Constitution
A constitution for a National Sporting Organisation is the foundational legal document that establishes the organisation as an incorporated entity and sets out the fundamental rules governing how it operates.
It typically covers:
- Name and objects — the organisation's legal name and its core purposes
- Membership — categories of members, rights, obligations, admission and termination processes
- Governance structure — composition of the board, how directors are appointed or elected, their terms, and removal procedures
- Meetings — rules for general meetings, board meetings, voting procedures, and quorum requirements
- Officers — roles like chair, secretary, and treasurer, and how they're appointed
- Financial matters — the financial year, auditing requirements, and how funds can be used
- Amendment procedures — how the constitution itself can be changed (usually requiring a special resolution)
- Winding up — what happens to assets if the organisation dissolves
For Australian NSOs, the constitution must comply with the relevant state or territory incorporations act (such as the Associations Incorporation Act in Queensland or the Corporations Act if registered as a company limited by guarantee). Sport Australia also has an NSO Template Constitution that organisations are increasingly expected to align with to maintain recognition — which is what you've been working through with the July 2026 compliance deadline.
The constitution sits above policies and bylaws in the governance hierarchy; everything else must be consistent with it.