Student Government Association Constitution

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Student Government Association
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Preamble

We, the students of Wallace State Community College, in order to provide an effective means of student government, and to provide for the immediate needs of the student population, do hereby establish and ordain this constitution.

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Wallace State Community College Student Government Association (SGA).

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the Student Government Association shall be to serve and represent the student body; unify the students in a common motive of limited self-government; encourage cooperation among students, faculty, and administrative staff; and act in the best interests of the student body for the betterment of the College.

Article III: Membership

Section 1: The membership of this organization shall consist of all WSCC students currently enrolled and attending classes at the said institution.

Section 2: The voting membership of the SGA shall be comprised of all officers and senators.

Section 3: ELECTION OF STUDENT SENATORS

Senators are to be selected during the summer and fall semester of each academic year. Senators must possess and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 (based on 4.0 scale). Senators will be installed into office for a maximum of six semesters.

Section 4: VACANCIES IN SENATE

All vacancies occurring in the Student Senate shall be filled by presidential appointment with approval from the SGA Advisor. 

Article IV: Officers, Executive Council, and Senate Body

Section 1: EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The executive officers of the Student Government Association shall be the executive officers of the senate and shall consist of the president, vice-president, secretary, parliamentarian, and treasurer.

Section 2: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The purpose of the Executive Council is to preview items to be reviewed by the Student Senate and to facilitate more effective senate action. The Executive Council shall be composed of the executive officers of the SGA. The Executive Council shall meet and review items to be placed on or removed from the senate agenda. Any new business not appearing on the agenda at senate meetings shall be immediately tabled or referred to committees.

Section 3: SENATORIAL BODY

The Senatorial Body shall be composed of ten (10) to twenty (20) Senators.

Article V: Qualification of Officers

Section 1: Executive officers must possess and maintain a 2.5 GPA (based on 4.0 scale).

Article VI: Qualification of Senators

Section 1: Senators must possess and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 (based on 4.0 scale).

Article VII: Selection of Officers

Section 1: Executive Officers shall be appointed to a term of no more than three semesters, during the summer or fall semester of each academic year.

Section 2: Executive Officers will be appointed by the SGA Advisor. Students interested in serving as an officer should contact the SGA Advisor.

Article VIII: Selection of Student Senators

Section 1: Senators will be selected during the summer or fall semester of each academic year.

Section 2: Senators will be selected by a committee comprised of the current SGA president, the SGA Advisor, and no more than three support, faculty, and/or administrative personnel. 

Article IX: Vacancies

Section 1: If the office of president should become vacant, it shall be filled immediately by the vice-president.

Section 2: If the office of vice-president, secretary, or treasurer should become vacant, it shall be filled by appointment of the president, from within the senate. The appointee is not required to be of the same status, that is to say, of the same division and the same program, as the vacating officer.

Section 3: All vacancies occurring in the Student Senate shall be filled by presidential appointment. Approval is required by the SGA Advisor(s).

Article X: Powers and Duties of Senators

Section 1: Senators of the Student Government Association shall have the following powers and duties:

  1. To serve on committees appointed by the president of the SGA.
  2. To approve appointment(s) of the president of the SGA.
  3. To attend senate meetings.
  4. To assist the president of the SGA.
  5. To override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote.
  6. To comply fully with the constitution of the SGA.

Article XI: Powers and Duties of The Executive Council

Section 1: The president of the Student Government Association shall have the following powers and duties:

  1. To preside over all meetings of the senate and Executive Council.
  2. To call special meetings of the senate.
  3. To execute policies and actions approved by the senate.
  4. To act as ex-officio member of all committees that have been appointed.
  5. To cooperate and coordinate all Student Government Association activities with the Student Government Advisor(s) and administrative staff of the College.
  6. To appoint the following standing committees: Legislative and Social, as well as other committees needed during the normal course of business.
  7. To serve on College committees as requested.
  8. To instruct and require reports from executive officers and cabinet members.
  9. To make recommendations for legislation to the Student Senate, for which purpose the president may address the senate at any time.
  10. To observe and follow the letter of this constitution.

Section 2: The Vice President for Students shall have the following duties:

  1. To preside over all meetings of the senate at the president’s absence or request.
  2. In case of the president’s resignation, removal, or surrender of office, to assume the office of the president until the next regularly scheduled election.
  3. To serve as requested on College committees.
  4. To assist and cooperate with the SGA president as requested.
  5. The vice-president shall not cast a vote on pending motions or resolutions before the body but may, in the event of a tie vote, cast the deciding vote.
  6. To preside over Executive Committee in the president’s absence.
  7. To observe and follow the letter of this constitution.

Section 3: The secretary shall have the following duties:

  1. To keep the official minutes of senate and executive meetings.
  2. To keep an accurate attendance record of each meeting or activity.
  3. To assist the president or vice-president with all official student government correspondence and communications.
  4. To assist and cooperate with the president of the SGA as required.
  5. To observe and follow the letter of this constitution.

Section 4: The Treasurer shall have the following duties:

  1. To supervise financial affairs of the SGA.
  2. To serve on College committees as requested.
  3. To assist and cooperate with the president of the SGA as requested.
  4. To observe and follow the letter of this constitution.

Section 5: The Parliamentarian shall have the following duties:

  1. To maintain parliamentary procedure at SGA meetings.
  2. To assure that the minutes of meetings contain the following:
    1. Time, date, and place of meeting.
    2. Whether it is a special called meeting or regular meeting.
    3. The name of the presiding officer.
    4. The name of the secretary, who records the minutes of the meeting 
    5. All main motions (whether adopted or rejected); withdrawn motions are not included.
    6. The names of persons making proposals.
    7. Points of order or appeals, whether sustained or rejected.
  3. To serve on special committees as requested.
  4. To attend all regular meetings.
  5. To assist and cooperate with the president of the SGA as requested.
  6. To observe and follow the letter of the SGA constitution.

Article XII: Meetings

Section 1: The Student Senate shall meet monthly during each semester of the academic year, or at the call of the president.

Section 2: All legislation shall be passed by majority vote.

Section 3: A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the number of voting members of the senate. A quorum is necessary for legislative action. No pending or new legislation may be acted on by the senate without a quorum present.

Section 4: In the event that less than 50% of the senators are enrolled in the summer semester, the Executive Council shall comprise the entire voting body of the SGA, and the Executive Council shall work closely with the Student Government Association Advisor.

Article XIII: Absenteeism

Section 1: Within 48 hours of a missed meeting in which the attendance of a voting member of the SGA is required, it is the responsibility of the voting member to present to the president or SGA Advisor(s) a written or oral excuse, outlining the reason(s) for the absence.

Section 2: The SGA Advisor(s) will rule on excused or unexcused absences, using criteria for such according to institutional policy. All excuses will be filed by the SGA Advisor(s) after review.

  1. Any senator/officer absent from two consecutive meetings without an excuse or three meetings in one semester without an excuse shall be subject to removal from the SGA.
  2. Appeals of expulsion will be acted upon in the following order:
    1. Student Senate
    2. SGA Advisor(s)
    3. Vice President for Students

Section 3: Any member of the Student Government Association may be removed from office for any one of the following reasons:

  1. If and when placed on academic probation.
  2. If and when on disciplinary probation following violations of student code set forth by the office of the Vice President for Students.
  3. For excessive absences as outlined in Article XIII, Section 2.
  4. Misappropriation of SGA funds.
  5. Failure to abide by the SGA constitution.

Upon receipt of a statement of allegations, the Executive Council shall introduce into the agenda a hearing scheduled for the first meeting of the Student Senate immediately following the receipt of that statement of allegations. The president shall preside over the hearing unless the president is the subject of the hearing, in which case the vice-president shall preside.

A recommendation for removal must be carried by a three-fourths vote of a quorum present and then submitted to the SGA Advisor for review.

Any person desiring to appeal this hearing must appeal as outlined in Article IV, Section 2. Should removal from office be finalized, the person shall lose all titles, offices, and other rewards for the office or position from which he/she has been removed. Sponsor: Dakota Nichols, 256.352.8047