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Constitution of the Student Government Association Article I: Name, Membership and Purposes Article II: Legislative Branch SECTION 1: Legislative Power A. The Student Senate B. The Student House All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a student legislature, consisting of two bodies: the “Student Senate” and the “Student House”.
SECTION 2: Membership of the Student Senate
A. President and President Pro-tem of the Student Senate The President and presiding officer of the Student Senate shall be the Student Body Vice-President. At the first Student Government Association Student Senate meeting of each academic year, a President Pro-tem shall be elected from the Student Senate for a one-year term. Any member of the Student Senate may run for President Pro-tem. The candidate with a majority vote of all of the senators shall be elected President Pro-tem. The President Pro-tem will preside over and conduct the business of each Student Senate meeting. In the case of any tie vote in the Student Senate, the Student Body Vice-President shall assume the chair and cast the deciding vote. The President Pro-tem shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Council.
B. College Senators Each University recognized college shall be entitled to two senators elected at-large by the students in that college.
C. Class Senators Each of the sophomore, junior, senior and graduate classes shall elect three (3) senators. Individuals must have and maintain a 2.25 grade point average throughout their term. Individuals must not be on disciplinary probation with the university. D. Freshman Representative Council Members of the incoming freshman class shall be selected to serve as members of the Freshman Representative Council. The selection process shall be coordinated by the president of the Student Government Association. Two members of the Freshman Representative Council shall be entitled to serve as senators during each meeting of the Student Senate. The two freshman senators for each Student Senate meeting should be rotated as deemed necessary by the Freshman Representative Council. The two freshman senators are not eligible to run for President Pro-tem of the Student Senate.
E. College and Class Representation and Votes of Senators A member of the Student Senate can only represent one group. Members of the Student Senate can only vote once each tie a vote is taken.
F. Parliamentarian and Secretary The members of the Student Senate shall also elect a parliamentarian and secretary at the first meeting of the academic year. They shall be elected by a majority vote of the Student Senate and are eligible to vote on all items of business before the senate.
SECTION 3: Membership of the Student House A. Speaker of the House The presiding officer of the Student House shall be the Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House shall be elected with a majority vote at the first Student House meeting of the academic semester and serve a one-year term. Any member of the Student House may run for Speaker of the House. The speaker of the house shall preside over and conduct the business of all Student House meetings. The Speaker shall also cast the deciding vote in case of any tiebreakers. The Student Body President shall preside over the Student House until a speaker of the house has been elected. The Speaker of the House shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Council.
B. Organizational Representatives Each University recognized organization shall be entitled to two voting members in the Student House. An organization may send only one voting member if they wish. A student may only represent one organization at a time in a given year. C. Freshman Representative Council Members of the incoming freshman class shall be selected to serve as members of the Freshman Representative Council. The selection process shall be coordinated by the president of the Student Government Association. Two members of the Freshman Representative Council shall be entitled to serve as representatives during each meeting of the Student House. The two freshman representatives for each Student House meeting should be rotated as deemed necessary by the Freshman Representative Council. The two freshman representatives are not eligible to run for Speaker of the House.
D. Organizational Representation and Votes of Representatives A member of the Student House can only represent one group. Members of the Student House may only vote once each time a vote is taken.
E. Parliamentarian and Secretary The members of the Student House shall also elect a parliamentarian and secretary at the first meeting of the academic year. They shall be elected by a majority vote of the Student House and are eligible to vote on all items of business before the senate.
SECTION 4: Quorum A. Constitution of Quorum A majority of members of the Student Senate and Student House shall constitute a quorum to do business. Quorum will be established no later than the second formal meeting of each long semester.
SECTION 5: The Conference CommitteeIn the event that the Student Senate and Student House pass conflicting pieces of legislation, there shall be a meeting of the Conference Committee. The Conference Committee shall consist of the Speaker of the House, the President Pro-tem of the Student Senate, the Student Body President and Vice-President, two Student House members selected by the Speaker of the House and two members of the Student Senate selected by the President Pro-tem of the Student Senate. The conference committee is charged with working out the details of the conflicting legislation before the next House and Senate meeting for immediate action.
SECTION 6: Rules of Proceedings The Student Senate and the Student House shall determine the rules of its proceedings and shall keep a record of these proceedings to be made available to all members of the student body, faculty and administration.
SECTION 7: Student House and Student Senate Vacancies Student House Vacancies Vacancies of organizational representatives shall be filled in a way decided by the members of the organization.
Vacancies in the Student Senate Vacancies in the Student Senate shall be filled by appointment of the President of the Student Body with the consent and advice of the Student Senate. Appointed Student Senate members shall complete the terms which they are assigned.
C. The absence policy of the Student Government Association shall be outlined in the organizations by-laws.
SECTION 8: Elections of the Student Government Association Time, Place and Manner of Holding Elections: The time(s), place(s) and manner of holding elections shall be prescribed by legislation of the Student Government Association, which shall be available to all students and set forth in an election code.
SECTION 9: Impeachment Trials A. Cases of Impeachment The Student Senate shall have sole power to try all cases of impeachment within the Student Government Association. Trials shall be directed by the Chief Adjudicator, except in the case that he/she is on trial. In such a case, the adjudicators shall choose from their number, one to direct the trial. In the absence of the Judiciary Branch, the President of the Student Government Association shall preside over the trial, except in the case that he/she is on trial. In such a case, the Vice President of the Student Government Association shall assume the responsibility of the trial. No person shall be impeached without concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office, and dis-qualification to hold and enjoy an office of honor, trust, or profit in the Student Government Association.
SECTION 10: Emergency Passage of Legislation In the case of emergency in which one of the two branches of the legislature cannot meet, then an item of business can be passed with a two-thirds vote of one of the houses of the legislature and with the signature of the Student Body President. In case of this emergency, there is no overriding a veto of the Student Body President.
Article III: The Executive Branch Article IV: The Judicial Branch Full Version of Constitution(pdf)
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