Constitution of The Celtic League

1. 1. The fundamental aim of the League is to support through peaceful means the struggle of the Celtic Nations, Alba, Breizh, Cymru, Éire, Kernow and Mannin to win or to secure the political, cultural, social and economic freedom they need for their survival and development as independent nations.

This includes:
a. working towards the restoration of the Celtic languages, which are essential characteristics of nationality for each Celtic country, as ordinary means of communication
b. developing the consciousness of the special relationship existing between the Celtic peoples.
c. fostering solidarity and cooperation between them.
d. making our national struggles and achievement better known abroad.
e. furthering the establishment of organised relations between the Celtic nations, based on their recognition as distinct nations, and with the long term aim of formal association between them.
f. recognising that the Celtic peoples will be free only in a society that will give to all the means to participate actively in the national affairs, i.e. to control production, exchanges and services, and the exploitation of the national resources for the benefit of all.
2. The Celtic League is composed of the six national branches and of territorial and international branches.
a. An international branch may be formed when a minimum number of fifteen members outside the Celtic countries, originating from at least two Celtic countries cooperate to further our aims.
b. A territorial branch may be formed in those areas where a Celtic language is spoken as a historical community language.
c. The establishment of a new branch is subject to approval by the General Council and ratification by the AGM.
d. Local groups may be formed where members, irrespective of their country of origin and number, join to further our aims, but they are affiliated to a branch of the League.
3. Membership and Eligibility:
a. The aims and objective of the Celtic League demonstrate an emphasis on nationality, on the values that the nation preserves for each generation (e.g. cultural identity and traditions, expressed through its own language, music, etc.) and on the political, cultural, social, and economic structures, which in turn preserve the community.
Membership of the Celtic League is open to all those who agree with these aims, whether born or living in a Celtic country (regardless of race, religion etc.), descended from families of Celtic origin, or simply supportive of these aims.
Membership is not open to those who do not agree with these aims, or who are members of, or are associated with, organisations or groups whose aims substantially contradict those of the League.
In view of the expressed belief in nationality outlined above, this also applied to any individual or group which embraces any theory of racial superiority or exclusiveness.
Members of the Celtic League are entitled to receive CARN or have access to eCARN.
Organisations or individuals may subscribe to League publications, such as CARN or eCARN without becoming members. In the interest of the organisation, we reserve the right to decline an application for membership without formal explanation.
b. Members and local groups join whichever branch they wish, but they may join only one branch, and it is recommended that it be the branch of the country or area in which they reside.
4. The Celtic League is headed by a General Council, composed of the general executive officers (Convenor, General Secretary, Editor, Treasurer, Assistant General Secretary, Director of information) and of the branch secretaries.
5. The coordination of the activity of the League is the responsibility of the General Secretary in close liaison and consultation with the other members of the General Council.

6. The work of the Celtic League is assisted:
a. At a general level by the publication of a printed periodical CARN or by an on line accessed periodical eCARN through which its policies and activities are published. The frequency of its publication to be decided at AGMs
b. By such other publications, be they annual or occasional, that AGMs may decide upon
c. By special commissions set up to carry out investigations or decisions under the supervision of the secretaries.
7. The League holds Annual General Meetings for the purpose of defining its policies, reviewing its operation, and planning for the following year.
8. The Annual General Meeting:
a. The AGM is open to all members of the League and they are entitled to contribute to its discussions.
b. Its decisions are taken by votes of the members of the General Council and of the branch delegates, subject to 20a.
c. Each national branch is entitled to representation at the AGM by two delegates and each territorial and international branch by one delegate, in addition to the branch secretaries.
d. The AGM elects general officers for the following year and delegates to them the task of carrying out the League’s general work.
e. AGMs and meetings of the General Council will be organised and chaired in accordance with the Standing Orders of the General Council
9. The General Secretary:
a. consults with the General Council before deciding on important issues.
b. receives proposals for League action from officers and members.
c. puts similar proposals before the General Council.
d. coordinates and supervises the activity of all sectors of the League in accordance with 5.with a view to obtaining good performance.
e. The General Secretary may, in consultation with the Convenor, remove any General officer from their position or membership of the League, and may also do the same in respect of any individual member if they are deemed to be operating against the League constitution, AGM and General Council decisions or bringing the League into disrepute by their actions. These decisions to be ratified at subsequent AGM.

10. The Convener:
a. chairs Annual General Meetings and General Council Meetings.
b. has authority to draw the attention of the General Secretary or General Council as appropriate to any circumstance which would seriously affect the good working of the League, in particular if any of its officers fail to fulfil its obligations.
11. The Editor:
a. makes the necessary arrangements for the supply of material for CARN/eCARN in due time for its regular and punctual distribution and takes due cognisance of Celtic League Press releases.
b. ensures the proper balance for the national and general sections, as well as for the space to be devoted to the different languages, with the help of the branch secretaries.
c. ensures that the material submitted for publication is consistent with the League’s aims and policies.
d. if necessary makes editorial comments, or refers to branch secretaries when not conversant with the internal relations within their respective areas.
12. The Treasurer:
a. receives payments to and makes payments from the central funds.
b. supplies reports as required by the General Secretary and prepares statements for the AGM.
c. reports to the General Secretary any failure by a branch to submit regular financial returns.
13. The Director of Information:
a. seeks means to make known to the people of the Celtic countries and to the international public the views and activities of the League.
b. coordinates the issuing of press statements and the exchange of publicity and information with other movements.
c. prepares and advises on the use of League publicity material.
14. The Assistant General Secretary:
a.) An Assistant General Secretary will provide administrative support directly to the GS and carry out any tasks delegated by the GS in relation to our burgeoning internet presence.
b.) They will also will carry on campaign work as delegated by the GS or campaign in tasks specifically set out for him/her by the AGM or the General Council
15. The General Council:
a. promptly advices the General Secretary when important decisions affecting Celtic League policy and general working are required between AGM’s.
b. may hold extraordinary meetings between AGM’s if more than half of its members support a call to that affect. See also 20b.
c. General Council members may be disciplined or dismissed in the manner laid down in the rules of the Celtic League.
16. The Branch Secretary:
a. organises the recruiting of members or CARN/eCARN subscribers in his/her area and undertakes the prompt mailing of CARN/eCARN to them.
b. seeks opportunities to make the League more widely known and relevant to the national struggle in the national branch areas.
c. informs members of details of general and branch meetings in due time.
d. makes arrangements for the election of a branch committee and consults with it on important issues affecting the League in general and the branch in particular.
e. advises the General Secretary on behalf of the branch.
f. ensures the financial contributions from the branch are adequate for the progress of the League.
g. coordinates the activities of the branch after consultation with the branch committee.
h. supplies quarterly reports to the General Secretary on branch activities and the membership situation.
i. makes quarterly reports to the League Treasurer, including branch contributions to the central funds.
j. supervises contributions to CARN/eCARN from his/her area.
17. The Branch Committee:
a. consists of a minimum of three other members (apart from the Sec.) among whom a Convener, a Treasurer and a Publicity Officer are elected at the branch AGM.
b. a branch officer or member may be disciplined or dismissed only by a meeting of the branch duly convened in the manner outlined in the Rules of the Celtic League.
18. The branch secretary is elected by the branch AGM or failing this by the branch committee or failing this by appointment by the General Secretary subject to ratification by the General Council or AGM.
19. The Branch Convener:
a. It is the duty of the Branch Convener to draw the attention of the league Convener to any failure on the part of the Secretary to carry out his/her duties satisfactorily, with a view to remedying the situation, if all efforts to do so at branch level have failed.
b. It is within the power of the Branch Convener to call branch meetings, after due consultation with the Branch Secretary, if there are calls to that effect from the membership.
c. A branch Extraordinary General Meeting may be held if a call to do so is supported by 20% or more of the branch membership; it is to be organized by the Branch Convener after due consultation with the branch Secretary and the General Secretary.
20. Decisions on important matters are taken:
a. At AGM’s with the unanimous agreement of the national Branch Secretaries present – or with their deputies – and with the overall majority of those present.
b. between AGM’s with the unanimous agreement of the national branch secretaries and an overall majority of the General Council, in which case the consultations are normally carried out by the General Secretary and the decisions will, in order to remain in force from the next AGM onwards, require agreement as under 20a.
c. An important matter is:
i. one which necessitates a change in the Constitution.
ii. one which concerns the public image of the League.
iii. one which concerns all national branches.
iv. any matter which any two national branch secretaries consider important.
21. decisions on particular issues not directly concerning all branches may be taken autonomously by the Branch Secretary, on behalf of the branch, after consultation with the General Secretary, so as to ensure that they do not contradict Celtic League policy.

New Constitution as implemented /adopted in 2013/2016.

Constitution in PDF version

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