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What do our Standing Orders contain?

This section sets out the history of the RCN, our status as a trade union and the establishment of the RCN Foundation. 

This section lists definitions of terms that can be found in the Standing Orders.

This section lists 20 Cavendish Square as our headquarters. 

This section empowers Council to authorise members to act to further an industrial dispute. It also empowers Council to make regulations that govern the procedure to be followed.

This section stats that the RCN will continue to be a member of the International Council of Nurses, unless members decide otherwise at a general meeting. 

This section sets out who can become a member. This section also sets out Council’s powers to:

• remove members if they miss payment for their subscriptions
• discipline members who have not met the standards of behaviour and conduct we expect of them
• define activists and representatives

This section states that every member must  pay an annual subscription. Rates are determined by the RCN during a general meeting on Council’s recommendation.

This section sets out the composition of our Council. Council is made up of 17 members including the President, Deputy President, 14 elected regional/country members and the Chair of Congress.

The President, Deputy President and Chair of Congress are members of Council by virtue of these roles (known as ex-officio members). The Chair of Congress is a non-voting member.

This section also states that the terms of office for elected members is 4 years and that none of our staff may be elected to the Council until 2 years after they have left their employment with us. 

This section sets out the requirement to have a Student member and a Nursing Support Worker member of Council. It also sets out the arrangements for their elections and their terms of office.

This section states that Council members occupying country or regional seats must step down from that seat if they no longer have a work or home address in that country or region.

This section sets out the principles for filling Council seats that have become vacant in between election times.

This section sets out in detail the eligibility criteria and terms of office for the President and Deputy President.  Terms are 2 years with the possibility of a further 2-year term after serving a first term. This section also provides that Council may elect a President or Deputy President in the event of a death or resignation.

Sets out the process to follow when convening a General Meeting.  Members may call a General Meeting if 5% of the membership sign a petition to do so. Council also has the ability to call a General Meeting.

States that the purpose of the AGM is:

• to receive the annual report of Council
• to receive the RCN accounts and auditor reports
• to discuss professional matters

It also states that a copy of the reports must be available to members on request and that a summary of the annual report of Council is published at the same time as notice of the AGM is made available to members. 

This section states that the minimum number of members required for a general meeting is 150 members. These members can attend either in person or by proxy, meaning that another member can attend on a member’s behalf. If this number isn’t reached, no business can be conducted. If this number isn’t reached within the first half an hour of a general meeting, the meeting must be postponed. 

This section states that normally, the President will chair a general meeting.  In their absence, the Deputy President will chair. If neither are present, the members present in person at the meeting will choose another member to chair. The chair has the power to postpone the meeting, as long as the members present agree.

This section sets out the arrangements for voting in a general meeting. For example, by a show of hands or by a poll demanded by the chair or at least 10 members present in person at the meeting. It also sets out the arrangements for proxy voting, whereby a member votes in place of another member that is absent.

If Council thinks that an issue raised at a general meeting is so important to members that a vote is needed, Council may ask the chair of the general meeting to demand a poll, so that proxy votes can be counted. We must give members 21 clear days’ notice of the issue they will vote on in the form of a resolution.   

This section states that there must be at least 3 Council meetings per year. Council members must be given at least 3 clear days’ notice of a meeting. Any questions raised at the meeting must be decided by a majority of votes. If the vote is tied, the chair has the casting vote. 

This section states that Council must have a Chair, Vice-Chair and Honorary Treasurer, who are the Officers of the Council.

This section sets out the rules underpinning the election of Council officers, all of whom are elected to 2-year terms. The Chair and Vice-Chair of Council may be elected to one further 2-year term, but may not serve any further terms in that position after that.

If an officer resigns or dies, Council should elect a successor to serve for the remainder of their term.

Noone can hold more than one officer position at the same time. No officer may be elected to the roles of President or Deputy President.  

This section states that normally, the Chair of Council will chair a Council meeting. In their absence, the Vice-Chair will chair. If neither are present, the Council members present in person at the meeting will choose another Council member to chair.

This section states that Council must establish national boards in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, plus 9 regional boards in England.  Council delegates management responsibilities to those Boards as it wishes. Council also approves the constitution of each of them. Each year, country and regional boards elect their chair from among their members. 

This section states that Council must make rules for the election of a Chair of Congress. 

This section states that Council is responsible for keeping accurate accounts of all money received and spent by the College, as well as  assets, credits and liabilities. It must also present a balance sheet summarising these, accompanied by the Auditors’ Report, at the annual general meeting.   

This section sets out the rules around providing documents or information to members via hard copy, electronic form or the website.

This section states that the General Secretary and Chief Executive (or approved senior staff member) can sign contracts on behalf of Council for the management and transaction of our business.

This section sets out the arrangements for execution of deeds.

This section states that the Chief Executive and General Secretary is responsible for implementing decisions and policies of the Council and that they must be a nurse holding a statutory qualification. 

Any amendments to the Standing Orders must be approved by a special resolution of the members at a general meeting (which may, or may not be, the annual general meeting).  Notice of the resolution must be provided to the members in writing at least 14 days before the meeting where it will be considered (or in the case of the AGM, 21 clear days).

To pass, a special resolution needs a majority of two thirds of those who are qualified to vote and who vote either in person or by proxy at the meeting where the amendments are proposed.

An example 

Members passed a special resolution to make an amendment to the Standing Orders to increase the threshold for calling an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to 5% of the membership at the RCN Annual General Meeting 2023.