Your Union – Motions

A motion is a formal step to introduce a matter for consideration by the Union. It is a common concept in the procedure the Students’ Unions uses to pass policy. At GSU all motions are written.

Any full member of Goldsmiths Students’ Union, ie all Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Research students.

Two students need to put their names to the motion

- a proposer
and
- a seconder

Both of whom must be full members of the Union. You will have to give a brief speech in favour of your motion at the Student Assembly where it is discussed, with the seconder giving the second speech in favour if this is required - although the seconder can delegate their speech to another full member of the Union if they wish.

All motions need to be submitted using the Unions New Online Motion Submission.
In order for motions to be considered they need to be submitted 3 days prior to the Student Assembly.

A motion sets Union policy: it can contain an expression of the Union’s stance on a particular issue; mandate Sabbatical Officer to carry out particular courses of action, such as lobbying the school authorities for better facilities or even ask for a referendum to change the Constitution.

Anything. Recent motions discussed by the Student Assembly have covered everything from the Middle East to the provision of adequate childcare facilities for student parents and from Zero Tolerance equality issues to the exclusion of certain groups on campus i.e. BNP and Military Recruitment.

Yes there are and they are as follows:

1. Financial Motions: tend to affect the finances of the Union and the commercial services of the Union. Financial Motions can include the banning of a certain product from the Union Shops/Bar or an introduction of a product into the Unions Commercial Services. Financial Motions can also be about mandating sabbatical officers to raise money for a certain course.

2. Motions for Affiliation: are motions that affiliate the Union with an outside organisation or a campaign.

3. Amendments Motions: are motions that are submitted to amend the former motions that where passed by the Student Assembly.

4. Constitutional Referendum Motion: if you would like to change the constitution of this is they type of motion that you would need to submit. If the motion is passed a referendum will be held by the Union. Please note the approval of the motion depends upon the following:

(i) That 75% of the students that voted, voted in favour of the constitutional change
(ii) That there is a minimum of 5% electoral turnout of the student body
(iii) That college council approve this motion.

5. Motions of Censure: this motion can be submitted if you feel that an elected officer of the Union, did not behave within the officers code of conduct or if they did not fulfill their duties. This motion can be submitted for any elected officer of the Union.

6. Motions of No Confidence: Can be submitted to the Student Assembly to remove an elected officer of the Union. Please note that the implementation of the motions of no confidence varies from Trustee to Student Assembly Members. To find out more please click on the Governance tab on the left and read the constitution and the by-laws.

7. General Motion: Could be any other motion that does not fit into the above categories, however requires the Union to take a certain step or stance towards an issue.

Your motion is made up of three parts, they are as follows

1.) Union Notes: This part contains the indisputable facts on which the motion is based. If you are citing a particular source, the full reference needs to be given, including web address if appropriate. If you put information under this heading which the Chair and Clerk feels to be subjective or of questionable accuracy the Chair or Clerk with contact you.

2.) Union Believes: This part can contain whatever you like - opinions, subjective comments etc, provided they are not in breach of the Union’s equal opportunities statement. If the Chair and Clerk feels that statements under this heading are in breach of the equal opportunities statement, they will be removed entirely and an explanation will be provided at the Student Assembly

3.) Union Resolves: This is where you put what steps you wish to be taken on the issue discussed under Union Notes and Believes. The Trustee Board would have to make sure that this is in line with the Constitution and the Law of the Land. If it is not, the whole motion or part of the Union Notes section as appropriate, will be removed and returned to the Student Assembly for further discussion. Take a moment to think about how specific you want your mandate to be; if you leave things open ended, whoever you have mandated will have a freer hand to go ahead as they see fit, but, of course, that might mean they do something you don’t completely agree with.

Yes it can - The amendment is debated and voted on following the first speeches for and against the main motion. If the amendment is accepted, it is then incorporated into the motion itself. The proposer of the amendment will have to give a speech in its favour - if you as the proposer of the motion are unhappy with it you can speak against or nominate a fellow student to do so on your behalf. Amendments are voted on by the student assembly to be incorporated into the motion.

1. Show how the motion affects students - In order for Student Assembly Members to vote for your motion you must show how getting it passed will positively benefit the student body or the groups of student the Assembly members represent. So for example if your motion is about an international issue, try and relate it to GSU students. An issue which affects students everyday is far more likely to receive the necessary votes to become policy.

2. Be realistic – Motions which are clearly unachievable are unlikely to succeed. Proposing that the Union should lobby the School to give every student a laptop is likely to be a waste of time. Your proposal should be practical, realistic and achievable. If the motion does have a financial impact, consider if it is viable or if there are ways in which the financial impact could be offset.

3. Be accurate – It is important that the motion is factually accurate. Remember to source any quotes and facts. The Union Chair or Clerk is likely to send the motion back if it does not believe you have provided accurate information.

4. Be aware of restrictions – Although all successful motions become Union policy, they can not contradict the College’s policy or the law. A motion couldn’t extend the College’s holiday but it could mandate the union to lobby for this change.

5. Gather support before submitting your motion to the Student Assembly – If it is clear that the motion commands the support of a significant proportion of the Student Assembly, the motion is more likely to succeed.

6. Be prepared to campaign – If you want your motion to succeed you must persuade the assembly members that voting for your motion will benefit them. Therefore you need to campaign! This means talking to student assembly members, explaining why your motion is important to them. Putting up posters, writing articles and leafleting although they represent good campaigning tools, they are not as important as talking to students assembly directly.

Can you tick the following before you submit your motion?

⇒ I am passionate about the issue.
⇒ The campaign is relevant for students.
⇒ The issue has not been properly addressed by the Union before.
⇒ I have thoroughly researched the issue and have accurate sources.
⇒ I have researched similar campaigns at other universities
⇒ I have contacted relevant individuals/groups who may be interested in helping out with the campaign. This includes assemblies, societies and exec members.
⇒ The campaign has clear action points.
⇒ The campaign is winnable.

Remember: The most important part of your campaign is, of course, the issue!
If you have any questions or queries regarding submitting a motion contact the Democracy and Representation Coordinator Denis Shukur on d.shukur@gold.ac.uk.

All you have to do to submit a motion is click here