Elections
Elections take place on Thursday of 6th Week of Michaelmas and Hilary terms, and of 5th week in Trinity, due to examinations. The Returning Officer will inform the JCR of the positions up for election and open nominations at least two weeks before the election. Nominations must then be in by 11pm the Thursday before elections, and manifestos sent to the R.O. by 11pm the following Saturday. A Hust will then be held on the Sunday before the elections, in the JCR.
NOMINATIONS
Nominations should detail the position applied for, the name of the nominee and a Proposer and Seconder. Members of the JCR Committee are not allowed to propose or second for JCR elections, nor is anyone who is standing for a position or has already proposed or seconded a candidate.
MANIFESTOS
Manifestos should be in the form of an A4 sheet of paper, which will be reproduced in black and white. There should be a single passport-sized photo of the candidate and their Proposer and Seconder should be named. Manifestos will be circulated during Hustings and will be available at elections and as such, should be of a suitably inoffensive nature or may be withdrawn at the Returning Officer’s discretion.
HUSTINGS
Anyone standing for a post will be required to take part in Hustings. The event is chaired by the Returning Officer, and consists of a brief speech from each candidate for the role (three minutes for executive positions and two for all others) followed by questions from the floor, to be answered by all nominees. All candidates are constitutionally required to attend Hustings from beginning to end.
VOTING
Elections are held in the Porters Lodge, and all undergraduates are eligible to vote. A Preference Ordering system is used, whereby voters rank the candidates (as well as R.O.N. – the Re-Open Nominations option) numerically. We also use vote reallocation, so the candidate with the fewest first preference votes will be knocked out of the running and their votes reallocated to the second preferences. Elections are organised by the R.O. and the Plodge is manned from 8am to 8pm by JCR Committee members. Results are then announced later that evening.
The full regulations for elections can be found in the Constitution.
Please see below for a full list of positions, the term they are elected (or whether they are appointed), duties and qualities needed (according to those who currently hold the positions!).
| Position | Elected In | Role | Qualities |
| President | Trinity | Coordinating the JCR Committee Liaising with college authorities and representing undergraduates in that capacity Attending college committees and OUSU Council | Organisation Delegation Confidence to defend issues Friendly |
| Vice President | Hilary | Chair Meetings using knowledge of constitutional processes Liaise with college officials Work closely with President | Able to speak in front of a crowd Organisational skills Able to work in a team |
| Treasurer | Michaelmas | Overseeing the JCR’s spending Receiving and forwarding invoices to the Manciple Granting and documenting spending in Entz, Arts and Appeals budgets | Organised Familiar with Excel Ready for inclusion in committee duties |
| Secretary | Michaelmas | Taking minutes accurately and quickly Attending all meeting Replying to emails, be available for help with motions and to answer questions about the JCR | Organised Quick at typing Patient |
| Returning Officer | Appointed | Advertise elections following constitutional guidelines Organise and chair hustings Run polling station in Plodge and count votes | Good under pressure Systematic Confident speaker |
| Male Welfare Rep | Trinity | Point of contact for welfare issues Providing and maintaining welfare supplies Organising non-alcohol based events | Friendly Approachable Non-judgemental |
| Female Welfare Rep | Trinity | Point of contact for welfare issues Providing and maintaining welfare supplies Organising non-alcohol based events | Friendly Approachable Non-judgemental |
| LGBT Rep | Appointed | Organise termly LGBT events Provide LGBT welfare advice Attend OUSU LGBT meetings | Friendly and approachable Good organisation Confident with own sexuality |
| Food Rep | Hilary | Attend weekly food meetings Edit hall menus Organise 2 guest dinners per term and Christmas Dinner | Organised Up early for meetings Eat regularly in hall Enjoy food |
| Veggie Rep | Hilary | Attend weekly food meetings Edit hall menus Work with Food Rep to organise guest dinners and Christmas Dinner | Organised Up early for meetings Eat mainly vegetarian food in hall |
| Cake Rep | Trinity | Buying cakes for people as requested Providing cakes for JCR General Meetings Trying to make people happy using cake | Organisation Speed Love of cake |
| Sports Rep | Michaelmas | Provide information about matches, results and events Coordinate JCR related sports fixtures Liaise with Treasurer | Responsive to emails General interest in/talent for sports |
| Freshers Rep | Michaelmas | Represent first year concerns in the JCR Committee Complete organisation of Freshers’ Week Organise marriages and children, plus contact with Freshers before term begins | Friendly Outgoing Well-organised |
| Bar Rep | Trinity | Bring the ideas of the JCR to the bar management Both Buttery and Undercroft | Good reputation with bar staff and management Interest in drinks/entertainment |
| OUSU Rep | Trinity | Liaise between JCR and OUSU Attend OUSU council (fortnightly) Attend OUSU Rep meetings (fortnightly) | Interest in OUSU Ability to deal with a lot of information and documents |
| Careers Rep | Hilary | Arrange appointments with advisors from the Careers Service Email JCR about careers opportunities and liaise between Christ Church Association and JCR Help organise termly careers evening | Interested in helping people Proactive Organised |
| Access and Academic Rep | Appointed | Represents JCR members to Senior Tutors (with regards to Academic Affairs) Liaising between the Admissions team, the Access coordinators, and JCR members Organising tours, the Aspire programme, and e-Mentoring | Approachable Good communication skills Well organised |
| Accommodation, Environment and Bike Rep | Hilary | Acts an intermediary between students and staff and a spokesperson for the JCR’s wishes Advertised relevant University-wide events Ensures the quality of our living and working environment | Friendly (and environmentally so) Caring Diplomatic |
| RAG Reps (run as a pair) | Michaelmas | Attend weekly meetings at OUSU and sell tickets for OUSU RAG events Organise college RAG events and fundraising Help any college member with fundraising | Helpful Enthusiastic Responsive to emails |
| Arts Rep | Hilary | Organising events and competitions Liaise with picture gallery Help with drama, poetry and general arts societies in college | Interest in the arts Enthusiasm Time |
| IT Officer | Appointed | Designing the website according to JCR needs and wishes Updating the information Providing administrative access for Committee members | Technical skills Time Interested in computers |
| Entz Reps (run as a pair) | Termly | Sell tickets for Oxford nights Organise Bop theme, decoration, music and run bar Organise more college events e.g. pub quiz, karaoke | Entertaining Enjoy going out Organised |