Subject to this Constitution and Regulations pursuant to this Constitution, the Union shall have management and control of its affairs, concerns, properties and finances and may act, in all matters concerning the Union, in such manner as appears to be best calculated to promote the interests and purposes of the Union. In particu- lar, the Union shall be empowered:-
(a) to borrow money on overdraft or by way of loan from any bank or any other persons upon, at and subject to, such security, interests and other terms and conditions as the Union may deem appropriate;
(b) to apply any grants made by the College, and other monies in the nature of grants which are made available to it, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution for any specific purposes for which such grants might be made;
(c) subject to the provisions of Part Ill Section 1 (a) and (b) of this Constitution, to use and expend its income, however derived in the purchase of equip- ment, goods, chattels and stock for any thing, purpose or use whatsoever subject to this Constitution;
(d) to employ persons or hire agents in its service, and to remunerate any per- son in cash or otherwise, for services rendered or to be rendered;
(e) to publish a student newspaper/s and generally to produce student publi- cations in any media form;
(f) to take property on lease or hire;
GENERAL INFORMATION
(g) to sell, lease or make any other disposition of property owned by the Unio (h) to invest and deal with monies of the Union which are not immediately r
quired;
(i) to do all things which are incidental to the above powers and to the attai ment of the aims and objectives of the Union and to the exercise of tt authorities and responsibilities of the Union.
2. All powers dealt with in PART Ill, Section 1 of this Constitution shall be subje to the following obligations to the College Council:-
(a) presentation of budgets to the College Council at such times as are requestE by the College Council. Such budgets are to indicate, in detail, the disburs ments of all funds available to the Union;
(b) (c)
(d)
(e)
disbursement of Union membership fees solely on provision of stude amenities and services as approved by the College Council;
presentation of an Annual Report, within three months of the expiration the financial year to all members of the Union and to the College Counc - such report to include an audited statement of the financial affairs of tt Union;
affiliation of the Union with another organisation only after a referendu affirming such affiliation has been carried by not less than fifty percent ' the students who voted in the referendum;
involvement in any form of business undertaking only after the prior approv of the College Council.
IV - ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP (a) ORDINARY
MEMBERSHIP
Any student of the College, or any Executive Officer granted academic leave, whos current Union fees have been paid shall be a member of the Union. Ordinary men bers shall be entitled to:-
(i) propose an alteration to this Constitution in accordance with PART XII 1
this Constitution_,
(ii) attend, take part in and vote in any general and/or extraordinary meetin~
of the Union, and Campus Student Meetings for their respective Campu:
or to attend any meeting of the Union Council without any right to vote therea (iii) upon payment of any necessary fees, attehd and take part in any activi'
sponsored by the Union, and
(iv) contest any elections and/or vote in elections for Executive Officer position:
Representative positions or any other elections which the Union is require to conduct to elect members to positions within the Union.
(b) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
106
Any meeting of Union Council shall have the power to confer Associate Membe ship on any person in accordance with the Regulations pursuant to this Constit1 tion. Any Associate Membership conferred shall expire as and from the da1 determined by Union Council. Union Council shall have the power to impose fee for Associate Membership and may vary such fee from time to time. An A:
sociate Member shall have the same rights and privileges as ordinary membe1 of the Union other than the right to vote at any meeting of the Union and othE than the right to occupy any Office of the Union or to vote in any election for sue Offices.
'ART V - MEMBERSHIP CHARGES (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Each student of the College shall pay, on enrolment, a charge for member- ship of the Union;
The Union membership charge may be fixed, increased or reduced by reso- lution at a meeting of Union Council, subject to the approval of the College Council, provided that notice thereof shall be published at least fourteen days before the meeting at which such resolution shall be considered and further providing such motion shall be passed only if not less than two-thirds of voting members present at Union Council vote in favour of such resolution;
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 1 (a) and (b) above, Union Council may, in its discretion, exempt from membership any student who submits to the Union, in writing, particular grounds for exemption from membership of the Union;
Should any application for exemption from membership of the Union, as referred to in Section 1 (c) above, be rejected by Union Council, the student shall have the right to appeal to the College Council, providing that such appeal is made on the same grounds as those which were submitted to Un- ion Council and providing that such appeal is made within the same semester;
Should an exemption from membership be granted the amount of the Un- ion fee payable shall be paid into the College Trust Fund to be used on stu- dent services and amenities within the College;
The Union fee paid by any member of the Union whose membership ceases before the final date laid down by the College for withdrawal without penalty, shall be refunded in full;
Any member of the Union who is granted academic leave, by the College, from a course to take up an Executive Officer's position with the Union will be liable to pay, directly to the Union, the equivalent of the part-time stu- dent fee.
>ART VI - GOVERNANCE UNION COUNCIL (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The Union Council shall be the governing body of the Union and shall con- sist of:-
(i) Union Council representatives as defined in PART VIII, Sections 3 (a) and (b) of this Constitution, and
(ii) Executive Members of the Union as defined in PART Vil, Section 2, of this Constitution.
Meetings of Union Council shall be convened at least six times each year, at such times and places as, in the opinion of the Executive Officers of the Union, are most reasonable and convenient;
A Chairperson for Union Council shall be elected by not later than the se- cond meeting of Union Council in each year. The Chairperson shall nor- mally preside at all meetings of Union Council. The President of the Union shall assume the Chair at meetings of Union Council until a Chairperson has been elected;
A Deputy Chairperson for Union Council shall be elected by not later than the second meeting of Union Council in each year. The Deputy Chairper- son shall normally preside in the event of the Chairperson being absent from the meeting, or the Chairperson declining to take the Chair at or during any meeting;
GENERAL INFORMATION
(e) At any meeting of Union Council at which the Chairperson is not presen or declines to take the Chair, the Deputy Chairperson shall normally prE side over the meeting. Should the Deputy Chairperson not be present,
c
decline to take the Chair, a member of the Union, elected by those merT bers present shall preside;
(f) A quorum at meetings of Union Council shall be the nearest whole numbe above one-half of the eligible voting members as defined in Part VI - Se<
tion 1 (a) of this Constitution. If a quorum is not present within thirty minute after the appointed time for commencement of a Union Council meeting th person chairing that meeting shall dissolve the meeting. The Executive <
the Union shall determine the date, venue and time for the next meetin of Union Council if any meeting lapses for the want of a quorum.
(g) All decisions of the Union at a Union Council meeting shall be made by th vote of a simple majority of voting members unless otherwise specified i this Constitution. When a vote has been taken, the Chairperson shall ar nounce whether or not the motion has been carried;
(h) Proxies will be allowed at a meeting of Union Council in accordance wit the Regulations pursuant to this Constitution;
(i) For each meeting of Union Council, not less than seven days notice sha be given to Representatives and Executive Members, provided that add tional business may be received at any time up to the commencement
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the meeting.
2. EXTRAORDINARY UNION COUNCIL MEETINGS (a)
(b)
(c)
An extraordinary meeting of Union Council may be called at any time o the requisition of one of the following:-
(i) a Campus Student Meeting, (ii) the Executive of the Union,
(iii) any seven members of Union Council, (iv) any thirty members of the Union.
The requisition must be in writing and handed to the Secretary, or Actini Secretary, who shall call the meeting at a suitable place in the College w thin seven days of the receipt of the requisition;
The provisions of Part VI - Sections 1 (e) to (h) shall apply to extraordinar Union Council meetings;
3. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE UNION
108 (a)
(b) (c) (d)
(e)
The Annual General Meeting of the Union shall be convened in the montl of September or October. It shall be convened for the following purposes (i) to report on the business of the Union for that year,
(ii) to consider the audited statement of the Union's finances, and to appoint auditors of the Union for the following year, and
(iii) to appoint Trustees of the Union for the following year.
The quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be one hundred merr bers of the Union, including Executive Members and Representatives;
Only members present at the meeting shall be entitled to vote;
The Union Council Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson shall normally pre side at the Annual General Meeting. Should they not be present, or declini to take the Chair, a member of the Union elected by those members presen shall preside;
The business of the Annual General Meeting of the Union shall be restric1 ed to those matters referred to in the notice of meeting;
(f) For each Annual General Meeting not less than two weeks notice shall be given in the form of a Notice of Meeting from the Secretary, or Acting Secre- tary, to members and Campus Student Meetings and displayed prominent- ly on all campuses.
CAMPUS STUDENT MEETINGS (a)
(b)
(c) (d)
(e)
(f) (g)
Campus Student Meetings shall be convened on each Campus at least six times in the teaching weeks of each year for the following purposes:- (i) Discussion of business coming before Union Council,
(ii) transaction of local and Campus business,
(iii) election of Campus Organisers at the initial meeting of each year, (iv) consideration of Campus budgets, and
(v) receipt of reports from Campus Organisers and Representatives.
The quorum for a Campus Student Meeting on each Campus shall be fixed in the Regulations pursuant to this Constitution. If a quorum is not present within thirty minutes after the appointed time for commencement of a Cam- pus Student Meeting the person chairing that meeting shall dissolve that meeting;
The Campus Vice-President shall normally preside at a Campus Student Meeting;
At any Campus Student Meeting at which the Campus Vice-President is not present or declines to take the Chair a member elected by and from those members present shall preside;
All decisions of a Campus Student Meeting shall be by the vote of a simple majority of those present unless otherwise specified in this Constitution.
When a vote has been taken the person chairing the meeting shall announce whether or not the motion has been carried;
Only members of the Union enrolled at a particular Campus shall be enti- tled to vote at a Campus Student Meeting on that Campus;
For each Campus Student Meeting not less than seven days notice shall be given in the form of Notice of Meeting from the Campus Secretary, or Acting Campus Secretary. These notices shall be displayed in prominent places on the Campus. Additional business may be received at any time up to the commencement of the Meeting;
>. EXTRAORDINARY CAMPUS STUDENT MEETINGS
(a)
(b)
(c) (d)
(e)
An Extraordinary Campus Student Meeting may be called at any time on the requisition of any of the following:-
(i) Union Council,
(ii) the Executive of the Union, or
(iii) any thirty members of the Union from that Campus.
The requisition must be in writing and handed to the Campus Secretary, or or Acting Campus Secretary, who shall call the meeting at a suitable place on the Campus within seven days of receipt of the requisition.
Notice of not less than four days shall be given of extraordinary Campus Student Meetings.
The business of an extraordinary Campus Student Meeting shall be res- tricted to the matters referred to in the requisition and that business shall be stated in the Notice of Meeting.
The provisions of Part VI - Sections 4 (b) to (f) shall apply to extraordinary Campus Student Meetings.
GENERAL INFORMATION
6. GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE UNION (a)
(b)
(c) (d)
(e) (f)
(g)
A General Meeting of the Union may be convened for any of the followir purposes:-
(i) to consider proposals to reverse, alter or rescind any decisions o resolutions of the Union, and/or
(ii) to determine matters or issues submitted to the General Meeting A General Meeting of the Union may be called at any time on the requis tion of any of the following:-
(i) Union Council, or
(ii) two hundred members of the Union.
The requisition must be in writing and handed to the Secretary, or Actin Secretary, who shall call the meeting at a suitable place on a Campus w thin three weeks of receipt of the requisition.
No fewer than one hundred members of the Union, including Executive Men bers, shall form a quorum at a General Meeting of the Union. If a quorur is not present at a General Meeting within thirty minutes after the appoin ed time for commencement of that meeting, the person chairing that mee ing shall dissolve the meeting.
Only members of the Union present at a General Meeting shall be entitle to vote at that meeting.
Not less than two weeks Notice of Meeting shall be given by the Secretari or Acting Secretary and such Notice shall be displayed prominently on eac Campus.
The business of a General Meeting shall be restricted to the matters referre to in the requisition and that business shall be stated in the Notice of Meetin~
PART VII - UNION EXECUTIVE AND OFFICERS