SGA Constitutional Reform Information and Updates - Voting from Feb 24th - 26th! (Post includes the bylaws)

Become a Part of VCU History!!

The Student Government Association of the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University would like all students to have the opportunity to participate in a historic change at VCU.

A new Student Government Constitution is being voted on this Tuesday-Thursday (February 24th - 26th) and we would like ALL students to have the opportunity to participate.

This document governs the Student Government Association which strives to take action for all VCU students to make our campus and our community a better place.

Please take time to read over the proposed Constitutional Reform and VOTE at

WWW.VCUSGA.COM

To all,

At long last the Constitutional Reform Committee has completed all documents. On behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank everyone for their comments, concerns, and ideas; without you all I don't think we would have such a solid document. As a point of information, these are the documents that we hope are passed and placed on the ballot Tuesday. Our hope is that everyone reviews these documents and is ready to march forward with business come Monday.

Again a big thank you to all branches, all committees, delegates, advisors, and anyone else that I happen to be forgetting. Have a great weekend.

Joshua Ronk
Senate Chairman
Member of the Constitutional Reform Committee

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General Bylaws
It shall be the purpose of these following bylaws to further explain and define the Constitution and the roles and duties of the offices within the Student Government Association of the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. These bylaws may only be changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote from the Senate. Never shall these bylaws supersede the Constitution of the Student Body of the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Article I: The Legislative
Section 1: Structure
1. The Legislative is designed to represent the Student Body before the Student Government Association. It shall consist of sixty (60) Senators from the Student Body, elected as directed in Article IV, Section 1 of these Bylaws.
Section 2: The Chairman
1. The Chairman of the Senate shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Chairman (hereafter referred to as the Chair) shall hold all powers set forth in Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution.
b. The Chair shall serve as the leader of the Senate
c. The Chair shall set the agenda for each session of the Senate; he or she shall also assign bills and resolutions to the appropriate Senate Committees
d. The Chair shall, upon his or her discretion, establish Senate Guidelines which shall only take effect with the majority approval of the Senate Committee Chairs.
e. The Chair shall appoint the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate with a simple majority approval of the Senate.
f. The Chair shall act as a liaison between the Senate and the Executive.
g. The Chair shall process and keep records with the Treasurer on paid Senate Committee Chairmen.
1. This responsibility includes:
a. Making sure all paperwork is properly and completely filled out and turned in at the beginning of each student leader’s term
b. Training the new Senate Committee Chairman/Chairmen on what needs to be done to receive payment
c. Verifying hours worked by the Senate Committee Chairman/Chairmen
d. Turning in all Senate Committee Chairmen time sheets at the end of each week
h. The Chair shall serve as a nonvoting member of all Senate Committees
i. The Chair shall have the ability to create new, unpaid positions within the Senate as he deems necessary
2. It shall be the responsibility of the Chair to set forth an example and precedent for which the members of Senate should follow.

3. Should the Chair be unable to fulfill his or her duties, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee shall assume the role as Chair until the next session of the Senate. Should both the Chair and Chairman of the Appointments Committee be unable to fulfill their duties, the Senate shall elect a temporary leader to assume the role as Chair until the next session of the Senate.
a. Should the Chair be unable to regain the ability to fulfill his or her duties, the Senate shall elect a new Chair as stated in Article I, Section 6.1.a of these Bylaws
Section 3: The Committees
1. Structure
a. There shall be eight ( Standing Committees within the Senate. The Academic Affairs Committee, the Appointments Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Elections Committee, the Information and Publicity Committee, the Legislative Issues and Civic Action Committee, the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee, and the Student Life Committee shall consist of Senators, Committee Delegates, and in some cases, outside members of the Student Body. There shall be no maximum number of members for any Committee of the Senate. Each Committee shall be responsible for a weekly Committee update which is to be presented during each Senate session.
b. The Senate may, when it is found necessary, establish Special Committees; these Special Committees shall only be officially recognized when legislation has been put forward to create such a Committee and this legislation is approved with a majority vote from the Senate. The roles and responsibilities of these Special Committees shall be provided with such legislature. All Special Committees must have within their creation a time in which the Committee will be dissolved.
c. All Committees, both Standing and Special, shall be responsible for the following:
1. Preparing an agenda and keeping minutes
2. Posting the agenda and minutes online
3. Making a regular report to the Senate
4. Create a budget a submit it to the Chairman for approval
2. The Academic Affairs Committee
a. Structure
1. The Academic Affairs Committee shall be composed of no less than six (6) voting Senators. The Academic Affairs Committee shall, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee, appoint up to three (3) members of the Student Body as voting members of the Committee. Likewise, any member of the Student Body wishing to serve within the Committee as a Committee Delegate may do so upon approval by the Appointments Committee.

b. The responsibilities of the Academic Affairs Committee shall include the following:
1. Addressing the issues that pertain to the academics and curriculum of Virginia Commonwealth University.
a. These issues may include faculty issues, curriculum changes, advising, administrative changes to academic departments, and other similar issues.
2. Working in tangent with the Student Representatives of the Academic Affairs subcommittee of the University Council to provide feedback and suggestions on all academic and curriculum changes at Virginia Commonwealth University.
3. Report regularly to the Senate on pertinent changes and concerns regarding academic and curricular changes at Virginia Commonwealth University.
4. Facilitate and moderate at least one open forum per semester addressing the academic concerns of the Student Body.
5. Act as a liaison of and active recruiter for the Peer Mentoring Program.
3. The Appointments Committee
a. Structure
1. The Appointments Committee shall be composed of no less than six (6) voting Senators. Up to two (2) Committee Delegates may serve upon appointment and approval by the Appointments Committee.
b. The responsibilities of the Appointments Committee shall include the following:
1. Conduct hearings, make decisions, and confirm any student nominated by the President of the Student Body or the Chairman of the Senate to serve on a University-wide committee or other positions in which the University approaches the Student Government Association for student representatives.
2. Give due regard to the diverse nature of the Monroe Park Campus Student Body whenever appointing students to Student Senate Committees or confirming appointments of students to any other University Committee.
3. Aid the President of the Student Body in filling the University-wide committees.
4. Review, explain, and provide thorough knowledge about the Constitution and General Bylaws.
5. Provide thorough training and guidance to all new Senators.
4. The Appropriations Committee
a. Structure
1. The Appropriations Committee shall be composed of no less than seven (7) voting Senators. Up to six (6) Committee

Delegates may serve upon appointment and approval by the Appropriations Committee.
b. The responsibilities of the Appropriations Committee shall include the following:
1. Allocate the Student Activities Fees to Student Organizations or Councils of Student Organizations of the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University with due regard given to the diverse nature of such Organizations or Councils.
2. Provide for the orderly disbursement of all funds for which it is responsible with coordination through the Manager of Student Organization Accounts.
3. Receive monthly reports from the Manager of Student Organization Accounts regarding the disbursements and collections of appropriated assets to date.
4. Ensure that funds are expended for only those purposes and amounts specified in the budget approved by the Committee. This shall be administered by the Manager of Student Organization Accounts.
5. Advise the Senate about the Student Activity Fee and its distribution.
5. The Elections Committee
a. Structure
1. The Elections Committee shall be composed of members from all areas of the Student Government Association. The Clerk and two (2) Justices appointed by the President shall be on the Elections Committee. Four (4) Senators selected by the Appointments Committee and confirmed by the Senate, two (2) from the Fall semester and two (2) from the Spring semester, shall also be on the Elections Committee. Likewise, any member of the Student Body wishing to serve within the Committee as a Committee Delegate may do so upon approval by the Appointments Committee.
a. Only two (2) Senators may serve on this Committee at one time. These two Senators shall either not be up for re-election or waive their right to run for re-election.
b. Any Delegate waives their right to run for any position within the Student Government Association while a Delegate of the Committee.
b. The responsibilities of the Elections Committee shall include the following:
1. Holding free and fair elections.
2. Conducting research on how to increase voter turnout in all Student Government Association elections.
3. Create a fair and working ballot, free of error, which the Student Body shall use to vote online.

4. Work with the Information and Publicity Committee to advertise any and all elections held by the Student Government Association.
6. The Information and Publicity Committee
a. Structure
1. The Information and Publicity Committee shall be composed of no less than six (6) voting Senators. Likewise, any member of the Student Body wishing to serve within the Committee as a Committee Delegate may do so upon approval by the Appointments Committee.
b. The responsibilities of the Information Publicity Committee shall include the following:
1. Publicize the activities and actions of the Senate and all Senate subcommittees.
2. Advise the Senate and other members of the Student Government Association on strategies and methods of publicizing.
3. Provide the Senate and other members of the Student Government Association with connections to the media inside and outside of Virginia Commonwealth University.
4. Work with the Clerk and Secretary to provide the Webmaster with all of the information needed to be placed on the website by the Senate.
7. The Legislative Issues and Civic Actions Committee
a. Structure
1. The Legislative Issues and Civic Actions Committee shall be composed of no less than six (6) voting Senators. Likewise, any member of the Student Body wishing to serve within the Committee as a Committee Delegate may do so upon approval by the Appointments Committee.
b. The responsibilities of the Legislative Issues and Civic Actions Committee shall include the following:
1. Address any issues that pertain to student concerns about legislation in the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, and national government.
2. Encourage the involvement of students in the affairs of all levels of government.
3. Work to educate the Student Body on the importance of civic action.
8. The Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee
a. Structure
1. The Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall be composed of no less than six (6) voting Senators. Likewise, any member of the Student Body wishing to serve within the Committee as a Committee Delegate may do so upon approval by the Appointments Committee.
b. The responsibilities of the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall include the following:
1. Overseeing projects and initiatives that will take more than one year to complete.
2. Reaching out to local communities to assess their concerns with Virginia Commonwealth University and the members of the Student Body that live there.
3. Setting up collaborative efforts to better relationships between local communities and the University.
9. The Student Life Committee
a. Structure
1. The Student Life Committee shall be composed of no less than eleven (11) voting Senators. Likewise, any member of the Student Body wishing to serve within the Committee as a Committee Delegate may do so upon approval by the Appointments Committee.
b. The responsibilities of the Student Life Committee shall include the following:
1. Compile and evaluate research, information, and other data that pertains to or affects the Student Body.
2. Conduct research on student issues and concerns using appropriate methods such as survey, focus groups, and opinion polls.
3. Manage a campus-wide student services grievance system that includes monitoring the grievance resolution process.
4. Report on information collected concerning student grievances to the Senate and recommend action by drafting resolutions and bills to the Senate.
5. Assist in organizing a campus-wide Speak Out at least once a semester.
6. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of any recommended action unless otherwise voted the responsibility of another Senate Committee or branch of the Student Government Association.
Section 4: The Committee Chairs
1. All Committee Chairmen, with the exception of the Chairman of the Appointments Committee and the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee shall have the power to appoint Delegates to their Committee. Having done so, the Chairman is required to report his or her actions to the Clerk and the Appointments Committee to verify that the appointee meets the qualifications set forth by the Student Government Association.
2. Responsibilities to the Student Government Association
a. Committee Chairmen shall serve the Student Government Association as both a member of the Legislative and as a member of the Executive.
1. As a member of the Legislative, a Committee Chair serves as the leader and spokesperson for their Committee. They are
responsible for delivering a report during each Senate session as to the progress the Committee is making with its assigned legislation along with any projects or legislation created by the Committee.
2. As a member of the Executive, a Committee Chair serves as an aid to the President of the Student Body. Here, as a member of the President’s cabinet, the Committee Chair shall discuss, review, and form ideas or resolutions to the concerns brought forth by the Student Body.
3. Responsibilities to the Committee
a. The Academic Affairs Committee
1. The Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee shall work to ensure that the students’ voices are heard on all issues pertaining to academics or curriculum.
b. The Appointments Committee
1. The Chair of the Appointments Committee shall assist the Clerk in managing membership of the Senate and keeping the roster up to date with newly appointed Senators and Committee Delegates.
2. The Chair of the Appointments Committee shall also be responsible for the organization of the training of newly-elected Senators.
c. The Appropriations Committee
1. The Chair of the Appropriations Committee shall serve as the chief liaison between the Student Government Association and the Manager of Student Organization Accounts.
2. The Chair of the Appropriations Committee shall be knowledgeable on the Budget Guidelines of the Senate.
3. The Chair of the Appropriations Committee shall give reports on expenditures and allocations as seen fit by the Senate Chairman.
4. The Chair of the Appropriations Committee shall be responsible for fundraising and soliciting donations, contributions, corporate sponsorships, and advertisements to defray the costs of the Student Government Association.
d. The Elections Committee
1. The Chair of the Elections Committee shall oversee all elections including all cases of Special Elections.
2. The Chair of the Elections Committee shall work with the Webmaster to create a fair, working, and unbiased ballot.
e. The Information and Publicity Committee
1. The Chair of the Information and Publicity Committee shall serve as the chief information officer for the Student Government Association.
2. The Chair of the Information and Publicity Committee shall also oversee all Student Government Association communications of activities.
3. The Chair of the Information and Publicity Committee shall be responsible for providing editorial oversight for major documentation and publications.
a. This work may include but not limited to: speech writing, reports, press releases, letters, and email correspondence.
4. The Chair of the information and Publicity Committee shall serve as the liaison to all press agencies and members of the Student Media Center (The Commonwealth Time, WVCW, The Vine, etc.).
f. The Legislative Issues and Civic Actions Committee
1. The Chair of the Legislative Issues and Civic Actions Committee shall oversee all activities related to the Virginia General Assembly, the United States Congress, the United States Presidential Election, Richmond City Council, and all other instances in which the Student Body should vote for a public official.
2. The Chair of the Legislative Issues and Civic Actions Committee shall develop relationships with political entities.
3. The Chair of the Legislative Issues and Civic Actions Committee shall speak on behalf of the Student Government Association relating to students’ rights and the interests of the Student Body as deemed appropriate by the Student Government Association.
g. The Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee
1. The Chair of the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall be responsible for the oversight and development of major projects and initiatives that take more than one year to accomplish.
2. The Chair of the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall assist in the smooth transition between administrations in all areas of Student Government Association
a. The Chair of the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall also maintain all records of all major projects and transfer such information to their appropriate avenues.
3. The Chair of the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall be responsible for developing relationships with firms, groups, and organizations external to the University.
4. The Chair of the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall meet and speak on behalf of the Student Government Association to such groups as the Monroe Park Commission, Fan District Association, Carver-VCU Partnership, and others.
5. The Chair of the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee shall also be responsible for coordinating and
improving Alumni relations at VCU and shall liaise with the Alumni Association.
h. The Student Life Committee
1. The Chair of the Student Life Committee shall oversee all issues related to the quality of student life.
2. The Chair of the Student Life Committee shall be responsible for handling the day to day constituent concerns on behalf of the Student Body President.
3. The Chair of the Student Life Committee shall deal with individual and personal problems and concerns that students may come to the Student Government Association with for help. The Chair of the Student Life Committee shall serve as the liaison to the Graduate students on the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
a. This task may include but is not limited to working with the Graduate Student Association and other Graduate or Professional student organizations to help improve Graduate student life on the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Section 5: The Senators
1. The Senators of the Student Government Association shall be expected to keep to certain minimum requirements. They are as follows:
a. As stated in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, Senators must be members of the Student Body meaning they are enrolled in one or more academic credits on the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
b. Also as stated in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, no member of the Student Government Association shall be on academic probation or academic warning.
c. Senators are expected to maintain their academic standing while a member of the Student Government Association.
1. Undergraduate students are expected to have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
2. Graduate students are expected to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
3. Freshmen and transfers students with no grade point average on record with Virginia Commonwealth University may be Senators so long as the grade point average they receive during their first semester at Virginia Commonwealth University meets the requirements aforementioned in Article I, Section 5.1.c of these Bylaws.
d. Failure of Senators to fulfill the requirements set forth in Article I, Section 5.1 of these Bylaws may be removed from office by the Chair of the Senate.

2. A Senator has the following responsibilities to the Student Body:
a. Seek out the opinion of their electorate.
b. Make decisions and vote on matters brought before the Senate according to their own reasoned judgment.
c. Act with sensitivity to and respect for the needs and wants of the Student Body and University community.
d. Develop and propose ideas, interests, and concerns to the Senate.
3. A Senator has the following responsibilities to the Student Government Association:
a. Attending the weekly sessions of the Senate.
b. Completing one (1) hour of office work within the Student Government Association Office
1. The Chair of the Senate may designate other activities as office hours at his or her discretion.
c. Keeping the Student Government Association Office in an orderly state.
d. Aiding in the promotion and fulfillment of Student Government Association organized and sponsored events.
e. If the schedule permits, lobbying the General Assembly during its session.
4. A Senator has the following responsibilities to their Senate Committees:
a. Attending all Committee meetings as deemed necessary by their Committee Chairmen.
b. Completing research and presenting ideas or concepts to the Committee as delegated by the Chair of the Committee.
5. The attendance of Senators to all meetings is vital in accomplishing the goals of not only the Senate but of the Student Government Association. The attendance policy shall be as follows:
a. Senators will be allowed to miss 10% plus one (1) of the total number of sessions of Senate and office hours combined for one semester. The Clerk shall announce in his or her weekly report any Senator who has missed 10% of the total number and emphasize that any subsequent absence will lead to the removal of the Senator from his or her seat in the Senate.
1. Should a Senator exceed this total, he or she will be required to meet with the Leadership of the Senate at a time designated by the latter. Here, the Senator may provide evidence and documents attributing to the Senator’s absences. With a two-thirds vote, the Leadership of the Senate will either remove the Senator from his or her seat in the Senate or pardon the Senator.
a. Should the Senator be pardoned, he or she shall have all absences in which the Leadership of the Senate deems excusable removed from his or her total. The Senator retains all absences the Leadership of Senate deems inexcusable.
b. The Leadership of the Senate will have the ability to deem major Student Government Association events mandatory. Senators shall be
required to attend at least one of these events during the course of one (1) semester.
Section 6: Internal Elections
1. Internal elections shall take place during the last Senate session of the semester. Elections shall take place to fill positions such as the Chair of the Senate, the Vice Chair of the Senate, Committee Chairmen, and members of the Appointments Committee.
a. Leadership of Senate
1. The Leadership of the Senate (The Chair of the Senate, the Vice Chair of the Senate, and the Committee Chairmen) shall be elected during the last session of the Spring semester. Should a vacancy occur in any of these positions due to resignation, graduation, or removal from office, the position is to be filled in the Senate session following the vacancy.
b. Committee Chairmen
1. The President of the Student Body or any Senator may nominate a Senator to be the Chair of a Committee.
2. For a Senator to be nominated as Chair of a Committee, they must first have at least one (1) semester of experience in that Committee prior to the nomination.
3. Elections Chairman
a. Like other Committee Chairs, the Chair of the Elections Committee is nominated by either a Senator or by the President of the Student Body. This nominee, however, may or may not be a member of the Student Government Association so long as they meet all qualifications set forth in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution and Article I, Section 5.1 of these Bylaws. The Chair of the Elections Committee waives the right to run for any office within the Student Government Association while holding the position.
b. If the nominee is a member of the Student Government Association, he or she shall relinquish all titles held as a member of the Student Government Association while organization of the election and voting takes place.
c. If the nominee is not a member of the Student Government Association, he or she shall enjoy the privileges held by Senators of the Student Government Association with exception being the right to vote on legislation. He or she must also must waive their right to run for any position within the Student Government Association while Chair of the Elections Committee.
2. Any internal election held by Legislative remains unofficial until a member of the Judicial certifies the election results.

Article II: The Executive
Section 1: Structure
1. The Executive is designed to allow the President of the Student Body to be the spokesperson for the Student Government Association. The President is seen as the figure head of the SGA; he or she shall act as a liaison between the Student Government Association, the Student Body, the University, and the general community. The President shall be assisted by the Vice President, the Chair of the Senate, the Senate Committee Chairs, the Clerk, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Webmaster, the Executive Aid, the External Affairs Advisor, and the Political Affairs Advisor. The Clerk, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Webmaster shall be nominated by the President and approved by the Senate.
2. The Members of the Executive shall be expected to keep to certain minimum requirements. They are as follows:
a. As stated in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, Members of the Executive must be members of the Student Body meaning they are enrolled in one or more academic credits on the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
b. Also as stated in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, no member of the Student Government Association shall be on academic probation or academic warning.
c. Members of the Executive are expected to maintain their academic standing while a member of the Student Government Association.
1. Undergraduate students are expected to have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
2. Graduate students are expected to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
3. Freshmen and transfers students with no grade point average on record with Virginia Commonwealth University may be Members of the Executive so long as the grade point average they receive during their first semester at Virginia Commonwealth University meets the requirements aforementioned in Article II, Section 1.2.c of these Bylaws.
d. Failure of Members of the Executive to fulfill the requirements set forth in Article II, Section 1.2 of these Bylaws may be removed from office by the Chair of the Senate.
3. Should the President be unable to fulfill his or her duties, The Vice President shall assume the role as President until the President is able to regain the ability to fulfill his or her duties or until the date of the next Presidential election. Should both the President and Vice President be unable to fulfill their duties, the Chair of the Senate shall assume the role as President until either or both the President and Vice President regain the ability to fulfill their duties or until the date of the next Presidential election.
a. Should the President be unable to regain the ability to fulfill his or her duties, the next officer shall replace him as stated in Article II, Section 1.3 of these Bylaws. The new President shall be confirmed in accordance with Article III, Section 2.1.b.1. The new President shall gain the ability to appoint, with approval from the Senate, new officers into all offices mentioned in Article II, Section 1.1 of these Bylaws.

*Note Appendix A as a visual reference to the aforementioned structure.

Section 2: The President
1. The President of the Student Body shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The President shall hold all powers set forth in Article 3, Section 3 and Article 3, Section 4 of the Constitution.
b. The President shall set forth an agenda for the Student Government Association and present it in some form to the student body
c. The President shall be a voting representative on the University Committee and may serve or appoint, with approval of the Senate, any member of the Student Body to any other University committee he or she deems necessary.
d. The President may nominate and, with approval of the Senate, appoint members of the Student Body to offices in accordance with Article 3, Section 3 of the Constitution.
e. The President may nominate Senators to be Senate Committee Chairs.
f. The President shall provide information on new officers and advisors to the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services.
g. The President shall sign or veto all legislation, resolutions, or appropriations in accordance to Article 5, Section 2 of the Constitution.
h. The President shall serve as the Chief Spokesperson for the Student Body, the liaison between the Student Government Association and the President of the University, and the Chief Representative of the Student Government Association.
i. The President may create Special Committees of the Student Government Association.
1. The President may also nominate Senators to become Special Committee Chairs.
j. The President shall meet at least once per semester with the President of the University, the Provost of the University, and, if necessary, the Vice Provosts.
k. The President shall host and lead Presidential Roundtables to allow student organizations to interact with the Student Government Association and each other.
l. The President shall set aside a minimum of six hours a week for office hours.
Section 3: The Vice President
1. The Vice President of the Student Body shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Vice President shall, in accordance with Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution, preside over the Senate as the President of the Senate.
b. The Vice President shall be a voting student representative on the University Council.
c. The Vice President shall serve as the liaison between the Student Government Association and the Faculty Senate.
1. He or she shall report to the President and to the Senate on the actions of all Faculty Senate meetings.
d. The Vice President shall aid the Appointments Committee Chair, at the Chair’s request, with reaching full representation on University-wide committees.
e. The Vice President shall meet with University committee representatives to discuss and report the actions of these committees to the Senate and the President of the Student Body.
f. The Vice President shall, with the President of the Student Body, meet at least once per semester with the President of the University, the Provost of the University, and, if necessary, the Vice Provosts.
g. The Vice President shall work to promote school spirit and a sense of community throughout the entire University.
h. The Vice President shall set aside a minimum of six (6) hours a week for office hours.
Section 4: The Clerk
1. The Clerk shall serve all areas of the Student Government Association.
2. The Clerk shall be responsible for attending every session of the Senate.
3. The Clerk shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Clerk shall maintain attendance records of the Senate and its committees. This duty shall include calculating the number of absences available to each Senator and giving notification of such; keeping all attendance records on file in the Student Government Association office; and giving a monthly attendance report via email at the end of each month and at the end of each semester.
b. The Clerk shall notify any Senator of his or her absences if they become excessive.
c. The Clerk shall be a member of the Elections Committee.
1. The Clerk, however, may not serve on the Elections Committee if he or she is a Senator in the semester in which their one-year term in Senate ends.
2. In circumstances aforementioned in Article II, Section 4.3.c.1 of these Bylaws, the Clerk shall appoint, with the approval of the Senate, a replacement that shall carry out the Clerk’s Committee duties until he or she is once again able to serve.
4. The Clerk shall serve as the Chief Student Senate correspondent to the Manager of the Student Organization Service Center.

a. This includes updating the key lists and afterhours access list for the Student Organization Service Center.
5. The Clerk shall notify the Chair of the Appointments Committee should any vacancy arise within the Senate.
6. The Clerk shall maintain the Senate roster and manage all Student Government Association LISTSERVs.
Section 5: The Secretary
1. The Secretary shall serve all areas of the Student Government Association.
2. The Secretary shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Student Government Association Meetings.
1. This includes but is not limited to Senate sessions, Leadership meetings, judicial cases, Special committees if any are present, or any other meeting the President of the Student Body deems necessary.
2. The minutes for every meeting should posted no later than forty-eight (48) hours after the completion of the meeting.
3. The Secretary may assist the Clerk with his or her duties from time to time when such help is requested by the Clerk.
4. The Secretary shall be present at every Presidential Roundtable.
5. The Secretary shall communicate the concerns and opinions of registered student organizations, The Programming Commission, and other student organizations, along with all student athletic teams and any other student groups to the President and Vice President of the Student Body to help increase school spirit and improve student life on campus.
Section 6: The Treasurer
1. The Treasurer shall serve all areas of the Student Government Association.
2. The Treasurer shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Treasurer shall be the sole controller of the budget of the Student Government Association.
b. The Treasurer shall, after receiving requests from each area of the Student Government Association, submit one totaled budget to the Appropriations Committee at a time deemed proper by that Committee.
c. The Treasurer must attend the Spending Workshop hosted by the Student Organization Service Center to ensure the Student Government Association funding may be used.
d. The Appropriations Chair shall also attend this workshop. In the event that the Treasurer is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the Appropriations Chair shall serve as the Treasurer until he or she regains the ability to fulfill the duties of the Treasurer.
1. Should the Treasurer not be able to return to his or her duties, the President shall appoint a new Treasurer under Article 3, Section 3 of the Constitution.
3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining records of all financial paperwork and affairs.
Section 7: The Webmaster
1. The Webmaster shall serve all areas of the Student Government Association.
2. The Webmaster shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Webmaster shall maintain the Student Government Association website.
b. The Webmaster shall work in collaboration with the Elections Committee Chair to create a working, secure, and fair ballot.
c. The Webmaster shall deal with the technology issues associated with all areas of the Student Government Association.
Section 8: The Executive Aid
1. The Executive Aid shall serve the President of the Student Body directly.
2. The Executive Aid shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Executive Aid shall be the chief appointment maker for the President.
b. The Executive Aid shall advise the President on the general welfare of the Student Body.
c. The Executive Aid shall help the President in the completion of his or her unofficial duties such as the planning of the yearly agenda, speech writing, and other such services the President may need.
Section 9: The External Affairs Advisor
1. The External Affairs Advisor shall serve the President of the Student Body directly when the President deems the position necessary.
2. The External Affairs Advisor shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The External Affairs Advisors shall advise the President on the status of relationships with firms, groups, and organizations external to the University.
b. The External Affairs Advisors shall advise the President on what he or she should discuss with such groups as the Monroe Park Commission, Fan District Association, Carver-VCU Partnership, and others.
c. The External Affairs Advisors shall advise the President on the status and issues of Alumni the Alumnae Association.
d. The External Affairs Advisors shall advise the President on issues relating to non-traditional students at VCU.
e. The External Affairs Advisors shall be a Student Government Association representative only in the event the Major Projects and Community Involvement Committee Chairman chooses not to appoint a member.
Section 10: The Political Affairs Advisor
1. The Political Affairs Advisor shall serve the President of the Student Body directly when the President deems the position necessary.
2. The Political Affairs Advisor shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Political Affairs Advisors shall update the President on the issues surrounding local and state politics.
b. The Political Affairs Advisors shall update the President on work being completed by the Richmond City Council and Virginia General Assembly.
c. The Political Affairs Advisors shall advise the President on what the best interests of the student body are in relation to the political arena.

Article III: The Judiciary Committee
Section 1: Structure
1. As stated in Article 4, Section 1 of the Constitution, the Judiciary Committee shall consist of the Chief Justice and four (4) Associate Justices.
2. The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices shall be nominated by the President and approved by a majority vote of the Senate.
3. The Judiciary shall choose their officers from amongst themselves. These officers shall be the Deputy Chief Justice, the Judicial Recorder, and the Attorney General.
4. As prescribed in Article 4, Section 1 of the Constitution, members of the Judiciary Committee serve lifetime appointments until they resign, leave Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park Campus, or are impeached and convicted.
5. If a vacancy should arise, the President of the Student Body shall nominate for appointment a new Justice within fourteen (14) academic days.
6. Neither the Chief Justice nor any Associate Justice may hold any other elected or appointed position within the Student Government Association while holding their position on the Judiciary Committee.
Section 2: The Chief Justice
1. The Chief Justice shall have the following powers and duties:
a. The Chief Justice shall be the leader of the Judiciary Committee.
b. The Chief Justice shall administer the oath of office to the President of the Student Body, the Vice President of the Student Body, and all Senators.
1. The Oath of Office read to the President shall, as defined in Article 3, Section 2 of the Constitution, be as follows:
“I do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Student Body, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Student Body of the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.”
2. The Oath of Office read to the Vice President of the Student Body shall be as follows:
“I do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of Vice President of the Student Body, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Student Body of the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.”
3. The Oath of Office read to all Senators shall be as follows:
“I do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute my duties as a Senator, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Student Body of the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.”
c. The Chief Justice shall, with the consent of a majority of the Judiciary Committee, appoint Judicial Aids.
2. Should the Chief Justice be unable to fulfill his or her duties, The Deputy Chief Justice shall assume the role as Chief Justice until the Chief Justice is able to regain the ability to fulfill his or her duties. Should both the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice be unable to fulfill their duties, the Attorney General shall assume the role as Chief Justice until either or both the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice regain the ability to fulfill their duties.
a. Should the Chief Justice be unable to regain the ability to fulfill his or her duties, the President of the Student Body shall appoint, with confirmation from the Senate, a new Chief Justice and, if needed, another Associate Justice.
Section 3: The Deputy Chief Justice
1. The Deputy Chief Justice assists the Chief Justice whenever needed.
2. The Deputy Chief Justice shall also oversee the training of all Judicial Aids.
Section 4: The Judiciary Recorder
1. The Judiciary Recorder oversees the recording and publishing of the documents and decisions of the Judiciary Committee.
Section 5: The Attorney General
1. The Attorney General acts as the constitutional enforcer between the Executive and the Legislative.
2. The Attorney General may, at his or her discretion, give advisory opinions to members of the Student Government Association.
Section 6: Judicial Aids
1. Judicial Aids shall be elected by a majority vote of the Judiciary Committee.
2. Judicial Aids shall assist in the business of the Judicial Committee including, but not limited to, taking minutes at meetings, recording and publishing decisions of the Judiciary Committee, updating materials on the internet, and coordinating Judiciary Committee meetings.
3. Judicial Aids are non-voting members of the Judiciary Committee and take no part in the actual deliberation of cases.
4. Judicial Aids may not hold any other elected position within the Student Government Association and may be removed from their position at any time by the Chief Justice.
Section 7: Hearing Procedures
1. Judiciary Committee hearings shall consist of all parties being present during opening statements. Parties then will present all evidence and a comprehensive list of all witnesses that shall appear.
2. In the event that a subpoenaed party fails to appear at their hearing, the Judiciary Committee reserves the right to move forward with the case.
3. Following opening statements all witnesses will remain outside of the hearing chambers until called forth by the Judiciary Committee. Both sides will present their case including all evidence and witness statements. Both sides must submit a hard copy of their witness list to the Chief Justice prior to the hearing date.
4. The Judiciary Committee will dismiss all parties and reconvene for deliberations. A decision will be issued and made available to all parties within fourteen (14)

academic days. This decision will be published and the record kept in the offices of the Judiciary Committee for review by any and all parties.
5. Hearings will be recorded via tape recorder to help with the judicial process.
6. Before any hearing shall proceed, all parties and or witnesses shall be sworn in using the following oath:
“I affirm that all testimony and evidence presented shall be truthful and accurate. I am aware that I am bound by this University’s Rules and Procedures and that any knowingly false statements or testimony to this Court shall be considered a potential Rules and Procedures violation.”
Section 8: Representation
1. In the event that either the plaintiff or defendant should elect to have someone else represent him/her in their hearing the following criteria must be met:
a. The appointed representative must currently be enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University;
b. Both the individual requesting representation and the representative must be consenting, and;
c. The Judiciary Committee must be notified or this change prior to the hearing.
2. The following disclaimer shall be signed and sent to the Judiciary Committee:
“I hereby give consent and authorize, on this date of [insert date], [said person] to represent me in Case #__. I grant all representation to [said person] for the duration of the case or until I officially revoke these privileges. I understand that this person will act on my behalf and speak for me in all matters relating to the case. The outcome of the case may not be disputed based on representation.”
Section 9: Filing for Judicial Interpretation
1. Judicial interpretation may be sought for the following reasons:
a. Any Person(s) may file a case for the Judiciary Committee to determine the constitutionality and/or validity of any act of the Executive or Legislative or of any agency directly associated with the Student Government Association within thirty (30) days of said action. All deliberations of the Judiciary Committee may be made at their own discretion, however, all final opinions and holdings must be made public and in writing.
b. Any member of Student Body may file a petition for judicial interpretation. Students seeking such remedy may arrange for Student Government Association member representation in presenting their request to the Judiciary Committee. Should that individual be a member of the Judiciary Committee, that Justice must be recused from participating in the Hearing on that matter.
c. All Judiciary Committee Hearings shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the Judiciary Committee Guidelines. All Judiciary Committee interpretations, rulings, and decisions shall be in writing and shall be made available to the Student Body. A permanent record of all hearings, interpretations, rulings, and decisions whether for Judicial Remedy or for Judicial Appeal, shall be kept in the Student Government Association Office.
2. Judicial remedy is initiated by submitting a brief outlining the facts of the question or complaint. The format of such a brief can be found on the SGA website. http://www.vcusga.com
3. The Judiciary Committee shall review the submitted brief for merit applying the Rule of Two and, if appropriate, issue an injunction to halt all proceedings in dispute.
4. Subpoenas shall be issued to all parties involved, if appropriate, and a hearing will be scheduled to establish the facts at a time agreeable to the parties.
5. Should any party fail to appear at the hearing without the prior consent of the Judiciary Committee, the issue will be resolved immediately by a summary judgment.
6. Upon establishing the facts, the hearing will be concluded by referring the issue to the Judiciary Committee for deliberation and resolution.
7. If because of a dispute, the facts cannot be established, the issue will be referred for a Judicial hearing as outlined in Article III, Section 7 of these Bylaws.
8. If any party wants to appeal the decision of the Judiciary Committee; they shall have five (5) business days to present (at the Student Government Association Office) new evidence and/or extenuating circumstances. The Judiciary Committee will then determine the validity of the appeal.
Section 10: Judicial Injunctions
1. The Judiciary Committee shall place Judicial Injunctions to halt the actions of any person or group in order to preserve the status quo while a case is pending.
2. There shall be two forms of Injunctions:
a. Provincial Injunctions: can be placed by a majority vote of the Judiciary Committee and will be in place for the duration of the case.
b. Emergency Injunctions: can be placed at the discretion of the Chief Justice and must be approved by the Judiciary Committee at the next scheduled meeting in order to become permanent. If not approved, the Emergency Injunction expires.
Section 11: Mediation between Student Organizations
1. The Judiciary Committee shall act as a mediator between Student Organizations in dispute regarding the validity of their actions under their authority as delegated by the University.
2. Any member of the Student Body or Student Organization may notify the Judiciary Committee of a grievance or matter of dispute between themselves and another Student Organization within one calendar week of said action or point of dispute, unless the branch unanimously agrees to hear said dispute.
3. Following notification and all proper completed paperwork within that time the Judiciary Committee shall notify all parties involved and schedule a meeting time for all parties to convene to discuss the dispute in question.
4. The Judiciary Committee may only act as a mediator between consenting parties and those parties prior to mediation must agree that the decision of Judiciary Committee will be accepted and enforced prior to a hearing of grievances.
5. Mediation hearings will follow the Structure and Procedure of the Judiciary Committee as outlined in our Guidelines under Hearing Procedures.
6. The Judiciary Committee shall contact both organizations after the hearing, to set up a thirty (30) day follow-up meeting if deemed necessary.
Section 12: Internal Senate Elections
1. The Judiciary Committee shall oversee and conduct the elections of the Senate Leadership and Appointment Committees as delineated in Article I, Section 6.2 of these Bylaws.

Article IV: Elections
Section 1: Structure
1. Elections shall occur twice per academic year as follows:
a. Fall Elections
1. The election will consist of thirty (30) Senate seats.
a. These Senators will serve from the beginning of the Spring semester until the end of the following Fall semester.
2. Any amendments to the Constitution by the Student Government Association or other referendum shall be placed on the ballot at this time for the Student Body to vote on.
3. The election shall be held from the third Tuesday of October at 10:00 AM until the third Thursday of October at 10:00 AM unless otherwise deemed through legislation.
4. Senators shall be trained and sworn in prior to the last session of the Senate of the Fall semester and shall include these newly-constituted Senators.
b. Spring Elections
1. The election will consist of thirty (30) Senate seats, the President of the Student Body, and the Vice President of the Student Body.
a. Senators shall serve from the beginning of the Fall semester until the end of the following Spring semester.
b. The President and Vice President of the Student Body shall serve from the beginning of the Fall semester until the end of the Spring semester.
2. Any amendments to the Constitution by the Student Government Association or other referendum shall be placed on the ballot at this time for the Student Body to vote on.
3. The election shall be held from the third Tuesday of March at 10:00 AM until the third Thursday of March at 10:00 AM unless otherwise deemed through legislation.
4. Senators shall be trained and sworn in prior to the last session of the Senate of the Spring semester and shall include these newly-constituted Senators. The President and Vice President of the Student Body shall be sworn in during the last session of the Senate of the Spring semester.

Section 2: The Candidate Packet
1. The Candidate Packet shall be available to students at least one (1) month prior to the elections.
2. The Candidate Packet shall consist of an information sheet that the candidate must sign and complete, a waiver allowing access to a candidate’s grade point average, and a petition form.
a. A petition form containing the names, signatures, and student identification or eIDs of all signers must be completed by all candidates as part of the Candidate Packet. Executive candidates must obtain at least one hundred (100) signatures on the petition form from registered students on the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Senate candidates must obtain at least seventy-five (75) signatures on the petition form from registered students on the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
b. Any packet received without the petition form will automatically become null and void.
3. This completed packet is to be submitted to the Elections Committee by the date established by the Elections Committee and printed on the packet.
a. All information must be filled out and signed by the candidate himself or herself unless reasonable accommodations are being made for someone with a disability. Candidate packets that are signed by someone other than the candidate (unless previously approved for disability reasons) will be automatically disqualified.
4. If a candidate packet is not submitted by the established deadline, the candidate will be unable to run for a Student Government Association office.
a. Deadlines for submission of candidate packets will not be extended for any purpose other than emergency closure of the University or by an Elections Committee proposal.
Section 3: Election Meetings
1. General Informational Meetings
a. The Elections Committee will hold General Informational Meetings before Candidate Packets are due.
b. These meetings will be optional for candidates. They will serve to generate interest in the Student Government Association and inform interested members of the Student Body on how to apply for candidacy and the qualifications for office, as outlined in Article I, Section 5.1 and Article II, Section 1.2 of these Bylaws.
2. Mandatory Candidate Meetings
a. The Elections Committee will hold Mandatory Candidate Meetings in the week after Candidate Packets are due.
b. Candidates are required to attend one Mandatory Candidate Meeting, whereupon the Elections Committee will distribute these bylaws, the SGA Constitution, and detail the elections procedure. Candidates will be required to sign off saying that they have been given information on the Elections Bylaws, Constitution, and University Policies.

c. If a candidate is unable to attend a Mandatory Candidate Meeting due to significant prior obligations, that candidate must establish an individual appointment with the Chair of the Elections Committee within the week after the Candidate Packets are due.
Section 4: Campaigning
1. Time Periods
a. There shall be no official time period for campaigning. Candidates may campaign at their leisure.
2. Expenditures
a. Total campaign spending (campaign expenditures including donations) shall be limited as follows:
1. Students campaigning as an executive team shall together have a budget limited to $600.00.
2. Students campaigning for a Senate seat shall each have a budget limited to $200.00.
b. Failure to submit a proper and accurate account of campaign expenditures, should suspicion arise that a candidate or candidate team has exceeded the budget limitation, may be grounds for removal from the election.
3. Rules for Posting
a. Candidates are expected to be aware of and adhere to all the guidelines set forth in the University Insider, specifically the Posting Materials Policy and the University Rules and Procedures. Posting within James Branch Cabell Library, the University Student Commons, and Shafer Dining Center are strictly forbidden. Failure to adhere to this policy may be grounds for removal.
4. Prohibitions
a. A candidate may not post material in prohibited areas as stated in Article IV, Section 4.3 and Article IV, Section 4.4d of these Bylaws, the VCU Insider, the Provost’s website, and other places where Virginia Commonwealth University policies are posted.
b. A candidate may not exchange money or services with voters in an attempt to obtain votes.
c. A candidate may not possess or seek to obtain official Elections Committee information prior to its official release.
d. A candidate may not actively campaign or post any campaign material within any University computer lab, the James Branch Cabell Library, University Student Commons, or inside any VCU dining outlet. This includes actively campaigning, posting, or handing out materials including but not limited to fliers, handbills, or stickers.
e. A candidate may not harass, hassle, threaten, verbally or physically assault, or otherwise intimidate any student.
1. Intimidation is defined as:
a. To compel or deter by or as if by threats.
b. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats.
f. The use of personal computer as voting centers is permitted.
1. No campaigning can be done in such a manner as to intimidate the voter.
2. Candidates must remain on the opposite side of the computer and may not watch or question the way a student casts his or her vote.
5. Penalties
a. Candidates found to have violated any of the aforementioned regulations can be removed from the election.
b. Students seeking office in the Student Government Association who either do not fulfill the qualifications outlined in these Bylaws or who do not fully complete the requirements for candidacy will not be certified as candidates and thus will not appear on the ballot.
Section 5: The Election
1. The Ballot
a. Web Ballot
1. Voting shall take place electronically on the official web ballot. The URL will be established at least one week prior to the first day of elections and shall not change after it has been established.
b. Appearance on the Ballot
1. The name of each candidate, his or her school or college, and the position for which he or she is running shall appear together on the ballot.
2. Only the name given to the University by the candidate shall be used on the ballot. Nicknames shall not be permitted unless documentation is provided to show that this is a candidate’s most common name.
a. This documentation may be presented as:
i. A collection of assignments, essays, or similar documents submitted for a grade in an academic class.
ii. A written note from a faculty member or administrator.
b. For Executive tickets, candidates may choose to have a ticket name. If they choose to do so, the name will appear to the right of the candidates’ names in brackets.
i. This information should be presented on the Candidate Packet.
3. No names shall be changed or withdrawn from the ballot once the election has begun, except in the case of misspelling.
4. The format of the ballot shall be established at least one week before the first day of elections and shall not change after it has been established.
5. Candidates for Senate shall appear on the ballot by random
selection as to not give precedence to alphabetical order.
6. Should a candidate withdraw from the election at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the beginning of the election, his or her name and information shall not appear on the ballot.
a. Should the candidate’s name not be able to be removed from the ballot, due to time constraints or other such reasons, the name shall remain but all votes cast for the candidate shall not count.
c. Voters
1. Any member of the Student Body may vote in any election held by the Student Government Association.
2. Voters will be asked to log into a secure election ballot using approved University security methods.
d. Results
1. The unofficial results of the election will be posted on the SGA website no later than two (2) business days after the close of the election.
2. The official results of the election will be posted on the SGA website as soon as they have been confirmed by the Judiciary Committee. If there is contention of the election, then the results will be withheld until grievances have been resolved.
3. The official results of the elections will be released no later than five (5) business days after the elections unless a problem with verification arises.
2. The Role of the Judiciary Committee
a. Grievances and Campaign Violations
1. The Judiciary Committee manages the grievance and appeals process for elections.
2. A grievance can be brought to the Elections Committee anytime from the first Mandatory Candidate Meeting until seventy-two (72) hours after polls have closed.
a. The Elections Committee shall report all grievances to the Judiciary Committee within forty-eight (48) hours of their receipt.
3. A violation may be filed by any student to the Judiciary Committee regarding violation of the election rules.
4. The Judiciary Committee as a group may not file complaints to itself regarding a particular candidate.
a. An individual member of the Branch may file a complaint.
5. A violation must cite clearly and concisely the rules presumed to be violated. Evidence may also be submitted with the violation. All violations must be filed correctly and within the timelines in order to be considered by the Judiciary Committee.
6. The person for which the violation is against will be contacted and told of the alleged charge. The Judiciary Committee must establish a hearing within forty-eight (48) hours of receiving the violation and must contact both parties within that time period to establish a time and place for a hearing.
7. A violation may be resolved in several ways, including:
a. Dismissal of Charge: The Judiciary Committee found the charges to be unfounded.
b. Letter of Reprimand: The Judiciary Committee has decided that there is evidence that the candidate has violated the rule(s) cited, but the offense was not severe enough to warrant a disqualification.
c. Disqualification: The Judiciary Committee has decided that there is significant evidence that the rule(s) were violated in a severe nature.
8. A majority vote of the Judiciary Committee shall decide the resolution of the complaint.
9. Decisions of the Judiciary Committee may be appealed in writing within one week of the written opinion should new evidence or extenuating circumstances be established.

Article V: Impeachment, Removal from Office, and Vacancies
Section 1: Resignation
1. A member of the Student Government Association may resign by submitting a written notice to the head of their branch. The resignation shall not be final without the approval of the Judiciary Committee. Resignation from any office within the Student Government Association shall result in the surrendering of all privileges and positions attained as a result of being a member of the Student Government Association.
a. The Vice President, Treasurer, Clerk, Secretary, Webmaster, shall report their resignation to the President of the Student Body, the Chairman of the Senate, and the Chief Justice.
b. The Chairman of the Senate shall receive the resignations from both Senators and Committee Delegates.
c. The Chief Justice shall receive the resignations from all members of the Judiciary Committee.
d. The President shall receive any and all University Committee Appointees.
e. If the Student Body President, Chairman of the Senate, or Chief Justice resigns they must turn in their resignations to both of the leaders of the other remaining branches of Student Government Association.
Section 2: Impeachment
1. Grounds for Impeachment
a. Any officer of Student Government Association who knowingly evades his or her duties as set down by the Constitution or these Bylaws, or

commits any act that is determined to be detrimental to the welfare of the Student Body is subject to impeachment.
b. No officer may be brought up for the same charge(s) twice resulting from a particular incident.
2. Impeachment Initiation
a. Any charge may be brought by any student on a member of the Student Government Association and submitted to the Chief Justice. This act would initiate the investigation process.
b. Upon submission of the charges, the Judiciary Committee shall review the allegations and should two Justices find the case valid, the Judiciary Committee shall move forward with the investigation.
1. Impeachment proceedings shall begin the week following this ruling.
3. Impeachment Proceedings
a. As stated in Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution, the Senate shall have the sole power to try impeachments.
1. When the Senate sits as jurors in impeachment proceedings, they shall be sworn to the following affirmation:
“I affirm that I shall hear all testimony and evidence presented in an unbiased and fair manner. By hearing the following testimony, I am aware that I am bound by this University’s Rules and Procedures.”
2. When the President of the Student Body or Vice President of the Student Body is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside.
a. In all other cases of impeachment, the Vice President shall preside or appoint a member of the Senate to preside.
b. The Senate may hold hearings, interviews, or any other inquiries in order to investigate all articles of impeachment at its discretion.
c. The Senate shall observe quorum during all investigation hearings.
d. Upon conclusion of the investigation and a verdict presented, the Judiciary Committee shall compile all of the findings into a report.
e. All results of the impeachment investigations shall be forwarded to all areas of the Student Government Association.
f. All members of the Student Government Association are required to cooperate with all impeachment proceedings if their services are needed.
Section 3: Automatic Removal from Office
1. A member of the Student Government Association shall automatically be removed when:
a. The member is separated, dismissed, or withdrawn from Virginia Commonwealth University.
b. The member fails to remove him/herself from the status of academic warning or probation after one semester.
2. Only the President of the Student Body, the Chairman of the Senate, and the Chief Justice may automatically remove a member of the Student Government Association.
a. The President of the Student Body may only remove members of the Executive.
b. The Chairman of the Senate may only remove Senators and Delegates.
c. The Chief Justice may only remove Associate Justices and Judicial Aids.
Section 4: Vacancies
1. Should vacancies arise due to resignation or removal from office, they are to be filled as written in these Bylaws.
a. Should the President of the Student Body relinquish his or her office, the office shall be filled in accordance with Article II, Section 1.3 of these Bylaws.
b. Should the Vice President of the Student Body relinquish his or her office, the office shall be filled in accordance with Article II, Section 1.3 of these Bylaws.
c. Should the Chairman of the Senate relinquish his or her office, the office shall be filled in accordance with Article I, Section 2.3 of these Bylaws.
d. Should a Senator relinquish his or her office, the office shall be filled at the discretion of the Appointments Committee and the Chairman of the Senate.
e. Should the Chief Justice relinquish his or her office, the office shall be filled in accordance with Article III, Section 2.2 of these Bylaws.
f. Should an Associate Justice relinquish his or her office, the office shall be filled by the President of the Student Body with confirmation from the Senate.
g. Should a member of the Executive relinquish his or her office, the office shall be filled by the President of the Student Body with confirmation by the Senate.

Article VI: Joint Collaborations
Section 1: Purpose
1. All areas of the Student Government Association shall work together. The leadership of all areas of the Student Government Association shall meet at least once per month to discuss the direction in which the area and organization are heading.
a. It shall be at the discretion of the leadership to determine if more meetings shall be required of its members but these official meetings shall never exceed once per week.
2. There shall be three leadership meetings, one for each area of the Student Government Association: Executive Leadership, Legislative Leadership, Judiciary Leadership.
Section 2: Executive Leadership
1. Executive Leadership shall consist of the following members:
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Treasurer
d. Clerk
e. Secretary
f. Chair of the Senate
g. Webmaster
h. Senate Committee Chairs
i. Political Affairs Advisor
j. External Affairs Advisor
k. Executive Aid
2. These officers shall discuss the overall productivity of the Student Government Association.
Section 3: Legislative Leadership
1. Legislative Leadership shall consist of the following members:
a. Chair of the Senate
b. Senate Committee Chairs
c. Clerk
d. Secretary
e. Treasurer
2. These officers shall discuss matters pertaining to the Senate. These matters may include but are not limited to the discussion of legislation, resolutions, and attendance within the Senate.
Section 4: Judicial Leadership
1. Judicial Leadership shall consist of the following members:
a. Chief Justice
b. Deputy Chief Justice
c. Attorney General
d. Judiciary Recorder
e. Associate Justices
2. These officers shall discuss matters pertaining to the Courts. These matters may include but are not limited to cases brought before the Judiciary Committee, elections grievances, and cases involving impeachment.

Article VII: Appeals
Section 1: Legislative Appeals
1. Actions and decisions of any Senate Committee may be appealed to the full Senate by submitting a written appeal to the Chairman of the Senate who will place it on the agenda at the earliest possible date.
Section 2: Judicial Appeals
1. Actions and decisions of any case heard by the Judiciary should be made forty-eight (48) hours after the verdict has been received. All appeals should be submitted in the same manner as any other case. Verdicts on appeals may not be appealed.

Appendix A



Note: In this diagram, the boxes with bold lines are offices in which the Student Body elects their officials. Boxes with italicized words are offices in which the President nominates a member of the Student Body and the Senate confirms the nomination. Boxes that are tan are offices that are paid; boxes that are white are offices that are not paid. The offices that report directly to the President (Political Affairs Advisor, External Affairs Advisor, and Executive Aid) are all directly appointed by the President and do not need to be confirmed by the Senate. Nominees for Senate Committee Chairs may come from the President or from the Senate. This diagram reflects the offices deemed necessary through the Constitution and/or the General Bylaws. Any office or committee created by the President of the Student Body or the Senate shall not be presented on this diagram.




Ratified by the Senate: [February 2, 2009]
Approved by the Student Body: [February 5, 2009]
Reviewed by the University Council: [March 5, 2009]
Enacted as of: [March 30, 2009]

Please vote on the proposed changes - Feb 24th - 26th online at:

www.vcusga.com

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