BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF COMPARATIVE LAW (formerly the UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF COMPARATIVE LAW)

CONSTITUTION

(As Revised 18 April 2020)

1. Name

The name of the association shall be British Association of Comparative Law (BACL).

1. Objects

The object of the Association is to advance education by promoting and encouraging the study of Comparative Law and in furtherance of that object:

(a) To co-operate with the International Association of Legal Science established under the sponsorship of UNESCO and its executive committee, the International Committee of Comparative Law, and other bodies, both national and international;

(b) To co-ordinate the activities in the United Kingdom of all those interested in the comparative study of law;

(c) To maintain contact with studies and activities carried on in other countries.

III. Membership

Membership of the Association shall be open to the following constituencies:-

i) Law Schools in the United Kingdom;

(ii) Institutions and Organisations which are concerned with the promotion of the comparative study of law.

Members shall pay an annual subscription of such amount as the Council may from time to time determine.

IV. Associate Membership

Associate Membership of the Association shall be open to any individual who is a member of any of (a) the Law Schools, or (b) Institutions and Organisations comprised under Article III above.

Associate Members shall pay an annual subscription of such amount as the Council may from time to time determine.

V. Organisation

The business of the Committee shall be conducted by:

(a) a Council

(b) a Chair

(c) a Secretary General

(d) a Treasurer

(e) a Communications Officer

VI. The Council

The Council shall consist of one person nominated from time to time by each of the constituencies mentioned in Article III above; together with not more than four persons co-opted for such period as the Council may determine and past Chairpersons.

The Council shall meet normally once a year. Special meetings may be convened at the discretion of the Chair.

Subject to the limitation in Article XI below, all decisions of the Council shall be taken by a simple majority of the members present and voting, and each member shall have one vote. The Chair shall have a casting vote. One half of the membership of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

The Chair is authorised, at his/her discretion, to consult individually the members of the Council, and to act in accordance with the majority of the replies received.

VII. The Chair

The Chair of the Association shall be elected by the Council from among its members, and shall preside at all meetings of the Council. He/she shall hold office for three years, and shall be eligible for re-election.

VIII. The Secretary, the Treasurer and the Communications Officer

The Secretary or Secretaries, the Treasurer and the Communications Officer shall be appointed by the Council, and need not be members of the Council.

The Secretary or Secretaries, with the assistance of the Treasurer on matters of finance, shall be in charge of the administrative affairs of the Association.

The Communications Officer shall be dealing with matters of communication in agreement with the Secretary or Secretaries, the Treasurer and the Chair. The Communications Officer shall especially maintain the Associations’ website and social media.

The Secretary or Secretaries, the Treasurer and the Communications Officer shall receive instructions from the Council through the Chair, and will be responsible to the Council.

Ordinary payments drawn upon any account may be made by the Treasurer or the Chair, acting alone. The Council will authorize non-ordinary payments. Payment for the normal running of usual academic activities of the Association will be considered as ordinary.

IX. Headquarters

The Headquarters of the Association shall be determined by the Council.

X. Minutes

Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Council. Any member or associate member shall be entitled to inspect the minutes at any reasonable time on giving notice to the Secretary.

XI. Amendment

The Constitution of the Association may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Council present and voting, or by a simple majority of the whole Council. No amendment shall vary the primary object of the Association as set out in the first sentence of Article II.

XII. Interpretation

All questions relating to the interpretation of the Constitution shall be determined by the Council by a simple majority of the members present and voting.

XIII. Entry into Force

The United Kingdom National Committee of Comparative Law was established and a Constitution adopted by resolution of a meeting of representatives of institutions, societies and law schools, held on 29th November 1950 at the Ministry of Education, 11 Bryanston Square, W.1. An amended Constitution was approved by the Council at a meeting held on 17th December 1998 at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and took effect from this date. This amended Constitution was approved by the Council at a meeting held on …. at ….. and took effect from this date.

XIV. Dissolution

In the event of dissolution any assets then owned by Association shall be applied exclusively for charitable purposes.