ASMC Constitution and Bylaws (adapted May 2020)

Constitition:

Preamble:

We the students of Merritt College, in order to promote the general welfare of the students and the community this college serves, have created the A.S.M.C. to guarantee the equality of opportunity among students; to offer experience in moral, aesthetic, social and economic values under an atmosphere of intellectual freedom; to encourage students in community participation, and in the planning and direction of student and community activities, as permitted under the rules, regulation and policies of the State of California, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, the President of Merritt College and their representatives, do ordain and establish this constitution.

Article 1 – Name

Section 1:
The name of the organization shall be known as the Associated Students of Merritt College.
(A.S.M.C.) and is incorporated with the State of California as a non-profit organization.

Section 2: The official Mascot shall be the (Thunderbird)
Section 3: The official Colors shall be Blue and Gold

Article 2 – Membership

Section 1:
All registered student are eligible voters in elections and are beneficiaries of the student
government.

Section 2:
The following privileges shall be granted to the membership

1. The right to candidate in A.S.M.C. elections, to hold any appointive position or to be a committee member within student government (per eligibility requirements in the A.S.M.C. By-laws).
2. The right to form and/or become a member of an A.S.M.C. sponsored Club
3. The right to speak before the Student Senate (per By-laws of the A.S.M.C.)
4. The right to create initiatives, referendums and recalls though a petition submitted to the student senate.

Article 3 – Student Government

Section 1:
The government of the Associated Students of Merritt shall consist of three branches; Executive, Legislative and the Judicial.

1. The Executive Branch shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Commissioner of Finance and the Chair of the Inter-Club Council.

a)  The order of succession shall be as followed for the Presidency;

(1) Vice President
(2) 1st President Pro Tem
(3) 2nd President Pro Tem
(4) Commissioner of Finance
(5) ASMC Secretary (if a member of the Senate)
(6) Chairperson of the I.C.C.

1. The Legislative Branch shall consist of no fewer than seven (7) members and shall be named the student senate.
2. The Judicial Branch shall consist of the Chief Justice up to four (4) Associate Justices.

Section 2:
The student government will follow the guidelines and procedures as described in its By-laws which will be reviewed by a Commission of Executive, Legislative Judicial members on a yearly base.

Section 3:
The Student Government will be assisted in the operation of the Corporation by the Executive Council. The Executive Council exercises corporate rights in all important business matters.
Its membership shall reflect the best student and college level administration participation.

Article 4 – Amendments

Section 1:
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by a two third vote of the Student Senate, and must be ratified by a simple majority of the student body voting during normal elections prior to adoption.

Section2:
Additionally amendments to the constitution maybe adopted following referendum, which receives two thirds of the votes.

President

1. Is the official spokesperson on behalf of the Student Body government and the Student Body.
2. Will be an official signer for ASMC Inc. financial requisition accounts. This will be along with the Vice President of Finance and Director of Student Activities and Campus Life.
3. Serves on the following participatory governance meetings: Leadership Council, College Council, and Peralta Student Council.
4. Will serve on all hiring processes that affect students or may designate to another Council Member of ASMC Inc.
5. Will chair all meetings of the ASMC Inc. Council and Executive Committee with no right to vote unless in case of a tie.
6. Establish and maintain communications relationships with partners in conjunction with the Vice President of Participatory Governance.
7. Will be the one to officially sign letters or write letters of supports with approval from the ASMC Inc. Council.
8. Will be an ex-officio member of all ASMC Inc. committees (as a non-voting member).
9. Will provide a written report to the ASMC Inc. Council on all the work and meetings that were done by the end of each month to the Vice President of Communications.
10. Other duties as given through management policies.

Vice President

1. Is the official delegate on behalf of Merritt College for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges during all regional and delegate assembly meetings. If the Vice President is acting in the President’s capacity, then the second delegate shall assume these duties.
2. Will be an official voting member of the ASMC Inc. Council and Executive Committee
3. Will be the official Vice-Chair of the Legislative Committee, will also be the official voting member and minute taker of the Legislative Committee.
4. Will notify all ASMC Inc. Council Members of all meetings at least one (1) day in advance.
5. Will take minutes of the ASMC Inc. Council, in absence of a secretary.
6. Will serve as Election Committee Chair.
7. Will serve as the official Parliamentarian to the ASMC Inc Council in regard to the recent editions of the Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order.
8. Will be responsible for distributing ASMC Inc. Agendas, when there is no secretary.
9. Will provide a written report to the ASMC Inc. Council on all the work and meetings that were done by the end of each month to the Vice President of Communications.
10. Other duties as given through management policies.

Vice President of Finance

1. Will be an official voting member of the ASMC Inc. Council and Executive Committee.
2. Will meet with Director of Business and Administrative Services and Director of Student Activities and Campus Life on a monthly basis regarding finances.
3. Will be responsible to work with Staff Assistant to the Director of Student Activities and Campus Life and turn motions and requisitions to the business office. Management Policy – MP 2100
4. Will work in cooperation with the Director of Business and Administrative Services and Director of Student Activities and Campus Life to ensure accurate records of all ASMC Inc. finances.
5. Shall work with the President on the yearly budget proposal to be submitted and ratified by the ASMC Inc. Council.
6. Will serve on the Merritt College Participatory Governance College Budget Committee.
7. Shall present quarterly financial statements to the ASMC Inc. Council in the following months: September, December, March, and June of each fiscal year.
8. Will provide a written report to the ASMC Inc. Council on all the work and meetings that were done by the end of each month to the Vice President of Communications.
9. Other duties as given through management policies.

Vice President of Communications

1. Will be the official voting member and minute taker of the ASMC Inc. Council and Executive Committee
2. Will prepare all ASMC Inc. Council meeting agendas and be responsible for distributing ASMC Inc. Council Agendas, including posting, etc. in compliance with the Brown Act.
3. Will work with ASMC Inc. Executive and Legislative Committee Chairs agenda send out?
4. Will work in conjunction with the Staff Assistant to the Director of Student Activities and Campus Life on filing and maintaining accurate records of all ASMC Inc. Paperwork in the best fit for the organization.
5. Will work with the Director of Student Activities and Campus Life and the Merritt College webmaster to maintain an accurate website.
6. Will provide a written report to the ASMC Inc. Council on all the work and meetings that were done by the end of each month to the Vice President of Communications.
7. Other duties as given through management policies.

Vice President of Participatory Governance

1. Be generally responsible for the legislative activities of the ASMC Inc. Council.
2. Will be an official voting member of the ASMC Inc. Council and Executive Committee.
3. Establish and maintain communications relationships with partners in conjunction with the President.
4. Will try to conduct and coordinate regular legislative visits to the California State Capitol, legislative district office, and Peralta Community College District office.
5. Will serve as chair of the Legislative Committee as a non-voting member unless in case of a tie.
6. Will appoint ASMC Inc. Council Members to Merritt College participatory governance meetings if not already assigned.
7. Will maintain regular communication will Merritt College participatory governance chairs and accurate records of who is the chair.
8. Will provide a written report to the ASMC Inc. Council on all the work and meetings that were done by the end of each month to the Vice President of Communications.
9. Other duties as given through management policies.

Vice President of Inter-Club Council

1. Will chair all Inter-Club Council meetings as a non-voting member unless in case of a tie.
2. Will act as the official liaison between the clubs and the ASMC Inc. Council. Management Policy – MP 2100
3. Will ensure that Inter-Club Council and clubs follow the ASMC Inc. Constitution, Bylaws, and Management policies and especially Peralta Community College District and Merritt College policies.
4. Will be an official voting member of the ASMC Inc. Council and Executive Committee.
5. Will oversee all club functions in day-to-day operations and ensure the clubs and Inter-Club Council serve as the official Events authority on behalf of the ASMC Inc. Council.
6. Has the right to find an assistant; who is still a student at Merritt College following the eligibility requirements, to help with Inter-Club Council and approved by ASMC Inc. Council. This person will not be a voting member of the Inter-Club Council and will have the role of Assistant to the Vice President of Inter-Club Council and will do as needed by the Vice President of Inter-Club Council.
7. Has the right to create new policies for Inter-Club Council, if approved and assigned a management policy number from ASMC Inc. Council.
8. Will be the official signature of chartering a club along with the Director of Student Activities and Campus Life. If this is a new club the Vice President of the Inter-Club Council will refer to the Start-Up Funds Policy.
9. Will provide a written report to the ASMC Inc. Council on all the work and meetings that were done by the end of each month to the Vice President of Communications.
10. Other duties as given through management policies.

Senator

1. Will be official voting members of the ASMC Inc. Council.
2. Will be all be official voting members of the Legislative Committee.
3. Will research and track state and local bills and campaigns that the ASMC Inc. Council should support as assigned by the Vice President of Participatory Governance.
4. Carrying out the legislative priorities of and developing advocating strategies for the ASMC Inc. Council.
5. Will be assigned at least two (2) participatory governance meetings that are not already taken.
6. At least one (1) but no more than (2) senators will serve on student grievances hearings and committees, these two (2) individuals will be picked by the Vice President of Participatory Governance.
7. Will help any student, council member, or public learn about ASMC Inc.
8. Will recruit students to join ASMC Inc. as an official member, if capacity is full, they will recruit students to become involved and help in other processes.
9. Will all be responsible to make sure to serve judicial petitions to the Executive Council members or other Senator Council members, this will happen after discussing with the Director of Student Activities and Campus Life.
10. Will provide a written report to the ASMC Inc. Council on all the work and meetings that were done by the end of each month to the Vice President of Communications.
11. Other duties as given through management policies.

ASMC-Constitution-and-Bylaws-Adopted-April 8, 2022

MP 1100 – Associated Students Organization Policy (BP/AP 5400)
MP 1200 Associated Students Elections Policy (BP/AP 5410)
MP 1300 – Associated Students Finance Policy (BP/AP 5420)
MP 1400 – Standards of Student Conduct Policy (BP/AP 5500)
MP 1500 – Student Rights and Grievance Procedure Policy (AP 5530)
MP 1600 – Whistleblower Protection Policy (BP/AP 7700)
MP 1700 – Field Trips and Excursions (Travel) Policy (BP/AP 4300)
MP 2100 – Executive Council Job Descriptions
MP 2200 – Senator Council Job Descriptions
MP 2300 – Past Presidential Advisory Officer Job Description
MP 4200 – Budget Request Policy
MP 5100 – Charter and Re-Charter Policy
MP 5300 – Club Room Rules Policy
MP 5400 – Inter-Club Council Locker Application Policy
MP 5500 – Club Probation or Dismissal Letter Policy
MP 5600 – Club Tabling Policy
MP 5700 – Club Authorization Signature Card Policy
MP 6100 – Bylaw Amendments Policy
MP 6200 – Joining ASMC Inc. Council Policy

ASMC Onboarding Training

BP-3550-Drug-Free-Enrivornment-and-Drug-Prevention-Program

AP-3550-Preserving-a-Drug-Free-Environment-for-Employees

AP-3551-Preserving-a-Drug-Free-Environment-for-Students

Download a guide here