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Student Senate Constitution – Rewrite 2007
YCCC Student Senate Mission Statement
We, the members of the Student Senate, will strive to be representatives of the student body by assisting and empowering the students of YCCC.
Preamble
We, the Student Senate of York County Community College, do hereby originate and establish this constitution as the sole document stating the purpose and powers of this student body.
Article I – Purpose
Section 1
The purpose of this Student Senate is to provide for a higher quality of student life in the best interests of the student body of York County Community College.
Article II – Powers
Section 1.
Make recommendations to the Administration in the interest of the student body and the college.
Section 2.
Act as representatives for the student body to the Administration.
Section 3.
Approve requests to establish new student organizations on campus.
Section 4.
Provide for the election of all Senate members.
Section 5.
Initiate projects as needs arise.
Section 6.
Approve selected expenditures of the student activity account.
Article III – Membership
Section 1.
The members shall consist of elected and active YCCC students up to a maximum of 2% of the current enrollment.
Section 2.
All Student Senators must be in good academic standing and abide by the general rules of the college as outlined in the YCCC Student Handbook.
Section 3.
If a senator has an issue with another senator, the following procedure should be considered protocol for reporting grievance: initially seek out the person involved in the grievance, if grievance is not resolved meet with a senate officer, and if the grievance involves a senate officer seek out the Senate Advisor.
Article IV – Officers
Section 1.
Names: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer
Section 2.
Nomination and elections shall take place at the last scheduled meeting of the academic year. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the Student Senate members.
Section 3.
Those elected shall assume office immediately after the end of the current Spring semester and will remain in office until the end of the following Spring semester.
Section 4.
The duties of the President shall be:
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a. To preside at all meetings. |
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b. To provide an agenda a minimum of five days prior to all meetings.
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c. To excuse members from attending meetings when sufficient evidence is presented.
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d. To call special meetings of the Student Senate when deemed necessary. |
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e. To be available, when necessary, to promote the general welfare of the students of York County Community College and the YCCC Student Senate.
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Section 5.
The duties of the Vice President shall be:
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a. To preside at meetings in the absence of the President.
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b. To assume the office of the President in the event of the President's departure.
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c. To serve in any other capacity to the best of their ability as directed by the President. |
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d. To monitor that each Senator is acting in compliance with Article III Section 2 of the constitution as well as the attendance protocol listed in Article VII Section 3.
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e. To notify the Student Senate and Senator when they are in violation of Article III Section 2 or Article VII Section 3.
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Section 6.
The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
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a. To keep and maintain all financial records of the Student Senate.
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b. To update the financial status of the YCCC Student Senate with each transaction.
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c. To report the financial status of the YCCC Student Senate at least two times per month or more as need arises. |
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d. To make and audit a report requested by any member of
YCCC.
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Section 7.
The duties of the Secretary shall be:
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a. To keep and maintain the attendance and minutes of all regular and special meetings.
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b. To provide minutes for Senate evaluation within forty-eight hours prior to approval meeting through an approved medium. |
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c. To present the minutes for approval at each subsequent meeting. |
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d. To update this constitution with Senate-approved amendments and revisions. |
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e. To maintain a contact list of all senators and distribute that list for use of the Senate. |
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f. To provide the Vice President with any violations of the attendance protocol in Article VII Section 3. |
Article V – Vacancy
Section 1.
A vacancy in a Senator position may be filled during any semester under the supervision of the Student Senate. Potential Senator appointments must attend a minimum of two meetings, and can be voted in by simple majority any subsequent week.
Section 2.
A vacancy in any office of the Senate excluding the President shall be filled by majority vote of Senate members. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the active Vice President will assume the duties of the President.
Article VI – Chairpersons
Section 1.
The Student Senate shall appoint or cause to be appointed all chairpersons through nominations and simple majority vote.
Section 2.
Chairpersons shall perform to the best of their ability the duties asked of them by the Senate.
Article VII – Meetings
Section 1.
Weekly meetings shall be held at a time and date suitable to the Senate Officers and the majority of the Senate members and on a set schedule.
Section 2.
Special meetings may be called by the Senate President, the advisor with the consent of the Senate President, or Senate Vice President in the absence of the President.
Section 3.
Student senate members will be allowed to miss two unexcused senate meetings/events within an academic semester. Excuses are to be given prior to the meeting, unless extenuating circumstances occur. If extenuating circumstances do occur, it is the President's duty to judge the validity of the excuse.
Article VIII – Advisory
Section 1.
One or two advisor(s) shall be appointed by the Administration of York County Community College. The advisor shall have the privilege of the floor but will not be allowed to vote on issues and policies of the Senate.
Section 2.
Advisors shall follow the attendance protocol as listed in Article VII
Section 3, and violations will be reported directly to the administration.
Article IX – Finances
Section 1.
The senate fund shall be derived from the activity fees paid by the students each semester.
Section 2.
Student activity fee monies shall not be spent to benefit an individual person or organization unless those monies are being paid for a service provided, or as the approved initial funds of a club or organization as a benefit to the student body.
Section 3.
Monies provided to a club or organization may not be used to purchase consumable items unless in conjunction with a Senate-approved campus event.
Section 4.
A record of all money approved for expenditures by the Student Senate must appear in the meeting minutes.
Section 5.
Internal purchase requests shall be itemized only. Student Senate activity monies will not be awarded as personal checks. Monies will only be awarded as reimbursements for approved purchases.
Section 6.
Internal Purchase Requests must be signed by both a Student Senate Advisor and a Student Senate Officer.
Section 7.
In the event that an officer fills out an Internal Purchase Request they will not be allowed to sign allowing the release of funds.
Article X – Order of Business
Section 1.
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a. Call to order by the President or Vice President |
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b. Approval of previous meetings minutes
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c. Officer and chairperson reports |
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d. Old Business
e. New Business
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f. Announcement of next meeting
g. Agenda Suggestions for next meeting
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h. Adjournment
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Article XI – Constitutional Changes
Section 1.
The constitution may be amended by 2/3 vote of the active Senate.
Section 2.
The constitution shall be considered ratified upon a 2/3 vote of quorum of the Senate.
Section 3.
A one-half membership of the Senate shall constitute a quorum.
Article XII – Removal from Office
Section 1.
Any senator may be impeached from office by 2/3 vote of senate members present providing a quorum, as defined in Article XI Section 3, exists at any regular meeting.
Section 2.
A senate member would be impeached following sufficient evidence that they had violated the rules and regulations of the Student Senate or YCCC Student Handbook.
Article XIII – Elections
Section 1.
The elected officers who must be returning YCCC Students in the coming Fall semester, shall have the responsibility of organizing and running the Fall Student Senate elections.
Section 2.
The elected officers will post notices to the effect that Student Senate nominations are being accepted 7 days prior to the deadline for nominations. The elected officers shall also post a notice to the effect that Student Senate elections will be held and where they will be held at least 7 days prior to the election.
Section 3.
The Student Senate Advisors will have the responsibility of counting the ballots and posting election results.
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