Constitution of the Associated Students College of Alameda
Preamble
We, the students of the College of Alameda, do hereby form the Associated Students of the College of Alameda. The purpose of our existence is to advocate and support the rights and needs of all students' at the College of Alameda, to communicate and to represent the Students' interests to the Peralta Board of Trustees through the College of Alameda administration, and to provide services and activities to the association membership in accordance with the State Education Code and District Board policies.
Article I Name, Rules of Order, Mascot, Colors
Section 1. This organization will be known as the "Associated Students College of Alameda" and may herein be designated as the Association, Associated Students, or ASCOA.
Section 2. The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order revised shall govern the Associated Students in all cases to which they are applicable, and, in which they are not inconsistent with this constitution, the rules of order or by-laws of the Associated Students.
Section 3 MASCOT Cougar
Section 4 COLORS Royal Blue and White
Article II Membership
Section 1. All currently registered students of the College of Alameda shall be members of the Associated Students.
Section 2. The following rights and privileges shall be granted to current registered students:
Clause 1. The right to hold any elected ASCOA office; provided the appropriate qualifications are met.
Clause 2. The privileges of participating in intercollegiate athletics.
Clause 3. The right to vote in any ASCOA election
Article III Government of the Association
Section 1. The government of the Associated Students shall consist of the following three principal branches:
Clause 1. The Student Senate is the representative legislature of the student body.
Clause 2. The Executive Board, consisting of the President, Vice-President of
Administration, Vice-President of Programs, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Clause 3. The Judicial Council.
Article IV Student Senate
Section 1. Composition
The Student Senate shall consist of the following voting members who shall be elected by the ASCOA.
Clause 1. President
Clause 2. Vice-President of Administration
Clause 3. Vice-President of Programs
Clause 4. Treasurer
Clause 5. Secretary
Clause 6. Three Senators representing students from each of the three College Divisions.
Section 2. Organization and Procedure
Clause 1. The ASCOA President shall preside over the Student Senate.
Clause 2 The Vice-President of Administration shall preside in the absence of the President.
Clause 3. The Student Senate shall meet at least once every week on the same day
and hour during the college semester, and may be called into special or emergency meetings by the President when requested in writing by two (2) or more members of the Senate with a two (2) day advance notice.
Clause 4. Each member of the Student Senate, including the President, shall have
one vote.
Clause 5. A quorum shall consist of 51% of the voting members.
Clause 6. No member of the Student Senate shall hold more that one elected
Student Government office concurrently, in any semester.
Clause 7. Members shall attend all ASCOA Senate meetings and arrive on time.
Clause 8. Any Student Senate member who accumulates three (3) absences in the
period of a semester shall be dismissed, and shall be replaced by an appointee of the President in accordance with Article IV, Section 4, #1c, of this Constitution.
Clause 9. Proxy voting is allowed in the Student Senate provided dated written
authorization had been given by the absent voting member in triplicate. One copy to the Student Senate member to whom the proxy is granted, one copy to the Secretary and one copy to the ASCOA Advisor. Only (1) one proxy vote can be cast by any individual Senate member.
Clause 10. All official Student Senate members shall execute their respective
official duties or be subject to impeachment.
Clause 11. All members of the Student Senate, elected or appointed, shall hold
office for a term of one (1) year (July 1 through June 30).
Clause 12. The Student Activities Advisor, or his/her designee, shall act as advisor
and assist the parliamentarian for the Student Senate, and shall be present at all official meetings.
Section 3. Power and Functions
Clause 1. All legislative powers shall be vested in the Student Senate.
Clause 2. The Student Senate shall have the power to allocate all funds generated by and for the Associated Students, and to approve all budgets submitted.
Clause 3. The Student Senate shall keep a written record of all proceedings of the Senate, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to make this record available within three (3) days following the meeting to any ASCOA member.
Clause 4. The Student Senate shall approve of the appointment of committee chairpersons.
Section 4. Duties of Officers
1. President
a. Presides will presided over all meetings of the Student Executive Board and Student Senate.
b. Proposes policies.
c. Fills in vacancies in any elective office in the Student Senate and Judicial Council with approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the Student Senate.
d. Serves as an ex-office member of all ASCOA clubs and organizations.
e. Represents the Associated Students College of Alameda at all official functions or sends and appointed representative from the Student Senate.
f. Prepares and posts an agenda two (2) school days prior to all Student Senate meetings.
g. Appoints chairpersons to committees, subject to ratification by the Student Senate.
h. Recommends removal of all committee chairpersons with concurrence of the majority of the Student Senate.
i. Appoints any special ASCOA committees as deemed necessary, with approval of at two thirds (2/3) majority of the Senate.
j. Publishes a State of the Association report each semester.
k. Verifies and signs financial requisitions for the disbursement of funds (Use of facsimile stamp is prohibited.)
l. Calls the Executive Board into session when necessary.
2. Vice-President/Administration
a. Assumes the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence.
b. Prepares a working copy of a calendar of all future activities and presents it the Executive Board and the to the Student Senate for approval by the third week of the semester.
c. Assists the President with various administrative duties as may be assigned.
d. Informs the Student Senate of all area, district and state meetings.
e. Is responsible for all committees placed under his/her authority.
3. Vice-President/Programs
a. Serves as the chairperson of the Student Activities (Program Committee for the ASCOA).
b. Presents to the Executive Board and then to the Student Senate for approval of all planned activities.
c. Is Responsible for all committees placed under his/her authority by the ASCOA President.
4. Treasurer
a. Authorizes (signs) requests for disbursement of funds. (Use of facsimile stamp is prohibited)
b. Prepares, maintains, and controls all required records and forms as set forth in the ASCOA Financial code (current revision).
c. Is required to have completed a minimum of one (1) accounting course (e.g. business 1A) with a minimum of C grade, or have equivalent experience.
5. Secretary
a. Is responsible for all official correspondence and the recording of all Student Senate functions.
b. Keeps an accurate attendance report of all Student Senate meetings.
c. Is responsible for the reproduction of bills or amendments proposed by the Student Senate.
d. Prepares and provides minutes of meeting three (3) days following regular Student Senate meetings.
6. Chief Justice
a. Presides over the Judicial Council.
b. Reports to the Executive Board and the Student Senate the decisions of the Judicial Council after resolving disputes and interpreting the Constitution upon written petition requesting legal interpretation.
7. Student Senators
a. Act as liaisons between Assistant Deans, the divisions they represent and the Student Senate.
b. Act as the correspondent of Student Senate Action and student representation between the Student Government and the Student body.
c. Are responsible to chair and/or participate in a minimum of one (1) ASCOA Standing Committee per school year.
d. Are responsible to participate in and maintain Student Body Card sales.
e. Publish and maintain scheduled office hours and assist with administrative functions when required.
Article V Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Senate, and shall execute actions necessary to enforce the Association legislation and Constitution.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall keep a journal of its regular proceedings which shall be made available for inspection by any member of the Associated Students upon request.
Section 3. Any Executive Board member who accumulates three (3) absences from Executive Board meetings in the period of a semester will automatically be dismissed from office and shall be replaced by an appointee of the President in accordance with Article IV, Section 4, #1c of this Constitution.
Section 4. The Student Activities Advisor, or his/her designee, shall act as advisor to the Executive Board.
Article VI Judicial Council
Section 1. The Judicial power shall rest with the Judicial Council, which shall resolve disputes and interpret the Constitution upon written petition by any Association member. Disputes concerning the meaning of the Constitution shall be decided by the Judicial Council.
a. If the request for interpretation or resolution is submitted during a Senate meeting, it shall be entered into the minutes of that meeting and shall be considered a written petition.
Section 2. The Judicial Council of the College of Alameda shall consist of four (4) student members appointed by:
a. The Chief Justice of ASCOA with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate.
Section 3. All appointment to the Judicial Council shall be for a term of one (1) year from the date of appointment.
Section 4. The Judicial Council shall be:
a. An Appellate Court to pass upon the constitutionality of all contested acts of the Student Senate, the Executive Board and the officers of the Associated Students
while executing their duties.
1. Any member of the Associated Students may contest the constitutionality
of any legislation by submitting a question of constitutionality in writing to the Judicial Council.
2. The Judicial Council shall render a decision in writing to the Senate by
the following Senate meeting, if possible.
b. A Court of Original Jurisdiction to review infringements of campus rule, code, and by-laws within control of the Associated Students or delegated to the Associated Students by the Administration of the College.
1. Penalties, within the jurisdiction of the Associated Students, shall be stipulated by the Judicial Council.
2. The Judicial Council shall render a decision in writing to the Associated Students Senate at the following Senate meeting after submission of the question, if possible.
Section 5. All decisions of the Judicial Council shall be subject to review and approval by the administration of this college.
Section 6. Any elected officer may act as council for any member of Associated Students appearing before the Judicial Council.
Section 7. A quorum shall consist of the majority of the members of the Judicial Council.
Section 8. No member of the Judicial council may hold any other association office of any office in any club on this campus.
Article VII Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Student Senate or a written petition signed by twelve percent (12%) of the members of this Association. The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the President of the Associated Students, who shall submit the same to the Student Senate at the next meeting.
Section 2. The Constitution shall be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the valid votes cast in any general or special election.
Article VIII Initiative, Referendum, Recall
Section 1. INITATIVE:
Members of this Association shall have the power to initiative legislation by a written petition signed by twelve percent (12%) of the membership of this Association. Said petition shall be presented to the Student Senate with proposed legislation stated in full. It is then the duty of the Student Senate to call a special election within three (3) weeks of submission of said petition. A majority vote of those voting is required, except when the legislation is a constitutional amendment which must be passed by two-thirds (2/3) of the valid votes cast.
Section 2. REFERENDUM:
All rules or regulations passed by the Student Senate, except emergency or financial measures, may be subject to referendum vote of the members of this Association. A request for such a vote shall be made by a written petition signed twelve percent (12%) of the members of the Association. Said petition shall be presented to the Student Senate, which shall call for a special election within three (3) weeks of submission. A majority of the voting members shall be sufficient to reject the petition.
Section 3. RECALL BY INITIATIVE
All officers of this Association shall be subject to recall.
Clause 1. Elected officers may be recalled by current members of the Association. A request for such a recall shall be made by a written petition signed by twelve percent (12) of the current members of the Association.
Clause 2. Appointed officers may be subject to recall upon written petition signed by twelve percent (12) of the members of the Association and submitted to the Student Senate.
Clause 3. A recall election shall be called within three (3) weeks of submission of petition. If this removal action is supported by two-thirds (2/3) of the valid votes cast, the office shall be vacated.
Section 4. LEGISLATIVE RECALL (Impeachment)
Any members of the Student Senate or Judicial Council who fails in his/her obligation, or acts in a manner detrimental to the student body or the College, may be formally charged by any member of the Student Senate.
Clause 1. A special meeting of the Student Senate will be called within three (3) weeks after the formal filing of the charges at which time the accuser will present his/her case and the accused will defend himself/herself. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the entire Student Senate will sustain the accusation and the accused shall vacate his/her office.
Article IX Clubs and Organizations
Section 1. Students forming a club and/or organization shall obtain approval, of its constitution and by-laws (if any) from the Senate and the College administration.
Section 2. All clubs and/or organizations formed by the students of the College of Alameda on the college campus, and using college facilities, materials, name, or funds, shall come under the jurisdiction of the Student Senate and the Administration of this College.
Section 3. Clubs or organizations chartered by this Association shall be considered Associated Student organizations, and shall be subject to the provisions of the Association's Club and Organizations code.
Section 4. Any club desiring to take part in sponsoring activities must be chartered.
Section 5. At least ten (10) members of each club organization shall be required to maintain current student body cards.
Section 6. It is unlawful for any clubs or organizations to discriminate against or disallow membership or election to a student because of race, color, sex, creed, national origin, or ancestry.
Article X Elections
Section 1. REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICE
Clause 1. All nominees and appointees will be members of the ASCOA and must own a valid student body card.
Clause 2. All nominees and appointees shall show evidence of a minimal overall GPA of 2.5. If said members of the Student Government fall bellow 2.5 GPA, the said officer shall vacate ASCOA Student Government.
Clause 3. All members of the Student Government are required to enroll in and complete and complete a minimum of seven (7) semester units per semester.
Clause 4. All nominees and appointees shall, upon entering office, show evidence of the completion of seven (7) semester units or the equivalent of college level work.
Clause 5. Nominees for special and general elections shall present a petition of fifty (50) registered students to the Student Activities Advisor.
Section 2. Verification of units and grade point average is the responsibility of the Student Activities Advisor. The Student Activities Advisor shall also validate the signatures on any petition for elective office.
Section 3. CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
Clause 1. Elections shall be by secret ballot.
Clause 2. A candidate shall be elected to office when he/she has received the highest number of valid votes cast for that position.
Clause 3. All elections shall be conducted under the jurisdiction of the College of Alameda Election Code.
Section 4. TIME OF ELECTIONS
Clause 1. Regular elections shall be held at least three (3) weeks prior to final examination in the Spring Semester.
Clause 2. Special elections may be held, provided they occur at least four (4) college days prior to final examinations.
Article XI Financial Procedures
Section 1. All financial procedures shall be in accordance with the ASCOA Financial Code (current revision).
Section 2. All committees and organizations of the Student Senate which expend ASCOA funds shall on or before the fourth (4) week after taking office submit to the Treasurer of this Association a tentative, itemized budget for the current school year in conformity with the previously adopted budget.
Section 3. The Student Senate of this Association shall:
Clause 1. Adopt final budget during the second meeting of the Fall Semester.
Clause 2. Submit the final adopted budget to the college administration for approval.
Section 4. This budget will include a detailed analysis of anticipated income from all sources and all anticipated expenditures.
Article XII Enabling Clauses
Section 1. RATIFICATIONS
This Constitution shall be in effect when it has been approved by two-thirds (2/3) majority of valid votes cast by the members of this Association.
Section 2. This Constitution shall supersede all other constitutions on the date certified adopted.
Recommended Changes 4/84
Ammended 5/85
By Vote of the Association
Recommended Changes 12/92
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