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Constitution
September 2008
The Federation of Students Islamic Societies
In the United Kingdom & Eire
«And hold fast to the rope of Allah, all of you together, and be not disunited» Sura Al Imran: 103
INTRODUCING FOSIS
Muslim students from various parts of the world and representing Islamic societies of several educational
institutions in Britain and Ireland gathered in Birmingham in 1962, and succeeded in establishing “The
Federation of Students Islamic Societies in UK and Ireland” with the motto
“Hold fast to the rope of Allah, and do not be disunited” (AI-’Imran, 103).
By the grace of Allah, subsequent generations of students continue their voluntary and humble efforts in
strengthening and extending the course of the Federation. The Federation, as an independent student
organisation, has ever since played an important role in the service of Muslim students. Insha'Allah, this
process shall continue in the years to come.
The activities of FOSIS are guided by the objectives and aims of the Federation:
(a) To unite all existing student Islamic organisations in the United Kingdom and Eire and to encour-
age and help in the formation of such organisations.
(b) To encourage and help members to conduct congregational prayers, lectures, discussion groups,
and Islamic classes for the Muslims in their areas.
(c) To create the right atmosphere for the fulfillment of Islamic duties, and to foster and to protect the
interests of Islam.
The programmes and policies of the Federation to pursue these objectives are devised by the Council on
an annual basis, and implemented on its behalf by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLES
1 NAME
The name shall be “The Federation of the Students Islamic Societies in the United Kingdom and Eire”,
hereinafter referred to as “The Federation”.
2 HEADQUARTERS
The Headquarters of the Federation shall be at the Muslim Students’ Centre and Hostel, 38 Mapesbury
Road, London NW2 4JD.
3 MOTTO
The Motto of the Federation shall be: (Hold fast to the rope of Allah, all of you together, and be not dis-
united).
(a) To unite all existing student Islamic Organisations in the United Kingdom and Eire and to encour-
age and to help the formation of such Organisations.
(b) To encourage and help members to conduct congregational prayers, lectures, discussion groups
and Islamic classes for Muslims in their areas.
(c) To create the right atmosphere for the fulfilment of the Islamic duties, and to foster and protect
the interests of Islam.
5 MEMBERSHIP
5.1 Constituent Membership
(a) Constituent membership shall be open to Student Islamic Organisations in the United Kingdom
and Eire.
(b) Any Student Islamic Organisation admitted to the Federation shall be called “The Constituent
Organisation” hereafter referred to as “The Constituent”.
(c) Only Muslim, bona fide Student, members of each of the Constituent shall automatically become
full members of the Federation.
(a) Students Islamic Organisations seeking membership of the Federation may be granted Associate
Membership for a minimum period of one year. The Organisation shall undergo certain assess-
ment to the satisfaction of the National Executive Committee, as directed by the Council, before
Constituent Membership be granted.
(b) Any Muslim Student Organisation admitted to associate membership of the Federation shall be
called ‘The Associate Organisation’ hereinafter referred to as “The Associate”.
(c) Associate Muslim members of Constituents who do not otherwise qualify for membership for the
Federation under 5.1(c), may be considered as Associate members of the Federation, hereinafter
referred to as “Associate Members”.
(d) All Muslim members of Associate Organisations shall be Associate Members of the Federation.
5.3 Constituents shall be required to submit reports on their activities at least twice yearly to the Head
of Communications of the Federation, in May and December.
(a) An organisation should have been in existence for one year, and be in a position to submit a re-
port of its programmes and activities.
(c) When a Constitution is amended by an Associate or Constituent, the amendment is subject to the
ratification and approval of the National Executive Committee of the Federation.
(a) Application forms for “The Constituent Membership” and the “Associate Membership” of the
Federation, shall be obtained from the Head of communications of the Federation. Constituent
members shall update their particulars annually.
(b) The completed “Application Form” accompanied by the Affiliation Fee must be submitted to the
Head of communications who shall present it to the National Executive Committee at its earliest
meeting.
(c) Application for membership should reach the Head of communications of the Federation at least
three lunar months prior to the Annual Council Meeting.
(d) In the event of the application being refused or deferred, the National Executive Committee must
give reasons to the applicant unless it is prejudicial to the interests of the Federation. The refused
application may appeal to the Council.
7 WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
(a) Any constituent desiring to withdraw from membership of the Federation shall give notice in writ-
ing to the Head of communications who shall present it to the Council.
(b) The Head of communications shall not entertain any withdrawal notice unless that notice contains
or
is accompanied by a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the members, as defined in
5.1(c), attending any General Meeting of the Constituent.
(c) The withdrawal notice shall not be operative before the Council has given its “Assent”. The Head
of communications shall communicate, in writing, the decision of the Council to the withdrawal
Organisation.
(d) Any Constituent or Associate that fails to pay its Affiliation Fee for two consecutive years shall
cease to be a member of the Federation, provided that such Organisations be given two notices,
in writing, before each Annual Council Meeting, and do not provide the National Executive Com-
mittee with convincing evidence of not being able to pay their fee.
(e) Any constituent that fails to attend the Annual Council Meeting for two consecutive years, without
reasonable causes acceptable to the Council shall cease to be a member of the Federation
8 AFFILIATION FEE
(a) Each constituent shall be liable to pay an affiliation fee of fifty five pence per Muslim student
member of the Organisation or as otherwise decided by the National Executive Committee of the
Federation. (It is specified as being £10 by the Executive Committee)
(b) All constituent members will pay the same set affiliation fee. The National Executive Committee
may grant a constituent a special affiliation fee based on their circumstances.
(a) Each Associate shall be liable to pay an annual subscription of twenty five pence per Muslim
member of the Organisation or as otherwise decided by the National Executive Committee of the
Federation
(b) The affiliation fee must be paid to the Head of finance of the Federation not later than 31 De-
st
cember. New Constituents and / or Associates shall pay theirs four weeks after being granted
Membership, or as otherwise decided by the National Executive Committee of the Federation.
(Payment after 31st December doesn’t nullify membership)
9 CONSTITUENT AUTONOMY
Constituents shall enjoy full autonomy in all the actions except when such actions contravene the Consti-
tution or interests of the Federation.
10 THE COUNCIL
It is members of the council that cast votes, therefore only the people under 10.2 can actually vote. This
means that individuals who are members of a committee within FOSIS such as IAP or SAC, cannot vote
unless they are from a constituent member.
(a) The Supreme governing body of the Federation shall be the Council of the Federation, which is
referred to as the “The Council” throughout this Constitution.
(b) All members of the Council shall believe in the unity and Oneness of Almighty Allah, the Book of
Allah, the Qur’an being the last revealed Book, the Prophet-hood of Mohammed (peace be upon
him) as the last of the Prophets and that there can be no Messenger and / or ‘Nabi’ after him, the
Day of Judgment and all the requirements and teaching of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
(b) A Constituent is entitled to send one representative for every twenty-five Muslim student mem-
bers or part thereof to a maximum of three representatives.
(c) Where any representative is elected to the Executive Committee of the Federation his Constituent
shall send another representative to fill his seat.
The total number of the National Executive Committee shall be 18 and shall consist of the following:
1. President
2. Vice President of Training and Human Resource
3. Vice President of Islamic Societies
4. Vice President of Student Affairs
5. Head of Communications
6. Head of Finance
7. Head of Media
8. Head of Services
9. Head of Campaigns
10. Head of Members Relations
11. Ireland Islamic Societies Chair
12. London Islamic Societies Chair
13. Midlands Islamic Societies Chair
14. North Islamic Societies Chair
15. Scotland Islamic Societies Chair
16. South Islamic Societies Chair
17. Wales Islamic Societies Chair
18. Ex-Officio
11.2 Term of Office
(a) The term of office of the National Executive Committee shall be one year.
(b) All the Executive Officers shall be eligible for re-election to a maximum of four years.
(c) Whenever possible, each new executive committee shall contain a minimum of four members
from the previous committee who have been in office for at least one year
(a) The Executive Consultation Committee will come together to discuss sensitive and delicate issues
when required. The committee will also be open to all members of the executive and each executive
member will have voting rights.
(b) The committee comprises of the following positions: President, Vice President of Islamic Societies,
Vice President of Student Affairs, Vice President, Head of Communication Head of Finance and Head of
Media.
Team FOSIS refers to all members of the National Executive Committee, all FOSIS committee members
and paid employees.
(b) The NEC shall be responsible for the leadership and management of the affairs of the Federation,
except when the Council is in session.
(c) The National Executive Committee shall be responsible for implementing the recommendations,
decisions and resolutions of the Council.
(d) The National Executive Committee shall be subject to any direction of the Council and have con-
trol over all financial matters of the Federation.
(e) The National Executive Committee shall have the power to allot additional duties to any member
of the Executive Committee.
(f) The National Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt to itself not more than five
members whose term ends one week before the Annual Council Meeting. The President, Vice President,
Vice President of Islamic Societies, Vice President of Student Affairs, Head of Communications and Head
of Finance cannot be co-opted.
(g) The National Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint sub-committees known as
‘FOSIS committees’.
(h) The National Executive Committee shall have the power to invite any observer/s to the Council
and the Executive Committee meetings.
(i) All those employed by the Federation, shall be directly responsible to the National Executive
Committee.
13 THE ROLES AND DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
1. Shall work within the constitution and other agreed policies by the Executive
2. Shall attend executive and other relevant meetings.
3. Shall exercise his/her casting vote.
4. Shall maintain high standards of legal, Islamic and ethical conduct.
5. Shall complete blogs and report on progress as well as keep a record of important documentation
and return it as part of the handover.
6. Shall keep receipts in order to be reimbursed and check financial spending with the Head of
Finance.
7. Shall conduct a handover once term has been completed with the newly appointed officer within
a month.
8. Shall submit a plan and budget to the NEC.
(b) President
1. Shall deputise for the President in his/her absence or when the President relinquishes the chair.
2. Shall oversee and support the Training and Human Resource Committee.
3. Shall oversee and develop recruitment. induction and training for the National Executive Committee.
4. Shall be responsible for implementing necessary procedures and systems to deal with complaints and
disciplinary action.
5. Shall update the FOSIS Handbook.
6. Shall promote and coordinate personal development programmes.
1. Shall be principal lead in discussion with the rest of the executive, on issues relating to government
and politics.
2. Shall oversee and support the Student Affairs Committee.
3. Shall represent FOSIS at NUS and at Student Union level
4. Shall attend meetings at Government level.
5. Shall attend meetings with relevant Muslim organisations.
1. Shall be responsible for organising and managing FOSIS Accounts and submission of FOSIS budget
by all committees.
2. Shall coordinate the raising of funds for The Federation.
3. Shall oversee and support the Finance Committee.
4. Shall become a signatory on the FOSIS accounts within 6 weeks of election.
5. Shall work with FOSIS office manager to keep accurate records and accounts of FOSIS income, ex-
penditure and assets.
6. Shall pay all expenses incurred by FOSIS out of its fund.
7. Shall submit a statement of the accounts of FOSIS to each council meeting.
8. Shall submit a report of the accounts of The Federation at least once per academic term, or when
requested by The Executive.
9. Recommended to have a background in finance, accounting and/or fund raising.
1. Shall be co-opted onto the executive by no later than one month after elections of the executive
committee.
2. Shall oversee and support the media committee
3. Shall be responsible for monitoring mainstream media outlets.
4. In discussion with the President, shall respond to relevant media issues pertaining to and concerning
the Muslim student community and/or the wider Muslim public.
5. Shall be the first point of contact and public spokesperson for FOSIS for media related issues.
6. In discussion with the President, shall respond to requests for media interviews.
7. Shall be, in conjunction with the executive, the principal lead in formulating media strategy for FO-
SIS.
8. Shall support FOSIS committees with media related work. This includes training, or communicating
FOSIS events to media outlets using various mediums, for instance articles, press releases.
(m) Ex Officio
14 FOSIS Committee
(a) The National Executive committee shall oversee and support the following committees:
1. Training and Human Resource Committee shall assist with head with promoting, developing and
meeting the needs of NEC, FOSIS committees with regards to training, development and personal
wellbeing. In addition to this it would be in charge of coordinating new volunteers and dealing with
complaints.
2. Islamic Societies National Coordinating Committee shall support the head with assisting and develop-
ing regional committees and represent the views of Muslim students at national level.
3. Regional Islamic Society Committee shall work with the chair to strengthen and support the Islamic
societies as well as to promote work FOSIS within the region.
4. Student Affairs Committee shall support the head with representing the needs of Muslim students at
SU, NUS and Government level
5. Communications Committee shall support the head with producing appropriate communication mate-
rials, to ensure that effective communication regarding the work that FOSIS does exists within The
Federation and externally.
6. Finance Committee shall ensure accounts are organised and accurate, and that budgets and funding
is allocated appropriately. To work with various committees to fundraise in order that the NEC and
FOSIS committees can deliver their work.
7. Media Committee shall assist the head to monitor media, voice the views of Muslim students using
mediums such as press releases, articles and represent FOSIS and its committees within media out-
lets.
8. Service Committee shall assist the head by identifying appropriate services that meet the needs of
federation and deliver them to its members.
9. Campaigns committee is to identify relevant campaigns that raise awareness about issues that stu-
dents face and to coordinate them nationally.
10. Members Relations committee is to support the head to deliver project through which FOSIS de-
velop its public image with its members such as freshers’ packs and annual conference.
11. Board of Advisors shall be made up and represent a diverse set of backgrounds and skills such as
scholars from different orientations and skills such as with training and working with the government.
The board must be elected within 6 weeks of the executive elections. The process of electing is
through consultation with the national executive committee and final decision rests with the Presi-
dent. These advisors will be given the accessibility to FOSIS committees so that they can assist them
with their work when relevant.
16. EMPLOYEES
(a) The Council shall hold an Annual Council Meeting on a date fixed by the Executive
Committee.
(b) Notices of this meeting shall be given at least two lunar months before the date of each
meeting.
(c) A quorum of each meeting shall be one third of the total membership of the Council as defined
in Article 10.2. If at the announced time of the meeting there is no quorum, the meeting shall
be delayed until a quorum is achieved or three hours have elapsed. If then there is no
quorum, one sixth of the total membership of the Council will be sufficient.
(d) A temporary lack of quorum during a meeting shall not cause the meeting to be ceased.
(e) Motions passed in accordance with the Constitution shall be acted upon by the Executive
Committee.
(a) The Emergency Meetings of the Council shall be called at short notice by the Head of Communica-
tions at the Written return request of all least one third of the total number of the members
of the Executive Committee.
(b) The Emergency Meeting of the Council shall be called upon at short notice by the Head of Communi-
cations at the request of at least one third of the total membership of the Council.
(a) The Executive Committee shall meet at least once per academic term.
(b) The meeting shall be called by the President or the Head of Communications.
(c) At least two weeks notice for each meeting shall be given, along with an agenda.
(d) The quorum for such a meeting shall be half of the total number of the members of the Executive
Committee.
18 ELECTIONS
17.1 Any full member of the Federation shall be eligible for election.
17.2 All the candidates shall be elected by secret ballot on simple majority.
17.3 The order of the election of the Executive Committee shall be as follows:
(a) The President.
(b) The Vice President of Training and Human Resources, Vice President of Islamic Societies, Vice Pres-
ident of Student Affairs, Head of Communications and Head of Finance.
(c) The regional council chairs shall be elected by their region before or during the ACM and then
ratified at this point by the council
19 VOTING
(a) Each member of the Council shall be eligible to cast one vote.
(b) All voting, with the exception of voting for the election of Executive Officers and for motions for
disciplinary actions, shall be by show of hands.
(c) A member of the Executive Committee shall be eligible to cast one vote at any Executive
Committee or Council meeting.
(d) No Proxy vote shall be recorded at Council and Executive Committee meetings.
(e) Constituent Observers, Associate observers and Observers shall not have voting rights at
Council or Executive Committee meetings
(a) Any Executive Officer may tender his resignation to the Executive Committee.
(b) When the Executive Committee has accepted the resignation, the Executive Committee shall
then have the power to appoint any Muslim student member of a constituent to fill the post of
the resigning Executive Officer, or the post of the Executive Officer who has relinquished his
post as a result of his new appointment. Such member shall enjoy the same rights as the
elected members.
(c) No member of the Executive Committee shall be permitted to hold any Executive post on the
termination of his stay in the United Kingdom and Eire.
21 FINANCE
(a) There shall be a fund known as the “Federation Fund” hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”.
(b) The Fund shall be derived from affiliation fees, donations or from any other sources provided
they do not contravene any part of the Islamic Shari'ah or the Constitution.
(c) The Executive Committee shall unless otherwise instructed by the Council, decided how the
Fund shall be used.
(d) The Head of Finance shall set the Office manager a maximum amount of annual petty cash at the
beginning of the year
(e) All cheques drawn from the Fund must be signed by the Head of Finance and counter signed by any
one of the Executive Officers authorised by the Executive Committee.
(f) The Executive Committee shall have the description to appeal for emergency funds or
donations, should the need arise, providing such appeals are in accordance with the objects
and aims of the Federation.
22 AUDITORS
(a) A firm of professional auditors may be appointed by the Council at its discretion, to examine
and audit the accounts of the Federation presented by the Head of Finance.
(b) The firm shall examine and audit the accounts of the Federation presented by the Head of Finance.
23 OBSERVERS
(a) Observers may be invited by the Executive Committee in accordance with article 12(g).
(b) Constituent and Associates may send any number of observers.
(c) The observers shall not have debating or discussion rights except by permission of the
President.
24 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
(a) Any Constituent or any member of the Executive Committee may propose an amendment to
the Constitution.
(b) All amendments shall be submitted in writing.
(c) Amendments to the Constitution shall reach the Head of Communications at least six weeks before
the Council meeting.
(d) The Head of Communications shall circulate the amendments duly proposed and seconded, to all
Constituents at least four weeks before the Council meeting.
(e) Amendments to the original amendments should reach the Head of Communications not later than
two weeks before the Council meeting.
(f) Amendments received less than two weeks before the Council meeting shall not be introduced
at the Council meeting.
(g) Amendments to the Constitution shall be passed by two third of all the Council members or
four fifths of all the Council members present provided at least one third of the total
membership of the Council is present.
(h) Amendments to the Constitution shall not contravene the Qur’an and Sunnah.
25 DISCIPLINARY ACTION
(a) Disciplinary action may be taken against any Constituent or Associate, which is acting in a
manner prejudicial to the objects and aims of the Federation.
(b) The Executive Committee has the power to carry disciplinary action in the form the Executive
Committee thinks fit and necessary; the Executive Committee must then communicate the
matter to the Constituent or Association concerned.
(c) No Constituent shall be expelled from the Federation without the approval of the Council.
(d) The Constituent against whom disciplinary action has been taken has the right of appeal to the
Council.
26 INTERPRETATION
(a) The Council only shall have the power to interpret the Constitution.
(b) Council not in session
(c) The Executive Committee shall have the power to interpret the Constitution when the Council
is not in session.
27 CONSTITUTIONAL BOOK
The Head of Communications shall maintain a book, which shall include a Master Copy of the Constitu-
tion, all amendments, and additions as they are made in chronological order, and which shall also include
a Master Copy of Standing Orders.