Student Life 

The Constitution of the Associated Students of University of California, Merced

We, the students of the University of California, Merced, as an independent body, do ordain and establish this Constitution in order to provide an efficient and equal representation for the expression of students’ views, clarity of opinions, and interests in recognition of the rights of the students in this university community; to encourage effective student participation by providing services and coordinating activities; to support, promote and celebrate the diversity of culture, lifestyle, and beliefs for the breadth of ideas and perspectives they bring; to advance the development of leaders that will serve and make a difference in the present and future; and to promote the general educational welfare and enhancement of the academic benefits and opportunities offered for the continued success of the students of the University of California, Merced.

President
The duties and powers of the President shall be:

A. To serve as the chief representative of the ASUCM and Chair of the Executive Officers.
B. To have the power of veto over legislative actions of the Senate. Such a veto can be overridden by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Senators present during the semester in which the action takes place. The President must exercise the option of veto within five (5) working days of action by the Senate.
C. To work in collaboration with the Treasurer to create the annual operating budget which they shall both present to the Senate for approval in the spring.
D. To give information relative to the state of the ASUCM and such measures as judged necessary and expedient, at an appropriate time each semester before the Senate.
E. To direct, by an Executive Order, actions which are urgent and necessary to maintain the functioning of the ASUCM until the Senate can again meet. Any such Executive Order automatically expires at the third regular Senate meeting following issuance of the order, or upon termination by the Senate by a simple majority (50% + 1) vote of Senators present.
F. To appoint, in the event of vacancy of an Executive Officer or a Court Justice, a replacement with concurrent Senate approval by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Senators present within ten (10) working days of the vacancy.
G. To have the sole authority to create memorandums of understanding or other legally binding contracts on behalf of the ASUCM, subject only to ratification by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Senators present.
H. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

Internal Vice-President
The duties and powers of the Internal Vice-President shall be:

A. To serve as the second ranking Executive Officer of the ASUCM as well as Vice-Chair of the Executive Officers.
B. To serve as the President of the Senate and only vote to break a tie.
C. To ensure the implementation of actions directed by the Senate.
D. To assume, in the absence of the President, all the responsibilities and powers of the President until the President returns.
E. To serve as president, in the event of the removal of the president, until the end of the term.
F. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

External Vice-President
The duties and powers of the External Vice-President shall be:

A. To serve as the third ranking Executive Officer of the ASUCM.
B. To serve as the bridge between ASUCM and matters involving other campuses, schools and students from outside the University of California, Merced.
C. To be the ASUCM representative to global, national, state, and local student interests, such as the University of California Students’ Association (UCSA), United States Student Association (USSA) and other such groups which may exist or be formed and of which the ASUCM is a member.
D. To supervise the advocacy actions of the ASUCM, including appointment or nomination of students to positions within UC system-wide committees.
E. To assist the President in ensuring that all ASUCM members understand the issues being advocated by the ASUCM.
F. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

Treasurer
The duties and powers of the Treasurer shall be:

A. To work in collaboration with the President to create the annual operating budget which they shall both present to the Senate for approval in the spring.
B. To have a place on the agenda of every official ASUCM Senate Standing Committee on Budget and Finance or subcommittee meeting to fill as he/she sees fit.
C. To ensure that student services, clubs and organizations stay within their budgets.
D. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

Director of Academic Affairs
The duties and powers of the Director of Academic Affairs shall be:

A. To represent the ASUCM to the Administration and Faculty on matters of academic policy.
B. To have a place on the agenda of every official ASUCM Senate Standing Committee on Academic Affairs or subcommittee meeting to fill as he/she sees fit.
C. To supervise ASUCM projects and operations involving academic matters on campus and to serve as the bridge between the ASUCM and sponsored activity groups dealing with academic matters.
D. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

Secretary
The duties and powers of the Secretary shall be:

A. To publicize ASUCM news, events, and general proceedings to the public and to produce correspondence representing the student government.
B. To prepare agendas, to record minutes during official Executive Officers meetings and to publish minutes within three (3) business days.
C. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

Director of Student Advocacy
The duties and powers of the Director of Student Advocacy shall be:

A. To present the position of the ASUCM in discussions with the Administration concerning non-academic matters such as student rights, campus rules, and other areas of student conduct.
B. To have a place on the agenda of every official ASUCM Senate Standing Committee on Student Advocacy or subcommittee meeting to fill as he/she sees fit.
C. To educate the student body about students’ rights, University of California at Merced and ASUCM policies, laws, regulations, and procedures.
D. To promote awareness of the availability of advice and representation services offered by the ASUCM.
E. To serve as the representative of the Student Advocacy Committee.
F. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

Director of Student Activities
The duties and powers of the Director of Student Activities shall be:

A. To develop, organize, and execute ASUCM all-campus events, community service outreach, and cultural arts programs.
B. To have a place on the agenda of every official ASUCM Senate Standing Committee on Student Activities or subcommittee meeting to fill as he/she sees fit.
C. To coordinate communications between the ASUCM and all non-academic student clubs and organizations as the ASUCM representative to the Inter-Club Council.
D. To carry out any other duties as set forth in this Constitution and/or the ASUCM By-Laws.

Senate
The Senate shall have sixteen (16) members and shall entitle, but not require if no qualified person runs, two seats from each school.

The Senate shall have the opportunity to approve or deny all appointments made by the President with a simple majority (50% + 1) vote of the members present within 10 working days of initial appointment.

The Senate shall choose the following officers by simple majority (50% + 1) vote:
A. President Pro Tempore: Presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the Internal Vice President;
B. Sergeant at Arms: Officer charged with the general safety during Senate meetings;
C. Secretary: Officer charged with the duty of maintaining records of the Senate;
D. Any other Senate officers as deemed necessary by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members present for fair and efficient proceedings;
E. The Senate shall be the judge of elections, returns and qualifications of its membership.