THE U.P.

LAW STUDENTS CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE We, the students of the University of the Philippines College of Law, desirous to establish an autonomous student government that shall embody the highest aims and ideals of a free studentry, and in order to unite the students of the College, develop a responsible leadership and to promote the general welfare of the studentry, do hereby ordain and promulgate this Constitution. ARTICLE I THE LAW STUDENT GOVERNMENT PREAMBLE We, the students of the University of the Philippines College of Law, desirous to establish an autonomous student government that shall embody the highest aims and ideals of a free studentry, and in order to unite the students of the College, to develop a responsible leadership and to promote the general welfare of the studentry, do hereby ordain and promulgate this Constitution. ARTICLE I THE LAW STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Section 1. Composition. --- The Central Board Section 1. The Law Student Government. --and the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal shall be jointly The Law Student Government shall be the sole official autonomous and highest representative organ of the known as the Law Student Government (LSG). student body of the College of Law of the University of Section 2. Constitutional Commissions. --- the Philippines and shall consist of the constituted There shall be created the Academic Reforms bodies under this Constitution and such other bodies Commission and the Bar Operations Commission. duly created pursuant to the bounds and limitations of the same. ARTICLE II Section 2. Source of Authority. --- The FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES authority of the Law Student Government shall OF THE LAW STUDENT GOVERNMENT emanate solely from all the students of the College. Section 1. Functions. --- The Law Student Section 3. Duties and Functions. --- The Law Government shall promote the general welfare of the students and shall ensure the protection of their rights. Student Government shall promote the general welfare of the students and shall ensure the protection of their Section 2. Powers and Duties. --- The Law rights. It shall be the duty and function of the Law Student Government shall exercise those powers Student Government to develop a responsible expressly granted and those necessarily implied empowered studentry and to foster in them a sense of therefrom. Pursuant to the performance of its service and responsibility for the welfare of their fellow functions, it shall be the duty of the Law Student students and the society Government to collect a fee of P 100.00 from each student every semester of enrollment, subject to adjustment by the Central Board at the end of every academic year when necessary and desirable. ARTICLE III THE CENTRAL BOARD ARTICLE II THE CENTRAL BOARD

Section 1. Powers and Functions of the Section 1. Powers and Functions of the Central Central Board. --- The Central Board shall have the Board. --- The Central Board shall have the following following powers and functions: powers and duties: (1) (2) To make policy decisions on matters affecting the students of the College; To formulate and implement a general program of action for the current academic year; (1) To make policy decisions on matters affecting the students of the College; (2) To formulate and implement a general program of action for the current academic year;

(3)

To create executive committees, boards, and other bodies as are necessary to implement Law Student Government policies and programs; (4) To fully orient all incoming classes regarding this Constitution as well as the powers, duties and functions of the Law Student Government within the first month of every academic year; (5) To represent the students in all matters affecting student rights and welfare; (6) To issue any statement on behalf of the entire Law Student Government and for the benefit of the students of the College; (7) To provide active support for the programs, projects and activities of the Constitutional Commissions; (8) To sit as an impeachment body and to try and decide impeachment complaints against members of the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal and Commissioners of the Constitutional Commissions; (9) To promulgate its own rules and procedure for the efficient and effective performance of its power and functions; and (10) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary and incidental to the exercise of the powers and functions herein conferred.

(3) To create committees, boards, and other bodies as are necessary to implement the Boards policies and programs: provided, that membership in committees created for the purpose of handling the external affairs of the Central Board shall be limited to the members of the Central Board; provided further, that unless otherwise expressly stated, such committees board, and other bodies created shall only exist during the term of the Central Board that created it; (4) To fully orient all incoming classes regarding this Constitution, as well as the powers, duties and functions of the Law Student Government within the first month of every academic year and to provide to all incoming First Year students a copy of this Constitution before the start of the academic year; (5) To represent the students in all matters affecting student rights and welfare; (6) To advocate for extensive student consultation in Colleges formulation of academic rules and policies, to serve as the student bodys voice in the formulation and implementation ofall such policies and regulations, and to advance full student participation in the Colleges formation of non-academic rules and policies affecting the rights, duties, and welfare of the studentry; (7) To solely exercise the power to issue any statement on behalf of the entire student body; (8) To promote social awareness and instill national consciousness among students; (9) To collect a fee of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) from each student every semester of enrollment, subject to adjustment by the Central Board at the end of every academic year when necessary, and after consultation. The Central Board shall provide a discount or exemption from payment of the fee to any student whose Socialized Tuition and FinancialAssistance Program bracketing during the said enrollment is below bracket B;

Section 2. Composition and Membership. --The Central Board shall be composed of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Public Relations Officer, two Fourth Year Class Representatives, two Third Year Class Representatives, (10) To open and maintain its own bank two Second Year Class Representatives, two First Year Class Representatives, and two Evening Program account, to solicit funding using the name of the Law Student Government, and to organize its own projects Representatives. for the purposes of increasing revenue; The College Representative to the University (11) To provide support for the programs of Student Council shall have a seat in the Central Board the constitutional commissions mentioned herein; ex-officio and shall be a voting member thereof.

(12) To promulgate its own rules and procedure Section 3. Qualifications and Disqualifications. --- No student may file a certificate of candidacy and for the efficient and effective performance of its power consequently be elected member of the Central Board and functions, including the imposition of disciplinary

unless he has obtained a general weighted average of at least 2.75 for the courses completed in the UP College of Law during the two semesters immediately preceding the election and he is not on probationary or delinquent status. Provided, that this requirement shall not apply to candidates who are first year students of the College. No member of the Central Board shall hold office as Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Councilor of the University Student Council, or as Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian, or as Corps Commander of the UP R.O.T.C., or as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Philippine Law Journal, or as member of the Jessup Moot Court Team, or as member of the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal, or as a Constitutional Commissioner without automatically forfeiting his seat in the Central Board. In case of automatic forfeiture, the member concerned shall be deemed resigned from his office without need of any further proceeding. Section 4. Manner and Date of Election. --The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer shall be elected at large by the students of the College in an election held for that purpose. Each Class Representative shall be elected by the members of his class enrolled in the Day Program, and each Evening Student Representative shall be elected by all students enrolled in the Evening Program, during the same election. Provided, that the elections for the First Year Class Representatives shall be held separately and within a period of seventy-five (75) to ninety (90) days from the first day of classes of each academic year.

measures for members of the Central Board, provided, that the Central Board shall have the power to remove its own members only on grounds expressly provided by this Constitution; and (13) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary and incidental to the exercise of the powers and functions herein conferred. Section 2. Composition and Membership. --- A President, Internal Vice-President, External VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, two Senior Batch Representatives, two Third Year Batch Representatives, two Second Year Batch Representatives, two First Year Batch Representatives, and two Evening Program Representatives, shall constitute the elected members of the Central Board. The College Representative to the University Student Council shall be an ex-officio voting member of the Central Board. Section 3. Qualifications and Disqualifications. --- No student may file a certificate of candidacy and consequently be elected as an elective member of the Central Board unless he is currently enrolled as a student in the College. Furthermore, no student may file such certificate for any elective post, except for the positions of First Year Batch Representatives, unless he has obtained a general weighted average of at least 2.85 for the courses completed in the U.P. College of Law, and is not on probationary or delinquent status.Moreover, the following shall be requirements for the Batch and Evening Program Representatives during the regular elections:

The election of members of the Central Board, a. Both Senior Batch Representatives: at least a except that of the First Year Class Representatives, third year student who is part of the day program of shall be held simultaneously with the University the College at the time of his election; Student Council elections, but in no case shall it be b. Both Third Year Batch Representatives: a conducted beyond the second week of March every second year student who is part of the day program of calendar year. the College at the time of his election; Only currently enrolled students of the College of Law shall be allowed to participate and vote in the c. Both Second Year Batch Representatives: a election. Expulsion, dismissal, withdrawal, leave or first year student who is part of the day program of the graduation from the College of Law shall mean an College at the time of his election; automatic loss of all rights and privileges incidental to being a student of the College. d. Both First Year Batch Representatives: a first year student who is part of the day program of the Section 5. The President. --- The President College at the time of his election; shall have the following powers and duties: No member of the Central Board shall hold (1) To convene and preside over office as a member of the University Student Council, meetings of the Central Board; or as Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian, or as (2) To direct the implementation of Corps Commander of the U.P. R.O.T.C., or as the programs and policies of the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson of the Philippine Law

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(4)

(5)

(6)

Law Student Government; To supervise the performance of the other officers of the functions given to them by this Constitution and the Central Board; To create, with the concurrence of the Central Board, committees necessary for the effective performance of the Boards functions; To appoint, with the concurrence of the Central Board, all heads of the executive committees, boards, and other bodies created by the Board, all student representatives to College and University bodies, unless otherwise provided, as well as to outside institutions; and To perform such other functions as may be necessary for the effective and efficient performance of the powers and functions of the Central Board.

Journal, or as member of the Jessup Moot Court Team of the U.P. College of Law, or as member of the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal, or as a Commissioner of the Bar Operations Commission without automatically forfeiting his seat in the Central Board. Furthermore, no Evening Program Representative may shift to the Day Program, nor a Senior, Third Year, Second Year, or First Year Batch Representative may shift to the Evening Program during his term without automatically forfeiting his seat in the Central Board. Finally, no Treasurer may be appointed as the Treasurer of the Bar Operations Commission. In case of automatic forfeiture, the member concerned shall be deemed resigned from his office without need of any further proceeding. No student who has been convicted of an impeachment charge under the provisions of this Constitution may file a certificate of candidacy and consequently be elected member of the Central Board. The position of College Representative shall not be affected by this provision. The qualifications and disqualifications for the position of College Representative shall be provided for by the Constitution of the University Student Council.

Section 4. Manner and Date of Election. --Section 6. The Vice-President. --- The ViceThe President, Internal Vice-President, External President shall have the following powers and duties: VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer shall be elected at large by the (1) To succeed the President in case students included in the roll of students of the College, of resignation, impeachment, in an election held for that purpose. Each Batch disqualification or permanent Representative shall be elected by the members of his incapacity of the latter to class enrolled in the Day Program, while each Evening discharge his functions and Program Representative shall be elected by the students duties; enrolled in the Evening program during the same (2) To discharge the functions of the election: provided, that the elections for the First Year President in case the latter is Batch Representatives shall be held separately and absent or temporarily within a period of forty-five (45) to ninety (90) days incapacitated; from the first day of classes of each academic year. (3) To assist the President in supervising the other officers; The duly certified candidate who has received (4) To act as chairperson of the the highest number of votes for each of the positions Students Rights and Welfare shall be proclaimed as the winner. If more than one Committee, the Public Affairs duly-certified candidate received the same highest Committee, and/or other number of votes for a certain position, the Electoral executive committees, boards, Commission shall conduct a special election within and other bodies so assigned by fourteen days from the date of the elections, wherein the President; the candidates for such special election shall be limited (5) To render periodic assessment to those who received the same highest number of reports to the Central Board votes. If after the special elections there shall still be a regarding the performance of its tie, the tie shall be resolved either by a coin toss or by functions and the fulfillment of lot, as may be deemed best and appropriate by the its duties; and Electoral Commission, but only those tied with the (6) To perform such other functions highest votes shall be entitled to be chosen by such as may be assigned to him by the coin toss or lot. President.

Representatives of each candidate shall never Section 7. Secretary. --- The Secretary shall be prohibited from observing the entire process of the have the following functions and duties: elections, provided that the actual votes cast by each valid voter shall remain absolutely secret and (1) To keep a record of the confidential. proceedings of the Central Board; The Electoral Commission may set, through (2) To keep a systematic and orderly their published electoral rules, the period for electoral file of all official records of the protests against violations of the said rules. However, Central Board; protests or actions questioning the validity of an (3) To certify all acts of the Central election and votes cast shall not prescribe until the end Board, duly noted by the of the term of office of the officer at issue. The President; regularity and validity of elections shall nonetheless be (4) To disseminate information by presumed until proven otherwise. posting notices and announcements and through The election of members of the Central Board, other appropriate means except that of the First Year Batch Representatives, necessary for the efficient and shall be held simultaneously with the University effective operation of the Central Student Council elections, unless the latter is to be Board; conducted within fifteen (15) days or less before the (5) To prepare and submit to the final examination period of the second semester of the Central Board for its approval academic 4 year, in which case the Electoral and the annual Law Student Judicial Tribunal may set it at an earlier date. To Government Report at the end accommodate the evening students of the College, the of the academic year and to post Electoral Commission may conduct the elections for the same on the Law Student the positions of the Central Board until eight oclock in Government Bulletin Board for the evening of the Election Day, provided that the information of the studentry; extension may be given until ten oclock in the evening and when the need arises. (6) To perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the The election of members of the Central Board, President. though held simultaneously with the University Student Council elections, and though may be conducted using Section 8. Treasurer. --- The Treasurer shall the same system, shall be deemed a separate activity have the following functions and duties: and shall not be governed by the same rules and regulations. It shall remain within the exclusive (1) To direct the collection of all jurisdiction of the Law Student Government through monies and fees accruing to the the Electoral Commission. Law Student Government; (2) To effect custody of the Law Only currently enrolled students in the U.P. Student Government funds by College of Law shall be allowed to participate and vote depositing them in a duly in the election. Expulsion, dismissal, withdrawal, leave established banking institution or graduation from the College of Law shall in the name of the Law Student automatically result to the loss of all rights and Government; privileges incidental to being a student of the College as (3) To prepare a budget proposal granted by this Constitution. Voting is a personal right at the beginning of the and privilege, and no other person shall be allowed to academic year and to submit physically vote on behalf of the voter-student. the same to the Central Board; (4) To sign, together with the Section 5. The President. --- The President shall President, any disbursement of have the following powers and duties: funds authorized by the Central Board; (1) To convene and preside over meetings of (5) To prepare and submit to the the Central Board; Central Board, for its approval, a monthly financial report, and (2) To direct the implementation of the

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(7)

to post a copy of the financial report on the Law Student Government Bulletin Board upon reasonable demand; To propose, for the approval of the Central Board, viable projects and undertakings to generate funds for the use of the Law Student Government; and To perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the President.

programs and policies of the Central Board; (3) To supervise the performance of the other officers of the functions given to them by this Constitution and the Central Board; (4) To appoint, with the concurrence of the Central Board, any Member of the Central Board as head of committees, boards, and other bodies created by the Central Board, student representative to College and University bodies, unless otherwise provided, as well as to outside institutions;

(5) To approve or confirm all official Section 9. Public Relations Officer. --- The communications of the Central Board; Public Relations Officer shall have the following (6) To represent the Law Student Government, functions and duties: except with respect to the University Student Council; and (1) To represent the Law Student Government in all bodies, (7) To perform such other functions assigned associations, federations and the to him by this Constitution or as may be necessary for like external to the College, the effective and efficient performance of the powers except with regard to the and functions of the Central Board. University Student Council; (2) To act as chairperson of the Section 6. The Internal Vice-President. --- The Sports Committee, the Internal Vice-President shall have the following powers Organizational Affairs and duties: Committee, and all other committees which may be (1) To act as the chairperson of the Students constituted by the Central Board Rights and Welfare Committee; under his office; (3) To afford publicity due to all (2) To act as the coordinator of the Central projects and activities of the Law Board with the College Registration Committee; Student Government; and (4) To perform such other functions (3) To succeed the President in case of as may be assigned to him by the permanent vacancy; President. (4) To discharge the functions of the President Section 10. Class and Evening Program in case the latter is absent or temporarily incapacitated; Representatives. --- The Class and Evening Program Representatives shall have the following functions and (5) To assist the President in supervising the duties: other officers; (1) To be responsible for the (6) To act as chairpersons, upon appointment consultation with their respective by the President, in the committees as may be constituents regarding activities constituted by the Central Board; and and undertakings of the Law Student Government; (7) To perform such other functions assigned (2) To bring to the attention of the to him by this Constitution or as may be assigned to Central Board the problems him by the President or the Central Board. affecting their respective constituents and to recommend Section 7. The External Vice-President. --- The appropriate courses of action; External Vice-President shall have the following (3) To act as chairpersons, upon powers and duties: appointment by the President, in the executive committees as may

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be constituted by the Central Board; and To perform such other functions as may be assigned to them by the President.

(1) To act as the chairperson of the Public Affairs Committee; (2) To act as the ex-officio convenor of the Association of College of Law Organizations (ACLO) and preside over meetings thereof;

Section 11. College Representative. --- The College Representative shall exercise such functions and duties as prescribed in the University Student Council Constitution and such other functions as may be assigned to him by the President.

(3) To represent the Central Board in all meetings, bodies, associations, federations and the like external to the College, except with respect to: matters or meetings taken up or attended exclusively by the President as delineated by the Board, the meetings of the University Student Council, and such meetings Section 12. Meetings and Quorum. --- The otherwise delegated by the Central Board to another Central Board shall meet in regular sessions at least one of its members on a case-to-case basis; twice a month on a day and hour to be fixed by the Board. It may also meet in special sessions called by (4) To maintain constantly open channels of the President or by one-third (1/3) of its members communication with other student councils, especially after written notice duly posted on the Law Student with that of the other colleges in the university, that of Government Bulletin Board. other colleges of law in the Philippines, and, in case of the removal of the College Representative as a member A majority of all the members of the Central of the Central Board in accordance with this Board shall constitute a quorum to transact business Constitution, the University Student Council; and the affirmative votes of a majority of the members present and constituting a quorum shall be sufficient (5) To act as chairpersons, upon appointment to pass any motion, affirm a resolution and effectuate by the President, in the committees as may be any business. The Board shall provide in its internal constituted by the Central Board; and rules for the procedure to be taken in case of a tie. (6) To perform such other functions assigned Section 13. Term of Office. --- Every member to him by this Constitution or as may be assigned to of the Central Board shall hold office for one him by the President or the Central Board. academic year beginning on the last day of class of the academic year of their election and ending on the last Section 8. Secretary. --- The Secretary shall have day of class of the following academic year. Provided, the following functions and duties: that the First Year Class Representatives shall hold office from the date of their proclamation to the last (1) To certify all acts of the Central Board, duly day of classes of the same academic year. Provided approved or confirmed by the President; further, that the term of office of the College Representative shall be determined by the Constitution (2) To call all members of the Central Board to of the University Student Council. the regular meetings and to such special meetings called upon by the President or at least one-third (1/3) of the Each member of the Central Board shall take members of the Central Board. the following oath on the date he begins to hold office: (3) To prepare the agenda of the meetings of the Central Board and distribute it to the members of I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and the Board; conscientiously fulfill my duties as ______________________, preserve and defend the (4) To keep a record of the proceedings of the Law Students Constitution, and consecrate myself to meetings of the Central Board and post it in the Law the service of my fellow students. So help me God. Student Government Bulletin Board; An oath-taking ceremony shall be held for this (5) To receive all correspondence to the Central purpose on the last day of class of each academic year. Board and to keep a systematic and orderly file of all The details of such ceremony shall be disseminated to official records of the Central Board; the students at least one (1) week prior to the event. Any member who fails to attend the ceremony shall (6) To keep an inventory and take charge of all take his oath at a later date and in the presence of the non-monetary properties of the Central Board,

ascertain the maintenance and orderliness of the Law Student Government office, and ensure that the said Section 14. Vacancies. --- A position shall be office always has adequate office materials; deemed vacant upon resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or disqualification of any (7) To prepare and submit to the Central Board member of the Central Board, or when such member for its approval the annual Law Student Government otherwise ceases to be a student of the College. A report at the end of the academic year and to post the member shall be disqualified upon dismissal, leave or same on the Law Student Government Bulletin Board suspension for more than thirty (30) days from the for the information of the studentry; college. It shall be the duty of the Board to notify the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal of any vacancy within (8) To head the Student Lounge and Utilities three (3) days from the happening thereof, except with Committee respect to the College Representative, in which case such notice shall be communicated to the University (9) To act as chairperson, upon appointment by Student Council. the President, in the committees as may be constituted by the Central Board; and Any vacancy in the Central Board shall be filled by special election called by the Electoral and (10) To perform such other functions assigned Judicial Tribunal for that purpose, which in no case to him by this Constitution or as may be assigned to shall be beyond thirty (30) days from its receipt of the him by the President or the Central Board. notice of vacancy: Provided, that the person elected to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term of his predecessor. Provided Section 9. Treasurer. --- The Treasurer shall further, that if it be the office of the President that is have the following functions and duties: vacated, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term and the Electoral and (1) To collect all monies and fees accruing to Judicial Tribunal shall hold a special election to fill the the Law Student Government; office of the Vice-President. Provided finally, that if it be the office of the College Representative that is (2) To effect custody of the Law Student vacated, such office shall be filled in accordance with Government funds by depositing them in a duly the Constitution of the University Student Council. established banking institution in the name of the Law Student Government; Section 15. Impeachment. --- No member of the Central Board shall be removed from office except (3) To sign, together with the President, any by impeachment for: disbursement of funds authorized by the Central Board; (1) Willful violation of the Constitution or any major policy (4) To prepare a budget proposal at the of the Law Student Government; beginning of the academic year and to submit the same (2) Gross neglect or dereliction of to the Central Board; the Constitution or any major policy of the Law Student (5) To propose, for the approval of the Central Government; Board, and implement viable projects and undertakings (3) Any grave offense or misconduct to generate funds for the use of the Board;6 which constitutes a violation of University and/or College rules (6) To prepare and submit to the Central punishable by suspension or Board, for its approval, a monthly financial report, and expulsion from the University or to post a copy of the financial report on the Law College. Student Government Bulletin Board within a reasonable time; Any currently enrolled student of the College of Law may file an impeachment complaint with the (7) To act as chairperson, upon appointment by Electoral and Judicial Tribunal. However, no the President, in the committees as may be constituted impeachment proceeding shall commence unless the by the Central Board; and complaint is signed by at least one-sixth (1/6) of all students of the College. No member of the Central (8) To perform such other functions assigned

sitting members of the Central Board.

Board shall be impeached except upon a vote of at to him by this Constitution or as may be assigned to least two-thirds (2/3) of all the members of the him by the President or the Central Board Tribunal en banc. Section 10. The Public Relations Officer. --The Public Relations Officer shall have the following functions and duties: (1) To afford publicity due within and without the College of all statements, projects, and activities of the Law Student Government by utilizing, among others, the public mass media and the internet; (2) To centralize the information dissemination activities of the Batch and Evening Program Representatives with respect to their duties to afford publicity due within the College of all projects and activities of the Law Student Government; (3) To maintain the Law Student Government Bulletin Board and Website, and to be the administrator of the UP_Law e-group; (4) To act as chairperson of the Sports Committee; (5) To assist the Treasurer in implementing viable projects and undertakings to generate funds for the use of the Central Board; (6) To act as chairperson, upon appointment by the President, in the committees as may be constituted by the Central Board; and (7) To perform such other functions assigned to him by this Constitution or as may be assigned to him by the President or the Central Board. Section 11. Batch and Evening Program Representatives. --- The Batch and Evening Program Representatives shall have the following functions and duties: (1) To create and administer programs and activities beneficial to students who they represent; (2) To bring to the attention of the Central Board the problems affecting their respective constituents and to recommend appropriate courses of action; (3) To assist the Public Relations Officer in affording publicity due within the College of all projects and activities of the Law Student Government; (4) To act as ex officio members of the Students Rights and Welfare Committee;

(5) To act as chairpersons, upon appointment by the President, in the committees as may beconstituted by the Central Board; and (6) To perform such other functions as may be assigned to them by the President or the Central Board. Section 12. College Representative. --- The College Representative shall exercise such functions and duties in addition to those prescribed by the University Student Council Constitution: (1) To serve as the official liaison officer of the Law Student Government to the University Student Council; (2) To bring to the attention of the Central Board all matters being taken up by the University Student Council; (3) To act as chairperson, upon appointment by the President, in the committees as may be constituted by the Central Board; and7 (4) To perform such other functions assigned to him by this Constitution or as may be assigned to him by the President or the Central Board. Section 13. Standing Committees. --- Without prejudice to the right of the Central Board to create, for the duration of its term, ad hoc Committees, the Central Board shall have four standing committees, namely: the Students Rights and Welfare Committee, the Public Affairs Committee, the Sports Committee, and the Student Lounge and Utilities Committee. The Standing Committees of the Central Board shall have the following functions and responsibilities: a. Students Rights and Welfare Committee: (1) To consolidate student concerns, and channel these concerns to the Central Board, to the student body in general, and to the College faculty and administration; (2) To formulate methods for safeguarding, increasing, and promoting the rights and welfare of the students of the College of Law; (3) To propose campaigns and activities towards an active and progressive promotion of the well-being, welfare, and rights of the students;

(4) To advocate for further empowerment of the students of the College; (5) To advocate academic excellence on the part of the students of the College; and (6) To plan, promote, and coordinate actual actions of the students regarding the abovementioned issues. b. Public Affairs Committee: (1) To research and study issues affecting the nation and the Filipino society, especially those that have legal impacts; (2) To promote discussion and/or scholarly debate among Law students on the said issues to ensure a multi-perspective and progressive Law Student Government and studentry; (3) To advocate for social justice and the protection of human rights through the responsible use and interpretation of the law for the benefit of the Filipino society; (4) To help foster the social, political, and cultural awareness of the students; and (5) To plan, promote, and coordinate actual actions of the students regarding the abovementioned issues. c. Sports Committee: (1) To organize athletic competitions between and among the students of the College; (2) To coordinate with other associations, organizations, and federations outside the College in organizing athletic competition where the students of the College can participate in; and (3) To provide support to student varsity teams of the College. d. Student Lounge and Utilities Committee: (1) To propose policies to the Central Board for the proper use of the Student Lounge and other utilities and effectively implement such policies; (2) To promote the use of the Student Lounge by the students; and (3) To ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the Student Lounge as well as the responsible use of

the utilities provided the Central Board. The Standing Committees of the Central Board shall be headed by the following officers of the Central Board: a. Students Rights and Welfare Committee: the Internal Vice-President; b. Public Affairs Committee: the External VicePresident; c. Sports Committee: the Public Relations Officer; and d. Student Lounge and Utilities Committee: the Secretary. Section 14. Association of College of Law Organizations (ACLO). --- The ACLO is composed all college organizations convened and presided by the External Vice President for the purpose of information dissemination, consultation, and the efficient coordination of activities. The ACLO shall create and promulgate the rules and regulations that will govern the itself. Section 15. Meetings, Quorum, Voting and Attendance. --- The Central Board shall meet in regular sessions at least twice a month on a day and hour to be fixed by the Board. It may also meet in special sessions called by the President or by one-third (1/3) of its members upon due notice. Upon due notice to all members of the Board, a majority of all the said members shall constitute a quorum to transact business and the affirmative votes of a majority of the members present and constituting a quorum shall be sufficient to pass any motion, affirm a resolution and effectuate any business; provided that, a validly called meeting, with due notice to all members, but which lacks quorum may pass resolutions, by an affirmative votes of a majority of the members present, solely on matters recognizing the absence of the absent members and imposing such penalties, as the Boards internal rules shall provide, to compel their attendance. The Board shall provide in its internal rules for the procedure to be taken in case of a tie. The President may call the Central Board in an emergency meeting, but only in exigent circumstances. The Central Board, convened in an emergency meeting, may transact business pertinent to the emergency even without a quorum, insofar as due notice is made to all members of the Board and that at least one-fourth (1/4) of all the members of the Central Board are in

attendance: provided that, in case there is no quorum, no motion may be passed nor resolution be affirmed unless it is affirmed unanimously by all the members present therein. A member of the Central Board who incurred four consecutive unexcused absences of the regular sessions, or such a number of absences equivalent to a majority of the Boards regular sessions and mandatory, may be removed by the Central Board, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all its Members. Such removal shall not affect the said members right to run again for any future election in the Central Board. The College Representative may also be dismissed under the procedure in the preceding paragraph, although its effect shall be limited to the removal of his status as a member of the Central Board, his entitlement to seat in its meeting, his chairpersonship over any committee of the Central Board, and to represent himself as a member of the Law Student Government. It shall be the duty of the Central Board to inform, by writing, the University Student Council of the said dismissal within seven (7) days from the promulgation of their decision. Absences caused by overlapping schedules between meetings of the Central Board and General Assemblies of the University Student Council shall not be counted in determining the liability of the College Representative for removal under this provision. Section 16. Term of Office. --- Every member of the Central Board shall hold office for one academic year beginning on the last day of class of the second semester of the academic year of their election and ending on the last day of class of the second semester of the following academic year: provided, that the First Year Batch Representatives shall hold office from the date of their proclamation to the last day of classes of the second semester of the same academic year; provided further, that the term of office of the College Representative shall be determined by the Constitution of the University Student Council. By mutual agreement of the outgoing and incoming Central Board, the beginning of the term of the incoming Central Board, and concurrently the end of the term of the outgoing Central Board, may be moved at an earlier date, provided that it shall be set no earlier than seven (7) days before the last day of class of the second semester of the academic year of the election of the outgoing Central Board. Each incoming member of the Central Board shall take the following oath to the President of the outgoing Central Board, except the First Year Batch Representatives whose oath will be administered by the

sitting President, on the date he begins to hold office: I, (herein declare your name), do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as (herein declare your position), preserve and defend the Constitution of the University of the Philippines Law Student Government, and consecrate myself to the service of my fellow students. An oath-taking ceremony shall be held for this purpose on such date that the incoming Central Board begins its term. The details of such ceremony shall be disseminated to the students at least one (1) week prior to the event. The actual taking of the oath is a requisite for the validity of the term of all members, with incoming members except the College Representative, although any member who fails to attend the ceremony may take his oath at a later date and in the presence of the sitting members of the Central Board. Section 17. Vacancies. --- A position shall be deemed vacant upon a failure of election on such position, resignation, dismissal, removal, conviction from impeachment, permanent incapacity or disqualification of any member of the Central Board, or when such member otherwise ceases to be a student of the College. A member shall be disqualified upon dismissal, leave or suspension for more than thirty (30) days from the college. It shall be the duty of the President to notify the Electoral Commission of any vacancy within three (3) days from the happening thereof.Vacancies shall be filled in the following manner: a. If the office vacated is that of the President, the Internal Vice-President shall automatically assume office as the President, or, in case such position is vacant, the Central Board shall select from among its members, as its internal rules shall provide, an Acting President who shall serve only until an Internal VicePresident has been chosen: provided that, the succeeding President shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term of the Presidency. b. If the office vacated is that of the Internal Vice-President, either because of his assumption as the President or by such circumstances mentioned in the preceding paragraph, or that of the External VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, or that of the Batch or Evening Program Representatives, it shall be filled by special election called by the Electoral Commission for that purpose, which in no case shall be beyond thirty (30) days from its receipt of the notice of vacancy, except that no

ARTICLE IV THE ELECTORAL AND JUDICIAL TRIBUNAL

special elections shall be held if the unexpired portion of the term is only thirty (30) days or less; provided that, the student elected to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term of the position at issue; provided further that, in case of the Batch and Evening ProgramRepresentatives, no student shall be allowed to run for such vacant position unless they are currently of the same year level and shift-program as that of their constituents of the Batch Representatives, or same shift-program of the Evening Program Representatives; provided finally that, no member of the Student Tribunal may run on such special election when the vacancy is caused, whether directly or indirectly, by a conviction from impeachment.Vacancy with respect to the College Representative, and the filling of such vacancy, shall be governed by the Constitution of the University Student Council. ARTICLE III THE STUDENT TRIBUNAL

Section 1: The Student Tribunal. --- There is hereby created a Student Tribunal in which the Section 1. Powers and Functions. --- The following powers are vested: Electoral and Judicial Tribunal shall have the following (1) To exercise original jurisdiction over powers and functions: impeachment cases filed against the members of the Central Board, the Electoral Commission, and the (1) To prepare and conduct any and Commissioner of the Bar Operations Commission; all kinds of elections, plebiscites and referenda provided in this (2) To exercise appellate jurisdiction over cases Constitution; filed in and decided by the Electoral Commission; (2) To exert all efforts to ensure a speedy, accurate and secure (3) To hear and decide cases regarding method for protecting the interpretation of the provisions of this Constitution.All sanctity of the ballot, preferably complaints or grievances against any member of the through automated elections, Central Board, the Electoral Commission, and the among others; Commissioner of the Bar Operations Commission, on (3) To promulgate, enforce, and grounds not contemplated upon by the provisions administer all rules and pertaining to the impeachment of such member, such regulations relative to the as those pertaining to minor lapses, shall be filed to the conduct of an election, plebiscite concerned body, subject to the latters disciplinary or referendum; powers. Such complaint shall be acted upon (4) To hear and decide election immediately by the concerned body. protests and controversies; (5) To hear and decide impeachment Section 2: Composition of the Student cases against members of the Tribunal. --- The Student Tribunal is a collegiate Central Board in accordance with bodycomposed of five (5) Student Magistrates, four (4) this Constitution; Magistrates will represent students in each year level in (6) To hear and decide actual cases the day class, and one (1) Magistrate to represent the and controversies involving any students of the evening class. From the promulgation violation of this Constitution, of this Constitution, the first members of the Tribunal unless otherwise provided; and shall be appointed with the following terms of office: (7) To promulgate its own rules of the first year Student Magistrate, four (4) years; the procedure in the discharge of its second year Magistrate, three (3) years; the third year powers and functions. Magistrate, two (2) years; and fourth year Magistrate,

Section 2. Composition and Membership. --The Electoral and Judicial Tribunal shall be an impartial body composed of fifteen (15) permanent members: Provided, that in the first academic year immediately following the effectivity of this Constitution, the Tribunal shall be composed of only seven (7) permanent members. In no case shall a majority of the members belong to the same student organization, fraternity or sorority.

one (1) year. The Evening Magistrate, depending on his year level, shall serve as Student Magistrate for his entire stay in the College. The Student Tribunal Appointments Council shall appoint, in all cases and with due consideration to length of service in the Student Tribunal, the First Magistrate, who shall be responsible for administration of the Tribunal and presiding over the hearing of cases. Section 3: Selection of Magistrates. --- There shall be a Student Tribunal Appointments Council, composed of the First Magistrate as its ex-officio chairperson, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, the President and Internal Vice President of the Central Board and the Bar Operations Commissioner. Provided that, for the first creation of the Tribunal after the ratification of the Constitution, the President of the Central Board shall be its chairperson and the External Vice President of the Central Board shall take the place of the President as member of the Council.

Only members of the Administrative Group, as provided hereunder, having the qualifications and none of the disqualifications prescribed in this Constitution, may be candidates for membership in the Tribunal, which membership shall be acquired by a declaration of the Chairperson that a candidate has obtained the highest number of votes from the sitting members of the Tribunal on the basis of competence, integrity, probity and independence. Within fifteen (15) days from the last day of classes of the academic year immediately following the effectivity of this Constitution, the seven (7) members sitting in the Tribunal shall select the eight (8) additional members. The Council shall be responsible for appointing The Tribunal shall serve with a full fifteen (15) seats members of the Student Tribunal when vacancies occur thereafter. due to end of term of office, to resignation, conviction on impeachment, and any other such incapacity of the Any vacancy in the Tribunal by reason of Magistrate that prevents him permanently from resignation, disqualification, impeachment or performing his duties. The Council shall annually permanent incapacity during the academic year shall be convene every third Monday of the first semester for filled by its members in the same manner prescribed in the purposes of new appointments and review of the the next preceding paragraph. Such vacancy must be qualifications of incumbent Magistrates, provided that, filled within fifteen (15) days from the occurrence the council may be convened to fill in vacancies of the thereof, except during the thirty (30) day period Tribunal when necessary. immediately preceding the elections, in which case the The selection of the Magistrates shall be vacancy shall be filled only within fifteen (15) days through the application of interested applicants, which from the conduct of elections. will be evaluated and adjudged by the Council. The Section 3. Administrative Group. -- For the application shall be in writing, stating therein that the purposes of carrying out its functions, the Tribunal applicant has all the qualifications and none of the shall constitute an Administrative Group. The disqualifications. Such application shall be submitted to qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions for and filed with the First Magistrate, or the President membership therein shall be prescribed by the with respect to the first creation of the Tribunal, who Tribunal in its rules and regulations. shall thereafter inform the Council by giving them a copy of the application and calling a meeting for the Section 4. Qualifications and Disqualifications. discussion thereof. The Council shall promulgate its --- No student may become a member of the Tribunal internal rules and regulations in the application and unless he has obtained a general weighted average of at evaluation of the applicants, guided by the principle of least 2.75 for the courses completed in the UP transparency, and the standards of proven competency, College of Law during the semester immediately integrity, probity, and independence. preceding his selection and he is not on probationary or delinquent status. Section 4. Term of Office. --- The Student Magistrates shall hold office in the Tribunal for four (4) Furthermore, no student shall be eligible for years, except the Magistrate from the Evening membership in the Tribunal unless he has been a Program who shall hold office for (5) years, provided member of the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal that, those who were appointed to fill in a vacancy shall Administrative Group for an uninterrupted period of assume the office for the unexpired term of the

at least one (1) year immediately preceding his replaced magistrate. selection. Section 5: Qualifications and Disqualifications. Finally, no student may become a member of --- No student may file an application for appointment the Tribunal unless he submits a certification from the as Magistrate unless he is currently enrolled as a student Student Disciplinary Tribunal that there is no pending in the College. administrative case against him and that such Tribunal has never rendered judgment finding him guilty of any The Magistrate should maintain a cumulative violation of the Universitys student rules and General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 2.85, regulations. and must not be on a probationary or delinquent status. Failure to maintain the said requirements shall be a No member of the Electoral and Judicial ground for forfeiture of his membership to the Tribunal shall hold office as Chairman, Vice-Chairman tribunal. The Appointments Council shall assess or Councilor of the University Student Council, or as compliance by the incumbent Magistrates with the said Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian, or as requirements during their annual convention. Corps Commander of the UP R.O.T.C., or as No member of the Student Tribunal shall hold Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Philippine Law Journal, or as member of the Jessup Moot Court office as a member of the University Student Council, Team, or as member of the Central Board, or as a or as member of the Central Board, or as officer of any Constitutional Commissioner without automatically of the other constitutional bodies laid down by this constitution. forfeiting his seat in the Tribunal. Should a member of the Tribunal at any time during his term join a student organization, fraternity or sorority so as to produce the effect that a majority of the members of the Tribunal belong to such organization, fraternity or sorority, the member who so joins shall automatically forfeit his seat in the Tribunal. No student may become a member of the Tribunal unless he submits a certification from the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (or any disciplinary body in the College) that there is no pending administrative case against him and that such body has never rendered judgment finding him guilty of any violation of the Universitys student rules and regulations.

No two magistrates shall be members of the In cases of automatic forfeiture, the member Should a member of the concerned shall be deemed resigned from his office same organization. Commission at any time during his term join a student without need of any further proceeding. organization, fraternity or sorority so as to produce the Section 5. Forfeiture of Membership and effect that two (2) members of the Tribunal belong to Removal. --- The following are grounds for automatic such organization, fraternity or sorority, the member forfeiture of membership in the Tribunal, by virtue of who so joins shall automatically forfeit his seat in the which the member involved shall be deemed resigned: Tribunal. (1) (2) (3) (4) Filing a certificate of candidacy for any position in the Central Board; Membership in any Constitutional Commission; Membership in any committee under the Central Board; or Dismissal, leave or suspension for more than thirty (30) days from the College, or otherwise ceasing to be a student thereof; Section 6. Forfeiture of Membership and Removal. --- The following are grounds for automatic forfeiture of membership in the Tribunal: (1) Filing a certificate of candidacy for any position in the Central Board and the University Student Council; (2) Membership in other Constitutional bodies;

(3) Dismissal, leave or suspension for more than thirty (30) days from the College, or otherwise A member may also be removed by ceasing to be a student thereof; impeachment, which impeachment may be initiated through a written complaint filed with the Central A member may also be removed by Board by any student enrolled in the College, upon the impeachment, which impeachment may be initiated following grounds: through a written complaint filed with the Central

(1) (2)

(3)

Willful violation of the Constitution or any major policy of the Law Student Government; Gross neglect or dereliction of the Constitution or any major policy of the Law Student Government; Any grave offense or misconduct which constitutes a violation of University and/or College rules punishable by suspension or expulsion from the University or College.

Board by any student enrolled in the College, upon the following grounds: (1) Willful violation of the Constitution or any major policy of the Law Student Government; (2) Gross neglect or dereliction of the Constitution or any major policy of the Law Student Government; (3) Any grave offense or misconduct which constitutes a violation of University and/or College rules punishable by suspension or expulsion from the University or College.

Section 7. Quorum and Proceedings. --Additional grounds for impeachment shall be provided for by the Tribunals rules and regulations Quorum, which is comprised of 4 magistrates, is such as, but not limited to, any violation of its election necessary for hearing and deciding cases. rules. All complaints, petitions, and appeals filed with Section 6. Term of Office. --- Each member of the Tribunal shall be in writing and must be published the Tribunal shall hold office from the time he in the bulletin board of the Central Board. Supporting assumes the same until such member resigns, or is documents must also be attached to such complaint, disqualified, removed by impeachment or permanently petition or appeal. The Tribunal shall study the complaint and convene to deliberate and decide, which incapacitated. complaint, petition or appeal shall be decided by three Section 7. Meetings. --- The incumbent (3) concurring votes, provided there is a quorum. The Chairperson of the Tribunal shall, not later than the decision, which is in writing and posted in the board of first month of the first semester of every academic the Central Board, shall be final. The Tribunal shall year, convene a meeting for the purpose of electing decide all cases and controversies within thirty (30) new officers. The Tribunal shall thereafter meet in days from the filing thereof. regular sessions at least once a month on a day and The Student Tribunal shall create and hour to be fixed by its officers. promulgate their own internal rules and regulations of Every political party duly recognized by the their proceedings and administration. Electoral and Judicial Tribunal and every independent Section 8. Allocation in Law Student candidate shall have the right to appoint one representative to sit in all meetings and deliberations Government Funds. --- The Student Tribunal shall be of the Tribunal on all election matters. However, they entitled to an amount equivalent to two per cent (2%) shall have no voting rights. A political party fielding a of the student fees collected, which amount shall be set of candidates shall be automatically recognized by released by the Central Board to the Commission not later than thirty (30) days from the end of enrollment the Tribunal for purposes of this section. of each semester. Section 8. Quorum. --- A majority of all members of the Tribunal present shall constitute a quorum to transact business and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and constituting a quorum shall be sufficient to pass any motion, affirm any resolution, or effectuate any other business. The Tribunal may promulgate rules for the formation of smaller collegial bodies made up of its

members to decide cases and controversies regarding disqualification, electoral protests, impeachment and violations of this Constitution brought before it, appealable in all instances to the EJT en banc. 1 Section 9. Officers. --- The Tribunal shall elect from among its members a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Each duly elected officer of the Tribunal shall serve as such from the time of his election until the Tribunals first meeting of the following academic year. Section 10. Powers and Functions of Officers. --- The officers of the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal shall have the following powers and functions: (1) The Chairperson shall: a. Preside over all meetings of the Tribunal; b. Supervise the performance of the other officers of the functions given to them by this Constitution and the Tribunal; c. Create committees necessary for the effective performance of the Tribunal; and d. Exercise such other powers inherent in his office and those necessary for the efficient and effective discharge of the functions of the Tribunal. (2) The Vice-Chairperson shall: a. Assist the Chairperson in the performance of his duties; b. Preside over meetings of the Tribunal in the absence of the Chairperson; c. Succeed to the position of Chairperson in case of the latters permanent incapacity, resignation, disqualification or removal; and d. Perform such other functions prescribed herein and those that be assigned to him by the Chairperson. (3) The Secretary shall: a. Keep a record of the proceedings of the Tribunal, and all petitions, documents, and papers submitted thereto;
This section is a substantial copy of Art. V, Sec. 7 of the 2005 Constitution, except that a majority of all members is now required to constitute a quorum in lieu of a majority of all blocks with members present, as is currently required, due to the change in its composition.
1

b. Certify all official acts of the Tribunal, together with the Chairperson; c. Post notices, including those regarding rules or decisions of the Tribunal on the Law Student Government and Electoral and Judicial Tribunal Bulletin Boards, and otherwise disseminate information to the studentry, when necessary; and d. Perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the Chairperson. (4) The Treasurer shall: a. Have custody of the funds of the Tribunal; b. Authorize, together with the Chairperson, any disbursement of funds duly authorized by the Tribunal; and c. Perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the Chairperson. Section 11. Rules and Decisions. --- No rule or decision of the Tribunal shall be valid and effective unless in writing, duly certified that it was adopted with the requisite number of votes, posted on the Law Student Government and Electoral and Judicial Tribunal Bulletin Boards, and duly served upon all the parties concerned. Section 12. Allocation in Law Student Government Funds. --- The Electoral and Judicial Tribunal shall be entitled to an amount equivalent to 10% of the student fees collected, which amount shall be released by the Central Board to the Tribunal not later than thirty (30) days from the end of enrollment of each semester. ARTICLE V THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS A. The Academic Reforms Commission Section 1. The Constitutional Commissions, Section 1. Powers and Duties. --- The which shall be independent, are the Electoral Academic Reforms Commission shall serve as the Commission and the Bar Operations Commission. student bodys voice in the Colleges formulation and implementation of academic and administrative Section 2. No Member of a Constitutional policies and regulations. Commission shall, during his tenure, hold any other office in the Law Student Government. The Commission shall employ all necessary means for consolidating student concerns, and shall Section 3. The Constitutional Commissions ARTICLE V CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS A. Common Provisions

channel these concerns to the Law Student Government, to the student body in general, and to the College faculty and administration. It shall have the duty of conducting information campaigns for the studentry in relation to its functions and of ensuring transparency in the conduct of its functions by providing access to records within reasonable limitations.

shall appoint their officers and recruit their volunteers in accordance with this Constitution and the rules and regulations duly promulgated by them. Section 4. The Commissions shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Their approved annual appropriations, if any, shall be automatically released, provided that, all amounts not expended shall be returned to the funds of the Law Student Government.

The Commission shall enact its rules and B. The Electoral Commission regulations governing membership selection, internal organization and other matters necessary and Section 1. Powers and Functions. --- The incidental to the implementation of its powers and Electoral Commission shall have the following powers duties. and functions: The Commission shall function independently (1) To prepare and conduct any and all kinds of of the Law Student Government, shall not be under its control or supervision, but shall regularly apprise and elections, plebiscites and referenda provided in this coordinate with the latter in respect of the Constitution; performance of its duties. (2) To exert all efforts to ensure a speedy, Section 2. Officers. --- The Academic Reforms accurate and secure method for protecting the sanctity Commission shall be headed by a Commissioner, of the ballot, preferably through automated elections, appointed by the Law Student Government President, among others; not later than the first month of the first semester of (3) To promulgate, enforce, and administer all each academic year, from a list of at most three (3) member-nominees submitted by the members of the rules and regulations relative to the conduct of an Commission through the incumbent Commissioner. election, plebiscite or referendum; The Commissioner shall then appoint a Deputy (4) To have original and exclusive jurisdiction Commissioner and a Secretary from among the incumbent members. The terms of office of the over election protests and controversies; Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner and the (5) To promulgate its own rules of procedure in Secretary shall be co-terminus with that of the Law the discharge of its powers and functions. Student Government President. (6) To publish the results of the elections and Section 3. Members. --- At least one representative from the evening students and from to proclaim the winners thereof. each class in the College shall be permanent members Section 2. Composition and Membership. --of the Commission, subject to removal in accordance with its internal rules. The Commission may provide The Electoral Commission shall be an impartial body composed of fifteen (15) permanent members: for more members pursuant to its internal rules. provided, that in the first academic year immediately Section 4. Impeachment. --- The Academic following the effectivity of this Constitution, the Reforms Commissioner may be removed by Commission shall be composed of the incumbent permanent members as provided in the transitory impeachment on any of the following grounds: provision. No new member of the Commission shall be elected until they have reached the prescribed number (1) Willful violation of the of permanent members. In no case shall one-third Constitution or any major policy (1/3) of the members belong to the same student of the Law Student Government; organization, fraternity or sorority. Should a member of (2) Gross neglect or dereliction of the Commission at any time during his/her term join a his duties. student organization, fraternity or sorority so as to Removal by impeachment may be initiated produce the effect that one-third (1/3) of the through a written complaint, signed by not less than Commissioners belong to such organization, fraternity one-sixth (1/6) of all students of the College, filed or sorority, the member who so joins shall with the Central Board by any currently enrolled automatically forfeit his/her seat in the Commission.

student of the College. Should the Commissioner be removed by impeachment, the Law Student Only members of the Administrative Group, as Government President shall appoint his successor in provided hereunder, having the qualifications andnone accordance with Section 1 hereof. of the disqualifications prescribed in this Constitution, may be candidates for membership in the Commission. Section 5. Allocation in LSG Funds. --- The The sitting Commissioners shall nominate candidates Academic Reforms Commission shall be entitled to an for membership in the Commission. Each vacant amount equivalent to 5% of the student fees collected, position shall be filled by a majority vote of the sitting which amount shall be released by the Central Board Commissioners; provided, that a separate votation shall to the Commission not later than thirty (30) days from be held for each vacant position; provided further, that the end of enrollment of each semester. there can be multiple votations in a single meeting called for that purpose. The newly selected Commissioner shall automatically be a voting member B. The Bar Operations Commission of the Commission. Section 1. Powers and Duties. --- The Bar Any vacancy in the Commission by reason of Operations Commission shall serve as the student resignation, disqualification, impeachment or bodys centralized operations for providing holistic permanent incapacity during the academic year shall be support to Colleges bar reviewees. filled by its members in the same manner prescribed in the next preceding paragraph. Such vacancy must be The Commission shall employ all necessary filled within fifteen (15) days from the occurrence means for formulating and implementing policies thereof, except during the thirty (30) day period desirable for the convenience and benefit of such bar immediately preceding the regular elections, in which reviewees. It shall have the duty of creating revenue, case the vacancy shall only be filled after five (5) days organizing lectures, preparing materials and attending from the proclamation of the winners. to other reasonable requirements in the aim of ensuring a successful examination for every reviewee. Section 3. Administrative Group. -- For the Its work shall be continuous and shall not be purposes of carrying out its functions, the Commission interrupted at any time during the academic year. shall create an Administrative Group, which shall be composed of one representative from all blocks in the The Commission shall enact its rules and College. regulations governing membership selection, internal organization and other matters necessary and Section 4. Qualifications and Disqualifications. incidental to the implementation of its powers and --- No student may become a member of the duties. Commission unless s/he has obtained a general weighted average of at least 2.85 for the courses The Commission shall function independently completed in the U.P. College of Law during the of the Law Student Government, shall not be under its semester immediately preceding his, and he is not on control or supervision, but shall regularly apprise and probationary or delinquent status. coordinate with the latter in respect of the performance of its duties. Furthermore, no student shall be eligible for membership in the Commission unless he has been a Section 2. Officers. --- The Bar Operations member of the Electoral Commission Administrative Commission shall be headed by a Commissioner, Group for an uninterrupted period of at least one (1) appointed by the Law Student Government President year immediately preceding his selection. not earlier than the last day classes of the first semester nor beyond fifteen (15) days thereafter, except as Finally, no student may become a member of otherwise provided hereunder. Such Commissioner the Commission unless he submits a certification from shall be selected from a list of at most three (3) the College Secretary that there is no pending member-nominees submitted by the members of the administrative case against him and that no body has Commission through the incumbent Commissioner ever rendered judgment finding him/her guilty of any not later than the last day of classes of the first violation of the Universitys student rules and semester of each academic year. regulations. Upon receipt of the list of nominees, the No member of the Electoral Commission shall President shall obtain the concurrence of the hold office as Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Councilor

graduating class by informing them of such nomination. Should a majority of the graduating class veto the nomination within the period of fifteen (15) days, the incumbent members of the Commission must elect another nominee within another fifteen (15) days, which nominee must be appointed by the President immediately, without any further proceedings.

of the University Student Council, or as Editor-inChief of the Philippine Collegian, or as Corps Commander of the UP R.O.T.C., or as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Philippine Law Journal, or as member of the Central Board, or as a Constitutional Commissioner without automatically forfeiting his/her seat in the Commission.

Section 5. Forfeiture of Membership and The Commissioner shall appoint a Deputy Removal. --- The following are grounds for automatic Commissioner, a Secretary and a Treasurer from forfeiture of membership in the Commission: among the incumbent members. The terms of office of the Deputy Commissioner, the Secretary and the (1) Filing a certificate of candidacy for any Treasurer shall be co-terminus with that of the Bar position in the Central Board; Operations Commissioner. (2) Membership in any Constitutional Section 3. Members. --- The Commission shall Commission; provide in its internal rules for the requirements and procedures for acquiring membership. It shall be the (3) Dismissal, leave or suspension for more duty of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, than thirty (30) days from the College, or otherwise Secretary and Treasurer to ensure adequate and ceasing to be a student thereof; or competent membership throughout each academic year by implementing effective recruitment programs (4) Other grounds provided in the preceding as may be necessary. section. In cases of automatic forfeiture, the member concerned shall be deemed resigned from his/her Section 4. Impeachment. --- The Bar office without need of any further proceeding. A Operations Commissioner may be removed by member may also be removed by impeachment, which impeachment on any of the following grounds: impeachment may be initiated through a written complaint filed with the Student Tribunal by any (1) Willful violation of the student enrolled in the College, upon the following Constitution or any major policy grounds: of the Law Student Government; (2) Gross neglect or dereliction of (1) Willful violation of the Constitution, any his duties. major policy of the Law Student Government, or the elections rules set forth by the Commission; Removal by impeachment may be initiated through a written complaint, signed by not less than one-sixth (2) Gross neglect or dereliction of the (1/6) of all students of the College, filed with the Constitution or any major policy of the Law Student Central Board by any currently enrolled student of the Government; College. Should the Commissioner be removed by impeachment, the Law Student Government President (3) Any grave offense or misconduct which shall appoint his successor in accordance with Section constitutes a violation of University and/or College 1 hereof. rules punishable by suspension or expulsion from the University or College. Section 5. Finances. --- The Bar Operations Commission shall have the right, power and duty to Section 6. Term of Office. --- Each create, maintain and improve its finances separately Commissioner shall hold office from the time he from the Law Student Government and for this assumes the same until such member resigns, or is purpose, to open and maintain its own bank account, disqualified, removed by impeachment or permanently to solicit funding using the name of the Law Student incapacitated. Government with the latters approval, and to organize its own projects for the purposes of Section 7. Meetings. --- The incumbent increasing revenue. Chairperson of the Commission shall, not later than the first month of the first semester of every academic year, convene a meeting for the purpose of electing new officers. The Commission shall thereafter meet in

regular sessions at least once a month on a day and hour to be fixed by its officers. Every political party duly recognized by the Electoral Commission and every independent candidate shall have the right to appoint one representative to sit in all meetings and deliberations of the Commission on all election matters. However, they shall have no voting rights. A political party fielding a set of candidates shall be automatically recognized by the Commission for purposes of this section. Section 8. Quorum. --- A majority of all Commissioners present shall constitute a quorum to transact business and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and constituting a quorum shall be sufficient to pass any motion, affirm any resolution, or effectuate any other business. Section 9. Officers. --- The Commission shall elect from among its members a Chairperson, a ViceChairperson, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Each duly elected officer of the Commission shall serve as such from the time of his election until the Commissions first meeting of the following academic year. Section 10. Powers and Functions of Officers. -- The officers of the Electoral Commission shall have the following powers and functions: a. The Chairperson shall: (1) Preside Commission; over all meetings of the

(2) Supervise the performance of the other officers of the functions given to them by this Constitution and the Commission; (3) Create committees necessary for the effective performance of the Commission; and (4) Exercise such other powers inherent in his/her office and those necessary for the efficient and effective discharge of the functions of the Commission. b. The Vice-Chairperson shall: (1) Assist the Chairperson in the performance of his/her duties; (2) Preside over meetings of the Commission in the absence of the Chairperson; (3) Succeed to the position of Chairperson in

case of the latters permanent incapacity, resignation, disqualification or removal; and (4) Perform such other functions prescribed herein and those that be assigned to him/her by the Chairperson. c. The Secretary shall: (1) Keep a record of the proceedings of the Commission, and all petitions, documents, and papers submitted thereto; (2) Certify all official acts of the Commission, together with the Chairperson; (3) Post notices, including those regarding rules or decisions of the Commission on the Law Student Government and Electoral Commission Bulletin Boards, and otherwise disseminate information to the studentry, when necessary; and (4) Perform such other functions as may be assigned to him/her by the Chairperson. d. The Treasurer shall: (1) Have custody of the funds of the Commission; (2) Authorize, together with the Chairperson, any disbursement of funds duly authorized by the Commission; and (3) Perform such other functions as may be assigned to him/her by the Chairperson. Section 11. Rules and Decisions. --- No rule or decision of the Commission shall be valid and effective unless in writing, duly certified that it was adopted with the requisite number of votes, posted on the Law Student Government and Electoral Commission Bulletin Boards, and duly served upon all the parties concerned. The Commission shall decide all cases and controversies regarding disqualification and electoral protests brought before it within thirty (30) days from filing thereof. Any decision of the Commission may be appealed to the Student Tribunal within fifteen (15) days from receipt of decision. Within fifteen (15) days from the lapse of the thirty (30) day period without any action by the Commission, the controversy may be elevated to the Student Tribunal for resolution. The Commission sitting en banc and by

majority vote of all its members shall decide cases and controversies regarding disqualification, and electoral protests, brought before it, appealable in all instances to the Student Tribunal. Section 12. Allocation in Law Student Government Funds. --- The Electoral Commission shall be entitled to an amount equivalent to 7% of the student fees collected, which amount shall be released by the Central Board to the Commission not later than thirty (30) days from the end of enrollment of each semester;provided, that the Electoral Commission may request for additional funds from the Central Board whenever necessary. Section 13. Conduct of Elections. --- All votes cast in any election shall constitute at least a majority of all the enrolled students in the semester during which the election is to be conducted. Otherwise, the Commission shall declare a failure of elections and conduct another election not later than fifteen (15) days after the declaration. In cases when only one candidate runs for any elective position in the Central Board, the candidate shall need a majority of all the votes cast in order to be declared the winner. When there are two or more candidates, the candidate with the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner. This shall likewise govern the elections for evening program representatives. For the position of Batch Representatives, if there are only two (2) candidates, each candidate must obtain a majority vote in order to be declared the winner. If there are more than two (2) candidates, the two (2) candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner. C. The Bar Operations Commission Section 1. Powers and Duties. --- The Bar Operations Commission shall serve as the student bodys centralized operations for providing holistic support to the Colleges alumni-bar candidates. The Commission shall employ all necessary means and exercise such powers necessary for formulating and implementing policies desirable for the convenience and benefit of such bar candidates. It shall have the duty of creating revenue, organizing lectures, preparing materials and conducting necessary operations during the month of the bar examinations including but not limited to: hotel operations, transportation operations, day and night operations, food operations and attending to other reasonable

requirements with the aim of ensuring a successful examination for every candidate. Its work shall be continuous and shall not be interrupted at any time during the calendar year. The Commission shall enact its rules and regulations governing membership selection, internal organization and other matters necessary and incidental to the implementation of its powers and duties. The Commission shall function independently of the Central Board, shall not be under its control or supervision, but shall regularly apprise and coordinate with the latter in respect of the performance of its duties. Section 2. Officers and Term of Office. --- The Bar Operations Commission shall be headed by a Commissioner, who shall be appointed by the President of the Central Board not earlier than the fifteenth, nor later than the thirtieth, day of the month subsequent to the month of the bar examinations for the year. Such Commissioner shall be selected from a list of at least two (2), but not more than three (3), nominees submitted by the Officers of the Commission through the incumbent Commissioner not later than the first day of the month subsequent the month of the bar examination for the year. No student may be nominated without his consent.17 Upon receipt of the list of nominees, the President shall immediately inform the graduating class of such list, through the Senior Batch Representatives. One-fifth (1/5) of the entire graduating class may veto the list within fifteen (15) days after notice of the nominations, through a letter addressed to the President, duly signed by the students from the graduating class vetoing, and specifically mentioning therein the nominee/s thus vetoed. Such veto power shall only be exercised once. Upon ascertaining the validity of the signatures, the President shall return the list to the Commissioner, who in turn must submit a new written list of three (3) member-nominees within seven (7) days from official notice from the President of the veto. Such list shall exclude the name/s of the nominee/s vetoed. The President, upon receipt of the list of nominees, or in case of veto, the new written list, shall obtain the concurrence of the graduating class, through the Senior Batch Representatives and the Evening Program Representatives, of the nominee to be appointed. Concurrence may be obtained by a General

Assembly specially called for such purpose, with a majority of the graduating class members present. The term of the Commissioner shall begin on the last day of the first semester of the academic year he was appointed and shall end on the last day of the first semester of the following academic year. The Commissioner shall immediately appoint, upon beginning his term, from among the currently enrolled students of the College not otherwise members of any of the bodies of the Law Student Government, two (2) Deputy Commissioners, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and Auditor and a Linkages Officer, Provided that the Treasurer of the Central Board and the Treasurer of the Electoral Commission may not be appointed as the Treasurer or Auditor of the Bar Operations Commission. The terms of office of the Deputy Commissioners, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Auditor and the Linkages Officer shall be co-terminus with that of the Bar Operations Commissioner. Section 3. Members. --- The Commission shall provide in its internal rules for the requirements and procedures for acquiring membership. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioners to ensure adequate and competent membership throughout each academic year by implementing effective recruitment programs as may be necessary. The Commissioner may create any other positions incidental to the purpose of the Commission, and appoint therewith any other student without any restriction except that such person must be a currently enrolled student of the College. The terms of such offices and officers shall be co-terminus with that of the Bar Operations Commissioner. Section 4. Automatic Forfeiture of Office. --The Commissioner shall automatically forfeit his post upon his filing of a certificate of candidacy for any position in the University Student Council during his term, or upon his graduation, dismissal, leave or suspension for more than thirty (30) days from the College, or otherwise ceasing to be a student thereof. Section 5. Ban from Membership in Other Bodies of the Law Student Government. --- No Commissioner of the Bar Operations Commission shall be allowed to file their certificate of candidacy or be allowed to be a candidate for any position in the Central Board, or to be appointed as a member of the

Electoral Commission or Student Tribunal during his term, regardless of the voluntary cessation of his tenure as such. Furthermore, no Treasurer or Auditor of the Bar Operations Commission shall be allowed to file their certificate of candidacy or be allowed to be a candidate for the position of Treasurer of the Central Board, or to be appointed as the Treasurer of the Electoral Commission during his term, regardless of the voluntary cessation of his tenure as such.18 Section 6. Vacancy. Automatic forfeiture, voluntary cessation of office, or any such other circumstance resulting in a permanent vacancy in the position of Commissioner shall be filled by either of the Deputy Commissioners, as Acting Commissioner for the remainder of the term, upon majority vote of all the Officers of the Commission. The Acting Commissioner shall perform and discharge all the functions of the Commissioner. Section 7. Finances. --- The Bar Operations Commission shall have the right, power and duty to create, maintain and improve its finances separately from the Central Board and for this purpose, to open and maintain its own bank account, to solicit funding using the name of the Law Student Government, and to organize its own projects for the purposes of increasing revenue. The Bar Operations Commission and the Central Board shall, as far as practicable, agree on such terms and conditions so as to prevent competition between their respective revenue-generating projects and activities. The two bodies may enter into joint ventures with each other. In no case may either or both the Bar Operations Commission and the Central Board be prevented from using the name of the Law Student Government in soliciting funds, provided that funds thus solicited shall specifically pertain to the body to which it was intended for. A financial statement must be produced by the Treasurer, as certified by the Commissioner, no later than two (2) weeks after the end of their term. The Treasurer or Commissioner must respond, within one (1) month from the date of notice, to a demand for accounting of funds made by any member of the Commission or any alumni-bar-candidate. ARTICLE V REMOVAL BY CONVICTION FROM IMPEACHMENT Section 1. Impeachable Officers and Grounds for Impeachment. --- The members of the Central

Board, the magistrates of the Student Tribunal, the members of the Electoral Commission, and the Commissioner of the Bar Operations Commission may only be removed from office through a conviction of impeachment charges, although the members of the Central Board may also be removed via section 16, paragraph 4 of Article II of this Constitution. Other Officers in this Constitution, unless otherwise provided by this Constitution, may be removed by their respective appointing authority. Any impeachable officer may be impeached for, and be convicted of, any of the following grounds: (1) Willful violation of the Constitution; (2) Gross neglect or dereliction of their duties; (3) Any grave offense or misconduct which constitutes a violation of University and/or College rules punishable by suspension or expulsion from the University or College. Moreover, the Student Tribunal and the Electoral Commission may provide in their rules and regulations additional grounds for the discipline, of their own members, such as, but not limited to, any violation of its election rules in the case of the Electoral Commission. Section 2. Impeachment of an Impeachable Officer. --- Any currently enrolled student of the College of Law may file a written impeachment complaint with the proper impeachment court. The said court shall then, within three days, post the complaint on conspicuous places with the College and open it for signatures for thirty days. An impeachable officer is impeached once the impeachment complaint has been signed by at least one-sixth (1/6) of all students of the College: provided that, with respect to the class and program representatives, they shall be deemed impeached only when the impeachment complaint has been signed by at least three-fifth (3/5) of all their constituencies. A complaint not sufficiently signed within thirty (30) days shall be dismissed. The proper impeachment court shall ascertain the number and validity of the signature within seven days after it has been signed by the proper number of students. No member of the Student Tribunal may initiate or sign any impeachment complaint except with respect to its own members. Section 3. Trial of an Impeached Officer. --- A trial shall commence as soon as an impeachable officer has been impeached. The trial shall be prosecuted by a currently-enrolled student of the College or group of

currently-enrolled students of the College selected by the signatories of the impeachment complaint. The trial shall be heard either by the Student Tribunal, with respect to the members of the Central Board, the Electoral Commission and the Commissioner of the Bar Operations Commission, or the Central board, with respect to members of the Student Tribunal. No impeached officer shall be convicted of impeachment charges except upon a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of all the members of the respective impeachment court en banc. The right of the impeached officer to be heard by the impeachment court shall be accorded and respected. The trial must begin within fifteen days after the officer has been impeached. The trial shall, as far as practicable, run for only forty-five days. Section 4. Effects of Conviction. --- Any impeached officer who has been convicted by the proper impeachment court shall automatically be removed from his office. Furthermore, no such convicted officer may be allowed to file a certificate of candidacy for any position in the Central Board nor may he be appointed as a member of the Student Tribunal and of the Constitutional Commissions: Provided that such officer shall still be allowed to run as College Representative. Section 5. Effects on the College Representative. --- The College Representative may also be impeached and be convicted thereof under the provisions herein, although its effect shall be limited to the removal of his status as an ex-officio member of the Central Board, his entitlement to seat in its meetings, his chairpersonship over any committee of the Central Board, his right to represent himself as a member of the Law Student Government, and to be qualified to run in any position in the Central Board or to be appointed as a Member of the Student Tribunal and the Constitutional Commissions. In no case shall such conviction remove him as College Representative to the University Student Council, unless otherwise stated by the University Student Council Constitution. It shall be the duty of the Student Tribunal and of the Electoral Commission, jointly, to inform, by writing, the University Student Council of the said conviction, and the effects thereof, within seven days from the promulgation of the decision. Section 6. Effects of Acquittal. --- Any impeached officer acquitted by the proper impeachment court may not be impeached for more than once for the same act.

ARTICLE VI TRANSITORY PROVISIONS Section 1. --- The incumbent General Assembly and Executive Board shall continue serving in their capacities until the last day of classes of the academic year during which this Constitution takes effect. Section 2. --- The incumbent Electoral and Judicial Tribunal shall continue serving in its capacity until the last day of classes of the academic year during which this Constitution takes effect. The outgoing Chairperson of the Tribunal shall, with or without the aid of a transitory committee, at her election, be charged with the responsibility of selecting seven (7) of its present members to sit as the permanent members of the Tribunal throughout the first academic year immediately following the effectivity of this Constitution. Such selection shall be declared on the day on which the outgoing Tribunal ceases to function. The seven (7) members so selected shall begin to serve as such on the same date. Section 3. --- The incumbent Organizational Affairs Board shall continue serving in its capacity until the last day of classes of the academic year during which this Constitution takes effect. After such date, the Central Board shall constitute the Organizational Affairs Committee, transferring thereunder the erstwhile functions of the Organizational Affairs Board. Section 4. --- The Academic Reforms Committee shall continue serving in its capacity until the last day of classes of the academic year during which this Constitution takes effect. On or before such date, the members of the Committee shall submit a list of member-nominees for the position of Academic Reforms Commissioner to the President in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Upon appointment by the President, the Academic Reforms Commission shall be constituted by the Commissioner. Unless otherwise provided in the Commissions rules, the incumbent members of the Committee shall be carried-over as members of the Commission.

Section 7. Prohibition from Resignation. --- No impeachable officer who has been impeached may resign from his office until he has been acquitted from the impeachment charges against him. He may, however, take a voluntary leave of absence during the period of his trial. The impeachment court may also order that the impeached officer be placed in preventive suspension from his office during the period of his trial. ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS OR REVISION Section 1. Proposal. --- Amendments to or a revision of this Constitution may only be proposed by the Central Board, upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the voting members of the Central Board, or by a petition of at least one-third (1/3) of all the currently enrolled students of the College. A petition to amend or revise the Constitution by the students shall be submitted to the Electoral Commission who shall have the duty of ascertaining the validity of the signatures in the petition and determining whether the required number of signatures have been attained. The petition shall be deemed valid if the Commission does not find any defect therein within two consecutive weeks immediately after the petition has been tendered to it. Once the validity of the petition has been ascertained, the Commission shall subject the proposal to a plebiscite. Section 2. Ratification. --- The proposed amendment or revision shall take effect upon its ratification by a majority of the votes cast, provided that a majority of all the currently-enrolled students voted in favor of ratification, provided further that at least one-fifth (1/5) of all the students of the Evening Program and onefourth (1/4) of all the students of each batch of the Day Program voted in favor of ratification, in a plebiscite held for that purpose by the Electoral Commission. Plebiscites for such proposals shall take place no earlier than fifteen days nor later than thirty days after the Central Board submits it to the Electoral Commission or the petition by initiative has been ascertained to be valid. It shall be the duty of the Central Board to inform all students of the College about the proposed amendments or revision before the plebiscite. No plebiscite to approve a proposed amendment or revision shall run for more than three days, excluding holidays or suspension of classes. Section 3. Certification and Proof. --- In case this Constitution is amended, a certification of the true text of the ratified amendment shall be attached to all

Section 5. --- The National Affairs Committee shall continue serving in its capacity until the last day of classes of the academic year during which this Constitution takes effect. After such date, it shall be known as the Public Affairs Committee and shall be constituted in accordance with the policies of the Central Board. Section 6. --- The Vice President shall continue serving in her capacity as Bar Operations Head until a Bar Operations Commissioner is appointed. Within five (5) days from the effectivity of this Constitution, the Vice President shall submit the list of nominees to the President, who shall select and appoint one (1) nominee to such office within three (3) days from receipt of the list. The Commissioner so appointed shall serve in such capacity until the last day of classes of the first semester of the academic year immediately following the effectivity of this Constitution, in accordance with Article V Section B.2 herein.

the original copies of this Constitution within thirty days after such ratification. The fact and date of any ratified amendment to this Constitution shall also be noted at the bottom of the first page of subsequent copies of this Constitution produced after its ratification. Section 4. Limitations. --- No proposed amendment or revision of this Constitution shall be made by the Central Board or by petition at any time within forty days before the last day of any semester.Furthermore, no proposed amendment or revision of this Constitution shall be made by the Central Board within a period of three years immediately starting from the approval of this Constitution, nor may subsequent proposals for amendments or a revision of this Constitution be proposed by the Central Board within three years after every approval of a proposed amendment of this Constitution. During such period, however, an amendment or revision of this Constitution may still be proposed through a petition, provided that such petition is not initiated by the Central Board or any of its members.

Upon appointment, the Commissioner shall immediately constitute the Bar Operations Commission. All monies, credits, documents and the like belonging to the Committee shall be fully turned ARTICLE VII over to the Commission within a period of thirty (30) TRANSITORY PROVISIONS days. Unless otherwise provided in the Commissions rules, the incumbent members of the Committee shall Section 1. Effectivity. --- This Constitution shall be carried-over as members of the Commission. take effect immediately upon its ratification by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite held for that Section 7. --- The Electoral and Judicial purpose. Tribunal shall conduct elections for the Central Board in accordance with this Constitution simultaneously Section 2. Creation of the Magna Carta. --with the University Student Council elections Until finished, approved by the students, and immediately following the effectivity of this recognized by the College administration, it may be Constitution. included as a primary function and duty of the Central ARTICLE VII Board to exert all efforts in the codification of a Magna RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS Carta for Students Rights.

Section 1. Effectivity. --- This Constitution Section 3. Amount of the Students Fee. --shall take effect immediately upon its ratification by a Until otherwise adjusted by the Central Board in majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite held for that accordance with Article I, Section 6 of this purpose. Constitution, the amount the Law Student Government shall collect as fee from each student Section 2. Amendment or Revision. --- By a every semester of enrollment shall be One Hundred majority vote of all the members of the Central Board, Pesos (P100.00). any proposed amendment or revision of this Constitution shall be submitted to the student body of Section 4. Incumbent members of the Central the College for ratification. Said amendment or Board. --- The incumbent members of the Central revision shall take effect upon its ratification by a Board shall continue serving in their capacities until the majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite held for that last day of the second semester of this academic year. purpose. The College Representative shall remain an ex officio member of the Central Board until his or her term ends in accordance with the University Student Council Constitution.

Section 5. Existing Committees of the Central Board. --- The existing committees of the Central Board shall continue to exist only until the end of the term of the incumbent Central Board except for the Students Rights and Welfare and Academic Reforms Committee, the Public Affairs Committee, the Sports Committee, the Registration Committee, and the Students Lounge Committee, which shall continue to exist even after the last day of the second semester of this academic year. Section 6. Chairpersons of the Students Rights and Welfare Committee, the Public Affairs Committee, the Sports Committee, and the Organizational Affairs Committee. --- The incumbent VicePresident of the Central Board shall continue to serve as chairperson of the Students Rights and Welfare Committee and the Public Affairs Committee, while the Public Relations Officer shall continue to serve as chairperson of the Sports Committee and the Organizational Affairs Committee until the end of their term. Section 7. Incumbent members of the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal. --- The incumbent Electoral and Judicial Tribunal shall continue serving in its capacity until the last day of classes of the academic year during which this Constitution takes effect. The outgoing Chairperson of the Tribunal shall, with or without the aid of a transitory committee, at her election, be charged with the responsibility of selecting fifteen (15) of its present members to sits as the permanent members of the Electoral Commission subject to the limitations imposed by this Constitution on membership and affiliation, and with due consideration on the tenure of the existing members. Such selection shall be declared on the day on which the outgoing Tribunal ceases to function. The fifteen (15) members so selected shall begin to serve as such on the same date. Section 8. Bar Operations Commission Members and Structure. --- The effectivity of this Constitution shall not affect the tenure of the incumbent officers and members of the Bar Operations Commission nor the Commissions existing structure. Section 9. Impeachment Procedure. --- The incumbent members of the Central Board and the incumbent Academic Reforms Commissioner may only be removed through the impeachment procedure provided by the 2009 University of the Philippines Law Students Constitution. The incumbent members of the Electoral and Judicial Tribunal and the incumbent Bar Operations Commissioner may only be removed through the impeachment procedure provided by the

2009 University of the Philippines Law Students Constitution until the last day of the second semester after which the procedure delineated by this Constitution shall become operative. Section 10. Elections of the first members of the Central Board. --- The Electoral Commissionl shall conduct elections for the first members of the Central Board under this Constitution, in accordance with the said Constitution, not necessarily simultaneously with the University Student Council elections, Provided that it shall not be held beyond the first week of March, 2012. It shall be the duty of the Commission to organize a forum wherein the Central Board may inform the candidates the duties and functions of the Central Board, and its individual members and committees under this Constitution, especially with respect to the position they are running for. Section 11. Duty of the Electoral Commissionl to amend and publish its Internal Rules of Procedures and Conduct. --- The incumbent members of the Electoral Commission must immediately adjust their Rules of Procedure in accordance with the changes in the Constitution and publish the same on the Tribunals Bulletin Board. Section 14. Repeal of the 2009 University of the Philippines Law Students Constitution. --- The 2009 University of the Philippines Law Students Constitution shall automatically be repealed once this Constitution takes effect. However, provisions of the 2009 University of the Philippines Law Students Constitution referred to by the provisions of this Article of this Constitution, whether expressly or impliedly, shall remain operative until the last day of the second semester of this academic year. Section 15. Repository of this Constitution. --Original copies of this Constitution shall be deposited with the Library of the College of Law of the University of the Philippines and the Central Board within thirty days after this Constitution takes effect.