RCNUWC Student Council Constitution

The Red Cross Nordic United World College

Student Council Constitution
As of 15 January 2009

We the students of Red Cross Nordic United World College, establish this Constitution in order to form
a better College, promote the general wellbeing, and institute a democratic structure ensuring that
individuals are provided a system through which they can influence their lives at the College.

Article I Structure of the Student Council

Section 1 Membership

The Student Council shall consist of twelve members: a Board Representative, a Communications
Representative, five House Representatives, and five Aspect Workers. One of these members shall serve
as Student Council Chair.

Section 2 Student Council Meetings

1 The Student Council must hold a weekly meeting in the time slot allocated when the College is in
session, excluding extenuating circumstances,
2 Additional meetings must be held if the Student Council deems it necessary to do so,
3 Student Council meetings are open for everyone to attend, although only Student Council members
have the right to vote on matters discussed in the meetings,
4 Confidential items are to be marked as such on the agenda and be discussed as the last item in a meeting
by a group consisting only of Student Council members and individuals raising the matter, where
appropriate,
5 Minutes from confidential matters are not publicised, but kept by the Communications Representative
and can be obtained by Student Council members on request.

Section 3 Committees

1 The Committees are the Education, Academic, Extra-Academic, Residential, Environmental, IT, and
Financial Committees,
2 The Committees each represent a different field of college life and deal with matters within their
respective fields as brought forward by committee members.

Section 4 Rights and Responsibilities of the Student Council

1 Responsibilities of the Chair

1.1 To chair all Student Council meetings,

1.2 To chair every second Student-Staff meeting,
1.3 To represent the Student Council at Staff meetings,
1.4 To distribute duties and tasks within the Student Council and ensure that these are completed,
1.5 To inform the Student Body about Student Council matters by writing an article for each issue of the
College Magazine.

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2 Responsibilities of the Board Representative

2.1 To represent the Student Council at Nordic Council meetings and College Board meetings,
2.2 To compose a report to the College Board before each College Board meeting,
2.3 To report to the Student Council from aforesaid Nordic Council and College Board meetings.

3 Responsibilities of the Communications Representative

3.1 To take, archive, and publicise the minutes from all Student Council meetings and Student-Staff
meetings,
3.2 To issue a report from the Student Council at College meetings when necessary,
3.3 To inform the Student Body about Student Council matters through the Student Council Notice Board,
including posting the newest Student Council meeting minutes, important proposal changes, Committee
updates, and a description of each Student Council member,

4 Responsibilities of the House Representatives

4.1 To raise Student Council matters at House meetings and vice versa,
4.2 To collect and bring forth opinions from their respective house at Student Council meetings,
4.3 To assist or constitute the House Mentor when necessary,
4.4 To represent and assist the Aspect Workers in the committees.

5 Responsibilities of the Aspect Workers

5.1 To assist or constitute the Chair when necessary,

5.2 To assist or constitute the Board Representative when necessary,
5.3 To represent the Student Council in their respective committees,
5.4 The Education, Academic, Extra-Academic, and Residential Committees must be represented by
separate Aspect Workers.

6 Rights of all Student Council members

6.1 To represent and speak on behalf of the Student Body at any occasion,
6.2 To make public statements on behalf of the Student Body on all issues concerning the Student Body.

7 Responsibilities of all Student Council members

7.1 To represent the Student Body during all Student Council meetings,
7.2 To represent the Student Body whenever the College is in session, including off-campus occasions,
7.3 To address and bring up all issues and problems brought forward by members of the Student Body in
Student Council meetings,
7.4 To carry out and publicise a thorough evaluation of their term in office after said term has ended.

Article II Elections
Section 1 Nomination Procedures

1 The retiring Student Council shall plan and organise the elections of the new Student Council,
2 The new Student Council shall be in office when all elections have been held and the retiring Student
Council finds it appropriate, however the takeover must take place less than a month after the last
election,
3 A candidate must have attended at least three Student Council meetings prior to the elections in order to
run for any position in the Student Council,

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4 All candidates shall nominate themselves for consideration as a member of the incoming Student
Council.

Section 2 Voting Procedures

1 Board Representative and Communications Representative

1.1 For the elections of the Board Representative and the Communications Representative, each student
body member shall cast one vote,
1.2 The candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the Board Representative and Communications
Representative elections, shall be elected for the respective positions,
1.3 In the case of more than three candidates running for one or both of these positions, the three candidates
receiving the most votes shall progress to a second round of voting where Point 1.2 shall apply,
1.4 Once the new Board Representative has been elected, the retiring Board Representative attends the
upcoming Board Meetings, as well as the Annual Council Meeting, during which the new Board
Representative will officially be introduced to the Council and subsequently take over.

2 House Representatives

2.1 For the House Representative elections, each member of the respective house shall cast one vote,
2.2 In the case of more than three candidates running for House Representative, the three candidates
receiving the most votes shall progress to a second round of voting where Point 2.1 shall apply.

3 Aspect Workers

3.1 For the Aspect Worker elections, each student body member may cast votes for three different
candidates,
3.2 The five candidates receiving the highest number of votes for the Aspect Worker elections, shall be
elected,
3.3 In the case of more than eight candidates running for Aspect Worker, the eight candidates receiving the
most votes shall progress to a second round of voting where Point 3.2 shall apply.

4 Student Council Chair

4.1 The Student Council Chair is elected among those of the Student Council members, who wish to run for
the position,
4.2 The candidates shall nominate themselves in the first Student Council meeting after the Aspect Worker
elections,
4.3 The election shall take place at the second Student Council meeting after the Aspect Worker elections,
4.4 For the Student Council Chair elections, each newly elected Student Council member shall cast one
vote,
4.5 In the case of more than three candidates running for Student Council Chair, the three candidates
receiving the most votes shall progress to a second round of voting where Point 4.4 shall apply,
4.6 Once the new Student Council Chair has been elected, the retiring Student Council, excluding the
retiring Board Representative (see Point 1.4), is officially no longer in office.

5 Results

5.1 Results from the Student Council elections are not publicised, but can be obtained from any Student
Council member on request.

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Article III Recall and Resignation

Section 1 Recall Processes

1 Board and Communications Representatives and Aspect Workers

1.1 If the Student Body approves the removal of a Student Council member from their position with a
simple majority, the Student Council member is removed from their position,
1.2 In case of Point 1.1, the Student Council in office shall organise a new election for the vacant position
in accordance with Section 3.

2 House Representatives

2.1 If the House Body approves the removal of a House Representative from their position with a simple
majority, the House Representative is removed from their position,
2.2 In Case of Point 2.1, see Point 1.2.

3 Student Council Chair

3.1 If the Student Council approves the removal of the Student Council Chair from their position with a
simple majority, the Student Council Chair is removed from their position and shall serve as the Student
Council role, they were elected to,
3.2 In case of Point 3.1, see Article II, Sections 4.1, 4.4, and 4.5.

Section 2 Resignation Process

1 Any Student Council member may resign at any time by submitting a letter of resignation to the Student
Council,
2 In case of 2.1, an election will be held to fill the vacant position in accordance with Article II, Section 2.

Article IV Amending the Constitution

Section 1 Amendments

1 An amendment must first be proposed to the Student Council for approval,

2 If the Student Council approves of the proposed amendment with a minimum 2/3 majority, the
amendment is presented to the Student Body,
3 If a majority of the Student Body is present and approves of the proposed amendment with a minimum
2/3 majority, the amendment is implemented.