CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF CDLB SUPREME STUDENT COUNCIL

Republic of the Philippines

Supreme Student Council Constitution and By-Laws – College Department

Preamble

We, the College students of Colegio de Los Baños, through the guidance of the Almighty
God, order to establish a Supreme Student Council that will unite, govern, and uplift the condition
of the whole student, protect and exercise the students’ democratic rights and welfare, foster a
closer relationship among students, academic community and other sector of society, to instill
nationalistic, mass-oriented, scientific and technological consciousness, for the advancement of
the Filipino students and the people as a whole, do hereby ordain and promulgate this
Constitution.

Article I
GENERAL PROVISION

Section 1 Name: This organization shall be known as the Supreme Student Council (SSC).

Section 2 Location: A designated Supreme Student Council office shall be located inside the
Colegio de Los Baños (CDLB) campus.

Section 3 An official logo of the SSC shall be recognized by three courses in the College
Department.

Article II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1 The Supreme Student Council is an autonomous organization of the students of

Colegio de Los Baños (CDLB) which shall pursue programs, policies, projects, and
activities towards the protection and advancement of the democratic rights and
welfare of its members in a manner consistent with the College Code and existing
laws, rules and regulations

Section 2 The Supreme Student Council is a member of the CDLB community and a part of
Filipino society. As such, it shall:

a. Embody the united and genuine interest of the CDLB students, instilling in them
leadership, service, dedication, solidarity, loyalty, and nationalism with integrity,
equality, and utmost responsibility.

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b. Recognize the vital role of the youth in nation-building, and promote their
physical, intellectual, socio-cultural, and spiritual well-being.

Article III
BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1 The student shall enjoy the following democratic rights:

a. The right to organize themselves for purposes not contrary to the laws and
regulations of the state and college and as agreed upon between the students and
administration.

b. The right to establish/organize/join clubs and other associations among

themselves recognized by the school inside the campus based on their general
and/or particular interests including social services, religious, cultural, and political
organizations.

c. Students’ organizations shall have the right to choose their own advisers.

Section 2 Every student of CDLB shall enjoy the right of suffrage.

Section 3 The student shall have the right to seek redress and air their grievances and shall
be free from intimidation or harassment of whatever nature when exercising such
right.

Section 4 No student shall be barred or intimidated from participating in any lawful or

authorized assembly.

Section 5 No arbitrary administrative measures and penalties against any student shall be
allowed without due process. Just causes as provided in the Student Handbook
shall be the basis for meting out punishment(s) to the student or organization.

Section 6 No student shall be subjected to suspension, expulsion, and disciplinary action

without due process of law.

Section 7 Students have the right to use classrooms, conference halls, and other facilities
inside the College for purposes other than instructions provided that permission is
obtained from the concerned college official and provided further that the use
thereof is not disruptive to classes.

Section 8 The right to participate in the formulation of policies that directly affect their
democratic rights as students.

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Section 9 Students have the freedom of inquiry within the campus in matters affecting their
curricular and extracurricular affairs.

Section 10 The right to be free from torture, extortion, harassment, intimidation, manhandling,
grave threats, acts of terrorism, and other similar acts.

Section 11 The right to file charges against anyone who has violated his/her rights or has
incurred offenses against him/her. The student concerned may be represented by
his/her parents/guardian.

Article IV
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS

Section 1 In addition to those provided for under existing laws, every CDLB student shall:

a. Exert utmost effort to develop the potential for service, particularly by undergoing
an education suited to one’s abilities, in order that he/she may become an asset to
the family and to society.

b. Uphold the academic integrity of the school, endeavor to achieve academic

excellence, and abide by the rules and regulations governing academic
responsibilities and moral integrity.

c. Promote and maintain the peace and tranquility of the school by observing the
rules of discipline, and by exerting efforts to attain harmonious relationships with
fellow students, the teaching and academic staff, and other school personnel.

d. Participate actively in civic affairs and in the promotion of the general welfare,
particularly in the social, economic, and cultural development of his/her community
and in the attainment of a just, compassionate, and orderly society.

e. exercise his/her rights responsibly in the knowledge that he/she is answerable

for any infringement or violation of the public welfare and of the rights of others.

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Article V
SUPREME STUDENT COUNCIL

Section 1 The Supreme Student Council shall be the highest governing and policy-making
student body of the college.

Section 2 The Supreme Student Council shall employ its governing laws with the consent of
the academic community.

Section 3 The Supreme Student Council shall promote democratic rights, ideals, and welfare
of the students and the college.

Section 4 The Supreme Student Council shall represent the students to the college head on
matters affecting student affairs and activities.

Section 5 The Supreme Student Council shall conceptualize projects/programs and

implement the same upon approval of school authorities.

Section 6 The Supreme Student Council shall assist in the dissemination of information on
the rules and regulations concerning students’ proper conduct and discipline.

Section 7 The Supreme Student Council shall represent the college in external student
activities with the permission of the college head.

Section 8 The Supreme Student Council shall represent the students in all major policy-
making bodies of the college as provided by laws, rules, and regulations under/or
by any competent authority.

Section 9 The Supreme Student Council shall perform other duties and powers as prescribed
by the Constitution and By-Laws and/or the body.

Section 10 The Supreme Student Council shall guarantee autonomous, democratic avenues
for these exercises.

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Article VI
COMPOSITION OF THE SUPREME STUDENT COUNCIL
Section 1 The Supreme Student Council shall be the central governing body of the
students.
Section 2 The Supreme Student Council shall be composed of the President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Auditor, Public Information Officer,
Business Manager, and Three (3) Representatives from each course. All the
members of the Supreme Student Council shall be elected at large.
Section 3 There shall be a Central Board which shall have legislative and quasi-judicial
responsibilities. It shall be composed of all SSC officers and the presidents of each
course assembly.
Section 4 Unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, a majority of all the officers present
at a meeting in which there is a quorum shall be valid as an act of the Supreme
Student Council. A quorum shall consist of 50 % of the officers plus one (1).

Article VII
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
SUPREME STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS

Section 1 It shall be the main duty of the Supreme Student Council to plan, propose, and
implement projects/activities that shall benefit the entire college student population.

Section 2 The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Supreme Student
Council. It shall be his/her duty:

a. Head of the Supreme Student Council;

b. Preside all meetings of the Supreme Student Council;

c. Sign all resolutions, communications, and papers of the Supreme Student

Council decided by the body;

d. Create standing committees and appoint the chairman and members thereof;

e. Represent the SSC in the official capacity as President on occasions and events
where the organization needs representation;

f. To represent the students to the CDLB Board of Trustees;

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g. Be the co-signatory of the Treasurer financial report of the SSC;

h. Be responsible for upholding the virtues of unity, pride, loyalty, justice, and
honesty;

i. Perform such duties as may be necessary or incidental to the discharge and

performance of the functions of his/her office as decided by the body.

Section 3 The Vice President shall:

a. Assist the President in all matters when his/her assistance is required;

b. Take over the function of the President whenever his/her Office becomes vacant
because of absence, death, resignation or removal, suspension, illness, or physical
and mental incapacity which renders him/her incapable of performing the duties of
the President;

c. Be in charge of the SSC, primarily responsible for coordinating all activities of

academic organizations and interest clubs as well as evaluating and endorsing
their accreditation to the administration;

d. Organize, supervise, and monitor directly the activities of the Academic and
Interest Organizations; and

e. Perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the President.

Section 4 The Secretary shall:

a. Keep the journal of the proceedings of the SSC;

b. Keep all the papers and correspondences of the SSC;

c. Keep all official documents and actions of the Supreme Student Council;

d. Take notes of the minutes of meetings of SSC and certify to its correctness and
accuracy; and

e. Perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the President.

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Section 5 The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall:

a. Collect the authorized fees;

b. Act as the custodian of the funds of SSC;

c. Keep a record of the funds of SSC and its disbursement;

d. Submit recommendations to the SSC in prioritizing the expenditures of the SSC;

e. Act as the controller of funds of the SSC;

f. Prepare financial statements/reports to be presented to the SSC for auditing;

and

g. Perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the President.

Section 6 The Auditor shall:

a. Ensure the proper disbursements made out by the SSC funds;

b. Inspect purchases and audit resources of the SSC; and

c. Perform other duties assigned to him/her by the President.

Section 7 The Business Manager shall:

a. Keep an inventory and take charge of all the properties of the SSC;

b. Supervise all the business activities and transactions of the Supreme Student
Council;

c. Conduct fund-raising activities for the Council;

d. Monitor project implementation and accomplishments; and

e. Perform other duties assigned to him/her by the President.

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Section 8 The Public Information Officer and Course Representatives shall:

a. Promote good relationships with the public;

b. Answer inquiries about the Supreme Student Council activities and issues;

c. Post announcement for the coming meetings of the Supreme Student Council;

d. Disseminate the activities of the Supreme Student Council upon coordination

with the President and the Secretary; and

e. Perform other duties assigned to him/her by the President.

Article VIII
ELECTION AND TENURE OF OFFICE

Section 1 The election of the officers of the SSC should be held every last week of August
to be officiated by the Committee on Student Election (COMELEC) under the
supervision of the Office of the Guidance.

Section 2 There shall be an independent Commission on Student Election (COMSELEC)

which shall be responsible for the enforcement and administration of all policies
relative to the conduct of elections and shall exercise all such related functions
which may be conferred upon by the Supreme Student Council. The composition
and definition of its powers, duties, and responsibilities shall be specified in the
COMSELEC Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 3 Any party or student running for any SSC position shall file his/her candidacy to
the COMSELEC.

Section 4 No student shall qualify to run unless the following criteria are satisfactorily met:

a. Must be a bonafide student of the College who carries a minimum load of 15

units during the filing of candidacy;

b. Must be physically and mentally fit and of good moral character as certified by
the Guidance Office;

c. Must have a general weighted average of at least 2.5 and must not have failing
grades; and

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d. Have complied with all other qualifications and requirements set by the
Commission on Student Election that are not inconsistent with any of the provisions
of this Constitution and By-laws.

Section 5 The election shall be through secret balloting. The candidate in a particular position
getting the highest vote shall be declared as the winning candidate.

Section 6 The majority of the student population shall elect the SSC officers.

Section 7 Candidates for SSC Election shall have one week to campaign including one day
“meeting de avance” in the campus.

Section 8 The tenure of the office of the elected Supreme Student Council Officers shall start
on the day the new officers take their oath of office and until the end of the second
semester.

Article IX
ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICERS

Section 1 All officers of SSC shall serve with the highest degree of responsibility, integrity,
efficiency, loyalty, commitment, and effectiveness. He/she shall be accountable to
all students and the College.

Section 2 Any officer of the SSC may be removed from office and be barred from holding
office or be suspended on the following grounds, namely:

a. Culpable Violations of the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws of the

College Student Council;

b. Negligence of duty;

c. Commission of an offense as provided in the Students Discipline of the Student

Handbook; and

d. Any other form of conduct that sets aside the integrity of the SSC.

Section 3 The Supreme Student Council shall have the sole power to try all cases for removal
or suspension by at least 2/3 votes of all members thereof.

Section 4 Failure of any officer of the Supreme Student Council to attend sessions/meetings
for four (4) unjustifiable absences without prior notice shall mean automatic
dropping from the rolls. He/she shall therefore cease to be an officer of the
Supreme Student Council.

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Any member who has been dropped from the rolls and wishes to return shall make a written
justification of why he/she shall be reinstated. If 2/3 of the Supreme Student Council voted in the
affirmative, he/she can be reinstated.

Article X
VACANCIES

Section 1 In case of vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President shall
automatically assume the office.

Section 2 In case of vacancy in the office of the Vice President, a Snap Election will be
conducted.

Section 3 The President may appoint any qualified student to fill up any vacancy from the
position of Secretary down to Course Representatives provided it is approved by
the majority vote of the Supreme Student Council.

Article X
AMENDMENTS

The Constitution and By-Laws shall be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of all the
officers of the Supreme Student Councils.

Article X
EFFECTIVITY

The Constitution and By-Laws shall take effect upon the approval of majority members of the
constitutional convention.

Amended, September 8, 2023 at Colegio de Los Baños, Lopez Avenue, Brgy. Batong Malake,
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.

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