Office for Student Involvement

Oakland Center, Room 49
312 Meadow Brook Road
Rochester, Michigan 48309-4454
(location map)
(248) 370-2400
[email protected]

OSI Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

OSI Service Window Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Judicial Hearing Guidelines

Appendix IV ­– Hearing Guidelines for the Congressional Court 

  1. Standard Operation
    1. Removal of University Student Congress Members
      1. Business regarding removal of University Student Congress members is officially approved and referred to the Court by the Judiciary Committee, which shall prompt a Hearing to be held within fourteen (14) days of referred business
      2. Judiciary Chair shall be “Chief Justice” of the Congressional Court for matters pursuant to removal of University Student Congress members
  • The Chief Justice shall serve as a chair to the Court and shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of The Congressional Court
  1. The Court shall consist of three (3) or five (5) Associate Justices
  2. The Court Associate Justices shall consist of two (2) or four (4) undergraduate or graduate students and one (1) faculty member
  3. Court Hearings are chaired and directed by the Chief Justice
  • Hearings may operate under the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order
  • All Court decisions must be approved by a simple majority of Associate Justices before presentation or referral to the Legislature
  1. The Chief Justice shall refer the ruling to the University Student Congress Legislature at the next available General Body Meeting as official business
  1. Constitutionality of University Student Congress Action and Legislation
    1. Business regarding Constitutionality and compliance to policy of University Student Congress action or legislation shall be referred directly to the Chief Justice. The Judiciary Chair shall be “Chief Justice” of the Congressional Court for matters pursuant to the Constitutionality of action or legislation of the University Student Congress
    2. The Chief Justice shall serve as a chair to the Court and shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of The Congressional Court
  • The Court shall consist of three (3) or five (5) Associate Justices
  1. The Court Associate Justices shall consist of two (2) or four (4) undergraduate or graduate students and one (1) faculty member
  2. Court Hearings are chaired and directed by the Chief Justice
  3. Hearings may operate under the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order
  • All Court decisions must be approved by a simple majority of Associate Justices before presentation or referral to the Legislature
    1. If the court decides that an Action or Legislation is in violation of the OUSC Constitution or Bylaws, the Action or Legislation will be immediately repealed and invalidated
  1. Appeals
    1. Appeals regarding a decision by the Congressional Court shall be made in writing (physical or digital) to the Judiciary Committee
    2. Appeals must refer to a specific breach of University policy of the University Student Congress Constitution, Bylaws, or a breach of these Operational Guidelines of the Congressional Court by the Court
    3. Appeals are limited to one (1) Appeal per decision by the plaintiff
    4. If an Appeal is approved by the Judiciary Committee, the Judiciary Committee shall assemble a temporary Appeals Court contingent upon approval by the Legislature
    5. The Appeals Court shall be considered a part of the Congressional Court
    6. Judiciary Chair shall be “Chief Justice” of the Appeals Court
    7. The Appeals Court shall consist of three (3) or five (5) Associate Justices
    8. The Appeals Court Associate Justices shall consist of two (2) or four (4) undergraduate or graduate students and one (1) faculty member
    9. The Chief Justice shall serve as a chair to and shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member the Appeals Court
    10. Appeals Hearings may operate under the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order
    11. Decisions made by the Appeals Court are final and cannot be appealed
    12. The Appeals Court shall be immediately dissolved upon resolution of the appealed decision