Constitutional Amendments 2012
c/ The Rep Ratification motion (constitutional) 29-1-12
Proposer: Uche Ukachi Seconded: Maddy Ward
This JCR notes that:
a. Reps are invaluable to the JCR
b. Reps are currently re-ratified at the start of every term.
This JCR believes that:
c. This is not efficient for handover and planning of activities for the next term, either for the reps themselves, or for the wider organisation of the JCR (eg. it delays the printing of the termcard).
This JCR therefore resolves to:
d. Change part 19.b of the constitution, which currently reads “All JCR Representatives shall be subject to re-ratification in the first Ordinary General Meeting of every term” to read “All JCR Representatives shall be subject to re-ratification in the last Ordinary General Meeting of every term”.
a/ The Constitutional Update Motion (Constitutional) 22-4-12
Proposer: Maddy Ward Seconder: Uche Ukachi
This JCR notes that:
a. There are several instances in the constitution where number references to other sections are wrong due to previous updates.
b. There are also some references which need updating as a matter of course, particularly where reference is made to old practices, or old terminology is used.
This JCR believes that:
c. The constitution should be factually accurate and internally consistent.
This JCR therefore resolves to:
d. Edit “throughout 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011” in “The Rules” introduction to “throughout 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.”
e. Insert “unless they have opted out in accordance with §8a ” into paragraph 2 of the preamble.
f. Replace “motion of censure” in 13.f.iii para 2 with “motion of no confidence”.
g. Replace “Clauses 14 a., c., d. and e.” in Standing Order Table One 14a with “Clauses 13 a., c., d. and e.”
h. Replace “Clause 16” in Standing Order (SO) Table One 16 with “Clause 15”.
i. Replace “SO 18” with “SO 17” in SO Table One 19a.
j. Replace “Bar Extension” in SO Table Three with “JCR”.
k. Replace “Section 2” in SO Table 3a with “Section 3”.
l. Replace “Section 14” in SO Table 3a with “Section 15”.
m. Remove “”should liaise with the JCR Academic Facilities Rep to...” in Appendix 1, JCR Computer Rep.
a/ The Constitutional Reform Motion [part 1)] (Constitutional) – 6-5-2012
Proposed by: Maddy Ward Seconded by: Amanda Yu
This JCR notes that:
a. The “Constitution” is actually a composite document, consisting of the Constitution proper, the Standing Orders, and the Appendices, which has led to some repetitions and discrepancies between how similar material is treated.
b. The constitution (3b) states that “Tables 1, 3, 3A, 3B, 5, 7 and 8 of the Standing Orders and Appendices I, II, and IV shall be amended by the proposal of a full member, submitted to the JCR Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting, and accompanied by a petition of support signed by at least 40 full members. Other tables of the Standing Orders and Appendices shall be amended by the proposal of a full member, submitted to the JCR Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting.”
c. The current structure of this document makes it considerably less readable.
This JCR believes that:
d. The constitution should be set out in a logical way, with material of similar content or importance being grouped logically in the sections of Constitution, Standing Orders and the Appendices.
e. This restructuring will require that the Secretary can make changes to numbering and internal references without bringing separate motions to the JCR.
This JCR therefore resolves to:
f. Change 3b to read “All Standing Orders shall be amended by the proposal of a full member, submitted to the JCR Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting, and accompanied by a petition of support signed by at least 40 full members. All Appendices shall be amended by the proposal of a full member, submitted to the JCR Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting.”
g. Move the content of 3a, concerning constitutional motions to 13, where other rules concerning motions are found, and change 3a to read “The Constitution shall be amended in accordance with 13a, except in cases of a simple alteration of numbering or referencing within the constitution, which shall be carried out at the discretion of the Secretary.”
h. Scrap 21, which concerns smoking in JCR meetings.
i. Scrap 55, concerning the location and purpose of the JCR Office and add the upkeep of the JCR Office and the responsibility to hand over old records to the archivist to the Secretary’s role.
j. Amalgamate the content of Table 6 (Entz responsibilities) with 23j (Entz responsibilities), and place the resulting paragraph with the rest of the Officer role descriptions.
b/ The Constitutional Reform Motion [part 2] (Constitutional) – 6-5-2012
Proposer: Maddy Ward Seconded: Uche Ukachi
This JCR notes that:
a. The Officer role descriptions are in the Constitution (23), whereas the Rep role descriptions are only an appendix (Appendix 1).
This JCR believes that:
b. Officers and Reps roles should be easy to find and be protected by the same protocol found in the constitution’s rules.
This JCR therefore resolves to:
c. Move Appendix 1 and 23 to a new Standing Order, entitled “JCR Officials”.
d. Add “These officials shall act in accordance with their responsibilities, set out in [appropriate reference].”
a/ The Constitutional Reform Motion [part 3] (Constitutional) - 21/10/12
Proposed by: Maddy Ward Seconded by: Will Whittington
This JCR notes that:
a. The JCR is an unregistered charity.
b. Unregistered charities must still comply with charity law, as set out by the Charities Commission.
c. In order to comply with regulations, the JCR constitution must clearly state the aims of the charity and must have appointed trustees.
d. Trustees are responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the charity, and for the financial state of the charity.
This JCR believes that:
e. We have a responsibility to ensure that we comply with legal regulations.
f. For this to be secured, some minor changes to the constitution are required.
This JCR therefore resolves to:
g. Insert “is a charity which exists to promote and further the well-being, academic, sporting and cultural interests of the undergraduate students of St John’s College, and its activity should be appropriate to these aims.”
h. Under the section headed “Charities Regulations”, insert section 48: “The trustees of the JCR are the committee of the JCR. As such, they have fiduciary duty towards those to whom the charity is responsible, which includes ensuring the administrative good order of the charity and responsibility for the good financial order of the charity.”
i. Insert “The JCR is bound by the budget set out by the treasurer, though specific spending within this remit can be determined by a financial motion.” into 13b, before “any motion requiring expenditure not specifically approved in the budget....”
a/ The “Fairtrade Forever” Motion (Constitutional) - 4/11/2012
Proposed by: Ed LoveSeconded by: Maddy Ward
The JCR notes that:
- The incumbent E&E Officer is about to apply for the renewal of SJC's Fairtrade status.
The JCR believes that:
- SJC having Fairtrade status is a worthwhile cause to continue to support indefinitely, and the JCR should take the leading role in such an endeavour.
The JCR resolves to:
- Add the following to the role description of the E&E Officer in the JCR Constitution to make it binding for succeeding E&E Officers to keep up the College's commitment to Fairtrade by being responsible for the application's renewal (it is already binding in the JCR and MCR Constitutions to maintain the criteria of the application, but not to submit it!):
- “S/he will be responsible for maintaining the criteria that enables the annual renewal of the Fairtrade Status awarded to College by the Fairtrade foundation.”
- “S/he is responsible for holding one E&E Brunch a term, as well as the others events required of the Fairtrade application.”
b/ The (Alternative) Alternative Prospectus Motion (Constitutional) - 4/11/2012
Proposer: Lajoy Sophia TuckerSeconded: Maddy Ward
This JCR notes that:
- We still have many copies of the alternative prospectus
- The constitution calls for the Access Officer to update the alternative prospectus annually
- The school road trip is a valuable access initiative that brought in positive feedback from staff and students at the schools involved
This JCR believes that:
- The alternative prospectus needs to be kept up to date but only as required
- Organisation of the school visit road trip should be in the role description of the Access Officer to ensure that it is a scheme that is carried forward
This JCR therefore resolves to:
- In standing order 2B under Access and Equal Opportunities Officer, remove the word ‘annual’ from “S/he shall also be responsible for the annual updating of the Alternative Prospectus for distribution at summer open days”, and include: “S/he will also be responsible for the organisation of a school visit road trip.”
b/ The Change the Charities Procedure Motion (Constitutional) (18/11/2012)
Proposer: Maddy WardSeconder: Ruth Evans
This JCR notes that:
a.In the JCR Charities Meeting, we discuss and vote on all charities individually (as opposed to voting when we have heard about all the charities we choose to discuss).
b.People find it hard to vote to reject Charities Motions, perhaps because they don’t want to seem mean.
c.There are limited Charities funds so that in general, the more charities we support, the less each receives.
d.In some parts of the constitution, what counts as an appropriate organisation to receive our money is not made clear.
This JCR believes that:
e.The process would be fairer if people heard about all the Charities that we chose to discuss before making a final vote.
f.The process would be fairer if people voted with their eyes closed.
g.The Constitution should be consistent.
This JCR therefore resolves to:
h.Insert point v. into clause 13h. to read “Voting will only occur after all requested discussions concerning Charities Motions have taken place, in accordance with .
i.Change “If there is an objection, then the motion shall be debated as normal at the appropriate stage of the agenda.” in Standing Order 1, clause 12, to read “If there is an objection, then the motion shall be debated as normal, and voted on once all requested Charities discussions have been heard. Votes shall take place with eyes closed, though th Secretary and Chair shall keep their eyes open to count the votes.”
j.Replace “charitable bodies” with “charities” in Standing Order 5, clause 4.