Aim
The Aldwych Group exists to discuss the interests, and enhance the experiences, of the students represented by its Member Unions by, amongst other things:
a) Sharing best practice between members both at meetings and online;
b) Preparing and disseminating press releases, reports, and policy statements;
c) Lobbying on matters directly affecting Russell Group students and those which impact upon all students;
d) Engaging with the Russell Group.
1. Membership
a) Membership of the Aldwych Group shall be representatives from those Students’ Unions and Associations of the Russell Group.
b) Each Students’ Union shall have one vote on the Aldwych Group.
2. Meetings
a) There shall be a minimum of 6 meetings of the Aldwych Group per year.
b) Each Member Union has the right to send to any meeting the Officer(s) of its choosing.
c) A handover meeting shall be held in the month of July to which incoming Students’ Union Officers shall attend with the outgoing Students’ Union Officers.
d) A Secretary, or in his/her absence another selected person present, shall take the minutes of any meetings.
e) Any decision shall be acted on by the Chair of that meeting unless otherwise stated in the minutes.
f) Quorum for all meetings shall be fifty percent of voting members (one vote per Union, Guild or Association).
g) Any external observers to the meeting shall be permitted to attend, or not, at the sole discretion of the meeting.
h) Voting by proxy for candidates or on decisions shall not be allowed.
i) Voting shall be by secret ballot for elections and when otherwise requested.
j) Notice for each meeting should be given at least two weeks before the meeting in addition to the calendar agreed at the handover meeting. All business should be distributed to member Students’ Union at least three working days prior to the meeting.
k) All business should be distributed to Member Unions at least three working days prior to the meeting.
l) When there is no consensus decisions shall be reached by a majority of two thirds of the members present or by eleven members, whichever is greater.
m) Members always have the option to opt-out of decisions at their discretion.
3. Constitutional Amendments
a) Constitutional amendments should require acceptance by two consecutive quorate meetings.
b) Constitutional amendments shall always be tabled and will require acceptance by a two thirds majority of the meeting, or eleven, whichever is greater.
4. Elections
a) Elections for Officers of the Aldwych Group shall take place at the Handover meeting.
b) The Aldwych Group Officers shall be chosen from nominated Officers of the Member Unions.
c) The electorate shall be the Member Unions.
d) The Aldwych Group Secretary or, in their absence, another selected member shall be the Returning Officer.
e) All other outgoing Officers of the Aldwych Group shall normally assist with the running of the elections as Assistant Returning Officers.
f) No individual standing in elections shall be the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer.
g) Elections shall be counted by the Alternative Vote process.
h) RON (Re-Open Nominations) shall be a candidate in all elections.
i) In the event of a tie, the Chair of the Aldwych Group shall be allowed to cast the deciding vote unless it is for his/her re-election, in which instance the Vice Chair shall assume this responsibility.
5. Officers
a) There shall be the following Officers of the Aldwych Group:
- Chair:
Shall Chair meetings of the Aldwych Group
Shall act as public representative
Shall produce press releases in consultation with the membership
- Vice Chair & Media Officer:
Shall maintain the Aldwych Group website
Shall be responsible for disseminating press releases
Shall be responsible for coordinating any other press issues
Shall chair meetings in the absence of the Chair
- Secretary:
Shall request items for and circulate the Agenda for meetings
Take and circulate minutes for meetings.
b) The Chair, in consultation with the members, may co-opt Officers or working groups in order to address specific issues or interests.
c) An officer can be censured or no confidenced with immediate effect by a simple majority, or more, of the membership