Appendix II to Title H

THE CONSTITUTION OF

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM GUILD OF STUDENTS

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS AND QUEER ASSOCIATION


1. INTERPRETATION


1.1 Definitions


1.1.1 In this Constitution and in all Bye-Laws and Rules made hereunder, the expressions defined in the Guild Constitution shall have the same meaning herein unless otherwise stated in this Constitution.


1.1.1 In this Constitution and in all Bye-Laws and Rules made hereunder, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the meaning hereby assigned to them:


1.1.1.1 Association means the University of Birmingham Guild of Students Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Association.


1.1.1.2 Bye-Laws means the Bye-laws of the Association.


1.1.1.3 Committee means the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Committee, which is an Association Committee of Guild Council.


1.1.1.4 Constitution means this Constitution of the Association.


1.1.1.5 General Meeting means a General Meeting of the Association.


1.1.1.6 Guild Constitution means Constitution and Bye-Laws of the Guild.


1.1.1.7 Guild Member means any member of the Guild, whether Full, Associate, External, Life or Honorary Life.


1.1.1.8 Member means any member of the Association and Membership should be construed accordingly.


1.2 Interpretation


In this Constitution unless the context otherwise requires:


1.2.1 The singular includes the plural.

1.2.2 Reference to this Constitution extends to all Bye-Laws and Rules.


2 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION


2.1 Establishment


Pursuant to the provisions of the Guild Constitution there shall be a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer students’ Association , named “The University of Birmingham Guild of Students’ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Association”.


2.2 Laws


2.2.1 The Association under the provisions of the Guild Constitution may in its Constitution make laws for:


2.2.1.1 its internal management and administration;

2.2.1.2 the election of its officers;

2.2.1.3 the alteration of its laws;

2.2.1.4 all other matters requiring legislation.


2.2.2 No law shall be effective until approved by Guild Council.


2.3 Bye-Laws

Bye-Laws shall be confined to technical or routine matters that neither dilute nor detract from the principal provisions of this Constitution. The Bye-Laws may be added to, removed, or amended in whole or in part by a General Meeting.

3 OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION

3.1 The objects of the Association shall be:

3.1.1 to promote the interests and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer students to university society;

3.1.2 to be a source of advice to, and to work with, Guild Council and other Guild authorities on issues that relate to the social, political and welfare interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer students in all areas of Guild competency;

3.1.3 to assist Guild Council and other Guild authorities in their promotion of, and campaigns for the social, political and welfare interests of its Members.

3.1.4 to act as a referral service for students who have needs which relate to their sexuality or gender identity.

3.2 Achievement of Objects

3.2.1 The objects of the Association shall be achieved by means of all activities as shall be necessary for the fullest and most beneficial exercise of the foregoing objects.

3.2.2 These objects and activities shall be pursued without regard to race, religion, creed, sex, disability, culture, social background or sexual orientation and independently of any political party or religious body, but positive discrimination in favour of any disadvantaged section of society shall be permissible.

3.3 Communication within the Guild

The Association shall be the recognised point of reference for Guild Council and other Guild authorities in their creation of policy which affects, or is of interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer students.

3 MEMBERSHIP

4.1 Categories

Membership shall be divided into the following categories:

4.1.1 Full Members

4.1.2 Associate Members

4.2 Full Members

4.2.1 Eligibility

Only the following shall be eligible for Full Membership

4.2.1.1 All Guild Members who self-define as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or as questioning their sexuality.

4.2.2 Entitlement

Subject to this Constitution and subject to the Guild’s Disciplinary Procedure, Full Members shall be entitled only to:

4.2.2.1 vote in Association elections as provided for in the Constitution;

4.2.2.2 attend, speak and vote at General Meetings;

4.2.2.3 attend and speak at meetings of the Committee and any of its sub-committees as established;

4.2.2.4 submit motions to General Meetings;

4.2.2.5 be elected to any office in the Association;

4.2.2.6 be elected or appointed as a representative of the Association on Guild Council;

4.2.2.7 use any of the facilities provided by the Association

4.2.2.8 relinquish their membership upon notification in writing to the President.

4.3 Associate Members

4.3.1 Eligibility

Only the following shall be eligible for Associate Membership:

4.3.1.1 Any Guild Member who requests support and advice relating to sexuality or gender identity.

4.3.1.2 Any Guild Member, upon a vote of absolute majority by the Committee

4.3.2 Entitlement

Subject to this Constitution and subject to the Guild’s Disciplinary Procedure, Associate Members shall be entitled only to:

4.3.2.1 use of any facilities provided by the Association

4.3.2.2 relinquish their membership upon notification in writing to the President.

4.4 Fees and Administration

4.4.1 No fee shall be payable for Members.

4.4.2 No Full Member shall be required to submit their name or details to the Association or to the Guild of Students as a pre-requisite to use of the Association.

5 GOVERNMENT

Subject to the Guild Constitution, the government of the Association and authority there within shall be vested in an Annual General Meeting, General Meetings and the Committee.

5.1 Annual General Meetings


There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Association as laid down in the Constitution.


5.1.1 Quorum


Quorum for an Annual General Meeting shall be thirty full members.


5.1.2 Holding of Annual General Meetings


5.1.2.1 The Annual General meeting shall be chaired by the Committee of Independent Chairpersons and the Convenor.

5.1.2.2 An Annual General Meeting shall be convened by the Convenor in the Spring Term.




5.1.3 Powers of Annual General Meetings


5.1.3.1 Subject to this Constitution, the decisions of the Annual General Meeting shall not be reviewed by General Meetings or by the Committee but may only be overturned by Guild Council or subsequent Annual General Meetings.


5.1.3.2 An Annual General Meeting shall have power to transact only the following business:


5.1.3.2.1 minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;

5.1.3.2.2 report of the Vice President (Student Activities);

5.1.3.2.3 report of the outgoing Convenor;

5.1.3.2.4 report of the outgoing Secretary;

5.1.3.2.5 report of the outgoing Treasurer;

5.1.3.2.6 elections to offices held under the Constitution;

5.1.3.2.7 motions forwarded by Full Members.


5.2 General Meetings


There shall be General Meetings of the Association as laid down in this Constitution.


5.2.1 Quorum

Quorum for a General Meeting shall be twenty Full Members.

5.2.2 Holding of General Meetings

A General Meeting shall be held upon:

5.2.2.1 the decision of the Convenor; or

5.2.2.2 the request of Guild Council or the President; or

5.2.2.3 the request of ten full members. In such a case the Full Members shall sign a memorandum, addressed and delivered to the Convenor, stating the business that requires attention.

5.2.2.4 General Meetings shall be convened by the Convenor.

5.2.3 Powers of a General Meeting

5.2.3.1 Subject to this Constitution, a General Meeting shall:

5.2.3.1.1 have all the decision-making power of the Committee;

5.2.3.1.2 have power to make Bye-Laws as hereinafter provided.

5.2.3.2 Subject to this Constitution, the decision of a General Meeting shall not be reviewed by the Committee, but may only be overturned by Guild Council, an Annual General Meeting or subsequent General Meetings.

5.3 Committee

Except as otherwise provided for in this Constitution, the government, control and administration of the Association shall be vested in the Committee.

5.3.1 Membership

The Committee shall consist of:

5.3.1.1 President ex officio;

5.3.1.2 Vice President (Welfare) ex officio;

5.3.1.3 Convenor (who shall be chair);

5.3.1.4 Secretary;

5.3.1.5 Treasurer;

5.3.1.6 Events Officer;

5.3.1.7 Campaigns Officer;

5.3.1.8 Information Technology and Publicity Officer;

5.3.1.9 four Welfare Officers, one gay, one lesbian, one bisexual and one transgendered.

5.3.1.10 Postgraduate and Mature Students Officer;

5.3.1.11 Students with Disabilities Officer;

5.3.1.12 Black Students Officer;

5.3.1.13 Should the Guild Councillors for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Queer Constituency not be members of the Committee from 5.3.1.1 to 5.3.1.12, they shall be full members of the Committee.

5.3.2 Co-opted Members

The following shall be Co-opted Members:

5.3.2.1 Delegates to the N. U. S. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Campaign Conference;

5.3.2.2 Vice President (Student Activities) ex officio;

5.3.3 Powers of the Committee

5.3.3.1 Subject to this Constitution, the decisions of the Committee may only be overturned by Guild Council, as specified in the Guild Constitution, an Annual General Meeting, or subsequent General Meetings or meetings of the Committee.

5.3.3.2 Should the President, Vice President (Welfare) or Vice President (Student Activities) not be Full Members of the Association, any Full Member who feels uncomfortable about their presence at meetings of the Association or Committee, may petition the Convenor for their exclusion. If good cause exists, the Convenor shall request that a nominee be appointed to attend meetings on behalf of the Officer. Such nominee must be a Full Member and shall be subject to approval by an absolute majority by the Committee.

The Committee shall:

5.3.3.3 be responsible for the general administration of the affairs of the Association;

5.3.3.4 have power to create sub-committees, which shall have responsibility for such Association business as is vested in them by the Constitution and Bye-Laws. Such committees shall be under the control of and report to the Committee.

5.3.3.5 inform Members of issues relevant to them using existing Guild communications, and other media, as provided;

5.3.3.6 assist Guild Council and other Guild authorities in communicating issues relevant to Members;

5.3.3.7 inform Guild Council and other Guild authorities of issues that concern and are of interest to Members;

5.3.3.8 assist in and promote the creation of Guild policy to be considered by Guild Council and other Guild authorities on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer issues, in the Guild and University, and on a broader scale as appropriate;

5.3.3.9 establish and maintain contact with other lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer organisations in the Guild, locally and nationally;

5.3.3.10 exercise all other powers and responsibilities which are conferred on it by this Constitution, or by any of the Bye-Laws or Rules made herein under;

5.3.3.11 exercise all other powers which are necessary for the fullest and most beneficial exercise of the foregoing objects not conferred on any other body by the Guild Constitution;

5.3.3.12 undertake, such other business as Guild Council or the Association through a General Meeting shall commit to it;

5.3.3.13 liase with internal and external bodies on relevant matters.

5.3.5 Procedure

5.3.5.1 The procedures to be followed by the Committee shall be the same as specified for Standing Societies except where separate provision is made in this Constitution, as specified in Title I of the Guild Bye-Laws.

5.3.5.2 At the first Committee meeting following the Annual General Meeting, the Committee shall elect by simple majority a member of the Committee to act as Chair in the absence of the Convenor at Committee meetings.

5.3 Representation within the Guild

Guild Council

5.3.4 At the Annual General Meeting, the Association shall elect two Full Members to serve as Guild Councillors for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Constituency.

5.3.5 The Convenor and Secretary shall be Co-opted Members of Guild Council.

6 OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

6.1 Officers

There shall be the following Officers of the Association:

6.1.1 All Members of the Committee from subsections 5.3.1.1.2 – 5.3.1.1.13 shall be Officers of the Association.

6.2 Election of Officers

6.2.1 Procedure

6.2.1.1 Each candidate shall be proposed and seconded from the floor or may nominate themselves.

6.2.1.2 Candidates or their proposers shall have two minutes to deliver a proposing speech.

6.2.2 Questions

6.2.2.1 Questions may be put only to all candidates, and only if all candidates are present.

6.2.2.1 Responses shall not exceed one minute of duration per question.

6.2.3 Voting


6.2.3.1 All elections shall be by secret ballot with Re-Open Nominations as an option.

6.2.4 Election

6.2.4.1 A candidate shall require a simple majority to be elected.

6.2.5 Convenor

6.2.5.1 The Convenor shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and be presented by the Vice President (Student Activities) for ratification by Guild Council at its next Ordinary meeting.

6.3 Term of Office

6.3.1 All Officers shall hold their position for a period not in excess of two years,

subject to re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

6.4 Eligibility for Office

6.4.1 Only a Full Member may be nominated for election under this Constitution.

6.5 Vacancies


6.5.1 If a vacancy shall occur in any office held under this Constitution, the Convenor shall call a General Meeting to fill the vacancy as soon as conveniently may be. Should the vacancy be in the position of Convenor, the Vice President (Student Activities) shall convene a General Meeting for the purposes of election, and present the candidate to Guild Council for ratification at its next Ordinary Meeting.

6.6 Removal

6.6.1 Convenor

The Convenor shall only be removed from office for good cause by Guild Council by an absolute majority, upon a recommendation from the Committee, a General Meeting or as a resolution of a motion of Guild Council.

6.6.2 Other Officers

With the exception of the Convenor, all other members of the Committee may be removed from office for good cause by a General Meeting by an absolute majority; or in the absence of a General Meeting, by Guild Council by an absolute majority.

6.7 Resignation

6.7.1 Any member of the Committee may resign from office on giving the President notice in writing.

7 CONSTITUTION


7.1 Repeal

This Constitution shall supersede and replace all previous Constitutions, Laws, Bye-Laws of the Association.

7.2 Amendment of the Constitution

7.2.1 Procedure

The whole, or any part, of this constitution may at any time be amended by a resolution passed by an absolute majority of a General Meeting.

7.2.2 Notice

Notice of any proposed resolution to amend this Constitution shall be submitted to the Committee, and be taken to a General Meeting no less than 6 days and no more than 14 days afterwards.

7.2.3 Effect

7.2.3.1 Such amendments shall take effect from the date specified in the resolution.

7.2.3.2 No amendment shall be effective until ratified by Guild Council.

7.3 Amendment of the Bye-Laws

7.2.3 Procedure

The whole, or any part, of the Bye-Laws for this time being in force may at any time be amended by a resolution passed by an absolute majority of a General Meeting.

7.3.2 Notice

Notice of any proposed resolution to amend the Bye-Laws shall be published at least six days before the date fixed for such a resolution to be passed.

7.3.3 Effect

Such amendments shall take effect from the date specified in the resolution