State legislation relating to band clubs

Abstract

The thesis aims at analysing the various pieces of state legislation regulating band clubs. It revolves around the premise that there is no one ad hoe legislation regulating band clubs. Although band clubs have existed since the middle of the nineteenth century and they have been multiplying ever since, no legislative body has yet taken the initiative of regulating the institute of band clubs by promulgating an ad hoe enactment. The First Chapter shows the historical evolution of band clubs. The Chapter captures the origins of band clubs and the role band clubs have had in Malta's history. The Chapter also illustrates the contribution the Malta Band Clubs Association has had in representing the interests of most of the band clubs. Next, the Second Chapter puts the historical evolution of band clubs into a legal perspective. It surveys the most important laws that have existed throughout the years relating to band clubs. Chapter Three deals with the present laws regulating band clubs. It does so by taking the Saint Joseph Band Club of Hal-Ghaxaq as a model by way of a case study. Chapter Four shows the various other collateral issues involving band clubs, such as the very technical subject of juridical personality. It also examines two important recent laws of relevance to band clubs - the Voluntary Organisations Act and the Civil Code Amendment No. 2 of 2007. The last chapter also delves into the issue whether European law has had an impact on band clubs since Malta joined the European Union.