PREAMBLE

We, the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College, in order to serve the student body of Whitman College, do establish herein a representative government, the Associated Students of Whitman College, henceforth known as ASWC, and for this endeavor, do ordain and establish this Constitution. 

The Associated Students of Whitman College shall strive to advocate for the empowerment of students in all aspects of the college. Through facilitating and fostering student initiatives the Associated Students of Whitman College shall strive to create inclusive and equitable co-curricular experiences. Above all else the Associated Students of Whitman College shall promote the needs and interests of each and every student.

Article I – THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

As defined by the Whitman College Faculty Code, all regular students enrolled in the College are required to become members of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College.

Membership in the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College is achieved by payment of the student body fee, which shall not exceed 1% of the total tuition for that academic year.

The student body fee shall be redetermined yearly by considering issues of accessibility, cost effectiveness, and the student experience.

All individuals who have paid a student body fee are entitled to the rights and benefits delineated and protected by this Constitution and any lesser documents. 

Article II – THE AUTHORITY OF ASWC

ASWC shall have the power to represent, legislate, and advocate on behalf of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College.

It shall have the power to levy a student body fee upon every enrolled student in accordance with the Whitman College Faculty Code. It shall have the power to allocate these funds as is deemed proper within the bounds of this Constitution.

It shall have the power to recognize and establish student organizations as is seen fit by the General Assembly. 

It shall have the power to produce, maintain, and revise its own By-laws and Constitution.

It shall produce no By-laws or rules that conflict with Whitman College policy but reserves the right to make statements on Whitman College policy.

It shall have all other rights and powers that are permitted by this Constitution and any supporting documents.

Article III – THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Section One: Introduction

All legislative powers delineated in this Constitution shall be vested in the Legislative Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College, which shall be comprised of an Executive Council and a Senate. 

The Legislative Assembly shall represent and advocate for the vested interests of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College. In order to meet these ends the Legislative Assembly shall strive to regularly and effectively communicate with their constituents. 

Meetings of the Legislative Assembly will be held in order to ratify and confirm Component Committee business. They will also serve as a space for presentations, debates, and strategic conversations around individual and Component Committee projects.   

Section Two: Committees

The Legislative Assembly shall have the power to create Component Committees comprised of either elected members, appointed members, or a combination of the two. 

Section Three: The Senate

Subsection One: Purpose 

The Senate shall exist to act in the interest of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College. 

Each member of the Senate shall strive to represent the needs and desires of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College, empower them to fulfill their academic and co-curricular aspirations, and work to create a highly supportive, equitable, respectful, and collaborative community for students of all backgrounds and identities. 

Senators shall represent their constituents through their votes in Legislative Assembly meetings and Component Committee meetings, as well as through pursuing projects, writing legislation, allocating funds, hiring and nominating, and performing any other duty deemed necessary and proper within the bounds of this Constitution. 

Subsection Two: Eligibility

Only members of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College who will be studying on campus during tenure and who are also members of their corresponding academic class may serve as their class Senator. Once elected, Senators shall serve for a period of one academic year, after which point their membership must be renewed. There shall be no By-laws restricting membership in the Senate for any reason, nor shall there be any pertaining to the modification of the one-year limit to membership.

Two members of the General Assembly may jointly run  for a single Senate seat, provided they are in the same academic class. Each individual shall serve for one semester as a Senator, with their combined term limit being one academic year. 

Section Four: The Executive Council

Subsection One: Purpose

The Executive Council shall serve as the leadership of the Legislative Assembly.  

Each member of the Executive Council shall strive to represent the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College as well as the members of the Senate through their work chairing Legislative Assembly Component Committees, collaborating with campus leaders, advocating for student interests, or through performing any other duty deemed necessary and proper within the bounds of this Constitution.

Subsection Two: Eligibility

Any member of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College who will be studying on campus during their tenure is eligible to serve on the Executive Council. Once elected or appointed, members of the Executive Council serve for a period of one academic year, after which point their membership must be renewed. There shall be no By-laws restricting membership in the Executive Council for any reason.

Two members of the General Assembly may jointly run for a single Executive Council seat. Each individual shall serve for one semester, with their combined term limit being one academic year. Any petitions of this sort shall be reviewed at the discretion of the Oversight Chair. 

Section Five: The Oversight Committee

Subsection One: Purpose

The Oversight Committee shall exist to ensure the lawful and ethical functioning of the Legislative Assembly, its Component Committees, and any subservient ASWC bodies. This Committee shall be an impartial and autonomous extension of ASWC, and strive to be objective and unbiased in all matters.

Subsection Two:  Eligibility

Any member of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College may be selected to serve on the Oversight Committee. This process shall be outlined in the ASWC By-laws. 

Subsection Three: Powers

The Oversight Committee shall have the power and be compelled to conduct fair and democratic elections as needed.

It shall have the power to investigate ASWC bodies or members of the Legislative Assembly, provided charges have been levied against one of these entities by a member of the General Assembly.

It shall have the power to declare the actions of a Component Committee unconstitutional, and therefore null and void.

It shall have the power to review legislation and ensure their compliance with this Constitution, the By-laws, and any other governing doctrines.

Upon the graduation or permanent leave from Whitman College of any member of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College, all Oversight Committee records of any investigations pertaining to that person shall be destroyed.

Section Six: Voting Rights and Requirements

Subsection One: The Executive Council

On times when the Legislative Assembly is not in session, matters that would typically appear before that body may appear before the Executive Council. Each member, whether they be appointed or elected, is entitled to one vote on these matters, excepting the Oversight Chair. The President shall always be compelled to vote.

Subsection Two: The Legislative Assembly

On matters appearing before the Legislative Assembly, each elected member shall be entitled to one vote. The President shall only vote in the event of a tie.

Subsection Three: The Component Committees

On matters appearing before the Component Committees, each elected and appointed member, excepting the the Oversight member and Chair of each Committee, shall be entitled to a vote. The Chair of a Component Committee shall only vote in the event of a tie.

Subsection Four: The Oversight Committee

The Oversight Committee shall have the power to authenticate voting motions within ASWC. A member of the Oversight Committee must be present during any vote in any body within ASWC; If a vote is conducted without an Oversight member present, it shall be considered null and void.

Article IV – RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Section One: Ratification

This Constitution shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the  Legislative Assembly and ratified by a two-thirds vote of at least twenty percent of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College. Upon ratification, this Constitution shall take effect and replace all earlier Constitutions.

Amendments may be made to this Constitution by a two-thirds vote of the Legislative Assembly. These amendments must follow the established approval route for legislative documents, and must not alter or add to the intent, as determined at the discretion of the Oversight Committee, of the originally ratified Constitution.

Section Two: Amendments to the Constitution

Subsection One: Methods of Proposing Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed and voted upon by the General Assembly by two different methods.

A.   The Legislative Assembly may propose an Amendment to be passed by a two-thirds vote. This Amendment will then be voted upon by the General Assembly,  by a two-thirds vote of at least twenty percent of the General Assembly.

B.  Any member of the General Assembly may propose an Amendment, provided the Amendment is accompanied by a petition signed by at least ten percent of the membership of the General Assembly. 

Subsection Two: Ratification of Proposed Amendments

Amendments that have been proposed to the General Assembly shall be ratified by a two-thirds vote of at least twenty percent of the membership of the General Assembly. Once an Amendment has been ratified, it shall take effect immediately.

Article V – BILL OF RIGHTS

The rights enjoyed by members of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College will not be denied or restricted on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, sex or gender identity, disability status, age, veterans status, marital status, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, HIV/AIDS status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, local laws or the ASWC By-laws. 

No organization that discriminates against one or more aforementioned distinctions shall receive support, financial or otherwise, from the Legislative Assembly. 

All members of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of Whitman College shall enjoy the rights associated with due process.