THE CONSTITUTION
THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES
UNIVERSITY STUDENT
COUNCIL________________________________________________________
PREAMBLE
W
e, the students of the University of Eastern Philippines Main
Campus, imploring the aid of Almighty God,
Realizing the need to bind ourselves into an organization which
shall serve as a vehicle to express our ideals, hopes, and
aspirations,To promote the common good,
To enhance the involvement and enthusiasm of all the students in
all the affairs of the University,
To attain a high degree of academic consciousness and
excellence,
To promote and strengthen common ties among students, student
groups and organizations, and other sectors of the University and
of the society,
In order to instill in ourselves the spirit of patriotism and
nationalism and the values of intellectual, social, moral, and
aesthetic responsibility,
Do ordain and promulgate this Constitution:
ARTICLE I
NAME AND NATURE OF THE ORGANIZATION
Section 1 The official union of the students of the University
of Eastern Philippines Main Campus shall be known as the University
of Eastern Philippines University Student Council or UEP USC.
Section 2The official address of the University Student Council
shall be at the Office of Student Affairs Compound, University of
Eastern Philippines, University Town, Catarman, Northern Samar.
Section 3The University Student Council is the highest governing
student body of the University of Eastern Philippines Main
Campus.ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
Section 1 The University Student Council shall have jurisdiction
over all students of the main campus and shall be autonomous,
representative and democratic.Section 2 The University Student
Council stands for and advances the principle of academic freedom
under a socially accountable and morally responsible exercise of a
nationalistic, scientific, and mass oriented system of
education.Section 3 The University Student Council shall protect
and promote the rights, interests, welfare, and good of all the
students.
Section 4 The University Student Council supports the struggle
of the academic sector for the rights, interests, welfare, and good
of the people.
Section 5 The University Student Council, shall, at all times,
represent all the students of the UEP Main Campus in the UEP
Federation of Student Councils and in the highest policy-making
body of the University, the Board of Regents.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP AND SUFFRAGE
Section 1 All bona fide students of the University of Eastern
Philippines Main Campus are members of the University Student
Council which shall formally commence upon payment of semestral
dues as provided in this Constitution and by-laws.
Section 2Every member of the University Student Council shall
have the right to vote and be voted upon to any student position,
in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and
by-laws.ARTICLE IV
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1 No student of the University shall be deprived of his
or her right to education without due process of law nor shall any
student be denied the equal protection of the law.Section 2 Every
student of the University shall have the right to be informed and
consulted on matters which may directly or indirectly affect them
before such matters are adopted.
Section 3Every student of the University shall have access to
public official records of the University; documents involving
official transactions or decisions shall be freely afforded to the
students; provided, that confidential or private records between
and involving students shall be kept confidential as may be
provided by law.Section 4Every member of the University Student
Council shall have the right to be heard of his or her opinion,
ideas, reactions, or suggestions for and in consideration of any
policy or any future appropriate action by the Council.Section
5Every student of the University shall have the right to exercise
and enjoy the freedom of speech and of the press.Section 6 Every
student of the University shall have the right to the free exercise
of his or her religious beliefs, and the free exercise of
conscience, political will, and social ideologies.
Section 7No student shall be obliged to pay for tickets for
raffle draws, arts and public performances, stage shows and
concerts donations, and sundries and miscellaneous contributions,
imposed by the faculty members, pursuant of the Republic Act 6713
of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public
EmployeesSection 8All students of the University shall have the
right to peaceably assemble for redress of grievances and to seek
speedy action thereof.Section 9Every student of the University
shall have the right to enjoy the full use and aid of all the
adequate facilities, amenities, and services provided by the
University, and to a speedy assistance by any personnel of the
University.
Section 10No student of the University shall be subjected to any
exploitation, harassment, extortion, intimidation, or cruel and
unusual punishments.
ARTICLE V
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 1 Every student of the University shall dutifully
observe and uphold at all times the Constitution of the Republic of
the Philippines, the laws of the land, the Charter and the rules
and regulations of the University of Eastern Philippines, and this
Constitution and the by-laws from it proceeding.
Section 2 Every student of the University shall help engender an
academic atmosphere conducive to intellectual excellence and
physical advancement, and to the peace and harmony among various
sectors of the University.
Section 3Every student of the University shall exercise his or
her rights and responsibilities with due regard and respect for the
rights of his or her fellow students and other members of the
University community.Section 4 Every student has the obligation to
cast his or her vote or be voted upon during the annual University
Student Council elections subject to limitations provided by this
Constitution and the Rules and Regulations on Student Organizations
and Activities of the University Code.Section 5 Every student has
the responsibility to attend and actively participate in regular
and special assembly meetings and other activities of the Council
and of the University whenever required.Section 6Every student
shall exercise all other rights and perform such other duties and
functions as provided by law, executive orders and memorandum
circulars.ARTICLE VI
THE COLLEGE STUDENT COUNCILSection 1 All component Colleges of
the University, regardless of population, shall have their own
College Student Councils (CSCs).Section 2 Regardless of population,
all College Student Councils shall have a President, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Business Manager, and
Public Information Officer all of whom shall be elected at
large.Section 3Any College Student Council of the University may,
for the purpose of effectivity and efficiency, have other officers
in addition to the officers in the preceding section, such as
department, course, or year level representatives.Section 4Every
College Student Council of the University shall:
a. plan, approve and implement programs and projects within the
area of jurisdiction;b. enforce rules and policies formulated by
the University Student Council and the Student Council Assembly;c.
appropriate student funds for its college and administer them for
the implementation of the projects relevant to the needs of its
constituents; andd. submit a financial statement every end of the
semester to the College Student Affairs Coordinator for review,
approval and safekeeping, and post copies of which in conspicuous
places within their jurisdiction.Section 5 The College Student
Council President shall be an ex-officio College Representative to
the University Student Council.Section 6All elected and appointed
officials of the College Student Councils shall hold office for one
(1) academic year or until another set of officers shall have been
elected.
Section 7All College Student Councils shall collect their own
fund from their respective constituents after a resolution shall
have been approved by the majority of their officers, voting and
present, in a meeting called for such purpose. Provided, further,
that a consultation with the students shall be conducted before
such resolution shall be made.Section 8The College Student Affairs
Coordinator shall be an ex-officio adviser to the College Student
Council. Additional advisers, who must be members of the faculty of
the college, may be appointed by the CSC through a resolution
approved by a majority of the officers, voting and present.ARTICLE
VII
THE COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE
Section 1There shall be College Representatives to the
University Student Council (USC) of the University of Eastern
Philippines Main Campus for every 500 student population of a
college or a major fraction thereof.Section 2As provided in Section
5 of Article VI of this Constitution, the College Student Council
Presidents shall be ex-officio College Representatives to the
University Student Council and shall be part of the required number
of representatives from their respective colleges, the remainder
thereof shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution and the Rules and Regulations on Student Organizations
and Activities.Section 3In case a College shall be entitled to only
one (1) College Representative, the College Student Council
President will automatically be the College Representative. As
such, there shall be no election of college representatives for
that particular College.Section 4The College Representative/s shall
be voting ex-officio member/s of their respective College Student
Councils, entitled to all rights, duties and responsibilities
attached thereof and thus shall also be bound by their respective
CSC rules and regulations.
Section 5The College Representative/s shall serve as the
official liaison officer/s of the College Student Councils to the
University Student Council.Section 6The election of the College
Representative/s shall be conducted together with the elections for
the other members of the University Student Council.Section 7The
College Representative/s shall be subjected to and bound by the
decisions of their respective College Student Councils in so far as
the CSC matters are concerned.Section 8For purposes of effective
and efficient management of the College Student Councils, CSC
Presidents may revoke their right to be College Representatives and
appoint another member of their Council as his or her replacement
provided that such appointment shall be permanent and will last
until the end of their unexpired term.ARTICLE VIII
THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL
Section 1The University Student Council shall be composed of the
President, Vice President for Internal Affairs, Vice President for
External Affairs, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Business Manager,
Public Information Officer, and the College Representatives.Section
2The University Student Council President shall be the Chief
Executive Officer and shall exercise authority over the Council.
He/She shall:a. sign all resolutions, communications and papers of
the Council unless he/she deems otherwise in specific cases;b.
preside over all meetings of the Council, unless he/she designates
another Council member to be the presiding officer;c. head the
Student Council Assembly;d. have the power to nominate, twice the
required number of members of the Constitutional Commissions and of
the Student Tribunal. The Student Council Assembly (SCA) shall
elect the members from among the nominees.e. be responsible for the
effective implementation of the policies duly approved by the
Student Council Assembly;f. be authorized to enter into, sign and
execute contracts and agreements beneficial to the University
Student Council upon consultation with the Student Council
Assembly, with the concurrence of two thirds (2/3) vote of the SCA
voting and present;
g. consult the Student Council Assembly on matters of
consideration of the UEP Federation of Student Councils that may
affect the welfare of the students and to adopt the position of the
SCA on said matters;
h. approve vouchers covering the application of expenditures of
the University Student Council funds before payments or
disbursements are made by the Treasurer;i. represent the University
Student Council and the UEP Main Campus in his/her official
capacity as the USC President on occasions and events as needed;
andj. perform such other duties as may be necessary or incidental
to the discharge of the functions of the office.Section 3The Vice
President for Internal Affairs shall assist the President in the
discharge of his/her duties in matters pertaining to the internal
affairs of the University Student Council and shall perform the
duties and functions of the President in case of the latters
absence, death, disability or resignation. He/She shall perform
other functions that maybe assigned to him by the Student Council
Assembly.Section 4The Vice President for External Affairs shall
assist the president on matters pertaining to the external affairs
of the University Student Council. He/She shall perform the duties
and functions of the President in case of the latters absence,
disability, death or resignation and when the VP for Internal
Affairs cannot perform the said duties and functions for valid
reason/s. He/she shall perform other functions that may be assigned
to him/her by the Student Council Assembly.Section 5It shall be the
duty of the Secretary to:
a. prepare the agenda of the meeting as approved by the
President;b. take down minutes of the meetings together with the
list of participants and tally the votes cast;c. certify all acts
of the University Student Council;
d. act as custodian on all records, documents, minutes of
meetings, list of general membership, election returns as well as
written policies, projects and activities of the University Student
Council;
e. certify the existence of a quorum, call the roll and read the
minutes of the previous meeting;f. serve as the Secretary of the
Student Council Assembly; and g. perform such other functions as
may be assigned to him/her by the SCA and the USC President.Section
6It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to:
a. collect, receive, and issue receipts for all monies, funds
and contributions to the University Student Council;
b. make sure that all disbursements and payments made by him/her
are covered by vouchers and accompanied by necessary receipts;
c. take custody of all funds and assets of the University
Student Council and keep the financial records in accordance with
auditing rules and regulations;
d. withdraw money in accordance with duly approved resolutions
of the University Student Council;
e. prepare such financial reports as may be required of him/her
by the Student Council Assembly and/or the University Student
Council, which shall include all money received and paid by him/her
since he/she assumed office and the balance remaining in his/her
hands at a time of rendering such accounts and other properties of
the organization entrusted to his/her custody under his/her
control. The rendering of such accounts shall be made :
at least once a year, within thirty days after the close of the
University Student Council fiscal year; and at such other times as
may be required by a resolution of the majority of the members of
the University Student Council.f. prepare financial reports,
balance sheets and statements of receipts and disbursements; andg.
perform other duties assigned to him by the Student Council
Assembly and the USC President.Section 7 The Auditor shall;
a. verify, examine and audit all financial accounts and
expenditures of the University Student Council;
b. supervise the entries in the book of accounts of the
University Student Council and shall render a report of his/her
audit as maybe required by the Student Council Assembly and the
University Student Council; and c. perform other duties inherent to
his/her position.Section 8 The Business Manager shall:
a. be responsible for the supervision of all projects, business
ventures and fund raising activities of the University Student
Council;
b. establish linkages with other organizations related to
investments and productive activities which are beneficial to the
University Student Council; and
c. perform other functions as the Student Council Assembly and
the USC President may assign.Section 9The Public Information
Officer shall:
a. be in-charge on matters involving public relations, preparing
press releases and other information relative to the activities of
the University Student Council;
b. serve as the Editor in Chief of The Crier, the official
publication of the University Student Council; andc. perform other
duties assigned to him/her by the Student Council Assembly and the
USC President.Section 10The University Student Council shall serve
as the highest executive and implementing student body of the
University of Eastern Philippines Main Campus. It shall also be the
highest policy-making body when the Student Council Assembly is not
in session.Section 11The Executive Officers of and College
Representatives to the University Student Council officers shall
have the following powers and functions:
a. be responsible for the administrative and day-to-day
functions of the USC;b. ensure, monitor, direct and coordinate the
plans, decisions and programs of the USC;c. make recommendations to
the SCA on matters concerning the USC and the students in
general;d. ensure the integration of the USC with the students of
the University;e. formulate, approve, and enforce decisions,
policies, resolutions, stands on issues and programs of action for
the USC;f. manage all the funds and properties of the USC; andg.
perform other functions and duties as may be delegated by the
SCA.Section 12The Executive Officers of and College Representatives
to the University Student Council shall be exempt from paying their
semestral tuition fees during their term of office as provided in
the UEP Board of Regents Resolution No. 26, Series of 2001.Section
13The University Student Council shall appoint advisers for
administration, sports, cultural affairs, and other advisers, if
deemed necessary, through a resolution duly approved by the
majority of its officers, voting and present. The advisers must be
faculty members of the UEP Main Campus.Section 14The USC shall, for
the purpose of coordination, exercise overall supervision over all
College Student Councils.ARTICLE IX
THE STUDENT COUNCIL ASSEMBLY
Section 1The Student Council Assembly shall be the highest
policy-making body of the University Student Council.Section 2The
Executive Officers of and College Representatives to the University
Student Council along with the President of the Association of
Recognized Campus Organizations, Sororities and Fraternities
(ARCOSAF), the President of the University Junior and Senior
Classes Organization (UJSCO), the President of the University
Performing Arts Organization (UPAO), the Editor in Chief of The
Pillar, and the Head of the Campus Ministry Organization (CMO),
shall compose the Student Council Assembly.Section 3The University
Student Council President shall be the head of the Student Council
Assembly.Section 4The Student Council Assembly shall have the
following powers and functions:
a. study and suggest amendments and revisions to the USC
constitution subject to final ratification by the students in a
constitutional plebiscite for the purpose;
b. formulate, approve and enforce decisions, policies,
resolutions, stands on issues and programs of action of the USC;c.
act and decide upon all cases of suspension of and
impeachment/removal from the office of Council members subject to
the provisions concerning expulsion and impeachment in this
Constitution; andd. do such other duties and functions as it may
deem necessary.Section 5The regular Student Council Assembly shall
meet once a month during the term of the Council, excluding
semestral breaks and Christmas holidays. The Council may, however,
convene a regular SCA on the excluded dates.ARTICLE X
STUDENT TRIBUNAL
Section 1There shall be an autonomous Student Tribunal who shall
be responsible for instituting arbitration procedures or disputes
referred to it.Section 2Arbitration shall be to the extent possible
a means of arriving at an amicable and conciliatory resolution of
conflicts.Section 3Settlement of disputes between and among
students shall be decided upon by the Student Tribunal. A simple
majority (50% plus 1) decision by the members voting and present
shall be final. Such decision shall be submitted for validation to
the Dean of the Office of Student Affairs in order for the sentence
to take effect.
Section 4 The Student Tribunal, in addition to instituting
arbitration, shall officially interpret, upon request by parties
concerned, pertinent provisions of this Constitution.Section 5The
Student Tribunal shall have the power to promulgate rules and make
its decisions and functions consistent with this Constitution.
Section 6Suspension and impeachment of officers of the
University Student Council and members of the Student Tribunal and
Constitutional Commissions shall be dealt with in accordance to
Article XVIII of this Constitution.Section 7The Student Tribunal
shall be composed of a Chief Magistrate and four (4) Associate
Magistrates.
Section 8The President of the UEP Association of Law Students
shall be the ex-officio Chief Magistrate of the Student Tribunal.
The Chief Magistrate shall be the head of the Student
Tribunal.Section 9The President of the ARCOSAF shall be an
ex-officio Associate Magistrate. The three (3) other Associate
Magistrates shall be elected by the SCA in the manner provided by
Article VIII, Section 2d thereof.Section 10The Student Tribunal
shall appoint a Legal Adviser who shall be an Attorney-at-Law and
at the same time a faculty member of the UEP College of Law. Such
adviser shall be appointed by a majority of vote of its
members.ARTICLE XI
COMMISSION ON STUDENT ELECTIONS
Section 1The Commission on Student Elections (COSEL) is an
autonomous Constitutional Commission which shall be composed of a
Chairman and one representative from each college who will act as
Commissioners who shall be elected by the SCA in the manner
provided by Article VIII, Section 2d.Section 2The Head of the
Campus Ministry Organization shall be the ex-officio Chairman of
the COSEL.
Section 3Except for the Chairman, the Commissioners shall not
hold any other office during his or her tenure.
Section 4The COSEL shall provide services such as:
a. to recommend to the Student Council Assembly effective
measures to minimize all forms of election fraud and malpractice;b.
to register and accredit political parties in accordance with the
law;c. to enforce and administer all laws relative to the conduct
of elections and plebiscites;d. to pass judgment on election
protests concerning election returns and qualifications of
candidates for elective positions; e. to report the results of
election to the students and the entire University right after the
proclamation; and
f. to organize and manage the Bantay Campus Volunteers.
Section 5The COSEL may sit en banc or in two divisions, and
shall promulgate its rules and procedures in order to expedite
disposition for election cases, including pre-proclamation
controversies. All such election cases shall be heard and decided
in the division by the commission en banc.
Section 6The Commission may recommend to the SCA the removal of
any officer of the UEP Student Council for violations or disregard
of and disobedience to its decision, order or directive.
Section 7 No suspension of sentence for violation of the law or
rules and regulations concerning elections shall be meted out
without the recommendation of the Commission.Section 8The Dean of
the Office of Student Affairs shall be the ex-officio adviser of
the Commission.ARTICLE XII
COMMISSION ON AUDIT
Section 1The Commission on Audit (COA) is an autonomous
Constitutional Commission which shall be composed of a Chairman and
four (4) Commissioners who shall be elected in manner provided by
Article VIII, Section 2d.Section 2The President of the UEP Junior
Philippine Institute of Accountants shall be the ex-officio
Chairman of the Commission.
Section 3Except for the Chairman, the Commissioners shall not
hold any other office during his or her tenure.
Section 4The COA shall have the following functions:
a. To audit all financial transactions affecting the various
subdivisions of the USC including but not limited to CSCs;b. To
submit to the SCA an audited semestral financial report of the USC
and its subdivisions not later than thirty (30) days after the last
semestral session of the SCA; andc. To recommend measures deemed
necessary for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the
Student Councils financial management.Section 5The Commission shall
appoint, through a majority vote of its members, an Adviser who
shall be a faculty member of the UEP College of Business
Administrations Accountancy DepartmentARTICLE XIIIRESIGNATIONS AND
VACANCIES
Section 1In case of vacancy in the office of the President
arising from death, permanent incapacity, removal from office, or
resignation, the Vice President for Internal Affairs shall become
the President and serve the unexpired term of the President. In any
event, the VPIA shall be the acting President until the regular
election is conducted.
Section 2In case of vacancy in the Office of the VPIA, the Vice
President for External Affairs succeeds him/her.Section 3Other
vacancies concerning Executive Officers shall be filled by the SCA
by appointing any bona fide officer of the USC and who shall serve
the unexpired term of his/her immediate predecessor.
Section 4Vacancies in the College Representatives shall be
filled by the College Student Council concerned by appointing any
bona fide officer of the CSC and who shall serve the unexpired term
of his/her immediate predecessor.ARTICLE XIVSYSTEM OF ELECTIONS
Section 1The election will be handled by the Commission on
Student Elections (COSEL) under the supervision of the Committee on
University Student Organizations and Activities (CUSOA). In
addition to Section 4 of Article XI, the COSEL and CUSOA shall:
a. adopt and promulgate rules and regulations that will ensure a
free, clean, honest and orderly elections whether regular or
special;
b. act upon the applications of candidacy of the candidates;
c. rule on any question or protest regarding the conduct of the
elections; andd. proclaim the elected officers;Section 2 The
regular election of the College Student Councils and the University
Student Council shall be simultaneous not later than forty-five
(45) days before the last day of the Final Examinations for
non-graduating students during the Second Semester.Section 3Voting
shall be by secret ballot and the election shall be decided by the
plurality of votes.
Section 4In case of tie, a special election shall be held within
seven days after such elections.
Section 5The duly elected officers shall assume into office
within thirty (30) days after the Commencement Exercises has been
held for that academic year at which time the outgoing
administration shall turn over all records and properties of the
USC to the new set of officers.ARTICLE XVSTUDENT FUNDS
Section 1There shall be a semestral membership fee collected
from all students of the University to be determined and approved
by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members of the SCA, voting and
present, in a meeting called for such purpose.Section 2All fees
shall be deposited in a reputable bank with the USC President and
Treasurer as the official signatories.Section 3All amounts
collected pursuant to the preceding section shall constitute the
general fund of the University Student Council to defray all
legitimate expenses of the USCs operations and any other purpose
incidental to the attainment of the USC objectives.
Section 4The books of accounts and the other records of the
financial activities of the University Student Council shall be
open for inspection by any student any time during office
hours.
Section 5Collection of semestral membership fees and other
assessments shall be made during enrolment period.
Section 6The semestral financial reports of the University
Student Council shall be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs
for review, approval and safekeeping.
Section 7Copies of the semestral financial reports of the USC
shall be posted in conspicuous places within the University and
shall be published in the official student publication of the
University, The Pillar, and in the official publication of the USC,
The Crier.Section 8The balance of the USC general funds for a
specific term shall be forwarded to its successor.ARTICLE
XVIMEETINGS
Section 1The University Student Council shall have regular
weekly meetings. Notice shall be given by the Secretary at least
two (2) days before the meeting.
Section 2Special meetings of the University Student Council or
that of the Student Council Assembly may be called at any time by
the USC President or upon the majority of the SCA or upon petition
of at least ten percent (10%) of all bona fide members of the
USC.
Section 3The notice for any meetings, whether it is of the USC
or the SCA, regular or special, shall contain the items to be
discussed and shall constitute the agenda of the meeting. Any item
not included in the agenda may be taken up upon recommendation of
the majority of the members present and voting.
Section 4Any member who absents him/herself from any regular or
special meetings shall within five (5) days from the date of said
meeting submit a written explanation to the Secretary as to the
reason/s for his/her failure to attend the meeting. The Secretary
shall evaluate the explanation and render a report thereof to the
USC and/or SCA.
Section 5Members who are on travel or who want to be excused to
attend meetings with valid reason must submit notice of absence to
the USC and/or SCA a day before the meeting.
Section 6Any member who absents him/herself from any regular or
special meetings without justifiable grounds shall be dealt with in
accordance with Article XVIII of this Constitution.ARTICLE
XVIIQUORUMS AND RULES OF ORDER
Section 1The presence of simple majority (50% plus 1) of all the
officers of the USC or SCA shall be sufficient in any of their
meetings.
Section 2A special or emergency meeting does not require that a
quorum be reached for it to be deemed in session.Section 3Regular
meetings that do not reach the required quorum, upon the decision
of the President with the concurrence of a majority of the USC or
SCA members voting and present, may be adjourned and automatically
converted into an emergency or special meeting.Section 4Every
decision of simple majority (50% plus 1) voting and present at
regular, special or emergency meetings shall be valid as an act of
the USC or SCA.
Section 5Whenever practicable and for a speedy disposal of the
agenda, meetings of the USC and SCA shall be conducted according to
the generally accepted parliamentary rules and procedures.
ARTICLE XVIIISUSPENSION AND IMPEACHMENT OF OFFICERSSection
1Suspension shall mean temporary loss of membership. The following
shall be the grounds for suspension:
a. three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from the regular
and/or special meetings;b. six (6) accumulated unexcused absences
from the meetings;c. dereliction of duty; andd. other grounds as
may be determined by the SCA.
Section 2The Student Council Assembly shall decide on all cases
involving suspension of its officers including those of the Student
Tribunal and Constitutional Commissions. The President may also, on
his/her authority, impose a suspension order on an erring USC
officer, subject to the simple majority (50% plus 1) approval of
the USC officers voting and present within seven (7) days after the
imposition of the suspension.
Section 3The period of suspension shall not be less than three
(3) but not more than five (5) calendar days after which the
suspension shall be automatically lifted and may not be reinstated
under the old charges.
Section 4Suspension may be lifted anytime after three (3) days
after the concerned party reaffirms the pledge to abide by and
respect this Constitution and to perform his/her duties to the best
of his/her ability and the acceptance of such pledge by a majority
vote of the officers voting and present.
Section 5Impeachment from the University Student Council,
Student Tribunal, Commission on Student Elections, and Commission
on Audit may be done with a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of
the Student Council Assembly voting and present in a meeting called
for the purpose.
Section 6The following may be grounds for impeachment:
a. two suspensions in one semester;b. gross violation of this
Constitution;c. gross negligence of duty;d. commission of acts
deemed by the SCA to be highly detrimental to the integrity,
credibility, or unity of the SCA, USC, Student Tribunal, COSEL, and
COA;e. dishonesty and misconduct while in Office;f. habitual
tardiness and absenteeism;g. abuse of authority; andh. any other
grounds deemed sufficient by the SCA.Section 7Petitions for
impeachment, which shall also be deemed as a motion to institute
impeachment proceedings, of any officer shall be investigated by
the SCA or its authorized representatives.a. Officers of the SCA
and USC may do so through a formal written petition submitted to
the President or next higher officer in the event the former is the
defendant in the petitionb. Petitions for impeachment from
individuals who are not officers of the USC must be signed by at
least five percent (5%) of the total student population at the time
of the petition and must include the signature of the Dean of the
Office of Student Affairs. Such petitions shall be addressed to the
President or the next higher officer as the case may be. c.
Petitions for impeachment must specify the officer/s concerned, the
charges, supporting evidences and other relevant information to the
case.
Section 8The officer/s concerned shall be duly informed of the
case and the charges leveled not later than seven (7) days after
the official receipt of the petition. Upon the defendant/s receipt
of the formal notification of charges against him/her, he/she shall
be automatically excused from the exercise of his her duties and
responsibilities as an officer of the USC.Section 9Impeachment
cases shall pass through due process. The concerned parties shall
have full and unrestricted access to the files and records of the
SCA, USC, Student Tribunal, COSEL, and COA deemed to be relevant in
preparing their cases.Section 10Impeachment cases shall be tried by
a meeting convened for the purpose which must take place not later
than two (2) weeks after the official receipt of the petition for
impeachment. The highest ranking SCA officer, as the case may be,
shall preside over the trial. The officer/s concerned shall have no
voting rights in the trial.Section 11The Dean of the Office of
Student Affairs shall be an ex-officio member in an assembly
convened for the impeachment case. A certification from him/her
validating the trial and the sentence imposed shall be necessary
for the sentence to take effect.Section 12The decision of the SCA
shall be final.Section 13The President, with the majority
concurrence of the officers, may institute such other disciplinary
measures and procedures as may be fit, provided that such measures
and procedures shall be null and void for his/her successor.ARTICLE
XIXGENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1The USC may adopt a flag, seal and hymn which shall be
truly reflective and symbolic of the ideas, principles and
aspirations of the students. Any revision of the flag, seal and
hymn may be proposed to the SCA for its approval.Section 2The name
of the USC shall not be used for immoral or unlawful purposes.
Section 3All college-based student organization shall be
affiliated to their respective College Student Council.Section 4All
student organizations shall extend support to the USC in the
implementation and realization of its objectives.
ARTICLE XXAMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS
Section 1Amendment to, or revision of this Constitution, may be
proposed by the SCA upon the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of all
its members, provided that the proposed amendments or revisions are
presented in writing at the session at least ten (10) days prior to
this consideration.
Section 2The SCA may, by a majority vote of all its members,
call for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments or
revisions to this Constitution.
Section 3Any amendment to, or revision of this Constitution
shall be valid when ratified by the majority of the votes cast in a
plebiscite, which will be held not later than (1) month after the
approval of such amendments and revisions by two-thirds (2/3) vote
of all SCA members.ARTICLE XXIEFFECTIVITY
Section 1This Constitution shall take effect on the day
following its ratification in a University-wide plebiscite called
for the purpose, by a simple majority (50% plus 1) vote of all the
votes cast by bona fide UEP students.ARTICLE XXIITRANSITORY
PROVISIONS
Section 1The interim officers elected when this Constitution is
proposed and adopted shall form a constitutional body to draft,
review, amend or revise the same. Such constitution when ratified
shall be the fundamental law of the Council.
Section 2The elected officers will be considered as the
transitory officers who will work for the formation of the
ARCOSAF.
Section 3This Constitution shall have to be approved by a
two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the UEP USC 2008-2009, voting and
present, in a meeting called for the purpose, in order for it to be
submitted for ratification.Section 4No amendments of this
Constitution may be done until after the expiration of the term of
office of UEP USC 2009-2010 in April 2010.Section 5This
Constitution shall be submitted to the UEP Federation of Student
Councils and the Student Regent shall present this Constitution to
the UEP Board of Regents and cause the inclusion of the same as
part of the University Code.
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