Young Greens Winter General Meeting 2025
8th February
First Timer’s guide to Winter General Meeting
WGM Basics
Inclusion Cards:. Please use this card to signal the chair to challenge and raise awareness of any issues of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, religious discrimination and all other type of discrimination.
Procedural Card: Please use this card to signal to the chair that there is a procedural issue with a motion. For instance, it is conflict with current policy.
Safe Space: The Young Greens have a safe space policy which ensures that we maintain an environment where all can feel safe to participate.
Who’s who?
EC/Exec – Young Greens Executive Committee, consisting of Co-Chairs, Treasurer, and Executive Officers whose role is to look after the day-to-day running of the organisation including supporting members and groups with their activities.
DAC – Democracy and Accountability Committee who are there to guide the AGM and make sure the Constitution and Standing Orders are followed.
Safeguarding Team – People whose responsibility is to safeguard and protect the needs of Young Greens under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults. If you feel as though there has been a safeguarding breach, please first go to the registration desk who will point you in the direction of the safeguarding team. There will be an on duty safeguarding officer at all times.
Winter General Meeting Definitions
Amendment
Amendments are suggested changes to proposed motions, which have been proposed in advance after the motions were published. After the motion has been proposed, the proposers of the amendment will then be called up to speak for the amendment. A for and against debate will follow on the amendment, followed by a vote on whether the amendment should be accepted to the motion. After this vote has taken place, debate will resume either on other amendments, or the motion as a whole. If you have not read them, you can read them on the Democracy Platform.
Constitution
The Constitution sets out how the Young Greens organisation works, including all the different committees and groups within the Young Greens, and the fundamental principles of the Young Greens. You can read copies of them on the Democracy Platform.
Emergency Motions
Emergency motions are motions which have been submitted after the closing of motions in June and have to be on a topic which has arisen since this date. These can be proposed via the Democracy Platform.
Motion
Motions are items being put to convention for us to vote on. These have been proposed in advance and will be taken during the AGM. A proposer will propose the motion with a short speech and then anyone is able to speak against the motion, or ask questions. Debate will flow between the for and against sides until there are no more speeches left, or the chair feels enough debate has been had. More information on motions can be found on the Democracy Platform.
Prioritisation Ballot
In order to decide which motions are most important to members, we hold a prioritisation ballot, where each member is given a few stickers and able to place them against the motions they would like to be heard first. The motions will be taken in order of how many votes each motion gets.
Procedural Cards
You can use procedural cards to signal to the chair of the AGM if you would like to raise a procedural motion or a point of information. It is at the chair’s discretion to interrupt the debate to allow you to speak under the following criteria:
Taking the motion in parts (provided the motion can be understood in parts)
Refer the motion back to the proposer/Executive Committee
For the motion not to be put
Minor textual amendments
Taking By Parts/Taking A Motion By Parts
For some motions or amendments people may agree with one part of the proposal but not another so can move a procedural motion (see Procedural Cards) to take by parts. This then treats the motion/amendment as if it was two separate motions/amendments which must each be voted on. Motions/Amendments may only be taken by parts if each part would be understandable as a single motion/amendment and so can’t be used to just get rid of a few words which don’t make sense on their own.
Refer Back
If somebody agrees with the general intent of a motion but disagrees with the way it has been proposed they can move a procedural motion (see Procedural Cards) to refer back. This must then be voted on and if successful either the proposer(s) of the motion will be asked to work on the wording and formulation of the motion to be brought back to the next AGM or the Executive Committee will be asked to work on the proposal.
Not to be put
If somebody thinks that a motion should not be heard at all, they can put a procedural motion for it not to be put. This means the motion will not be discussed or voted on any further.
Minor Textual Amendment (MTE)
Minor textual amendments to correct small errors e.g. spelling, or friendly amendments (where the proposer of the motion and proposer of the amendment agree) can be accepted during the debate.
Standing Orders (SO)
The Standing Orders describes how the different procedures of the Young Greens working including how the AGM works and how we elect Young Greens to serve on different committees. You can read copies of them on the Democracy Platform.