FAQ

FAQ

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The Board of Directors

 

What is the SSMU Board of Directors?

The SSMU Board of Directors governs YOUR Student Union. It is composed of members, just like you.

What are the minimum requirements for sitting on the SSMU board of Directors?

  • Full-time or Part-time status as an undergraduate student at McGill University
  • 18 years of age at the point of ratification
  • Canadian Citizen or Permanent Residence

Exceptions include:

  • Persons who have not yet reached the age of majority
  • Persons who are not qualified to be a Director due to the institution of a regime of protective supervision in their respect or by one of the common causes of extinction of obligations provided for by law, such as if such person is recognized by a court as having lost the ability to reason, if such person becomes bankrupt, suspends their payments or if such person makes arrangements with their creditors
  •  Persons who do not possess Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
  •  Persons who are neither Members of the SSMU nor Officers. 
How is the SSMU Board structured?

Please visit our “Board Structure” page under “How We Run” for more information.

How are the Directors appointed?

1. By the Nominating Committee:

The Nominating Committee shall solicit, through an application process, and nominate four (4) Members who are not members of the Legislative Council to the Board of Directors, in accordance with Section 6.2 hereof.

2. By Appointment:

The Legislative Council shall nominate four (4) members of the Legislative Council, who are not Officers, to the Board of Directors, in accordance with Section 6.2 hereof.

3. By Election:

Some officers elected for the Executive Committee have seats on the Board; these are:

  • President
  • Vice President Finance
  • Vice President (Sustainability & Operations)

In the event that one or more Officers holding ex-officio seats on the Board of Directors do not meet the requirements provided for in Section 6.3 hereof, their seat shall be filled by another Officer. 

Note: the Vice-President (Sustainability & Operations) position has not been elected since summer 2017.

Executive Committee

 

What is the Executive Committee?

The Executive Committee, governs the Society between meetings of the Board of Directors, in a manner not inconsistent with a Policy set out by the Board of Directors. It comprises seven (7) elected officers and the ex-officio non-voting General Manager.

What are the minimum requirements for sitting on the Executive Committee?

  • Full-time or Part-time status as an undergraduate student at McGill University
  • 18 years of age at the point of ratification

Exceptions include:

  • Persons who have not yet reached the age of majority
  • Persons who are not qualified to be an officer due to the institution of a regime of protective supervision in their respect or by one of the common causes of extinction of obligations provided for by law, such as if such person is recognized by a court as having lost the ability to reason, if such person becomes bankrupt, suspends their payments or if such person makes arrangements with their creditors
  •  Persons who are not members of the SSMU

Note: These qualifications do not apply to the General Manager.

How is the Executive Committee structured?

It comprises seven (7) elected officers and the ex-officio non-voting General Manager.

The Officers of the Society shall be the following: the President, the Vice-President (Student Life); the Vice-President (Internal Affairs); the Vice-President (External Affairs); the Vice-President (Finance), the Vice-President (Sustainability & Operations); and the Vice-President (University Affairs).

How are the Executives elected?

The Officers are elected by and from the Members of the Society through an Election. Elections are held once a year in March. For more information, see Elections SSMU.

Legislative Council

 

What is the Legislative Council?

The Legislative Council is the representative and political body of the Society.

What are the minimum requirements for sitting on the Legislative Council?

All Members shall be eligible for appointment as a Councilor. No Member may hold more than one position on the Legislative Council

How is the Legislative Council structured?

Thirty (30) councilors are elected by specific constituencies, including school and faculty associations and councils representing particular student demographics, and the seven (7) SSMU Executives comprise the voting members of Council. The Speaker, Parliamentarian, General Manager, and Recording Secretary are non-voting members.

How are the Councilors elected?

Councilors are elected by specific constituencies, including school and faculty associations and councils representing particular student demographics. See your faculty or school association’s website for more information.

Student Senators

 

What are Student Senators?

Student Senators represent the student body at McGill’s Senate. The McGill University Senate is a governing body tasked with general control and supervision over the academic matters of the University.

How are Student senators elected?

The elections are done through each faculty association and school. See your faculty or school association’s website for more information.

Referenda

 

What is a referendum?

A referendum is a vote held by an organization to determine its membership’s position on a particular question. The outcome of a referendum is binding, i.e. the organization must take steps to comply with the outcome of the vote.

Ways to Introduce a referendum question

Referenda can be either student-initiated or council-initiated. Either way, the question must get approval by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Elections SSMU before it can be put on the ballot. The CEO ensures that the question is neutrally posed and complies with the other rules relating to referendum questions contained in the Constitution and Internal Regulations.

  1. Council-initiated

The Legislative Council decides whether to have a direct and binding measurement of student opinion on an issue. Usually, Council-initiated referenda are limited to issues where Council is required to get approval from the membership for some measure it wishes to undertake. When a non-binding opinion is desired, Council may also place plebiscite questions on the ballot.

      2. Student-initiated referenda

This does not require the participation of Council at all. Any student may collect 500 signatures in order to have a referendum question placed on the ballot. Provided that all of the rules are properly followed, the question will be placed on the ballot at the next referendum period. It is important to note, however, that student-initiated referenda may not alter the composition of the Society’s staff or any financial matters of the SSMU.

When is the referendum held?

Members of the SSMU participate in direct democracy by voting in referendums, held once a semester (early November and early March).

Questions?

For more information, go to elections.ssmu.ca. If you have any questions please contact Elections SSMU at elections@ssmu.ca.