UCDSU Constitution

1. The name of the organisation shall be ‘University College Dublin Students' Union’ (abbreviated ‘UCDSU’) and in the Irish language, ‘‘Aontas Mac Léinn an Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath’ (abbreviated AMLCOBÁC). It is hereinafter referred to as ‘the Union’.

1. The objectives of the Union shall be the promotion and furtherance of any matters of interest to its membership, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, in particular:

1.1. To act as a representative body for its members and other persons registered as students of the University.

1.2. To promote the social, cultural, and community wellbeing of its members, both within the University and in the broader community.

2. Every member of the Union shall be entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out in this Article, without distinction of any kind.

3. Every member shall have, as far as is practicable, the right to equal access to the facilities and services of the Union.

4. Every member shall have the right to freedom of opinion and expression within the Union, subject to the law and to the good order of Union meetings and proceedings.

5. Every member or officer shall have the right to appeal decisions of the Union, or any officer or organ of the Union, in such manner as is provided for in this Constitution.

6. No member shall be unfairly disadvantaged by reason of their exercise of any right set out in this Article.

7. Nothing in this Article shall be construed as conferring any right to act in a manner that is contrary to the law, prejudicial to the good governance of the Union, or inconsistent with the objectives set out in this Constitution.

8. Every member of the Union shall have the right to make a complaint in respect of:

8.1. the actions or inactions of any officer of the Union in the conduct of their duties;

8.2. any decision of any organ of the Union which the member considers to be in breach of this Constitution, Union policy, or the principles of natural justice;

8.3. the provision of, or failure to provide, services or facilities of the Union;

8.4. or any treatment by the Union or its officers which the member considers to be unfair or discriminatory.

9. The Union shall publish and maintain a Complaints Procedure document setting out the process for making, investigating, and resolving complaints under this Article.

10. The Union shall be a member of AMLÉ. An Ghaelige

11. The Union shall give equal standing to the Irish and English languages in all operations of the Union.

12. This Constitution shall be available in both the Irish and English languages. In the event of a conflict between their respective provisions, the English language version shall take precedence.

13. The bilingual status of the Union with regard to the Irish language is a Union-wide principle, and shall be implemented and integrated into the work of every officer according to their remit.

14. All union members have the right to do their business with the Union entirely through the medium of Irish if they so choose.

Article 3.1- Membership

1. Member of the Union shall consist of:

1.1. All persons formally registered as students of University College Dublin (hereinafter “the University”) in programmes of study leading to recognised award of the University and delivered from campuses of the University on the island of Ireland.

1.1. All persons formally registered as occasional students of the University shall be considered members for the duration of their studies at the University.

1.2. Students who remain registered with the University but who are temporarily studying, conducting research, or undertaking placement at another institution or location as part of their programme of study shall remain members of the Union.

1.3. Such other persons as may be admitted to membership in accordance with this Constitution.

Article 3.2 - Commencement of Membership

1. Membership of the Union shall commence upon registration as a student of the University. Article 3.3 Cessation of Membership

1. Membership of the Union shall cease when a person ceases to be registered as a student of the University.

2. For the purposes of union membership, this shall normally occur on the date on which the final results of the person’s programme of study are formally released by the University.

Article 3.4 - Leave of Absence

1. A person who takes an approved leave of absence from their programme of study may retain membership of the Union for the duration of the academic year in which such leave occurs.

Article 3.5 - Access to Services

1. The Union may provide services and facilities to persons who are not members where it considers it appropriate to do so.

Article 3.6 - Honorary membership

1. Honorary membership may be conferred in recognition of distinguished service to the Union, the university community, or the advancement of student interests.

1.1. Honorary membership may be granted by resolution of Union Council. No more than two honorary memberships may be conferred in any academic year.

1.2. Honorary membership shall be a symbolic lifetime recognition and shall not confer the rights of membership under this Constitution, including the right to vote, or stand for election, unless the person otherwise qualifies for membership under Article 3.1.

1.3. A person shall only be eligible for honorary membership if they have at any point in time been a member of the Union under Article 3.1, or if they have in some material way contributed directly to the Union, the university community, or the advancement of UCD student interests.

2. Union Council may revoke honorary membership by resolution where it considers it appropriate to do so.

Article 4.1 - Governance

1. The authority of the Union shall be vested in, and exercised by, the organs established by this Constitution.

2. No organ of the Union can enact policies or mandates that are in breach of the Laws of Ireland or are prejudicial to the good governance of the Union

3. All physical and electronic materials (including intellectual property) produced by Union officers in the course of their duties shall remain at all times the property of the Union.

4. The assets and liabilities of the Union, as appropriate from time to time, shall be vested in a private limited company registered under law. Such a company shall be charged with the prudent financial management and oversight of the Union, and the employment of its un-elected staff.

5. Appropriate working arrangements shall be established to ensure effective collaboration between elected officers and Union staff, consistent with good governance and employment law. UCDSU CLG shall act in support of, and not in substitution for, the democratic governance structures of the Union. The President and relevant officers shall direct the work priorities and activities of the Union.

Article 4.2 - Policy of the Union

1. All policy of the Union must be set by the organs of this Constitution and all officers must, when styling themselves as an officer of the Union, follow only policy of the Union

2. Union policy shall be set by the following, in descending order of priority:

2.1. Policy Referendum

2.2. Union Council vote

2.3. Approved executive decisions

2.4. Executive decisions

3. For the avoidance of doubt, if conflict arises between policies, the policy that was created by the highest priority shall be Union policy until it is amended or repealed by that body

4. Policies shall lapse as following:

4.1. At the date specified in the motion enacting the policy

4.2. In the case of no date being specified:

4.2.1. Policy Referenda shall expire 5 years from the date of enactment

4.2.2. Council Policy shall expire 3 years from the date of enactment

4.3. The explicit vote of the organ that enacted the policy.

5. For the avoidance of doubt, the democratic will of the membership as expressed through referenda and Union Council shall take precedence over all other decision-making structures of the Union, subject only to the requirements of law.

Article 4.3 - Board of Directors

1. The Board of Directors shall, inter alia:

1.1. Be responsible for fulfilling all duties, responsibilities, and obligations imposed on directors by Irish company law, including but not limited to those set out in the Companies Act 2014, as amended from time to time.

1.2. Be responsible for the preparation and approval of the Union’s annual budget in consultation with the Executive on the basis of the Program of Work to be presented to Council.

1.3. Monitor compliance with the Union’s annual budget on a regular basis;

1.4. Make appropriate proposals to the President and Executive to rectify any negative deviation from the budget;

1.5. Ensure that annual accounts are prepared and audited and appoint the Union’s auditors;

1.6. Shall delegate authority to the to CLG to maintain and manage personnel matters

2. The Board of UCDSU SU CLG and its subsidiary or associated companies shall be governed in accordance with the laws of Ireland, and its Board shall consist of such persons who in the opinion of the Council are able and willing to act, as per Schedule E of this Constitution

3. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to invite any officer and employee of the Union, or a third party, to attend a specified meeting of the Board of Directors or a part thereof.

4. The Council and the Board shall agree a written protocol which shall form the basis for mutual understanding and co-operation between both parties.

5. The Union may form or maintain one or more companies for the conduct of its affairs with the consent of each of the Executive, Council and Board of Directors.

6. The constitution, memorandum and articles of association of any company formed or maintained by the Union must be approved by Union Council, as must any amendment to same.

7. The members of the Board of Directors shall serve as directors of each Union Company.

8. The Board of Directors shall appoint the secretary of any Union company.

9. The sole and exclusive power to bind the Union to a lawful contract is hereby vested in the Board or its delegates; no other authority, body or person so elected or established under this Constitution has the power to bind the Union to a lawful contract. The CLG shall regulate its own affairs subject to the laws of Ireland and shall endeavour to be cognisant of the policies of Council.

10. The President in conjunction with the Board shall produce an Annual Work Plan that is then submitted by the President to the Council, for its consideration and approval as per Schedule A.

11. The Student Council, on the advice of the CLG, shall cause all Annual Company reports to be published, and the CLG shall present them to a sitting of Council

12. The responsibility for implementing and overseeing the work of the Union is exercisable by the Council and where appropriate by the Executive under the leadership of the President, in accordance with this Constitution.

13. Any member of the Board of Directors who has a personal, financial, or other material interest in any matter being considered by the Board shall disclose that interest at the earliest opportunity, shall not participate in any decision relating to that matter, and shall absent themselves from the relevant part of any meeting at which the matter is discussed. A register of interests shall be maintained by the Board and shall be made available to any member of Union Council upon written request to the Chairperson or President, and shall be provided within a reasonable timeframe.

14. The Board of Directors shall ensure that the audited annual accounts of each Union Company are prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2014, presented to Union Council, and published to the membership, no later than nine months after the end of each financial year.

15. In exercising its functions, the Board of Directors and UCDSU CLG shall have due regard to the democratic authority of Union Council and referenda, and shall not act in a manner that frustrates or undermines duly adopted Union policy, except where required to ensure compliance with the law or the financial viability of the Union.

Article 4.4 - Interpretation of the Constitution

1. The Independent Chairperson of Council shall have authority to interpret the Constitution. Such interpretations shall be binding unless and until overturned on appeal to the Constitutional Tribunal in accordance with Article 4.5. Prior to issuing an interpretation, the Independent Chairperson, if they consider it necessary, may seek legal advice.

2. All interpretations must be publicly exhibited, including both the request and the interpretation

3. Any member, officer, meeting, or group established under the terms of this Constitution, shall have the right to seek an interpretation.

4. Any interpretation can be appealed to the Constitutional Tribunal

Article 4.5 - Constitutional Tribunal

1. The Union shall establish a constitutional tribunal, hereinafter referred to as “CT”, to act as a final avenue of appeal on any interpretation of the constitution.

2. It should consist of:

2.1. 3 - 5 external members

2.2. One of which should have legal expertise or demonstrable knowledge of Students’ Union constitutions and governance, which may include prior experience in a Students’ Union, relevant governance roles, or professional or academic expertise in the area. Any decision from this Tribunal is final and binding, save for where it may be overridden by Irish law.

3. Appeals and Interpretations shall be written, and published to the membership

4. The Constitutional Tribunal may request that the Union obtain external legal advice, which shall be commissioned by UCDSU CLG and made available to the Tribunal.

5. The CT may request reports, documentation, or clarification necessary for the performance of its functions and may invite relevant persons to attend before it.

6. The Constitutional Tribunal shall have the authority to correct typographical, grammatical, formatting, and other minor clerical errors in this Constitution, where such corrections do not alter the substantive meaning or legal effect of any provision.

Article 4.6 - Oversight Committee

1. Union Council shall establish an Oversight Committee, hereinafter “OC”, to support accountability and good governance within the Union’s democratic structures.

2. The OC shall provide oversight of governance and accountability within the Union’s democratic structures.

3. The OC may review matters relating to the operation of Union Council, compliance with this Constitution and Union policy, and the implementation of mandates adopted by Council or referendum.

4. The OC may request reports, documentation, or clarification necessary for the performance of its functions and may invite relevant persons to attend before it.

5. Following consideration of a matter, the OC may make recommendations arising from its work, including recommendations to Union Council where appropriate.

6. The OC shall not exercise disciplinary authority.

7. The OC shall consist of:

7.1. The Secretary of Council, who shall serve as Chair;

7.2. Four student members elected by Union Council; and

7.3. Three external members nominated by the Executive and ratified by Union Council

8. Student members shall serve until the end of the academic year in which they are elected.

9. External members shall serve terms of between one and three years, as determined at the time of appointment, and shall not serve more than two terms.

10. The OC shall normally meet up to eight times in each academic year but may meet more frequently where necessary for the performance of its functions.

11. The OC may invite relevant persons to attend meetings for the purpose of providing clarification or information.

12. The OC shall report to Union Council on its activities and may make recommendations arising from its work, including recommendations to Union Council where appropriate.

13. In reporting to Union Council, the OC shall have regard to the potentially sensitive nature of matters considered by it and shall deal with individual matters as sensitively as possible.

14. The OC may consider matters relating to the governance and operation of the Union within its remit under this Constitution.

15. Where the OC considers that a matter raised falls outside its remit or would be better addressed elsewhere, it may decline to consider the matter and, where possible, direct the person raising it to the appropriate officer, Union body, or process.

Article 5.1 - Class Representatives

1. Every class in the University shall have one Class Representative elected in accordance with the terms of this Constitution.

2. The Class Representative shall act as the official representative of that class and is responsible for providing regular feedback between their classmates and the Union.

3. Provision shall be made by the Electoral Commission (the Commission) to determine class groups for the purpose of establishing electoral constituencies to elect Class Representatives within the University, including Postgraduates. The Commission may provide for the amalgamation and the division of class groups in circumstances where, in its opinion, such a course of action is required to achieve equitable representation, to ensure that sub-groups or streams of a class are represented by a Class Representative.

Article 5.2 - College Councils

1. The Class Representatives elected in each college as set out in Schedule C shall meet collectively as College Councils

2. Each College Officer shall arrange for a College Council meeting to occur in their respective constituency at least twice per semester, in accordance with Schedule A

3. The College Council shall provide a forum for discussion on all issues of particular relevance to a particular constituency, including, but not limited to:

3.1. academic programmes;

3.2. all areas of teaching and learning;

3.3. facilities;

3.4. catering;

3.5. all matters relating to the education, welfare and student experience of students in the relevant constituency.

4. The College Councils shall elect representatives to be members of the Union Council where the Electoral Commission has deemed there are not enough representatives from the constituency.

4.1. The elected representatives may be recalled upon a vote by the College Council which nominated them, for reasons including but not limited to:

4.1.2. Failure to attend Union Council/College Council without providing an apology;

Article 5.3 - Union Assemblies

1. In accordance with the provisions of Schedule A, the union will hold at least one Assembly per semester.

2. The assembly shall be responsible for the approval of work plans, and the holding of officers accountable to the membership of the Union.

3. The union members shall be the voting members of the Assemblies

Article 5.4 - Union Council

1. The governing body of the Union shall be the Union Council, hereafter “Council”.

2. Subject to the provisions of the law, this Constitution, and to policies set by Policy Referendum, Union policy on any matter shall be determined by Union Council upon a simple majority of those members present at a validly called and quorate meeting. Union policy shall include mandates for Union Officers and any Union delegations

3. Union Council shall be composed of:

(a) The individual members of the Union Executive;

(b) All duly elected Class Representatives. Class Representatives can relinquish their right to membership of the Union Council within 28 days of their election;

(c) Representatives of recognised Campaign and Engagement structures of the Union;

(d) Such additional members as may be provided for in this Constitution.

3.1. The Electoral Commission shall be responsible for ensuring there is sufficient representation from each constituency on the Union Council.

3.2. The voting members of an action group shall only be: Democratically elected by Council in a simple majority, or; Democratically elected by their action group from among the existing Council on the action group, or; Appointed with democratic approval from the Council. As such, no individual or organ may use action groups to install voting members of council without democratic approval in each case. Other members of an action group may still be appointed or elected as Council decides during their formation.

4. Council shall adopt its own standing orders to govern the running of its meetings,

5. Any member of Council may move to raise standing orders temporarily for a specified purpose with a 2⁄3 supermajority vote of council.

6. Meetings will be held as per Schedule A and will be open to all current members of the Union. Individuals other than members of the Council may be permitted to speak at any meeting with the agreement of the majority of the members of the Council.

7. To proceed, meetings of Union Council are required to be quorate and the quorum shall be the presence of at least one-third of the current members of Union Council.

8. The functions of Union Council shall include:

8.1. The formulation of policy for the Union;

8.2. The right to mandate the members of the Union Executive individually or as a body to undertake certain tasks in furtherance of any adopted policy, subject to compliance with this Constitution, policies set by Policy Referendum, and the law;

8.3. Ensuring that the members of the Executive, Part Time Officers, and Action groups, are held accountable in the conduct of their respective roles

8.4. Action groups, individually or as a body to undertake certain tasks in furtherance of any adopted policy, subject to compliance with this Constitution, policies set by Policy Referendum and the law.

8.5. Notwithstanding, the functions of Union Council shall not extend to mandating the Union to fund any organisation or campaign external to the Union, to undertake any significant expense, or undertake any measure which would incur expenditure inconsistent with the Union budget.

8.6. Policy duration shall be governed by Article 4.2.

9. Meetings of Union Council shall be presided over by an independent Chairperson.

10. The Council shall elect from one of its number a Deputy Chairperson

10.1. The Deputy Chairperson shall act if the Chairperson is temporarily incapacitated.

10.2. The Deputy Chairperson shall act in an independent capacity.

11. The Chair and Secretary of Council shall publish, in a timely manner:

11.1. (a) Minutes of Union Council and Executive meetings;

11.2. (b) Policy passed by Council or referendum;

11.3. (c) Annual financial statements.

12. The Union shall also be responsible for notifying members of UnionCouncil and the Executive of all meetings and shall circulate all relevant documentation and/or information. A Secretary may be appointed by the President to assist in these regards.

13. Each member of the Executive shall deliver a written report to every meeting of Council for acceptance or rejection.

14. Where a vacancy arises in Union Council, the relevant constituency may appoint a replacement in accordance with procedures set out in Standing Orders. Any such appointment shall last until the next appropriate election.

15. All members of Union Council and the Executive shall declare any material conflict of interest and shall withdraw from discussion and decision-making where such conflict arises.

Article 5.5 - Action Groups

1. The Council shall establish Action Groups to advance the interests of the Union in its representational role and provide support and services to its members.

2. Each Action Group shall be proposed as a motion that includes:

2.1. The purpose

2.2. Proposed membership

2.3. Terms of reference for the group

3. Each Action Group shall be responsible to Union Council for the work and conduct of the members

4. Council can dissolve any Action Group via a motion.

Article 5.6 - Executive

1. The Union Council will delegate the day-to-day political operation of the Union to the Executive which will be made up of the:

1.1. Full-Time officers of the Union

1.2. College Officers

2. The Executive will be chaired by the President and will meet at least once a month.

3. The quorum of the Executive will be 50% plus one of the membership which shall observe the Standing Orders of the Union.

4. Decisions at the Executive will be by a simple majority of those present.

Article 6.1 - President

1. The President shall be the CEO and chief spokesperson of the Union and shall be responsible for the administration of the Union, except where the Board or Council have delegated the authority to another person or persons. Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all staff of the Union shall ultimately be responsible to the President.

2. The President shall be a member of staff in the CLG and be governed by an employment contract in addition to the powers and responsibilities enacted by this Constitution.

Article 6.2 - Full time officers

1. The membership shall elect a number of full time officers (specified in Schedule B) whom will report to the president

1.1. These officers shall fulfil the roles and responsibilities described in the appropriate section of Schedule B

2. The Full Time Officers shall be a member of staff in the CLG and be governed by an employment contract in addition to the powers and responsibilities enacted by this Constitution.

3. All Full Time officers shall provide peer to peer support for members of the union and endeavour to ensure that any support that falls outside their areas of expertise are referred to a relevant group or person.

4. In all cases, Full time officers shall abide by strict confidentiality where they interact with students.

Article 6.3 - College officers

1. The membership shall elect a number of college time officers (specified in Schedule

C) whom will report to the president or specified full time officer

1.1. These officers shall fulfil the roles and responsibilities described in the appropriate section of Schedule B

2. The electoral constituency for each College officer shall be the members enrolled in said College, and shall be defined for each officer by the Electoral Commission

3. College officers may be a member of staff in the CLG and may be governed by an employment contract in addition to the powers and responsibilities enacted by this Constitution.

Article 6.4 - Part time officers

1. The membership shall elect a number of part time officers (specified in Schedule B) whom will report to the president or specified full time officer

1.1. These officers shall fulfil the roles and responsibilities described in the appropriate section of Schedule

1.2. These officers may have limited constituencies based on representational role, and this will be clarified in Schedule B for each officer who has a limited constituency

2. Part Time officers may be a member of staff in the CLG and may be governed by an employment contract in addition to the powers and responsibilities enacted by this Constitution.

1. The Union shall maintain and develop relationships with external bodies, including University governance structures, national student representative bodies, government departments, and other organisations, in furtherance of its objectives.

2. The President shall serve as the primary representative of the Union in its external relations, unless otherwise determined by Council or this Constitution.

3. The Union Executive may nominate members to serve on University boards, committees, and working groups, including but not limited to bodies established under the Universities Act 1997, the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, and any other statutory or non-statutory body where student representation is appropriate.

4. All nominations to external bodies shall be made in accordance with procedures set out in Schedule B or as otherwise determined by Council, and shall be ratified by Council.

5. Officers and members serving on external bodies shall report regularly to Council on their activities and shall act in accordance with the policies of the Union.

6. The Union may affiliate to, or withdraw affiliation from, national or international student organisations by resolution of the Union Council, subject to ratification by a General Referendum.

7. The Union shall maintain a register of all external appointments held by officers and members on behalf of the Union, which shall be made available to the membership on request.

1. All elections and referenda of the Union shall be conducted by secret ballot using the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and Schedule D.

2. In all Executive Elections where there are one or more nominated candidates, the ballot paper shall include as an option the statement ‘Re-Open Nominations’ (hereinafter ‘RON’). For the purpose of counting votes, RON shall be treated as a candidate. If RON is elected, the Electoral Commission shall declare the position unfilled and a by-election shall be held in accordance with Article 8.2.

3. The Electoral Commission shall have the power to set and enforce reasonable spending limits for candidates in elections and for campaign groups in referenda. The spending limits, and the rules governing their enforcement, shall be set out in Schedule D.

4. Any member of the Union shall have the right to observe the counting of votes in any election or referendum, subject to such reasonable arrangements as the Electoral Commission may make for the orderly conduct of the count.

5. All elections and referenda shall be administered by the Electoral Commission in accordance with Schedule D and any standing orders made thereunder.

6. The Electoral Commission shall have the power to make, amend, and enforce regulations governing the conduct of elections and referenda, subject to the provisions of this Constitution. Such regulations shall be published to the membership and presented to Council annually in accordance with Schedule A.

7. Nothing in this Constitution shall prevent the use of electronic or online voting in any election or referendum, provided the Electoral Commission is satisfied that the security, integrity, and accuracy of the voting system are adequate. The Electoral Commission shall publish the name and provider of any electronic voting platform used.

Article 8.1 - Electoral Commission

1. The Union shall establish an Electoral Commission (hereinafter ‘the Commission’) which shall be responsible for the regulation, administration, and supervision of all elections, referenda, plebiscites, and other ballots conducted under this Constitution.

2. The Commission shall consist of the following:

2.1. The Chief Returning Officer, who shall serve as Chair;

2.2. The President, or in the case of the President being a candidate, another member of the Executive nominated by the Executive;

2.3. Four members of the Union elected by Union Council for a term of one year.

3. The Chief Returning Officer shall be an independent person who is not a current member of the Union,

4. Any member of the Commission who is a candidate, or intends to become a candidate, in any election administered by the Commission shall be deemed to have vacated their membership of the Commission upon submission of their nomination. In the case of the President, another member of the Executive shall be nominated by the Executive to serve for the duration of the relevant election. The President shall be reinstated as a member of the Commission upon the conclusion of the election.

5. The Commission shall be responsible for the maintenance and annual review of the electoral regulations in Schedule D, and shall present them to Council for approval annually in accordance with Schedule A.

6. The Commission shall appoint such deputy returning officers, presiding officers, polling clerks, and other personnel as it considers necessary for the discharge of its functions.

Article 8.2 - General Elections

1. A General Election shall be held once per academic year, at a time specified in Schedule A, for the election of Full-Time Officers, College Officers, and such other positions as may be determined by Council.

2. All General Elections shall be administered by the Electoral Commission in accordance with Schedule D and any standing orders made thereunder.

3. To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be a member of the Union in good standing at the time of nomination and must satisfy any additional eligibility criteria set out in Schedule B or Schedule D.

4. No person shall simultaneously be a candidate for more than one position in the same election.

5. The period for nominations, campaigning, and voting shall be as set out in Schedule D.

6. Results of all elections shall be declared by the Chair of the Electoral Commission and published to the membership as soon as practicable following the close of voting.

7. Any candidate or member may submit a complaint regarding the conduct of an election to the Electoral Commission in accordance with Schedule D. Appeals against Electoral Commission decisions shall lie to the Constitutional Tribunal.

8. Where a position is not filled at a General Election, or where a vacancy arises during the year, a by-election shall be held in:

8.1. Where a vacancy arises in any elected position during the academic year, a by-election shall be held within four weeks of the vacancy arising, unless Council determines by motion that the vacancy should remain unfilled for the remainder of the academic year.

8.2. A by-election shall be administered by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the same rules as apply to a General Election, with such modifications as the Electoral Commission considers appropriate given the circumstances of the by-election.

8.3. Eligibility to stand in a by-election shall be the same as eligibility to stand in a General Election for that position, as set out in Schedule B or Schedule D.

8.3.1. If a member would have been eligible to run in the election that elected the position that is vacant they shall be eligible to run in the by-election

8.4. The Electoral Commission shall publish notice of the by-election, including the nomination period and voting date, to the membership as soon as practicable after the decision to hold a by-election is taken.

8.5. Where a by-election fails to fill a vacancy, Council may, by simple majority, co-opt a member to fill the position on an acting basis until the next General Election.

Article 9.1 — General Provisions

1. A referendum of all the members of the Union shall be the supreme authority on all matters relating to the governance of the Union.

2. There shall be four categories of referendum:

2.1. Constitutional Referendum;

2.2. Policy Referendum;

2.3. Consultative Referendum; and

2.4. Recall Referendum.

3. A Constitutional Referendum, a Policy Referendum, or a Consultative Referendum shall be called by the Electoral Commission:

4. on the written petition of not less than 5% of the total registered membership of the Union (hereinafter ‘by petition’);

4.1. or on the direction of Union Council (hereinafter ‘by direction’).

5. A Recall Referendum shall be called by the Electoral Commission on the written petition of not less than 7.5% of the total registered membership of the Union, or of the relevant constituency in the case of a College Officer.

Article 9.2 — Petition and Calling of a Referendum

1. In the case of a referendum by petition, each petitioner must sign the referendum petition underneath, or on a sheet attached to, an exact copy of the wording of the proposed referendum, and provide their name, programme, stage, and student number.

2. The Electoral Commission shall make available a template for the calling of a referendum by petition.

3. In the case of a referendum by direction:

3.1. The direction shall be made by means of a motion passed at a quorate meeting of Union Council. The motion must include the exact wording of the proposed referendum.

3.2. Notice of a referendum motion must be given to the members of Council at least seven days in advance of the relevant Council meeting.

4. The primary date of polling in a referendum shall be a weekday on which lectures are generally held in the University and which falls not more than 28 days and not less than 14 days from the date on which the referendum is called.

4.1. If no such weekday falls within the 28-day window, the Electoral Commission may, with the consent of the Union Council, extend the window to 35 days. If no suitable date can be found within 35 days, the petition or direction shall lapse.

Article 9.3 — Constitutional Referendum

1. A Constitutional Referendum shall be the sole means by which this Constitution may be amended. For the avoidance of doubt, this Article prevails over Article 12 to the extent of any inconsistency.

2. A Constitutional Referendum shall be deemed to have passed if:

2.1. the majority of the valid votes cast at such referendum shall have been cast in favour of the proposal; and

2.2. not less than 12.5% of the total membership of the Union shall have cast valid votes.

Article 9.4 — Policy Referendum

1. A Policy Referendum shall set, amend, or repeal the policy of the Union in relation to a particular issue or set of issues.

2. A Policy Referendum shall be deemed to have passed if:

2.1. the majority of the valid votes cast at such referendum shall have been cast in favour of the proposal; and

2.2. not less than 10% of the total membership of the Union shall have cast valid votes.

3. Subject to being set aside by a subsequent Policy Referendum, a policy set by Policy Referendum shall remain in effect for five years from the date of enactment, unless an earlier expiry date is specified in the referendum text.

4. While in effect, a policy set by Policy Referendum shall be binding on all officers and organs of the Union, subject to this Constitution and the law.

5. The President shall publish and maintain a document, in physical and electronic format, containing the exact wording of all Policy Referenda currently in effect, and shall ensure it is accessible to all members.

Article 9.5 — Consultative Referendum

1. A Consultative Referendum may be called to gauge the opinion of the members of the Union on a particular issue. A Consultative Referendum shall not create binding policy.

2. A Consultative Referendum may only take place with the consent of the Executive in consultation with the Electoral Commission.

3. A Consultative Referendum shall be deemed to have passed if the majority of valid votes cast shall have been cast in favour of a particular opinion. There shall be no turnout quorum for a Consultative Referendum.

4. A Consultative Referendum may take the form of a preferendum, where members are presented with a number of options between which they indicate their preferences in order by means of a single transferable vote.

Article 9.6 — Recall Referendum

1. Other than resignation, death, or incapacity, a Recall Referendum shall be the sole means for the vacation of office of any full-time officer of the Union. This provision is without prejudice to Article 10.2 (Recall of Office) which shall continue to apply to all other elected positions.

2. A Recall Referendum shall be deemed to have passed if:

2.1. the majority of the valid votes cast have been cast in favour of recall; and

2.2. not less than 12.5% of the total membership of the Union, or of the relevant constituency in the case of a College Officer, have cast valid votes.

3. The officer who is the subject of a Recall Referendum shall be notified by the Electoral Commission as soon as practicable following receipt of a valid petition, and shall be entitled to make a statement of not more than 500 words to be circulated to the membership alongside the referendum question.

Article 9.7 — Conduct of Referenda

1. All referenda shall be conducted by secret ballot and administered by the Electoral Commission in accordance with Schedule D.

2. Where a referendum has been called, the use of Union facilities and the expenditure of Union funds in connection with the referendum shall be restricted to bona fide groups in favour of or opposed to the proposal, recognised by the Electoral Commission on an equal and pro-rata basis.

3. The Electoral Commission may set reasonable spending limits for referendum campaigns and may require campaign groups to submit a declaration of expenditure.

4. For the purposes of this Article, membership of the Union shall be calculated by the Electoral Commission based on the most current membership list available for the academic year in question.

5. Results of all referenda shall be declared by the Chief Returning Officer and published to the membership as soon as practicable following the close of voting.

6. Any member may submit a complaint regarding the conduct of a referendum to the Electoral Commission. Appeals against Electoral Commission decisions shall lie to the Constitutional Tribunal.

Article 10.1 - Resignation

1. Any officer of the union as defined in Article 6, who wishes to resign shall do so in writing to the President of the Union.

1.1. The President shall resign in writing to the Chairperson of Union Council

2. A member of any Union body who wishes to resign in their capacity as a member of that body shall resign from that body in writing to the chair of that body:

2.1. The Chair of a body shall resign in writing to the President

Article 10.2 - Recall of Office

1. Any person that is elected to a position can be removed by a majority vote of the same constituency or forum that elected them

2. To trigger a vote for a recall of office, for all elected positions, save the Full Time Officers, whom must be recalled as per Article 9.6, 10% of the relevant electorate must sign a petition to the Electoral Commission to arrange the recall of office vote, which vote must occur within two weeks of receipt of a valid petition.

3. The office holder (the subject of the recall of office vote) shall be notified by the Electoral Commission as soon as may be practicable following receipt of the petition.

4. Any such recall of office vote shall be conducted by secret ballot.

4.1. The vote shall have a quorum of 10% of the electorate

4.2. Any vote that fails to meet the quorum will be deemed to have been rejected.

5. This Article 9.2 shall apply to all persons elected to internal or external positions within or on behalf of the Union.

Article 10.3 - Motions of Censure

1. Motions of Censure shall only be brought against officers of the Union or against Union bodies.

2. Motions of Censure shall contain the alleged reasons for censuring.

3. Motions of Censure are the strongest reprimand that Council may give without calling for Recall of Office, or for the removal of a member from the relevant Union Body if applicable.

Article 11.1 - Student Media

1. The Union shall support a free and independent student media

2. The media shall be overseen by the editorial staff outlines in Schedule F

3. The editorial staff shall be members of staff in the CLG and be governed by an employment contract in addition to the powers and responsibilities enacted by this Constitution.

4. The media shall be overseen by an Editorial Board established by accordance with the provisions in Schedule F

5. On their appointment, the editorial staff shall establish a Senior Team in accordance with Schedule F

6. The Editorial Board and Union Council shall establish a formal agreement on how to cooperate with each other, and attach it to Schedule F.

7. Any member of the editorial staff can be removed by majority vote of the total membership of the Editorial Board

8. The media shall be included in the annual plan of work presented to the Union Council

Article 12.1 - Amendments to the Articles

1. Any provision of this Constitution may be amended, whether by way of variation, addition, or repeal in a manner provided for by this article.

2. An Amendment may be activated by way of a petition moved by any one of the following: a. not less than five percent of the membership of the Union. b. 25% of the membership of the Union Council. c. the Executive following a majority vote. d. the recommendation of the Electoral Commission.

3. Following the valid initiation of a constitutional amendment, the proposal shall be submitted directly to a Constitutional Referendum in accordance with Article 9.3.

4. The Chairperson of Council shall forward the duly passed petition to the Electoral Commission to be submitted to referendum for the decision of the membership, in accordance with such terms,as the Electoral Commission shall so decide and the provisions of this Constitution. A referendum shall take place no later than three calendar months from the decision of the Council to amend the Constitution.

5. Every petition, which is submitted by referendum to a decision of the membership shall be held to have been approved by the members, if upon having been submitted, a majority of the votes cast at the referendum shall have been cast in favour of the proposal, providing that the voter turnout is not less than 12.5% of the total membership of the Union.

Article 12.2 - Amendments to the Schedules

1. Schedules A and B:

1.1. Amendments via council vote (maybe adding a super majority requirement)

2. Schedules C and D

2.1. Only the EC can propose amendments, but all amendments must pass a council vote

3. All schedule amendments can be overridden by referendum

4. Schedules shall be understood to be supporting detail to the articles of this Constitution and shall be as binding on the operations of the Union except where;

4.1. a Schedule is in contradiction with an Article, the Article will always take precedence over the Schedule

4.2. Nothing contained in any proposed schedule is in breach of the laws of Ireland or is prejudicial to good governance of the Union, under the terms of this Constitution.

5. Schedules may be added to, amended or deleted from the Constitution by way of a petition moved by any one of the following:

5.1. Not less than two percent of the membership of the Union.

5.2. 25% of the membership of the Union Council.

5.3. the Executive following a majority vote.

5.4. the recommendation of the Electoral Commission.

6. Such petition which includes the proposed amendments must be brought before the Student Council, where it must receive the support of fifty percent plus one of the total membership of the Council.

7. Following acceptance of the petition by the Student Council, the Chairperson shall seek legal advice to consider implications of the proposed amendment and report back within a period set by the Council.

8. The Council, having considered the legal advice, shall decide as to whether the Schedule should be added to, amended or repealed by way of a vote, where it must receive the support of 50% plus one of the total membership of the Council.

9. The adopted petition will then be brought to the attention of the members in a manner deemed appropriate by the Electoral Commission.

9.1. Where 10% of the membership objecting in writing to the petition within 28 days it will then be put to the membership by referendum in the same manner as a provided for in Articles 9.1, otherwise the amendment, as adopted by the Council, shall stand.

10. Schedules C and D shall only have amendments under Article 10.2.5.4, no other petition shall be valid to edit these Schedules.

11. Schedule F shall only be amended by way of a proposed amendment from the Editorial Board, and voted on by Union Council.

13.1 – General

1. This Article governs the transfer of undertakings, functions, assets, liabilities, policies, and responsibilities from the preceding constitutional document of the Union to this Constitution.

2. All references in any policy, standing order, regulation, or agreement of the Union to any article, clause, or provision of the preceding Constitution shall, where the context permits, be read as references to the corresponding article, clause, or provision of this Constitution. 13.2 – Continuity of Policies and Mandates

1. All policies, standing orders, regulations, and mandates of the Union in force immediately prior to the adoption of this Constitution shall continue in full force and effect unless and until they are amended or repealed in accordance with this Constitution.

2. Where any existing policy conflicts with this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and the conflicting provision of that policy shall be deemed to have no effect to the extent of the inconsistency. 13.3 – Continuity of Membership and Office

1. All persons who held membership of the Union immediately prior to the adoption of this Constitution shall continue to be members of the Union on the same terms and conditions, subject to this Constitution.

2. All persons who held an elected or appointed office of the Union immediately prior to the adoption of this Constitution shall continue to hold that office for the remainder of their term, subject to the terms of this Constitution.

3. Any person serving on any committee, tribunal, or body of the Union at the time of adoption of this Constitution shall continue to serve in that capacity for the remainder of their term, subject to this Constitution. 13.4 – Transfer of Assets and Liabilities

1. All assets, property, funds, rights, obligations, and liabilities of the Union under the preceding Constitution shall transfer to and vest in the Union under this Constitution without further act or formality.

2. All legal proceedings, contracts, and agreements entered into by or on behalf of the Union prior to the adoption of this Constitution shall continue and remain binding on the Union.

1. This is to be determined by the next executive pursuant to a twelve month transition to this constitution in the non-binding annex of this document.

2. Class reps elected by <week X> of academic calender

3. First council sits by <week Y> of academic calender

3.1. Council sits <Z times> per <XX period>

4. Officer elections happen by <YY> week of academic calendar

Schedule B.A - Full time officers

1. President

1.1. They shall endeavour to participate on the most senior management committees of the University.

1.2. They shall coordinate College Officer activity, including arranging training for them during the summer months, and seek to attend any meetings of College Councils pending the approval of its members.

1.3. They shall nominate in writing one of the Sabbatical Officers to deputise for them in their absence.

2. Campaigns

2.1. The Campaigns Officer shall be responsible for the organisation, coordination and implementation of all Union Campaigns locally and nationally.

2.2. They shall organise and coordinate Class Representative activity, recruitment and training on an ongoing basis, and encourage unsuccessful candidates for elections to remain engaged in Union activity.

2.3. They shall seek to maintain good relationships, and regularly liaise with, the sports clubs and societies on campus.

2.4. They shall be responsible for the coordination and distribution of all Union materials and notices throughout the University.

2.5. They shall be responsible for the promotion of all Union elections and referendums to the relevant constituencies.

2.6. They shall maintain an active interest in national issues pertaining to student interests, and seek

2.7. to maintain relationships with other students’ unions for the pursuit of relevant national goals.

3. Education

3.1. The Education Officer shall be responsible for dealing with issues of academic interest, including, but not limited too:

3.1.1. access to education

3.1.2. maintenance grants and other student financial supports

3.1.3. quality assurance

3.1.4. student discipline

3.1.5. library services

3.1.6. overcrowding and resources

3.1.7. Examinations

3.1.8. assessment and associated appeals

3.1.9. the general academic advancement of the student body of the University.

3.2. They shall endeavour to attend all meetings of committees of which they are a member, and to coordinate and maximise student representation on other appropriate academic structures.

3.3. They shall endeavour to provide suitable careers information, supports and skills training to enhance the employment opportunities of members.

4. Welfare and Equality

4.1. The Welfare Officer shall be responsible for issues that relate to student welfare including but not limited to:

4.1.1. health services

4.1.2. counselling services

4.1.3. mental health

4.1.4. student parents

4.1.5. campus safety

4.1.6. students with disabilities

4.1.7. crisis pregnancy

4.1.8. financial hardship

4.1.9. sexual health

4.1.10. substance abuse

4.1.11. sexual orientation

4.1.12. identity and rights

4.1.13. other issues of equality and social significance with the University to ensure effective health promotion.

4.2. They shall be responsible for maintaining good relations with any employees or services of the University who provide welfare services or student support.

4.3. The Welfare Officer shall undertake a programme of relevant training and shall complete a programme of such training in advance of the commencement of the first semester.

5. Postgraduate

5.1. The Post Graduate Officer shall be responsible for dealing with issues relating to the education, welfare and student experience of graduate students.

5.2. They shall take a leading role in all national campaigns with a particular relevance to graduate students.

5.3. They shall be responsible for informing and encouraging the career development of all students and shall:

5.4. They shall be responsible for ensuring effective communication between the Union and graduate members.

5.5. They shall aim to ensure that graduate members are aware of their responsibilities in relation to University procedures.

6. Oifigeach na Gaeilge

6.1. Oifigeach na Gaeilge shall act as the primary representative for Irish speakers and Irish language issues and promote the continuous use and expansion of the Irish language in all aspects of the Union.

6.2. They shall promote the use of the Irish language within the Union and foster the development of a bilingual culture within the University environment,

6.3. They shall be responsible for the organisation of the Union’s activities which promote the Irish language and Irish culture, as directed by Union Council.

6.4. They shall work with the other sabbatical and union officers to ensure that access to all aspects of University life be available through the Irish language.

6.5. They shall liaise with Gaeltacht UCD in ensuring the implementation of all features of Irish language legislation throughout the University.

6.6. They ensure the availability of Union communications in Irish both internally and externally.

6.7. They shall assist and in the casework of any Sabbatical Officer should a student wish to conduct their business through the medium of Irish.

7. Student Entertainments & Experience

7.1. The Student Entertainments & Experience Officer shall be ultimately responsible for the organisation, coordination and running of entertainment events for members. They shall work with any relevant staff of the Union for this purpose.

7.2. They shall work closely with the President, with any relevant staff of the Union, and with the Board of Directors as appropriate, in formulating and adhering to a budget for entertainment events.

7.3. They shall assist all union Officers in the running of events specific to their roles.

7.4. They shall be responsible for maintaining good relations with any employees or services of the University who provide entertainment services to Union members, including UCD Clubs and Societies.

7.5. They shall be responsible for all Union fundraising towards charitable purposes and goals

Schedule B.B - Part time officers

1. Postgraduate Research Officer

1.1. Represent Postgraduate Researchers within the Union and the University,

1.2. Advocate for the rights and welfare of Postgraduate Researchers, including in relation to funding, stipends, fees, working conditions, supervision, and research culture,

1.3. Promote and develop Union policy in respect of Postgraduate Research matters,

1.4. Work in collaboration with the Graduate Officer to ensure coordinated representation of all postgraduate students, while recognising the distinct needs and experiences of Postgraduate Researchers,

1.5. Establish and maintain effective communication with Postgraduate Researchers across Colleges and Schools,

1.6. Support, coordinate, and engage with Postgraduate Research Representatives and Class Representatives representing Postgraduate Researchers,

1.7. Convene forums or other appropriate mechanisms for consultation with Postgraduate Researchers no fewer than twice per semester, with provision for engagement during the summer period.

1.8. Liaise with relevant student groups, representative bodies, and external organisations where appropriate to advance the interests of Postgraduate Researchers, and,

1.9. Attend meetings of relevant University committees and use those committees to represent the best interests of Postgraduate Researchers in accordance with Union policy and the views of their constituents.

2. College Officers

3. There shall be College Officers who shall be members of the Union Executive.

4. The College Officers shall be the primary means of communication between the students and class representatives in their constituency, and the Union Executive.

5. In particular the College Officers shall be responsible for raising awareness of issues specific to their respective constituencies in all appropriate forums including Union Council and Union Executive meetings.

6. The College Officers shall seek to pursue the interests of their constituents to, and in partnership with, the Sabbatical Officers.

7. Recognising the non-sabbatical nature of the College Officer positions, the Sabbatical Officers and the Union generally, and the Campaigns & Engagement Officer in particular, shall endeavour to provide support to the College Officers in the discharge of their duties.

8. The College Officers shall be responsible for the distribution of information and for the implementation of the campaigns of the Union within their constituencies.

9. The College Officers shall be responsible for the recruitment of Class Representatives within their own constituency.

10. The College Officers shall, where practicable, undergo training during the summer months as organised by the Campaigns & Engagement Officer.

11. Council has power to create certain non-executive part-time roles via motion.

1. The following colleges are established for the purpose of College Officers and College Councils:

1.1. Science

1.2. Arts and Humanities

1.3. Health Science

1.4. Social Science

1.5. Law

1.6. Business

1.7. Architecture and Planning

1.8. Engineering

1.9. Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences

1.10. Smurfit

2. Annex and satellite sites shall be assigned to one of the above locations by the Council on the advice of the Commission.

3. Where programmes within a college are not delivered within reasonable proximity to one another, or where a programme involves sharing of modules across colleges, a case may be presented to the Commission to allow for a derogation from this Schedule in that specific case. Such derogations must be approved by the Council.

4. Normally the Class Unit will be defined as the group of students on any one phase of a programme. Wherever a year / programme is split into administrative units, streams, or groups and where there are few overlapping or common classes or modules, a Class Representative may be elected to represent the interests of such a unit, stream or group.

5. The number of representatives, both in total and per campus location, to be known as Student Councillors, that College Councils shall elect to the Union Council shall be determined by the Electoral Commission

6. Where structural or other changes occur in the University, the Electoral Commission shall ensure that the democratic structures of the Union are reflective of these changes and shall recommend any such changes to the Student Council. Any such changes will be subject to the process to amend Schedules as set out in the Constitution.

7. In relation to positions on University boards, committees, or other bodies where a democratic mandate is deemed appropriate, Union Council shall endeavour to fulfil the function of electing the Union’s representatives to such positions, in accordance with procedures set out in this Constitution or in Standing Orders.

All rules are binding on candidates, their campaign managers, campaign teams and supporters. Candidates will be held responsible for actions done on their behalf or for their benefit. Candidates, Campaign Managers and Campaign teams are responsible for reading these regulations in full, ensuring they are adhered to and seeking clarification from the Returning Officer where required.

Accepted Forms of Campaigning

Below is a guide to some of the accepted forms of campaigning, limited only by the rules as set below. The typical union campaign will usually involve;

• Leafleting of physical materials.
• Postering.
• Physical Canvassing.
• Lecture Addressing.
• Social Media campaigning through posts.
• Canvassing students through class group chats.

Finance & Resources

The central rule of these elections is that no candidate should have an advantage over another as a result of having exceeded the relevant spending limit. This extends to having the benefit of having products or services provided to a campaign for free that would not reasonably be readily available free of charge to other campaigns.

Persons who hold paid positions in the Union may promote the occurrence of the elections during work hours. If doing so, they must maintain a neutral stance to any outcome. It is forbidden for a person who holds a paid position in the Union, to campaign for a specific outcome of an election during working hours.

It is forbidden to use contact lists like emails or text lists compiled or maintained by the Union, the University, University faculty and staff, a club, a society, or linked in any way to University College Dublin to solicit votes on behalf of a candidate. Any use of personal lists must be in accordance with the Data Protection Acts of 1988 & 2003 (as amended).

The use of unsanctioned University, Union, Club or Society resources for election campaigning is strictly forbidden.

Canvassing is not restricted to the duration of the campaign.

The following are strictly prohibited:

• the payment of canvassers;
• the provision of financial or material incentives to voters or canvassers;
• paid advertisements on social media, in campus media or otherwise;
• the use of the resources of the Union or any club, society or other organisation,

commercial interest or enterprise;

• the use of a campaign to promote a commercial interest or other enterprise.
• The use of commercial direct email or web text services is strictly forbidden.

For some elections, UCDSU will provide the following resources:

• Posters
• Manifestos
• T-Shirts
• Flyers

For any questions please refer to the Returning Office

Proper Conduct

Campaigners may not use offensive, threatening or insulting conduct, behaviour or words towards other campaigners, Returning Office or university staff, members of the Union or anyone else. Campaigners must comply with UCD’s Policy on Dignity & Respect and the UCD Student Code of Conduct.

Campaigners should obey the instructions of the Returning Office at all times, and may not act in a manner which the Returning Officers or relevant Presiding Officer consider prejudicial to the orderly conduct of the election, or that may bring the elections or UCD Students’ Union into disrepute.

Social Media Conduct

Social media pages from a previous UCD student election may be re-used / re-purposed, provided that the page was created for a UCD student election and that it is being used by the same candidate. If you intend to do this you must seek the permission of the Returning Officer before re-purposing the page. If you do not do this you may be prohibited from using the page. Any other re-using or re-purposing of pages is strictly prohibited.

Members of a campaign team may post in any groups of which they are a member and may share details about a candidate. Campaign team members should respect the use for which a group was set up and not campaign excessively on that group. Candidates who are uncertain about any aspect of this should inquire with the Returning Officer before deciding whether or not to proceed. Proper behaviour applies to online campaigning at all times.

Regulation of Polling

The relevant Presiding Officer will designate an area around each polling station (the “exclusion area”) in which canvassing is not permitted. An exclusion area may be altered at any time and may be extended to the whole of a building or to an area surrounding a building if necessary. No campaigner may campaign in or carry election materials into an exclusion area, or canvass or communicate with a voter who is in an exclusion area. The relevant Presiding Officer will remove any posters or other election materials which are either within an exclusion area or likely to canvass a voter who is at that time in a polling station. The Returning Officers or the relevant Presiding Officer may ask any campaigner to produce their UCD student card (or evidence of their UCD student status or proof of their membership of the Union under Article 3.2 of the Union Constitution, as the case may be) at any time; if the campaigner in question fails to comply with this request, the Officer in question may confiscate any election materials the campaigner has in their possession and require them to cease campaigning, leave and remain away from either the precincts of the polling station or the building in which the polling station is located, or in the case of the Returning Officers to leave and remain away from the University.

Posters & Election Materials

No printed materials may be displayed, distributed or otherwise used for campaigning other than those printed materials produced by the Returning Office.

It is forbidden to interfere with, vandalise, damage or cover the election materials of another candidate. In general, whoever gets their poster onto a particular spot first has it for as long as that poster is in place.

It is forbidden to “flyer” lecture theatres or any other space, including common areas. If materials are left lying around in lecture theatres or communal areas, University cleaning staff or Returning Office staff may remove those materials. UCDSU bears no responsibility for posters that are removed by UCD Estate Services. It is the responsibility of each candidate to ensure that posters are erected in appropriate places.

The only outdoor poster space available for posters will be on the metal fencing set up for the purpose. It is not permitted to use the Club/Society poster boards, even if a Club/Society gives you permission to do so. The burden of postering lies solely with the campaign team. Candidates should be aware that when it comes to postering, University cleaning staff, the weather, and clubs & societies all contribute to a certain loss in the number of posters a campaign has up at a particular time.

Poster space on the main floor of the Newman Building and certain other areas will be allocated by the Returning Office. Posters placed in excess or in breach of these allocations will be subject to removal by University and Returning Office staff. The use of stickers, paint or whitewash is strictly prohibited.

Candidates are responsible for the content of their election materials. All content must be in accordance with UCD’s Policy on Dignity & Respect and the UCD Student Code of Conduct. If any content is deemed to be false, misleading, or in breach of the above policies, candidates may be banned from distributing such content. Stunts Actions must ensure safety and welfare is paramount at all times. Campaigners may not engage in any activity that is prejudicial to the orderly conduct of the election or breaches the public peace. Please refer to the Returning Office for any ambiguities or questions. Electioneering must at all times be in accordance with UCD’s Policy on Dignity & Respect and the UCD Student Code of Conduct.

General Provisions

The Electoral Commission may deal with any unforeseen situations or conduct not explicitly dealt with in these rules as they see fit in the interests of natural justice.

1. There shall be eleven directors of the Company comprised as follows:

1.1. The President.

1.2. Four students appointed by the Student Council

1.2.1. Members elected by Council must be elected before the last Council meeting of the year to serve the following year for a one-year term. They shall be eligible to put themselves forward to serve a maximum of two terms consecutively .

1.3. Six external directors appointed who shall not have been members of the Union for a period of at least four academic years

1.3.1. The External Directors must have demonstrated considerable expertise in a field which is deemed beneficial to the strategic interests of the Union.

1.3.2. They shall normally be appointed for a term of three years and shall serve no more than two terms consecutively.

1.3.3. One of whom shall be appointed as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

1.4. In the absence of the Chairperson, the President shall perform the function of Chairperson for the Board of Directors.

1. The two members of editorial staff shall be:

1.1. The Editor

1.2. The Deputy Editor

2. The editorial staff shall be interviewed by the Editorial Board and/or its nominees

3. The Editorial Board shall consist of:

3.1. The Editor

3.2. Up to 4 External Members

3.2.1. 2 of whom shall have journalistic experience

3.3. A nominee of Union Council

4. The editorial board shall meet regularly across the year to ensure oversight, at least 3 times per semester.

5. The Senior Team shall consist of the senior roles across the various departments and different modalities of delivery, and shall have the ability to directly petition the Editorial Board to remove the editorial staff.