Appendices

1. About This Guide

This is an easy-read guide.

It tells you how to take part in our online conference (a type of meeting), because we want everyone to be able to take part.

It tells you what help there is.

If you need anything, you can email us.

Our email is both here, and repeated at the end: memberscharter@gmail.com

2. About The Day

The conference is online.

You join it on Zoom, on a computer, tablet or phone.

It starts at 10:30 in the morning.

There is a break for lunch.

There are short breaks in the morning and the afternoon, so you can rest.

You do not have to be on camera if you do not want to.

3. Words On The Screen (Captions)

You can turn on captions.

Captions are the words people say, written on your screen.

This can help if you find it hard to hear.

It can also help if you find it easier to read along.

You can turn captions on yourself.

You do not have to ask us first.

If you want help to turn them on, please email us.

4. Taking Part And Voting

In the meeting you can put your hand up to speak using the emoji button in Zoom. That is the button which has a smiley face or love-heart on it.

The chair will let you know when it is your turn to speak by saying your name.

A moderator will then ask you to unmute yourself.

The chair will also explain this on the day.

We will take votes during the day.

You can vote by clicking in a poll on your screen, or by raising your hand.

We will give you enough time to vote.

If you are not sure how to vote, that is okay.

Someone will explain how it works on the day.

If you need help with any of this, please email us and we will help.

5. The Meeting Papers

There are some papers for the meeting, which we call the Conference Pack.

This text is part of that pack.

The other parts of the pack will tell you about what we will talk about and vote on.

If the papers are hard for you to read, we can try to send them in a different way.

For example, we can try a different computer file, or plain text.

Please email us and tell us what would help, and we will do our best.

6. After The Meeting

We plan to record the meeting.

That will help us to make a report.

We will email this to everyone in the days after the meeting.

The report will tell you what happened at the meeting.

The report will also be available as an Easy Read.

7. Tell Us What You Need

Everyone is different.

You know best what helps you.

If there is something that would make the day easier for you, please tell us.

You can ask us anything. No question is silly.

We will always try our best to help.

Please email us at: memberscharter@gmail.com

We will reply as quickly as we can.

It is best to email us before the day of the meeting, if you can.

That gives us time to get ready to help you.

But you can email us on the day too – and you can ask questions in the chat as well.

Thank you.

1. ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This is an easy-read guide.

At the conference, people will use certain words to mean certain things.

Not everyone knows all of these words.

So we made this guide to tell you what they mean.

You do not need to learn these words.

The chair will explain things as we go.

But if you want to know what a word means, you can look it up here.

Our email is both here, and repeated at the end:

memberscharter@gmail.com

2. THE BIG IDEA: WE TALK, THEN WE DECIDE

At the conference we make decisions together.

First, someone puts forward an idea.

Then people talk about it.

Then everyone votes.

The idea wins or it does not.

Most of the words below are just the names for the parts of this.

3. WORDS FOR THE IDEAS WE VOTE ON

MOTION

A motion is an idea we are asked to vote on.

It is a plan, or a rule, or a statement.

Someone writes it down, and then we vote on it.

PROPOSAL

A proposal is another word for a motion.

It is something put forward for us to think about and vote on.

Proposals that pass are things we plan to do after the meeting finishes.

PREAMBLE / PREFACE

The preamble / preface of a motion contains facts and beliefs.

These explain the idea of the motion.

They do not change which actions will be taken.

They usually contain the phrases “note that” (for facts) and “believe that” (for beliefs).

RESOLUTION

The part of a motion that commits the people or groups it names to take an action.

It usually starts with the phrase “resolve to”.

POINTS OF UNITY

These are the main ideas and beliefs we all agree on.

These ideas and beliefs are what bring us together.

4. WORDS FOR WHAT HAPPENS TO AN IDEA

MOVE

To move a motion means to put it forward to be talked about.

The person who does this is the "mover".

They might say a few words about why it is a good idea.

SECOND

To second a motion means to support it being talked about.

The person who supports the “mover” is the seconder.

This shows it is not just one person's idea.

TABLE

Moving and seconding a motion shows it has enough support.

Once it has this support it is tabled, if not it falls.

This means it can be voted on by the meeting.

FALL

Sometimes an idea does not go ahead because something else was agreed.

One reason it might not go forward is because it was one option that wasn’t chosen.

"Fall" and "defeat" both mean the idea is not agreed, and it does not go ahead.

CARRY

If a motion is carried, it means it won the vote.

More people voted for it than against it.

It is now agreed.

DEFEAT

If a motion is defeated, it means it lost the vote.

More people voted against it than for it.

It does not go ahead.

5. WHEN THERE ARE DIFFERENT IDEAS

AMENDMENT

An amendment is a small change to a motion or a proposal.

It might add words, take words out, or swap words.

We vote on the changes first.

Then we vote on the whole motion or proposal.

FRIENDLY & DISPUTED

A friendly amendment can be added without voting.

A disputed amendment must be debated and voted on.

Anyone can object, which makes it disputed.

The amender will be asked if they think it is friendly.

Then the proposer will be asked if they think it is friendly.

Then everyone else will be asked if they think it is friendly.

COMPOSITE

Sometimes a few people write proposals that are quite similar.

If they all agree, they can be joined together into one proposal.

The joined-up proposal is called a composite.

This means we vote on one clear proposal, not lots of similar ones.

COMPOSITING CHOICES

Sometimes not everyone agrees when making a composite.

When this happens, the different ideas can be offered as choices.

This means we all decide together, when it can’t be decided before.

COUNTERPOSED

Sometimes there are ideas that cannot happen together.

They are different ways of doing the same thing.

We can only choose one.

These ideas are “counterposed” to each other, called “counter-proposals”.

When ideas are counterposed, we look at all of them fully first.

We make any changes to each one we decide on as a group.

Then we vote on which one we want.

COMPLEMENTARY

Sometimes some ideas go well together.

They do not clash.

We can agree to all of them together.

These ideas are called complementary.

6. WORDS FOR SPEAKING UP

POINT OF INFORMATION

When someone needs a fact to be cleared up, they may ask for a “point of information” in the chat.

For example: "How long do we have to vote?"

A point of information is always a short question, not a speech.

THE CHAIR

The chair is the person running that part of the meeting.

They decide who speaks and when.

They keep the meeting fair and on time.

POINT OF ORDER

This is when someone thinks a rule is not being followed.

They can raise it with the chair by mentioning it in the chat.

The chair will then deal with it.

It is about how we are doing things, not about an idea itself.

THE FLOOR

"The floor" means the people at the meeting.

"Taking it to the floor" means asking everyone.

"Having the floor" means it is your turn to speak.

7. WORDS FOR VOTING

VOTE

A vote is how we decide.

You can vote “for” or “in favour”, meaning you agree with the idea: you are saying “yes”.

You can vote “against”, meaning you disagree with the idea: you are saying “no”.

ABSTAIN

To abstain means you choose not to vote either way.

You are always allowed to abstain.

Abstaining will not count as a yes or a no.

POLL

A poll is a question which you answer with a yes, a no, or by abstaining.

You’ll be warned in plenty of time that a poll is coming.

The poll will appear on your screen when it is time to vote.

If you find it hard to vote, you can always ask for help in the chat.

SHOW OF HANDS

Sometimes we may vote by putting our hands up instead.

The chair will say which way we are voting.

This always means to use the “hand emoji”, which is found on the emoji menu.

The emoji menu can be found in the middle of the bottom of your screen during the meeting.

If you need help, you can always ask for help in the chat.

8. A FEW MORE WORDS YOU MIGHT HEAR

STANDING ORDERS

These are the rules for how the meeting runs.

They keep things fair for everyone.

FCAC (FOUNDING CONGRESS ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE)

This is a small group we will choose on the day.

Their job is to help plan our next, bigger, and in-person meeting.

SOLIDARITY

This means standing together and supporting each other.

At the start, someone may give a short "solidarity address".

This is just a short speech.

REMOTE

"Remote" means joining from somewhere else by computer.

Our whole conference is remote, because it is online.

9. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE

It is okay not to remember all of these words.

It is always someone’s first meeting.

We are here to help.

If someone uses a word you do not know, that is fine.

Sometimes the meaning will become clearer over time.

But you can also ask us, both in advance, and in the meeting chat.

Please email us at: memberscharter@gmail.com

We will reply as quickly as we can.

No question is silly.

We want everyone to be able to take part.

We stand for social justice, peace and international solidarity.

Our goal is the transfer of wealth and power, now concentrated in the hands of the few, to the overwhelming majority in a democratic, socialist society.

We seek to change the balance of power at every level of society, by organising and campaigning in communities and workplaces, in trade unions and social movements, across the nations and regions.

We are committed to equality across our society. We oppose all forms of prejudice, oppression, discrimination and scapegoating, which are weaponised by ruling elites to divide people and communities.

We reject a capitalist order that is responsible for grotesque levels of inequality both at home and abroad. We favour the extension of democracy over the economy, including the public ownership of key sectors and services.

The same economic order that exploits people is destroying the planet, fuelling the climate crisis that threatens us all. We stand for environmental justice.

We oppose the global system of imperial domination and colonisation, and support movements for national liberation and self-determination. We stand against militarism and for a world free of nuclear weapons.

We stand for freedom—from poverty, exploitation and war—and in defence of democratic rights and liberties.

Billionaires and corporations are now in control of our country. We aim at its democratic and socialist transformation: by redistributing that power and wealth to all.

We stand for building an organisation that can bring together all socialists, regardless of membership in other groups or parties.

We stand for member-led democratic processes and transparency, over bureaucracy and opacity.

We oppose Zionism and NATO.

Members’ (Socialist) Conference (Hybrid) [Provisional Date: Sat 27 June] - Amend, debate and decide the exact structure from 3 most popular structure proposals. Amend and ratify or reject initial platform proposals. Establish the organisation in principle, so founding members can register. Resolve to hold a founding congress if aligned with the adopted structure proposal as amended. Elect a founding congress organising committee. Establish working groups to draft founding documents.

Interim Period: Working groups draft founding documents in line with the adopted structure proposal and initial platform proposals as amended before a deadline. Draft founding docs published. Amendments gathered on draft founding documents. Submitted amendments published. Conference organisers facilitate compositing between amendments based on consent of proposers. Composited amendments published. Founding Congress agenda formed and published. Solicit nominations for standing committees.

Founding Congress (Hybrid) [Provisional Date: Mid-September] of the new organisation (if ratified at the Members’ Conference). Founding documents (structure, programme, strategy) amended and adopted. Standing committee(s) elected. Founding members & affiliates ratified.

I. REMIT

The Founding Congress Arrangements Committee (FCAC) will be directly integrated into the Socialist Federation Volunteers Team as a Working Group.

The FCAC will have the independence associated with a Working Group but not the final say in authorising the conference plan - this will be voted on and potentially amended by a Volunteer meeting.

The FCAC’s remit is for organising the practical and technical necessities for the conference on the day.

The FCAC will not be responsible for promotion, emails, outreach, finance campaigning or compositing prior to conference.

The FCAC’s remit includes developing detailed proposal/s for the conference - including running order, speakers, chairs, mods and any other technical assistance.

The FCAC is subject to the same rules as the Volunteer team and individuals can be removed by the same mechanisms (majority vote at Volunteer meeting).

The FCAC is only responsible for planning the hybrid conference (currently September), not running the conference (although some from the FCAC may end up being a mod, chair etc).

The FCAC will dissolve immediately after the hybrid conference has concluded.

The FCAC will be elected at the upcoming conference (June 28th) and will consist of 5 members.

II. NOMINATIONS

Nominations may only be submitted by Socialist Federation supporters who agree to the Socialist Federation Initial Points of Unity (found here).

Nominations must be submitted using an email address on the Socialist Federation’s Register of Interest List, sent to memberscharter@gmail.com.

Nominations must be made by the nominee.

Nominations must be accompanied by the full name of the nominee, and any relevant political affiliations.

Nominations may be accompanied by a statement of no more than 200 words motivating the nominee’s candidacy.

The nominee grants that the Socialist Federation Admin Team may distribute the name, submitted affiliations and statement of the nominee to the Socialist Federation Register of Interest Mailing List in line with the Socialist Federation Privacy Policy, found here, only in relation to the communication of the nominee and candidate lists.

Nominations may be submitted until midnight on Monday 22 June UK time. Nominations submitted after the deadline will be dismissed.

A list of nominees, including their full names, submitted political affiliations and candidate statements will be distributed to the Socialist Federation Register of Interest Mailing List on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

III. CANDIDACIES

Seconding Endorsements may only be submitted by Socialist Federation supporters who agree to the Socialist Federation Initial Points of Unity (found here).

Seconding Endorsements must be submitted using an email address on the Socialist Federation’s Register of Interest List, sent to memberscharter@gmail.com.

A Seconding Endorsement may not be made by the nominee being seconded for themself.

The first seconder to make themselves known in accordance with this process will be recorded as the seconder for the nominee.

Only seconded nominees will become candidates.

Seconding Endorsements must be accompanied by the full name of the nominee and seconder.

The seconder grants that the Socialist Federation Admin Team may distribute the name of the seconder to the Socialist Federation Register of Interest Mailing List in line with the Socialist Federation Privacy Policy, found here, only in relation to the communication of the candidate list.

Seconding Endorsements may be submitted until midday on Saturday 27 June UK time. Seconding Endorsements submitted after the deadline will be dismissed.

A list of seconded candidates and seconders, including the candidate’s full name, relevant political affiliations and candidate statement, and the primary seconder’s full name will be distributed to the Socialist Federation Register of Interest Mailing List on the evening of Saturday 27 June 2026.

IV. ELECTION

The election for the FCAC will occur during the proceedings of the Socialist Federation Conference held on Sunday 28 June 2026.

The electorate for the FCAC will be those present in the conference who ascribe to the Socialist Federation Interim Points of Unity (found here) at the point of the ballot being digitally issued.

The voting system will be multi-seat approval, by means of a Zoom poll. Practically, this means a poll with one checkbox per candidate will be presented to the conference attendees, who may approve any number of candidates by checking the relevant checkboxes and submitting the poll.

The winning candidates will be those who gain the most approvals. If the last places are tied such that there are more than 5 candidates selected, no tiebreaking will occur, and instead all tied candidates will be elected.

The poll will be open for no less than 2 minutes before the chair will reveal the results.

I. COMPOSITES

The compositing process is now complete.

The initial platform composites produced are as follows, which are complementary:

“Platform - Composite - Interim Platform for a Socialist Federation - RG, RoC”

Joseph “Raz” O’Connor Meldau, Richard G

“Platform - Complementary - Building Solidarity and Trust Within and Without the Left - TL”

Tom Lennard

The structural composite produced is:

“Structure - Composite v4.2 - Structure of a Socialist Federation - JK, RoC”

James Kulmer, Joseph “Raz” O’Connor Meldau

“Structure - Counterposed - Motion B4”

Note: This content has been removed at the request of the proposer.

II. AMENDMENTS

Amendments may be submitted to any of the above composites, only by Socialist Federation supporters who agree to the Socialist Federation Initial Points of Unity (found here).

Each such eligible person may submit up to 2 amendments per composite.

Amendments submitted by the authors of carried proposals from the 31 May Conference (full list here) which materially carry the substance of their original proposal reformulated as an amendment have no word limit.

Otherwise, amendments submitted should be limited to 250 words.

Amendments should unambiguously state the text to be altered, using a clear format indicating insertions, replacements or deletions.

Amendments may be submitted until midnight on Monday 22 June UK time.

Amendments submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Amendments must be submitted using an email address on the Socialist Federation’s Register of Interest List, sent to memberscharter@gmail.com.

Amendments must be accompanied by the full name of the proposer, and any relevant political affiliations.

The proposer grants that the Socialist Federation Admin Team may distribute the name and submitted affiliations of the proposer to the Socialist Federation Register of Interest Mailing List in line with the Socialist Federation Privacy Policy, found here, only in relation to the communication of the amendments.

A list of amendments, including the submitted text, the proposer(s) full names and their submitted political affiliations will be distributed to the Socialist Federation Register of Interest Mailing List on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

I. Purpose and Duration

This body exists solely to organise and deliver the Conference(/s) it has a mandate to facilitate.

Its mandate expires automatically at the formal close of the conference(/s).

No authority, assets, or representation extend beyond this point unless explicitly reconstituted by a successor assembly.

II. Principles

Co-equality: All volunteers hold equal formal status; no permanent offices exist.

Mandated authority: Any delegated role is specific, recallable, and time-limited.

Transparency: Decisions, finances, and communications are open to all volunteers .

Political clarity: The body exists to advance the conference politically, not merely administratively.

III. Membership

Membership consists of those who:

Commit materially to organising work; and

Are ratified by a simple majority of existing volunteers.

Membership can be revoked by a majority where conduct undermines the body’s purpose or integrity.

A list of volunteers shall be maintained.

IV. Decision-Making

The default decision rule is simple majority of those present and voting.

Consensus-seeking is encouraged but not required.

Urgent operational decisions may be taken by delegated volunteers, subject to retrospective approval.

In the case of a significant minority opposed (⅓), the minority opinion should be recorded alongside the majority decision.

V. Delegated Roles

Roles (e.g. logistics, finance, communications, political coordination) may be established by consensus or majority vote as needed.

All roles must:

Have a clearly defined scope;

Be time-limited; and

Be subject to immediate recall by majority vote.

Role-holders act as mandated coordinators, not leaders.

VI. Accountability

All volunteers are accountable to the collective.

Financial decisions must be recorded and periodically reported.

External political or media representation must reflect agreed positions or be explicitly mandated.

VII. Conduct

Volunteers are expected to act in good faith, prioritising collective success over factional advantage.

Abusive, obstructive, or bad-faith behaviour may trigger recall or removal procedures.

Political disagreement is legitimate; sabotage is not.

VIII. Dissolution

This body dissolves automatically at the conclusion of the conference(/s).

A closing report (political and financial) shall be produced within 14 days.

No residual authority is retained.

Purpose

The onboarded volunteer team exists to organise the conferences of the 28th of June and 12th of September.

The onboarded volunteer team, as the wider group with the power of recall, shall have the final say on any matter.

However, the admin team may carry out the administrative and operational work necessary to keep the Federation running between meetings, on the understanding that any such action remains answerable to, and reversible by, the volunteer team meeting that follows.

Any request to challenge such a decision made in appropriate time via the scratchpad as defined in these standing orders must be included in the next volunteer team meeting agenda.

All members have equal voice, vote, and access to information; the admin team should facilitate this.

Membership

Open to anyone who has been onboarded, and thus agrees to the volunteer principles, the Socialist Federation’s current Points of Unity, and agrees also to abide by these standing orders.

Supporters may join the volunteer team once they have been onboarded at a meeting with two admin team members, who then recommend their onboarding to the next volunteer team meeting.

Supporters must treat one another with respect and uphold democratic principles.

Suspension or removal requires a fair, transparent process agreed by the volunteer team.

Meetings

Volunteer team meetings are open to all members of the volunteer team and the admin team.

Agenda, date, time, and venue must be circulated in good time.

Meetings start and end at the agreed times unless the meeting decides otherwise.

Meetings will take place on a Thursday evening at 6:30pm and will normally run for no more than 1 hour.

The running time of a meeting can be extended by either simple consent of the meeting, or a vote in favour by a simple majority of those present. Any meeting lasting longer than 1 hour 30 minutes should ideally include a 10 minute break for each hour.

Ad-hoc meetings can be called with the agreement of a simple majority of the team. Ad-hoc meetings will follow these standing orders.

The quorum for a meeting will be a simple majority of the active team.

Chairing

If there is no chair, a chair should be elected at the start of the meeting. A chair can be agreed on an ongoing basis by consent or simple majority of a quorate meeting of the team.

The chair can be removed by a vote of a simple majority of a quorate meeting of the team.

The chair facilitates discussion, ensures fairness, and protects everyone’s right to speak.

The chair’s role is procedural, not political.

Agenda

Any member may propose items which can be added to the volunteer team agenda scratchpad. They should aim to have the item on the scratchpad no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

The chair will collate and prioritise an agenda that is practical for the time allotted.

If the chair decides that an item will not be taken at the next meeting, it will be taken at the following meeting without further delay.

All items submitted should include a short summary and any relevant information.

Agendas will include any relevant update from convenors and/or working groups as a standard item.

Debate

Participants speak through the chair.

The chair will keep a list of those wishing to speak and prioritise those who have not spoken.

Contributions must be concise and relevant.

Personal attacks, interruptions, and side conversations are not permitted.

Decision-Making

Decisions are made by consent, or if there is dissent, by simple majority.

Voting is via a show of hands.

Results - for, against, and abstentions - must be clearly stated and recorded.

Decisions that are urgent and cannot wait until the next meeting can be decided via a WhatsApp poll, with the poll convenor consulting the chair.

Motions & Amendments

Any member may propose a motion relating to the business of the meeting.

Amendments must be relevant and taken in a clear order, decided by the meeting.

Motions and amendments must be seconded to be moved.

Amendments are voted on first, then the original motion.

Officers & Working Groups

Convenors or working groups may be elected to carry out tasks.

They are accountable to the volunteer team and must report back regularly.

No individual may make decisions on behalf of the team without a mandate.

Conduct

Members must uphold transparency, fairness, and respect.

Bullying, harassment, or attempts to dominate decision-making are not permitted.

Concerns about conduct must follow a fair, agreed process.

Minutes

Minutes record decisions, defeated motions, actions, and responsible persons.

Minutes are approved at the next meeting.

Financial records must be transparent and open to inspection by any onboarded volunteer, and, with reasonable caveats, any supporter of the Socialist Federation.

Every meeting must have its transcript stored in an appropriate, secure Socialist Federation digital medium as soon as possible after the meeting.

Amendments to Standing Orders

Amendments require notice and a vote of the volunteer team.

Changes take effect immediately unless decided otherwise.

Purpose

The admin team is the working group of the Socialist Federation volunteer team responsible for administration — keeping records, accounts, communications, scheduling, and the day-to-day running that the volunteer team’s work depends on.

The admin team is part of the volunteer team, and as such admin team members are expected to participate in volunteer team meetings.

The volunteer team, as the wider body with the power of recall, has the final say on any matter. The admin team serves the volunteer team’s decisions; it does not make decisions on the team’s behalf.

Between volunteer team meetings the admin team may act only as far as administrative and operational continuity requires, and any such action remains answerable to, and reversible by, the next volunteer team meeting. Matters reserved to the volunteer team are listed at 7e.

All members have equal voice, vote, and access to information; the admin team should facilitate this.

Membership

The admin team is drawn from onboarded volunteers, who thereby agree to the volunteer principles, the Socialist Federation’s current Points of Unity, and to abide by these standing orders.

Volunteers are placed on, and may be removed from, the admin team by the volunteer team.

Members must treat one another with respect and uphold democratic principles.

Suspension or removal of an admin team member requires a fair, transparent process agreed by the volunteer team.

Meetings

Admin team meetings are open to all members of the admin team, and to any other onboarded volunteer who wishes to observe.

Agenda, date, time, and venue must be circulated in good time.

Meetings start and end at the agreed times unless the meeting decides otherwise.

Admin team meetings are scheduled so as not to clash with or displace the volunteer team meeting. They will normally run for no more than 1 hour 30 minutes.

The running time of a meeting may be extended by simple consent of the meeting, or by a vote in favour of a simple majority of those present, to a maximum of 2 hours in total.

Ad-hoc meetings can be called with the agreement of a simple majority of the team. Ad-hoc meetings follow these standing orders.

The quorum for a meeting will be a simple majority of the admin team.

Chairing

If there is no chair, a chair should be elected at the start of the meeting. A chair may be agreed on an ongoing basis by consent or simple majority of a quorate meeting of the team.

The chair can be removed by a vote of a simple majority of a quorate meeting of the team.

The chair facilitates discussion, ensures fairness, and protects everyone’s right to speak.

The chair’s role is procedural, not political.

Agenda

Any member may propose items for the admin agenda scratchpad. They should aim to have the item on the scratchpad no later than 17:00 on the preceding Monday.

The chair will collate and prioritise an agenda that is practical for the time allotted.

If the chair decides an item will not be taken at the next meeting, it will be taken at the following meeting without further delay.

All items submitted should include a short summary and any relevant information.

Any matter reserved to the volunteer team (7e) is referred up to the volunteer team agenda; it is not decided in admin.

Debate

Participants speak through the chair.

The chair will keep a list of those wishing to speak and prioritise those who have not spoken.

Contributions must be concise and relevant.

Personal attacks, interruptions, and side conversations are not permitted.

Decision-making

Decisions are made by consent, or, if there is dissent, by simple majority.

Voting is via a show of hands.

Results — for, against, and abstentions — must be clearly stated and recorded.

Admin team decisions bind only the admin team’s own administrative work. Anything affecting the volunteer team, other working groups, or the Federation as a whole is brought to the volunteer team as a recommendation, not decided in admin.

The following are reserved to the volunteer team and may not be decided by the admin team, including between meetings: admin team cannot amend these or volunteer standing orders, points of unity, onboarding process, covenant, roadmap, etc - i.e. no modification of binding documents.

A decision that is genuinely urgent and purely administrative, and cannot wait until the next meeting, may be taken by a WhatsApp poll, with the poll convenor consulting the chair; it is reported to, and remains reversible by, the next volunteer team meeting.

Motions and amendments

Any member may propose a motion relating to the business of the meeting.

Amendments must be relevant and taken in a clear order, decided by the meeting.

Motions and amendments must be seconded to be moved.

Amendments are voted on first, then the original motion.

Officers and working groups

Convenors may be agreed to carry out particular administrative tasks.

They are accountable to the volunteer team and must report back regularly.

The admin team does not stand above other convenors or working groups; it works alongside them as the group responsible for administration.

No individual may make decisions on behalf of the team without a mandate.

Conduct

Members must uphold transparency, fairness, and respect.

Bullying, harassment, or attempts to dominate decision-making are not permitted.

Concerns about conduct must follow a fair, agreed process.

Minutes and reporting

Minutes record decisions, defeated motions, actions, and responsible persons.

Minutes are approved at the next admin team meeting.

The admin team reports its decisions and actions to the volunteer team, which may review or reverse them.

Financial records must be transparent and open to inspection by any onboarded volunteer, and, with reasonable caveats, any supporter of the Socialist Federation.

Every meeting must have its transcript stored in an appropriate, secure Socialist Federation digital medium as soon as possible after the meeting.

Amendments to these standing orders

These standing orders may be amended by the volunteer team, on notice and by a vote.

The admin team may propose amendments to its own standing orders, but adopts them only with the agreement of the volunteer team.

Changes take effect immediately unless decided otherwise.

END