Constitution

A page on "Constitution" seems at first sight to be a pretty dry sort of article to have in a website designed to be entertaining and informative. So why have we put it in here?

Because there are some points we want to make clear.

The first is that NOBODY MAKES ANY MONEY out of the Quiz League of London. There are no directors or managers or shareholders or staff. All our documents state very clearly that we are a not-for-profit body owned and run by our member teams. We are managed by a Committee, on which our President keeps a careful, if unofficial eye, on behalf of the members. Our events are promoted and staged by volunteers - of whom we never have quite enough. So if you play in a team which is a member, YOU HAVE A SAY in what goes on via your Committee, which you can sack if they are no good. (That's never happened - though the Committee once sacked a side who got a bit above themselves.

This means we are very different from the "pub leagues". In that world, the players have little or no say in the running of their game. Those competitions - "leagues" is too good a word - are the property of some person or some corporation. A pub pays a sub to somewhere and gets questions in return - it's a bit like being a member of a proprietorial club. This is all very well if you just want to sit back and take what you're given. We in QLL want a bit more than that - we want to run our own season, determine what competitions we have, and where and when. We are quite prepared to take the responsibility this involves - which actually means that the members are jointly and severally responsible for any debts. So if you join us - that's what you're getting into. However, we've been around for more than a decade so we must have got something right!

The full text of our Constitution follows. We adopted it early on and it's only ever needed a couple of amendments. It's not copyright, so if you are doing what we did in 1990 and are striking a blow for independence, feel free to adopt it. It works.

1. The full title of the association shall be "The Quiz League of London" hereinafter referred to as "The League".

2. The objects of The League shall be to promote and oversee quiz competitions under Rules laid down by the League and to attain and maintain the highest standards with regard thereto.

3. Membership of The League shall be open to any properly organised team wishing to participate in competition organised by The League. Such teams shall apply for membership of The League in such form as shall from time to time be decided by The League Committee and shall be elected to membership at the sole discretion of The League Committee. Until so elected a candidate team shall not be entitled to the privileges of membership.

4. Management of The League shall be vested in the League Committee, consisting of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and at least three other members drawn from member teams which shall be elected annually and which shall:

a. Meet as often as it shall deem necessary but in any event not less than three times a year. At all such meetings four shall be a quorum.

b. Appoint persons or bodies corporate to supply questions and fix their remuneration if any.

c. Fix the remuneration of any person assisting as may be required from time to time.

d. Represent The League and issue statements to the press.

e. Fill casual vacancies arising within their own ranks and co-opt individuals to serve therein who then shall serve only until the next Annual General Meeting of The League, but then be eligible for re-election.

f. Impose any disciplinary measures upon member teams as may be appropriate which shall include the right to levy fines and expel or debar from membership provided always that before any such disciplinary action the secretary shall give to the member team concerned 7 days written notice to attend a meeting and shall inform the member team of the complaint or complaints made against them. No member team shall be disciplined without first being heard nor unless such disciplinary action be confirmed by a two thirds majority of the League Committee then present and voting. A member team aggrieved by a decision to expel them shall be entitled within 7 days to procure the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting of The League which shall meet under Rule 7 for the purpose of considering the matter in which case the decision to expel shall be suspended until the date of such meeting and shall be of no effect unless confirmed by a two thirds majority of those attending the meeting.

g. Delegate authority to sub-committees as shall from time to time be appointed from its members and who shall act in accordance with the directions of the Committee.

h. Hold moneys and conduct all financial transactions on behalf of the League and keep proper books of account.

i. Have power from time to time to make, vary and revoke bye-laws not inconsistent with these Rules for the regulation of the internal affairs of The League and the conduct of members. All bye-laws shall until revoked be binding upon member teams.

5. Member teams shall:

a. Abide by the rules of the competitions run by The League.

b. Abide by these rules and bye-laws made thereunder.

c. Pay to the League the annual subscription.

d. Use their best endeavours to provide a reasonable venue for their home matches.

e. Nominate a person to act as Team Secretary who will be responsible for communication with The League Committee and with whom The League Committee shall be entitled at all times to deal as the authorised representative of such member team for the purposes of these Rules and any bye-laws made hereunder.

6. An Annual General Meeting of The League, of which not less than twenty one prior days notice shall be given, shall be held once a year upon a date within fifteen months of the Annual General Meeting held in the previous year and at a time to be fixed by The League Committee for the following purposes:

a. To receive and approve a financial report for the preceding year.

b. To fix the annual subscription.

c. To elect the Officers and other members of The League Committee for the ensuing year.

d. To consider such other business as shall have been communicated to the Secretary and included in the Notice of the Meeting sent by him to members.

e. To consider any proposal relating to the affairs of the The League of which any member team shall have given due notice and which shall have been duly seconded by another member team. (For this purpose "due notice" shall mean notice in writing bearing the signatures of the Team Secretaries of the proposer and seconder members being in the hands of The League Committee not less than 7 days before the date of the Meeting.

7. An Extraordinary General Meeting of The League, of which not less than 14 days prior notice shall be given, may be called at any time by The League Committee and shall be so called forthwith upon the requisition in writing of not less than three member teams stating the purposes for which the meeting is required.

8. At any General Meeting of The League each member team shall be entitled to be represented by one individual who shall have one vote. Any reference to a two thirds majority shall mean a two thirds majority of member teams present and voting. In the case of an equality of votes at any General Meeting, the Chairman of such meeting shall have the casting vote, which may be a second vote.

9. If at any General Meeting of The League a resolution for the dissolution of The League be carried by a two thirds majority as provided in Rule 8, the Committee must immediately, or at such future date as may be specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the League, and, after the discharge of all liabilities, must divide such assets amongst the member teams and upon the completion of that division The League shall be dissolved.

10. Alterations to this Constitution may be made by a resolution carried by a two thirds majority of those present and voting at a General Meeting of The League but no alteration shall be made which is inconsistent with the Objects of The League.