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SGA Constitution

Constitution of the Student Government Association General Assembly of Truckee Meadows Community College

Preamble

We, the student representatives of Truckee Meadows Community College (ÃÛÑ¿app), in order to advance the quality of education for students, promote student interests, and serve as informed advocates of student concerns to ÃÛÑ¿app bodies, state agencies and public officials, do ordain and establish this constitution of the Student Government Association General Assembly of ÃÛÑ¿app.

The Student Government Association General Assembly, in exercising authority granted by this constitution, shall conform to all rules, regulations, policies, and statutes as established by ÃÛÑ¿app, the Board of Regents, and the State of Nevada. If any of the provisions of this constitution are deemed to be in conflict with any of the rules, regulations, policies and statutes of ÃÛÑ¿app, the Board of Regents, or the State of Nevada, the ÃÛÑ¿app, Board of Regents and State of Nevada rules, regulations, policies and statutes shall supersede.

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Student Government Association (SGA) General Assembly of ÃÛÑ¿app, hereinafter referred to as the General Assembly.

Article II. Objectives

The objective of the General Assembly is to serve the ÃÛÑ¿app student body by:

  • Serving as the official voice of the student body of ÃÛÑ¿app.
  • Participating in shared governance through providing recommendations to ÃÛÑ¿app leadership and the Nevada System of Higher Education.
  • Representing the student voice in ÃÛÑ¿app policy development and implementation.
  • Providing student representation on ÃÛÑ¿app committees.
  • Assessing student opinions and needs as deemed necessary and proper.
  • Encouraging student involvement at ÃÛÑ¿app and within the community.

Article III. General Assembly Membership

Section 1. Membership

The General Assembly shall be composed of voting and non-voting members.

Voting Member(s):

  1. Executive officers shall be students elected by the ÃÛÑ¿app student body to the positions of president and vice-president.
  2. Senators shall be students elected by the ÃÛÑ¿app student body to the position of senator.

Non-Voting Member(s):

  1. The SGA advisor shall be an administrative faculty member.

Section 2. Membership Requirements

Voting General Assembly members must meet the following requirements:

  1. Maintain enrollment in a minimum of six credits at ÃÛÑ¿app per semester.
  2. Maintain a minimum 2.25 cumulative grade point average.

Article IV. Responsibilities of General Assembly Members

Section 1.

The president shall:

  1. Act as the voice of the SGA to agencies, offices, departments, and individuals external to the Student Government Association.
  2. Serve as the SGA representative to the NSHE Board of Regents and the Nevada Student Alliance (NSA).
  3. Preside over General Assembly meetings in compliance with Parliamentary Procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order.
  4. Appoint a General Assembly member to preside over General Assembly meetings in the case of his/her absence and the absence of the vice-president.
  5. Appoint a General Assembly member to attend other meetings in the case of his/her absence.
  6. Monitor the creation, implementation, and progress of all actions of the SGA.

Section 2.

The vice-president shall:

  1. Preside over General Assembly meetings in compliance with Parliamentary Procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order in the absence of the president.
  2. Appoint all General Assembly members to serve on ÃÛÑ¿app committees, with the approval of the president.
  3. Assist the president in the monitoring and reporting on the creation, implementation and progress of all actions of the General Assembly.
  4. In the event of a vacancy of the office of president, assume the roles and responsibilities of the president until the vacancy is filled.

Section 3.

Senators shall:

  1. Serve as the SGA representatives on ÃÛÑ¿app committees as appointed by the vice-president.
  2. Create and implement projects and initiatives throughout their term in accordance with the SGA Bylaws.

Section 4.

All voting General Assembly members shall:

  1. Serve as representatives of the ÃÛÑ¿app student body.
  2. Comply with all rules, regulations, policies, and statutes as established by ÃÛÑ¿app, the Board of Regents, and the State of Nevada.
  3. Comply with the Nevada Open Meeting Law.
  4. Serve regular office hours as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.
  5. Attend the duration of all regular General Assembly meetings.
  6. Assist with and participate in SGA events.
  7. Perform other duties as requested by the General Assembly and in accordance with the SGA Bylaws.

Section 5.

The SGA advisor or designee shall:

  1. Attend regular and special General Assembly related meetings and events.
  2. Make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning any SGA business, financial programs, policy, and procedural issues.
  3. Oversee and process General Assembly expenditures and contractual agreements that have been approved by the General Assembly in accordance with current ÃÛÑ¿app and NSHE policies and procedures.
  4. Provide leadership training, student development, and guidance to the General Assembly.

Article V. Operations

Section 1. Compensation

General Assembly members fulfilling their duties shall be eligible to receive compensation as outlined in the SGA Bylaws. Any approved change in wages for General Assembly members shall not take effect until the following term.

Section 2. Elections

Regular elections for the General Assembly shall be held every Spring Semester as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.

Section 3. Term of Office

No student shall hold more than one General Assembly position at a time. No student shall be eligible to serve more than a total of three terms on the General Assembly. Terms shall begin June 1 of each year and end May 31 of the following year. Any time served between the specified term dates shall be considered a full term.

Section 4. Vacancies

A vacancy in the office of vice-president may be filled by a General Assembly member through an appointment made by the president. The appointment must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly members present at any regular or special General Assembly meeting. In the event of a vacancy of the office of president, the vice president may be appointed to the office of president by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly members present at a regular or special General Assembly meeting.

If no current General Assembly members are appointed to fill a vacancy, notice will be given to the ÃÛÑ¿app student body of the vacancy. Any qualified ÃÛÑ¿app student may then submit an application to fill the vacancy. Student applications shall be considered as outlined in the SGA Bylaws. Applicants must be appointed by at least two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly members present at a regular or special General Assembly meeting.

Section 5. Resignation

A General Assembly member may resign from their position by giving written notice to the President or SGA advisor. Upon receipt of a resignation notice, termination of office shall take effect immediately. The position shall then be considered vacant on the date of resignation.

Section 6. Legislation

  1. Any member of the student body may write legislation; however, to be presented to the General Assembly the legislation must be sponsored and presented by the president, vice president, or a senator.
  2. For any legislation/amendment that needs student body review, legislative review and/or research, a minimum of one calendar week must elapse between the first reading and the vote on the considered legislation/amendment.

Article VI. Misconduct, Probation, Impeachment and Removal

Section 1. Misconduct

Misconduct by General Assembly members shall be defined as any violation of the SGA governing documents, as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.

Section 2. Probation

Any member of the General Assembly may be put on probation for misconduct by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly members present at a regular or special General Assembly meeting. They may waive placement on the agenda and go on probation with written consent. General Assembly members who are to be considered for probation shall be given a written notification from the President or SGA Advisor that outlines the reason(s) for the potential probation as outlined in NRS 241.033. Probationary procedures and duration shall be followed as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.

Section 3. Impeachment

General Assembly members may be impeached following impeachment procedures as outlined in the SGA Bylaws. Impeachment procedures may be initiated following probation or immediately.

Grounds for impeachment shall be:

  1. Failure to improve during probationary period as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.
  2. Additional misconduct while on probation.
  3. More than one probation during the current term of office.
  4. Gross misuse of student fee money as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.

Any General Assembly member who has been impeached may not run for or hold any position within the General Assembly for two terms following impeachment.

Any General Assembly member who has been impeached may appeal the decision by following the process outlined in the SGA Bylaws.

Section 4. Removal

Any General Assembly member may be subject to immediate removal from office by the SGA advisor. Grounds for immediate removal shall be:

  1. Failure to maintain enrollment in a minimum of six credits at ÃÛÑ¿app per semester.
  2. Failure to maintain a minimum 2.25 cumulative grade point average.

In the event that a General Assembly member is subject to immediate removal from office, a meeting will be called by the SGA advisor with the member to review the reasons for the removal and to give the member an opportunity to respond.

Article VII. SGA Meetings

Section 1. General Assembly Meetings

  1. Regular meetings of the General Assembly shall be held as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.
  2. Special meetings of the General Assembly may be called by the president or upon the written request to the president by three General Assembly members.

Section 2. SGA Committee Meetings

  1. Regular meetings of SGA committees shall be held as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.
  2. Special meetings of SGA committees may be called by the committee chair or upon the written request to the committee chair by one committee member.

Section 3. Rules of Order

All SGA meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised unless they conflict with the Nevada Open Meeting Law or any special rules of order the General Assembly may adopt as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.

Section 4. Quorum

A quorum is required to conduct business at all SGA meetings. A majority of General Assembly membership (more than half) shall constitute a quorum for General Assembly meetings. A majority of SGA committee membership (more than half) shall constitute a quorum for SGA committee meetings.

Article VIII. Amendments

Amendments to the SGA Constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly or through a petition signed by at least ten percent of the students currently enrolled at ÃÛÑ¿app. The SGA advisor shall authenticate the petition.

Amendments to the SGA Constitution shall be adopted in accordance with the policies outlined in the NSHE Board of Regents Handbook and upon review and approval by:

  1. The ÃÛÑ¿app legal counsel.
  2. A majority of ÃÛÑ¿app students voting in a special or general election.
  3. The ÃÛÑ¿app president.
  4. The NSHE chancellor.

Per the December 12, 2020 Senate meeting where it was approved, this constitution goes into effect on May 16, 2021.