CONSTITUTION OF THE
NORTHEASTERN STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OF
OF NORTHEASTERN
PREAMBLE
WE, THE STUDENTS of
ARTICLE I
NAME & PURPOSE
Section 1. The Northeastern Student Government
Association (NSGA) shall be the official organization to represent the students
of Northeastern State University (NSU) Tahlequah Campus.
Section 2. The Northeastern Student Government
Association (NSGA) purpose shall be those stated in the PREAMBLE.
Section 3. The governing body shall be subject
to the limitations and regulations adopted by the Office of Student Affairs
and the University Administration.
MEMBERSHIP & DIVISION OF GOVERNMENT
Section 1. These definitions will
be used by the NSGA to identify the components of the University community.
A. Northeastern State University or
the University is defined as the institution composed of the Board of Regents,
the Administration, the Faculty, and the Students of Northeastern State University
Tahlequah Campus.
B. The Board of Regents is defined
as the governing body of the University deriving its powers from the laws
of the State of
C. The Administration is defined as the administrative
appointees at the University.
D. The Faculty is defined as those
persons appointed primarily for the purpose of conducting classroom activities.
E. Students are defined as all persons currently enrolled
for University credit.
F. Student law shall be defined as
resolutions from the senate, executive orders by the NSGA President, and
decisions of the NSGA Supreme Court adopted by the NSGA.
Section 2. No student shall be discriminated
at
Section 3. All
persons enrolled in a course or courses for credit at
Section 4. The Northeastern Student
Government Association will be organized in three branches. They shall be
the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. The powers and duties are
those mandated by the respective articles of this Constitution.
A. No person or group of persons in
one of these branches will exercise any power belonging to the other, expect
as hereinafter expressly directed or permitted.
LEGISLATIVE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Section 1.
All legislative power granted herein shall be vested in, and exercised
by
The Student Senate of the NSGA.
Section 2. The
Senate shall be composed of individually elected members from each student
organization, by individually elected members of the freshman class, by individually
appointed students from each college on campus, by individually appointed
students not living in a university housing facility and by individually
appointed students living in a university housing facility.
A. Each student organization shall elect individual
members to represent said organization in the Senate.
i. Each organization shall submit to the President
of the Senate one (1) student to represent their organization
ii. The President of the Senate shall confirm that
each student shall be an eligible candidate for appointment from their organization.
(1) The organization must meet University recognition
requirements.
(2) Each recognized student organization must be in
current good standing with NSGA.
B. The freshman class shall elect individual members
to represent themselves.
iii. The freshman class shall elect two (2) senators. The freshman class shall elect one (1) additional senator
for the first five hundred (500) freshman students enrolled. For every additional two hundred and fifty (250) freshman
students enrolled after, the freshman class shall be eligible to elect one
(1) additional senator.
iv. An eligible voter in the freshman class shall be
defined as a student that is recognized as a freshman by the office of admissions
at the University and is enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour..
C. Each individual college shall appoint individual
senators to represent said college.
v. The Dean of each college shall submit to the President
of the Senate two (2) students to represent their respected college.
vi. The President of the Senate shall confirm that
each student shall be an eligible candidate for appointment from their college.
vii. Upon confirmation of eligibility, the President
of the Senate shall submit the names of each student to the Senate for appointment. A majority vote of the Senate is required for any student
to become a senator representing their particular college.
D. Students that do not reside in a university housing
facility (commuters) shall be appointed individual senators to represent
themselves.
viii. The President of the Senate shall appoint to Senate
five (5) students to represent the commuter students on a first come first
serve basis. The prospective senators must produce a list of one hundred
(100) signatures of other commuter students to the President of the Senate
as a requirement of office.
ix. The President of the Senate shall confirm that
each student shall be an eligible candidate for appointment as a commuter.
x. Upon confirmation of eligibility, the President
of the Senate shall submit the names of each student to the Senate for appointment. A majority vote of the Senate is required for any student
to become a senator representing commuting students.
E. Students that do reside in a university
housing facility (campus resident) shall elect individual senators to represent
the residence hall in which they reside.
i. Each
residence hall may elect up to two (2) senators.
ii. Candidates
can only accept and count votes from residents from the resident hall they
live in
iii. Of
the candidates who run, the two candidates who receive a majority of votes
will be confirmed representatives for their dorm
F. The Senate shall be the final
judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and
a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller
number may be authorized to adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized
to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under penalties
as the Senate may see fit.
Section 3. Senators shall represent
the constituents of the area from which were
elected.
Section 4. All organizations registered with the Northeastern
Student Government Association, as well as the Administration, Faculty and
the Oklahoma Statesman shall be granted speaking seats
as designated by the NSGA By-Laws.
Section
5. The officers of the Student Senate shall
be:
A. President of the Student Senate.
i. The Vice President of the Student
Government Association shall serve as the President of the Student Senate.
ii. The President of the Student
Senate shall call and preside over meetings of the Student Senate
iii. The President of the Student
Senate may vote on proposed legislation only to break a tie.
iv. The President of the Senate shall
appoint all other Senate officers and Senate Committees.
v. The President of the Senate shall
receive for his services a compensation not to be increased or diminished
during his term of office;
B. President Pro-Tempore of the Student Senate.
i. The Student Senate shall elect
a President Pro-Tempore from among the Senators by a majority of the voting
membership.
ii. The President Pro-Tempore shall
reside over all meetings in the absence of the President of the Student Senate.
C. Secretary of the Student Senate.
i. The Secretary shall be appointed
by the President of the Student Senate with the approval of two-thirds of
the voting membership of the Student Senate.
ii. The Secretary shall have no
vote in the Senate.
iii. The Secretary shall take minutes
of Senate meetings and perform other duties as set forth by the Student Government
Code.
Section 6. All members of the Student Senate must submit a signed Release
of Information Form to verify that they meet the following qualifications
during their term of office and in order to be a candidate for Senator:
A. Enrollment for University credit.
B. Good conduct standing with the University.
C. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above.
D. The Student Senate shall be the
sole judge of other qualifications of its members.
Section 7. The Senate may determine the rules of its proceedings and shall
keep an official record of these proceedings.
Section 8. Upon petition of five (5) percent of the student body, any legislation
which they (the petitioners) deem necessary shall be submitted to the student
body at the next all-campus election. If accepted, this legislation will
have the same standing as any legislation passed by the Student Senate and
signed by the President. One-third of the voting membership of
the Student Senate may submit any legislation to the members of the NSGA
at the next all-campus election. If approved, such legislation shall have
the same standing as any legislation passed by the Student Senate and signed
by the President.
Section 9. The Student Senate shall
have the power to:
A. Establish regulations affecting student
elections which are open to all member of the student body.
B. Establish criteria for registration
of campus organizations.
C. Impeach Student Justices by a two-thirds
vote of the voting members of the Student Senate, for malfeasance in office
and dereliction of duty.
D. Try Student Justices, after their
impeachment. Conviction will be by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the
Student Senate.
E. Effect by two-thirds of the voting
membership the impeachment of the Executive Officers of the Student Government
Association or any other executive officer, for malfeasance in office and
dereliction of duty.
F.
Approve all student nominations to University Standing Committees
and all other committees which provide for student representation if time
allows.
G. Make all policies; establish Senate
Offices, independent offices unless otherwise prohibited by the Constitution,
which shall be necessary to the exercise of the foregoing and all other powers
vested by this Constitution in the Student Government Association.
H. Elect the President, Vice President,
and Commuter Senators of the Student Government Association if none are provided
by an election as specified in this Constitution.
I. Appoint student representatives,
who represent NSGA to the Faculty Senate and student members of the Faculty
Senate Committees.
J. Establish guidelines for any and
all Student Senate Offices and independent offices.
K. Approve, amend, or reject any and
all proposed bills, resolutions, and/or motions under its consideration.
L. May establish the NSGA By-Laws.
Section 10. Should a Senate seat become vacant, it may be filled in accordance
with the NSGA By-laws.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Section 1. The executive officers of
the Student Government Association shall include the President, Vice President,
Treasurer, Attorney General, the President's Cabinet, and other President
appointments must be approved by the senate. All executive powers are vested
in such officers
Section 2. The executive officers shall
have no vote in the Senate unless otherwise granted by the constitution and
bylaws.
Section 3. All members of the Executive office must submit a signed Release of Information Form to verify that they meet the following qualifications during their term of office and in order to be a candidate for Executive Officer:
A. Enrolled in no less than twelve (12) hours for University
credit.
B. Good conduct standing with the University.
C. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above.
D. The Executive Office shall be the
sole judge of other qualifications of its members.
Section 4. The student holding the position
of President may not concurrently hold the office of President of any other
campus organization.
Section 5. The President shall :
A Be the Chief Executive Officer of the NSGA,
and as such shall:
B Have veto power over all resolutions and legislation
of the NSGA Senate, although the Senate may override such veto by a two-thirds
vote of the current Senate membership.
C Appoint, with a majority vote of
the Senate, the President’s Cabinet members, and the Supreme Court;
D With the permission of the Senate,
the President may address the Senate, and/or recommend to its consideration
any measures that the President deems necessary and appropriate;
E Conduct the Foreign Policy of the
NSGA; With consent of a majority of the Senate the President shall have the
power to enter the NSGA into agreements with national and state student organizations,
with student lobbying groups, and with the student governments and student
organizations of other universities, with other NSU campus organizations,
and with area community organizations;
F Ensure that all actions of the
NSGA are progressing forward to the proper administrative end point and report
back to the Senate the actions progress, in accordance with the constitution
and by-laws of the NSGA.
G Receive a compensation not to be
increased or diminished during the President’s term of office;
H The President shall have the power,
by executive order, to appropriate a limited percentage (10 percent not including
appropriations and wages) of the NSGA budget for recognized NSU student organizations.
The President may also appropriate from the aforementioned funds for events
not related to NSU with an approval of 2/3 of the Senate. The President shall,
after each such appropriation, report their actions to the Senate within
ten (10) school days of the appropriation.
I Appoint student representatives to faculty and
administrative committees.
J The Senate shall have the power, through adoption
of appropriate By-Laws, to establish precise limits upon the President’s
power to appropriate money from the NSGA Budget in the aforementioned fashion.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall :
A Be the Chief Financial Officer of the NSGA, and as such shall:
B Deliver a complete financial report to the Student Senate a minimum of once every four school weeks;
C Receive any funds due the NSGA and then deposit into the NSGA account;
D Dispense any funds authorized through Presidential Executive Order;
E Pay any debts incurred by the NSGA, when duly authorized;
F Collect all receipts for expenditures;
G Keep accurate records of all financial transactions and handle any paperwork necessary for the collection, disbursement, and/or transfer of funds; and
H Keep on file all receipts and copies of all paperwork necessary for the collection, disbursement, and/or transfer of funds.
I Receive for his or her services a compensation not to be increased or diminished during his or her term of office.
Section 7. The Attorney General
shall:
A. Whenever called upon by a member of the
NSGA, may issue opinions concerning the operations of the NSGA. Such opinions
shall be binding upon all executive officers unless overturned in an NSGA
Organizational court.
B. Whenever called upon by a member of the NSGA,
may render officially permitted advice as it pertains to the educational simulation
aspects of the NSGA.
C. The Office of the Attorney General
shall be charged with the representation of the NSGA before any of its Courts,
provided that the Attorney General may agree to allow others to represent
the NSGA if he or she deems it appropriate.
D. The Office of the Attorney General
shall assist members of the Legislature in the formulation of legislation.
E. The Office of the Attorney General may engage
in educational activities with the Courts of the organization, provided that
actual disputes and questions concerning the internal operation shall receive
priority.
F. Receive for his services a compensation not to be increased or diminished during his or her term of office.
Section 8. Upon confirmation of eligibility,
the President of the Senate shall submit the names of the nominees to the
Senate for appointment before the last scheduled senate meeting of the prior
academic year. A majority vote of the Senate is required
for the person to be appointed to a position on the President’s Cabinet.
Section 9. The order of succession shall be
President, Vice-President and President Pro- Tempore.
JUDICIAL BRANCH
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Section 1. All judicial powers of the
Northeastern Student Government Association shall be vested in the Judicial
Branch and such courts as the Senate shall establish.
Section 2. The Judicial Branch shall
be empowered to review and make judgment upon request of a member of the
student body, any document or action of the NSGA with regard to its constitutionality.
Section 3. The Judicial Branch shall
be composed of members of the Student Body.
Section 4. The Judicial Branch of the NSGA shall
consist of the Supreme Court.
A. The NSGA President shall submit
to the President of the Senate five (5) nominations for the NSGA Supreme
Court
B. The Senate shall confirm that
the nominees are eligible candidates for the position they have been nominated..
C. Upon confirmation of eligibility, the President of the Senate shall submit the names of the nominees to the Senate for appointment within the first five (5) weeks of the fall semester. A majority vote of the Senate is required for the person to be appointed to serve on the NSGA Supreme Court.
ARTICLE VI
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution
may be proposed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate, by a petition submitted
to the Senate with the signature and Student ID Number, for identification
purposes, of two hundred (200) students, or by a simple majority of a Constitutional
Convention authorized by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate and
the agreement of the NSGA President.
Section 2. All proposed amendments must be
presented to the student body in a special or regular election. All proposed amendments must be made public at least five
(5) school days in advance of the election. In order
for any amendment to become effective, it must be adopted by a simple majority
of the voters voting in a special or regular election. All
proposed amendments must state the precise time that, if adopted, they shall
become effective.
Section 3. NSGA By-Laws shall become effective
when approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate and may be suspended
by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate.