Amendment 

What This Means 

Student Members at heart of democratic model 

Student members drive decision-making and policy-setting, whilst allowing the Trustees to exercise their duties under charity law 

Amendment 

What This Means 

Powers re-worded and reformatted  

The powers (which means the abilities) have been separated by section, with unnecessary additional specifics removed; there are is one change to the powers of The SU – listed below.  

‘give guarantees or other security for the repayment of money borrowed, for a grant, or for the discharge of an obligation’ power added  

The SU could use its resources as a guarantee within a financial arrangement or contractual obligation in furtherance of its objects. This would need to be agreed by the Trustee Board. 

Limitation on private benefit reformatted  

The benefits permitted have been combined into a table, with the key terms highlighted for clarity. 

Permitted benefits to Trustees expanded 

Trustees (or a person connected to them) can now make agreements with the SU on the same terms as the general public (for example, trading and fundraising activities) and receive goods and/or services.  

Liability of Constitutional Members statement shortened 

It is not necessary to provide a full explicit statement of the Trustees’ (Constitutional Members) liability . 

Dissolution section renamed and reformatted 

Now called ‘Winding Up’, with an expanded process for the dissolution (folding of the SU) and the Trustees responsibilities within this process. This is standard practice for all charities. 

Amendment 

What This Means 

Student Voice section added  

The SU’s democratic process (Student Forum, elections, referenda, Student Members’ Meetings etc) have been moved to the Bye Laws so that they can be more easily amended by Student Forum and the Board of Trustees.   

Education Act 1994 section added  

This outlines the universities’ responsibility to meet the requirements of this act, which governs Students’ Unions. 

Expanded Constitutional Member responsibilities   

Added a clear statement that the Constitutional Members (Trustees) must act in the best interest of the SU.   

Amendment 

What This Means 

Allowing up to 6 Sabbatical Officers  

Including this amendment builds flexibility to change the number of Presidents we could have in the future without having to go through the extensive Constitution review process. 

Any change to the actual number would be in consultation with student members.   

Interim appointment of Sabbatical Officers made more concise  

The SU can be flexible in responding to potential gaps in student representation. 

Additional detail added to management of the Union’s business  

Trustees’ responsibilities and management of governance, budget, finance and strategy of the SU are clearly outlined. 

Trustees’ ability to delegate made more concise 

It is clear what Trustees can delegate (powers, functions, decisions etc.), and who to (committees, Chief Executive etc.). 

The sub-committees that must be established moved to Bye Laws 

Amending the names of the sub-committees will be easier if just listed within the Bye Laws. There are no changes to the sub-committees currently established.  

Rules section added 

Trustees’ power to make, repeal and amend rules (within the boundaries of the law) is clearly defined. 

Chair or any two Trustees can call a Trustees’ meeting 

Builds flexibility for The SU to be able to respond to urgent situations that may impact the organisation.  

Procedure for Trustees’ meetings 

The Trustees have flexibility to set out the procedures for meetings  

Reduction of quorum when Sabbatical Officers are conflicted to four, and allowing non-quorate meetings to appoint further Trustees.   

Quoracy is the minimum number of Trustees required to meet the threshold for decision-making within a meeting. The current quorum is five, including two Sabbatical Officers. When a Sabbatical Officer is conflicted (they have a conflict of interest in the decision being made) this has been reduced to four, to facilitate decision making. If there is ever a shortage of Trustees, non-quorate meetings can be used to appoint the necessary further Trustees.  

Chair and casting vote provisions clarified 

There are appropriate provisions for decisions to be made, both when the Chair of the Board has a casting vote, and when they don’t.  

Decisions without a meeting process reformatted  

There is a clear procedure laid out to help Trustees make majority decisions without a meeting, necessary when urgent matters arise and require a decision 

Conflict of interest and involvement in decision-making simplified  

Conflicts of interest occur when a Trustee has a potential interest in a decision being made (e.g. Sabbatical Officers when discussing salary pay scales for employees). Having a clear process, with defined terms for a ‘Potential Conflict Situation’ and a ‘No Conflict Situation,’ enables Trustees to identify and manage conflicts of interest.  

Continuing duties to the Union section added  

Trustees who have conflicts of interest and follow the above procedure shall not be in breach of their duties to the SU. This includes withholding confidential information in relation to other roles they may hold, which is an example of a conflict of duty.  

First Trustees section removed 

The current Constitution was created upon incorporation and part of this process required the Trustees in post on incorporation to be listed. This is no longer required.  

Lay Trustee Terms of Office changed to two terms of four years 

Lay Trustees (external Trustees recruited for their expertise and experience) can currently serve a maximum of three terms of three years. Changing this to two terms of four years aligns more closely with standard practice within the SU sector, and also allows for progressive refreshing of the Board.  

All Trustees can be removed via a motion of no confidence  

A motion of no confidence is passed by a simple majority of Student Members voting in a referendum. Previously, only Student and Sabbatical Trustees could be removed from office via this motion, but this now includes Lay Trustees. Student Members now have the power to remove any Trustee from office, if there is sufficient reason for this.  

Amendment 

What This Means 

Constitution amendments approved via a simple majority at Student Members’ Meetings. 

Currently, as part of the process to amend the Constitution, approval via the Student Members’ Meeting requires a two thirds majority. Reducing this to a simple majority is consistent within the sector.  

Explicit statements of restrictions to Constitution removed 

It is necessary to abide by the provisions within the Charities Act 2011, but not to state the specific regulations.  

Communication section reformatted   

There are clear regulations for official communications by the SU, including electronic communication. 

Constitutional Member entitlement to inspect accounts  

Provision by law or authorisation by Trustees is required for inspection of the SU’s accounts or records; therefore there are appropriate safeguards in place for confidential information. 

Conditions of contracts signed by Trustees clarified 

The SU has sufficient safeguards in place against potential rogue action. 

Constitution and Bye Law inconsistencies expanded 

The Trustees have the power to make appropriate provisions if the Constitution and Bye Laws are inconsistent . 

Secretary section removed 

The Board of Trustees are not required to have a secretary. 

Patrons section removed 

Patrons are no longer common practice within Students’ Unions. 

Disputes section removed  

It is not necessary to state that all disputes would first attempt to be settled in good faith, this is expected behaviour as per the Trustee Code of Conduct . 

Amendment 

What This Means 

Provision for general meetings reformatted   

There is a clear process for Trustees to call general meetings (meetings of the Constitutional Members).