GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

-Assembly Bylaws
-UPUA Constitution

-Parlimentary Procedure Summary

AUTHORITY

The UPUA Assembly is governed by the UPUA Constitution and Assembly Bylaws that regulate the transaction of business. The following excerpt from the preamble of the UPUA Constitution describes the general mission of the UPUA, which the Assembly is foremost in that charge:

“In the belief that active participation in the governance of our university is a fundamental right of students, essential to the health and well being of our community, and best realized through a democratic student government, We, the undergraduate students of The Pennsylvania State University - University Park, being duly elected and appointed by our peers, do hereby establish through this Constitution the University Park Undergraduate Association to serve the undergraduate student body of The Pennsylvania State University - University Park. ”

The UPUA is granted authority to govern based on the democratic empowerment by the students of Penn State University Park and the Board of Trustee’s Standing Order IX:

“Who Performed By. The internal governance of the University shall be performed by the President and his/her administration, by the faculty, and by the student body in accordance with the delegations of authority and advisory roles hereinafter set forth.Consultation with Student Body on Student Affairs. The President shall consult with the student body, as appropriately organized, in the area of student affairs. Consultation by the President. The student body shall be consulted by the President concerning the establishment of policy for student affairs. Communication with the Board. Official student communication to the Board of Trustees shall be made through the President. Participation in the Deliberations of the Faculty. Students may also participate in an appropriate manner in the deliberations of the faculty subject to the revisions and orders of the President.”

ASSEMBLY CHARGES

According to Article V of the UPUA Constitution the Assembly is vested with “All fundamental decision making authority…” on behalf of the undergraduate student body which includes the following charges:

1. Determine the opinion of the UPUA and as such the undergraduate students of Penn State.

2. Regulate the expenditures of the UPUA.

3. Establish general policies and rules for the UPUA, including appointing those who have decision making authority on other governmental entities at this University that do not contradict provisions in this Constitution.

4. Establish rules governing the elections, appointment, performance, and qualifications of members of all entities where not defined in this Constitution or assigned to another entity.

5. Establish Officers and additional Committees of any nature of the Assembly to facilitate proper function of a deliberative body.

6. Consent to appointments of non-elected offices in all entities and express consent in all other areas as this Constitution requires.

7. Have the authority to censure and impeach all members and officers of the UPUA.

8. Fill all student positions on the Faculty Senate and its subsidiaries granted to the UPUA via the Faculty Senate Constitution and Standing Rules. The student voting seats for the Degree-Conferring Academic Colleges and the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) shall be apportioned to the Assembly representatives from the appropriate constituency and only with the consent of the academic units’ governing body. All other seats in any entity of the Faculty Senate may be held by any individual of the UPUA.

9. Accept and execute any authority not attributable to any other entity.