1. NAME

1.1 This body shall be known as 'Amicus'. (Hereinafter referred to as ‘the society’).

 

2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES

2.1 The society shall have the following aims:

           1. To represent the national charity, Amicus: Assisting Lawyers for Justice on Death Row, at Nottingham Trent University.
           2. To draw attention to the inequities of current American capital procedures.
           3. To educate members about cases of wrongful conviction and exoneration.

2.2 The society shall have the following objectives:

          1. To organise events such as film screenings and guest lecturers in order to inform students about the death penalty in the U.S.A. and elsewhere.
          2. To hold fundraising events in order to raise awareness and funds for the student group at the university and the head office of Amicus: Assisting Lawyers for Justice on Death Row.
          3. To provide members with casework and other pro bono opportunities in order to assist the head office of Amicus.
          4. To provide support and information to members wishing to attend Amicus’ national training with the head office and other national Amicus events.

 

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Full membership shall be open to any full member of the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union upon payment of the membership fee.
3.2 Associate membership shall be open to any associate member of the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union upon payment of the membership fee.
3.3 Full members are entitled to join and participate in any activity organised by the society, attend and address any general meeting of the society, attend any Executive Committee meeting and at the discretion of the Committee be granted speaking rights.
3.4 Associate membership shall be granted at the discretion of the committee. Associate members shall usually be Nottingham Trent University Staff or Alumni but are not limited to those categories.

 

4. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

4.1 The Executive Officers of the society shall be:

President
Vice President
General Secretary
Treasurer
Events Coordinator
Pro Bono Coordinator
Fundraising Coordinator
Undergraduate Representative

Students Union Executive Attachment (non-voting)

4.2 The Committee shall have meetings every fortnight during term-time.
4.3 The quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee is exactly or more than half the voting members.

 

5. ROLE OF OFFICERS

5.1 President

The president shall be the principal officer and spokesperson for the society and the chairperson of meetings of the Executive Committee, AGM and EGM. The President shall attend meetings of the Societies Assembly and the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union AGM as the representative of the society. He/she shall have overall responsibility for the promotion and development of the society.

5.2 Vice President

The vice president shall be prepared to preside over committee and member meetings in the absence of the president. He/she will make sure that attendance is taken at every meeting. He/she will be responsible for assisting the president in promoting and developing the society, and in developing tactics for complying with the society’s objectives. He/she will support the president in coordinating and overseeing all of the society’s activities and will be responsible for organizing committee elections.

5.3 Treasurer

The treasurer shall be the chief financial officer and accountant for the society. The treasurer shall attend meetings of the Societies Assembly and the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union AGM as the representative of the society. The treasurer shall set and oversee the production of an annual budget and present a financial report to the committee at the end of the year. He/she shall be responsible for ensuring that every member has paid his/her membership fee. He/she will be responsible for collecting and recording any money raised at events.

5.4 General Secretary

The secretary shall take minutes of all meetings, maintain the membership records and issue membership cards. He/she shall be responsible for the receipt of and response to any external mail sent to the society. He/She shall be responsible for weekly communications to the membership. He/she will be responsible for organizing meetings when requested by any members of the society or the executive committee.

5.5 Events Coordinator

The events coordinator shall be responsible for booking venues and organizing social and society events that have been approved by the committee. He/she will be responsible for appointing and delegating tasks to sub-committee(s) should one/they be necessary. He/She will be responsible for advertising the events.

5.6 Pro Bono Coordinator

The pro bono coordinator will be responsible for coordinating pro bono projects between members and the head office of Amicus: Assisting Lawyers for Justice. He/she will responsible for establishing deadlines for projects and ensuring that all deadlines are met by participants in the pro bono programme. He/she shall inform the treasurer if any funds are necessary for any of the programs in order to coordinate the allocation of the society’s funds.

5.7 Fundraising Coordinator

The fundraising coordinator shall be responsible for all of the society’s fundraising projects. He/she will be responsible for coordinating with the Events Coordinator to book venues when appropriate. He/she will be responsible for designing the events, deciding the fee to be charged, and keeping a record of all donations received in coordination with the treasurer.

5.8 Undergraduate Representative

The undergraduate representative must intend to continue with the society in the following year. Final year students cannot hold this position unless they are confirmed to be taking further studies at Nottingham Trent University. He/she shall be responsible for advertising the society’s activities to the undergraduate body and for informing the committee of the timing of any undergraduate commitments such as exams.

5.9 Students’ Union Executive Attachment(s) 

An Executive Attachment shall be appointed by the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union Executive and shall not have voting rights. The Attachment shall usually be the VP Societies.

 

6. GENERAL DUTIES OF ALL OFFICERS

6.1 All Officers are required to attend the Committee meetings held every fortnight and must send proper apologies for absence.
6.2 An Executive officer is deemed to have resigned immediately following a motion of 'No Confidence' being carried by a two thirds majority at AGM or EGM or four fifths majority at a meeting of the Executive Committee. For such a vote to be taken the quorum shall be at least half the voting members of the Executive Committee.
6.3 An Executive Officer is deemed to have resigned immediately following an unexplained absence from committee activity of three weeks or longer.
6.4 All Officers shall give a written handover to their successor.
6.5 All Officers will be jointly responsible for the upkeep, good reputation and perpetuation of the society.
6.6 All Officers will strive for a continually improving service to the membership of the society.

 

7. MEETINGS

7.1 An Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held during the second Semester and no later than by the fifth Friday of the Summer Term.
7.2 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by three Officers of the Company or 20% of members. This must immediately be relayed to the Secretary who will then inform the VP Societies within the Students’ Union days of the original notice. The meeting may be held at any time after this two-day period has expired.
7.3 The quorum for an EGM and AGM shall be 20% of full members.

 

8. ELECTIONS

8.1 All Officers shall be elected at a General Meeting, AGM or an EGM. Voting shall be by single transferable vote and secret ballot.
8.2 All full members of the society may stand for election in both executive and non executive committee positions.
8.3 Associate members and life members may not stand for executive committee positions.

 

9. FINANCE

9.1 The society shall submit an application for a grant to the Students’ Union as requested and shall also be financed by a combination of income from membership fees, sponsorship and miscellaneous fundraising.
9.2 All monies shall be used to promote the society's activities.
9.3 All monies shall be held at the Students’ Union Finance dept.
9.4 Under no circumstances shall society funds be distributed amongst members.
9.5 All funds shall be used as to benefit the largest number of members possible at all times.
9.6 The society shall not enter into any contract or other legally binding arrangement without the prior authorisation of the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union.
9.7 Social events shall not be funded with monies received directly from Nottingham Trent Students’ Union.
9.8 Charitable donations shall not be made using monies received directly from Nottingham Trent Students’ Union.
9.9 In the event that the society is no longer able to operate all assets, both physical and financial will remain the property of Nottingham Trent Students’ Union.

 

10. CONSTITUTION

10.1 This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a General Meeting of the society provided that seven clear Students’ Union Days notice of the meeting and proposed amendment is given.
10.2 Any amendment is subject to ratification by Societies Assembly.

 

11. REGULATIONS & POLICY

11.1 The society shall operate on the basis of inclusion of all students.
11.2 The society shall operate in every respect in accordance with the constitution of the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union.
11.3 The society shall operate according to the regulations and policy outlined in the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union Societies Code of Practice.
11.4 All elected officers shall provide written agreement to the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union of the above clauses upon request.

12. AUTHORITY
12.1 On any point this Constitution may be overruled by the Students’ Union Constitution and Regulations.

 

13. DICIPLINARY PROCEDURE
13.1 If a member or is considered to be acting in contravention of the terms of the Regulations & Policy then in the first instance verbal warning shall be issued by the president.
13.2 In the second instance the president shall refer the issue to the VP Societies.

 

14. AFFILIATION
11.1 The society shall be an affiliate of the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union.
11.2 The society shall be an affiliate of Amicus: Assisting Lawyers for Justice on Death Row.