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Constitution of the Student Association of Bard College

I.Preamble 1II.Membership of the Student Association 1III.Architecture of the Student Association Government 1IV.Central Committee and Legislative Procedure 3 V.The Student Government's Function in the Protection of Academic and Social Rights and Interests of BardCollege Students 4 VI.The Student Government's Function in the Representation of the Student Association to College Administration,Faculty, and Staff 5 VII.The Student Government's Function in the Distribution of Student Funds 6 VIII.General Duties of Officers 6IX.Impeachment of Officers 7 X.Election Procedure 8 XI.Amendments to Governmental Structure 9 XII.Interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws 9

I. Preamble

We, the members of the Bard College Student Association, declare the following to serve as our Constitution. The primaryfunctions of the Student Association government shall be: first, to protect the academic and social rights and interests of thestudents of Bard College; second, to represent the student body to the Bard College administration, faculty, staff, and to other groups; and third, to fairly distribute student funds by means of a budget.This Constitution is framed to insure that all students shall enjoy the rights and freedoms outlined herein, and those of the"Joint Statement of Rights and Freedoms of Students" of the Association of American Colleges.

II. Membership of the Student AssociationII.A. Original Membership

Membership of the Student Association primarily consists of registered undergraduate students of Bard College. Everyregistered undergraduate student of Bard College is automatically a full-voting member of the Student Association. Thismembership and voting right cannot be revoked for any reason except for the discontinuation of registered, undergraduatestudent status.

II.B. Extended Membership

Out of consideration for a the most profound expansion to Bard College, the members of the Student Association herebyformally include all students of The Bard Prison Initiative into their community and their government. The membership of these satellite students is to be organized in accordance with the regulations set by the program and all parts of this constitutionthat are reasonably applicable. The Bard Student Government is committed to representing the needs and interests of the BPIstudents.

III. Architecture of the Student Association GovernmentIII.A. General Organization by Committee

1. There shall be no single student serving as president, chair, or head of the Student Association.2. The Student Association government shall be comprised of both permanent (standing) and temporary (ad-hoc)committees.a. Permanent (standing) committees shall include:i. Student Life Committeeii. Educational Policies Committeeiii. Planning Committeeiv. Central Committee v. Student Responsible Investing Committeeb. Temporary (ad-hoc) committees shall:i. be formed and dissolved by a vote of two-thirds at the student forumii. be established as working groups of students for specific issues3. All committees shall operate with the authority to communicate resolutions of the student body to the Bard College faculty,administration, staff, and outside groups, only after formulated policy recommendations are approved at student forum or byreferendum.4. All committees shall recognize as policy and act upon any resolution or motion passed at the student forums.5. All committees shall prepare reports on their work to be shared at the student forums.1

III.B. General Organization of the Student Senate

1. The Student Senate shall constitute the primary legislative branch of the Student Association.2. The Student Senate shall be comprised of eleven Senators chosen through campus-wide elections, one of whom shall serveas the nonvoting Speaker. The term of office shall be one semester.3. The Student Senate shall reserve the following positions: one for a first-year, one for a sophomore, one for a junior, and onefor a senior. If no eligible student runs, the reserved position shall be held vacant.4. The Senate shall hold weekly meetings, of which at least two per month shall be open to all members of the Student Association. Quorum for all meetings shall be eight Senators. The Speaker must notify every Senator at least 24 hours prior to a meeting of its time and location. The Senate may invite non-members to speak on specific issues at any meeting, open or closed.5. Items before the Senate shall be decided by majority vote, with the Speaker breaking ties.6. The Speaker may convene an emergency meeting, should need arise, and the Senate may compel the Speaker to do so bypresenting the Speaker with a letter signed by at least three Senators.7. A unanimous vote, excluding the Senator in question, shall be sufficient to expel a member from the Student Senate.8. In no way should the Student Senate be taken to limit the authority of the Student Forum.9. Senators shall not be eligible for membership on standing committees or the Student Judiciary Board.10. The Speaker of the Student Senate shall take roll on votes, arrange the agenda for sessions, and present actions of theSenate to the Student Forum. The Speaker shall be elected by the Senate on the first meeting of each semester with a pluralityof the vote. The Senate shall additionally elect a Speaker Pro Tempore, to assume the responsibilities of the Speaker in theSpeaker’s absence. In the event of the Speaker’s removal, for reasons including but not limited to impeachment, expulsion, or resignation, the Senate shall immediately elect a new Speaker.11. Should the Senate feel the Speaker has failed to uphold the duties of office, it can relieve the Speaker of the position withthe concurrence of four fifths of the total body.12. Any Senator may petition in session for the addition of an item to the agenda with the consent of the majority of theSenators present.13. The Senate shall maintain Rules of Order; provided they do not conflict with the Constitution, they shall be binding.They may be amended with the consent of three fifths of the Senators present.

III.C. General Organization of the Student Judiciary

1. The Student Judiciary Board shall constitute the primary judicial branch of the Student Association. It derives its power from the Student Association, the administration, and the faculty equally.2. The Student Judiciary Board shall have original jurisdiction in all on-campus cases except for those cases involving alleged violations of academic regulations, such as cheating, plagiarism, academic probation, and academic suspension.3. The Grievance Committee shall function as a board of appeals for academic decisions.4. The Grievance Committee shall hear appeals resulting from suspensions or expulsions imposed by the Executive VicePresident, any dean, or the Student Judiciary Board, and shall then make a recommendation to the President of the College.

III.D. Statement on Limited Authority of the Committees

1. The Committees do not, on their own, conduct business with the authority of the full Student Association, except wheredirected by the Student Senate or the Student Forum.2. Committee chairs shall bring proposed legislation and policy recommendations to a vote at the student forum beforepresenting it to Bard administration, faculty, or staff as Student Association policy, except where restricted by confidentiality.3. The Student Senate shall have the power to approve legislation and policy on behalf of the Student Association. TheStudent Forum shall have the power to overturn decisions of the Student Senate by a vote of two thirds. The CentralCommittee shall have the power to veto Senate resolutions by a unanimous vote of the entire Committee, provided the vote2