Graduate Parlour Constitution
A copy of the current Graduate Parlour Constitution is available here.
Recent changes to the constitution
The constitution was recently updated. A copy of the changes to the constitution, with additions and deletions marked, is available here. An informal summary of the changes is given below.
Opt-out restriction removed
Clause 2.3a allows people who would otherwise have been considered members of the GP to opt out. There seems no reason to limit this to the first two weeks of any full term, so this restriction was removed.
Restructuring of GP officers
The majority of these changes are in 3.1 and 3.2, although knock-on changes are in 2.4a i & ii, 4.1, and 4.11.
The office of External Officer, responsible (at present) for attending CUSU, GU, and other external meetings, and reporting back to the GP committee, was added (3.1g).
We felt it was important to have representation on the committee for women, LBGTs, and international students, so the LBGT office was added (3.2c). In line with similar restrictions for the women's officer, 2.4a i & ii were amended to restrict voting for and election to the LBGT officer to only self-declaring LBGTs.
The office of Graduate Parlour Steward, responsible (at present) for supplies of tea, coffee, newspapers, the GP drinks cabinet, and maintaining the committee cleaning rota, was added (3.2d).
GP offices have been separated into primary offices (3.1), which are always filled (according to 4.11), and secondary offices (3.2), which need not be filled. The secondary offices are important for minority representation (such as LBGT and international students), as an unhappy GP member can stand for one of these offices at any time (following 4.11), provided they are not already occupied.
For example, on recent committees there have been a significant number of women. It is therefore thought unnecessary to have to have a women's officer, as women's views are adequately represented by other GP committee members. If, however, a future committee were male dominated, an unhappy female GP member could stand for Women's officer (provided it were vacant) and represent women's views on the committee.
Electronic voting
Since it is now possible, and indeed probably preferable, to vote via a secure website rather than by email, section 4.5 was changed from voting "by email" to voting "electronically".
Restrictions imposed by anonymous voting
Since voting is anonymous, it has so far never been possible to enforce the restriction (2.4a i) that only women vote for Women's officer. This was technically unconstitutional. The modification to 4.5 makes the previously accepted behaviour of warning voters but not enforcing the ban constitutional.
Standing for only one place
Previously, candidates at an election could stand for both President and another committee position (4.8). This was an old relic of a previous constitution where the president was voted in at a different time of year to the rest of the committee. Since this has now been abolished, it makes sense to remove this clause and treat presidential candidates in the same way as non-presidential candidates.
Nominations for a vacant position
Previously, if a position was unfilled, "nominations for that place will remain open". No details were given of what would happen if a nomination was received. Clause 4.11 has been added to give details, requiring that, on receipt of a nomination, by-elections be held for that position.
Frequency of committee meetings
Following problems identified from the 2005--2006 committee, clause 5.1 has been updated to force committee meetings at least fortnightly during full term, instead of at least twice a term.
Frequency of Open Meetings
Also following problems identified from the 2005--2006 committee, clause 6.2 has been added forcing Open Meetings at least once every full term. This should increase accountability and transparency of the GP committee to the GP.
List of ordinary members of the GP
Clause 12.1 previously stated that "a list of all ordinary members of the GP shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the college by the division of each Michaelmas term". However, at present, it is the college that knows the list of ordinary members, and which informs the GP committee, rather than the other way round. Therefore, this requirement has been deleted.
