Student Government - Constitution - California University of Pennsylvania

STUDENT CONGRESS CONSTITUTION

Preamble

The Students of California University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to promote the University’s core values (civility, integrity and responsibility), represent the interest of the students and establish a concrete and functional medium for open and civil communication among all constituencies, have established this form of governance. We hereby recognize and willfully abide by all United States Federal laws, the laws and Statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and local governance from the Borough of California pertain to any and all issues that may enter the arena of the Student Congress. This governing body or any recognized organization thereof shall not endorse any political candidate or a federally registered Political Action Committee in any form. In the interest of establishing a non-partisan, unbiased governance structure we respectfully adhere to the ideals set forth in this constitution.

Definitions

SAI - Shall be in reference to the non-profit corporation, the Student Association Inc. of California University of Pennsylvania.

Paid member of SAI - Shall be in reference to any student or individual who has no delinquent debts to the Student Association Inc.

At large - Shall be a reference to the full population of an identified constituency.

Chairperson - Shall be in reference to the chair of the Cabinet or the designated chair of a congressional committee.

Speaker - Shall be in reference to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

President - Shall be in reference to the elected President of Student Government who shall be the President of the Senate.

In pocket - Shall be in reference to the current number of credits which appear on certified California University of Pennsylvania transcripts. Credits from classes currently being taken do not count until they appear on a current transcript.

Article 1: Purpose of Congress

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.

Section 2. The Student Congress shall serve as the designated medium for expressing student concerns pertaining to all matters.

Section 3. The Student Congress shall advance charitable, educational, leadership, and scientific endeavors, but not limited to, developing a democratic and responsible student governance structure; acting as a liaison between and among all university constituencies; controlling the expenditure of the student activity fee; battle apathy and develop a well-rounded program of university life at California University of Pennsylvania.

Section 4. The Student Congress shall promote and adhere to the core values of California University of Pennsylvania; civility, integrity and responsibility.

Article 2: Membership of Congress

Section 1. The Congress shall be composed of the following:

The Student Senate shall be a house of Congress, therefore the membership of the Senate shall be members of the Student Congress.
The House of Representative shall be a house of Congress, therefore the membership of the House of Representatives shall be members of the Student Congress.
The Student Cabinet shall be a house of Congress, therefore the membership of the Cabinet shall be members of the Student Congress.

Section 2. In order to qualify for and maintain membership in Student Congress, a student must be a paid member of the Student Association, Incorporated.

Article 3: Powers and Duties of Congress

Section 1. Congress shall represent the student interests and voice them in a continual effort to advocate for the students and in the best interests of California University of Pennsylvania.

Section 2. Congress shall consider from the student viewpoint such matters as may be referred to it by the administration, faculty and staff of the university.

Section 3. In the summer semester, congress shall be composed of all representatives. A majority of the representatives registered for that semester shall constitute quorum.

Section 4. To exercise the core values of Civility, Integrity and Responsibility in all settings, be them congressional, senatorial and in any committee meeting / events.

Section 5. All meetings of Student Congress and committees of Congress shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Article 4: Purpose of Senate

Section 1. It shall be the duty of Student Senate 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.

Article 5: Membership of Senate

Section 1. Senate shall be composed of the following:

One representative for every 100, undergraduate 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.
One representative who shall be the President of the Student Activities Board (SAB).
One representative who shall be the Student Trustee, who will receive advisement from the membership of Congress pertaining to University matters.
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.
One representative who shall be the current President of the Board of Directors of the Student Association, Incorporated.
One representative who shall be the Dean of Students or designee as an ex-officio representative.
One representative who shall be the President of the university or designee as an ex-officio representative.
One representative who shall be a representative or designee from the Faculty Senate 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. 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. 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 4. A majority of the occupied seats of congress and congressional meetings shall constitute quorum.

Section 5. Proxy voting, or absentee voting, shall not be considered legal or valid 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 6: Powers and Duties of Senate

Section 1. Senate shall serve as the upper house of Student Congress.

Section 2. Senate shall receive recommendations from the Cabinet and the House of Representatives and have the vested authority to approve or refuse said recommendations by a majority vote.

Section 3. Senate shall make recommendations and suggestions to the administration concerning matters of student interest at large. 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.

Article 7: Officers of Senate

Section 1. Officers of student Senate shall be elected during the second half of the spring 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, in pocket
Vice President...45 Credits, in pocket
Financial Secretary...45 Credits, in pocket
Recording Secretary...30 Credits, in pocket
Corresponding Secretary...30 Credits, in pocket

Article 8: Powers and Duties of Elected Officers of Senate

Section 1. President

Shall preside at all regular and special meeting.
Shall call all special meetings.
Shall prepare the agenda of Senate.
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.
Shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Council of Trustees.
Shall serve as an ex-officio member of all congressional committees.
Shall appoint, with two thirds (2/3) approval of cabinet, representatives to campus-wide committees.
Shall serve as an ex-officio member of the House of Representatives.
Shall represent California University of Pennsylvania's Student Government on the California University Forum and it's executive committee or hold elections with the cabinet.
Shall attend all meetings of the Board of Student Government Presidents unexcused absences may be grounds for impeachment.

Section 2. Vice President

Shall preside in the absence of the president or at his/her direction.
Shall supervise campus elections.
Shall accept all official responsibilities and obligations deemed necessary by the student Senate and/or the president of Student Senate

Section 3. Financial Secretary

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.
Shall serve as chairman of cabinet.

Section 4. Recording Secretary

Shall keep the minutes of Senate.
Shall submit all minutes to the director of Student Association, Inc. to be duplicated and the SAI webmaster to be placed in the on-line archive.
Shall distribute all duplicated minutes of Senate to the organizations and administrative personnel requesting same.

Section 5. Corresponding Secretary

Shall receive, record and send communications.
Shall assist the election chairman with elections.
Shall function as a liaison between all houses of Student Government and attend all meeting of both houses.

Article 9: Purpose of the House of Representatives

Section 1. To serve as a communication medium between the recognized clubs \ organizations and their respective constituents.

Section 2. To make recommendations to the Senate regarding policy, financial matters and student interest.

Article 10: Membership of the House of Representatives

Section 1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of the following:

(a) The President or student designee from each recognized club or organization.

(b) The President of the Student Senate shall be a full member of the House of Representatives.

(d) The Director of the Student Association Inc. shall be an ex-officio member of the House of Representatives.

Article 11: Powers and Duties of the House of Representatives

Section 1. The House of Representatives shall serve as the lower house of Congress.

Section 2. The House of Representatives shall function to keep the students at large apprised of the actions and responsibilities of the various clubs and organizations.

Section 3. The House of Representatives shall make recommendations to the Senate or the appropriate governing body regarding the various matters concerning the student clubs and organizations.

Section 4. In the event the Lieutenant Speaker of the House assumes the duties of the Speaker because of resignation or impeachment, the membership of the house will vote to fill the vacant position by a 2\3 majority. No replacement Speaker can be seated without a 2\3 majority of the House or a formal appointment from the President of the Senate.

Section 5. Only one vote per person per recognized club or organization. No one member shall have more than one vote. No one member shall represent more than one (1) club or organization in the House of Representatives.

Article 12: Officers of the House of Representatives

Section 1. The officers of the House will be elected at the first meeting of the fall semester. Nominations shall be made from the floor of the House and only one representative from each organization can hold office \ have voting privileges.

Section 2. The following officers shall be elected from the membership of the House:

Speaker of the House
Lieutenant Speaker of the House
Recording Secretary
Parliamentarian

Article 13: Powers and Duties of the Elected Officers of the House of Representatives

Section 1. Speaker of the House shall:

Preside over special and regular meetings of the House.
Call all special meetings to order.
Prepare the agenda for all meetings.
Serve in an advisory capacity to the President of Student Senate.
Serve as a member of the Senate.
Shall serve in office no more than one term.
No representative may hold the seat of speaker for two consecutive terms.

Section 2. Lieutenant Speaker of the House shall:

Serve as interim-speaker of the House in the absence or vacancy of the Speaker of the House.
Shall accept duties and projects charged by the Speaker of the House.
Coordinate Committee appointments with the Vice President of the Senate to form Student Congress Committees.

Section 3. Recording Secretary of the House shall:

Take minutes of all regular and special meetings of the House.
Submit approved minutes to the Director of SAI, SAI Webmaster and the presidentially appointed Historian of the Senate.

Section 4. Parliamentarian of the House shall:

Keep order in all regular and special meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Newly Revised.
Assist the Constitutional Committee Chairman and the Presidential appointed Parliamentarian of the Senate with providing updated copies of the Student Congress Constitution.

Article 14: 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

The President, Vice President, Financial Secretary, Recording Secretary, Program Secretary and Corresponding Secretary shall be members of Cabinet.
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.
Eight (8) representatives of Senate shall be elected by the Senate to serve on student cabinet at the second meeting of the fall semester.
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.
The Chairperson of the House of Representatives shall serve as a member of the student cabinet.

Section 3. Duties

Student Cabinet shall prepare and submit to student congress a final budget for the Student Association, Incorporated, by the second meeting in April.
Student Cabinet shall be responsible for the inspection and approval by new or existing organizations.
Student Cabinet shall present to Congress at each meeting a current financial report

Article 15: Officers of Cabinet

Section 1. Vice Chairman

Shall assume the duties of chairman in his/her absence.

Section 2. Secretary

Shall keep all minutes of the meetings of cabinet.
Shall receive, record and send communications.
Shall submit to the director of Student Association, Inc. all minutes to be duplicated.
Shall distribute all duplicated minutes of cabinet to the members of student congress and administrative personnel requesting same.

Article 16: 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 Senate requesting consideration of same.

Section 2. A student body referendum shall be initiated by a majority vote of Senate.

Article 17: 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 Senate for approval.

Section 2. The charter for any organization shall be automatically revoked if it is inactive for six (6) consecutive semesters.

Article 18: Impeachment and Removal

Section 1. Any elected officer of Congress may be impeached by a two thirds (2/3) vote of their respective body.

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 Senate.

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 club or organization he / she represents.

Section 5. Members of congress may be removed as prescribed in this article.

Article 19: Power to Veto

Section 1. The president of student Senate shall have the right to veto.

Section 2. The veto may be overridden by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Senate.

Section 3. The president of student congress must exercise the veto in the meeting at which the motion was presented.

Article 20: Amendments

Section 1. Amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws will be made by a two thirds (2/3) vote of congress.

Section 2. All proposed amendments must be presented in writing at one meeting of the House of Representatives and voted upon at that meeting.

Section 3. All proposed amendments must be presented in writing at one Senate meeting and voted upon at the next two consecutive meetings.

Article 21: Ethics Committee

Section 1. At the first meeting of the fall semester, Senate shall elect six (6) representatives to the congressional ethics committee from the Senate.

Section 2. At the first meeting of the fall semester, the House of Representatives shall elect six (6) representatives to the congressional ethics committee from the House of Representatives.

Section 3. The elected members will elect their own chairman.

Article 22: University President Advisory Committee

Section 1. The university president Advisory Committee shall consist of the officers of Student Senate, the officers of the Student Cabinet, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the students officers of the SAI Board, and two (2) delegates appointed by the president of student Senate for a term of one (1) semester. The committee shall meet with the president whenever necessary.