Our Constitution

Executive Committee 2021

See the past Executive Committees here.

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1. Name:

The name of the Society shall be “Cambridge University Brazilian Society” hereafter referred to as “the Society”.

2. Objects:

The Society’s aims shall be:

1. To promote Brazilian culture and identity in the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge area.
2. To promote social and cultural events;
3. To develop partnerships with Brazilian and British institutions;
4. To welcome Brazilian newcomers;
5. To provide useful information to Brazilians students about life in the United Kingdom;
6. To promote talks and debates related to Brazil.

3. Membership:

(1) Membership of the Society shall be open to:

a) All matriculated students of the University of Cambridge;

b) All members of academic or non-academic staff of the University of Cambridge;

c) People that live in the Cambridge area with an interest in Brazil;

(2) There shall be two membership options: annual, or life. There shall be small fees for annual and life membership that shall be fixed by the Executive Committee annually;

(3) The Committee shall not refuse an application for membership on the grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion or political views;

(4) The Executive Committee may expel any member whose conduct seems likely to bring the Society into disrepute. Such expulsion shall be undertaken in accordance with Section 8, and is subject to confirmation at the next General Meeting of the Society. Any person expelled shall have the right of appeal to the Senior Treasurer.

4. The Executive Committee:

(1) The day-to-day management of the Society’s affairs shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee, which shall normally be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM);

(2) The Executive Committee shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Junior Treasurer, who shall be elected by the members as in 4(1). In addition there shall be a Senior Treasurer, who shall be a member of the Regent House, or other person approved by the Junior Proctor. The Senior Treasurer shall be appointed by the elected members of the Executive Committee and shall be ex officio a member of the Executive Committee;

(3) A majority of the elected members of the Executive Committee shall be full-time undergraduate or postgraduate students of the University;

(4) The Executive Committee may at its discretion co-opt additional Committee members to itself where it perceives the need to fill vacancies that may arise. There is no hierarchy implied by the title, the President’s distinctive role will only be to represent the Society if required. The only authoritative figure in the society will be the body of members that gathers every time there is a General Meeting (GM). The quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be three members and a written record of each meeting shall be kept.

(5) The Executive Committee shall organise activities for the members in accordance with the aims set out in 2 above.

(6) The members of the Executive Committee may run to be re-elected but only for a different position than the one(s) he/she has had. No member of the society shall be part of the Executive Committee for more than 3 years.

5. General Meetings:

(1) The Society shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) during each Academical year. The AGM shall be held in Cambridge during Easter Full Term. All Members, other than Honorary Members, shall be entitled to attend and vote at any General Meeting. At least fourteen days written notice shall be given to members before the AGM;

(2) The AGM shall approve Minutes of the last General Meeting and the Society’s Accounts for the preceding year, elect the Executive Committee for the year ahead and conduct such other business as is necessary;

(3) Candidates for election to office shall be proposed and seconded by two other members. Every motion at a General Meeting shall be proposed and seconded by two members. Voting shall be by secret ballot and if there are more than two candidates for a post or more than two options on a motion, voting shall be by Single Transferable Vote;

(4) An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be held at any time during Full Term. It shall be held in Cambridge and may be called by the Executive Committee or at the written request of at least ten members. Twenty-one days written notice shall be given to members before an EGM is held. An EGM shall have the same powers as an AGM;

(5) The President or in his or her absence the Vice-President shall take the Chair at any General Meeting. In the absence of the President and Vice-President the meeting shall elect a Chairperson for that meeting. The quorum for a General Meeting shall be five members and a written record of every General Meeting shall be kept.

6. Financial Matters:

(1) The Society shall maintain a banking account with a suitable Bank or Building Society to hold the Society’s funds;

(2) It shall be the responsibility of the Junior Treasurer to ensure that monies received are properly accounted for, and that the Society’s financial records are kept in good order. In particular, the Junior Treasurer shall ensure continuity of Cambridge resident signatories for any bank accounts held by the Society;

(3) The Senior Treasurer shall make arrangements for the Society’s Accounts to be properly audited, either by himself or herself, or by some other person approved under University Ordinances;

(4) The Senior Treasurer shall not be liable for any financial debt or other obligation of the Society unless he or she has personally authorised such a debt in writing;

(5) For so long as the Society shall be Registered with the Junior Proctor, it shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to ensure that the Society complies with the requirements for Registration as a University Society.

7. Changes to the Constitution:

The Constitution may be amended at a General Meeting, with approval of at least two thirds of those present. No amendment to this Constitution intended to remove the position of Senior Treasurer, to alter its prerogatives and duties, or to change the criteria and procedure for the appointment of a Senior Treasurer can be put to a vote without the prior written agreement of the Junior Proctor of the University of Cambridge.

8. Disciplinary Processes:

The Society’s only disciplinary sanctions are to expel or to suspend a member whose actions are felt to be such as to bring the Society into disrepute, or to adversely affect the smooth running of the Society in a major way. Such expulsion or suspension can only be effected by a majority vote of all Executive Committee members, excluding the Senior Treasurer. In the event of an expulsion, the excluded member is required to return all equipment, documents and finances belonging to the Society within 7 days. He/she will not be entitled to any full or partial refund of annual subscriptions;

If the excluded or suspended member wishes to appeal the decision, that appeal should be made to the Senior Treasurer, who will consider all the facts, and whose decision will be final. An appeal as to the process of exclusion, but not a further investigation into the facts, may be lodged with the Junior Proctor.

9. Dissolution:

(1) The Society may be dissolved at a General Meeting provided that at least Twenty-one days written notice of the intention to dissolve the Society has been given to the members. At least two thirds of those present and voting at the General Meeting must vote in favour of the motion for Dissolution for it to be effective;

(2) Any motion for Dissolution of the Society shall provide that assets remaining after all liabilities have been met shall be transferred either to another Registered University Society, or to the Societies’ Syndicate.

Last updated 05 December 2019 by Alessandra Barreto