Provided are constructs and methods for expressing a transgene in plant cells and/or plant tissues using the regulatory elements, including the promoters and/or 3-UTRs, isolated from Setaria italica ubiquitin genes. In one embodiment an expression vector is provided wherein the regulatory elements of a ubiquitin gene are operably linked to a polylinker sequence. In accordance with one mbodiment a plant, plant tissue, or plant cell is provided comprising a promoter operably linked to a non-ubiquitin transgene.