The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language

CONSTITUTION

1.
 Name
　 The Association shall be called "The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language" and is hereinafter referred to as "The Association".
　 　
2.
 Objects
　 The primary object of the Association shall be to encourage and promote Japanese language education in the United Kingdom through teaching and research.  To further this object, conferences will be organised, publications dealing with Japanese language education will be produced, and any other activities that might be appropriate in conjunction with the primary object will be carried out.  The Association shall not engage in trading other than such as may be necessary for carrying out its primary object.
　 　
3.
 Membership
(a)
 Membership of the Association shall be open to any person who supports the object of the Association whose appointment or occupation or qualifications in the field of Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language are accepted by the Executive Committee and is prepared to pay the annual subscription as prescribed by these rules.
(b)
 New members may join by application to the Secretary.  The method of assessing applications shall be determined by the Executive Committee, and reported to the Annual General Meeting.
(c)
 Every member shall have one vote.
　 　
4.
 Administration
(a)
 The affairs of the Association shall be managed by the Executive Committee.
(b)
 The Annual General Meeting shall elect five Executive Committee members.
(c)
 The Executive Committee shall consist of a Chair, a Vice-chair, an Administrative Secretary, a Membership Secretary, and a Treasurer.  The term of office shall be two years, and all members of the Executive Committee shall not hold office for more than two consecutive terms. Four members of the Committee shall form a quorum.  
(d)
 The Executive Committee shall have power to set up Sub-Committees for such purposesas it may deem expedient from time to time.
(e)
 The Executive Committee shall have power to fill any vacancy occurring among the Officers or the rest of the Committee.
(f)
 The Executive Committee shall have power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
　 　
5.
 General Meetings
(a)
 Annual General Meeting
(b)
 An Annual General Meeting shall be held at such date and place as is determined by the Executive Committee, to consider an Agenda prepared by the Executive Committee and to transact any other business of which notice has been given in writing to the Secretary.  Fifteen members of the Association shall form a quorum.
(c)
 Special General Meeting
　 Ten or more members of the Association may at any time call a Special General Meeting by giving notice in writing to the Secretary stating the motion or motions to be brought forward.  A Special General Meeting shall be held at a time and place within six weeks of receipt of such notice by the Secretary.  Not less than four weeks’ notice shall be given of a Special General Meeting.  Such a Special General meeting shall deal only with business for which it is called, which shall be clearly stated in the requisition, at which fifteen members shall form a quorum.
　 　
6.
 Voting
　 Voting at all General meetings shall be by a show of hands except in the matter of elections to the Executive Committee where the Executive Committee may arrange a secret ballot;  in the event of an equality of votes the Chair may give a second or casting vote; the Chair's decision on the result of any vote shall be final.
　 　
7.
 Finance
(a)
 The financial year shall be from 1 October to 30 September in the following year.
(b)
 The capital and income of the Association shall be applied solely to support the object of the Association; and no part thereof shall be distributed among members.
(c)
 The annual membership subscription for members shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting.  The subscription shall fall due on the first day of the Association's financial year.
　 　
8.
 Cessation of Membership
(a)

A person shall cease to be a member if:
i He or she shall submit to the Secretary his or her resignation in writing.
or  
ii The subscription remains unpaid by the AGM of the year for which the subscription was due.
(b)
 The Executive Committee may by unanimous vote terminate the membership of any individual:  provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee, before a final decision is made.
　 　
9.
 Amendment of the Constitution
　 A change in the Constitution shall only be effected by a postal ballot of all members, if it is approved by a two-thirds majority of those returning properly completed ballot papers.
　 　
10.
 Dissolution 　
　 Upon dissolution of the Association any surplus assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed amongst the members but shall be given or transferred to such charitable institution or institutions having similar objects to the Association, as may be determined by the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.
　 　
　
September 1998
　
Amended June 2002