Constitution

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(Charity No. 228494; SCO38304)

  1. The name of the Society shall be the Economic History Society.
  2. The objects of the Society shall be:
    1. to promote the study of economic and social history;
    2. to establish closer relations between students and teachers of economic and social history;
    3. to issue the Economic History Review;
    4. to publish and sponsor other publications in the fields of economic and social history;
    5. to hold an annual conference and to hold or participate in any other conference or meeting as may be deemed expedient in accordance with (a) and (b) above;
    6. to co-operate with other organisations having kindred purposes.
  3. All persons interested in the study and teaching of economic and social history shall be eligible for membership.
  4. There shall be a general meeting of the Society once a year on a date to be notified to members at least 30 days in advance.
  5. The Governing Body of the Society shall be a Council consisting of the Officers of the Society for the time being (a President, Vice Presidents, an Honorary Treasurer, an Honorary Secretary and such other Officers as the Council shall decide) and not more than 27 ordinary members.  The Council shall have the power to co-opt up to four persons on an annual basis.  Twelve members shall constitute a quorum of the Council.
  6. The Council shall meet at least twice in every calendar year and additional meetings may be summoned by the Officers of the Society or at the request in writing to the Honorary Secretary of not fewer than seven ordinary members of the Council.  The Honorary Secretary will then call a meeting of the Council giving not less than two weeks’ notice in writing after receipt of this request.
  7. The Officers, members of Council and Editors of the Economic History Review shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.  All Officers shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting for a period of three years; with the exception of the President, they may then be elected for up to an additional three years.  In retirement former Presidents assume the office of Vice President for life.  The ordinary members of Council shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting for a period of three years from the date of election and shall retire in rotation, one-third of their number retiring each year.  Members can be proposed for re-election for a further period of three years, but then must stand down for a minimum of two years before offering themselves for election.  In order to preserve an element of continuity on Council, Officers of the Society shall, at the end of their period of office, be able to offer themselves for immediate election as ordinary members for one further term of three years before standing down.  The Editors of the Economic History Review shall normally serve for a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years.  Nominations for the ordinary membership of the Council shall be sent to the Honorary Secretary in writing by the proposer at least 21 days before the meeting, the nominees having specified willingness to serve.
  8. The President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, the Managing Editor of the Economic History Review and the Chairs of the following standing committees: Conference Committee, Publications Committee, Public Engagement Committee, Schools & Colleges Committee and Women’s Committee, plus two individuals elected from Council shall form an Executive Committee.  (Should the Managing Editor be unable to attend, an alternative Editor may attend.)  The Executive Committee may make specific grants and payments and engage in other activities which implement decisions of the Council.  The Executive Committee shall report on its decisions and activities to each meeting of the Council.  The Honorary Treasurer, the Honorary Secretary and the Editor or Editors of the Economic History Review shall report to the Council and the Annual General Meeting.  The Council may appoint other committees to implement its decisions in carrying out particular objects of the Society.  These committees will report to the meetings of Council.
  9. Items for inclusion on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of the Society must be sent in writing to the Honorary Secretary of the Society six weeks beforehand and be supported by the signatures of at least two members, or be proposed by an Officer of the Society.
  10. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society may be called by the Council which shall give not less than 28 days notice in writing.
  11. The Executive Committee shall arrange liability insurance.
  12. Financial arrangements:
    1. Changes in the annual rates of subscription shall be proposed by the Council and shall require the approval of the Annual General Meeting of the Society.  Payment of the subscription shall entitle a member to access one copy of each issue of the Economic History Review for the year they are subscribed.
    2. The finances and assets of the Society shall be administered by the Council which shall authorise the Honorary Treasurer to conduct its financial business in accordance with decisions of the Council for all purposes embraced by the objects of the Society.
    3. The Honorary Secretary and/or Honorary Treasurer of the Society shall be empowered to sign cheques on the Society’s accounts, under arrangements approved by Council from time to time.
    4. The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be authorised to sign any securities or contracts on the Society’s behalf, under arrangements approved by Council.  The Chair of the Publications Committee shall also be empowered to sign contracts relating to the publications of the Society other than the Economic History Review.
    5. The accounts of the Society shall be professionally audited annually and approved by the Annual General Meeting, and the auditors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
    6. If the Society is dissolved, its surplus funds and assets shall be disposed of by the Council for charitable purposes and in pursuit of the objects of the Society.
    7. A copy of the audited accounts of the Society shall be made available to members before the Annual General Meeting.
  13. Subject to the provision of Clause 14 and except with the written approval of the Charity Commissioners, no Council member may:
    1. receive any benefit in money or in kind from the Society; or
    2. have a financial interest in the supply of goods or services to the Society; or
    3. acquire or hold any interest in the property of the Society (except in order to hold it as a trustee of the charity).
  14. The Council may pay reasonable remuneration to any person holding office as Editor for work undertaken whilst holding that office notwithstanding that he/she is a member of the Council of the Society provided that he/she withdraws from any meeting of the Council whilst his/her remuneration is discussed.
  15. No change in the Constitution shall be made except by two-thirds majority of those present at the Annual General Meeting.  Proposals by members for any such change must be sent in writing to the Honorary Secretary not less than ten weeks before the date of the meeting and be supported by the signatures of at least five members.

2 April 2022

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