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ARTICLE VI LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Section 1. The Student Senate
All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Student Senate of
the Penn State Capitol Campus, hereinafter referred to as "The Senate."
Section 2. Student Representation
Each of the academic divisions, both graduate and undergraduate, at the Penn
State Capitol Campus shall be entitled to representation in the Senate as follows:
Undergraduate Representation one senator in each of the senior and junior
classes, per academic division, and one senator-at-large for every two hundred
students in their respective academic year.
Graduate Representation one senator for every two hundred full-time
equivalent students in the graduate programs.
Section 3. Election of Members
The election for the positions of Senior Senators and Officers shall be held the
3rd Tuesday of April. The election of Junior Senators shall be held the 3rd
Tuesday of October.
The term of office for Senior and Graduate Senators shall run from the Spring
election until the end of the following spring term. The term for Junior Senators
shall run from the fall election to the Spring Elections. A candidate.may only run
for one position. •
Section 4. Rules
The Senate shau abide by parliamentary law as stated in Robert's Shortened
Rules of Order (latest edition), except as contained in the bylaws of this
constitution or as deemed by the President.
Section 5. Vacancies
Vacancies incurred shall be filled by the appointment of the President with a
twathird vote of the Senate.
Section 6. Powers of the Senate
The Senate shall have the power to: Enact or revise the laws of the Student
Government Association, advise and consent to the President the creation of
standing committees, the appointment of chairpeople of these committees,
conduct all other business which may appropriately be referred to it, and approve
any appointment for vacancies, made by the President. (See by-laws)
Section 7. Interim Senate
In the period from the Spring elections until the Fall elections inauguration of
the Senate, the Senate shall be called the Interim Senate and shall consist of all
remaining Junior Senators and newly elected Senior Senators. The Senate shall
have all the powers accorded to the regular Senate. A quorum of all Senators
except those who graduated is needed to pass any appropriations or legislation.
Section 8. Floor Privileges
Floor privileges are restricted to the Senators and Officers of the SGA.
Members of the Student Affairs Staff and the Chief Justice may have floor
privileges with presidential permission. Visitors only have floor privileges at the
request of the SGA as a whole ( 2 / 3 majority) and the request must be made one
week prior to the mmeting at which the respective visitor is to speak. No blanket
vote on all visitors is allowed. The speaker will be put on the Agenda and
introduced to the SGA by a sponsoring Officer or Senator.
ARTICLE VII QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SENATORS
Section 1. General Qualifications for Student Government Association Officers
and Senators
Candidates for all offices must meet stated qualifications. All candidates for
executive offices and the senate must be registered full-time undergraduate
students for the Fall, Winter, and Spring term of his/her term of office and must
be present at Capitol Campus to perform their duties. No candidate may hold
more than one elected office in the same body. Academic or disciplinary probation
shall_ prevent any student from seeking and/or holding office.
Section 2. Required Cumulative Average
To seek and hold a position, all candidates for office positions and senate
positions must have and maintain a cumulative average of at least 2.00. A
cumulative average below a 2.00 shall result in probation by the Student
Government Association for one term. If after this probation term, said
individual's cumulative average is not a 2.00 or better, he/she shall be dismissed
from office.
ARTICLE VIII GENERAL ELECTIONS
Section 1. Schedule for Elections
The election of the Student Government Association officers and Senior
Senators shall take place between and including the first through fourthweek of
the Spring term. The election of Junior Senators shall be held during the month of
October. All special elections shall be held on a date designated by the President
of SGA, based on recommendations by the Senate. All elected senior officers and
Thursday, April 16, 1981
Senators shall assume office on the meeting following the election. Juniors shall
assume office on the next scheduled SGA meeting following the elections.
Section 2. Election Procedures
The President of the Student Government Association shall send notice to the
Election/Screening Committee, which will then post notices of the forthcoming
election.
No candidate shall have the right to electioneer within a 20 foot radius of the
poll. (This includes campaign posters)
•
Candidates are not permitted to run on a party ticket, but they may have
affiliations with other candidates. (i.e., no straight party tickets may appear on the
ballots)
Candidate's names shall appear in alphabetical order on the ballot.
The officers ballot shall be considered seperate from the senators' ballot even
though it may appear on the same sheet of paper.
As part of the senators ballot, there shall be a section in which the voter's
major must be filled in to make the senators' ballot legal.
A voter is slowed two votes on the senate ballot. If two votes are cast, one
must be in the voter's major. If only one vote is cast, it need not be in their major.
Any person working at the poll must be a member of the election screening
committee or be approved by the committee. Candidates are not permitted to
work at the poll.
The Chief Justice shall be present at the counting of the ballots. The Chief
Justice shall decide which ballots are valid.
There shall be no unofficial recount of the ballots.
Ballots will be kept by the chairperson of the Election Screening Committee
for three months.
Request for an official recount must be made within one week after the
election.
A candidate must either have seven votes or 10% of the votes of the students
in their respective curriculum to be accepted as a senator.
ARTICLE IX OATHS OF OFFICE
Section 1. Oath for Elective Officers and Senators
The following Oath of Office, which shall be considered as the only official
inauguration by any elected officer or senator in the Student Government
Association, shall be administered by the Chief Justice of the Student Court
(Standards Board) or a duly appointed representative:
"I do swear (or affirm) that I shall fulfill the duties of the office with which I
have been invested by the Student Body of the Penn State Capitol Campus to the
best of my abilities and that, as the holder of such office, I shall do my best to
uphold the principles of the Penn State Capitol Campus and the interests of its
Student Government."
ARTICLE X COMMITTEES
Section 1. Eligibility
Any undergraduate or graduate student shall be eligible for membership on all
standing or ad hoc committees.
Section 2. Chairperson
Standing Committee Chairpeople shall be appointed by the committee
members, with the advise and consent of the President. Chairpersons of ad hoc
committees may be announced at the discretion of the appointing authority. All
chairpersons shall present a report to the Senate at each meeting.
Section 3. Term of Office
Ad hoc committees shall serve until their responsibilities are discharged or
their services terminated by the appointing authority. Standing committee
members shall serve for one academic year. Senior appointments shall be made to
Standing Committees when the new executive officers take office. Junior
appointments to Standing Committees shall be made in the fourth week of the
Fall term.
Section 4. Establishment of Ad Hoc Committees
Ad Hoc Committees may be established by the action of the Senate or by
Presidential appointment. The function, composition, and duration of such
committees shall be specified in the act creating them.
ARTICLE XI COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF SGA STANDING
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the Student Senate shall consist of the elected
executive officers. The President shall serve as Chairperson. The Executive
C.C. Reader