BCTCS Constitution
Constitution of
The British Colloquium for
Theoretical Computer Science
1. Name: British Colloquium for Theoretical Computer Science.
2. Aims:
The British Colloquium for Theoretical Computer Science (BCTCS) held its first
meeting in 1985 at the University of Leeds. Further Colloquia have been
organised in each subsequent year. The principal aims of the BCTCS are:
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To offer a regular forum in which U.K. based researchers in all aspects of
Theoretical Computer Science can meet, present research findings, and discuss
work in these fields.
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To foster an environment within which postgraduate students, undertaking research
in the general area of Theoretical Computer Science, may gain the experience of
presenting their work in a formal arena and, additionally, benefit from contact
with established researchers in the community.
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To provide a platform by which the interests and future well-being of British
Theoretical Computer Science may be advanced.
3. The Colloquium: In pursuit of the aims described above, an annual
Colloquium will be held.
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The host site for the Colloquium will be decided upon at least 2 years in advance
of its being staged. Representatives from any University or equivalent institution in the British Isles
may offer to host a future Colloquium. Decisions concerning the venue of a subsequent Colloquium
will, normally, be made at an Open General Meeting.
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The Programme for the Colloquium will consist of submitted talks and a small number of
invited presentations, the latter being given by distinguished figures from the
major fields of interest to Theoretical Computer Science.
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The members of the BCTCS are all those who are registered to attend the current Colloquium. Membership
remains valid until the start of the following Colloquium.
4. The Organising Committee of the BCTCS
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The Organising Committee of the BCTCS consists of the following members:
The President, Secretary and Treasurer of the BCTCS.
The Local Organisers for: the most recent, current,
and next Colloquia.
A postgraduate research student representative.
2 additional posts.
a) No individual may simultaneously hold two (or more) offices from President, Secretary, or Treasurer.
b) The postgraduate research student representative will be elected annually. All
other committee members will serve for a 3 year period.
c) The Organising Committee may request that up to 2 additional representatives be co-opted
to act on the committee.
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The Organising Committee is responsible for
providing support to the Local Organisers of the next Colloquium: proposing individuals who
could be contacted as potential invited speakers; forwarding relevant information concerning
previous colloquia, etc.
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With the exception of the Local Organiser posts, all Organising Committee members will be
chosen by a ballot of those attending the Open General Meeting.
The election of President, Secretary, and additional posts will be overseen by the
current Treasurer (whose 3 year term will be due for re-election in the following year).
The elections of Treasurer and Postgraduate research student representative
will be overseen by the current President.
The newly elected officers shall take office upon the closure of the Open Meeting.
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In overseeing the election of Organising Committee members the person responsible will solicit
proposers and seconders for individual posts and, in the event of more than one
nomination being received for a specific
post, record the number of votes in favour of each nominee. The nominee receiving the greatest
number of votes will be deemed to have been elected to the post in question.
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Except with the prior written approval of the Charity Commissioners no member
of the Organising Committee may:
a) receive any benefit in money or in kind from the BCTCS; or
b) have a financial interest in the supply of goods or services to the BCTCS; or
c) acquire or hold any interest or property of the BCTCS (except in order to hold it
as a member of the Organising Committee).
5. The Open General Meeting
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The Programme of events at any Colloquium will specify a suitable time and location in which
an Open General Meeting will take place. This meeting will be open to all current members of the BCTCS.
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The Open General Meeting will be quorate if there are present:
At least 2 of the current President, Secretary and Treasurer. and
At least 1 of the Local Organisers. and
A minimum of 10 other people attending the Colloquium.
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The Secretary of the Organising Committee will prepare Minutes from the previous
Open General Meeting and a formal agenda, among the items of which will be:
the annual report from the President of the BCTCS Organising Committee;
a report from the Treasurer concerning the status of BCTCS accounts;
the election of representatives on the Organising Committee when such positions are due for re-election;
the choice of host for the Colloquium two years from the date of the Open General Meeting; and such
other matters as may be raised for discussion. The President of the BCTCS Organising Committee
will chair the meeting.
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Amendments to the Constitution may be put forward for discussion at the Open General Meeting,
provided that the Secretary of the BCTCS Organising Committee has been notified of these
in advance of the Meeting agenda being prepared.
In order for any amendment to be adopted at least 2/3 of those present at the meeting
must vote in favour of it.
6. Responsibilities of President, Secretary and Treasurer
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The principal responsibilities of the President of the BCTCS are:
a) To chair the annual Open General Meeting of the Colloquium.
b) To liaise with the Local Organiser(s) concerning:
suggestions for invited speakers,
support for postgraduate students,
publicising the Colloquium and its activities.
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The principal responsibilities of the Secretary of the BCTCS are:
a) To record and circulate the minutes of the Open General Meeting.
b) To prepare the agenda for discussion at the Open General Meeting.
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The principal responsibilities of the Treasurer of the BCTCS are:
a) To oversee the running of the BCTCS account.
b) To present an annual statement of the BCTCS accounts
at the Open General Meeting of each Colloquium.
c) To liaise with the Local Organiser(s) of the current
Colloquium concerning the transfer of any surplus monies
arising from this, to the BCTCS Bank Account.
7. The BCTCS Bank Account
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A Bank Account in the name of the British Colloquium for Theoretical
Computer Science will be maintained to hold such monies as may arise from
surpluses after the expenses of individual Colloquia have been settled.
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The principal uses to which the funds held in The Account may be put
are:
a) To assist in covering the expenses of distinguished
invited speakers attending the Colloquium, in such
circumstances where the full cost of such exceeds
the funds available to the Local Organiser(s).
b) To assist in reducing the costs of postgraduate students
attending the Colloquium for such students who do not
qualify for specific funding schemes, e.g. non-U.K.
students who are ineligible to have their costs met through
Research Council funding programmes.
c) Such other purposes as may be deemed appropriate by a
majority of those attending the annual Open General Meeting.
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The Account may only be debited with the approval of at least two of the current
President, Secretary, and Treasurer. To this end The Account will be such
that at least two signatories are required for any withdrawal of funds.
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It is the Treasurer's responsibility to ensure that the bank holding The Account
is informed when there is a change of President or Secretary, or when a new Treasurer
has been elected.
8. Dissolution of the BCTCS
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If the Organising Committee decide that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the
BCTCS, they shall propose a resolution to this effect to be raised at the Open General
Meeting of the BCTCS. Such a resolution may not be considered for inclusion in the Agenda
unless at least 21 days' notice have been given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds
majority of those present and voting, the Organising Committee shall have the power
to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the BCTCS. Any remaining assets
after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or
transferred to such other charitable bodies or institutions having objects similar to those
of the BCTCS as may be approved by the members of the BCTCS.