The Associated Students of Madison Student Council proposed Wednesday a new constitution that would completely restructure the current student government institution.
The proposed constitution would establish four different branches of ASM, which include the executive, legislative, judicial and appropriations branches. These would replace the institution’s three current branches: Student Council, Student Services Finance Committee and Student Judiciary.
ASM Nominations Board Chair Sean McNally, who sponsored the legislation, said the new structure’s four branches would increase the separation of powers within the student government.
Under the new constitution, the legislative branch would primarily work on outreach to the student body through campaigns, leaving funding decisions to the complete discretion of the appropriations branch.
“Council can fully focus on improving student life and appropriations can check itself when handling budgets,” McNally said.
McNally also said the new structure would improve outreach to the student body and create a “unified student voice to the fullest extent possible.”
“This piece of legislation has an opportunity to have a substantial impact on the student body and student power on campus in a positive manner,” McNally said.
The legislation calls for Student Council to approve the placement of the constitution on the ASM Spring 2013 ballot, making the document subject to a student vote.
Council passed the constitution in a preliminary vote, but will need to approve it again in its next meeting by a 2/3 vote for it to be placed on the spring ballot.
A similar constitution was proposed in the fall, but McNally said it was voted down because its amendments failed to achieve a sustainable balanced structure.
“This constitution makes those compromises and is a balanced document that can serve the student population for years to come,” McNally said.
Council also voted down a bylaw change that was introduced last week regarding the United Council of UW Students, a statewide group that lobbies for student issues including state funding and increased financial aid.
The proposed bylaw would have changed the policy requiring a student body referendum on financial support for UC from occurring every other year to only occurring if called by a majority of the student government body or 10 percent of the student body.
