Statutes

§ 1 – Name and registered office

Subsection 1 – The name of the organisation is Studenterrådet ved Roskilde Universitet (the Student Council at Roskilde University), abbreviated SR or SR-RUC.

Subsection 2 – The organisation has its registered office at Roskilde University in Roskilde Municipality.

§ 2 – Purpose

Subsection 1 – The Student Council is the organisation for the students at RUC. The purpose of the Student Council is to look after the students’ social, academic and political interests as students.

Subsection 2 – The Student Council is a non-religious organisation.

Subsection 3 – The Student Council is independent of party political interests.

§ 3 – Membership rights

Subsection 1 – All students at Roskilde University have membership rights in the Student Council.

Subsection 2 – All students have the right to vote and to speak at the general assembly of the Student Council.

§ 4 – Collective membership

Subsection 1 – Democratic student organisations at RUC with a student social, academic or political purpose may be admitted as collective members.

Subsection 2 – Member organisations are admitted by the general assembly by a simple majority.

Subsection 3 – Organisations that meet the criteria for an academic council under § 13, subsection 9, and that express in writing to the board of the Student Council a wish to become a member organisation, may be admitted as a member organisation at any time.

Subsection 4 – Member organisations that express in writing to the chairs of the Student Council a wish to leave may withdraw from the Student Council without further notice.

§ 5 – Structure

Subsection 1 – The decision-making bodies of the Student Council are listed below in order of precedence:

1. The general assembly
2. The board
3. The Executive Committee
4. The chairs

§ 6 – Purpose of the general assembly

Subsection 1 – The general assembly of the Student Council is held in the fourth quarter of the year. The general assembly is the highest authority of the Student Council and sets the direction for the organisation’s student political, academic and social work.

§ 7 – Agenda

Subsection 1 – The general assembly sets its own agenda. The agenda must include at least the following items:

1. Opening, including the election of moderator(s) and minute-taker(s) and the adoption of the agenda and rules of procedure of the general assembly.
2. The board’s report
   • a. Student academic report
   • b. Student political report
   • c. Student social report
   • d. Financial report
   • e. Organisational report
3. Proposed amendments received to:
   • a. The statutes
   • b. The education policy principles
4. Consideration of the work plan.
5. The education policy principles of the Student Council.
6. Election of the chair and vice-chair(s).
7. Election of ordinary board members and deputies.
8. Election of critical auditors.
9. Election of the Legal Committee.
10. Any other business.

Subsection 2 – The education policy principles of the Student Council are the fundamental ideas on which the Student Council must base its work.

Subsection 3 – The work plan contains the specific activities that the Student Council must at least work on in the coming year.

Subsection 4 – Other proposals received remain valid until the next ordinary general assembly. The education policy principles and work plan adopted at any given time take precedence over other adopted proposals.

§ 8 – Notice

Subsection 1 – The board must give the students at RUC notice of the general assembly no later than six weeks before it is held, stating the provisional agenda and time, together with an overview of the deadlines for standing as a candidate and submitting proposals.

Subsection 2 – Candidacy statements for chair and vice-chairs, and proposals for amendments to the statutes, the education policy principles and other proposals, must reach the chairs of the Student Council no later than three weeks before the general assembly is held.

Subsection 3 – No later than two weeks before the meeting, the board sends all members the proposed agenda with a timetable, the deadlines for candidacies and amendments, the proposed rules of procedure, written reports, the proposed work plan and candidacies, and the proposals received.

§ 9 – Right to vote

Subsection 1 – All students at RUC may take part in the general assembly with full rights to vote and to speak.

Subsection 2 – The general assembly may give guests the right to speak.

Subsection 3 – All votes are personal and can only be cast in person.

§ 10 – Quorum

Subsection 1 – The general assembly is quorate when it has been convened in due time under § 8.

§ 11 – Voting

Subsection 1 – A proposal is adopted when more votes are cast for it than against it, unless these statutes say otherwise. In the event of a tie, the vote is repeated, and if it is tied again, the proposal falls.

Subsection 2 – In elections where more than one position is to be filled, each ballot may vote for a number of candidates between zero and the nearest whole number above half the number of positions to be filled. The candidates with the most votes are elected. In elections to the board of the Student Council where there are no more candidates than positions, a vote of confidence is held. Candidates who do not receive the confidence of more than 50 % of the votes cast in this vote are not elected.

Subsection 3 – In elections where exactly one position is to be filled, each ballot may support at most one candidate. The election proceeds as follows:

1. If only one candidate is standing, a vote of confidence is held. In that case the candidate is elected if more than 50 % of the ballots cast express confidence.
2. If there are more than two candidates and none receives the support of more than half of the ballots cast, the two candidates with the most support go on to a second round. A candidate is elected when, in a round, they have received the support of more than half of the ballots cast. If no one in the first or any second round receives the support of more than half of the ballots cast, the candidate with the most votes in the second round is elected.

Subsection 4 – In elections to the chairs of the Student Council, a vote of confidence is first held for all candidates standing. Candidates who do not receive the confidence of more than 50 % of the votes in this vote are removed from the list of candidates. The election is then held by the procedure in subsection 3.

Subsection 5 – A tie in an election of persons is decided by drawing lots. The lots are drawn in public.

Subsection 6 – All votes on persons are by written ballot. Other votes are as a rule taken by a show of hands, but may be by written ballot if two or more of those entitled to vote wish it.

§ 12 – Extraordinary general assembly

Subsection 1 – An extraordinary general assembly may be requested by a majority of the board or by the chairs unanimously.

Subsection 2 – The extraordinary general assembly is convened by the board with at least three weeks’ notice and is held no later than six weeks after the request. Notice of an extraordinary general assembly suspends decisions concerning the matter the general assembly is to decide on.

§ 13 – Composition

Subsection 1 – The board of the Student Council consists of:

1. A chair elected by the general assembly.
2. One or two vice-chairs elected by the general assembly.
3. Ten ordinary members, made up as follows:
   • i) One representative of one academic council within each of RUC’s main academic areas.
   • ii) Further members are elected by the general assembly
4. The Student Council’s members of RUC’s board.
5. The Student Council’s other representatives on the Academic Council are members of the board.

Subsection 2 – The chair, the two vice-chairs and the other board members are elected in four separate votes, in that order.

Subsection 3 – The general assembly elects up to 4 deputies to the board. The deputies are elected in the board election, in the order of the number of votes they received. The deputies step in if a board member is unable to serve or is on leave.

Subsection 4 – If the chair leaves, the board appoints one of the two vice-chairs to take over as chair, and appoints a new vice-chair from among its members.

Subsection 5 – If a vice-chair leaves, the board appoints a new vice-chair from among its members.

Subsection 6 – Each member of the board can hold only one mandate.

Subsection 7 – The representatives of the main academic areas are appointed by the academic councils. If several academic councils from the same main academic area nominate candidates for the board position, the general assembly elects the representative. If a main academic area is not represented by the academic councils, the place is filled by an ordinary member elected at the general assembly of the Student Council. The appointment must reach the chairs of the Student Council no later than 12:00 on the day before the general assembly begins, unless otherwise agreed with the sitting board.

Subsection 8 – If an academic council representative leaves, the academic council must appoint a new representative before the next board meeting of the Student Council, but must be given at least one week to do so. If the academic council does not appoint a representative, the first deputy elected at the general assembly of the Student Council takes the seat. An academic council must meet the following criteria:

1. The academic council has the same or similar democratic principles as the Student Council.
2. The academic council does not conflict with the statutes of the Student Council.
3. The purpose of the academic council includes, at a minimum, looking after the students’ academic interests.
4. The academic council has a clear connection to the subject or department where it is based.

§ 14 – Purpose of the board

Subsection 1 – The board is the highest authority of the Student Council between general assemblies and is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Student Council. The primary purpose of the board is the financial, political and strategic leadership of the Student Council.

Subsection 2 – The board’s meetings are open to all students at RUC. The board may, however, close items on the agenda in special cases, including personnel matters. A decision to close an item can only be taken by a majority of at least 2/3 of the board members entitled to vote. The board’s observers have the right to attend and to speak during closed items. If a closed item concerns personnel matters, the persons the item concerns have the right to attend and to speak during the item.

Subsection 3 – At its constituent meeting immediately after the general assembly, the board adopts rules of procedure for the board, which set the framework for the board’s meetings.

§ 15 – Decisions

Subsection 1 – The board takes decisions by a simple majority, except where the statutes say otherwise.

Subsection 2 – In the event of a tie in the board, the vote is repeated, and if it is tied again, the proposal falls.

§ 16 – Taking office

Subsection 1 – Board members elected at the ordinary general assembly take office on the first 1 February after the general assembly.

Subsection 2 – Board members elected at an extraordinary general assembly take office immediately after the election.

§ 17 – Committees

Subsection 1 – The board may set up temporary or standing committees to handle specific areas of work, and delegate powers to them.

Subsection 2 – Each committee set up by the board includes a board member or a deputy board member, whose task is to keep the board and the committee in contact.

Subsection 3 – The board is obliged to set up committees to handle the Student Council’s four main areas of activity: national policy, university policy, student academic matters and student social matters.

§ 18 – The Executive Committee

Subsection 1 – The Executive Committee consists of seven people, including the chairs. One of the other seats is reserved for the coordinator of the University Policy Committee, and the remaining seats are elected by and from the board.

Subsection 2 – The Executive Committee coordinates political and strategic matters between board meetings.

Subsection 3 – At the constituent board meeting immediately after the general assembly, the remaining seats on the Executive Committee, which are filled neither by the chairs nor by the coordinator of the University Policy Committee, are elected by and from the board.

§ 19 – The chairs

Subsection 1 – The chairs consist of the chair of the Student Council and up to 2 vice-chairs.

Subsection 2 – Instead of forperson (chair), the chair may choose to be called formand (chairman) or forkvinde (chairwoman). The same applies to the vice-chairs.

Subsection 3 – The chairs are responsible for the day-to-day running of the Student Council between board meetings. The board sets out the powers of the chairs between board meetings in more detail.

§ 20 – Nominating candidates

Subsection 1 – The Student Council puts forward at least one list of students in the elections to the highest bodies of Roskilde University: the university board and the Academic Council.

Subsection 2 – All students at RUC may stand for election to positions of trust and appointments outside and within the Student Council.

Subsection 3 – Lists put forward locally for governing bodies at RUC may use the name of the Student Council if the board of the Student Council approves it.

§ 21 – Organisation of candidates

Subsection 1 – At the start of a new term of office, the Student Council’s representatives on the Academic Council and the university board and the chairs of the Student Council constitute themselves as the University Policy Committee.

Subsection 2 – The University Policy Committee chooses one of the representatives on the Academic Council to act as coordinator for the group of representatives on the Academic Council and for the University Policy Committee. This coordinator is a member of the board of the Student Council and, if they so wish, an ex officio member of the Executive Committee (see §§ 13 and 18).

Subsection 3 – The University Policy Committee is a committee under the board of the Student Council, as set out in § 17.

Subsection 4 – People elected on the organisation’s lists or holding positions of trust for the organisation must keep the Student Council informed about their work. Representatives are obliged to follow the decisions of the board of the Student Council.

§ 22 – Signing authority and procuration

Subsection 1 – The Student Council is bound by the signature of the chairs. The chairs may grant procuration and may give power of attorney to individual persons.

§ 23 – Financial procedures

Subsection 1 – At the constituent board meeting, the board of the Student Council sets the organisation’s financial procedures.

§ 24 – Financial year

Subsection 1 – The financial year of the Student Council follows the calendar year.

§ 25 – Accounts and audit

Subsection 1 – The accounts are audited by a state-authorised public accountant. The state-authorised public accountant can only be engaged and dismissed by the board.

Subsection 2 – The accounts are commented on by the critical auditors elected at the previous general assembly.

Subsection 3 – The board of the Student Council considers the audited accounts, with comments from the critical auditors, as soon as they are available, and no later than in the second quarter of the year.

Subsection 4 – The accounts and the minutes of the board’s consideration of them are published as soon as possible after the consideration.

Subsection 5 – After the board has considered the accounts, 10 people entitled to vote at the general assembly may, by writing to the chairs of the Student Council, request an extraordinary general assembly to consider the accounts. The extraordinary general assembly is then convened under § 12, subsection 2, and must have at least the item “Approval of the accounts” on its agenda.

Subsection 6 – If the accounts are rejected at the extraordinary general assembly, a further extraordinary general assembly is convened at once, with at least the election of the chairs and the board on its agenda.

§ 26 – Responsibilities of the critical auditors

Subsection 1 – The critical auditors comment on the audited accounts as soon as they are available.

§ 27 – Election of critical auditors

Subsection 1 – The general assembly elects two critical auditors.

Subsection 2 – The critical auditors elected at the ordinary general assembly take office on the first 1 February after the general assembly.

§ 28 – The Legal Committee

Subsection 1 – The general assembly elects the Legal Committee of the Student Council, which consists of three people.

Subsection 2 – Members of the Legal Committee cannot at the same time be members of the board of the Student Council or hold a seat on the Academic Council or the university board for the Student Council.

Subsection 3 – The Legal Committee advises the board and the chairs of the Student Council when there is doubt about the interpretation of the organisation’s statutes and rules of procedure. The Legal Committee also advises the general assembly on the consequences of any proposed amendments to the statutes.

Subsection 4 – The Legal Committee works apolitically and has no right to recommend or reject proposals.

Subsection 5 – All students at RUC may approach the Legal Committee with questions about the statutes and rules of procedure of the Student Council.

Subsection 6 – The Legal Committee elected at the ordinary general assembly takes office on the first 1 February after the general assembly.

§ 29 – Procedure

Subsection 1 – A proposal to dissolve the Student Council must be considered by two consecutive, duly convened general assemblies held at least 3 months apart. A proposal to dissolve the Student Council is only adopted when a 4/5 majority of those present and entitled to vote has been reached at both general assemblies.

§ 30 – Financial arrangements

Subsection 1 – On the dissolution of the Student Council, “Studenterrådets fond for studenteraktiviteter” (the Student Council’s Fund for Student Activities) is established.

Subsection 2 – The administration of the fund is handed over to a board of three people elected by the general assembly, at the same time as a set of statutes for the fund in accordance with the law in force is adopted.

Subsection 3 – The fund’s assets must be used to create new student-run political, academic or social activities at RUC in line with the purpose clause of these statutes, § 2.

Subsection 4 – If the fund’s assets have not been used up after five years, the remaining assets go to Danske Studerendes Fællesråd (the National Union of Students in Denmark).

§ 31 – Amending the statutes

Subsection 1 – Amendments to these statutes must be adopted by 2/3 of those entitled to vote at the general assembly.

Subsection 2 – Adopting an amendment to § 28, § 29 and/or § 30, however, requires a 4/5 majority of those present at two consecutive general assemblies.

Subsection 3 – Amendments to the statutes take effect at the close of the general assembly.

§ 32 – Publication

Subsection 1 – The statutes are published on the Student Council’s website within 2 weeks of the general assembly.

Subsection 2 – On publication, the statutes are accompanied by an English translation.

§ 33 – Dispensation

Subsection 1 – Dispensations from these statutes can only be adopted at a general assembly, by a 2/3 majority of the votes. No dispensation can, however, be granted from §§ 22–31.

§ 34 – Entry into force

Subsection 1 – The statutes enter into force immediately after their adoption by the general assembly.