ASUA approves amended version of constitution

Vice presidents Erin Russell and Mindy McCollum, Senate Chairman Gilbert Davidson and Sens. Chadd Garcia and Ryan Anderson voted unanimously to approve the constitution. Hilla Yaniv, ASUA treasurer and chair of the CCC, as well as ASUA President Rhonda Wilson were also present but not voting.

Before the final vote, Erin Russell, vice president of clubs and organizations, made an amendment to the section regarding the override of a presidential veto. She said her amendment was a compromise between what the Senate and the executive branch wanted.

The amendment states that if the ASUA president vetoes legislation passed by the Senate, the legislation will be sent to a veto override committee.

The committee will consist of the senators and the two vice presidents. Nine votes from those 12 people are needed to override the presidential veto.

"A lot of the senators weren't for (the executive branch proposal). This is a compromise between the two. The thing I was most concerned about was the vice presidents having a say, especially if the legislation is in their area. I think we did achieve that," Russell said.

The constitution will go into effect May 1. The elected officers for the 1997-98 academic year will be under the jurisdiction of the new constitution.

A review of the constitution and its effectiveness will take place in the spring of 2000 by the elected members of ASUA.