Constitution

Revised October 2026

1 Name and status

The organisation is the British Cane Corso Society, referred to as the Society or BCCS. It is a non-profit unincorporated membership association based in England. This constitution is governed by the law of England and Wales.

The Society’s income and assets must be used for its objectives. No surplus or assets may be distributed to members. Properly authorised, reasonable expenses may be reimbursed. Committee service is unpaid.

2 Purpose and objectives

The Society exists to protect the health, welfare, heritage, temperament, integrity and long-term future of the Cane Corso in the United Kingdom and through international cooperation. The welfare and future of the breed must guide its decisions.

The Society will promote responsible ownership and ethical breeding; preserve sound, functional breed type and stable temperament; encourage appropriate health testing, genetic diversity and evidence-based improvement; and provide education and support for owners, breeders and the public.

The Society will maintain the Breeder Recognition Scheme as a central pillar of its work, organise educational activities and events, and cooperate with organisations whose purposes support these objectives.

The FCI breed standard will inform breed preservation, with health, welfare and function central to its interpretation. Any applicable UK breed standard or formal affiliation requirements will be recognised where relevant. The Society may work towards Royal Kennel Club recognition without representing that recognition or affiliation as already secured.

3 Membership and rights

3.1 Membership categories are Individual, Joint or Family, Junior, Breeder and Honorary Life. Junior membership is for those under 18 and carries no vote. Honorary Life membership is conferred by a ballot of voting members. Breeder membership applies to members who have bred a litter within the preceding three years and participate in the Breeder Recognition Scheme. Scheme recognition does not confer additional votes.

3.2 Each adult membership carries one vote. A Joint or Family membership must nominate one adult to exercise its vote and may change that nomination before the published eligibility date. No person may exercise more than one personal membership vote; this does not prevent acting as an authorised proxy for someone else.

3.3 Members may receive relevant notices, contribute proposals and concerns, and participate in accordance with their category. Adult members may stand for committee election after twelve months of continuous membership. Candidates must consent to nomination and acknowledge the Committee Commitment and Code of Conduct.

3.4 Applications are subject to committee approval against published, reasonable eligibility criteria. Approval may be delegated under a recorded procedure. Decisions must be consistent with the Society’s objectives and must not exclude someone merely for constructive disagreement. Refused applicants must receive reasons and may request an impartial review.

3.5 A website account or service purchase does not by itself establish constitutional membership. The membership register must record admission, category and voting eligibility. Free and Member Plus website plans describe benefits; their relationship with membership must be clearly published and must not alter constitutional voting rights.

3.6 Membership runs from 1 January to 31 December. The committee sets subscriptions, including any free category, and gives reasonable advance notice of changes. Paid membership lapses if subscriptions remain unpaid after 31 March. Voting continues during that grace period unless membership is otherwise suspended. Free and Honorary Life membership does not lapse for non-payment; members must confirm current contact details when reasonably requested.

3.7 Members must support the Society’s objectives and comply with this constitution and applicable policies. A member may resign in writing. Suspension or termination for misconduct must follow section 12. A subscription change must not retrospectively remove an accrued membership right.

4 Breeder Recognition Scheme

4.1 The Scheme supports responsible breeding through education, transparency, accountability and meaningful improvement. Genuine efforts to improve should receive proportionate support, while recognition must depend on meeting the applicable standards.

4.2 The Scheme will provide a progression pathway, initially using Foundation, Responsible and Prestige tiers. The committee may develop tier names, criteria and assessment procedures through published policy after proportionate consultation. Technical health requirements belong in that policy.

4.3 Scheme status is reviewed annually against proportionate evidence. Assessment, public listing, referrals and badge use must follow published criteria. Foundation participation must be distinguished from public recommendation. Only tiers meeting the published requirements for Responsible or Prestige recognition, or their approved equivalents, may receive breeder promotion.

4.4 Assessors must declare conflicts and must not decide their own applications or those involving a personal or commercial conflict. Adverse decisions require reasons, an opportunity to respond and an impartial appeal under section 12. Recognition must not be bought or influenced through donations, office or personal connections.

4.5 Changes must be communicated with reasonable implementation periods. Urgent, evidence-based welfare measures may take effect sooner, with recorded reasons and review. Abolishing the Scheme or fundamentally departing from its welfare and improvement purpose requires constitutional amendment under section 16.

5 Committee structure and responsibilities

5.1 The committee comprises a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and up to six other voting members. The committee may designate a Vice Chair and allocate functions such as membership, breed health, education and communications among those members. Each person has one committee vote. A person must not hold both Chair and Treasurer offices.

5.2 The committee administers the Society, implements valid member decisions, safeguards assets, oversees the Scheme, approves activities and adopts supporting policies. It must act collectively within this constitution and report meaningfully to members.

5.3 The Chair coordinates committee work and fair discussion. The Secretary maintains governance records, notices and decisions. The Treasurer oversees accounts, financial reporting and payment controls. Responsibilities may be shared or delegated, but the committee retains oversight.

5.4 A Founder, Patron, adviser or volunteer does not acquire a committee vote, permanent seat, veto or appointment power through that title alone. The committee may invite advisers and establish working groups with written responsibilities and reporting arrangements.

5.5 No individual may commit or speak for the Society without recorded authority. Delegations must identify their scope, limits and reporting requirements and may be reviewed by the committee.

6 Elections vacancies and succession

6.1 Committee positions are elected annually by eligible voting members through a written or secure electronic ballot. An annual members’ meeting is not required. Members must receive at least 21 days to submit nominations, followed by at least 21 days to vote. Officer positions and other seats must be identified separately.

6.2 Unopposed consenting candidates may be declared elected. Contested seats are filled by the highest number of valid votes, with a further ballot for any tie affecting election. Two impartial people must verify contested results. Existing officeholders remain until successors take office, for no more than three months beyond the scheduled election date.

6.3 A committee member may resign in writing. The committee may co-opt an eligible member to a vacancy until the next annual election, provided co-option does not create a co-opted majority. Co-opted members have one vote. The Vice Chair, or another committee member selected by the committee, may coordinate work during an officer’s temporary absence.

6.4 Committee members may agree temporary leave and reassignment of duties. Persistent disengagement should first prompt contact, support and discussion. Removal from office requires the fair process in section 12 and a two-thirds vote of eligible, unconflicted committee members then serving, with an impartial appeal. Members may also remove an officeholder by a two-thirds member ballot under section 10.

6.5 If vacancies or conflicts prevent a lawful committee decision, those remaining may only protect existing assets, meet unavoidable obligations and arrange a member ballot or extraordinary meeting to restore governance. They may not use this limited authority to change membership rights or appoint a permanent replacement committee.

7 Committee meetings

7.1 Meetings will normally take place monthly or every other month according to the Society’s work, with at least four each year. They may be in person, remote or hybrid. Dates should be planned with regard to employment, caring responsibilities and other personal commitments.

7.2 Normally at least seven days’ notice and an agenda must be provided. Urgent meetings require as much notice as reasonably possible and a recorded explanation. Any two committee members may request a meeting; the Secretary should arrange it within 21 days or record why an alternative date is necessary.

7.3 Quorum is one-third of serving voting committee members, rounded up, with a minimum of four. Members participating remotely count if able to follow and contribute to proceedings. Those attending choose a meeting chair if the Chair and Vice Chair are unavailable.

7.4 Quorum must exist throughout each decision. A member excluded for a conflict does not count for that item. Without quorum, participants may exchange information and arrange another meeting but must not pass substantive resolutions. Section 6.5 governs essential protective action where governance cannot otherwise continue.

7.5 Apologies and written contributions are welcome. Absence alone does not automatically remove someone from office. Minutes must record attendance, conflicts, decisions, voting totals and actions, and be circulated for correction and approval. Sensitive personal matters must be recorded securely with restricted access.

8 Committee decisions and conflicts

8.1 At a quorate meeting, ordinary decisions require more votes in favour than against. Abstentions are recorded and excluded from votes cast. Each eligible committee member, including the meeting chair, has one ordinary vote. A tied motion fails; there is no casting vote.

8.2 Between meetings, a proposal may be decided in writing or electronically if identical wording and relevant information are sent to all eligible committee members. Normally at least seven days must be allowed for response. Approval requires more than half of all eligible, unconflicted serving committee members, and at least four affirmative votes. Silence is not consent. Results must be recorded and reported at the next meeting.

8.3 Members must declare actual or potential personal, financial, family, breeding or organisational conflicts. The committee must maintain a proportionate interests register. An unconflicted committee decides disputed conflicts. A conflicted member may provide requested factual information, then withdraw from discussion and voting on the affected item.

8.4 A shared interest in breed policy does not automatically exclude breeder members from general discussion or voting. A decision about someone’s own application, complaint, payment or particular commercial benefit requires separate consideration of conflict. Sponsors, donors and partners acquire no governance rights through their support.

9 Member participation and extraordinary meetings

9.1 There is no requirement for an annual members’ meeting. The committee must circulate annual officer reports and independently examined accounts within six months of the financial year end, allow at least 21 days for questions and provide a reasonable response.

9.2 An extraordinary general meeting may be called by committee majority or a written request from at least 20% of voting memberships. A valid member request must identify its business. The committee must issue notice within 21 days and hold the meeting within 56 days of receipt. If it fails to do so, the requesting members may arrange the meeting using the same notice and eligibility safeguards. The Society must facilitate lawful notice delivery without unnecessarily disclosing personal data.

9.3 Give at least 21 days’ written notice with the business and exact resolutions. Meetings may be remote, hybrid or in person. Business is limited to the notice. Attendees select an impartial meeting chair.

9.4 Quorum is 10% of eligible voting memberships, rounded up, with a minimum of five, including valid proxies. If fewer than five eligible voting memberships exist, all are required. At least two eligible members must participate personally or remotely. Advance ballot papers do not count as meeting attendance.

9.5 If quorum is absent after 30 minutes or lost during business, substantive decisions stop. A further meeting requires fresh notice under this section and the same quorum. An adjournment does not automatically reduce the threshold.

10 Member ballots and voting safeguards

10.1 The committee may refer a Society matter to a member ballot. A written request from at least 20% of voting memberships must be put to a ballot or extraordinary meeting within 56 days, subject to this constitution. The proposed decision must be lawful and within the Society’s objectives.

10.2 Written or secure electronic ballots must remain open for at least 21 days. Notice must explain the exact proposal, eligibility date, closing time, applicable threshold and method of verification. Eligibility is fixed on the date notice is issued. Existing admissions must not be selectively delayed to affect a vote.

10.3 Except for elections under section 6, participation must reach the number required for a general meeting quorum under section 9.4. Ordinary resolutions require more votes in favour than against. Abstentions count towards participation but are excluded from votes cast. Amendments, removal from office and dissolution require the higher thresholds expressly stated.

10.4 Meeting votes may be cast personally, remotely or by a written proxy received at least 48 hours beforehand. Proxies must identify the voter, proxy holder, meeting and any voting instructions. A proxy is unnecessary for someone submitting their own written or electronic ballot.

10.5 Procedures must prevent duplicate voting, protect confidential ballots and allow results to be verified. Provide a practical written alternative for members unable to vote electronically. Contested elections and sensitive personal matters require confidential ballots. Report aggregate results without disclosing private choices.

10.6 General policy votes do not require automatic withdrawal by an entire membership category. A person must not adjudicate their own disciplinary case or appeal. Personal conflicts relevant to a specific member decision must be disclosed and managed proportionately.

11 Finance and assets

11.1 The financial year runs from 1 January to 31 December. All income must be recorded and held in a Society bank account. Payments require approval by two unrelated authorised people, including for electronic transactions. No person may approve their own reimbursement.

11.2 The committee must approve a budget, review financial reports and reconciliations regularly, retain supporting records and control recurring commitments. Annual accounts must be examined by an independent person with suitable competence who is not responsible for preparing them. That person is appointed by the committee and identified in the annual report.

11.3 Members may receive authorised expense reimbursement only. Any proposal to permit other payments to members requires constitutional amendment. The Society may purchase appropriate external services and insurance within its objectives and available resources.

11.4 The committee must keep an asset record and identify who is authorised to enter contracts. Where assets or rights must be held by individuals on behalf of the unincorporated Society, that arrangement must be documented and provide for transfer on succession. This constitution does not create limited liability or bind third parties to a liability exclusion.

12 Complaints discipline and appeals

12.1 A published procedure must distinguish service concerns, member misconduct, committee misconduct and Scheme assessment disputes. Good-faith complaints, lawful reporting and constructive criticism are protected. Disagreement alone is not misconduct.

12.2 Before an adverse finding, the person must receive the allegations, relevant evidence or a fair account where disclosure requires protection, reasonable time to respond and a fair opportunity to be heard. Investigators and decision-makers must declare conflicts. Decisions must give reasons and explain any sanction and appeal route.

12.3 Measures may include advice, a warning, conditions on participation, Scheme restriction, suspension or termination. They must be proportionate to the findings. Urgent precautionary restrictions may be imposed only where necessary to address a specific risk, with written reasons and review within 28 days. They do not establish guilt.

12.4 An appeal may be submitted within 28 days of notification. It must be considered by an impartial panel of three people uninvolved in the investigation and original decision, appointed by unconflicted committee members. The appellant may raise reasonable objections to a proposed panel member. Suitable independent people outside the Society may be used where necessary.

12.5 The panel must consider the grounds, allow a fair response and give a reasoned outcome, normally within 56 days of receiving the appeal. It may uphold, vary or overturn the decision or require reconsideration. Any necessary extension must be explained. These provisions replace a general meeting appeal for individual disciplinary cases.

12.6 Matters may be referred to appropriate authorities or relevant bodies where lawful and warranted. Confidentiality must not prevent legitimate reporting or obtaining advice.

13 Committee conduct and supporting policies

Committee members must acknowledge and follow the Committee Commitment and Code of Conduct. It sets detailed expectations for conduct, integrity, confidentiality, respectful working and responsible use of Society resources.

The committee may approve and review supporting policies after proportionate consultation. Policies must be accessible to those affected and must not override this constitution, remove member rights or bypass fair procedures. Serious Code breaches are considered under section 12. The constitution takes precedence in any conflict.

14 Intellectual property and information

The committee must protect Society-owned branding, publications, educational materials, website content, databases and other digital resources. Use and licensing must support the Society’s objectives and must not imply unauthorised endorsement.

Ownership must be established through appropriate records and agreements. Contributors retain rights they have not lawfully transferred. Obtain written assignments or suitable licences covering intended use, editing, publication and continuity. This constitution does not retrospectively transfer copyright or extinguish third-party rights.

Personal data must be handled lawfully and securely for legitimate Society purposes, with appropriate privacy information, retention arrangements and access controls. Access to Society records does not entitle a member to unrestricted access to other people’s personal information.

15 Records and continuity

The Society must preserve its constitution and amendments, membership register, minutes, ballot records, accounts, Scheme decisions and material agreements in controlled storage. At least two appropriately authorised people must be able to recover essential systems and records securely.

Committee members must complete prompt handovers when changing roles or leaving. Handover includes Society records, property, account permissions and outstanding work. Society accounts must not depend solely on one person’s private email or device. Retention, backups and access removal must follow documented arrangements.

16 Constitutional amendments

Amendments require approval by at least two-thirds of valid votes cast in a member ballot or at an extraordinary general meeting satisfying the applicable participation or quorum requirements. Abstentions are excluded from votes cast. The committee cannot amend the constitution through policy or an ordinary committee resolution.

Proposals may be submitted by the committee or at least 20% of voting memberships. Exact wording and a clear explanation of material effects must be circulated at least 21 days before voting closes or the meeting takes place. Substantially different wording requires fresh notice. The result, effective date and revised text must be recorded and made available to members.

17 Dissolution

Dissolution requires at least two-thirds of valid votes cast in a member ballot or at an extraordinary general meeting, with at least 21 days’ notice expressly stating the proposal and the normal participation or quorum requirement. Members must receive information on liabilities, assets and the proposed recipient.

The committee remains responsible for an orderly winding up, settling liabilities, final accounts and lawful handling of records and personal data. Remaining assets must pass to a registered UK canine welfare charity or the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, selected in the dissolution resolution. No assets may pass to individual members. Intellectual property may transfer only subject to applicable ownership and licence terms.

18 Adoption and transition

18.1 This constitution takes effect on the date recorded in the resolution validly adopting it under the constitution previously in force. It does not authorise its own adoption or retrospectively validate earlier decisions.

18.2 On adoption, a transition schedule must identify the current committee, each person’s voting or advisory status, allocated responsibilities and the first election timetable. Existing serving committee members may continue for a transition of no more than twelve months, subject to resignation or fair removal. If their number exceeds section 5.1, the adoption resolution must expressly approve that temporary exception and record how the permanent limit will be reached by the first election.

18.3 The transition schedule must reconcile existing membership records and website plans without silently removing established rights. It must identify outstanding complaints, financial commitments, Scheme decisions and asset handovers that need action.

18.4 Supporting policies remain effective so far as consistent with this constitution and must be reviewed within six months. Adoption does not extinguish accrued rights or resolve ownership disputes. The adopted version must record its date and approving resolution.