SGA Constitution

Statement of Purpose

We, the students of Mount Holyoke College, have organized ourselves into a student government in order to:

  1. Provide a productive tool for students in governing their non-academic lives and academic interests at the College,
  2. Articulate and represent matters pertinent to the students and other constituencies of the College,
  3. Establish and maintain communication channels among students, faculty, administrators, and trustees.

Article I - Name

The name of this governing body shall be the Student Government Association of Mount Holyoke College (henceforth SGA).

Article II - Membership

The students of Mount Holyoke College who have paid their activities fee shall be ipso facto members of SGA, and shall be entitled to:

  1. The right to vote in All Campus Elections, Access to all SGA resources,
  2. Access to all SGA resources,
  3. The ability to participate as an SGA officer, member of a committee, member of the Senate, or special delegate.

Article III – Adherence to College Policies

SGA shall adhere to all federal, state, and local laws,

SGA shall adhere to all college rules, regulations, and policies. This includes, but is not limited to:

  1. The College's Human Rights Policy, which states that the College has a non-discrimination policy in all matter of race, religion, color, sexual orientation, age, or physically disabling condition in the administration of its educational polices and programs,
  2. The College's Anti-Hazing Policy, which states that hazing will not be used as a condition of membership to any organization and that all active members will sign the yearly anti-hazing waiver as required by Massachusetts law,
  3. The College's Faculty Legislation, which states that SGA shall neither make nor enforce regulations which are under the jurisdiction of the administrative officers of the College,
  4. The College's Honor Code, which states,, "I will honor myself, my fellow students, and Mount Holyoke College by acting responsibly, honestly, and respectfully in both my words and deeds."
  5. As stated in the Faculty Legislation, SGA shall neither make nor enforce regulations which are under the jurisdiction of the administrative officers of the College.

Article IV – Precedence

The Constitution of the Student Government Association shall take precedence over the constitutions of all other individual SGA funded organizations.

Article V - Executive Board

Composition

The Executive Board should comprise of a(n):

  1. President of SGA
  2. Vice President of SGA
  3. Treasurer of SGA
  4. Archivist of SGA
  5. Public Relations Officer of SGA
  6. Chair of Committees of SGA
  7. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of SGA
  8. Chair of Senate of SGA
  9. Chair of Special Interests of SGA
  10. Chair of Halls of SGA

Duties and Powers

The Executive Board shall:

  1. Fulfil all duties outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws,
  2. Act as a liaison between students and the administration, staff, and faculty,
  3. Regularly report to the Senate on the Board's activities,
  4. Oversee and aid in the effective functioning of all of SGA.

Article VI – SGA Advisor

Role of the Advisor

  1. An Advisor adds to the continuity of SGA as an active organization by making sure that successive Executive Boards of the organization understand their responsibilities as student leaders, as well as explaining to the Executive Board the rules and policies of the college.
  2. The SGA Advisor is to be a member of staff at Mount Holyoke College, ideally from the Office of Student Involvement.

Duties and Powers

The SGA Advisor shall:

  1. Be aware of and have an understanding of College, departmental, and SGA policies pertaining to recognized student organizations at Mount Holyoke College, as well as rules governing individual students,
  2. Be aware of liability issues and advise the association to make reasonable and prudent decisions regarding these issues in planning activities,
  3. Guide and educate SGA members as to their duties and responsibilities,
  4. Attend all meetings of SGA as requested by a member of the SGA Executive Board,
  5. Be available to the officers and committee chairs of the association on a regular basis for consultation,
  6. Communicate with the administration the needs of SGA as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board,
  7. Supervise SGA Business Office and staff, have a clear understanding of all the policies and functions, and promote a strong connection between SGA and its Business Office,
  8. Be responsible for ensuring that all members of the Executive Board meet eligibility requirements as set forth by the Constitution at least once a semester,
  9. Serve as an ex-officio advisor to all SGA committees.

Article VII - Senate

Composition

There shall be a SGA Senate composed of:

  1. One Senator from each residential hall,
  2. One Senator from each student standing committee,
  3. One Senator for each Special Interest, with further instructions appearing in SGA Bylaws Article II. Special Interest Senators shall represent: a) Academic departments, b) Recognized student organizations, c) Unofficial student organizations, d) Student club or varsity sport team, e) Commuter students, f) Transfer students, g) Affinity groups, h) And any other community group that requests representation,
  4. One Senator from each Class Board,
  5. One Senator for Frances Perkins Scholars.

Quorum

  1. No voting may be done if quorum is not met,
  2. In All Campus Elections, quorum is at least half plus one of voting members,
  3. Students on academic or judicial leave are not eligible to vote,
  4. In Senate, quorum is at least three-fourths of the registered members,
  5. Decisions shall be made either with a three-fourths majority vote of Senators in attendance or with a 'fifty percent plus one' vote of Senators in attendance as stipulated in the Constitution,
  6. If the Senate is unable to hold the vote, results will be finalized in favor of the voting results immediately following the conclusion of the Senate session.

Duties and Powers of the Senate

  1. Utilize resolutions and memorandums, as described in Article II of the Bylaws, to reflect the concerns and needs of the student body,
  2. Approve the allocation of funds for the student activities and organizations according to the recommendation of the SGA Treasurer,
  3. Authorize the organization of in-senate working groups to investigate proposed legislation or immediate problems,
  4. Pass any legislative measures at any Senate meeting in which quorum is met,
  5. Discuss and solicit student opinions on matters relating to the College,
  6. Consistently archive student concerns via the Campus Concerns Tracker,
  7. Inform the student body of pertinent campus activities, plans, and issues.

Senate Rules and Procedures

  1. Senate is to be held at a consistent day, time, and location, which must be determined before the beginning of the fall semester and is set for the entirety of the academic year,
  2. Senate is to be called by the Chair of Senate or upon the petition of one-twentieth of the of the members of the student body,
  3. Students on academic or judicial leave are not eligible to sign the petition.
  4. The Senate Rules and Procedures fall under the purview of the Chair of Senate, in collaboration with the entire Executive Board,
  5. The Senate Rules and Procedures must be presented at the first Senate of the academic year,
  6. The Senate Rules and Procedures may be changed at the discretion of the Chair of Senate,
  7. All changes must be presented to Senate at the first Senate immediately after the changes were made in order to garner feedback from Senators.

Article VIII - Amendment

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  2. Amendments shall be proposed by the Constitutional Review Committee, who will present them to the Senate following review,
  3. The Constitutional Review Committee shall act as a standing committee to review and defend the Constitution of SGA as well as serve as an educational resource to the E-Board.
  4. Amendments shall be ratified by a 'fifty percent plus one' vote of the student body through the All Campus Elections process,
  5. The Executive Board or the Senate may propose suspension of this requirement. Approval and implementation of this procedural change requires a three-fourths majority vote of the Senate,
  6. After the vote of suspension of the rules passes, the amendments are voted on clause by clause.

Article IX - Adoption

  1. This Constitution may be approved and adopted through the All Campus Election process by a majority vote of at least 'fifty percent plus one' of voting SGA members,
  2. At this point, all previous SGA Constitutions shall be repealed,
  3. The Executive Board or Senate may propose suspension of the campus-wide vote,
  4. The suspension of the rules must be approved by a vote of three-fourths of senators in attendance,
  5. The current system of government herein established shall become effective immediately.