Following the Local Government Act 2000, Huntingdonshire District Council introduced a new Constitution which sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people.  Some of these processes are required by the law, others are a matter for the Council to choose.

The Constitution is divided into 16 Articles which set out the basic rules governing the Council's business.  More detailed procedures and codes of practice are provided in separate rules and protocols set out in Section 5.

Article 1 of the Constitution commits the Council to provide clear leadership in the community in partnership with citizens, business and other organisations; efficient, effective and accountable decision making with the active involvement of citizens; effective representation by Councillors of their constituents; and continuous improvements in service delivery.

Articles 2 - 16 explain the rights of citizens and how the key parts of the Council operate.  These are -

• Members of the Council (Article 2)
• Citizens and the Council (Article 3)
• The Council Meeting (Article 4)
• Chairing the Council (Article 5)
• Overview and Scrutiny (Article 6)
• The Cabinet (Article 7)
• Regulatory and Other Committees and Panels (Article 8)
• The Standards Committee (Article 9)
• Area Committees (Article 10)
• Joint Arrangements (Article 11)
• Officers (Article 12)
• Decision Making (Article 13)
• Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters (Article 14)
• Review and Revision of the Constitution (Article 15)
• Suspension, Interpretation and Publication of the Constitution (Article
  16).