As any organization, CLASSU is proud to follow a Constitution which governs its actions and motives.
If you should like to peruse the Constitution in the full majesty of its legalese (as of 20/09/2020), please click here to download.
Below, you will instead find a summarized, “plain English” version of the Constitution for those who are perhaps less legally inclined.
Please note that, until further notice, this summarized version has not yet been updated to reflect Constitutional amendments made from 2017 onward.
Preamble to Article III: Objectives, Terms, Disputes, Membership
We offer services and events to promote Classics at U of T and communicate with ASSU and the faculty/department on undergrads’ behalves. Obvious definitions are stated. ASSU’s rules override any here. If you’re a full-time undergrad enrolled in at least one half-course of CLA, GRK, LAT in the year, you’re automatically a member of CLASSU.
Article IV: Executive Members
All Executives are expected to attend meetings, run events and initiatives. There are eleven in total. The President and Vice-President are essentially co-presidents who oversee the Union and communicate with various groups. The Treasurer collects receipts and issues cheques, as well as assuming the role of third signing officer for any bank accounts. The Secretary keeps minutes of meetings. Senators help share the remaining workload and contribute to innovation in CLASSU. At least one must be a First Year, elected in the Fall Election. For Executives elected in the spring, their term is one year, for those elected in the fall, approximately eight months.
Article V to VI: Finance and Meeting Procedure
The three signing officers are the President, VP, and Treasurer (two signatures are needed). Unused ASSU money is remitted in December/April. The Senate does not need to make formal motions on most decisions, save for specified ones, or contentious ones. The process strives for consensus as much as possible. Minutes of Senate meetings may be requested from any Executive Member by any member of CLASSU.
Article VII: Election Procedures
All eligible voters (see Article III) are also eligible for office. Aside from requiring one first year and one second year, there are no restrictions. In March/April, the President, VP, and three executives are elected (the “Summer Senate”). There must be a President and VP each year. Within the first few weeks of Fall term, there will be an election of six further Executives. These six will have the same rank as those who had served over the summer. Immediately after, the general membership will assign the remaining portfolios. Only Executives are eligible to run for portfolio positions—it doesn’t matter whether you were elected in the Winter term or moments before. Portfolio positions may only be assigned to three of the nine Executives at the Fall General Election. Candidacy is submitted on the spot. An Executive may only run for one portfolio, or may choose to automatically be a Senator. Any non-portfolio Executive will be styled as a Senator. Nominations open approximately three weeks before the election and close a week before. There is no proxy voting. However, a candidate may run in absentia. Voters get as many votes as there are positions (one for President, one for VP, one for each available Senate position (either three or six depending on the term)). Bank accounts, passwords, and the like will be given to the new team within two weeks at a transition meeting. If this doesn’t happen, the new exec shall endeavor to get those. By-elections follow the same procedure; the winner’s term is the remainder of their predecessor’s.
Article VIII-X: Replacement/Impeachment, Amendments, Miscellaneous
If an Executive resigns, it is effective immediately. Should they change their mind, they must run for re-election. An Executive may be kicked from office for not acting appropriately after due process. The Senate will rearrange itself so that any vacancy leaves a by-election for a Senator. Referenda will be announced two weeks before. An appointed Executive will oversee a standing vote. Quorum is 15 CLASSU students. A two-thirds majority chooses. Communication is in English. Certain records will be posted online. Non-sensitive records available upon request. Plebeian is the Senate’s responsibility.