February 2013 Referenda

1) Constitutional Review 2013

Do you agree to the general amendments to the Students' Union Constitution and Bye-Laws proposed by Students' Union Council and published in the document 2012-13 Constitutional Review: Proposals for Referendum?

Summary of the proposals

Arising from this year's review, Students' Union Council is recommending changes which will:

• Set up Policy Action Groups to support Students' Union Officers in implementing policy.
• Extend the term of office of External Trustees from one or two terms of three years each to one or two terms of up to four years each.
• Require candidates for Students' Union Officer positions to confirm that they are willing and eligible to serve as a trustee of the Students' Union as part of the nomination process.
• Revise the role of Student Executive Committee to focus more on student representation, campaigning and democracy.
• Replace the current Finance Committee and Staffing Committee with Finance Executive Committee and Staffing Executive Committee, reflecting recent changes to the committee structure agreed by the Trustee Board.

THE CASE FOR THE PROPOSAL

These proposals have been made by our annual constitutional review process, which updates our rules and regulations. They have all been agreed by Students' Union Council.

They enable more students to get involved with implementing Students' Union policy by setting up Policy Action Groups and revise the roles of Students' Union committees to provide greater clarity, following the outcomes of a recent review of Students' Union governance. They also require candidates for Students' Union Officer positions to confirm that they are eligible to serve as a trustee, in line with the recommendations of the NUS Good Governance Code.

THE CASE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL

No case has been submitted against this proposal.

The Returning Officers invited students to put forward a case for and against all proposals through the Students' Union website and an email to all students.

2) National Union of Students

Do you agree that the Students' Union should remain affiliated to the National Union of Students?

THE CASE FOR THE PROPOSAL

Affiliation to NUS is key, both financially and politically. The student movement is far stronger when bound together nationally. NUS gives a powerful and effective national voice; defending and extending the rights of students through lobbying and campaigning for change on a national scale. We need to be part of NUS to ensure that we have a voice on the issues that matter the most, when we need it.

Membership of NUS allows Students' Unions to share best practice and knowledge in order to overcome common issues. NUS underpins the Student Union movement by championing student issues and empowering student activists to make change. NUS also advises both national and local institutions on policy to secure the best deal possible for students.

Financially, membership of NUS is vital to ensure that Sheffield Students' Union remains successful for years to come. Leaving NUS would mean leaving NUS Services, a bulk purchasing organisation which allows Student Unions to buy together. Being a member of NUS Services saves our students on campus thousands of pounds each year, allowing our Students' Union to offer competitive prices in a challenging market.

THE CASE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL

No case has been submitted against this proposal.

The Returning Officers invited students to put forward a case for and against all proposals through the Students' Union website and an email to all students.