Student Activities Notice (B.E. 2565)

This Notice is called the "Notice of the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, on Student Activities of the Faculty of Political Science, B.E. 2565".

This Notice shall come into force from the day following the date of its announcement.

In this Notice:

"University"

means Thammasat University;

"Notice"

means a notice of the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University;

"Faculty"

means the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University;

"Dean"

means the Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University;

"Student"

means a student of the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University.

Student activities have the following objectives:

• (1)
  to instil morality in students;
• (2)
  to enable students to learn and practise the exercise of rights, freedoms, and self-government in accordance with democratic principles;
• (3)
  to foster unity and solidarity among students;
• (4)
  to promote extracurricular activities, both academic and professional-experience-related, for students, with an emphasis on the field of political science;
• (5)
  to promote good personality, physical health, and human relations among students;
• (6)
  to instil in and preserve for students the nation's good customs, traditions, and culture;
• (7)
  to instil in students a sense of responsibility towards themselves and society as a whole;
• (8)
  to promote creative initiative and broad-mindedness among students, and to give them practice in organising activities in furtherance of the above objectives;
• (9)
  to spread the good name and reputation of the Faculty and the University.

Students have the following rights and duties:

• (1)
  the right, on an equal basis, to stand for election and to vote in the various student activities, in accordance with the regulations and notices relating to that activity;
• (2)
  the right to freely express opinions on and to comment on the various activities of the University and the Faculty;
• (3)
  the right, on an equal basis, to take part in the various student activities within the Faculty, in accordance with the objectives of student activities;
• (4)
  the duty to maintain unity and solidarity, both within the Faculty and throughout the University;
• (5)
  the duty to comply with this Notice.

There shall be a "Political Science Student Committee", abbreviated as "กนศ.ร.", responsible for carrying out matters relating to student activities. Its official English name is the "Political Science Student's Committee of Thammasat University", abbreviated as "P.S.C.".

The PSC shall comprise no fewer than 7 and no more than 15 members, elected by students, holding the following positions:

• (1)
  President;
• (2)
  Vice-President;
• (3)
  Secretary;
• (4)
  Treasurer;
• (5)
  Head of the Academic Promotion Division;
• (6)
  Head of the Public Relations Division;
• (7)
  Committee Member for Tha Phrachan Coordination;
• (8)
  no more than 8 further committee members holding such other positions as are appropriate.

The PSC shall jointly have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities:

• (1)
  to administer and coordinate all affairs relating to student activities;
• (2)
  to ensure compliance with this Notice;
• (3)
  to determine policy and prepare the PSC's annual work plans, projects, and budget;
• (4)
  to supervise and facilitate the operations of Faculty activity groups;
• (5)
  to receive and take note of the annual work plans of Faculty activity groups;
• (6)
  the removal of a committee member holding a position on the PSC under section 7 shall be at the discretion of the PSC President, provided that the PSC President must submit the name to the Dean for the Dean to sign the removal;
• (7)
  to hear the opinions of students and faculty members on matters relating to student activities;
• (8)
  to appoint sub-committee members to perform functions relating to student activities as it sees fit.

The PSC President shall have the power and duty to control and organise the internal administration of the PSC, and to coordinate directly with the President of the Thammasat University Student Union ("TUSU").

Persons entitled to vote in the election of the PSC are undergraduate students of the Faculty of Political Science.

A person entitled to stand for election as a PSC member must have the following qualifications:

• (1)
  be a student of the Faculty of Political Science currently studying at the undergraduate level of the University;
• (2)
  have an academic record of not lower than 2.00;
• (3)
  not be a committee member of any group or other activity within the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University;
• (4)
  have studied at the University for no more than 4 years as of the year in which they apply to stand for election;
• (5)
  not be under disciplinary punishment under the University's regulations;
• (6)
  not be on a leave of absence from studies during that academic year.

The election of the PSC for the relevant academic year shall be completed within 30 days before the end of the second semester, unless there is a necessary or urgent cause warranting an extension, in which case the extension of time as appropriate shall be at the Dean's discretion; the date, time, and place of the election shall be announced to students no less than 15 days in advance.

The election of the PSC shall be conducted by general election within the Faculty of Political Science. Candidates for election must group together and specify positions so as to cover all positions set out in section 7.

In the election of the PSC, each voter shall cast a vote for only one group. In counting the votes, the group receiving the highest number of votes shall be deemed elected. If the highest number of votes is tied, a new election shall be held only among the groups tied for the highest number of votes, until a group with the highest number of votes is obtained. If only one group applies, it must receive an endorsement vote of no less than one-half of the voters who cast votes; if it does not receive such endorsement, a new election must be completed within 7 days from the date of the first election.

In the case that there are no candidates for election to the PSC, the incumbent PSC shall act in a caretaker capacity until a new PSC is obtained. There shall be a nominating committee for candidates for election to the PSC, comprising the heads of activity groups, class representatives of every year, and the President of the BIR Student Association, whose function is to nominate candidates for election to the PSC so as to bring them into the election process within 30 days from the date the first round of applications for election closes.

The election of the PSC shall be conducted at a polling booth, unless there is a necessary cause or an obstacle making it impossible to hold the election at a polling booth, in which case the Dean may exercise discretion to change to an online method of election, provided that this must be announced at least 7 days in advance.

The Dean shall sign the notice appointing and removing the PSC.

The PSC shall hold office for a term of 1 academic year, commencing duty from the date the Dean announces the appointment. The PSC must complete the handover of duties to the next PSC within 15 days from the date of that PSC's election. The term of the PSC ends on the date duties are handed over to the new PSC.

A PSC committee member vacates office when:

• (1)
  leaving at the end of the term;
• (2)
  death;
• (3)
  resignation;
• (4)
  loss of the qualifications under section 11;
• (5)
  leaving under section 8(6);
• (6)
  being subject to disciplinary punishment under the University's regulations;
• (7)
  more than one-half of the total undergraduate students of the Faculty of Political Science sign a petition calling for removal, whether of the whole committee or of an individual member, with the approval of the Dean.

When the whole PSC vacates office under section 19(3) or 19(7), a new election of the PSC shall be held to be completed within 20 days after the PSC vacates office, and the incumbent PSC shall continue to perform its duties until the new PSC takes office. The term of the new PSC begins on the date of the announcement of appointment and ends according to the term of the preceding PSC. If the PSC vacates office no more than 60 days before the end of the second semester, no new election need be held under the foregoing paragraph; instead, the PSC shall consider and propose to the Dean the name of a suitable person for appointment to serve in its place.

Where any individual PSC committee member vacates office, the PSC shall consider and propose to the Dean the name of a suitable person for appointment to serve in that member's place.

The PSC shall meet during the open semester at least twice a month.

• (1)
  At a meeting of the PSC, no fewer than one-half of the total number of committee members must attend for a quorum to be constituted.
• (2)
  The PSC President shall chair the meeting. If the PSC President is absent or unable to perform this duty, the Vice-President shall act in that person's place; if both are absent, the members present shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting in their place.
• (3)
  Resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority of the meeting, each committee member having one vote. Where the votes are tied and the chair of the meeting has not yet exercised a vote, the chair of the meeting shall have the right to cast a deciding vote, except where the PSC treats the matter as an important one, and except in the cases under section 8(6) and section 86, in which a two-thirds majority of the total number of PSC committee members shall be required.

The PSC may invite committee members of activity groups affiliated with the PSC, or any student organisation within the Faculty of Political Science, to attend a meeting to give explanations and express opinions.

There shall be a "BIR Student Association", responsible for conducting student activities within the Politics and International Relations (English) programme ("the BIR programme"), with the English name "BIR Student Association", abbreviated "BIRSA", under the supervision of the faculty executive appointed by the Dean to oversee the international-programme project.

BIRSA shall consist of not fewer than 7 but not more than 13 committee members, elected by students of the BIR programme, holding the following positions:

• (1)
  President
• (2)
  Vice-President
• (3)
  First Secretary
• (4)
  Second Secretary
• (5)
  Treasurer
• (6)
  Spokesperson
• (7)
  Head of Academic Affairs
• (8)
  Head of Public Relations
• (9)
  Head of Student Activities
• (10)
  Head of Internal and Rangsit Coordination
• (11)
  Not more than 3 further committee members, holding such other positions as appropriate

BIRSA shall jointly have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities:

• (1)
  To manage and coordinate all affairs relating to student activities within the BIR programme
• (2)
  To set policy and prepare BIRSA's annual work plan, projects, and budget, for submission to the faculty executive appointed by the Dean to oversee the international-programme project
• (3)
  Removal of a committee member holding a position on BIRSA under section 25 shall be at the discretion of the President of BIRSA, who must nominate the person to the Dean for the Dean to sign the order of removal
• (4)
  To hear the opinions of students and faculty members on matters relating to student activities within the BIR programme
• (5)
  To appoint subcommittees to perform functions relating to student activities within the BIR programme as it sees fit

Students of the Faculty of Political Science enrolled in the BIR programme, of every year of study, are entitled to vote in BIRSA elections.

A person entitled to stand for election to BIRSA must have the following qualifications:

• (1)
  Be a student of the Faculty of Political Science, BIR programme, currently studying at undergraduate level at the University
• (2)
  Have an academic record with a GPA not lower than 2.00
• (3)
  Not be a committee member of any group or other activity within the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University
• (4)
  Have studied at the University for not more than 4 years as of the year of standing for election
• (5)
  Not be under disciplinary punishment under the University's regulations
• (6)
  Not be on a leave of absence during that academic year

The election of BIRSA for that academic year shall be completed within 30 days before the end of the second semester, save that where necessary or in a proper emergency it shall be at the Dean's discretion to extend the time as appropriate, and the date, time, and place of the election shall be announced to students not less than 15 days in advance.

The election of BIRSA shall be conducted as a general election within the BIR programme, in which candidates must stand together as a group, naming persons for every position required under section 25.

In the election of BIRSA, each voter shall cast a vote for only one group; the group receiving the highest number of votes shall be deemed elected. If the highest number of votes is tied, a fresh election shall be held only among the groups tied for the highest score, until one group achieves the highest score. If only one group stands, it must receive endorsing votes of not less than one-half of the voters; if it is not so endorsed, a fresh election must be completed within 7 days from the date of the first election.

The BIRSA election shall be conducted at a polling booth, save that where there is necessity or an obstacle making it impossible to hold the election at a polling booth, the Dean may, in the Dean's discretion, change the method to an online election, provided that this is announced not less than 7 days in advance.

The Dean shall sign the notice of appointment and removal of BIRSA.

BIRSA shall hold office for one academic year at a time, beginning work from the date the Dean announces its appointment. BIRSA must complete the handover of duties to the next BIRSA within 15 days of the date it is elected. The term of the outgoing BIRSA ends on the day duties are handed over to the new BIRSA.

A committee member of BIRSA vacates office when:

• (1)
  Retiring at the end of the term
• (2)
  Death
• (3)
  Resignation
• (4)
  Losing the qualifications required under section 28
• (5)
  Removal under section 26(3)
• (6)
  Being subject to disciplinary punishment under the University's regulations
• (7)
  More than one-half of all undergraduate students of the Faculty of Political Science in the BIR programme sign a petition for the member's removal, whether the whole committee or an individual member, with the Dean's approval

When BIRSA vacates office as a whole committee under section 35(5) or 35(7), a new BIRSA election shall be held to be completed within 20 days after BIRSA vacates office, and the outgoing BIRSA shall continue to perform its duties until the new BIRSA takes office. The term of the new BIRSA begins on the date of the notice of appointment and ends according to the term that the previous BIRSA would have had. If BIRSA vacates office not more than 60 days before the end of the second semester, a fresh election under paragraph one is not required; instead, BIRSA shall consider nominating suitable persons to the Dean for appointment to the vacant positions.

Where any one committee member of BIRSA vacates office, BIRSA shall consider nominating a suitable person to the Dean for appointment to the vacant position.

BIRSA shall hold meetings during the academic semester at least twice a month.

• (1)
  A BIRSA meeting requires the attendance of not less than one-half of all committee members to constitute a quorum
• (2)
  The President of BIRSA shall chair the meeting; if the President of BIRSA is absent or unable to perform this duty, the Vice-President shall act in the President's place; if both are absent, the members present shall select one of themselves to chair the meeting
• (3)
  Resolutions shall be by majority vote of the meeting, each committee member having one vote. Where votes are tied and the chair of the meeting has not yet cast a vote, the chair shall have a casting vote, except that in matters BIRSA deems important, and in the cases under section 35(7) and section 86, a two-thirds majority of all BIRSA committee members shall be required

BIRSA may coordinate with the PSC on student activities as appropriate.

A "Faculty activity group" means a group of students who have joined together under the same set of rules and regulations to carry out activities for the common good, open in character to students generally, and operating under the supervision of the PSC.

An activity group may be formed by not less than 30 students of the Faculty of Political Science signing a petition submitted to the Faculty, and the Faculty shall then give its opinion to the Dean for consideration and appointment. The application to form a group must also include the group's rules and regulations, which must at least contain the following particulars:

• (1)
  The group's name
• (2)
  The group's membership register
• (3)
  The group's objectives, which must not contravene the University's rules and regulations
• (4)
  The rules and methods for the group's administration

The formation or dissolution of a Faculty activity group may be effected only by order of the Dean.

A Faculty activity group shall receive a subsidy from the Faculty as appropriate.

A Faculty activity group must have not less than 20 student members from the Faculty of Political Science. Membership of a Faculty activity group ends on the last day before the start of the first semester.

Each Faculty activity group shall have a group committee of not less than 5 but not more than 10 members, elected by the members of that group, holding the following positions:

• (1)
  Chairperson
• (2)
  Secretary
• (3)
  Treasurer
• (4)
  Not less than 2 but not more than 7 other committee members, as the group committee sees fit

A candidate for election as chairperson of a group must have the same qualifications as a candidate for election to the PSC.

The group committee shall have the following powers and duties:

• (1)
  To act as the group's representative and be responsible for conducting the group's affairs in accordance with its objectives
• (2)
  To submit the annual work plan to the PSC
• (3)
  To establish the group's rules of practice
• (4)
  To consider the conduct of a member who has contravened the group's rules or brought disrepute upon the groupA resolution of the group committee suspending a member's rights or removing a member's name from the membership register must be passed by not less than a two-thirds majority of all members of the group committee.
• (5)
  To be responsible for the care and safekeeping of the group's documents and equipment

A person entitled to vote for, or to stand for election as, a group committee member must have been registered as a member of the group for not less than 60 days before the election.

The group committee shall conduct the election of members to the new committee to be completed 30 days before the end of the second semester, save that where necessary or in a proper emergency it shall be at the Dean's discretion to extend the time as appropriate, and shall hand over duties to the new committee within 15 days of the date of election. The term of the group committee ends on the day duties are handed over to the new committee.

The Dean shall sign the notice appointing or removing a group committee member.

A group committee member vacates office when:

• (1)
  Retiring at the end of the term
• (2)
  Death
• (3)
  Resignation
• (4)
  Losing the qualifications required under section 45
• (5)
  Being subject to disciplinary punishment under the University's regulations
• (6)
  More than one-half of the group's members sign a petition for the member's removal

Meetings of a group committee shall apply section 22 mutatis mutandis.

A Faculty activity group may be dissolved, or ordered to be dissolved, for any one of the following causes:

• (1)
  Dissolution for a cause specified in that group's own rules and regulations
• (2)
  Its membership falling below 20
• (3)
  Failing to pursue, or acting contrary to, the group's objectives
• (4)
  Contravening or failing to comply with this Notice
• (5)
  Bringing disrepute upon the reputation and honour of the Faculty or the University

As to the group's membership register, a member of a Faculty activity group must have the following qualifications:

• (1)
  Be a student of the Faculty of Political Science currently studying at undergraduate level at the University
• (2)
  Not be under disciplinary punishment under the University's regulations
• (3)
  Not be on a leave of absence during that academic year

A Faculty activity group shall submit its membership register and the list of group committee members under section 44 to the Faculty, for the Dean to announce their appointment and to consider under section 52, and this must be submitted not more than 30 days after the Dean announces the appointment of the PSC, save that where necessary or in a proper emergency it shall be at the Dean's discretion to extend the time as appropriate.

There shall be a “Faculty of Political Science Cohort Committee, Class of…”, abbreviated as “คกร.”, responsible for coordinating year-group activities of the cohort, for students of the Faculty of Political Science of every field of study/programme.

The PSC shall arrange the election of the Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders, Class of…, to be completed within 60 days from the opening of the first-year students' first semester, unless there is a reasonable necessity/emergency, in which case it shall be at the Dean's discretion to extend the time as appropriate, and the date, time, and place of the election shall be announced to students not less than 15 days in advance.

The Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders shall appoint the คกร., which shall comprise:

• (1)
  the Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders, Class of…;
• (2)
  the Rangsit-campus coordinator;
• (3)
  the Tha Prachan-campus coordinator;
• (4)
  not more than 6 other committee members.

The Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders, Class of…, shall then compile the list of the คกร. and submit it to the Chair of the PSC for acknowledgement, and the PSC shall notify the Dean to appoint the คกร. within 30 days from the date the election results are known.

The removal or replacement of the คกร. shall be at the discretion of the Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders, Class of…

A person entitled to vote for the Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders must be an undergraduate student of the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, of that cohort.

The คกร. shall have the following powers:

• (1)
  to assist the Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders in coordinating the conduct of activities within the cohort;
• (2)
  to share responsibility for the conduct of the cohort's affairs;
• (3)
  to offer suggestions and opinions on the administration and conduct of various activities to the Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders;
• (4)
  to jointly consider and plan the conduct of the cohort's affairs;
• (5)
  to render such cooperation as the Faculty of Political Science cohort leaders may reasonably request.

There shall be a “Politics and International Relations (English Programme) Cohort Committee, Class of…”, abbreviated as “คกร. BIR”, responsible for coordinating year-group activities of the cohort for the BIR programme.

BIRSA shall arrange the election of the BIR programme cohort leaders, Class of…, to be completed within 60 days from the opening of the first-year students' first semester, unless there is a reasonable necessity/emergency, in which case it shall be at the Dean's discretion to extend the time as appropriate, and the date, time, and place of the election shall be announced to students not less than 15 days in advance.

The BIR programme cohort leaders, Class of…, shall appoint the คกร. BIR, which shall comprise:

• (1)
  the BIR programme cohort leaders, Class of…;
• (2)
  the Rangsit-campus coordinator;
• (3)
  the Tha Prachan-campus coordinator;
• (4)
  not more than 3 other committee members.

The BIR programme cohort leaders, Class of…, shall then compile the list of the คกร. BIR and submit it to the President of BIRSA for acknowledgement, and the President of BIRSA shall notify the Dean to appoint the คกร. BIR within 30 days from the date the election results are known.

The removal or replacement of the คกร. BIR shall be at the discretion of the BIR programme cohort leaders, Class of…

A person entitled to vote for the BIR programme cohort leaders, Class of…, must be a student of the BIR programme of that cohort.

The คกร. BIR shall have the following powers:

• (1)
  to assist the BIR programme cohort leaders in coordinating the conduct of activities within the BIR programme cohort;
• (2)
  to share responsibility for the conduct of the cohort's affairs within the BIR programme;
• (3)
  to offer suggestions and opinions on the administration and conduct of various activities to the BIR programme cohort leaders;
• (4)
  to jointly consider and plan the conduct of the cohort's affairs within the BIR programme;
• (5)
  to render such cooperation as the BIR programme cohort leaders may reasonably request;
• (6)
  may coordinate with the คกร. as appropriate.

There shall be a “Faculty of Political Science Election Committee”, abbreviated as “กกต.ร.”, whose duty is to conduct the election of the PSC.

The กกต.ร. shall be composed of:

• (1)
  the Chair of the กกต.ร., being ex officio the Faculty administrator appointed by the Dean to superintend student affairs;
• (2)
  not more than 2 full-time lecturers of the Faculty of Political Science;
• (3)
  not more than 4 officers of the Faculty's student activities office;
• (4)
  1 representative of the คกร. from each undergraduate year.Provided that a representative of the คกร. of each undergraduate year must not be a candidate for election to the PSC, or a person holding office in that academic year.

The กกต.ร. shall have the following powers and duties:

• (1)
  to conduct the election of the PSC in accordance with the regulations;
• (2)
  to receive complaints before and after the election;
• (3)
  after the election results are known, to submit the list of the PSC to the Dean for appointment;
• (4)
  to fix the date of the election.

The selection of the กกต.ร. must be completed within 30 days after the opening of the second semester of that academic year, unless there is a reasonable necessity/emergency, in which case it shall be at the Dean's discretion to extend the time as appropriate.

The Dean shall sign the appointment within 15 days after the nomination.

The กกต.ร. shall end its term after the appointment of the PSC is announced.

There shall be a “Politics and International Relations (English Programme) Election Committee”, abbreviated as “กกต.BIR”, whose duty is to conduct the election of BIRSA.

The กกต.BIR shall be composed of:

• (1)
  the Chair of the กกต.BIR, being the Faculty administrator appointed by the Dean to superintend the international programme;
• (2)
  not more than 2 full-time lecturers of the Faculty of Political Science;
• (3)
  not more than 3 officers responsible for student affairs of the BIR programme;
• (4)
  1 representative of BIR programme students from each year.Provided that a representative of students of each year must not be a candidate for election to BIRSA, or a person holding office in that academic year.

The กกต.BIR shall have the following powers and duties:

• (1)
  to conduct the election of BIRSA in accordance with the regulations;
• (2)
  to receive complaints before and after the election;
• (3)
  after the election results are known, to submit the list of BIRSA to the Dean for appointment;
• (4)
  to fix the date of the election.

The selection of the กกต.BIR must be completed within 30 days after the opening of the second semester of that academic year, unless there is a reasonable necessity/emergency, in which case it shall be at the Dean's discretion to extend the time as appropriate.

The Dean shall sign the appointment within 15 days after the nomination.

The กกต.BIR shall end its term after the appointment of BIRSA is announced.

The Faculty shall prepare a budget allocated into three parts, as follows:

• (1)
  the PSC's part;
• (2)
  the part subsidizing Faculty activity groups;
• (3)
  the central fund part.

In any year in which no activity group affiliated to the PSC is formed, paragraph (2) shall not apply.

The PSC's revenue consists of:

• (1)
  subsidy funds from the Faculty;
• (2)
  special income from the PSC's own fundraising.

The disbursement of the budget of the PSC and Faculty activity groups shall follow the operating regulations of the Faculty's Finance Division, applied mutatis mutandis.

A special disbursement outside the budget must first receive the approval of the Faculty.

50 or more students of the Faculty of Political Science may sign a petition requesting an audit of the PSC's financial accounts, as they see fit, not more than once per semester.

A proposal to amend, improve, or repeal this Notice may be made by a resolution of the meeting of the committee responsible for student affairs, or by a resolution of the meeting of the Faculty of Political Science Student Committee carried by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the total number of the Faculty of Political Science Student Committee, or by not less than 100 students of the Faculty of Political Science signing a petition submitted to the Faculty of Political Science Student Committee for consideration of the amendment, and thereafter submitted to the Dean.

In the event that the whole or any provision of this Notice conflicts with the whole or any provision of the Thammasat University Regulations on Student Activities, the Thammasat University Regulations shall prevail.

The Dean shall superintend the enforcement of this Notice.

Student organisations of the Faculty of Political Science, namely the cohort committees (คณะกรรมการแกนรุ่น...), the activity group committees, the Faculty of Political Science Student Committee, or any other organisation holding office prior to the promulgation of this Notice, shall continue to hold office until the end of their respective terms.