Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2008 DLSUD USC Constitution
2008 DLSUD USC Constitution
2008 DLSUD USC Constitution
PREAMBLE
We, the students of De La Salle University-Dasmarias, with the aid of Almighty God,
desirous of establishing a democratic student council that shall unite the whole student
body, protect and preserve the rights and interests, inculcate awareness and fidelity to
duties and responsibilities, encourage involvement in the university and in the society,
imbued with Lasallian Core values: Spirit of Faith, Zeal for Service and Communion in
Mission do hereby establish and promulgate this Constitution.
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES
A. PRINCIPLES
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a. Democratic
Internal school regulations that concern the students shall
be subject to their consent through their duly elected
representatives, unless otherwise stipulated by the
Philippine laws and jurisprudence.
a. Autonomous
It shall enjoy:
b.1. Administrative Autonomy
The University Student Council has control over its
administrative functions guided by the provisions of
the Student Handbook and other related guidelines.
SECTION 2: The University Student Council believes that all decisions should
be arrived at in a democratic manner. The will of the majority shall
always prevail without infringing on the right of the minority.
SECTION 4: The University Student Council believes that collaboration with the
administration, faculty and support staff is indispensable in
achieving common goals.
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SECTION 5: The USC believes that there should be amicable ties with other
schools, universities and organizations nationwide, especially
within the Southern Tagalog region.
SECTION 6: The USC believes in the development of the total person under
the Lasallian core values of spirit of faith, zeal for service and
communion in mission.
SECTION 9: The USC believes that the rights and welfare of the individual
student should be upheld and defended at all times.
SECTION 10: The University Student Council believes that education is a right
and definitely not a privilege.
SECTION 11: The University Student Council believes that it is a part and parcel
of a larger society, thus the students have direct responsibility
over the Filipino people, in general, and the people of Cavite
together with the Lasallian community in particular.
SECTION 12: The University Student Council believes that all Council Officers
should remain at all times faithful to the office he/she is serving
and should not in any occasion allow partisan interest to prevail
over office duties and functions.
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SECTION 13: The University Student Council adheres to the legal principle of in
loco parentis. Herein, the school, its administrators and teachers
shall have special parental authority and responsibility over
students while under their supervision, instruction or custody.
B. OBJECTIVES
SECTION 2: The University Student Council, together with the student groups,
shall be an active agent in promoting national awareness and
consciousness among DLSU-D students.
SECTION 4: The University Student Council shall protect the rights and welfare
of the students at all times.
SECTION 5: The University Student Council, together with the student groups,
shall enjoin the students to act as one in advancing their rights
and welfare.
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SECTION 6: The University Student Council shall regularly conduct
consultation with students so as to be guided by their sentiments.
(with considerations on Article VIII)
SECTION 7: The University Student Council shall promote the Lasallian identity
of spirit of faith, zeal for service and communion in mission.
ARTICLE III
BILL OF STUDENT RIGHTS
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SECTION 2: Right to freedom of expression and Right to dignity.
SECTION 4: Right to form and/or join organizations the purpose of which not contrary to
law.
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SECTION 5: Right to information.
a. In accordance with the policies and guidelines of the University, every
student has the right to information on matters of student concerns
which include but not limited to academic records and evaluation.
Access to official records, acts, transactions, decisions and fiscal
matters, as well as data used as basis for policy formulation shall not
be impaired.
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SECTION 6: Right to privacy.
a. Every student has the right to privacy of communication and
correspondence.
b. Every student shall not be subject to any form of
unreasonable search or seizure. Except for the following
instances, no search or seizure of a student shall be
deemed valid:
b. 1. Searches made at the ingress or egress by
persons in authority of the school.
b.2. Illegal articles that are discovered inadvertently
and in plain view by authorized personnel.
b. 3. Searches and seizures made when the
student is about to commit, committing or
has just committed a crime or major offense as
stipulated in the student handbook.
b. 4. Searches made with a valid search warrant.
SECTION 9: Right to equal access to adequate and safe properties, facilities and
equipment.
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SECTION 10: Right to due process.
a. Every student has the right to be informed of the nature of the
complaint or accusations against him/her.
b. Every student has the right to meet the complainant and the
witnesses face to face.
c. Every student has the right to examine the evidence against him/her.
d. Every student has the right to be represented by a competent counsel
of his/her own choice.
e. Every student has the right to fair, impartial and speedy trial.
f. Every student has the right to be accompanied by a
counsel of his/ her own choice. (The counsel may be but
not limited to a faculty member, guidance counselor, or a
fellow student). Adequate time shall be given for the
preparation of the defense.
g. Every student has the right to have their parents or
guardians witness the said proceedings.
h. Every student has the right to appeal any decision within
the University and even before the CHED and the regular
courts as part of his/her exhaustion of remedies.
i. Every student has the right to know what degree of guilt is
being employed in all disciplinary proceedings.
j. Every student has the Right to be presumed innocent until
proven otherwise.
SECTION 11: Right against inhumane, degrading, and humiliating treatment and
penalty.
a. Every student has the right against involuntary servitude.
b. Every student has the right against excessive fines.
c. Every student has the right to be protected against any penalty not
provided for in the student handbook.
SECTION 12: Right to invoke all other rights as guaranteed in Article III of the 1987
Philippine Constitution.
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ARTICLE IV
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS
ARTICLE V
COMPOSITION, ELECTION, TERM OF OFFICE QUALIFICATION AND
VACANCIES OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL
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b. Legislative Board
b.1 Presidents of different College Council as official
representatives
SECTION 2: The USC officers shall be elected at large by the bona fide
students of DLSU-D. On the other hand, the Presidents of the
different College Student Councils shall be elected by bona fide
students of their respective colleges.
SECTION 5: All USC officers are required to submit a report of grades every
end of the semester to the Student Development and Activities
Office (SDAO).
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SECTION 6: a. Permanent vacancies may occur in the following situations:
a.1 Impeachment
a.2 Permanent physiological and/or psychological
incapacity.
a.3 Resignation
a.4 Removal from office (Disqualification to continue
holding office)
b. Temporary vacancies may occur in but not limited to the
following:
b.1 Official business outside the university
b.2 Filing of Leave of absence from office.
b.3 Temporary physiological and/or psychological
incapacity.
In all cases, temporary vacancy can only last for five (5) to
thirty (30) working days; however it could be extended to a
maximum of sixty (60) working days due to justifiable
reasons as determined by the SDAO.
SECTION 7: In case of vacancy in any of its position, the council shall pass
within 3 working days a resolution declaring that a vacancy exists
and notice thereof shall be given to the Dean of Student Services
through SDAO. The resolution shall specify the grounds for
declaration of vacancy.
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SECTION 9: If a permanent vacancy occurs in any remaining University
Student Council office, the remaining USC Executive Board shall
convene within 3 working days upon submission of the resolution
to SDAO with the Legislative Board a special meeting called for
the purpose to elect among the Legislative Board who shall fill the
vacancy. The elected officer shall, however, serve only for the
unexpired term.
SECTION 10: In case none of the members of Legislative Board is willing to fill
the vacant position, the USC shall ask for their recommendations
through memorandum. The LB is given seven (7) working days to
comply upon the receipt of such memorandum. The
recommendation should be accompanied by the recommendees
curriculum vitae. Recommendations are limited to one (1) qualified
student per college.
SECTION 11: The remaining USC Executive Board shall convene within three
(3) working days with the Legislative Board a special meeting
called for the purpose to elect among the recommendee/s who
shall fill the vacancy. The elected officer shall, however, serve
only for the unexpired term.
SECTION 13: In case of temporary vacancy in the office of the President, the
Vice President shall, ipso facto, be the acting president until such
vacancy ceases to exist.
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SECTION 14: In case of temporary in both of the offices of the President and
Vice President, the remaining members of the USC Executive
Board shall elect among themselves the acting president until
such vacancy ceases to exist.
SECTION 15: If any of the offices of the Executive Board aside from the
Presidency becomes temporarily vacant, the President shall
appoint Officer/s-in-Charge from the Executive Board without
relinquishing their original post until such temporary vacancy
ceases to exist.
ARTICLE VI
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS
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f. prepares and implements the budget of the council with
the concurrence of the majority of the University Student
Council Executive Board;
g. religiously attends the Institutional Council meetings such
as:
g.1 Presidents Council meeting
g.2 Operations Council meeting
g.3 Safety and Security Council meeting (Internal and
External)
g.4 University Development Council meeting
g.5 Academic Council meeting by invitation
g.6 and other meetings called by special councils and/or
committees
h. performs such other duties which may be necessary for the
proper discharge and performance of the function of his/her
office.
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SECTION 4: The Treasurer:
a. collects and receives all incoming funds except for the
University Student Council fund which is to be collected by the
Accounting Office therefore;
b. monitors cash flows of the University Student Council trust
fund;
c. supervises all payments, requisitions and the liquidation of
transactions;
d. renders a financial report to the University Student Council
after every activity;
e. assists all College Student Council treasurers in preparing
financial reports/statements;
f. requests a financial report from the Accounting Office if
deemed necessary;
g. performs all other functions delegated by the President.
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c. Screens all project proposal prepared by other Executive
Board and submits the same to the proper authorities;
d. Screens all sponsorship requests by other organization and
reports to the University Student Council Executive Board the
details of sponsorship for approval.
e. performs all other functions delegated by the President.
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b. May conduct inquiries and investigations assuring that
members of Executive Board are performing their functions
c. Airs concerns/issues of their respective colleges constituents
to the University Student Council
In case of inaction of the President after seven (7) working days, the resolutions
shall be deemed approved.
ARTICLE VII
ACCOUNTABILITY OF STUDENT LEADERS/OFFICERS
SECTION 1. All student leaders must set an example to their fellow students. They must
be guided by the Lasallian core values, with a fervent love for learning
and excellence. Their disposition should be geared toward the Lasallian
virtue of servant leadership. Following the footsteps of Saint John Baptist
De La Salle, they should continue to participate meaningfully in the
process of social transformation by helping to form God-centered, people-
oriented, and patriotic persons who serve as responsible and
professionally competent stewards of God's creation.
SECTION 2. The USC officer/s shall be disqualified to continue holding the office on any
of the following grounds:
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a.1 immediately before his/her term
a.2 during his/her term
b. failure to enroll during his/her term of office
c. failure to attend regular meetings for five (5) times within the semester
or three (3) consecutive times unless valid reasons are presented.
d. guilty of committing a major offense.
e. guilty of any criminal offense by a regular court.
SECTION 4. All USC officer/s shall be subject to impeachment under of any of the
following grounds:
a. Culpable violation of the constitution.
b. Gross inability to perform his/her official function as per stated in
Article VI except for Section 2.c.
c. Malversation of council funds.
d. holding incompatible office. Holding any executive position in other
student groups shall be deemed incompatible.
SECTION 6. All impeachment cases shall be filed to the OSS through SDAO.
SECTION 7: An impeachment case can be filed against an officer only once during his
term of office.
SECTION 8. Any case of impeachment against any USC officers shall be deliberated
upon by the Executive Board and Legislative Board jointly in a special
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session called for the purpose. This shall be presided by the USC
president. However if it is the President who is under trial it shall be the
vice-president who shall preside. Any of whom shall have no voting
power. No officer shall be convicted without the concurrence of three-
fourths of all members present. The entire proceedings shall be
witnessed by the following: USC adviser, SDAO director and OSS dean.
SECTION10. Procedural and substantial due process shall be strictly observed on the
entire duration of the impeachment proceedings.
SECTION 11.Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not exceed further than removal
from office.
ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL
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b.1 Mamulat, makiisa at kumilos
b.1.1 Mamulat (educate)
to conduct research, studies, fora and other
similar activities regarding issues within and
outside of the university.
b.1.2 Makiisa (be in solidarity with)
to be in solidarity with and collaboration with
the concerned sectors within and outside
the university.
b.1.3 Kumilos (mobilize)
to organize and mobilize the students to act
in accordance with the stand they have
taken on specific issues.
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speedy, impartial and competent disposition of
cases.
Events Committee
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ARTICLE IX
MEETINGS
a. Executive Board
b. Executive and Legislative Board
c. Executive Board and Committee Heads
d. Legislative Board
SECTION 3 There shall be a quorum if majority (50 percent plus one) of all the
members called for the meeting are present.
SECTION 4 During the regular and special meetings, the University Student
Council Adviser shall be duly notified. His/her presence is required
if deemed necessary.
ARTICLE X
SECTION 3
The term of the USC Adviser shall be co-terminus with the USC
Executive Board.
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SECTION 4 The University Student Council Adviser shall have the following
functions:
a. advise the University Student Council;
b. maintain liaison between the University Student Council and
the administration;
c. maintain close relations with the duly elected officers of the
Council and work in accordance with the goals and principles
of this Constitution;
d. accompany the USC Executive Board in activities if deemed
necessary by the nature thereof; and
e. sign all resolutions, communication, and papers of the
University Student Council.
ARTICLE XI
SECTION 1 The University Student Council Fund shall come from a fixed
contribution of every student enrolled during current school year
and other sources derived from approved fund raising projects.
SECTION 4 All expenses of the council shall be paid out from this fund in
accordance with approved university guidelines on accounting and
auditing rules and procedures.
SECTION 6 The balance of the University Student Council Fund for a specific
term shall be added to the fund for the next term.
SECTION 7 For all purposes of this fund, the incumbent officers and their
successors must use this fund to benefit the students in general.
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ARTICLE XII
MAGISTRATE
Section 2 For section1 a., the power of interpreting this constitution shall be vested
in the Magistrate. In case of vagueness to the provision of this
Constitution, the proper authority to resolve this shall be the Magistrate.
Section 4. The Dean of the Student Services shall be acting as the overall
Chairperson of the Magistrate. The chairperson shall preside in all cases
while the remaining officers shall accompany him in rendering decision.
Each office is entitled to one vote.
Whenever ambiguity still arises, the magistrate can seek outside opinion
coming from the original members of the constitutional convention.
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Section 5. A motion asking for proper interpretation or settling of actual
controversies shall be filed before the office of the chairperson. When the
chairperson sees merit on the motion, the Magistrate shall immediately
convene. They must resolve the issue within thirty (30) days otherwise
such motion shall be granted favorably to the request of the petitioner.
Section 7. All documents and decisions rendered by the Magistrate shall be put into
writing and stored in a separate file for review of cases where the same
facts and issues have been presented for proper disposition.
Section 8. The Magistrate shall observe the principle of stare decisis while rendering
its decision. The proponent of the motion shall be the one to prove its
cause and merit while the representative coming from the USC EB shall
defend the constitutionality of its act.
.Section 10. All decisions rendered by the Magistrate shall be deemed final and
executory unless amended, revised, or reversed by the same body sitting
en banc.
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ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS AND REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION
SECTION 1. The amendment and the revision of the Constitution may be made only
under the rules and procedures as follows:
SECTION 2. Upon the approval of the motion, the University Student Council Executive
Board will determine the mode of convening and forming a body entitled
to amend or revise the constitution. The following can be used for specific
purpose:
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a.1 University Student Council Executive Board
a.2 Legislative Board
a.3 Council of Student Organizations Executive Board
a.4 Heraldo Filipino Editorial Board
a.5 Council of Presidents of Performing Arts Group
a.6 University Student Commission on Election
a.7 Student Auxiliary Group
a.8 Office of the Student Services
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RATIFICATION
ARTICLE XIV
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS
Section 1. This Constitution shall take effect immediately after its ratification through
a majority votes cast on a plebiscite.
Section 2. The qualifications set herein shall only govern the candidates starting
school year 2009-2010.
Section 3. This Constitution shall serve as the basic and paramount law of all
elected student leaders in this university (USC, CSCs). Any document
which is contrary to the provisions herein shall be held null and void.
Notwithstanding this, it is also accepted that every college council has
some distinct and separate attributes necessary for the performance of
their functions. Due to this, this constitution allows exceptions for the
benefit of the college councils. The following provisions shall serve as
exceptions, and may not be observed by the college councils:
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To maintain those which are distinct with the CSCs, each of them shall
make those as part of their Internal Rules which shall be in accordance
with the provisions of this Constitution.
Section 4 For the provisions on Article 12 which calls on the other recognized
student groups (HF, CSO, USCE) to be part of the Magistrate, they shall
also be bound by its supremacy to abide its mandate.
The foregoing proposed Constitution of University Student Council was approved by the
Students Constitutional Convention of 2007 on the nineteenth day of January, Two
Thousand and Eight and accordingly signed on the same day at the Conference room B
of the Severino de Las Alas Building, De La Salle University Dasmarias, Cavite by
the delegates whose signatures are affixed in a separate resolution adopting the same.
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The Delegates to the 2007 Students Constitutional Convention
Officers
Chairman
Julius D. Rocas
Co-Chairman
Jerry Digo
Secretariat
Ana Marie Balanquit
Levimin Jose
Jihan Ledesma
Sgt. at Arms
Mica Marie Gregorio
Jordan Dimapilis
Consultant
Mr. Albert John R. Puchero
Faculty
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MEMBERS
University Student Council College of Law Enforcement Student
Joymay Amihan Council
Melo Jean Trios Emmanuelle Jude Garcesa
Maria May Manalo
University Student Commission on
Elections
Paula Yvette Farias College of Business Administration
Heraldo Filipino
Regilin Hernandez
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