SAMAHAN

Local Government Code

 Guarantee one of the basic
institutions of SAMAHAN
Why the political and legal recognition.
SAMAHAN
Local
Government Provide framework for relations
Code? between SAMAHAN and the
student executive councils.
 Places a process to create and admit local student
councils
Defines the separation of powers between
SAMAHAN and LSCs.
Sets the jurisdiction of LSCs and SAMAHAN.
Key Features
Establishes three permanent offices common
among all LSCs.
Guarantees the autonomy of LSCs to their internal
affairs and governance.
 Provides a Assures fiscal
process of and asset
removal of LSC management
officers. among LSCs.

Key Features
Grants powers
Requires a
of initiative and
mandatory
referendum for
review of Code’s
the first time to
implementation.
students.
 An interim
There is a general administration will Interim administration
assembly among form, appointed by 3/4s will administer until the

Creating,
students of the cluster. majority of SAMAHAN elections.
Central Board.

Admitting,
and
They will establish local
A 60% vote of the total
constitutional
population is needed to
commission or act as
Dissolving
recognize draft
the constitutional
constitution.
assembly.

Local Student
Councils They have 60 days to
After 60 days,
COMELEC will organize
draft a constitution.
a plebiscite.
 The interim
The SCB President
administration
Creating, sends letter to the
may or may not
confirm.
Admitting, SCB President.
and
Dissolving
Local Student Confirmation will
No confirmation
Councils lead to a seat in the
may be overridden
SCB and grant of
by 3/4s of the SCB.
voting power.
Creating,
Admitting, and
 When the University officially abolishes a cluster, it will
Dissolving also the mean the end of a local student council.
Local Student
Councils
  General powers of local student councils include:
 Represent and defend the interests and welfare of the
students within their cluster;
Clear  Provide avenues of participation and empowerment among
students within their cluster;
Separation  Resolve issues and concerns among students within their
and Definition cluster;
 Craft local policies, programs, and projects for the benefit of
of Powers the students within their cluster;
 Initiate and implement local policies, programs and projects
within their cluster;
  General powers of local student councils include:
 Formulate internal checks and balances;
 Guarantee the effectiveness and efficiency of their local
student councils;

Clear  Decide on the internal affairs and governance of their local

student councils;
Separation  Consult and cooperate actively within their cluster’s faculty or
administration in resolving issues or concern;
and Definition  Guarantee that the exercise of such general powers do not
of Powers infringe on the reserved powers of the SAMAHAN Central
Board;
 Create positions or committees within their local student
councils necessary to discharge the mentioned general
powers.
  Reserved powers of SAMAHAN are:
 Act as the overall governing and representative authority of
the studentry;
Clear  Work towards the fair and effective representation of the
Separation students within all University bodies;
 Advise the University administration in the appointment or
and Definition removal of the Director of the Office of Student Affairs;

of Powers  Formulate policies that improve the welfare and advance the
interests of the studentry;
  Reserved powers of SAMAHAN are:
 Create additional committees or departments within the
SAMAHAN Central Board;

Clear  Conduct the election of class officers during the first and
second semesters of the school year;
Separation  Create procedures for the internal affairs and governance of

and Definition
the SAMAHAN Central Board;
 Approve and disburse the SAMAHAN funds to the branches
of Powers of SAMAHAN, its committees or departments, and the local
student councils.
  Shared powers of SAMAHAN and the LSCs are:
 Provide mutual assistance in upholding the welfare and interests of
the studentry;

Clear  Ensure cooperation on the planning and implementation of each

other’s plans, programs, and projects;

Separation  Build consensus on issues and concerns affecting students;

 Seek redress, within proper avenues, when student rights
and Definition guaranteed by the Constitution or any other legislation are infringed
or violated;
of Powers  Advocate changes in existing University policies or processes for the
benefit of the students.
  The jurisdiction of the local student council is only to its
own cluster.
 If it is the entire studentry or multiple clusters, the SCB
has jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction  Any conflict on jurisdiction should be resolved by the
SCB in a formal proceeding within fifteen (15) days .
 If the local student council is not satisfied with the
decision, an appeal to OSA can be done.
  Three permanent offices are established for all LSCs.
 Office of the Cluster Representative
 Office of the External Vice-President
Permanent  Office of the Internal Vice-President
Positions in  SECs enjoy how powers and responsibilities are
LSCs allocated on these offices.
 SECs are free to name these positions.
  Internal affairs and governance is the administration of
the inner workings of LSCs.
 LSCs are guaranteed of this as long as exercised
Autonomy, without malice or prejudice.
 Formulate and make local constitutions and internal
Internal procedures.

Affairs and  Make LSC’s organizational structures, positions, or

committees.
Governance  Ensure conduct of officers within their LSC.
 Partner with outside and inside organizations.
  If there is an abuse of LSC autonomy, with malice or
Autonomy, prejudice . . .
 Any bonafide student may file complaint to SCB.
Internal  If there is conflict between SCB and LSC autonomy . . .
Affairs and  The LSC can file complaint to OSA.
Governance
  It covers only SAMAHAN funds allocated to SECs (as
recommended by DIA).
 LSCs enjoy autonomy in the use of their SAMAHAN funds and
assets bought from such, as long as reasonable and appropriate.
 No SAMAHAN funds or assets to be released nor purchased unless
Fiscal and appropriated by the LSC and supported by official documents.

Asset  LSCs shall ensure transparency in the use of their SAMAHAN

funds and the assets.
Management  Officers responsible of LSC’s SAMAHAN funds and assets to be
held accountable and responsible while the SCB will designate an
audit body to audit and verify a local student council’s utilization
of its SAMAHAN funds.
  The cluster representative should only be removed
through impeachment alone.

Removal of  Anyone below will only be removed as provided by

each LSC’s constitution or code of internal procedures.
Officers  If the officer finds the decision unsatisfactory, he/she
can appeal OSA.
 Initiative is when students can propose a policy or
program to their LSC.

Not less than 15% of the total population of a cluster may

forward a proposal.
Initiative and
Referendum Petitioners can request an SCB, CCO, GA, or any officer or
member of student clubs to help them make their
proposal.
Petitioners will have 15 days to gather signatures and will
send a letter to COMELEC so they can assign an officer to
maintain the initiative’s integrity.
 The proposal must be
signed before the COMELEC will then
COMELEC officer and certify if 50% + 1 has
the petitioners or booths been reached.
may be designated.

It can only be done once

No petition regarding the
expansion of powers is
Initiative and
a year.
allowed.
Referendum

If adopted by the LSC

before the gathering of
the signatures, it is
automatically effective.
  Compliance to the Code shall be done by the SCB by
Mandatory the end of the school year.

Review  Results of the review should be published in public

spaces.