SGA Constitution

National Park College Student Government Association Constitution

Preamble

We, the students of National Park College, in order to form a democratic and responsible student government: to represent, lead and unify the student body, to decide and act responsibly for the students’ interests, and to work with the Faculty and Administration of National Park College in the pursuit of our mutual interests, do hereby establish the Student Government Association and adopt this Constitution.

Article I: Name

This organization shall be known as the Student Government Association (herein known as “SGA”) of National Park College (herein known as “NPC”).

Article II: Purpose and Function

The primary purpose of the SGA shall be to:

• Promote the views of the student body of NPC through participation in shared governance.
• Promote student activities of the student body.
• Oversee NPC student clubs and organizations.
• Facilitate student elections.
• Participate in and support charitable activities to support the students and the community.
• Make recommendations to appropriate deciding bodies on any matter relating to the general welfare of the student body.
• Establish committees, assign the responsibilities and appoint their membership.
• Inform students on citizenship issues.Article III: Membership Composition

The SGA membership shall be composed by the following:

• The SGA Board shall be composed of no more than sixteen (16) current students and at least one (1) Faculty Advisor.
• Six (6) students known as the Executive Council shall hold officer positions and up to twelve (12) students shall hold At-Large positions.
• Up to ten (10) At-Large positions shall be filled by appointment of the SGA Board, with a minimum of five (5) At-Large positions appointed to freshmen students
• Two (2) At-Large positions shall be filled by General Election and up to two (2) At-Large positions shall be filled by the recognized NPC student organizations as a whole also known as the Interclub Committee (herein known as the ICC).
• All Officers and At-Large representatives shall each have one (1) vote. The president shall abstain from voting except in the condition of a split vote. The Faculty Advisor(s) shall be appointed by the VP of Student Services and shall be a non-voting member(s) except in rare special cases that are outlined in this Constitution.

Article IV: Organization and Procedures

Section A: Meetings

• One regular meeting of the general assembly of the NPC student body shall be held monthly throughout the academic year (fall/spring). One executive meeting of the SGA Board shall also be held monthly throughout the academic year (fall/spring). These meetings may be cancelled provided a motion from a member is passed by two-thirds of the SGA members present and voting at an executive or regular meeting.
• Given 24 hours notice, special meetings may be called by the President or by written petition of any three (3) SGA Board members.

Section B: Quorum

A quorum shall consist of fifty (50) percent plus one (1) of the SGA Board members.

Section C: Parliamentary Procedures

Robert’s Rules of Order, most current edition available, shall be used to guide the parliamentary procedures for all formal meetings.

Section D: By-Laws

The SGA shall have the power to write By-Laws to effect the purposes of this Constitution.

Section E: Legislative Functions

A motion involving change in established policy or of significance to the SGA shall not be voted on until a meeting held at least 24 hours following the meeting at which the motion is presented or unless notice of intent to propose such a motion is made at least four days in advance in writing to each member before the meeting.

Article V: Elections

Section A: Oversight

• All SGA elections shall be conducted by the SGA Elections Committee. The Faculty Advisor shall appoint a lead representative for the SGA Elections Committee. No student seeking an Officer or At-Large position shall be permitted to serve on the SGA Elections Committee.
• A General Election for SGA officers for the following academic year shall take place on two consecutive days during April.

Section B: Eligibility

• All full time students who are enrolled in at least 12 credit hours with 9 of those credit hours consisting of on-campus courses (not online) and not on academic or disciplinary probation at NPC and meet the GPA requirements are eligible to become a candidate for the office of President.
• All students who are enrolled in at least 6 credit hours and not on academic or disciplinary probation at NPC and meets the GPA requirements are eligible to become a candidate for an officer position including: Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer or At-Large representative of SGA.
• All officers and At-Large representatives shall be required at the time of their election and to maintain during their term of office a grade point average of no less than two and one-half (2.50). If a student falls out of status of good standing, that person shall forfeit his/her position and a vacancy shall be declared.

Section C: Term of Office

The term of office shall be the academic year following the spring elections to start on the first day of the fall semester.

Section D: Vacancies and Succession

• Should the office of the President become vacant, the Vice-President shall become the President and assume all responsibilities of that office.
• Should the office of any of the remaining officers become vacant, the SGA shall fill that office by a majority vote of a quorum of the SGA Board.

Article VI: Committees

Section A: Standing Committees

The SGA may form Standing Committees, as provided in the By-Laws, to aid in the effective workings of the SGA. The Standing Committees shall include, but not be limited to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, the Events and Activities Committee, the Public Relations Committee, the Interclub Committee and the SGA Elections Committee.

Section B: Ad Hoc Committees

The President may appoint ad hoc committees for a specific purpose as he/she deems necessary.

Article VII: Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by the following process:

1. 1.  All proposed amendments must be by signature petition of one (1) percent of the current student body. Petitioners must be present at the SGA Board meeting where the amendment is to be submitted in writing and read.
2. 2.  The Amendment shall be referred to the Constitution and By-Laws committee for study.
3. 3.  The Constitution and By-Laws Committee shall return the proposed amendment to the SGA Board with any revisions and/or recommendations by the next regularly scheduled SGA general assembly meeting.
4. 4.  The Constitution and By-Laws Committee shall read the amendment with any revisions and/or recommendations to the SGA Board.
5. 5.  The SGA Board shall then publish the amendment to the entire student body no less than seven (7) days prior to the next SGA general assembly meeting.
6. 6.  The amendment shall be discussed and voted on by the student body at the next regularly scheduled SGA general assembly meeting. The amendment shall pass with an affirmative vote of two/thirds (2/3) of the students present.
7. 7,  If an amendment to this Constitution is mandated by a policy or change in policy from the NPC Board of Trustees, such mandated change shall be incorporated into the existing Constitution with no vote necessary by the student body.

Article VIII: Ratification

This Constitution shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the membership of the SGA Board and the affirmative vote of the College President, Vice President for Student Services and the Board of Trustees of NPC, in accordance with Board Policy 9.900 – Student Clubs and Organizations.