1. The Society shall be known as The Society For The Study Of Ancient Egypt (referred to herein as "The Society").

2. The Purpose of The Society shall be to promote and encourage interest in and the study of the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Activities shall include discussions, formal and informal talks, lectures from invited speakers, visits to places of interest and social activities.

3. Membership shall be open to any person interested in Egyptology. Application for membership shall be understood as acceptance of the Rules of the Constitution. Before acceptance, all applications shall be considered by the Committee. The Committee have the power to refuse membership, if deemed necessary, and to cancel membership if the actions of that member bring The Society into disrepute.

4. Categories of Membership shall consist of Individual, Family and Honorary. Family membership shall consist of two adults and young persons under the age of eighteen years. At the age of eighteen such young persons shall cease to be included in Family membership. Honorary members shall be recommended by the Committee based on their service to The Society, and shall be exempt from further payment of fees.

Individual Membership / Family Membership / Honorary Membership
shall be entitled to one copy of 'The Scribe'. Member rates for all trips, day schools, etc., and each adult shall have voting rights at all meetings.

Associate Membership (individual)
shall entitle the individual to one copy of each edition of 'The Scribe' (posted to their home address). Associate Members attending any lecture will pay the Day Membership fee, have no voting rights at any meetings and will pay non-member rates for all other activities.

Day Memberships and Visitor Fees do not entitle that member to vote or receive a copy of 'The Scribe'. Day Membership is for the duration of the one individual lecture.

5. Appointment of a President: At the discretion of the Committee a President may be appointed on a three-yearly renewable term.

6. The Affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Committee consisting of nine members.

(a) Chairman
(b) Vice-Chairman
(c) Secretary
(d) Treasurer
(e) Programme Secretary
(f) Publications Secretary
(g) Social Secretary
(h) Two other members;
(i) Co-opted members as required by the Committee. These persons need not be members of The Society (see Voting Rights);
(j) The President may attend any Committee meeting of The Society.

Job descriptions for all committee members can be made available on request.

Any member elected to the Committee at the Annual General Meeting will agree to pay their membership fee on that day.

A Quorum shall consist of at least 50% of the members of the Committee, which must include two of the principal officers listed from (a) to (d) above.

7. Length of Service: Members of the Committee have to retire annually but may submit their names for re-election. The Chairman may not serve for more than three consecutive years.

8. Voting Rights are confined to fully paid members and may be exercised, when present, at General Meetings or by written proxy should the Committee so agree. In the case of Family membership both adult members are allowed to vote. Co-opted Committee members, who are not members of The Society, shall not be eligible to vote. Voting, whether in Committee or in General Meetings, shall resolve any matter of contention by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. At all General Meetings each member of The Society shall be entitled to one vote. Where two adult Family members (not persons under eighteen years) are both present, each shall be entitled to one vote. In the case of a tied vote, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

9. Accounts of The Society shall be kept by the Treasurer who shall provide an accurate summary when required by the Committee and at the Annual General Meeting. The financial year shall commence on 1st April each year. The Treasurer and one other Officer, the latter to be appointed by the Committee, as the occasion requires, shall maintain a Bank / Building Society account, in the name of The Society. These two persons shall be responsible for signing cheques and other bank documents. Payment of monies over £200.00 shall be subject to approval by the Committee. The bank shall be notified of all signatories. A capable person drawn from outside the Committee, shall be invited to check the accounts before presentation at the Annual General Meeting.

10. Meetings of The Society shall normally be held at approximately three-monthly intervals, but dates may be altered or additional meetings inserted into the annual programme if circumstances arise. Members shall be notified, wherever possible, of any alterations to the programme. Visitors may attend one meeting, as a guest of a member, free of charge. Any subsequent visits will incur a day membership fee agreed by the Committee. A charge for members and guests may be levied, at the Committee's discretion, for certain events.

11. An Annual General Meeting shall be held as soon as convenient after 1st April. This meeting will be asked to approve the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any other General Meetings held throughout the year. The meeting will consider Reports of Officers, conduct elections and discuss business already notified to each member of The Society. Any business to be raised must be notified to the Secretary as an agenda item by 1st March of that year.

At least fourteen days' clear notice of this meeting shall be given to each member of The Society together with a form for nomination of Officers, other Committee members and the wording of any resolution to be put to the meeting. A Quorum shall consist of at least 20% of the total members of The Society and shall include at least two Officers. The Chairman would be expected to officiate at the Annual General Meeting.

12. Special Meetings may be called by the Committee at any time if any important decision is required between Annual General Meetings. This is to be conducted according to the Rules of an Annual General Meeting but normally with only one agenda item. A Special Meeting shall be called if six members of The Society submit a signed written request to the Secretary for discussion of a specific matter. At least one month's written notice of a Special Meeting giving the date, place and hour and specifying the business to be discussed must be sent to each member of The Society. The minutes of this meeting shall be read, together with those of the previous Annual General Meeting, at the next Annual General Meeting.

13. Membership, Day Membership and Visitor Fees shall be discussed by the Committee and recommended for approval to the Annual General Meeting. Fees for members shall be due immediately following the Annual General Meeting each year. Day Membership does not entitle that member to vote or receive a copy of The Scribe. Membership granted between this date and 1st October of the same year shall be subject to the full fee. Membership granted after 1st October and up until 31st March of the following year will be subject to half the full fee. There will be an initial Joining Fee on each application in addition to the annual fee. Fees not paid by the next subsequent meeting following the Annual General Meeting will result in membership of The Society ceasing. A further Joining Fee will be payable for resumption of membership and will again require an application for membership to be approved by the Committee.

14. Funds: No Officer, Committee member or member of The Society shall receive payment from the Society's funds except for the reimbursement of legitimate expenses incurred in the running of The Society's activities. Any such expenses to be agreed in advance by the Committee and supported by relevant receipts.

15. Dissolution: Should it be deemed necessary, for any reason, for The Society to be disbanded, an Extraordinary General Meeting will be convened. Any remaining funds, after payment of all proper expenses, shall be donated to a charity, organisation or individual with an Egyptian interest to be nominated at this meeting. However, if any monies are outstanding, all members will be equally liable for payment.

This Constitution was amended in June 2003 and formally adopted at the 2004 Annual General Meeting held at the New Mechanics, Nottingham on Saturday 17 April 2004.

Further additions (regarding the introduction of Associate Memberships) were adopted at the AGM held on Saturday 22 April 2006.