years and three months after the passing of an Enabling Motion for a Draft Voting Paper (DVP) and 4 years and 3 months for a Voting Paper (VP).
14.1.e be proposed, submitted, subject to amendment, and debated by Conference, as per Standing Order for the Conduct of Conference (SOCC) stipulations for policy motions.
14.1.f Not exceed 300 words.
14.1.g Maybe accompanied by a more detailed paper, which may outline the background, requirements, proposals and options for the policy. However, any such paper shall not form part of the Enabling Motion, shall have no entitlement to appear in or with the Agenda, and passage of the Enabling Motion shall not imply approval of any additional material in the paper.
14.2 When an Enabling Motion is carried, Policy Development Committee shall:
14.2.a Provide a template to the group tasked as a guide for producing the DVP/VP.
14.2.b Assign the group tasked with a contact person within Policy Development Committee.
14.2.c Receive reports from groups operating under Enabling Motions to ensure that:
14.2.c.i The policy subsequently developed is fully researched, widely consulted upon, and takes account of appropriate options.
14.2.c.ii The involvement of both specialists and members without specialist expertise in the process are maximised.
14.2.c.iii All documents relevant to DVP/VP consultation are made available to members through the members’ website and other internal communications channels.
14.2.c.iv That any DVP or VP that goes to conference is debated in one or more workshops. A workshop will consider the paper as a whole, and amendments to it in order, unless controversial elements are separated out for discussion at addition workshops. The DVP workshop(s) will also consider comments, other than amendments, from members at the workshop or submitted in writing to be reported to the workshop.
14.2.c.v The Background Paper for any DVP/VP is available to all party members in advance of conference, as well as during workshops/plenaries.
14.2.c.vi As appropriate/possible the party provides sufficient support to such groups (e.g. with internal consultation/comms/administration).
14.2.d Make any appropriate recommendation to those working on VP and if needed take any of the following consequential actions:
14.2.d.i If the working group was assembled by Policy Development Committee, re-assembly in accordance with original Enabling Motion.
14.2.d.ii Grant extension to deadlines.
14.2.d.iii Change reporting frequenting or require an extra report by specific date
14.2.d.iv Require more work is undertaken before a DVP or VP is first submitted to conference. In making such decisions, the Policy Development Committee shall have regard to the results of the deliberations of any workshops on DVP, and to the urgency of the party’s need of such policy.
14.2.d.v If group working on Enabling Motion has failed to meet an Enabling Motion deadline, Policy Development Committee can report to conference that Enabling Motion has lapsed.
14.3 VPs and DVPs must:
14.3.a Be ruled out of order if DVP does not meet these criteria:
14.3.a.i Compiles with conditions and requirements laid down by its Enabling Motion for isn’t submitted by the groups the Enabling Motion tasked to produce it.
14.3.a.ii Consistent with Philosophical Basis and with existing policies in Policies for a Sustainable Society, unless it contain proposals to amend them accordingly.
14.3.a.iii Compiles with requirements for Policies for a Sustainable Society layout in section 1.2 of this document.
14.3.b be accompanied by a 300 word synopsis & title.
14.3.c Include amendments to give conference properly considered options on potentially controversial policy decisions.
14.3.d Be discussed at a workshop session at conference they are submitted to.
14.4 Draft Voting Papers (DVP) must:
14.4.a be published in the Final Agenda along with a link to a background paper published on members’ website.
14.5 Voting Papers (VP) must:
14.5.a be broadly based on last DVP submitted to conference under relevant Enabling Motion.
14.5.b be in a form suitable for inclusion in Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS). The motion shall specify and delete all parts of PSS which will be superseded by the VP, shall specify all other parts of PSS which conflict with the VP, and amend them to be consistent with it.
14.5.c be published in the Final Agenda along with link to background paper published on members website. This background paper must clearly state whether all or part of it replaces all of part of one or more existing background papers as appropriate for Enabling Motion.
14.5.d Must not be on the same subject as another VP already submitted to conference in question, or the same subject as a VP that passed in the last year.
14.5.e be debated in a plenary session. This session will receive a report from the workshop, including a report on the debate on each amendment considered. The plenary session will debate the VP and the amendments of it according to the usual procedure. A vote will then be taken on the motion to accept the VP and insert it in Policies for a Sustainable Society.
15 Significant but straightforward change in, or addition will be brought to Conference as an ordinary policy motion.
15.1 Such proposals must clearly stipulate what parts of Policies for a Sustainable Society should be added, deleted or change. They must be put as Policy motion to conference inline with Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference (SOCC).
15.2 A background document should be submitted with the motion containing relevant costings/evidence/explanation to support the policy change proposed.
15.2.a This should stipulate where into which Policies for a Sustainable Society chapter background paper(s) this information should be inserted if the motion passes.
15.2.b Policy Development Committee should ensure this insertion happens after conference for any such motion which passes and if appropriate delete any sections of background papers which motion has made redundant.
15.3 Policy Development Committee can accredit such motions where:
15.3.a Policy Development Committee are satisfied that sufficient consultation, both within and without the party, has taken place
15.3.b High quality supporting evidence has been provided in the background paper
15.3.c the motion is endorsed by a Policy Working Group, Policy Network, or other recognised body within the party
15.3.d the motion is consistent with the Party’s strategic political objectives
15.4 As outline in Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference (SOCC) Accredited motion will be prioritised for discussion above un-accredited motion in the final agenda.
16 Minor Changes:
16.1 Policy Development Committee can make small changes to Policies for a Sustainable Society providing:
16.1.a These don’t substantially change the meaning – e.g. updating out-of-date terminology (for instance, mention of organisations which no longer exist) or ensuring that Acts of Parliament referred to are current.
16.1.b These changes are reported to conference as part of Policy Development Committee’s policy report and conference amending such changes in that report is an instruction for Policy Development Committee to make the same changes to Policy for a Sustainable Soceity. 17 Updates to Background Papers:
17.1 It is in the interest of the party for the content background papers to remain up to date and relevant. Their content often becomes out of date more frequently than policies they support and content is mostly detailed and less controversial than policy itself.
17.2 Policy Working Groups or working groups can propose a new version of a background papers to Policy Development Committee via published policy email address. Once received the Policy Development Committee must:
17.2.a Either except the new version and ensure it is published with policy chapter it refers to on the members’ website, or to provide recommendations for future changes.
17.2.b Report the proposal of all new Background Paper versions to conference along with their outcome.
Policy Statements
18 Green Party Regional Council can vote to amend active policy statements, change whether are active or inactive and alter the expiry date of Policy Statement providing it reports the changes to the next conference. Conference can then vote to accept or reject these changes to each Policy Statement. If Conference rejects a change it is must be reversed and Green Party Regional Council cannot make the same change again before the next conference.
19 Proposals to amend policy statements, change whether they are active or inactive and alter the expiry date of Policy Statements can be put to conference as a policy motion in accordance with Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference.
19.1 If conference votes to amend a published Summary, or Manifesto which status is active, council must ensure a new version incorporating these changes is published in a timely manner.
19.2 If conference votes to amend a Published Summary or Manifesto who’s status is inactive, a note detailing the changes conference passed must be published in members’ website along with the original policy statement.
20 New Policy Statements:
20.1 Groups or members looking to produce a policy statement should initial contract Policy Development Committee to ensure they are aware of:
20.1.a the existing Party policy on the subject
20.1.b Details and contact information for any other policy initiatives (including Enabling Motions) being currently undertaken on the subject
20.1.c any apparent contradictions with existing policy (or between different bits of existing policy)
20.2 Letters and Statements
20.2.a New Policy statement can be proposed to conference via a normal policy motion to conference, a late motion or an emergency motion (see SOCC). Policy Development Committee can accredit such motions in the same way as ‘Significant but straightforward change to Policies for a Sustainable Society’ (see 15.3 above).
20.2.b New Policy statements can be submitted for consideration by Green Party Regional Council by Political Committee, Policy Working Groups, Local or regional or national parties. [Amendment 1: insert “The text of propose new policy statements must be published on members website when received (or as the means of submission).”] Green Party Regional Council must then either:
20.2.b.i Vote on accepting it
• - If rejected by Green Party Regional Council it should report this to conference.
• - If passed by 2/3 majority of Green Party Regional Council the full text of new Policy statement should be reported to the next conference in “Policy Development Committee Policy Update”. Conference can then amend the new statement in the report which has the effect updating the Policy statement. This can include the deletion of the new statement as well as changing it’s text, active/inactive status and expiry date.
• - Recommend the proposers make changes, or do further consultation with specific groups (including Policy Development Committee). Green Party Regional Council should report that this happened to conference along with a reference to the corresponding meeting minutes.
20.2.b.ii Propose policy statement as motions to the next conference (or request that authors do so). • - This option should be chosen if Green Party Regional Council deem the statement controversial, not urgent or that the party already has sufficient existing policy on the matter.
• - If Green Party Regional Council decides to put proposed statements to conference before the first agenda deadline then it should go into the first agenda as a normal policy motion, and if after first agenda deadline but before late motions deadline it should go to conference as a late motion.
20.3 Published Summaries:
20.3.a Policy Development Committee can commission a policy summaries by setting up a working group. This group will include at least one person from each from: Green Party Regional Council, Political Committee and a representative of Policy Network or a Policy Working Group. If there isn’t a Policy Network then all Policy Working Groups must be given an opportunity to propose someone.
20.3.b The membership of working group along with a contact email address must be published on the members’ website in a timely manner.
20.3.c Such working groups must have clear reporting and completion deadlines and Green Party Regional Council must oversee their work.
20.3.d A 2/3 majority of Green Party Regional Council can vote to accept the output they produce as a Policy statement providing it complies with requirements for ‘Published Summary’ laid out in this document.
20.4 Manifestos:
20.4.a Policy Development Committee can commission a Manifesto by setting up a manifesto working group. This group must be include the a representative of Policy Development Committee, Political Committee and Green Party Regional Council, and two representatives from different policy working groups (or Policy Network). All Policy Working Groups must be given an opportunity to propose someone.
20.4.b Where a General Election is expected in a standard time frame it is usual to convene this group around a year ahead of polling day.
20.4.c The membership of working group along with a contact email address must be published on the members’ website.
20.4.d Such working groups must have clear reporting and completion deadlines and Policy Development Committee must oversee their work [Amendment 4: Insert “in liaison with the Publications Coordinator and Elections Coordinator”].
20.4.e Manifesto working groups must offer all GPEW spokespeople, Political Committee, Special Interest Groups, the Association of Green Councillors, Policy Working Groups & Policy Network (if in existence) an opportunity to comment on a draft and consider incorporating feedback received.
20.4.f If timeframe permits there should be a members-only session at a Conference or Policy Fest to allow people to find out what is planned for the manifesto and to offer feedback.
20.4.g A 2/3 majority of Green Party Regional Council can vote to accept the output they produce as a Policy Statement providing it complies with requirements for ‘Manifestos’ laid out in this document. This approval should happen before the content is formatted for publication.
20.4.h The Elections Co-ordinator is responsible for final copyediting, formatting and publication of manifestos (including translations into alternative formats/languages). However they cannot change significantly change content or emphasis without manifesto going back to Green Party Regional Council.
20.4.i Alternative version of a manifesto aimed a specific demographics/groups (as opposed translations of original content) must also be signed off on by Green Party Regional Council, but if content is based on content of an already approved manifesto this can be delegated to the Policy Approval Sub-Committee.
[END OF POLICY PROCESS DOCUMENT]
Changes to other parts of the constitution required to ensure consistency
Standing Orders for Conduction of Conference (SOCC)
Delete Appendix A of Standing order for Conductor of Conference (SOCC)entitled ‘Appendix A: The Policy Process’.
Delete All references in SOCC to “Appendix A” or “Appendix A: The Policy Process” including in the contents, B3.2 (F), E1.6, E1.7, E2. (j) and replace with “Standing Orders for Policy Process”.
SOCC – Part 1, Section B – Pre-Agenda submissions
Delete:
“B3.2 It will compile the motions accepted into a First Agenda, which shall be divided into six sections which shall be in order of importance:
(A) Motions or Reports required by the Constitution or Standing Orders, or in fulfilment of a resolution by a previous Conference.
(B) Policy Voting Papers (VPs) or sections of PSS brought forward by Policy Development Committee.
(C) Accredited Policy Motions to change PSS
(D) Organisational Motions except those which belong in A.
(E) Policy Motions to change PSS but not accredited; Policy Motions which express a view on policy without specifying any change to the PSS (Policy Statements) but not accredited; Enabling Motions for substantial future alterations to chapters of PSS.
(F) Draft Voting Papers (DVPs) for discussion but not voting other than in the circumstances given in Appendix A on Policy Process.”
Replace with:
“B3.2 It will compile the motions accepted into a First Agenda, which shall be divided into six sections which shall be in order of importance:
(A) Motions or Reports required by the Constitution or Standing Orders, or in fulfilment of a resolution by a previous Conference.
(B) Policy Voting Papers (which can relate to a section of one or more chapters of PSS) as defined in Standing Orders for the Policy Process.
(C) Motions to change party policy accredited by Policy Development Committee as defined in the Standing Orders for the Policy Process.
(D) Organisational Motions except those which belong in section A.
(E) Other motions to change party policy and enabling motions as defined in the Standing Orders for the Policy Process.
(F) Draft Voting Papers for discussion at Conference as defined in the Standing Orders for the Policy Process.”
SOCC – Section C – Amendments, Late Motions and Final Agenda submissions
Delete all of C3. which reads as follows and renumber accordingly:
C3.1 For each Party Conference, after consultation with members of the Party Executive, the Policy Development Committee may select one section (which may be a section of a chapter) of the PSS for Conference to discuss.
C3.2 Any choice of a section for review shall be advertised and notified directly to relevant policy working groups before the First Agenda deadline for motions.
C3.3 If no voting paper is expected for the conference, the Committee should make such a selection. Otherwise the Committee may choose whether to make a selection.
C3.4 The Committee shall propose the existing policy to the First Agenda as a motion, to be amended. If the motion is lost, whether amended or not, the existing policy shall remain. Such motions shall be placed in Section B of the agenda. [Amendment 2: Remove the above change to C3. in SOCC from this motion and leave C3. in SOCC unchanged]
SOCC – Section E – Acceptable content of Motions, Amendments and Reports
Delete:
“E1.1 Policy motions shall be accepted which propose a change, deletion, addition or alteration to Party Policy as expressed in the Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS), the Record of Policy Statements (RoPS) or its Election Manifesto provided that such motions meet the requirements in these Standing Orders and its Appendices.”
And Replace with:
“E1.1 Policy motions shall be accepted which propose a change, deletion, addition or alteration to Party Policy as expressed in the Policies for a Sustainable Society (PSS), the Record of Policy Statements (RoPS) or its Election Manifesto provided that such motions meet the requirements in Policy Process section of Constitution and Standing Orders for the Policy Process.”
In E1.2 Delete:
… Motions shall clearly specify any alterations they seek of the Party’s Policies for a Sustainable Society, including information on chapter title and clause number(s). Motions and parts thereof not specified as altering the PSS will not be included therein. …
and Replace with:
Policy Motions shall clearly specify what alteration to Policies for a Sustainable Soceity, existing Policy Statement they wish to make, and/or clearly propose a new Policy Statement. This should include information on chapter title and clause number(s). Any motion text where intent to change Policy is not clear will be ignored.
And in E1.3 Delete:
“ separate briefing paper should be submitted”
and Replace with:
“separate background paper should be submitted”
Delete Section E4:
“E4 Gaining accreditation for a motion E4.1 Motions will be accredited by the Policy Development Committee and hence be eligible for inclusion in Section C of the Final Agenda where the committee is satisfied that full consultation, both within and outwith the party has taken place, that high quality supporting evidence has been provided, that the motion is endorsed by a Policy Working Group or other recognised body within the party, and that the motion is consistent with the Party’s strategic political objectives as advised by relevant bodies within the party.“
and replace with:
“E4 Gaining accreditation for a motion E4.1 Motions will be accredited by the Policy Development Committee if they meet the criterial laid out in the Standing Orders for the Policy Process (see Part B, Section 15.3).“
Delete contents of “APPENDIX 1: GPRC’s Role in GPEW Policy, including the procedure for Developing and Approving Policy Statements” of Green Party Regional Council’s Standing Orders and replace with: Green Party Regional Council (GPRC) has a significant role in relation to the policy of GPEW, particularly in relation to ‘Policy Statements’ (which includes Manifestos). This is detailed in the Standing Orders for the Policy Process (see sections 18 to 20 of Part B). Below is some useful background and notes in relations to this.
1.Definition of Party Policy
1.1 As outlined in Part A, points 7-14 of “Standing Orders for the Policy Process”, Policy Statements express party policy for a limited period of time. They take one of 3 forms: ⁃ Letters and Statements ⁃ Published Summaries ⁃ Manifestos
1.2 Between conferences policy statements may be agreed by GPRC in accordance to rules layout out in the “Standing Orders for the Policy Process”. These then remain active policy statement until the next conference when they are reviewed.
2.0 Initiating and Drafting New Policy Statements
2.1 The initiator of the request for a Policy Statement should appoint somebody from within their own ranks to “lead” on the project. This could be any elected party body or local/regional party, affiliated group or working group. It shall be that person’s responsibility for ensuring that the Policy Statement is prepared and submitted to GPRC.
2.2 GPRC should encourage the project leader to immediately inform the Policy Development Committee (via the Policy Development Coordinator) and any relevant Policy Working Groups (or Policy Network) that they wish to produce the Policy Statement on a particular subject.
2.3 It is the project leader’s responsibility to find somebody to draft the proposal, or to undertake to draft it themselves if they prefer.
3 GPRC Policy Statements Approval Sub-Committee
3.1 GPRC shall elect a Policy Statement Approval Sub-Committee of three members from within its ranks, one of whom will be the GPRC Friend to the GPEX Policy Development Coordinator.
3.2 The role of the Policy Statement Approval Sub-Committee shall be to consider in detail any proposed New Policy Statements or amendment to existing Policy Statement prior to consideration by GPRC as a whole (at Meeting or via email).
3.3 Copies of the proposal shall be circulated to the Policy Statements Approval Sub-Committee members for consideration as soon as it has been prepared. The Approval Sub-Committee members shall discuss the proposed Policy Statement with its initiator/s, project leader, Policy Development Co-ordinator and appropriate Policy Working Groups (or Policy Network) as they see fit.
4 Approval of Policy Statements by GPRC
4.1 The Approval Sub-Committee shall ensure that the proposed Policy Statement is submitted to the next full GPRC meeting agenda along with a recommendation drawn from option laid out in Part B point 20 of the “Standing Orders for the Policy Process”. [Amendment 6: Insert “If they Approval Sub-Committee deem consideration of proposed Policy Statement so urgent that it can’t wait until the next GPRC meeting (for instance because it relates to just announced result of a referendum), it can be circulated for consideration and vote on approval by email.”]
4.2 The Policy Statements Approval Sub-Committee’s views shall be taken into consideration by GPRC, but shall not be binding upon GPRC when making its final decision.
4.3 The full list of option available to GPRC in responding to request to approve New Policy Statements are laid out in Part B point 20 of the “Standing Orders for the Policy Process”. Part B point 18 of the “Standing Orders for the Policy Process” lays out GPRC powers to amend existing policy statements (for instance on request from Policy Development Committee or Political Committee)
4.4 The Approval Sub-Committee shall keep a record of GPRC decisions relating to Policy Statements and inform the Policy Development Co-ordinator of them so they can be included in Policy Development Committee Policy Update report to the next conference.
5.Election manifestos
5.1 Election manifestos created for the national party take two forms – the main manifesto and mini-manifestos (also sometimes known as specialist manifestos).
5.2 As outlined in Part B point 20 of the “Standing Orders for the Policy Process” a working group will be setup by Policy Development Committee to produce manifesto. As well as membership outlined in Standing Orders for the Policy Process, key staff members, such as the Head of Elections and Head of Communications, a representative of the parliamentary office and a representative of policy staff may also be involved in this the group.
5.3 It is important to note that professional designers, copyeditors and proof readers will work on the manifesto text after approval by GPRC, but no additional content should be added. GPRC’s sole responsibility in this regard is to discuss and approve (or reject) extensions and elaborations of existing policy that are proposed in the text, and not to take a view on style and presentation.
5.4 Wherever possible the final, approved manifesto will be presented in a range of formats, such as Welsh (and possibly other languages used in England and Wales), British Sign Language, Braille and Easy Read (a format aimed at people with Learning Disabilities). There is no expectation on GPRC members to approve these formats.
5.5 Similarly, mini-manifestos are generated within liberation/inclusion groups and special interest groups. There is currently no fixed process for commissioning these texts, nor a standard length or format. As Part B point 20.3 of “Standing Orders for the Policy Process” outlines, GPRC are expected to sign off these texts in relation to political policy content only, but this doesn’t require a full vote a GPRC. These texts are often generated at quite short notice close to polling day, so their sign-off is usually delegated to the Policy Statements Approval Sub-Committee as urgent work.
6.Advisory Papers
6.1 One of GPRC’s functions is to ‘help and advise’ GPEX. The Leaders, National Spokespeople and Press Officers may ask for ‘help and advice’ on the matter of a policy position. GPRC can drawn on the knowledge/experience of Policy Development Committee or Policy Network in responding to such request or delegate task as appropriate.
Standing order for Policy Development Committee:
SO PDC – Section 2:
Delete Section 2.3:
“2.3. Members shall
⁃ attend meetings of the Policy Development Committee
⁃ attend meetings of their allocated Policy Working Groups, with a view to facilitating the development of policy that can be put to conference.”
and Replace with:
“2.3. Members shall
⁃ attend meetings of the Policy Development Committee
⁃ attend meetings of their allocated Policy Working Groups, with a view to facilitating the development of policy that can be put to conference.
⁃ attend meetings of Policy Network if it exists”
Delete Section 2.6:
“2.6 Policy Development Committee shall provide optional templates for Policy Working Groups to assist them with
the accreditation process;
producing background papers;
Constitution”
and Replace with:
“2.6 Policy Development Committee shall provide optional templates or check lists to assist Policy Working Groups with:
the accreditation process
producing background papers
structuring of PSS chapters
drafting their constitutions
drafting, checking and consulting on motions”
SO PDC – Section 4:
Delete:
“4. Decisions that must be taken by a formal meeting
4.1 Interim Policy Positions: In line with the constitution, Policy Development Committee shall put in place a process so that when the Political Committee proposes to them an Interim Policy Position, they are able to quickly determine that there is no relevant existing party policy. They shall then liaise with the Regional Council to get their agreement that there is urgency to provide clarity on the Green Party’s position on this issue. A proposed text shall be sent to the Regional Council for interim ratification as urgent business through the provisions of the Rapid Policy Approvals Process.
Policy Development Committee shall publish agreed Interim Policy Positions on the members’ website in a dedicated Interim Policy Positions forum and take the steps required to ensure that a motion put to Conference to ratify the text (or otherwise) at Conference and update the Policies for a Sustainable Society accordingly.
4.2 Record of Policy Statements: In line with the constitution, Policy Development Committee shall put in place a review and archiving process for RoPS and report this in their report to conference.
4.3 Accreditation: where a motion has demonstrated that it has been properly brought (see A2.3 & E4.1 of the Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference), Policy Development Committee may accredit the motion.”
and Replace with the following renumbering as appropriate:
“4. Policy Motion Accreditation
4.1 As per Section 15.3 and Section 20.2 a) of Part B of Standing Order for Policy Process, Policy Development Committee can accredit policy motions such that they appear in Section C rather than Section E of the Conference Agenda. This increase there chance of being discussed and is intended to increase the quality of motions that get debated at conference.
4.2 Policy Development Committee should publicise the criteria and process for getting accreditation and encourage groups and members proposing motions to apply.
5.1 As per 20.1 in Part B of Standing Orders for Policy Process party bodies (e.g. Political Committee) should contact Policy Development Committee for support when they wish to initiate and new policy statement to be put to GPRC before the next conference. This typically happens in response to external events where there is some urgency to get Policy Statement approved. The procedures by which this happen are laid out in Appendix 1 of Green Party Regional Council’s Standing orders.
5.2 Policy Development Committee shall put in place a process so that when they receive such approaches, they are able to quickly determine:
⁃ whether there is relevant existing party policy
⁃ any apparent contradictions with relevant existing policy (or between different bits of existing policy)
⁃ Whether there is ongoing policy work relevant to proposed new policy statement (e.g. whether a Policy Working Group is working on an enabling motion on the same subject)
5.3 Policy Development Committee shall then liaise with GPRC Policy Statements Approval Sub-Committee and the initiator of the Policy Statement to pass on this information, and put them in contact with people and group within the party with relevant knowledge/experience.
5.4 Policy Development Committee should ensure that:
⁃ when the final text of new Policy Statement is submitted to Green Party Regional Council it is also publish on members website.
⁃ That Green Party Regional Council’s decision on the Policy Statement (see section 20.2.b in Part B of Standing orders for Policy Process) is reported to the next conferences in Policy Development Committee Policy Update.
⁃ That if agreed by Green Party Regional Council the policy statement is published on website with expiry date set at the end of the next conference for which Final agenda deadline has not passed.”
SO PDC – Section 5:
Delete:
“5.1. In liaison with their allocated Policy Development Committee members, Policy Working Groups shall prepare ⁃ quarterly reports which would state that they are still functioning and with a short description of their activities in the last quarter and any problems with which they require support an annual report six weeks before conference, containing the same information, plus anything that needs to go into the Policy Development Committee Report to conference “
and Replace with:
“5.1. As per section 6.4 in Section B of Standing Orders for Policy Process, Policy Working groups should be asked (In liaison with their allocated Policy Development Committee member) to send Policy Development Committee:
⁃ quarterly update reports which would state that they are still functioning and with a short description of their activities in the last quarter and any problems with which they require support ⁃ This should include a report six weeks before each conference, that also raise anything that needs to go into the Policy Development Committee Report to that conference.”
SO PDC – Section 6:
Delete:
“6. Responsibilities for keeping the Policy for a Sustainable Society relevant
6.1 Section C of the Standing Orders for the Conduct of Conference provide for and lay out the process for the Policy Development committee, in liaison with the Party Executive, to make a selection from the PSS for discussion at conference, particularly if there is no Voting Paper on the agenda.”
and Replace with:
“6. Responsibilities for reviewing party policy
6.1 In line with Standing Orders for the Policy Process Part B, Section 11, Policy Development Committee is responsibility for review different aspect of party policy and including them in it’s report to conference. Specifically Section 11.4 requires a review of Policy Statement at least every 2 years. Section 11.5 a review of Policy for a Sustainable Society at least every 10 years. Section 11.6 a review of background papers not updated in the last 5 years.
6.2 Where such reviews flagged policy work that is urgently needed Policy Development committee should not only report this to conference, but also contact relevant groups and individuals to try and initiate effort to do that policy work.
[END OF CONSISTENCY CHANGES]