Section 1. The University Student Council shall be composed of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, seven University Councilors all elected at large and one college representative for each of the degree granting units of UP Manila

Section 2. The members of the Council shall be elected every academic year in accordance with the rules promulgated by the University Electoral Board and provisions of the University Election Code

Section 4. Vacancy

1. Any permanent vacancy in the office of the Chairman shall be filled by the Vice-Chairman that if the permanent vacancy occurs in the office of the Vice-Chairman for any cause or by reason of his assumption to the office as Chairman, the council shall elect among the University Councilors a new Vice-Chairman.
2. Should both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the council be temporarily incapacitated, the remaining members of the council shall elect from among the university councilors an acting Chairman and an acting Vice Chairman both of whom shall relinquish their positions upon return of the permanent officers. In no case shall the council be dissolved or rendered inoperative.
3. If the vacancy occurs in the office of a university councilor the candidate who obtained the next highest number of votes in the last general election of the student council shall take his place.
4. A vacancy in the office of the college representative shall be filled in so far as practicable, in the manner provided above for the university councilor . Should this not possible then the college council shall expeditiously select his replacement in consultation with the USC until the students have elected their student representative.
5. When the vacancy is not permanent the council may choose a replacement who shall discharge the duties of the council member until he returns

Section 5. Every candidate for membership in the USC must before the general election

1. Have at least one semester residence in UP Manila;
2. Be a bonafide student of UP Manila;
3. Carry the normal load prescribed by his college; and,
4. Not have been found guilty of any disciplinary case or any act involving moral turpitude in the University.

Section 6. Every council member shall hold office for one academic year or until his successor has been duly elected certified and assumed office, provided that councilors who fill vacant seals shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term

Section 7. The induction of the council members shall take place within a week after their proclamation by the University Electoral Board, the oath to be administered by the UP Manila Chancellor or his duly authorized representative.

Section 8. No council members shall hold office as editor in chief of a university publication or head any student organization in the University without forfeiting his seat in the council.

Section 1. The University Student Council shall have a general assembly and an executive committee.

Section 2. The General Assembly

1. The general assembly shall be the highest policy making body of the council and shall be composed of duly elected members of the University Student Council.
2. It shall convene at least twice a month in case of extreme necessity, however, the Chairman upon the request of at least one-fourth of the entire membership may convene the general assembly in special session.
3. It shall have the following powers and responsibilities.
   • Formulate, revise and approve policies and programs of action of the University Student Council,
   • Elect from among themselves officers to the unfilled positions of the University Student Council unless otherwise stipulated in this Constitution, and
   • Review the decision and policies of the executive committee
   • Review , amend or revise this Constitution

Section 3. The Executive Committee

1. The executive committee shall be composed of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Business Manager, Public Information Officer and all heads of committees of the council.
2. The Executive Committee shall.
   • Coordinate and operationalize the program of action set by the general assembly and the executive committee, and
   • Formulate policies, adopt resolutions and decisions for the University Student Council in between sessions of the general assembly

Section 4. The Officers

1. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be the officers elected at large of the University Student Council.
2. The Secretary , treasurer, business manager and public information officer shall be the officers elected from among the University Councilors.

Unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, a simple majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the general members present and voting at a meeting at which there lies a quorum shall be valid as an act of the entire body

Section 1. The Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the council. It shall be his duty to

1. Sign all resolutions, communications and papers of the council,
2. Preside over all meetings of the council provided that in case he desires to take part in the debate or discussion he may name the Vice-Chairman or in the absence of the latter any member of the council to take his chair,
3. Appoint the executive committee heads at the beginning of the term or revamp the committee as necessary and present it to the general assembly for approval,
4. Create ad hoc committee and appoint the coordinator and members thereof, whenever the need arises,
5. Represent the council in his official capacity as Chairman on occasions and event where the students need representation,
6. Head the executive committee, and
7. Perform such duties and performance of the functions of his office

Section 2. The Vice-Chairman shall

1. Assist the Chairman in all matters where his assistance is required,
2. Take over the function of the Chairman, whenever his office is vacant by reason of his death, resignation, removal suspension, illness, absence, or physical or mental incapacity or ofhis failure to qualify for office.
3. Convene the League of College Councils

Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to

1. Keep a journal of the proceedings of the meetings of the council,
2. Keep all papers and correspondence of the council,
3. Certify all official acts of the council, and
4. Perform such other duties as the council or Chairman may assign to him.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall

1. Act as the custodian of and deposit in the bank the funds of the council,
2. Keep a record of the funds of the council,
3. Disburse the same in accordance with an appropriation of the council, and
4. Submit a financial report at the end of each semester to the council which shall be published by the University publication

Section 5. The Business Manger shall

1. Keep an inventory and take charge of all council properties,
2. Supervise all business and fund-raising activities of the council,
3. Take charge of the collection and accounting of the Student Welfare Fund every registration including summer period, and
4. Perform such other duties as the council may assign to him

Section 6. The Public Information Officer shall

1. Release news items regarding council activities to the media;
2. Promote good relations with the press and public;
3. Answer inquiries about the council and its activities; and,
4. Perform such other duties as the council may assign to him

Section 1. The general assembly may remove or suspend any of its members on any of the following grounds:

1. Willful violation of this Constitution
2. Gross neglect of duty
3. Any form of misconduct which undermines the integrity of the University Student Council

Section 2. Upon the resolution of at least one-fourth of the members of the general assembly a motion of impeachment shall be undertaken against on or more of its members.

Section 3. Member or members for which charges for impeachment have been directed shall be furnished a copy of the allegations not later than ten days before the given opportunity to present his/her defense in writing before the meeting shall be allowed to address the general assembly during the meeting.

Section 4. Council member shall be considered impeached upon a two third vote of the general assembly.

Section 1. As an alternative to impeachment, council members may be suspended when

1. They have been found guilty by the general assembly of any of the above delinquencies in Article IX,
2. A two third vote of the council members present in the general assembly meeting approved the suspension upon hearing their defense, and
3. The members to be suspended was informed through a written notice of the proceedings not later than five (5) days before the meeting is called for that purpose.

Section 2. The general assembly shall decide the period for which the council member shall be suspended provided it shall not exceed thirty (30) days

Section 3. Suspended council members shall not be allowed to participate in deliberations, vote and exercise his duties and power as a council member

Section 4. Suspended members shall have their names stricken from the roll of the University Student Council during each period of their suspension and therefore will not be included in any quorum

Section 5. Suspended council members may be allowed to attend meetings and address the body provided a majority of the council members present are in agreement.

Section 1. The General Fund of the Council shall consist of the Student Welfare Fund collected from every student by the duly authorized representative of the University Student Council every registration including summer period and shall be deposited in a bank with the chairperson or the vice-chairperson and/or treasurer as signatories

• The Student Welfare Fund will be appropriated as follows 40% for the University Student Council and 60% for the local student council fund
• The USC shall be responsible for the appropriations of local council funds upon the request of the local student council
• The amount to be collected shall be defined in the USC By-laws

Section 2. The University Student Council shall formulate and adopt a budget which shall embody a work plan or program with estimated expenditures for the incoming year

Section 3. No disbursement of funds of the council shall occur except in the pursuance of an appropriation authorized by the council

Section 4. The balance of the council funds shall be returned as the funds for the next succeeding term

Section 5. The USC shall publish a financial statement at the end of the term

Section 1. Any amendment to or revision of, this Constitution may be proposed by the University Student Council after an affirmative vote of at least to-thirds of the general assembly.

Section 2. The proposed amendment must be presented in writing at the previous meeting of the council or not later than ten days before holding of the meeting to decide upon it.

Section 3. Any amendment shall be valid only after it has been approved and ratified by the University Student Body in a referendum following its publication and proper dissemination.