LevelFile
Ref NoBPS/001/3/07/02/04
TitleBPS Constitution, Royal Charter, Statutes and Rules 1994-2017
Date1994-2017
Extent1 folder
DescriptionFolder contains published British Psychological Society printed constitution booklets.

The Royal Charter, the Statutes, the Rules '
September 1994
September 1994 (Reissued 2001)
April 2004 including amendments approved by the AGM 16 April 2004


The Royal Charter and Statutes
2011
February 2017

The Rules of the Society
January 2011
January 2011 (annotated with proposed changes)
February 2017

See also BPS/001/9/06 for Codes of Ethics and Members Conduct.
FormatTextual Material
NotesThe History of Psychology Centre is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our users. Be aware that our catalogue contains historic terminology relating to mental health which could be considered offensive. The terminology exists within the original record and has been retained to inform users on viewpoints at the time. It in no way reflects the attitudes of the cataloguers or the British Psychological Society.
LanguageEnglish
Related MaterialBPS/001/3/04 BPS AGM and EGM Minutes 1953-1966
RelatedRecordBPS/001/3/04
AccessConditionsAuthorised Users. View by Appointment
AccessStatusOpen
Location13: BPS History of Psychology Centre, London
AdminHistoryThe British Psychological Society was formed in 1901. In 1941 the Society was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1929 as 'as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital'

Section 3 (q) of the Society's Memorandum of Association stated that one of the Society's objectives was
'to apply for, promote and obtain, or join in applying for, promoting, or obtaining by Act of Parliament, Provisional Order, Royal Charter or Licence... to furtherance or realization of any of the objects of the Society'.

After years of discussion a Charter Committee was created in 1952 which was advised that there were only two methods worth considering a Royal Charter and an Act of Parliament. It was felt that the Privy Council might regard the Society as suitable but that an Act of Parliament would limit the powers of the society and wold be expensive and time consuming for any future amendments. Legal advice was that twenty years was an appropriate interval between incorporation and a petition and in 1962 work started on drawing up a petition for a Royal Charter, a draft was circulated to members in 1963. The College solicitor advised in January 1964 that the Secretary of State would not recommend the change of title to 'Royal' and so this was not pursued. The Privy Council asked for some amendments which were agreed at the 1964 AGM which led to its approval by the Queen on 3 May 1965. A dinner was held to celebrate this event during the BPS London conference of 1965. New rules were submitted to the AGM in 1966.

The Society spent many years campaigning for the legal registration of psychologists [see BPS/001/9/05] and on December 18, 1987, the Queen granted amendments to the Charter, thereby allowing the Society to maintain a Register of Chartered Psychologists. In 2009 the HPC took over the role of maintaining the register of chartered psychologists.
RulesDescription compiled in line with the following standard
ISAD (G) General International Standard Archival Description
ArchNoteCompiled by Mike Maskill BPS Archivist for the History of Psychology Centre.
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