Constitution of the Student Government Organization

Preamble

We, the student of Felician College, in order to form a well regulated and effective interpersonal community and sincere bond among students. Faculty and Administration set forth these basic principles which are necessary for the establishment and realization of the ideals and goals of our institution. In accordance with the natural law and the Christian philosophy adopted by Felician College, we declare our objectives to be the education for free, responsible, and dignified personalities and effective citizens, through commitment to truth, mutual love, honesty, integrity, respect for human dignity, freedom,  loyalty and sense of responsibility as mature Christians. In order to carry out the  commitment within the framework of democracy, we realize our rights and obligations in creating an atmosphere of freedom and justice by involvement and leadership in the intellectual, religious, moral, cultural, and social life of our community. To advance the development of a well integrated personality of each individual we pledge ourselves before God and before one another to be governed by the provision of this constitution.

Article I Name

The name of this association of the student body of Felician College is the Student Government Organization (SGO).

Article II Purpose

The purpose of the SGO is to promote the welfare and morals of the student body by:

	Providing effective means of communication between the students, faculty and the administration.
	Promoting initiative, leadership, fellowship, sense of responsibility, self control, reliance and cooperation.
	Maintaining law, solidarity and order in the college community
	Directing the interests and abilities of the students toward the college
	Cultivating genuine leadership and authentic Christian postulate

Article III Moderator

Section 1.

The moderator shall be the Vice President for Students or an appointed representative, the Coordinator of Student Activities, approved by the President and the Academic Dean.

Section 2.

The moderator shall:

	attend all meetings of the SGO or send her/his representative
	advise, guide and counsel the SGO on decisions pertinent to the student body of Felician College, but have not voting privilege
	act as official representative of the faculty at all SGO meetings,
	approve and sign all official business forms, including financial statements

Article IV Moderator

Section 1.

Upon registration to Felician College, all full-time students become members of this organization.

Section 2.

The four executive officers of the SGO are: President, chosen from the incoming senior or incoming junior class; Vice-President, chosen from the incoming senior or incoming junior class; the Secretary and Treasurer, chosen from any class excluding the incoming freshmen. These officers together with the class officers from the Executive Student Government Board at Felician College.

Section 3.

With the exception of the freshmen, whose voting privilege is deferred until formal installation of officers takes place each member of the SGO shall have one vote. A re-vote will be taken in case of a tie. If unresolved, the tie will be broken by the final vote of the SGO President.

Section 4.

At the time of election, (a) the President and Vice-President shall be a full-time student for no less than two years. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be full-time students for no less than one year; (b) all officers must maintain a GPA of 2.5 and be in good academic standing.

Section 5.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the office and a new Vice-President will be elected. If vacancies occur in the offices, immediate elections will follow to fill out that particular post.

Section 6.

	SGO monthly meetings are open forum, and all members of the student body are invited to attend and may voice their opinion;
	Executive Officers must meet weekly;
	Class and club officers must meet monthly with the Executive Officers;
	No member of the Executive Student Government Board can be absent from any meeting without just cause;
	Time and place of all meetings are left to the discretion of the moderator and the executive officers

Article V Authority

Section 1.

Delegation of authority to the Executive Student Government Board shall come through the mutual consent of the Administration and the Student Body.

Section 2.

To maintain proper interpersonal relationship the Executive Student Government Board functions as an intermediary between the college, Administration and the Student Body.

Section 3.

The greatest responsibility of the Executive Student Government Board is to insure that order is maintained in the student life at Felician College. If the Executive Student Government Board judges that the order is lessened or destroyed by the action of the students, then the SGO executives or their representatives reserve the right to impose sanctions.

Section 4.

The Executive Student Government Board coordinates all co-curricular activities, including: student elections, series, clubs and organizations. It has the power to initiate new proposals which would promote loyally, cooperation and self-government.

Article VI Executive Officers and Their Duties

Section 1.

	The executive officers of the SGO shall be elected by the student body and shall hold no other office in any other series, club or organization on campus
	A majority vote (50% plus 1) at the annual elections in April is required for each officer,
	Duties are assumed immediately after formal installation in September
	All officers must uphold the integrity of Felician College

Section 2.

The President shall:

	be the principal officer of the student body to the Administration, Faculty, and outside organizations and the college itself,
	take presidency over all other student officers,
	be "ex-officio" member of recognized organizations on campus
	preside over all meetings of the SGO
	sign all documents and correspondence in the name of the organization
	appoint with the consent of the moderator and the other executive officers, chairman of the various committees,
	perform all additional duties in accordance with dictates of the Constitution.

Section 3.

The Vice-President shall:

	share in the responsibility of the office of the President by assisting in matters concerning the SGO,
	preside at meetings in the absence of the President of SGO in case of the removal of the President,
	see that all student elections are carried out in accordance with this constitution,
	serve as coordinator of the freshman class and liaison between that class andthe college until the election of class officers,
	be chairman of the committee on student series, organizations and clubs

Section 4.

The Secretary shall:

	keep an accurate record of all meetings,
	post a summary of SGO meetings
	keep charge of all correspondence
	post and make known all matters of importance to the students via the agenda of weekly or special meetings no later than 24 hours before the meeting and the minutes of these meetings no later than 48 hours after the meeting
	college and file all minutes.

Section 5.

The Treasurer shall:

	budget and plan all finances of the SGO under the direction of the moderator,
	maintain accurate records of all business transactions,
	report at each meeting on all financial matters concerning the SGO
	aid in the allocation of student activity funds to organizations, clubs, series, and social functions.

Article VII Meetings

Section 1.

The Executive Student Government Board shall convene regularly on a bi-weekly basis. A special meeting may be called or a scheduled meeting may be canceled if the President, the Administration, the moderator or appointed representative or two-thirds majority vote if the members warrant it.

Section 2.

The time and place of meetings shall be decided at the beginning of each semester, and the meetings shall be conducted according to "Roberts Rules of Order, Revised."

Section 3.

Unless otherwise specified, two-thirds of the Executive Student Government Board will constitute a quorum for the transaction of ordinary business.

Section 4.

Members are expected to attend all meetings. If without a valid excuse member absents himself/herself for more than three (3) meetings, he/she shall be asked to resign his/her position. His/her position will be immediately filled by a special election.

Article VIII Election of Class Officers

Section 1.

	Each division shall be represented by a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Tresurer,
	The freshmen and sophmores shall consist of three separate councils - one council representing the Nursing Division, one representing the Arts and Sciences and Education Division, one representing the Medical Laboratory Technology Division, one representing the Evening and Weekend Program,
	The juniors and seniors shall consist of two separate councils - one representing the Arts and Sciences and Education Divisions and one representing the Upper Division for Nursing,
	The council representing the Upper Division for Nursing shall be known as the Registered Nurses Organization

Section 2.

Nomination Procedures:

1. (a) All duly elected officers shall hold no other office in any club, series or organization on the campus, (b) Maintain a GPA of 2.5 and be in good academic standing, (c) Be accepted to the college unconditionally, (d) Declare his/her intention of running for office and submit the written declaration of intention to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Coordinator of Student Activities.

2. Students losing the election to an executive office of the SGO are eligible for running for a class office, provide they submit another declaration of intention to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

3. After the nominees have been approved, the Board of Elections shall post the slate of candidates for primary election no later then the second week of April.

Section 3.

Election Procedures:

	The board of Elections shall decide upon a convenient date and location to conduct the elections.  The elections shall be held no later than the first week of May,
	Each student shall vote by secret ballot for the candidate for office of her/his class,
	The candidate who receives the majority (50% plus 1) of votes cast, shall be the officer-elect for that class
	If no candidate receives a majority, the name of the candidate with the least number of votes shall be withdrawn from the slate of candidates and another ballot shall be taken.  If no candidates receives the majority or if a tie occurs, the election shall then be passed to The Vice President for Student Affairs or President's Council for consideration.
	Installation of class officers shall follow the elections as soon as possible and the duties of each officer shall then be assumed by the duly elected candidate.

Section 4.

Term of Office: (a) Class representatives are elected for one year, (b) Class officers shall serve no more than two (2) terms in the same office. All officers shall be removed from office for: (a) conduct unbecoming an officer, (b) action opposed to the effective functioning of its Constitution, (c) failure to execute the responsibilities of any office, (d) upholding the integrity of the college.

Article IX Vacancies and Removal of SGO Officers

Section 1.

Petition for indictment can come from ten (10) percent of the faculty, administration or the student body. The Vice President for Student Affairs or an appointed representative shall preside over the Executive Student Government Board meeting called for this purpose. Upon two-thirds vote of all the voting members of the Executive Student Government Board, the said officer shall be removed from that office. The Executive Student Government Board shall have the responsibility of executing the penalties imposed.

Section 2.

The convicted shall be held liable to no other conviction specified by the articles of indictment.

Section 3.

Resignation shall be requested of all officers not meeting the requirements of office as specified in this Constitution. Vacancies shall be filled by special election.

Article X Club Moderator

Section 1.

The moderator shall be a faculty or staff member, approved by the Vice President of Student Affairs and the Coordinator of Student Activities.

Section 2.

The moderator shall:

	attend all meetings
	advise, guide and counsel the club on pertinent decisions
	act as official representative of the faculty at all club meetings
	approve and sign all official business forms, including financial statements.

Article XI Club Membership

Section 1.

The four club officers are: President, chosen from the incoming senior or incoming junior class; Vice President, chosen from either incoming senior or incoming junior class; the Secretary and Treasurer, chosen from any class excluding the incoming freshmen.

Section 2.

All clubs need to have an updated and current constitution approved by the Executive Student Government Board.

Article XII Club Officers & Their Duties

Section 1.

	The officers of the club shall be elected by the members and shall hold no other office in any other series, club or organization on campus
	a majority vote (50% plus 1) at the annual elections in April is required for each officer
	duties are assumed immediately after formal installation in September
	all officers must uphold the integrity of Felician College.

Section 2.

The President shall:

	be the principal officer of the club
	take presidency over all club matters
	sign all documents and correspondence in the name of the club
	perform all additional duties in accordance with the dictates of the club constitution
	be in correspondence at all times with the Student Government President.

Section 3.

The Vice-President shall:

	Share in the responsibility of the office of the President by assisting in matters concerning the club
	preside at meetings in the absence of the President or in case of the removal of the President
	see that all elections are carried out in accordance with this constitution and the club constitution.

Section 4.

The Secretary shall:

	keep an accurate record of all meetings
	post a summary of meetings
	keep charge of all correspondence
	post and make known all matters of importance to the students via the agenda of weekly or special meetings no later than 24 hours before the meeting and the minutes of these meetings no later than 48 hours after the meeting
	collect and file all minutes
	hand in all correspondences and minutes to the Student Government Secretary no later than 48 hours after the meeting.

Section 5.

The Treasurer shall:

	budget and plan all finances of the club under the direction of the moderator
	maintain accurate records of all business transactions
	report at each meeting on all financial matters concerning the club
	provide the Student Government Treasurer with monthly accurate financial reports.

Article XIII Club Meetings

Section 1.

Unless otherwise specified, two-thirds of the club will constitute a quorum for the transaction of ordinary business.

Section 2.

In order to hold meetings, fund-raisers or club functions the Coordinator of Student Activities must be notified. Approval will be granted based on the decision of the Executive Student Government Board.

Article XIV Vacancies and Removal of Club Officers

Section 3.

All officers hall be removed from office for:

	conduct unbecoming an officer
	action opposed to the effective function of this Constitution
	failure to execute the responsibilities of any office
	failure in upholding the integrity of the college. The Vice President for Student Affairs, the Coordinator of Student Activities, and the Student Government President shall have the authority to remove officers from clubs or organizations.

Article XV Judicial Board

Section 1.

The Judicial Board shall adhere to and enforce the Student Government Constitution, laws, regulations, and provisions covering the Student Government and the Student Body of Felician College outlined in the Annual Student Handbook.

Section 2.

All judicial powers granted here in shall be vested in a student court composed of three Student Justices who shall be appointed by the President of the Student Government with approval of the Coordinator of Student Activities, the Vice President for Student Affairs, and two-thirds of the voting Student Government.

Section 3.

All Student Justices shall serve indefinitely in office until graduation, resignation, or failure to meet the requirements stated in the philosophy of Felician College and the Student Handbook.

Section 4.

All matters concerning implications of this constitution shall be reviewed and interpreted by the Judicial Board.

Article XVI Amendment Procedure

This constitution may be amended by two-thirds majority vote of all members of the SGO present at a meeting specified for this purpose, under the following conditions:

(a)  at least one month in advance, proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the moderator and executive officers of the SGO, and must be signed by twenty-five (25) percent of the student body and/or ten (10) percent of the faculty.

	the week prior to the date set for the voting upon said amendment.
	the secretary of the SGO shall be responsible for having the proposal posted at least one week prior to the date set for the voting.
	the Board of Elections shall regulate the procedure for voting on the proposed amendment.

(b)  Any member of the Student Body has the right to initiate a proposal of amendment to this Constitution by submitting the unanimous vote of all officers of the Executive Student Government Board and a two-thirds majority vote of the student body, the amendment will then become ratified.