Separate from the annual meeting at which Mr David Trimble was re-elected as party leader, a special meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council was convened on Saturday afternoon to deal with the motion put down by Mr David Burnside.
It read that the UUC, "having regard to the widespread community support for the retention of the name Royal Ulster Constabulary, instructs the leadership and members of the assembly party not to participate in the executive and North/South, British/Irish councils and institutions until her majesty's government commits itself to retaining the proud name of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (GC - George Cross)."
An amendment from Mr Trimble referred to the "widespread community support" for the retention of the name and to the decision that the council would reconvene to "consider any possible Ulster Unionist participation in a resumed executive and assembly".
It instructed "the parliamentary party to pursue vigorously appropriate amendments to any legislation on policing in both houses of parliament [called] for support from all who seek the retention of the proud name and symbols of the RUC, and [called] for the implementation of the other controversial aspects of Patten to be postponed until violence has ended and terrorists have disarmed".
The amendment was lost by 338 (47 per cent) votes to 384 (53 per cent).
The original motion was endorsed by acclamation.