THE CHARTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES
ARTICLE I
Name of the Organization This organization shall be officially known as the Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines herein referred to as APSOP. ARTICLE II Declaration of Nature and Objectives Section 1. The APSOP shall be an academic and socio – political organization whose pursuits are: 1) To advance Political Science as a discipline 2) To render the highest level of service to the society 3) To provide a venue for dialogue and cooperation among different Political Organizations. Section 2. The APSOP shall respect the various political beliefs of its members. ARTICLE III Membership and Renewal of Membership Applying Organizations Section 1. Any student organization adhering to the objectives of the APSOP provided that it has fulfilled all qualifications set by the Internals Committee as approved by the General Assembly shall be eligible for membership. Section 2. Upon the recommendation of the Internals committee, the inclusion of the applicant organization shall be decided by the General Assembly. Member Organizations Section 3. Any existing member organization of the APSOP may renew their membership provided that it has fulfilled its obligations and responsibilities as recommended by the Internals Committee. Section 4. Renewal of membership shall be done on the months of October and March of every Academic Year. ARTICLE IV Rights and Duties of Member Organizations Section 1. Every member organization shall have equal standing and recognition. Section 2. Every member organization shall have the right to be represented in the General Assembly. Section 3. Every member organization shall have the right to bring to the General Assembly any matters concerning the APSOP. Section 4. Every member organization shall have the right to bring to the Judicial Council matters concerning: 1. Disputes among member organizations in accordance to Article VIII Sec. 6 par 2. 2. The Charter in accordance to Article VIII Sec. 6 par 2. Section 5. Every member organization shall have the right to have access to all information pertaining to the APSOP. Section 6. Every member organization shall have the right to cast a vote in the General Assembly. Section 7. Every member organization shall have the right to run for any elective position. Duties of the Member Organizations Section 8. Every member organization shall have the duty to adhere to and uphold the principles and objectives stipulated in the charter. Section 9. Every member organization shall have the duty to actively participate: 1) In APSOP General Assembly and Committee Sessions. 2) In APSOP’s core Activities. Section 10. Every member organization shall have the duty to pay financial dues to the APSOP. Section 11. Every member organization shall have the duty to vote. Section 12. Every member organization shall have the duty to send a delegation to the General Assembly consisting of three (3) permanent and two (2) non-permanent representatives. ARTICLE V The General Assembly Section 1. The General Assembly shall be the decision making body of the APSOP with regard to the organization’s policies, by laws, and activities. Section 2. The General Assembly shall be composed of member organizations, represented by a delegation of five (5) members. Section 3. The General Assembly shall arrive at a decision upon reaching two – thirds (2/3) majority of its quorum. The quorum shall be two – thirds (2/3) of the total number of member organizations. However, with regard to Article IX and X, this provision does not apply. Section 4. The General Assembly shall elect its Secretary - General, Deputy Secretary - General, and Committee Director Organization. Section 5. The General Assembly shall have the power to impeach its elected officials on the grounds of: 1) Gross neglect of duty. 2) Culpable violation of the Constitution. 3) Any form of misconduct which undermines the integrity of the APSOP. Section 6. The General Assembly shall have the power to create ad hoc committee/s when deemed necessary. Section 7. The General Assembly shall produce an official Newsletter. ARTICLE VI. The Secretariat Section 1. The Secretariat shall be composed of the its Secretary - General, Deputy Secretary - General, and the appointed staff. Section 2. Qualifications for Secretary - General and Deputy Secretary – General: 1) The person must be a bonafide member of a member organization for at least one (1) year. 2) The person must have rendered service to the General Assembly for at least a term of five months. 3) The person must be a student during his/her tenure of office. Section 3. The Secretary – General shall perform and accomplish the following functions and responsibilities. 1) Act as the official spokesperson and representative of the APSOP in all its activities. 2) Convene the General Assembly and Committee Directors and preside over their sessions. 3) Sign all the documents of the APSOP . 4) Appoint staff of the secretariat from any member organization. 5) May propose projects to the General Assembly. 6) Perform other functions that the General Assembly may delegate. Section 4. The Deputy Secretary – General shall perform and accomplish the following functions and responsibilities. 1) Fulfill the functions of the Secretary – General in the absence of the Secretary – General. 2) Assume the position of the Secretary – General in case of suspension, resignation and impeachment. 3) Assist the Secretary – General in fulfilling the objectives of the APSOP. Section 5. The Secretary – General and the Deputy Secretary – General shall serve for one academic year without re – election. Section 6. The Secretary – General and the Deputy Secretary – General must not come from the same organization. Section 7. The secretariat staff shall have the following functions: (1) Record the minutes of every General Assembly. (2) Document all activities of the APSOP. (3) Inform member organization through their reports and sessions of the APSOP. (4) Maintain an updated directory of APSOP member organization and representatives. (5) Keep all records and documents of the APSOP. |
ARTICLE VII.
The Committees Section 1. The Committees shall plan and recommend activities and policies. Section 2. All Committees should submit to the Secretariat a report at the end of the term for documentation. Section 3. Each committee shall be composed of a Director Organization and Member Organization willing to work for the Committee. Director Organizations Section 4. Director Organizations shall supervise its committee members for successful implementations of the activities. Section 5. Director Organization shall be elected by the General Assembly following the regulations set by the Judicial Council. Section 6. All Director Organizations shall have tenure of one academic year with re – election. The Academics Committee Section 7. The academics Committee shall have the following functions: (1) Organize symposia, for a, seminars, lectures, debates and other related activities advancing political science as discipline. (2) Compile excellent academic works of member organization and provide necessary venues for their promotion. The Externals Committee Section 8. The Externals Committee shall have the following functions: (1) Promote the APSOP and its activities to the society. (2) Establish communication with other organizations. (3) Officially invite other student organization for membership of APSOP. (4) Distribute and circulate the Newsletter of the APSOP. (5) Maintain communication with the alumni of the APSOP through an Alumni Association. The Finance Committee Section 9. The Finance Committee shall have the following functions: (1) Collect financial dues from Member Organizations. (2) Propose income – generating activities for the APSOP. (3) Keep a record of financial transactions of the APSOP and release a monthly financial report to the General Assembly. (4) Release an annual financial report and propose a budget appropriation for the next academic year. The Internals Committee Section 10. The Internals Committee shall ha the following functions: (1) Evaluate the participation and performance of member and applying organization. (2) Propose and initiate Human Resource Development Programs to establish and maintain an effective and efficient relationship among member organizations. The Socio – Political Committee Section 11. the Socio – Political Committee shall have the following functions: (1) Create and propose programs for community development. (2) Bring to the attention of the General Assembly any pressing socio – political issue and provide resource materials for critical evaluation. (3) Organize activities that would support the General Assembly’s stand regarding socio – political issues. ARTICLE VIII. Judicial Council Section 1. The Judicial Council shall be a neutral and independent body serving as a fact – finding committee, judicial board, and electoral board of the APSOP. Section 2. The Judicial Council shall be composed of members appointed by the previous member of the Judicial Council. Section 3. The members of the Judicial Council shall serve for one academic year. Section 4. the Judicial Council shall serve for one academic year. Section 5. The Judicial Council shall adopt and may amend the rules promulgated by the previous Judicial Council. Section 6. The Judicial Council shall have the following functions: (1) Review decisions of the General Assembly upon the request of any Member Organization and may nullify the decision of the General Assembly upon finding unconstitutional. (2) Arbitrate disputes between two or more parties for the preservation of heir right stipulated in Article IV upon the request of at least one party. (3) Supervise electoral procedures. ARTICLE IX. Impeachment Section 1. Any member organization may file resolution for the impeachment of any elected official on the grounds stipulated in Article V Section 5 in any of the regular sessions of the General Assembly. Section 2. The General Assembly, upon receiving the resolution for the impeachment of any elected official shall prioritize such resolution for deliberation and with the concurrence of 2/3 of the total number of Member Organization of the General Assembly confirm the resolution for impeachment and a trial by the Judicial Council shall follow. Section 3. The judicial Council shall have the sole authority to try and decide all cases of impeachment. With the concurrence of 2/3 of the Council members, the charged official shall be removed from office. ARTICLE X. Charter Amendments Section 1. Any member organization may propose amendments to the General Assembly during its regular sessions. Section 2. The General Assembly, upon receiving the resolution for Charter Amendments shall ask the Judicial Council to render to the General Assembly its opinion regarding the proposed amendments before formal deliberations by the members of the General Assembly begin. Section 3. upon receiving the opinion of the Council, the General Assembly shall proceed to the formal deliberations and debate and by the concurrence of 2/3 of the total number of Member Organizations of the General Assembly, the amendment shll pass. Section 4. All policies and resolution previously adopted by the General Assembly, prior to the approval of the Charter Amendments that are in contrast with the approved Charter Amendments shall be repealed or amended by the General Assembly after the approved Charter Amendment/s take effect. ARTICLE XI. Transitory Provisions Section 1. The Constitutional Committee shall select the seven members of the Judicial Council for SY 2000 – 2001. Section 2. Upon the ratification of the Charter, the Judicial Council shall immediately set the rules and proceed with the electoral process. ARTICLE XII. Effectivity Section 1. Upon the submission of the fifth instrument of ratification of the Organizations to the Chairperson of the Constitution Committee, the Charter shall be in force and binding upon the organizations that had passed the instruments of ratification. |