Whereas, the ASUCI Constitution is crucial to the functionality of ASUCI; and,

Whereas, the Constitution has not undergone a comprehensive revision since more than five years ago; and,

Whereas, the positions descriptions for many of the positions are no longer accurate and the document is filled with redundancies and inconsistencies; and, 

Whereas, ASUCI commissioned a committee that includes members of different branches of ASUCI to revise the ASUCI Constitution; and,

Whereas, the ASUCI Constitution Revision Committee has reviewed and authored a series of amendments; and,

Whereas, the elected leaders in ASUCI this year are some of the most experienced and respected leaders in student government history and have great credibility with the student body; and,

Whereas, a set of comprehensive changes and structural changes can greatly increase the efficiency and accountability of ASUCI; and,

Whereas, the current ASUCI Constitution has long been in need of a revision; and,

Whereas, ASUCI has a responsibility to the students to promote the well-being of their system of governance; and,

Let it be finally resolved that, ASUCI put the following revision to the ASUCI Constitution to a vote by the student body in the 2014 Spring Elections:                  

                            ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE

CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

We, the undergraduate students of the University of California, Irvine, by the authority of the Regents of the University of California and the Chancellor of this campus, and as an autonomous constituency of this university community; desire, through independent action, or in concert with other constituencies of this university community, to provide a forum for the expression of the student views and interests, encourage and maintain the freedom to pursue knowledge, encourage student academic rights and responsibilities, represent and articulate our rights to a voice in campus governance, to enhance the quality of student life, and foster recognition of the rights of students in this university community; and in order to fulfill these aspirations, do, hereby ordain and establish this constitution.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the official undergraduate student government body shall be the Associated Students, University of California, Irvine, herein after referred to as ASUCI. 

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

 Section A 

A voting member of ASUCI shall be defined as any registered undergraduate student having paid the established ASUCI fee.

Section B 

All members of ASUCI shall be entitled to any rights of that membership which include but are not limited to:  voting in ASUCI elections, seeking an ASUCI appointed office, participating in all ASUCI activities, and benefiting from ASUCI services and programs.

Section C 

ASUCI shall adhere to the UCI Campus Implementation of UC Policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination.  Members of ASUCI meeting the requirements herein after enumerated, are eligible and encouraged to seek, obtain, and hold office without discrimination or abridgment because of race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, economic status, political affiliation or physical abilities. 

ARTICLE III

DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS

 Section A 

ASUCI shall be organized into three branches: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. 

1.      The Legislative Branch shall consist of the Student Senate.

2.      The Executive Branch shall consist of the Executive Cabinet.

3.      The Judicial Branch shall consist of the Judicial Board.

Section B 

No person or group of persons in any one of these branches shall exercise power belonging to another branch, except as herein after expressly directed or permitted. 

ARTICLE IV

ASUCI STUDENT SENATE

Section A 

Legislative authority of ASUCI shall be vested in the Student Senate, which shall be the supreme policy-making body of ASUCI, and shall promote the welfare and the interests of the undergraduate students, subject to limitations herein enumerated. 

Section B 

The actions of the Student Senate shall be enacted upon  a vote of the body.  The authority of the Student Senate shall include, but is not limited to: 

1.      Enacting legislation necessary and proper for the general welfare of the undergraduate students, according to this constitution;     

2.      Allocating all ASUCI fee income and receiving timely and accurate monthly financial statements. Upon request they may be furnished with more detailed expense and income reports.  

Approving by 2/3 vite the annual ASUCI budget and all subsequent modifications proposed by the Executive Cabinet.

3.      Approving the commissioner appointments of the Executive Officers;

Approving by 2/3 vote the Judicial Board nominations submitted by the Executive Cabinet.

4.      Censuring or removing from office any non-elected person holding a position of responsibility in ASUCI, except Judicial Board members, by a three- fourths (3/4) vote of the voting Student Senate, and a majority vote of the Executive Cabinet, for failure to perform the duties assigned the office and for failure to uphold this constitution and the By-laws;

5.      Establishing stipends of elected or appointed officers;

6.      Overriding an Executive Cabinet veto on any measure adopted by the Student Senate, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Student Senate (Any overriding of an Executive Cabinet veto shall be final);

7.      Submitting amendments to this constitution as herein provided;

8.      Establishing and amending the ASUCI By-laws, ASUCI Elections Code,  the Judicial Board Policies and Procedures and any new documents necessary for the conduct of its business ;

9.      Establish standing or ad hoc committees, i.e. Rules, Finance, Public Information, Special Task Forces, to assist in any legislative recommendations.

10.  Voting Student Senate Members may receive remuneration equivalent to Commissioner Level I.

The duties of the Student Senate shall be contained in the By-laws. 

Section C 

The Student Senate membership shall be apportioned in the following manner:

1.      Elected Membership Distribution:

a.      Three–fourths (3/4) of the elected members shall be elected by and from the Academic Units (degree granting unit) and shall be apportioned on the basis of the enrollment of each Academic Unit.

                                                                          i.      Undergraduate student enrollment of less than 2,000 shall entitle the Academic Unit to one representative.

                                                                        ii.      ii. Undergraduate enrollment of greater than 2,000 but less than 4,000 shall entitle the Academic Unit to two representatives.

                                                                      iii.      iii. Undergraduate enrollment of 4,000 or greater shall entitle the Academic Unit to three representatives.

b. One-fourth (1/4) of the total number of eligible seats shall be elected by and from the undergraduate students at large.

2.      Ex officio membership: 

a.      President 

b.      External Vice-President 

c.       Academic Affairs Vice-President 

d.       Internal Vice-President 

e.       Student Programs Vice-President

3.      Appointed, non-voting membership: Appointed, non-voting Student Senate seats shall be assigned by a simple majority vote of the voting members of the Student Senate and shall be reviewed yearly. Only organizations with officially recognized governing bodies representing diverse campus constituencies shall be considered for membership. The number of appointed, non-voting Student Senate members shall not exceed five (5).  Each of the representatives are to be nominated in writing by the governing body from whence they come. Each representative must meet the membership criteria listed herein for Student Senate members. 

Section D 

The qualification provisions for membership in Student Senate shall be as follows: 

1.      The term of office for elected Student Senate members shall be one full year, with members elected during the Spring quarter. An elected Student Senate member shall assume office at noon on the first day of Commencement ceremonies.  Appointed members shall assume office immediately following the confirmation of their appointment and shall finish the term of office of the seat for which they were appointed.

ARTICLE V

ASUCI EXECUTIVE CABINET

Section A 

Executive authority shall be vested in the Executive Cabinet.  The Executive Cabinet shall be comprised of the President, External Vice-President, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Internal Vice-President l, and the Vice-President for Student Programs. 

Section B

The actions of the Executive Cabinet shall be enacted upon a majority vote of the Executive Cabinet.  The authority of the Executive Cabinet shall include but is not limited to: 

1. Preparing and presenting the annual ASUCI budget for approval by the Student Senate;

2. Vetoing, as seen fit, any measures adopted by the Student Senate, provided such an action be exercised only once per measure, and within six (6) days from the date of the measure being passed, after which time, the measure shall become legislation with or without the Executive Cabinet's approval.

3. Nominating all appointments to the Judicial Board for approval by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Student Senate

4. Administering the annual budget as approved by the Student Senate.

5. Appointing executive commissioners with the approval of the Student Senate;

Section C 

The provisions  for members in the Executive Cabinet shall be as follows: 

1.      Executive Officers shall be elected independently by and from the undergraduate students at large in the spring quarter.  The term of office for elected Executive Officers members shall be one full year and shall assume office at noon on the first day of Commencement ceremonies. Appointed Executive Officers shall assume office immediately following the confirmation of their appointment and shall finish the term of office of the seat for which they were appointed.

a.       In the event of vacancy in the Executive Cabinet, the President appoints a replacement with a concurrent, two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members of the Student Senate.

b.       In the event that the President is incapacitated or resigns, the office shall be assumed by the Internal Vice-President, the External Vice-President, and the Academic Affairs Vice-President in that order.

2.      Executive Officers shall recite the following oath of office as administered by the chair of the Judicial Board during the tenth week of spring quarter:

" I, (name), do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine, and that I will execute the duties of my office to the best of my ability (so help me God). 

4.      Executive Officers shall have attained junior standing as defined by the UCI Registrar by the time of assuming office.

5.      Executive Officers shall have been registered students at the University of California, Irvine for an entire academic year immediately prior to assuming office. 

Section D 

The authority and responsibility of the Executive Officers  shall be distributed as follows: 

1.      PRESIDENT 

Responsible for issues involving the general welfare of students and administrative planning for the campus

a.      Serves as Chair of the Executive Cabinet. 

b.      Has co-signature authorization over all budgetary expenditures. 

c.       Coordinates office management, ASUCI business operations, and personnel transactions with ASUCI Executive Director. 

d.      Has co-signature authorization on contracts for ASUCI, in conjunction with the Executive Director and in accordance with University Policies and Procedures. 

The duties of the President shall be contained within the By-laws. 

2.       EXTERNAL VICE-PRESIDENT

a.       Coordinates advocacy efforts on behalf of student interests and shall represent the Association to off-campus entities as delegated by the Student Senate.

b.       Coordinates all student-initiated voter registration efforts on campus

c.       Serves as the student liaison to the local government and community

d.      Serves as the Vice Chair of the Student Senate, assuming the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Internal Vice-President, and votes only in the case of a tie.

The duties of the Executive Vice-President shall be contained within the By-laws. 

3.      ACADEMIC AFFAIRS VICE-PRESIDENT 

a.      Represents the Associated Students on those matters relating to the educational quality at the University of California, Irvine. 

b.      Serves as the ASUCI representative to the Academic Senate

4.      INTERNAL VICE-PRESIDENT

a.       Responsible for overseeing the internal management of ASUCI and campus projects

b.       Chairs the Student Senate and votes only in the case of a tie.

c.       Organizes and oversees all ASUCI elections.

d.       By delegation of the President, Chairs the Committee on Committee, which appoints, with a concurrent, simple majority vote of the Student Senate, student representatives to campus committees and regulatory boards, and coordinates and supervises such activities.

e.       Develops and maintains all student services that are overseen by ASUCI.

The duties of the Internal Vice-President shall be contained in the By-laws. 

5.      STUDENT PROGRAMS VICE-PRESIDENT 

a.      Develops and maintains all ASUCI programs relating to entertainment for the Associated Students.

b.      Disseminates publicity regarding ASUCI events, programs, services and organizations to the student body, the campus staff and faculty, and the community.

The individual duties of members of the Executive Cabinet shall be contained within the By-laws. 

ARTICLE VI

ASUCI JUDICIAL BOARD

Section A 

The judicial authority of ASUCI shall be vested in the Judicial Board.  The Judicial Board's authority shall extend to judicial cases arising under this Constitution; the various by-laws of ASUCI; official actions of the Executive Officers, Student Senate members, and ASUCI Commissioners; and any matters delegated to the Judicial Board by the Student Senate. 

Section B 

The rulings of the Judicial Board shall be enacted upon a majority vote of Judicial Board members.  The authority of the Judicial Board shall include, but is not limited to: 

1. Reviewing weekly, all bills and resolutions adopted by the Legislative Council Student Senate with regards to the Constitution and the By-laws of ASUCI and submitting memos to the Student Senate Rules Chair with suggested revisions as necessary;

2. Interpreting all parts of this Constitution;

3. Exercising the primary judicial powers of ASUCI, granting such judicial relief as permitted by this Constitution and ASUCI;