Our constitution
The constitution of the James Connolly League was formally adopted on the 12th of January 2024 in Salford, Greater Manchester. This present constitution was written and adopted on the basis of the 1955 Constitution of the Connolly Association. The league then held its first formal meeting in the spring of 2024 in Greater Manchester with attendees and supporters in England, Ireland and Scotland.
We hope that the readers of this document are convinced of the necessity of Irish political organisation in Britain and that no other Irish political organisation in Britain is necessary in the pursuit of our objectives.
1) Name: James Connolly League
2) Aims and Objects:
To organise Irish men and women resident in Britain for the defence of their interests, in united struggle with the British working-class movement, and in particular – a) To win
support for the struggle of the Irish people for a united independent Republic, and to fight for the removal of all obstacles placed in their way by British, European, and
American imperialism.
b) To stand for equitable treatment for all Irish people living in Britain.
3) Methods:
The James Connolly League seeks to promote these aims and objects by: –
a) Winning majority support for them in the organised working class and democratic movement in Britain.
b) Working for the unity and strength of the Labour movement, especially the unity of British and Irish workers.
c) Supporting the principle of the self-determination of nations on a world scale. d) Publishing or distributing or otherwise making known the teachings of the great representatives of Irish republicanism, especially of the socialist James Connolly.
e) The publication of literature explaining its aims and objects and methods.
f) Co-operating with other organisations in matters of common concern and affiliating to or accepting affiliation from appropriate bodies as may be decided.
g) Learning from world national-democratic movements and seeking parallels to live issues within the Irish struggle.
4) Party Politics:
a) The James Connolly League is an independent non-party, anti-sectarian organisation of Irish people and their friends in Britain.
b) The League shall not affiliate to or accept affiliation from any political party.
5) Membership:
a) Membership is open to all bona-fide supporters of the aims, objects, and methods of the league without racial, national, religious, or party-political distinction.
6) Organisation:
a) The control of the league is vested in the members through an annual delegate conference based on representation from branches and other local groupings.
b) Affiliated organisations may send observers.
c) Voting is restricted to representatives of the ordinary members.
d) Branches of the league may send voting delegates to the annual conference in proportion to the number of their members, this proportion being decided for each conference separately, according to circumstances. Resolutions for annual conference, other than emergency resolutions, must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the date of the conference.
e) Branches of the league must consist of the minimum of six members situated in one locality, three of whom must be officials, namely chair, secretary and treasurer.
f) Branches may determine their own standing orders subject to the rulings of the organisation as a whole. Individual members may attend annual conferences.
g) Non-delegates may not vote, except where they represent districts where no branch is established, when they may be grouped with other individual members as a constituency for voting purposes
h) The annual conference elects a National Executive Council of not less than 12 members which should meet not less than three times in its year of office and is responsible for the entire management of the affairs of the league between conferences. Only members of six months standing are eligible for election to the National Executive Council except by unanimous vote of conference.
i) The National Executive Council elects the principal officials from among its members and may delegate its functions to such officers and sub-committees may be decided.
j) The National Executive Council may co-opt members to fill the places of those unable to continue to serve. Sub-committees may co-opt such additional members as are necessary to the conduct of their work and subject to the general control of the National Executive Council.
7) Finance and Subscriptions:
a) Membership subscription £5 until official launch
b) Affiliated organisations £25 per annum
c) The accounts of the League shall be presented at the Annual Conference.
8) Discipline:
a) In the event of any member, branch or group of members acting in a manner detrimental to the interests of the league, or in such a manner as to bring it into public discredit, the
National Executive Council may intervene and has the power after due enquiry to suspend or expel members.
b) Members, branches or groups of members suspended or expelled have the right of appeal to the following annual conference, provided they give notice within one week of expulsion or suspension, or two months prior to the annual conference.
9) Changes of Rules:
a) The above rules may be altered by a two-thirds majority vote of any Annual Conference,
or of a special Conference which may be called for the purpose.
b) The interpretation of these rules and the making of arrangements for matters not
specifically laid down in them, is the responsibility of the National Executive Council.