Proposed Bye-Laws of the Society, as approved at AGM, 18 June 2019
Bye-Laws, as ratified by the Lords of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council on 13 August 2019
- Election and Admission of Fellows
1. Any individual, and appropriate institutions including museums, universities, colleges, libraries, and other bodies, whether corporate or not, with similar objectives or which share the objectives of the Society, may apply to become Fellows of the Society.
2. The Council of the Royal Numismatic Society may from time to time set separate subscription rates for fellows who are either under the age of 30 or in full-time education.
3. Every person wishing to become a Fellow shall complete an application form which will be obtainable from the Society’s website or on request from the Society.
4. The application form when duly completed shall be delivered to the Society and the name of the applicant shall be circulated to Council, who will need to approve the application.
5. If no objection is raised by Council that person shall be deemed to have been elected a Fellow on payment of his or her subscription. The names of new Fellows shall be read out at the subsequent Ordinary Meeting.
6. When a person shall have been elected a Fellow he or she shall be informed and sent details of Meetings in the then current session. Fellows are expected to be familiar with the provisions of the Charter and Bye-Laws and Regulations of the Society which shall be available on the Society’s website or of which a copy shall be made available to any Fellow on request being made to one of the Secretaries.
7. The annual contribution to be paid by Fellows shall be of such an amount as the Society on the recommendation of the Council shall at a General Meeting from time to time determine, and shall be paid in advance in the year of election, and be due on each successive first of January.
8. The subscription is payable on 1 January of each year for membership during the year. The Society’s journal, The Numismatic Chronicle, shall not be sent to any Fellow who has not paid their subscription for that year.
II. Withdrawal and removal of Fellows
9. Any Fellow may withdraw from the Society by signifying their wish to do so by letter addressed to one of the Secretaries of the Society, provided always that such Fellow shall be liable for the contribution for the year wherein they so signify.
10. In case the conduct of any Fellow shall, in the reasonable opinion of the Council, be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Council shall either at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of taking the conduct of such Fellow into consideration, submit a motion that such Fellow be removed from the Society. Not less than fourteen days’ notice of the intention to submit such a motion shall be given to every Fellow resident in the United Kingdom whose address is known.
11. The question of the removal of such Fellows shall be decided by ballot, and if a majority of three-fourths of the Fellows balloting shall vote that such Fellow be expelled, such Fellow shall thereupon be removed from the Society, and the Chair shall so declare.
12. In the event of a Fellow being two years or more in arrear in the payment of their annual contributions the Council may, after due notice shall have been given to such Fellow, and, if the arrears are not paid in full within two months of the giving of such notice, remove such Fellow from the Society.
III. Honorary Fellows and honorary Vice-Presidents
13. Any individual, whether or not a Fellow of the Society eminent in Numismatics or in another field and having made a significant contribution to Numismatics or to the Society may be proposed as an Honorary Fellow by completion and signature by three or more individual Fellows of a proposal in such form as the Council shall from time to time prescribe.
14. The mode of proposing and voting for an Honorary Fellow shall be the same as that prescribed in the case of an ordinary Fellow; but no person shall be eligible for election as an Honorary Fellow unless the Council shall have previously approved of him or her as a candidate.
15. When a person shall have been elected an Honorary Fellow, the Secretary shall inform him or her thereof, and forward to such Honorary Fellow a certificate drawn up in a form prescribed by the Council.
16. Honorary Fellows shall not pay annual contributions; they shall not hold Office in the Society, although if prior to their election as Honorary Fellows they were duly elected Fellows of the Society they shall remain entitled to vote in General Meetings of the Society and they may serve and vote on the Council as non-office holding members thereof and shall otherwise enjoy all the privileges of a Fellow. Honorary Fellows who prior to their election as Honorary Fellows were not duly elected Fellows of the Society shall not be entitled to vote in General Meetings of the Society nor to serve on the Council but shall otherwise enjoy all the privileges of a Fellow.
17. The Society may elect not more than two individuals who are considered to have made an outstanding contribution to Numismatics to be Honorary Vice-Presidents of the Society, the procedure for proposal and election being as for Honorary Fellows and Bye-Law 16 shall apply.
IV. Meetings of The Society
18. The programme of Ordinary Meetings of the Society shall be determined by the Council and appropriate notice shall be given to Fellows. Special General meetings shall be held as hereinafter provided.
19. Those entitled to vote at Ordinary Meetings of the Society and the Annual General Meeting, and also at any Special General Meeting shall comprise Individual Fellows who are in good standing with the Society.
V. Ordinary Meetings of the Society
20. The order of business at the Ordinary Meetings shall be such as may from time to time be determined by a Regulation of the Council. Ten persons present and having the right to vote shall form a quorum.
21. Visitors may be introduced at Ordinary Meetings subject to such regulations as may from time to time be made by the Council.
VI. The Annual General Meeting
22. An Annual General Meeting shall be held, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Charter, on such day as the Council may appoint: this will normally be in June. Twenty persons present and having the right to vote shall form a quorum.
23. Fellows will be asked to propose candidates for Council not less than six weeks before the Annual General Meeting. Nominations for Council should be received in writing, duly proposed and seconded by two Fellows of the Society, and confirming the willingness of the nominee to stand for election. Such nominations must reach the Secretary not less than four weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
24. Not less than twenty-one days Notice of the date time and place of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to every Fellow resident in the United Kingdom at the last address of each Fellow communicated to the Society , together with a list of candidates for Council, including the Council’s recommendations for members of Council at the next Session. Candidates living abroad will be notified by email where possible. In the event of more than one candidate for a position on Council, statements from each candidate will be included with the notice of the AGM. Election of candidates at the AGM shall be by secret ballot. Votes from Fellows unable to attend the AGM should be received by one of the scrutineers the day before the AGM.
25. The principal objects of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
- To receive from the Council the Report of the proceedings of the Society during the previous Session, including the Report of the Treasurer and the accounts for the previous calendar year and if the Meeting thinks fit to approve the same.
- To determine such questions as may be raised relating to the affairs of the Society.
- To elect the Officers and Council for the ensuing year.
- To make, repeal, or amend the Bye-Laws of the Society in accordance with any notice previously given at least twenty one days in advance.
26. The election of the Council shall be by ballot of those present at the Meeting.
27. The President or Chair (if the President is unable to attend the AGM) shall appoint two or more Scrutineers from among the Fellows present to superintend the ballot during its progress, and to report the result to the Meeting.
VII. Special General Meetings
28. Special General Meetings of the Society may be held from time to time, as occasion may arise, for the purpose of taking into consideration some special matter or matters relating to the Society, or for the making, repealing, or altering of the Bye-Laws of the Society, subject to the allowance of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. Twenty Fellows present and entitled to vote shall form a quorum.
29. Notice of not less than twenty-one days of the date time and place of the Meeting, setting out the Resolution to be proposed at the Meeting, shall be given to every Fellow resident in the United Kingdom in each case at the last address of each Fellow communicated to the Society .
30. No business save that specified in such notice shall be entered upon or discussed at such Meeting. A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the direction of the Council, either at its own initiation or on a request in writing being made and signed by seven or more Fellows entitled to vote.
VIII. The Council
31. The Council shall consist of at least fifteen Members, that is to say, the President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, up to four Secretaries, who shall be primarily responsible for the day to day administration of the Society and its Library, among other things, and at least ten ordinary Members.
32. Council may also co-opt additional members of Council, if needed.
33. Not more than eight out of the ten ordinary Members of the Council shall be eligible to serve in the same capacity for the ensuing year.
34. Members of Council elected at an Annual General Meeting shall take office on the first day of October following, that is to say, at the start of the next Session, and retiring Members of Council shall continue in office until the start of the next Session.
35. The President and the Vice-Presidents shall retire after having served for five Sessions and may retire earlier; all other Officers shall retire after having served for three Sessions, but in any such case such persons shall if willing to continue and if requested to do so by the Council be eligible for re-election.
36. The Council shall meet at least three times during a Session and normally five times; meetings of Council shall normally be held on the same day as, and immediately prior to, the Ordinary Meeting for that month and the Annual General Meeting, and on such other days, whether or not during a Session, as the President shall after consultation with the other Officers of the Society consider necessary; and due notice of each Meeting shall be sent, by one of the Secretaries, to every Member thereof, five of whom shall form a quorum.
37. The Council shall draw up a Report of the proceedings of the Society, to be presented at the Annual General Meeting, together with a statement of the receipts and expenditure and of the financial position of the Society drawn up by the Treasurer.
38. The Council may from time to time make such regulations and issue such orders, not inconsistent with the Charter and Bye-Laws, as shall appear to them conducive to the good government of the Society and to the proper management of its concerns, and all such regulations and orders shall be binding on the Fellows and Honorary Fellows and on the Officers and Servants of the Society.
39. The publications of the Society shall be under the charge of the Council, and they may appoint such persons and organisations as Editor or Editors, Printers, and Publishers, and rescind or vary such appointments as they may from time to time see fit.
40. The Council shall have power (1) to enter into agreements and contracts for the purpose of providing suitable locations for the meetings of the Society, for the care of the property of the Society, and for the publications of the Society, and generally for the purpose of carrying on the affairs of the Society; (2) to alter, vary, enforce, or rescind any such contract; (3) to purchase any necessary furniture or equipment, or books for the Society’s library, and to sell or exchange such furniture equipment or books as may not be required.
41. In the case of the resignation or death of any Officer or Member of the Council, the Council shall have the power to fill up such vacancy for the remainder of the current Session.
42. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Council shall be taken by one of the Secretaries, and shall be afterwards stored on a digital platform accessible to Council, and having been read at the next Meeting of the Council, shall be signed by the President or other Chair of the Meeting.
IX. The President
43. The President shall, in virtue of his or her office, be the Chair of the Council and of all Meetings of the Fellows and a Member of all Committees appointed by the Council. It shall be the duty of the President to summon Meetings of the Council in accordance with Bye-Law 36.
44. In the case of a vote being taken by ballot or otherwise, and the numbers being equal, the President or other person chairing the Meeting in question shall have a casting vote in addition to his or her own vote.
45. It shall be the duty of the President when prevented from being present at any Meeting of the Society or Council to give timely notice to a Vice-President in order that his or her place may be properly filled. Failing the availability of a Vice-President Bye-Law 46 shall apply.
X. The Vice-Presidents
46. It shall be the duty of the Vice-Presidents to fill the place of the President when he or she shall be absent from the Meetings of the Fellows or of the Council. In the absence of a Vice-President the Meeting may elect a Chair.
XI. The Treasurer
47. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer:
- To supervise the collection of all money due to the Society, to see that every sum so soon as received is paid to the Society’s Bankers.
- To supervise the keeping of the Society’s accounts in the manner directed by the Council and to submit them to an independent examiner as the Society may from time to time appoint.
- To prepare a report showing the financial position of the Society for presentation at the Annual General Meeting. Such report shall state the receipts and disbursements, and the balance in hand.
48. It shall also be the duty of the Officers to report to the Council from time to time the names of any Fellows in arrear with their annual contribution.
XII. The Secretaries
49. One of the Secretaries shall attend the Meetings of the Society and Council, to take minutes of their proceedings and cause them to be entered as early as possible into the records of the Society, and at the beginning of each Meeting to read the minutes of the previous Meeting.
50. At the Ordinary Meetings one of the Secretaries shall read the applications of candidates for Fellowship of the Society and shall read such letters and communications and report on such matters as the Council may direct. At Special General Meetings one of the Secretaries shall read the notice convening the Meeting, and at the Annual General Meeting the report of the Council. The Officers shall, subject to the control of the Council, undertake the general supervision of the affairs of the Society, exercise control over any paid Officers and persons employed by the Society or self-employed persons doing work for the Society, and conduct the correspondence of the Society.
51. The library shall be under the special care of one of the Secretaries, who shall be termed the Librarian.
XIII. The Common Seal Charter, Deeds, and Property
52. The Common Seal of the Society shall be a representation of the Symbol of Metals and Mintage, surrounded by the words, Sigillum Societatis Regiae Numismaticae.
53. The Charter and the Common Seal of the Society and any Deeds and securities shall be kept in a secure place.
54. Every deed to which the Common Seal is to be affixed shall be sealed in the presence of and signed by two Members of Council authority for execution thereof having been given by the Council and recorded in the minutes of the Council.
55. The property of the Society is vested in the Fellows, but no Fellow is entitled to any distinct or separate share in the estate, revenue, or effects of the Society, and the Society shall not and may not make any dividend, gift, division, or bonus in money unto or between any of its Fellows.
XIV. The Library etc.
56. The Library and records and any other property of the Society shall be under the control and care of such officers and other persons as the Council may from time to time appoint.
57. Council shall have the power to sell or transfer the Library.
XV. The Publications
58. The publications of the Society shall be published at such time or times and in such form as the Council shall think fit, and shall be in charge of such person or persons as the Council from time to time may appoint as Editor or Editors.
59. Every paper and article accepted for publication in a journal of the Society shall, in consequence of such acceptance, be considered as the property of the Society, unless there shall have been any previous commitment with its Author to the contrary; and the Editor or Editors may, subject to the control of the Council, publish the same in any way and at any time that they may think proper, and shall take steps to ensure that the copyright in such papers and articles is vested in the Society.
XVI. The Medal
60. A Medal of the Society may be awarded not more often than once in each year, but not necessarily so often, to some individual highly distinguished for services to Numismatics.
61. The award shall be made by the President and Council of the Society, who shall at one of their Meetings discuss the merits of candidates proposed as recipients of the Medal, and at some subsequent Meeting shall award it by ballot.
62. Due notice shall be given to each Member of the Council of the days when the discussion and ballot are to take place.
63. No Medal shall be awarded unless the candidate obtain the votes of at least two-thirds of those present at the Meeting.
64. Members of the Council for the time being shall not be disqualified as candidates for the Medal, but must withdraw from Council Meetings for so long as the award of the Medal is being discussed or balloted for and in their case the vote must be unanimous.
65. The Medal shall be presented at a Meeting of the Society.
XVII. Communications and the Society’s Website
66. The Society shall maintain on the Internet a website and may also post information about the Society’s activities on the social media. This shall be under the control of the Secretaries. Council may decide that certain information on the website shall be available only to Fellows and Honorary Fellows of the Society and be accessible by means of passwords.
XVIII. Alteration of the Bye-Laws
67. The making, repeal, or amendment of Bye-Laws may be considered and determined at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, or at a Special General Meeting summoned for the purpose, such amended or altered Bye-Laws to be subject to the allowance of Her Majesty’s Privy Council.
68. A notice of a motion for the making, repeal, or amendment of any Bye-Law or Bye-Laws must be in writing, signed by the President or Chair on behalf of the Council or by seven or more Fellows, and such Bye-Laws must be consistent with the conditions laid down in Section 8 of the Charter.
XIX Data Protection
69. The Society shall maintain appropriate data protection policies and procedures that comply with current law.