Constitution

1. All uses of ‘Junior Common Room’ or ‘JCR’ in this document refer to the political body by the name of ‘Oriel College Junior Common Room’ unless otherwise stated.
2. The purpose of this constitution is to define the parameters of the Junior Common Room (JCR) as a political body, and to set internal regulations for the JCR.
3. This Constitution is binding upon the JCR and is subject to the approval of Oriel College’s Governing Body at intervals of no more than five years.
4. All references that are in the singular can be read in the plural and vice-versa, except in the case of Officers and Representatives of the JCR, where there shall be one of each unless otherwise stated.
5. All uses of ‘term’ refer to academic term, weeks nought to eight. All uses of ‘term in office’ refer to the tenure of an Officer or Representative of the JCR.
6. All uses of ‘student(s)’ refer to undergraduates unless otherwise stated.
7. All references to ‘Treasurer’, ‘Officer’, etc., should be taken to refer to officers of Oriel College JCR rather than to officers of Oriel College, unless otherwise stated.
8. In this constitution, ‘improper’ means—
   1. Unlawful,
   2. Contrary to enactments made by the University or College, or
   3. Contrary to an undertaking previously given, including, in particular, promises of confidentiality. “Archive” means the archive provided for in Section 5.
9. When signatures are required to invoke an act of the JCR, those signatures must belong to those eligible to vote in a JCR election.
10. A copy of this Constitution shall be available to view at all times on the JCR website. JCR members can request a virtual copy from the Returning Officer at any time.
11. As per Section 5 (c), in the event of confusion over the interpretation of the Constitution, the Returning Officer shall provide the final interpretation.
12. Minor revisions may be made to this Constitution at the Returning Officer’s discretion without a vote by the JCR. All such changes that have been made must be made public to the JCR by the Returning Officer within a week of them having been made. Any such changes may be challenged by any voting member of the JCR through a motion to an open meeting (this motion will be regarded as an ordinary motion, not having to be passed twice as would be the case with a constitutional motion).

1. The JCR is a political body consisting of the Junior Members of Oriel College. The JCR has two purposes:
   1. To represent the collective views of the Junior Members of Oriel College to any relevant bodies, both internal and external.
   2. To provide services to its members and a formal social context for events in Oriel College.
2. A Junior Member of the College is defined as an undergraduate who has not yet graduated.
3. All Junior Members of the College shall be members of the JCR unless they revoke their membership of the JCR. Individuals can revoke their membership for the remainder of the academic year by writing to the President; this can be done at any time with immediate effect. Members can re-affiliate to the JCR with immediate effect by writing to the President.
4. Members of the JCR who revoke their membership will lose the following rights: voting in open meetings, elections and referendums; standing for an elected position; proposing or seconding motions in JCR meetings; proposing or seconding candidates for elections. All other rights are unaffected.
5. Any person can be awarded Honorary Membership Status by a first-past-the-post vote in a show of hands, in an open meeting. Honorary Membership Status shall last for the remainder of the academic year, unless decided otherwise before the vote. Honorary Membership can be revoked at any time by first-past-the-post in a show of hands in an open meeting.
6. Honorary Members are allowed to attend all JCR open meetings but are unable to vote in open meetings or stand for election.
7. MCR members can have voting rights, and the rights to attend Open Meetings, conferred to them by the Returning Officer, following a written request.
8. Only Junior Members of the College, persons with Honorary Membership Status, and MCR members who have been granted voting rights can attend Open Meetings. The Returning Officer has the right to request the removal of anyone in attendance at an Open Meeting who is not permitted to be there.

1. If any members of the JCR wish to review any records about themselves that have been created and held by the JCR, they may do so by contacting the President.
2. If any members of the JCR wish to be removed from any records that have been created and held by the JCR, they may do so by writing to the President.
3. Information placed on the JCR website is placed there with the consent of the individual involved at the time of writing. If the individual wishes for this information to be removed, they may do so by emailing the Secretary who will respond to the request in reasonable time.

1. The JCR shall ordinarily be represented within Oriel College—
   1. By the President in the unreserved section of meetings of the Governing Body and at College Liaison Meetings;
   2. By the President and one other member on the Joint Consultative Committee;
   3. By the Vice-President on the House Committee and the Buildings Committee;
   4. By the Equalities and Access Officer on the Equality Committee;
   5. By the Academic Affairs, Careers and Suspended Students Officer on the Library Committee; and
   6. By the Welfare Officers on the Welfare Committee.
2. The JCR shall further be represented within the Oxford Student Union (Oxford SU)—
   1. By the President, the External Affairs Representative, and where further vacancies arise such other officers as may be designated by the President;
   2. By the holder of the relevant post in each Committee of Officers holding a particular post, which is to say, inter alia, by the President on PresCom, by the Equalities Officer on EdCom, and by the Welfare Officers on WelfCom.
3. The Committee may make such further arrangements for the representation of the JCR as it thinks fit.
4. After every meeting of a body listed in this section, the JCR’s representative shall furnish, unless it would be nugatory or improper, the Secretary with a record for the archive of –
   1. The date of the meeting and those in attendance,
   2. The principal lines of argument and positions of attendees, and
   3. Such written confirmation of the details above as may be obtained (e.g. minutes).
5. The Committee shall publish on its website a list of the bodies on which the JCR is represented and their purposes.

1. The JCR Committee acts as the executive body of the JCR. Committee members are elected by JCR members in open meetings or by online vote. The Committee shall comprise of all Officers and Representatives of the JCR. There are two types of Committee members: fully elected Officers and semi-elected Representatives.
2. The Committee may release up to £200 per Committee meeting for a single cause without permission from the JCR, requiring support of Committee members via a first-past-the-post vote in a show of hands. This must be made public to the JCR. The quorum for a Committee meeting is ten voting members of the Committee.
3. The seniority of the members of the Committee is:
   1. President;
   2. Vice-President;
   3. Returning Officer, Secretary, Treasurer;
   4. Entertainment and Welfare Officers;
   5. Academic Affairs, Careers and Suspended Students, Class, Disabilities and Mental Health, Equalities and Access, Ethnic and Cultural Minorities, Facilities, International, Environment, LGBTQ+, and Women’s Officers;
   6. Arts, Charities, , External Affairs, Freshers’, Food, Bar, IT, Sports and Gym, and Men’s Representatives; and
   7. Oxmas Representatives, Valentine’s Day Representatives.
4. Every Officer and Representative of the Committee is responsible for the training of their successor, including, but not limited to, the making of handover notes.
5. Every Officer and Representative may send out all notices and information, including, but not limited to, events, activities and meeting or caucus minutes, related to their role via the JCR mailing list.
6. Committee meetings shall be organised by the President and shall normally occur at least fortnightly during term. When no meeting has been held by the end of the fourth week of any term, any three fully elected officers may during that term by notice to the Secretary convoke a meeting not less than one week thereafter. The President and Committee may set their own internal norms and regulations for the running of committee meetings Attendance of Committee meetings is compulsory for fully elected Officers, who, in the event of unavailability must submit their apologies to the Secretary in advance. Semi-elected representatives may attend but are not obliged to, unless requested to do so by the President.
7. Non-Committee members may attend Committee meetings, subject to the approval of the Committee members present at the meeting, decided by a first-past-the-post vote in a show of hands. Only Committee members can vote in Committee meetings.
8. The Committee must publish full, unedited minutes of all JCR Committee meetings before the open meeting immediately following the committee meeting (subject to confidentiality owing to welfare concerns), copies of which shall be placed in the archive.
9. The JCR shall have two continuous sub-committees in operation, an Entertainment Sub-Committee and an Equalities Sub-Committee. These shall be chaired by an Entertainment Officer and the Equalities and Access Officer, respectively.
10. Committee members have the right to convene sub-committees as dictated by necessity e.g. to organise Freshers’ Week, subject to Presidential approval.
11. Each active sub-committee shall meet once at the start of each term. They will subsequently meet whenever a suitable agenda for discussion arises, as decided by the subcommittee chair. Any matters for subcommittee agenda shall be presented to the subcommittee chair. Any matters arising deemed worthy of discussion by the Committee at large shall be brought to the next Committee meeting.
12. The committee is not responsible for the discipline or behavioural management of other junior members of college.
13. The committee shall maintain an archive, primary responsibility for which shall rest with the Secretary.
14. The Secretary shall furnish members with such papers as they may request as soon as practicable.
15. The Secretary shall withhold a paper when directed to do so by its author.
16. The Secretary may further withhold papers when of the opinion that –
    1. Their release would be prejudicial to the negotiating position of the JCR in a matter not yet exhausted; or
    2. Their release would otherwise be improper.
17. Appeals to decisions made under the conditions above shall lie in the first instance to the Returning Officer, whose decision may in turn be quashed by a two-thirds majority of the committee.
18. The Secretary shall not withhold minutes of open and committee meetings, provided that minutes of committee meetings may be anonymised.

The Fully Elected Officers of the JCR are as follows.

1. The President shall—
   1. Chair Committee meetings;
   2. Be responsible for coordinating the efforts of the Committee and publicising activities of the Committee;
   3. Represent the views of the JCR by, inter alia—
      1. Attending Joint Consultative Committee (JCC);
      2. Attending College Liaison Meeting;
      3. Attending Governing Body meetings;
      4. Attending Presidents’ Committee meetings; and
      5. Attending and voting in Oxford SU Council meetings;
   4. Establish a sub-committee in order to coordinate the organisation of Freshers’ Week;
   5. Take responsibility for reviewing the Alternative Prospectus;
   6. Live in College for the duration of their term in office; and
   7. Live in Room 17.5 for duration of their term in office, unless a specific exemption is granted by the Domestic Office.
2. The Vice-President shall—
   1. Normally be responsible for organising guest nights and Halfway Hall;
   2. Normally take the second JCR seat at meetings e.g. JCC, unless there is a good reason for another JCR member to attend in their stead;
   3. Send out at least two bulletins during term time via the mailing list, with information about external events and activities;
   4. Deputise in the event of the President being unable to fulfil their duties;
   5. Be responsible for representation of student views on accommodation to the College; and
   6. Attend the College House Committee and the College Buildings Committee.
3. The Returning Officer shall—
   1. Normally chair Open meetings;
   2. Be responsible for the conduct of JCR elections, hustings and referendums;
   3. Keep the Constitution up to date;
   4. Provide the final interpretation in the event of a confusion concerning the Constitution; and
   5. Remain impartial in JCR hustings and votes in JCR open meetings.
4. The Secretary shall—
   1. Prepare an agenda for each open meeting and circulate this among the JCR in advance;
   2. Give appropriate notice to JCR members of the deadlines for submissions to open meetings;
   3. Minute open meetings and Committee meetings and, if unable to do so, find a replacement from the Committee;
   4. Be responsible for the administration of the JCR mailing list;
   5. Be responsible for producing the JCR term card in conjunction with the relevant Committee members; and
   6. Maintain the archive in the manner prescribed by section 5.
5. The Treasurer shall—
   1. Be responsible for the financial affairs of the JCR, including collecting debts and fulfilling the financial obligations of the JCR;
   2. Present the projected expenditure of the JCR at the start of every term in an open meeting;
   3. Present a summary of the JCR’s expenditure at the end of every term in an open meeting; and
   4. Be responsible for the removal and addition of signatories to the mandate of the JCR bank account.
6. The Entertainment Officers shall—
   1. Organise and publicise JCR social events, subject to decanal approval. These shall include: three ‘Bops’ per term (two in Trinity Term), ‘JCR Drinks’ in both Michaelmas Term and Hilary Term, and the JCR garden party in Trinity Term;
   2. Contribute to the organisation of Freshers’ Week; and
   3. Not exceed three in number.
7. The Welfare Officers shall—
   1. Be responsible for student welfare provision in the JCR;
   2. Sit on the termly Welfare Committee and liaise with the College welfare team;
   3. Receive peer support training prior to their term in office;
   4. Coordinate the provision of peer support within College and shall liaise with the University Counselling Services when required;
   5. Be responsible for the provision of sexual health supplies for the JCR; and
   6. Not exceed two in number, one of whom shall identify or partially identify as male, and the other of whom shall identify or partially identify as female.
8. The Academic Affairs, Careers, and Suspended Students Officer shall—
   1. Act as a conduit between students, academic staff, Oxford SU, and the University Careers Service;
   2. Be responsible for disseminating information about careers and academic affairs to the JCR, including, but not limited to, changing courses, suspending, or registering complaints;
   3. Act as a formal channel of communication between the JCR and the Library and must attend the College Library Committee;
   4. Represent the interests and needs of suspended Oriel College students in Common Room meetings and other College activities;
   5. Be aware of current College policies for suspended Oriel College students and lobby for changes to these when necessary.
   6. Liaise with members of College staff such as the welfare officers (junior deans, welfare deans, senior dean etc.) and senior tutor on matters concerning suspended Oriel College students;
   7. Work and liaise with other parties that may be involved in supporting suspended students, such as SusCam, the Student Advice Service, and College Welfare, Disability and Equalities Officers; and
   8. Be responsible for organising an annual careers event involving Oriel alumni.
9. The Class Officer shall—
   1. Represent and support the views of members of the JCR who identify as working class, first generation, or were state comprehensively educated;
   2. Keep up to date with and attend relevant meetings of class-related Oxford University-based campaigns and organisations, including but not limited to the Oxford SU Class Act campaign;
   3. Chair meetings of the class caucus whenever an agenda for discussion arises;
   4. Organise at least one event per term, in addition to the caucus meetings, that support those with working class or state educated backgrounds within Oriel, and/or raise awareness of issues surrounding class, and/or raise awareness of issues, and/or platform the voices of those with working class or state educated backgrounds; and
   5. Take responsibility for ensuring the interests of students who identify as working class, first generation, or where state-comprehensively educated are actively represented in College, so that they may be able to participate in College life with limited inconvenience, and without fear of offence, intimidation, or discrimination.
   6. Must collect leftover non-perishable goods at the end of each term to donate them to a local food bank. Instruction as to the best way this can be executed will be the responsibility of the previous holder of the position.
10. The Disabilities and Mental Health Officer shall—
    1. Represent and support the views of members of the JCR including, but not limited to, those with physical and/or mental disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and/or long-term health conditions, and/or debilitating conditions however temporary or permanent;
    2. Keep up to date with and attend relevant meetings of disability and mental health related Oxford University based campaigns and organisations, including, but not limited to, Oxford SU’s Oxford Students Disability Committee, Mind Your Head and Student Minds;
    3. Chair meetings of the disabilities and mental health caucus whenever an agenda for discussion arises;
    4. Organise at least one event per term, in addition to the caucus meetings, that support those with disabilities and/or mental health issues within Oriel, and/or raise awareness of surrounding disabilities, and/or raise awareness of issues surrounding disabilities, and/or platform the voices of those with disabilities;
    5. Bring issues discussed and/or motions passed within the disabilities and mental health caucus to the JCR Committee meetings; and
    6. Take responsibility for ensuring the interests of students with disabilities are actively represented in College, so that they may be able to participate in College life with limited inconvenience, and without fear of offence, intimidation, or discrimination.
11. The Equalities and Access Officer shall—
    1. Represent and support the views of members of the JCR including, but not limited to, those who identify as having equalities issues, including issues of intersectionality and integration;
    2. Support the roles and events of the other Equalities Officers (LGBTQ+ Officer, Disabilities and Mental Health Officer, Ethnic and Cultural Minorities Officer, Women’s Officer, Class Officer and International Officer) as requested;
    3. Act as the overseer and co-ordinator of the other Equalities Officers in organising a festival in Hilary Term to celebrate diversity within Oriel;
    4. Coordinate the organisation of the ‘Life at Oriel’ talk on equalities issues in fresher’s week;
    5. Take responsibility for ensuring the interests of students with equalities issues are actively represented in College, so that they may be able to participate in College life with limited inconvenience, and without fear of offence, intimidation, or discrimination;
    6. Attend Equality Committee, or in the case of unavailability find another member of the JCR to deputise;
    7. Represent the members of the JCR at EdComm meetings;
    8. Organise the JCR ‘student-parent’ scheme;
    9. Act as the primary conduit between the JCR and the Admissions Office on issues including, but not limited to, undergraduate admissions interviews, open days, and school visits; and
    10. Be responsible for coordinating the JCR’s contribution to information provided by the College for prospective students.
12. The Ethnic and Cultural Minorities Officers shall—
    1. Represent and support the views of members of the JCR who identify as belonging to an ethnic or racial minority;
    2. Keep up to date with and attend relevant meetings of Oxford SU’s Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality;
    3. Chair meetings of the racial and ethnic minorities caucus whenever an agenda for discussion arises;
    4. Organise at least one event per term in addition to the caucus meetings in support of ethnic minorities in Oriel, to raise awareness of issues concerning them, to platform their voices, or to celebrate festivals of cultural minorities;
    5. Bring issues discussed and/or motions passed within the racial and ethnic minorities caucus to the weekly JCR Committee meetings;
    6. Take responsibility for ensuring the interests of ethnic minority students are actively represented in College, so that they may be able to participate in College life without fear of offence, intimidation, or discrimination;
    7. Promote and celebrate Black History Month within the Oriel community;
    8. Have responsibility for the representation of the JCR on college bodies concerning the legacy of and memorials to Cecil Rhodes; and
    9. Not exceed two in number.
13. The Facilities Officer shall—
    1. Be responsible for the upkeep of JCR facilities including, but not limited to: the television, the quiz machines, the pool tables, the ironing board and iron, the kettle, and the JCR airbeds;
    2. Be responsible for the administration of the JCR room ballot before second week of Trinity Term; and
    3. Be responsible for the creation of binding rules for the room ballot, which must be presented to and approved by the JCR in an open meeting before implementation.
14. The International Officer shall—
    1. Represent the interests of international students to the JCR, the Committee and the College;
    2. Offer advice and information to international students;
    3. Chair meetings of the internationals caucus whenever an agenda for discussion arises;
    4. Organise at least one event per term, in addition to the caucus meetings, that support international students within Oriel;
    5. Bring issues discussed and/or motions passed within the internationals caucus to the JCR Committee meetings;
    6. Take responsibility for ensuring the interests of international students are actively represented in College, so that they may be able to participate in College life without fear of offence, intimidation, or discrimination;
    7. Assist international students in settling in during Freshers’ Week including, but not limited to, publicising the University International Students Orientation session;
    8. Organise the JCR ‘International Godparent’ scheme; and
    9. Shall organise an internationally-themed formal in Trinity Term.
15. LGBTQ+ Officer;
    1. Represent and support the views of members of the JCR including, but not limited to, those who self-identify as LGBTQ+;
    2. Attend and/or promote relevant LGBTQ+ related events/meetings;
    3. Chair meetings of the LGBTQ+ caucus whenever an agenda for discussion arises;
    4. Keep up to date with and attend relevant meetings of Oxford SU’s LGBTQ+ Society and LGBTQ+ Campaign;
    5. Organise at least one event per term, in addition to the caucus meetings, that support and/or represent those who identify as LGBTQ+ within Oriel, and/or raise awareness of sexuality and gender issues, and/or aim to platform the voices of LGBTQ+ members of the JCR;
    6. Bring issues discussed and/or motions passed within the LGBTQ+ caucus to the JCR Committee meetings; and
    7. Take responsibility for ensuring the interests of LGBTQ+ students are actively represented in College, so that they may be able to participate in College life without fear of offence, intimidation, or discrimination.
16. The Women’s Officer;
    1. Represent and support the views of members of the JCR including, but not limited to, those who self-identify or partially identify as women, who have a complex gender identity that includes woman, and/or have a gender identity that includes feminine;
    2. Keep up with and attend relevant meetings of Oxford SU’s Women’s Campaign;
    3. Chair meetings of the gender equality caucus whenever an agenda for discussion arises;
    4. Organise at least one event per term, in addition to the caucus meetings, that support women within Oriel, and/or raise awareness of gender issues, and/or aim to platform the Must bring issues discussed and/or motions passed within the gender equality caucus to the JCR Committee meetings; and
    5. Take responsibility for ensuring the interests of women are actively represented in College, so that they may be able to participate in College life without fear of offence, intimidation, or discrimination.
17. The Environment Officer shall—
    1. Campaign to reduce the negative environmental impact of the JCR and the College more broadly;
    2. Be responsible for working with College staff in order to coordinate and encourage recycling on College property; and
    3. Work with College to reduce food waste.

The semi-elected Representatives of the JCR are as follows.

1. The Arts Representative shall—
   1. Keep the JCR aware of cultural activities around Oxford and oversee College-based arts events;
   2. Advertise and help run events by Oriel College Music Society;
   3. Advertise and coordinate initial stages of Cuppers in Michaelmas and the Garden Play by sixth week of Hilary Term; and
   4. Shall organise one arts event for the JCR per term.
2. The Bar Representative shall—
   1. Be responsible for representing the views of the JCR to College on matters concerning the College bar; and
   2. Show reasonable intent to increase JCR attendance in the bar, whether this be via bar events or other means.
3. The Charities Representative shall—
   1. Coordinate charity initiatives within the JCR; and
   2. Shall organise one Charity Formal per term, seeking the assistance of the Entertainment Officers or Welfare Officers if necessary.
4. The External Affairs Representative shall—
   1. Be responsible for communicating with external bodies related to the JCR including, but not limited to, the MCR, Oxford SU and the Development Office; and
   2. Shall attend Oxford SU Council meetings and vote on behalf of the JCR at times when the JCR is affiliated to Oxford SU.
5. The Food Representative shall—
   1. Be responsible for the running of the tuck shop, including weekly restocking, taking delivery, notifying the JCR when the tuck shop is replenished, and organising batteling with the Bursary; and
   2. Shall represent the JCR’s views on Hall provision to the College.
6. The Freshers’ Representative shall—
   1. Be responsible for representing freshers on the Committee;
   2. Be responsible for familiarising freshers with the workings of the JCR;
   3. Assist in the organisation and running of Freshers’ Week;
   4. Be in their first year at the point of their election; and
   5. Be responsible for coordinating an annual update of the Freshers’ Welcome Booklet’.
7. The Sports and Gym Representative shall—
   1. Be responsible for representing the views of the JCR and of the College sports teams to College on issues concerning the gym and sports provision; and
   2. Shall be the point of contact in College for the University Sports Federation.
8. The Oxmas Representatives—
   1. Shall be responsible for decking the halls with boughs of holly and bringing festive cheer to the JCR during Oxmas; and
   2. Not exceed four in number, provided that if fewer than two are elected, elections will be run at each subsequent Open Meeting until at least two are elected.
9. The IT Representative shall—
   1. Be responsible for the maintenance of the JCR website, as well as to be on call for any JCR technology related issues; and
   2. Oversee the punt booking system in Trinity term; but
   3. Shall not be responsible for personal IT issues of individual JCR members.
10. The Valentine’s Day Representatives shall—
    1. Number no more than four; and
    2. Have responsibility for the organisation of events for Valentine’s Day.
11. The Men’s Representative shall—
    1. Represent and support the views of members of the JCR, including but not limited to, those who self-identify or partially identify as men, who have a complex gender identity that includes men, or have a gender identity that includes masculine;
    2. Organise at least one event per term that supports issues regarding men within Oriel;
    3. Endeavour to provide support and information to college students for issues that mean deal with;
    4. Organise Movember;
    5. May attend GenderCom; and
    6. Must not, in view of the special position of the office in respect of equalities, hold events only open to men except for the purpose of supporting their mental health.

1. Election Dates

   The following Officer positions shall be elected in—

   1. 6th Week of Michaelmas Term: Returning Officer, and Vice-President.;
   2. 3rd Week of Hilary Term: Disabilities and Mental Health, and Ethnic and Cultural Minorities;
   3. 6th Week of Hilary Term: Female Welfare, Male Welfare, Secretary, and Equalities and Access;
   4. 7th Week of Hilary Term: LGBTQ+, and Women’s;
   5. 1st Week of Trinity term: Entertainment Officers, and President, who shall be involved in preparations for Freshers’ Week during Trinity term, prior to the official commencement of their terms in office; and
   6. 6th Week of Trinity Term: Class, Facilities, International, Treasurer, and Academic Affairs, Careers and Suspended Students;

   The following Representatives shall be elected in—

   1. 5th week of Michaelmas Term: Oxmas;
   2. 6th week of Michaelmas Term: Sports and Gym, and Freshers’;
   3. 1st week of Hilary Term: Men’s Rep
   4. 2nd week of Hilary Term: Valentine’s;
   5. 8th week of Hilary Term: Food, Bar, and IT; and
   6. 6th week of Trinity Term: Arts, Charities, External Affairs, and Environment.
2. Officers will assume their role on the last day of the term in which their election was held, with the exception of those who are elected in a different term to the election dates listed in part (a), those elected in a by-election, and Welfare Officers.
3. Those who are elected in a different term to the election dates listed in part a) will take office when the results of their successful election are made public to the JCR.
4. Those who are elected in a by-election will take office at the end of the Open Meeting in which they were elected, or, if the election is run online, when the results of their successful election are made public to the JCR.
5. Welfare Officers will take office on the final day of Trinity Term, to allow for suitable training.
6. Representatives will assume their role from the close of the open meeting at which they were elected. Representatives until their successor is elected as per part (a), with the exception of Oxmas Representatives who will hold their role until the end of Michaelmas Term, and the Valentine’s Representative whose term shall expire on 1 March.
7. In the event of an Officer or Representative being unable to serve the entirety of their term in office, they should send a written message of resignation to the Returning Officer. The resignation takes effect immediately after the Returning Officer has received and responded to this message. After the Officer or Representative has resigned, a by-election will be held within three weeks, at the discretion of the Returning Officer, though normally in the next open meeting. By-elections will be decided by a first-past-the-post vote in a show of hands for Officers and Representatives, and successful candidates will hold their position until their successor begins their term in office as per parts (a)-(c) above. By-elections for the positions of President, Vice-President, Returning Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Ethnic and Cultural Minorities, LGBTQ+, and Women’s will be conducted online.
8. A candidate standing whose term would otherwise be shorter than eight weeks may opt to serve without further election for the ordinary term of a year that would follow, and shall be treated as duly elected for the purposes of subsection (a).
9. A pair may run in place of a single candidate for any role except: President, Vice president, Returning officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Officer, or Entertainment Officer.
10. Once elected both members of the pair will become members of committee, but all duties will be split between them however they see fit.
11. All references to that committee positions refers to both people occupying the role.
12. Any solo member of committee may request to open a second position, in which case a hustings is carried out at the next open meeting for that role.
13. If elected this second member will leave office at the same time as the original member.
14. In such instances where a motion of confidence in a committee member arises, it may be brought against an individual rather than all holders of a position.

1. A Committee member can only be removed from their post by a motion of no confidence. A motion of no confidence may be proposed against any Officer or Representative of the JCR and must be passed by a two-thirds supermajority of present voting members. If successful it will result in the Officer or Representative being removed and a by-election being held for their post at the next reasonably available opportunity.
2. A motion of no confidence may be brought to the JCR at any time, ordinarily on the day after the motion is moved, and in all circumstances as soon as practicable.
3. Voting in respect of motions of no confidence shall be conducted online.
4. In all other respects, motions of no confidence are to be treated like all other motions.

1. Semi-elected representatives shall be elected in an open meeting by a first-past-the-post vote in a show of hands. The election shall be a blind vote.
2. Election regulations shall be determined by the Returning Officer, subject to alteration at an open meeting by a first-past-the-post vote in a show of hands.
3. Those running for Officer positions must complete a nomination form, to be distributed by the Returning Officer. Nomination forms for Officer positions must be handed in by a time determined by the Returning Officer; nomination forms shall be in writing and must be signed by the Candidate, their proposer, and five seconders. Candidates for Officer positions must have written permission from one of their subject tutors; in the case of Welfare Officers, written permission from the senior dean will also be required. Candidates’ nomination forms shall be made available during the open meeting at which they conduct their hustings. Candidates may produce a statement of intent detailing their motivation and suitability for the role, and what they intend to do if elected.
4. Candidates must declare any positions in any university-level societies, clubs or sports teams that they envisage holding over the course of their term in office.
5. Candidates may only stand for a position if they will have full JCR membership for the duration of their proposed term of office. When more than one election is being held on the same day, a candidate can only stand for one post in that set of elections. Candidates must stand singly.
6. No JCR member may stand for a post that they will hold during their Final Honour School exams, unless written consent is secured from their senior subject tutor.
7. Committee members wishing to stand for a position other than the one which they currently hold must resign from their former position prior to standing for election.
8. Elections for fully elected Officer positions shall be decided by single transferable vote and polling shall last for no less than ten hours.
9. The option of ‘Re-Open Nominations’ (RON) must be available in every election. If the option of RON is ‘elected’ in an election wherein multiple positions are being filled, only one of the positions shall be considered unfilled
10. Candidates may canvass according to regulations determined by the Returning Officer prior to the opening of nominations.
11. No Committee member may openly support a candidate or canvass on their behalf. This will automatically prompt a motion of no confidence and may result in the disqualification of the candidate in question.
12. Any JCR member who attempts to subvert the election regulations shall be reported to the Senior Dean, may be deprived of all JCR voting rights as established in Section 2 (e), and disqualified from any elections in which they are running.
13. If no candidates stand for a position, the election shall be run at subsequent open meetings until the position is filled. If an election has been held for three consecutive meetings without any candidates running, the position shall be left vacant until the Returning Officer is informed that a candidate is interested in running. In the event of a prolonged vacancy, the other Committee members shall endeavour to split the responsibilities of the role between them as best they can.
14. If an electoral circumstance is not provided for by the Constitution, the Returning Officer and the President shall decide on the appropriate course of action and shall forward a constitutional amendment at the next open meeting accordingly.
15. Conscience Statements
    1. At the election of the Ethnic and Cultural Minorities Officer, the Returning Officer will make the following ‘conscience statement’: “We ask that only those who identify with an ethnic or racial minority vote in this election”.
    2. At the election of the LGBTQ+ Officer, the Returning Officer will make the following ‘conscience statement’: “We ask that only those who identify as LGBTQ+ vote in this election”.
    3. At the election of the Women’s Officer, the Returning Officer will make the following ‘conscience statement’: “We ask that only those who identify or partially identify as women, who have a complex gender identity that includes woman, and/or have a gender identity that includes feminine vote in this election”.
    4. At the election of the Class Officer, the Returning Officer will make the following ‘conscience statement’: “We ask that only those who are state comprehensively educated, self-defined working class and/or first generation university students vote in this election”.

1. Hustings must be held for all elections for Officer positions and for all referendums, and shall be chaired by the Returning Officer.
2. Hustings must be held no more than five full days before polling.
3. Candidates for elected positions and those proposing or opposing a referendum will be given an opportunity to present their candidacy or to present the main arguments for their side.
4. Any JCR member may ask questions of candidates; questions must be posed to all candidates for each position.
5. If the proposition or opposition of a referendum wish to invite non-JCR members to speak, these must be approved by the JCR in a previous open meeting.

1. A referendum may be called by a petition to the President signed by twenty-five JCR members or by a motion being passed in an open meeting.
2. Referendum regulations shall be determined by the JCR in an open meeting prior to being sent to the JCR mailing list no less than five days before the poll.
3. The Returning Officer shall conduct referendums using an online voting system and may choose another Committee member to assist them in ensuring the correct and fair conduct of voting.
4. Only two options shall be offered: yes and no. The motion proposed by the referendum must be passed by a two-thirds supermajority of those voting.
5. If a circumstance is not provided for by the Constitution, the Returning Officer and the President shall decide on the appropriate course of action and shall forward a constitutional amendment at the next open meeting accordingly.
6. The results of a referendum concerning Oriel College will be brought to the attention of the Governing Body by the President when next they meet.

1. Open meetings are the main decision-making forum for the JCR. All JCR members are normally entitled to go to open meetings and vote at open meetings.
2. Open meetings shall normally occur once every week from weeks 1-8 inclusive, at the discretion of the President.
3. Attendance of open meetings and hustings is compulsory for all Committee members, who, in the event of unavailability should submit their apologies to the Secretary in advance.
4. The quorum of an open meeting is twenty-five voting members of the JCR.
5. The position of Chair will be occupied by a fully elected Officer. The position of Chair will be offered first to the Returning Officer; if the Returning Officer does not wish to occupy the position, the Committee may suggest an alternative Officer for the position. Any Officer put forward by the Committee must be approved by first-past-the-post in a show of hands, in an open meeting.
6. In the absence of the Chair, another appropriate Committee Officer will assume the duties of the Chair for the duration of the meeting.
7. In the event of the Chair being party to a motion, another appropriate Committee Officer will assume the duties of the Chair for the duration of that motion.
8. The Chair has the ability to remove disruptive persons from open meetings after issuing a warning; this must be supported by voting members, decided by first-past-the-post in a show of hands.
9. The Secretary will be responsible for preparing minutes of the meeting delivered by email to members of the College within seven days of the close of the last open meeting.
10. In the absence of the Secretary, the President shall appoint a senior Committee member to take minutes as detailed above.
11. Motions
    1. Motions must be sent to the Secretary prior to the agenda being sent out and must then be proposed and seconded by voting JCR members at an Open Meeting. Copies of which shall be placed in the archive. The proposal must then be followed by a discussion of the motion.
    2. Committee members may propose a motion without the need for a seconding JCR member.
    3. Committee members may propose a motion on behalf of anonymous voting members of the JCR if and only if the identity of the original proposers has been verified by at least two Committee members and said Committee members have agreed that there is a genuine welfare concern that requires anonymity. One of the proposing Committee members is recommended to be one of the Welfare Officers, but at least one of said Committee members must be either a Welfare Officer or an Equalities Officer.
    4. There are two types of motion: an ordinary motion and a constitutional motion. An ordinary motion can have functions such as deciding the JCR’s collective position on an issue or pledging JCR funds. A constitutional motion alters the Constitution and must be passed using first-past-the-post in a show of hands at two consecutive open meetings, via a show of hands.
    5. Motions shall normally be voted on by a show of hands and will be counted by the Chair. If there is disagreement about the actual number of votes cast, then a recount shall be taken.
    6. Successful motions take effect from the close of the meeting or publication of online vote results, unless otherwise stated.
    7. A motion shall always have three options: ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘abstain’, of which each member may vote for only one. A motion requires a result supporting ‘yes’, delivered by first-past the-post, to pass
    8. A motion may be amended at any time before a vote has been taken on it. An amendment should not radically alter a motion; the Chair has ultimate discretion in determining whether this would be the case.
    9. Any debate on the amendment should be restricted to the merits of the amendment.
    10. The Chair shall decide when there has been reasonable discussion on a motion or an amendment thereto.
    11. If the proposer does not accept an amendment then the JCR shall move to vote on the amendments, which must be passed by first-past-the-post in a show of hands.
    12. A motion is severable at the discretion of the Chair but can be overruled by a first-past-the-post vote of those present in a show of hands.
    13. Any motion concerning expenditure of JCR funds involving an amount greater than £75 must be passed by first-past-the-post in an online vote.
    14. Any motion concerning a levy of battels must be passed by a two-thirds supermajority at two consecutive open meetings.
    15. Any motion concerning expenditure of JCR funds involving an amount greater than £75 must provide a full breakdown of costs. The Chair has discretion over what constitutes a ‘full breakdown of costs’.
    16. Any event receiving pledged JCR funding must give notice at a JCR open meeting at least seven days before the event if any access or use of JCR funded or represented facilities will be restricted by the event. Failure to do so may lead to reimbursement from JCR funds being refused at the Treasurer’s discretion.
    17. During an open meeting, any member can request that the Returning Officer hold a blind vote on a motion. Alternatively, the Returning Officer or President may decide to hold a blind vote on the motion if it is deemed advisable. This vote will then be conducted by present members being asked to close their eyes.
    18. Any member may request that the voting on a motion becomes an online vote. This will be voted on immediately in the meeting by a show of hands and the motion will go online if there is an overall support in favour of doing so, decided by a first-past-the-post. If not, the motion will be voted on in the meeting. If the motion is Constitutional, an online vote must be requested in both meetings separately.
    19. When any constitutional motion is proposed in a JCR open meeting, the song “New Rules” by singer-songwriter Dua Lipa (2017, Warner Bros.) must be played in the background. This clause can be revoked for a specific constitutional motion at the Chair’s discretion.
    20. The Chair at the request of a member may permit a motion to be made without notice. Motions without notice shall be subordinate to ordinary motions, not have binding effect, not make any grant of money, and not exceed 50 words as dictated to the Secretary after the question is proposed. A motion without notice shall be deferred where the Chair is of the opinion that it is of general interest or sufficient complexity to warrant a delay, or at the request of any member a blind vote to defer the motion is held and carried, decided by first-past-the-post. The Secretary shall list deferred motions in the agenda for the next meeting as ordinary motions.
12. Meetings may be held in an online format at the President’s discretion, for reasons such as an inability to gather physically or issues arising outside of term time.

1. The Treasurer is entitled to make single payments of up to £1000.
2. The Treasurer shall advise the JCR Committee at the start and end of each term of the financial standing of the JCR.
3. The JCR cannot enter into any financially binding agreement for more than three years.
4. A subscription to a publication may be discontinued after the passing of a motion at an open meeting.
5. The Treasurer and President are signatories on the mandate of the JCR bank account and are both able to make payments on behalf of the JCR. Payments of over £2000 require the signature of both the Treasurer and President.
6. The Treasurer must ensure that the incoming President and Treasurer are added to the mandate before the start of the incoming President and Treasurer’s terms in office. The outgoing Treasurer and President must ensure that they are removed from the mandate before the start of their successors’ terms in office.

1. Members of the JCR may apply for funding for clubs and societies from the Oriel College Clubs and Societies Fund, which is administered by the College Treasurer. Details on the eligibility of requests can be found on the application form, which can be found on the JCR Website.
2. Funding is contingent on the presentation of finances to the JCR Treasurer by 4th Week of each term.
3. All clubs must have a valid constitution and a fair appointment process.
4. The Clubs and Societies fund does not provide money for the consumption of alcohol.
5. The fund provides funds for organisations comprised solely of Oriel JCR members.

1. A charity is hereby defined as an institution which is established purely for charitable purposes and is subject to the jurisdiction of High Court charity law.
2. The JCR cannot give its own funds directly to charities. However, it may organise events to raise money for charitable causes. It may also give its funds to bodies or groups that intend to raise money for charity, but only where doing so would have a direct and tangible benefit to the JCR.
3. All charities for which the JCR raises money must have a registered charity number.
4. The JCR shall support three charities per year, as nominated and voted for by JCR members at the start of each Trinity term. These must be one of each of the following: An Oxford based charity, an international charity and a national charity.
5. Unless otherwise specified, proceeds from charity events organised by JCR members over the year shall go to the three chosen charities, with the proceeds split evenly amongst them.
6. Any full JCR member may nominate a charity, which will be voted on in an open meeting. The Charities Representative is mandated to nominate a charity.

1. Any member can propose that the JCR affiliate to an external body.
2. The issue of affiliation/disaffiliation shall be determined by a referendum.