Martin Luther King Jr.

”The time is always right to do what’s right”

Anthony Douglas Williams

”Every animal on earth has as much right to be here as you and me”

CHAPTER 1

ESTABLISHMENT – NAME, HEADQUARTERS, LOGO, SEAL

Article 1:

Establishment – Name

A political party with the name “Animal Party Cyprus.”

Article 2:

Headquarters

Headquarters of the Party will be at Limassol.

Article 3:

Logo

The Party logo is the shape of Cyprus with an animal paw.

Article 4:

Seal

The seal is circular. Within the periphery of the circle is the name of the party in both Greek and English ‘Animal Party Cyprus’ and « Κόμμα για τα Ζώα Κύπρου » and in the centre is the Party logo.

CHAPTER 2

PRINCIPLES, OBJECTIVES, AIMS

Article 5:

Principles

1. Animal Party Cyprus recognises that all creatures on Earth, human or not, deserve respect. Since animals cannot speak in human language, it is for people to speak on their behalf – to require respect for them, to protect their existence and well-being, (recognising that they are sentient beings that have feelings which each type exhibits in its own way) and generally to reflect human society by claiming their rights to human status.
2. Animal Party Cyprus’ aims are to build a compassionate society, where peoples’ behavior is such that it does not cause pain, physical or mental, to any creature, human or non-human.
3. Animal Party Cyprus recognises that within an ecosystem comprising humans, non-human animals and plants, human interventions that modify the environment while simultaneously altering the environment in which other creatures live, people must, in choices they make, take into account the existence of other life forms and leave room for normal growth and development. The disruption of animals’ environment, the intervention in populations with endangered or rare species, creates imbalances in the ecosystem, and also creates problems for humans.
4. Animal health, physical and mental, is directly linked to human health. People come into contact with pets, living in an urban environment or as members of a family or alone on the streets, and with farm animals, which are kept by humans for food or other uses. Also, animals which are used in laboratories or kept as exhibits.
5. Indifference, neglect or abuse of pets, whether family members or not, develops attitudes of indifference, neglect or abuse against any creature that cannot defend themselves, such as children or handicapped people. Animal Party Cyprus seeks to adopt a compassionate and patient behavior towards animals, recognizing that this will lead to improvement in the attitudes of citizens towards all.

Article 6:

Objectives

Animal Party Cyprus Objectives are:

1. Creating a voice for animals by a specific political party which will integrate the interests of all animals into the political system.
2. Strengthening of human perception ethical attitude towards non-human animals, recognising that such creatures are sentient beings
3. Strengthening the legal status of animals to reflect their status as sentient beings including protection at national and international law.
4. The promotion of animal rights and further respect for both humans and non-humans.
5. The development of respect for all creatures of the earth through promoting education at all educational levels and through protecting the rights of animals
6. The protection of the environment so as to ensure that activities in agriculture and development are sustainable and, where appropriate, are carried out following professional environmental studies.
7. The promotion of healthy lifestyles and healthy diets.
8. The phasing out of intensive farming systems which severely impact the welfare of animals and often cause serious negative effects on the environment.
9. The phasing out of intensive farming and the promotion of alternative, humane systems to ensure the welfare and well-being of animals.
10. Improving the welfare and wellbeing of animals by upgrading the standards of livestock by ensuring trade regulations and other measures to encourage high standards of welfare.
11. Supporting, promoting and encouraging agricultural methods to increase the welfare of the animals or to restrict the use of or reliance on animals.
12. The phasing out of subsidies for livestock in areas where consumer demand fails and redirecting subsidies to areas such as crop farming and promotion of biodiversity and in general areas such as the environment, education and public health.
13. The prohibition of scientific experiments on animals and the facility together with the increase of funding for the development and implementation of alternative solutions without the use of animals.
14. The promotion and protection of wildlife and habitat and biodiversity.
15. The creation of a national system of information storage (Data bank) for pets.
16. To ban breeding of pets that do not meet the breeding standard or for other purposes, which involve hereditary and anatomical or other damage which might have negative consequences for their well-being.
17. The improvement of legislation and regulations relating to pets, such as abuse, neglect, etc. and the extension of police powers as dissuasive penalties, increased public education programmes on responsible pet care and related issues.

Article 7:

AIMS

The aims of the Party are:

1. Participation in elections (National, European, Local) to elect a representative to the House of Representatives, Parliament and local representative bodies and other representative institutions provided by law.
2. Pursuing any legal way of shaping the political will of the people in accordance with the principles and objectives of the Party.
3. The partnership in policy formulation for animals, based on the principles and objectives of the party at National, European and International level.
4. Cooperation with parties in other countries who share the same principles and goals.
5. Cooperation with non-governmental organisations in Cyprus and abroad to promote issues of interest of the Party.
6. Working with professionals and companies whose activities are related to animals to improve the living conditions and health of the animals.
7. Cooperation with government agencies, authorities and bodies, national, European and international, for better enforcement, the collection of data and information and the development of more effective policies on issues of interest to the party.
8. The formulation and legislative lobbying on issues of interest to the party.
9. The creation or collaboration to create and promote educational materials and programs to update and awareness, both within the school curriculum and in the context of lifelong learning and adult education.

CHAPTER 3

MEMBERSHIP

Article 8:

Members

1. Any person living in the Republic of Cyprus, over the age of 18, can register to become a Member of the party.
2. Members can be registered by the Local Branch of APC in their current address area.

Article 9: 

Procedure for registering of a new member

1. A new member can be registered, after being proposed by an existing member. The new registration application needs to be co-signed by the proposing member and submitted to the local committee.  A reply will be given within 30 days.
2. The local committee accepts the application and registers the new member’s record with the local branch. An announcement is then made to welcome the new member to the party.

Article 10: 

Trial period

1. The new Members cannot elect or be elected for a period of 3 months from the registration date on the members record of the Local Branch, which is called the ‘Trial Period’.
2. During the ‘Trial Period’ the Local Committee can decide to not confirm or accept the registration of the new Member if it is shown that he/she does not agree with the principles, goals and objectives of APC or if his/her behaviour may insult or expose the party. The new Member has the right within 10 days from the notification to appeal his/her decision before the assembly of the members of the Party, which is called within 30 days from the submission of the appeal and decided conclusively.
3. In case of not calling the Assembly of the Members of the Local Branch within the predicted time limit, the Member or Friend has the right to address the Central Committee and request, in writing, the calling of the Assembly by the Central Committee. The Central Committee has the obligation to call the Assembly of the Members of the Local Branch itself within 20 days from the receipt of the letter of the Member or Friend.
4. At the end of the ‘Trial Period’ the new Member becomes a full Member and the Local Committee informs the Central Committee to register the new Member on the New Members’ Register of the Party.

Article 11: 

Rights and obligations of members

The members:

1. a) Elect the members of the Local Committee
2. b) Elect the members of the Central Committee
3. c) Participate in the actions of the party and the promotion of its objectives and goals
4. d) Suggest initiatives for action for the Local Branches or the Party. The proposals can be submitted before the Local Committee, the assembly of the Members or the Members/friends of the Local Branch, the Central Committee, the Special Committees or the Pan Cyprian General Assembly of the Members of the Party.  The Members are encouraged to submit their proposals in writing in order to make the process easier.  From the other members and the committees it is noted that the verbal submission of a proposal is not excluded, especially when it comes out during a conversation.

Article 12: 

Friends of the party

1. Friends of the party can register individually, rather than registering as members of the party, if they prefer not to participate so actively.
2. The friends receive information and can take part in the actions and events of the party. They receive all their information and educational material from the party but they do not participate in electoral procedures
3. The friends can suggest initiatives for action for the local branches or the party. The proposals can be submitted before the local committee, the assembly of the members or the members/friends of the local branch, the central committee, the special committees or the Pan Cyprian General Assembly of the members or the members/friends of the party.  The members are encouraged to submit their proposals in writing in order to make the process easier.  From the other members and the committees it is noted that the verbal submission of a proposal is not excluded especially when it comes out within a conversation.
4. Friends can be registered by the local branch at their current address area, after submitting their application to the local committee.

Article 13: 

Subscription

1. The Members pay an annual subscription of €20 within the first 3 months of every year. New Members pay their subscription after their ‘Trial Period’ when they become full Members, and they have all rights and obligations of the full Members.
2. The Friends pay an annual subscription of €10 within the first 3 months of every year.
3. In case a Member or a Friend does not pay his/her subscription they are sent a reminder from the Local Committee and if within 30 days do not settle their financial obligations the Local Committee may decide to remove them.
4. The Local Committee may justify a decision for the exemption of a Member or Friend from non-payment of the annual subscription, or its delay, if the Member or Friend notifies the Committee for the reasons of inability to pay. These will be judged on individual circumstances.  The decision of the Local Committee may be checked by the Central Committee from the report submitted by a member of the Local Committee or by any Member of the Party from the same or another Local Branch of the exempt Member.  The procedures are carried out with discretion and understanding for the Member’s situation.

Article 14:       

Resignation of Member or Friend

1. A Member or Friend of the party may ask for their removal from the Members/Friends records of the Party by sending a resignation letter to the Local Committee of the Local Branch where he/she is registered to the Local Committee immediately preceding the removal of the Member or Friend from the Members/Friends record.
2. The Local Committee immediately removes the Member or Friend from the Members/Friends record and forwards the resignation letter to the Central Committee, which proceeds immediately to remove the Member or Friend from the Parties’ Member/Friend record. Moreover the Central Committee forwards, if necessary, the resignation letter of the Member to the Special Committees of the Party in which the Member may have participated.

Article 15:       

Removal of the member/friend

1. A Member or Friend of the Party can be removed based on the justified decision of the Local Committee of the Local Branch in which record he or she is registered, if:
   1. he/she has not paid subscription according to article 13
   2. it shows that he/she does not agree with principles, goals and objectives of the party or their behaviour may negatively affect the party.
2. The Member or Friend has the right within 10 days from the notification, to uphold the decision of removal, to appeal against the decision before the Assembly of the Members of the Local Branch, which must be called within 30 days from the submission of the appeal.
3. In case of not calling the Assembly of the Members of the Local Branch within the above mentioned deadline, the Member or Friend has the right to address the Central Committee, in writing. The Central Committee has the obligation to call the Assembly of the Members of the Local Branch itself within 20 days from the receipt of the letter of the Member or Friend.

Article 16: 

Members/Friends record

1. Every local branch must keep a Members/Friends record for the Branch. The Members’ record must contain details of all the registered Members accepted for registration from the date they have been accepted. The Members who are in their ‘Trial Period’ are registered in a special list and they are transferred to the Members’ record of the Local Branch when they become full Members.
2. The Friends are registered in the Friends’ record of the Local Branch immediately after the acceptance of their registration application.
3. The Local Committees immediately inform the Central Committee about the new Members or Friends and the Central Committee updates the Members/Friends records of the Party accordingly.

CHAPTER 4

LOCAL BRANCHES AND COMMITTEES

Article 17:       

Establishing a local branch

1. The parties organise initially with a Local Branch, which is established following a decision from the Central Committee. Every District of Cyprus can establish 1 or more Local Branches, according to its needs, so it will be easier for citizen participation and it will also be as effective as possible in monitoring, intervention and support of local problems.
2. By a decision of the Central Committee the Local Branches may be cancelled or merged if felt necessary for smoother and more effective function of the organisations and the party.

Article 18:       

Organising Local Branches

1. Local Branches are created by the total of all Members and Friends included on the Members/Friends records register of the Branch.
2. The total Member and Friends of the Local Branches constitutes the assembly of the members who can meet and make decisions on any matter that the assembly of the Local Branch has powers on, according to the constitution.
3. The total Members and Friends of the Local Branch constitutes the assembly of the Members/Friends who discuss matters of interest of the Local Branch and the party in general by exchanging information and opinions. The assembly of Members/Friends does not make decisions but its regular calling is regarded as useful and constructive for the exchange of information and knowledge and the relationship and communication and collaboration between the Members and Friends of the Local Branch.

Article 19:       

Powers of the Assembly of Members

1. The powers of the members of the Local Branch are:
2. a) The election of the Members of the Local Committee
3. b) The election of the Representative of the Local Branch at the Central Committee (this person can be a member of the Local Committee)
4. c) Discussion and decision-making on any matter of the Local Branch
5. d) Organising events and actions on matters of interest of the Party, either in the district where the Local Branch is active or in another area in collaboration with another Local Branch or the Party.

Article 20:       

Convening the Assembly of the Members of the Branch

1. The Assembly of Members of the Local Branch is convened by the Local Committee every 2 months or sooner either by initiative of the Local Committee or by initiative of 20% of members of the Local Branch who notify the Local Committee of the reasons for the convening of the meeting and the items for the agenda – at least 10 days before the suggested date of the Assembly of the Members or sooner if there is an urgent matter, and the convening of an extraordinary meeting at this specific date is approved by the majority of the registered members of the Assembly of the Members.
2. At the regular meeting the Assembly of the Members are informed on local matters, decide the coordination of necessary actions and give general or special directions to the Local Committee. Moreover it is informed of the actions of the Central Committee and the Scientific Committees of the Party.  It informs the Local Committee on any issues that have arisen and it organises the collective responses at local and central level.

Article 21:       

Representation of the Local Committee

1. The Local Committee appoints the person/s who will represent the Committee or the Local Branch or the Party at a local level or in matters in the district in which it is active or in meetings or in collaborations where the Local Branch takes part.

Article 22:       

Local Committee

1. The function and action of every Local Branch is coordinated by the Local Committee
2. The members of the Local Committee are: Local Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer and a Member
3. Accordingly, in the Local Committee it’s recommended that anyone with a specific skill/experience (scientific) or people who specialise in an area of interest to the Party can use their special knowledge to facilitate the most effective function and intervention of the Local Branch and the Party as a Specialist Member.

Article 23:       

Election and Allocation of Responsibilities

1. The Local Committee is elected by the Assembly of Members of the Local Branch. The elections take place every 2 years.
2. The members who are interested in participating in the Local Committee submit their candidacy and a small CV to the outgoing committee at least 48 hours before the meeting of the Assembly of the Members and the Local Committee immediately informs the members by the most convenient way of communication.
3. The election is held by secret voting and in case of a tie between candidates for the 5^th place a draw will take place.
4. Immediately following the election the Local Committee will allocate the responsibilities either by a secret election or by agreement between its members.

Article 24:       

Term of Office of the Local Committee

1. The term of office of the Local Committee will be 2 years
2. In case of withdrawal /resignation for any reason by a member, the assembly of the members of the Local Branch will be convened for the election of a new member. The term of office of this member will end with the term of office of the local committee at the end of the 2 years.
3. The term of office of the secretary and the Specialist Member (if it exists) can be renewed indefinitely. The term of office of the rest of the members of the Local Committee will be 2 years and the same member will not be able to hold the same position after 1 term (min 2 years).  This position must be occupied by another member.  The purpose of this switch is to gain experience from as many members as possible for as many subjects as possible so that everyone will have a complete perception of the problems and the way they are solved and as many people from the party will come in touch with the authorities and stakeholders involved in animal issues.
4. The Secretary can receive remuneration so they can devote all his/her time in keeping the office of the Local Branch

Article 25:       

Operations of the Local Committee

1. The Local Committee is convened by the local coordinator or the deputy local coordinator at least twice a month at specific days/hours and the meetings can include all the members of the Local Branch.
2. The Local Committee quorum is for 3 out of 5 members either by physical presence or by teleconference.
3. The decisions of the local committee are made by majority of those present and in case of a tie the vote of the local coordinator or in his/her absence the vote of the deputy local coordinator will prevail.

CHAPTER 5

CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Article 26:

Composition

The Central Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, one Representative from each Local Branch and Party members who hold ex officio public office and are not allowed to vote.

Article 27:

Election of members of the Central Committee at the Pan Cyprian Assembly of Members

The Pan Cyprian Assembly of Members shall elect the following Members of the Central Committee in elections conducted by secret ballot: President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.

Candidates shall send to the Committee on Elections and Voting a declaration of candidacy with a small CV at least three (3) days before election day. The Committee on Elections and Voting will ensure that the  Member’s who wish to vote in Branch for candidates will be notified at least two days before the date of the Assembly.

The day before the Assembly the Local Committee in any Local Branch, in cooperation with the Committee on Elections and Voting, will provide a ballot box to so that Members who will not be able to go to the venue of the Assembly, can vote. Members who vote in the Local Branch are not entitled to vote on the day of the Convention, even though eventually able to attend.

The Local Committee will maintain a list of Members who voted in the Local Branch and the names of those who vote in the Local Branch will be deleted from the electoral roll used in the Assembly.

Article 28:

Election of Representatives of Local Branches in the Central Committee

As part of the electoral process for the election of Members of the Local Committee the Assembly of Members in any Local Branch elect a person as Representative for the Local Branch on the Central Committee and a person as Deputy Representative, who will deputise for the Representatives to the meetings of the Central Committee in case of absence or impediment.

Article 29:

Responsibilities of the Central Committee

1. Central Committee

1. Express the official positions of the party and is responsible for communicating these positions for both the members and friends of the Party and to the media and social media.
2. Represents the Party at all political institutions of the Republic, the European Union and International Organisations.
3. Represents the Party in international meetings and fora,
4. Is responsible for the dissemination of information to and from the Local Teams, monitoring and assisting their action and their cooperation, coordination (where necessary) for their collaboration, coordination of interventions across the island ,
5. Decides on the establishment, abolition or merger of Local Branches
6. Appoints Directors of Special Advisory Committee (SAC)
7. Appoints the Committee on Elections and Voting
8. Appoints an Independent Auditor to audit the financial statements of the party and check this data before submission to the Registrar responsible for keeping the Register of Political Parties
9. Monitors the action of all Local Branches providing effective intervention of the Party
10. Updates and informs the Members and Friends of Party on matters of interest of the Party
11. Coordinates the cooperation of the Party with National and International activists
12. Represents the Party at meetings and events related to topics of interest of the Party or have representation in members or associates of the party.

2. For the representation of the party in a) and b) above, the Central Committee designate a person or persons or Committee representing the Party in all meetings or events relating to a particular issue or issues, or designates a specific person or persons or Committee for a particular meeting or event.

Article 30:

Powers of Representative and Deputy Representative of Local Branches in the Central Committee

The Representative or Deputy Representative within the Central committee:  

1. acts as a permanent link on the information flow from the Local Branch and the Central Committee in both directions,
2. they are responsible for updating the Central Committee on local problems and issues.
3. inform the Local Committee and, whenever necessary, the assembly of members or Assembly Members and Friends of Local Branches on the discussions and decisions of the Central Committee,
4. votes as a member of the Central Committee thus participating in decision-making and policy-making of the Party (only the Representative has the right to vote  in the presence of  both the Representative and Deputy Representative at the meeting of the Central Committee).

Article 31:

Powers of the President and Vice-President of the Central Committee

1. The President of the Central Committee
2. He/she is the leader of the Party
3. Represents the Party and formally expresses the principles and positions
4. Chairs the Central Committee
5. Supervise and coordinates the activities of all the institutions and branches of the Party

2. The Vice President of the Central Committee:
3. Represents the President if absent or incapacitated
4. Helps the President in performing his/her daily duties,
5. Chairs the Central Committee when the President is absent.

Article 32:

Powers of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of the Central Committee

1. The Secretary of the Central Committee is responsible for:
2. Maintenance of the Members’ Register and the Register of Friends of the Party
3. monitoring, distribution and archiving of correspondence between the Central Committee and Local Branches
4. Preparing and distributing the agenda of meetings of the Central Committee
5. Keeping the minutes of meetings of the Central Committee and distribution and archiving,
6. Preparing and distributing the Program of the General meeting
7. The publishing of communications and decisions of the Party to Local Branches, the Media and Social Media
8. the communication to the media about elections and voting (where these are public).

2. Assistant Secretary assists the Secretary in her/his duties in accordance with the recommendations and instructions.

3. The Secretary is responsible for the division of work between him/her and the Assistant Secretary.

Article 33:

Responsibilities of the Treasurer of the Central Committee

1. The Treasurer of the Central Committee has the responsibility to:
2. Maintain complete information and proper books of account and prepare for each calendar year financial statements in accordance with relevant International Financial Reporting Standards
3. gather the relevant data from the Treasurers of the Local Branches requesting information and supporting data and deliver them to the Financial Audit Committee
4. inform the Central Committee on the economic situation of the Party when requested or when appropriate,
5. monitor the discussions on transparency in Party finances, inform the Central Committee and express the opinions and positions of the Party within these discussions.

Article 34:

Special Scientific Advisors and Advisory Committees

1. The Central Committee may appoint persons with special knowledge or skills as a consultant and / or to create a Special Advisory Committee to facilitate its work and the work of Local Branches.
2. Illustrative but not exhaustive, the Central Committee can appoint Counsel, Director for International Affairs and Relations, scientific advice on specific matters, Consultant for general research, consultancy and education training.
3. Directors or Members of the Special Advisory Committees may be any person who is not a Member or a Friend of the Party.
4. The Directors and Members of the Special Advisory Committees may be elected as members of the Central Committee or Local Committee of the Local Branch in which they are registered as Members.

Article 35:

Meetings

1. The Central Committee meets regularly every two months, during the odd months of the year, ie January, March, May, July, September and November, and extraordinarily whenever deemed necessary by the President or the Vice-President or requested by one third (1 / 3) members entitled to vote.
2. The meeting is convened by the Chairman or the Vice-President of the Central Committee, who shall inform the Secretary who is responsible for notifying the invitation and the agenda to the Committee members.

Article 36:

Quorum

The Central Committee is in quorum and legally formed when present at the meeting either by physical presence or through teleconferencing are at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members who are entitled to vote.

Article 37:

Right to vote

1. Central Committee members who occupy a public office, ex officio are not allowed to vote
2. The Directors and Members of the Special Advisory Committees can only vote in the Central Committee they are simultaneously members of the Central Committee

Article 38:

Voting

The Central Committee shall decide by a simple majority of members present. In case of a tie, the casting vote of the Chairman or, in her/his absence, the Vice-President.

Article 39:

Regular absence from meetings

If a member of the Central Committee is absent for two or three consecutive meetings, then:

1. If the Local Branch Representative resigns and is replaced by his Deputy, the Deputy Representative is converted to a Representative,
2. If the Representative and Deputy are both absent and so the local Branch is not represented in the Central Committee, the Central Committee informs the Local Committee of the Branch to convene an Extraordinary Meeting of the Members of the Branch to elect a new Representative and Deputy Representative to the Central Committee or includes the issue of the election on the agenda scheduled Annual Meeting of Members.
3. If the Local Committee does not convene a meeting of Members of the Local Branch electing a Representative and Deputy Representative to the Central Committee, or if this is unduly delayed, the Central Committee will convene the actual Assembly of Members of the local Branch and the Secretary of the Central Committee assumes responsibility for the preparation and updating of the Members of the Local Branch
4. If it is a Member selected from the Pan Cyprian Meeting of Members, the Committee on Elections and Voting will help the Local Branch to organize electing a replacement member for one who is systematically absent from meetings of the Central Committee.

CHAPTER 6

FINANCIAL

Article 40:

Financial Audit Committee

1. The Pan Cyprian Assembly of Members shall elect a two member or three-member Financial Audit Committee of the Party.
2. At the end of each calendar year, the Committee shall audit the accounts and statements and shall receive from the Treasurer of the Central Committee and the Treasurers of the Local Branches all such records. The Financial Audit Committee has the right to request and receive additional information and explanations from the Treasurer of the Central Committee and Treasurers of the Local Branches or any other person deemed necessary. It also has the right to request and receive access to the files of the party in order to ascertain specific information and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Central Committee, as well as the Secretaries of the Local Committees shall provide such data to be requested.
3. In case of refusal or presentation of any problem of access to the requested information, the Financial Audit Committee shall immediately inform all members of the Central Committee and the Central Committee shall meet to discuss the referred matter no later than five (5) days after.
4. The Financial Audit Committee shall prepare the report, which is presented before the Central Committee at the Annual Meeting in March.

Article 41:

Approval of financial statements

1. The meeting of the Central Committee in January will be attended by the Treasurers of the Local Branches and the Financial Audit Committee to coordinate the preparation and presentation of the financial statements of the Party
2. At the meeting of the Central Committee of March, also attended by the Treasurers of the Local Branches and the Financial Audit Committee, the financial statements and the report to be approved by the Central Registrar will be presented and submitted to the keeping of the Register of Political Parties no later than March 31.

Article 42:

Publication of financial statements

1. The financial data in the report of the Financial Audit Committee is to be notified to the Local Branches and published on the official website of the Party.
2. In the next Ordinary Meeting of the Members of the Local Branches the Treasurer of each Local Branch presents and explains to the Assembly the financial figures of the Party and the particular Branch.

CHAPTER 7

ISLAND-WIDE CONVENTION

Article 43:

Convention

1. The Pan Cyprian Meeting of Members is the supreme body of the Party and shall consist of all members of the Party.
2. The meeting is convened by the Central Committee each year by notice sent to the Local Committees and contains the topics of the Assembly.

Article 44:

Responsibilities of the Pan Cyprian Meeting of Members

The Pan Cyprian Meeting of Members Will:

1. elect the members of the Central Committee,
2. advise and approve the financial statements of the Party
3. Decide binding action for each policy issue relating to the Party
4. Decide on any collaboration with other Parties of Cyprus and Europe, and participation in groups or parties, if such exist or are created,
5. Approves the Statutes of the Party and any amendments thereto,
6. Decides on any matter relating to the Party and its policy.

Article 45:

Convention Organising Committee

1. A least 1 month before the execution of the Convention, the Central Committee prepares the agenda for the Assembly and appointed a three-member committee that organises the Pan Cyprian Assembly of Members and is responsible for sending the invitation and the agenda of the Cyprus Convention, the securing and organising the venue of the Convention, the consultation with the media, in coordination with the Committee on Elections and Voting when during the Assembly voting will be carried out and generally any other matter relating to the organisation and implementation of the Convention.
2. The Organising Committee decides any issue that may arise during the Assembly.
3. If requested by one third (1/3) of the participants and those entitled to vote in the Assembly of Members, the Organizing Committee is required to put any question to the vote, the execution of which shall be administered by the Committee on Elections and Voting.

Article 46:

Committee on Elections and Voting

1. The Committee on Elections and Voting at its first meeting after the election of a three-member appointed committee will be responsible for the smooth conduct of the electoral process and voting on any matter throughout the duration of its term.
2. The mandate of the Committee on Elections and Voting shall be two years, beginning with the appointment of the first meeting of the Central Committee and expire at the first meeting of the next Central Committee.
3. Committee’s responsibilities are:
4. to maintain an updated electoral list of the Members entitled to vote at any Local Branch ie Members who have settled their financial backlog,
5. to monitor the proper conduct of electoral processes in each Local Branch and assist when necessary,
6. to prepare the electoral process (collecting statements of candidacy, biography, updated status and candidate reporting requirements) and votes (collection and distribution of information, proposals, suggestions, views and positions)
7. to prepare electoral replacement position and inform the Central Committee and accordingly the Local Committee or Members of the Local Branch to which the election relates
8. to ensure the safe transportation of ballot boxes from the Local Branch to the Pan Cyprian Assembly of Members, counting of ballots with the arrival of ballot boxes in the venue of the Cyprus Convention and comparing their number to the number of votes cast in each Local Branch and finalizing the electoral rolls on the basis of which the vote will take place at the Cyprus Convention,
9. to count the ballots and votes in the electoral process and voting conducted at national level and, in either the Pan Cyprian Assembly venue or on the premises of the Local Branches
10. to communicate the results of elections and voting and inform the Central Committee, the Members and Friends of the Party.

Article 47:

Decision-Making

The Pan Cyprian Meeting of Members shall decide by a simple majority of votes cast. In case of a tie, the proposal is rejected for voting. In case of a tie between candidates for the Central Committee, the Committee on Election and Voting holds a draw before the Pan Cyprian Meeting of Members.

This Constitution was approved by the Pancyprian membership meeting held on March 15, 2015, at Limassol.