A General Meeting is a meeting which takes place around 4 times a year, where any student can come along and either put a motion forward, or simply vote on somebody else's proposed motion.

What on earth is a motion?

A motion is essentially an idea, that can be on ANYTHING. Whether you think you should have doorbells in Cwrt Mawr; want the Union to serve Real Ale; dislike CARNAGE (if you're a first year, google it); or think a 0% on essays once the deadline passes is a good idea, a GM is the place to do it. One of few formalities here is that there's got to be the student that proposes it, as well as someone else to 'second' the motion.

Writing a motion

See attached Motion Form and rough guide:

To write a motion that is to be presented to General Meeting you will first have to do some research – how much research depends on what the motion is and how complex it is going to be. Get all the facts and figures you can to support your argument, if it is a contentious policy, people will want to argue the case with you and you will need to defend your point of view. The actual policy motion itself can be quite short, but the thought and effort you put into the background and the presentation of the case may need to be extensive.
If you propose a motion, you will have the opportunity to speak in its favour at the beginning of the debate, and the right to summate for the proposition before the vote is taken. You will therefore be able to put your case across to persuade people to vote in favour.
Format
Although it is not compulsory, it is usual to submit motions in the recognised format of a numbered list of points, under the section headings, ‘GM Notes,' ‘GM Believes,' and  'GM Resolves’.
• The 'Notes' heading is used only to introduce a list of facts to remember which are relevant to the motion.
• The 'Believes' section contains a list of opinions, which the motion believes to be the case, but are subjective.
• The 'Resolves' section describes what should practically happen if the motion is passed.
Occasionally, other headings may be used: for example:
• 'Condemns' may be used to strongly denounce something;
• 'Instructs' or 'Mandates' may be used to force an officer of the union (especially one of the Sabbatical Officers) to do something specific;
• 'Censures' would have the effect of giving a named person or body a strong criticism and reprimand (though is less severe than the passing of a motion of no-confidence, which has the effect of forcing a person to resign from their office).
In fact, as there is no specific requirement to use any particular phrase you can use pretty much any verb you like for the effect you want! Motions may also be brought which would amend the Union Constitution or Standing Orders,

Each motion must be proposed by one student and seconded by at least one further member of the union. As well as individuals, motions may also be proposed (or seconded) by the Sabbatical Officers, Union committees or one of the Clubs or Societies.

Where are the GMs?

In the main room in the Guild of Students building(up the stairs and straight ahead as you come through the main entrance).

Why should I come to one?

Unless you have something that really needs doing for the hour or two that a GM is going on for, I can’t think of a reason why not. You can make a difference and control the Union by raising a hand, and feel the satisfaction you get from proposing a motion that is positively voted on. You can mandate full-time paid Sabbs to do things and see the effect it has on loads of students, and 100 students at a GM can be much more persuasive and certainly have more power than 1,000 students on a protest. As it says above there are only four a year, as well as a final AGM near the end of the second semester.

When is the next General Meeting?

Click here for the next date...

Attachments:

Example GM Motion.pdf	[ ]	340 Kb
Rough Guide to GM.pdf	[ ]	664 Kb