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1. The name of the body hereby constituted shall be Merton College Junior Common Room, hereinafter referred to as 'the JCR'.
2. The JCR shall be a self-governing institution existing to:
   1. Represent and advance the interests of its Members to the relevant authorities both in and outside the College.
   2. Promote the responsible and fair government of the College and University.
   3. Maintain and improve the College life of its Members.
3. The following categories of persons shall be Members of the JCR unless they have chosen to opt-out:
   
   1. Ordinary Members in statu pupillari at the College who, having been matriculated, are not formally recognised by the College as being members of the Senior Common Room.
   2. Every graduate no longer in statu pupillari at the College as an Alumnus Member of the JCR.
   3. Those granted Honorary Membership of the JCR by resolution of the General Meeting. Honorary Membership may also be removed by resolution of the General Meeting and will in any case lapse after one year unless renewed.
4. JCR Membership shall confer the following rights upon an individual:
   
   1. The right to attend, speak and vote at all General Meetings of the JCR.
   2. The right to vote at the election of the JCR Committee.
   3. The right of candidature for any JCR Committee post subject to satisfying the conditions of eligibility.
   4. The right to enjoy the facilities and events provided by the JCR and to entertain bona fide guests who shall be allowed to use those facilities and attend those events. JCR Members shall be responsible for their guests.
5. All Members of the JCR shall have the right to opt out of this Membership.
6. The JCR shall not discriminate against any person on the grounds of their race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
7. The General Meeting shall be the supreme governing body of the JCR, meeting only in Full Term. The General Meeting shall be the sole body competent to review a JCR Committee decision.
8. There shall be an additional administratively and financially autonomous body for the organisation of Graduate affairs and the representation of Graduates. This body shall be known as Merton College Middle Common Room, hereinafter referred to as ‘the MCR’. Other persons, as defined within the MCR Constitution may also be Members of the MCR. The Constitution of this body may be found in Appendix A and, insofar as it pertains only to MCR Members, the MCR Constitution may only be amended by resolution of the MCR General Meeting. All MCR Members, unless they choose to opt out, remain full Members of the JCR and retain all rights and responsibilities pertaining to that position.
9. The JCR Committee shall be elected freely and fairly by the JCR Membership from within their own number and is entrusted with the administration of JCR affairs and facilities under the supervision and co-ordination of the JCR President. Both the Committee as a whole and the JCR President individually are directly responsible to the General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall form the core of the JCR Committee and are the major officers of the JCR in the meaning of the Education Act 1994. Members of the Committee when acting ex officio shall be bound by motions passed by the General Meeting except in the most unusual circumstances.
10. Every Member of the JCR Committee or its attached Standing and Sub-Committees shall be indemnified against all losses or liability which s/he may incur in the execution of his or her office, and no person as described above shall be liable for any loss, damage, or misfortune which may happen to or be incurred by the JCR in the execution of his or her office or in relation thereto; provided that nothing in this clause shall affect his or her liability for any wilful default on his or her part.
11. Any Member of the JCR Committee, Standing or Sub-Committees may be dismissed for dereliction of duty or for having acted in a manner which discredits the JCR.
12. Any JCR Member shall have the right to complain formally about any aspect of the running of the JCR or the actions of any person involved in the administration of the JCR insofar as those actions relate to their duties and responsibilities to the JCR.
13. The JCR President shall be the sole interpreter of the Constitution and Standing Orders. In the event of any dispute over this interpretation, the ruling of the JCR Committee shall be determinant. The General Meeting shall be the sole body competent to review a Committee ruling.
14. The Constitution may be amended only with the assent of a 2/3 majority vote on a Motion appearing on the printed agenda of two consecutive Ordinary General Meetings.
15. Amendment of the content of the Standing Orders shall be by simple majority vote on a Motion appearing on the printed agenda of two consecutive Ordinary General Meetings or by unanimous decision of one Ordinary General Meeting. Superficial alteration may be made at the discretion of the JCR Committee.
16. All previous Constitutions of the Merton College Junior Common Room are hereby expressly revoked. This Constitution shall have effect from the beginning of Full Term, Trinity 1998.