Student Senate Constitution and By-Laws

Bacone College Student Senate

We, the associated students of Bacone College, believing that cooperation and unity will make our school life more beneficial and enjoyable, and being convinced of the value of democratic training and considering it to be for the betterment of the school, also established this constitution for student government of Bacone College.

Article I – Of Organization

A Student Senate, representing the associated students of Bacone College, is the organized unit for student government on the Bacone College campus.

Article II – Purposes

The primary purposes of this organization shall be:

A. To provide for student government.

B. To promote, and assume the leadership of, student activities.

C. To promote scholastic, spiritual and social development of the students.

D. To provide advice on use of student activity fund.

Article III- Membership

Section 1

The President or duly elected senators or representatives of each recognized organization on the Bacone College campus shall be a voting member of the Student Senate.

Section 2

The members of the Student Senate shall maintain a 2.0 or better grade point average in 12 or more hours throughout their term in office.

Article IV – Officers

Section 1

The officers of the Student Senate shall be a President, a Vice -President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The term of office shall be one year.

Section 2

To be eligible to run for Student Senate officer:

A. One successfully completed semester as a full-time student at Bacone College.

B. He/She must have a grade point average of 2.5 or approval by the faculty sponsor if the GPA is between 2.0-2.5 during the semester prior to the election.

Section 3

All Senate officers must maintain a 2.5 grade point average or approval of the Executive Committee in 12 or more hours during their term of office.

Section 4

The Executive Committee of the Student Senate shall be composed of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and the faculty advisor.

Article V – Faculty Advisor

The faculty advisor shall be elected each spring semester by the officers-elect or the Student Senate, subject to the approval of the president of the College. This advisor shall meet with the Student Senate and act as advisor and consultant to the group.

Article VI – Quorum

Two-thirds of the membership of the Student Senate shall be necessary for a quorum. In an emergency situation, the President of the Student Senate may declare a quorum with less than two-thirds of the membership present. No business shall be transacted without the presence of the faculty advisor and a quorum declared. If the president is absent or wants input from Executive Committee an emergency Executive Session may be called.

Article VII- Meetings

Section 1

Regular meetings of the Student Senate shall be held bi-weekly. The time and date of each meeting shall be designated after the election of the Executive Committee at the beginning of each school year and placed immediately on the school calendar.

Section 2

Special meetings may be called by the President of the Student Senate or by a signed request or a quorum.

Article VIII – Election Procedures

Section 1

A candidate seeking the office of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, shall make application for candidacy in the following manner.

A. Obtain a petition blank from the Office of Student Life.

B. Determine if he/she qualifies for the office according to Article IV, Section 2 of this constitution. Grade point average can be checked in the Office of the Registrar.

C. Obtain the signatures of 2 faculty members.

D. Obtain the signatures of 20 student supporters.

E. Present the completed petition to the Student Senate faculty advisor.

Section 2

The election of the officers of the Student Senate shall take place no later than three weeks after beginning of the fall semester.

Section 3

The officers of the Student Senate shall be elected by a majority vote of the student body voting. In case of a tie or failure to receive a majority vote, a run-off election shall be held within one week after the first election.

Section 4

The installation of the newly elected officers shall be held following their election. The time and place shall be selected by the Student Senate and scheduled on the school calendar.

Section 5

If the office of President of the Student Senate becomes vacant, the Vice- President shall succeed to the office of President.

Section 6

If the office of Vice- President, Secretary, or Treasurer becomes vacant, the Student Senate shall present a slate of candidates to a vote of the student body, or, if deemed practical by a majority of the remaining Student Senate members, appoint a qualified student to fill the unexpired term. A majority vote shall be required for the election of a new officer to fill a vacancy.

Section 7

If a vacancy in the membership of the Student Senate occurs, the vacancy shall be filled by the or organization represented by the former member.

Section 8

If a voter wishes to cast his/her vote for a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot, he/she may write that name on the ballot. The candidate must meet the eligibility requirements for the office.

Article IX-Removal of Officers and Members

Section 1

An officer or member of the Student Senate may be removed from the Student Senate because of:

A. General lack of interest in, or antagonism toward, Student Government, manifested by absence from meetings, failure to carry out duties, or other similar indications.

B. Missing a total of three meetings in one semester without prior approval from faculty advisor.

C. Gross violation of the standards of conduct acceptable and appropriate to the principles upon which Bacone College was founded.

Section 2

Organizations whose representative to the Student Senate is removed he/she will lose his/her recognition on the campus. (see Art. IX sect. 1) Then a new representative may be selected.

Section 3

The procedure for the removal of an officer or member shall be:

A. If a member, present the charges (other than absence from meetings) to the Student Senate Executive Committee.

B. If an officer, the charge needs to be the made to the Dean of Student Life.

C. Receive approval by the Dean of Student Life for the presentation of charges to the Student Senate.

D. Present the charges at a scheduled Student Senate meeting.

E. Opportunity for defense shall be given the accused individual at the next scheduled meeting following the presentation of charges.

F. Secret ballots shall be cast to determine the reinstatement of the accused individual at the same meeting of the Student Senate.

Section 4

All organizations will be given advance notification about the vote and a vote of three-fourths shall be required to remove an officer or a member.

Article X-Authority in Parliamentary Law

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Student Senate in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the by-laws or the special rules of order of this organization.

Article XI-Interpretation

A council composed of three members full or part-time of the faculty, three students, and the Dean of Student Life be appointed every year and updated every semester, to act as the final authority in the interpretation of this constitution. The members of the faculty and the students shall be appointed by the Executive Committee of the Student Senate. The students must be maintaining a 2.0 grade point average or better at the time of appointment. Members of the Student Senate are not eligible for this appointment.

Article XII-Amendments

This constitution may be amended in the following manner:

A. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Student Senate in writing, accompanied by a petition signed by 75 full or part-time students.

B. Proposed amendments shall be discussed and approved by the Student Senate and posted for students to read before they are submitted to a vote.

C. Disapproval of the proposed amendments by the Student Senate shall result in the returning of it to its originator or author with the reasons for disapproval.

D. Receipt of a second petition by the Student Senate containing the same proposed amendment and signatures of 125 full/part-time students shall automatically subject the amendment to a vote of the student body within three weeks.

E. A three-fourths majority of the student body voting in the election shall be required to amend this constitution.

F. If passed by the student body, the proposed amendment shall go into effect immediately.

Article XIII-Ratification

Section 1

This constitution shall be ratified at a student election after it has been posted for all students to read, and discussed at a scheduled meeting of the student body. A two-thirds majority of the students at the scheduled meeting will be necessary for ratification.

Section 2

A two-thirds majority of the students voting in the election in favor of this constitution shall be necessary for ratification.

BY-LAWS

Bacone College Student Senate

Article I-Duties of Officers

Section 1-President

A. Presides at Student Senate meetings.

B. Serves as ex-officio member of all committees.

C. Presents to the Student Senate any matter that needs its attention.

D. Appears before student and adult groups as a representative of the associated students.

E. Encourages student participation in all activities of the College.

F. Votes in the Student Senate only in the event of a tie.

Section 2-Vice- President

A. Presides at Student Senate meetings in the absence of the President.

B. Serves as the Student Senate officer in charge of student elections.

Senate sponsored activities.

C. Assists the President as the occasion rises.

D. Succeeds to the office of President in the event the President does not fulfill his/her term in office.

Section 3-Secretary

A. Keeps an accurate, permanent record of all meetings of the Student Senate.

B. Places a copy of the above records on the bulletin board the day following a Student Senate Meeting.

C. Keeps a record of attendance at Student Senate meetings.

D. Attends to the correspondence for the Student Senate.

E. Performs other duties at the request of the President or faculty advisor.

Section 4-Treasurer

A. Keeps an accurate record of all money received and distributed by the Student Senate.

B. Presents a report on finances at each meeting of the Student Senate.

C. Performs other duties at the request of the President or faculty advisor.

Article II-Order of Business

The order of business for the Student Senate shall be as follows:

1. Call to Order.

2. Prayer.

3. Roll Call.

4. Reading and approval of minutes.

5. Report of the Treasurer.

6. Report of the committee.

7. Unfinished business.

8. New business.

9. Announcements.

10. Adjournment.

Article III- Committee

Section 1-Executive Committee

The Executive Committee, composed of the President, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer and the faculty advisor shall meet the Tuesday before the Thursday’s Senate meeting to consider the agenda for Student Senate meetings and to perform other duties as needed in transacting Student Senate business. The President shall serve as chairman of this committee.

Section 2-Activities Committees

An Activities Committee, chaired by the Vice-President of the Student Senate, will be appointed as soon as possible. The purpose of the Activities Committee shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Activities Director.

Section 3 – Other Committees

Other committees may be created to meet the needs of the associated students and/or the Student Senate. Each student at Bacone College is a potential member of a committee.

Article IV – Organization Officers

Section 1

A student may hold only one Presidency on the Bacone College campus. This does not exclude the President of one organization holding a lower office in another organization.

Section 2

The members of the Executive Committee of the Student Senate are not eligible to serve as President of any other organization on campus, but will vote once as an executive committee officer. If the organization he/she serves as President wants a vote it must send another member.

Section 3

All class and organization officers must maintain a 2.0 grade point average during the term of office.

Section 4

A student on academic or disciplinary probation is not eligible to hold any student office on campus. Organizations are responsible for enforcing this. Failure to comply will result in revoking voting privileges until the next grading period.

Article V – Chartered Organizations

Section 1

All organized groups on the Bacone campus must receive recognition and a charter from the Student Senate.

Section 2

A charter may be obtained by presenting to the Student Senate a constitution and bylaws for the new organization in which the purpose of the organization is explained, the membership is defined, and the faculty advisor designated.

Section 3

Approval of the organization by the Student Senate is subject to the subsequent approval of the Dean of Student Life.

Section 4

A new organization may lose its charter:

A. If it is not active for a semester.

B. If its activities are inconsistent with those set forth in its constitution and by-laws.

C. If such activities are inconsistent with the purpose and goals of Bacone College.

D. If it is not active for a semester, or if it is dismissed for absences from Student Senate meetings.

E. If a club representative misses two (2) meetings the club faculty advisor is notified. If a third absence occurs in a semester the club charter is pulled.

Section 6

An organization whose charter has been revoked may petition the Student Senate fore reinstatement. The petition must show just cause for reinstatement and a proposed plan for making the organization an active part of campus life at Bacone College. The organization will then be on probation for one month. If the probation is violated the organization may ask for a vote of confidence from the Student Senate members.

Article VI – Suspension

The suspension of any part of these by-laws shall require a two-thirds vote of the senators attending the meeting of the Student Senate.

Article VII –Amendments

The by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting if notice of the amending has been given at the immediate past meeting. A two-thirds vote of the members of the members present shall be required for the adoption of the amendment.

Article VII – Ratification

Section 1

The by-laws shall be ratified at a scheduled student senate meeting.

Section 2

A two-thirds majority of those present in favor of the by-laws shall be necessary to ratify the by-laws.

Ratified October 14, 1998

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