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BYLAWS
of the
Associated Student Organization
of
Los
Angeles City College
We, the students of Los Angeles City
College, in order to better define the powers and responsibilities of
our student government, do establish these Bylaws in support of the
Constitution of the Associated Students of Los Angeles City College.
ARTICLE I –
ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE
Section 1.
Definition:
a.
In the context of
these Bylaws, the term officer means both ASO Executive Officers and
Senators.
Section 2.
Eligibility:
a.
It is the
responsibility of each and every ASO officer to maintain eligibility
to hold office as required by LACCD Administrative Regulation E-22.
b.
The ASO advisor shall
regularly verify officers’ eligibility, at a minimum of three times
per semester.
c.
An officer shall be
notified by the advisor of their ineligibility, and their rights as an
officer shall be terminated immediately. The advisor shall notify the
ASO President of the loss of eligibility.
Section 3.
Forfeiture of Positions:
a.
Any ASO officer who is
absent, unexcused, from two consecutive meetings, or three unexcused
absences in a year, may be placed on the next Student Senate’s agenda
for discussion and possible forfeiture of his/her position.
b.
Any ASO officer who is
absent, unexcused, from three consecutive regular meetings, or five
unexcused absences in a year, shall be automatically resigned from
office and forfeit their ASO position.
Section 4.
Resignation:
a.
Resignations of
officers must be in writing. Resignations shall become effective
immediately upon receipt by the ASO President.
b.
The ASO advisor shall
be notified of all resignations and provided with a copy of the
written resignation.
Section 5.
Oath of Office:
a.
Each newly elected or
appointed Senate member shall take the following oath immediately
after installation:
“I, (state your name),
do hereby affirm that I will support the Constitution and Bylaws of
the Associate Students Organization of Los Angeles City College, and
that I will, to the best of my ability, promote, maintain, and enhance
the Associated Student Organization of Los Angeles City College.”
ARTICLE II – DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 1.
Executive Officers:
1.
President
a.
Shall act as the
official representative of the students of Los Angeles City College,
and shall represent them, or appoint a designee, to all college-wide
committees.
b.
Shall preside at all
meetings of the LACC Student Senate.
c.
Shall plan and present
annual goals to the Senate.
d.
Shall be prepare the
agenda for the Student Senate meetings, in accordance with Brown Act
requirements and in consultation with ASO advisor; have the authority
to call Special meetings of the Student Senate, in accordance with the
Brown Act regulations.
e.
Shall represent
positions endorsed by the LACC Student Senate, and serve as the
liaison between the college administration, faculty and students.
f.
Shall be the
authorized student signatory of check request forms for expenditure of
student funds.
g.
Shall have the power
to make appointments to fill vacant Executive Officer and Student
Senate positions, subject to confirmation by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the Student Senate.
h.
Shall serve on the ASO
Finance Committee.
i.
Shall serve on the LACCD Student
Affairs Committee.
j.
Shall cast the
deciding vote in the case of a tie, or where his/her vote will affect
the result of a two-thirds or three-fourths vote.
k.
Shall have the power
of veto of any vote taken by the Student Senate. Presidential vetoes
must be made in writing and notification placed in every Senate
members mailbox, and to the advisor, within seventy-two hours of the
initial Senate action.
l.
Shall maintain good
communication between officers, and foster input from officers,
students and advisor.
m.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the Student Senate.
n.
Shall serve a single
one (1) year term.
2.
Executive Vice
President
a.
Succeed to the
position of ASO President if the office becomes vacant before the
expiration of the term.
b.
In the event of
extended absence of the President, shall perform the duties of that
office.
c.
Shall assist the
President in planning and implementing ASO goals.
d.
Shall assume the
duties of the VP, Finance or VP, Clubs in the absence of said Vice
President.
e.
Plan, coordinate and
carry out the Book Grant program each Fall and Spring semester, as
funding is approved.
f.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
g.
Shall serve a single
one (1) year term.
3.
Vice President,
Finance
a.
Shall preside at all
meetings of the ASO Finance committee.
b.
Shall be prepare the
agenda for the ASO Finance meetings, in accordance with Brown Act
requirements and in consultation with ASO advisor; have the authority
to call Special meetings of the Finance Committee.
c.
Shall maintain
accurate and current records of ASO expenditures and accounts.
d.
Shall prepare and
present regular budget reports to the Senate.
e.
Shall prepare and
present the year end report to the Senate by May 15th.
f.
Shall prepare the
proposed budget for the upcoming year, in consultation with the
advisor, within the timeframe set by regulation.
g.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
4.
Vice President, Clubs
a.
Shall coordinate the
ASO Club Council, chairing all meetings.
b.
Shall coordinate the
club chartering process each semester.
c.
Shall promote the
establishment of clubs and encourage campus life.
d.
Shall coordinate and
implement at least two (2) Club Rush activities each year, one in Fall
and one in Spring.
e.
Shall facilitate club
funding requests to the Student Senate.
f.
Shall serve as the
liaison for the student clubs with the college administration, faculty
and staff.
g.
Shall assist with club
events that require college approval.
h.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
Section 2.
Senators:
1.
Senator, Activities
and Planning
a.
Shall propose,
facilitate and coordinate activities and events as directed by the ASO
President and/or Student Senate.
b.
Shall present a
schedule of proposed events and activities to the Senate for Fall and
Spring semester.
c.
Shall present event or
activity budget requests to the Student Senate or ASO Finance
Committee, as needed.
d.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
2.
Senator, Cultural
Diversity
a.
Shall represent the
ASO by working in collaboration with campus groups/clubs in planning
and presenting culturally diverse activities.
b.
Shall inform the
Senate of cultural diversity issues and activities.
c.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
3.
Senator, Disabled
Student Affairs
a.
Shall act as liaison
between the Office of Special Services, students with disabilities and
the ASO Student Senate.
b.
Shall serve as the ASO
representative on the college accommodations committee.
c.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
4.
Senator, Health and
Safety
a.
Shall inform the
Senate of issues health, safety and security effecting students.
b.
Shall work with campus
security to keep Senate informed of current safety and security issues
pertaining to students.
c.
Shall serve as the ASO
representative on the AFT work environment committee.
d.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President or Student Senate.
5.
Senator, Membership
Services
a.
Shall be responsible
for planning and implementing recruitment activities to increase ASO
membership.
b.
Shall coordinate and
promote the membership services offered, which may include but not be
limited to: free bluebooks, scantrons, copies, reduced cost faxes,
computer access, discounts, etc.
c.
Shall appropriate make
recommendations to the Senate regarding changes in services offered.
d.
Shall work in
coordination with the ASO Executive Secretary to assure that the cost
of member services shall not exceed the amount budgeted.
e.
Shall seek discounts
from businesses for ASO members.
f.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
6.
Senator, Public
Relations
a.
Shall be responsible
for communications from and publications of the ASO Student Senate,
including but not limited to the ASO newsletter.
b.
Shall promote ASO
sponsored events, in coordination with the Senator of Activities and
Planning.
c.
Shall work in
coordination with the school newspaper and any other media outlets to
promote events.
d.
Shall promote
membership services, in coordination with the Senator of Membership
Services.
e.
Shall assure that all
ASO publicity is reviewed by the ASO President prior to publication.
f.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
7.
Senator, State and
Governmental Affairs
a.
Shall keep the Senate
informed of current and proposed legislation that will have an effect
on community college students.
b.
Shall keep current
with issues and activities of local, regional and state student
associations.
c.
Shall be responsible
for coordinating advocacy efforts for the ASO Student Senate.
d.
Shall be responsible
for coordinating voter registration drives before the November and
March elections, making electoral information available.
e.
Shall remain
non-partisan in fulfilling his/her duties.
f.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
8.
Senators
a.
Shall support the
activities and services of the ASO.
b.
Shall serve as
liaisons from the ASO to instructional departments, as assigned.
c.
Shall perform other
duties as assigned by the ASO President and/or Student Senate.
Section 3.
Executive Officers and Senators:
a.
Shall be accountable
to the students they represent.
b.
Shall attend scheduled
meetings of the ASO Student Senate.
c.
Shall read the ASO
Constitution and By-Laws in their entirety and sign and date a written
statement verifying that they have done so, within ten (10) business
days of taking office.
d.
Shall fulfill the
specific duties of their office as detailed in the ASO By-laws.
e.
Shall serve on a
minimum of one college committee, as assigned.
f.
Shall maintain an
orderly office workspace.
g.
Shall promote ASO
membership and participate in ASO activities.
Section 4.
Executive Secretary:
a.
Shall be both an ASO
student member and a salaried employee of the ASO.
b.
Shall not be an
officer or voting member of the ASO Senate.
c.
Shall take minutes of
all ASO Senate meetings, and maintain accurate permanent records of
all meetings.
d.
Shall maintain
permanent files, open to the public, of all business transacted by the
ASO Senate and the ASO Finance Committee.
e.
Shall manage the ASO
Services Office, maintaining supplies as needed for membership
services and ASO functioning.
Section 5.
Advisor’s Duties:
a.
Shall support the
decisions passed by a majority of the ASO Senate.
b.
Shall advise the ASO
Senate of plans, meetings, and decisions at the administrative level
that affect students, and that the ASO Senate should participate in.
c.
Shall attend all
regularly scheduled ASO Senate, Finance and Club Council meetings.
d.
If not able to attend
an ASO meeting in its entirety, then the advisor shall appoint a
designee to sit in his/her place.
ARTICLE III –
MEETINGS
Section 1.
Schedule:
a.
The ASO Student Senate
shall meet regularly at least every two weeks during the Fall and
Spring semesters.
b.
The ASO Student Senate
shall adopt a schedule of regular meetings no later than the first
meeting of each term.
c.
The ASO Student Senate
may schedule meetings during winter intersession and/or summer
session.
d.
No meetings may be
scheduled during finals.
e.
A simple majority of
the currently filled ASO officer positions shall constitute a quorum.
f.
The ASO President has
the authority to call Special meetings of the Student Senate, in
accordance with the Brown Act regulations.
g.
If the position of ASO
President is vacant, the Executive Vice President has the authority to
call for a special meeting of the Student Senate, for the sole purpose
of assuming the position of ASO President.
h.
A special meeting may
be called by a signed petition of a majority of the ASO Senate
members.
Section 2.
Notification.
a.
Agendas must be posted
in accordance with Brown Act requirements.
b.
It is the
responsibility of the ASO President to prepare the agenda and to
provide a copy of the agenda to the ASO Executive Secretary.
c.
It is the
responsibility of the ASO Executive Secretary to insure that all
members of the ASO Student Senate and Advisor receive a copy of the
agenda 72 hours in advance of a meeting.
d.
Senate members and the
ASO advisor must be notified 24 hours in advance of any special
meeting
Section 3.
Rules of Order:
a.
ASO Senate and Finance meetings will be held in
accordance with all pertinent state, district, college and ASO
regulations, as specified in the ASO Constitution..
b.
The latest edition of
Robert’s Rules of Order will guide the proceedings of ASO
meetings.
Section 4.
Voting Procedures:
a. All actions taken
to approve the expenditure of ASO funds require a roll call vote.
b. Other actions may
utilize a consensus vote, at the determination of the presiding
officer.
c. The Senate may
override a presidential veto, at the Senate meeting following the
veto, by a two-thirds vote of members present.
Section 5.
Attendance:
a.
Senate members are
required to notify the Executive Secretary or President at least one
hour prior to the scheduled start time of the meeting, if they are
unable to attend.
b.
Absences without prior
notification are considered unexcused.
c.
Senate members are
considered tardy if they arrive, without prior notification to the
Executive Secretary or President, later than 15 minutes after the
scheduled start of the meeting.
Section 6.
Conflict of Interest:
a. ASO Executive
officers may not simultaneously serve as an officer of a club, or as
executive or managing editor of the Collegian. Club membership is not
affected by this provision.
b. No ASO officer may
simultaneously serve as an ASO employee.
c.
No officer will
propose or vote on any item in which they or any member of their
family have a financial interest.
d.
No officer will
propose or vote on any item that involves a club in which they hold
membership.
ARTICLE IV –
ELECTIONS
Section 1. The ASO Elections will be held in
accordance with the California Education Code, the LACCD Board Rules
and Administrative Regulations, and the ASO Constitution and Election
Codes
Section 2. Election
Committee
a.
The chairperson of the Election Committee
shall be appointed by the ASO President from amongst the current ASO
officers with the approval of the Senate.
b.
The ASO President shall appoint two to
four active members of the ASO to serve on the Election Committee,
none of whom are candidates in the election.
c.
The ASO advisor will serve as the
committee’s advisor.
Section 3. All student body elections will be
decided by a majority of votes cast.
Section 4. Initiatives
a.
Two (2) percent of the student body may
petition for the passage of legislation submitted to the Student
Senate. In the event such a petition is verified, it shall be
submitted to the Senate for a vote within two (2) weeks.
b.
Should such legislation or provision be
passed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Student Senate, it shall become
effective immediately and not submitted to the electorate.
Section 5. Referendums
Any action of the Student Senate may be challenged by
the following procedure:
a.
Two (2) percent of the student body may
petition for revocation of such an action. The ASO Executive Vice
President will present such a petition to the Senate.
b.
The Senate will reconsider its original
decision. A two-thirds (2/3) roll call vote will be necessary to
sustain the original action. If such a vote is not obtained, the
action is rescinded without further action.
c.
If such a vote is obtained, it shall be
submitted to the electorate within four weeks for a final vote by the
student body.
ARTICLE V –
IMPEACHMENT
Section 1. The ASO Senate has the authority
remove through impeachment, for just cause, any officer of the Senate.
Section 2.
Grounds for Impeachment
Any one of the
following constitute grounds for impeachment of an ASO officer:
a. Having more than
three (3) unexcused absences from official ASO Student Senate
meetings.
b.
Failure to actively
fulfill one’s duties as a position holder on the Senate.
c.
Gross misconduct while
carrying out ASO related activities.
d.
Acting in a manner
which contradicts the spirit of the ASO Constitution and Bylaws, as
reflected in the Constitution’s Preamble and Mission statement.
Section 3.
Procedure
a.
The Senate may pass a
bill of impeachment - or -
b.
An impeachment
proceeding may be initiated by the Student Body against any ASO
officer by obtaining names, signatures and ID numbers of a majority of
the number of voters in the last general election. This petition
would be presented to the ASO Senate for action.
c.
The bill of
impeachment must contain the reasons for the impeachment. It shall be
put to a roll call vote of the Student Senate at the next meeting,
with a 2/3 absolute majority vote needed for approval.
d.
Once the bill of
impeachment has been approved, a single item Special Meeting of the
Senate is called to hear the issues and make a final decision. Both
sides shall be given equal time and opportunity to state their case.
The named officer shall represent him/herself.
e.
Removal from office
becomes effective immediately upon passage of the motion to remove
from office, with all rights and privileges of said office being
forfeit.
f.
An appeal, by the
removed officer, may be submitted to the ASO Advisor for determination
by the College President, whose decision will be final.
Revised 9/73
Revised 5/76
Revised 7/77
Revised 8/78
Revised 8/79
Revised 8/80
Revised 11/91
Revised 9/92
Revised 6/24/98
Revised 10/15/98 PAC/vm
Revised and approved
6/15/99 MRB/mrb
Revised and approved
6/23/04 JF/CB/LW
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