Student Government Constitution & Bylaws - UMFK

Student Government Constitution and By-laws

Preamble

We, the Students of the University of Maine at Fort Kent, in our desire to continually increase the value of student life; to strengthen the unity of purpose among the Students, Faculty and Administration; and to promote the general welfare and best interests of all students of this University, hereby establish the Constitution of the Student Government of the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Table of Contents

Constitution

• Article I Name and Advisor
• Article II Membership
• Article III Officers
• Article IV Meetings
• Article V Attendance
• Article VI Absentee
• Article VII Removal of Members
• Article VIII Distribution of Student Activity Fee
• Article IX Method of Amending the Constitution and By-Laws
• Article X Senate Recommended Positions
• Article XI Summer Bills
• Article XII Student Senate Awards
  • Section I Club/Organization Award
  • Section II Outstanding Club/Organization Activity
  • Section II I Student Senate Academic Award
  • Section IV Student Senate Outstanding Faculty Award
  • Section V Student Senate Outstanding Senior Award

By-laws

• Article I Duties and Responsibilities
• Article II Membership
• Article III Duties of Officers
  • Section I President
  • Section II Vice President
  • Section III Secretary
  • Section IV Treasurer
• Article IV Duties of Student Senators
• Article V Committees
  • Section I University Interest
  • Section II Activities, Planning, Advertising
  • Section III Financial Review
  • Section IV Constitutional Review
  • Section V Judiciary
• Article VI Clubs and Organizations
• Article VII Removal of Recognition
• Article VIII Conflict of Interest
• Article IX Amending By-Laws
• Article X Rules of Order
• Article XI Election Procedures
• Article XII Referendum Votes
• Article XIII Donations

Constitution

Article I – Name and Advisor

Section I

The Student Government Association of the University of Maine at Fort Kent shall be known as the Student Senate.

Section II

The Chief Student Affairs officer or designee shall hold the position of Student Senate Advisor.

Article II – Membership

Section I

All activity-fee paying students carrying at least 6 credit hours and maintaining a G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher are eligible to hold a seat on the Student Senate. Executive board members must carry 12 credits and maintain a G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher.

Section II

The Student Senate membership shall consist of four officers (as defined in Article III, Section I), one freshmen representative, one sophomore representative, one junior representative, the senior class president, one Natural and Behavioral Sciences representative, one Education representative, one Arts and Humanities representative, and one Nursing representative and one Professional Management representative, four one
senators-at-large, and the Board of Trustees Representative. Total membership of the Student Senate shall be 15.

Section III

The freshmen representative has to be a current freshman enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The sophomore representative has to be current sophomore enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The junior representative has to be current junior enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The senior class president has to be a current senior enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The Natural and Behavioral Sciences representative has to be current Natural and Behavioral Sciences student enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The Education representative has to be current Education student enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The Arts and Humanities representative has to be current Arts and Humanities student enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The Nursing representative has to be current Nursing student enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements. The Professional Management representative has to be current Professional Management student enrolled in UMFK and fulfill the rest of the requirements.

Article III – Officers

Section I

The officers of the Executive Committee of the University of Maine at Fort Kent Student Senate shall be as follows:

1. President
2. Vice President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer

Section II

All officers shall serve for an entire academic calendar year.

Section IIa

The floor shall be open for nominations for a one-week period before elections are held.

Section III

All officers shall be elected from the previous year’s Student Senate before the general elections are to take place.

Section IIIa

All officers shall be elected before the spring election of Student Senate representatives.

Section IIIb

No senator shall be nominated or elected to an executive office position (i.e. president, vice president, treasurer and secretary) who has not been elected to the Student Senate through a general election by the student body population.

Section IV - Vacancy of Officers

1. If a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office of president occurs, the vice president shall assume the office of president.
2. If a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office of vice president occurs, the secretary shall assume the office of vice president.
3. If a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office of secretary occurs, the president shall make a direct appointment. The appointee shall be a member of the Student Senate.
4. If a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office of treasurer occurs, the president shall make a direct appointment. The appointee shall be a member of the Student Senate.

Article IV – Meetings

Section I

Regular meetings will be held at least once a week on a regular time determined by the president at the first meeting of the beginning of each semester.

Section II - Special Meetings

1. Special meetings may be called with cause by the president.
2. Special meetings must be called by the president upon request with cause by two or more members of the Student Senate.
3. Notice of at least 24 hours is required for a special meeting.

Section III

Any member of the student body or any University of Maine at Fort Kent employee may attend Student Senate meetings and express his/her ideas. Exceptions will be closed meetings called by the Student Senate president or a majority vote of the Student Senate body, if subject matter warrants and it doesn’t violate any public access laws.

Section IIIa

The Student Senate shall set aside time for non-senate members to speak at each meeting. The president of the Senate shall establish time limits and retain full authority to determine the appropriateness and relevance of the input.

Section IV

A quorum consists of two-thirds of the elected members of the Student Senate or their appointed replacements.

Article V- Attendance Policy

Section I

In order to carry out the duties of a senator, attendance at all meetings is expected.

Section II

If a senator has not arrived within the first 30 minutes of a meeting (without finding a proxy), he or she will be considered absent.

Section III

If a senator must be absent from a regularly scheduled senate meeting, he or she must notify the Senate President prior to the meeting in question, or written 24 hours after the beginning of the scheduled meeting.

Section IV

1. If a senator cannot attend a regular meeting, he or she must find a proxy and should inform the Senate President before the meeting. The Senator may submit votes in writing to the Senate President only on old business at this time. The proxy may only vote on new business.
2. A Student Senate member can waive the right to a proxy and receive a full absence.
3. A senator may utilize a maximum of three proxies per semester.

Section V

Exceptions to this rule will be at discretion of the Student Senate President.

Section VI

Student Senators must attend committee meetings. Only the chair of said committee can excuse a senator from attending a committee meeting.

Article VI – Absentee

Section I

If the Student Senate president does not receive notice of an absence beforehand, an absence will be charged to the respective Student Senate member, even in the event of a potentially excusable absence (subject to the president’s discretion in cases of extreme circumstances).

Section II

A Student Senate member is allowed one unexcused absence a semester. A second unexcused absence will result in automatic removal of the senate member with a one-week appeal period. An excusable absence is defined below:

1. Personal illness
2. Death or illness in personal family, or
3. Out of town for class, club or athletic function.

Section IIa

An excused or unexcused absence in the event of extreme circumstances will be assigned at the discretion of the Student Senate president. The decision shall be made known to the Student Senate, which can overturn the decision with a two-thirds vote.

Section III

A Student Senate member will be asked to resign in writing if two unexcused absences occur in a single semester. If the resignation is not forthcoming, the Student Senate will officially remove said member.

Article VII - Removal of Members

Section I

1. Failure to meet the attendance policies of the Senate and render resignation when requested by the Student Senate president.
2. Knowingly submitting false information to the Senate on Senate business.
3. Insufficient academic average of below 2.5.
4. Insufficient knowledge of the Student Government Association Constitution and the proper procedures of the Senate.
5. Failure to attend committee meetings. Only the chair of said committee can excuse a senator from attending a committee meeting.
6. Failure to serve on at least one committee. Failure to participate in (and/or attend) activities sponsored by the Student Senate unless for excusable reasons.
7. Senators missing three (3) or more meetings, or committee meetings shall be considered for removal.

Section II

Any student senator may submit to the president the name of a student senator for removal from said body. This name shall be presented to the Student Senate by the president. A student senator shall be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate membership.

Section III

After a decision has been made to remove a Student Senate member, the said member has the right to an appeal and hearing before the entire Student Senate as stipulated in Sec. IV.

Section IV

The removed member must obtain 15 signatures from said member’s representative group on a petition requesting an appeal hearing. This petition shall state the reason for the member’s removal from the Student Senate and the reasons why the Senate should consider an appeal hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the Judiciary Committee.

Article VIII - Distribution of Student Activity Fee

Section I

1. Upon receiving the Student Activity fee from the Business Office, the Student Senate will allocate 24 percent of said fee to the office of student activities; 24 percent to the Student Activities Board; 10 percent to the department of athletics; 5 percent to the residence hall association; 1.5 percent to the Campus Ecology Committee; 3 percent to the diversity program.
2. Upon receiving the fall closeout 10 percent student activity fee and after authorized distribution for the Office of Student Activities, Department of Athletics, Department of Theater, Campus Ecology Committee, Residence Hall Association and Diversity Programming; the remaining 32.5 percent of this allocation will be placed in a secured bearing account for the use of future expenditures.
3. Future expenditures would consist of any item(s) that benefit the students and/or the campus community at UMFK. When said item(s) are proposed, a 2/3 vote of the seated senate is required. Seated is defined as filled senator positions whether present or absent.
4. In the event that these funds are carried over multiple years, proper acknowledgement should be displayed on or about the item(s) purchased.
5. The athletic department will be financially responsible for providing travel expenses and lodging for fans, who pay student activity fees, to attend sporting tournaments if the athletic department wishes to do so.
6. The athletic department, diversity program, ecology committee and residence hall association shall be responsible to submit a report of expenditure and planned events before December 1st and April 15th. Failure to provide such a report may result in changes to yearly allocations.

Section II

Any additional funds needed by the office of the student activities director shall be requested in the form of a budget and presented to the Student Senate.

Section IIa

Any additional funds needed by the student activities board shall be requested in the form of a budget and presented to the Student Senate.

Section III

Any funds remaining in the account of the student activities director at the end of the academic year will carry over into the following year’s student activities director’s account.

Section IIIa

Any funds remaining in the account of the student activities board at the end of the academic year will carry over into the following year’s student activities boards account.

Section IV

The Student Senate shall not under any circumstances fund academic course requirements, required academic ceremony or inductions, or required academic travel and expenses.

Article IX - Method of Amending the Constitution and By-Laws

Section I

Proposed Amendments must be posted on the Student Senate board for at least a two-week period. Proposed date for voting on amendments must accompany each proposed amendment.

Section II

After the two-week period of notice, a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate membership is required for acceptance.

Article X - Senate Recommended Positions

Section I - The Board of Trustees Representative Shall:

1. Be nominated by the senate.
2. Be interviewed by the senate as a whole in the spring semester.
3. Attend all Board of Trustee meetings.
4. Serve a two-year term.
5. Serve as a senator, with full rights and duties.
6. Serve as a member of the UMFK Cabinet and Board of Visitors.

Section IIa - The Parliamentarian Shall:

1. Be an ex officio office held by the Student Senate Adviser.
2. Keep order at Senate meetings in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order (most recent edition available).
3. Advise Senators of proper parliamentary procedure.
4. Bring to each meeting the current copy of Robert’s Rules of Order.
5. Be the final authority on parliamentary procedure.
6. If his/her ruling is questionable after referring to Robert’s Rules of Order, the Senate can vote upon the course of action to pursue.

Section IIb - Robert’s Rules of Order

1. Any senator can ask for the rules, as stated in Roberts Rules of Order.
2. If the Parliamentarians ruling is questionable after referring to Roberts Rules of Order, the Senate can vote upon the course of action to pursue.

Article XI - Summer Bills

Section I

The Senate shall set aside $1000 for the purpose of paying bills that arrive after the final meeting of the academic year.

Article XII - Student Senate Awards

Section I - Outstanding Club or Organization Award

At the first meeting in April the Student Senate, as a whole, shall choose one club or organization that has contributed the most to the academic and/or social life of the University of Maine at Fort Kent. A plaque will be presented to the club or organization to be displayed on the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus.

Section II - Outstanding Club or Organization Activity

This award will be for a specific activity that was deemed beneficial to the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Procedures shall follow Section I.

Section III - Student Senate Academic Award

Criteria: The senior with the highest G.P.A.

Section IV – Student Senate Outstanding Faculty Award

This award will be for a specific faculty member who displays excellence during the academic years and contributes to the education and inner growth of the student body at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Section V – Student Senate Outstanding Staff Award

This award will be for a specific staff member who displays excellence during the academic years and contributes to the education and inner growth of the student body at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Section VI - Student Senate Outstanding Senior Award

Criteria: Display academic excellence and University leadership.

Procedure:

1. All non-senior senators currently serving on the Student Senate shall be responsible for choosing this award.
2. The two junior class representatives will serve as chairs of the committee.
3. The President shall provide a list of all seniors for the committee.
4. All members of the committee shall have the right to nominate any number of individuals for this award.
5. It is the responsibility of the committee, as a whole, to provide information validating.

By-laws

ARTICLE I - Duties and Responsibilities

Section I

The Student Senate shall originate and formulate policies in the area of student life, which will provide for a more beneficial college experience.

Section II

The Student Senate shall have access to the financial reports of student organizations receiving any funding or financial support from student activity fees.

Section III

The Student Senate may propose guidelines for the cafeteria, campus grounds, sports center, social events and public functions provided they do not violate current law or University of Maine at Fort Kent contracts.

Section IV

The Student Senate shall consider for action, properly petitioned policies, activities and changes recommended by students, faculty and administration.

Section V

The Student Senate shall appoint survey officers and investigative officers and/or committees as needed.

Section VI

The Student Senate shall refer all matters which are believed to be outside the jurisdiction of the Senate to the administration.

Section VII

The Student Senate shall give priority to investigation, reporting and considering for action matters referred to it by the students.

Section VIII

The Student Senate shall publicize its policies and activities.

ARTICLE II - Membership

Section I

In the event that the Board of Trustees Representative is appointed from the elected members of the Student Senate, the Board of Trustees Representative will automatically become an ex-officio member of the Student Senate. The seat vacated by the Board of Trustee Representative will be replaced. The Board of Trustees Representative will be required to update the Student Senate on a regular basis.

Section II

Any individual interested in running for a Student Senate seat must obtain the signatures of at least 15 students from the represented group in support of his/her candidacy.

Section III

All of the Student Senate representatives shall be sworn into office at the first meeting after their election or appointment.

Section IIIa

All individuals being inducted shall be administered an oath of office. The president shall be responsible for administering the oath to new members any time during the year.

Section IIIb

In the event the president succeeds himself/herself, the vice president shall give the newly elected president the oath of office.

Section IIIc

The oath of membership shall read as follows:

I, (state your name), do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully/carry out the duties of (name of position)/ placed on me by the constitution/ and will, to the best of my ability/ represent the interests of the student body and the Student Senate/ at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Section IV

Vacated seats shall be filled by an appointee chosen by a majority vote of the Student Senate. The president will appoint the chosen designee to the correspondent position.

Section IVa

Advertisement of all vacated seats shall be required.

Section IVb

If three or more vacancies should occur at one time in regular Senate seats, an election shall be held to elect the required number of senators to fill the seats.

Section V

The Student Senate reserves the right to expel, by a two-thirds vote of the Senate body, any member of the Student Senate who fails to fulfill his/her duties as a representative or officer.

Section VI

The members of the Student Senate shall serve for an entire academic calendar year.

Section VII

Members of the Student Senate shall have the rights and privileges common to membership in a parliamentary assembly, subject to the Constitution and By-Laws.

Article III - Duties of Officers

Section I - The President Shall:

1. Call to order and preside at all regular Student Senate meetings.
2. Appoint, with approval of the Senate, student members to administrative and faculty committees. Such appointees need not be members of the Student Senate.
3. Grant excusable absences for those unable to attend a Student Senate meeting.
4. Schedule discussion sessions, when necessary, for the entire student body.
5. Have voting rights only in the event of a tie vote.
6. Assist in the indoctrination of the newly elected president.
7. Serve as the liaison between the Senate and the faculty and/or administration.
8. Handle correspondence concerning absentee warnings.
9. Reserve the right to review the conduct or commitment of any senator for the purpose of removal from said body.
10. Plan, organize and submit a weekly agenda at the time of the meeting and also the day prior via e-mail.
11. Hold a workshop at the beginning of each academic year to educate new and returning senators on Parliamentary procedure and of their duties and responsibilities as senators.
12. The Senate President or designee will sit as a member of the UMFK Cabinet.

Section II - The Vice President Shall:

1. Assume the duties of the president in his/her absence or in the event of his/her inability to perform his/her duties as president.
2. Work in cooperation with the Office of Student Affairs and the office of Students Activities to monitor the activities of recognized organizations on campus.
3. Assist the president when necessary.
4. Present and distribute all budget requests received.
5. Present all club recognition requests to the Student Senate and have present a statement of purpose or constitution for the club or organization.
6. Assist in the indoctrination of the newly elected Vice President.
7. Serve as chair of the Student Activities Board. In the event that the vice president does not wish to fulfill the position the Vice President may request to chair the University Interest Committee with approval by the President.

Section III - The Secretary Shall:

1. Keep the minutes of all Student Senate meetings.
2. Post on the Senate bulletin board all minutes and activities of the Student Senate.
3. Prepare digital copies of the minutes of all Student Senate meetings for each member of the Student Senate, the student body, University officials and the Library file.
4. Post notices of all meeting times with all available media outlets on the campus.
5. Write letters as the Student Senate or Executive Committee may designate and keep a copy on permanent file.
6. Be responsible for providing the Student Senate minutes to all senators at least one day prior to Senate meetings.
7. Maintain attendance records for all Senate meetings.
8. Keep a revised copy of this Constitution, reflecting all amendments. Said copy shall be brought to all Executive Board and Senate meetings.
9. Assist in the indoctrination of the newly elected secretary.
10. Make Student Senate minutes available to anyone upon request.
11. Serve as chair of the University Interest Committee. In the event that the secretary does not wish to fulfill the position of chair of the University Interest Committee, they may request to chair the Student Activities Board with approval by the President.

Section IV - The Treasurer Shall:

1. Maintain accurate and current financial records of the Student Senate funds.
2. Present and distribute a detailed digital copy of the financial record to the Student Senate at least twice a semester.
3. Be responsible for maintaining accurate and current financial records of funds allocated to various club and organization accounts.
4. Bring all financial obligations to the attention of the Student Senate and the Vice President for Administration.
5. Serve as chair of the Financial Review Committee.
6. Assist in the indoctrination of the newly elected treasurer.

Article IV - Duties of Student Senators

Section I - Senators Shall:

1. Abide by the Constitution and By-Laws.
2. Attend all scheduled and special Senate meetings.
3. Serve on at least one Student Senate committee.
4. Attend committee meetings.
5. Make reasonable and ongoing efforts to remain cognizant of all issues pertinent to the student body.
6. Responsibly and courteously listen to and evaluate all information and testimony presented to the Senate, in order to make an informed decision during the voting process.

Article V – Committees

Section I - The University Interests Committee

1. The University Interests Committee shall review all University practices, decisions and/or standards and their implications upon student life at all levels. The practices taken into review may be those of the administrative, professional and/or classified. Any member of the student body can bring forth for review, before said committee, any practices, decisions and/or standards that may unfairly affect an unspecified number of students.
2. The secretary of the Student Senate, or appointed designee, will serve as chair of said committee.
3. A majority vote of approval of the Student Senate is required before said committee can review any policy, decision, and/or standard.
4. Said committee shall return with a proposal to the Student Senate for a majority vote of approval before the proposal can be acted upon.
5. Said committee shall turn all matters believed to be out of its jurisdiction over to the appropriate personnel.

Section II - Financial Review Committee

1. Said committee shall be responsible for all inquiries referred to it.
2. The treasurer shall serve as chair of the Financial Review Committee.
3. The Financial Review Committee must meet the following criteria each time a budget is referred to it:
   1. Meet with organization.
   2. Discuss and negotiate changes if deemed necessary.
   3. Provide a recommendation and/or reintroduce the revised budget at following meeting.
4. The Student Senate shall approve or disapprove the Financial Review Committees recommendation of revised budget.

Section III - Constitutional Revision Committee

1. Members of the Executive Board, the Parliamentarian, as well as, any senator who wishes to take part in the revision of the Constitution will comprise the membership of this committee.
2. The president shall serve as chair of said committee.
3. Said committee will be responsible for updating, revising and proposing amendments to the Constitution in accordance to the needs and desires of the student body and in an attempt to increase its value as a working document.
4. Said committee shall meet at least once in the academic year.

Section IV - Judiciary Committee

1. The Judiciary Committee shall be comprised of: two to four non-executive committee member senators, the Student Senate President, Parliamentarian, and up to 3 non-Senator advisors (non-voting) as the JC deems appropriate.
2. Members of the JC, other than the Parliamentarian and the Senate President, shall be nominated and approved by the UMFK Student Senate.
3. All members of the JC are required, to the best of their abilities, to fairly interpret the provisions of the Student Senate Code of Conduct, any charges of violation thereof, and to report to the Senate body in the manner prescribed in the Code of Conduct.
4. The Senate Parliamentarian shall serve as chair to the said committee.

Article VI - Clubs and Organizations

Section I

All student organizations that desire permission to operate on the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus and request financial support from the Student Senate, must be recognized by the University of Maine at Fort Kent and the Student Senate prior April 1st.

Section Ia

Student Organization Defined:

1. Any group of students acting together and electing officers.
2. An organization composed of students acting toward the improvement of student life at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Section Ib

All student organizations funded by the Student Senate must have a faculty and/or staff advisor. Signatures of members must accompany the list of members submitted to the Senate for recognition.

Section II

All student organizations funded by the Student Activity fee shall file, with Student Affairs, a copy of an approved constitution or statement of purpose with the date of its last revision along with any amendments. Also, any organization shall have any or all constitutional revisions approved by the Student Senate, the Director of Student Affairs and the President of the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Section III

All student organizations requesting monies from the Student Activity fee shall be required to send a representative to the Student Senate meetings, in order to explain budget requests and expenditures. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the organization’s budget request. The vice-president shall inform the organization of proper time and place when they are to attend.

Section IIIa

All budgets over the amount of $500 brought forth to the Student Senate must first raise a minimum of 15% of the total budget requested, regardless of the amount in their account. The budget shall follow one of three possible courses of action and shall be approved or denied within one week:

1. Be approved at the meeting.
2. Be tabled for one week. Approval or denial of the budget will follow at the next scheduled Student Senate meeting.
3. Be sent to Financial Review Committee, which will review the budget, make amendments if any and recommend proper action to the Student Senate.

Section IIIb

Section IIIa does not apply to donation requests. (see Article XII Section I)

Section IV

Any student organization receiving funds outside of the Student Activity fee shall make available all financial records and minutes of conducted business upon request for the Student Senate.

Section V

Upon recognition of any club or organization by the Student Senate, a member of the Student Senate will be appointed by the president and approved by the Senate, in agreement with that club or organization to act as a liaison between recognized club or organization and the Student Senate. This liaison will serve to heighten communications between groups and represent that club or organization at Student Senate meetings, while he/she represents the Student Senate at club meetings. Liaisons shall not be members of the club they represent.

Section VI

Upon recognition of a club or organization, a $50 startup budget will be established for said organization. Clubs and organizations which have $50 or more already in their account will not receive the $50 startup allocation. Approval of subsequent budget requests will be based on previous fund-raising activities performed by the said club or organization. The Student Senate shall not be the sole source of funding for any club or organization.

Section VII

Any organization requiring dues, entrance fees, insurance fees or any other form of fee required for membership can be recognized pending that Student Activity fees are not requested for the payment of the fees.

Section VIII

All clubs and organizations that desire financial support from the Student Senate must keep all allocated funds in an on-campus account.

Section IX

All allocated monies that are not used for the purpose approved by the Senate will automatically return to the Senate budget at the end of each semester.

Section X

Stipulation of club recognition is that any executive club member is required to provide the student senate with an account summary, including recent event expenses or other, once a month.

Section XI

All funds left in the account of a club or organization that has been inactive (unrecognized) for three consecutive years will be returned to the Student Senate account.

Article VII - Removal of Recognition

Section I

Any student or organization involved in hazing shall be immediately removed from Student Senate recognition and budget funds returned.

Section II

Any student organization that does not meet the following criteria shall be removed from Student Senate recognition.

1. Have a faculty and/or staff advisor.
2. Demonstrate its uniqueness as a club or organization.
3. Comply with local, state and federal statutes.

Section III

Any club that does not comply with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship state, age, handicap or veteran’s status will be removed from Student Senate recognition.

Section IV

Any organization violating Section I, Section II, Section III and/or Section IV shall be given one week to rectify the violation. If no attempt to rectify is made, the Student Senate may withdraw recognition of the said organization as stipulated in Section V and VI.

Section V

A two-thirds vote of the Student Senate body present, if a quorum exists, is necessary for the Student Senate to remove recognition of a student organization.

Section VI

A two semester ban will be placed on any student organization removed from recognition by the Student Senate. After which time, said organization may resubmit for recognition by showing that the reasons for dismissal have been rectified.

Article VIII - Conflict of Interest

Section I

No member of the Student Senate may vote on a motion that is directly related to a club or organization that said member is a member of. Said member may abstain from the vote.

Article IX - Amending By-Laws

Section I

See Article X of the Student Senate Constitution.

Article X - Rules of Order

Section I

The Student Senate shall follow the rules as set forth by Robert’s Rules of Order unless it conflicts with the Student Senate Constitution.

Article XI - Election Procedures

Section I

An annual election shall be held no sooner than April 1, but no later than the week before final examinations of spring semester for the following year’s positions of:

• 1 sophomore representative
• 1 junior representative
• 1 senior class president
• 1 Senators-At-Large position
• 1 Education Representative
• 1 Arts and Sciences Representative
• 1 Nursing representative
• 1 Professional Management representative

Section I Freshmen elections shall be held within the first four weeks of the fall semester.

Section II - Ballots

1. All candidates for respective positions will be placed on the ballot in order of their arrival in the Student Affairs Office.
2. Nomination papers must be turned in a week before the first day of elections.
3. All ballots shall be printed at least two academic days prior to the start of the election. A copy of said ballots shall be posted on the Student Senate bulletin board. If discrepancies are found, new ballots shall be printed but not subject to the time limit above.
4. Students shall be eligible to vote for office within their respective classes as determined by the Registrar’s Office.

Section III – Polls

1. Elections shall take place on any two consecutive days of the week.
2. Polls shall be open to sufficiently cover 12 hours over two consecutive days, distributed during morning, afternoon and evening.

Section IV - Voting

1. There shall be a current roster of students at the voting area.
2. Any student appearing on said roster is eligible to vote.

Section V - Absentee ballots

1. Absentee ballots will be made available the day following the close of nominations.
2. Students must notify the Student Affairs Office of their intent to vote absentee prior to their departure.
3. Absentee ballots may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
4. Absentee ballots must be received by the Student Affairs Office prior to the closing of the election polls.

Section VI - Campaign Regulations

1. No posters, signs or banners shall be within sight of the voting table.
2. Any person actively campaigning (e.g. handing out pamphlets, talking to voters, persuading biased voting etc.) may not be within 250 feet of the voting table, except to vote. This includes any person wearing visible campaign material on their body.

Section VII - Tabulation

1. Ballots shall be tabulated within the presence of at least three senators.
2. Tabulation shall begin immediately after the closing of the polls.
3. Only senators are allowed to be in the area in which the tabulation is occurring.
4. All ballots shall be kept for at least 10 academic days after the election.
5. The winners shall be notified before the results are posted.

Article XII - Referendum Votes

Section I

A referendum can be initiated in two ways:

1. From within the Student Senate: The Student Senate may bring an issue up for referendum by a two-thirds vote of the Student Senate membership.
2. From the student body: The student body may bring an issue to a referendum vote by collecting 100 signatures expressing the sentiment that said issue warrants a referendum vote.

Section II

The referendum to be voted on shall be advertised on the Student Senate bulletin board for two weeks prior to the voting day.

Article XIII – Donations

Section I

The Student Senate shall not donate more than $300 of the student activity fees to a non-recognized club or organization, person, or charity group, not directly connected to UMFK, without first putting a referendum question before the entire student body for the purpose of voting. The Senate may set aside up to 3% of its budget for the purpose of donations to non-profit organizations.