The Omnibus Election Rules of 2013

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES COLLEGE OF LAW

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

OMNIBUS ELECTION RULES OF 2013

Pursuant to Section 1 (3) of Rule IV-B of the University of the Philippines Law Students’ Constitution of 2012 vesting in the Electoral Commission the power to promulgate, enforce, and administer all rules and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite or referendum, the Electoral Commission hereby promulgates the following Omnibus Election Rules.

TITLE ONE

PRELIMINARY TITLE

RULE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1.        Title. These Rules shall be known as “The Omnibus Election Rules of 2013.”

SECTION 2.        Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the Electoral Commission to guarantee the adequate representation of the students of the U.P. College of Law in the affairs of their respective batches and of the College by ensuring the conduct of fair, clean and honest elections, plebiscites or referenda.

SECTION 3.        Definition of Terms.

1. “Commission” shall mean the Electoral Commission.
2. “Commissioner” shall mean a member of the Electoral Commission.
3. “Electoral Commission Executive Board” shall be composed of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Electoral Commission.
4. "Majority" shall mean 50% + 1 of the total number of voters.  In an instance where the total number is an odd number, it shall mean 50% + 1 of that number rounded up to the nearest value.
5. “Official e-groups” shall mean those e-groups created by the Law Student Government.
6. “Personal campaign manager” shall mean a person designated by a candidate to handle election campaign related matters and authorized by the candidate to deal with the Commission. The personal campaign manager shall be the only person authorized to act in behalf of the candidate, including but not limited to, inquiries or communication with the Electoral Commission.
7. “School days” shall include all days except Sundays and legal holidays.
8. "Voting Constituency” shall mean the group of students eligible to vote for a candidate in a certain position.

TITLE TWO

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

RULE I

MEMBERSHIP AND TENURE

SECTION 1.        Composition. The Electoral Commission shall be an impartial body composed of fifteen (15) permanent Commissioners.

SECTION 2.        Qualifications of Commissioners. No student shall be eligible for membership in the Commission unless he/she has obtained a general weighted average of at least “2.75” for the courses completed in the UP College of Law during the semester immediately preceding his/her selection and he/she must not be on probationary or delinquent status. Commissionersubmit a certified true copy of his/her grades from OCS upon his/her nomination and before his/her appointment. The GWA of at least “2.75” shall be a continuing requirement, provided, that a one (1) year probation shall be given to a Commissioner who fails to comply.

SECTION 3.        Prior membership in Administrative Group. No student shall be eligible for membership in the Commission unless he/she has been a member of the Electoral Commission Administrative Group for an uninterrupted period of at least one (1) year or two (2) consecutive elections immediately preceding his/her selection. Provided, he/she may be asked to submit a certification from the Student Disciplinary Tribunal that there is no pending administrative case against him/her and that such Tribunal has never rendered judgment finding him/her guilty of any violation of the University’s student rules and regulations.

Election of Commissioners.

Tenure.

SECTION .        Affiliation of Commissioners; limitations. In no case shall one-third (1/3) of the present Commission belong to the same student organization, fraternity or sorority known in the University or the College of Law. Should a Commissioner at any time during his/her term join a student organization so as to produce the effect that a third of the Commissioners belong to such organization, the Commissioner who so joins shall automatically forfeit his/her seat in the Commission.

SECTION 7.        Prohibited Offices. No Commissioner shall hold office as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, or Councilor of the University Student Council, or as Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian, or as Corps Commander of the UP R.O.T.C., or as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Philippine Law Journal, or as member of the Central Board, or as a Constitutional Commissioner without forfeiting his/her membership in the Commission. Provided, any Commissioner or member of the Administrative Group who officially runs for any elective post involving the supervision of the Commission shall also be deemed resigned.

SECTION 8.        Grounds for forfeiture. The following are grounds for automatic forfeiture of membership in the Commission, by virtue of which the Commissioner involved shall be deemed resigned:

1. Filing a certificate of candidacy for any position in the Central Board;
2. Membership in the Student Tribunal or/and any other Constitutional Commission;
3. Membership in any committee under the Central Board;
4. Dismissal, suspension for more than thirty (30) days from the College, or otherwise ceasing to be a student thereof; or
5. Performance of any grave offense or misconduct, which constitutes a violation of University or College rules punishable by suspension or expulsion from the University or College.

SECTION 9.        Vacancies; manner of filling. Any vacancy in the Commission by reason of resignation, disqualification, impeachment or permanent incapacity during the academic year shall be filled by the Commissioners in the same manner prescribed in Section 4 hereof: Provided, that there are members of administrative group qualified to become Commissioners: Provided, further, Such vacancy must be filled within fifteen (15) days from the occurrence thereof, except during the thirty (30) day period immediately preceding the elections, in which case the vacancy shall be filled within fifteen (15) days after the conduct of such elections.