ByLaws

Senate Bylaws 2007 Edition

Index

Bylaws

Introduction

Table of Contents

Title 1: Senate Meetings

Section 1-1. Meeting Times and Requirements. 2
Section 1-2. Attendance. 2
Section 1-3. Excusals. 2
Section 1-4. Record of Attendance. 2
Section 1-5. Agenda and Minutes. 2

Title 2: Right of Students to Petition 3

Section 2-1. Petition to Reconsider. 3
Section 2-2. Petition to Refer to Referendum.

Title 3: Senate Committees 3

Section 3-1. Committee Function. 3

Title 4: Club Funding and the Finance Committee 3

Section 4-1. Budgeting. 3
Section 4-2. Club Funding. 4
Section 4-3. Finance Committee Function. 5

Title 5: Elections 5

Section 5-1. Elections Committee. 5
Section 5-2. Election Times. 5
Section 5-3. Eligibility. 5
Section 5-4. Voting. 6
Section 5-5. Campaigns 6
Section 5-6. Validity of Election Results. 6
Section 5-7. Rights of Candidates Accused of Violations. 6

Finance Regulations

Introduction

*Defining bylaws:

Bylaws govern Senate procedures in accordance with the Constitution.

*Amending bylaws:

Proposed revisions to the bylaws must be submitted to Senators in writing. Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Senate present and voting.

Format of Bylaws:

All Bylaws must be worded in plain language that the average student can understand. Bylaw revisions will be included in this document in the following format:

(1) Title

(1-1) Section

(1-1 (a) Article

Title 1: ATTENDANCE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1-1: Meeting Times

(a) Attend regular meetings of the SGA every Wednesday at 3:30pm.

Section 1-2: Attendance

(a) Senators or officers will be considered late after 3:45pm, and this will be counted as a half absence.

(b) Senators or officers will be considered for an early dismissal before 5:00pm, unless the meeting was already adjourned.

(c) Senators or officers who fail to attend one regular Senate meeting unexcused, and/ or who fail to attend three Senate meetings excused in total over the course of any academic semester shall be considered to be on probation.

(d) Any Senator or officer who is on probation, and who fails to attend any additional regular Senate meeting during the academic semester during which he/she was placed on probation, that exceeds allowed absences in Section 1-2c, shall forfeit their stipend and be removed from senate

(e) If missed the mandatory retreats shall each count as one absence that can be excused by the SGA President or by a 2/3 vote of the Senate.

(f) If any Senator is in violation of the regular meeting attendance policy, the Secretary shall notify the Vice President.

Section 1-3: Excusals

(a) The SGA President or the Senate (by 2/3 vote) may excuse any absence by a Senator.

(b) The SGA President or the Senate should use their utmost discretion while considering excusals.

(c) Each Senator or officer is allowed one unexcused and three excused absences per semester to be considered for a stipend.

Section 1-4: Record of Attendance

(a) The SGA Secretary shall oversee the taking of attendance.

(b) Senators or officers well be considered late after 3:45pm, and this will be counted as a one-third of an absence.

(c) Senators or officers who depart prior to 5:00pm will receive a third absence unless the meeting adjourned prior to 5:00pm.

(d) Every three meetings that a given Senator’s name is so noted (as late or leaving early) shall be considered as an absence.

Section 1-5: Agenda and Minutes

(a) An agenda will be made available to Senators and other interested parties prior to the meeting.

(b) Minutes will be prepared for distribution within 48 hours.

Section 1-6: Office Hours

(a) Maintain strong ties and communication with constituents by holding regular office hours, with a minimum of two office hours a week, unless that week is shortened or canceled due to school holiday, sever weather or at the discretion of the Vice-President.

(b) The Vice-President shall oversee Senators’ office hours.

Section 1-7: Club Liaisons

(a) Each Senator shall be designated Club Liaisons.

(b) Senators shall continuously communicate with designated constituents.

Section 1-8: Stipend Amounts (per academic semester)

Senators: $400.00

Senators elected mid semester: $200.00

Treasurer: $1000.00

Vice President: $1000.00

President: $1400.00

Title 2: Right of Students to Petition

2-1. Petition to Reconsider. Any 100 undergraduate students who request or object to a particular action of the Senate may submit a petition. At the regular Senate meeting or following the receipt of such a petition, the Senate shall consider the action.

Section 2-2. Petition to Refer to Referendum. Any 400 undergraduate students who object to a particular action of the Senate may submit a petition asking that the action be put to referendum. Upon receipt of such a petition, a referendum must be held within 30 days. A majority vote to overturn a Senate decision must be honored by the Senate.

Title 3: Senate Committees

Section 3-1: Committee Functions and Involvement

(a) The provisions of this section apply to all committees of the Senate with the exception of the Finance committee, whose operation is governed by the Constitution under Article IV Section 1 and Bylaws Title IV as well as finance committee regulations as defined in Bylaws Section (to be named).

(b) Each Senator is required to serve on at least one standing committee or ad hoc committee. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of that semester’s stipend.

(d) Candidates for committee leadership must be nominated by member of the Senate. Senators are permitted to nominate themselves.

(e) Chairs and co-chairs may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Senate.

(f) Committee meeting times, locations, guidelines, and contact information for committee chairs must be posted in a place accessible to all students.

(g) Committee meetings must be held during the weekdays between 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. unless otherwise authorized by the Senate.

(h) Each committee shall inform the Senate of its actions after every meeting by submitting a written report (minutes) to the SGA Secretary for inclusion in that week’s agenda, and shall submit minutes to the Vice President.

(i) Minutes must be taken by a member of the committee at every meeting and submitted to the Vice President.

(j) The Chairperson of the committee shall oversee the committee’s attendance, which shall be recorded in the meeting minutes.

(k) Senators must be in attendance for at least half of the committees “gatherings”. This includes meetings, events, lobby tables… etc. At the end of each semester, the Stipend Review Committee may ask committee Chairs and Co-Chairs whether they feel everyone who claims to be on their committee fulfilled their requirements in the opinion of the Chair and Co-Chair. This process will most likely take place if committee involvement comes into question.

(l) The following are Senate Committees:

Conference Committee Guidelines

Elections Committee Guidelines

Events Committee Guidelines

Promotions Committee Guidelines

Scholarship Committee Guidelines

Stipend Review Committee Guidelines

Student Life Committee Guidelines

Title 4: SGA Budgeting and Club Funding

4-1. SGA Budgeting Procedures

a) At the beginning of the fiscal year, the projected enrollment figure for fall and spring semesters is multiplied by the SGA portion of the Student Activity fee. The resulting amount is considered funds available.

b) The funds available shall be divided as follows:

1) Sixteen percent (16%) of the funds available shall be designated for SGA Senate discretionary reserves and placed in Senate Account #SG9195

2) Twenty-One percent (21%) of the funds available shall be designated for SGA operations and placed in SGA Operations Account #SG9120.

3) Sixty-three percent (63%) of the funds available shall designated for club funding and placed in Account #SG9015.

4-2. Club Funding

a) Initial individual club budgets (base budgets) will be calculated by multiplying the previous year’s individual club’s spending by a factor determined by the Senate. The same factor shall be used for all clubs.

b) No club that was active in the previous year may receive less than $700 regardless of “(a)” above.

c) Any club receiving less than the amount allocated to them in their previous year’s base budget may request to receive the difference by appealing to the Finance Committee before the end of September.

d) The remaining funds in SG9015 shall be reserved for supplementary club funding and will be administered by the Finance Committee with the advice and consent of the Senate

e) A new or reactivated club will be given “new” club funding of seven hundred dollars ($700.00) for its first fiscal year of funding.

f) The Finance Committee, with the advice and consent of the Senate, may create guidelines for the given year to govern the distribution of funds to clubs. These guidelines must in no way contradict Senate bylaws or Constitution. The guidelines must be written, and accessible to students.

g) Recognized clubs may apply to the Finance Committee for supplementary funding. The recommendations of the Finance Committee will be submitted to the Senate for approval.

h) Requests for funding should be discussed with club advisors, and the SALD office prior to submission to the Finance Committee to ensure that they comply with State and University regulations. Failure to consult with those individuals could result in the delay or rejection on funding proposals.

i) Clubs may appeal a funding decision before the full Senate if authorized by the SGA President, or Treasurer.

j) Funding shall be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

k) Every club shall maintain an accounting of the amount of money spent from its budget account.

4-3. Finance Committee Membership and Meetings

a) The Chairperson of the SGA Finance Committee shall be the Treasurer of the Senate.

b) The Chair of the Finance Committee is removable by a two-thirds vote of the Senate or by unanimous decision of the Senate Executive Board. In the event of the removal of the Chair, the SGA President may appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.

c) Membership on the Finance Committee is reserved for fee-paying students only. Non-Senators wishing to join the Finance Committee may become non-voting members by a majority vote of the Finance Committee.

c) Quorum at any regular Finance Committee meeting is defined as having a majority of those members present and voting be elected members or officers of the Senate

d) Meetings shall be held weekly, at a time and location approved by the Senate.

e) Finance Committee meeting minutes must be prepared and distributed to the Senators prior to the Senate meetings.

Title 5: Elections

Section 5-1. Elections Committee.

(a) Elections shall be conducted by the Elections Committee.

(b) No person who is a member of the Elections Committee shall campaign for, advise, or instruct candidates in an election on any matters related to the election, except matters concerning campaign guidelines.

Section 5-2. Election Times.

(a) Students shall be given at least one week to declare their candidacy.

(b) The candidates shall be given at least one week prior to voting to campaign.

(c) Voting shall take place on two consecutive days, no later than the last Friday of April during the Spring Elections, and no later than the last Friday of October for the Fall Elections.

Section 5-3. Eligibility.

(a) Candidates and voters for Senior Class President must have senior standing as defined by the University.

(b) Candidates are required to have a 2.0 GPA to run for a Senate position. Senators and officers are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA to maintain their position on the Senate and receive a stipend.

(d) The SGA Senate has been entrusted to conduct the elections for CSU Board of Trustees Representative, Henry Barnard Foundation Board of Directors Representative, and CCSU Foundation Board of Directors Representative. The eligibility for these positions is determined by those respective institutions, and therefore is subject to change.

Section 5-4. Voting.

(a) Only those who have declared their candidacy and have been determined eligible shall be voted upon; write-in votes shall not be counted.

(b) Voting shall be by secret ballot.

(d) When the election results have been approved by the Senate, the new Senate term shall commence.

Section 5-5. Campaigns.

(a) The Senate shall have the authority to approve guidelines governing campaign conduct on election days. Such guidelines shall be recommended by the Elections Committee and must be approved by a majority vote of the Senate, at least one week prior the start of campaigning. The Elections Committee shall ensure that all candidates review the guidelines and sign a consent agreement prior to the election dates.

(b) A reasonable perimeter shall be designated around the voting area where no campaigning will be allowed.

Section 5-6. Validity of Election Results. The Senate may only reject election results if all of the following conditions have been met:

(a) The Elections Committee has set forth clear campaigning guidelines and provided them to the candidates prior to the election dates.

(b) The Elections Committee has received a complaint alleging campaign violations within one business day of the end of voting.

(d) Such a complaint has been investigated by the Elections Committee.

(e) A panel consisting of a representative from the Elections Committee, a representative from the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development, and at least three Senators or executive board members, and presided over by a representative from the Campus Judicial Office experienced in quasi-judicial procedure shall have been convened.

(f) The panel shall have established, with a level of certainty beyond a reasonable doubt, that the accused candidate knowingly violated campaigning guidelines.

(g) The panel has issued a report and recommendation to the Senate.

Section 5-7. Rights of Candidates Accused of Violations.

(a) The accused shall have the right to be present during the proceedings of the panel prescribed by Section 5-6 article (e).

(b) The accused shall be given the opportunity to testify, but shall not be compelled to do so.

(d) The accused shall have a right to designate a representative to aid in their defense

The accused shall have the right to appeal the findings of the panel to the full Senate.

Finance Regulations 2007 Ed.

(Subject to change each year when new SGA Finance Committee is formed, such changes will be posted upon enactment)

Introduction

Finance Bylaws to take affect 2008-2009

SGA Budgeting Process

A. All money remaining in all the SGA fiscal accounts from the previous fiscal year, including club accounts, excluding the club’s fundraised accounts is reclaimed by the SGA. This money will then be placed into an additional SGA Rollover account SG9019. This money will not be included in the SGA budgets for the following year, but may be spent or allocated at the SGA’s discretion.

B. The projected enrollment figure for the following academic year is multiplied by the amount of the student activity fee that is reserved for the SGA, in order to equal the total of the entire SGA budget.

C. 5% of this is placed in the SGA Reserve Account SG9010

D. After 5% of the total budget has been placed into the Reserve account SG9010 the remaining funds will be dispersed as follows:

a. 16% of the remaining funds shall be placed in SG9195 for use by the Senate

b. 21% of the remaining funds shall be placed in SG9120 for SGA operational spending

c. 63% of the remaining funds shall be reserved for the Finance Committee and be divided according to the following:

i. 80% shall be placed in SG9015 for Club Budgets

ii. 12% shall be placed in SG9016 for Contingency Funding

iii. 7% shall be placed in SG9017 for Fundraising Loans

iv. 1% shall be placed in SG9018 for New Club Budgets

Section 1: Committee Bylaws

A. The Finance Committee of the Student Government Association (SGA) of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) shall be designated with the task of dispersing Student Government Association monies in financial accounts SG9015, SG9016, SG9017, and SG9018 that are funded from student activity fees.

B. Recommendations made by the Finance Committee may be overturned or amended by a majority vote of the Student Government Association.

C. Eligibility to be a voting member of the committee is reserved exclusively for currently elected, and serving, members of the Student Government Association. Non-senators may attend meetings, but may not vote.

D. The committee shall have a total of nine voting members, in addition to the non-voting chairperson, with a quorum of six members.

E. The Chairperson of the Finance Committee shall be the active Treasurer of the Student Government Association. The co-chairperson of the Finance Committee shall be elected by the SGA.

F. Only officially university-recognized clubs, whose membership is non-selective, shall be eligible for funding from the Finance Committee.

G. The Finance Committee shall meet once a week to discuss, and make recommendations, to the SGA about club budgets, contingency funding, fundraising loans, finance bylaw revisions, new clubs as well as any other germane topics. They may, however, make specific operational guidelines for the current year, providing they do not conflict with previously established guidelines. (To be implemented for Fiscal Year 2009)

H. The Finance Committee will audit the fiscal accounts of at least eight clubs a semester. They retain the right to audit any club’s fiscal accounts at any time. Unsatisfactory findings in a club’s audit, may result in disciplinary action to be determine by the Finance Committee

I. The Finance Committee’s money shall be dispersed into sub-accounts by the following percentages:

a. 80% of the money shall be reserved for Club Budgets in SG9015

i. After club budgets are allocated, any remaining money from this account shall be used at the Finance Committee’s discretion

b. 12% of the money shall be reserved for Contingency Funding in SG9016

c. 7% of the money shall be reserved for Club Fundraising Loans in SG9017

d. 1% of the money shall be reserved for New Club Budgets in SG9018 (to be implemented FY 2009)

Section 2: Club Budgets

A. During the spring semester officially recognized clubs must submit a club budget request proposal to the SGA requesting all desired funds for the following academic year. Budget proposals must be signed each club’s faculty advisor and/or their Student Activities/Leadership Development (SA/LD) advisor.

B. The deadline for submission of Club Budgets at one week after the date of the close of club’s fiscal transactions in the office of Student Activities and Leadership Development

C. The currently serving finance committee will review all club budget proposals and make funding recommendations.

D. Budget recommendations will then be submitted to the newly elected Executive Board of the SGA for additional review. The Executive Board then has the power to propose changes to the Finance Committee’s recommendation for a club’s budget. The Executive Board must present their proposed changes to the Finance Committee where they will be voted upon by the regular voting members of the Finance Committee.

E. Once the Executive Board has reviewed, and possibly altered, the budget recommendations, they will be introduced to the floor of the newly elected SGA for approval.

F. Final allocations will be presented to the SGA at a date no later than the last regular meeting of the newly elected SGA in the spring semester.

G. Club Budget Restrictions

a. The SGA will only fund conferences in which some educational value is gained; this does not include performance or competitive venues.

b. The SGA will not fund food for club meetings.

c. Clubs will be responsible for abiding by all University and State Comptroller guidelines.

H. During the fiscal year, clubs may submit line item change requests to reconsider specific allocations within their original club budget request. All line item changes will be considered by the senate.”

a. In the event that a line item change is rejected, the senate reserves the right to retrieve the funds from the club’s budget.

Section 3: Contingency Funding

A. Clubs reserve the right to petition the Finance Committee for contingency funding throughout the academic year, providing that funding is available.

B. In order to receive contingency funding from the Finance Committee, a club will be asked to fill out required paperwork, answer standard funding questions, provide evidence of the prices of desired items/events, and make a formal presentation to the Finance Committee requesting a specific amount of funding.

C. Prior to petitioning the Finance Committee for Contingency Funding, clubs will be required to fundraise 10% of the total amount of their total request.

D. Contingency Funding Restrictions

a. Requests must be made for items/events that could not have been foreseen at the time of their club budget request.

b. A club may not petition the Finance Committee for any portion of their club budget proposal that was not approved.

c. The SGA will only fund one conference per club per academic year.

d. The SGA will not fund food for club meetings.

e. Clubs will be responsible for abiding by all University and State Comptroller guidelines.

E. Contingency Funding Requests greater than $6,000.00 must be referred to the full senate.

Section 4: Fundraising Loans

A. Clubs reserve the right to petition the Finance Committee for a fundraising loan throughout the academic year, providing that funding is available.

B. In order to petition the Finance Committee for a fundraising loan, a club will be asked to fill out required paperwork, answer standard funding questions, provide evidence of the prices of desired items/events, and make a formal presentation to the Finance Committee requesting a specific amount of funding.

C. Clubs shall have two fiscal accounts:

a. The first shall be for all money allocated from the SGA Finance Committee for their club budget, contingency funding, and fundraising loans.

b. The second fiscal account shall be for all other money collected by the club. This includes net fundraised money, donations, etc. All money from this account that is not spent shall roll over into the following fiscal year.

D. Fundraising Loan Restrictions

a. A “fundraiser” shall be defined as having the expected revenue to clearly exceed the cost of the fundraiser itself.

b. A club may not petition the finance committee for any portion of their club budget proposal that was not approved.

c. A fundraising loan must be paid back to the Finance Committee after completion

d. If a fundraiser is unsuccessful in paying for itself the Finance Committee reserves the rights to investigate the circumstances of the fundraiser, and to possibly implement disciplinary action at its discretion.

E. Requests greater than $1,500.00 must be heard by the full senate.

Section 5: New Club Budgets

A. New clubs officially university recognized, as well as re-activated clubs, reserve the right to petition the Finance Committee for a club budget.

B. New and re-activated club budget proposals may not exceed $500 and must be submitted by March 1st in order to be considered, providing that funding is available.

C. New and re-activated clubs are eligible to petition the Finance Committee for a fundraising loan, but may not petition for Contingency Funding.

D. The Finance Committee will review all club budget proposals and make recommendations.

E. Budget recommendations will then be submitted to the Executive Board of the SGA for additional review. The Executive Board then has the power to propose changes to the Finance Committee’s recommendation for a club’s budget. The Executive Board must present their proposed changes to the Finance Committee where they will be voted upon by the regular voting members of the Finance Committee.

F. Once the Executive Board has reviewed, and possibly altered, the budget recommendations, they will be introduced to the floor of the newly elected SGA for approval.

G. New Club Budget Restrictions

a. The SGA will only fund conferences in which some educational value is gained; this does not include performance or competitive venues.

b. The SGA will not fund food for club meetings.

c. Clubs will be responsible for abiding by all University and State Comptroller guidelines(these guidelines will take effect for FY 2009).

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