The Edinburgh

University
Neurological Society
Constitution

Notes:

EUNS Edinburgh University Neurological Society

EUSA Edinburgh University Students Association
AGM Annual General Meeting
EGM Extraordinary General Meeting
(C) Compulsory clause determined by EUSA
1 NAME

1.1 THE NAME OF THE SOCIETY SHALL BE THE EDINBURGH

UNIVERSITY NEUROLOGICAL SOCIETY
1.1.1 The Society may be referred to as EUNS or Edinburgh University
NeuroSoc

2 AIMS

2.1 TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IN HEALTH

AND DISEASE

2.2 TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STUDENTS STUDYING THE

NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES BY AIDING LEARNING AND CAREER
DEVELOPMENT

2.3 TO PROMOTE AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF

THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ASSIST THE ACADEMIC
DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS IN THE FIELD

3 AFFILIATIONS AND ENDORSEMENTS

3.1 THE SOCIETY WILL ABIDE BY THE BY-LAWS OF THE EDINBURGH

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (EUSA)

3.2 OTHER AFFILIATIONS

3.2.1 The Society is affiliated with but will remain independent of the
following organisations:

3.2.1.1The University of Edinburgh

3.2.1.2Edinburgh Neuroscience

3.3 ENDORSEMENTS
3.3.1 Endorsement of an external organisation shall be made when the
society wishes to demonstrate its support

3.3.2 Members of the committee shall be able to propose organisations

they feel it would be appropriate for the society to endorse

3.3.2.1The proposing member should demonstrate the quality and

importance of the proposed organisation

3.3.2.2A proposed organisation will be endorsed when, following an

anonymous vote, over fifty percent of the total committee,
present or not, vote in favour of endorsement

3.3.2.3Endorsements shall be reviewed by vote every three years

4 CLAUSES

4.1 OFFICE BEARING POSITIONS

4.1.1 The three office bearing positions of the society shall be

President, Secretary and Treasurer (C)

4.1.2 The President is responsible for the organisation of the society

and maintaining democracy

4.1.3 The Secretary is responsible for maintaining records of all society

meetings, members and endorsed organisations

4.1.3.1The Secretary shall be responsible for the completion and

submission of the annual Risk Assessment required by EUSA

4.1.3.2The Secretary shall monitor the active email address of the

society, or delegate this task then appropriate, re-directing
incoming mail as required

4.1.4 The Treasurer is responsible for recording all financial

transactions of the society and authorising expenditure

4.1.4.1The Treasurer shall retain a list of all paid members of the

society

4.2 RE-REGISTRATION OF THE SOCIETY

4.2.1 The society will be re-registered with EUSA each year in March (C)

4.2.2 The Secretary will be responsible for the re-registration of the

society

4.3 MEETINGS
4.3.1 The Society will hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each
March between the 8th and the 31st (C)
4.3.1.1Where feasible the AGM will be carried out prior to the re-
registration deadline with the following advantages: A) no need
to update committee member details twice and B) further from
exams allowing a greater turnout and more inclusive AGM

4.3.2 End of Year Reports shall be presented at the AGM

4.3.2.1An End of Year Report shall be presented by each of the Office

Bearers (C)

4.3.2.2The Vice President shall present a report detailing their

contribution to the society at the AGM

4.3.3 At least fourteen days notice of the date of an AGM shall be given
to all members of the society

4.3.4 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) can be requested by any

member of the Society but must be supported by at least one
Office Bearing member or the Vice President

4.3.4.1An EGM may be called to address constitutional arrangements or

request a Vote of No Confidence in a Committee Member

4.3.4.1.1 A Vote of No Confidence occurs at an EGM requested by supporting

Office Bearer

4.3.4.1.2 All other committee members supporting the Vote of No Confidence

should be able to do so anonymously

4.3.4.2In a Vote of No Confidence the accused member shall be given

fourteen days to justify the action(s) of concern

4.3.4.3The Vote of No Confidence shall be successful if seventy five

percent of the total committee or more of votes or more are cast
in favour of No Confidence in which case the Committee
Member will be replaced as per the AGM election process

4.4 THE CONSTITUTION

4.4.1 Compulsory clauses as dictated by EUSA by-laws are denoted by a
(C). All other clauses may be amended.

4.4.2 The Constitution shall be accessible at all times on the Societies

website

4.4.3 The constitution shall be reviewed on AGMs which fall on even

years

4.4.3.1Review of the constitution on even years will ensure it is

evaluated at least every two years as recommended by EUSA
and will help ensure that A) the aims of the society are
addressed and B) the society is run fairly and democratically
4.4.4 Amendments to the Constitution should be voted on at AGMs or
EGMs (C)

4.4.4.1Proposed amendments to the constitution should distributed via

email to all Committee Members a minimum of forty eight hours
prior to the AGM/EGM

4.4.4.2Constitutional amendments will pass if seventy five percent of

the total Committee Members or more approve the motion

4.5 ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE

4.5.1 Election of the Committee shall be by secret ballot

4.5.2 A Returning Officer if available will be responsible for counting

ballots, ensuring candidates speeches do not exceed the pre-
determined time limits and hosting and moderating questions

4.5.2.1In the absence of a Returning Officer the current President shall

assume this role

4.5.2.2Where a conflict of interest prevents the President from acting

as the Returning Officer the next most senior member of the
society who is not conflicted shall temporarily assume the role

4.5.2.3For the purposes of selecting a temporary Returning Officer the

following order of seniority from greatest to least shall apply:
Vice President, Secretary, Events Team Director, Conference
Director, Neuroanatomy Director, Neurosurgical Skills Director

4.5.3 The first elections will be for the Office Bearing positions and Vice
President in the order of President, Vice-President, Secretary,
Treasurer

4.5.4 Candidates for Office Bearing roles must be matriculated students

at the University of Edinburgh

4.5.4.1Elections for all other positions shall proceed in the order

dictated by the current President

4.5.5 It is not necessary to be nominated and seconded

4.5.6 All members of the Society are entitled to vote at AGMs

4.5.6.1Attendees who are not currently members of the Society shall

not be allowed to vote to safeguard again nepotism

4.5.7 Candidates running for the Office Bearing positions or Vice

President must have held a previous committee position

4.5.8 All candidates will be offered the opportunity to make a speech

detailing why they should be elected for a particular role within
the society
4.5.8.1Speeches should not exceed three minutes for Office Bearing
positions and Vice President

4.5.8.1.1 Additional material may be provided online prior to the AGM

4.5.8.2Speeches should not exceed one minute thirty seconds for all
other positions

4.5.8.2.1 Additional material may be provided online prior to the AGM

4.5.8.3Following speeches all elections should be preceded by

questions from the floor

4.5.8.3.1 In the interest of time and fairness all questions shall be moderated by
the acting Returning Officer and disallowed is irrelevant or prejudicial

4.5.9 The maximum number of candidates elected from any round of

voting shall be one

4.5.9.1Candidates standing for a position are granted a vote and may

vote for themselves

4.5.9.2A first past the post voting system is used

4.5.9.3Multiple elections from a single round of voting are only

acceptable in the context of Single Transferable Voting

4.5.9.4Proxy votes will not be granted in accordance with guidance

from EUSA because it is deemed making an educated vote will
not be possible in the absence of being able to hear the
candidates speeches

4.6 MEMBERSHIP
4.6.1 Membership to the Society shall be open to all matriculated
students of the University of Edinburgh (C)

4.6.2 Membership to the Society shall be open to non-students

4.6.3 The minimum cost of membership shall be 3.00 (C)

4.6.4 Committee Members including Office Bearers must be paid

members of the society

4.7 FINANCE AND FUNDING

4.7.1 Society expenditure should be approved at least forty eight hours
in advance by the Treasurer and President

4.7.2 Re-imbursement of Committee Members for expenditure on behalf

of the society must be granted in advance by the Treasurer and
President