What is Council?
The Legislative Council is the legislative arm of the SSMU. Thirty councillors elected by specific constituencies, including school and faculty associations and councils representing particular student demographics, and the 6 SSMU Executives comprise the voting members of Council. The Speakers, General Manager, and Recording Secretary are non-voting members. According to Article 3 of the SSMU Constitution, Council is the governing body of the Society and “shall be empowered to make all decisions and take all actions on behalf of the Society.”
All SSMU members are welcome to attend open sessions of Council, which are generally held every second Thursday in the Lev Bukhman Room (2nd floor of the Shatner Building) beginning at 6pm. For 2011-2012, the dates of Council are:
Thursday, September 15th
Thursday, September 29th
Thursday, October 13th
Thursday, November 3rd
Thursday, November 17th
Thursday, December 1st
Thursday, January 12th
Thursday, January 26th
Thursday, February 9th
Thursday, March 1st
Thursday, March 15th
Thursday, March 29th
Thursday, April 12th
While Council is run according to Robert’s Rules of Order, its proceedings should be accessible to all members; don’t hesitate to ask the Speakers or a Councillor (including Executives) how you can participate in the debate. Council meetings can last several hours, so if you are interested in a particular issue it may be wise to check the agenda in advance and/or ask a Councillor or Executive to contact you (e.g. by text message) when the item your issue is coming up. You can peruse its agenda and “documents in advance” (reports of Executives and Committees, as well as proposed resolutions and policies) below.
SSMU Councillors can submit resolutions, bylaw changes, and policies for the Council agenda. You can view the list of this year’s Councillors here.
Council Documents
Please note that we aim to post reports of Committees and Executives by the Monday morning preceding Council. The agenda and all reports and motions will be available by Tuesday evening.
February 9th, 2012
02.09.12 – All Referendum Questions
02.09.12 – Referendum Question Regarding CKUT Opt-Out
02.09.12 – Referendum Question Regarding the SSMU Health and Dental Plan
02.09.12 – Referendum Question Regarding Reform of the Judicial Board to Comply with Quebec Law
02.09.12 – Referendum Question Regarding Judicial Board Procedural Accountability
02.09.12 – Referendum Question Regarding Composition of the Judicial Board
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding the Democracy of the Judicial Board
02.09.12 – Motion RE SSMU Musicians Collective becoming a SSMU Service
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding Equity Policy Amendment
02.09.12 – Notice of Motion Regarding Equity Policy Amendments
02.09.12 – Referendum Question Regarding the Composition of Council
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding the Distribution of the Charity Fund
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding Denouncement of Bill C-10, the “Safe Streets and Communities Act”
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding Frosh Reform
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding Policy on Negative Corporative Influence on Campus
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding Student Strike Solidarity
02.09.12 – Motion Regarding SSMU Legislative Council Statement on James Admin Building Occupation
02.09.12 – Steering Committee Report
02.09.12 – Funding Committee Report
02.09.12 – Equity Committee Report
02.09.12 – Interest Group Committee Report
02.09.12 – Executive Committee Report
02.09.12 – VP Clubs and Services Report
02.09.12 – VP University Affairs Report
02.09.12 – VP Finance and Operations Report
January 26th, 2012
01.26.12 – Minutes from Board of Directors
01.26.12 – Steering Committee Report
01.26.12 – Motion RE Elimination of Advanced Polling
01.26.12 – Motion RE Standing Rules of the General Assembly
01.26.12 – Resolution Regarding Reform of the Judicial Board
01.26.12 – Community Engagement Committee Report
01.26.12 – Funding Committee Report
01.26.12 – Executive Committee Report
01.26.12 – VP Finance and Operations Report
01.26.12 – VP Clubs and Services Report
01.26.12 – VP University Affairs Report
January 12th, 2012
01.12.12 – Strategic Research Plan Memo
01.12.12 – Motion RE Policy Regarding Five Year Ethical Investment Plan
01.12.12 – Notice of Motion RE Elimination of Advanced Polling
01.12.12 – Mid-year Executive Report
01.12.12 – Executive Committee Report
01.12.12 – VP Clubs & Services Report
01.12.12 – VP Finance & Operations Report
01.12.12 – Steering Committee Report
December 1st, 2011
12.01.11 – Environment Commissioners Report
12.01.11 – Steering Committee Report
12.01.11 – Academic Research Commissioner Report
12.01.11 – Interest Group Committee Minutes
12.01.11 – Funding Committee Report
12.01.11 – Notice of Motion Re Policy Regarding Five Year Ethical Investment Plan
12.01.11 – Motion Re Executive Officers Contract and Job Descriptions
12.01.11 – Motion Re Reforming the General Assembly
12.01.11 – Motion Re Letter Regarding Dean Jutras Investigation
12.01.11 – Operations Management Committee Report
12.01.11 – Student-Run Cafe Working Group Report
12.01.11 – VP Clubs and Services Report
12.01.11 – VP University Affairs Report
12.01.11 – SSMU Energy Consumption 2006-2011
November 17th, 2011
11.17.11 – President’s Report to Council
11.17.11 – VP FOPS’s Report to Council
11.17.11 – VP External Report to Council
11.17.11 – VP Clubs & Services Report to Council
11.17.11 – VP Internal Report to Council
11.17.11 – Executive Committee Report
11.17.11 – Steering Committee Report (11.07.11)
11.17.11 – Steering Committee Report (11.14.11)
11.17.11 – VP University Affairs Report
11.17.11 – SSMU Fall Budget 2011-2012
11.17.11 – Interest Group Committee Report
11.17.11 – Notion of Motion Re: Reforming the General Assembly
11.17.11 – Resolution: SSMU Council Meeting Time Constraints
11.17.11 – Funding Committee Report
November 3rd, 2011
11.03.11 – Board of Directors Agenda
11.03.11 – SSMU Financial Statements 2010-2011
11.03.11 – Motion Regarding CKUT and QPIRG Referendum Questions
11.03.11 – Operations Management Committee Report
11.03.11 – Equity Committee Report
11.03.11 – By-Law Review Committee Report
11.03.11 – Nominating Committee Report
11.03.11 – Executive Committee Report
11.03.11 - Motion Regarding SSMU SIgning of AGSEM’s Letter
11.03.11 – SSMU Equity Summit Invitation
11.03.11 – Steering Committee Report
October 13th, 2011
10.13.11 – Resolution Regarding CKUT Existence Referendum
10.13.11 – Resolution Regarding Executive Committee Transparency and Accountability
10.13.11 – Executive Committee Report
10.13.11 – Community Engagement Committee Report
10.13.11 – Interest Group Committee Report
10.13.11 – Funding Committee Report
10.13.11 – FERC Helpful Summaries
10.13.11 – General Assembly Reform – Process Framework (For Discussion)
September 29th, 2011
09.29.11 – Minutes from 09.15.11(DRAFT for approval)
09.29.11 – McGill Food and Dining Services Strategic Plan
09.29.11 – Steering Committee Report
09.29.11 – Resolution Regarding Standing Rules of the Legislative Council
09.29.11 – CKUT Referendum Notice of Motion
09.29.11 – Resolution Regarding Executives Reporting to Council
09.29.11 – Resolution Regarding Quality of Undergraduate Education
09.29.11 – Resolution Regarding Support of Workers’ Struggles
09.29.11 – Executive Committee Report | 09.29.11 – Nominating Committee Report
09.29.11 – President Report | 09.29.11 – VP Clubs & Services Report | 09.29.11 – VP Finance & Operations Report | 09.29.11 – VP External Report | 09.29.11 – VP University Affairs Report | 09.29.11 – VP Internal Report
September 15th, 2011
09.15.11 – Steering Committee Report
09.15.11 – President Report | 09.15.11 – VP FOPS Report | 09.15.11 – VP Internal Report
09.15.11 – VP External Report | 09.15.11 – VP UA Report | 09.15.11 – VP C&S Report
09.15.11 – Resolution Regarding Election and Referenda Dates
09.15.11 – Resolution Regarding McGill First Aid Service Name Change
09.15.11 – Resolution Regarding MUNACA Strike
09.15.11 – Resolution Regarding PGSS-SSMU MOA
09.15.11 – 2011-2012 SSMU Committee Election Results
09.15.11 – 2011-2012 SSMU Committee Nominees
If for any reason you have any difficulty accessing the documents above, please email speaker@ssmu.mcgill.ca or president@ssmu.mcgill.ca.
For past documents, click here.
Speakers of Council
The Speakers of Council act alternately as the chair of Council. They are responsible for the smooth procedural functioning of Council meetings which includes the call to order (which opens the meeting), granting the floor (i.e. giving people permission to speak) and stating motions and putting them to a vote. The Speakers are guided in their tasks by Robert’s Rules of Order in addition to the Constitution, by-laws and any relevant resolutions of Council.
It is Robert’s Rules that give the Speaker most of their powers. They make rulings on the procedural regularity of motions and makes initial interpretations of the Constitution and by-laws when deciding if motions are in order. It is very important to note that, with a few exceptions, no councillor is permitted to speak without having previously obtained the permission of the Speaker. Very strict respect of this rule is crucial to the smooth and orderly functioning of Council.
Committees of Council
SSMU Committees make recommendations to Council on everything from the allocation of funding to student groups to the approval of new clubs to the adoption of new policies. Each Councillor sits on at least one SSMU Committee.
How does SSMU work? Click here to read the explanation in the 2009-2010 SSMU Student Handbook.
Council’s committee structure was revamped in 2010. The new system is simple, transparent, and easy to understand. Executives should use it thoroughly, in order to maximize Councillor and student-at-large participation in high level policy and decision-making. For the longer descriptions of the purview of each committee, please see the SSMU Legislative Council Committee Terms of Reference in the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy section.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee will be responsible for all matters relating to the operation and management of Council business.
Membership: The President (Chair), The Vice-President (University Affairs), Speaker of Council (Non-Voting), 4 Councillors, and a 3rd Executive Member to be chosen by a vote of Council
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee will be responsible for ensuring all positions and committees are adequately filled.
Membership: President (Chair), Vice-President (Internal), Vice-President (External), Vice-President (Finance and Operations), Vice-President (Clubs and Services), Vice-President (University Affairs), and Councillors (3).
Funding Committee
The primary purpose of the Funding Committee shall be the disbursement of the following internal funds: Campus Life Fund (CLF), SSMU Environment Fee Fund, Ambassador Fund, the Club Fund, and the Space Fee.
Membership: Finance Committee Coordinator (Chair, non-voting), VP Finance & Operations, VP Clubs & Services, Members-at-Large (2), Representatives from Clubs & Services (2), Representative from the Student Athletic Council [SAC] (1), Councillors (2), and Environment Commissioner (1) (voting on Green Fund applications only)
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee will be responsible for setting SSMU’s operating budget for the following fiscal year and ensure that the current year’s statements are in line with projected figures.
Membership: Vice-President (Finance and Operations), Councillors (3), Members-at-Large (3), General Manager (Ex Officio, Non-voting), and Comptroller (Ex officio, Non-Voting).
Financial Ethics Research Committee
This committee shall be responsible for reviewing the ethical nature of the Society’s business transactions.
Membership: Financial Ethics Research Commissioner, Vice-President (Finance & Operations), General Manager (Ex Officio, Non-voting), Councillors (3), and Members-at-Large (2).
Operations Management Committee
The objective of this Committee is two-fold. First, it will provide strategic oversight and direction for all of the Society’s revenue-generating operations. Second, it will provide long-term objectives and goals for the management of the William Shatner University Centre.
Membership: The Vice-President (Finance & Operations), The General Manager (Ex Officio, Non-voting), Councillors (3), and Members-at-Large (4).
Committee on Student Equity
The mandate of the Student Equity Committee is to confront historical and current inequities at McGill through active engagement and public education in agreement with Student Society of McGill University’s policy on equality and social justice.
Membership: The Student Equity Commissioner (chair), The Vice President of University Affairs, Councillor (1), Five additional members, to be appointed by members 1 through 3 above, that will act as a representative for the following categories: One member for Race and Ethnic Relations, One member for Women, One member for Disabled Persons, One member for First Peoples, One member for Queer and Transgender, and Two (2) Members-At-Large also appointed by members 1 through 3 above.
External Affairs Committee
This committee will be responsible for keeping SSMU Council informed on all matters related to the External Affairs portfolio. The committee will serve as an advisory to the Vice-President (External), but may from time to time present research and other pertinent recommendations to Council.
Membership: The Vice-President (External), Councillors (3), and Members-at-Large (Amount to be determined by the Vice-President (External)).
Interest Group Committee
The primary responsibility of this committee shall be the review and approval of interim club status, full club status, and service status applications. The committee shall also present recommendations to improve policies and processes on behalf of SSMU interest groups.
Membership: The Vice-President (Clubs & Services), The Interest Group Coordinator (Chair, Non-voting), Councillors (3), Representatives from Clubs & Services (2), and Members-at-large (2).
Students’ Society Programming Network (SSPN)
The Students’ Society Programming Network (SSPN) shall serve as the principal advisory committee for the Vice-President (Internal) on the organization and execution of all SSMU events.
Membership: The Vice-President (Internal), Councillors (1), and Any interested SSMU Members