UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

ACADEMIC LEAGUE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS

(UP ALCHEMES)

CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE

Recognizing the challenges faced by Chemical Engineering majors and the common
desires to establish an organization dedicated to serve and promote the interest of our
fellow students; we hereby establish the University of the Philippines Academic League of
Chemical Engineering Students and do solemnly promulgate this constitution for its
governance.
ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the organization shall be the UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES ACADEMIC
LEAGUE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS, hereinafter referred to as UP
ALCHEMES.
ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES

The UP ALCHEMES shall:

A.

Promote academic excellence among its members and assist them in their
pursuit of higher scholastic achievements;

B.

Serve as a forum and venue for the exchange of ideas and interests and
development of camaraderie among Chemical Engineering majors;

C.

Organize projects and activities that shall assist and support its members in
preparation of their professional career;

D.

Foster holistic growth and development of its members through relevant and
worthwhile programs and projects;

E.

Organize projects and activities geared towards the reiteration of the

importance of our environment.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in the organization shall be classified as follows:

A.

Resident members. There are members who renewed their membership and
have participated in at least 75% of the organizations activities.

B.

Inactive members. These are members who renewed their membership but
attended less than 75% of the organizations functions without valid excuse.
They shall have obligatory participation in order to regain active status.

C.

Members-on-leave. These are members who took a Leave-of-Absence from

the university. They may also file an LOA from the organization subject to the
approval of the Executive Council.

D.

Honorary members. A non-Chemical Engineering student who is also

currently enrolled in the same school can be given an honorary membership
subject to the approval of the Executive Council. Honorary members are
entitled to the same privileges as resident members.

Section 2. Renewal of membership shall be done every start of the semester.

ARTICLE IV
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS

Section 1. Resident members of the organization have the following duties:

A.

To uphold the constitution and abide by the rules and regulations of the
organization

B.

To attend and participate General Assemblies and committee meetings

C.

To participate in the activities and projects of the organization

D.

To settle their financial dues

Section 2. The following rights may be enjoyed by the members of the organization:
A.

To avail the services offered by the organization and take part in activities

B.

To use the facilities and equipments of the organization

C.

To be informed

D.

To vote and to run and hold office

ARTICLE V
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Section 1. The General Assembly of the UP ALCHEMES shall be the highest policy- making
body of the organization.
Section 2. The General Assembly shall be composed of the resident members.
Section 3. The General Assembly shall have the following powers and
responsibilities:
A.

The right to ratify, affirm or revoke policies and decisions

B.

The right to decide on matters presented by the Executive Council

C.

The right to adopt, amend, revise, and ratify the constitution.

D.

The right to confirm the final roster of the new members

E.

The right to elect the members of the Executive Council

ARTICLE VI
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section 1. The Executive Council shall be the governing body of the organization. It shall be
composed of seven resident members duly elected by the General Assembly.
Section 2. The Executive Council shall be composed of the following officers:
A.

PRESIDENT
1.

The president shall be the head of the Executive Council and of

the whole organization.

2.

S/He shall be the presiding officer of all meetings unless

specified otherwise by this constitution.

3.

S/He shall vote only in case of a tie during Executive Council

and General Assembly meetings.

4.

S/He shall come up with a report every semester of the

accomplishments and overall status of the Executive Council
as well as the whole organization.

B.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

1.

S/He shall be the chairperson of the Academics Committee.

2.

S/He is tasked to come up with a report of the tutorials and

seminars held every month including the speakers, the tutors,
and the attendees.

C.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

1.

S/He shall be the chairperson of the External Affairs and

Publications Committee.

2.

S/He shall represent in the social functions and facilitate

communication

between

the

organization

and

other

organizations on campus.
3.

S/He shall preside over meetings upon the absence of the

president.

D.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR FINANCE

1.

S/He shall be the chairperson of the Finance Committee.

2.

S/He shall be in charge of all financial accounts and is tasked

to come up with a monthly report of the financial condition of
the organization.

E.

EXECUTIVE OFFIECER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS

1.

S/He shall be the chairperson of the Internal Affairs Committee.

2.

S/He shall prepare, reserve, and update all membership

records.

F.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR LOGISTICS

1.

S/He shall be the chairperson of the Logistics, Sports and

Recreation Committee.

2.

S/He shall be responsible in keeping and updating the

inventory of all the property and equipment of the organization.

G. EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR SECRETARIAT

1.

S/He shall be the chairperson of the Secretariat Committee.

2.

S/He shall take down the minutes of the Executive Council and
General Assembly meetings.

3.

S/He shall take over the responsibilities of ExO for External

Affairs if the latter is absent.

Section 3.The term of office of every member of the Executive Council shall be one
academic year.
Section 4. An officer may stay in office for a maximum of two terms.
ARTICLE VII
ADVISERS TO THE ORGANIZATION

The adviser/s shall be faculty representative/s and must fulfill the requirements as stated in
the Guidelines of the Office of Student Activities.
ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES

Section 1. ACADEMICS COMMITTEE

A.

The Academics Committee shall be responsible for supervising activities and

projects of the organization that will encourage and motivate the members to
succeed in their studies (e.g. tutorials, seminars, etc.).

B.

This committee is tasked to make the Club Exam.

C.

This committee shall be responsible for acquisitions and maintenance of

publications and other media (e.g. sample exams).

Section 2. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

A.

The External Affairs and Publications Committee shall be responsible for all
publicity and promotions of the organization for special projects.

B.

This committee shall coordinate with the Finance Committee regarding

fundraising projects.

C.

This committee shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance

of alumni relations.

D.

This committee shall be responsible for acquiring recognition by the

university.

E.

This committee shall be in charge of the preparation and publication of the

organizations newsletter.

Section 3. FINANCE COMMITTEE

A.

The Finance Committee shall be responsible for the organizations

fundraising projects.

B.

This committee shall take charge of any financial collection, transaction,

purchase, and safekeeping of the organizations account.

C.

The committee shall be responsible for budget appropriations as requested

by a committee and approved by the Executive Council.

Section 4. INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

A.

The Internal Affairs Committee shall be responsible for monitoring the

performance of the resident members regarding the organizations activities.

B.

This committee shall be responsible for recruitment of possible members of

the organization and the application process as well.

C.

This committee shall provide a membership status report at General

Assembly meetings and/or upon the request of the President and the
Advisers.

Section 5. LOGISTICS, SPORTS and RECREATION COMMITTEE

A.

The Logistics, Sports and Recreation Committee shall be responsible for the
upkeep of the property and equipment of the organization.

B.

This committee shall provide an inventory of all property and equipment of the
organization during the General Assembly.

C.

This committee shall be responsible for the manpower for sports and social
events participated by the society.

D.

This committee is tasked to arrange the venue for meetings and other social
functions.

Section 6. SECRETARIAT COMMITTEE

A.

The Secretariat Committee shall be responsible for safekeeping of the

records of the organization.

B.

This committee shall be responsible for an official correspondence.

C.

This committee shall take charge of all announcements of the organization.

Section 7. AD HOC COMMITTEES. The creation of the Ad Hoc Committees such

as the

Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Commission on Elections and Special Projects

Committee shall be upon the discretion of the Executive Council. The guidelines are as
follows:
A.

The Committee on Constitutional Amendments shall follow the rules as stated

by Article XII.

This committee shall be formed should the need for

Constitutional Amendments arise. This committee shall be responsible for

collating proposals form the different committees and shall serve as
moderators/arbiters during amendment date. Eight members who have been
active for at least two years will be appointed by the Executive Council to
compose the committee.
B.

The Commission on Elections shall be formed one month before the

scheduled date of elections. Their functions are stated by Article X. This
committee shall be composed of eight members to be appointed by the
incumbent president and should not be nominated in any office.

C.

The Special Projects Committee shall be formed as needed.

ARTICLE IX
MEETINGS AND QUORUM

Section 1. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS

A.

The President shall call the Executive Council meetings at least two days
before the General Assembly.

B.

These meetings shall be used for the discussion of issues, policies, and
projects that are subject to the approval of the Executive Council.

C.

All seven officers should attend these meetings; otherwise there is no

quorum.

Section 2. COMMITTEE MEETINGS

A.

The Chairperson shall call all committee meetings that should be attended by
all committee members.

B.

These meetings are to discuss proposals and updates of the committee.

C.

These meetings are called at least a day before the Executive Council
meetings.

Section 3. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A.

The President shall call the General Assembly at least once a month.
Emergency GAs may also be called upon the approval of the president.

B.

All resident members and applicants for membership should attend these
meetings.

C.

Quorum shall be sixty percent of the resident members. Majority vote shall
be fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the General Assembly.
ARTICLE X
ELECTIONS

Section 1. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CANDIDACY

A.

A candidate must be a Chemical Engineering student preferably of good

academic standing.

B.
Section 2.

S/He must be an active member for at least two consecutive semesters.

NOMINATIONS.

The ad hoc committee as described in Article VIII,

Section 7B shall organize a General Assembly two weeks before the date of the
elections to facilitate the nominations for the seven positions in the

Executive Council.

Section 3. ELECTION PROPER

A.

Election should be conducted two weeks before the last day of the second
semester.

B.

The electoral process shall be conducted by secret balloting.

C.

The Commission on Elections shall administer the electoral procedures.

D.

A quorum (stated in Article IX, Section 3) must be present, otherwise the

election is considered invalid.

E.

To be officially elected into office, a majority vote is required.

F.

Winners shall be declared day after the elections and they shall be inducted a
week after.

Section 4. ELECTION PROTESTS

A.

Any member can protest the result of the elections.

B.

Filing of election protests should be done a day before the induction of

officers.

C.

The induction day will then be postponed to give time for the COMELEC to
study their protests.

D.

After all protests have been decided upon, the COMELEC shall declare the
winners and reschedule their induction. Their decision will be final and
executory.

Section 5. SPECIAL ELECTION AND APPOINTMENTS

A.

In cases of vacated positions, special elections shall be called by the

President.

B.

If the Presidential seat is unfilled, the Executive Council shall call for a special
election.

C.

A resident member shall be appointed by the Executive Council if there are

no candidates for a vacant office.
ARTICLE XI
GROUNDS FOR REVOKING MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICERSHIP

Section 1. Any member of the organization may have their membership revoked on the
basis of the following grounds:
A.

Negligence of Duty. This pertains to being inactive for two consecutive

semesters.

B.

Insubordination. This includes acting contrary to the decision of the General

Assembly.

C.

Unbecoming Conduct. This includes degrading and disgracing the name of

the organization in any form.

D.

Malversation and Misappropriation of Funds and Equipment. This includes

the use of organizational funds and/or materials for personal activities without
prior consent from the Executive Council.

E.

Any other grounds that may be found against the member concerned, which
does not fall under the aforementioned grounds. In this regard, the decision is
left under the discretion of the Executive Council.

Section 2. An officer of the organization may be impeached from office based on the
following:

A.

Gross

Negligence

of

Duty.

This

includes

intentional

aversion

of

responsibilities.
B.

Insubordination. This includes acting contrary to the decision of the General

Assembly and not welcoming suggestion from his/her constituents.

C.

Unbecoming Conduct. This pertains to conduct that projects a negative

influence to members and applicants.

D.

Malversation and misappropriation of the organizations funds and equipment

for personal activities without prior consent from the rest of Executive Council
and the General Assembly.

E.

Any other grounds that may be found against the officer concerned, which
does not fall under the aforementioned grounds.

F.

An officer may be impeached upon a 75% vote of the General Assembly.

ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Recommended amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the

resident members of the organization before submission to the Executive
Council.
Section 2. The organizations advisers must determine if the recommended

amendment/s

is/are to be made.
Section 3. A rule shall be amended by a vote of sixty percent of the General Assembly.
Section 4. All amendments shall take effect immediately after it has been approved.
Section 5. Amendments are to be held when necessary.