Constitution

1. The full title of the association shall be “The Quiz League of London” referred to below 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 in that regard.

3. Membership of the League shall be open to any properly organised team wishing to participate in the principal 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 (“the Committee”) and shall be elected to membership at the sole discretion of the 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 Committee, consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer (“the Officers”) and at least three other members drawn from member teams. The Committee shall be elected annually and 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 person or bodies corporate to supply questions, and fix 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 its own ranks by co-opting individuals who shall then serve until the next Annual General Meeting of The League, but then be eligible for election.

f) Impose any sanctions upon member teams as may be appropriate in accordance with paragraph 6.

g) Appoint and delegate authority to sub-committees which shall include and usually be chaired by a member of, and 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 this Constitution for the regulation of the internal affairs of the League and the conduct of member teams. 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 this Constitution and any bye-laws made under it.

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 Committee and with whom the Committee shall be entitled at all times to deal as the authorised representative of such member team.

6. The sanctions which the Committee may impose on member teams include fines, deduction of League points, debarring any individual associated with a member team from competing in or officiating at competitions organised by the League, debarring a member team from a competition, and expelling a team from membership of the League. Before any sanction is imposed, the secretary shall give 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. A member team aggrieved by decision to expel them shall be entitled within 7 days to request the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting of the League which shall meet for the purpose of considering the matter, in which case the decision to expel shall be suspended until the date of the meeting and shall be of no effect unless confirmed by a two thirds majority of member teams voting at the meeting.

7. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The League, of which not less than twenty-one prior days notice shall be given, shall be held once a year on a date within fifteen months of the previous AGM decided by the Committee. The AGM shall:

a) receive and approve a financial report for the previous financial year;

b) fix the annual subscription for the ensuing year (which may consist of money or the provision of quiz sets or both, and which may be different for different categories of team);

c) elect the Officers and other members of the Committee for the ensuing year (to take office at the end of the AGM);

d) consider any proposal relating to the affairs of the League or other business as may have been put forward in accordance with paragraph 8.

8. Business for consideration by the AGM may be proposed by the Committee or by any member team. A proposal by a member team shall take the form of a notice in writing, seconded by another team, sent to the League Secretary and received by him no less than 8 days prior to the meeting. The Secretary shall include all business for consideration in a notice sent to member teams no fewer than 7 days prior to the meeting. Any business not included in the notice that may be raised shall be considered at the meeting at the discretion of the Chairman.

9. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the League, of which not less than 14 days prior notice shall be given, may be called at any time by the Committee and shall be so called forthwith upon the request in writing of not fewer than three member teams stating the purposes for which the meeting is required, or under paragraph 6 at the request of a member team facing expulsion.

10. At any General Meeting of the League, any individual associated with a member team shall be entitled to attend and (subject to the discretion of the Chairman) speak, but each member team shall be entitled to one vote. Member teams not present at the meeting may vote by written notice received by the Secretary prior to the meeting. Any reference to a majority or a two thirds majority shall mean such majority of member teams voting. In the case of an equality of votes at any General Meeting, the Chairman of that meeting shall have the casting vote, which may be a second vote.

11. If at any General Meeting of the League a resolution for the dissolution of the League is carried by a two thirds majority, 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 discharge of all liabilities, must divide such assets amongst the member teams and upon completion of that division The League shall be dissolved.

12. Alterations to this Constitution (but not the match rules annexed to it) may be made by a resolution carried by a two thirds majority of those voting at a General Meeting of the League, but no alteration shall be made which is inconsistent with the objects of the League (paragraph 2). Any other business at a General Meeting may be carried by a simple majority.