Senate

Terms of Reference of the Senate

Purpose

In accordance with the Society's Royal Charter and Statutes, the purpose of the 
Senate is to advise the Board of Trustees.

Remit

In support of its purpose, the Senate will undertake the following activities:

• Gather issues and expectations from members including representing all the different views and perspectives
• Influence, advise and guide the Board of Trustees on the strategic direction of the Society
• Act as an advisory body to the Board of Trustees when considering approaches for achieving the objects and purpose as defined in the Charter and Statutes
• Actively promoting and living the values and ethos of the Society
• Assist the two-way communication channel between members and the Society for the purposes of consultations and reviews and advising on possible changes that could be made in various contexts
• Assist in disseminating and championing the Society's strategy, plans and achievements back to the membership and play a leading role in implementing the strategy within the constituent member networks
• Advance the learning of the Society and how it operates through sharing experiences, collaborating, networking and engaging at Senate in a way that continuously improves and progresses the Society
• Form either work groups or task and finish groups for specific areas of work as required, these will be subject to approval collectively by the Senate. Where task and finish groups are established they will under clear terms of reference with defined resources and a clear governance and decision-making process, signed off by the Board of Trustees, one of whom is the Chair of the Senate.
• The Senate will focus on a minimum of two priority areas each year

Membership

The following are members of Senate:

(A) The Chair of each of the Member Networks of the Society. If the Chair of a 
Member Network is unable to attend a meeting of Senate, he/she may 
appoint another member of the Member Network Committee to attend. The 
Member Networks represented are as follows:

• i. Branches in any part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• ii. Sections concerned with special branches or aspects of psychology
• iii. Divisions concerned with the standards of professional education and knowledge of their Members
• iv. Special Groups (which may be otherwise designated) concerned with principal areas in which psychologists provide advice, tuition or services
• v. Other such groups as the Board of Trustees thinks fit

(B) Up to eight members of the Society co-opted by Senate to attend and participate in meetings of Senate. Each such individual shall be a member of Senate from the date of the Annual General Meeting of the Society in the year in which they are co-opted, until the date of the Annual General Meeting of the Society in the following year.

Observer/participants (who are not members of the Senate)

(C) The Chair of the Student Committee. If the Chair is unable to attend a meeting of Senate, he/she may appoint another member of the Committee to attend.

(D) The Chair of the Postgraduate Committee. If the Chair is unable to attend a meeting of Senate he/she may appoint another member of the Committee to attend. 

(E) The Chair of the Ethics Committee will be in attendance as an independent observer.

(F) Trustees of the Society are not members of Senate but may attend and speak at the meetings of Senate. 

(G) Society staff may attend and speak at meetings of the Senate but will not be members of the Senate.

The Chair of Senate

Senate shall appoint a chair by secret ballot who will serve three years and will be an ex-officio Trustee for their term of office. At the end of the three-year term, the Chair of Senate will automatically cease to be a Trustee and his/her successor chair will automatically become a Trustee. 

Meetings of Senate

Senate will normally hold two meetings per year as a minimum, with more frequent meetings being held as required. Meetings may be held in person or by electronic means. Attendance by electronic means is valid at all meetings. 

Notices of meetings, papers and other communications to members of Senate will normally be circulated by email. Senate may take decisions by majority vote. If the votes are equal, the Chair shall have a second or casting vote. Votes may only be cast by Senate members including co-opted members.

Quorum

The quorum for a meeting of Senate is at least ten members of Senate present in 
person or by electronic means.

Reporting and Assurance Arrangements

Administrative arrangements for Senate will be managed through the Directorate for Membership, Professional Development and Standards. Minutes will be kept of each meeting of Senate. Minutes will be circulated to members of Senate and the Board of Trustees, and published as widely as possible within the Society.

Remuneration

There is no remuneration for participating in Senate. Expenses of attendees are reimbursed in accordance with the Society's expenses policies.

Review

Senate will annually review its own performance to ensure it is fulfilling its terms of reference and operating effectively. In doing so it will make any recommendations for change to the Board of Trustees for their consideration and approval.

Amendment of these Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference of Senate shall be approved from time to time by the Trustees. No changes to the Terms of Reference of Senate shall be made until Senate has had a formal opportunity to review and be consulted upon the suggested changes. Should Senate by resolution oppose the changes suggested by the Trustees, then the suggested changes shall be put to a General Meeting of the Society. The decision of the General Meeting shall be final.