In the 2024 ASUO election, students voted for candidates to take seats in ASUO’s student government — they also voted on a ballot measure. The ballot measure, titled “Increasing Constitution Court Accountability,” aimed to do just that, and was passed with 88.06% of the vote. It will go into effect this fall.

The measure will require Justices in ASUO’s Constitutional Court to address student questions within seven days of them being posed and rule on them within 14 days of  being reviewed.

The change will make slight alterations to section 11.10 of the ASUO constitution, removing vague terms that have permitted the Constitutional Court to take more time in its responses. Terms such as hearing questions from the public “when practical” within seven days and “endeavoring” to rule within a set period of time. The alterations also lengthen the time for student question review. 

Seat 24 Finance Senator Taliek Lopez-DuBoff helped to develop the ballot measure, and had  worked previously with the Constitutional Court. He said he believes it to be a step in the right direction. 

“I knew it needed to say ‘required,’” Lopez-DuBoff said. “Students need to be able to hold people in ASUO accountable.” 

Lopez-DuBoff said that he hopes the measure will “allow [ASUO] to be more efficient” and that “there is a lot of high hopes for the next court.”

In addition to the measure, Lopez-DuBoff worked with the Constitutional Court to clarify rules surrounding the announcement of recesses. 

Currently, while recesses are scheduled in the ASUO Constitutional Court Rules, they are not announced. This lack of communication between the Legislative and Judicial branches created the potential for confusion. 

Lopez-DuBoff said he made an agreement with the Constitutional Court to announce their recesses in order to make communication easier between the two parties. 

Senate Seat 16 Academic Senator Ravi Cullop commented on the passing of the ballot measure as well. 

When questioned about the change, Cullop said the ballot measure “firms up that language a little bit so that there’s less room for questions from officers and students to take 4-5 weeks.” 

“Our action in the senate this year has really been to try and hold Concourt to the standard that we hold ourselves to,” Cullop said.

Members of the Student Senate often need to verify information in the ASUO Constitution and rely heavily on the Constitutional Courts’ rulings in order to continue their work. This process has slowed some aspects of productivity in ASUO, but the overwhelming support of the recent ballot measure in the election has inspired confidence in some members of the Student Senate. 

The Constitutional Court answers inquiries from ASUO officers as well as students. If there are any questions about the language or concepts in the ASUO Constitution, students can file motions for clarification, and with the recent passing of the ballot measure, the Constitutional Court will address these inquiries more quickly.