Campus Life - Student Government Association - Constitution

The Constitution of the Student Government Association of Cumberland University (As Amended 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002 Preamble)

We, the students of Cumberland University, recognizing that there is dignity and honor in student government, and realizing an organization of the student body is necessary to the well being of the total college community, set forth the following constitution:

Article 1-Name
The name of this organization shall be called, the Student Government Association of Cumberland University, hereafter called SGA.

Article II-Purpose
The purpose of this organization is to be the governing body of Cumberland University in matters involving the students of Cumberland University, to establish a close relationship between the students and the administration, to promote a spirit of community, to exchange constructive ideas, to discuss school problems, to promote and aid in student activities, and to be the students' voice of Cumberland University.

Article III-Powers
The Officers and Senators of the SGA delegate the powers of the SGA, herein granted, with supervision by the administration and the advisor.

Article IV-Membership

Section 1. Senators There shall be 6 to 8 Commuter and Resident Senators each, depending on the ratio of students enrolled in the University.
Clause 1. Every student who would like to run for Senator must meet the following criteria:
a.) Maintain a 2.5 overall average in course work.  Freshmen are exempt from the 2.5 average for their first enrolled semester.
b.) Be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours of coursework.
c.) Not have been on academic probation or suspension the previous semester
d.) Must receive a positive recommendation from SGA advisor and/or a faculty member.
e.) Must be voted on by the Student Body
f.)  Must be counseled on the rules that apply to meetings and parliamentary procedure.
Clause 2.  Students may be removed from office by any of the following offenses:
a.) Frequent tardiness or absences from meetings (deemed by President & Advisor).
b.) Frequent outbursts or unauthorized remarks during meetings.
c.)  Suspension or expulsion from the University.

Section 2.  Division Representatives

Clause 1. Division Chairpersons of the five divisions of the University shall appoint division Representatives. Each Division shall elect two representatives, one serving as the main representative and the other as alternate.
Clause 2. The criteria for membership of the Senators also applies to the Representatives 
Clause 3.  If after four weeks of the fall semester the faculty has not presented a delegate to the Vice-President of the SGA, that division looses representation within the SGA for that calendar year.

Article V - Method of Election

Section 1.  The student body of Cumberland University shall elect senators no later than the Wednesday following the second week of the fall semester by secret ballot. The officers shall be elected by secret ballot not more than five weeks prior to the end of the Spring Semester and no later than two weeks before the end of the Spring Semester of each year.

Section 2.  Eligible voters shall be defined as any student enrolled in at least 12 hours, or in the case of the fall semester election of Senators, any student carrying at least 3 hours.  Part-time students shall vote on the commuter ballot, and are allowed to vote in these elections only.

Section 3.  The SGA will base voting eligibility on those names furnished by the Registars Office.


Article VI-Tenure of Office

Section 1. Senators
Term of office shall consist of a calendar year beginning with the fall semester election and ending with the verification of the election results in the following fall semester.

Section 2. Officers
Terms of office shall consist of a calendar year beginning with the Spring Commencement of one year and ending with the Spring Commencement of the following year.

Section 3. Termination of Tenure
Members shall be removed from office in the event of the following:

  1. Withdrawal, Dismissal, or Suspension from college.
    Failure to maintain a 2.5 grade point average.
    Probation of significant detriment to the SGA and the University as a whole by the Disciplinary Committee, Dean of Undergraduate Activities, Director of Campus Life, or Coordinator of Student Activities ( Shall be voted on by the SGA body).
    Three unexcused absences from called meetings.
    Failure to comply with duties as set forth by the SGA as a whole.
  2. Representatives may be removed and/or replaced by their respective division  chairperson at any time.

Section 4.  Officer Withdrawal and Replacement

  1. Should the President be unable to serve, the Vice President shall become President.
  2. In the event of a vacancy, the President shall appoint a nominee.  In order for the nominee to assume office, the nominee must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the SGA.
Article VII-Election of Officers

Clause 1. The officers of this organization shall be:

            a.) President
            b.) Vice-President
            c.) Secretary
            d.) Treasurer

Clause 2.  Each term will last one (1) year.

Clause 3.  Elections will be held in the spring of each year.  All elections will be by secret ballot and a majority of fifty-one percent (51%) will constitute election.

Clause 4.  If a run-off should occur, it will take place by a secret ballot the second day after everyone is notified of the results.  The advisors and administration will have the power to do what they deem appropriate.

Clause 5.  In order for a group of proposed officers to be qualified to run, all of the following shall be appropriate:
a.    Two persons on the ballot shall have been member or representative of the SGA for the previous year.
b.    The Person who declares the office of President shall have been a member of the SGA the previous year.
Clause 6. Each applicant shall declare the office for which (s) he wishes to run. It shall be understood that after the election if a candidate is defeated for the office which (s) he has designated on the application, (s) he shall be placed on the ballot for SGA Senator in the fall.  Any change in choice on the application must be made and approved three (3) days in advance of the election.

Clause 7. In order for a ballot to for officer elections to be valid, there shall be four qualified members.  Qualified members shall be able to promote there candidacy only one week before the election.  Signs and paraphernalia shall be removed and cleaned 24 hours after the election results have been tabulated and verified.Clause 8.  If a vacancy occurs for any office, the Council Members shall elect a replacement from the membership at the next scheduled meeting after the vacancy is certified.

Article VIII-Basic Duties of Officers

Section 1. President

a.) It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all meetings of the SGA.
b.) The President shall appoint all necessary committees and committee chairpersons with consultation with the advisor.
c.) The President shall vote in the case of a tie.
d.) The President shall diligently strive to better the University.  His/Her efforts should be a constant complement to the goal of Cumberland and to the realization of individual betterment.

Section 2. Vice-President

a.) It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to preside over all meetings in the absence of the President.
b.) The Vice-President shall act as Parliamentarian and have at all meetings a copy of the Roberts Rules of Order, latest edition to be used upon the request by any member of the SGA.

Section 3. Secretary

a.) The Secretary shall take minutes of all Student Government Association meetings and file these minutes as official record.
b.) The Secretary shall act as both Corresponding and Recording Secretary unless the President and Advisor deem that there is a need for two separate offices.

Section 4. Treasurer

a.) Treasurer shall act as main intermediary for money situations between SGA and the administration.
b.) Treasurer shall keep up to date accurate financial records of the SGA and prepare financial reports for meetings when requested by members.
Article IX-Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees

Clause 1.  All of the following shall be standing committees for each year:
a. Homecoming & Coming Home Committee
b. Special Events Committee
c. Election Committee
d. Fundraising Committee
e. Professor Appreciation
f. Communications Committee
Clause 2.  The President upon election shall appoint the Chairpersons and it shall be composed of the officers of the SGA.
Clause 3.  Every member shall be appointed to at least one committee for thecalendar year and should strive to help all other members to accomplish their duties as set forth by the SGA.

Section 2. The President and/or advisor shall have the power to appoint ad hoc committees as are needed throughout the year.

Article X-Meetings

Section 1. Meetings

Clause 1. There shall be at least eight (8) meetings per semester.
Clause 2. The dates of the meetings shall be approved by the officers before the first General Assembly meeting of the year.
Clause 3. Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of the advisor.
Article XI- Adoption of Constitution

Section 1. Ratification of the Constitution

a.) Presentation to the Student Body.   The SGA shall set a date to vote on the proposed constitution.  The proposed Constitution shall be posted in three (3) easily accessible locations on campus at least one calendar week before the vote is to take place.
b.) The student body shall vote on the proposed constitution by secret ballot.

Section 2. The Constitution shall take effect when agreed upon by two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible voters who voted from the student body.

Article XII-Veto Power
The President shall have veto power upon the advice of the advisor and a 2/3-majority vote of the SGA.

Article XIII-Amendments

Section 1. Any student may present a proposal for amendment to the constitution of the SGA.  If such an amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote of the SGA, it shall be read to the student body or posted publicly.  Not less than one week or more than a month later it shall be voted upon by secret ballot and shall become effective upon two-thirds of those voting.  If the SGA disapproves of the proposed amendment, the student proposing it may present the amendment together with a petition containing at least 30 signatures of students to the President of the SGA.  The President shall present the amendment to the student body herein provided.

Article XV-Ratification

Section 1.  The constitution shall be ratified upon the approval of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and a two-thirds majority vote by the SGA and the Student Body.