Campuswide email sent on Thursday, October 11th, 2024.

✨ Hey Anteaters! ✨

Welcome to the 2024 Fall Quarter! Did you know that ASUCI provides ways for UC Irvine undergraduate students to directly influence campus climate and student governance? By engaging in direct democracy with our student government, you can take the lead on the issues of the day and be the change you want to see at UCI! Whether it’s by filing an ASUCI Legislative Initiative to uplift a cause you care about or advocating for a new campus-based student fee to support an important resource center, there are many ways you can get involved in creating a better campus for all Anteaters. Here’s how YOU can engage in direct democracy with us!

Legislative Initiatives

Legislative Initiatives are proposals for ASUCI legislation initiated and voted on by the undergraduate student body. Like normal legislation, Legislative Initiatives affect the policies and practices of ASUCI, capable of amending our governing documents, determining our formal positions on issues as the official representatives of the undergraduate body, and more.

To file a Legislative Initiative, undergraduate students must submit a Petition for a Legislative Initiative to the Elections Commissioner at elections@asuci.uci.edu, From there, specific processes and procedures must be followed as outlined in the ASUCI Constitution to place the initiative on an Elections ballot. Alternatively, the ASUCI Senate may, by a majority vote, place any legislation introduced normally to a vote of the undergraduate student body on the Spring ASUCI General Elections ballot.

Legislative Referenda

Not to be confused with Fee Referenda, Legislative Referenda are requests for ASUCI legislative repeals initiated and voted on by the undergraduate student body. Legislative Referenda are capable of reversing legislation passed by previous ASUCI administrations, provided they’re feasible to reverse.

To file a Legislative Referendum, undergraduate students must submit a Petition for a Legislative Referendum to the Elections Commissioner at elections@asuci.uci.edu. From there, specific processes and procedures must be followed as outlined in the ASUCI Constitution to place the referendum on an Elections ballot

Fee Initiatives

Also known as Fee Referenda, Fee Initiatives are proposals for campus-based student fees initiated and voted on by the student body (both undergraduate and graduate, depending on the scope of the proposed fee). Under UC policy, most proposals for campus-based student fees must be approved by the student body before implementation, with very few exceptions.

To file a Fee Initiative, students must first submit a fully drafted Fee Referendum to the Student Government Student Media Executive Director & Associate Dean of Students by Friday, November 15th at 5:00 pm. For more information on how to create a Fee Referendum and the Fee Referendum process, please refer to this Guide to Creating a Student Fee Referendum at UCI and contact the Student Government Student Media Executive Director & Associate Dean of Students.

Recalls

Recall refers to the power of the undergraduate student body to remove an ASUCI official from office. All elected Executive Officers, the Student Advocate General, all Senators, and all Justices may be recalled from office with proper cause and due process.

To recall an official, undergraduate students must submit a Petition for a Recall to the Elections Commissioner at elections@asuci.uci.edu. From there, specific processes and procedures must be followed as outlined in the ASUCI Constitution to place the recall on an Elections ballot.

For more in-depth information on processes and procedures, timelines, etc. for Legislative Initiatives, Legislative Referenda, Fee Initiatives, and Recalls, please visit the ASUCI Elections Commission webpage.

UCI is ultimately our campus, our home for the next however many years we’re enrolled. As undergraduate students, direct democracy is an incredible tool to hold ASUCI and the university accountable, to ensure UC Irvine is a campus crafted by students, for students. In the coming year, should an issue arise that you’re passionate about, consider filing a petition to us – it may be the start of a powerful movement for change.

If you have any questions about any of these initiatives or the campus as a whole, please feel free to reach out – the Elections Commission is here to support you!

–
Yours in Service,
Jun Jang (he/him) | 장영준
Elections Commissioner, 2024-2025
ASUCI Elections Commission
elections@asuci.uci.edu | asuci.uci.edu/elections-commission/