The Constitution of the Rockhurst University Student Senate
Approved by Student Senate February October 2014
Preamble
We, the Student Senate of Rockhurst University, in order to promote the interests and concerns of the undergraduate student body in matters that affect the University community; to maintain and improve the rights and general welfare of the students; to stimulate and promote support among students for policies beneficial to their interests; to strengthen understanding and communication between students and the University; and to uphold the ideals and values of the Jesuit Catholic tradition through learning, leadership, and service, do hereby ordain and establish this Constitution.
Article I: General Rights and Provisions
Section 1: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Rockhurst University Student Senate, hereafter to be referred to as Student Senate.
Section 2: Membership
Membership shall be limited to the undergraduate student body of Rockhurst University.
Section 3: Anti-Discrimination Policy
Membership shall be open to all undergraduate students of Rockhurst University, regardless of race, ethnic origin, creed, political affiliations, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.
Section 4: Apportionment
a. The Student Senate shall have the power to reapportion itself according to published enrollment statistics provided by the university.
b. The total membership of the Senate shall not exceed 1.2 percent of the full time student undergraduate population.
Section 5: Oath of Office
All Senators shall be bound by the Student Senate Oath of Office.
I, (state your name) do solemnly swear that I will serve as a member of the Rockhurst University Student Senate and I will faithfully carry out my responsibilities for the constituency. I further promise that I will promote the purposes of the Student Senate as set forth in its constitution. So help me God.
Article II – Legislative Branch
Section 1: Legislative Powers
All legislative powers of the Student Body shall be vested in the Student Senate.
Section 2: Rights and Responsibilities
The Student Senate shall have the right and responsibility to:
a. be actively involved in the decision-making processes concerning administrative policies before public implementation thereof;
b. review the present administrative policies and recommend changes where necessary;
c. concern itself with the full spectrum of problems, opportunities, and responsibilities affecting the student community;
d. legislate its own rules of procedure;
e. provide for the control and disbursement of the student allocated funds;
f. require information and/or appearance from any student officer of any organization receiving student activity fee funding;
g. be free from arbitrary intervention;
h. sponsor, encourage, or publicize any activity or program deemed appropriate by the Student Senate which promotes students’ interests;
i. hold closed meetings at the discretion of the Student Senate President;
j. levy and collect special fees for Student Senate sponsored events;
k. approve or deny the charter of a proposed student organization;
l. enact and amend constitutional provisions necessary for the general well being of the student government; and
m. take all necessary steps needed in order to achieve the above mentioned rights and responsibilities.
Section 3: Prohibitions
The Student Senate shall not:
a. enact any legislation in violation of the constitution;
b. allocate funds for a period of more than one year; or
c. deny speaking privileges to non-members of the Student Senate, provided that they abide by Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 4: Required Procedures
a. All members shall follow Parliamentary procedures under Roberts Rules of Order.
b. All senators shall receive one vote on all legislation, with the exception of the President, who shall not vote except as necessary to break a tie.
c. No legislation shall be valid unless a student Senator introduces the legislation, the legislation is read, and the legislation passes by majority vote of the Student Senate.
d. Vetoed legislation may be enacted if passed by a two-thirds Super Majority vote of the members of the Student Senate present and voting on it for a second time.
e. Quorum necessary to conduct business shall be 50 percent of the total Senate plus one (1).
f. Legislation of the Student Senate shall be classified as an amendment to the constitution.
Section 5: Code of Ethics and Conduct
a. Rockhurst University Student Senate Officers, both elected and appointed hold their positions for the benefit of the students. Officers are to observe the highest standard of ethics in all their actions.
1. No officer of Rockhurst University Student Senate shall engage in any business or professional activity, or have any financial interests, direct or indirect, which would place him or her in a position where there is a conflict between their interests and the best interests of the students of Rockhurst University.
2. No officer shall use or allow the use of Student Senate property for any business other than official Senate business. No person shall give, offer, or promise any student officer or student at large any benefit not authorized by the Student Senate.
3. No officer of the Student Senate shall harm or threaten to harm any person by the performance or omission of any act.
4. No officer of the Student Senate shall aid, advise, procure, or in any way induce another individual to act in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct.
5. A violation of the Code of Conduct may be cause for impeachment and removal from office, or for public censure and reprimand by any individual or body having lawful authority to take such action.
b. Any student or member of the Rockhurst community may file a written complaint against a Senator or the Student Senate as a whole. The Executive Board of the Rockhurst University Student Senate shall immediately investigate the alleged complaint.
Section 6: Committees
a. The Senate shall have the authority to create any committees, standing or special that will further the purpose of the organization. These can be used to provide support for Senate Officers, as well as other areas of need, which the Senate deems necessary. (e.g. Athletics, Student Development, Publicity, Academic Support, etc.) The use of these committees will be used to further the purpose of Senate’s mission by being a liaison between the University and the students and by working towards the general improvement of Student Life.
b. Senate members shall appoint a student leader to serve on the following tripartite committees, as well as any tripartite committees later to be determined necessary:
1. Access: The purpose of the Access Committee shall be to work in conjunction with faculty and staff to assure that the University is accessible to all students, regardless of ability and disability, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
2. The purpose of the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee shall be, in conjunction with faculty and staff, to allocate the funds in the Unallocated Fund derived from the Student Activity Fee to student organizations, clubs, leadership opportunities, and general events that benefit the student body.
3. Board of Trustees: The Student Senate President and Vice President designates to the Board of Trustees shall represent the interests of the Student Senate and the student body as a whole to the Trustees and the Board of Regents.
4. Center for Arts and Letters: The Student Senate designate to the Center for Arts and Letters committee shall assist the Chair with decisions regarding guests and programming.
5. Diversity: The purpose of the Tri-Partite Committee on Diversity shall be to promote diversity in all sectors of the university community.
6. Festival of Student Achievement: The Student Senate designates to the Festival of Student Achievement Committee shall assist the Chair in the planning and facilitating of the Festival of Student Achievement each year.
7. Honors Programming Advisory: The Student Senate designate to the Honors Program Advisory Committee shall assist the Chair with developing a more effective Honors Program at the University.
8. Information Technology: The Student Senate designate to the Information Technology Committee shall assist the Chair with creating a campus that improves the current technology and offer new programs/technology that will better the campus.
9. International and Global Perspectives Committee: The Student Senate designates to the International and Global Perspectives Committee shall assist the Chair with any decisions or tasks regarding the Committees purpose.
10. Leadership Committee: The Leadership Committee shall assist in the training and development of campus leaders.
11. Mission and Ministry Committee: The Student Senate designates to the Mission and Ministry Committee shall assist the Chair in carrying out any affairs the Office of Mission and Ministry deems necessary.
12. Sentinel Board: The Student Senate designate to the Sentinel Board shall assist the Chair with press releases and any concerns related to the Rockhurst Sentinel.
13. Service Trip Advisory Committee: The Student Senate designates to the Service Trip Advisory Committee shall assist the Chair in the workings of the University sponsored Service Trips.
14. Student Welfare: Student Senate designates to the Student Welfare Committee shall assist the Chair in working with committee on constitutions, amendments, and policy-changes.
15. Teacher Education: The Student Senate designate to the Teacher Education Committee shall assist the Chair with improving the Teacher Education program.
16. Undergraduate Curriculum: The Student Senate designate to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee shall assist the Chair with improving the current curriculum.
17. Visiting Scholars: The Student Senate designate to the Visiting Scholars committee shall assist the Chair as necessary and offer ideas and opinions on upcoming visiting scholars.
18. Any other tripartite committees that the University votes to create and maintain.
c. The President shall have the power to create special committees to carry out a prescribed function for a period of time.
d. The President shall have the power to reapportion committees, appoint Senators to committees, and compel committee reports.
Article III: Officers
Section 1: Election of Officers
a. The Election of all Senate positions, with the exception of President and Vice President, shall take place in the final week of April, following the general election of Senators. Selection and appointment to office shall be made at the discretion of the Student Senate President.
b. Officers shall be expected to ensure the fulfillment of the responsibilities, and will be expected to keep the Senate and Executive Board apprised of their progress and reports.
Section 2: The Executive Branch
The Executive Board of the Student Senate shall consist of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Parliamentarian.
a. The duties of the President of the Student Senate shall be as follows:
1.To serve as the chief executive officer of the Senate
- To lead the Senate and the University in a positive direction during the duration of their administration
- To ensure that the Constitution and its bylaws are followed to the full extent
- To undertake all the responsibilities and tasks that such a role demands.
- Preside over the meetings of the Student Senate
- Will serve as the deciding vote in the event of a tie
- Will possess the power of the veto, the power to convene meetings of the Executive Board, and the power to call an emergency meeting of the Senate at Large as necessary
- Serve on the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee, Student Welfare Committee, and the Board of Trustees.
b. The duties of the Vice-President shall be as follows:
- To assist the President in any way possible during the duration of her/his administration
- Will preside over meetings in the event of the absence of the President
- Will ascend to the Presidency and appoint an Executive Board member from within the current Senate, should the President resign or be impeached
- Serve on the the Student Welfare Committee. They may serve on the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee as well.
5. Be responsible for all Public Relations and promotions.
c. The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows:
1.To serve as the chief clerical officer of the Student Senate
2.To take the minutes of the meetings of the Student Senate, and distribute those minutes to the Senate at large, as well as to make those minutes and additional information regarding the Senate available to the student body.
3.Serve on the Student Welfare Committee and shall co-chair the Constitutions Committee with the Parliamentarian. They may serve on the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee as well.
d. The duties of the Treasurer shall be as follows:
1. To serve as the chief financial officer of the Student Senate
2.To balance the accounts of the Senate
3.To present to the Executive Board a weekly report on the activities of the budget of the Senate and the budget of the University at large
4. To request funding from the unallocated fund, and to undertake all the responsibilities and tasks that such a role demands.
5. At the end of each semester, review the expenses of the previous semester and identify funding priorities for the upcoming semester, which shall then be submitted to the Senate and then the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee for their respective approval
6.Have the power to audit and review the financial records of any organization that has received funding through the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee.
7. May have the opportunity to also serve on the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee and the Student Welfare Committee.
e. The duties of the Parliamentarian shall be as follows:
1.To ensure that meetings of the Student Senate remain orderly and are run in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order-Revised, and shall serve as the Senate Speaker Pro-Tempore
2. Prior to November 1st of each year, shall see that the Senate Constitution is current as it stands.
3.Is responsible for the distribution Senate Constitution and Oath of Office to all Senators at large
4.May have the opportunity to serve on the Student Activity Fee Budgeting Committee and the Student Welfare Committee, and shall co-chair the Constitutions Committee with the Secretary.
Section 3: Order of Succession (add: changes in the event of impeachment)
In the event that the President of the Student Senate shall be rendered incapable of or unwilling to fulfill their duties as outlined in Article IV, Section I, the order of succession shall be as follows:
a. The Vice-President