What is a constitution?
Every club or society has a constitution which sets out their core activities. These are the activities that your club or society must do every year to remain affiliated to the Union. They also list all of the positions on your club or society's committee. Full details about constitutions are included in the Club and Society Regulations.
Your constitution should be reviewed and approved each year at your AGM, and recorded in the minutes. You can download a template to use for your constitution at the bottom of this webpage. For more information on this, take a look at how to run an AGM or how to run an EGM.
If you would like to make changes to your constitution, you should do this through an online referendum. If agreed by the Student Activities team, you may be able to agree changes to your constitution at an AGM or EGM.
Please note, any voting whether through an online referendum or EGM/AGM must be held during term time.
Changing your constitution
Approving changes through an online referendum
Please complete and submit our Online Referendum Request Form.
You will need:
- A copy of your current constitution
- A copy of your proposed constitution
- A summary of the proposed changes
- A suggested voting timeline
We will be able to set up an online referendum on your behalf. We will send you the link to this, which you must circulate to your members.
Approving changes at an EGM or AGM
If agreed with the Student Activities team, you can hold an EGM or AGM, following our guidance in how to run an AGM or how to run an EGM.
At your EGM or AGM, discuss the proposed changes, and hold a vote to approve the changes. The vote must be passed by a two thirds majority, and recorded in the minutes of your meeting.
Remember to submit your General Meeting documentation through our webform. You will receive email updates on the status of your submission.
Ratification
If any changes are made to your constitution, they must be ratified (approved) by the Activities Zone.
We will pass your constitution on to the Activities Zone on your behalf, and provide feedback on any changes that are required.
Constitution Template
Knowledge base
Category
- Democracy