Approved by Unanimous Consent of the Student Council,
13 November 2000.
Ratified by a Vote of the Student Body,
29 November 2000.
Article I: The Student Council
Section 1: Mission
Student Council (SC) shall exist to serve, represent, and protect the interests of the students of Swarthmore College. The members of SC shall serve as the vehicle of communication between the students and the greater College community; upholding the Constitution, and empowering students through collective action involving concerns such as student activities, campus life and the management of student funds. The SC shall show leadership and integrity in support of the students and within the guidelines set forth by this Constitution. In doing so, the SC must strive in all its actions to be both transparent and accountable to its constituency. (2 May 2006)
Section 2: Composition and Essential Duties
2.1 SC shall consist of ten voting members whose essential duties and responsibilities are outlined below.
2.1.1 SC members must function as effective and responsible representatives of the student body.
2.1.2 Additional powers and responsibilities of SC shall include the administration of the Student Activities Account (SAA), the appointment of student representatives to College committees, the oversight of such student representatives, the operation of just elections, the execution of referenda, and the amendment of this Constitution.
2.1.3 In order to uphold their duties as laid forth in this Constitution and the SC bylaws, SC members must attend SC business and special meetings and meetings of committees to which they are assigned.
2.2 The President and Vice President. The President and Vice President shall attend Board of Managers meetings as observers and shall serve as members of the College Planning Committee. The President and Vice President shall establish and maintain a working relationship with the College administration and express the concerns and opinions of individual SC members and students to the College administration. (6 December 2006)
2.2.1 The President. Once such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the spring examination period until the end of the following spring examination period. The President shall have first responsibility for facilitating SC meetings, coordinating the efforts of SC, and ensuring that all members’ views are accurately and justly expressed. The President shall also have first responsibility for the functioning of SC in conformity with its purpose and duties. (6 December 2006)
2.2.2 The Vice President. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the fall examination period until the end of the following fall examination period. The Vice President shall work with the President to facilitate SC meetings, coordinate the efforts of SC, and ensure that all members’ views are accurately and justly expressed. The Vice President shall be expected to have intricate knowledge of this Constitution, committee charters, and SC bylaws and shall ensure the functioning of SC in conformity with its procedures thereof. (6 December 2006)
2.3 Appointments Chair. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the fall examination period until the end of the following fall examination period. The Appointments Chair shall chair the Appointments Committee (AC). The Appointments Chair shall regulate the meeting times and procedures of AC such that appointments are made at the end of each semester for the following semester. The Appointments Chair shall also be an ex officio member of all student hiring committees.
2.4 Campus Life Representatives. Two such members shall each serve terms of one year, staggered by semester such that one term runs from the end of the spring examination period until the end of the following spring examination period and that the other term runs from the end of the fall examination period until the end of the following fall examination period. The Campus Life Representatives shall maintain a working knowledge of the concerns of students with respect to campus life and a working relationship with the administrative concerns of campus life policy and facilities policy. The Campus Life Representatives shall attend meetings of the Deans’ Advisory Council as student representatives and shall attend meetings of other committees related to student life as ex officio members. The Campus Life Representatives shall be responsible for organizing the publicity of all Student Council sponsored events. The Campus Life Representatives shall ensure the upkeep of completed Student Council projects, as appropriate. (6 December 2006)
2.5 Campus Relations Representative. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the fall examination period until the end of the following fall examination period. The CRR shall maintain constant forums of communication between students and SC by publicizing and organizing events, maintaining electronic and traditional media, keeping contact with other campuses, and overseeing and maintaining SC space such as the SC bulletin board. The CRR must possess a functional knowledge of website design and upkeep in order to maintain the SC website and keep it up to date. (2 May 2006) (11 October 2006)
2.6 Educational Policy Representative. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the spring examination period until the end of the following spring examination period. The Educational Policy Representative shall attend Council on Educational Policy meetings and Curriculum Committee meetings as a student representative. In addition, the Educational Policy Representative shall maintain a working relationship with those administrators most concerned with college educational policy.
2.7 Financial Policy Representative. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the spring examination period until the end of the following spring examination period. The Financial Policy Representative shall attend College Budget Committee meetings that primarily meet in the late fall and early spring, gain a working knowledge of the College’s financial policies and priorities and formulate and present SC propositions to the College Budget Committee. In addition, they must ensure that the voice of the student body is heard at the College Budget Committee meetings, and raise concerns when appropriate, but also be able to respect the confidentiality of any material shared at the committee meetings. (2 May 2006)
2.8 Secretary. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the fall examination period until the end of the following fall examination period. The Secretary shall keep and post all minutes of meetings and maintain the current financial account status of SC. The Secretary shall ensure that important documentation pertaining to SC is archived. The Secretary shall serve as the SC Treasurer ex officio and so shall be responsible for SC financial arrangements and shall attend the spring budgeting of student groups by the Student Budget Committee (SBC).
2.9 Student Events Advisor. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the fall examination period until the end of the following spring fall examination period (6 December 2006).The Student Events Advisor shall attend Social Affairs Committee (SAC) meetings as a student representative and coordinate the efforts of the various student committees and organizations that host and fund large events throughout the year. The Student Events Advisor shall maintain active dialogue with such bodies throughout the year and provide SC with knowledge of their structures, concerns, and status.
2.10 Student Groups Advisor. One such member shall serve a term of one year, running from the end of the spring examination period until the end of the following spring examination period. The Student Groups Advisor shall attend SBC meetings and oversee and maintain the archive of student group charters. The Student Groups Advisor shall chair the Charter Committee (CC) and advise groups on developing or updating charters and requesting funding. The Student Groups Advisor shall maintain active dialogue with group leaders throughout the campus as well as maintain knowledge of the structure and status of the SAA. Whenever possible, the incoming Student Groups Advisor shall attend Student Budget spring budgeting with the outgoing Student Groups Advisor. (6 December 2006)
Section 3: Procedures
3.1 A quorum is required to convene meetings and conduct all votes. A quorum is no less than two thirds of the total number of members of SC.
3.2 All meetings, including committee meetings, shall be facilitated by the chair or chairs of the body assembled. The chair of any meeting shall determine the rules and procedures of that meeting within the bounds laid out by this Constitution and the bylaws of SC.
3.3 All motions shall be decided by an open vote, and each individual vote cast on every motion shall be recorded in the minutes. Members must be present in order to cast votes.
3.4 For a regular motion to pass, the number of present members voting in the affirmative must be greater than the number of present members voting in the negative.
3.5 In special circumstances, SC may decide to use consensus for its decisions if no less than two thirds of all members present vote in favor of using consensus. In these circumstances, SC may also change the policy of open, individually recorded votes if no less than two thirds of all members present vote in favor of the change.
3.6 Votes of “Abstain” shall not affect the outcome of regular motions.
3.7 SC shall establish and maintain a set of bylaws external to this Constitution in which it lays down guidelines for its activities. SC may vote to change these bylaws by majority vote.
3.8 SC shall establish no operating procedures or bylaws that contradict this Constitution.
Section 4: Amending this Constitution (2 May 2006)
4.1 Proposals to amend the Constitution must be typed and distributed to the members of SC at a regular business meeting. If at the close of the hearing on the proposed amendment no changes have been made, a vote on the adoption of the amendment shall be taken.
4.2 If at the close of the hearing on the proposed amendment, any changes have been made, the Co-Presidents shall schedule a hearing on the revised amendment for the next business meeting. If at the close of this hearing no changes have been made, a vote on the adoption of the amendment shall be taken.
4.3 Amendments shall require the affirmative votes of at least two thirds of all current SC members in order to pass.
4.4 Only members of SC may submit proposed amendments to the Constitution.
4.5 All amendments to the Constitution must be denoted in further publications with the parenthetical date on which the amendment was ratified.
Article II: Elections, Referenda, and Resolutions
Section 1: Election Procedures
1.1 Elections shall be open to the entire Swarthmore student body and shall be held to determine all SC positions.
1.2 An Elections Committee comprised of SC members shall be formed to administer such elections. The Elections Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members. No member whose name appears on the ballot may sit on Elections Committee during the election for that ballot. In the event that three members cannot be found for Elections Committee, SC may draw on SBC for additional members.
1.3 The duties of the Elections Committee include the following:
1.3.1 The Elections Committee shall publicize the existence of open positions, procedures for platform submission, and times and methods of balloting. Such notification shall be made no later than two weeks before the election.
1.3.2 The Elections Committee shall administer the election and the counting of ballots. Election results shall not be official until announced by the Elections Committee.
1.3.3 The Elections Committee shall notify the student body of the election results within 48 hours of the conclusion of voting.
1.4 The election ballot shall include the names of all candidates for open positions. The ballot shall also include separate, clearly designated spaces marked as “None of the above” and “No preference” for each office.
1.5 The results of elections shall be determined in the following manner:
1.5.1 Candidates shall be ranked by individual vote tally for each office. To win an election, a candidate must receive a plurality of votes not marked “No preference.” If no candidate receives more votes than “None of the above,” the seat shall remain vacant until a special election can be held to fill the seat.
1.5.2 The margin of error for each office up for election shall be defined as the difference between the number of voters recorded and the number of ballots marked. If the difference in votes between two candidates or between one candidate and “None of the above” is less than the margin of error for that election, no candidate shall be declared the winner and a special election shall be held to fill the seat.
1.6 Election Fraud
1.6.1 Upon reasonable evidence of elections fraud, SC has the power to void a contested election if two thirds of all members present vote to do so.
1.6.2 Any student may protest any specific election result by registering a complaint in writing with a member of the Elections Committee within 24 hours of the announcement of election results. This protest shall be heard in a meeting of the whole Council.
1.6.3 If SC finds that an election was fraudulent to the extent that the determination of the winner was probably affected, the election shall be voided.
1.6.4 If SC finds that a requirement of this Constitution was violated in an election, the election shall be voided.
1.7 The Elections Committee may establish its own set of operating procedures and bylaws provided that they do not contradict this Constitution.
Section 2: SC Elections
2.1 Elections shall be held at the end of each semester.
2.2 Each candidate for a position must fulfill all of the Election Committee’s requirements in order for his or her name to appear on the ballot.
2.2.1 No person shall run for more than once office or position in any given Student Council election. (29 April 2003)
2.2.2 A candidate for any office in Student Council must be considered a full-time student by the College. (29 April 2003)
2.3 Special elections shall be held in the event of election fraud, seat vacancy, or failure of any candidate to achieve a plurality. A vacant seat shall only be filled if there is enough time remaining in the semester for a representative to perform the duties of the position effectively. Seats that thus remain vacant shall be put to election at the end of the semester.
2.4 A representative elected during a special election shall serve only until the term of that seat normally would have expired.
2.5 Students may hold only one SC office at any given time, including the office of Co-President. If an SC member wins election to another SC seat, he or she forfeits the earlier position.
Section 3: Referenda
3.1 Any student may initiate a referendum with a petition with the signatures of at least ten percent of the student body. The petition must clearly state the referendum resolution as it is to appear on the referendum ballot.
3.2 SC may also initiate referenda by approval of specific referendum resolutions.
3.3 SC shall pay all costs of the referendum, excluding the costs of publicizing specific resolutions. SC shall notify the student body of the pending election. The referendum shall be held within two weeks of SC receiving a referendum petition.
3.4 Balloting for the referendum shall be conducted by the Elections Committee in accordance with the procedures outlined above.
3.5 A referendum resolution shall pass if a majority of those not voting “No preference” vote affirmatively and if at least one third of the student body votes.
3.6 Referendum resolutions may not supersede this Constitution.
Section 4: Resolutions (7 December 2005)
4.1 Any student of Swarthmore College or member of Student Council may initiate deliberation on a resolution by submitting the text of said resolution to council at least twenty four hours in advance of a regular business meeting. Resolutions are considered public documents expressing the voice of Student Council as the representative of the student body.
4.2 Student Council shall pass resolutions regarding issues that members of Student Council deem important. Each individual member of Student Council shall retain the power to decide for him or herself the proper criteria for the determination of “importance”.
4.3 Resolutions are allowed, but are not required, to mandate a specific course of action as a result of their passage. If the sponsor of the resolution wants Student Council to take any action in addition to passing the resolution, that action should be enumerated in the resolution.
4.4 Resolutions shall require the affirmative votes of at least two thirds of all current Student Council members in order to pass.
4.5 Once a resolution has been passed, Student Council shall decide whether any additional measures are required in order to publicize and/or implement said resolution. All additional measures related to publicizing and/or implementing said resolution must receive the affirmative votes of at least two thirds of all current Student Council members in order to pass.
Article III: The Student Activities Account
Section 1: The Student Budget Committee
1.1 As a subsidiary of SC, the Student Budget Committee (SBC) shall allocate and administer the Student Activities Account (SAA) in accordance with this Constitution, the SAA rules, the needs of campus organizations, and a policy of fiscal prudence.
1.2 SBC shall be composed of seven appointed members, the Student Groups Advisor, and a Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be a compensated position that shall be hired by the appointed members of SBC and the Student Groups Advisor.
1.3 The members of SBC shall use majority voting to reach decisions. Only in case of a tie shall the Treasurer shall cast a vote.
1.4 SBC shall hear all annual and supplementary requests for SAA money that are submitted by chartered organizations.
1.5 With SC approval, SBC may modify its operating procedures and SAA rules. No such procedures or rules may supersede this Constitution.
1.6 Focused Funding Committees (FFCs)
1.6.1 SBC shall have the power to create and sustain subsidiary committees (FFCs) charged with allocating monies to those activities the funding of which might require specialized knowledge. Focused funding committees must be chartered and may only allocate funds within the purview of their specializations as determined by SBC.
1.6.2 The Appointments Committee shall appoint the members of FFCs as necessary.
1.6.3 Appeals of FFC decisions shall first be heard in a timely manner by the FFC involved, at which time new arguments or proposals may be brought forth. If the appellant remains unsatisfied and wishes to continue the appeal, SBC shall hear the appeal.
1.7 SC shall have final jurisdiction over the SAA.
Section 2: The Student Activities Fee
2.1 Each year, SBC shall recommend to SC the amount of the Student Activities Fee (SAF) for the following academic year. This recommendation shall include the following:
2.1.1 A complete report of SBC’s reasons for its recommendation, including a justification for any proposed change.
2.1.2 A total budget figure for the following year based on expected enrollment and the recommended SAF.
2.1.3 A statement of all campus organizations’ and alternate accounts’ current balances.
2.2 SC shall recommend to the College the amount of the SAF for the following year. Neither SBC nor any of its members shall make a SAF recommendation without the prior consent of SC.
Section 3: Annual Budgeting of Campus Organizations
3.1 Before final examinations in the spring semester, SBC shall submit to SC a budget for the allocation of the SAA for the following academic year. This budget shall list the amount allocated to all campus organizations and to alternate accounts and must be approved by SC. (2 May 2006)
3.2 SC shall review the budget and either approve it or remand it to SBC with recommended changes. This shall occur only after SC and SBC have resolved all outstanding spring budgeting appeals in accordance with Section 5. (2 May 2006)
3.3 Approval of the budget shall require the endorsement of SC. Except as provided in 3.5, only SBC shall have the power to make changes to the budget. SC may approve the budget proposal only in total.
3.4 If the budget submitted by SBC is remanded, SBC shall review SC’s recommended changes and make alterations as SBC deems appropriate. When SC reconsiders the budget, a quorum of SBC is required to be present, at which point SC may approve the budget or ask for further changes.
3.5 If no agreement between SBC and SC can be reached that results in approval of the budget, the budget shall be determined as follows:
3.5.1 SBC may insist that the reserve account be allocated ten percent of the total budget. SC may not overturn SBC’s required allocation to the contingency fund.
3.5.2 For any other account or group, SC may override the SBC recommendation, except where the group’s recommended budget was below 1% of the total budget.
3.5.3 A balanced budget must be maintained.
Section 4: Supplementary Budgeting of Campus Organizations
4.1 SBC shall meet weekly to hear supplemental allocation requests from chartered groups and conduct business pertaining to the maintenance of the SAA.
4.2 Any chartered organization may request a supplementary allocation at any time during the academic year.
4.3 Any supplemental allocation of more than 1% of the total budget in any one subcode shall require the approval of SC before the funds are made available.
Section 5: Appeals of Budgeting Decisions
5.1 Any chartered group that wishes to appeal an SBC decision, whether regarding spring budgeting or supplementary allocations, must contact the SBC Treasurer in writing within 48 hours of the decision.
5.2 The appeal shall first be presented before SBC for reevaluation. At this time any new arguments, information, or adjustments in the request should be made. SBC may then either reject the appeal or alter its original decision.
5.3 If the group remains unsatisfied with the reevaluation, it may continue the appeals process by presenting its request and arguments at a meeting of SC.
5.3.1 The SBC Treasurer shall submit a report explaining SBC’s decision.
5.3.2 SC shall hear the appeal and either accept or reject the appeal as stated.
5.3.3 The decision of SC is final.
Section 6: The Social Affairs Committee
6.1 The Social Affairs Committee (SAC) shall be considered a permanent FFC and shall allocate funds for all-campus events, maintain a balanced social calendar, and host formal dances.
6.2 SAC shall be composed of ten appointed members, the Student Events Advisor, and two Co-Directors.
6.3 The Student Events Advisor shall serve as a full voting member of SAC. In addition, he or she shall coordinate communication between SC and SAC.
6.4 With SC approval, SAC may modify its operating procedures and guidelines. No such procedures or guidelines may supersede this Constitution.
6.5 SC has final jurisdiction in all SAC matters.
Article IV: Appointments (2 May 2006)
Section 1: The Appointments Committee
1.1 The purpose of the Appointments Committee (AC) is to appoint the members of student committees and student representatives to college committees.
1.2 Composition of Appointments Committee
1.2.1 AC shall be composed of five SC members and shall include the Appointments Chair.
1.2.2 The assignment of SC members to AC and the Charter Committee (CC) shall be determined by consensus of the Appointments Chair and Student Groups Advisor at the beginning of every semester.
1.2.3 No SC member may sit simultaneously on AC and CC.
1.3 During the appointments process, AC may choose to invite college and student committees to select a committee representative to facilitate with appointments. A committee representative shall have no vote in the appointments decision. A representative from SBC must be present during the interview process for SBC.
1.4 AC must have three members present for quorum at any meeting where appointments may be made.
1.4.1 After careful deliberations, AC should attempt to reach a consensus, but if this is impossible, the decision of the committee is made by majority vote (consisting of affirmative, negative, or abstain), accounting for the circumstances of 1.4.2.
1.4.2. In the event of a tie, AC remands the decision to the Appointments Chair.
1.5. The Appointments Committee shall establish its own set of guidelines for dealing with evaluation, conflict-of-interest, and appointments timing issues. These guidelines made not supercede this Constitution.
Section 2: The Appointments Process
2.1 Each semester, AC shall advertise all open college and student committee positions for the coming semester, leaving sufficient time to complete the appointments process, including appeals, before the end of the semester.
2.2 AC may determine the necessity of interviews during each round of appointments, accounting for the circumstances of 2.2.1.
2.2.1 Interviews must be held for the appointments of SBC.
2.2.2 All interviews must occur no later than two weeks after the application deadline.
2.3 If vacancies remain on college or student committees, AC may hold special appointments.
2.4 AC may hold special appointments for short-term college or student committees to address specific needs of the College and SC.
2.5 AC is under no obligation to fill empty college or student committee positions if there are no qualified candidates or if a candidate would not be able to serve for a significant portion of the original term.
2.6 It is the duty of the Appointments Chair to notify all applications of their acceptance or rejection immediately following each appointments round.
Section 3: Appeals of Apppointments Decisions
3.1 An individual who has been denied an appointment for a specific position may appeal the decision. The individual must notify the Appointments Chair of his or her intent within forty-eight hours of receiving notification of his or her appointment status.
3.2 AC must supply an appellant with a written report of reasons for his or her rejection within one week of his or her appeal.
3.3 The Student Council Co-Presidents, the Appointments Chair, and the appellant shall meet privately to try to resolve the appeal through consensus with a week of AC providing the written report.
3.4 Should the appellant wish to continue the appeal, a hearing shall be held before SC. A final decision as to the merit of the appeal shall be reached by majority vote (consisting of affirmative, negative, or abstain) of those SC members not currently serving on AC.
3.4.1 Quorum for such appeals remanded to SC is set at three members not currently serving on AC.
3.4.2 In the event of a tie, SC upholds the decision of AC.
3.5 If the appeal is found to have merit, an Appointments Review Board consisting of those SC members not sitting on AC shall be formed to reevaluate all applications to the disputed committee and make appointments. The Appointments Review Board may seek input from the Appointments Chair, who may participate in the deliberations but shall not vote. The appointments of the Appointments Review Board shall be final.
Article V: Chartering of Campus Organizations
Section 1: The Charter Committee
1.1 The Charter Committee (CC) shall be composed of those SC members not serving on AC and shall include the Student Groups Advisor, who shall chair the committee. In addition, the SBC Treasurer shall serve as an advisor to CC but shall not vote.
1.2 The purpose of CC is to grant, renew, and rescind charters to groups that meet the criteria outlined below and abide by CC guidelines for obtaining and maintaining a charter. In addition, CC shall ensure that each group is aware of its charter and its status.
1.3 CC shall establish its own procedures and guidelines for allocating, maintaining, and reviewing charters. These guidelines shall not supersede this Constitution.
Section 2: Guidelines for Chartering
2.1 Types of Charters (2 May 2006)
2.1.1 CC shall issue two types of charters. Both groups with a Registered Charter and groups with Funded Charters will be officially recognized as student groups of the college. A Funded Charter is a prerequisite for receiving funding from SBC. Non-chartered individuals or groups may receive funding from FFCs, based on the merits of individual proposals, as outlined above (Article III, Section 1.6).
2.1.2 CC shall distinguish between charters for open groups, closed groups, and closed-support groups. Organizations except those specifically chartered as closed groups or closed-support groups must offer the possibility of membership to the entire campus. Both Registered Charter groups and Funded Charter groups can be distinguished as such.
2.1.3 CC shall issue one-year charters and three-year charters as it deems appropriate according to its bylaws.
2.2 Criteria for Charter Approval
2.2.1 The organization must provide sufficient and long-term value to the campus.
2.2.2 The organization must not overlap with the purpose or intent of another chartered organization to the extent that its members could not fulfill their goals within any existing chartered group.
2.2.3 The organization must be able to exist on a feasible budget that complies with the SAA rules and the guidelines of this Constitution.
2.3 Procedures Regarding Chartering (2 May 2006)
2.3.1 Groups may apply for a charter at any time during the academic year. Only groups who receive a Funded Charter in the fall semester are guaranteed access to SBC Spring Budgeting. Access to Spring Budgeting for groups receiving funded charters in the spring semester will be considered on a case by case basis by the CC and a representative of SBC.
2.3.2 Every charter issued by the CC will be reviewed when it expires. Upon a charter’s maturity at this time, CC must consult with the group about updating it, then either renew it in updated form or refuse to renew it.
2.3.3 Appeals of CC decisions shall be heard by all members of SC and shall require a two-thirds majority vote to overturn the original decision of CC.
Article VI: Removal of Appointed and Elected Students | Top
Section 1: Process of Removal of Students Appointed by AC
1.1 Each committee is responsible for establishing grounds for the removal of members from that committee. Every member of the committee is eligible for removal, including the chair. SC must be informed of all votes to remove members.
1.2 The individual in question must be notified by his or her committee at least one week in advance of the meeting in which his or her removal is to be discussed.
1.3 Should the student protest his or her removal, the decision of the committee may be brought to SC for appeal.
1.4 Process for Appeal of Removal
1.4.1 At least one member of the committee must come before SC to present the reasons for the removal of the student in question. The student must also be present and shall have an opportunity to present the reasons for his or her appeal.
1.4.2 A two-thirds majority vote of SC is necessary to overturn the committee’s decision to remove the student.
1.4.3 The decision of SC is final.
1.5 SC may initiate the removal of any student appointed by AC. The student in question shall be informed of SC’s intent at least one week in advance of the discussion of his or her removal. The student shall have the right to present reasons not to be removed from the committee. A motion of removal shall require a two-thirds majority vote to pass. The individual in question may request an appeal hearing and second, final vote. A two-thirds majority vote shall be required to overturn the removal.
Section 2: Process of Removal of SC Members
2.1 SC may remove any member who does not carry out his or her duties as outlined in this Constitution and the bylaws of SC.
2.2 A two-thirds majority vote of SC members, not including the student in question, is necessary to remove an SC member. The member may request an appeal hearing and second, final vote. A two-thirds majority vote shall be required to overturn the removal.
Article VII: Ratification
Section 1: Ratification Process
1.1 Ratification of this Constitution shall require a vote of the student body in which a majority of students voting approve. At least one third of the student body must vote.
1.2 Upon ratification, this Constitution shall be implemented according to a plan approved by SC
Bylaws | Top
Section 1: Vacancies
1.1 In the case of a vacancy on Council, the Co-Presidents may jointly nominate a student to fill the vacated spot as an interim member until a special election may be held. Or, if in accordance with Article II Sec 2.3 of the Constitution, there is not enough time for a special election, the interim member may hold the seat until the end of the term.
1.2 The nominee cannot be an existing member of Council.
1.3 The nominee must be approved by a 2/3 vote bythe remaining Council members.
1.4 Once approved the interim member shall not have a vote on general Council matters, however if the interim member chairs a Council committee, the member shall act as a full participant in the administration of their duties.
1.5 Until an interim member is approved, an able and willing Council-member may take over with majority consent of the Council. If no such person exists, one of the Co-Presidents must administer the duties of the vacated spot in addition to their existing duties.
1.6 Should Council fail to approve an interim member, an able and willing Council-member may take over with majority consent of the Council. If no such person exists, one of the Co-Presidents must administer the duties of the vacated spot in addition to their existing duties.
Section 2: Special Elections
2.1 Every resonable effort should be made to hold a special election when there is: a.) sufficient amount of time remaining in the term for the elected member to competently perform his or her duties and/or, b.) when there is sufficient time to hold an election before the end of the semester.
2.2 At the first meeting of Council following vacancy, SC shall decide whether there is enough time to hold a special election. A 2/3 vote against holding a special election is required to stop it. If a special election is required, an Elections Committee shall be formed and an election schedule shall be established following all applicable guidelines of the Constitution.