Ordinance 31

31	Students' Guild
31.1	In accordance with Section 12 (1) of the Statutes there shall be a Students' Guild.
31.2	The Objects of the Guild are the advancement of education of students at the University of Exeter for the public benefit by:
	(a) promoting the interest and welfare of students at the University of Exeter during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising the students;
	(b) being the recognised representative channel between students and the University of Exeter and any other external bodies; and
	(c) providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its students.
31.3	There shall be governing documents of the Guild as required by Company law, Charity Law and any other regulations which apply, which shall provide inter alia for categories of Guild membership and the conditions relating thereto, for the government of the Guild and for the administration of the financial and other affairs of the Guild. Nothing in the Memorandum and Articles of Association shall conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance. The Memorandum and Articles of Association and any amendment thereto shall be subject to the approval of the Council on report from the Guild. The Guild may approve Bye-Laws to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, provided that they do not conflict with the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Any such Bye-Laws and any amendments thereto shall be reported to the Council for information. The Council may refer back any such Bye-Laws or amendments thereto only on grounds of conflict with the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
31.4	Registration in a given academic year as a student of the University for any programme of study confers the right to full membership of the Guild for that year. However, in accordance with the terms of the Education Act 1994, all students have the right not to be a member of the Guild. Any student wishing to exercise that right must notify the Registrar within 14 days of registration in each year. Such a student shall not be unfairly disadvantaged with regard to the provision of services or otherwise, by reason of having done so. Full Members shall not pay a subscription to the Guild.
31.5	The Memorandum and Articles of Association and Bye-Laws shall provide for the establishment of other categories of Guild membership, for the privileges attaching to each category and for the subscriptions payable by each category. It shall also provide for the withdrawal and suspension of membership and for the discipline of members.
31.6	The sovereign authority within the Guild shall be a Referendum of the student body organised by the Guild. The Memorandum and Articles of Association shall provide for the holding of Referenda, for their powers and responsibilities, for the procedures governing them, and for the eligibility of members to participate in them. The Memorandum and Articles of Association shall also provide for the holding of Members' Meetings, for their powers and responsibilities, for the procedures governing them and for the eligibility of members to participate in them.
31.7	There shall be methods by which the policy of the Guild is determined, as set out in the Memorandum & Articles of Association and Bye-Laws on any matter not determined by Referenda or by the Members' Meeting and the methods shall detail responsibilities for the administration of the affairs of the Guild.
31.8	In addition to the President of the Guild there shall be such other officers of the Guild as may be determined from time to time. Such officers may hold office as sabbatical officers or otherwise on a full-time or a part-time basis. The number and nature of sabbatical officer posts shall be specified in the Bye-Laws and shall be determined by a review held at least once every five years and voted upon by full members of the Guild.
31.9	The Memorandum and Articles of Association shall provide for the conduct of financial affairs of the Guild, including the production of annual budgets, the control of expenditure and commitments, the keeping of records, and the production and auditing of accounts. A copy of the annual audited accounts of the Guild shall be transmitted to the University Council each year. The Registrar and Secretary shall be the Senior Treasurer of the Guild. The Board of Trustees are legally responsible for the finances of the Guild.
31.10	The University shall make annual grants to the Guild.