Committees of OUSU Council

A description of some of the committees of OUSU Council

Steering Committee:

Steering Committee is responsible for compiling the agenda for OUSU Council and consists of the OUSU President, the Chair of OUSU Council and 3 members of OUSU elected in Termly Council who serve for a term. It meets in the OUSU meetings room at 6pm on Friday of 0th week and 1:15pm on Thursdays of weeks 2, 4 and 6.

Steering Committee is in charge of preparing the Council Agenda (not in discussing the substance of any motion). The Standing Orders specify in what circumstances motions submitted to Council may not appear on the Agenda. Steering Committee can only delay motions appearing on the Agenda for one Council. Steering Committee may only do this if they believe that preliminary discussion of any motion would aid consideration of this motion by Council. This preliminary disucussion is designed to inform and encourage debate not to replace it.

Steering Committee may refer any motion for preliminary discussion to any Permanent Committee (Environment and Ethics Committee, Charities Committee (this is the same as RAG (Raise and Give)), Academic Affairs Committee, Access Committee, Welfare Committee and Equal Opportunities Committee) or to an Ad Hoc Committee set up by Steering Committee for that purpose chaired by the Chair of Council. This preliminary discussion must take place before the next deadline for Council (Thursday midday in even weeks).

Steering Committee is also responsible for laying down by ruling which part(s) of the OUSU policy book (if any) the motion in question would overturn. This is to prevent OUSU having contradictory or possibly contradcitory policies in its Policy Book. This ruling can be overturned by Council or the President when compiling the policy book or determining OUSU policy if s/he believes the motion has been changed by amendment in Council so that Steering Committee’s original ruling is no longer appropriate.

Internal Affairs Committee

Notice of Motions to amend the Constitution and/or Standing orders is required by midday Tuesday of 0th week and Midday Monday of 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks. Internal Affairs Committee must be held in the 24 hours following the deadline for constitutional/Standing Order motions to be submitted.

Internal Affairs Committee should try to provide any appropriate advice and feedback on motions attempting to amend the Constitution and/or SOs. This might include issues such as wording, how to amend the governing documents consistently and bringing side effects of proposed changes to the proposers and seconders attention so they are aware of them. The proposers and seconders may amend their draft motion if they wish anytime before the deadline for other motions (Friday 9am in 0th week, Thursday midday 2nd, 4th and 6th week). Anyone attending the committee may, on the basis of any views they have formed, support, oppose or attempt to amend the motion in Council. There will be a meeting of Internal Affairs Committee at 1pm in the OUSU offices on Monday, May 17. All members of OUSU are welcome to attend.

Budget Committee

Any Budget or Amended Budget must be referred to Budget Committee at least 48 hours before the motion deadline for the Council at which the Budet will be discussed (this is Friday 9am in 0th week, Thursday midday 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks).

Anyone may attend Budget Committee and speak although there is a specified membership.

Budget Committee should discuss and scrutinize the budget, suggest changes etc. The President and General Manager should submit a final budget to Council. This may be the same or different to the Budget taken to Budget Committee.

Anyone attending the Committee, like any member of OUSU, may, on the basis of any views they have formed, support, oppose or attempt to amend the Budget in Council.