The Union Council is a group of 13 elected student representatives, including the Union's Sabbatical Officers, and chairpersons from the Union's committees, including Athletic Union, Societies Exec, EED Committee, and more.

The Union Council is at the heart of the way democracy is run at the Union, and it is every student's right to attend and to take part in the Union Council by putting forward motions.

The Union Council meets 8 times a year to make Union policy and hold the Sabbatical Executive Committee to account. The Union Council represents all student groups through the Union's committees, which cover all student areas. Elections for these committees are held throughout the year.

The power of Union Council is almost limitless - it is in charge of the Union and can change anything about it within the legal limits. As such, it's an important and an interesting body to be involved in. If you don't want to get involved personally, remember that there is always someone representing you who you can lobby to ask questions, submit policy, etc. on your behalf.

A word about Union Council from Elle Gray, Union President 2007-2008

"Union Council has had some really interesting motions come forward this year.

"For example, a motion by Harri Sutherland-Kay for the Student's Union to recognise and celebrate International Womens' Day on the 8th March each year: IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future ... and is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential.

"There are many ways to celebrate this day - for more info, see the International Womens' Day website.

"This was something that a group of students felt passionately about, so they presented their case and now it is Union policy.

"Union Council gives the Union its direction, so if there is something that any student believes the Union should be doing they can bring it in the form of a motion to Union Council.

"At the Union Council meeting you also get to hear what the Sabbatical officers and different committees have been working on - so you can hold them to account if they are not doing everything they are supposed to."

You can contact Elle Gray with any of your questions here.