Constitution: Difference between revisions

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The constitution of Wikimedia UK comprises:
The constitution of Wikimedia UK comprises:


(a) The overriding legislative framework set down in UK Charity and Company law, particularly in the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/ukpga_20060046_en_1 Companies Act 2006] and the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts1993/ukpga_19930010_en_1 Charities Acts 1993] and [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/ukpga_20060050_en_1 2006]
(a) The overriding legislative framework set down in UK Charity and Company law, including the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/ukpga_20060046_en_1 Companies Act 2006] and the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts1993/ukpga_19930010_en_1 Charities Acts 1993] and [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/ukpga_20060050_en_1 2006]


(b) The company's '''[[Articles of Association]]'''
(b) The charity's '''[[Articles of Association]]'''


(c) Any Special Resolutions passed by the company since incorporation. Currently three Special Resolutions have been passed:
(c) The '''[[Chapter Agreement]]''', a contract which regulates the relationship between the charity and the Wikimedia Foundation. Amongst other things, the agreement obliges each party to support the activities of the other and forbids either party from doing anything to negatively impact the work or image of the other.


* (i) '''[[Meetings/2009_AGM/Resolutions#Requiring_the_permission_of_the_members_to_amend_the_Election_Rules|Requiring the permission of the members to amend the Election Rules]]'''
(d) 'Entrenched' rules that require a resolution of the membership in general meeting to change. They include rules adopted by the charity under [[Articles of Association#Rules|Article 28]]:
* (ii) '''[[Meetings/2009_AGM/Resolutions#Requiring_the_permission_of_the_members_to_terminate_or_make_certain_amendments_to_the_Chapter_Agreement|Requiring the permission of the members to terminate or make certain amendments to the Chapter Agreement]]'''
* (iii) '''[[Meetings/2010_AGM/Resolutions#1._A_motion_to_create_a_new_class_of_membership_for_organisations|Establishing a new class of members for organisations]]


(d) Any Rules adopted under [[Articles of Association#Rules|Article 28]] either by the members or the directors, which currently comprise:
* the '''[[Election Rules|Election Rules]]'''
* the '''[[Membership/Rules|Membership Rules]]'''
* a [[Meetings/2009_AGM/Resolutions#Requiring_the_permission_of_the_members_to_terminate_or_make_certain_amendments_to_the_Chapter_Agreement|resolution]] that the the directors may not, except with approval of the membership by special resolution, terminate or amend the [[Chapter Agreement]].
* a [[Meetings/2010 AGM/Minutes#Resolutions|resolution]] creating a new class of membership for organisations, each member organisation being entitled to one vote.


* (i) the '''[[Election Rules|Election Rules]]''' ([[Meetings/2009-01-19|adopted]] by the Board in January 2009)
(e) Our policies.  
* (ii) the '''[[Membership/Rules|Membership Rules]]''' ([[Meetings/2009_AGM/Resolutions#Adoption_of_the_Membership_Rules|adopted]] by the 2009 AGM)
* (iii) the [[Conflicts of interest policy]]
* (iv) the [[Child Protection Policy]]
* (v) the [[Donor Privacy Policy]]
* (vi) the [[Finance Policy]]
* (vii) the [[Volunteer Policy]]
* (viii) the Staff Policies. These documents are subject to review in January 2015 by the Chief Executive and approved by the Board of Trustees. They will also be reviewed in response to changes in relevant legislation, contractual arrangements, good practice or in response to an identified failing in their effectiveness.
** (a) [[Bullying and Harassment Policy]]
** (b) [[Conflict of Interest Policy]]
** (c) [[Confidentiality Policy]]
** (d) [[Data Protection Policy]]
** (e) [[Disciplinary policy and procedure]]
** (f) [[Diversity and Equalities Policy]]
** (g) <s>[[Finance Policy 2012|Finance (and Expenses) Policy 2012]]</s><ref>Replaced by the [[Finance Policy]] in 2013.</ref>
** (h) [[Grievance Policy and Procedure]]
** (i) [[Home Working Policy]]
** (j) [[Maternity Leave and Pay]]
** (k) [[Sickness Management Policy]]
** (l) [[Staff Training and Development]]
** (m) [[Time off in Lieu Policy]]
** (n) [[Volunteer and Intern Agreement]]
** (o) [[Whistle blowing Policy]]
* (ix) the [[Copyright Policy]]
* (x) the [[Participation policy]]
* (xi) the [[Donation and grant acceptance]] policy
* (xii) the [[Representing Wikimedia UK]] policy
* (xiii) the [[IT Security Policy]] (and subpolicies)
* (xiv) the [[Recruitment Policy]]
* (xv) the [[Volunteer Conflict of Interest Policy]]
* (xvi) the [[Website Privacy Policy]]


(e) The '''[[Chapter Agreement]]''', signed by Wikimedia UK and the Wikimedia Foundation, which obliges each party to support the activities of the other and forbids either party from doing anything to negatively impact the work or image of the other.
''(These will be reviewed in 2015-16 with a view to updating them and separating out strategic policies that are appropriately set by the board from operational procedures that are or should be within the remit of the chief executive).''  
 
* the [[Conflicts of interest policy]]
* the [[Child Protection Policy]]
* the [[Donor Privacy Policy]]
* the [[Finance Policy]]
* the [[Volunteer Policy]]
* the [[Bullying and Harassment Policy]]
* the [[Conflict of Interest Policy]]
* the [[Confidentiality Policy]]
* the [[Data Protection Policy]]
* the [[Disciplinary policy and procedure]]
* the [[Diversity and Equalities Policy]]
* the [[Grievance Policy and Procedure]]
* the [[Home Working Policy]]
* the [[Maternity Leave and Pay]] policy
* the [[Sickness Management Policy]]
* the [[Staff Training and Development]]
* the [[Time off in Lieu Policy]]
* the [[Volunteer and Intern Agreement]]
* the [[Whistle blowing Policy]]
* the [[Copyright Policy]]
* the [[Participation policy]]
* the [[Donation and grant acceptance]] policy
* the [[Representing Wikimedia UK]] policy
* the [[IT Security Policy]] (and subpolicies)
* the [[Recruitment Policy]]
* the [[Volunteer Conflict of Interest Policy]]
* the [[Website Privacy Policy]]


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 19:21, 30 October 2015

Overview

Wikimedia UK[1] is a charitable company incorporated in England and Wales that is authorised by The Wikimedia Foundation. Inc as the local Wikimedia chapter for the United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK was founded as a company in November 2008, was approved as a Wikimedia chapter in January 2009, and was granted charitable status by the Charity Commission in November 2011.

Wikimedia UK is a separate organization from the Wikimedia Foundation, and has no control over the contents of Wikipedia or any other projects run by the Foundation. The Charitable Objects of Wikimedia UK are, for the benefit of the public, to promote and support the widest possible public access to, use of and contribution to Open Content of an encyclopaedic or educational nature or of similar utility to the general public, in particular the Open Content supported and provided by the Wikimedia Foundation.

Wikimedia UK is incorporated in England & Wales as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Its Registered Charity number is 1144513.

The company is run from day to day by a Chief Executive who heads a small team of staff. It is governed by a Board of Directors who are regarded as trustees for the purposes of charity law.

Constitution

The constitution of Wikimedia UK comprises:

(a) The overriding legislative framework set down in UK Charity and Company law, including the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Acts 1993 and 2006

(b) The charity's Articles of Association

(c) The Chapter Agreement, a contract which regulates the relationship between the charity and the Wikimedia Foundation. Amongst other things, the agreement obliges each party to support the activities of the other and forbids either party from doing anything to negatively impact the work or image of the other.

(d) 'Entrenched' rules that require a resolution of the membership in general meeting to change. They include rules adopted by the charity under Article 28:

(e) Our policies.

(These will be reviewed in 2015-16 with a view to updating them and separating out strategic policies that are appropriately set by the board from operational procedures that are or should be within the remit of the chief executive).

Notes

  1. ↑ Wikimedia UK operated under the name "Wiki UK Limited" from incorporation until 12 May 2012.
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