Revised 1945 Constitution of the Social Science Association

Adopted on the 15th of October, 1945.

I. TITLE.
The organisation functioning under this Constitution shall be known by the title of “THE SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.” In this Constitution it is referred to as “the Association.

II. OBJECTS.
The objects of the Association are:
(a) To carry on and encourage research into the nature, structure and functioning of political society and to develop the science of ideology, with particular reference to the principles governing mass behaviour.
(b) To make known the results of such researches by the publication of papers, books, pamphlets and periodicals, by lectures, and by all other means in its power.
(c) To further the application of scientific method to social, economic, political, ideological and allied problems, and to promote scientific government.
(d) To popularise science (by methods which take the ideological limitations of the masses into account) and to gain mass support for science and scientists, with the object of gaining the approval and support of the masses for the scientific control of society.

III. MEMBERSHIP.
There shall be two forms of membership:
(a) Associate Membership;
(b) Fellow Membership.
(a) 1. Associate Membership shall be open to all, without distinction of race, sex, class, creed or party, who accept and support the objects of the Association.

2. The fee for Associate Membership shall be five shillings yearly, payable in advance.
3. Each Associate Member shall receive free of charge, for each year of membership, literature to the value of not less than five shillings (including postal or other delivery charges), thirty-three and one-third per cent discount on all other publications of the Association, and free admission to all public meetings and lectures of the Association.

4. Any Associate Member alleged to have committed any action detrimental to the objects or credit of the Association may be suspended by the Executive Council at any time without notice. Within two months from the date of suspension the Executive Council shall enquire into the allegation. The member concerned shall have the right to be present and to be heard and to call evidence at such enquiry, and thereafter the Executive Council shall either expel or reinstate the member. In the event of expulsion the membership fee for the current year shall be refunded, but the expelled member shall have no further claim against the Association.

5. An Associate Member may resign at any time on giving written notice to the Association and shall also cease to be a member on non-payment of his membership fee for free months after the due date.

(b) 1. Fellow Membership shall be open only to those able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Executive Council, by verbal address or by submitting a written paper, or by such other methods as the Executive Council shall from time to time determine, that their knowledge and understanding of the work and objects of the Association and of the results of ideological research, are sufficient to entitle them to a voice in the conduct of the Association. The decision of the Executive Council shall be final as to whether this condition has been complied with.

2. The fee for Fellow Membership shall be not less than five pounds yearly, except in special circumstances at the discretion of the Executive Council and shall be payable yearly or half-yearly in advance.

3. Fellow Members shall receive all privileges of Associate Membership and in addition each Fellow Member shall have a seat on the General Council and shall be eligible for membership of the Executive Council.

4. Any Fellow Member alleged to have committed any action detrimental to the objects or credit of the Association may be suspended by the Executive Council at any time without notice. At the next Annual General Council Meeting after the date of suspension a committee of Fellow Members shall be appointed to enquire into the case. The Fellow Member concerned shall have the right to be present and to be heard and to call evidence at such enquiry. According to the recommendation of this committee the Executive Council shall either reinstate the Fellow Member concerned or expel him from the Association. In the event of expulsion the membership fee paid for the current year or half year shall be refunded, but the expelled member shall have no further claim against the Association.

5. A Fellow Member may resign at any time on giving written notice to the Association and shall also cease to be a member on non-payment of his membership fee for six months after the due date.

IV. GOVERNMENT.
(a) General Council.
1. The General Council shall include all Fellow Members.

2. Once in every calendar year an Annual Meeting of the General Council shall be held, to receive from the Executive Council a report of the work of the Association during the preceding year, to discuss future policy and make recommendations to the Executive Council and the Director of Research.

3. Special General Council Meetings shall be called at any time by the Secretary, upon instructions from the Executive Council or upon receiving a notice in writing signed by not less than one-third of the Fellow Members. The Director of Research shall be Chairman of all General Council Meeting. If at any Meeting he is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for holding the Meeting the members present shall select another member of the Executive Council as Chairman of the Meeting.

4. The Quorum for all General Council Meetings, Special or Annual, shall be one-third or the number nearest to one-third of the Fellow Members.

5. At a Meeting of the General Council each member present shall be entitled to one vote and in case of equality the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

6. For all Meetings, Special or Annual, of the General Council, the Secretary shall post notices to all Fellow Members at least one month before the date of such Meeting, the notices to specify the nature fo the business to attend to.

7. The General Council shall have power to make bye-laws or Standing Orders regulating the procedure to be followed at their Meetings and to amend or revoke or to suspend such bye-laws or Standing Orders as they think fit.

(b) Executive Council.
1. The Executive Council shall be elected by and from the General Council. The Director of Research shall be, ex-officio, Chairman of the Executive Council. The Secretary shall be, ex-officio, a member of the Executive Council. If at any Meeting of the Executive Council the Director of Research is not present, the members present shall elect one of their number as Chairman of the Meeting.

2. The Executive Council shall consist of not more than seven, nor less than four, including ex-officio members.

3. The Executive Council shall hold office for five years provided that the appointment of any member of the Executive Council (not being an ex-officio member) shall be determined ipso facto if he ceases from any cause to be a Fellow Member, or if the General Council or Executive Council resolve by a two-thirds majority that he shall cease to hold office on the Executive Council.

4. The Executive Council shall have power to fill a casual vacancy in their number, to co-opt any member willing to serve, to appoint and depose officials and determine their duties, powers and salaries, (except where otherwise herein specified) and to appoint such sub-committees, and to delegate such of its powers, as it may deem necessary.

5. The Executive Council shall be responsible for the conduct of the business and the internal organisation of the Association, and its decision on all matters (except where otherwise herein specified) shall be final, subject only to revision by the General Council.

6. The Executive Council shall, so far as practicable, meet at intervals of not more than four weeks.

7. The procedure to be followed at all Executive Council Meetings shall be that laid down in the Standing Orders relating to this body.

V. DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.
(a) The Director of Research is responsible for
(1) the research work carried on by the Association;
(2) publications, which make know the results of such research;
(3) all public and external relations of the Association, in which the results of research are applied.

His decision shall be final on all matters directly relation to the organisation of these activities.

(b) The Director of Research is appointed by the Executive Council, and the appointment is terminable only by a two-thirds majority at a General council Meeting specially called for the purpose.

(c) The Director of Research shall hold Conferences, at intervals of not more than 7 days (except in special circumstances, to be decided by the Executive Council), of those engaged in research, writing and public relations, for the purpose of supervising and correlating their activities. He is further empowered to call an emergency Conference whenever, in his opinion, the situation requires it.

VI. FINANCE.
(a) The Association derives its funds from
(1) membership fees.
(2) the sale of literature and printed matter.
(3) donations.
(4) such other activities as the Executive Council may decide as conducive to the objects of the Association.

(b) Finance is under the control of the Executive Council, which is empowered
(1) to use the funds of the Association to further research on ideological and allied subjects.
(2) to make donations to any organisation with similar aims.
(3) to dispose of moneys in such other ways as will, in its opinion, best promote the objects of the Association.

(c) Proper books of account shallcbe kept by the Executive Council who shall, at the end of each financial year, prepare a Statement of the accounts and a Balance Sheet. Such Accounts and Balance Sheet shall be audited by a firm of Chartered or Incorporated Accountants appointed by the Executive Council and shall be submitted to the next Annual General Council Meeting. A copy of the Balance Sheet shall be sent to any member on request.

(d) If the Association shall, at any time and for any reason be dissolved, all moneys remaining after all liabilities shall have been paid shall be donated to the organisation whose objects, in the opinion of the Executive Council, most nearly correspond with those of the Association.

VII. GENERAL.
(a) Any alteration in or addition to this Constitution may be made
(1) by a two-thirds majority at a General Council Meeting specially called for the purpose or
(2) in cases of urgency by the Executive Council, subject to ratification by a two-thirds majority at the next Annual General Council Meeting.
(b) The Association may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority at a meeting of the General Council specially called for the purpose.

1945