Limiting the Number of Constitutional Amendments and Standing Order Amendments that can be Discussed At Any One Conference

Submitted by: Federal Conference Committee.
Mover: Duncan Brack.
Summation: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC).

Conference notes that:

1. Under current standing orders, Federal Conference Committee is required to place on the agenda constitutional and standing orders amendments that are in order under the criteria listed in standing order 4.3.
2. Accordingly, significant amounts of time may have to be dedicated to debates on these matters regardless of the impact on other conference business.

Conference believes that while it is essential that party members are always able to propose amendments to the constitution or standing orders, it would be desirable to limit the amount of time that can be spent on them in any one conference.

Conference therefore agrees to the following amendments to standing order 4.3 (Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders):

1. In (b), delete 'rejected' and insert 'selected for debate'.
2. Add at end: 'The Committee may decide to select no more than two constitutional or standing orders amendments for an autumn conference, and one for a spring conference. Where more than this number of constitutional or standing orders amendments have been submitted and determined to be in order, the Committee shall choose which to select.'

The existing text of Conference standing orders is printed in this Agenda at pages 116-127.

Applicability: Federal.

Mover: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 110-111 of the agenda.

The deadline for amendments to this motion and for seperate votes is 13.00 Monday 11 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Sunday’s Conference Daily.

Standing order amendments require a two-thirds majority to pass.