Draft a constitution for your incorporated association

If you decide to incorporate your association, you must have a constitution.

A constitution is a standard set of rules that all members must follow.

It sets out how you operate and is a contract between the association and its members.

Read below to find out more. You can also watch the video.

Get a printable fact sheet PDF (3.0 MB).

Getting started

To draft a constitution, follow these steps:

Step 1. Write down your rules

You can use the model constitution template or draft your own.

The model constitution has been written to meet legal requirements and help you identify how you want to operate.

Get the model constitution template.

Model constitution template PDF (208.8 KB)
Model constitution template DOCX (44.9 KB)

What to include

You should include the following information:

• minimum number of members
• objects and purposes of the association
• membership eligibility
• categories of membership and the rights for each category
• committee details and its powers
• creation of executive offices and how they will be filled
• how you will:
  • settle disputes between the association and its members
  • conduct meetings
  • manage funds
  • change, add or rescind the constitution
  • change the objects or purposes of the association.

Step 2. Submit for assessment

Email your draft to associations.compliance@nt.gov.au.

It will be assessed for compliance with the Associations Act 2003.

After you submit

If your draft meets the legal requirements, you will be advised and then be able to formalise the process. Find out more in step 3 of starting an association.

Once you're incorporated, the public can access your constitution for a fee.

If your draft doesn’t meet legislative requirements, you will be notified and told what you need to do to be compliant.

Change the rules

Rules apply for changing your constitution.

Request a copy of a constitution

To request a copy of an association’s constitution, email territorybusinesscentre@nt.gov.au.

Contact

Contact the compliance team.