STUDENT CONGRESS CONSTITUTION Article 1: Purpose Section 1. The Student Congress shall be the representative body of the Student Association, Incorporated, and the elected representative voice of the student body of California University of Pennsylvania. Article 2: Membership of Senate Section 1. Congress shall be composed of the following: (a) One representative for every 100 students registered for the fall semester as verified by Academic Affairs. This figure shall determine the number of elected seats available for the fall election as described in Article 4. (b) One representative who shall be the Program Secretary. (c) One representative who shall be the Student Trustee. (d) One representative who shall be the Immediate Past President of Student Congress, so long as he/she is a registered full time student at the university. (e) One representative who shall be the current president of the Board of Directors of the Student Association, Incorporated. (f) One representative who shall be the dean of students or designee as an ex- officio representative. (g) One representative who shall be the president of the university or designee as an ex-officio representative. Section 2. All at-large elected representatives to student Senate shall serve for a term of two (2) years. Elections will take place at the time of the election of officers. In the first election after a ratification of the constitution, one half (1/2) shall be elected the following December. In cases where at-large seats are vacated due to withdrawal, graduation, transfer or resignation, the vacancy will be filled by runners-up from the election for that seat. If no remaining runners-up exist, the remaining seats shall be filled by one-year terms that are elected at the same election as the two-year seats. The candidates who receive the most votes shall gain the one-year terms, as far as they exist. In the case of a tie, a vote of Senate shall determine who shall hold the vacant seat. Any Senate Representative may be recalled by his/her respective constituency. Section 3. In order to qualify for and maintain membership in Student Congress, a student must be a paid member of the Student Association, Incorporated. Section 4. All meetings of Student Congress and committees of Congress shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised. Section 5. Elected and appointed members of Senate shall be referred to as "Senators" to identify them from academic class members. Meetings of Senate and Cabinet shall be held weekly, with Congress meetings to be decided by each respective Cabinet. Special meetings of Senate and Cabinet shall be called by the President of the Congress, the Chairman of Cabinet (Cabinet meetings only), and/or the President of the university. Section 6. A majority of the occupied seats of congress and congressional meetings shall constitute quorum. Proxy voting shall not be considered legal in congress or congressional committees. No member shall hold two seats simultaneously. No member of Congress is endowed with more than one (1) vote. Article 3: Powers and Duties of Congress Section 1. It shall be the duty of Student Congress to consider such matters of student interest as presented by the students through their recognized organizations and representatives. All petitions must be submitted to the dean of students or the president of Student Senate, who will refer them to the appropriate governing body. Section 2. Congress shall consider from the student viewpoint such matters as may be referred to it by the administration and faculty of the university. Section 3. Congress shall make recommendations and suggestions to the administration concerning matters of student interest. Work of a detailed nature shall be referred to student cabinet for recommended action. Student congress shall accept, or refer to the student body, the recommendations of Student Cabinet and the House of Representatives. Section 4. Student Senate, through the elections chairman, shall organize and supervise the conduct of all elections involving the student body. The election chairman shall determine the time of all elections. Section 5. Senate may refuse to seat any elected or appointed member of congress by a two thirds (2/3) vote of congress when just cause is shown regarding the withholding of seating privileges. Section 6. In the event the vice president assumes the office of president because of resignation or impeachment, Senate shall, by a two thirds (2/3) vote, fill the vacant position. Such shall be the case for any other office as well. Section 7. In the summer semester, congress shall be composed of all representatives. A majority of the representatives registered for that semester shall constitute quorum. Article 4: Officers of Senate Section 1. Officers of student Senate shall be elected during the second half of the fall semester, exact dates to be set by Senate. Nominations shall be made from the floor of Senate at two (2) consecutive meetings of student Senate. There must be at least one regularly scheduled Senate or cabinet meeting between the second week of nominations and the election dates. Section 2. The following officers shall be elected with minimum qualifications as indicated in the following order of succession: President...45 Credits Vice President...45 Credits Financial Secretary...45 Credits Recording Secretary...30 Credits Corresponding Secretary...30 Credits Article 5: Powers and Duties of Elected Officers of Senate Section 1. President (a) Shall preside at all regular and special meetings. (b) Shall call all special meetings. (c) Shall prepare the agenda of Senate. (d) Shall, with the consent of Senate, appoint the following: 1. One publicity director. 2. One parliamentarian, who shall provide congress with updated and corrected copies of the Constitution. 3. One program secretary, after consultation with the director of Student Association, Inc. 4. All members of standing and special committees necessary to facilitate the successful operation of the congress. (e) Shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Council of Trustees. (f) Shall serve as an ex-officio member of all congressional committees. (g) Shall appoint, with two thirds (2/3) approval of cabinet, representatives to campus-wide committees. (h) Shall serve as an ex-officio member of the House of Representatives Section 2. Vice President (a) Shall preside in the absence of the president or at his/her direction. (b) Shall supervise campus elections. (c) Shall accept all official responsibilities and obligations deemed necessary by the student Senate and/or the president of student Senate. Section 3. Financial Secretary (a) Shall work with the director of Student Association, Inc., the comptroller, and budget and finance committee of the SAI Board of Directors in providing financial statements and information concerning Senate operations and interests. (b) Shall serve as chairman of cabinet. Section 4. Recording Secretary (a) Shall keep the minutes of Senate (b) Shall submit all minutes to the director of Student Association, Inc. to be duplicated. (c) Shall distribute all duplicated minutes of Senate to the organizations and administrative personnel requesting same. Section 5. Corresponding Secretary (a) Shall receive, record and send communications. (b) Shall assist the election chairman with elections. Article 6: Student Cabinet Section 1. The executive committee of student Congress shall be the student cabinet. The body will be elected from the membership of student Congress. Section 2. Membership (a) The President, Vice President, Financial Secretary, Recording Secretary, Program Secretary and Corresponding Secretary shall be members of Cabinet. (b) The President of the Student Association, Board of Directors or his / her student designee from the Board of Directors shall be a member of Cabinet. (c) Eight (8) representatives of Senate shall be elected by the Senate to serve on student cabinet at the second meeting of the fall semester. (d) One (1) representative from the House of Representatives shall be elected by the House of Representatives to serve on the student cabinet at the first meeting of the fall semester. (e) The Chairperson of the House of Representatives shall serve as a member of the student cabinet. Section 3. Duties (a) Student Cabinet shall prepare and submit to student congress a final budget for the Student Association, Incorporated, by the second meeting in April. (b) Student Cabinet shall be responsible for the inspection and approval by new or existing organizations. (c) Student Cabinet shall present to Congress at each meeting a current financial report. Article 7: Officers of Cabinet Section 1. Vice Chairman (a) Shall assume the duties of chairman in his/her absence. Section 2. Secretary (a) Shall keep all minutes of the meetings of cabinet. (b) Shall receive, record and send communications. (c) Shall submit to the director of Student Association, Inc. all minutes to be duplicated. (d) Shall distribute all duplicated minutes of cabinet to the members of student congress and administrative personnel requesting same. Article 8: Initiative and Referendum Section 1. On any question concerning the general welfare of the students, a petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the membership of the Student Association, Inc., can be presented to congress requesting consideration of same. Section 2. A student body referendum shall be initiated by a majority vote of congress. Article 9: Approved Organizations Section 1. To be recognized as an approved organization, the proposed organization must prepare and submit a constitution to the director of the Student Association, Inc. who must then refer the proposed constitution to student cabinet and student congress for approval. Section 2. The charter for any organization shall be automatically revoked if it is inactive for six (6) consecutive semesters. Article 10: Impeachment and Removal Section 1. Any officer of congress or cabinet may be impeached by a two thirds (2/3) vote of Congress. Section 2. Removal shall be accomplished by a two thirds (2/3) vote of cabinet, serving as a trial board, and by a two thirds (2/3) vote of congress. Section 3. Grounds for impeachment will be defined as neglect of office, incompetence, misdemeanor and/or mismanagement of funds. Section 4. No officer can be removed by the district or organization he represents. Section 5. Members of congress may be removed as prescribed in this article. Article 11: Power to Veto Section 1. The president of student congress shall have the right to veto. Section 2. The veto may be overridden by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of congress. Section 3. The president of student congress must exercise the veto in the meeting at which the motion was presented. Article 12: Amendments Section 1. Amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws will be made by a two t hirds (2/3) vote of congress. Section 2. All proposed amendments must be presented in writing at one congress meeting and voted upon at the next two consecutive meetings. Article 13: Ethics Committee Section 1. At the first meeting of the fall semester, congress shall elect six (6) representatives to the congressional ethics committee. The elected members will elect their own chairman. Article 14: University President Advisory Committee Section 1. The university president Advisory Committee shall consist of the officers of Student Congress and Student Cabinet, the students officers of the SAI Board, and two (2) delegates appointed by the president of student congress for a term of one (1) semester. The committee shall meet with the president whenever necessary.