CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS THE ASSOCIATION OF LAW DEBATERS- WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

Preamble
We, the students of Western Mindanao State University College of Law, in order to establish a society where law students can exercise their freedom of speech and expression in an open forum, engage in academic discussion on a variety of issues on the local, regional, national, and international level, and expand learning in order to become more critical and productive citizens as well as active and competent law professionals in the future, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the Association of Law Debaters in Western Mindanao State University for the student body.

ARTICLE I NAME, LOGO AND DOMICILE OF ORGANIZATION

Section 1. Name of the Organization- The name of this organization shall be The Association of Law Debaters in Western Mindanao State University (The ALD-WMSU). Section 2. Nature of the Organization- The Nature of the organization is a non-profit, non-stock association of law students who are debaters as well. Section 3. Logo/Emblem- The organization will adopt the logo which is described as follows

Section 4. Domicile- The domicile of the organization will be at the College of Law of Western Mindanao State University, Baliwasan Normal Road, Zamboanga City, Philippines. For the purpose of brevity, to be referred as the ASSOCIATION ARTICLE II - STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of this organization shall be: 1. To encourage the WMSU College of Law community to actively participate in events which will develop speech and debating skills, including communication, persuasion, organization, style, and delivery. 2. Shall be a tool for continuous academic growth of law students in Western Mindanao State University. 3. Shall encourage WMSU Law students to understand various issues in the country and around the world and their respective legal implication in the National and International Laws. 4. To provide its members with the opportunity to interact with students from numerous other schools involved in various Parliamentary (Philippine Debate Union) and Law Debates (Moot Court and Modified Oregon Oxford Tournaments). A Law Debate Team would be a unique asset to the WMSU College of Law because no other organization provides a forum for the improvement of individual communication skills at all levels of ability. 5. To provide access to competitions in the area as well as on a national and international level. 6. Shall engage in several public debates throughout the academic year to inform and entertain the WMSU College of Law students. 7. Shall organize and run a Parliamentary or Modified Oregon Oxford Debate format tournament outside and inside the campus. The association, in line with its interest for culture of criticalness and legal education shall organize open forums which will focus on various National and International issues.

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS THE ASSOCIATION OF LAW DEBATERS- WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Section 1. Membershipa. All WMSU College of Law students who are enrolled in the College of Law are eligible for interview. The interview procedure will include a test of speaking and argumentative ability (the specifics of which will depend on the number of applicants and the discretion of the Novice Recruitment officer and/or Executive Board). b. Students who will pass this stage shall be considered probationary members. c. The Executive Board may determine when to conduct the recruitment and interview stage provided that it would be within the first or second semester of the academic year. Section 2. Classification of MembershipA. In order to gain regular membership, probationary members must meet the required number of attendance in debate training and workshop. B. Probationary members shall also be trained and assessed by working in hosting events that will be conducted by the Association within the academic year. After a year following the application, the applicants will be eligible for assessment for regular membership. C. Only regular members shall be eligible for representing the Association in various local, national and international tournaments and events. Tournament eligibility in any given event will also be based on a point system which will be under the discretion of the officers and will be dependent on the student's participation, active semesters on the team, and available funding. D. SPECIAL Provision for non-members to compete (presumed gifted) HOWEVER, May invite law students (non-members) to participate in the tournament only for that purpose, shall be required to undergo the process after the tourney. Section 3. Membership Duesa. The amount of 75 php for probationary members and 100 php for regular members will be charged every semester for membership dues. b. The amount collected will be used for the necessary expenses of the association with the approval of the Executive body. c. These dues maybe increased upon majority vote of all regular members in an administrative meeting called for that purpose. Such increase will take effect the following semester. d. The money will be paid the first Monday of the second month of the semester the student becomes a probationary member or regular member. Members may be allowed to pay late or be exempted to pay provided that the Executive board sees a valid ground to approve it. e. The Society will examine its fiscal resources on a yearly basis to determine how many new members it will receive. The Association shall not discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, creed, age, disability, marital status, major and/or degree program, political opinions or affiliations. Section 4. Voting Rights- ALL MEMBERS? REGULAR MEMBERS Membership allows one to vote and join a committee. Membership will be renewed by registration and dues at the beginning of each semester. Membership will be subjected to assessment based on attendance and performance in meetings and debate trainings

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS THE ASSOCIATION OF LAW DEBATERS- WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS
A. Titles and Responsibilities A. 1. Executive Board 1. President: Organize and run meetings; facilitate interactions between different branches of the Society; act as secondary signatory for bank accounts; handle all administrative issues not explicitly delegated to another officer. 2. Vice President, Finance (Treasurer): Keep records of all financial transactions for all branches of the Society; act as primary signatory for bank accounts; reimburse Society members for Society related costs after approving those costs; ensure payment of debts to the Society. 3. Vice-President, External Relations: Act as liaison among Western Mindanao State University administration, Office of the Dean of the College of Law and the Society 4. Events Director: Work with administration and organization of debate tournaments, socials and forum. The Events Director will be the Head in planning the events which will be organized and hosted by the Association; Schedule Society members to specific shifts and occupations as are deemed necessary 5. Captain, ALD-WMSU Debate Team:: shall; head the recruitment and training of new members in the debate team; Act as a liaison to and contact for different tournaments; make travel arrangements for tournaments; work with the financial officer to determine acceptable travel expenses and purchase plane tickets; pre-register and register teams for tournaments; maintain contact with members of the Society about tournament opportunities and results. Other Offices 1. Secretary: Keep minutes of all meetings; maintain records of tournament results after released by captains; compose newsletter at least once a year with help of financial officer to report the Associations activities and victories for the benefit of the current members, alumni, and WMSU administration. 2. Novice Recruitment Chair: Organize recruitment efforts (flyers, tables at activity fairs, etc.), coordinate interview process; work with treasurer and team captain to determine recruiting policies for given year. 3. Public Relations Officer: Maintain the debate team website or social media accounts; Work with Novice Recruitment Chair and Secretary for Information Dissemination 4. Head for Research: Tasked in Matter loading for Parliamentary Debate regarding different issues in the Region, Country and internationally; compile the different printed research materials; the officer shall head the research team in Oregon Oxford debate format and Moot Court; Research on latest jurisprudence, law and other related legal documents beneficial and necessary for the debate team.

Article V ELECTIONS AND REMOVAL PROCESS

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS THE ASSOCIATION OF LAW DEBATERS- WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
Section 1. Elections- Elections will be held by silent, preferential ballot at the last Saturday of the first month of the first semester of one academic year to determine officers for that year. The election for each office will occur one at a time, beginning with President and proceeding individually in the order that the offices are listed on this constitution. The results will be tabulated immediately by the Acting Secretary and President or the Secretary and President of the previous Executive Board. Anyone not elected may drop down and compete in other races.

Section 2. Qualifications- The conditions on offices are that they have participated actively in the Society for at least one full academic year prior to election; they are bona fide students of WMSU College of Law and that they do not hold any Executive position in other WMSU and College of Law organizations. Failure to meet these requirements will automatically result to disqualification. Section 3. Removal1. In the event that an officer other than the President resigns, a new officer will be elected within a two week period. If the President resigns, the Vice-President of Finance will assume the responsibilities of President temporarily in addition to their responsibilities as Vice-President of Finance and will conduct an election of a new President. This election must be held within two weeks of the resignation or removal of the president. 2. If the Vice-President of Finance becomes elected as the replacement President then they must oversee an election for a new Vice-President of Finance within two weeks of their election to President. This person will only have one vote on the board while they hold two offices. 3. To involuntarily remove an officer, 2/3 of the eligible voting regular members must sign a petition requesting that officers removal, and new elections must be held at the next regular meeting 4. Officers may be removed if they fail to comply with the guidelines set forth in the Society Contract or fail to fulfill the here-enumerated duties and eligibility. Removal can be determined by the executive board upon consent by a 2/3 majority of the Society's regular members on a special meeting called for that purpose. Section 4- Canvassing 1. Any matters up for decision by the Association can be decided by either 1) an entire regular members vote, or 2) an executive board vote. The President will decide which method to invoke. All officers may vote in matters relegated to the entire team, excepting the President, who may only vote in the instance of a tie. Any executive board decisions resulting in a tie can only be broken by a second vote of the team President. 2. In the event that an individual is elected to multiple executive board positions, that individual shall only receive one executive board vote. The remaining executive board position or positions will go to the person or persons holding Other Offices in order until there are 5 persons on the executive board. Section 5- Length of Term- Terms will last for one academic year, beginning in the first week of the second month of the first semester. However, the officer may run for reelection and hold the same position for three consecutive terms.

Article VI- FUNDING

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS THE ASSOCIATION OF LAW DEBATERS- WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
Section 1. The Club/Organization will have a Vice President for Finance designated as the party responsible for finances. All funds raised through Association dues, donations, or fundraisers are acknowledged as ALD-WMSU funds and will be maintained in a bank account if possible. Section 2. The organization shall be funded by the following means: A. Annual registration fee of regular and probationary members B. Fund raising activity C. Donors Section 3. All money transaction must be used only in events related to the Association and duly approved and signed by the Vice President, Finance (Treasurer), President and The Association Adviser

Article VII- MEETINGS AND TRAININGS

Section 1. The Association shall hold meetings that allow members to carry on administrative business and to practice and teach debating skills through practice rounds. The Association shall hold two different types of meetings. They will be as follows: A. Administrative - Ideally, meetings will be held once a month. If occasion arises that the members decide that the meetings need to be more or less frequent for a period of time, meetings shall be called as necessary. Any Executive officer can call a meeting. Meetings shall parliamentary rules and procedures. The time of the subsequent meeting will be decided before the closure of the meeting at hand. Special meeting may be called for any of the following purpose: Amendment of the Constitution, Removal of Officers and Members, Special Election and other concerns which substantially affect the interest of the Association and require the urgent decision of the body. A quorum of a regular meeting shall be 50 plus 1 of all the voting regular members without prejudice to the voting requirement required in removal of officers and constitutional amendment. B. Training - Practice Rounds - These mock competitions will be scheduled at administrative meetings and will be presided over by an experienced judge. This judge, an experienced member of the team, will be responsible for critiquing the competitors and deciding the outcome. Debate training will be conducted twice a month on a weekend and may be increased if necessary as may be decided by the Team Captain with the approval of the Executive Body. Practice rounds will use the British Parliamentary Debate Format or Asian Parliamentary Debate format and Modified Oregon Oxford Debate format or Moot Court Debate.

Article VIII THE ASSOCIATION ADVISER

Section 1. This Club/Organization will have at least one member of the WMSU College Law faculty or administration serve as an society adviser. Section 2. Duties and responsibilities of the Adviser(s): Be available to all members for consultation for advice, counsel, and as a resource; meet with President for urgent concerns; Sign appropriate budget, event and tournament paperwork; be familiar with rules_____ pertaining to student Club/Organizations; if able, attend the Association meetings and activities ; perform eligibility checks on all officers and members, and inform ineligible members of their status ; Keep open lines of communication with the Executive Board and Debate Team on matters of concern regarding the Association Section 3. The executive board will meet with prospective advisers and make a recommendation to the general membership; the permanent members will confirm the adviser(s) by a of majority vote

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS THE ASSOCIATION OF LAW DEBATERS- WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
Section 4. The regular members may remove an adviser by a majority vote on the basis of failure to observe the roles and duties of the adviser provided in Article _____ of this constitution. This vote may not take place until one week after the adviser is informed of the groups intent and one week after all the regular members has been notified

Article IX- CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Section 1. A constitutional amendment may be proposed by any member and must have the signatures of at least five other members. The amendment must be submitted in writing to the regular members three days for the Administrative meeting called for that purpose. Section 2. An amendment, in the spirit of the organization, will be debated before the Society. That debate will be judged by the members of the executive board, and the 2/3 of the regular voting members will approve the amendment. The amendment can only become finalized upon the approval of the Adviser of the ALD-WMSU. In the event that the Adviser will veto such amendment, the veto can be overridden with a majority vote of all the regular members of the Association in a special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE X -MISC
Hierarchy of Law- The provisions of this Constitution are governed by and subordinate to the constitution and laws of the Philippines as well as the policies of the Board of Trustees of Western Mindanao State University, College of Law and the Student Constitution.

Signed by:

ALDRIN ABDURAHIM FOUNDER, ALD-WMSU

ARNOLD BUCOY FOUNDER, ALD-WMSU

FOUNDING MEMBERS

PRINCESS AYOMA

MARTI GREGORIO

EARL RASHEEDA JOE

YULEE TOLENTINO

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS THE ASSOCIATION OF LAW DEBATERS- WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY