Organizational Structure
Unlike most student organizations in the university, TPSF has a unique organizational structure. Its 1992 Constitution provides for a central administration to serve as the governing body of the Political Science Forum. This is the Policy Board. In the original constitution, the President is a non-voting member of the Policy Board, and this unique feature allows the former to propose and defend his programs which are subject to the latter's approval.
Following this concept, the President does not have veto power. The arrangement may be described as a semi-presidential, semi-parliamentary system in the sense that the president and his executive officers are directly answerable to the Policy Board (members of which are elected as representatives of each year-level), but the latter may not depose the president or remove his/her officers by a vote of no confidence. Relationship between the two is also influenced by the principle of separation of powers.
The setup was changed in 2007, when the provision providing for the president's membership in the Policy Board was omitted. The provision is absent in the copy of the constitution submitted to the Office for Student Affairs as a requisite for recognition. Whether this was a true amendment or an unintentional mistake remains a question.
Prior to 2007, Political Science majors elected officers before the end of the first semester, allowing the outgoing President (a senior) to focus on academic duties as a candidate for graduation. Today, the Constitution mandates a regular election to be held on the second Friday of February, unless otherwise rescheduled by Policy Board.
Following this concept, the President does not have veto power. The arrangement may be described as a semi-presidential, semi-parliamentary system in the sense that the president and his executive officers are directly answerable to the Policy Board (members of which are elected as representatives of each year-level), but the latter may not depose the president or remove his/her officers by a vote of no confidence. Relationship between the two is also influenced by the principle of separation of powers.
The setup was changed in 2007, when the provision providing for the president's membership in the Policy Board was omitted. The provision is absent in the copy of the constitution submitted to the Office for Student Affairs as a requisite for recognition. Whether this was a true amendment or an unintentional mistake remains a question.
Prior to 2007, Political Science majors elected officers before the end of the first semester, allowing the outgoing President (a senior) to focus on academic duties as a candidate for graduation. Today, the Constitution mandates a regular election to be held on the second Friday of February, unless otherwise rescheduled by Policy Board.
The Executive BoardThe executive branch of TPSF is headed by the President, who is elected by members at large. Under him, there are various Committees established by Constitution, namely: Finance, Secretariat, Research & Publications, and Programs. Other committees are established upon the President's directive, but needs to be consented to by the Policy Board.
In the executive board, only the positions of President and Vice President are elective. The rest are appointive. The power to appoint belongs to the President, but all appointees are subject to confirmation by the Policy Board. Appointees serve at the pleasure of the appointing power. |
The Policy BoardThis body, composed of two (2) representatives elected from each year-level, has the authority to approve or reject project proposals (including budget allocation) and to formulate general policies that will guide the direction of the organization.
In A.Y. 2011-2012, the Policy Board and the President, by agreement, established a Legislative - Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to allow more active communication and cooperation between the executive and the legislative. The following year, the LEDAC was not re-instituted but the relationship between executive and legislative greatly improved as a result of that arrangement. The Policy Board began regularly inviting the President to its sessions (although the President retained the right to decline as traditionally, he cannot be summoned by the Policy Board.) This setup resembled that of the original arrangement provided for in the 1992 Constitution and yielded fruitful results. |