To be announced

They are one of the main policy decision making bodies that any student can attend.  For a motion to be discussed and become policy 100 students have to be in attendance this is called quoracy.  If a motion has been agreed by the meeting then it will become policy for three years.

Submit your motions by email here!


What's all the MOTION commotion?

Motions are essentially policy before it becomes policy; the ideas before they become reality. They direct the Union and the way that the Union acts on a particular issue. They can change the way we already do something, instruct us to do something we are not already doing, or make us stop something which is already happening. Obviously Union policy cannot instruct the Union to do something which is illegal; for example contravening Charity Law, something dangerous; for example all Sabbs must drive backwards on a Tuesday with their eyes closed, or which might not be beneficial to the Union; for example a boycott of all products made in America.

a.   Motions have to be submitted to the Clerk of Council by 5pm the Thursday before Council. This is so they can be included in the Council papers and all Councillors have the 2 working days stipulated in the Constitution in order to come to the meeting fully prepared.

b.    Every motion has to have a proposer and seconder, who are both Councillors. This is so a full and constructive debate is ensured. Motions without seconders will not be accepted.

c.    This does not mean that Council isn’t able to react quickly to situations, and Emergency Motions can be submitted and discussed after the agenda deadline has passed, but they must relate to a matter which has arisen since that deadline, and the impact they have on the Union would be impaired if it were delayed until the next meeting. This judgement is made by the Chair of Council. These motions also have to have both a proposer and a seconder.

d.    Writing a motion…

Much like getting a cricketer in fancy dress, actually much easier than it seems. There are only three parts to every motion (well 6 if you include the title, the proposer and seconder!). There is no official standardised form of writing motions, though using the below established format is a good general guide. Motions should have a relevant title and will include 3 to 4 subsections.

Union Notes: (FACTS)

This section will include statistics and other factual information.

e.g. 1.Universities charge top up fees

      2. Student Debt has increased

Union Believes: (OPINIONS)

This section will include the reasons why you suggest the changes you do. It is important that even if you consider something to be factual, if it could be construed as an opinion, it must be in this section.

e.g. 1. Education is a right not a privilege.

Union Further Believes: (OPINIONS)

If the Union Believes section gets beyond 7-10 points, it is advised to add the less important ‘believes’ to union further believes.

e.g. 1.Education should be free.

      2.The current system is unfair.

Union Resolves: (ACTION)

This may be the new union policy or stance on an issue as a collective body, or an action to mandate the union or a person to take an action. Motions cannot instruct members of staff.

e.g. 1.To organise a demo against fees.

e.   This should clear up any questions you may have on writing motions for Council, however although any of the Exec, or Clerk of Council should be able to give you advice, the first person to speak to is either the Non-Portfolio Officer, or other Councillors.