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UND STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CONSTITUTION
We, the students of the University of North Dakota, in order to establish a representative system of self-government, to ensure students of an effective role in University Government, to encourage the development of leaders and participants for the community and State of North Dakota, to stimulate an awareness of the rights and responsibilities of students in relation to the community and the world, to improve student cultural, social and physical welfare, and to promote the general welfare of this institution, do hereby ordain and establish this constitution for the University of North Dakota Student Government.
ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATION
A. Name. The name of this organization shall be the Student Government of the University of North Dakota.
B. Membership. All registered students of the University of North Dakota shall be members of the Student Government.
C. Equal Opportunity policy. The UND Student Government in its programs, activities, and appointments will not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, creed, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or marital status.
ARTICLE II
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
A. Membership. The executive officers of the Student Government shall be the Student Body President and the Student Body Vice President. The Student Body President may appoint assistants, upon majority approval of the Student Senate present and voting, to aid in executive policy decision-making functions.
B. Only those students who are in good standing at the University shall be eligible for the Presidency and Vice Presidency.
C. Powers and Duties
1. President:
a. The Student Body President shall be the official representative of the student body and the Student Government.
b. The President shall serve on the University Senate.
c. The President shall serve as administrative head of the Student Government.
1. The President shall have the power of executive veto over all actions of the Student Senate. All Senate actions not vetoed or given the President’s written approval within five (5) school days after the date of adoption by the Student Senate shall stand approved. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Student Senate present and voting shall be necessary to override a presidential veto.
2. The President shall be responsible for fiscal planning and for the yearly budget for the Student Government.
3. The President shall make appointments to all student-faculty committees.
4. The President shall have the authority to negotiate and sign all contracts on behalf of Student Government, although all contracts entered into shall be subject to Student Senate approval prior to the contract becoming legally binding.
d. The President shall hire a Student Government Treasurer subject to a two-thirds (2/3) majority approval of the Student Senate present and voting.
e. The President shall have such other powers and responsibilities as prescribed in the constitution and bylaws.
2. The Vice President:
a. The Student Body Vice president shall perform the duties of the President in the latter’s absence.
b. The Vice President shall serve as the chairperson of the Student Senate, voting only in the case of a tie.
c. The Vice President shall serve on the University Senate.
3. Succession. In the event that the Presidential office is vacated, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President. In the case that the Vice President’s office is vacated, the President Pro-Tempore of the Student Senate shall assume the duties of the Vice President until the next scheduled Student Government election.
ARTICLE III
STUDENT SENATE
A. Purpose
1. To provide the means whereby the members of the Student Body may express concerns effectively in matters of interest to them.
2. To provide a growing representative voice for the students in the university decision making process.
3. To coordinate and regulate the activities of the student organizations for the benefit of the entire student body and the University community.
4. To serve as a liaison between the student body and the faculty and administration.
5. To represent and investigate all matters or concerns of the student interest.
B. Student Senators
1. The Student Senators shall be recognized as the legislators in the University of North Dakota Student Government and shall assume those prescribed or implied powers that enables them to carry out an effective role in representing the diverse student attitude on campus.
2. Only those students who are in good standing at the University shall be eligible for a Student Senate position.
3. In the event of a Student Senate vacancy, the Student Senate shall fill the vacancy by appointment. If the Senate does not approve the recommended appointee, other measures may be taken that include:
1. Special Election
2. Interview and recommendation by the Student Body President and Vice President.
3. Send the candidates back to the Judicial Committee for a new recommendation.
C. Meetings
1. The Student Senate shall meet during the academic year and each meeting time and place shall be publicly posted.
2. A special meeting may be called by the President, the Vice President, or by a written petition to the Student Body Vice President signed by at least one-third (1/3) of the current total membership of the Student Senate.
3. Meetings of the Student Senate shall abide by the open meetings laws of North Dakota.
4. Quorum at the Student Senate meetings shall consist of a simple majority of the current total membership.
5. Attendance at the Student Senate meetings:
a. All members are required to attend all Student Senate meetings.
b. The Vice President shall notify any Senator who has failed to meet the following Student Senate attendance requirements, and that senator shall be brought before the full Senate for the process of impeachment.
i. Any Senator who has missed three (3) unexcused Senate meetings,
ii. Any Senator who has missed four (4) excused Senate meetings,
iii. Any Senator who has missed four (4) unexcused subcommittee meetings, or
iv. Any Senator who has missed five (5) excused subcommittee meetings.
c. Any question of attendance for the full Senate is left to the discretion of the Vice President. Subcommittee attendance is at the discretion of the Chair of the committee and the Vice President. Senators are expected to attend the full duration of the meetings unless excused by the Vice President.
d. Lack of attendance may be considered by the Student Senate as grounds for impeachment.
D. Powers and Duties
1. Student Senate shall have the power to make recommendations and to approve appointments within its authority.
2. The Student Senate shall have the power to approve appointments of all student representatives to standing committees. Such approval shall be by a majority vote of the total membership of the Student Senate.
a. Any Student prospective appointee may be required to appear before the Senate for questioning prior to confirmation of appointment.
b. Any Student Senate appointee may be required to appear before the Student Senate. The appointee shall be given a written notification of the purpose of the meeting.
c. Student Senate may remove any Senate appointee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the current total membership. Lack of attendance and violation of the provision of the constitution shall be considered due cause for removal.
d. Any Senate appointee being considered for removal shall be guaranteed due process, including:
1. A resolution introduced by either (1) the Student Body President; (2) the chairperson of the committee under whom the appointee served; or (3) any three Student Senators whose reasons for removal must be recorded in the minutes of the previous meeting.
2. The appointee shall be notified in writing at least three (3) school days prior to the meeting at which the resolution is to be voted on. The appointee has the right to appear before and address the Senate prior to the vote.
3. Student Senate, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of its current total membership, shall have the power to consolidate, create or disband any standing committee it deems necessary.
4. The Student Senate shall have the power to impeach and remove any of its members by a two-thirds (2/3) majority roll call vote of the current total membership for reasons deemed necessary by the Student Senate. Article III., Section D,2, shall be applicable.
5. The Student Senate shall approve the Student Government budget by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting.
6. The Student Senate, from its membership, shall elect its own officers, who shall include, but not be limited to:
a. A President Pro Tempore of the Student Senate elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting, who shall perform the duties of the Student Body Vice President in the latter’s absence and who shall be considered the choice of the Student Senate for succession as per Article II., Section C,3, of this constitution;
b. A Parliamentarian of the Student Senate by a simple majority vote of those present and voting; and
c. A Sergeant-at-Arms of the Student Senate by a simple majority vote of those present and voting.
7. The Student Senate shall have the following procedures in effect when the Vice President of the Student Body cannot perform the duties prescribed in Article II, Section C, Subsection 2, letter b as the chair of the Student Senate.
a. If the Vice President cannot perform the duties of the chair of the Student Senate the President Pro Tempore will serve as chair as stated in this constitution.
b. If the President Pro Tempore cannot serve as chair of the Student Senate the following succession order will be in effect:
1. Student Senate Judicial Subcommittee Chair
2. Parliamentarian of the Student Senate
3. Student Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chair
4. Student Senate State & Local Subcommittee Chair
5. Sergeant-at-Arms of the Student Senate
c. If the aforementioned cannot serve as the chair of the Student Senate the following succession order will come into effect:
1. A senator who is serving a second, third, etc. term (seniority based).
2. Any other senator not aforementioned elected by simple majority of present and voting members of the Student Senate
8. The Student Senate shall have such additional powers and responsibilities as prescribed by this constitution and bylaws.
ARTICLE IV
STUDENT SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES
A. Student Senate committees shall assist the Student Senate in discharging its duties to the Student Body.
B. The Student Senate shall have the authority to provide direction through resolutions and bylaws for all Student Senate committees. All committees’ operating guidelines or bylaws are subject to approval by the Student Senate.
C. Any provision in the bylaws of any Student Senate committee that is inconsistent with this constitution is void.
D. The Student Senate shall have the power to create additional Student Senate committees. Such committees will be subject to these regulations.
ARTICLE V
ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE
A. Elections
1. A campus-wide election will be held each spring semester at the time to be specified in the bylaws to elect the Student Body President, Student Body Vice-President and all Student Senators.
a. Election of the Student Body President and Vice President shall be campus-wide and on the same ballot.
b. Election of Senators shall be done according to the representative district and by the academic division.
c. Signatures of two hundred fifty (250) students shall be required to place a name on the ballot for President and/or Vice President. Twenty-five (25) signatures from the residential district or academic division the candidate wishes to represent shall be required to place a name on a senatorial ballot.
d. The Student Senate Election Committee shall conduct the election and shall be responsible for validating all nominating petitions and verifying the eligibility of all candidates.
2. Each voter may vote for as many candidates as there are positions to be filled in his/her residential district and in each of his/her academic division(s).
B. Representation
1. Twelve (12) Student Senators shall be elected to represent students according to four (4) residential districts. These four districts shall include:
a. Students in Greek units.
b. Students living in University Residence Halls.
c. Students living in University Family Apartments.
d. Students living off campus.
2. The number of Senators from each residential district shall be the product of the percentage of the Student Body residing in that district times twelve. Reapportionment should take place prior to the election in the spring. For election purposes, the student’s declaration of membership in a residential district shall be determined at the time of registration for the following fall semester. The residency of Senators in districts they represent must be taken up by the fall and maintained for the duration of their terms of office.
3. A minimum number of Student Senators shall be elected as there are academic divisions at the University of North Dakota. These senators shall be elected to represent students on Student Senate. Each senator shall be enrolled in the college that he or she represents. The method of representation shall be prescribed in the bylaws except that each college or major academic division shall be entitled to one (1) Senator. Enrollment in an academic division shall be determined by the student’s declaration at the time of registration for the following fall. A Senator must remain enrolled in the academic division represented for the duration of the term of office.
4. In case of questionable enrollment or residence, such candidates must demonstrate evidence of said enrollment of residence to the Election Committee.
C. Terms of Office
1. The term of office for the President, Vice President, and all Student Senators shall be for one (1) year, from April 1 to March 31.
ARTICLE VI
JUDICIAL BRANCH
A. Purpose
1. The power of the Judicial Branch shall extend to all matters arising from the Constitution of the Student Government of the University of North Dakota and the University of North Dakota Student Senate Bylaws and all decisions reached by the legislative and executive branches of the University of North Dakota Student Government.
2. The Judicial Branch shall interpret the provisions of this constitution and Student Senate bylaws and establish precedents in the interpretation of the same.
3. The Judicial Branch shall be recognized as the judicial authority in the University of North Dakota Student Government.
B. Justices
1. The Judicial Branch shall consist of seven (7) voting Justices, one of whom shall be appointed Chief Justice by the Student Body President. A Vice Justice shall be selected by the Justices from among their membership and shall perform the duties of the Chief Justice in the latter’s absence.
2. Justices shall be appointed by the Student Body President and confirmed by simple majority of those present and voting of the Student Senate.
3. Their term of office shall be for no more than six (6) semesters. If such term begins more than halfway into a semester, that semester shall not be counted as one of the six (6) semesters of the term. If such term begins less than halfway into a semester, that semester shall be counted as one of the six (6) semesters of the term.
C. Meetings
1. Upon written request submitted by a student of the University of North Dakota to the Chief Justice, the Judicial Branch shall convene a meeting within five (5) academic days to adjudicate the matter presented.
2. Notice shall be given of all such matters to the Student Government executives, student senators, and all interested parties as determined by the Chief Justice forty-eight (48) hours prior to such a meeting.
3. The Chief Justice may, at his/her discretion, postpone final decision on matters presented to the Judicial Branch, if at the initial meeting, it is determined that more information is needed to render said decision.
4. The Chief Justice shall have the authority to convene a meeting of the Judicial Branch at his/her discretion.
5. Five (5) Justices including an acting Chief Justice, must be present to conduct any business.
D. Powers and Duties
1. Decisions of the Judicial Branch are binding upon the Legislative and Executive branches of Student Government.
2. The Judicial Branch shall report to the Student Government Executives and to the Student Senate upon request or within one (1) week of rendering a final decision on any matter submitted for inspection.
3. The Judicial Branch shall keep permanent records of all decisions rendered. Said records shall be open to the public for inspection.
4. The Judicial Branch shall only hear appeals after all administrative remedies have been exhausted.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITATION OF POWERS
A. Initiative and Referendum. The Student Body shall have the power to initiate any act within the power of Student Senate or refer any act of the Student Senate, providing that ten percent (10%) of the Student Body sign petitions calling for an election on a bill, which shall be submitted in writing with the petitions to the Student Body President. The President, if he/she determines the petition to be in good order and within the limitations of this constitution, shall direct the Senate to conduct an election on the bill in not less than six (6) or no more than ten (10) school days after the President received that petition and bill. Public notice of such election shall be given no less than four (4) days before the election. A majority of votes cast at the election shall be sufficient to pass the bill.
B. Recall. The Student Body shall have the power to recall the Student Body President or Vice President. The power to recall any Senator shall be vested in the district, which he/she represents.
1. The petition to recall the Student Body President or Vice President shall not be valid unless it contains the signatures of fifteen percent (15%) of the Student Body.
2. The petition to recall a Senator shall not be valid unless it contains the signatures of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the students in the residential district or academic division from which the Senator is being recalled.
3. The President, if he/she determines the petition to have the proper number of signatures and to be within the limitations of this constitution, shall direct the Senate to conduct an election. If the petition is filed to recall the President, the Student Senate shall form a Validating Committee to validate the petitions. This committee shall be composed of three (3) Senators and two (2) students.
4. The said election shall be conducted in no less than six (6) or no more than ten (10) school days. The incumbent has the right to be a candidate and may continue in office until the election returns have been officially announced.
5. The candidate receiving the most votes in said election shall receive or retain the office.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTIONS
A. An amendment to the Constitution may be presented to any meeting of the Student Senate. Should two-thirds of the total current membership agree to the proposed amendment, it shall be presented to the Student Body for consideration. A majority of the votes cast by the Student Body shall be necessary for adoption of the amendment.
B. Members of the Student Body may propose an amendment to the Constitution by submitting a petition bearing the signatures of at least 10% of the Student Body to the President. A majority of the votes cast by the Student Body shall be necessary for adoption of the amendment. Such a vote must be held within two weeks after petitions are received by the President.
C. Proposed amendments must be published no less than one (1) week prior to the vote by the Student Body.
ARTICLE IX
BYLAWS
A. The Bylaws shall in no way conflict with the principles set forth by the Constitution.
B. Members of the Student Body may propose changes to the Student Senate Bylaws by submitting a petition bearing the signatures of at least 10% of the Student Body to the President. A majority of the votes cast by the Student Body shall be necessary for adoption of the changes. Such a vote must be held within two weeks after petitions are received by the President. Proposed changes must be published no less than one (1) week prior to the vote by the Student Body.
C. The student Senate may adopt changes to the Student Senate Bylaws by a majority vote of those present and voting.
ARTICLE X
APPROVAL OF THE CONSTITUTION
This Constitution shall become effective upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the total membership of the Student Senate and ratification by a majority of ballots cast on the constitutional issue in a campus-wide election.
Updated:
01/31/95
07/28/98
04/05/00
04/02/01
03/05/03
03/10/05
03/07/07
04/27/09
