Motions of No Confidence Guidance Document

General
1) In the event of the Chair of Council being subject to, or the Proposer or Seconder of, the Motion of No Confidence, their duties regarding the Motion shall be fulfilled by a Vice-Chair of Council. 2) The Officer who is subject to a Motion of No Confidence will subsequently be referred to as the Officer.

Submission
3) Motions of No Confidence shall be submitted to the Chair of Council 4) The Proposer and Seconder of a Motion of No Confidence must be Full Members of the Union. 5) Motions of No Confidence must be accompanied by supporting signatures of at least 1/5 of the voting members of Union Council. 6) Once submitted, a Motion of No Confidence becomes the property of the Council in which it is to be discussed, and may only be withdrawn by that Council. 7) The Officer shall be informed by the Chair of Council at the earliest possible opportunity. 8) The Chair of Council shall meet in person the Officer to ensure that they fully understand the implications and procedures.

Objections
9) Any objections to the Motion of No Confidence which are based on legal grounds, the Articles of Association and Bye-Laws shall be submitted at the earliest possible opportunity to the Chair of Council for their consideration. 10) The Chair of Council shall make rulings on objections based on the Articles of Association and Bye-Laws. 11) If necessary the Chair of Council shall fully investigate on behalf of the Union, through the relevant member of staff, any objections based on legal grounds and undertake any further legal inquiries they feel necessary.

Opening Speeches
12) During debate of the Motion of No Confidence, Council shall go into closed session and the Proposer and Seconder of the motion shall have speaking rights. 13) The Proposer shall make the first opening speech, to be no more than 15 minutes in length. 14) The Officer shall have the right to make the second opening speech, to be no more than 30 minutes in length. The Officer may waive their right to make this speech or allow a person of their own choice to make this speech.

15) The Seconder shall have the right to make the third opening speech, to be no more than 10 minutes in length. The Seconder may waive their right to make this speech. 16) The Officer shall have the right to make the final opening speech to be no more than 20 minutes in length. The Officer may waive their right to make this speech or allow a person of their own choice to make this speech.

Debate
17) The debate shall then be open to the floor. 18) The Officer shall have the right to reply to every speech and may waive their right to make such a speech. 19) All speeches shall be no more than 5 minutes in length.

Summary Speeches
20) The penultimate and final speeches of the debate shall be summary speeches. 21) Summary speeches shall be no more than 15 minutes in length and follow the criteria as outlined in the Standing Orders Guidance Document. 22) The Proposer shall have the right to make the penultimate speech. The Proposer may waive their right to make this speech or allow a person of their own choice to make this speech. 23) The Officer shall have the right to make the final speech. The Officer may waive their right to make this speech or allow a person of their own choice to make this speech.

Voting and Decision

24) The vote on the Motion of No Confidence shall be conducted by secret ballot. 25) The Officer shall be informed of the result, by the Chair of Council, prior to Council being informed. 26) Council shall be informed of the result of the Motion of No Confidence at the Council in which it is put.