Student Senate Constitution

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the Student Senate of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin shall be to represent the student body in any area of concern deemed appropriate for student opinion.  The Student Senate shall serve as the liaison between the student body and the administration of the University.  This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Providing an official student organization to receive student questions and issues for review and recommendations.

• Providing an official forum for student concerns regarding university and/or community affairs.

• Providing a means for responsible student participation in the formulation of policy within the university.

• Advising the administration of student opinion regarding university programs.

• Appointment of five students to the institutional student service fee advisory committee to make  recommendations on proposed increases in and allocation of student service fees as mandated by state legislation.

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ARTICLE I:  STUDENT SENATE 

Section I:  Membership

1. Executive Board:  President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  The Executive board shall be considered as separate from the Senate, and shall be elected for their specific offices.

2. Senators:  Two academic Senators per school or college (Arts and Sciences, Business, or Education) and ten class Senators distributed as two representatives from each undergraduate class (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior), and Graduate Studies.

3. Advisors:  One non-voting faculty advisor selected by the Executive Board, and one non-voting Chief/Asst.  Chief Student Personnel Officer appointed by the university.

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Section II:  Qualifications

1. Executives Board: Must be currently enrolled at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin at the time of the election, and in good academic standing at the university.  Candidates must have completed one semester at U.T. Permian Basin prior to assuming office.  Candidates for President and Vice President must also have served at least one semester on the Senate.  (Candidates unable to meet these criteria must have prior approval from the Rules Committee).

2. Senators:  Must be currently enrolled at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin at the time of the election, and in good academic standing at the university. Academic Senatorial candidates must have a degree plan on file with their academic school or college.  Class Senators are eligible to represent only the class in which they are registered, at the time of the election.  (Candidates unable to meet these criteria must have prior approval from the Rules Committee.)

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Section III:  Committees

1. Standing Committees

   1. Student Affairs:  The Student Affairs Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and advising on issues related to Student Rights and the general welfare of the student body.

   2. Academic Affairs:  The Academic Affairs Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and advising on matters of university policies and procedures, and relations between the student body and the university.

   3. Public Affairs:  The Public Affairs Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and advising on issues related to the general improvement of community/ University relations and community activities held within the University.

   4. Minority Affairs:  The Minority Affairs Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and advising on issues related to the general welfare of minority students. 

   5. Rules Committee:  The Rules Committee shall be responsible for seeking candidates for election, for carrying out all election activities, and for drafting Constitutional amendments, and Standing Rules for the Senate.

   6. Committee Procedure:  The committee shall be responsible for recommendations and proposals referred by and to the Senate.  The Committee Chair of designated member shall present proposals to the Senate during scheduled or special sessions of the Senate.  

   7. Standing Committee Chair Selection Procedure:  The President shall appoint all Committee Chairs at the beginning of each semester, subject to confirmation by a simple majority vote of the Senate.

2. Hoc Committees

   1. Ad Hoc Committees:  Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed by the President to investigate and advise on issues deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Senate.

   2. Ad Hoc Committee Chair Selection Procedure:  The President shall appoint and replace the chair for all Ad Hoc committees.    
      

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ARTICLE II:  ELECTIONS AND VACANCIES

Section I: Election Procedures

1. Executive Board:  The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected from the Student Body at least four (4) weeks prior to, but not earlier than eight (8) weeks prior to, the final day of classes of the Spring semester.  The term of office shall begin on the first day of classes the following Summer semester and continue for one year until the first day of the subsequent Summer semester.  

2. Senators:

   1. Academic:  Academic Senators shall be elected by the student constituencies of each candidate's academic school or college at the same time as elections for the Executive Board.  The term of office shall begin on the first day of classes of the following Summer semester and continue for one year until the  first day of classes of the subsequent Summer semester.

   2. Class:  Class Senators shall be elected by their respective class on the final Tuesday and Wednesday of September, and serve a term of one year from the date of the first Senate meeting following their election until the first Senate meeting following the subsequent Fall election.

3. All applicants for Spring and Fall elections are required to attend an orientation session conducted by the Executive Board and Rules Committee to be scheduled prior to the Spring and Fall elections.  Orientation will consist of determination of eligibility and introduction to Senate responsibilities and functions. 

4. Procedure:

   1. All applications for Senate positions shall be submitted to Student Life Office Personnel who will mark the date received and initial.  The name of each qualified applicant shall be placed on the ballot in his/her respective academic or at-large position, or the Executive Board position for which they wish to run, and the order of placement shall be at random.

   2. The Rules Committee shall write the ballot for Fall Senate elections making a ballot for each class with that class' candidates listed separately.

   3. The Rules Committee shall write one ballot for each college or school in the Spring election.  All Executive Board candidates and the appropriate Academic Senatorial candidates will be listed on the respective ballots for each college or school. 
      

   4. Elections shall be conducted on campus, at a site(s) to be announced no later than one week prior to the election.  The Rules Committee and members of the Student Senate (Executive Board or Senators) NOT seeking election will be required to assist with election held at alternate sites.  Each student wishing to vote must be verified through student ID number prior to receiving a ballot.

   5. In Fall Senatorial elections, students shall vote for two Senators in his/her respective class.  In Spring Senatorial elections, students shall vote for two Senators from their respective school or college and one candidate for each Executive board position.  If more than two choices are indicated for academic or at large candidates, or more than one for each Executive board position, the incorrect ballot(s) shall not be counted.

   6. Winning write-in candidates shall be notified by an Executive Board member to verify intent/eligibility.  If the write-in candidate does not wish to serve or does not meet eligibility requirements, the candidate receiving next highest number of votes shall be contacted.

5. Election Rules:  Votes shall be counted by the Rules Committee after the above requirements have been met.  The Rules Committee will post the results in designated areas not later than noon of the day following the close of the election.

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Section II:  Vacancies

1. Officers

   1. President:  Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice-President shall assume the Presidency and shall call a Senate meeting for the purpose of electing a new Vice-President.

   2. Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer:  Should the offices of Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer become vacant, the President shall call for nominations from the Senate.  A confirmation vote shall be conducted at the next meeting of the Senate. 

2. Senators:  If a vacancy occurs in an academic or class position in the Student Senate, the candidate receiving the next highest vote total for that position shall fill the vacancy, or if there were no other candidates for that position then the President of the Student Senate shall appoint a student from that school, college or class to fill the vacancy.

3. Faculty Advisor:  If a vacancy occurs in the office of Faculty Advisor, the Executive Board shall recommend a faculty member to the Senate for confirmation at the next meeting of the Senate.

4. Committee Chair:  If a vacancy occurs in the office of Committee Chair, the President shall call for nominations for committee chair from the committee, subject to a simple majority vote of the Senate.

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ARTICLE III:  MEETINGS

Section I:  Executive Board

• Executive Board Meetings:  Shall be called by the President as necessary for planning the agenda or other pertinent business of the Senate.   

Section II:  Student Senate   

• Student Senate Meetings:  Shall be held not less than twice monthly in each full month of the Fall and Spring semesters with a final meeting to be held two weeks prior to the conclusion of each semester.   

Section III:  Special Session

• Special Session Meetings:  May be called by the President (or Vice-President if Presidency vacant) and/or two-thirds of the Senators.  All Senators and Executive Board members must be notified and a quorum present for the Special Session.

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Section IV:  Committees

• Committee Meetings:  Meetings of standing and ad-hoc committees will be called by the Committee Chair as necessary.

Section V:  Quorum and Parliamentary Procedure

1. Quorum:  A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the Senators.  The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are considered voting members of the Senate and may be counted for the purposes of attaining a quorum.  A quorum is required to pass any proposals or recommendations of the Senate.

2. Parliamentary Procedure:  All meetings and business of the Senate and Executive Board shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, except where said Rules shall conflict with the Constitution or Standing Rules of the Senate, with the version used to be selected by the Executive Board, and approved by a majority vote at the first regular Fall meeting of the Student Senate.

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Section VI:  Proposals and Referendum

1. Proposals

   1. Informal:  A member of the student body may present any issue of concern to a Student Senator.  Informal proposals shall be referred to the appropriate committee and presented to the Senate subject to a majority vote of the Senate.

   2. Formal:  Recommendations of the Senate may be presented by any member of the Senate or Executive Board and may be referred to the appropriate committee or voted on at that time.  Presentation of committee proposals shall be made by the committee chair, designated committee member, or designated Executive Board member.  Formal proposals are subject to a majority vote.

2. Referendum:  Any referendum issue presented to the Senate which is accompanied by a petition bearing the signatures and identification numbers of ten percent (10%) of the student body must be placed on the ballot of the next student Senate election subject to a two-thirds vote of the total number of votes cast.  If the issue passes said election, the item shall be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Student Senate.

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ARTICLE IV:  CONSTITUTIONAL RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

Section I:  Student-Senate Initiated Amendment

1. Procedure:  A member of the student Senate may propose amendments to the constitution.  The proposed amendment shall be read at two consecutive meetings of the Senate, after which the amendment is subject to a three-fourths vote.

2. Ratification:  The President shall appoint an Ad hoc Election Committee and Chair to conduct the vote of the student body to amend the constitution.  Amendments are subject to a two-thirds vote of the student body voting on said amendments.   

Section II:  Student-Body Initiated Amendment

1. Procedure:  A member of the student body may submit a proposed amendment to the constitution if accompanied by a petition bearing the signatures of ten percent (10%) of the student body.

2. Ratification: The President shall appoint an Ad hoc Election Committee and Chair to conduct the vote of the student  body to amend the constitution.  Amendments are subject to a two-thirds vote of the student body voting on said amendments.

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Section III:  Formal Approval, Amendment, and Repeal

1. Approval:  Amendments will become effective with the approval of the Chief Student Personnel Officer, the President of U.T. Permian Basin and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

2. Amendment or Repeal

   1. Chief Student Affairs Officer:  The Chief Student Affairs Officer may amend or repeal any amendment to the constitution when in conflict with policies of the University or U.T. System Board of Regents or when the interest of the institution requires it.  Notification will be made to the Senate regarding any action taken to amend or repeal.  Such action shall be in force only until the next meeting of the U.T. System Board of Regents.

   2. U.T. Board of Regents:  The U.T. System Board of Regents may amend or repeal any amendment to the constitution when in conflict with the policies or interests of the University or Regent's Rules and Regulations.  Notification will be made to the university and the Senate regarding any action taken to amend or repeal.

3. Permanent Copy:  Amendments receiving the required approval shall be attached to this constitution and preserved in the records of the Senate.   

4. Deletion and Substitution:  Amendment by deletion and substitution is permitted.

5. Procedural Conformity:  All provision of this Article shall be conducted in accordance with all other provisions set forth in this constitution.  No provision of this Constitution shall be interpreted to conflict with or contradict the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System.