2014 ARSA Constitution Changes

THE 2014 CONSTITUTION OF THE RESIDENT STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

OF THE ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

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PREAMBLE

We, the resident students of the Ateneo University Residence Halls North and South, Cervini Hall and Eliazo Hall; guided by an unwavering commitment to the values of Cura Personalis, Integrity, Ignatian Spirituality, Creative Passion, Academic Excellence, Magis, Accountability, and Family, pursue an autonomous student government, subject to the by-laws of the larger Ateneo de Manila University community and the Ateneo Residence Halls Administration, which aims to provide a good and conducive living environment, wellness and physical development, skills and talent development, opportunities for service and social awareness, and an avenue to forge life-enriching relationships, do solemnly ordain and promulgate this constitution.

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ARTICLE I Resident Students

All Undergraduate Students enrolled in the Ateneo de Manila Loyola Schools presently residing in the Ateneo University Residence Halls North and South, Cervini Hall and Eliazo Hall, herein referred to as the Residence Halls. Transients1, Graduate and Exchange Students residing in the Residence Halls may avail of the services of the bodies instituted in this Constitution.

1 Transients are students of the university who are residing in the residences for the duration of less than one school year.

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ARTICLE II The Ateneo Resident Students Association

Section 1. The Ateneo Resident Students Association of the Ateneo de Manila

Loyola Schools is a community of resident students who reside in the Residence Halls aspiring to enrich university dorm life by providing opportunities for formation in a welcoming and conducive environment.

Section 2. All Undergraduate Students residing in the Residence Halls upon their enrollment are members of the Ateneo Resident Students Association.

Section 3. The Ateneo Resident Students Association upholds and is guided by the values of integrity, solidarity, accountability and service.

Section 4. To realize an enriched university residence life, the ARSA Council shall initiate and implement programs, projects, and events that:

(a) Foster a good and conducive living and learning environment; (b) Forge life-enriching relationships; (c) Promote wellness, physical and spiritual development; (d) Provide for skills and talent development; (e) Provide avenues for cultural enrichment and appreciation; and (f) Advocate for social involvement and service.

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ARTICLE III Bill of Rights

Section 1. The rights accorded to resident students as stipulated in this article

mirror the provisions found in the Magna Carta of Undergraduate Student Rights of the Ateneo de Manila Loyola Schools.

Section 2. All resident students have the right to establish and join associations to promote their common interests.

(a) Every student group has the right to apply for recognition upon a submission of purpose to the ARSA Council and Residence Halls Administration. Upon recognition, student groups will then be referred to as Committees.

(b) Committees have the right to funding from the ARSA Council. (c) No Committee shall be governed by regulations that hamper its

activities without student participation. (d) No Committee shall be dissolved by the ARSA Council or

Residence Halls Administration without due process.

Section 3. Resident students have the right to establish and issue independent publications, free from censorship and subject to the canons of responsible journalism. The editorial board and the staff have the right to develop their editorial policies and news coverage freely and to choose their faculty moderator only for technical guidance.

Section 4. Resident students have the right to air and disseminate their personal views and any other forms of expression through mass media but should bear in mind the values that the Ateneo Resident Students Association upholds.

Section 5. Every resident student has the right to petition for a public redress of grievances.

(a) No permit shall be required for assemblies inside the Residence Halls premises so long as they do not contradict values previously mentioned in the Preamble of this Constitution.

(b) No peaceful student assembly shall be forcibly dispersed. (c) No student shall be barred from, harassed, or punished for

participating in any peaceful assembly.

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Section 6. Resident students have the right to freedom from unwarranted interference.

(a) No military, police, and paramilitary detachments, except for cadet training headquarters, may be installed inside the Residence Halls.

(b) No school administrator, military, police, paramilitary, intelligence, or school security forces may either enter or interfere with peaceful and legitimate student activities, particularly mass protest actions, unless a crime has been committed.

(c) Every resident student has the right to be protected from arbitrary arrest and interrogation.

Section 7. Resident students have the right to privacy of communication and correspondence.

Section 8. Resident students have the right to:

(a) Be clearly and effectively informed of the Residence Halls regulations and policies, which directly affect them, and to be effective after public notification, no punishment or restriction shall be ex post facto.

(b) Be clearly informed of the functions, purposes and compositions of all Residence Halls bodies.

(c) Be advised in writing of any charge that may lead to a disciplinary action against him/her; to be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise; to have adequate time to seek and maintain counsel; to prepare his/her defense; to speedy, impartial, and public trial by the universitys judicial body; and the right to appeal the decision.

Section 9. Every resident student has the right to conduct research freely and to publish, discuss, exchange, and make recommendations. He/She has the right to freedom of inquiry, to accurate information, and to have access to information and documents on matters of public, institutional and personal concern at all times.

Section 10. Every resident student has the right to confidentiality of his/her views, beliefs, associations, and disciplinary records. Such information which the Residence Halls Administration acquires in the course of their work should not be improperly disclosed.

Section 11. Resident students have the right to participate in the governance of the Residence Halls by having a fair and effective representation in its policy-making body with voting power coming from their ranks. The resident

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students should be able to participate in the formation and application of regulations affecting them.

(a) All resident students have the right to vote except transients and exchange students residing in the dorm.

(b) All resident students have the right to run for elective positions in the ARSA Council; provided that they fulfill the requirements prescribed in this Constitution.

Section 12. Resident students have the right to avail of adequate welfare services and to use Residence Halls facilities.

Section 13. All resident students have the right to participate in activities organized by the ARSA Council.

Section 14. Resident students have the right to know the resolutions, decisions, activities and acts of the ARSA Council.

Section 15. Resident students have the right to directly initiate veto action against undesirable acts of the ARSA Council through the following courses of action:

(a) Students initiative comprising 50%+1 of the Residence Halls population.

(b) Students initiative comprising at least 10% of the dorm population leading to a referendum. To be valid, 50%+1 of the Residence Halls population must vote.

Section 16. Members of the student body have the right to initiate the recall and impeachment of appointed and elected ARSA Council officials on any of the following grounds:

(a) Any willful violation of the Constitution or its By-Laws; (b) Gross neglect of duty; (c) Abuse of power, usurpation of authority, or insubordination; (d) Misuse of funds, excessive, extravagant, or unconscionable

expenditures, or fraud committed in the course of official duties; (e) Mismanagement, inefficiency, incompetence; (f) Graft and corruption; or (g) Gross moral misconduct within and outside the dorm premises.

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ARTICLE IV Duties and Obligations of a Resident Student

Section 1. Resident students should observe the rules and regulations of the

Residence Halls.

Section 2. Resident students should exercise their rights responsibly and with due regard for the rights of others.

Section 3. Resident students have the responsibility to foster a good, conducive and peaceful living environment, based on mutual respect with their fellow residents.

Section 4. Resident students should comply with all Residence Halls Administration policies to maintain residency.

Section 5. Resident students are encouraged to cooperate with the ARSA Council and participate in their activities to achieve a sense of community and belongingness.

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ARTICLE V The ARSA Council

Section 1. The student government established under this Constitution shall be

known as the Ateneo Resident Students Association Council. For brevity it shall be here on referred to as the ARSA Council.

Section 2. All members of the Ateneo Resident Students Association and resident students are under the jurisdiction of the ARSA Council. Graduate, Transients and Exchange Students residing in the Residence Halls are not under the jurisdiction of the ARSA Council, but may avail of its services.

Section 3. The ARSA Council is the sole autonomous government of the Ateneo Resident Students Association. Its powers emanate immediately from and belong ultimately to them. Such powers are exercised through the bodies instituted in this Constitution.

Section 4. The ARSA Council is guided by the values of Cura Personalis, Ignatian Spirituality, Creative Passion, Academic Excellence, Family, Pananagutan and Mas.

Section 5. The ARSA Council is composed of the Central Board and their supporting teams, the Hall Board and the Council of Committees, together with the deputies of the other arms of ARSA including MAFIA (Marketing and Finance Arm), CIA (Communication and Information Arm), TRADE (Training and Development Arm), and Aguhon (Social Responsibility Arm).

Section 6. The Central Board is the highest governing body and shall be composed of the following:

(a) Six Board Members, elected at large shall amongst themselves decide on the following seats:

a. The President, b. Vice President for Communications, c. Vice President for Finance, d. Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational

Development, e. Vice President for Special Projects, and f. Vice President for Student Services

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(b) Of the six board members there shall be:

a. Two Seniors, with at least one male and female representative; b. Two Juniors, with at least one male and one female

representative. c. Two open seats for any Junior or Senior, one male and the one

female.

(c) And two Hall Governors, one for University Residence North and Cervini, and another for University Residence South and Eliazo.

(d) And one Secretary General, who can either be a Junior or a Senior and male or female.

Section 7. The Hall Board is the local-level student government for all of buildings of the Residence Halls; the board shall be composed of the following:

(a) One senior male and senior female Hall Governor (b) Batch Representatives from each sex corresponding to the number

of year-levels residing in the Residence Halls, (c) Level Heads corresponding to the number of floors in all buildings.

Section 8. No student shall be qualified to become an officer of ARSA unless he/she is a Filipino citizen, is taking at least the minimum university load requirement for regular students upon the filing of his/her candidacy and during his/her term of office, and his/her grades for the previous semester reaches the minimum Quality Point Index (QPI) set by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and this Constitution.

Section 9. The Council of Committees is recognized as a group of interest-based student groups that exercise semi-autonomy but their activities remain subject to approval of the Vice President for Student Services.

Section 10. Specialized teams under certain offices of the Central Board are units that aid the functions of the Central Board officer.

Section 11. Other Units

The Composition of the Ateneo Resident Students Association includes the Ateneo Resident Students Association Network Team (ARSANeT) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). These units are discussed in the succeeding articles. It is also composed of the other arms of ARSA including:

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(a) MAFIA (Marketing and Finance Arm) under the jurisdiction and supervision of the Vice President for Finance.

(b) CIA (Communication and Information Arm) under the jurisdiction of the Vice President for Communications.

(c) TRADE (Training and Development Arm) under the jurisdiction and supervision of the Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development.

(d) Aguhon (Social Responsibility Arm) under the jurisdiction and supervision of the President.

Section 12. The term of office of the officers of ARSA shall commence upon taking their oaths of office and shall end upon the induction of the next set of officers and representatives.

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ARTICLE VI The Central Board

Section 1. Powers and Responsibilities of the Central Board

(a) To be the main governing and representative authority of the Ateneo Resident Students Association;

(b) To formulate, execute and oversee general and specific policies, programs, and projects of the Ateneo Resident Students Association;

(c) To ensure fair and effective representation of all resident students in activities and decisions that concerns their welfare within the Residence Halls;

(d) To act as the intermediary between resident students and the Residence Halls Administration in providing an avenue for complaints and demands of students regarding Residence Halls facilities and services;

(e) To represent the resident student body to all external organizations; (f) To create such additional teams as may be necessary to discharge specific

functions of the position; (g) To recommend changes in existing Residence Halls policies and

structures for the good of the students and to seek redress when students' rights are violated;

(h) To formulate and amend the By-laws of the Ateneo Resident Students Association;

(i) To enjoy full deliberating rights, including the right to vote; (j) To decide and vote on matters by a simple majority of 50% + 1 of those

present in the meeting provided that the quorum is reached; (k) To create such departments, committees, staffs, task forces, and offices

as may be necessary to discharge specific functions of the board; (l) To serve as the official source of information of policies and activities

concerning ARSA; (m) To direct the allocation and disbursement of funds of ARSA; (n) To deliberate resolutions endorsed by at least ten percent (10%) of the

Resident Student Body; (o) To call assemblies of the resident student body or any part thereof to

inform them of policies, programs and projects, as well as determine its sentiments, needs and demands;

(p) To mobilize the resident student body when necessary; and (q) To meet weekly or as often as necessary to discharge its functions.

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Section 2. Powers and Responsibilities of the Officers of the Central Board

(a) The President 1. To serve as the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Ateneo

Resident Students Association; 2. To serve as the official spokesperson of ARSA at any function, meeting

or assembly; 3. To serve as the official spokesperson for the ARSA Council at any

meeting with the Residence Halls Administration; 4. To act as the official representative of the resident students and the

official overseer of its affairs; 5. To preside over the meetings of the Central Board and ARSA Council; 6. To call for meetings of the entire ARSA Council or any part thereof as

necessary; 7. To oversee the operations of the Central Board, the Hall Board and the

Council of Committees; and 8. To perform such other functions the Board may so direct.

(b) Vice President for Communications 1. To disseminate information about the activities and affairs of the ARSA

within and outside the dorm community; 2. To craft the official statements of ARSA as deliberated upon by the

Central Board; 3. In the event of the choice to publish a dorm publication, to moderate

and supervise and formulate the staff of said publication. 4. To serve as the ex-officio chairperson of the creative team which is to be

referred to as the CIA (Communication and Information Arm); and 5. To perform such other functions the board or president may so direct.

(c) Vice President for Finance 1. To manage the financial resources of ARSA; 2. To serve as the ex-officio chairperson of the marketing and finance team

to be referred to as the MAFIA (Marketing and Finance Arm); and 3. To perform such other functions the board or president may so direct.

(d) Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development

1. To evaluate all ARSA activities and projects; 2. To generate a skills inventory for community profiling; 3. To serve as the ex officio chairperson of the training and development

team to be referred to as TRADE (Training and Development Arm)

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4. To design modules and conduct trainings or seminars for the holistic formation of resident students;

5. To organize discussions and consultations with resident students regarding critical issues regarding residential life.

6. To gather feedback regarding ARSAs activities and policies; and 7. To perform such other functions the board or president may so direct.

(e) Vice President for Special Projects

1. To oversee the design and implementation of all special projects; 2. To spearhead the recruitment process for the project heads of any

special project; 3. To serve as intermediary between a project core team and the Central

Board; and 4. To perform such other functions the board or president may so direct.

(f) Vice President for Student Services

1. To serve as the ex-officio chairperson of the Council of Committees; 2. To oversee the projects and programs organized by the different

committees. 3. To serve as the representative of the Council of Committees to the

Central Board; 4. To assist resident students with facilities offered in the Residence Halls; 5. To serve as the intermediary between resident students and the

Residence Halls Administration with regards to complaints and suggestions; and

6. To perform such other functions the board or president may so direct.

(g) Hall Governors 1. To act as the executive officers of the Hall Board; 2. To serve as the representative of the University Residence North and

Cervini, and University Residence South and Eliazo to the Central Board; and

3. To perform such other functions the board or president may so direct.

(h) Secretary General 1. To be the Chief Administrator of the ARSA Council. 2. To serve notices and take charge of correspondence of the ARSA

Council. 3. To take charge of the daily administrative tasks of the ARSA Council

which shall include but is not limited to preparing the agenda after due consultation with the members.

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4. Take minutes during Central Board meetings and posting the minutes of the meeting for proper information dissemination.

5. Official custodian of all records and papers of the ARSA Council; and 6. To perform such other functions the board or president may so direct.

Section 3. Approval of Programs, Projects, and the Presidential Veto

(a) Policies, programs, projects, resolutions, stands, and other matters approved by the Central Board require the signature of the President before these can be enforced or released.

(b) The President may veto the decisions of the Central Board. The President has three regular school days after the decision is made to communicate to the Vice President for Communications the decision of veto. If no action is made within this time, the decision is considered approved.

(c) A two-thirds vote of the members of the Central Board is required to override a presidential veto. This overriding action must be made in the Central Board meeting immediately following the communication of the veto.

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ARTICLE VII The Hall Board

Section 1. Composition

(a) The Hall Board shall be composed of the Hall Governors, Level Heads and Batch Representatives.

(b) The four buildings of the Residence Halls shall have two divisions which will each be headed by a Governor one male governor for the University Residence North and Cervini (URNC) and one female governor for University Residence South and Eliazo (URSE).

(c) There will be one elected level head from each of the floors in University Residence North and South, Cervini and Eliazo and two elected batch representatives, one male and one female, for Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.

Section 2. Powers and Responsibilities

(a) Hall Board 1. To be the governing body of the residential halls - University Residence

North and Cervini and University Residence South and Eliazo; 2. To design programs and organize events for their constituency; 3. To coordinate and assist in the implementation of Central Board policies

and programs in the best interest of their constituents; and 4. To meet at least once a month or as often as necessary to discharge their

functions.

(b) Level Heads 1. To represent and relay their constituents' concerns to the Hall Board and

the ARSA Council; 2. To serve as the communication and mobilization arm of the ARSA

Council; 3. To assist the Governors in administrative functions of the Hall Board;

and 4. To perform such other functions as the Hall Board may so direct.

(c) Batch Representatives

1. To represent and relay their constituents' concerns to the Hall Board and the ARSA Council;

2. To design programs and organize events for their constituency; and

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3. To perform such other functions as the Hall Board may so direct.

Section 3. The Senior batch representatives shall also represent the students in the fifth year and beyond.

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ARTICLE VIII The Council of Committees

Section 1. Composition

(a) The Council of Committees is under the office of the Vice President for

Student Services. It consists of different committees that cover the diverse

interests of the resident students.

(b) The Council consists of committees that help in the development of the

students different aspects such as: spiritual, moral, and wellness

development; academic development; and cultural enrichment.

Section 2. Powers and Responsibilities

(a) To organize activities that promote the different interests of the resident

students;

(b) To meet twice a month or as often as necessary to discharge their functions.

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ARTICLE IX The Ateneo Resident Students Association Network Team

Section 1. Definition

The Ateneo Resident Students Association Network Team, henceforth to be referred to as ARSANeT, is an independent team of resident students who are responsible for providing the residents of the Ateneo Residence Halls access to IT resources and technologies through the Internet and the local intranet all of this is to be under the supervision of the Vice President for Student Services.

Section 2. Officers

(a) Top Four Officers. The ARSANeT shall be composed of a Chair, a Technicals Head, a System Administrator, and a Public Relations and Internals Officer, appointed through a screening process headed and directed by the incumbent Chair. These officers will be collectively known as the Top Four.

(b) Assistant Officers. The ARSANeT shall also appoint, in addition to the Top Four, four Assistant Technicals Heads for Cervini Hall, Eliazo Hall, and the North and South Halls of the University Residence Halls. If membership and skills are sufficient, an Assistant System Administrator may be appointed. In case of inadequacy in membership, either in number or skills, a person may receive at most two of these positions.

(c) Special Officers. Other officers may be appointed as the incumbent officers see fit.

(d) Officer Eligibility. The officers of the ARSANeT must be free from any academic or disciplinary charge. They must not be officers of the Dorm Council.

Section 3. Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities (a) Responsibilities of ARSANeT. The ARSANeT is primarily responsible for

managing the use of its computing resources, including, but not limited to, desktop and laptop systems, printers, central computing facilities, the local area network, access to the Internet, electronic mail and similar electronic information.

(b) Regulations Document. The resources of ARSANeT are subject to a set of standards stipulated in a document and reviewed by ARSANeTs officers.

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(c) Restrictions for Subscribers. Use of these resources, including websites created by mentors and students, are limited to educational, research, service, operational, and management purposes of the Residence Halls, the University, and ARSANeT itself. Subscribers to the service are expected to comply with these policies.

(d) Coordination with RH Administration. The ARSANeT shall coordinate with the Residence Halls Administration with regards to policies about the Residence Halls electronic resources, and implementation of such policies.

(e) Privacy Policy. The ARSANeT shall honor the privacy of users, and shall not monitor the content of electronic transmissions, files and other data without just cause. For security, maintenance, and operational purposes, system administrators and other authorized personnel may access and review these resources.

(f) Disclaimers. The ARSANeT is not accountable for unauthorized access to its computing resources by other users, both within and outside the residence halls community. The ARSANeT does not guarantee users protection against loss by system failure, fire, or other unforeseen circumstances.

(g) Extent of Duties. The ARSANeT is responsible for modifying settings in user-supplied machines, such as desktops and laptops, for the purpose of acquiring Internet connectivity and supplying access to other electronic resources within ARSANeTs jurisdiction. However, the members of ARSANeT are not under any obligation to offer advice or do repair jobs in case of non-ARSANeT-related problems such as hardware malfunctions or computer virus outbreaks in these user-supplied machines.

Section 4. Member and Officer Duties

(a) Chair Duties. The Chair is the highest authority in the ARSANeT. He/she makes the final decisions on matters related to ARSANeTs resources, policies, protocols, and membership. However, the other officers still exercise a level of autonomy. He/she is the main liaison between the Residence Halls Administration, the ARSA Council and the ARSANeT. He/she is also the contact person for the Ateneo Campus Network Group whenever there are relevant matters to discuss concerning the Residence Halls network.

(b) Technicals Officer Duties. The Technicals Head is assigned to manage the physical network of the Residence Halls and to investigate related problems. He/she is in charge of maintaining the hardware resources of

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the ARSANeT. He/she may delegate work to his Assistant Technicals Heads or to the regular members. The Technicals Head is in charge of providing ample technical training to the members of the ARSANeT. The Technicals Head, his/her Assistant Technical Heads, and the regular members are the primary troubleshooters for user-related problems. They shall respond to job requests made by the Residence Halls Administration and by the residents themselves.

(c) System Administrator Duties. The System Administrator is in charge of maintaining the integrity and security of the network, operating the server, and managing of other electronic resources. The System Administrator is also assigned the task of preserving the secrecy of sensitive information. The System Administrator has authority over the data on the network and on the ARSANeTs resources, and he/she is allowed to access them with just cause. He/she may delegate tasks to an Assistant System Administrator. The management of the ARSANeTs website is delegated to the Assistant System Administrator in cases where one is appointed.

(d) Public Relations and Internals Officer Duties. The Public Relations and Internals Officer is in charge of maintaining membership data and other records and documents of the ARSANeT. The officer works together with the chair in the planning and execution of ARSANeT-related events, trainings, and assemblies. He/she is tasked with maintaining the well-being of the members, and ensuring that the members are performing their duties as expected. He/she is also assigned to handle other such duties that are related to the functions of the ARSANeT as a whole, and matters related to membership and recruitment. He/she is also assigned to release public announcements.

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ARTICLE X THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Section 1. Definition. The ARSA Commission on Elections (from here on referred to as COMELEC) is an independent body serving as the electoral arm of the ARSA Council. It is responsible for the administration and facilitation of the ARSA Council elections, plebiscites, and referenda.

Section 2. Officers

(a) The COMELEC shall be administrated by the Board of Commissioners. (b) The Board of Commissioners shall be composed of a Chief of Commissioner and four other commissioners, duly appointed by the incumbent Chief Commissioner and the rest of the COMELEC body by January or a month before the Central Board and Hall Board elections. (c) All commissioners must be free from any major academic charge. They

must not be officers or members of the ARSA Council. (d) All commissioners of the COMELEC must be undergraduate students of

the Ateneo who are members of the Ateneo Resident Students Association and are therefore eligible to vote in the ARSA Council Elections.

(e) The Chief Commissioner shall be the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Commission, while each of the four other commissioners will be in charge of handling one of the commissions offices, namely, Human Resources, Logistics, Promotions, and Secretariat, as well as other duties defined by the commissions Code of Internal Procedures.

(f) The COMELEC commissioners may appoint associate commissioners and staff to assist them in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

Section 3. Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities of the COMELEC

(a) Exercise control, supervision and original jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the candidacy, campaign, elections, plebiscites, and or referenda of the Central Board and the Hall Board; The Board of Commissioners shall be composed of a Chief Commissioner and four other commissioners, duly elected by the incumbent Chief Commissioner and the rest of the COMELEC body by January or a month before the Central Board and Hall Board elections. Should there be a situation wherein no one applies for the position of Chief Commissioner or the four other commissioners one will be duly appointed by the Central Board.

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(b) Promulgate rules and regulations concerning the previously stated matters as well as execute decisions, instructions and directives by virtue of a resolution;

(c) Provide information to the student body on all election laws, procedures, decisions, and other matters related to the candidacy, campaign, elections, plebiscites and or referenda of the Central Board and the Hall Board;

(d) Hear and resolve all protests, appeals, and complaints pertaining to the conduct of the Central Board and the Hall Boards candidacy, campaign, elections, and referenda. Having exhausted all means in resolving such, the COMELEC may forward cases or violations to the Residence Halls Director;.

(e) Investigate all cases involving cheating and dishonesty at the polls. All cases shall be treated as violations of the COMELECs Internal Code of Procedure and will be liable for disciplinary action to be imposed upon by the Residence Halls Administration.

(f) Apply sanctions to the candidate in violation of the provisions of the Internal Code of Procedure;

(g) The Chief of Commissioner shall have the power to call for special elections and to extend the duration of election period;

(h) Thoroughly interpret and enforce the Internal Code of Procedures and exercise the bodys powers, duties and responsibilities to assure free honest and clean elections, special elections, plebiscites and or referenda.

Section 4. The ARSA COMELEC shall have its own Code of Internal Procedures which shall at all times, be in full accord with this Constitution.

Section 5. The term of office of the five Commissioners of the Commission on Elections shall commence on the first day of the month of January of that academic year and end in July of the next academic year in order to ensure continuity in the COMELEC from the general elections until the special elections if it is needed.

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ARTICLE XI ELECTIONS AND VACANCIES

Section 1. Election Quota

At least 60% of the constituency must cast their vote in order for any electoral exercise to be valid.

Section 2. Abstentions

The student's right to abstain is duly recognized and respected in all electoral exercises. Should abstentions garner the majority of votes, the contested position shall remain vacant while the Central Board deliberates on whom to appoint.

Section 3. Vacancies

For vacant positions after the General Elections, the Central Board has the power to decide for the time being if they choose to absorb the roles entailed within the vacant positions until Special Elections are conducted and to appoint candidates who they believe are fit for the vacant positions. The appointed people must run during the Special Elections to be held simultaneously with the Freshmen Elections to validate their office. However, if they still do not garner majority of the votes during this Special Elections through failure to reach quota or lose to abstain, the Central Board must concur if these appointed members are fit for the electoral positions and make a decision. In addition to this, if in the case that there is no one interested to run for the vacant positions the Special Elections, the Central Board reserves the right to appoint whom they see are fit and justified to fill in the vacant position or decide to keep the position vacant. The dorm population must be notified of the verdict through an official notice written by the ARSA President and the Chief Commissioner of the ARSA COMELEC.

Section 4. Election Dates

(a) The Central Board and Hall Boards, with the exception of the Freshman Officers, shall be elected by the student body not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the end of the school year.

(b) The Freshman Officers shall be elected by the freshmen not earlier than July or thirty days after the start of the first semester and not later than August or sixty days before the end of the first semester.

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Section 5. Eligibility Requirements

(a) Candidates wishing to run for a position must be an undergraduate student of the Ateneo Resident Students Association.

(b) Candidates must have a cumulative Quality Point Index (QPI) of 2.3 in order to be a viable candidate for elections. (c) Candidates must adhere to all requirements mandated by the ARSA COMELEC to be eligible for elections.

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ARTICLE XII FINANCE AND BUDGET

Section 1. The Ateneo Resident Students Association fees are collected from the

Resident Student community every year. These funds shall be held in trust for the resident student community and the full amount shall be released by the Central Accounting Office, upon the approval of the Residence Halls Administration, every semester.

Section 2. The Residence Halls Administration shall determine the appropriation of student funds to the ARSA Council. The release of such funds shall only take place after the ARSA Council has submitted its budget proposal for the coming semester.

Section 3. The budget proposal formulated by the ARSA Council shall contain a work plan of the programs, projects, and expected expenditures of the ARSA Council for the coming semester.

Section 4. All books of account of the ARSA Council shall be open to the Resident Student Body at all times.

Section 5. The ARSA Council may share a portion of its funds to causes upheld by the principles established in this constitution.

Section 7. The ARSA Council may neither solicit nor receive funds or financial contributions from political entities.

Section 8. Each unit of the ARSA Council shall respect the differences in budgetary priorities of other ARSA units that are in accordance with the Mission-Vision and objectives of the ARSA.

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ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Central Board is mandated to review this Constitution for possible

amendments every two years. Section 2. Amendments to or revisions of this constitution may be proposed by:

(a) The Central Board upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members; (b) At least ten percent (10%) of the ARSA student body; or (c) A Constitutional Convention or Commission called by the Central Board.

Section 3. Any such proposed amendments or revisions shall be ratified by a simple majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite.

Section 4. No member of the Central Board, Constitutional Commission, and/or

the Constitutional Convention may run for newly created positions in the ARSA Council, passed through amendments during their current term of office, during the first year of the implementation of the position.

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ARTICLE XIV TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 1. To facilitate the transition of powers within the ARSA Council after this

constitutions ratification:

(a) All incumbent elected members of the ARSA Council shall remain in office until after the newly-elected set of ARSA Council officers shall have taken their oaths of office.

(b) All incumbent members of the COMELEC shall remain in office until the end of their term under the previous constitution.

Section 2. All the By-laws of ARSA, including the Constitutions and Codes of Internal Procedures of its entities, are immediately repealed, revoked, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 3. This constitution shall take effect immediately after its ratification and shall supersede all previous ARSA constitutions.

The Constitution of the Undergraduate Resident Students of the Ateneo Resident Students Association was ratified in a plebiscite held on February 7,

2014.

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ARSA Constitutional Commission 2010 - 2011

Chairperson: Henrielle Eloise Omolida Vice President for Communications Members : Rina Janine Go President Justin Ryan Tan Vice President for Finance Arnold Sean Go Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development Jaime Benjamin Lizada Vice President for Special Projects Michiko Francine Dela Cruz Vice President for Student Services Crystal Muriel Balili Governor University Residence South and Eliazo Jon Renald Reynes Governor University Residence North and Cervini Michael Ybaez Head, Ateneo Resident Students Association Network Team Patricia Lauren Liu Chief Commissioner, Commission on Elections

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ARSA Constitutional Commission 2009 - 2010

Chairperson: Rosemarie Cupin President Members : Kirsten Casas Vice President for Communications Arnold Sean Go Secretary of Finance Mario Del Rosario Santos Secretary of Human Resources and Organizational Development Marie Elaine Calejesan Secretary of Special Projects Henrielle Eloise Omolida Secretary of Student Services Hazel Yap Hall Governor University Residence South Don Rommelle Mendoza Hall Governor University Residence North Alexandra Therese Tuason Hall Governor Eliazo Laurence Lloyd Lumagbas Hall Governor Cervini