Charter of the University of California Student Association

We the students of the University of California Student Association in order to maintain and further the cause of higher education, and to promote the general welfare of the student body and the University, do hereby establish and ordain this Charter.

Article I. Name

The official name of this body shall be the University of California Student Association also known as "UCSA." Its governing body shall be known as the UCSA Board of Directors or the "Board."

Article II. Purpose

The University of California Student Association shall exist to: serve the interests of the current and future students of the current and future students of the University of California and promotes cooperation between various student governments of the University and student organizations concerned with higher education.

Article III. Powers and Responsibilities

Section A. The specific powers and responsibilities shall be vested in the UCSA Board of Directors and include, but shall not be limited to the following:

Official representation of the student body of the University and the various campus student governments to the University of California Office of the President, the University of California Board of Regents, and other University related entities.
Promotion of close cooperation between the campus student governments and the administration, faculty, alumni, and Regents of the University.
Promotion of cooperation between the various campus student governments.
Determination of the specific levels of support requested from each campus student government for the support of the UC Student Association.
Exercise control over all activities and programs of UCSA, including policy making, personnel, and the receipt and expenditure of funds.
Review and approve the annual UCSA Budget.

Section B. The UCSA Board of Directors shall have all power necessary and proper for the execution of its purpose, consistent with the provisions of the Charter.

Article IV. Composition and Membership

Section A. The UCSA shall be comprised of all University of California students.

Section B. The UCSA Board of Directors shall be comprised of all University of California undergraduate and graduate student body presidents, their equivalents, or their designates.

Section C. Each UCSA Board of Directors member shall enter into the minutes of the Board by the October meeting, a document from his/her campus student government's legislative body certifying him/her as its true and proper representative. During the July, August, and September meetings, members may certify themselves. In addition, any person replacing or temporarily substituting for a board member at any timeof year must also follow this procedure.

Section D. Except as provided below, all members so certified shall be voting members of the UCSA Board of Directors.

Section E. Each member's student government shall pay the minimum membership fee as established by a 2/3 vote of the present and voting members in good standing of the Board of Directors. Members will also be requested but not required to contribute to UCSA an amount in excess of minimum membership fees in order to fund its programs and activities.

Section F. Membership in Good Standing

In order to maintain membership in good standing, a campus student government must submit at least one third of its annual minimum membership fee by November1 of any year, the second one third by January of the following calendar year, and the remaining one third by the following April 20. In the event funds are not available for allocation on these dates, a campus may maintain its membership in good standing by submitting to UCSA an authorized, legally binding instrument committing the association to payment of its fees as soon as fee revenues are received and available for disbursement.

Payment of membership fees for an individual campus student government may be waived in whole or in part for good cause by a majority vote of the voting members in good standing.

Failure to maintain membership in good standing shall result in the suspension of the association's voting privileges on the Board of Directors and UCSA Councils.

Membership in good standing may be reestablished through payment in full of all current year fees owed. Prior to November 1, membership in good standing may be reestablished by submitting to UCSA an authorized, legally binding instrument which commits the association to payment of its fees on or before November 1 of that year.

Article V. Operating Procedures

Section A. Meeting Schedule:

General Meetings of the UCSA Board of Directors shall be held at least once a month in the months when Regents meet. The Board shall also meet upon the call of the presiding officer or upon petition by two-thirds of the Board members.
Each regular monthly meeting shall be set as to date and place by the Board of Directors at the preceding meeting.

Section B. The UCSA Board of Directors shall elect officers as outlined in the By-Laws. The officers shall be elected by August 1st of any year, and their terms shall be one year.

Section C. All meetings of the UCSA Board of Directors shall be held in open session. The Board may vote to enter closed executive session for specific appropriate questions, as detailed in the By-Laws.

Section D. Minutes shall be recorded at all Board meetings, and distributed to all Board members, in accordance with the By-Laws.

Section E. Fifty percent plus one of the Board membership in good standing, including the President, shall constitute a quorum.

Section F. Neither attendance by proxy nor vote by proxy shall be recognized.

Section G. The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall determine procedures for the Board, except where the UCSA Charter of By-Laws supersede its provisions.

Article VI. By-Laws

Section A. The UCSA Board of Directors shall approve, amend and waive such By-Laws, introduced by any Board members, as it may deem necessary, by approval of two thirds of the present and voting membership.

Section B. At least one week's notice must be given to all Board members in the form of a written draft before any action may be taken on a proposed change in the By-Laws. Any Board member may submit a proposal to amend the By-Laws.

Article. VII. Amendments

Section A. Proposal of Amendments:

Any UCSA Board Member may propose an amendment to this Charter. If two-thirds of the Board approves the proposed amendment, then it shall be submitted to the campus student governments for ratification.
At least one month notice must be given to all Board members before any action on a proposed Charter amendment may be taken.
Amendments may also be submitted by any four associations, who have each approved it by two-thirds vote.

Section B. Approval of amendments

The Board shall call for the votes of the associations within two months following either the approval by the Board of a proposed amendment, or the submission of a proposed amendment by four associations.
Two-thirds of the associations voting for approval, by a majority vote, shall constitute ratification of the proposed amendment.
Proposed amendments shall take effect immediately upon their ratification by the campuses, unless otherwise specified.

Article VIII. Ratification

This Charter shall take effect upon verification to the current Board President that it has been approved, by two-thirds vote, by two-thirds of the member associations of the University of California.

It is hereby affirmed that this present Charter of the University of California Student Association has been ratified according to the designated manner by Article VIII of this Charter and furthermore, such action has been so verified by the UCSA Board of Directors at its regular meeting on 1994 at California.

By: Don Harjo Daves /s/
Don Harjo Daves, UCSA 1994-95 President