Student Senate Constitution
The Constitution of the Student Senate of Hartwick College
We, the students of Hartwick College, do hereby establish this Constitution of the Student Senate of Hartwick College in order to maintain student rights, foster student involvement and responsibility in all areas of campus life, and develop respect and cooperation among the administration, the faculty, the student body, and the community. The executive and legislative function of this student government shall be vested in the Student Senate and the judicial function shall be vested in the College Judicial System.
ARTICLE I. STUDENT SENATE
ARTICLE II. STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS
ARTICLE IV. CONDUCT OF STUDENT SENATE BUSINESS
ARTICLE V. PROCEDURE FOR DISMISSAL
ARTICLE VI. ADVISOR
ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE VIII. RATIFICATION
Section A.
The purpose of the Student Senate shall be to function as a channel for students’ views on campus affairs and other areas of students’ concerns, to represent the student body and serve as a unified voice in speaking for students, to serve as a front where the student body may be addressed, and to established continuity of the student government.
Section B.
The voting membership of the Student Senate shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and senators, all of who are elected through campus-wide voting procedures. The voting membership and their electors shall be Hartwick College students. Each voting member of the Student Senate shall have no more than one vote.
ARTICLE II. STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
Section A.
The qualifications of the candidates for the four elected executive offices shall be obtained through valid petitions, residency in the Oneonta area for the full term of office while the Student Senate is in session, official status as a registered student at Hartwick College, and fulfillment of the requirement of each post as listed in Article III of this Constitution.
Section B.
Clause I. The election of the executive officers of the Student Senate shall be conducted in the Spring Term for at least two(2) days in the month of April. Write-in votes for specific positions shall not count, nor shall they void the validity of the ballot. Winning candidates must obtain a majority vote of the voters; majority vote must consist of at least ten percent (10%) more votes than the next candidate. If majority with the ten percent (10%) margin is not obtained, a run-off election between the two top candidates shall be held within seven (7) days; winner must obtain a simple majority of the votes, simple majority shall be defined as more than fifty percent (50%).
Clause II. In the event of temporary vacancies of more than eight(8) days by any elected executive officers, the officers, with the approval of the Student Senate, may appoint temporary replacements from the Student Senate to fulfill the duties of the offices. In the event of permanent vacancies, each elected executive officer shall follow the procedures outlined in Article III of this Constitution.
Clause III. The voting membership and electors of Hartwick College shall vote for only one (1) candidate for the office in question. There shall not be a ranking of votes of candidates on the ballot.
Section C.
Clause I. The Student Senate executive board shall determine the number of senators needed to adequately fulfill representational needs.
Clause II. Any registered Hartwick College student may petition the Student Senate to increase the number of senator representatives. All petitions will be reviewed and decided by a Student Senate simple majority vote.
Clause III. Senator elections may be reviewed by the Student Senate to ensure that established election procedures have been followed. The term of office for senators shall end at the last regular Student Senate meeting of the current school year. The term of office for elected officers and appointed representatives shall end with the academic year.
Clause IV. In the event that a vote is required by the Student Senate in directing monetary funds while Student Senate is not in session, the current elected officers shall be the sole deciding body.
Section D.
All elected and appointed executive officers of the Student Senate shall be sworn in before the end of the term in which they were elected. Senators-elected and appointed representatives shall be installed at the first Student Senate meeting they attend following their election or appointment. The following oath shall be administered while the right hand is raised:
Do you solemnly swear to faithfully execute the office to which you are elected or appointed and that you will uphold the Constitution of the Student Body of Hartwick College?
If the officer or appointee agrees to this oath, he or she shall respond with: I do.
Section E.
Clause I. Senator elections must be held within the first twenty-one(21) days of the Fall Term. A spring election may be held if deemed necessary by the Student Senate executive board. All campus-wide Student Senate elections shall be by secret ballot and by plurality vote. Names of the candidates shall be listed alphabetically. In the case of a tie in senator elections, both candidates will be accepted as Senators. All ballots shall be kept for a period of thirty (30) days following the election.
Clause II. The qualifications of all candidates for Student Senate positions shall be a valid petition, a candidacy statement, and official status as a registered Hartwick College student.
Clause III. In the event that vacancies in the senator positions occur, (due to impeachment/removal, resignation, etc.), proceeding actions will be decided upon by the current Student Senate
Section A.
Clause I. President of Student Senate shall be the chief executive of the Student Senate. He/She is granted the responsibility and power to:
- Serve as the ex-officio member of all Senate committees
- Form special committees when deemed necessary by the Student Senate
- Call special and/or emergency meetings of the Student Senate
- Act as a liaison to all levels of the administration as a representative of the Student Senate and the student body
- Generate reports to the student body via the campus media
The primary function of the President is to delegate responsibility to insure an effective Student Senate. The President is also entitled to create new traditions, and job duties when it is desirable to the Senate and Hartwick community.
Clause II. Eligible candidates for presidency of the Student Senate must:
- Maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of no less than 2.5
- Not hold the chief executive office of any other Student Senate recognized organization
Clause III. Should there be a vacancy in the office of the President; the Vice-President of the Student Senate shall assume the position. The acting President shall within seven (7) days appoint, with the approval of two-thirds(2/3) of the Student Senate, a non-voting replacement for the position of the Vice-Presidency.
Section B. Vice-President
Clause I. The Vice-President shall:
- Assist the President in his/her duties
- Assume the duties of the President during the President’s temporary absence
- Become the President should the position of President be permanently vacated
Clause II. Eligible candidates for vice-presidency of the Student Senate must:
- Maintain a cumulative G.P.A of no less than 2.5
- Not hold the chief executive office of any other Student Senate recognized organization
Clause III. Should there be a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President, the President of the Student Senate shall within seven (7) days appoint, with the approval of two-thirds(2/3) of the Student Senate, a non-voting replacement for the position of the Vice-Presidency.
Section C. Treasurer
Clause I. The Treasurer of the Student Senate is granted the responsibility of and power to:
- Be an ex-officio member of the Finance committee
- Keep the financial records of the Student Senate current and up-to-date
- Make bi-monthly financial reports to the Student Senate
- Oversee all other financial activities of the Student Senate
- Request that the President form a committee to audit Senate and Senate-funded organizations
Clause II. Eligible candidates for Treasurer of the Student Senate must:
- Maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of no less than 2.5
- Not be the chief financial officer of any other Student Senate recognized organizations
Clause III. Should there be a vacancy in the office of Treasurer, the President of the Student Senate shall within seven (7) days appoint, with the approval of two-thirds(2/3) of the Student Senate, a non-voting replacement for the position of Treasurer.
Section D. Secretary
Clause I. The Secretary of the Student Senate must:
- Record accurate minutes of all Student Senate meetings
- Publish and distribute minutes to the Student Senate and all other interested parties before the next meeting
- Keep a public record of all Student Senate minutes
Clause II. Eligible candidates for Secretary of the Student Senate must:
- Maintain a cumulative G.P.A, of no less than 2.5
Clause III. Should there be a temporary vacancy in the office of Secretary, a Student Senate executive board member, with the exception of the financial officers, shall fulfill the duties. Should there be a permanent vacancy in the office of Secretary, the President of the Student Senate shall within seven (7) days appoint, with approval of two-thirds(2/3) of the Student Senate, a non-voting replacement for the position of Secretary.
Section E. Appointed Executive Board
The elected Student Senate executive board may, in its bylaws, establish or provide for the establishment of non-voting officers of the Student Senate, and the Student Senate executive board may prescribe their several authorities and functions.
ARTICLE IV. CONDUCT OF STUDENT SENATE BUSINESS
Section A.
The presence of a simple majority of the Student Senate voting positions filled shall constitute the necessary quorum for the conduct of Student Senate business. The Student Senate may, however, vote to hold a special non-voting session without a majority provided that minutes are recorded.
Section B.
Except as otherwise provided for this Constitution or in the bylaws, a quorum as stabled under Article IV, Section A shall be sufficient to resolve any business before the Student Senate. When requested by at least three (3) senators of the Student Senate Chairperson, a roll call vote shall be used.
Section C.
All regular meetings of the Student Senate shall be open to the campus community except during the time which special monetary requests (SMR) and other financial matters are up for a vote. The concerned parties will be notified of the result immediately after the result of the vote has been ascertained. All meetings of the Student Senate shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order Revised unless alternate rules of procedures are stated in this Constitution or in the bylaws. Upon the request of any non-Student Senate member, a brief written description of the rules shall be provided within seven (7) days.
Section D.
The Student Senate shall have the power to require written financial reports of any organization receiving Student Senate funds and to withhold funds from any group not conforming to its financial and constitutional agreements and obligations.
Section E. The members of the student body may propose written legislation to be brought before the Student Senate in two(2) ways:
- Through their elected representatives
- By submitting their proposal to the President of the Student Senate with a petition signed by no less than one-hundred and fifty (150) members of the student body The Student Senate shall consider such petitions at its next regular meeting.
Section F.
The members of the student body may initiate legislation to be placed on the ballot at the next election in the following ways:
- By having an elected representative make a motion to that effect
- By presenting the motion to the President of the Student Senate with a petition signed by at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the student body The Student Senate shall discuss the motion at its next regular meeting and shall place the motion on the ballot at the next election.
Section G.
This Constitution shall provide for bylaws and a Student Bill of Rights established by a two-thirds(2/3) vote of the Student Senate to formulate policies and rules of procedures for the operation of the Student Senate. These rules may be revised as necessary and must not conflict with the main body of this Constitution, but may serve to further elaborate and clarify the intent of this Constitution.
ARTICLE V. PROCEDURE FOR DISMISSAL
Section A.
At any time, a senator may draft a written request to call a Vote of No Confidence unto any Executive Board member, provided that there is a legitimate reason in doing so. One of the Executive Board members, except s/he who is being censured, must ask the petitioner to stand before the Senate and state the reason for the Vote of No Confidence.
In order for the Senate to vote “No Confidence,” the statement expressing the reason for the Vote of No Confidence must be seconded and thirded via a motion.
If the motion passes, the accused officer is entitled to rebut the claim(s) made against him/her. Following any such rebuttal, the accused officer must exit the meeting place to allow the Senate to deliberate. At any point during such deliberation, the accused officer may be asked to return to the meeting place in order to clarify any uncertainties within the Senate.
Following deliberation, the Vote of No Confidence shall be conducted on a paper ballot, which will ask for the name of the Senator casting the vote, and whether or not s/he is in favor or against the Vote of No Confidence. The accused officer must remain outside of the meeting place while the paper ballot is conducted.
Following the tallying of the paper ballots, the accused officer may re-enter the room at which point the vote and name as written on the paper ballots will be read aloud, before the Senate. If the Vote of No Confidence passes by 2/3 of the voting members of the Senate, therein begins the process for impeachment, pursuant to Article V, Section B.
Section B.
Both the officers and senators of the Student Senate shall be impeached if convicted of misconduct in office or failure to fulfill the responsibilities of the office. The Student Senate shall have the power to impeach, and at a time no later than seven(7) days from the time of impeachment, the Student Senate shall have the sole power to oversee all impeachment trials. When the President of Student Senate is tried, the Vice-President of Judicial Affairs shall preside. In all impeachment trials a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) of the Student Senate (elected and appointed) must be present. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds(2/3) of the voting members of the Student Senate.
Section C.
All Student Senate members are subject to the rules of attendance and conduct set by the Student Senate in the bylaws, violation of which shall be grounds for dismissal.
Section D.
No member of the Student Senate who is dismissed by the Student Senate may be reelected to any position during the same school year without two-thirds(2/3) vote of the Student Senate.
Section A. Requirements
Advisor to the Student Senate must:
- Be full-time Hartwick College staff or faculty
- Be recommended by the Student Senate executive board and approved by a simple majority of the voting members of the Student Senate
Section B. Responsibilities
Advisor of the Student Senate should:
- Maintain positive relationships with the faculty and administration
- Maintain objective stances on student issues
- Be available to attend Student Senate meetings
- Be able to mediate if the need arises
Section C. Procedures for Removal
Advisors may be asked to step down if they are not fulfilling their responsibilities to the Student Senate listed in Article VI, Sections A and B. Advisors may be removed upon the recommendation of the Student Senate executive board and with the approval of two-thirds(2/3) of the voting members of Student Senate.
Amendments to this Constitution can be proposed by one of the following:
- A two-thirds (2/3) vote in the Student Senate
- By the current executive board of the Student Senate when Senate is not in session
- A member of the student body as listed in Article IV Sections E and F
By meeting one of the above requirements the amendment will be proposed to the student body. Information shall be made available to the student body, and a special vote shall be conducted. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the student body is required for ratification.
This constitution, when ratified by two-thirds(2/3) vote of at least fifty percent (50%) of the student body through a special vote, shall repeal all previous Constitutions of the Student Senate. All engagements shall become effective immediately upon ratification by the student body. All officers and members of the Student Senate shall continue their respective responsibilities for the duration for their terms in office.
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