Temple Student Government Creates New Bills and Bylaws

BY: CAITLIN CHECKETT

Parliament met with the Executive Branch last week to make some changes to Temple’s constitution.

The recently created Ad Hoc Committee, a committee designed for a specific purpose, met to discuss bylaw reforms.

Parliament and the Executive Branch both had representatives at this meeting.

Almost all of the changes made to the constitution were unanimously approved, each providing more checks and balances to each branch of government. Under these changes, Parliament now has to approve the Executive Branch nominees for cabinet positions.

The Steering Committee implemented this specific bylaw. This is the committee that would set an agenda for Parliament. It will be made up of the chairs of the subcommittees and the speaker of Parliament.

Following this change, the Executive Branch will now nominate people for the positions of Auditor General and Parliamentarian, and subsequently bringing them to Parliament for approval. Parliament will give a vote of public opinion, then the Steering Committee can confirm nominations.

“We went over these things and gave Parliament some new power because they needed more checks on the Executive Branch,” said Varun Sivakumar, an at-large representative and co-chair for Local Government and Community Affairs Committee. “We amended the constitution because after one full semester, we saw that there could be some changes.”

This past Monday, the Steering Committee held a session where it confirmed the Executive Branch’s nominations.

Additionally, a new bill passed by Olivia Farkas, an at-large Parliament representative. This bill mandates that all sexual assault cases be heard within 60 days.

“This is something we want to push to help sexual assault victims get their peace,” Sivakumar said. “This 60-day bill will ensure that their cases are heard in a swift and efficient manner.”

Activate TU will officially take office on May 1, with these new changes being the first ones for their term.