# PROPOSAL: resolution to update the Constitution

**URL:** <https://datashield.discourse.group/t/proposal-resolution-to-update-the-constitution/1529>\
**Category:** News\
**Created:** [4 August 2026 08:00 UTC](https://datashield.discourse.group/t/proposal-resolution-to-update-the-constitution/1529 "2026-08-04T08:00:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![asm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@asm](https://datashield.discourse.group/u/asm)\
**Post date:** [4 August 2026 08:00 UTC](https://datashield.discourse.group/t/proposal-resolution-to-update-the-constitution/1529/1 "2026-08-04T08:00:40Z")

</div>

Following its meeting last week, the Steering Committee is making a proposal to amend the Constitution.

# Detail

**Section 5.5**

This section currently states:

```
    "The Steering Committee provides overall leadership to the
    DataSHIELD Community and has day to day responsibility for the
    DataSHIELD Community."

```

**Section 5.5.7**

This section currently states:

```
    "The Steering Committee will elect a Chair and Secretary from
    among their members."

```

# Proposed amendments:

Section 5.5 - **APPEND** the following:

```
    "The Steering Committee will be quorate if greater than 50% of
    members are in attendance. Decisions will be made by consensus, but
    where this is not possible a simple majority of members present
    will suffice."

```

Section 5.5.7 - **APPEND** the following:

```
    "These roles are unique and may only be occupied by one person
    at a time. Each role will be confirmed on an annual basis,
    normally at the first meeting of each calendar year. Decisions
    will be made by consensus, but where this is not possible a
    simple majority of members present will suffice. In the event of
    a tie, the outgoing Chair shall provide a deciding vote."

```

# Procedure

The Constitution states that: “Votes are taken by the Steering Committee Secretary (or appropriate other neutral person…)” As there is not currently a Steering Committee Secretary, the SC has agreed that the appropriate other neutral person shall be the Chair of the Advisory Board, Dr Simon Parker.

The _Discussion Period_ will finish in 2 weeks.

This will be followed (within 7 days of the Discussion Period ending) by a _Voting Period_ of 2 weeks.

More details are provided in the post: [proposal-procedure](https://datashield.discourse.group/t/proposal-procedure/)