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IRISH UNIONIST ALLIANCE.
South Louth Divisional Association.
CONSTITUTION AND RULES.
(1) This Association shall be called the SOUTH LOUTH DIVISIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE IRISH UNIONIST ALLIANCE.
(2) The Fundamental Principle of the Association shall be the maintenance of the Legislative Union now existing between Great Britain and Ireland.
(3) The Association shall exist for the following objects:—
(i.) The consolidation of the entire Unionist strength of this Parliamentary Division.
(ii.) The promotion of efficiency in the Unionist interests of Parliamentary Registration.
(iii.) The promotion of efficiency of Municipal and Poor Law Registers.
(iv.) The promotion of public meetings.
(v.) To act as an Intelligence Department in keeping the Central Executive informed of matters occurring in the District affecting the general interests of Irish Unionists.
(vi.) The distribution of Unionist literature in the District.
(4) The Association shall consist of Branches in each Polling District.
(5)—(i.)—Members of the various Branches shall be those who subscribe to the foregoing Fundamental Principle.
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(ii.) The annual subscription payable by Members shall be from sixpence upwards, and shall be payable in advance commencing on the first of January in each year.
(iii.) The names of Candidates proposing to join Branches of the South Louth Divisional Association as Members, shall be submitted to the Branches or their Executive Committee in accordance with the regulations laid down for that purpose.
(6)—(i.)—The South Louth Divisional Association shall be governed by a Divisional Council composed of Representatives from the various Polling Districts.
(ii.) The number of representatives to be returned by each Polling District shall from time to time be determined by the Divisional Council: provided that no District shall have power to return more than six Members; provided also that the total number of representatives so elected shall not exceed twenty-four.
MODE OF VOTING.
(7)—(i.)—In the election of representatives from Branches to form the Divisional Council, and of representatives from the Divisional Council to the General Council, each person entitled to vote shall have as many votes as there are vacancies to be filled and shall be at liberty to distribute them among the candidates as he pleases.
(ii.) The date on which the voting shall take place shall be fixed by the Executive Committee of the Divisional Council. Nominations shall be handed to the Secretary of the Divisional Association, 14 days previously. After the first election, if no fresh candidates are nominated, the existing representatives shall be allowed to continue in office.
POWERS, &c., OF THE DIVISIONAL COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
(8) The duties, powers, and functions of the Divisional Council shall, in addition to carrying out the objects of the Association, be
(i.) To organize and control Branches of the Association in the various Polling Districts of the Constituency.
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(ii.) To select Candidates to contest Parliamentary, Municipal, or Poor Law Elections.
(iii.) To determine all questions of business within the Rules; and where Polling District Branches do not exist, to provisionally fill up places and vacancies in the representative portion of its body, making the selection, as far as possible, from members having residence or property in the particular Polling District for which the appointments are to be made.
(9) The Divisional Council shall meet annually in the month of January, at Drogheda, for the following purposes:—
(i.) To elect from their body, a President, vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, Secretary, and an Executive Committee of 24 members.
(ii) To elect two members to represent the Divisional Association upon the General Council of the Irish Unionist Alliance.
(iii.) To consider the Annual Report and Treasurer's Statement of Accounts.
(10) Special Meetings of the Divisional Council shall be called by the President, Secretary, or by order of the Executive Committee at any time, or by a requisition stating its object, signed by five members of the Council, and addressed to the Secretary.
(11) The Divisional Council shall have power to amalgamate two or more of its Polling District Branches, provided, however, that the election of Officers and representatives of the Polling District Branch on the Divisional Council shall, in all cases, be held by the members constituting the Polling District Branch for such Polling District or Ward.
(12) The Executive Committee shall be the administrative body of the South Louth Divisional Association of the Irish Unionist Alliance, and shall meet at least once a quarter, and at such other times as it may arrange. Three members shall form a quorum.
(13) All orders for payment on account of the Divisional Association must be signed by the Hon. Secretary.
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AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION.
(14)—(i.)—This Constitution can only be amended at an Annual or Special Meeting of the South Louth Divisional Council.
(ii.) No notice of amendment shall be valid unless it is signed by at least three members of the Council, or is in the nature of a recommendation from the Executive Committee.
(iii.) Copies of proposed amendments shall be forwarded to all members of the Council at least ten days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be considered.
POLLING DISTRICT BRANCHES.
(1) Polling District Branches may be constituted in any of the following ways:—
(i.)—In Polling Districts where Loyalists may be numerically weak, by the election, by voting papers, sent and returned by post, providing for—a President, an Hon. Treasurer and Secretary,—Representatives to the Divisional Council and an Executive Committee, which shall meet at least once every half year. Proposals for membership shall be referred to and determined upon by the Executive Committee.
(ii.) Polling District Branches may be formed in Polling Districts providing for regular meetings of the Branch at least once every quarter. There shall be annually elected a President, Vice-Presidents (if thought desirable), an Hon. Treasurer and Secretary, and Executive Committee; and, in accordance with the provisions of pars. 8, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the Constitution of the Irish Unionist Alliance, members to represent the Polling District Branch on the Divisional Council.
(2) Polling District Branches may adopt bye-laws providing:—
(a) That the election of new members shall take place at a regular meeting of the Polling District Branch, at which each member shall have a vote, to be taken by show of hands.
(b) That the membership of the Polling District Branch shall be sub-divided into Wardenships in charge of Wardens, who shall be ipro facto members of the Executive Committee of the Polling District Branch.
[Suggestions as to the formation and working of Wardenships can be had on application to the Hon. Secretary of the Divisional Association.]