THE CONSTITUTION

THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL________________________________________________________

PREAMBLE

W

e, the students of the University of Eastern Philippines Main Campus, imploring the aid of Almighty God,

Realizing the need to bind ourselves into an organization which shall serve as a vehicle to express our ideals, hopes, and aspirations,To promote the common good,

To enhance the involvement and enthusiasm of all the students in all the affairs of the University,

To attain a high degree of academic consciousness and excellence,

To promote and strengthen common ties among students, student groups and organizations, and other sectors of the University and of the society,

In order to instill in ourselves the spirit of patriotism and nationalism and the values of intellectual, social, moral, and aesthetic responsibility,

Do ordain and promulgate this Constitution:

ARTICLE I

NAME AND NATURE OF THE ORGANIZATION

Section 1 The official union of the students of the University of Eastern Philippines Main Campus shall be known as the University of Eastern Philippines University Student Council or UEP USC.

Section 2The official address of the University Student Council shall be at the Office of Student Affairs Compound, University of Eastern Philippines, University Town, Catarman, Northern Samar.

Section 3The University Student Council is the highest governing student body of the University of Eastern Philippines Main Campus.ARTICLE II

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

Section 1 The University Student Council shall have jurisdiction over all students of the main campus and shall be autonomous, representative and democratic.Section 2 The University Student Council stands for and advances the principle of academic freedom under a socially accountable and morally responsible exercise of a nationalistic, scientific, and mass oriented system of education.Section 3 The University Student Council shall protect and promote the rights, interests, welfare, and good of all the students.

Section 4 The University Student Council supports the struggle of the academic sector for the rights, interests, welfare, and good of the people.

Section 5 The University Student Council, shall, at all times, represent all the students of the UEP Main Campus in the UEP Federation of Student Councils and in the highest policy-making body of the University, the Board of Regents.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP AND SUFFRAGE

Section 1 All bona fide students of the University of Eastern Philippines Main Campus are members of the University Student Council which shall formally commence upon payment of semestral dues as provided in this Constitution and by-laws.

Section 2Every member of the University Student Council shall have the right to vote and be voted upon to any student position, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and by-laws.ARTICLE IV

BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1 No student of the University shall be deprived of his or her right to education without due process of law nor shall any student be denied the equal protection of the law.Section 2 Every student of the University shall have the right to be informed and consulted on matters which may directly or indirectly affect them before such matters are adopted.

Section 3Every student of the University shall have access to public official records of the University; documents involving official transactions or decisions shall be freely afforded to the students; provided, that confidential or private records between and involving students shall be kept confidential as may be provided by law.Section 4Every member of the University Student Council shall have the right to be heard of his or her opinion, ideas, reactions, or suggestions for and in consideration of any policy or any future appropriate action by the Council.Section 5Every student of the University shall have the right to exercise and enjoy the freedom of speech and of the press.Section 6 Every student of the University shall have the right to the free exercise of his or her religious beliefs, and the free exercise of conscience, political will, and social ideologies.

Section 7No student shall be obliged to pay for tickets for raffle draws, arts and public performances, stage shows and concerts donations, and sundries and miscellaneous contributions, imposed by the faculty members, pursuant of the Republic Act 6713 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public EmployeesSection 8All students of the University shall have the right to peaceably assemble for redress of grievances and to seek speedy action thereof.Section 9Every student of the University shall have the right to enjoy the full use and aid of all the adequate facilities, amenities, and services provided by the University, and to a speedy assistance by any personnel of the University.

Section 10No student of the University shall be subjected to any exploitation, harassment, extortion, intimidation, or cruel and unusual punishments.

ARTICLE V

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1 Every student of the University shall dutifully observe and uphold at all times the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the laws of the land, the Charter and the rules and regulations of the University of Eastern Philippines, and this Constitution and the by-laws from it proceeding.

Section 2 Every student of the University shall help engender an academic atmosphere conducive to intellectual excellence and physical advancement, and to the peace and harmony among various sectors of the University.

Section 3Every student of the University shall exercise his or her rights and responsibilities with due regard and respect for the rights of his or her fellow students and other members of the University community.Section 4 Every student has the obligation to cast his or her vote or be voted upon during the annual University Student Council elections subject to limitations provided by this Constitution and the Rules and Regulations on Student Organizations and Activities of the University Code.Section 5 Every student has the responsibility to attend and actively participate in regular and special assembly meetings and other activities of the Council and of the University whenever required.Section 6Every student shall exercise all other rights and perform such other duties and functions as provided by law, executive orders and memorandum circulars.ARTICLE VI

THE COLLEGE STUDENT COUNCILSection 1 All component Colleges of the University, regardless of population, shall have their own College Student Councils (CSCs).Section 2 Regardless of population, all College Student Councils shall have a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Business Manager, and Public Information Officer all of whom shall be elected at large.Section 3Any College Student Council of the University may, for the purpose of effectivity and efficiency, have other officers in addition to the officers in the preceding section, such as department, course, or year level representatives.Section 4Every College Student Council of the University shall:

a. plan, approve and implement programs and projects within the area of jurisdiction;b. enforce rules and policies formulated by the University Student Council and the Student Council Assembly;c. appropriate student funds for its college and administer them for the implementation of the projects relevant to the needs of its constituents; andd. submit a financial statement every end of the semester to the College Student Affairs Coordinator for review, approval and safekeeping, and post copies of which in conspicuous places within their jurisdiction.Section 5 The College Student Council President shall be an ex-officio College Representative to the University Student Council.Section 6All elected and appointed officials of the College Student Councils shall hold office for one (1) academic year or until another set of officers shall have been elected.

Section 7All College Student Councils shall collect their own fund from their respective constituents after a resolution shall have been approved by the majority of their officers, voting and present, in a meeting called for such purpose. Provided, further, that a consultation with the students shall be conducted before such resolution shall be made.Section 8The College Student Affairs Coordinator shall be an ex-officio adviser to the College Student Council. Additional advisers, who must be members of the faculty of the college, may be appointed by the CSC through a resolution approved by a majority of the officers, voting and present.ARTICLE VII

THE COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE

Section 1There shall be College Representatives to the University Student Council (USC) of the University of Eastern Philippines Main Campus for every 500 student population of a college or a major fraction thereof.Section 2As provided in Section 5 of Article VI of this Constitution, the College Student Council Presidents shall be ex-officio College Representatives to the University Student Council and shall be part of the required number of representatives from their respective colleges, the remainder thereof shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and the Rules and Regulations on Student Organizations and Activities.Section 3In case a College shall be entitled to only one (1) College Representative, the College Student Council President will automatically be the College Representative. As such, there shall be no election of college representatives for that particular College.Section 4The College Representative/s shall be voting ex-officio member/s of their respective College Student Councils, entitled to all rights, duties and responsibilities attached thereof and thus shall also be bound by their respective CSC rules and regulations.

Section 5The College Representative/s shall serve as the official liaison officer/s of the College Student Councils to the University Student Council.Section 6The election of the College Representative/s shall be conducted together with the elections for the other members of the University Student Council.Section 7The College Representative/s shall be subjected to and bound by the decisions of their respective College Student Councils in so far as the CSC matters are concerned.Section 8For purposes of effective and efficient management of the College Student Councils, CSC Presidents may revoke their right to be College Representatives and appoint another member of their Council as his or her replacement provided that such appointment shall be permanent and will last until the end of their unexpired term.ARTICLE VIII

THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL

Section 1The University Student Council shall be composed of the President, Vice President for Internal Affairs, Vice President for External Affairs, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Business Manager, Public Information Officer, and the College Representatives.Section 2The University Student Council President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall exercise authority over the Council. He/She shall:a. sign all resolutions, communications and papers of the Council unless he/she deems otherwise in specific cases;b. preside over all meetings of the Council, unless he/she designates another Council member to be the presiding officer;c. head the Student Council Assembly;d. have the power to nominate, twice the required number of members of the Constitutional Commissions and of the Student Tribunal. The Student Council Assembly (SCA) shall elect the members from among the nominees.e. be responsible for the effective implementation of the policies duly approved by the Student Council Assembly;f. be authorized to enter into, sign and execute contracts and agreements beneficial to the University Student Council upon consultation with the Student Council Assembly, with the concurrence of two thirds (2/3) vote of the SCA voting and present;

g. consult the Student Council Assembly on matters of consideration of the UEP Federation of Student Councils that may affect the welfare of the students and to adopt the position of the SCA on said matters;

h. approve vouchers covering the application of expenditures of the University Student Council funds before payments or disbursements are made by the Treasurer;i. represent the University Student Council and the UEP Main Campus in his/her official capacity as the USC President on occasions and events as needed; andj. perform such other duties as may be necessary or incidental to the discharge of the functions of the office.Section 3The Vice President for Internal Affairs shall assist the President in the discharge of his/her duties in matters pertaining to the internal affairs of the University Student Council and shall perform the duties and functions of the President in case of the latters absence, death, disability or resignation. He/She shall perform other functions that maybe assigned to him by the Student Council Assembly.Section 4The Vice President for External Affairs shall assist the president on matters pertaining to the external affairs of the University Student Council. He/She shall perform the duties and functions of the President in case of the latters absence, disability, death or resignation and when the VP for Internal Affairs cannot perform the said duties and functions for valid reason/s. He/she shall perform other functions that may be assigned to him/her by the Student Council Assembly.Section 5It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:

a. prepare the agenda of the meeting as approved by the President;b. take down minutes of the meetings together with the list of participants and tally the votes cast;c. certify all acts of the University Student Council;

d. act as custodian on all records, documents, minutes of meetings, list of general membership, election returns as well as written policies, projects and activities of the University Student Council;

e. certify the existence of a quorum, call the roll and read the minutes of the previous meeting;f. serve as the Secretary of the Student Council Assembly; and g. perform such other functions as may be assigned to him/her by the SCA and the USC President.Section 6It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to:

a. collect, receive, and issue receipts for all monies, funds and contributions to the University Student Council;

b. make sure that all disbursements and payments made by him/her are covered by vouchers and accompanied by necessary receipts;

c. take custody of all funds and assets of the University Student Council and keep the financial records in accordance with auditing rules and regulations;

d. withdraw money in accordance with duly approved resolutions of the University Student Council;

e. prepare such financial reports as may be required of him/her by the Student Council Assembly and/or the University Student Council, which shall include all money received and paid by him/her since he/she assumed office and the balance remaining in his/her hands at a time of rendering such accounts and other properties of the organization entrusted to his/her custody under his/her control. The rendering of such accounts shall be made :

at least once a year, within thirty days after the close of the University Student Council fiscal year; and at such other times as may be required by a resolution of the majority of the members of the University Student Council.f. prepare financial reports, balance sheets and statements of receipts and disbursements; andg. perform other duties assigned to him by the Student Council Assembly and the USC President.Section 7 The Auditor shall;

a. verify, examine and audit all financial accounts and expenditures of the University Student Council;

b. supervise the entries in the book of accounts of the University Student Council and shall render a report of his/her audit as maybe required by the Student Council Assembly and the University Student Council; and c. perform other duties inherent to his/her position.Section 8 The Business Manager shall:

a. be responsible for the supervision of all projects, business ventures and fund raising activities of the University Student Council;

b. establish linkages with other organizations related to investments and productive activities which are beneficial to the University Student Council; and

c. perform other functions as the Student Council Assembly and the USC President may assign.Section 9The Public Information Officer shall:

a. be in-charge on matters involving public relations, preparing press releases and other information relative to the activities of the University Student Council;

b. serve as the Editor in Chief of The Crier, the official publication of the University Student Council; andc. perform other duties assigned to him/her by the Student Council Assembly and the USC President.Section 10The University Student Council shall serve as the highest executive and implementing student body of the University of Eastern Philippines Main Campus. It shall also be the highest policy-making body when the Student Council Assembly is not in session.Section 11The Executive Officers of and College Representatives to the University Student Council officers shall have the following powers and functions:

a. be responsible for the administrative and day-to-day functions of the USC;b. ensure, monitor, direct and coordinate the plans, decisions and programs of the USC;c. make recommendations to the SCA on matters concerning the USC and the students in general;d. ensure the integration of the USC with the students of the University;e. formulate, approve, and enforce decisions, policies, resolutions, stands on issues and programs of action for the USC;f. manage all the funds and properties of the USC; andg. perform other functions and duties as may be delegated by the SCA.Section 12The Executive Officers of and College Representatives to the University Student Council shall be exempt from paying their semestral tuition fees during their term of office as provided in the UEP Board of Regents Resolution No. 26, Series of 2001.Section 13The University Student Council shall appoint advisers for administration, sports, cultural affairs, and other advisers, if deemed necessary, through a resolution duly approved by the majority of its officers, voting and present. The advisers must be faculty members of the UEP Main Campus.Section 14The USC shall, for the purpose of coordination, exercise overall supervision over all College Student Councils.ARTICLE IX

THE STUDENT COUNCIL ASSEMBLY

Section 1The Student Council Assembly shall be the highest policy-making body of the University Student Council.Section 2The Executive Officers of and College Representatives to the University Student Council along with the President of the Association of Recognized Campus Organizations, Sororities and Fraternities (ARCOSAF), the President of the University Junior and Senior Classes Organization (UJSCO), the President of the University Performing Arts Organization (UPAO), the Editor in Chief of The Pillar, and the Head of the Campus Ministry Organization (CMO), shall compose the Student Council Assembly.Section 3The University Student Council President shall be the head of the Student Council Assembly.Section 4The Student Council Assembly shall have the following powers and functions:

a. study and suggest amendments and revisions to the USC constitution subject to final ratification by the students in a constitutional plebiscite for the purpose;

b. formulate, approve and enforce decisions, policies, resolutions, stands on issues and programs of action of the USC;c. act and decide upon all cases of suspension of and impeachment/removal from the office of Council members subject to the provisions concerning expulsion and impeachment in this Constitution; andd. do such other duties and functions as it may deem necessary.Section 5The regular Student Council Assembly shall meet once a month during the term of the Council, excluding semestral breaks and Christmas holidays. The Council may, however, convene a regular SCA on the excluded dates.ARTICLE X

STUDENT TRIBUNAL

Section 1There shall be an autonomous Student Tribunal who shall be responsible for instituting arbitration procedures or disputes referred to it.Section 2Arbitration shall be to the extent possible a means of arriving at an amicable and conciliatory resolution of conflicts.Section 3Settlement of disputes between and among students shall be decided upon by the Student Tribunal. A simple majority (50% plus 1) decision by the members voting and present shall be final. Such decision shall be submitted for validation to the Dean of the Office of Student Affairs in order for the sentence to take effect.

Section 4 The Student Tribunal, in addition to instituting arbitration, shall officially interpret, upon request by parties concerned, pertinent provisions of this Constitution.Section 5The Student Tribunal shall have the power to promulgate rules and make its decisions and functions consistent with this Constitution.

Section 6Suspension and impeachment of officers of the University Student Council and members of the Student Tribunal and Constitutional Commissions shall be dealt with in accordance to Article XVIII of this Constitution.Section 7The Student Tribunal shall be composed of a Chief Magistrate and four (4) Associate Magistrates.

Section 8The President of the UEP Association of Law Students shall be the ex-officio Chief Magistrate of the Student Tribunal. The Chief Magistrate shall be the head of the Student Tribunal.Section 9The President of the ARCOSAF shall be an ex-officio Associate Magistrate. The three (3) other Associate Magistrates shall be elected by the SCA in the manner provided by Article VIII, Section 2d thereof.Section 10The Student Tribunal shall appoint a Legal Adviser who shall be an Attorney-at-Law and at the same time a faculty member of the UEP College of Law. Such adviser shall be appointed by a majority of vote of its members.ARTICLE XI

COMMISSION ON STUDENT ELECTIONS

Section 1The Commission on Student Elections (COSEL) is an autonomous Constitutional Commission which shall be composed of a Chairman and one representative from each college who will act as Commissioners who shall be elected by the SCA in the manner provided by Article VIII, Section 2d.Section 2The Head of the Campus Ministry Organization shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the COSEL.

Section 3Except for the Chairman, the Commissioners shall not hold any other office during his or her tenure.

Section 4The COSEL shall provide services such as:

a. to recommend to the Student Council Assembly effective measures to minimize all forms of election fraud and malpractice;b. to register and accredit political parties in accordance with the law;c. to enforce and administer all laws relative to the conduct of elections and plebiscites;d. to pass judgment on election protests concerning election returns and qualifications of candidates for elective positions; e. to report the results of election to the students and the entire University right after the proclamation; and

f. to organize and manage the Bantay Campus Volunteers.

Section 5The COSEL may sit en banc or in two divisions, and shall promulgate its rules and procedures in order to expedite disposition for election cases, including pre-proclamation controversies. All such election cases shall be heard and decided in the division by the commission en banc.

Section 6The Commission may recommend to the SCA the removal of any officer of the UEP Student Council for violations or disregard of and disobedience to its decision, order or directive.

Section 7 No suspension of sentence for violation of the law or rules and regulations concerning elections shall be meted out without the recommendation of the Commission.Section 8The Dean of the Office of Student Affairs shall be the ex-officio adviser of the Commission.ARTICLE XII

COMMISSION ON AUDIT

Section 1The Commission on Audit (COA) is an autonomous Constitutional Commission which shall be composed of a Chairman and four (4) Commissioners who shall be elected in manner provided by Article VIII, Section 2d.Section 2The President of the UEP Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Commission.

Section 3Except for the Chairman, the Commissioners shall not hold any other office during his or her tenure.

Section 4The COA shall have the following functions:

a. To audit all financial transactions affecting the various subdivisions of the USC including but not limited to CSCs;b. To submit to the SCA an audited semestral financial report of the USC and its subdivisions not later than thirty (30) days after the last semestral session of the SCA; andc. To recommend measures deemed necessary for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Student Councils financial management.Section 5The Commission shall appoint, through a majority vote of its members, an Adviser who shall be a faculty member of the UEP College of Business Administrations Accountancy DepartmentARTICLE XIIIRESIGNATIONS AND VACANCIES

Section 1In case of vacancy in the office of the President arising from death, permanent incapacity, removal from office, or resignation, the Vice President for Internal Affairs shall become the President and serve the unexpired term of the President. In any event, the VPIA shall be the acting President until the regular election is conducted.

Section 2In case of vacancy in the Office of the VPIA, the Vice President for External Affairs succeeds him/her.Section 3Other vacancies concerning Executive Officers shall be filled by the SCA by appointing any bona fide officer of the USC and who shall serve the unexpired term of his/her immediate predecessor.

Section 4Vacancies in the College Representatives shall be filled by the College Student Council concerned by appointing any bona fide officer of the CSC and who shall serve the unexpired term of his/her immediate predecessor.ARTICLE XIVSYSTEM OF ELECTIONS

Section 1The election will be handled by the Commission on Student Elections (COSEL) under the supervision of the Committee on University Student Organizations and Activities (CUSOA). In addition to Section 4 of Article XI, the COSEL and CUSOA shall:

a. adopt and promulgate rules and regulations that will ensure a free, clean, honest and orderly elections whether regular or special;

b. act upon the applications of candidacy of the candidates;

c. rule on any question or protest regarding the conduct of the elections; andd. proclaim the elected officers;Section 2 The regular election of the College Student Councils and the University Student Council shall be simultaneous not later than forty-five (45) days before the last day of the Final Examinations for non-graduating students during the Second Semester.Section 3Voting shall be by secret ballot and the election shall be decided by the plurality of votes.

Section 4In case of tie, a special election shall be held within seven days after such elections.

Section 5The duly elected officers shall assume into office within thirty (30) days after the Commencement Exercises has been held for that academic year at which time the outgoing administration shall turn over all records and properties of the USC to the new set of officers.ARTICLE XVSTUDENT FUNDS

Section 1There shall be a semestral membership fee collected from all students of the University to be determined and approved by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members of the SCA, voting and present, in a meeting called for such purpose.Section 2All fees shall be deposited in a reputable bank with the USC President and Treasurer as the official signatories.Section 3All amounts collected pursuant to the preceding section shall constitute the general fund of the University Student Council to defray all legitimate expenses of the USCs operations and any other purpose incidental to the attainment of the USC objectives.

Section 4The books of accounts and the other records of the financial activities of the University Student Council shall be open for inspection by any student any time during office hours.

Section 5Collection of semestral membership fees and other assessments shall be made during enrolment period.

Section 6The semestral financial reports of the University Student Council shall be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs for review, approval and safekeeping.

Section 7Copies of the semestral financial reports of the USC shall be posted in conspicuous places within the University and shall be published in the official student publication of the University, The Pillar, and in the official publication of the USC, The Crier.Section 8The balance of the USC general funds for a specific term shall be forwarded to its successor.ARTICLE XVIMEETINGS

Section 1The University Student Council shall have regular weekly meetings. Notice shall be given by the Secretary at least two (2) days before the meeting.

Section 2Special meetings of the University Student Council or that of the Student Council Assembly may be called at any time by the USC President or upon the majority of the SCA or upon petition of at least ten percent (10%) of all bona fide members of the USC.

Section 3The notice for any meetings, whether it is of the USC or the SCA, regular or special, shall contain the items to be discussed and shall constitute the agenda of the meeting. Any item not included in the agenda may be taken up upon recommendation of the majority of the members present and voting.

Section 4Any member who absents him/herself from any regular or special meetings shall within five (5) days from the date of said meeting submit a written explanation to the Secretary as to the reason/s for his/her failure to attend the meeting. The Secretary shall evaluate the explanation and render a report thereof to the USC and/or SCA.

Section 5Members who are on travel or who want to be excused to attend meetings with valid reason must submit notice of absence to the USC and/or SCA a day before the meeting.

Section 6Any member who absents him/herself from any regular or special meetings without justifiable grounds shall be dealt with in accordance with Article XVIII of this Constitution.ARTICLE XVIIQUORUMS AND RULES OF ORDER

Section 1The presence of simple majority (50% plus 1) of all the officers of the USC or SCA shall be sufficient in any of their meetings.

Section 2A special or emergency meeting does not require that a quorum be reached for it to be deemed in session.Section 3Regular meetings that do not reach the required quorum, upon the decision of the President with the concurrence of a majority of the USC or SCA members voting and present, may be adjourned and automatically converted into an emergency or special meeting.Section 4Every decision of simple majority (50% plus 1) voting and present at regular, special or emergency meetings shall be valid as an act of the USC or SCA.

Section 5Whenever practicable and for a speedy disposal of the agenda, meetings of the USC and SCA shall be conducted according to the generally accepted parliamentary rules and procedures.

ARTICLE XVIIISUSPENSION AND IMPEACHMENT OF OFFICERSSection 1Suspension shall mean temporary loss of membership. The following shall be the grounds for suspension:

a. three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from the regular and/or special meetings;b. six (6) accumulated unexcused absences from the meetings;c. dereliction of duty; andd. other grounds as may be determined by the SCA.

Section 2The Student Council Assembly shall decide on all cases involving suspension of its officers including those of the Student Tribunal and Constitutional Commissions. The President may also, on his/her authority, impose a suspension order on an erring USC officer, subject to the simple majority (50% plus 1) approval of the USC officers voting and present within seven (7) days after the imposition of the suspension.

Section 3The period of suspension shall not be less than three (3) but not more than five (5) calendar days after which the suspension shall be automatically lifted and may not be reinstated under the old charges.

Section 4Suspension may be lifted anytime after three (3) days after the concerned party reaffirms the pledge to abide by and respect this Constitution and to perform his/her duties to the best of his/her ability and the acceptance of such pledge by a majority vote of the officers voting and present.

Section 5Impeachment from the University Student Council, Student Tribunal, Commission on Student Elections, and Commission on Audit may be done with a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the Student Council Assembly voting and present in a meeting called for the purpose.

Section 6The following may be grounds for impeachment:

a. two suspensions in one semester;b. gross violation of this Constitution;c. gross negligence of duty;d. commission of acts deemed by the SCA to be highly detrimental to the integrity, credibility, or unity of the SCA, USC, Student Tribunal, COSEL, and COA;e. dishonesty and misconduct while in Office;f. habitual tardiness and absenteeism;g. abuse of authority; andh. any other grounds deemed sufficient by the SCA.Section 7Petitions for impeachment, which shall also be deemed as a motion to institute impeachment proceedings, of any officer shall be investigated by the SCA or its authorized representatives.a. Officers of the SCA and USC may do so through a formal written petition submitted to the President or next higher officer in the event the former is the defendant in the petitionb. Petitions for impeachment from individuals who are not officers of the USC must be signed by at least five percent (5%) of the total student population at the time of the petition and must include the signature of the Dean of the Office of Student Affairs. Such petitions shall be addressed to the President or the next higher officer as the case may be. c. Petitions for impeachment must specify the officer/s concerned, the charges, supporting evidences and other relevant information to the case.

Section 8The officer/s concerned shall be duly informed of the case and the charges leveled not later than seven (7) days after the official receipt of the petition. Upon the defendant/s receipt of the formal notification of charges against him/her, he/she shall be automatically excused from the exercise of his her duties and responsibilities as an officer of the USC.Section 9Impeachment cases shall pass through due process. The concerned parties shall have full and unrestricted access to the files and records of the SCA, USC, Student Tribunal, COSEL, and COA deemed to be relevant in preparing their cases.Section 10Impeachment cases shall be tried by a meeting convened for the purpose which must take place not later than two (2) weeks after the official receipt of the petition for impeachment. The highest ranking SCA officer, as the case may be, shall preside over the trial. The officer/s concerned shall have no voting rights in the trial.Section 11The Dean of the Office of Student Affairs shall be an ex-officio member in an assembly convened for the impeachment case. A certification from him/her validating the trial and the sentence imposed shall be necessary for the sentence to take effect.Section 12The decision of the SCA shall be final.Section 13The President, with the majority concurrence of the officers, may institute such other disciplinary measures and procedures as may be fit, provided that such measures and procedures shall be null and void for his/her successor.ARTICLE XIXGENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1The USC may adopt a flag, seal and hymn which shall be truly reflective and symbolic of the ideas, principles and aspirations of the students. Any revision of the flag, seal and hymn may be proposed to the SCA for its approval.Section 2The name of the USC shall not be used for immoral or unlawful purposes.

Section 3All college-based student organization shall be affiliated to their respective College Student Council.Section 4All student organizations shall extend support to the USC in the implementation and realization of its objectives.

ARTICLE XXAMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS

Section 1Amendment to, or revision of this Constitution, may be proposed by the SCA upon the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of all its members, provided that the proposed amendments or revisions are presented in writing at the session at least ten (10) days prior to this consideration.

Section 2The SCA may, by a majority vote of all its members, call for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments or revisions to this Constitution.

Section 3Any amendment to, or revision of this Constitution shall be valid when ratified by the majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite, which will be held not later than (1) month after the approval of such amendments and revisions by two-thirds (2/3) vote of all SCA members.ARTICLE XXIEFFECTIVITY

Section 1This Constitution shall take effect on the day following its ratification in a University-wide plebiscite called for the purpose, by a simple majority (50% plus 1) vote of all the votes cast by bona fide UEP students.ARTICLE XXIITRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 1The interim officers elected when this Constitution is proposed and adopted shall form a constitutional body to draft, review, amend or revise the same. Such constitution when ratified shall be the fundamental law of the Council.

Section 2The elected officers will be considered as the transitory officers who will work for the formation of the ARCOSAF.

Section 3This Constitution shall have to be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the UEP USC 2008-2009, voting and present, in a meeting called for the purpose, in order for it to be submitted for ratification.Section 4No amendments of this Constitution may be done until after the expiration of the term of office of UEP USC 2009-2010 in April 2010.Section 5This Constitution shall be submitted to the UEP Federation of Student Councils and the Student Regent shall present this Constitution to the UEP Board of Regents and cause the inclusion of the same as part of the University Code.

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