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River Falls Student Association Constitution

Thursday, March 30, 2006

  1. PREAMBLE
    1. We, the students of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, aim through the Student Association, to secure those conditions most conductive to intellectual development and to fellowship and concern with the human condition. We also recognize the student as to make demands upon the institution to meet his/her needs as a consumer. We believe further that the most effective way to achieve the necessary goals of the consumer is though vocalization of these needs through a student governing body.
  2. ARTICLE I. NAME
    1. The name of this body shall be the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Student Association, hereafter known as the River Falls Student Association.
  3. ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
    1. All students currently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls shall be members of the Student Association. Members of the Association are entitled to the rights, privileges, and protection of the Student Association. The Student Association shall reserve, to itself, the right to review all Constitutional amendments proposed by the Student Senate of the River Falls Student Association.
  4. ARTICLE III. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
    1. SECTION 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested with the Student Senate of the River Falls Student Association.
    2. SECTION 2. Membership of the Legislative Branch
      1. The membership of the Student Senate of the River Falls Student Association will be limited to representatives of the River Falls Student Association as described by the Election Rules.
      2. Each member of the Student Senate is entitled to one vote.
      3. The Student Senate shall consist of 25 members.
    3. SECTION 3. Time in Office
      1. Student Senators shall be elected at least 5 weeks before the start of finals week, for the Spring Semester.
      2. First Year Student Senators will be elected during Fall Semester. The date of said election is to be determined by the ad-hoc Elections Committee of the Student Senate. Also, any open seats will be filled at this time.
      3. The term in office shall be:
        1. If elected in the Spring Election, the term will commence upon the end of the academic year and run until the end of the following academic year.
        2. If elected in fall or appointed, the term will be until the end of the current year.
    4. SECTION 4. Procedure of nomination shall be:
      1. To become a candidate, a student and/or his/her representatives shall obtain a petition for the Student senate office to be signed by a number of students concurrent with the position sought and the Student Senate Election Rules.
      2. Returned to at least five days prior to the primary election.
      3. A student may sign more than one petition.
    5. SECTION 5. Announcement of the election and deadline for filling petitions shall appear in the Student Voice in at least two consecutive regular editions immediately prior to the election.
    6. SECTION 6. Incumbents will in no way be denoted on the ballot.
    7. SECTION 7. Qualifications:
      1. Any student currently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and in good academic standing is eligible to run for Senate.
      2. Good academic standing will be defined as:
        1. Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.25.
        2. While in office and/or running for office carry a minimum of twelve credits.
        3. All Senators must maintain good academic standing and must be enrolled at University of Wisconsin-River Falls for the duration of their term.
    8. SECTION 8.
      1. A member of the Student Senate is automatically removed from membership after absence from more than two regular meetings without justifiable course during any term (Fall, Spring).
      2. Justifiable cause shall be determined by the President, subject to the approval of the Student Senate.
    9. SECTION 9.
      1. The President of the Student Senate may call a special all-school election or may appoint, subject to the approval of the Student Senate Body, a student to fill a vacant position created by a member-at-large during the school year. The procedure for nominations and elections shall be the same as described in Section 4.
  5. ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
    1. SECTION 1. The officers of the Student Senate shall be a President and a Vice-President. The officers will be directly elected by the Student Body, in a procedure to be determined by the Student Senate Election Rules. Officers will officially take office following the last regular meeting of the current academic year.
  6. ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES
    1. SECTION 1. The standing committees of the Student Senate shall be:
      1. Shared Governance Committee: Chair to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Senate and consisting of four senators and four students at large.
      2. Student Affairs and Academic Services Committee: Chair to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the senate and consisting of four senators and four students at-large.
      3. Legislative Issues Committee: Chair to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Senate and consisting of three senators and four students at-large.
      4. Finance Committee: Chair to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Senate and consisting of four senators and four students at large.
      5. Diversity Issues Committee: Chair to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Senate and consisting of four senators and four students at large.
      6. Women's Initiative Committee: Chair to be appointed by the President subject to confirmation of the Senate and consisting of four senators and four students at large.
      7. Ethics Committee: Chair to be appointed by the president subject to confirmation of the senate and consisting of two other senators appointed by the Ethics Chair subject to confirmation by the Senate.
      8. Executive Committee: Chair to be the president and consist of the Vice President, Shared Governance Director, Student Affairs and Academic Services Director, Legislative Issues Director, Finance Director, Diversity Issues Director, Women's Issues Director, and the Ethics Chair.
  7. ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
    1. SECITON 1. The Student Senate shall meet weekly in a designated place at regular hour with the exception of Final Exam Week when school is in session.
    2. SECTION 2. The President shall call special meetings when he/she deems necessary at the request of a simple majority of members or more of the Student Senate.
    3. SECTION 3. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the existing members.
    4. SECTION 4. Student Senate meetings shall be held in accordance with the Wisconsin Open Meeting Law.
  8. ARTICLE VII. DUTIES AND POWERS
    1. SECTION 1. The Student Senate shall be responsible for the disbursement of the allocable and non-allocable portions of the segregated fees with the suggestion of the Allocable Fees Appropriation Board and the Facilities and Fees Board in consultations with the Chancellor.
    2. SECTION 2. The Student Senate shall serve as the major student recommendation body relative to overall campus matters. It reviews and deals with the complete spectrum of student-related concerns.
    3. SECTION 3. The process of Policy Formation and Review by the student agencies on campus will follow those guidelines set forth in the University of Wisconsin-River Falls merger Implementation Interim Guidelines.
    4. SECTION 4. Regulation of Student Activities
      1. The Student Senate shall act as ate policymaking body concerning the activities of student organizations as set forth in the by-laws.
      2. The Student Senate shall have a voting liaison on all student agencies on campus as designated by the University of Wisconsin River Falls Implementation of Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5).
    5. SECTION 5. The Student Senate forbids discrimination:
      1. Membership in the UW-River Falls Student Association Student Senate is open to all UW-River Falls students, without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, or parental status.
      2. The Student Senate forbids discrimination in any student activities, organizations, or committees, which fall under its jurisdiction.
      3. Should this policy be broken, the Student Senate may take any action it deems necessary to remedy the situation.
  9. ARTICLE VIII. BY-LAWS
    1. SECTION 1. The Student Senate may adopt by-laws to this constitution shall explain extended functions of the Student Senate through its committees and other student governing bodies.
    2. SECTION 2. The amendments to the by-laws may be presented by a member of the Student Senate at any regular meeting and voted on at the following regular meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required to approve the proposed amendment.
  10. ARTICLE IX. ELECTIONS
    1. SECTION 1. Elections shall be conducted according to the Election Rules.
    2. SECTION 2. The Elections Committee or their agents shall conduct the elections.
    3. SECTION 3. Any student may witness the tabulation of the results.
  11. ARTICLE X. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
    1. The Parliamentary Authority of the Student Government shall be Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
  12. ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENT PROCESS
    1. SECTION 1. Any student may propose an amendment to the Student Senate Constitution for consideration by the Student Senate.
    2. SECTION 2. Proposed amendment shall be presented in writing to the Student Senate at regular meeting to be voted on at the following regular meeting. In order to be put before the Student Body for ratification, the proposed amendment must pass the Student Senate on a two-thirds (2/3) vote.
    3. SECTION 3. Amendments shall be ratified by a majority of the Student Body Voting.
    4. SECTION 4. Proposed amendment must be published in the Student Voice in at least two consecutive regular editions immediately prior to the Student Body vote on said amendments.
  13. ARTICLE XII. DISSOLUTION OR REORGANIZATION OF STUDENT POWER
    1. SECTION 1. If an overwhelming majority of the students of the Student Association fell that change in their Student Government must take place, the students must do the following and have two options:
      1. Initiative and referendum. Student felling that the Student Senate has unjustly supported views in contrast to the student opinion may turn a petition of 500 signatures to be able to hold a student referenda, and the result option must be given credence by the Student Senate in either reversing decision or other recompense.
      2. Petition. In order for the students of the Student Association to reverse or change the entire structure or a part of its governing body, they must file a petition with part of its governing body, they must file a petition with Student Senate stating their objective in detail and including attached the signatures of two-thirds of the student body and having appear the signature or seal of a Notary Public testifying it is true and proper.
    2. SECTION 2. If either of these occur, a special panel must be set up to hear the views of both sides and why and as stated, in Section B., that the petition is true. The Senate must work with the special committee to change as petitioned. In most cases, the panel will include membership of IRHC, HUB, and the advisor of the Student Senate and, if none of them are able to participate, then the presidents of organizations on campus are to participate.
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