Referendum

What is a Referendum? 

A Referendum is a direct vote of the students on a key decision or policy of the Union. All students can vote and choose 'Yes' or 'No' and then the TU Dublin SU must follow this decision. 

What types of Referendum are there? 

Here is what the TU Dublin SU Constitution (2023) states: 

Constitutional Referendum 

This is Referendum to admend/change parts of the Constitution or to change the whole thing. This process is outlined in Article 14 & 15 below: 

Article 14 Amendments to the Constitution - Excluding the Schedules 

14.1. Any provision of this Constitution may be amended, whether by way of variation, addition, or repeal in a manner provided for by this article. 

14.2. Article 14.1 may be activated by way of a petition moved by any one of the following: 
a. not less than two percent of the membership of the Union. 
b. 25% of the membership of the Student Council. 
c. the Executive following a majority vote. 
d. the recommendation of the Electoral Commission. 

Such a petition which includes the proposed amendments must be presented to the Student Council where it must receive the support of fifty percent plus one of the total membership of the Council. 

14.3. Following acceptance of the petition by the Student Council, the Chairperson shall seek legal advice to consider implications of the proposed amendment and report back within a period set by the Council. 

14.4. The Council, having considered the legal advice, shall decide whether the proposed amendments shall be progressed to referendum by way of a vote, where it must receive the support of 50% plus one of the total membership of the Council. 

14.5. The Clerk to the Council shall forward the duly passed petition to the Electoral Commission to be submitted to referendum for the decision of the membership, in accordance with such terms, as the Electoral Commission shall so decide and the provisions of this Constitution. A referendum shall take place no later than three calendar months from the decision of the Council to amend the Constitution. 

14.6. Every petition, which is submitted by referendum to a decision of the membership shall be held to have been approved by the members, if upon having been submitted, a majority of the votes cast at the referendum shall have been cast in favour of the proposal, providing that the voter turnout is not less than ten percent of the total membership of the Union. 

Article 15 Amendments to Schedules to the Constitution 

The constitution states that Schedules (supporting detail to articles) of the Constitution may be amended by the Student Council. However, every schedule change made by the Student Council must be brought to the attention of the members and there is provision for a referendum if: 

“Where 10% of the membership objecting in writing to the petition within 28 days it will then be put to the membership by referendum in the same manner as a provided for in Articles 14.6 and 14.7, otherwise the amendment, as adopted by the Council, shall stand.”