Constitution of the Leon Mara Institute (text)

Article I

Main article: Article One of the Leon Mara Constitution

Section 1

All legislative and executive Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Bureaucracy of the Student Body, which shall consist of a Lower and Higher Council.

Section 2

The Lower Council shall be composed of Members chosen every Year by the Students of the several Clubs. Electors in each Club shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the Administration.

Low Councilors shall be apportioned among the several Clubs which may be included within this Body, according to their respective Number of Members. The Enumeration shall be made within one Year after the first Meeting of the Student Bureaucracy, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Low Councilors shall be one for every Ten, but each Club shall have at Least one Low Councilor.

When vacancies happen in the Councillorship from any Club, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The Lower Council shall choose their Chief and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 3

The Higher Council of the Student Body shall be composed, in part, of three Councilors from each Section, chosen by the Students thereof, for one Year; and each High Councilor shall have one Vote. Electors in each Club shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the Administration. A Board of Directors and Executive Committee shall compose the remainder of the Council.

High Councilors shall be apportioned among several Sections which may be included within this Body, according to their respective Natures, which shall be determined by the Lower Council. The Number of High Councilors shall be Thirty. The Enumeration shall be made within one Year after the first Meeting of the Student Bureaucracy, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

The Principal of the Institute shall be President of the Higher Council, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Higher Council shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Principal.

The High Councilors shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the Student Body is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Student shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the Bureaucracy: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Bureaucracy may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

Section 4

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Lower Councilors, shall be prescribed in each Club by the Students thereof, and as for Higher Councilors, shall be prescribed in each Section by the Students thereof; but the Bureaucracy may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.

The Bureaucracy shall assemble at least once in every Semester, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in May, and on the first Monday of November thereafter. The normal length of Study shall be six Years with Terms of one Year and Semesters of six Months.

Section 5

Each Council shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each Council may provide.

Each Council may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member, except those of the Executive Committee.

Each Council shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either Council on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Neither Council, during the Session of Council, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Councils shall be sitting.

Section 6

No Student shall be Councilor who shall not have regular Enrollment in the Institute; and who shall not, when elected, hold or be appointed to a Position in that Club in which they shall be chosen.

No Councilor shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the Bureaucracy, which shall have been created; and no Person holding any Office under the Bureaucracy, shall be a Member of either Council during their Continuance in Office.

Section 7

All Bills for raising Revenue and for organizing Events shall originate in the Lower Council; but the Higher Council may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

All Bills for allocating Revenue among the several Clubs or Sections shall originate in the Higher Council; but the Lower Council may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. The Revenue to be allocated by the Bureaucracy shall be determined by the Principal of the Administration. The Chief Low Councilor shall have the Sole power to deny any Allocation made thereby.

Every Bill which shall have passed the Councils, shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented by the President of the Student Body to the Principal of the Administration; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that Council in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Councils shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Students voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each Council respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the Principal within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Bureaucracy by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Councils may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the Principal of the Administration; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by them, or being disapproved by them, shall be Denied, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 8

The Bureaucracy shall have Power to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Bureaucracy of the Student Body, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section 9

The Chief Low Councilor shall from time to time give to the Bureaucracy Information of the State of the Institute, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as they shall judge necessary and expedient; they may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Councils, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, they may adjourn them to such Time as they shall think proper; they shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; they shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the Student Body.

Section 10

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the Bureaucracy, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Breaches of Trust or Contract, or Crimes.

Section 11

The Roles, Duties, and Restrictions of the Bureaucracy, the Councilors and Executive-Board therein, and the several Clubs shall be vested by the Charter of the Institute.

Article II

Main article: Article Two of the Leon Mara Constitution

Section 1

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the Student Body. They shall hold their Office during the Term of one Year, and, together with an Executive Committee composed of the Vice President, Secretary, and Bursar, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows

Each Club shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Councilors to which the Club may be entitled in the Bureaucracy: but no Councilor, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the Institute, shall be appointed an Elector.

The Electors shall meet in their respective Clubs, and vote by Ballot for four Students of whom one at least shall not be a Member of the same Club with themselves; And they shall name in distinct Ballots the Person voted for as President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Bursar and they shall make distinct Lists of all Persons voted for as President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Bursar and of the Number of Votes for each, which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the Student Body, directed to the Chief High Councilor.

The Person having the greatest Number of Votes for an Office of the Executive Committee shall have that Office, and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the Lower Council shall immediately choose by Ballot one of them for that Office; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said Council shall in like Manner choose that Officer. But in choosing that Officer, the Votes shall be taken by Clubs, the Councillorship from each Club having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the Clubs, and a Majority of all the Clubs shall be necessary to a Choice. But no Person constitutionally ineligible to that Office shall be eligible to that Office.

The Bureaucracy may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes, which Day shall be the same throughout the Clubs.

Section 2

The President of the Student Body shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the High Councilors, to appoint six Directors to a Board and vest the Roles, Responsibilities, and Powers thereof, provided two thirds of the High Councilors present concur

The President shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the High Councilors, to make Contracts, provided two thirds of the High Councilors present concur; and they shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the High Councilors, shall appoint Administrative Liaisons, Institute Representatives, Judges of the inferior Courts, and all other Officers of the Bureaucracy, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Bureaucracy may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Higher Council, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3

The President, each Member of the Executive Committee, and Director of the Board shall have one Vote in the Higher Council.

Article III

Main article: Article Three of the Leon Mara Constitution

Section 1

The judicial Power of the Institute and the Student Bureaucracy shall be vested in an Administration presided by a Principal, and in such inferior Courts as the Bureaucracy may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges of the inferior Courts shall hold their Offices during good Behavior.

Section 2

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Rules of the Institute, and Agreements made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Administrative Liaisons, Institute Representatives;--to Controversies to which the Institute shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more Clubs;--between a Club and Members of another Club;--between Members of different Clubs;--and between a Club, or the Members thereof, and foreign Entities.

In all Cases affecting Administrative Liaisons, Institute Representatives and those in which a Club shall be Party, the Administration shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the Administration shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Administration shall make.

The Trial of all Infractions, except in Cases of Impeachment; shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held by the Club where the said Infractions shall have been committed; but when not committed within or against any Club, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Administration may by Law have directed.

Section 3

The Principal of the Administration shall have absolute Power to deny any Law, Judgment, Amendment, or Action arising from the Student Bureaucracy; to recess and dissolve, from the Bureaucracy, any Council or Committee; to dismiss and remove Members of either Council and civil Officers under the Authority of the Bureaucracy.

The Principal shall appoint no Member of Council or civil Officer under the Authority of the Bureaucracy and shall make no law without the Approval of the Bureaucracy.

The Principal may appoint as Deputy any civil Officer under the Authority of the Administration, who shall have the foregoing Powers and Restrictions.

Section 4

The Bureaucracy shall make no Law or Amendment abridging the Powers granted the Principal.

Article IV

Main article: Article Four of the Leon Mara Constitution

Section 1

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each Club to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other Club. And the Bureaucracy may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section 2

The Members of each Club shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Members in the several Clubs.

Section 3

Students may form Clubs. The Students shall sign a Contract before the Secretary of the Student Body. Every such Contract shall be presented to the Principal of the Administration. If he approve, he shall sign it and the Secretary shall enter the Club’s Name, Date of Formation, and Nature on the Registry, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to the Secretary, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it.

No new Club shall be formed with Fewer than ten Signatories (excepting the Guarantor) or without their Consent, nor erected within the jurisdiction of any other Club; nor any Club be formed by the junction of two or more Clubs, or parts of Clubs, without the Consent of the Members of the Clubs concerned as well as of the Councils and Principal.

Section 4

The Principal of the Administration and Student Bureaucracy shall guarantee every Club in this Institute a Republican Form of Government.

Section 5

The Powers not delegated to the Bureaucracy by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the Clubs, nor fairly regulated by the Charter, are reserved to the Clubs respectively, or to the People.

Article V

Main article: Article Five of the Leon Mara Constitution

The Bureaucracy, whenever two thirds of both Councils shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Students of two thirds of the several Clubs, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Students of three fourths of the several Clubs, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Bureaucracy; Provided that no Amendment shall in any Manner affect the eleventh Section of the first Article and the fourth Section of the second Article; and that the Principal approves of Such.

Article VI

Main article: Article Six of the Leon Mara Constitution

This Constitution, the Charter, and the Laws of the Student Bureaucracy which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the Student Bureaucracy, shall be the supreme Law of the Institute.

The Councils before mentioned and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the Bureaucracy and of the several Clubs, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution and the Charter.

Amendment III

Main article: Amendment Three of the Leon Mara Constitution

The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Bursar shall be elected by the Students of the several Clubs.

The Persons having the greatest Number of Votes for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Bursar shall be elected.

Each Elector shall cast a single Vote jointly applicable to the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Bursar. Names of Candidates may not be joined unless they shall have consented thereto and no Candidate may consent to the candidate's Name being joined with that of more than one other Person.

Amendment IV

Main article: Fourth Amendment to the Leon Mara Constitution

See also: 25th Class Midterm Crisis

The Low Councilors shall have the sole Power to remove their Chief Officer with the Concurrence of the majority of the Councilors present; And judgment in such Cases of removal shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold that Office.

Amendment V

See also: Lower Council Compromise

The Chief Low Councilor shall have Power to call for the Enumeration of Lower Councilors and shall determine the Time of the Enumeration; but the Enumeration must occur within thirty Days before the first Monday of November.

Amendment ??

The Lower Council shall by Law vest the sole Roles, Responsibilities, and Powers of each Director of the Board.

Amendment ??

No Club shall have a Number of Members whereby the enumerated Number of Low Councilors exceeds three tenths of the apportioned Seats in the Lower Council

No Club shall have a Number of Low Councilors to exceed three tenths of the apportioned Seats in the Lower Council