Constitution of the
Residence Halls Association
At Oklahoma State University
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Residence Hall Association of Oklahoma State University, shall strive for a perfect association, upholding the rights of the residents,and facilitating a unified network of Residence Halls. We, the members, do hereby ordain and establish this Constitution of the Residence Halls Association of Oklahoma State University.
ARTICLE I.
Names, Definitions, and Membership
I.1 The name of this organization shall be the Residence Halls Association of Oklahoma State University and shall henceforth be known as RHA.
I.2 A Residence Hall shall be defined as any building on Oklahoma State University at Stillwater that houses students. Residence Halls shall include traditional halls, traditional hall complexes, suite complexes, deluxe suite complexes, and university apartment complexes.
1.3 Any student who is living in a Residence Hall shall be a member of RHA.
1.4 The Constitution shall be the supreme authority over the organization and the structure of RHA.
ARTICLE II.
Legislative Branch
II.1 Alllegislative authority shall be granted to the RHA Senate.
II.2 RHA Senators
II.2.1
The RHA Senate shall be composed of two Senators from each Residence Hall Government, chosen by the Government and each Senator shall have one vote.
II.2.2 Duties
- Senators shall be tasked with the proper and conscientious representation of their halls’ interests
- Absence of no more than three Senate meetings without designating a proxy
- The timely communication of RHA Senate to their halls, the reporting of activities to their halls
- The notification of all issues pertinent to RHA.
II.2.3 Term
All Senators shall serve a term of office beginning at the start of the fall term and ending at the conclusion of the spring term.
II.2.4 Prerequisites for Office
- A Senator shall possess a 2.2 cumulative G.P.A.
- Be classified as a full time student and when elected
- Be a resident of the Residence Hall that they represent at the time of election and for the remainder of the term
II.3 Standing Committees
The RHA Senate shall have Standing Committees to closely study business relevant to RHA. Each standing committee shall make reports at every open meeting of Senate and shall refer its business to the Senate if it finds such matter worthy of further study.
II.3.1 Internal Affairs Committee
The Internal Affairs Committee will be responsible for study and judgment of matter that will directly affect Residence Halls.
II.3.2 External Affairs Committee
The External Affairs Committee shall be tasked with the study and judgment of matters concerning RHA’s relations with other organizations and persons.
II.4 RHA Senate Chair
RHA Senate Chairwill preside over the RHA Senate. The Senate Chair shall be elected by a majority of the Senate and shall have no vote unless the Senate is equally divided.
II.4.1 Duties of the RHA Senate Chair
The RHA Senate Chair shall preside over all regular and special sessions of Senate and the Chair shall be responsible for the creation of the Agenda for every Senate meeting.
II.4.2 Powers of the Senate Chair
II.4.2.1 Selection of Senate Officers
The Senate Chair shall appoint the Senate Parliamentarian and the Senate Secretary of the RHA Senate and they must be confirmed by a majority of the voting Senate.
II.4.2.2 Meeting Times
The Senate Chair shall set the standard meeting time and place of the RHA Senate.
II.4.2.3 Special Sessions
The Senate Chair shall have the power to call special or closed sessions of the RHA Senate, if the Chair deems such sessions as necessary.
II.4.2.4 Special Committees
The Senate Chair shall have the power to form a special committee of the RHA Senate and shall appoint its chair.
II.4.2.5 Term
The Senate Chair shall assume office at the RHA Leadership Banquet and shall remain in office form inauguration to inauguration
II.4.3 Prerequisites for Office
- The Senate Chair must have at least a 2.2 cumulative G.P.A.
- Be a full-time student or a graduating senior
- Be a resident of a Residence Hall while they are serving
II.5 Powers of the Legislature
The RHA Senate shall have the following authority:
- To adopt By-Laws of this Constitution and establish House Rules for RHA Senate Meetings and the Election Board Rules for the RHA Elections
- To approve or reject appointments made by the RHA President or RHA Senate Chair
- To draft or act upon legislation of Senate Committees or members
- To discuss and debate matters of concern to the RHA Community
- To authorize the allocation of certain funds from the RHA Budget
- To approve or reject the annual budget of RHA
- To act as the official voice of the Residence Halls
- To override a Presidential Veto, at the next Senate meeting after the veto, with a two-thirds majority of present Senators
- To impeach any officer of the Executive Board
- To approve members of the Judicial Oversight Committee
II.6 Petitions tothe Legislature
Any action of the RHA Senate may be subject to review. First, at least fifteen percent of the RHA must sign a petition for such a review and the petition must be submitted to the RHA President. The RHA President must then present the petition to the RHA Senate Chair. Should the Senate refuse to submit to an internal review of the action in question, the matter shall be put to a vote by RHA no more than ten school days following the refusal and the petition shall not pass without a concurrence of the majority of the voting RHA.
II.6.1
The RHA Senate must act upon any resolution submitted by petition to the RHA President, if it is signed by at least ten percent of RHA members and does not call for a direct allocation of funds. The RHA Senate must act within ten school days after receipt of the resolution from the RHA President. If the RHA does not act favorably on the resolution, it may be submitted to a special election, provided it is signed by fifteen percent of RHA members and passed by a majority vote of RHA members.
II.7 Officers of the Legislature
II.7.1 Senate Parliamentarian
The Senate shall have a Parliamentarian, chosen by the Chair and confirmed by the Senate. The Parliamentarian shall be the authority on Senate Rules and Procedures. The Judicial Oversight Committee Chair may overrule the Senate Parliamentarian. In the absence of the Senate Chair, the Parliamentarian shall preside over the Senate.
II.7.2 Senate Secretary
The Senate shall have a Secretary, chosen by the Chair and confirmed by the Senate. The Secretary shall be tasked with the completion of minutes of all open sessions of the Senate.
II.7.3 Standing Committee Chairs
The Senate shall have Chairs for its Standing Committees and they shall be chosen by the Chair and confirmed by the Senate. The Committee Chairs shall preside over their respective committees and make regular reports to the entire Senate body.
ARTICLE III.
Executive Branch
III.1 Executive Officers
The executive officers of RHA shall be the President, Vice-President, National Communications Coordinator (NCC), and the Treasurer.
III.1.1 President
The Duties of the RHA President shall include:
- Acting as Chief Executive of the organization
- Appointing Executive Officers
- Co-authorship of the Fall and Spring budget
- Signing, vetoing, or refusing to act upon any Senate resolution
- Appointing members to respective campus committees
- Nominating members of the Judicial Oversight Committee
III.1.2 Vice-President
The Duties of the RHA Vice-President shall include:
- Assisting the RHA President as necessary
- Assuming the Office of the RHA President in the event of a vacancy and being sworn into this office by the Judicial Oversight Committee Chair
- Acting as Chair of the RHA Programming Board
- Organizing a minimum of six (6) programs per semester
III.1.3 Treasurer
The Duties of the RHA Treasurer shall include:
- Assisting the RHA President as necessary
- Maintaining all RHA financial records
- Co-authorship of the Fall and Spring budget
- Submission of a financial report every other week to the RHA Senate
III.1.4 National Communications Coordinator (NCC)
The Duties of the RHA National Communications Coordinator shall include:
- Assisting the RHA President as necessary
- Assuming the roles of the National Communications Coordinator, as defined by the National Association of College and University Residence Halls
- Assuming the role of RHA representative to any official fundraising endeavors
- If appointed for office of NCC must be willing to serve a full term of office starting in the spring and ending in the fall
- Appointing, with the approval of the RHA President, a National Communications Coordinator In-Training (NCC-IT)
III.3 Terms of Office
For all RHA Executive Officers shall be a term of office beginning from Inauguration to Inauguration
III.4 Prerequisites for Office
- A RHA Executive shall posses a 2.2 cumulative G.P.A.
- Be classified as a full time student
- Must live in a Residence Hall and be considered a member of RHA
- In addition, a candidate for office must have served as an RHA Executive Board Member, RHA Senator, Hall Executive, or served on the Judicial Oversight Committee and must have completed at least 24 hours of course work prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
III.4.1 Additional NCC Prerequisite
A National Communications Coordinator shall, in addition to the above requirements, also have
- Gone through the NCC training
- Be appointed by the RHA President and the NCC
- Be confirmed by the RHA Senate
- Have attended at least one (1) conference
If there is no candidate that meets the above requirements then the RHA President may choose another candidate that he/she deem qualified.
ARTICLE IV.
Judicial Branch
IV.1 RHA Judicial Oversight Committee
The Supreme Judicial Authority of the Residence Hall Association shall be vested in a Judicial Oversight Committee.
IV.2Jurisdiction
IV.2.1The Judicial Oversight Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that individual Hall Governments are being constitutionally responsible and following both the RHA Constitution and the Hall Constitution.
IV.2.2 The Judicial Oversight Committee shall exercise original jurisdiction in any dispute between an individual and any Residence Hall Constitution.
IV.2.3 The Judicial Oversight Committee shall exercise appellate jurisdiction from the Residence Hall Elections Boards, RHA Senate, and RHA Executive Board.
IV.2.4 Prerequisites for Judicial Oversight Committee
A member of the JOC shall posses a 2.2 cumulative G.P.A., be classified as a full time student, and must live in a Residence Hall and is a member of RHA.
ARTICLE VI.
RHA Presidents Line of Succession
VI. The line of succession for a vacant elected position shall be as follows:
VI.1.1 RHA President- RHA Vice President, RHA Treasurer, NCC Chair, RHA Senate Chairman, Judicial Oversight Chairman, RHA General Secretary, RHA Senate Secretary, RHA Senate Parliamentarian, Internal Affairs Chair, External Affairs Chair.
ARTICLE VII.
Removal from Office
VII.1 Removal of RHA Senators
The RHA Senate Chairwith the approval of the RHA President or a representative from a RHA Senators Hallshall have the authority to remove any RHA Senator from his/her duties within the Senate, due to failure to perform and fulfill the duties and obligations listed in Article II. Any Senator removed may appeal to the RHA Judicial Oversight Committee in writing within ten academic school days.
VII.2 Removal of the Senate Chair
The Senate Chair may be impeached, on a motion, by a simple majority of the senate, upon which a trial for removal shall commence no later than ten school days following the impeachment, by the Judicial Oversight Committee. The trial shall be heard before a special closed session of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Judicial Oversight Committee shall preside over. The original author of the motion shall act as sole plaintiff; the Senate Chair shall choose his or her own defenders. During the course of the trial a selected member from the Judicial Oversight Committee shall present their findings to the Senate. Following the trial, the RHA Senate may remove the Chair from office with a three-fourths majority vote.
VII.3Removal of Executive Officers
Any Executive Officer of RHA may be impeached by a petition of ten percent of RHA/Residents on Campus, submitted to RHA Senate, or by the approval of a motion to impeach in the RHA Senate by a voting majority. A trial for removal shall then be convened no later than ten school days following impeachment. The trial shall be heard before the members of the Judicial Oversight Committee, and presided over by the Judicial Oversight Chairman, with concurrence of two-thirds of the present committee, have the sole power of removal. If the Executive Officer is impeached and removed, he or she shall not be eligible to serve as officer at any level of the RHA for no less than one academic year.
VII.4 Removal of the Judicial Oversight Chairmen
The JOCChair may be removed from office with a petition of ten percent of the RHA/Residents on Campus, submitted to the RHA Senate, or by the approval of a motion to impeach in the RHA Senate by a voting majority. A trial for removal shall then be convened no later than ten school days following impeachment. The trial shall be heard before the RHA Advisor, and the Area Coordinators. The original author of the motion and the JOC Chair shall act as sole plaintiff. Following the trial, the RHA Advisor, and the Area Coordinators may remove the chair from office.
ARTICLE VIII.
Delegation of powers to the residence halls of OSU
Any powers not explicitly given to the RHA government are hereby delegated to the governments of the individual Residence Halls.
ARTICLE IX.
Amendments of powers to this Constitution
Proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be submitted to the RHA Senate in writing. If approved by two-thirds of the voting Senate,and with concurrences of the voting majority, to be held no later than ten school days following Senate approval.
ARTICLE X.
By-Laws
By-laws, and amendments to the By-laws, are to be voted upon at a regular session of the RHA Senate, having been presented to the Senate at the previous session. A two-thirds concurrence shall be necessary for approval.
ARTICLE XI.
Grandfathering
XI.1 GRANDFATHERING
The occupants of all elected positions at the time of ratification shall be allowed to serve out the remainder of their respective terms. If elected positions for the following term have already been filled, the future occupants of said positions shall serve the term for which they were selected, but shall adhere to this Constitution.
ARTICLE XII.
Last Amended Date
XII.1 LAST DATE AMENDED
November 25, 2009