The primary document governing Alma Mater Society (AMS) activity is the AMS Constitution. It contains both the AMS Mission and Operating Statements and broadly delineates the fundamental principles by which the Society is governed. This document falls under the purview of the AMS Assembly which is the ultimate decision-making body for the non-service, policy and political affairs of the Society. The Assembly’s roughly 40 voting members consist of the AMS executive and appointed representatives from each member faculty society. The number of representatives accorded each society is proportional to the size of the faculty relative to the entire undergraduate student population. Any part, section, subsection or paragraph of the constitution may only be amended following two readings held at two separate regular meetings of the Assembly. Proper notice of such motion to amend need be given. Amendments may also occur at a Society Annual Meeting (where every AMS undergraduate student may vote) or at a Society Special General Meeting.

The Assembly also presides over the three Society policy manuals and has full power, within the confines of the AMS Constitution, to create, alter and/or terminate any policy statements; and to deal with any reports, recommendations and/or conclusions of any groups, committees and organizations which fall within its purview. In effect, the Assembly acts as the legislative branch of the Queen’s undergraduate student government.

There are three basic AMS policy manuals and they may be added to, amended or otherwise altered only through a motion approved at any single Assembly meeting.

Policy Manual 1 contains AMS operating policies and procedures and includes such major areas as non-academic discipline, student fees, elections/referenda, awards and Assembly policies.

Policy Manual 2 contains AMS organizational structures and sets out all committee mandates and compositions.

Policy Manual 3 contains AMS representational policies which inform AMS advocacy efforts on behalf of students. The vast majority of these relate to university funding, tuition, student aid and the learning environment.

Assembly meets every second Thursday night during the fall and winter academic terms and holds an annual general meeting in mid-March.

The Assembly created a corporation which is a distinct legal entity formed by the AMS for the purpose of managing the services and associated financial affairs of the Society. The AMS Corporation is overseen by the 15-member AMS Board of Directors (six elected students, the AMS President and both VP’s, two non-student directors, the three AMS Services Directors and the General Manager). The Board works to ensure the long-term financial viability, healthy management, planning and operation of the thirteen AMS services and oversees long-term strategic planning for the Society. It is also responsible for the investment of funds; the purchase of major capital items; structural changes within the Corporation; and policy development in areas such as hiring and salaries.

The affairs of the Corporation, incorporated under the Corporations Act of Ontario, are governed by the By-Laws of the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University. The By-Laws may be amended at any single meeting of the Board of Directors and any such amendment shall take effect immediately. However, all such amendments shall cease to take effect unless confirmed at the next Corporation Special General meeting (usually in late October or early November) or Corporation Annual Meeting (usually held in mid-March). The By-Laws may also be amended at either of these meetings. The voting members of Assembly are also defined as the voting members of the corporation, and thus act as voting “shareholders” of the corporation at the two annual corporate meetings.

The Board of Directors also administers its own policy manual. Included in this document are Board operating procedures, AMS corporate service-specific policies, accounting and finance policies, and basic corporate philosophy. The Board may amend this document at any one of its meetings.

If you have any questions regarding these or any other AMS documents, please contact AMS Information Officer Greg McKellar at 613-533-2730 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it