This is the proposed constitutional amendment.

"Delete existing section 4 "Policy making and structure" and replace with the following:

4) Policy making and structure

4.1) National policy will be decided by annual conference. Conference will be on a delegate basis. Additional conferences can be called at the discretion of the National Committee or at the request of 25% of the membership. With an additional conference the National Council (NC) will determine its constitution.

4.2) The implementation of national policy and national activities between conferences will normally be carried out by the National Council. The NC will be comprised of the members of the Executive Committee plus delegates from branches and (when applicable) national TU delegates. Branch delegates will be on the basis of two delegates for all branches with an additional delegate for each 100 or part thereof. The NC should meet at least 3 times a year. It will be responsible for running the organisation, finance, membership, distribution of information to branches, liaison with other organisations, and any other duties delegated to it by the annual conference. Subject to annual conference the NC, and between NC meetings the Executive Committee (see below), will have the final decision on where and when to stand candidates in elections at local and national level. Agreement to stand, however, will not be unreasonably withheld. Candidates will be selected by the local branch or constituency organisation with the agreement of the National Committee.

4.3) An Executive Committee (EC) of 30 will be elected from conference by STV. The conference will also elect Respects principal officers Chair and national secretary. The NC will also elect from its members additional officers of Respect: Election Agent, Press Officer, Research Officer and other officers as agreed by conference. The EC will be responsible to the NC and will meet at least every 6 weeks between NC meeting.

4.4) The officers will meet as necessary for the day-to-day running of Respect and will report to the EC.

4.5) It is important that women are fully represented and the aim should be at least the gender balance of the Respect membership on all elected bodies.

4.6) The NC and the EC should seek consensus, as much as possible, in decision making but where this is not possible decisions should be by simple majority vote.

4.7) Any group of at least 20 members will have the right to organise within Respect and to present resolutions to conferences - consistent with the agenda of the conference.

4.8) The NC will establish Policy Groups to study and develop areas of policy which will report to the NC.

4.9) New technology email, conferencing, website etc - will be used, where ever possible, to keep Respect members, and members of the elected committees, fully informed and to provide a dialogue between meetings.

4.10) The constitution of Respect may be changed by decision of the annual conference by a two-thirds majority of the delegates.

4.11) Respect may be dissolved as an organisation by a two-thirds majority of a special conference convened by the NC."