Smoke Signals, Februaty 12, 1987—Page 3
Proposed SGA Constitution
A e n a a k^.ir i%a> >aiaaL ftlAiu4«u (krA»ah
SGA Proposes
New Constitution
This page shows the proposed SGA Constitution.
The student body will vote on this revised con
stitution on Thur^ay, February 12, 1987. Voting
will take place in Lakeside Student Center and in
Thomas Cafeteria. We urge you to read the pro
posed constitution carefully and to cast your vote
on Thursday.
Preamble
We. the students of Chowan College recognizing that all powers and respon
sibilities are vested in the President of the college, and through him certain
privileges and powers have been delegated to the administration, faculty, and
students, do establish this constitution for the Chowan College Student
Government Association.
Article I. Legislattve
Section 1. Membership
Membership in the Student Legislature shall be composed of one represen
tative from each floor or section in the residence halls and three represen
tatives for day students, one of which shall be the president of the Day Stu
dent Organization, to be elected in Septemb^. All students registered at
Chowan College are considered members of the Student Legislature.
A. Vacancies that occur between elections shall be filled upon request of the
residence hall presidents subject to the approval of their residence hall coun
cils within a two-week penod.
B. Legislators, at the time of their election and during their term of office,
shall have and maintain the followmg standards;
1. Shall have and maintain an average of 2.0 or above on all work attemp
ted.
2. Shall be a full-time student of Chowan Collge.
3. Shall not assume any other office without having submitted a letter of
approval in triplicate to the S.G.A. President. S.G.A. Faculty Sponsor, and the
Dean of Students.
Section 2. Legislative Powers
Legislative power in the student body shall be vested in a Student
Legislature which has the following powers:
A. To appropriate funds for activities which shall prove beneficial to the
general welfare of the student body.
B. To approve or reject by a majority vote all appointments made by the
S.G.A. President.
C. To override a veto of the S.G.A. President with concurrence from fifty-one
percent of the membership.
D. To establish precedures for the execution of Its business.
E. To try impeachments (neglect of duty) of all student officers appointed or
elected. No per^n shall be convicted of impeachment without concurrence
from fifty-one percent of the membership. When the Vice President of the
S.G.A. is tried for impeachment, the Treasurer of the S.G.A. shall preside.
F. To require oral reports from chairmen of standing committees and from
Presidents of all organizations receiving appropriations from the S.G.A. and/or
collecting dues or sponsoring money-making projects.
G. To propose and receive from members of the student body proposal for
changes n rules and regulations which are necessary and proper to promote
the general welfare of the student body. Upon approval of the voting majority
of the Student Legislature, the proposals may be forwarded for consideration
to the proper faculty-student committees.
H. To appeal recommendations of the faculty-student committees to the ap
propriate dean and then to the President of Chowan College whose decision Is
final. Such an appeal requires a voting majority.
I. To regulate the functioning of all standing or special committees under Its
lurisdiction.
J. To invite a person or group of persons from the Cottege community to
meetings of the Student Legislature for business purposes. Such mvitatlons
should be made with the approval of the Executive Cabinet or Student
Legislature.
K. To appoint ad hoc committees composed of members of the Legislature.
L To approve regulations governing student elections.
SKtion 3. Presidini Officer
The S.G.A. Vice President shall preside when the Legislature Is In session.
The S.G.A. Treasurer shall preside in the absence of the Vice President.
Section 4. Meetings
The Student Legislature shall meet every other Monday, as deemed
necessary, or may be convened by the Vice President of the S.G.A. to discuss
urgent matters if requested to do so by the S.G.A. President.
Section 5. Minutes
Minutes of meetings of the Legislature shall be recorded by the Secretary of
the Student Government Assxiation.
Section 6. Committees
The followmg standing committees shall be composed of members of the
Student Legislature who are appointed by the S.G.A. President at tlw begin
ning of each academic year.
A. The Elections Committee, composed of the S.G.A. Executive Cabinet, shall
have the responsibility of handling all elections as defined In Article IV.
B. The Regulatory Committee, composed of four members and the Auditor
who serves as chairman, shall
1. Request the resignation of legislators who accumulate more than three
unexcused absences from meetings during a semester.
2. Infor the Residence Hall President or Residence Director and 0*y
Student Advisor of those legislators required to resign. The legislator should be
replaced before the next legislative meetmg if at all possible.
C. The Student Activities Committee, composed of the Social Co- hairpersons
and four members, shall have the responsibility of selecting speakers, bands,
movies, and other forms of student activities approved by the Student
Legislature.
0. The Special Events Committee, composed of four numbers and a
chairman, shall cooperate with other students and faculty organizations in
planning for the following events—Homecoming, Including the parade,
enterainment. dance, and crowning of the Homecoming Queen; Football Day
for Parents;
Spring Festival; and the S.G.A. Awards Banquet
i The Budget Committee, composed of four members and the S.G.A. and
the S.G.A. Treaurer who serves a chairman, is responsible for making
recommendations to the Student legislature for approval by a voting majority.
F. The Campus Improvement Committee, composed of four members and a
chairman, shall deal with the improvement and beautification of the campus
for the benefit of student life.
G. The Constitution Committee, composed of the S.G.A. Executive Cabinet,
shall review and make recommendations for revising and amending the S.GA
Constitution before April 1 of each year.
H. The Publicity Committee, composed of four members and a chairmin.
oversees all publicity for events sponsored by the Student Government
Association.
Section 7. Bylaws
The By-Laws of all organizations sponsored by Chowan College shall be
reviewed and approved by a majority vote of the Student Legislature upon the
recommendation of the chairman of the Regulatory Committee.
Section 8. Veto Power
The S.G.A. President shall have the veto power over the Legislature. The
President of Chowan College shall have final veto power
Section 9. Advisors
Two faculty/staff members, appointed annually by the Committee on
Committees, shall serve as advisors to the Student Government Asmlation.
Section 10. Quorum
Fiftynjne percent of the members of the Student Legislature shall constitute
a quorum.
Article II. ExKutive
SKtion I. Officers
The executive officers shall consist of a president, vtce president, secretary,
treasurer, social cohalrman for women, social coxhatrman for n>en. auditor,
and a historian. They shall be known as the Executive Cabinet and serve In an
advisory capacity to the president of the S.G.A. The Executive Cabinet shall
assume legislabve deciston-making powers during emergency situations.
A. Ciecitive Offken, at the time of their election and during their term of
(rfflce, shall have and maintain the following standards;
1. Shall have and maintain an average of 2.0 or above on all work at
tempted.
2. Shall have and maintain a good conduct record.
3. Shall be full time students with at least one semester completed at
Chowan College.
4. Shall not assume any other office without having submitted a letter of
approval to the S G A. President and S.G.A. Faculty Sponsors.
5. Shall maintain a good attendance record at legislative meeting.
B. T1»e PreiMtfil shall:
1. Represent the student body of Chowan College.
2. Convene and preside over meetings of the Executive Cabinet which
shall meet regularly every two vreeks or when necessary
3. Request the Vice President of the S.GA to call a special meeting of the
Student Legislature to discuss urgent matters. Such meetings may be closed if
deemed necessary by the President
4. Appoint students to fKulty-student committees which function under
the jurisdiction of the Academic Affairs Council. Such appointments must be
approved by a voting majority of the Student Legislature.
5. Appoint individual members of the Student Legislature, with their
consent, to standing committees which function under the jurisdiction of the
Student Legislature.
6. Appoint members to ad hoc committees as deemed necessary.
7. Make appointments to fill vacancies in the Executive Cabinet whcih
occur between elections. Such appointments must be approved by a voting
majority of the Student Legislature.
8. Present recommendations to the Student Legislature.
9. Administer and enforce regulations enacted by the Student Legislature.
10. Veto an act of the Student Legislature within five days after approval of
a recommendation
11. Serve as an ex-officIo member of all faculty-student committees
functioning under the jurisdiction of the Academic Affairs Council and the
Student Affairs Council, and require written reports from such committees if
desired.
12. Require oral reports from student committees which function under the
Student Legislature.
13. Call and preside over meetings of the student body if such meetings
have been approved by a voting majority of the Student Legislature and the
Dean of Students.
14. Make a report to the Board of Trustees of Chowan College when and if
requested to do so by the President of Chowan College.
15. Submit to the president of Chowan College a report on S.6.A. Ktivities,
prepared in five copies, at the end of the academic year. Copies of this report
should be given the Dean of the College. Dean of Students. S.G.A. Faculty
Sponsors, and the S.G>. files.
16. Address the Student Legislature or Chowan College Judiciary, provided
he notifies the respective presiding officer in advance of his intentions.
17. Attend, at his pleasure, meetings of S.G standing committees and the
Chowan College Judiciary as a non-voting member.
18. Present a report to the student body at the beginning and end of the
academic year.
19. Serve as the S.G.A. voting member of the Interclub Council.
20. Post and keep office hours, four hours per week. Monday through
Thursday
21. Perform other duties Incident to the office.
C. TIm Vke Preeieet shall;
1. Serve as presiding officer and chairman of the Student LeglsUture.
2. Serve as a non-voting member of all legislative committees except when
Tfcerfa a 6^^ |h»rf^‘m|h^Rrfp?^heTfc|felature.
3. Exercise the duties and assume the responsibilities of the S.G.A.
President in his absence.
4. Assume the office of President in the event the position becomes
vacant between elections.
5. Make a written report to the S.G.A. President at the end of eKh
semester concerning affairs of the Student Legislature. Copies of this report
should be given to the President of Chowan College. Dean of the College, Dean
of Students, and faculty sponsor of the S.G.A.
6. Post and keep office hours, two hours per week. Monday through
Thursday. ■
7. Perform all other duties Incident to the office.
D. The Sacretaoi shall;
1. Take minutes of all legislative sessions and keep same in a permanent
form.
2. Take minutes of the sessions of the Executive Cabinet and keep same in
a permanent form.
3. Forward copies of legislative minutes which have been reviewed by the
respective presiding officer and the Facuity-Advlsor to the following persons no
later than the next legislative meeting;
President of Chowan College
Dean of the College
Dean of Students
S.GA FKulty Advisors
S.G Executive Officers
S.G.A. Files
S.G>.*to be posted for student body inforntation.
4. Notify members of the Executive Cabinet, members of the Student
Legislature, and the S.G Ji. Faculty Advisors of their respective meetings.
5. Keep an accurate list of Ktive S.G.A. Legislative nwmbers submitted
by the Auditor.
6. Post and keep office hours, two hours per week. Monday through
Thursday.
7. Perform aH other duties incident to the office.
i.lhtlnmum shall;
1. Work closely with members of the Budget Committee, consulting with
them on business matters of the S.G.A. FKulty Sponsor
2. Confer with the Business Manager of the College and the S.G.A. Faculty
Sponsor.
3. Forward budgets to the Student Legislature for approval.
4. Keep an up-to^ate record of business transactions of the S.G.A.
5. Present a monthly financial report to the Student Legislature and the
Execubve Cabinet Copies of this report should be forwarded to the FKulty
Sponsors of S.GA, President of the C^lege, and the Dean of Students.
6. Post and keep office hours, one hour per week, Monday through
Thursday.
7. Perform all other duties Incident to the office.
F. The Special Eveirts Qiairpersen shall;
1. Standing Chairman of the Special Events Committee which plans
Homecoming, including the parade, entertainment dance and crowning of the
Homecoming Queen; Spring Festival; and the S.GJ^. awards banquet
2. Oversee other events and ommittees dealing with special events
sponsored by the S.GA
3. Maintain office hours, one per week, Monday through Thursday.
4. Perform other duties assigned by the S.GJ^. President
G. Tbe SocM t^Ckmnm for Men and Weweii shall;
l.Sorve as ex-officio members of the Student Activities Committee and
Budfet Committee.
2. Serve as cohairmen for the movies committee.
3. Attend aH meebnfs of the Student Leflslature.
4. Serve as cochairmen of the Interclub Council.
5. Post and keep office hours, one hour per week, Monday through
Thursday.
6. Perform other duties assigned by the S.G A. President
H. The Auditor shall;
1. Shall chair meetings of the Regulatory committee when auditing
financial records of College-sponsored organizations and standing committees
and make a written report to the Student Legislature. Executive Cabinet, and
mterclub council at the end of each academic year. Forward copies of such
reports to the S.G.A. President, Dean of Students, S.G A. FKulty Sponsors, and
respective organizations
2. Audit reports shall be co-signed by the Auditor and the Treasurer of the
S.G.A.
3. Make motions, upon recommendation of the Regulatory Committee, for
impeachment of executive officers. When the Auditor of S.G A. is tried for
impeKhment, the Treasurer of the S.G A. shall make the motion.
4. Post and keep office hours, one hour per week, Monday through
Thursday.
5. Perform other duties incident to the office.
I. The Historian shall;
1. Keep an up-to-date record of ail recognized organizations sponsored by
the S.G.A.
2. Compile an official Student Government Scrapbook File
3. Post and keep office hours, one hour per day. Monday through
Thursday.
4. Perform other duties incident to the office.
J. The Parlimentarian shall;
1. Serve as S.G.A. expert on parlimentary procedure and see that meetings
are run under correct parlimentary procedures.
2. Oversee the training of fellow S.G.A. officers in the area of parlimentary
procedures.
3. Attend Executive Council and Legislative meetings.
4. Post and keep office hours, one hour per week. Monday through
Thursday.
5. Perform other duties incident to the office.
Section 2. Interclub Council(ICC)
A. The Interclub Council, serving under the jurisdiction of the S.GA, ts an
association of the presidents of all College-sponsored organizations and
residence halls, and serves as a coordinating agency for student activities on
campus.
B. The Social Co^halrmen for Men and Women shall serve as the chairmen
and preside at all meetings.
C. The Interclub Council meets as deemed necessary.
Section 3. ImpeKhment PrKedures
An officer shall be tried for Impeachment on the grounds of neglect of duty
as indicated in Article I, Section 2.E. In such cases, a motion shall be made by
the Auditor and seconded by another executive offficer. At such time, the floor
will be open for discusssion, after which a secret ballot will be taken and sim
ple majority will determine the verdict. When the Auditor is tried for impeKh
ment. the Treasurer shall make the motion.
Article III. Judicial
SKtion 1. Honor Code
The Chowan College Honor Code is; "We will not He. cheat, or steal, nor
tolerate among us those who do.”
SKtion 2. Campus Code
The Chowan College Campus Code Is; "We are bound by our responsibilities
as ladies and gentlemen to conduct ourselves as such at all times."
Section 3. Councils
The Judicial power of the Student Government Association shall be vested In
a Residence Hall Council for each residence hall and the Chowan College
Judiciary.
A. The purpose of the Residence Hall Council shall be to work with nf>embers
of the residence hall steff in planning and Implementing residence hall pr^
grams and Ktivities and to help interpret and enforce college and residence
hall regulations and procedures.
B. The purpose of the Chowan College Judiciary shall be to hear the evidence
invohring students who are Kcused of breaking the rules and regulations of
Chowan College and to make recommendations as to guilt or innocence and
penalty to the Dean of Students.
SKtion 4. Jurisdiction
A. The Residence Hall Council shall have original jurisdiction over infractions
of residence hall regulations except those cases which might result in payment
for damages to Colley or individual property exceeding S25; fines and/or
work detail exceeding 10 hours based on the work study rate of pay; periods of
social campus exceeding two weeks in duration; preliminary suspensions; and
suspension.
B. The Chowan College Judiciary shall have original jurisdiction over major
rule infractions that are not delegated to Residence Hall Councils.
SKtion 5. Membership
A. The Residence Hall Council shall be composed of Residence Hall
officers-president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, and social
chalrmen-and a number of council members, one for eKh unit(wing or
floor), elected according to guidelines approved by the Residence, the
Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life. Residence DirK-
tors shall serve as advisers to the Residence Hall Council.
B. The Chowan College Judiciary shall be composed of four fKulty/ad*
ministrative steff members and one alternate and three student members and
one alternate.
1. The fKulty/administrative steff members shall be appointed by the
Committee on Committees.
2. The student members shall be appointed by the Executive Officers of
the Student Government Association prior to the end of each academic year to
serve for the ensuing year.
3. The alternate faculty/administrative steff member shall serve in the
absence of another faculty/administrative steff member.
4. The alternate student member shall serve in the absence of a duty ap
pointed student member.
5. The Chowan College Judiciary shall follow the procedure for conducting
a hearing as set forth in this Constitution.
Scction 6. QualificatiotK of
Candidates and Members
A. Student candidates will;
1. Have been enrolled at Chowan College for two full semesters.
2. Have a "C" average for the previous semester or previous mid-term
grading period, whichever is nearer to the time of appointment
3. Have a clear disciplinary record.
B. Student members must;
1. Maintein a "C" average on all work attempted and be in good academic
stending.
2. Maintein a clear disciplinary record.
3. Not be a member of a Residence Hall Council.
C. FKulty/admlnlstrative steff members may be selected from any person
classified as such.
Section 7. Appointment of Officen
A. The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary shall be appointed by the
Committee on Committees.
8. The secretory shall be a paid secretery of the college and not a member of
the Judiciary.
Section 8. Duties of Officers
A. The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings and cast the decidini «ote
in case of a tie.
B. The Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson In the
temporary absence of the Chairperson.
C. The secretery shall provide copies of the minutes of the hearing.
SKtion 9. Duties of Members and Alternates
A. Members and Alternates shall be present at all meetings of the Chowan
College Judiciary.
B. The Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in the
temporary absence of the Chairperson.
C. The secretery shall provide copies of the minutes of the heanng.
D. An alternate will be seated to replKe either a student member or a
faculty/administrative steff member who has been excused or removed.
Section 10. Hearing Proceedings
A. At least five5) members of the Judiciary must be seated to constitute a
quorum for a hearing to be conducted
B. The KCused student has the right to have present for a hearing an
advisor, who shall be a current member of the college community, i.e., a
member of the fKulty. steff. or student body
C. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
D. The Chowan College Judiciary shall decide whether the accused is guilty
or not guilty as charged and shall decide upon a recommendation for penalty
1. At the conclusion of the hearing, the student will be informed as to the
recommendation of guilt or innocence.
2. The Dean of Students will be informed as to a recommended penalty.
E. The recommendation(s) of the Judiciary will be reviewed by the Dean of
Students who has the authority to approve or alter the recommendation(s)
1. If approved, the KCused student is notified accordingly.
2. If not approved, the Dean of Students will meet with the Judiciary to
discuss the case further, afterwhich the KCused student will be informed of
the final decision.
SKtion 11. Appeals
A. A student has the right to appeal a decision and/or penalty rendered by
the Residence Hall Council to the Chowan College Judiciary.
B. A student has the right to appeal a dKision and/or penalty rendered by
the Dean of Students, to the President of the College.
Article IV. ElKtions
Section 1. jurisdiction
All student elections shall come under the jurisdiction of the Elections
Committee which functions as a stending committee under the Student
Legislature.
SKtion 2. Election Rules
The Elections committee shall have the right to make additions and/or
corrections to the following rules upon approval of a voting majority of the
Student Legislature:
A. Elections shall be held by secret ballot and counted by the Elections
Committee
B. EKh candidate has the right to address the student body and have a
campaign manager.
C. There shall be no campaigning or campaign material within fifty feet of
the voting area.
D. Campaign expenses shall not exceed $25 per candidate.
E. All campaign speeches and campaign material displayed in good teste.
Section 3. Installation of Officers
The Etections Committee shall arrange for all S.G.A. officers to be mstelled.
Appointees filling vancancies which occur between elections shall be instelled
at the next meeting of the Student L^lslature.
SKtion 4. Oath of Office
S.G.A. officers shall be bound by an oath to support this constitution,
promote the highest ideals of honor, and to fulfill to the best of their ability
the duties of their office.
SKtion 5. Runoff
If the leading candidate of an office does not obtein a majority of the votes,
the candidate piKing sKond has the right to call for a runoff beNreen the two
leading candidates of that particular office. The petition for a runoff shall be
handed to the President of the S.G.A. within forty-eight hours after elKtion
results have been posted and shall not be valid unless it conteins the
signatures of at least ten percent of the student body Kcordmg to the
enrollment figures obtemed from the Registrar's office at the beginning of the
semester
SKtion 6. Recall
The student body shall have the power to recall any officer elected by that
body under this constitution. The petition to recall shall be handed to the
S.G.A. President within forty-eight hours after election results have been
posted and shall not be valid unless it conteins the signatures of at least thirty
percent of the student body according to enrollment figures obtemed from the
Registrar’s office at the beginning of the semester. The S.G.A. President shall,
if he finds the petition complying with this constitution. dirKt the Elections
Committee to conduct a recall election of the office in question. The officer m
question shall have the right to be a candidate
SKtion 7. Initiative
The student body shall have the power to Initiate an Kt within the power of
the Student Legislature, provided ten percent of the student body. Kcording
to enrollment figures obtemed from the Registrar's office at the beginning of
the semester, shall sign a petition calling for consideration of a bill which they
shall submit in writing with the petition to the President of the S.G.A. The
President shall. If he finds the petition complying with this constitution, direct
the Elections Committee to conduct an election on the bill in not less than
seven days nor more than fourteen days after receiving petition and the bill.
Public notice of such an election must by given not less than four days prior to
the election date. A majority of the votes cast at the election shall be sufficient
to decide the Issue.
SKtion S. Review
The Student body shall have the power to call for a vote on any act of the
Student Legislature, provided a petition calling for the vote and steting in
writing the Ktion which the referendum is to teke shall be signed by ten per
cent of the student body, according to enrollment figures obtemed from the
Reslstrar's office at the beginning of the semester, and presented to the Presi
dent of the S.GJ^. The President shall. If he finds the petition complying with
this constitution, direct the Elections Committee to conduct an election on the
Kt in not less than seven days nor more than fourteen days after rKeivIng the
petition Public notice of such an election must be given not less than four
days prior to the election date A majority of the votes cast at the election shall
be sufficient to dKlde the issue.
Article V. Amendment Procedure
SKtion 1.
Amendments to this constitution must be proposed in one of the methods
listed below;
A. By a written petition presented to the S.G.A. President bearing the
signatures of ten percent of the membership of the Student Legislature after
being tebled for one week.
Section 2.
Proposed amendments to this constitution must be published in the official
student newspaper at least one week prior to the date on which a vote is taken
by the student body.
Section 3.
Amendments to the Constitution shall be incorporated by the methods of
deletion and/or substitution. Amendments which are additiw shall be placed
in additional sections or parafraphs in the article to which they pertain.
SKtion 4.
Amendments to the constitution shall |0 into effect upon the si|nature of
the President of the S.G.A.
Article VI. By-Laws
By-laws to this constitution shall become valid when they are approved by a
two-thifds majority vote of the Student Le(islature. provided the motion has
been tabled for two weeks
Article VII. Ratification
Section 1.
This Constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the votini student body.
The ntification of this constitution shall revoke all previous constitutions of
the Student Government Association
Section 2.
This Constitution shall |0 into effect immediately upon its ratification by the
Student Body of Chowan Collete.
Cast Your Vote on February 12!
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