Constitutional Changes

1. Constitutional Changes 19-March 2014

2. Old Preamble • We, the students of the University of the Incarnate Word, hereby establish this Constitution for the Student Government Association for the following purposes: • §         Providing successful and efficient self-management of student concerns, activities and interests; • §         Promoting greater understanding and cooperation with the faculty and administration; • §         Ensuring academic freedom and responsibility, strengthening students’ the realization of their rights to supplement and complement formal education on the university campus; • §         Encouraging the development of and providing the means for responsible student participation in campus affairs, promoting the principles of the University of the Incarnate Word; • §         And fostering unity and cooperation among the students of the University community.

3. New Preamble We, the Studentsof the University of the Incarnate Word in order to form an effective and efficient self-government, serving the collective interests of the University community, to prepare ourselves for effective living in a democratic society, and to encourage self-reliance in our search for truth and justice, do establish and endorse this Constitution for the University of the Incarnate Word Student Body

4. Old Article I: Establishment The Student Government Association • The Student Government Association of the University of the Incarnate Word, abbreviated S.G.A., is the formal name for the governing body of students at the University of the Incarnate Word.

5. New Article I: Establishment The name of the governmental organization under this constitution shall be the University of the Incarnate Word Student Government Association. The Student Government Association shall be divided into executive and legislative branches, with neither branch exercising any power properly belonging to the other.

6. Old Article II: Membership •  Section 1. The Executive Council The Executive Council shall be composed of five elected officials and three appointed officials. The appointed officers are selected by newly Elected Officers in the Spring of each academic year following elections for offices. •  Section 2. The Senate The Senate shall be composed of one representative designated by the Dean from each college or school, one elected representative from each class, one senator from the international student body, one senator at large from the student population, one from the commuting populous, and one from the student residential body.

7. New Article II: Membership • Section 1. The Executive Council • The Executive Council shall be composed of four elected officials and four appointed officers. The appointed officers are selected by newly elected executive officers in the spring of each academic year following elections for offices. •  Section 2. The Senate • The Senate shall be composed of one representative designated by the Dean from each college or school (MSE, CHASS, DSE, HEBSA, NHP, GSR, SMD), three representatives from the freshman class, one senator from the international student body, one senator from the student-athlete population, four from the commuting populous, and four from the student residential body. Any non-appointed positions can be elected at the discretion of the Executive Council.

8. Old Article II Section 4 [Does not exist]

9. New Article II: Section 4 • At inauguration, the President, the Vice President and all Senators and House members shall take the following oath of office administered by any University administrator of the elect’s choice including the DUESP. "I solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of Student Body [state your position], and will to the best of my ability uphold the Constitution and Rules of the University of the Incarnate Word Student Body, so help me God."

10. Old Article III • Section 1. Duties of the Executive Council The duties of the Executive Council shall be to address student concerns and issues, to execute all Student Government Association decisions, to appoint students to all committees and/or councils, and to act as the representatives to the administration for all student body business, as well as to provide leadership in planning social and other events which benefit the student body.

11. New Article III • Section 1. Duties of the Executive Council The duties of the Executive Council shall be to address student concerns and issues, to execute all Student Government Association decisions, to appoint students to all committees and/or councils, and to act as the student advocates to the administration for all student body business, as well as to provide leadership by enacting legislation which benefits the student body.

12. Old Article III: Section 2 Section 2. Elected Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Student Concerns/Public Relations. The officers are listed in their ranking order. • A.     President The President’s duties shall consist of serving as the chief student representative on all matters relating to the University, facilitating and presiding over all executive and general meetings, representing the student body on the Board of Trustees, creating adhoc committees as necessary, appointing members to those committees with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

13. New Article III: Section 2 Section 2. Elected Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Parliamentarian A.     President The President’s duties shall consist of serving as the chief student representative on all matters relating to the University including answering questions from the public and student-body, facilitating and presiding over all executive and general meetings, representing the student body on the Board of Trustees, creating adhoc and standing committees as necessary, appointing chairs to those committees with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, drafting the initial yearly SGA budget, and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

14. Old Article III: Section 2 • B.     Vice-President The Vice-President’s duties shall consist of acting on behalf of the President if the President is unable to carry out his/her duties, appointing all committee assignments to officers, compiling a monthly committee report to be submitted to the SGA President, sitting on the Development Board, and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

15. New Article III: Section 2 • B.     Vice-President The Vice-President’s duties shall consist of acting on behalf of the President if the President is unable to carry out his/her duties, appointing all committee assignments to officers, appointing senators and house members to committees, sitting on the Development Board, Serving as the President of the Senate (Liaison), helping the President draft the yearly budget, and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the President.

16. Old Article III: Section II • D.     Secretary The Secretary’s duties shall consist of recording minutes of all Student Government Association meetings (executive, general, and special), distributing the minutes of the General Assembly to the UIW President, Vice-Presidents, Deans, and Student Government Association representatives of the University of the Incarnate Word, keeping files of all Student Government Association business and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

17. New Article III: Section 2 • C.     Secretary The Secretary’s duties shall consist of recording minutes of all Student Government Association meetings (executive, general, and special), distributing the minutes of the General Assembly to the student body via the SGA website, keeping files of all Student Government Association business and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

18. Old Article III: Section 3 • A.     Parliamentarian • The Parliamentarian/Historian shall keep order at all meetings, keep an accurate roll of the Student Government Association membership, chair the Constitution and By-Laws committee, chair Executive Privilege proceedings, make the final determination on all matters concerning interpretation of the Constitution and By-Laws, keep records of all Student Government Association events with the assistance of the appropriate chairperson(s), and carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

19. New Article III: Section 2 • D.     Parliamentarian The Parliamentarian/Historian shall run and keep order at all meetings, keep an accurate roll of the Student Government Association membership, chair the Constitution and By-Laws committee, chair Executive Privilege proceedings, make the final determination on all matters concerning interpretation of the Constitution and By-Laws, and keep records of all Student Government Association events with the assistance of the appropriate chairperson. The Parliamentarian shall also serve as the House of Representatives Liaison; coordinate student organization registration in conjunction with the Student Organizations Coordinator, act as the advisor to the House of Representatives when questions arise regarding duties and procedures, manage the House budget in conjunction with the Executive Council Treasurer, and shall carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

20. Old Article III: Section 3 • D.     House of Representatives Liaison/Historian • The House of Representatives Liaison shall coordinate student organization registration in conjunction with the Student Organizations Coordinator, act as the advisor to the House of Representatives when questions arise regarding duties and procedures, manage the House budget in conjunction with the Executive Council Treasurer, and shall carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council. In addition, the House Liaison shall keep records of all Student Government Association events with the assistance of the appropriate chairperson(s), compile a scrapbook and a history of the Student Government Association, and carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

21. New Article III: Section 3 • F. Chief of Staff (Appointed by the President) • The Chief of Staff’s duties shall serve as an administrative assistant to the President. Responsibilities such as keeping the President’s calendar, representing the President at meetings, coordinating with cabinet members, run the General Assembly in the absence of the Parliamentarian, act as the student representative on the University Planning Commission, serve as a liaison to the freshmen cohort (with the three freshman senators), and any other duties deemed necessary by the Executive Council.

22. Old Article III: Section 2 • C.     Treasurer The Treasurer’s duties shall consist of preparing and managing the annual budget of the Student Government Association in conjunction with the Director of the Student Center and Leadership Activities (hereafter referred to as DSCLA), disbursing funds and allocations upon authorization of the Student Government and the DSCLA, reconciling fund disbursement, and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

23. New Article III: Section 3 • G.     Treasurer – (Appointed by the Elected Officers) The Treasurer’s duties shall consist of managing the annual budget of the Student Government Association in conjunction with University Events and Sponsored Programs (hereafter referred to as the UESP) disbursing funds and allocations upon authorization of the Student Government and the UESP, reconciling fund disbursement, keeping a record of receipts and transactions, and carrying out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council. Candidates must be pursuing a career field relevant to the duties described above.

24. Old Article III Section 2 • E.   Student Concerns Representative/Public Relations The Student Concerns Representative shall act as the student representative on the University Planning Commission, act as liaison between the Commission and the Executive Council, actively consult the student body for issues of concern, seek ways to educate the student body about concerns, work to address those concerns that will improve the quality of life for students, and shall carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

25. New Article III Section • H. Attorney General – (Appointed by Elected officers) The Attorney General’s duties shall be composed of being the chief enforcer of all SGA policies. This includes but is not limited too investigating how student organizations spend appropriations, investigating on-campus student issues (parking, food services, etc.), disputes between the student body and administration, compiling a monthly report to the President to present to the Board of Trustees, and any other duties deemed necessary by the Executive Council.

26. Old Article III: Section 3 • C.     Senate Liaison The Senate Liaison shall coordinate Senate elections, act as advisor to the Senate when questions arise regarding duties and procedures, manage the Senate budget in conjunction with the Executive Council Treasurer, ensure that the Senate convenes at least twice each semester, and shall carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

27. New Article III: Section 3 • I. Director of Public Relations –(Appointed by the Elected Officers) The Director of Public Relations (DPR) shall be in charge of all social networking on behalf of SGA, routinely update content of the SGA webpage, design original advertising for all campaigns/events, and shall carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the consensus of the Executive Council.

28. Old Article IV: Section 1 • Section 1. Executive Privilege The Executive Privilege shall be defined as the exercise of voting privilege by the Elected Executive Officers of the Student Government Association when a consensus of the entire Executive Council fails to be realized.

29. New Article IV: Section 1 • Section 1. Executive Privilege The Executive Privilege shall be defined as the exercise of voting privilege by the Elected Executive Officers of the Student Government Association when the Executive Council fails to reach a consensus.

30. Old Article V: Section 1 • B.     Class Senators • Each class’ student body shall elect one Senator to represent that class. The classifications are: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. In addition, there will also be elections for one international student senator, one senator at large from the student populous, one senator for the student commuters, and one senator for students living on campus. Only students of the international schools may vote for the International Senator. Only commuting students may vote for the Commuter Senator. Only residents may vote for the Residential Senator. The Senate Liaison shall hold elections no later than the sixth week of the first semester of the academic year.

31. New Article V: Section 1 • B.     Class Senators The freshman shall have three representatives to represent their class under the supervision of the Chief of Staff and the Vice President.

32. Old Article V Section 1c • Does not exist

33. New Article V Section 1c • C. Other Senators • In addition, there will also be elections for one international student senator, one senator from the student-athlete populous, four senators for the student commuters, and three senators from students living on campus. The Vice President shall hold elections no later than the sixth week of the first semester of the academic year. In the event of no candidates, the directors of Residence Life, Athletics, and International Business shall appoint senators. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to find Commuter Senators in the absence of candidates.

34. Old Article VI: Section 2 • Section 2. House of Representative Governance • The House of Representatives Liaison shall act as advisor, manage the budget, and set the agenda for House meetings and activities with the House of Representative Chairperson. The House of Representatives Liaison shall relay all information to and from the Executive Council at meetings. • The House of Representatives shall participate in Student Government Association General Assembly meetings regularly. Each student organization is entitled to one vote at the General Assembly. If for any reason, one House of Representatives member is representing more than one organization, that House of Representatives member will only be allowed to vote once.

35. New Article VI: Section 2 • Section 2. House of Representative Governance • The Parliamentarian shall act as advisor, manage the budget, and set the agenda for House meetings and activities with the House of Representative Chairperson. The House of Representatives Liaison shall relay all information to and from the Executive Council at meetings. • The House of Representatives shall participate in Student Government Association General Assembly meetings regularly. Each student organization is entitled to one vote at the General Assembly. If for any reason, one House of Representatives member is representing more than one organization, that House of Representatives member will only be allowed to vote once.

36. Public Forum On whether or not the Treasurer should be an elected or appointed position.