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Amended October 10, 2000. Amendments are in italics and underlined.
DRAFT OF March 10, 2000

UM-St. Louis Student Government Association Constitution

We, the students of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, in order to provide for greater student participation in the general administration, government, and welfare of this institution, have adopted the following constitution for the University of Missouri-St. Louis Student Government Association.

The Student Government Association will work toward full student participation in all areas of university life, university affairs, and policy making. The Student Government Association will serve as the student voice to the university administration, faculty, and other campuses. In addition, the Student Government Association will implement the philosophy that all students be encouraged to govern themselves and be responsible for their government. The Student Government Association shall work with the faculty and administration to create and maintain comprehensive and quality academic programs, student services and activities which contribute to the total development of University of Missouri-St. Louis students, alumni, and the metropolitan, state, national and international community.

Article I Membership of the Student Government Association (SGA)

Section 1. All currently enrolled UM-St. Louis students shall be members of the Student Government Association.
Section 2. The legislative body of the association shall be known as the Student Government Association Assembly (Assembly).
Section 3. There shall be one elected representative to the Assembly for every 750 students, or fraction thereof greater than one-half, for each of the following:
  1. Undergraduate day students enrolled in each of the Schools and Colleges;
  2. Students enrolled in the Graduate School;
  3. Students enrolled in the Optometry School;
  4. Students enrolled in the Evening College; and
  5. Students enrolled at each of the UM-St. Louis Outreach Centers.
Section 4. There must be at least one representative to the Assembly from each Academic Division.
Section 5. There shall be one organizational representative to the Assembly allowed for each University Recognized Organization. Each University Recognized Student Organization shall send any one member in good University standing to fill the standing seat for that organization in the Assembly.
Section 6. One person cannot represent more than one organization on the Assembly.
Section 7. Any elect Assembly Representative who misses two consecutive or a total of three meetings during an academic year is automatically suspended from the Assembly.
Section 8. Any University Recognized Student Organization Assembly Representative who misses two consecutive or a total of three meetings in an academic year is automatically suspended from the Assembly and the organization’s Student Activities Budget Allocation is frozen until the organization is readmitted to the Assembly.
Section 9. The term of office for elected Assembly representatives shall begin with the certification of their election and shall end on the day of the next Winter Commencement following their election.
Section 10. The term of office of Assembly members appointed by University Recognized Student Organizations shall begin with their appointment and end on the day of Winter Commencement.

Article II Qualification of Officers, Student Court and Appointive Positions

Section 1. Any person who is a candidate to be an officer, currently serving as an officer, member of the Student Court or serving in an appointive position with the University of Missouri-St. Louis Student Government Association of Assembly must meet following minimum qualifications:
  1. shall be a student in good standing, having a minimum overall grade point average of 2.00, and be enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours at the time of hi/her candidacy or appointment, and during the semesters of the term of office, excluding Intersession and Summer Term Classes; and
  2. shall consent to a background review by the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee and to be found to have no current or prior convictions for violation of local, state or federal statutes exceeding misdemeanor category.
Section 2. Any person serving in any elective or appointive position with the University of Missouri-St. Louis Student Government Association found in violation of Article II, Section 1 by a majority vote of the Student Assembly, or a majority vote of the Student Court, or by a decision of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs, shall consider his/her position vacated immediately.
Section 3. Unless excused by a 2/3 vote of the Assembly, any elective or appointive officer of the SGA who misses two, consecutive or a total of three meetings in an academic year shall consider his/her position vacated immediately.

Article III Officers of the Student Government Association and Assembly

Section 1. The officers of the Student Government Association elected by the student body shall consist of President, Vice-President and Comptroller. The term of office for the President, Vice-President, and Comptroller of the Student Government Association shall begin on the day after the Winter Commencement exercise which follows their election, and shall end on the day of the winter Commencement exercise of the following year.
Section 2. Officers elected by the Student Government Association Assembly shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Parliamentarian and Sergeant at Arms. The President and Vice-President of the Association shall serve as ex-officio and non-voting officers of the Assembly. The term of office for the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly and the term of office for the Treasurer and Secretary of the Association shall begin at the time of their election by the Assembly at the first regularly-scheduled meeting of the Assembly after the beginning of the Fall Semester, and shall end at the time of the election of their successors. The term of office for the Parliamentarian and the Sergeant at Arms shall begin at the time of their election by the Assembly and shall end at the time of the election of their successors.

Article IV Duties and Responsibilities of officers and appointed positions within the Student Government Association and Assembly

Section 1. Student Government Association President (President)
  1. The President shall be elected by members of the Student Government Association at large.
  2. Responsibilities of the SGA President
    1. Presiding Chair of the Executive Committee of the Student Government Association Assembly;
    2. Interview and hire staff to the Student Government Association Offices;
    3. Serve as a non-voting member of the student Assembly;
    4. Student Government Association Liaison to the Chancellor and University Senate;
    5. Represent UM-St. Louis at meeting of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, Inter-Campus Student Council, and Associated Students-University of Missouri, when necessary;
    6. Report matters concerning the office of the President to the Student Government Association Assembly;
    7. Shall work a minimum of ten (10) hours per week on the duties of the office; and
    8. Shall call and preside over the first meeting of the Assembly which is to be held no later than 14 days after the beginning of Fall semester classes.
  3. In the event that the office of President is vacated, the succession to the office is the Vice-President of the Association, the Chairperson of the Assembly, then the Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly.
Section 2.

Student Government Association Vice-President (Vice-President)

  1. The Vice-President shall be elected by members of the Student Government Association at large.
  2. Responsibilities of the SGA Vice-President
    1. Assume the duties of the President in the event of the President’s absences;
    2. Coordinator of all Student Government Association and Assembly committees and special boards;
    3. Serve as a member of the Inter Campus Student Council;
    4. Serve as a non-voting member of the Assembly;
    5. Serve as a member of the Student Government Association Assembly Executive Committee;
    6. Represent the Student Government Association on the Homecoming Committee; and
    7. Shall work a minimum of ten (10) hours per week on the duties of the office.
  3. In the event that the office of Vice-President is vacated through ascension to the Presidency or other means, the succession to the Office of the Vice-President is the Chairperson of the Assembly, then the Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly.
Section 3.

Student Government Association Comptroller (Comptroller)

  1. The Comptroller shall be elected by members of the Student Government Association at large.
  2. Responsibilities of the Comptroller
    1. Serve as Chair of the Student Activities Budget Committee (SABC);
    2. Interview candidates for placement on the SABC;
    3. Insure Student Activity Funding is used as designated by organizations receiving funding from the SABC;
    4. Represent the SABC when required;
    5. Present questions of misuse of student allocated funds to the University Senate Student Affairs Committee; and
    6. Serve as a voting member of the Assembly.
  3. In the event that the Comptroller vacates the position, the Treasurer shall fill the office of Comptroller.
Section 4.

Student Government Association Treasurer (Treasurer)

  1. The Treasurer shall be elected by members of the Student Government Association Assembly at their first regularly scheduled meeting from nominations taken from the floor.
  2. Responsibilities of the SGA Treasurer
    1. Administer the funds of the office of the Student Governemnt Association;
    2. Keep records of the current funding of the Student Government Association and provide written detailed monthly and annual reports of income and expenses to the Assembly for inclusion in the SGA minutes;
    3. Shall draft, for approval by the Assembly, the SGA budget request for the succeeding fiscal year;
    4. Serve as a voting member of the Assembly;
    5. Serve as a member of the Student Government Association Assembly Executive Committee.
  3. In the event that the office of the Treasurer is vacated, the Assembly shall elect a successor from within the membership of the Assembly from nominations taken from the floor at the first meeting following the position being vacated.
Section 5.

Student Government Association Secretary (Secretary)

  1. The Secretary shall be elected by members of the Student Government Association Assembly at their first regularly scheduled meeting from nominations taken from the floor.
  2. Responsibilities of the SGA Secretary
    1. Coordinate all activities pertaining to the office of the Student Government Association;
    2. Keep minutes of all Assembly meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee;
    3. Serve as a voting member of the Assembly;
    4. Create and maintain an Student Government Association Billbook consisting of meeting minutes and pending legislation; and
    5. Serve as a member of the Student Government Association Assembly Executive Committee.
  3. In the event that the office of the Secretary is vacated, the Assembly shall elect a successor from within the membership from nominations taken from the floor at the first meeting following the position being vacated.
Section 6.

Student Government Association Assembly Chairperson (Chairperson)

  1. The Chairperson shall be elected by members of the Student Government Association Assembly at their first regularly scheduled meeting from nominations taken from the floor.
  2. Responsibilities of the Assembly Chairperson
    1. Chair all meetings of the Assembly;
    2. Develop the order of business for all meetings;
    3. Serve as a member of the Student Government Association Assembly Executive Committee; and
    4. Shall call for the second meeting of the Student Government Association Assembly for no later than September 25.
  3. In the event the office of chairperson is vacated, the Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly shall fill the office of Chairperson.
Section 7.

Student Government Association Assembly Vice-Chairperson

  1. The Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly shall be elected by the Assembly from within the membership of the Assembly during the first regularly scheduled meeting.
  2. Responsibilities of the Assembly Vice-Chairperson
    1. Assume the duties of the Chairperson of the Assembly in the event of the Chairperson’s absence; and
    2. Serve as a member of the Student Government Association Assembly Executive Committee.
  3. In the event that the office of Vice-Chairperson is vacated, the Assembly shall elect a successor from within the membership from nominations taken from the floor at the first meeting following the position being vacated.
Section 8.

Student Government Association Parliamentarian (Parliamentarian)

  1. The Parliamentarian shall be elected by the Assembly from within the membership of the Assembly from a slate of nominees having a working knowledge of Parliamentary Procedures and/or Robert’s Rules of Order.
  2. Responsibilities of the SGA Parliamentarian
    1. Arbitrate parliamentary procedure questions during Assembly meetings; and
    2. Serve as a member of the Student Government Association Assembly Executive Committee.
  3. In the event the office of Parliamentarian is vacated, the Assembly shall elect a new Parliamentarian at the next meeting of the Assembly following the position being vacated.
Section 9.

Student Government Association Sergeant at Arms (Sergeant at Arms)

  1. The Sergeant at Arms shall be elected by the Assembly from within the Assembly.
  2. Responsibilities of the SGA Sergeant at Arms
    1. Maintain order at Assembly Meetings; and
    2. Serve as a member of the Student Government Association Assembly Executive Committee.

Article V Committees of the Association and the Assembly

Section 1.

Executive Committee of the Assembly

  1. The Executive Committee of the Student Government Association and Assembly shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Comptroller of the Association, and the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Parliamentarian and Sergeant at Arm of the Assembly.
  2. The Executive Committee shall function as an overall planning committee where other committees are not provided for this purpose.
  3. The Executive Committee shall be the committee on committees and shall function in this respect according to procedures established by the Assembly.
  4. The Executive Committee of the Assembly shall function in place of the Assembly in dealing with emergency business which must be completed prior to the next scheduled regular meeting of the Assembly.
  5. The Executive Committee shall report to the Assembly on matters concerning funding relevant to Student Fees for Athletics, Auxiliary Services, Health Services, Intramural/Recreation, Mark Twain Building support, Student Activities, University Center Building support and any other service or activity funded wholly or partially through student fees in order to ascertain the effectiveness of current levels of funding and recommending to the President funding levels for subsequent years.
  6. The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, recommend to the Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs salaries for individuals for whom it deems salaries necessary.
Section 2.

University Committees

  1. In accordance with the University of Missouri By-Laws, the Assembly shall have the power to select student representatives to those University of Missouri Committees requiring such.
Section 3.

Other Committees of the Assembly

  1. At the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Assembly, an Election Committee shall be established by a vote of the Assembly. The Election Committee may recommend rules and procedures for elections which shall be approved by the Assembly. Such rules and procedures are to be implemented by the Election Committee in a free and fair manner.
  2. The Assembly shall have the power to establish, review, and disband such standing or ad hoc committees as it may deem necessary.

Article VI Student Government Association Student Court (Court)

Section 1. There shall be a Student Government Association Student Court consisting of five Justices and two alternates serving one year terms from October 1st to September 30th. Two nominees and one alternate shall be nominated by the president and approved by the Assembly and three nominees and one alternate shall be nominated by the Student Association Assembly. The nominees will be presented as a slate to the Student Association Assembly at the first SGA Assembly meeting and voted on individually at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Nominees must meet the qualifications indicated in Article II. If a justice resigns or is removed from office, the position shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled by an alternate selected by the Student Association Assembly for the duration of the term.
Section 2. The five Justices shall choose from among themselves a Chief Justice at the first convening of the Student Court.
Section 3. Student Court Justices may not be members of the Student Association Assembly nor may they hold any other elective or appointive position in Student Government Association.
Section 4. Decisions of the court shall be made by majority vote.
Section 5. A minimum of three-fifths of the membership of the Court shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business of the Court.
Section 6.

Responsibilities of the Student Court:

  1. The Student Court shall conduct hearings and reach decisions on student traffic appeals;
  2. The Student Court shall adjudicate matters of grievance between individual students and groups of students;
  3. The Student Court shall adjudicate matters of grievance between groups of students;
  4. The Student court shall conduct Impeachment proceedings in accordance with provisions in Article IX; and
  5. The Student court shall interpret the Student Association’s Constitution and By-Laws when requested by a member of the Association.
Section 7. Unless excused by a 4/5 vote of the Court, any member of the Court who misses two meetings during his/her term of office shall consider his/her position vacated immediately.
Section 8. Student Court members can be removed for cause pursuant to Article II, Section 2. Any vacancy on the Student Court shall be filled as governed by Article VI, Section 1.

Article VII Meetings of the Assembly

Section 1. Unless otherwise provided in the By-Laws or Constitution, “Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised)” shall constitute the official manual of parliamentary procedure for the Assembly.
Section 2. Meetings of the Assembly shall be held at least four times each regular semester. Special meetings of the assembly may be called by the President, Executive Committee, or by petition of one-third of the Assembly Representatives.
Section 3. A minimum of one-third of the membership of the Assembly shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business of the Assembly.
Section 4. Pursuant to Article IV, Section 1.b.8, the President of the Association shall call and preside over the first meeting of the Assembly which is to be held no later than 14 days after the beginning of Fall semester classes.
Section 5. Pursuant to Article IV, Section 7.b.4, the Chairperson of the Assembly shall call for the second meeting of the Student Government Association Assembly for no later than September 25.

Article VIII By-Laws of the Association

Section 1. The Student Government Association may adopt a set of By-Laws for their Constitution. By-Laws shall be approved by a majority vote of the Assembly with the approval of the President. By-Laws may also be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the Assembly without the approval of the President.
Section 2. No By-Laws may be created that violate the Constitution of the Student Government Association.
Section 3. No By-Laws may be adopted during special meetings or at the same meeting where they were proposed.
Section 4. Any By-Laws adopted prior to the date of ratification of this constitution shall be considered null and void.

Article IX Removal from Office

Section 1. Any Officer, member of the Student Court, or person appointed to a position under this constitution found in violation of the qualifications indicated in Article II of this Constitution by the University of Missouri-St. Louis Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs or his/her designee shall forfeit his/her office immediately without the need for impeachment proceedings.
Section 2. Any officer, Assembly member, or member of the Student Court may be placed under impeachment hearings upon written demand of either two-thirds of total representatives of the Assembly, or the petition of five percent of the Association for violation of any section of this constitution or University of Missouri policies. This officer, Assembly member, or court member shall be required to appear for a hearing before the Student Court. The Student Court may, after due consideration and by majority vote, suspend or remove the Officer, Assembly member, or Student Court member for any violation of the Constitution or By-Laws of the Association. Any Student Court member under impeachment may not vote in any matter regarding their impeachment or removal.

Article X Constitutional Ratification and Amendments

Section 1.

This Constitution, any new constitution, and any amendments to the Constitution shall be ratified after;

  1. Receiving either the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the members present at the regularly scheduled Assembly meeting or a petition bearing the signatures of five percent of the association; and
  2. The issue placed before members of the Student Government Association (Students) in an election and approved by a majority vote of those students voting in such election.