John Muir College Council Constitution

 

JOHN MUIR COLLEGE COUNCIL

CONSTITUTION

Revised March 1, 2007.

  • Purpose

The John Muir College Council shall oversee and seek to improve all aspects of college life, both academic and social, as they significantly affect the Muir College Student Body.  The Council shall develop policies and procedures in accordance with those in practice at the University of California, San Diego campus.  The Council may implement those policies and procedures through either direct action by the Council or delegation of responsibility to the appropriate body.  Specifically, the Council hereby has the authority to represent the needs and interests of the John Muir College community to the San Diego campus and other appropriate bodies, allocate funds placed under its jurisdiction, and appoint and/or approve all appropriate representative positions.

  • Membership

A.  The Council shall consist of the following members:

  • Student Voting Members
  • The Chair
  • The Dean of the College or his/her designee
  • The Assistant Dean of the College or his/her designee
  • Student External Members
  • Ex-Officio Members

  • Selection of Members

A.  All members shall take the following oath upon entering office:

      “I do solemnly promise that I will faithfully execute the duties of my office, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the interests of John Muir College and UCSD students with respect to the Constitution and Bylaws of Muir College Council.  Additionally, I promise to uphold MCC’s position as UCSD’s hottest Council.”

  • The outgoing Chair shall administer this oath to elected members.
  • The current Chair shall administer this oath to appointed members.
  • B.  One Muir student shall be elected to each of the following positions each Spring by the Muir College Electorate for one year terms, and they shall take office in the fifth week of Spring Quarter:
  • Chair
  • Vice Chair
  • Commissioner of Records
  • Commissioner of Finance
  • Commissioner of Public Relations
  • Diversity Advocate
  • Commissioner of College and Council Development
  • Ambassador of Media, Arts, and Clubs
  • Ambassador of Service, Programming, and Committees

C.  Two Muir students shall be elected to each of the following positions each Spring by the Muir College Electorate for one year terms, and they shall take office in the fifth week of Spring Quarter:

      1.   College Senators

D.  One Muir student shall be appointed to each of the following Council positions in accordance with Council Bylaws:

  • The Student Advocate will remain a voting member until a new one is appointed for the 07-08 academic year. At which time this item shall automatically be stricken from the constitution
  • Transfer Student Representative shall be appointed by no later than the fifth week of Fall Quarter.  This student shall serve a term of one academic year from the time of appointment.
  • Commuter Student Representative shall be appointed no later than the fifth week of Fall Quarter.  This student shall serve a term of one academic year from the time of appointment.
  • Resident Student Representative shall be appointed by no later than the fifth week of Fall Quarter.  This student shall serve a term of one academic year from the time of appointment.
  •  Freshman Senator shall be appointed by the fifth week of Fall Quarter.  This student shall serve a term of one academic year from the time of appointment.

  • Meetings
    • Council shall meet a minimum of seven times per quarter to conduct the business of the College.
    • To constitute quorum, more than half of voting members including one voting professional staff member or his/her designee must be present.
    • Council and sub-committee meetings shall be open to all members of the public.
    • A simple majority of Council can close a meeting for discussion of personnel matters.
    • All Council meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, except as otherwise stipulated by the Constitution or Bylaws.

  • Elections

The procedure for the conduct of elections and related activities shall be provided for in the John Muir College Council Election Bylaws and in accordance with the John Muir College Council Constitution and its Bylaws.

  • Amendments

A.  Within Council

  • The Constitution
    • This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the entire Council.
    • The Council must be notified in writing of any proposed Constitutional amendments at least three days prior to consideration of such amendments.
  • The Bylaws
    • The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the entire Council.
    • The Council must be notified in writing of any proposed Bylaw amendments at least three days prior to consideration of such amendments.

B.   Student Initiative

  • Any member of the Muir College Electorate may petition to amend the Constitution or Bylaws.
  • A petition to amend, containing the signatures of at least five percent of the Muir College Electorate, shall be presented to Council.
  • The petition shall be validated by the Muir Dean’s Office.
  • Once it is determined that the petition is valid, the proposed amendment shall be placed on the next general election ballot.
  • If two-thirds of the votes of at least fifteen percent of the Muir College Electorate are cast in favor of amendment, then amendment is confirmed.

  • Definitions
    • Simple majority vote:  A condition where the total number of "yes" votes cast exceeds the total number of "no" votes cast.
    • Two-thirds majority vote of those present:  A condition where there are at least two "yes" votes cast for every one "no" vote cast.
    • Two-thirds affirmative vote of those present:  A condition where at least two-thirds of all full voting members of Council present at a meeting, excluding the Chair, cast "yes" votes.
    • The entire Council:  When used in the context of an item requiring a certain percentage "of the entire Council" for passage, this term shall refer to all current full voting members of Council, excluding the Chair.
    • Closed session:  A session of Council open only to voting members, including the Chair, and Ex-Officio Members.
    • Muir College Electorate:  The body of Muir College students who have registered for classes and paid their enrollment fees for the current academic quarter, as determined by the UCSD Registrar.
    • Academic Day: any day within the academic quarter on which scheduled lectures or testing takes place, except for weekends, university holidays, and finals week
    • Day:  One academic day.
    • Week:  Five academic days.
    • Roll Call Vote: A vote in which each individual members’ ballot shall be recorded by name in the minutes.
    • Open Roll Call Vote: A roll call vote which is extended until a specified time before which members may change their vote by notifying the Chair and Commissioner of Records in writing.

Addendum: All other changes to the Constitution, outside of Article III, Section D, Part 1, shall take effect at the conclusion of the 2006-2007 term, at which point this item shall be stricken.