The Undergraduate Council overwhelmingly approved most of the constitutional amendments dealing with grammar and clarity which it had deliberated on over the past week, council Vice President John A. Burton '01 announced at last night's council meeting.

In contrast to the reform effort of 1997, in which only two of a dozen proposed changes were adopted by the council, this past week members voted to approve 20 of 22 amendments by the required three-quarters majority.

But after allocating funds for next weekend's Springfest and passing three other bills, the constitutional momentum was slowed and the meeting was halted when former council President Noah Z. Seton '00 asked for a quorum call as the council prepared to debate 14 bylaw amendments proposed by the Constitutional Committee.

After doing a count and finding that fewer than half of the council was present--and consequently that no binding votes could be taken from that point on--council President Fentrice D. Driskell '01 wrapped up the meeting.

According to Driskell, debate over the bylaw amendments will most likely be postponed until the council's May 7 meeting.

While the council passed 20 constitutional amendments last night, they voted to reject two amendments, dealing with the scope of the council's authority and committee assignments.

Some members argued that the proposed change in definition of the council's power would unnecessarily restrict the council' s actions. It proposed removing language authorizing the council to act on any matter "that can be decided or considered by an officer, office, or official body within the University."

The bill drew a two-thirds majority, but not the necessary three-fourths.