Founding Congress Standing Orders
One-time rules for the founding event. Expires upon the Congress's conclusion.These Standing Orders govern the conduct of the Founding Congress of AURIO. They are in force for the duration of the Founding Congress only and expire upon its conclusion.
The Founding Day
Nine steps. One vote at a time. The party is constituted in real time.
1. Purpose and Authority
1.1. These Standing Orders set out how the Founding Congress of AURIO will conduct its business.
1.2. The Founding Congress exercises all powers of the Congress as set out in Constitution Article 23.1, including the adoption of the Constitution, the election of the initial Political Council and the ratification of the party’s founding documents.
1.3. The Standing Orders Committee (SOC) is responsible for interpreting these rules and advising the Congress Chair on their application.
2. The Standing Orders Committee
2.1. The SOC shall be composed of 3 members appointed by the Party Leader prior to the Congress. SOC members shall not be candidates for the initial Political Council.
2.2. The SOC prepares the agenda and advises the Congress Chair on procedural matters.
2.3. Decisions of the SOC on procedural matters are binding during the Founding Congress.
3. Chairing of the Founding Congress
3.1. The Founding Congress shall be chaired by a Congress Chair appointed by the Party Leader.
3.2. The Congress Chair should not be a candidate for the initial Political Council, to ensure impartiality.
3.3. The Congress Chair is responsible for ensuring that debate is fair, orderly and conducted in line with these Standing Orders.
3.4. The rulings of the Congress Chair on procedural matters are final.
3.5. If the Congress extends over multiple sessions, the Congress Chair may rotate between sessions with a deputy appointed by the SOC.
4. Participants and Observers
4.1. All founding members who have signed the Declaration of Establishment are participants in the Founding Congress with full speaking and voting rights.
4.2. Observers and guests may attend with the permission of the Congress Chair but do not have the right to speak unless invited.
5. Agenda and Order of Business
5.1. The SOC shall circulate a proposed agenda to all founding members at least 14 days before the Congress.
5.2. The agenda shall include:
a. Opening and welcome.
b. Presentation and adoption of the Constitution.
c. Presentation and adoption of the Standing Orders.
d. Presentation and adoption of the Political Statement.
e. Election of the initial Political Council.
f. Election of the Disciplinary Committee and Financial Audit Committee.
g. Debate and vote on any amendments to the founding documents.
h. Adoption of the First Year Organisational Strategy.
i. Any other business as determined by the SOC.
5.3. The SOC may propose adjustments to the order of business during the Congress to manage time or ensure balanced debate. The Congress Chair’s decision on adjustments is final.
6. Amendments to the Founding Documents
6.1. Founding members may submit amendments to the founding documents (Constitution, Standing Orders, Political Statement) to the SOC at least 7 days before the Congress.
6.2. Amendments must:
a. Address a specific clause or section of the relevant document.
b. Not be overly long.
c. Not contradict other sections of the founding documents.
d. Not contradict the party’s legal obligations under Greek law.
e. Not commit the party’s resources beyond what is reasonable or sustainable.
6.3. The SOC shall review all submitted amendments and publish those that are in order to all founding members at least 3 days before the Congress.
6.4. Amendments that are not in order shall be communicated to their proposers with reasons.
6.5. The Political Statement, as a statement of principles, shall be debated and adopted as a whole. Amendments to the Political Statement shall take the form of proposed alternative wording for specific principles, not line-by-line edits.
7. Speaking and Debate
7.1. The Congress Chair shall call for a speaker to introduce each founding document.
7.2. The introducing speaker shall have up to 10 minutes.
7.3. The Congress Chair shall call speakers for and against each amendment.
7.4. Speakers for and against shall have up to 3 minutes each.
7.5. The Congress Chair may reduce speaking times if necessary to ensure the completion of business.
7.6. No participant may speak more than once on the same amendment.
7.7. The Congress Chair may end a speaker’s contribution if the speaker exceeds the allotted time or does not speak to the amendment under debate.
8. Voting
8.1. Voting shall take place only on amendments and documents that have been debated.
8.2. Voting on all matters shall be open to all founding members through the party’s secure online voting system, regardless of physical attendance.
8.3. For amendments: votes are conducted by simple majority of eligible voters.
8.4. For adoption of the Constitution and Standing Orders: votes are conducted by simple majority of eligible voters. At the Founding Congress only, Constitution amendments require a simple majority rather than the two thirds majority that will apply at subsequent Congresses (as referenced in the Constitution’s transitional provisions).
8.5. For adoption of the Political Statement: the statement is adopted as a whole by simple majority.
8.6. Voting windows shall be announced by the Congress Chair. Results shall be announced as soon as practicable.
8.7. The Congress Chair shall announce when results from earlier votes have a consequential impact on later amendments.
9. Elections at the Founding Congress
9.1. The Founding Congress shall elect:
a. The initial Political Council, as set out in Constitution Article 23.4.
b. The initial Disciplinary Committee, as set out in Constitution Article 10.
c. The initial Financial Audit Committee, as set out in Constitution Article 12.
9.2. Candidates for the Political Council must submit their nominations to the SOC at least 7 days before the Congress, supported by at least 3 seconders from the founding membership.
9.3. A full candidate list shall be published to all founding members at least 3 days before the Congress.
9.4. Voting shall be conducted by one member one vote, using a single transferable vote system, through the party’s online voting system.
9.5. Results shall be announced by the Congress Chair.
10. Conduct
10.1. All participants must conduct themselves respectfully, in accordance with the Code of Conduct set out in Constitution Article 11.
10.2. Offensive, discriminatory, threatening or abusive language or behaviour will not be tolerated.
10.3. The Congress Chair may require any participant or observer to withdraw from the venue if their conduct disrupts proceedings.
10.4. Any participant whose conduct requires their withdrawal may also face disciplinary action under the Constitution.
10.5. In the event of serious disruption to any session, the SOC and Congress Chair may determine that the affected business is put to a vote of all founding members online without further debate.
11. Interpretation and Expiry
11.1. The Standing Orders Committee is the final authority on the interpretation of these Standing Orders during the Founding Congress.
11.2. Any matters not covered by these Standing Orders shall be determined by the Congress Chair in consultation with the SOC.
11.3. These Standing Orders expire upon the conclusion of the Founding Congress. All subsequent congresses are governed by the party’s permanent Standing Orders.