► How to Write A Motion

There is a formal structure to write a motion, which can at first appear confusing, but don't worry, writing a motion is easy!

There are three sections to Motions:
1. This Union Notes
2. This Union Believes
3. This Union Resolves

1. This Union Notes
   This is where you write the established facts. In this section you would not reflect on the facts just simply state them. For example, you might write:
   a. UHSU has over 30,000 members
   b. That its membership is wide and diverse
   c. That it does not presently provide grazing facilities for members who have livestock
    
2. This Union Believes
   This is where you would reflect on the facts and state your opinions. For example, you might write:
   a. UHSU should try to ensure essential service provisions for all its members
   b. UHSU risks alienating a section of its membership who presently have livestock
   c. Members who own livestock are being prevented from accessing and using the Union because they are unable to care for their livestock while visiting the building.
   
   
3. This Union Resolves
   This is where you would describe the action that you want to be taken. For example, you might write:
   a. This Union resolves to mandate the Exec to lobby the University for the provision of suitable on campus grazing areas
   b. This Union resolves to survey all its members to identify the volume of members who presently own livestock
   c. This Union Resolves to formally invite the Farmers Union to support the above action by writing an open letter to the University Vice Chancellor

Some Tips

There are a number of things you can do to give your motion a better chance of being accepted by Union Council, General meetings or Referenda. Here are some tips on how to ensure your motion is successful:

Show how it affects members
In order for lots of members to want to vote on your motion, it should written in a way that makes it clear how they can benefit from voting on it or how a problem / issue affects them. For example – if a motion is about the American government you need to think if and how students are affected by this.
An issue that affects all our members everyday is far more likely to receive many votes than a motion that does not appear to affect them or propose a solution that will benefit them.

Be realistic
A motion which calls for all members to be given a £500 bookshop grant each year is not something the Union can deliver. Your proposal should be practical, realistic and achievable. If the motion has a financial impact, think about how the cost could be offset or where finance could be gained from.

Be accurate
It is important that the motion is accurate in order to be passed and supported. Source any quotes you use and be prepared to provide additional context papers if necessary. For example – if you are referring to a research report then make this available to be considered by anyone who is thinking of voting on your motion.

Be aware of restrictions
Although motions voted in at council, general meetings or referenda become the policy of the Union, the Unions policy cannot override University policy or the law. For example -a motion to add an extra 10 weeks holiday to the academic year could not be implemented. The motion would have to give the Union an instruction such as to lobby the University to review the academic year with a view to providing more revision time.

Gather support for your motion before submitting it to Union Council
A motion submitted to Union Council is more likely to be agreed if it is clear that it has support. If you can state that, you have already surveyed 100 students or attended Union Council assembly meetings that have agreed the issue you have included in your motion is important to them then the Union Council is more likely to understand the importance of the motion.

Be prepared to campaign
If your motion is agreed by the Union Council or has successfully secured the petition signatures and is added to the referendum there is still lots of work to do.Members will only vote on your motion if they can see it is important to them and they will benefit from doing so. This means you need to get out there and talk to members. Explain to them why the issue you have highlighted in your motion is important to them, why they should vote on it and how they should vote on it. Market research shows that most students who vote do so because someone has spoken to them and explained these things. Market research also says that posters and leaflets have much less affect.