CONCORD UNIVERSITY
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
Disclaimer: The Concord University Student Government Association Constitution is a living document, which is subject to change within the two year time span between Handbook printing dates. If there are questions, please refer them to
Campus Box C-1.
PREAMBLE
We, the students of Concord University, being fully aware of the responsibilities, obligations, rights and privileges we possess as members of the Concord University community, do hereby adopt this Constitution in order to maintain an organization to represent students’ interests, opinions, and actions at this University.
Article I
Name and Membership
Section 1. The official name of this organization shall be the Student Government Association of Concord University, Athens, West Virginia, written hereinafter as SGA.
Section 2. All duly enrolled students of Concord University shall be members of this organization.
Article II
Grant of Authority
Section 1. The administration of Concord University, believing that responsible student self-government is excellent educational training and that representative government is a desirable way of arriving at decisions governing student affairs, and the President of the University, believing in the same principles of representative government, hereby grants to this organization the answers and authority herein set forth.
Article III
Components of SGA
Section 1. The SGA shall be composed of a Legislative Branch, and Executive Branch, and a Judicial Branch.
Article IV
The Legislative Branch
Section 1. The Legislative branch of the SGA shall be known as the Concord University Student Senate, written hereinafter as the Student Senate.
Section 2. The voting power of the Student Senate shall be vested in the following members:
A. Organizational Representatives
B. Eight Senators (one to be a commuter)
C. Two Freshmen Senators
D. The Concord University Board of Governors Member
E. The Faculty Senate Representative
F. The Vice-President
G. The President in the Event of a Tie
Section 3. The following individuals shall also be members of the Student Senate without voting privileges:
A. The Faculty Advisor
B. The Business Manager (With the exception of Finances)
C. The Attorney General
D. The Secretary
E. The Ombudsman
F. The Parliamentarian
Section 4. The term of office for membership of the Student Senate shall be one academic year, or for the expiration of an existing term.
Section 5. The Student Senate shall have the power to:
A. Prepare a budget for expenditure of the moneys assigned to the SGA by the President of the University
B. Make such rules and regulations as might be required
to carry out the Articles of this constitution
C. Make such recommendations, resolutions, and policy
statements concerning the interests of the Student
Body of this University as it finds necessary or desirable
D. Require full financial reports from any organization,
individual, or combination of individuals receiving
funds through the SGA, and the authority to
recommend to the President of the University, such
positive action against such parties as to insure full
accountability of student moneys
E. Form such committees as it deems necessary to
function in a proper and orderly fashion
F. Approve all SGA appointments by a majority vote
G. Punish its members for disorderly or irresponsible
behavior toward the Student Body or the SGA
F. Approve all SGA appointments by a majority vote
G. Punish its members for disorderly or irresponsible
behavior toward the Student Body or the SGA
H. Recommend a Student Activity Fee by a majority vote
Section 6. All members of the Student Senate shall serve on one of its committees.
Section 7. Vacancies within the Student Senate by Organizations must be filled by that respective organization within thirteen days after having notified the President of the SGA of its representative’s resignation or dismissal.
Section 8. All regular weekly meetings of the Student Senate shall be open to the SGA, the Faculty, and the Administration of Concord University. Anyone may address the Student Senate with recognition from the President, subject to the rules and regulations as may have been set forth to insure proper and orderly meetings.
Section 9. If a member of the Student Senate accumulates three or more unexcused absences with one one academic year, which includes leaving early, their position shall automatically come under review by the President and/or Secretary. Upon receiving its third unexcused absence, an organization shall lose all voting privileges and the right to request funds for one year, and shall have its current budget frozen.
Section 10. Any member of the Student Senate may present legislation. All legislation must be presented in written form.
A. Legislation shall be defined as recommendations,
resolutions, and policy statements concerning the
interests of the Student Body, and shall require the
following:
1. A minimum of 20 copies for distribution to the Student Senate
2. An explanation by the presenting party
3. Discussion of the presented legislation
4. A majority vote
Section 11. The distribution of funds assigned to the SGA by the President of the university shall be conducted in accordance with the bylaws that govern finance.
Article V
The Executive Branch
Section 1. The powers of the Executive Branch shall be vested in the President and delegated appropriately through the Executive Officers.
Section 2. The Executive Officers shall consist of President, Vice President, Business Manager, Attorney General, Secretary, Ombudsman, Parliamentarian, and all appropriate advisors.
Section 3. The President, Vice-President, Business Manager, and Attorney General shall be chosen by an at large election and shall hold office for a one-year term.
Section 4. The President of the SGA shall:
A. Preside as chair at Student Senate meetings
B. Require reports from any or all organizations, committees, or commissions formed by, or funded through the SGA
C. Call special meetings of the Student Senate with
no less than 24 hours of publicly posted notice of the
time and place
D. Appoint a Faculty Advisor, a Secretary, an Ombudsman, a Parliamentarian, Two Freshman
Senators, a Chairperson to all Student Senate
Committees, a person to act in the interests of
SGA between the Spring and Fall semesters,
and any other seats which become vacant within
the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches
of the SGA (with the exception of the budgetary
committee)
E. Coordinate the actions necessary to carry out the will
of the majority of the Student Senate as expressed in
approved legislation or other actions.
F. Represent, either in person or by designated representative, the SGA in all transactions with the
individuals or organizations outside the structure of the
SGA
G. Grant individuals the authority to make tentative plans
for a proposal once it has been discussed in the Student Senate. Tentative plans are those plans that
can be altered and/or canceled once they have been
presented to the Student Senate
H. Form an executive council of subordinates
I. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees and
commissions of the SGA
J. Act on behalf of the Student Senate between the Fall
and Spring Semesters
1. President shall be required to submit a report to
the first meeting of the Spring Semester disclosing all decisions made and actions undertaken on the Senate’s behalf that would have otherwise required a vote
Section 5. The Vice President Shall:
A. Assume the powers and responsibilities of the President of SGA in the event of absence, resignation,
removal, or death, and shall continue to function as
President for the remainder of the President’s new
term or until the President returns from an absence
B. Act as Secretary in the absence of the Secretary or in
the event that the Secretary is temporarily unable to
serve. This duty shall be subordinate to the duty to act
as President.
C. Perform the duties of the Chief Justice, Attorney
General, or Prime Justice throughout the impeachment
process in the event that one of the aforementioned
officers are under investigation
D. Be the coordinator of all committees and commissions
of the Student Senate, including overseeing Homecoming activities and the “Spring Event”
E. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees and commissions of the Student Senate
Section 6. The Business Manager shall:
A. Prepare an annual budget for the ensuing semester and
present it to the Student Senate for approval
B. Chair budgetary committee
C. Keep record of expenditures and income, and supervise the management of all financial transactions
D. Make a report at Student Senate meetings of major
expenditures, income, and balance
E. Oversee the financial records of the Student Senate in conjunction with the Concord University Director of Business and Finance
F. Keep financial records available for public inspection at all times
G. Act as President in the absence of the President,
Vice-President, and secretary, or in the event that they are all temporarily unable to serve
Section 7. The Attorney General shall:
A. Prosecute all the cases that are docketed in the student disciplinary process
B. Investigate all reported irregularities in SGA activities and shall inform the Chief Justice for appropriate actions
C. Subpoena students as witnesses when the appearance and testimony of the witness is necessary to insure justice
D. Give subpoenaed witnesses at least three days notice
Article VI
The Judicial Branch
Section 1. The Judicial powers of the SGA shall be vested in the Judicial Branch.
Section 2. The purpose of the Judicial Branch of the SGA shall be to provide an efficient, responsive, and responsible structure that will enable students to receive a fair and impartial hearing in
all proceedings concerning student behavior and discipline.
Section 3. The Judicial branch shall consist of the Steering Committee, Student Supreme Hearing Board, Student Hearing Board, Chief Justice, Prime Justice, Seven additional Justices, and the Public Defender.
Section 4. The Steering Committee
A. Shall be made up of the Chief Justice, the Advisor to the Judicial Branch, and a member of the Student Affairs Staff designated by the Director of Student & Staff Affairs
B. Directs cases to either of the appropriate Hearing Boards
Section 5. The Student Supreme Hearing Board
A. Shall be made up of nine Justices to be appointed by the SGA President whose appointments shall be for the duration of enrollment as a student at Concord University
B. Shall hear cases of Constitutional Interpretation, act as an Appellate Court for the Student Hearing Board, and serve as the Court in the Impeachment Process
C. Shall create any subordinate Hearing Board as deemed necessary and proper
Section 6. The Student Hearing Board
A. Shall consist of three Justices; The Chief Justice and/or the Prime Justice, and any one or two other justices
B. Shall meet as frequently as necessary to adjudicate cases in a timely fashion
1. Unexcused absences from any Judicial meeting (including Court) by a Justice throughout each semester shall result in appropriate action as outlined in Article XI of this Constitution
Section 7. The Chief Justice
A. Shall be voted into office by a majority of the Justices from their ranks
B. Shall be chosen the first week of April, begin a one-year term on the second week of April, and may serve consecutive terms
C. May be removed from office by a 7/8’s vote of no confidence by all of the Justices
D. Shall subpoena students as witnesses, upon request of the plaintiff/defendant (or their representatives)when the appearance and testimony of the witness is necessary to insure justice
E. Shall give subpoenaed witnesses at least three days notice
F. Shall coordinate the Judicial Branch in a manner that
insures justice to all students at Concord University
G. Shall serve on the Steering Committee
Section 8. The Prime Justice
A. Shall be voted into office by a majority of the Justices from their ranks
B. Shall be chosen the first week of April, begin a one-year term on the second week of April, and may serve consecutive terms
C. May be removed from office by a 7/8’s vote of no confidence by all of the Justices
D. Shall aid the Chief Justice in coordination of the Judicial Branch
E. Shall act as Chair of the Homecoming Committee and
enforce the rules and regulations concerning Homecoming events
F. Shall serve as Election Chair and coordinate the SGA Election activities
Section 9. The Public Defender
A. Shall represent, if requested in writing, any defendants before the Student Supreme Hearing Board and the
Student Hearing Board
B. Shall represent, if requested in writing, any defendant’s
appeal to, or sanction review of, the proceedings of the
Student Hearing Board
C. Shall subpoena students as witnesses when the appearance and testimony of the witness is necessary to insure justice
D. Shall give at least three days notice to all subpoenaed witnesses
Article VII
Meetings
Section 1. The Student Senate shall be scheduled to meet Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m.
Section 2. The President of the SGA may, when necessary, call additional meetings at a time and place to be announced and posted publicly no less than 24 hours in advance.
Article VIII
Quorum
Section 1. The quorum of all meetings of the Student Senate shall be 50% + 1 or the voting membership.
Section 2. The Student Senate shall not conduct business without a quorum.
Article IX
Committees
Section 1. There shall be the following permanent standing committees for the purpose of carrying out the business of the Student Senate.
A. SGA Student Affairs
B. Safety
C. Food
D. Handbook
E. Disabilities
F. Publicity
G. Technology
H. UC Student Affairs
I. Housing
Section 2. The President shall establish ad hoc committees as needed to carry on the affairs of the SGA.
Article X
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments may be submitted by petition signed by 10% of the Student Body or by a 2/3’s vote of the Student Senate.
Section 2. A minimum of 50 copies must be present for distribution to the Student Senate.
Section 3. The Student Senate shall discuss the proposed amendment one week after submission.
Section 4. Amendments shall be ratified by a 2/3’s vote of the Student Senate the week following discussion.
Article XI
Impeachment Process
Section 1. An elected or appointed officer of the SGA may be placed under investigation for misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, or three unexcused absences from meetings required by their position.
Section 2. Such an investigation requires a petition signed by 1/3 of the voting membership of the Student Senate to be presented
to the Attorney General.
Section 3. The Chief Justice, the Prime Justice, and the Attorney General shall appoint three voting members of the Student Senate to serve as an investigation committee to be headed by the Attorney General that shall inquire into the charges. If the person/s under investigation is any combination of the Chief Justice, Prime Justice, or Attorney General, their position/s shall be filled by the Vice-President and the Public Defender respectively.
Section 4. Within two weeks, the Investigation Committee shall report back to the Student Senate with one of two recommendations: No infraction, or Impeachment.
Section 5. The Student Senate shall hold a simple majority vote on the Investigation Committee’s recommendation
A. A recommendation of No Infraction may be accepted
which would end the process, or rejected in which
case it would proceed as an impeachment to the Student Supreme Hearing Board
B. A recommendation of Impeachment may be accepted
in which case it would proceed to the Student Supreme Hearing Board, or rejected which would end the process
Section 6. The Student Supreme Hearing Board shall conduct an impeachment trial on cases sent to it by the Student Senate.
A. The Attorney General will present the case against
the accused
B. The accused will be allowed to present their case
C. Conviction of the accused will require 2/3’s of the Justices
D. In the event of a vote for conviction, the Student Supreme Hearing Board will determine sanctions by a simple majority
Article XII
Homecoming Committee
Section 1. The purpose of the Homecoming Committee is to provide an efficient, responsive, and responsible structure that will ensure all Homecoming Candidates and the student body of Concord University that a fair and impartial Homecoming Election will be conducted. The committee will set the guidelines for such an election and, if necessary, be a fair and impartial hearing board in all proceedings concerning the election.
Section 2. The Homecoming Committee shall be comprised of seven students from the student body. Two of seven shall be elected in an at large election by the student body. One shall be the previous year’s homecoming queen (if she is no longer a student at Concord University, her position shall be filled by the Vice-President). The Prime Justice shall serve as chair of the Homecoming Committee. The SGA President shall appoint the three remaining members.
Section 3. The term of the Homecoming Committee shall be for one year beginning the first week of May.
Article XIII
Student Elections
Section 1. The Student Senate is responsible for keeping current By-laws concerning Student Elections. (Refer to By-laws)
By-Laws of the SGA Board of Directors
Art. I Any member of the Board of Directors wishing to be excused from a Board meeting must have his/her excuse to a board member who will be responsible to report such an excuse to the chairman prior to the Board meeting. In the event of an emergency, an explanation should be given to the chairman at the soonest possible time.
Art. II All agenda items will be arranged in the form of formal consideration for the Board on that item.
Art. III All discussion will be limited to a formal discussion item.
Art. IV All discussion must be recognized from the chairman.
Art. V All organizations funded by the SGA must have an approved constitution on file.
Art. VI Each organization funded by the SGA shall be required to submit a starting inventory of all supplies and equipment upon demand by the President of the SGA.
Art. VII Each organization funded by the SGA shall be required, upon demand by the President of SGA, to submit a detailed explanation of how monies were spent over the last year at budgeting time each fall.
Art. VIII The Business Manager of the SGA is required to attend all SGA Board of Directors meetings and must report, upon demand by the President of the SGA, an up-to-date financial statement and information each week.
Art. IX All persons up for appointments must appear before the Board of Directors before a vote can be taken on such appointments.
Art. X Any board member shall have the right to request an executive session at anytime. All information discussed in such sessions are confidential. Anybody leaking information will be disciplined.
Art. XI The SGA President, Vice President, or member of the Board cannot accept concert tickets from the promoters.
Art. XII All SGA funded organizations are required to have a representative attend each weekly meeting. Each organization will be allowed one (1) absence per month. Roll will be taken when meetings are called to order. Each organization must have a different representative and this representative may not be an SGA Board member.