• Article I - Incorporation and Name
• Article II - Mission
• Article III - Branches of the Student Government Association
• Section 1. The Student Senate
• Section 2. The House of Representatives
• Section 3. The Student Government Association
• Article IV - Duties and Powers of the Student Government Association
  • Section 1. General
  • Section 2. Legislation
  • Section 3. The Allocation and Revocation of Funds
• Article V - Structure
  • Section 1. Student Government Association Officers
  • Section 2. Student Government Association Membership
  • Section 3. Student Government Association Committees
• Article VI - Elections
  • Section 1. Officers of the Student Government Association
  • Section 2. Representative Members of the House
  • Section 3. Student Senate
• Article VII - Amending the Constitution

  

1. The Student Government Association has the authority, subject to the Bylaws and policies of Centre College , to legislate and to set standards for all other student organizations. Residence halls, student clubs, and other student organizations retain the right to set standards for their own internal governance, so long as such standards are not inconsistent with this Constitution, with legislation passed by the Student Government Association, or with the rules of conduct of the College. Legislation of the Student Government shall take precedence over any conflicting rules or practices of any other student organization.
2. The Student Government Association shall:
   1. run all meetings in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order ;
   2. require quorum to conduct all business, such that a quorum is constituted by a majority plus one of the voting members of each branch or committee, as the case may be, of the Student Government Association;
   3. require the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of each branch or committee, as the case may be, of the Student Government Association present at a meeting of such branch or committee at which a quorum is present to approve any matter being voted upon at such meeting, unless otherwise specifically provided herein;
   4. serve as a forum and voice of student opinion by passing resolutions advising:
1. the College Council on matters of curriculum, calendar and methods of instruction, development of instructional facilities, requirements for graduation, admissions, counseling, athletic programs, academic discipline and other aspects of student affairs that relate to the educational process; and
2. the administration of the College on matters pertaining to residential and social life.
5. make recommendations and enact legislation in accordance with procedures set forth in this constitution;
6. institute projects for the improvement of the campus community; and
7. appropriate funds for the operation of recognized student organizations in accordance with the procedures set forth herein

Section 2 -Legislation

1. The student body has the power, by petition, and subject to the Bylaws and policies of the College, to propose legislation and directly enact or reject such legislation at a campus-wide election.
   1. An initiative petition to propose legislation must contain the signatures of twenty-five percent of the student body.
   2. The petition shall be filed with the President of the Student Government Association, who shall submit the question to the student body within two weeks of such filing for its approval or disapproval.
   3. A majority vote of the student body shall be necessary to enact such legislation.

2. A referendum petition to repeal any legislation passed by the Student Government Association shall be filed with the Student Government Association President, and must contain the signatures of at least twenty-five percent of the student body. If a petition meeting the signature requirement is so filed, then it shall be submitted to the students in a campus-wide election within two weeks of its submission to the President. A majority vote of the student body shall be necessary to repeal Student Government Association enacted legislation.
3. Members of the student body shall have the right to participate in the discussions at all meetings of the Student Government Association, subject to Robert's Rules of Order. The Student Government Association reserves the right to close meetings to the public at any time. Such an action requires a majority vote of the members present so long as quorum is met.

Section 3 -The Allocation and Revocation of Funds

1. Recognition and Allocation
   1. Students reserve the right to begin a new student organization by thier own initiative.
   2. The interested student(s) must submit an application to the Office of Student Acitivities with an advisor's signature, a Constitution/by-laws, a membership list, and a mission/purpose statement.
   3. The Office of Student Activities will turn the application over the Student Government Association Executive Council which will review the application.
   4. The Student Government Association President of Secretary of Administration will submit the request to the members of the General Session forty-eight (48) hours prior to the next session.
   5. The new organization will be reviewed and voted on at the following Gerneral Session. Representatives of the organization have the opporunity to appear before the General Session and discuss the need for the organization and/or answer any questions the General Session may have although this is not required.
2. Funding for Recognized Organizations:
   1. Funding allocation for each academic year shall take place during the prior spring term.
   2. All organizations recognized by the Student Government Association may apply for funding.
   3. All funding requests shall be directed to the Budget Committee through the Student Government Association Secretary of Finance.
   4. Each organization shall provide a justification for the need for Student Government Association funding.
   5. The proper forms shall be sent to each organization's Treasurer or Financial Officer, President and advisor prior to each spring allocation process.
   6. Each organization receiving funds from the Student Government Association will be required to participate in an audit during the winter term.
   7. The Cento, The Olde Centre Yearbook and the Student Activities Council will not be held to the Conditional level of funding (outlined below) due to the size of their respective budgets and the uncertainty of exact events.
3. Funding Structure
   1. Funding for all organizations shall be divided into three tiers:
      1. General Funding:
         1. The General Fund shall be used to finance the daily operational budget of the organization. This shall include but is not limited to monies spent on supplies, printing/advertisement costs, etc.
         2. Funds shall be specified for either the fall or winter/spring terms.
         3. All General Funding will be distributed during the spring allocation.
      2. Conditional Funding:
         1. The Conditional Fund shall be used to finance planned events, guest speakers, and/or trips. This money shall be earmarked specifically for said event.
         2. All Conditional Funds will be distributed during the spring allocation. An approximate dollar amount and a date, by which the event shall occur, must be specified in the request form.
      3. Special Funding:
         1. The Special Fund shall be used to finance events not originally planned in the previous spring request such as guest speakers, trips, and/or unforeseen purchases.
         2. Budgetary needs for special events may be requested at any time during the academic year and organizations will be supplemented at the discretion of the Budget Committee. These funds are not distributed during the spring allocation.
4. Presentation of Proposed Budget
   1. The Budget Committee shall submit to the Student Government Association members a copy of the proposed budget forty-eight hours prior to the General Session at which the budget shall be voted on.
   2. The Budget Committee shall recommend that the Student Government Association accept or reject the budget or specific parts therein.
   3. The budget must be passed by a two-thirds majority vote.
5. Revocation of Funds
   1. General Funds may be revoked if not spent during the semester for which they were designated.
   2. Conditional Funds may be revoked should they not be spent either by said date or for the intended event, or should the event cost less than the amount allocated.
   3. Revocation will occur during the winter term audit.
   4. Revoked monies shall be rolled over into the Student Government Association Special Fund to be distributed at the discretion of the Budget Committee.
6. Reimbursement for Funds Spent
   1. In order to be reimbursed by the Finance Office an organization must complete the proper form obtainable in the Finance Office, enclose a copy of the receipt and provide the signature of the organization's advisor.
   2. The original receipt must be retained to be turned in to the Secretary of Finance for the audit.

Article V - Structure

Section 1 - Student Government Association Officers

The President's Cabinet of the Student Government Association shall be the President, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Secretary of Administration, and Secretary of Finance.

1. The President shall:
1. not go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office;
2. be in good academic and social standing with Centre College ;
3. have served on the Student Government Association for at least one year;
4. nominate the chairs of standing committees, create ad hoc committees of the Student Government Association in addition to standing committees, appoint the chairs of ad hoc committees, and appoint members of the Student Government Association to such committees, as he/she shall deem necessary;
5. attend meetings of the Student Government Association with voting privileges
6. serve as an ex-officio member of all the Student Government Association committees;
7. preside over meetings of the Executive Committee;
8. serve on the College Council Nominating and Steering Committee
9. use his/her best efforts to attend all College Council meetings, with voting privileges, during his/her term of office;
10. advise the President of the College and the College Council Nominating Committee regarding which students should serve on College Council committees;
11. be invited to represent the student population at Board of Trustees meetings, use his/her best efforts to attend all meetings of the Board of Trustees to which he/she is invited, and report on the work of the Student Government Association; and
12. in the event that an officer is absent from a meeting, appoint a member of the Student Government Association to fill the position in the officer's absence.
2. The Speaker of the House shall:
1. not go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office.
2. be in good academic and social standing with Centre College ;
3. have served on the Student Government Association for at least one year;
4. attend executive committee meetings of the Student Government Association and General Sessions of the Student Government Association.
5. preside over General Sessions of the Student Government Association;
6. serve as President in the absence of the President of the Student Government Association;
7. serve as a voting member of the Student Government Association only in the event of a tie;
8. use his/her best efforts to attend all College Council meetings, with voting privileges, during his/her term of office; and
9. serve on the College Council Steering Committee.
3. The President of the Senate shall:
   1. not go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office;
   2. be a senior who has completed one full year as a Student Senator;
   3. preside over meetings of the Student Senate;
   4. serve as a voting member of the Student Senate only in the event of a tie;
   5. use his/her best efforts to attend all College Council meetings, with voting privileges, during his/her term of office;
   6. attend executive committee meetings of the Student Government Association and General Sessions of the Student Government Association.
4. The Secretary of Administration shall:
   1. not go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office;
   2. be in good academic and social standing with Centre College ;
   3. have served on the Student Government Association for at least one year;
   4. be nominated and elected by the Student Government Association in a session following the annual Spring elections but no later than the end of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the Secretary of Administration shall serve;
   5. attend and keep accurate minutes and attendance records for meetings of the Student Government Association and the Executive Committee;
   6. maintain the files of the Student Government Association;
   7. publish the minutes of each meeting of the Student Government Association in such a manner as the Student Government Association determines appropriate to reasonably inform the student body of the actions of the Student Government Association;
   8. serve as a voting member of the Student Government Association;
   9. provide at least three (3) days advance notice and an agenda for the meetings of the Student Government Association to SGA members;
   10. enforce the attendance policy established by and governing the members of the Student Government Association; and
5. The Secretary of Finance shall:
   1. not go abroad during fall, winter, or spring term while serving his/her term of office;
   2. be in good academic and social standing with Centre College ;
   3. have served on the Student Government Association for at least one year;
   4. be nominated and elected by the Student Government Association in a session following the confirmations of the standing committee chairs but no later than the end of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the Secretary of Finance shall serve;
   5. attend executive committee meetings of the Student Government Association and General Sessions of the Student Government Association.
   6. serve as a voting member of the Student Government Association;
   7. serve as Chair of the Budget Committee;
   8. maintain the financial assets of the Student Government Association;
   9. keep records of financial transactions of the Student Government Association;
   10. disburse funds of the Student Government Association when so authorized by the Student Government Association;
   11. report on the financial activities of the Student Government Association at each meeting of the Student Government Association;
   12. conduct yearly financial audits of student organizations that have received funds from the Student Government Association; and
   13. publish a balance of funds and financial analysis for the Student Government Association twice each year.

Section 2 -Student Government Association Membership

1. The Student Government Association shall consist of all members of the Student Senate and House of Representatives duly elected in accordance with the process set forth in Article VI, Sections 2 and 3 of this Constitution.
2. Only duly elected members of the Student Government Association shall exercise a voting privilege at meetings of the Student Government Association, including the Senior At-Large Representative, the Junior At-Large Representative, the President of the Senate, the President of the Senate Pro-Tempore, the Student Affairs Committee Chairperson, the Campus Improvements Committee Chairperson, the Instructional and Technology Resources Committee Chairperson, and the Dining Services Committee Chairperson.
3. Each member of the Student Government Association shall be assigned by the President of the Student Government Association to at least one committee.
4. The Student Government Association shall establish an attendance policy for the members during the first session of the Student Government Association in each academic year.

Section 3 -Student Government Association Committees

The Student Government Association shall maintain an Executive Committee and the following five standing committees (with membership determined through members' self-nomination to committees, and final approval through appointment by the President of the Student Government Association at the first session of the Student Government Association in each academic year): Budget Committee, Student Affairs Committee, Campus Improvements Committee, Instructional and Technology Resources Committee, and Dining Services Committee.

1. The Executive Committee

The Executive Board shall be composed of the five Student Government Association cabinet members, the standing committee chairs, the President Pro-tempore of the Senate, the Senior At-Large Representative, and the Junior At-Large Representative.

1. The Executive Committee shall:
   1. determine the agenda for each Student Government Association General Session;
   2. serve as the preliminary forum for ideas, legislation, resolutions, and projects prior to the meetings of the Student Government Association;
   3. meet within one week before each Student Government Association meeting to consider matters brought before it;
   4. use their best efforts to attend all College Council meetings while serving on the Executive Board, with the exception of the Secretary of Administration and the Secretary of Finance;
   5. consider all legislation, projects, and ideas brought before the committee that do not deal with budgetary matters;
   6. make recommendations with respect to any legislation under consideration by the Student Government Association; and
   7. serve as an oversight committee for the Student Government Association
2. Legislation must be approved at a session of the Student Government Association.
   1. Legislation considered and approved by the Executive Board shall require passage at a session of the Student Government Association.
   2. Legislation considered but not approved by the Executive Board shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Student Government Association present at a session in order to become effective.
2. The Budget Committee
   1. The committee shall:
      1. formulate and manage the Student Government Association budget;
      2. meet when necessary to consider funding requests;
      3. allocate funds during the spring for the upcoming academic year to those organizations who request funds by completing and submitting the appropriate paperwork.
      4. publish an annual budget report on all organizations that have received funds during the current academic year;
      5. in winter term, perform an audit of all organizations that received funds during the current academic year, repossessing any excess funds remaining in those budgets to be reallocated for other purposes;
      6. be chaired by the Secretary of Finance; and
      7. be composed of an odd number of Student Government Association members.
   2. Funding requests approved by the Budget Committee must be approved at a session of the Student Government Association before funds shall be disbursed.
3. The Student Affairs Committee

The Chair of the Student Affairs Committee shall be nominated by the newly elected Student Government Association President and ratified by the Student Government Association in a session no later than the end of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the Chair shall serve.

1. Only members who have served a year on the Student Government Association may be nominated.
2. The nominee must agree not to go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office.
3. The committee shall bring forth and consider issues relating to:
   1. matters of concern related to student affairs;
   2. the production and organization of the Front and Centre news program ;
   3. any other projects assigned to it which are not in direct conflict with the responsibilities of any other committee of the Student Government Association.
4. Legislation must be approved at a session of the Student Government Association.
   1. Legislation considered and approved by the Student Affairs Committee shall require passage at a session of the Student Government Association.
   2. Legislation considered but not approved by the Student Affairs Committee shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Student Government Association present at a session in order to become effective.
4. The Campus Improvements Committee

The Chair of the Campus Improvements Committee shall be nominated by the newly elected Student Government Association President and ratified by the Student Government Association in a session no later than the end of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the Chair shall serve.

1. Only members who have served a year on the Student Government Association may be nominated.
2. The nominee must agree not to go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office.
3. The committee shall bring forth and consider issues relating to:
   1. housing and facilities management; and
   2. any other projects assigned to it which are not in direct conflict with the responsibilities of any other committee of the Student Congress.
4. Legislation must be approved at a session of the Student Government Association.
   1. Legislation considered and approved by the Campus Improvements Committee shall require passage at a session of the Student Government Association.
   2. Legislation considered but not approved by the Campus Improvements Committee shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Student Government Association present at a session in order to become effective.
5. The Instructional and Technology Resources Committee

The Chair of the Instructional and Technology Resources Committee shall be nominated by the newly elected Student Government Association President and ratified by the Student Government Association in a session no later than the end of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the Chair shall serve.

1. Only members who have served a year on the Student Government Association may be nominated.
2. The nominee must agree not to go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office.
3. The committee shall bring forth and consider issues relating to:
   1. library services, bookstore resources, and information technology; and
   2. any other projects assigned to it which are not in direct conflict with the responsibilities of any other committee of the Student Government Association.
4. Legislation must be approved at a session of the Student Government Association.
   1. Legislation considered and approved by the Instructional and Technology Resources Committee shall require passage at a session of the Student Government Association.
   2. Legislation considered but not approved by the Instructional and Technology Resources Committee shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Student Government Association present at a session in order to become effective.
6. The Dining Services Committee

The Chair of the Dining Services Committee shall be nominated by the newly elected Student Government Association President and ratified by the Student Government Association in a session no later than the end of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the Chair shall serve.

1. Only members who have served a year on the Student Government Association may be nominated.
2. The nominee must agree not to go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office.
3. The committee shall bring forth and consider issues relating to:
   1. the various dining options on campus; and
   2. any other projects assigned to it which are not in direct conflict with the responsibilities of any other committee of the Student Government Association.
4. Legislation must be approved at a session of the Student Government Association.
   1. Legislation considered and approved by the Dining Services Committee shall require passage at a session of the Student Government Association.
   2. Legislation considered but not approved by the Dining Services Committee shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Student Government Association present at a session in order to become effective.

Article VI - Elections

Section 1 -Officers of the Student Government Association

1. The President of the Student Government Association and the Speaker of the House shall be chosen in a campus-wide election held late in the Spring Term of each academic year.
   1. The Student Government Association President and Student Activities Director shall specify a date late in the Spring Term for such elections to be held, and a public notice must be made to the student body.
   2. Campaigns and advertisements for candidates must follow the posting policy as outlined in the Centre College handbook.
   3. Candidates for the President of the Student Government Association and the Speaker of the House shall be nominated by petition in approval of their candidacy containing the signatures of no less than twenty-five percent of the student body. Only members who have served a year on the Student Government Association may be nominated. All Centre College students shall be eligible to vote in campus-wide elections. The President and Speaker of the House must each receive a minimum of 50 percent of the campus-wide votes. A run-off election may be needed if there are more than two candidates.
   4. The term of office of the members of the Executive Committee shall begin after being sworn in at the final session of the Student Government Association following the annual spring elections and shall end upon commencement of the term of office of his or her successor in office;
      1. the members of the Executive Board shall take the following oath of office: "I do hereby solemnly swear (or affirm) upon my honor that I will, to the best of my abilities, faithfully execute and discharge the duties of the office into which I am about to enter."
   5. Should a vacancy occur during the term of any of the officers:
      1. in the case of the President, the Speaker of the House shall succeed;
      2. in the case of the Speaker of the House, an election shall be held within two weeks to fill the vacancy, in accordance with the election procedures for the Speaker of the House provided in sub-sections A.1 and A.2 of this section; and
      3. in the case of all other officers, the position shall be filled by following the procedure established for initial selection for that respective office.
2. The recall of a Student Government officer shall proceed in the following manner:
   1. a petition containing the signatures of twenty-five percent of the student body shall be required to be presented to the Student Government Association President before the question of whether to recall an officer shall be presented to the student body;
   2. within one week of the filing of such a petition, the President's Cabinet shall submit the question to the student body; and
   3. a two-thirds majority of the student body shall be necessary to recall the officer in question.

Section 2 -Representative Members of the House

1. Elections for representatives to serve in the House of Representatives shall be held within the first four weeks of class in each Fall Term on a date to be selected by the Executive Committee.
   1. All students properly enrolled at and in good academic and social standing with Centre College shall be eligible to run for the office of representative.
   2. The freshmen and sophomore classes shall each have the right to elect seven representatives; the junior and senior classes shall each have the right to elect four representatives.
   3. Candidates for representative shall be required to submit a petition to the President of the Student Government Association signed by no fewer than 100 members of the petitioner's class.
2. If any open positions remain after the Fall Term elections, those positions become available to the campus at large and a new election shall be held in accordance with subsections A.1 and A.3 of this section.
3. The Student Government Association shall, after considering the confirmation of the persons nominated for standing committee chairs of the Student Government Association and electing the Secretary of Finance and the Secretary of Administration, nominate and elect a student who will be in the senior class of Centre College during the following academic year to serve as Senior At-Large during said year. The Senior At-Large Representative shall:
   1. attend executive committee meetings of the Student Government Association and General Sessions of the Student Government Association.
   2. preside over meetings of the Student Government Association in the absence of the Speaker of the House;
   3. use his/her best efforts to attend all College Council meetings, without voting privileges, during his/her term of office;
   4. not go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office.
4. The Student Government Association shall, after electing the Senior At-Large Representative, nominate and elect a student who will be in the junior class of Centre College during the following academic year to serve as Junior At-Large Representative during said year. The Junior At-Large Representative shall:
   1. attend executive committee meetings of the Student Government Association and General Sessions of the Student Government Association.
   2. use his/her best efforts to attend all College Council meetings, without voting privileges, during his/her term of office.

Section 3 -The Student Senate

1. Senators shall be nominated by the Student Senate and chosen in a campus-wide election held concurrently with the election for the President of the Student Government Association and the Speaker of the House late in the Spring Term of each academic year.
2. Senators must have a 3.0 minimum GPA or higher, must be a sophomore when nominated, and must be in good social standing with Centre College .
3. Two students each from both the junior and senior classes and each academic division shall be elected to serve as Senators for two-year terms.
4. After new Senators are selected, all Senators (then sophomores through current seniors) shall elect a student who will be in the junior or senior class of Centre College during the following academic year to serve as President Pro-tempore of the Senate during said year and a student who will be in the senior class of Centre College during the following academic year to serve as President of the Senate during said year.
5. The President Pro-tempore of the Senate shall:
   1. preside over meetings of the Student Senate in the absence of the President of the Senate;
   2. use his/her best efforts to attend all College Council meetings, without voting privileges, during his/her term of office;
   3. not go abroad during fall or spring term while serving his/her term of office; and
   4. maintain Student Senate election results from the previous Spring Term elections.
6. If a student elected to the Student Senate is unable to serve or complete their term of office, the runner-up in the election shall fill the vacancy.

Article VII - Amending the Constitution

Section 1. Proposals may be made for amendments to, or revision of, this Constitution by a majority vote of the Student Government Association membership or by petition from twenty-five percent of the student body.

Section 2. In order to become effective, all such amendments or revisions shall be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the student body and if so ratified, shall take effect upon the approval of the student body, pending College approval.

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