Democracy • St John's College MCR Oxford

Decisions for the MCR are made through the Committee and General Meetings. Their powers are determined by the Constitution.

General Meetings

One of the most important functions of General Meetings is to discuss and vote on motions brought by members. These motions concern the way we administer the affairs of the MCR, and spend its budget. By depending on full meetings of our members, and asking that ideas be presented as formal motions for a vote, we ensure that the MCR remains an accountable and accessible body, serving the interests of all its members. It is in the interests of all members to attend meetings and have their say. Motions usually fall into one of the categories below, although they can concern any item of MCR policy or expenditure. If you are interested in submitting a motion for discussion in an OGM, please click on one of the links below for drafting guidance.

Associate Membership Motion – Guidelines for the admission of associate members.

While we are very much in favour of admitting associate members, the committee have decided to detail some guidelines for potential applicants. Specifically our policy is to exclude people who are members of another student body and thereby have access to other means of support.

Under this condition, individuals who have access to other JCRs/MCRs or SJC undergrads (1st – 3rd year) are not eligible for associate membership.

The groups eligible for associate membership are 4th year undergrads at St Johns (older relative to other JCR members), mature undergrads, and people who are not members of other colleges (Post-Docs, partners) and have some connection to the MCR.

If you fulfil these criteria, you will need a proposer and seconder to come to an Ordinary General Meeting with a motion of this form. Your proposer, seconder, and you must all be physically present at the Ordinary General Meeting in order for your motion to be accepted.

All Associate Members have the right to attend and speak at MCR meetings and attend MCR events. Associate Members have the right to use any MCR property or facilities if they are members of St John’s College. Associate Members who are not members of St John’s College typically enjoy access to MCR facilities, the College grounds, and the College gym; however, this access is at the discretion of College authorities. Additionally, Associate Members who are not members of St John’s College are not entitled to utilize any other College provisions, such as the College Counsellor.

General motion: Admission of NAME as an associate member

Proposed: NAME OF PROPOSER

Seconded: NAME OF SECONDER

This MCR notes:

Justification to admit NAME (EMAIL ADDRESS) as an associate member – connection to the College, for example.

This MCR resolves to:

1) Admit NAME as an associate member

Expenditure Motion – A suggestion for spending some of the MCR’s money on an acquisition or event.

This is the most common sort of MCR motion. The MCR receives a generous annual budget from the College, much of which is spent on our regular events – desserts, bops, desserts – or on charitable donations. Plenty is left over for allocation to one-off expenditure, though. In recent years we’ve bought a pool table and a new television, as well as many smaller items.

If you have an idea for an expenditure motion, you should draft it as follows and submit it to the Vice President well in advance of an Ordinary General Meeting.

Your motion will then be included in the agenda paper and given a full discussion at the meeting; amendments may be added to it, and then a vote will be taken. Votes of an Ordinary General Meeting of the MCR are considered binding commitments.

Example of an expenditure motion: “The Buy A New Coffee Machine”

Motion Title: Buy A New Coffee Machine

Proposer/Seconder: Proposed: John Smith, Seconded: Mary Jones.

You’ll need a proposer and seconder to speak for the motion in the meeting.

Justification:

This MCR notes:

Many people drink coffee
The MCR currently has poor coffee making facilities. We feel that a machine capable of making Espresso and Cappucino as well as filter coffee would be well used by members, attracting more people to the MCR.
A “Deluxe Coffee Maker Mk. III” can be purchased in Boswells for £65.00. This represents the best available balance between purchase cost and functionality.

Introductory notes setting out why we need what you’re proposing we buy. This is sometimes referred to as the motion’s “Scope and Purpose” – its raison d’être. You’ll also need to show you’ve thought in detail about the exact cost.

Motion Statement:

This MCR therefore resolves to:

Purchase a new “Deluxe Coffee Maker Mk. III” from Boswells and install it in the MCR Kitchen for use by members.

What you’re proposing that we should do. Review usage and ongoing costs at the end of next term. Any follow up issues?

Constitutional Motion – A suggestion for changing an aspect of the way in which the MCR regulates itself and conducts its business.

The MCR Constitution is the framework within which we manage our affairs and spend our budget. If it is felt that new needs have arisen which are beyond the scope of the current constitution, it is possible to make amendments. Recent examples include the succesful addition of a Freshers’ Week Committee to manage events in 0th week of Michaelmas term. It would also be possible to propose changes to the division of the MCR’s budget. Voting these changes through at a full meeting means that the MCR remains an accountable, representative body.

If you have an idea for an constitutional motion, you should discuss it in advance with the President and Vice President. Changes made in this way are quite weighty undertakings, and we’ll need to discuss your proposals before suggesting the best way to proceed. If you’re intent on tabling a constitutional motion, you should draft it as follows and submit it to the Vice President well in advance of an Ordinary General Meeting.

Example of a constitutional motion: The “New X Officer” Motion.

Motion Title: The New X Officer Motion.

Proposer/Seconder: Proposed: John Smith, Seconded: Mary Jones.

You’ll need a proposer and seconder to speak for the motion in the meeting.

Justification:

This MCR notes:

There is a large and growing demand in the MCR for events featuring X.
The MCR currently has no Officer in charge of organising X, which means that X events are currently ad hoc, poorly publicised and underfunded occasions.
The creation of an X Officer, responsible to the President and Committee and mandated to fulfil functions Y and Z, would therefore be a useful addition to the MCR Committee.

Introductory notes setting out the nature of the change you’re proposing. This is sometimes referred to as the motion’s “Scope and Purpose” – its raison d’être. The more information you can provide, the better: the MCR usually prefers to make well-informed decisions.

Motion Statement:

This MCR therefore resolves to:

Create the position of X Officer, to be added to the Committee list and filled by election following a hustings as per the MCR Constitution.
Review the success of this arrangement at the end of the year

What you’re proposing that we should do, and how we should do it. Any follow-up issues?

General Motion – Anything else you can think of; often a good way of finding out what the MCR thinks about a certain problem or opportunity.

Sometimes members wish to bring motions which don’t fall under the other categories (expenditure, constitutional). These can be anything which you feel is relevant to the life of the MCR – a change to the sort of events we hold, a suggestion that we write a letter to complain about or praise something, a reaction to some decision that the College has made; anything you like, provided you think it’s worthy of the consideration of the meeting.

If you have an idea for a general motion, you should draft it as follows and submit it to the Vice President well in advance of an Ordinary General Meeting.

Example of an general motion: “Front Quad Redevelopment Response”

Motion Title: Front Quad Redevelopment Response

Proposer/Seconder: Proposed: John Smith, Seconded: Mary Jones.

You’ll need a proposer and seconder to speak for the motion in the meeting.

Justification:

This MCR notes:

That the last meeting of the College’s Governing Body resolved to re-develop the College’s Front Quad. into a small zoo, with lion and hippo enclosures.
That the MCR has grave concerns about the practicality and convenience of such a plan.

Introductory notes setting out what the charity does and what any MCR donation will be spent on. This is sometimes referred to as the motion’s “Scope and Purpose” – its raison d’être. The more information you can provide, the better: the ‘MCR usually prefers to make well-informed decisions. You’ll also need to show you’ve thought in detail about the exact sum you’re asking for.

Motion Statement:

This MCR therefore resolves to:

Mandate the MCR President to write to the College President, stating the MCR’s firmly held opposition to the plan, and to ask for a response at the next Domestic Committee.
Review the outcome at the next full meeting of the MCR.

What you’re proposing that we should do. Any follow up issues?

Constitution

The Constitution determines the powers of the Membership and the Committee. You can find the latest version of the Constitution below.

Constitution, Standing Orders, Policy Motions, and Presidential Reports (PDF, Complete Document, 950kB, 09-11-2024).

Committee Elections

Elections for the Committee positions are held during Hilary term each year. The elections are organised and monitored by the Returning Officer, and information about elections will be circulated on the Mailing List. Officer positions may be filled by appointment by the Committee subject to ratification at a General Meeting.

Committee Forms

Committee members who wish to claim back expenses for running events should use the Expenses Claim Form.