Attorney General

AUTHORITY:
This Code is established under Article VIII and Article XV of the Associated Students Constitution.

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Code is to establish the office of A.S. Attorney General and to outline and define the duties and responsibilities of the A.S. Attorney General.

DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS:
This Code shall be effective when approved by a majority vote of the Associated Students Senate.

AMENDMENTS:
This Code may be amended by a majority of the total voting membership of the Senate.

I. APPOINTMENT, TENURE, AND RESPONSIBILITY

A. The Attorney General shall be a student appointed by the Associated Students President and confirmed by the A.S. Senate.

B. The tenure of office for the Attorney General shall be one year, to be concurrent with the term of the A.S. President who appointed them. Should the office be vacated during the school year, the new appointee shall serve for the remainder of the term.

C. The Attorney General shall be directly responsible for the discharge of their duties to the A.S. President and Chief of Staff.

D. The Attorney General shall be a student in good standing defined in Article VIII, Section 2 of the A.S. Constitution.

E. The Attorney General shall be a paid student employee of Associated Students and must adhere to all policies, procedures, and expectations outlined in the A.S. Student Employee Personnel Manual, including but not limited to employment eligibility requirements, student employee performance, and workplace conduct.

II. DUTIES

A. The Attorney General shall serve as an advisor to the A.S. President and members of the executive branch (the Cabinet) in interpreting the language contained in the Bylaws, Policies and Codes of the Associated Students.

B. The Attorney General shall serve as an advisor to the A.S. Senate in interpreting the language contained in the current parliamentary authority used by Associated Students.

C. The Attorney General shall serve as an ex-officio member of the A.S. Senate pursuant to the A.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 2C).

D. The Attorney General shall serve as a member of the A.S. President’s Cabinet.

E. The Attorney General shall, at the direction of the President, investigate and report on allegations of discrimination in A.S. programs and chartered organizations, violations of the A.S. Codes, Bylaws and the Constitution, and violation of the Bylaws of A.S. chartered organizations.

F. The Attorney General (alongside the Executive Director and Government Secretary) shall check requirements of eligibility according to guidelines set forth in Article V of the A.S. Constitution on week 6 for Senators; on week 6 for Executives.

G. The Attorney General shall represent the Associated Students in any case that comes before the A.S. Judicial Court where A.S. is Plaintiff or Defendant.

H. The Attorney General shall be responsible for keeping and codifying the codes passed by the A.S. Senate.

I. The Attorney General shall coordinate Senators’ attendance.

J. The Attorney General shall help facilitate monthly reports from senators about their events, activities, and committees at the discretion of the Vice President to ensure all duties are being upheld in accordance with the Senate Standing Rules.

K. The Attorney General shall be a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Council of Chairs, Judicial Court, External Affairs Committee, Internal Affairs Committee, University Affairs Committee, and Vice Chair of the Council of Chairs.

L. All duties listed in the A.S. Constitution given to the Parliamentarian shall now be the responsibility of the Attorney General.

M. The Student Leadership Manager (or a designated advisor) shall serve as an advisor to the Attorney General.

N. In accordance with the Senate Standing Rules, the Attorney General will notify Senators who have reached maximum number of absences. The Attorney General shall copy the AS President, Vice President, and Student Leadership Manager in all correspondence.

O. The Attorney General shall coordinate with the Chair of Personnel and Communications to arrange for the onboarding and initial parliamentary procedure training of all newly appointed senators.

P. The Attorney General shall coordinate with the Chief Justice and attend meetings between clubs/organization’ presidents alongside the AS President and Vice President.

Q. The Attorney General shall coordinate with a Senate representative, and the Chair of Personnel and Communications to make weekly debriefing reports of the senate to be submitted to marketing and to be posted on A.S. social media.

R. The Attorney General shall be responsible for distributing transition packets and ensuring their completion and that they are available in a shareable folder.

S. The attorney general shall compile a list of resources for students to report grade appeals and/or complaints against professors and deans. They shall also compile a list of rights students have in these meetings with deans or professors, this shall be done alongside a senate representative.

II. REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS

A. This Code shall be reviewed annually at the end of the Spring semester by the A.S. Internal Affairs Committee to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. The annual review process shall be followed in reference to the code on Codes.

B. Proposed amendments to this Code must be made in consultation with the A.S. President, Student Leadership Manager, and A.S. Human Resources Manager to ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations.

C. Amendments to this Code must be made during the annual review unless there is a dire need for immediate changes, as determined by the A.S. Internal Affairs Committee in consultation with the A.S. President, Student Leadership Manager, and A.S. Human Resources Manager.

REGULATION:
The Attorney General shall, in the execution of their responsibilities, conform to and abide by the policies of:

The United States Constitution

The State of California

California State University, Northridge

Associated Students

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY:
All meetings called by the Attorney General shall be conducted according to parliamentary law as set forth in Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

ENABLING CAUSE:
This Code shall supersede all Codes on the A.S. Attorney General prior to March 3, 2025.

Amended on: May 1, 2023 (15-0-0)
Amended on: March 3, 2025 (13-0-0)
Amended on: May 5, 2025 (13-0-0)