Angelo State University Student Government By-Laws

Article I
General Organization

Chapter 1. All legislative powers granted to the Student Government Association (SGA) shall be vested in a Student Senate. The Student Senate shall be responsible for recommending the construction and adoption of a Code of Laws pertaining to the organization of the Student Senate. The Code of Laws shall not conflict with the provisions of the constitution, University rules and regulations, or the Board of Regents rules and regulations. The Angelo State University Student Body Constitution shall supersede any portion of the Student Body Code of Laws should a conflict arise.

Chapter 2. Senate Membership and appointment of the Student Senate shall be established by and set forth in the Student Body Constitution.

Chapter 3. Executive Officers of the Student Body –
Section 1. The President of the Student Body shall:
A. Exercise all executive duties and powers granted by the Student Body Constitution and this Code of Laws
B. Be authorized to appoint officials, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to the executive cabinet, judicial council, election commission, or other specified posts previously established by law.
C. Delegate any executive duty, granted by law or virtue of office, to any officer approved by the Senate.
D. Issue all executive orders in writing and submit a copy to the Student Body Secretary for record and notice to the Student Senate.
E. Be involved in the selection process of the Student Body Secretary.
F. Received compensation as set forth by the University.

Section 2. The Vice President of the Student Body shall preside over all formal meetings of the Senate as Chairperson. Qualifications, powers, and duties shall be established and set forth in the Student Body Constitution.

Section 3. The Vice President as Chairperson shall:
A. Be considered the President of the Senate.
B. Have no vote in the Senate except in the event of a tie.
C. Maintain order at all times with assistance from the Senate Parliamentarian if necessary.
D. Be thoroughly versed in parliamentary procedure.
E. Not debate from the Chair except in the case of an appeal.
F. At no time decide on a question involving solely the constitutionality of a piece of legislation.
G. Follow the order of business as prescribed by the agenda unless the rules are suspended.
H. Remain impartial at all times while conducting meetings
I. Make clear to all Senators the issue in question.
J. Execute all powers and duties found in the constitution and the Code of Laws consistent with University policy and rules and regulations of the Board of Regents.
K. Be the only person authorized to recognize persons wishing to speak during a senate meeting.
L. Not recognize anyone except Senators, the Student Body President, SGA Faculty Advisor, Ex-Officio members, and scheduled speakers during old and new business sections of the Agenda.
M. Recognize persons wishing to speak in a fair and impartial manner.
N. Receive compensation as set forth by the University.

Section 4. The President Pro-Tempore Shall:
A. Be nominated by the Student Senate and elected by a majority vote.
B. Act as an assistant to the Vice President and assume the Vice President’s duties and powers in his/her absence;
C. Meet with the Chairperson on all standing committees as deemed necessary by the Vice President
D. Appoint Standing Senate Committee Chairpersons with majority approval of the Senate.
E. Check the Student Government Association Suggestion box twice a month;
F. Be a Student Senator.

Section 5. The Senate Parliamentarian shall:
G. Be nominated by the Student Senate and elected by a majority vote.
H. Have a thorough knowledge of the Student Senate and Parliamentary procedures including Robert’s Rules of Order, the Angelo State University Student Body Constitution, Code of Laws, and Rules of the Senate.
I. In the absence of the Vice President of the Student Body and President Pro-Tempore, designate a member or ex-officio member of the Senate to act as Chairperson until the return of the Vice President or President Pro-Tempore.
J. Point out serious errors in procedure to the Chairperson of the Student Senate.
K. Record all questions of order and other questions of procedure for future reference.
L. Keep time during periods of limited debate and/or speeches of debate.
M. Enforce the Angelo State University Student Body Constitution, Code and Rules by all proscribed means including, but not limited to, removal of any person deemed out of order by the President of the Senate.
N. Be a Student Senator.

Section 5. The Senate Treasurer shall:
A. Be nominated by the Student Senate and elected by majority vote.
B. Assist the President of the Student Body with a proposed budget.
C. Keep accurate records pertaining to the budget of the Senate
D. Authorize Senate expenditures along with the President of the Student Body.
E. Report to the Senate all fines and expenditures pertaining to the SGA.
F. Be a Student Senator.

Section 6. The Senate Clerk shall:
A. Be nominated by the Student Senate and elected by a majority vote.
B. Assist the Student Body Secretary in keeping a permanent record of all student Senate proceedings in the form of minutes, to be posted within three days after the meeting.
C. Be responsible for publishing the Agenda of the Senate.
D. Complete all responsibilities of the Student Body Secretary in his/her absence or until a suitable replacement is selected.
E. Be a Student Senator.

Section 7. The Student Senate may appoint a qualified deputy, by a nomination from the Student Senate and a majority vote, for the offices of Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and Clerk to fulfill all respective duties in his/her absence.

Chapter 4. Senators

Section 1. The newly installed Vice-President of the Student Body shall conduct installation of senators at the first meeting of the new legislative session.

Section 2. The term of the Senate shall be one year from the installation of a new Student Body President and Student Body Vice-President, and the installation of a new legislative body of Senators.

Section 3. A Senator shall automatically forfeit his membership in the Senate if he ceases to be enrolled in the electorate that he/she represents as determined by the Election Commission.

Section 4. Senators shall be required to attend all Senate meetings, committee meetings, and pre-set office hours. The absence policy shall be strictly enforced in accordance with the Code of Laws and with the Rules of the Senate.

Section 5. Vacancies occurring in the Student Senate may be filled by appointment by the Student Body President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate by majority vote.

Chapter 5. Administrative Positions

Section 1. The Student Body Secretary Shall:
A. Perform duties for all branches of the SGA as requested by the Student Body President, Vice-President, President Pro-Tempore, Chief Judicial Counselor, and/or Election Commissioner.
B. Keep a permanent record of all Student Senate proceedings in the form of minutes, to be posted within three days after the meeting
C. Be responsible for the printing of all SGA literature.
D. Keep a record of all absences and excuses from the Senate Meetings.
E. Keep an accurate, up-to-date Student Senate Roster.
F. Be responsible for maintaining the Student Senate’s books of legislation.
G. Be responsible for carrying out all official correspondence for the Student Senate including sending the Student Senate Minutes to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Student Life, the SGA Advisor(s), and any other member of the campus community who requests a copy.
H. Be an Ex Officio member of the Student Senate.
I. Be responsible for informing the Chairperson of the Senate when legislation has been officially given to the Student Body President for his/her action.
J. Be responsible for maintaining the Student Government Association Legislation Database.
K. Receive compensation as set forth by the University.

Chapter 6. Executive Cabinet

Section 1. The ASUSB Secretary of State shall:
A. Be appointed by the Student Body President with the support of a majority of the Senate.
B. Serve as the Chief Diplomat for the Student Body President and the Student Body Vice President.
C. Serve a term of one year in the position.
D. Be a member of the Executive Cabinet of the SGA.
E. Fulfill the same academic requirements as a Student Senator.

Section 2. The ASUSB Secretary of University Affairs shall:
A. Be appointed by the Student Body President and confirmed by a majority vote of the ASU Student Senate.
B. Serve as a liaison from the office of the Student Body President to the Faculty, Staff, and Administration of Angelo State University.
C. Be considered a Special Advisor to the Executive Branch of the SGA on matter related to Angelo State University.
D. Advise and assist the Student Body President on the state of the university and policy proposals from within the Administration of Angelo State University.
E. Serve as the President’s principle arm for coordinating policies among the various student government and university agencies.
F. Serve a term of one year in the position.
G. Be a member of the Executive Cabinet of the SGA.
H. Fulfill the same academic requirements as a Student Senator.

Article II
Legislative and Senate Procedures

Chapter 1. Duties and Powers of the Student Senate:

Section 1. The Student Senate shall have the power to conduct Executive Session. Moving into Executive Session shall require a majority vote.
A. An Executive Session shall only be valid if previous notice is given one week prior to the time the session is held, or if previous notice is given in compliance with the time frame as described below.
B. An Executive Session shall be defined as a specific period of time in a normal Student Senate meeting during which only the Executive Officers of the Student Body, members of the Student Senate and the SGA Faculty Advisor shall be present.
a. If the Senate so desired, they may vote to include other members of the SGA in the Executive Session. Approval shall require a two-thirds vote of the Senate.

Section 2. The Student Senate shall have the power to initiate impeachment of an SGA officer or Senator. Conviction of impeachment shall require a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
A. The process of impeachment shall be initiated when a Student Senator submits a formal written motion of impeachment to the Vice President of the Student Body.
B. The Vice President of the Student Body shall be required to present the formal written motion of impeachment to the Senate within 10 business days of receiving the motion.
C. The President of the Student Body shall select a special committee of five Senators to research the validity of and the specific reasons for the motion of impeachment on the same day that the motion of impeachment is first presented to the Senate. The committee shall report back to the Senate within 10 business days of selection.
D. The Senate shall conduct an Executive Session after the allotted days for the special committee’s investigation to allow for debate on the motion. The accused party shall be afforded the same rights and privileges as other Senators to speak in his/her own defense.

Section 3. The Student Senate shall approve or disapprove recommended appointments made by the President of the Student Body to the executive cabinet, judicial council, election commission, or other specified posts previously established by law by a majority vote.

Section 4. The Student Senate shall approve or disapprove recommended appointments made by the President of the Student Body to Faculty and University committees and other positions that require Senate approval.

Section 5. The Student Senate may require the President of the Student Body to establish ad-hoc and special committees to study problems and propose legislation and programs.
A. Establishment of Special Committees – In order to assist the President of the Student Body in performing his/her duties, the President shall have the authority to appoint, by and with the consent of the Senate, special committees as outlined in Article II, Chapter I, Section 4, Subsection A1, or any other committees as required by law or that the President deems necessary.
a. Committee on Elections – This committee that shall be appointed by the President of the Student Body at the beginning of each legislative session and shall be composed of one Senator from each electorate, and other members of the Student Body, Administration, Faculty, or Staff of the University as deemed necessary by the President. The committee shall be chaired by the Vice President of the Student Body, who shall have all powers granted to them by the President of the Student Body in accordance with the Election Code and Student Body Constitution.

Section 6. The Student Senate shall have the power to over-ride a veto by the President of the Student Body by a vote of two-thirds of its members.

Section 7. The Student Senate shall:
A. Apportion itself at least every two years;
B. Set the date of spring general elections to be held the second Tuesday and Wednesday of April;
C. Approve election procedures in accordance with the SGA Election Code.

Section 8. The Student Senate shall approve or disapprove of the reapportionment of the Student Senate in accordance with the Student Body Constitution.

Section 9. The Student Senate shall approve or disapprove of the appointment by the President of the Student Body of Freshman Senators who shall fulfill all academic requirements and duties of a Student Senator necessary to retain office in accordance with the Student Body Constitution.

Chapter 2. Senate Procedures.

Section 1. Any and all questions of parliamentary procedures that are not addressed in the Student Body Constitution, Student Body Code of Laws, and the Student Senate Rules shall be referenced to Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised Edition.

Section 2. The Student Senate shall meet no less than once every other week of the Fall and Spring semesters, beginning with the second full week of regular classes. Each new legislative session of the Senate shall determine the meetings, time, and place immediately after assuming office.

Section 3. The Student Senate shall conduct no official business without the presence of a quorum.

Section 4. A quorum for the conduct of business shall be a majority of the membership of the Student Senate. Membership shall be determined by the total number of Senators on the roll at the time a meeting is called to order.

Section 5. The Senate shall compel attendance of its members:
A. An absence shall be automatically excused so long as it is in accord with the University Guidelines for Excused Absences established in the ASU Student Handbook for that respective Year.
a. The Senator in question shall notify the President Pro-Tempore in writing of the reason for their absence prior to the time of absence unless extenuating circumstances (as determined by the President Pro-Tempore) prevent prior notification.
b. An absence for any other reason than those set up in the ASU Student Handbook or that is not specifically addressed in the Code of Laws shall be excused by a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate.
c. In the event of the absence of the President Pro-Tempore he/she shall report to the President of the Senate.
B. A Senator who accumulates three unexcused absences in a given semester shall be removed from the Senate.
a. Committee meeting and office hour absences shall be interchangeable considered one-third of a total Senate absence (i.e. – Absence at three office hours, three committee meetings, or any combination of three absences between office hours and committee meetings shall equal one unexcused absence in the Senate).
b. Absences accumulated due to missed office hours or lack of committee meeting attendance shall require a three-fourths vote of the Senate to be excused.
c. A senator shall be considered absent if he/she arrives after the Presiding Officer’s Report or leaves before General Discussion concludes.

Section 6. All other Senate procedures shall be established and maintained within the Rules of the Senate.

Article III
Budget and Appropriations

Chapter 1. Budgetary Procedures

Section 1. The President of the Student Body shall submit an annual budget at the first Senate meeting of the Fall Semester to be approved with any amendments by a majority vote of the Senate.

Section 2. The Budget must include the following items:
A. Programming Functions costs
B. Election Commission allocations
C. Judiciary Expenditures
D. Publicity expenditures
E. Office supply expenditures
F. Copying and mailing expenditures
G. Allocations for standing committees.
H. Other anticipated expenditures greater than $100.

Section 3. Each item in the budget must include the following descriptions:
A. Amount of funding requested
B. Purpose of the requested funds.
C. Quantity and costs of goods or services necessary for the completion of the item.
D. Date by which the requested funds shall be delivered.
E. Date by which the funds shall be sent.

Section 4. Any additional expenditure to items listed in the budget greater then $100 shall require the following:
A. A description as outlined in Section 3, clauses A-E.
B. A majority vote of the Senate
C. A revised Budget for the remainder of the season.

Section 5. The Senate shall be promptly notified of all spending that does not fit the description proposed in the approved budget.

Section 6. Expenditures for items not listed in the approved budget shall require two-thirds approval of the senate.

Section7. Deliberately withholding information from the Senate pertaining to the mishandling or misappropriation of Senate funds shall be grounds for removal from office.

Chapter 2. Appropriation Review

Section 1. The Senate may request from the Treasurer, at any time, a current Budget along with the balance of all items therein, which shall be presented at the next meeting of the Senate.

Section 2. The Judicial Council shall appoint an investigator from a branch of SGA not involved in the dispute with the approval of the Senate to review all accusations of mishandling of funds.

Article IV
The Judicial Branch

Chapter 1. The Judicial Council

Section 1. The Judicial Council shall consist of five Councilors appointed by the President of the Student Body and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate no earlier than the last Senate meeting prior to Spring Elections.

Section 2. The terms of the Councilors shall coincide with the installation of the new President and Vice President of the Student Body, and Senators, at which point the new Councilors shall take office.

Section 3. The President of the Student Body shall appoint students to fill any vacancy on the Judicial Council by majority confirmation of the Senate.

Chapter 2. The Senate shall establish and maintain all other guidelines for the Judicial Branch within the Rules and Procedures of the Judiciary.

Article V
The Election Code and Commission

Chapter 1. The Student Senate shall establish and maintain an SGA Election Code and establish an Election Commission

Chapter 2. Appointment of the Election Commission:

Section 1. The President of the Student Body shall appoint one student from each electorate to the Election Commission by and with the advice and consent of the Senate no later than the third Fall Semester meeting of the Senate.

Section 2. The President shall appoint one student from each electorate to the Election committee who shall:
A. Hold no other office within the Student Government Association.
B. Meet the same qualifications of office as a Senator or Freshman Senator.
C. Be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate.
D. Remain in office during the Student Body President’s Term.

Section 3. Senators from the relevant electorate shall approve of student appointments by the President of the Student Body to fill any vacancies that occur on the Commission, so long as each meets the same qualifications as specified in Section 2, clauses A-D.

Chapter 3. Administration and Procedures of the Election Commission:

Section 1. The Election Commissioner shall:
A. Not be a member of the Student Senate.
B. Meet the same academic requirements as the Student Body President
C. Be elected by a majority vote of the Election Commission.
D. Hold all executive power within the Commission.
E. Appoint officers within the Commission by and with the advice and consent of the Election Commission.
F. Authorize Election Commission expenditures.
G. Be present at the counting of ballots.
H. Certify all SGA elections.

Section 2. The Election Commissioner shall appoint a Deputy Commissioner sharing the same qualifications as the Chair by and with the consent of the election Commission and a Secretary from the Election Commission.

Chapter 4. Powers and Duties of the election Commission

Section 1. The Election Commission shall be entitled to a budget provided by the Senate for the following purposes:
A. Election publicity and advertising
B. Purchasing of voting equipment.
C. Other costs incurred in the execution of the duties of the Election Commission approved by the Senate.

Section 2. The Election Commission shall:
A. Supervise all filing procedures.
B. Maintain compliance with campaign rules.
C. Ensure that each election is publicized, and all results are posted following the completion of an election.
D. Hold special elections when necessary.
E. Hold run-off elections, if such are in order.
F. Supervise the recount and protest procedures.
G. Monitor the polling of all elections by having a member of the Election Commission present during all voting hours.

Section 3. Any member of the Election commission who seeks an elected office of the SGA or actively supports a candidate in an election of the SGA to be conducted by the Election Commission shall resign from the Commission but may be reinstated by the Student body President at a later date.

Article VI
Student Organization Allocations and Resource Fund (SOAR)

Chapter 1. Funding Criteria of SOAR Grants:

Section 1. SOAR grants shall only be issued to registered student organizations. SOAR grants shall not be issued to student organizations that receive funding from any other University Fees.

Section 2. SOAR grants shall not be issued for purely social programs or activities, political activities purely partisan in nature, an organization’s dues to a parent organization, scholarships or awards, or maintenance and operations that are not specifically related to the approved program.

Section 3. SOAR grants shall be issued for no more than $500 and shall require that the student organization match the grant amount. Only one SOAR grant shall be issued per project per student organization.

Section 4. No student organization shall receive more than $500 in SOAR grants in one semester.

Chapter 2. SOAR Application Process:

Section 1. All SOAR grant request must be made at least three weeks prior to project initiation and no SOAR grants shall be issued retroactively.

Section 2. The SOAR committee shall be the appropriate committee to advise the full Senate on the approval of disapproval of all SOAR grant requests.
A. SOAR grant request shall be sent to the SOAR committee only after specific legislations has been filed with the Senate.
B. The SOAR committee shall give notice to the Senate of an organization’s standing prior to the awarding of any SOAR grant.

Section 3. The SOAR application shall:
A. Make apparent the obligations of the applicant organization.
B. Comply with the code, and all subsequent SOAR legislation.
C. Be considered a binding agreement between the Senate and the applicant organization if SOAR funding is granted.

Chapter 3. SOAR Responsibilities:

Section 1. All SOAR grants shall be issued on the pre-condition that the student organization receiving the grant shall, within three weeks of the project, brief the Senate. This briefing shall include:
A. The project’s outcome.
B. An itemized list of expenditures along with original documentation.
C. Verifying the student organization matched the full amount of the SOAR grant with the organization’s money.

Section 2. Failure of a student organization to comply with any section or clause within article VI, Chapter 3 shall render them subject to penalties listed within this Code.

Chapter 4. SOAR Penalties and Procedures:

Section 1. Organizations who violate the terms or conditions of this Code shall be considered SOAR delinquent organizations.

Section 2. The SOAR committee shall notify a delinquent organization at the time delinquency is established.

Section 3. A delinquent organization shall be ineligible for the full amount of SOAR funding in regards to said organization’s subsequent SOAR grants. SOAR funding shall be penalized in the following manner.
A. At the time notification is given the delinquent organization’s maximum SOAR eligibility shall be reduced by $100.
B. Said organization’s SOAR eligibility shall be further reduced $100 per week from the time of notification for a period not to exceed three weeks.

Section 4. Any qualifying organizations, regardless of past delinquency, shall be eligible, with the approval of the Senate, for a SOAR grant in the amount of $100

Section 5. A delinquent organization that fulfills its obligations to the Senate shall have its SOAR eligibility amount raised by $100.

Section 6. A delinquent organization shall regain full eligibility for SOAR funding when said organization complies with all SOAR related obligations and time requirements in the course of the SOAR grant process.

Section 7. The student who signs for the check shall have a hold placed on his or her account until all conditions mentioned in Subsections A-C of Article VI, Chapter 3, Section 1 of this code are met.

Article VII
Ratification and Amendments

Chapter 1. This Code of Laws shall constitute valid law, replacing any previous Code of Laws, upon majority approval of the Angelo State University Student Senate and signature of the Angelo State University Student Body President.

Chapter 2. This Code of Laws may be revised or amended by a majority vote of the total membership of Senators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This document and its contents reflect the views and opinions of the author(s) and not necessarily those of ASU or The Texas Tech University System