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College of Arts and Sciences, University of Mary WashingtonStudent Government Association Constitution

Preamble

We, the students of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Mary Washington (College),having established a Student Government Association to promote communication, cooperation,and understanding among students, faculty, and administrators, do ordain and establish this ourConstitution.

Article I. Purpose

The purpose of the Student Government Association (SGA) shall be to work for a better Collegecommunity through the development and strengthening of individual responsibility andcitizenship. The SGA shall share with the faculty and the administration the obligation of respecting and promoting the tradition, standards, and objectives of the College and instilling theprinciples of self-government and democracy in every student.

Article II. Membership

Upon matriculation into the College, a student automatically becomes a member of the StudentGovernment Association. All students holding elected and appointed SGA positions shallmaintain a minimum 2.2 cumulative GPA, and shall be in good social standing as defined by theDean of Student Life and the Student Handbook

Article III. Organization

The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches comprise the governing bodies of the SGA. Allelected and appointed officers of the Executive Cabinet shall have the responsibility for theefficient operation of the SGA, under the direction of the President of the Student GovernmentAssociation.

Article IV. Authority

Section 1.

The Student Government Association derives its authority from the student body exercising theirConstitutional rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United Statesof America and from delegation by the President of the College. The elected representatives of the SGA shall have the sole authority to act in the name of the student body. The SGA commitsitself to uphold and enforce only those regulations made through mutual agreement andunderstanding between the SGA and the administration of the College.

Section 2.

Members of the Executive Cabinet and other representatives of the SGA shall have theresponsibility to study any matter affecting the welfare of the student body and the College.These representatives have the responsibility to make recommendations which will foster thebest interests of the student body and the College.

Article V. Ratification

A decision made upon the plurality of votes cast marks the ratification of the SGA Constitution.

Article VI. Executive Branch

Section 1.

The Executive Cabinet of the Student Government Association holds all executive power underthe direction of the SGA President.

Section 2.

The Executive Cabinet, a body comprised of members, represents the student body on all mattersof joint concern between the administration of the University and the student body. TheExecutive Cabinet is the highest elected body on campus. The members of the Executive Cabinetinclude: the President (elected, voting member), the Vice-President (elected, voting member), theJudicial Review Board President (elected, voting member), the Honor Council President (elected,voting member), the Legislative Action Committee Chairperson (elected, voting member), theAcademic Affairs Council Chairperson (elected, voting member), the Association of ResidenceHalls President (elected, voting member), the Commuting Student Association President(elected, voting member), the Diversity and Unity Coordinating Committee ExecutiveChairperson (elected, voting member), the Inter-Club Association Senior Co-Chair (elected, non-voting member), the Executive Coordinator (appointed, non-voting member), the Treasurer(appointed, non-voting member), the Press Secretary (appointed, non-voting member), theSecretary (appointed, non-voting member), the Technology Coordinator (appointed, non-votingmember), and the Parliamentarian (appointed, non-voting member). Each member of theExecutive Cabinet has a full voice at all meetings. These officers have a term of office until thenext inauguration ceremony.transition period is completed.

Section 3.

The student body shall elect the President, Vice-President, Judicial Review Board President,Judicial Review Board Vice-President, Honor Council President, Legislative Action CommitteeChairperson, the Academic Affairs Council Chairperson, the Association of Residence HallsPresident, the Commuting Student Association President, and the D.U.C.C. ExecutiveChairperson by a secret ballot based on a plurality of votes cast.

Section 4.

The Executive Cabinet of the Student Government Association shall have the authority toregulate all SGA activities. Upon advice from the Executive Cabinet, the Judicial Review Boardshall be the final interpreter of the SGA Constitution. The Executive Cabinet shall also serve asan advisory body to the President of the University.

Section 5.

The Executive Cabinet, in consultation with the Inter-Club Association, shall have the soleauthority to recognize student organizations. Recognition from the Cabinet is necessary prior tothe allocation of financial assistance.

Section 6.

The specific areas of duties and responsibilities of each member of the Executive Cabinet shallbe as follows:

Position: Student Government Association President

The President of the Student Government Association is the official spokesperson for the SGAand the student body. The President shall call and preside over all meetings of the ExecutiveCabinet as well as any open student body meeting. The President shall appoint the SGASecretary, Treasurer, Executive Coordinator, Parliamentarian, Technology Coordinator and thePress Secretary of the Executive Cabinet with the approval of the Student Senate. The Presidentshall nominate students to serve on any student/faculty committees and designate students torepresent the SGA at official University functions. The President is also responsible for theefficient operation of the daily activities of the organization.The President shall attend regularmeetings of the Honor Advisory Board (HAB) with the Honor Council President and the JRBPresident and serve as the official representative of SGA to the HAB. The President isresponsible to the President of the University and shall act as a liaison for the SGA to the Boardof Visitors.

Position: Student Government Association Vice-President

The Vice-President of the SGA shall act as SGA President in his/her absence. The Vice-President shall serve as President of the Senate, and must have had at least two consecutivesemesters (counting the semester of the election) of experience as a senator. The SenatePresident shall call and preside over all meetings of the Senate, voting only in a tie situation. TheVice-President shall call and preside over all meetings of the Board of Senate Officers. The SGAVice-President shall appoint the Secretary and Parliamentarian of the Senate and shall choose allco-chairpersons of the standing committees and ad-hoc committees of the Senate with the

Senate’s approval. Only Senators may be ap

pointed to be co-chairs of the standing and ad-hoccommittees of Senate. The Vice-President is responsible for the daily operations of the Senate.

Position: Judicial Review Board President

The Judicial Review Board President shall be the official representative of the SGA on allmatters of judicial concern. The JRB President (elected, non-voting within JRB) shall presideover Judicial Review Board hearings and is responsible for coordinating all judicial trials. TheJRB President is responsible for maintaining records of all judicial proceedings.

Position: Honor Council President

The Honor Council President shall be the official representative of the SGA in all mattersrelating to the Honor System. Said President shall communicate developments of the Honorsystem totheExecutive Cabinet members. This time may also be used as a forum for discussionconcerning Honor Code matters.