Constitution
Student SenateConstitution
Preamble
We, the Malone College Student Senate, adopt for its government the following Constitution, in order that we might represent and serve the student body; provide a channel of communication with a clearer understanding among students, faculty, and administration; exercise democratic citizenship and government responsibility; cultivate a campus community of social and intellectual growth and educational opportunity through co-curricular activities; and foster the College’s atmosphere of meaningful Christian lifestyle as written in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, under the dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Article I..........Name
The name of this organization shall be the "Malone College Student Senate," henceforth referred to as the Student Senate.
Article II..........AuthoritySection 1. Scope of Authority
All functions, actions, and responsibilities of the Student Senates shall be based on and exercised under this Constitution, Amendments, and Bylaws.
Section 2. Review and Veto
I. This Constitution reserves the College President, the Board of Trustees, and authorized officials of the College the right to review actions and functions of the Student Senate.
II. This Constitution further reserves to the College President, the Board of Trustees, and authorized officials of the College the right to veto any proposed action or function of the Student Senate that is in conflict with school policy as stated in the Malone College Catalog, Student Handbook, and other official college documents. Article III..........Membership
All persons enrolled as students of Malone College are eligible to bring concerns before Student Senate. All undergraduate students with a minimum of a 2.5 G.P.A. are eligible to be members of Student Senate. See Article V, Section 3 for election process.
Article IV..........Student Senate
Section 1.
The Student Senate shall be comprised of the following members: Student Body President and Vice-President, Directors, and Representatives, which are comprised of Class Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, Senators, and Commuter Senators.
Section 2.
All of the above members are required to attend weekly Senate Meetings.
Section 3.
Any non-Senate member (both student and faculty) is encouraged to attend weekly meetings and voice their opinions, but they do not posses the right to vote.
Article V..........Student Body President and Vice President, Directors,
and Representatives
Section 1. Student Body President and Vice-President
I. Responsibilities
a. The President shall be responsible for the efficient and active functions of the student body, preside over the
Student Senate, perform the duties as described in the Bylaws of this Constitution, and uphold the ideals set forth
in the Preamble of this Constitution.
b. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the efficient operation of his or her duties, shall assume the duties
of the President in his or her absence, perform the duties as described in the Bylaws of this Constitution, and
uphold the ideals set forth in the Preamble of this Constitution.
II. The President and Vice-President shall run jointly and shall be elected by a majority vote of the student body.
Section 2. Senate Directors
I. Senate Directors shall consist of the following: Communications Director, Commuter Director, Administration Director, Co-Intramural Directors, Spiritual Life Director, Co-Student Activities Directors, and Multicultural Director.
II. The Directors of Student Senate shall chair their standing committees, be responsible to the Student Body President and Vice-President and their respective advisors, perform duties as described in the Bylaws of this Constitution, and uphold the ideals set forth in the Preamble of this Constitution.
III. Candidates for the Director positions shall be interviewed by the Steering Committee described in the Bylaws of this Constitution. The committee shall nominate the most qualified candidate(s) to the Student Senate for approval by a two-thirds majority vote.
Section 3. Representatives
I. The Representatives of the Student Senate shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, four Senators, and one Commuter Senator from each class.
II. The duties of the representatives shall be to represent faithfully the interests of the student body, perform duties described in the Bylaws of this Constitution, and uphold the ideals set forth in the Preamble of this Constitution.
III. Elections
a. The Class President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by a plurality in the general class
election. If a candidate is running unopposed, students may cast a blank ballot in order to vote against the
candidate; the unopposed candidate shall win the election if he or she receives a majority of the vote. The four
Class Senators shall be the four Senator candidates receiving the highest vote totals in their general class
elections.
b. The four Commuter Senators shall be the four candidates receiving the highest vote totals in the general election.
There must be a commuter senator representing each class. If after the general election, each class has not filled
their commuter senator position, the position will be opened to all students with commuter experience. However,
the commuter senator must work with the class in which he/she has filled the vacancy.
IV. If all the Student Senate Representative positions have not been filled after the two general elections (spring of previous year and fall of the current year), the positions much be filled through application/interview process. The Steering Committee will nominate the most qualified candidate(s). The Student Senate will vote to approve candidates. A two-thirds majority vote much be obtained.
Section 4. Removal
I. Any member of the Student Senate shall be removed if his or her cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 based on the decision of the Student Body President and the Dean of Students.
II. Absence
a. If any member of the Student Senate has more than two unexcused absences per semester, the student shall be
automatically removed.
b. An excused absence must be confirmed by the President or Vice-President.
III. Impeachment
a. Any member of the Student Senate may call for the recall or removal of any other member of Student Senate,
elected or appointed, because of gross neglect of duties as described in the Bylaws of this Constitution or multiple
disciplinary violations.
b. Any member of the student body can call for the recall or removal of a Student Body President, Vice-President, or
Director with a petition bearing the signatures of more than 10% of the student body.
c. Any member of the student body can call for the recall or removal of any Class Representative of the Student
Senate with a petition bearing the signatures of more than 25% of the class of the student body, which the
Student Senate member represents. d. The said member in the above may be removed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of Student Senate.
Section 5. Resignation
Any Student Senate member desiring to resign must present a letter of resignation to the Student Body President and Vice-President.
Section 6. Replacement
Immediately following the removal or resignation of a Student Senate member, a circulated notice indicating the vacant position shall be made available to the student body. Potential candidates shall be interviewed and nominated by the Steering Committee and the Student Senate shall vote by secret ballot on the nomination. A two-thirds affirmative vote shall be required to elect the nominee to the vacated position.
Article VI..........Meetings of Student Senate
The Student Senate shall meet once a week during the normal academic year. Special emergency meetings shall be called by the President at his or her discretion. If both the President and Vice-President are unable to attend the meeting, then the meeting is cancelled. Quorum is two-thirds of the Student Senate; quorum must be present for all voting actions.
Article VII..........Amendments
Section 1.
Any member of the student body may propose an amendment to the Constitution by presenting to the Student Senate a petition containing the desired amendment and the signatures of 10% of the student body.
Section 2.
The Student Senate may propose amendments to this Constitution. The Student Senate may automatically make an amendment available for official consideration by the student body by a two-thirds vote of Student Senate.
Section 3.
A proposed amendment shall be submitted to the student body for adoption or rejection in the next election or in a special election, which may be called by two-thirds of the Student Senate. A majority affirmative vote of all votes cast by the student body shall be necessary for adoption of the proposed amendment.
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