The Constitution of the Undergraduate Council of Students
ARTICLE I: Name
I.1 This body shall be the Brown University Undergraduate Council of Students.
ARTICLE II: Purpose
II.1 The Council shall:
A. Represent students and the interests of students in all matters of university life and all areas of university operations.
B. Formulate an annual program for the improvement of student life addressing each aspect of University operations which affects students.
C. Advocate implementation of that program by all possible routes, and in particular, in all policy and decision-making groups of the Corporation, Administration, and Faculty.
II.2 The Council shall:
A. Endeavor to maximize effective student participation in decision-making at the University.
B. Appoint all undergraduate members of duly-constituted University, Faculty, and Corporation committees.
C. Coordinate the activities of the undergraduate members of all duly-constituted University, Faculty, and Corporation committees and in particular coordinate their participation in developing an annual student program by appointing Council members to such of those committees as is deemed necessary by the Council.
D. Take such action as it deems necessary to ensure adequate student representation on all University, Faculty, and Corporation committees, including the replacement of undergraduate members of those committees.
E. Create, appoint students to, and coordinate the activities of such other committees as it deems desirable.
F. Nominate undergraduate students for election to the Advisory Committee on University Planning.
ARTICLE III: Communications
III.1 The Council shall:
A. Disseminate information upon issues affecting students to the entire student body.
B. Build and maintain regular communications and cooperative relationships with faculty, staff, and their organizations.
C. Build and maintain regular communications with the Administration.
ARTICLE IV: Student Advocacy
IV.1 The Council shall give, at its discretion, active support to any students or organizations in any cause or matter affecting the rights and interests of students.
ARTICLE V: Student Activities
V.1 The Council shall allow the Undergraduate Finance Board (UFB) to collect, appropriate, and oversee the subsequent use of all student activities funds and dues, and shall empower the UFB to hold all organizations, clubs, groups, and individuals to whom such monies are given fully accountable for the uses to which such monies are put, and shall be empowered to stop payments to all such parties. The Council reserves the right to declare any and all groups eligible or not eligible to be funded by the UFB.
V.2 The Council shall carry out, at its discretion, all other functions requested of it by the Faculty, staff, Administration, Corporation, Alumni, or students.
ARTICLE VI: Eligibility for Membership
VI.1 Prerequisites for seeking and retaining office shall be registration as an undergraduate student of the University.
ARTICLE VII: Officers
VII.1 The officers of the Council shall be: a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Coordinator of Appointments, a Coordinator of Communications, a Coordinator of Student Activities, and three Coordinators of program areas.
ARTICLE VIII: Elections, Terms of Office, and Removal
VIII.1 The undergraduate student body shall, in April of every year, elect the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Coordinator of Student Activities, three program area Coordinators, and five class officers from each of the three rising classes < sophomores, juniors and seniors.
A. Elections for these positions shall be by majority vote. In the event that no candidate for a position obtains a majority vote, a run-off election will be held between those two candidates having the largest plurality for a position in order to establish such a majority.
B. The Council shall elect the Secretary, Coordinator of Appointments, and the Coordinator of Communications from among the Council representatives by a simple majority vote.
VIII.2 Terms of office
A. All officers and representatives of the Undergraduate Council of Students shall take office on the last day of final examinations for the academic year in which they are elected and shall serve until the last day of final examinations in the following academic year.
VIII.3 Removal
A. Any member or officer of the Council may be removed from the Council by a two-thirds vote of the entire Council membership, after said member has been notified 120 hours prior to removal.
B. The question of removal may be brought to the floor by either a motion of a Council member or by presentation of a petition signed by three hundred (300) undergraduates. Such questions take immediate precedence over all other business.
VIII.4 Procedure for Vacancies (Special Elections)
A. The Council may, at its discretion, hold a special election internally to fill any vacant positions.
B. The Council must hold a special election in the event that the position of an officer is vacated. Such an election must be held at the first UCS meeting. This election takes precedence over all other business.
ARTICLE IX: By-Laws and Code of Operations
IX.1 The Council shall establish and amend its own by-laws and a code of operations by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members.
ARTICLE X: Amendments
X.1 Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by either a majority of the Council or by a petition signed by no less than ten percent (10%) of the undergraduate students. Amendments shall become effective upon receiving a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote in an undergraduate student body referendum.
ARTICLE XI: Ratification
XI.1 This Constitution shall supersede all previous Constitutions of the Brown University student government and shall become effective upon receiving a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote in an undergraduate student body referendum.
ARTICLE XII: Student Bill of Rights
XII.1 Equality of rights under rules and regulations shall not be denied or abridged by the Council or by any of its committees or boards on account of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or sexual orientation.
XII.2 No persons shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy, nor shall any person be compelled in any hearing to be a witness against himself or herself, nor be deprived of rights, liberty, or property, without due process.
XII.3 In all hearings, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy, fair, and public hearing, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him or her, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his or her favor.
XII.4 The Council and its committees and boards shall make no rule abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of students to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Council for redress of grievances. The same rights shall also apply to candidates for the Council. The Council may place a campaign spending limit on candidates for the Council. This limit shall not be lower than ten dollars, and shall not be lowered for any candidate in any case.
XII.5 All students who are eligible under this Constitution have the right to seek office in the Council. No candidate shall be disqualified without due process. No candidate shall be required to sign any contract to seek office.
XII.6 All undergraduates have the right to vote in all elections for the Council. This right shall not be revoked. A line for write-in votes shall be provided for each office on election ballots.
XII.7 No ex post facto rule shall be passed.
XII.8 The enumeration in this Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the students.