The Durham University Catholic Society is a community of Catholic Students from Durham University who come together to worship and socialise. We are a fully ratified member of the Durham University Students Union.

Durham University Catholic Society Constitution
As ratified AGM 5th March 2011

1. Name & Status

(i)        The Society shall be called Durham University Catholic Society.
(ii)        The AIMS & OBJECTIVES of the Society and its members shall be as follows:

(a) To reflect God’s glory as a community of Christians
(b) To promote and uphold the teachings and laws of the Roman Catholic Church.
(c) To provide opportunity for prayer and worship
(d) To provide opportunity for social gatherings
(e) To extend Catholic hospitality to all individuals
(f) To support Christian and charitable institutions

(iii)        In furtherance of Aim in 1(ii)(b) the Catholic Society explicitly rejects all forms of discrimination: “Every form of social or cultural discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, colour, social conditions, language or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design.” (Catechism 1935. CF Vatican II Document. Gaudiam et Spes 29:2). In furtherance of the Church’s teaching, as a ratified Society of Durham Students’ Union the Society shall not breach DSU’s Equal Opportunities Policy OR Data Protection Policy. The President of the Society shall inform any speakers or invited guests that they are also bound by these policies.

1. Membership

(i)        Membership shall be open to all members of DSU. People who are not members of DSU may, at the discretion of the Society, become members.
(ii)        Membership fees are to be set by the Executive Committee of the Society. Societies may charge a higher fee for non DSU members of their Society.
(iii)        The minimum membership fee for the Society shall be prescribed by DSU.
(iv)        Non members may be admitted to meetings at the discretion of the Society Executive.
(v)        The Societies and Student Development Officer shall be admitted to meetings of the Society if asked to attend by members of the Society or DSU Council. Notification shall be provided to the Society in advance.

1. The Executive Committee

The Officers of the Society are as follows:

(i)        President – shall be the nominal head and representative of the Society.  Shall chair the general meeting and the Executive Committee and represent the interests of the Catholic Society.
(ii)        Vice President – shall assist the President in the conduct of Society duties. Shall be responsible for the running of and organising of the College Reps. Shall represent the Society, at the discretion of the President, on external committees.
(iii)        Secretary – shall assist in the administration of the Society and minute General Meetings and Executive Committee meetings.
(iv)        Treasurer – shall maintain Society finances and any property, whether belonging to the Society or in the care of the Society, in accordance with the instruction and interests of the membership body. Responsible for an annual audit and presentation of Society finances.
(v)        Social Secretary – shall organise social events
(vi)        Prayer and Worship Secretary – shall promote prayer and worship in the Society.  Shall be responsible for the organisation of Retreats, in coordination with the President.
(vii)        Web Officer(s) – shall be responsible for the maintenance of the Catholic Society website.
(viii)        The Durham University Catholic Chaplain shall maintain an ex-officio position on the Executive Committee.

1. Election of Executive Members

(i)        All officers must be elected at the Society AGM which shall be held in the Epiphany Term each year and shall take office at the end of the Epiphany Term.
(ii)        Notification of the AGM must be circulated to all members at least 7 days in advance of the meeting.
(iii)        Elections shall be a first-past-the-post voting system and nominations shall close no earlier than the scheduled start of the meeting.  Only those at the meeting who are members of the Society will be allowed to vote.
(iv)        A list of officers must be supplied to the Societies and Student Development Officer, who shall be informed of any change within 7 days of that change.
(v)        If an Executive Committee Member resigns, a by-election must be held at a Society General Meeting, using the same election procedures as at an AGM.
(vi)        A General Meeting must be held if it is called by at least 10% of members.
(vii)        Society Officers shall be subject to removal by a majority at a general meeting.
(viii)        All members of the Executive Committee must be students and members of the DSU.

5. Finance & Accounts

(i)        Grants may only be claimed for members of the Society who are members of DSU.
(ii)        The Society shall have one account that the DSU will authorise.
(iii)        The President, Treasurer and Secretary and all cheque signatories must be members of DSU. Society accounts shall be kept for at least 3 financial years and can be inspected by members of the Society, the DSU Societies and Student Development Officer or the DSU Finance Office.
(iv)        DSU grants must not be used to fund social events.
(v)        All money provided by DSU must be spent for purposes agreed to by DSU.
(vi)        A copy of the annual accounts must be submitted to DSU annually in the form prescribed.
(vii)        The Society accounts shall be presented to the Society membership annually at the AGM.

1. Business of the Society

(i)        Records of the Society’s business for at least two years shall be kept for inspection by members of the Society and by the DSU Societies and Student Development officer.

1. Constitution

(i)        Constitutional amendments must be approved by a two thirds majority of the members present at a general meeting.
(ii)        Any constitutional amendments and regulations concerning the Society’s affairs that are laid down by DSU shall be binding on the Society.