Both bills on the ASUI ballot have passed by student body vote, amending the current constitution. To pass, a bill must receive 50 percent plus one vote of the total number of voters.
One bill proposed the creation of a new judicial branch within ASUI, The bill passed with 891 “yes” votes for and 271 “no” votes against the proposed bill. This amendment will create a judicial body to serve as the ASUI Supreme Court. The court is to be composed of three Supreme Court justices, where the most senior member will be the chief justice.
The change was proposed after the ASUI Senate discussed that the current organization of the Supreme Court, where some said it is ill-suited where it is located within the Rules and Regulation committee.
Appointments to the court will be made by the Ways and Means committee, with two appointments to be made for every vacancy. If a tie occurs, the ASUI Vice President will have the power to break the tie by casting a vote for their preferred appointment.
The bill by Sen. Sam Harrich and sponsored by Sen. Teja Sunku states that the Supreme Court will have the ability to deem actions, proceedings, legislations and decisions as either legal or illegal. All ruling will be decided by a majority vote.
The second bill will amend the ASUI constitution to include the oath of office. The bill received 1093 “yes” votes and 69 “no” votes the amendment. Before the measure passed, the oath of office was written into the Rules and Regulations. Harrich and Sunku wrote the bill on the basis that the importance of the oath would be better suited to be included in the constitution.
Harrich also proposed that including the oath in the constitution would help clarify the standards for ASUI senators. The Rules and Regulations will continue to provide eligibility requirements that senators must adhere to.
The oath will be read by the ASUI president and all ASUI officials must take the oath upon assuming office.
The amendment will replace Section 3 of Article II of the current constitution, which focuses on legislation. This includes membership, authority and duties as well as a clause outlining vacancy of positions within ASUI.
Ellamae Burnell can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EllamaeBurnell