Constitution

Constitution

1. Name

The name of the association is Momentum.

2. Administration

The association shall be governed under this constitution by the members of the National Coordinating Group (“NCG”) as provided for under Rules 8 and 9 below.

3. Purpose

Momentum is a socialist and anti-racist organisation committed to a fundamental and irreversible shift in wealth and power to the working class in all its diversity. Our socialism means the democratic transformation of the economy to serve human needs and not profit, and the pursuit of climate and racial justice.

4. Principles

The association’s principles are:

• We believe in the need for a democratic economy in which power lies with the working class, and key industries and services are owned and controlled by the public and local communities;• We believe in internationalism and a movement that works cooperatively with its allies across the world for socialism and peace;
• We believe that climate change is the biggest challenge of our times, and that overcoming it requires a bold socialist transition, with decarbonisation, international action and a massive redistribution of wealth and power;
• We believe that socialism is possible only through the collective and democratic self organisation of the working class in communities, trade unions, the Labour Party and forms of cooperative association;
• We believe that our organising as Momentum and in the Labour Party should be democratic, anti-racist and committed to coalition building to create majorities for socialist change.

5. Aims

The association aims:

• To work for the election of a socialist Labour government;

• To elect socialists to every level of public office, and to ensure that they are accountable to the movement that put them there;

• To campaign in our communities and win victories on the issues that matter, and to demonstrate how collective action and socialist values can transform our society for the better;

• To transform Labour into a democratic socialist and member-led party rooted in working class communities and capable of delivering a socialist Labour Government;

• To support the growth of a powerful trade union movement, and to encourage all Momentum members to become active members of a trade union;

• To build popular support for socialist ideas and policies in order to support the growth of a broader socialist movement, inside and outside the Labour Party.

6. Commitments

To achieve its aims the association will:

• Be guided by our purpose in all things;

• Organise democratically, giving members a say in key decisions;

• Campaign and organise to support socialist Labour candidates to win local and national elections;

• Endorse and campaign for socialists in Labour Party selections and internal elections;

• Politically educate, by delivering programmes and running events, and supporting our membership to create spaces for socialist learning;

• Deepen our relationships with trade unions locally and nationally;

• Support social struggles and movements and act as a bridge, channelling their demands into the Labour Party;

• Develop a vibrant network of local groups, organising in the Labour Party and in their communities;

• Grow our membership and the Party, by reaching out to convince people of our purpose and encouraging them to join Momentum and Labour;

• Work with our allies across the Labour left, while providing leadership as the largest organisation of socialists in the Labour Party;

• Develop the next generation of movement leaders and elected office holders, through leadership programmes and campaigns;

• Develop and support Labour candidates with a wide range of life experiences, especially working class, Black, Asian, ethnic minority, LGBT+, disabled and women candidates;

• Organise at the local and national level in Labour, from CLPs to Conference, to make demands and table motions that push for the democratisation of the Party and for socialist policy.

7. Membership

7.1. Membership is open to anyone who either was a financial subscriber of Momentum on 10 January 2017, or

(i) Is 14 or over;

(ii) Is a member of the Labour Party and no other political party nor an organisation disallowed by the NCG;

(iii) Agrees to be bound by the rules of Momentum, including its code of ethics and equal opportunities policy; and

(iv) Is accepted for membership by the NCG.

7.2. There will be a minimum annual membership fee.

7.3. Membership will begin when a membership application and first payment is received.

7.4. A list of members will be kept by or on behalf of the NCG.

7.5. All members will be eligible to vote in one-member-one-vote (“OMOV”) ballots.

Ceasing to be a member

7.6. Members may resign at any time by notifying the NCG.

7.7. Any member who has not paid their fee for more than 15 months (in the case of annual payers) or three months (in the case of monthly payers) may be deemed to have resigned.

7.8. Any member who does not join the Labour Party by 1 July 2017, or ceases to be a member of the Labour Party, or acts inconsistently with Labour Party membership, may be deemed to have resigned.

7.9. Anyone whose behaviour contravenes the code of ethics or equal opportunities policy may be asked not to attend further meetings and may be deemed to have resigned.

7.10. Where a member may be deemed to have resigned in accordance with Rules 7.7, 7.8 or 7.9 there will be a right to be heard by the NCG or a delegated panel before a final decision is made.

Movement Builders

7.11. Membership in the Momentum Movement Builders scheme is open to who:

(i) Is 14 or over;

(ii) Is a member of no political party, nor an organisation disallowed by the NCG;

(iii) Agrees to be bound by the rules of Momentum, including its code of ethics and equal opportunities policy; and

(iv) Is accepted for membership by the NCG.

7.12. There will be a minimum annual fee to be a Movement Builder.

7.13. Membership will begin when a membership application and first payment is received.

7.14. A list of Movement Builders will be kept by or on behalf of the NCG.

7.15. Movement Builders may resign or be deemed to have resigned by the same processes as members, as detailed above, except for the requirement in Rule 7.8
that they be Labour Party members.

7.16. Movement Builders are not entitled to the rights of full membership as detailed in this constitution.

8. National Coordinating Group

8.1. The business of Momentum will be carried out by an NCG.

8.2. The NCG shall consist of Momentum members who confirm (and can provide evidence on request) that they are current Labour Party members, confirm their agreement to the rules of Momentum, who are nominated and if necessary elected in accordance with Rule 9, in the following numbers and categories:

(i) 26 from regional divisions as follows:

• London and Eastern – 6

• Northern (North West and North East) – 5

• Midlands (West Midlands and East Midlands) – 4

• Yorkshire and the Humber, Northern Ireland and International – 3

• South East – 3

• South West – 3

• Scotland – 1

• Wales – 1

(ii) 6 from affiliated trade unions;

(iii) 4 who are Labour members of the UK, Welsh or Scottish Parliaments, London Assembly, Elected Mayors or Police Commissioners, or Labour members of a
British local authority. Such members are hereafter referred to as ‘Public Office Holders’;

(iv) 1 from Campaign for Socialism (Scotland) and 1 from Welsh Labour Grassroots; and

(v) 4 from other affiliated organisations as defined in Rules 13 (iii) and (iv) below.

8.3. Up to 4 additional members may be co-opted onto the NCG at the discretion of the NCG. In addition, in the event of any casual vacancies, the NCG may organise by elections to fill the vacancy in accordance with Rule 9 or co-opt additional members at its discretion.

8.4. The NCG shall meet no less than 4 times per year.

8.5. Unless specified otherwise in this constitution, the NCG shall make decisions by a majority of those of its members participating in a meeting. No meeting of the NCG can take decisions unless there are 14 members of the NCG participating. Members of the NCG participate in a meeting of the NCG, or part of a meeting of the NCG, when they can each communicate to the others any information or opinions they have on any particular item of the business of the meeting.

8.6. The NCG shall appoint a chair and any other officers from its members that it deems necessary in order to carry out its business. In the event of a tied vote, the chair shall have the casting vote.

9. Elections

9.1. Members of the NCG shall be nominated and elected by 31 March 2020 and within the first four months of each even-numbered year thereafter. NCG members shall remain members of the NCG until new members are nominated and elected.

9.2. In exceptional circumstances such as a general election, referendum or Labour leadership contest being called, the NCG may, on a two-thirds majority, delay elections. The elections should then take place as soon as practicable after the general election, referendum or Labour leadership contest.

9.3. All NCG members elected partly or wholly by OMOV ballot are limited to a maximum of two consecutive terms.

9.4. Candidates for the NCG may be nominated as follows:

(i) Members who reside in one of the eight divisions defined in Rule 8.2 (i) above can be nominated, subject to Rule 9.3, by 20 members who reside in the same division;

(ii) Each affiliated trade union with up to 100,000 members in Great Britain may nominate one member and each affiliated trade union with more than 100,000 members may nominate two members, at least one of whom must be a woman;

(iii) Each member who is a Public Office Holder may nominate themselves, subject to Rule 9.3

(iv) The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs may nominate one member for the category defined in Rule 8.2 (iii).

(v) Campaign for Socialism (Scotland) and Welsh Labour Grassroots may each
nominate one member; and

(vi) Each affiliated organisation as defined in Rule 13 (iii) and (iv) below may nominate one member.

9.5. Where there are more candidates nominated for the NCG in any of the categories defined in Rule 8.2 above than the number of places open to members in that category, then elections for candidates in that category shall be held in the following manner:

(i) Each member who resides in one of the divisions defined in Rule 8.2 (i) may cast a vote in a Single Transferable Vote OMOV ballot of members in that division for candidates nominated under Rule 9.3 (i) above and who reside in the same division as the member;

(ii) Each affiliated trade union with up to 100,000 members in Great Britain may cast a vote for candidates nominated under Rule 9.3 (ii) above and each affiliated trade union with more than 100,000 members in Great Britain may cast two votes for candidates nominated under Rule 9.3 (ii) above;

(iii) Members nominated by the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs will automatically be elected

(iv) Each member who is a Public Office Holder may cast a vote in a Single Transferable Vote OMOV ballot of such members for candidates nominated under Rule 9.3 (iii) above. The total voting weight of Public Office Holders’ votes will be 2/3rds of an electoral college for elections in this category, the remaining 1/3rd being comprised of votes cast by all Momentum members;

(v) Members nominated by Campaign for Socialism (Scotland) and Welsh Labour Grassroots are automatically elected; and

(vi) Each affiliated organisation as defined in Rule 13 (iii) and (iv) below may cast a vote for candidates nominated under Rule 9.3 (v) above.

9.6. Any member or affiliated union that wishes to vote in an election must confirm to the NCG that they are members of or are affiliated to the Labour Party and that they agree to be bound by the rules of Momentum. Any other affiliated organisation that wishes to vote in an election must confirm that they agree to be bound by the rules of Momentum. The NCG may require members to provide evidence of Labour Party membership.

9.7. The NCG must ensure that the following electoral quotas are enforced for elections to  the NCG. Full and complete information about the functioning of these quotas shall be made available to all members in advance of the opening of nominations for any election to the NCG.

(i) Of those elected as Regional representatives (Rule 8.2 (i))

• At least 13/26 must be women or people of other marginalised genders who do not identify as men.

• At least 6/26 must be BAME

• At least 3/26 must be Disabled

• At least 3/26 must be LGBT+

• At least 3/26 must be members under the age of 30

(ii) Of those elected as Public Office Holders’ representatives (Rule 8.2 (iii))

• At least 2/4 must be women or people of other marginalised genders who do not identify as men.

• At least 1/4 must be BAME

10. Members Council

There will be a Members’ Council consisting of representatives of local or regional groups. This Council shall meet at least four times per year.. The format of this engagement will be defined by the NCG. The Members Council will provide a forum for Momentum’s elected leadership to present its short to medium-term plans to key activists, and to source feedback on those plans. It will review decisions of the NCG and make recommendations on the administration of the organisation.

11. Constitutional Amendments

11.1. Proposed amendments to this constitution shall be considered by the NCG within three months where it is proposed that they do so by

(i) Members, in accordance with Rule 12.2; or

(ii) A member of the NCG.

11.2. When considering a proposed amendment, the NCG shall either

(i) Adopt it under Rule 11.5 (iii) or (iv); or

(ii) Vote on whether to put the proposal amendment to a ballot of the membership.

11.3. Where a majority of all members of the NCG, including a majority of those members nominated by affiliated trade unions, agrees to put a proposed amendment to a ballot of the membership, a ballot on the proposed amendment shall be held and the amendment adopted in the event envisaged by Rule 11.5 (i).

11.4. Where a majority of all members of the NCG, including a majority of those members nominated by affiliated trade unions, does not agree to put a proposed amendment to a ballot of the membership, the proposed amendment is rejected by the NCG. A proposed amendment that has been rejected by the NCG may only be put to a ballot of the membership in accordance with Rule 12.3 or Rule 16.3. The proposed amendment shall then be carried in the event envisaged by Rule 11.5 (ii).

11.5. Proposed amendments to this constitution may be composited by the NCG and shall be adopted only with the support of:

(i) at least 50% of votes cast in a OMOV ballot of the membership, where the NCG has agreed to put the proposed amendment to a ballot of the membership;

(ii) at least 50% of votes cast in a OMOV ballot of the membership and at least 15% of those eligible to vote, where the NCG has rejected the proposed amendment;

(iii) A unanimous vote of all members of the NCG; or

(iv) A majority of all members of the NCG, where the NCG receives legal advice that without the proposed amendment, the constitution may leave Momentum ineligible for affiliation to the Labour Party or that the proposed amendment is necessary to comply with the law and that the proposed amendment makes the minimum necessary changes to this constitution in order to ensure eligibility for
affiliation to the Labour Party or to comply with the law.

11.6. The NCG shall give all members notice of changes to this constitution and, where relevant, the legal reasoning behind them.

12. Direct Democracy

12.1. The NCG shall ensure that there is an online facility to enable members to propose that:

(i) A proposed amendment to this constitution be considered by the NCG;

(ii) Support for a particular campaign be considered by the NCG;

(iii) A proposed amendment to this constitution rejected by the NCG be put to a ballot of members; and

(iv) A prior decision of the NCG on whether to support a particular campaign, to issue guidance or directives to all members, to groups or to networks be put to a ballot of members.

(v) An NCG representative be recalled, subject to the requirements of Rule 18.4 (i)

12.2. Proposals made under Rule 12.1 (i) or (ii) with the support of 1000 members or 5% of members, whichever is fewer, shall be considered by the NCG. Where a proposal made under Rule 12.1 (iii) has the support of 10% of members, the proposed amendment to this constitution shall be put to a OMOV ballot of the membership by the NCG within three months and shall be adopted in the event envisaged by Rule 11.5 (ii).

12.3. Where a proposal made under Rule 12.1 (iv) has the support of 10% of members, the decision shall be put to a OMOV ballot of the membership by the NCG within three months and shall be overturned where at least 50% of votes cast in a OMOV ballot of the membership and at least 15% of those eligible to vote are in favour of doing so.

12.4. Results of OMOV ballots are binding on the NCG. An amendment of this constitution or decision of the NCG shall not be put to an OMOV ballot of the membership twice in a period of one year without the agreement of the NCG.

13. Affiliated Organisations

13.1. The following organisations may affiliate to Momentum provided that they accept the rules of Momentum and their representatives abide by the code of ethics:

(i) Trade Unions affiliated to the Labour Party

(ii) Constituency Labour Parties

(iii) The following groups:

• Campaign for Socialism (Scotland)

• Welsh Labour Grassroots

• The World Transformed

• Campaign for Labour Party Democracy

• Labour Representation Committee

• Compass

• Labour Assembly Against Austerity

• Labour CND

• Labour Briefing Coop

• Red Labour

(iv) other groups as agreed by the NCG, provided that the NCG may not agree to the affiliation of groups whose programme and policy is incompatible with that of Momentum or the Labour Party, or who support candidates for public office from parties other than the Labour Party.

14. Other Networks and Groups

14.1. Members in Great Britain are encouraged to meet and organise at a local level in order to further the aims of Momentum, within such boundaries as the NCG may determine. When making a determination on the boundaries of a local group or network’s operation, the NCG shall consult with members in the relevant areas. Members may also form regional or national issue based groups or functional networks in order to further the aims of Momentum, with the agreement of the NCG.

14.2. The NCG shall encourage and support the development of liberation networks for women, BAME, disabled and LGBT+ people, and of Youth and Student networks in which members who self-identify as being within these categories are able to self organise.

14.3. The NCG has the power to recognise networks and groups as “Momentum” and in appropriate circumstances, including where there has been a breach of Momentum’s rules, to withdraw recognition.

14.4. The NCG shall, as far as possible, support networks and groups to enable them to function effectively.

14.5. Local and other Momentum group or network meetings and activities at which key decisions are made or elections take place shall be open to all members of Momentum within the group or network’s boundaries and notice must be sent to all such members by such means as the NCG may determine.

14.6. Where a constituency party affiliates to Momentum, members in the area covered by the constituency party shall consider at appropriate intervals, as determined by the NCG, whether the aims of Momentum are best served by maintaining a local group or network covering its area, or by working jointly between neighbouring Momentum groups and the local constituency party.

14.7. Anyone who stands for office, such as chair or secretary, in a group or network shall be a member of the Labour Party, and in the event that they cease to be a member of the Labour Party within their term of office, they are deemed to have resigned such office.

15. Powers

The following powers may be used by the NCG provided that:

• They are used to further the aims and commitments;

• They take account of the recommendations of the Members Council;

• They comply with all relevant laws;

(i) Power to invite and receive contributions;

(ii) Power to raise funds;

(iii) Power to set any membership fee or affiliation fee;

(iv) Power to accept or refuse an application for membership;

(v) Power to deem members as having resigned and to expel members when they have been deemed as having resigned;

(vi) Power to employ staff as necessary for promoting the aims and to make all reasonable and necessary arrangements for the payment of pensions for staff and dependents;

(vii) Power to co-operate with other bodies with similar aims;

(viii) Power to make an application to affiliate to the Labour Party;

(ix) Power to recognise groups and networks and to remove recognition;

(x) Power to set the boundaries of groups and networks;

(xi) Power to determine which meetings of groups and networks shall be open to
all members;

(xii) Power to determine at what intervals members in the boundaries of a group or network which covers the area of a constituency labour party affiliated to Momentum shall consider whether the group or network should cover that area;

(xiii) Power to require members and affiliated organisations to provide evidence that they are eligible for membership or affiliation and that they are members of or affiliated to the Labour Party;

(xiv) Power to seek nominations and organise elections and delay elections in specified circumstances;

(xv) Power to co-opt members;

(xvi) Power to establish standing orders governing how it conducts its business;

(xvii) Power to call meetings of the Members Council;

(xviii) Power to take all necessary and reasonable steps in order to consult with its members;

(xix) Power to set campaign goals of the organisation which further its aims;

(xx) Power to appoint officers from its members and to establish any necessary advisory or other committees as necessary for achieving the aims;

(xxi) Power to delegate any of its functions; and

(xxii) Power to do all other things necessary to achieve the aims.

16. Convention

16.1. Momentum shall organise a biennial online Convention.

16.2. Delegates to the Convention shall comprise:

(i) Any eligible Momentum member that registers to attend a minimum of one week before the Convention.

(ii) Delegates from affiliated trade unions.

16.3. The Convention shall have the power to:

(i) Debate and decide on campaign and strategic priorities for the organisation.

(ii) Debate and vote on constitutional amendments which, subject to the conditions of Rules 16.5 and 16.6, will then go to a ballot of all Momentum members for approval or rejection as laid out in Rule 11.5 (ii).

(iii) Ask National Coordinating Group (NCG) members and staff questions on the running of the organisation.

16.4. Motions or constitutional changes for debate and decision at the Convention can be submitted by NCG members, local and regional Momentum groups, and affiliates. 16.5. Any motion for a constitutional change, or any vote with constitutional implications, will require a simple majority of weighted votes cast by trade union delegates to pass to a ballot of all members.

16.6. The voting weight of a delegation from an affiliated trade union with more than 100,000 members in Great Britain will be twice that of delegations from affiliated trade unions with less than 100,000 members in Great Britain.

17. Labour Party Leadership and Deputy Leadership

17.1. Momentum may only endorse candidates for Leader or Deputy Leader of the Labour Party following a ballot of all members, except in the scenario described in Rule 17.4.

17.2. Candidates requesting Momentum’s endorsement shall automatically be included on this ballot provided they are members of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.

17.3. The ballot will also contain the option of making no endorsement. 17.4. If there are no Socialist Campaign Group members requesting Momentum’s endorsement, or none still in the contest, the NCG shall have discretion to determine how Momentum’s endorsement is decided and how any membership ballot should be conducted.

18. Recall of NCG members

18.1. Regional members’ representatives on the NCG are responsible to their electoral constituency and may be subject to recall.

18.2. A by-election may be triggered only if a representative has at least 6 months remaining in their term of office and has not been subject to a recall election already in the current NCG term.

18.3. NCG representatives subject to recall have a right to contest the recall election

18.4. Recall elections will be held under either one of the following circumstances, provided Rule 18.2 is satisfied:

(i) 30% members in the relevant electoral region sign a petition demanding a by election, clearly stating the reason for recall. Any reason shall be considered valid provided it is consistent with Momentum’s rules and Code of Ethics.

(ii) The NCG member has three unexplained absences in a row (based on monthly NCG meetings), or attends less than 50 per cent of NCG meetings within a 12 month period (from the point of election), and does not satisfactorily account for those absences

19. Receipts and Expenditure

19.1. The funds of the association, including all donations, contributions and bequests, will be held in accounts operated by or on behalf of Momentum. All payments drawn on the account must be authorised by at least two members of the NCG.

19.2. The funds belonging to the association will be used only to further the aims.

20. Code of Ethics

Individuals and groups using the Momentum name and branding must operate according to the following principles at all times:

(i) As the successor to Jeremy Corbyn’s 2015 Leadership Campaign, Momentum promotes the values of fair, honest debate focused on policies, not personal attacks or harassment.

(ii) Momentum seeks to build positive relationships with Constituency Labour Parties, trade unions and other Labour movement or campaigning organisations that share its aims and principles.

(iii) Momentum seeks to reach out across the community and encourages the participation of people who may not have been involved in political activities before. Ensuring the safety and self-expression of everyone is a priority, especially of those who are often marginalised on the basis of their gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, class, disability and educational or economic status.

(iv) Groups of individuals may form local Momentum groups (in accordance with the provisions of Rule 2 of this Constitution) to share ideas, organise and participate in activities at their local level, which demonstrate how ‘socialist values’ and collective effort can make a positive social and/or environmental impact. These groups must be democratic in their nature and be organised around a spirit of collaboration, inclusion and respect.

21. Equal Opportunities Policy

(i) Momentum is committed to achieving equality of outcome and opportunity for all people of all ages. The NCG shall develop a full policy to reflect this as soon as practicable.

(ii) Momentum recognises the systemic disadvantage suffered by groups in society and therefore positively discriminates to ensure full representation of women, those aged under 30 and those who self-identify as BAME, LGBT+ or disabled, as set out in this constitution.

(iii) The NCG and all other groups or networks shall put in place measures and/or adjustments for those members or employees who are or become disabled during their course of their employment or membership. The NCG may require members, groups or networks to take all reasonable or necessary steps in order to ensure compliance with the Equal Opportunities Policy.