Constitution

Constitution - as amended May 2008

MATHEMATICS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INCORPORATED

PART 1 – PRELIMINARY

1.        Name

The name of the incorporated association is the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Northern Territory Incorporated. (abbreviated to ‘MTANT Inc.’), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Association’.

2.        Objects and purposes

The basic objects and purposes of the Association are as follows:

(1)              To provide professional learning opportunities for those involved in mathematics education to discuss matters relating to their profession.

(2)              To encourage and promote research in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

(3)              To provide a range of services to members.

(4)              To develop student activities to promote the learning of mathematics in schools.

(5)              To provide a means of membership of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (hereinafter referred to as AAMT).

(6)              To pursue such other activities as the Management Committee from time to time sees fit.

3.        Minimum number of members

The Association must have at least thirty members.

4.        Definitions

In this Constitution, unless the contrary intention appears –

"Act" means the Associations Act and regulations made under that Act;

"Committee" means the Management Committee of the Association;

"financial institution" means an authorised deposit-taking institution within the meaning of section 5 of the Banking Act 1959 of the Commonwealth;

"general meeting" means a general meeting of members convened in accordance with clause 44;

"member" means a member of the Association;

"register of members" means the register of the Association's members established and maintained under section 34 of the Act;

"special resolution" means a resolution notice of which is given under clause 47 and passed in accordance with section 37 of the Act.

PART 2 – CONSTITUTION AND POWERS OF ASSOCIATION

5.        Powers of Association

(1)       For achieving its objects and purposes, the Association has the powers conferred by sections 11 and 13 of the Act.

(2)       Subject to the Act and this Constitution, the Association may do all things necessary or convenient for carrying out its objects or purposes, and in particular, may –

(a)               acquire, hold and dispose of personal property;

(b)              open and operate accounts with financial institutions;

(c)               invest its money in any security in which monies may lawfully be invested;

(d)              raise money on the terms and in the manner it considers appropriate;

(e)               secure the payment of a debt or liability;

(f)                appoint agents to transact business on its behalf; and

(g)               enter into any other contract it considers necessary or desirable.

6.        Effect of Constitution

This Constitution binds every member and the Association to the same extent as if every member and the Association had signed and sealed this Constitution and agreed to be bound by it.

7.        Inconsistency between Constitution and Act

If there is any inconsistency between this Constitution and the Act, the Act prevails.

8.        Altering the Constitution

(1)       The Association may alter this Constitution by special resolution but not otherwise.

(2)       If the Constitution is altered, the public officer must ensure compliance with section 23 of the Act.

PART 3 – MEMBERS

Division 1 – Membership

9.        Application for membership

(1)              To apply to become an MTANT and AAMT member, the applicant must submit a written application for membership to the MTANT Management Committee.

(2)              The applicant must provide details for one of the following categories of membership as described on the membership application form –

i)                   Individual Membership;

ii)                  Institutional Membership;

iii)                Student Membership.

10.      Approval of Committee

(1)       The Committee must consider any application made under Clause 9 at the next available committee meeting and must accept or reject the application at that meeting or the next.

(2)       When an application is accepted, the applicant’s details are forwarded to the AAMT and the applicant also becomes a member of the AAMT.

(3)       If an application is rejected, the applicant may appeal against the decision by giving notice to the Secretary within 14 days after being advised of the rejection.

(4)       If an applicant gives notice of an appeal against the rejection of the application, the Committee must reconsider the application at the next committee meeting after receipt of the notice of appeal.

(5)       If after reconsidering an application the Committee reaffirms its decision to reject the application, the decision is final.

11.      Joining fee

(1)         If an application for membership is approved by the Committee, the applicant becomes a member on payment of the joining fee.

(2)         The joining fee is either –

(a) the annual membership fee or

(b) the amount determined from time to time by resolution at a general meeting.

12.      Annual membership fees

(1)       The annual membership fee is the amount determined from time to time by resolution at a general meeting.

(2)       The membership fee includes the membership fee payable to the AAMT. The AAMT membership fee is determined from time to time by resolution at an annual meeting of Councillors from its Affiliated Associations including MTANT.

(3)       Each member must pay the annual membership fee to the Treasurer by the end of February each year or another date determined by the Committee from time to time.

(4)       A member whose subscription is not paid within 2 months after the due date ceases to be a member of both MTANT and the AAMT unless the Committee determines otherwise.

Division 2 – Rights of members

13.      General

(1)       Subject to clause 14(2), a member may exercise the rights of membership when the applicant’s name is entered in the register of members.

(2)       A right of membership of the Association –

(a)       is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another individual or institution; and

(b)       terminates on the cessation of membership whether by death, resignation or otherwise.

14.      Voting

(1)       Subject to subclause (2) and excluding members as per clause 9 (1a- iii,) each member has one vote at general meetings of the Association.

(2)       A member is not eligible to vote until after the application has been accepted by the Committee and a receipt is issued.

15.      Notice of meetings and special resolutions

The Secretary must give all members notice of general meetings and special resolutions in the manner and time prescribed by this Constitution.

16.      Access to information on Association

The following must be available for inspection by members:

(a)       a copy of this Constitution;

(b)       minutes of general meetings;

(c)       annual reports and annual financial reports.

17.      Raising grievances and complaints

(1)       A member may raise a grievance or complaint about a committee member, the Committee or another member of the Association.

(2)       The grievance or complaint must be dealt with by the procedures set out in Part 8.

18.      Intentionally deleted

Division 3 – Termination, death, suspension and expulsion

19.      Termination of membership

Membership of the Association may be terminated by –

(a)       a notice of resignation addressed and posted to the Association or given personally to the Secretary or another committee member;

(b)       non-payment of the annual membership fee within the time allowed under clause 12(3) and 12(4) ;or

(c) expulsion in accordance with this Division.

20.      Death of member or whereabouts unknown

If a member dies or the whereabouts of a member are unknown, the Committee must cancel the member's membership.

21.      Suspension or expulsion of members

(1)       If the Committee considers that a member should be suspended or expelled because his or her conduct is detrimental to the interests of the Association, the Committee must give notice of the proposed suspension or expulsion to the member.

(2)       The notice must

(a)       be in writing and include –

(i)        the time, date and place of the committee meeting at which the question of that suspension or expulsion will be decided; and

(ii)       the particulars of the conduct; and

(b)       be given to the member not less than 30 days before the date of the committee meeting referred to in paragraph (a)(i).

(3)       At the meeting, the Committee must afford the member a reasonable opportunity to be heard or to make representations in writing.

(4)       The Committee may suspend or expel or decline to suspend or expel the member from the Association and must give written notice of the decision and the reason for it to the member.

(5)       Subject to clause 22, the decision to suspend or expel a member takes effect 14 days after the day on which notice of the decision is given to the member.

22. Appeals against suspension or expulsion

(1)       A member who is suspended or expelled under clause 21 may appeal against that suspension or expulsion by giving notice to the Secretary within 14 days after receipt of the Committee's decision.

(2)       The appeal must be considered at a general meeting of the Association and the member must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard at the meeting or to make representations in writing prior to the meeting for circulation at the meeting.

(3)       The members present at the general meeting must, by resolution, either confirm or set aside the decision of the Committee to suspend or expel the member.

(4)       The member is not suspended or does not cease to be a member until the decision of the Committee to suspend or expel the member is confirmed by a resolution of the other members.

PART 4 – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Division 1 – General

23. Role and powers

(1)       The business of the Association must be managed by or under the direction of a Management Committee.

(2)       The Committee may exercise all the powers of the Association except those matters that the Act or this Constitution requires the Association to determine through a general meeting of members.

(3)       The Committee may establish one or more subcommittees consisting of the members of the Association the Committee considers appropriate.

24.      Composition of Committee

(1)       The Management Committee consists of –

(a)       a President;

(b)       a Vice President;

(c)       a Secretary;

(d)       a Treasurer; and

(e)       up to 6 other members who will undertake roles as decided by the Management Committee and notified to members at the time of calling for nominations. These roles may change from time to time as determined by the Management Committee at a General Meeting.

(2) Unless elected directly as a separate office holder, the Committee must appoint one committee member to be the Association's public officer.

25.      Delegation

(1)       The Committee may delegate to a subcommittee any of its powers and functions other than –

(a)       this power of delegation;

(b)       or a duty imposed on the Committee by the Act or any other law.

(2)       The delegation must be in writing and may be subject to the conditions and limitations the Committee considers appropriate.

(3)       The Committee may, in writing, revoke wholly or in part the delegation.

Division 2 – Tenure of office

26.      Eligibility of committee members

(1)       A committee member must be a member who is 18 years or over. A committee member must also meet the criteria provided in the Schedule.

(2)       Committee members must be elected to the Committee at an annual general meeting or appointed under clause 33.

27.      Nominations for election to committee

(1)       A member is not eligible for election to the Committee unless the Secretary receives a written nomination for that member by another member not less than 7 days before the date of the next annual general meeting.

(2)       The nomination must be signed by –

(a)       the nominator and a seconder; and

(b)       the nominee to signify his or her willingness to stand for election.

(3)       A person who is eligible for election or re-election under this clause may –

(a)       propose or second himself or herself for election or re-election;

(b)       and vote for himself or herself.

28.      Retirement of committee members

(1)       A committee member holds office until the next annual general meeting unless the member vacates the office under clause 31 or is removed under clause 32.

(2)       Subject to subclause (3), at an annual general meeting the office of each committee member becomes vacant and elections for a new Committee must be held.

(3)       The President of the outgoing Committee must preside at the annual general meeting until a new member is elected as President.

(4)       Members may serve consecutive terms on the Committee unless otherwise provided in the Schedule.

29.      Election by default

(1)       If the number of persons nominated for election to the Committee under clause 27 does not exceed the number of vacancies to be filled, the President must declare the persons to be duly elected as members of the Committee at the annual general meeting.

(2)       If vacancies remain on the Committee after the declaration under subclause (1), additional nominations of committee members may be accepted from the floor of the annual general meeting.

(3)       If the nominations from the floor do not exceed the number of remaining vacancies, the President must declare those persons to be duly elected as members of the Committee.

(4)       If the nominations from the floor are less than the number of remaining vacancies, the unfilled vacancies are taken to be casual vacancies and must be filled by the new Committee in accordance with clause 33.

30.      Election by ballot

(1)       If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies on the Committee, ballots for those positions must be conducted.

(2)       The ballot must be conducted in a manner determined from time to time by resolution at a general meeting.

(3)       The members chosen by ballot must be declared by the President to be duly elected as members of the Committee.

31.      Vacating office

The office of a committee member becomes vacant if –

(a)       the member –

(i)     is disqualified from being a committee member under section 30 or 40 of the Act;

(ii)   resigns by giving written notice to the Committee;

(iii)  dies or is rendered permanently incapable of performing the duties of office by mental or physical ill-health;

(iv) ceases to be a resident of the Territory; or

(v)   ceases to be a member of the Association;

(b)       if the member is absent from more than three committee meetings in the same financial year without tendering an apology to the President; of which meetings the member received notice and the Committee has resolved to declare the office vacant

32.      Removal of committee member

(1)       The Association, through a special general meeting of members, may remove any committee member before the member's term of office ends.

(2)       If a vacancy arises through removal under subclause (1), an election must be held to fill the vacancy.

33.      Filling casual vacancy on Committee

(1)       If a vacancy remains on the Committee after the application of clause 29 or if the office of a committee member becomes vacant under clause 31, the Committee may appoint any member of the Association to fill that vacancy.

(2)       However, if the office of public officer becomes vacant, a person must be appointed under section 27(6) of the Act to fill the vacancy.

Division 3 – Duties of committee members

34.      Collective responsibility of Committee

(1)       As soon as practicable after being elected to the Committee, each committee member must become familiar with the Act and regulations made under the Act.

(2)       The Committee is collectively responsible for ensuring the Association complies with the Act and regulations made under the Act.

35.      President and Vice-President

(1)       Subject to subclauses (b) and (c), the President must preside at all general meetings and committee meetings.

(2)       If the President is absent from a meeting, the Vice-President must preside at the meeting.

(3)       If the President and the Vice-President are both absent, the presiding member for that meeting must be –

(a)       a member elected by the other members present if it is a general meeting; or

(b)       a committee member elected by the other committee members present if it is a committee meeting.

36.      Secretary

The Secretary must –

(a)               coordinate the correspondence of the Association;

(b)              ensure minutes of all proceedings of general meetings and of committee meetings are kept in accordance with section 38 of the Act;

(c)               ensure the register of members is maintained in accordance with section 34 of the Act;

(d)              unless the members resolve otherwise at a general meeting – have custody of all books, documents, records and registers of the Association, other than those required by clause 36(5) to be in the custody of the Treasurer; and

(e)               perform any other duties imposed by this Constitution on the Secretary.

37.      Treasurer

(1) The Treasurer must –

(a)               receive all moneys paid to or received by the Association and issue receipts for those moneys in the name of the Association;

(b)              pay all moneys received into the account of the Association within one month after receipt;

(c)               make any payments authorised by the Committee or by a general meeting of the Association from the Association's funds; and

(d)              ensure cheques are signed by him or her and at least one other committee member, or by any 2 other committee members authorised by the Committee.

(2)       The Treasurer must ensure the accounting records of the Association are kept in accordance with section 41 of the Act.

(3)       The Treasurer must coordinate the preparation of the Association's annual statement of accounts.

(4)       If directed to do so by the President, the Treasurer must submit to the Committee a report, balance sheet or financial statement in accordance with that direction.

(5)       The Treasurer has custody of all securities, books and documents of a financial nature and accounting records of the Association unless the members resolve otherwise at a general meeting.

(6)       The Treasurer must perform any other duties imposed by this Constitution on the Treasurer.

38.      Public officer

(1)       The public officer must ensure that documents are filed with the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs in accordance with sections 23, 28 and 45 of the Act.

(2)       The public officer must keep a current copy of the Constitution of the Association.

PART 5 – MEETINGS OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

39.      Frequency and calling of meetings

(1)       The Committee must meet together for the conduct of business not less than 4 times in each financial year unless otherwise provided in the Schedule.

(2)       The President, or at least half the committee members, may at any time convene a special meeting of the Committee.

(3)       A special meeting may be convened to deal with an appeal under clause 22.

40.      Voting and decision making

(1)       Each committee member present at the meeting has a deliberative vote.

(2)       A question arising at a committee meeting must be decided by a majority of votes.

(3)       If there is no majority, the person presiding at the meeting has a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.

(4)       When it is not convenient to conduct a face to face meeting of the Management Committee, decisions related to the everyday business of the Association may be made via secure email by a majority vote. The Secretary shall keep a record of the responses and include these in the Correspondence Register.

41.      Quorum

A quorum for any Management Committee meeting shall consist of at least two members defined under clause 22(a-d) as well as at least one other committee member.

42.      Procedure and order of business

(1)       The procedure to be followed at a committee meeting must be determined from time to time by the Committee.

(2)       The order of business may be determined by the members present at the meeting.

(3)       Only the business for which the meeting is convened may be considered at a special meeting.

43.      Disclosure of interest

(1)       A committee member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a contract, or proposed contract, with the Association must disclose the nature and extent of the interest to the Committee in accordance with section 31 of the Act.

(2)       The Secretary must record the disclosure in the minutes of the meeting.

(3)       The President must ensure a committee member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a contract, or proposed contract, complies with section 32 of the Act.

PART 6 – GENERAL MEETINGS

44.      Convening general meetings

(1)       The Association must hold all annual general meetings within 5 months after the end of the Association's financial year.

(2)       The Committee –

(a)         may at any time convene a special general meeting;

(b)         must, within 30 days after the Secretary receives a notice under clause 21(1), convene a special general meeting to deal with the appeal to which the notice relates; and

(c)         must, within 30 days after it receives a request under clause 44(1), convene a special general meeting for the purpose specified in that request.

45.      Special general meetings

(1)       Half the number of members constituting a quorum for a general meeting may make a written request to the Committee for a special general meeting.

(2)       The request must –

(a)       state the purpose of the special general meeting; and

(b)       be signed by the members making the request.

(3)       If the Committee fails to convene a special general meeting within the time allowed –

(a)       for clause 44(3)(b) – the appeal against the decision of the Committee is upheld; and

(b)       for clause 44(3)(c) – the members who made the request may convene a special general meeting as if they were the Committee.

(4)       If a special general meeting is convened under subclause (3)(b), the Association must meet any reasonable expenses of convening and holding the special general meeting.

(5)       The Secretary must give to all members not less than 21 days notice of a special general meeting.

(6)       The notice must specify –

(a)       when and where the meeting is to be held; and

(b)       the particulars of and the order in which business is to be transacted.

46. Annual general meeting

(1)       The Secretary must give to all members not less than 21 days notice of an annual general meeting.

(2)       The notice must specify –

(a)       when and where the meeting is to be held; and

(b)       the particulars of and the order in which business is to be transacted.

(3)       The order of business for each annual general meeting is as follows:

(a)       first – the consideration of the reports and accounts of the Committee;

(b)       second – presentation of awards;

(c)       third –  other business requiring consideration by the Association at the meeting.

(d)       the election of new committee members;

47.      Special resolutions

(1)       A special resolution may be moved at any general meeting of the Association.

(2)       The Secretary must give all members not less than 21 days notice of the meeting at which a special resolution is to be proposed.

(3)       The notice must include the resolution to be proposed and the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution.

48.      Notice of meetings

(1)       The Secretary must give a notice under this Part by –

(a)       serving it on a member personally; or

(b)     sending it electronically or by post to a member at the address of the member appearing in the register of members.

(2)       If a notice is sent by post under subclause (1)(b), sending of the notice is taken to have been properly effected if the notice is addressed and posted to the member by ordinary prepaid mail.

(3)       If a notice is sent by electronic communication, sending of the notice is taken to have been properly effected if email indicating receipt has been received by the Secretary.

49.      Quorum at general meetings

At a general meeting, a total of ten percent of financial members, including Individual Members and nominated representatives from Member Institutions present in person, constitutes a quorum.

50.      Lack of quorum

(1)       If within 30 minutes after the time specified in the notice for the holding of a general meeting a quorum is not present –

(a)       for an annual general meeting or special general meeting convened under clause 43(2)(a) – the meeting stands adjourned to the same time on the same day in the following week and to the same place;

(b)       for a meeting convened under clause 43(2)(b) – the members who are present in person or by proxy may proceed with hearing the appeal for which the meeting is convened; or

(c)       or a meeting convened under clause 43(2)(c) – the meeting lapses.

(2)       If within 30 minutes after the time appointed by subclause (1)(a) for the resumption of an adjourned general meeting a quorum is not present, the members who are present in person or by proxy may proceed with the business of that general meeting as if a quorum were present.

(3)       The President may, with the consent of a general meeting at which a quorum is present, and must, if directed by the members at the meeting, adjourn that general meeting from time to time and from place to place.

(4)       There must not be transacted at an adjourned general meeting any business other than business left unfinished or on the agenda at the time when the general meeting was adjourned.

(5)       If a general meeting is adjourned for a period of 30 days or more, the Secretary must give notice of the adjourned general meeting as if that general meeting were a fresh general meeting.

51.      Voting

(1) Subject to clauses 9 (1a- iii,) and 14(2), each member present in person or by proxy at a general meeting is entitled to a deliberative vote.

(2) At a general meeting –

(a) an ordinary resolution put to the vote is decided by a majority of votes made in person or by proxy; and

(b) a special resolution put to the vote is passed if three-quarters of the members who are present in person or by proxy vote in favour of the resolution.

(3) A poll may be demanded by the President or by 3 or more members present in person or by proxy.

(4) If demanded, a poll must be taken immediately and in the manner the President directs.

52.      Proxies

A member may appoint in writing another member to be the proxy of the appointing member to attend and vote on behalf of the appointing member at any general meeting.

PART 7 – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

53.      Financial year

The financial year of the Association is the period of twelve months ending 31st December.

54.      Funds and accounts

(1) The Association must maintain account(s) with a financial institution(s) from which all expenditure of the Association is made and into which all of the Association's revenue is deposited.

(2) Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Association at a general meeting, the Committee may approve expenditure on behalf of the Association.

(3) Registered signatories for the accounts shall be the Treasurer, the President, the Secretary and one other as decided by the Committee from time to time.

(4) All cheques must be signed by any two of the registered signatories on the accounts.

(5) All funds of the Association must be deposited into the financial account of the Association as soon as practicable but no later than one month after receipt.

55.      Accounts and audits

The responsibility of the Committee under clause 34(2) for ensuring compliance with the Act includes meeting the requirements of Part 5 of the Act and regulations made for that Part relating to –

(a)       the keeping of accounting records;

(b)         the preparation and presentation of the Association's annual statement of accounts; and

(c)       the auditing of the Association's accounts.

PART 8 – GRIEVANCE AND DISPUTES

56.      Grievance and disputes procedures

(1)       This clause applies to disputes between –

(a)       a member and another member; or

(b)       a member and the Committee.

(2)       Within 14 days after the dispute comes to the attention of the parties to the dispute, they must meet and discuss the matter in dispute, and, if possible, resolve the dispute.

(3)       If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute at the meeting, or if a party fails to attend that meeting, then the parties must, within 10 days after the meeting, hold another meeting in the presence of a mediator.

(4)       The mediator must be –

(a)       a person chosen by agreement between the parties; or

(b)       in the absence of agreement –

(i)        for a dispute between a member and another member – a person appointed by the Committee; or

(ii)       for a dispute between a member and the Committee – a person who is a mediator appointed or employed by the department administering the Act.

(5)       A member of the Association can be a mediator.

(6)       The mediator cannot be a party to the dispute.

(7)       The parties to the dispute must, in good faith, attempt to settle the dispute by mediation.

(8)       The mediator, in conducting the mediation, must –

(a)       give the parties to the mediation process every opportunity to be heard;

(b)       allow due consideration by all parties of any written statement submitted by any party; and

(c)       ensure natural justice is accorded to the parties to the dispute throughout the mediation process.

(9)       The mediator must not determine the dispute.

(10)     If the mediation process does not result in the dispute being resolved, the parties may seek to resolve the dispute in accordance with the Act or otherwise at law.

PART 9 – MISCELLANEOUS

57.      Execution of Documents by the Association

The Association may execute a document without using a Common Seal if the document

(a)       is approved by a majority vote at a committee meeting

(b)       signed by any two of the following

(i) The President

(ii) The Secretary

(iii) The Treasurer

58.      Distribution of surplus assets on winding up

(1) If on the winding up or dissolution of the Association, and after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, there remains any assets, the assets must not be distributed to the members or former members.

(2) The surplus assets must be given or transferred to the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers Inc (AAMT)