Constitution of Student Government Association

WPO 5.04 Constitution of the Student Government Association

The Constitution of the Student Government Association of Missouri State University- West Plains

We, the students of Missouri State University-West Plains, do ordain this Constitution of the Student Government Association as the empowered Constitution for the members of the Student Government Association, the student body, and the organizations of Missouri State University-West Plains. This Constitution shall be in accordance with all federal, state and local laws and ordinances and campus policies and procedures.

Article I

Organizational Purpose

Section 1. The name of the student governing body of Missouri State University-West Plains shall be known as the Student Government Association (SGA).

Section 2. The purpose and goals of the Student Government Association shall be to provide reasonable and coherent policies, leadership, and unity for the Missouri State University-West Plains student body. This organization shall also create and act as a medium between the students, faculty, and the administration of the campus.

Section 3. The Student Government Association shall be responsible for allocating 60 percent of the budget to the Student Activities Committee to provide social and educational programs for the student body. The Student Government Association shall be responsible for providing 40 percent of its funds to the student organization program, and the Student Government Association of the Mountain Grove campus, while observing fiscal responsibility. Adjustments to these percentages can be made if need arises following the voting guidelines outlined in Article VI.

Section 4. The Student Government Association shall provide opportunities for students to assist the surrounding community and service area in an attempt to promote higher education through community service.

Article II

Composition of the Student Government Association

Section 1. The Student Government Association shall consist of an Executive Branch and a Legislative Body of Senators and Representatives.

Section 2. The Student Government Association shall be advised by the Coordinator of Student Life and Development or another staff member of the Division of Student Services. The advisor will be responsible for insuring that SGA follows all civil laws, ordinances, campus policies, and procedures.

Article III

Legislative Branch Membership

Section 1. The legislative branch will be the policy making body of the Student Government Association and will consist of academic degree Senators, an organizational House of Representatives, and Representatives-at-Large.

Section 2. The Senate will consist of West Plains’ students. Each Academic Degree on campus shall have one student Senator. The Senator will be chosen by their respective degree programs using the selection method of their determination. The Senator must complete a membership form before they are sworn in and become eligible to vote within SGA.

Section 3. The House shall consist of at least one, but no more than two representatives from each student organization. The organizations may choose their Representatives using the selection method of their determination. The Representative must complete a membership form before they are sworn in and become eligible to vote within SGA.

Section 4. Persons wishing to become Student Government Association Representatives-at-Large must complete the membership form. Once the membership form is complete and submitted to the Chief of Staff, the student can be sworn in as a representative-at-large and become eligible to vote.

Section 5. The Student Government Association complies with the non-discrimination policy, as stated in the current Missouri State University-West Plains catalog.

Section 6. Eligibility to be a Senator or Representative requires that a student be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours at Missouri State University-West Plains, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and be in good standing with Missouri State University-West Plains.

Section 7. Each Senator or Representative should act in the best interests of the student body and project a positive image of the Student Government Association.

Article IV

The Executive Branch

Section 1. The executive branch shall consist of the following: President, Vice- President, and Presidential Cabinet.

Section 2. The SGA President and Vice-President are elected by a majority vote of the Missouri State University-West Plains student body.

Section 3. The Presidential Cabinet is chosen by an interview process conducted by elected President, Vice-President, and current SGA Advisor. The cabinet shall consist of a Chief of Staff, Historian, Treasurer, and Publicist.

Section 4. Eligibility to be an executive officer requires that a student be full-time (12 hours) as a West Plains student, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and be in good standing with Missouri State University-West Plains. In addition, the President and Vice-President may not hold executive positions in any other campus organization. Current executive officers who are entering into their final semester at MSU-West Plains may request an exception with the SGA Advisor to fall below the 12 credit hour requirement and still maintain their status as an SGA Cabinet member. Proper documentation will be requested for further consideration.

Section 5. The President shall have the following duties:

  1. Serve as the official voice of the student body.
  2. Determine and reserve meeting location.
  3. Objectively supervise meeting discussion.
  4. Act as a liaison between the student body and the administration.
  5. Meet with the Chancellor for reports of the Student Government Association.
  6. Attend the Executive Budget Committee meetings, unless otherwise delegated to another executive officer.
  7. Prepare the Board of Governor’s report.
  8. Call special unscheduled meetings if necessary.
  9. Ensures fiscal responsibility of the organization.
  10. Exercise veto power over all approved items or resolutions. The Presidential veto may be overturned by two-thirds vote if quorum is met.
  11. Determine and enforce an appropriate dress code for officers at meetings.
  12. Formally propose all grounds of impeachment for any executive officer other than President.

Section 6. The Vice-President-West Plains shall have the following duties:

  1. Call meetings to order or cancel meetings by noon if a scheduled meeting will not take place.
  2. Conduct meetings.
  3. Inform Senate and House of meeting procedures.
  4. Prepare documents for organization meetings.
  5. Meet with the Chancellor for reports of the Student Government Association.
  6. Attend the Faculty Senate meetings, unless otherwise delegated to another cabinet member.
  7. Adjourn meetings.
  8. Perform the duties of President in his or her absence.

Section 7. The Treasurer will have the following duties:

  1. Assist the president and current SGA advisor in planning and submitting the budget for SGA to ensure fiscal responsibility within the organization.
  2. Keep a record of all SGA receipts and expenditures.
  3. Maintain and prepare a treasurer's report that will provide transparency of expenditures conducted within SGA. The Treasurer’s report is to be finalized by the morning of the Senate meeting.
  4. Work with the accounting manager in the business office to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability of all SGA funds and funded organizations.

Section 8. The Chief of Staff will have the following duties:

  1. Create ad-hoc committees when the need arises.
  2. Maintain and record staffing of Student Government Association office hours.
  3. Report SGA and campus committee activities to the president.
  4. Formally propose all grounds of impeachment for the president if needed.
  5. Prepare agendas and have them finalized by the morning of the Senate meeting.
  6. Prepare PowerPoints for SGA meetings.
  7. Determine if quorum is established for all meetings.
  8. Maintain a current roster and contact information list of all SGA executive officers, Cabinet members, senators and representatives.
  9. Organize and schedule regular officer meetings no later than twenty-four hours prior to the general SGA meeting each week.
  10. Formally receive and verify all membership forms are complete.
  11. Formally accept and process all resignation forms. Inform the proper Cabinet member(s) for any necessary membership updates.

Section 9. The Historian shall have the following duties

  1. Keeps the record of attendance at Student Government Association Meetings.
  2. Distribute the Treasurer’s Report and Agenda to senate members prior to the Senate meeting.
  3. Prepare minutes of Student Government Association meetings and be emailed to senate members at least three days prior to the Senate meeting.
  4. Prepare and maintain accurate records of all current and previous Student Government Association meetings.
  5. Publish on the SGA website an official record of each cabinet member, their position and description.

Section 10. The Publicist shall have the following duties:

  1. Chair the Student Activities Committee.
  2. Provide all information and publicity of the Student Government Association to the appropriate entities.
  3. Spearhead recruitment activities to increase SGA representation.
  4. Spearhead publicity of all University sponsored events and encourage participation from the student body.
  5. Collaborate with the SGA Advisor and executive officers to ensure the social media accounts are updated and properly utilized.

Section 11. All executive officers will be required to maintain posted office hours and serve on campus committees as needed.

Section 12. Each executive member should act in the best interests of the Student Body, as well as ensure the continuity of the Student Government Association.

Section 13. All executive officers shall remain accessible to Senators, Representatives and Missouri State University-West Plains students, while reflecting positive leadership qualities.

Section 14. The President, Vice Presidents and Executive Officers will receive scholarships, in the amounts determined by Missouri State University-West Plains.

Article V

Standing Committees

Section 1. A Standing Committee within the Student Government Association shall be defined as a group of students that take an in-depth look at relevant topics regarding academics and campus life initiatives and programs.

Section 2. Student Activities Committee: Chaired by the SGA Publicist and is responsible for planning and executing a variety of social and educational programs that will benefit the entire student body.

  1. Chairperson Duties
    1. Establish, distribute, and collect all interest forms of students who want to serve on the committee.
    2. Schedules all interviews for potential committee members
    3. Works alongside the SGA President and Advisor to select the final committee members
    4. Ensure their respective committees meet on a regular basis.
    5. Set and distribute their committee’s agenda.
    6. Preside over their committees’ meetings.
    7. Report their committees’ recommendations and activities back to the SGA Cabinet.
    8. Document and submit committee meeting minutes to the SGA Cabinet.
    9. Attend SGA senate and committee meetings.
    10. Reports any issues or concerns of a committee member to the SGA President and Advisor.
  2. Committee Member Duties
    1. Attend all committee meetings.
    2. Committee members are encouraged to attend SGA senate meetings.
    3. Assist in the planning and executing of events
    4. Assist the University and Community Programs Department with the planning and research of their events.
    5. Utilize the SGA office to work on committee related initiatives.
    6. Other duties as assigned by the committee chairperson.

Article VI

Expectations and Privileges of Active Membership

Section 1. Student Government Association member’s attendance in meetings will be published in the SGA office. In order to maintain an active membership status and vote, senators and representatives will be held accountable by adhering to the following expectations:

Senators and Representatives

  1. Complete and adhere to the requirements listed within the membership form.
  2. Actively participate in meetings and SGA sponsored activities.

Section 2. All Senators and Representatives may use the SGA Office, given that a Cabinet member is not currently serving their office hour.

Article VII

SGA Voting

Section 1. A quorum shall be defined as two-thirds of registered SGA members that are present at a meeting. Voting can only take place if quorum is met.

Section 2. A motion or resolution must pass by a majority of the quorum.

Section 3. All SGA members with the exception of the President, who will vote only to break a tie, shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 4. A vote count or roll call vote will be recorded by the Chief of Staff and reported in the minutes if requested by any SGA member.

Section 5. Discussion, debate, and voting shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 6. If a veto is exercised by the President, that veto can be overturned by a 2/3 vote if quorum is met.

Article VIII

Impeachment, Resignation, and Succession

Section 1. An SGA member may be impeached for the failure and/or inability to carry out the responsibilities and policies prescribed within this Constitution.

Section 2. The SGA President (or in the case described in Article IV, Section 8, d. the Chief of Staff) will decide if impeachment is necessary for a Senator or House Representative. The process will follow voting regulations in Section 4 within this Article.

Section 3. Impeachment procedures for a cabinet member may be started with either a petition signed by one-third of Senators or Representatives or a recommendation letter of concern presented by any cabinet member to the SGA Advisor. An impeachment request of a cabinet member will follow a hearing process described in Section 5 of this Article.

Section 4. The impeachment process of a Senator or Representative shall require a majority vote of the members in attendance. The President shall not vote in impeachment proceedings and will be announced at an open SGA meeting and members will be given an opportunity for input.

Section 5. A hearing will be scheduled with the cabinet member, SGA Advisor, and hearing panel. At this point, the hearing panel will make the official decision for the impeachment of the cabinet member. The Hearing Panel shall consist of two SGA representatives, a faculty senate member, a staff senate member, and the SGA advisor.

Section 6. The causes for impeachment may include, but are not limited to:

  1. A failure to complete assigned duties and responsibilities.
  2. Failure to abide by the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities as well as all other campus policies.

Section 7. An SGA member may resign at any time by producing a formal letter of resignation to the Chief of Staff. At this point, the Chief of Staff will notify the proper faculty or staff member of the vacancy and the need for the required position to be filled.

Section 8. In the event that the President cannot serve, the Vice President shall assume the office of President.

Section 9. In the event that the Vice President cannot serve, the President shall appoint a new Vice President to be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate.

Section 10. In the event any cabinet member is impeached or resigns, the President, with the help of the Vice President, shall appoint a new cabinet member to be approved by the SGA advisor and confirmed by majority vote of the SGA members in attendance at the next meeting held.

Article IX

Elections

Section 1. Student Government Association President and Vice-President interest forms shall be turned in by the first week in March.

Section 2. Elections will take place for:

  1. SGA President and Vice President - who will run on the same ticket.
  2. Capital Funds Expenditures.
  3. Other matters requiring a student body vote.

Section 3. Elections shall take place the first week of April.

Section 4. The SGA advisor shall act as elections commissioner. The advisor shall verify elections and monitor campaign activities throughout the elections process.

Section 5. Each candidate or team shall be responsible for upholding all campus policies during the campaigning process.

Section 6. All candidates/issues/projects must receive a 51% plurality of the votes. The candidate/issue/project with at least 51% of the votes will be declared the winner.

Section 7. In the event no candidate/issue/project receives 51% of the vote, a run-off between the top two candidates/issues/projects will be held the first Wednesday following the election week.

Section 8. Voting locations will be determined and posted prior to the election date.

Section 9. In the event a Presidential candidate must discontinue his or her campaign, the Vice President shall become the Presidential Candidate and either choose a Vice President running mate or, if elected, appoint a Vice President nominee for approval as outlined in Article 8, Section 9.

Article X

Creation of Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution can be recommended by any member, or by a petition of at least three percent of the student body.

Section 2. Proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be presented in writing to the Student Government Association Cabinet in a regular meeting time in resolution form. There will be an automatic two-week consideration and debate period.

Section 3. Following the debate period, the amendment will be re-read by the sponsor of the resolution and voted upon by the Student Government Association. In order to be approved, the resolution must be passed by a majority vote of the members in attendance. Upon approval by the Student Government Association, the amendment will be considered ratified and will go into effect on that day.

Article XI

Creation of a Complete Revision

Section 1. A complete revision of the SGA constitution can also be recommended by any member or by a petition of at least three percent of the student body.

Section 2. A proposal for a complete revision to this Constitution shall be presented in writing to the Student Government Association Cabinet in a regular meeting time in resolution form. There will be an automatic two-week consideration and debate period.

Section 3. Following the debate period, the revision will be re-read by the sponsor of the resolution and voted upon by the Student Government Association. In order to be approved, the resolution must be passed by a majority vote of the members in attendance. Upon approval by the Student Government Association, the complete revision will be proposed to the student body for vote and will pass by a majority vote of the students who participated. A complete revision receiving a majority vote of voting students will go into effect by the date specified by SGA. The revised Constitution will be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor of Student Services and the Chancellor of Missouri State University-West Plains for final approval.

Section 4. A complete revision of the SGA constitution shall take effect at the beginning of the next semester.