Constitution

The following is a word for word illustration of the Constitution of the United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association. Note that the official constitution can be found here and is the source of truth as of 7th July 2020.

United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association Constitution

I Name

The name of the Association shall be the United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association.

II Objects

The objects of the Association shall be:

1. The advancement of the amateur sport of Practical Shooting and Dynamic Marksmanship for the public benefit by:
   1. promoting public participation, practice and development in the sport; and
   2. the provision of instruction in the sport, including in the safe use of firearms.
2. To encourage skill in Practical Shooting by providing instruction and practice in the use of firearms amongst Her Majesty’s subjects so that they will be better fitted to serve their country in the Armed Forces, Armed Forces Reserve or any other organisation in which their services may be required in the defence of the realm.

III Membership

Membership of the Association shall be open to persons or bodies interested in furthering the objects of the Association or participating in its organisation but no person or body shall be a member unless his or her or its membership has been accepted by the Council who shall have an absolute discretion not to accept any person or body as a member without giving any reason therefor.

The Council shall have the right, for good and sufficient reason, to terminate the membership of any individual or organisation and may by resolution communicated to any member in writing and stating the grounds for which it proposes to act call upon that member to resign from the Association. The member in question shall have the right to attend and be heard by the Council before a final decision is made. If the member does not attend and will not resign within forty-eight days after being so called upon, the Council may by resolution terminate the membership.

1. Categories
   Individual Membership may be Annual, Life, Benefactor, Patron or Endowment together with any other category determined by Council.
2. Honorary Membership
   Honorary Membership may be granted to a person at the discretion of Council.

IV Subscriptions

1. Life Memberships
   The fees for Life, Benefactor, Patron and Endowment Memberships shall be determined by Council.
2. Other Memberships
   There shall be an annual subscription, due on 1 April of each year, of such a sum as shall be determined by Council for the particular year next ensuing upon proper notice of a proposed variation from the previous year. Any member or affiliated organisation whose subscription shall not have been paid by 31 May for that year will automatically forfeit membership or affiliation and shall only be re-admitted to membership or affiliation on terms which shall be at the discretion of Council. Every member or affiliated organisation shall receive the Association's official receipt, which may also act as evidence of membership or affiliation.

V Annual General Meeting

The Annual Meeting of Members shall be held at the National Meeting or at such time and place as may be fixed by Council.

The Secretary shall submit Council's report and the Treasurer shall read the audited balance sheet.

1. Quorum
   The General Meeting shall transact no business unless a quorum be present. The presence of fifty members, or ten percent of the current membership, whichever may be the lesser, shall constitute a quorum.
2. No Quorum
   If within half an hour after the time appointed for a meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the next convenient date, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present, those members present shall constitute a quorum.
3. Elections
   The Meeting shall elect:- The Chairman, the Director, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Public Relations Officer and one Auditor.
   

VI Extraordinary General Meeting

The Secretary shall, upon the written request of at least ten percent of the elected membership of the Association, call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association and shall give at least twenty-one days notice of same. The Agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be circulated with the notice and no subjects other than those thereon shall be discussed.

VII Amendment of the Constitution

Amendment of the Constitution may be made either at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting. Suggested amendments which are to be submitted to an Annual General Meeting shall be forwarded to the Secretary in writing sixty days prior to such meeting. Amendment by means of Extraordinary General Meeting shall be conducted according to the provisions of Article VI. In order to be carried, a proposal for amendment must be agreed by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting provided that no amendment shall be made to Article II, Article XXIII or this article, and no amendment shall be made the effect of which would cause the Association to cease to be a Charity in law.

VIII Officers

The Officers of the Association shall comprise: a President, Vice-Presidents, a Chairman, a Director, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Public Relations Officer, Regional Organisers and their Deputies.

XI Duties of Officers

1. Chairman
   The Chairman shall chair General Meetings and Meetings of Council. He shall strive to enhance the harmony and efficiency of the Association.
   
2. Director
   The Director shall be responsible for the activities of the Association at a national level, maintaining regular contact with the headquarters of the International Practical Shooting Confederation. He shall keep the other officers of the Association informed of activities of the Association and of the Confederation throughout the world and shall, in the course of his duties submit a report, agreed by Council, at the Annual General Meeting. He shall, in conjunction with the Secretary, co-ordinate the activities of each region and deal with all Association correspondence either himself or by passing it to the Secretary, a Regional Organiser or other member of Council as appropriate.
   
3. Secretary
   The Secretary shall keep a complete record of the proceedings of the Association and shall assist the Director as required.
4. Treasurer
   The Treasurer shall keep a faithful record of all monies used by the Association and present an audited statement at the Annual General Meeting.
   
5. Public Relations Officer
   The Public Relations Officer shall advise on matters concerning public relations, press relations, publicity and communications and shall perform such duties as Council may request.
   
6. Regional Organisers
   Regional Organisers shall be responsible for the efficient organisation and administration of their respective regions and for all shooting matters appropriate thereto.

X Chairman's Vote

The Chairman may vote only in case of a tie, in which case he has a casting vote.

XI Council

The Management of the Association shall be controlled by a Council which shall consist of: the Chairman, the Director, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Public Relations Officer and the Regional Organisers or their nominees.

1. Ex-Officio Members
   The President and Vice-Presidents of the Association; Chairmen, or their delegates, of the Association's Executive Commissions; and delegates of the Association to the councils of other organisations, shall be members ex-officio of Council, with vote, save that no person may, by virtue of dual or multiple offices, cast more than one vote.
   
2. Co-option.
   Council is empowered to co-opt members, voting or non-voting, as it may deem desirable.
   
3. Meetings
   Council shall meet as often as is deemed necessary and as required by Article XII. It shall report to the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
   
4. Quorum
   Council shall transact no business unless a quorum be present. The presence of five voting members shall constitute a quorum, except as otherwise stipulated.
   
5. No Quorum
   If within half an hour after the time appointed, for a meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the next convenient date and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present, those members present shall constitute a quorum.
   
6. Absence
   Any member of Council, except ex-officio members, who fails to attend three consecutive meetings without reasonable explanation shall be deemed to have retired and shall be notified accordingly.
   
7. Vacancies
   Any vacancies occurring on Council shall be filled by Council.
   
8. Committees and Commissions
   Council may create such committees or commissions as it may deem desirable, under such terms of reference and with such powers, duties, responsibilities and obligations as it may determine. It shall in all cases be the responsibility of the chairman of each committee or commission to ensure that Council is kept fully and currently informed on the activities of his commission or committee.

XII Council Meetings

1. Council shall meet on not less than four occasions in each year, and whenever six or more members of Council may, in a letter addressed to the Secretary, so request. The Secretary shall convene meetings by giving fourteen days written notice.
   
2. Any member of the Association shall have the right upon request, to attend any meeting of Council as an observer, or to consult minutes of past meetings of Council or the commissions and committees thereof, or of general meetings of the Association.

XIII Appointed Officers

Council may by resolution, passed by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, appoint any UKPSA member who is currently in good standing to the offices of President, Vice-President, Regional Organiser, National Coach, etc.

XIV Geographical Organisation

Council may create, sub-divide, amalgamate or alter the boundaries of the Association's geographical sub-divisions.

XV Interpretation of the Constitution

Council shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the Constitution and all byelaws, rules or regulations made thereunder, and the decision of Council on any question of interpretation, or upon any matter effecting the Association and not provided for by these rules shall be final and binding upon all members, but subject to appeal to any General Meeting.

XVI Legislative Power

Council shall have the power to legislate on any matter not provided for in the Constitution, and to promulgate such byelaws, rules and regulations as it may feel necessary or desirable.

XVII U.K.P.S.A. Shooting Events

The Officer in charge of the range may be an officer of the Association, a U.K.P.S.A. qualified coach, an officer of any club approved by the Association or a member of an approved club elected by general consent to act for a group of clubs using the range at one time. The officer in charge of the range will always have the power to refuse permission to shoot with any weapon or equipment which he considers unsuitable, or to any shooter whose conduct he considers unsafe.

XVIII Range Rules

Council shall draw up Range Rules which shall govern the conduct of shooting on any range. These rules should conform to those laid down by the I.P.S.C.. The officers of the Association shall be responsible for the strict enforcement of these rules, as well as any which may be in application at ranges under military control. Only weapons and ammunition suitable for the range in use shall be used.

XIX Visitors

Visitors may be invited to shoots by members of the Association, with the sanction of a Regional Organiser or other officer of the Association, and such visitors shall automatically become members of the Association for that day.

XX Accounts

The financial year of the Association shall be from 1 April to the following 31 March.

1. Property
   The property and funds of the Association shall be vested in Council.
   
2. Monies
   All monies shall be paid into the Association's banking accounts and all authorised expenditure should be met by drawing on those accounts.
   
3. Disbursements
   The signature of the Treasurer and any one of the following officers: Chairman, Director, Secretary, shall be necessary on any cheque drawn on the Association's general account.

XXI Insurance

The Association shall pay the necessary premiums to effect the cover of third party claims and to provide an indemnity in respect of legal liability for accidents resulting in bodily injury or damage to property arising on any range or at any club premises. The policy shall indemnify:

1. The International Practical Shooting Confederation.
   
2. Other organisations to which the Association may be affiliated.
   
3. The Association and its officers.
   
4. Any member of the Association.
   
5. The owner of the range concerned and his servants.
   The Association shall also effect the insurance of any trophies owned by the Association together with any equipment or property of the Association, as well as any items the Association may hold on loan, which it may be considered desirable to insure.

XXII Indemnification

By acceptance of membership in the Association, every member is deemed fully and absolutely to indemnify the Association and Council against any claims for injury or loss however caused to or by himself, his family or his servants at any shooting or other event organised by the Association.

XXIII Termination

The Association may be terminated by resolution at a General Meeting. A resolution of termination must be carried by not less than seventy-five percent of the voting members present.

After the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, should there remain any property whatsoever, this shall not be distributed amongst the members but shall be given or transferred to a charitable organisation or charitable organisations having similar objects.

XXIV Powers

In furtherance of the Objects, the Association shall have the following powers:

1. to offer, provide and contribute to prizes for skill in Practical Shooting and dynamic marksmanship;
   
2. to publish or promote the publication or circulation of any books, pamphlets, periodicals and other printed or electronically published material calculated to promote the Objects of the Association;
   
3. to raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatever by way of subscription donation and otherwise;
   
4. The Association shall be affiliated to the International Practical Shooting Confederation. Other affiliations may be made as deemed desirable by Council.

XXV Policies and Procedures

The Association shall maintain and keep updated policies in respect of: Anti-Doping; Safeguarding and Equality. The Complaints procedure shall be maintained and updated as part of the byelaws.

NB Text current January, 2021, incorporating amendments passed or ratified by the 1980,1981 and 2021 General Meetings of the Association and the Scheme agreed with the Charity Commission following the direction of the 2020 General Meeting of the Association.

The constitution continues in the official document...

Reference Number: 396/2021
Case Number: C-518940