The Constitution of the Democratic Alliance Women's Network

1.    DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE WOMEN'S NETWORK

    1.1    NAME       
       
        The name of the organization shall be the DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE WOMEN'S NETWORK hereafter referred to as DAWN.
               
    1.2                VISION AND PRINCIPLES
               
        1.2.1    DAWN fully subscribes to the vision and principles of the Democratic
Alliance as outlined in the Federal and Provincial Constitutions.
           
        1.2.2       DAWN will:
               
            (i)     promote the empowerment and development of women and help build their self-confidence to stimulate and activate initiatives.
               
            (ii)    promote amongst women a consciousness of accountability, patriotism and unity.
               
            (iii)     promote women's participation in every sector of public life.
               
            (iv)     promote a healthy culture of the recognition of women's rights as human rights.
               
            (v)     oppose violence against women wherever possible.
               
   
2.           ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES
               
    2.1    BRANCHES
               
        2.1.1        A DAWN branch shall correspond to the boundaries of a D.A. Constituency.
               
        2.1.2       All public representatives within such a constituency must be informed of all established branches of DAWN.
               
        2.1.3    A DAWN branch shall elect at it's annual general meeting the executive committee, which shall consist of the Chairperson, Deputy Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and 5 (Five) additional members.
            Nominees for any one of these positions must have been registered DA members for at least sixty days prior to the annual general meeting.
           
        2.1.4        The DAWN branch committee shall meet as soon as possible after its election and allocate tasks and functions among its members to enable it to carry out day-to-day activities of the branch.
           
        2.1.5        The DAWN branch committee shall carry out the organizational work and the publicizing thereof in its area in the furtherance of its policies and program decisions, including those of the D.A.
           
        2.1.6        The branch chairperson will submit a regular report to the DAWN provincial executive committee (PEC).
           
        2.1.7        The quorum for a branch meeting shall be 50% + 1 (fifty percent plus one).
               
               
3.            PROVINCIAL STRUCTURES
               
    3.1          Each province shall hold a Provincial DAWN Congress every second year at which the DAWN Provincial Executive Committee consisting of a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected.
               
    3.2    The DAWN Provincial Congress shall be attended by delegates elected by branches with no more then two representatives from each branch.
        Other registered members may attend the congress as observers.
               
    3.3    The Provincial Executive Committee shall be responsible for carrying out the decisions of the Provincial Congress.
        The PEC of DAWN shall meet at least four times per annum, finances permitting but no less than twice a year.
               
    3.4         Subject to the overall guidance of DAWN Federal Executive Committee (FEC), the Provincial Executive Committee shall be the highest organ of DAWN in the Province.
               
    3.5         The PEC shall submit quarterly reports to the FEC with specific reference to membership, state of the organization and financial position of the province and 
other matters as may be specified.
       
       
               
    3.6         The PEC may initiate provincial community projects that compliment the activities of the DA.
               
               
4.    RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE
               
    4.1    DAWN is an integral part of the Democratic Alliance and is part of its mobilizing machinery to maximize votes for the party.
               
    4.2    DAWN, however, has a separate identity and is autonomous in the conduct of its affairs and in the administration and control of its resources, subject to the general authority of the Federal Council of the DA.
               
    4.3    All organs of DAWN shall closely co-operate with the National Executive Committee, within the structures of the DA dealing with the empowerment of women, gender equality and all issues affecting women.
               
    4.4    DAWN shall receive an annual budget for specific projects determined and approved by the FEC of the DA.
               
   
5.    RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
               
    5.1        Each member shall:
               
        5.1.1           take a full and active part in the discussion, formulation and implementation of the policies of DAWN.
               
        5.1.2    receive and impart information on all aspects of  DAWN'S policies and activities to its members.
               
        5.1.3    contribute constructive input to any official decision, program, activity process or procedure of DAWN.
               
        5.1.4    take all the necessary steps to understand and carry out the aims and objectives of DAWN as well as the DA.
               
        5.1.5    deepen their understanding of the social, cultural,  political and economic problems of the country.
               
        5.1.6    Inform her branch of relocation to any other area and report to the new branch secretary on arrival.
               
        5.1.7    refrain from publishing and or distributing media material without authorization which purports to be the   view of any organized grouping within DAWN; and
               
        5.1.8    resist against sexism, chauvinism, racism, religious and all other forms of discrimination.
               
               
6.    MEMBERSHIP OF DAWN
               
    6.1    Membership of DAWN shall be open to all members of  the party who undertake to promote and carry out the vision and principles of DAWN and the D.A.
               
    6.2    Every branch shall keep an up-to-date record of its registered members and submit full particulars of all new members to the PEC on a monthly basis. i.e. full names, surname,  I.D. numbers, address and contact numbers.
               
    6.3    To be eligible to serve as a DAWN Committee member you must be a paid up member of the D.A.
               
    6.4    In order for branch members to serve as a delegates to Provincial Congress they must be registered DAWN members.
               
               
7.    FEDERAL CONGRESS
               
    7.1    The highest organ of DAWN shall be the Federal.
        Congress which shall provide direction and leadership to the organization and determine the policies and programs of DAWN.
               
    7.2    DAWN Federal Congress shall elect the Federal Executive committee (FEC) consisting of a Leader, Deputy Leader, Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Treasurer.
               
    7.3    The DAWN Federal Congress shall take place concurrent to the Federal Congress of the D.A.
               
    7.4    Delegates to Federal Congress DAWN will have voting and speaking rights whilst others may attend as observers.
               
    7.5    Delegates to Federal Congress DAWN will be limited to 10 delegates per province and selection will be determined by branches in all areas.
               
    7.6    Business for the agenda at a Federal Congress will be the election of officer-bearers, amendments to the constitution and important matters of national importance.
               
    7.7    The DAWN Federal Congress shall conduct all its business within the framework of the Federal Constitution of the Democratic Alliance.
               
   
8.      FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
               
    8.1    The chairperson of each province shall be an ex officio member of the FEC with full voting rights.
               
    8.2    The FEC has the right and power to review, ratify, alter or rescind any decision taken by any of the constituent bodies, or officials of DAWN.
               
    8.3    The FEC shall draw up standing orders for the conduct of all proceedings at the congress.
               
    8.4    The FEC shall ensure that the Provincial structures of DAWN function effectively and democratically.
               
    8.5    Should a Provincial Chairperson be unable to attend a FEC meeting another member may be substituted from the province.