Constitution

ARTICLE 1: Name

The name of the Society shall be "THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY." The British Society for Restorative Dentistry has charitable status.

ARTICLE 2: Objectives

To promote and advance the practice of Restorative Dentistry for the benefit of patients.
To promote education and study in all aspects of Restorative Dentistry.
To promote scholarship and research, including the presentation and publication of findings, pertaining to Restorative Dentistry.
To further the interests of Restorative Dentistry with the organisations which control the provision of dental services.

ARTICLE 3: Fellowship

Section 1: Honorary Membership may be conferred, by a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting, on any persons of sufficient standing, but, in normal circumstances, not more than two such Memberships may be conferred in any one year. This number may be changed at the discretion of Council. Honorary Members shall have all the privileges of the Society.

Section 2: Nominations for Honorary Memberships must be proposed and seconded in writing and must reach the Honorary Secretary at least two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE 4: Membership

Section 1: Membership shall be of the following classes:

a. Membership
b. Associate Membership
c. Member and Partner Membership
d. Recent Graduate/Postgraduate Student Membership
e. Undergraduate Student Membership

Section 2: The membership may be unlimited in number. Members shall be qualified, but need not be registered, to practise dentistry or a profession complementary to dentistry. Subject to the agreement of Council, those holding a scientific qualification and who have interests related to the objectives of the Society shall also be eligible for membership.

Section 3: Associate membership is open to any person who does not qualify for membership but who has a special interest in Restorative Dentistry. Associate members shall have all the privileges of the Society except that they shall be unable to hold Office or vote for the election of members of Council or its Officers.

Section 4: Member and partner membership is open to couples who are married or live together and who are both members of the Society but wish to receive only one copy of the journal, the Society Newsletter and related literature.

Section 5: Recent graduate/postgraduate student membership is open to any person who qualifies for membership but only within the first two years of obtaining their primary qualification in dentistry, a profession complementary to dentistry or a science relevant to restorative dentistry, or whilst registered as a postgraduate student.

Section 6: Undergraduate student membership is open to any person registered on a course of study leading to the award of a primary qualification in dentistry, a profession complementary to dentistry, or science relevant to Restorative Dentistry.
Undergraduate student members shall have all the privileges of the Society except that they shall be unable to hold Office or vote for the election of members (both honorary and substantive) of Council or its Officers.

Section 7: Application for all categories of membership must be sent to the Honorary Secretary together with the appropriate subscription.

ARTICLE 5: Officers

Section 1: Officers of the Society shall be a President, a Senior Vice President (who shall be the retiring President), a Vice President (who shall normally be the President Elect), an Honorary Secretary, and an Honorary Treasurer.

Section 2: Officers shall hold office for one year (Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall hold office for five years), but shall be eligible for re-election, except for the President, Senior Vice President and Vice President who shall not normally be eligible for re- election until one year has elapsed.

Section 3: The election of Officers shall take place by ballot at each Annual General Meeting.

Section 4: Nominations of Officers for the succeeding year must be proposed and seconded in writing and must reach the Honorary Secretary at least 2 weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE 6: Duties of Officers

Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings. His decisions upon questions of order shall be absolute. He shall interpret the Bye-laws of the Society, sign the Minutes of all meetings and be Chairman of the Council. In his absence the Chair shall be taken by one of the Officers in the order listed in Article 5, Section 1.

Section 2: The Honorary Secretary shall conduct the business of the Society as Council may from time to time direct, keep Minutes of all meetings, keep a list of names and addresses of all members (both honorary and substantive) and make a written report on the work of the Society to the Annual General Meeting.

Section 3: The Honorary Treasurer shall keep account of monies received and all payments made and shall give a written report of the finances of the Society and present the accounts, independently examined, to the Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE 7: The Council

Section 1: The authority of the Society shall be vested in a Council consisting of the Officers of the Society, who shall be ex-officio members of the Council, and six elected members, three of whom should come from a predominantly specialist or general dental practice background.

Section 2: Nominations for the six elected members of the Council must be proposed and seconded in writing, and received by the Honorary Secretary at least two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Section 3: The election to the Council of the six members in addition to the Officers shall be made by ballot at the Annual General Meeting.

Section 4: Members of the Council except ex-officio members shall hold office for three years following which they will normally be ineligible for office for one year.

Section 5: The quorum of the Council shall be the President, or a Vice-President and four members of the Council.

Section 6: In the event of the Council being equally divided on any matter requiring a vote, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

Section 7: If a vacancy occurs on the Council, the Council is empowered to fill the vacancy for the remainder of its current year of office.

Section 8: Members (both substantive and honorary) and associate members may be co-opted onto Council, at its discretion, for specific purposes.

ARTICLE 8: Duties of the Council

Section 1: The Council shall conduct the affairs of the Society and authorise all expenditure and be empowered to raise finances for any purpose.

Section 2: The Council shall meet not less than three times a year. Further meetings may be called at the discretion of the President alone, or at the request of not less than three members of the Council. Not less than seven days notice shall be given of all meetings.

Section 3: The Council may have the power to appoint sub-committees as it sees fit. These sub-committees may, with the Chairman.s permission and unless the Council states otherwise, co-opt members and associate members for special purposes. Their sole power is to report back to the Council.

ARTICLE 9: The Executive Committee

Section 1: The authority of the Council shall, in the intervals between Council Meetings, be vested in an Executive Committee composed of the President, the President Elect, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer, and one other member of the Council. The Executive Committee shall meet when necessary.

Section 2: The Executive Committee shall report to the Council and receive approval for all its actions. A quorum shall consist of three members. The Chair shall be taken by the President. In his absence the Chair shall be taken by one of the Officers in the Order listed in Article 5, Section 1.