The Congress of Confederates

Background
The Congress of Confederates is a special subordinate administrative body of the LNSA Executive Board. In the 2007 Constitution, the Congress is formerly called the 'House of Representatives', composed only of four (4) students representing the four levels. As part of the expansion program of LNSA, it has been added in the 2008 Constitution the formation of the Congress as a minor student body which will serve as linkage of the Executive Board to the different class sections in each level. With the help of the Congress, information and important updates released by the Executive Board will be easily disseminated to the students.

Another purpose of creating the Congress is to provide opportunity for aspirant class officers to be nominated and elected as member of the Executive Board during the annual election of LNSA.


Composition and Eligibility
Elected class officers from first to fourth level are automatically members the Congress of Confederates. Executive Board members of LNSA are prohibited to be nominated or elected as a class officer. LNSA officers who deliberately take a position as a class officer will automatically be subjected for impeachment.

The set of class officers shall consist of the following: 1) President, 2) Vice-President, 3) Secretary, 4) Treasurer and 5) Coordinating Officer.

Any nursing student is eligible to be elected as a class officer provided that he/she is an officially enrolled student in the BSN course of Letran-Calamba and must have a good academic standing, with no failing grades in both General Education and Nursing Professional/Major subjects of the curriculum prior to his/her application for candidacy.

For incoming freshmen nursing students, he/she must have a good academic standing during prior to his/her admission in the Colegio (for incoming freshmen members), with no grade below 75% and with an overall general average of at least 80%.


Election and Term of Office
Election of class officers shall be conducted with the supervision of the respective class adviser, or in his/her absence, by the duly constituent LNSA Board member. Elections carried out without the supervision of the aforementioned person(s) shall not be recognized by the Executive Board of LNSA. Elections shall be held on the date prearranged by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). Election in all class sections shall be by a show of hands. A plurality vote shall elect and the student receiving the most votes shall serve as class officer.

Elected class officers shall serve for a period of one (1) regular semester in length, which shall begin right after the election and shall terminate by the end of the semester, unless removed from office by reasons of death, resignation, permanent incapacity or impeachment.

Duties and Responsibilities of Officers

Duties of the Class President: The Class President shall supervise the general management of the class. He/she shall maintain an open line of communication with the Executive Board and inform the Third Associate Vice-President of LNSA of the concerns and grievances of the students that need to be addressed to the Dean of Nursing. He/she shall notify his/her classmates regarding the upcoming activities and projects of the organization and perform all other duties pertaining his/her office.

Duties of the Vice-President: The Class Vice-President shall assist the Class President in supervising the class. He/she shall preside in the class in absence of the Class President. He/she shall execute the task delegated by the Class President and perform all other duties pertaining his/her office.

Duties of the Class Secretary: The Class Secretary shall maintain an accurate list of students in the class. He/she shall secure a copy of the memorandum orders and notices disseminated by the organization; He/she shall execute the task delegated by the Class President and perform all other duties pertaining to his/her office.

Duties of the Class Treasurer: The Class Treasurer shall manage the financial affairs of the class section. He/she shall collect and disburse class funds intended for authorized purposes and maintain financial records of the class. He/she shall execute the task delegated by the Class President and perform all other duties pertaining to his/her office.

Duties of the Coordinating Officer. He/she shall cooperate with the other class officers and establish an open line of communication between his/her class and the Executive Board of LNSA.

Functions of the Congress
The Congress of Confederates shall participate in the annual election of LNSA officers. They are also required to attend the general assembly for the Congress of Confederates whenever the President and CEO of LNSA call for such meeting. They shall be provided with the necessary excuse letters prior to the conduct of the meeting.

Class officers shall at all time be accountable to their co-students and serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, fairness and efficiency and lead a good example to all members of their class.

Grounds for Impeachment
Class officers may be impeached for any of the following grounds: 1)culpable violation of the Constitution and By-Laws of LNSA, 2) misuse of class funds, 3) negligence of duty, 4) bribery, 5) conduct unbecoming to a class officer, 6) other serious offenses stated under the General Provisions of the Student Handbook of Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba;

Any impeachment complaint shall be addressed to the Class President. If the Class President is the individual whom the claim is brought against, such complaint shall be addressed to the Vice-President. The Class President shall investigate all claims against a class officer(s). If the President is the individual whom the claim is brought against, the Vice-President shall lead the investigation. The respective class adviser shall be consulted regarding the claims against a class officer(s)