Professional Documents
Culture Documents
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Table of Contents
PREAMBLE .................................................................................................................................................... 4 ARTICLE I ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT ......................................................................................................... 4 ARTICLE II ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 SENATE ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Section 1.01 Membership .................................................................................................................. 4 Section 1.02 School / College Representatives.................................................................................. 4 Section 1.03 Incoming Freshman / Transfer Student Representatives ............................................. 4 Section 1.04 At Large Representatives .............................................................................................. 4 Section 2.01 Powers and Functions of the Senate ............................................................................ 5 Section 3.01 Speaker of the Senate ................................................................................................... 5 Section 4.01 Senate Clerk .................................................................................................................. 6 Section 5.01 Student Government Fellows (Bylaw) .......................................................................... 6 Section 6.01 Petitioning into the Senate ........................................................................................... 6 ARTICLE III ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 EXECUTIVE BOARD .................................................................................................................................... 7 Section 1.01 Membership .................................................................................................................. 7 Section 2.01 President ....................................................................................................................... 7 Section 2.02 Duties of the President (Bylaw) .................................................................................... 7 Section 3.01 Vice President ............................................................................................................... 8 Section 3.02 Duties of the Vice President (Bylaw) ............................................................................. 8 Section 4.01 Treasurer ....................................................................................................................... 8 Section 4.02 Duties of the Treasurer (Bylaw) .................................................................................... 8 Section 5.01 Director of Clubs and Organizations ............................................................................. 9 Section 5.02 Duties of the Director of Clubs and Organizations (Bylaw) .......................................... 9 Section 5.03 Student Organization Advisory Council Representative (Bylaw) .................................. 9 Section 6.01 Secretary ....................................................................................................................... 9 Section 6.02 Duties of the Secretary (Bylaw)..................................................................................... 9 Section 7.01 Director of Public Relations......................................................................................... 10 Section 7.02 Duties of the Director of Public Relations (Bylaw) ...................................................... 10 Section 8.01 Director of Greek Affairs (Bylaw) ................................................................................ 10
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ARTICLE IV ................................................................................................................................................... 12 SUCCESSION ............................................................................................................................................ 12 Section 1.01 Executive Succession ................................................................................................... 12 Section 1.02 Senate Succession (Bylaw) .......................................................................................... 12 ARTICLE V .................................................................................................................................................... 13 ACCOUNTABILITY .................................................................................................................................... 13 Section 1.01 Attendance .................................................................................................................. 13 Section 1.02 Excused Absences (Bylaw) .......................................................................................... 13 Section 1.03 Leaves of Absence (Bylaw) ......................................................................................... 13
Section 1.04 Committee Absences (Bylaw) ..................................................................................... 13 Section 2.01 Dress Code .................................................................................................................. 14 Section 3.01 Office Hours ................................................................................................................ 14 Section 4.01 Technology .................................................................................................................. 14 ARTICLE VI ................................................................................................................................................... 15 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE ................................................................................................................ 15 Section 1.01 Roberts Rules of Order ............................................................................................... 15 Section 1.02 General Assembly and Senate Meeting Structure (Bylaw) ......................................... 15 Section 1.03 Committee Meetings (Bylaw) ..................................................................................... 15 Section 1.04 Special Meetings (Bylaw) ............................................................................................ 15 Section 1.05 Spring and Summer Meetings (Bylaw) ........................................................................ 15 Section 2.01 University of Michigan Student Governments Council (Bylaw) ................................. 15 ARTICLE VII.................................................................................................................................................. 16 INAUGURATION ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Section 1.01 Inauguration Ceremony .............................................................................................. 16 ARTICLE VIII................................................................................................................................................. 17 ETHICS ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 Section 1.01 Ethics ........................................................................................................................... 17 ARTICLE IX ................................................................................................................................................... 17 THE JUDICIARY ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Section 1.01 Structure ..................................................................................................................... 17
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PREAMBLE
We, the students, in order to construct and promote a common voice; to encourage the continuous exchange of ideas between students, faculty, and administration; to recommend policies and procedures concerning the University; to enhance the students' academic and social environment; and to promote the welfare of the student body, do hereby establish this Constitution of the Student Government of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
ARTICLE I
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The Student Government of the University of Michigan-Dearborn shall not discriminate based upon race, sex, color, religion, national origin nor ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, height, weight nor veteran status.
ARTICLE II
SENATE
Section 1.01 Membership
a) The Senate shall be composed of students of the University of Michigan-Dearborn elected to one-year terms by the student body. b) A student may petition for a vacant seat in his/her respective school or at large provided that the Senate deems it necessary to fill the vacancy as stipulated in the bylaws. c) The Senate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn shall consist of representatives based on the criteria listed in Sections 1.02-1.04.
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ARTICLE III
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1.01 Membership
a) The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Director of Clubs and Organizations (DCO), Treasurer, Secretary, and Director of Public Relations. b) Each Executive Board member must be a currently enrolled student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 and be enrolled in at least (6) credits if they are an undergraduate student or (5) credits if they are a graduate student. c) The President and Vice President shall be elected by the student body as a joint ticket, and shall serve a term of one year. d) The term of office for the Director of Clubs and Organizations (DCO), Treasurer, Secretary, and Director of Public Relations shall end with the term of the President by whom they were appointed. e) The Executive Board shall coordinate the activities of student government, with advisement from the Advisor and advise the Student Government on matters of policy.
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ARTICLE IV
SUCCESSION
Section 1.01 Executive Succession
a) In the event that the office of the President becomes vacant, the Vice President shall become President. b) In the event that the office of the Vice President becomes vacant, the President shall appoint a Vice President from the Senate. c) In the event that the office of the President and Vice President both become vacant simultaneously, the Speaker of the Senate will act as President for the duration of the Presidents term. In the event that the office of the Speaker of the Senate becomes vacant, an election shall be held within the Senate to elect a Speaker of the Senate from within their ranks. d) In the event that the offices of President and Vice President both become vacant simultaneously and the Speaker of the Senate should decline the position of President, an election will be held among members of the Senate to elect a President from within their ranks by plurality.
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ARTICLE V
ACCOUNTABILITY
Section 1.01 Attendance
a) All Student Government members are required to attend his/her respective Executive Board, University, and/or internal Student Government committee meetings. b) If any member receiving a total of (5) unexcused absences from General Assembly meetings, Senate meetings, and office hours may be immediately removed from office without notice. c) Given the majority consent of the Executive Board, the President may grant an excused absence to any member for a General Assembly meeting. Given the majority consent of the Executive Board, the Speaker of the Senate may grant an excused absence to any member for a Senate meeting. d) Any Student Government member is considered absent from a meeting if he/she is not in attendance for 2/3 of that meeting. e) General Assembly and Senate meeting shall count as (1) absence towards a members total absences. f) Any Student Government member may apply for a leave of absence on an as-need basis for a period of time befitting the circumstance. A leave of absence may be granted by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
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ARTICLE VI
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
Section 1.01 Roberts Rules of Order
a) Student Government General Assembly and Senate meetings will be conducted according to Parliamentary Procedure as described in the most current edition of Roberts Rules of Order. b) All newly elected senators must attend a mandatory workshop held by the Member at Large to familiarize them with Parliamentary Procedure and the Student Government Constitution.
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ARTICLE VII
INAUGURATION
Section 1.01 Inauguration Ceremony
a) There shall be an official inauguration ceremony in April during which all newly elected members of Student Government take the oath of office. This ceremony, which may or may not be a part of regular business, shall take place no later than 6 weeks after election polls are closed. b) At the commencement of the winter inauguration ceremony, the lame-duck president shall take the floor of the meeting. She/he shall call forth the President- elect and administer the oath of office. The new President shall then administer the oath to the Vice President, who shall in turn administer it to the Senators- elect.
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ARTICLE VIII
ETHICS
Section 1.01 Ethics
a) No Student Government member may receive monetary compensation for vending, sales, or services relative to Student Government unless it is approved by a majority of the Senate. b) Any Student Government member may be removed from office by impeachment for ineffectiveness, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. c) Student Government will grant no financial assistance of any form to support any partisan political activity. d) No member may serve on both the Executive Board and the Senate simultaneously. e) All Student Government members will abide by the Student Code of Conduct at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. f) All instances of ethical misconduct shall be sent to the Rules and Ethics Committee for review and report.
ARTICLE IX
THE JUDICIARY
Section 1.01 Structure
a) The Student Judiciary shall consist of five judges. Smaller courts can be made at the discretion of the Senate. b) The judges shall be appointed by the President of Student Government, with the advice of the Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management & Student Life. Once appointed, the potential justice must have the consent of the Senate to become a member of the court. c) The Chief Justice of the court will be chosen among the five members of the court as they see fit. The Chief Justice will preside during hearings involving all members of the court.
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ARTICLE X
ADVISOR
Section 1.01 Duties of the Advisor
a) b) c) d) e) f) The Director of Student Activities shall appoint the Advisor for Student Government. The Advisor shall serve as an ex-officio member of Student Government. The Advisor shall advise the Executive Board and Senate on the policies of Student Government. The Advisor shall review all Student Government documents and related material. The Advisor shall serve as a resource to the members of Student Government and provide consultation on potential legislation. The Advisor of Student Government shall serve as the Member at Large for the purpose of internal conflict resolution in Student Government.
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ARTICLE XI
STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1.01 Committee Structure
a) Any Executive Board member assigned to serve on a committee shall not chair that committee nor have voting privileges within the committee. b) Members of the committee shall choose their own chair. If a consensus cannot be reached then the Speaker of the Senate may appoint a member of the committee to be the chair.
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The LRC, UAC, and VRC Delegates shall report their individual activities to the BOD Delegate. c) In lieu of their participation in SAM, SAM Council members are exempt from performing UM-Dearborn Student Government office hours. ii.
Section 4.01 Removal of SAM Council Members a) Any SAM Council Member may be removed from office for ineffectiveness, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office by a two-thirds vote of the UM-Dearborn Student Government Senate. b) If a BOD Delegate is removed from office, the UM-Dearborn Student Government President shall appoint a successor within ten (10) business days. c) If an LRC, UAC, or VRC Delegate is removed from office, the BOD Delegate shall appoint a successor within ten (10) business days. Section 5.01 SAM Council Reimbursements a) The UM-Dearborn Student Government is responsible for reimbursing SAM Council members for the following expenses while partaking in SAM activities: Gas Food Hotel University Vehicle (if applicable) b) The exact monetary amounts covered by the UM-Dearborn Student Government for each conference shall be negotiated between the SAM BOD Delegate, and the UM-Dearborn Student Government President and Treasurer prior to each conference. c) Receipts of all transactions made must be provided by each SAM Council member to the UM-Dearborn Student Government Treasurer before a reimbursement is disbursed. d) All SAM Council Members must sign and submit to the UM-Dearborn Student Government Treasurer a SAM Council Reimbursement Waiver prior to using any UM-Dearborn Student Government monies.
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ARTICLE XIII
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROCESS
Section 1.01 Amending the Constitution
a) All proposed amendments presented by the Rules and Ethics Committee must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Senate. b) Amendments approved by the Senate must be placed on a referendum ballot. These amendments must be approved by a majority of the votes cast by the student body in order to be enacted.
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