UoB LGBTSoc Constitution

 

1.     NAME

a.     The name of the Society shall be the University of Bristol Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans Society (LGBTSoc).

b.     The Society shall be affiliated to the University of Bristol Union.

2.     AIMS

a.     To provide a safe meeting group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans students.

b.     To promote student body awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans issues.

c.     To provide peer group support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans students.

d.     The society shall abide by the Union’s Equal Opportunities and Harassment Policies, and any other policies laid down by the Union’s Board of Trustees.

3.     MEMBERSHIP

a.     Full membership is open to all ordinary members of the Union, either upon joining at Fresh, or by application to the Secretary of the Society.

b.     Associate membership is open to all other persons who are interested in the Aims and Activities of the Society.

c.     Not less than two thirds of the Society members shall be members of the Union.

d.     The Secretary shall keep a list of all members, differentiating between full and associate members.

e.     There shall be an annual subscription fee of £5.00 levied for membership, which shall be fixed at the discretion of the committee being no less than the minimum rate demanded by Student Activities Committee.

4.     PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

a.     Only full members may sit on the Committee.

b.     All categories of membership shall have equal rights of voting, attending meetings, etc.

5.     COMMITTEE

a.     There shall be a Committee of the Society, which shall be the executive decision making body of the Society.

b.     The composition of the Committee shall be:

c.     President

d.     Vice-President

e.     Secretary

f.      Treasurer

g.     Social Secretary (x2)

h.     Welfare Representative

i.      Postgraduate and Mature Students’ Representative

j.      Freshers Representative (elected in October)

k.     IT and Communications Officer

l.      The President of the Committee shall be a full member of the Union.

m.    The Treasurer of the Society shall be a full member of the Union and not in their final year at the University.

n.     Wherever possible, and in compliance with the Union’s Equal Opportunities Policy, there must be a representative of each gender on the Committee

o.     The above need not apply to the President, Secretary or Treasurer, and can be elected after the General Election, subject to the conditions laid in Section 8 of this Constitution

p.     The Committee shall be responsible for the general and financial policy of the Society, subject to such rules as laid out in the General Union Functions.

q.     Quoracy for committee meetings shall be set at 50% of the post filled positions plus one.

r.      The UBU LGBT officer shall also sit on the committee.

6.     FINANCIAL

a.     The accounts of the Society shall be audited by a member of University Staff and submitted tothe UBU Societies Officer as and when required and at least once per annum.

b.     All financial arrangements must be made in accordance with current instructions to Society Treasurers, as set down by Societies Exec

c.     Notwithstanding Article 6b above, the UBU Societies Officer & Finance Manager jointly shall be empowered to issue financial instructions on behalf of the Society if:

d.     The Society folds with outstanding financial affairs.

e.     Change of mandate forms are not completed, and the old committee are out of reasonable contact.

f.      Financial irregularities are found.

7.     GENERAL MEETINGS

a.     There shall be an Annual General Meeting once per annum, and this shall be held in the Third Term, at the discretion of the Committee.

b.     Notices of such meetings must be published on the Society’s web page at least seven days beforehand, together with the Agenda.

c.     Quorum of such meetings shall be set at twice the committee plus one.

d.     An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by 5% of the membership of the Society by application to the Secretary, or by the Committee. An EGM shall be called as specified on the application, but at least seven days notice shall be given.

8.     ELECTIONS

a.     Elections shall be held at the AGM, an EGM, or by Online Voting.

b.     Only members of the Society may vote, and they may only vote once each.

c.     Voting is completely confidential amongst members of the Committee.

d.     By-elections, if required (with reference to Article 5f) may be held at any time by calling an EGM, subject to the conditions laid out in Article 7d.

e.     It must be stated in advance by when nominations must be received.

f.      Voting shall be done by Single Transferable Vote, via a secret ballot.

9.     AFFILIATIONS

a.     The Society shall affiliate to external bodies only where membership of those bodies is essential to the fulfilment of its Aims, and only with the prior agreement of the Societies Exec

10.  CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

a.     Any amendment to this Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority of the members present at a properly constituted General Meeting, as defined in Section 7.

b.     All such amendments shall become valid only after approval by the Societies Exec.