New Student Council Proposed Constitution

(Following are excerpts from the Constitution of the Harvard Council for Undergraduate Affairs, proposed for approval by the student body. The committee for reevaluation of the present Student Council was Stephe L. Pehl '62, Chairman; Michael Hornblow '62 and Mare J. Roberts '64, Council members; William E. Bailey '62, Chairman of the Dunster House Committee; James T. Halverson '62, Chairman of the Adams House Committee, John A. Hodges '62, Chairman of the Eliot House Committee, and Barnett M. Frank '61-4, former Council member.)

Preamble

The purpose of the Council shall be to cooperate with the faculty in raising the general intellectual standard of Harvard, to bring expression of undergraduate opinion before the governing bodies of the college and to encourage, initiate and co-ordinate services essential to the student body.

Membership

(a) One representative elected at large from each undergraduate House who shall serve from the beginning of the Spring Term until the end of the following Fall Term. Election shall be in the Fall Term and shall be run by the House Committee in each House.

(b) One representative appointed by the House Committee is each House who shall serve as in (a).

(c) Three representatives from the Freshman Class who shall be elected by the Freshman Council and who shall serve during the Spring Term. Three representatives elected by the Freshman Class in May who shall serve during the Following Fall Term.

Any undergraduate in good standing with three or more terms remaining before graduation shall be eligible for election to the Council by the House of which he is a member.

The retiring Council and its officers shall hold office until the last day of the Fall Term. The newly elected and appointed members of the Council shall hold an open meeting during the preceding Reading Period, for the election of officers, at which the retiring Chairman shall preside unless he is a member of the new Council.

All newly elected and appointed Council members shall be eligible to vote.

Meetings

The Council shall meet at least twice each month during the regular academic year, after proper notification by the Chairman or Secretary. A majority of the executive committee or one-half of the Council shall have the power to call special meetings.

The Council shall issue reports covering the business of all meetings.

A member of the Council who fails to discharge his duties satisfactorily may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the Council. In any one term, if a member misses three meetings he shall be considered for removal. If he misses five meetings, he shall be automatically removed.

Officers

The officers of the Council shall be a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, all of whom shall have completed their third term in college. The Chairman...shall have power to vote whenever his vote affects the outcome. Any officer may be impeached by a two-thirds vote of the Council.

Duties

To prescribe definite plans and rules governing functions outlined in Articles (concerning officers and meetings).

To give due consideration to any proposal concerned with student affairs which undergraduates may lay before it.

To hold a referendum in exceptional cases, when requested by a two-thirds vote of the Council or a petition signed by 500 students, on any proposal concerned with student affairs.

To keep students informed of activities of the Council: (by summary reports of its major activities and plans, a complete and detailed financial statement, copies of reports, decisions, etc., issued on request, and a least one open public meeting a term to receive undergraduate complaints, question, and suggestions).

Powers

To raise money from the student body each year by voluntary contributions. This fund shall be used for undergraduate affairs for which the Council possesses ultimate financial responsibility and for other purposes which the Council considers in the interest of the whole student body.

To supervise all class elections and undergraduate affairs for which the Council possesses ultimate financial responsibility.

To confer with the Administration and Faculty of the Colleges, or any member thereof, upon any subject pertaining to the undergraduate body.

To make reports and statements on College policies.

To cooperate with student groups from other colleges and students associations.

Committees

The standing committees of the Council shall be a Combined Charities Committee, a Committee on Educational Policy, a Committee of Course Evaluation, and a National Student Association Committee. In addition there shall be an election committee composed of a Council member who shall act as co-ordinater and one member from each House Committee. The Council shall appoint such additional committees as it deems necessary. Committees shall be headed, whenever appropriate by a member of the Council, and shall consist of undergraduates closely associated with the problems under consideration. All committee appointments and chairmanships shall be made by vote of the Council.

Amendments

To be considered, an amendment to this Constitution must be proposed.

(a) By any one member of the Council, and must be supported by two-thirds of the council; or

(b) By a petition of 500 students.

A constitution amendment must be ratified by the student body (after ten days of publication) by two-thirds of those voting.

Enacting Clause

This Constitution shall be put up for ratification by the student body. Approval by two-thirds of those voting be required to ratify this Constitution.

The Council shall institute By-Laws, by a two-thirds vote of the total membership, to govern its business in accordance with this Constitution.

This Constitution, when ratified, shall become effective immediately