Statement of Values

Reform Jersey is a social democratic political party.

We believe that it is the duty of the state, in partnership with its citizens, to help create a society that works for all, including the poorest and most disadvantaged. We believe in speaking up for the vulnerable, encouraging those with aspiration, and ensuring all can live in a society built on social and economic justice. We wish the Island to prosper in a manner that will improve the wellbeing of all current and future citizens.

We will strive to work towards anything that gets these values featured in the laws of Jersey and the actions of the government, including standing candidates for election to the States Assembly.

Articles

1 Name

1.1 The name of the party shall be ‘Reform Jersey’ (herein referred to as ‘the party’).

2 Registration

2.1 The party shall comply with the requirements set out in the Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008, and any further legislation which may be passed regulating the activities of political parties, in order to play its role in the political and social life of Jersey and further its objectives.

3 Membership

3.1 Membership shall be open to any person who is normally resident in Jersey and 14 years or older, who supports the values of the party as outlined in the ‘Statement of Values’.

3.2 Those who live outside of Jersey may join as “International Members” but may not vote on party motions, unless physically present in Jersey at the time.

3.3 A member cannot be a member of another Jersey political party.

3.4 All persons seeking membership of the party shall complete an application form confirming they sign up to the party’s values and consent to being contacted by the party.

3.5 A membership list will be kept up to date by the Party Executive Committee.

3.6 All information held about members will be strictly confidential and managed according to Data Protection legislation.

3.7 Membership fees will be determined at each party Annual General Meeting (AGM), including concessions.

3.8 Different classes of members may be introduced by the party following a decision at its AGM.

3.9 Any party member may resign their membership by giving written notice to the party Secretary. Their name must then be removed from the membership list within 10 days.

3.10 A party member will have been deemed to have resigned their membership should they undertake to stand in a public election to the States Assembly against an endorsed party candidate.

4 Refusal, revocation or suspension of membership

4.1 The Party Executive Committee will have the power to refuse, revoke or suspend the membership of any person who demonstrates a lack of sympathy for the aims of the party, who behaves in a manner with potential to to bring the party into disrepute or who breaches a code of conduct applicable to party members.

4.2 The Party Executive Committee will produce and maintain a complaints policy to be published on the party website or otherwise made available on request.

4.3 The Party Executive Committee will establish a sub-committee (herein referred to as the ‘complaints sub-committee’) to examine complaints and referrals relating to a member’s behaviour or suitability to be a member of the party.

4.4 The complaints sub-committee will present its findings and recommendations to the Party Executive Committee.

4.5 Where the complaint refers to a member who is part of the complaints sub-committee, that member must recuse themselves from the complaints sub-committee whilst their case is dealt with.

4.6 Where the complaint refers to a member who is an elected States Member, the Party Leader will be invited to participate in the proceedings of the complaints sub-committee as a full member.

4.7 In the event that the complaint refers to the Party Leader, the Deputy Leader will take their place on the sub-committee.

4.8 Where a complaint has also been made to the States Assembly’s Commissioner for Standards, the complaints sub-committee may choose to defer their deliberations until the Commissioner has reported on their findings.

4.9 Before reaching its final conclusions, the complaints sub-committee may make an interim recommendation to the Party Executive Committee to suspend a member whilst they conduct their investigation.

4.10 Whilst a member is suspended, they may not take part in any party proceedings, nor claim to be acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.

4.11 The member will have the right to be heard by the complaints sub-committee to assist in their deliberations.

4.12 A member may be suspended if they fall behind on their membership fees and will have their membership re-instated once this is rectified.

5 Officers

5.1 The party membership shall elect a –

i) Chairperson
ii) Secretary
iii) Treasurer

to fulfil the responsibilities set out in the Political Parties (Registration) (Jersey) Law 2008.

5.2 The Chairperson should not be a member of the States Assembly.

5.3 The party membership will also elect an Equalities Officer and any other office deemed necessary.

5.4 Elections for each office must be held annually at the AGM.

5.5 Candidates for these offices must be nominated by two party members either in writing or in person at an AGM.

5.6 Elections with more than two candidates should be conducted using the Alternative Voting system.

5.7 Upon the resignation of an office holder, the party membership may elect a member to serve out the rest of their term at the next party meeting, subject to clause 5.8.

5.8 If a vacancy arises less than 3 months before the next scheduled AGM, the party may leave the office vacant, and the party chairperson will assume the duties of that office until a replacement is elected.

5.9 An office holder who does not attend three consecutive party meetings without excuse will be deemed to have resigned from their post.

6 Party Leader and Deputy Leader

6.1 The party membership shall elect a Party Leader.

6.2 The Party Leader shall serve as the political figurehead and chief spokesperson of the party.

6.3 The Party Leader must, unless it is not possible, be a member of the States Assembly.

6.4 The Party Leader will be elected by party members as soon as possible after a vacancy for the office arises.

6.5 When an election for Party Leader takes place, the Party Executive Committee must inform party members of the process for taking part in the election, including the date by which nominations must be received in writing by the Chairperson, in order to enable a full and inclusive election process.

6.6 The election for Party Leader may take place at an AGM, Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) or by ballot, as the Party Executive Committee considers appropriate.

6.7 The Party Leader may be removed from office by a vote of no confidence held at an EGM, following a request to the Chairperson for such a meeting being signed either by a majority of members of the Parliamentary Party or 20% of the party membership.

6.8 A Deputy Leader will be proposed by the Parliamentary Party and endorsed by the Party Executive Committee.

6.9 The Deputy Leader will become Acting Leader of the party during the intervening period between the office of Party Leader becoming vacant and a new election being held.

7 Parliamentary Party

7.1 Party members who are elected to the States Assembly will form a Parliamentary Party group.

7.2 Parliamentary Party members will seek to advance the party’s election manifesto commitments and Statement of Values through all avenues available to them as elected members of the States Assembly.

7.3 The chair of the Parliamentary Party will be the Party Leader.

7.4 The Deputy Leader will deputise for the Party Leader in chairing meetings of the Parliamentary Party in the absence of the Party Leader.

7.5 The Parliamentary Party will meet at least once a week to discuss upcoming States business.

7.6 The Parliamentary Party will produce Standing Orders and Codes of Conduct, as necessary, to facilitate their business, which will be shared with the Party Executive Committee for consultation before approval.

7.7 The Party Leader, in consultation with Parliamentary Party members, may appoint members to undertake roles on behalf of the Parliamentary Party, such as spokespeople for political portfolio areas.

7.8 The Party Leader may appoint a member of the Parliamentary Party to serve as Liaison Officer to promote effective communication, unity and wellbeing among members.

7.9 Where a member of the Parliamentary Party has had their membership suspended by the Party Executive Committee (pursuant to Article 4.7) they will also be deemed to be suspended from the Parliamentary Party.

8 Party Executive Committee

8.1 The Party Executive Committee (herein referred to as ‘the committee’) shall be responsible for the governance of the party.

8.2 The committee will be chaired by the party Chairperson or, in their absence, the Deputy Leader.

8.3 The committee shall be made up of the party’s officers, Party Leader, Deputy Leader, Liaison Officer (if applicable), Chairperson of Reform Youth, delegate from Unite the Union, up to 5 non-office holders and any members in the interim co-opted by the majority decision of the committee.

8.4 The non-office holders shall be elected (using the Single Transferable Voting system) at the AGM to serve for one year.

8.5 Members of the Parliamentary Party may attend meetings of the committee upon request. The committee may also request the presence of members of the Parliamentary Party to assist in discussions on relevant agenda items.

8.6 The committee may appoint members to undertake specific administration roles, as deemed necessary (e.g. a membership officer).

8.7 The committee shall meet at least once a month and produce minutes and an agenda.

8.8 The quorum for a meeting to take place shall be half the members plus one.

9 Youth branch

9.1 There shall be a youth branch (known as ‘Reform Youth’), whose membership shall comprise of all Reform Jersey members below the age of 26.

9.2 The aim of the branch will be to promote engagement with Reform Jersey among young people and to provide a voice for young people in our internal procedures and policymaking.

9.3 Reform Youth shall elect its own chairperson from among its members.

9.4 The Party Leader and party Chairperson shall have the right to attend Reform Youth meetings to provide members with assistance.

9.5 The Party Executive Committee shall be responsible for providing safeguarding support to Reform Youth.

10 Sub-Committees/ Branches

10.1 Other sub-committees or branches may be set up by a decision made at a General Meeting.

10.2 Sub-committees may be formed to construct policies in specific areas, to which other party members may be co-opted to on the recommendation of the Party Executive Committee.

11 Public Elections

11.1 All party members have the right to seek official endorsement by the party for elections to the States Assembly.

11.2 The Party Executive Committee must establish a Selection Panel at least six months prior to the nomination date for a General Election to decide which members will be recommended for endorsement as candidates.

11.3 In the case of a by-election, the Party Executive Committee must establish a Selection Panel as soon as is possible after the by-election is announced, if it is decided to seek a candidate to contest the election.

11.4 All party members have the right to make representations to the Selection Panel to ask to be considered as a candidate.

11.5 The Party Executive Committee may choose not to contest an election if it is not in the party’s interest to do so at the time.

11.6 In advance of a General Election, the Party Executive Committee must facilitate opportunities for the party membership to contribute to the policies which will feature in the election manifesto.

11.7 A committee of the endorsed election candidates will be empowered to have the final sign off for the manifesto.

11.8 The party may consider seeking candidates for Parish elections, if it is considered worthwhile to advance the party’s values, with the Party Executive Committee establishing a selection process for that election.

12 Meetings

12.1 An Annual General Meeting shall be held every year in summer.

12.2 The Party Executive Committee will arrange a Special General Meeting in circumstances that necessitate one (e.g. to discuss an alteration to the constitution).

12.3 General Meetings open to all party members will be held as often as there is an appetite for among members.

12.4 Members can propose motions for debate at meetings, by writing to the Chairperson, so long as one week’s notice is given, and the motion is seconded by another member.

12.5 Motions shall be decided by a simple majority of members present, except motions to alter the constitution, which must be approved by a two thirds majority.

12.6 Members unable to attend a meeting may vote by proxy or by submitting their vote to the Chairperson in advance.

12.7 The Party Executive Committee may opt to use an online voting system in order to engage more members, where appropriate.

13 Finances

13.1 The party’s finances shall be managed by the Treasurer.

13.2 The Treasurer will produce annual accounts for registration in accordance with any legislation governing the financing of political parties.

13.3 The accounting period will be from the 1st January to 31st December.

13.4 The party will accept donations from any interested person or group who wishes to contribute to our efforts, except when to do so would bring the party into disrepute.

13.5 All funds must be spent on furthering the aims and purposes of the party.

14 Affiliation to other organisations

14.1 The party may choose to affiliate with organisations which share our aims and values, to provide a framework for working together.

14.2 Where an affiliation is sought, a Memorandum of Understanding will be prepared with that organisation, to be voted on at a SGM.

15 General provisions

15.1 Should doubt arise as to the interpretation of this constitution, the decision of the Party Executive Committee will prevail.

15.2 The party may choose to award honorary or life membership to distinguished individuals who have contributed to Jersey politics in such a way that the party considers to be exemplary, or to non-residents who have provided inspiration to the party. Such a decision will be ratified by a simple majority vote at a General Meeting.

15.3 The party may choose to dissolve itself at a Special General Meeting called for such purpose. The Party Executive Committee will provide two weeks’ notice of such a meeting. The vote must be decided by a two thirds majority.

16 Adoption of the Constitution

This constitution was adopted by members to be enacted on 20/09/2023.