Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Seel Prei The sha 1. S Sen; Below is the text of the 2 A Student Government, SG, of s constitution which now J governs the students of deet USC. SG President Seamus s*1* O'Boyle has proposed a new stud constitution, reproduced at Gov' right, to replace this pr" document. A campuswide durii referendum would have to ^ be held to install such a sure constitution. man 7. A oath CONSTITUTION swef OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT (he Gov< NOTE: The Board of Trustees is by law the carc governing board of the Wnivprsitv anH thic constitution in no way abrogates or limits the Sect authority of the Board in matters of gover- Trea nance. The shall PREAMBLE j ? We, the students of the University of South stud, Carolina, in order to conduct student affairs in froir an efficient, orderly, and systematic manner; 2 ? do define clearly the powers and respon- ' ' sibilities of the students; to secure for ourselves training and experience in self- . . government; and to provide an organizational b J) framework through which our efforts for a p better university may be directed, do hereby 3- Hi ordain and establish this constitution for the coun Student Government of the University of South Stud Carolina. 4. S? Com ARTICLE I. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 5 B( STUDENTGOVERNMENT G(m Section 1. Name sem< The name of this organization shall be the f>e^?l Student Government of the University of South 6 K' Carolina. Stud' Section 2. Jurisdiction Sccti All full or part-time students registered at the The^ v uiumma campus ot me university ot South s""" Carolina shall be members of the Student Body 1. C< and shall be subject to this constitution and its Sena by-laws, the Student Government Statutes. 2 M Section 3. Franchise Arch All students registered at the main campus f*( shall be entitled to vote in the special and ?"'c general elections of t ie Student Government. 4 B< systi ARTICLE II. THE EXECUTIVE Gove Section l. Executive Powers *> Pool All executive powers of the Student Government shall be vested in a President, a Vice- A( President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer who Studi snail be elected in a manner provided for by 7 H< the Senate Statute. Stati The President shall receive a stipend which j^-cti shall not be increased or diminished during his , term of office. e 1 Trea Before the President shall assnmo hie at OIIICI a time to be specified by Senate Statute, he bran shall take the following oath: "I do solemnly resp( swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute t(,e the office of President of the Student Govern- |0 n, ment of the University of South Carolina." f0H0, Section 2. Duties and Powers of the President ,\|{j The President shall: 1) Uphold the constitution of the Student The Government and administer all regulations men established in Student Senate Statutes. its s 2) Have the power to veto or sign acts of the othe Student Senate, provided that he exercises ? . such power within six school days of passage. A veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote *onl of the Student Senate folio 3) Call special sessions of the Student Senate. ^ ^ 4) Make recommendations for legislation to ^ ^ the Student Senate, for which purpose he shall j-oj|o address the Senate at the beginning of each semester and at other times upon approval of 1 T; the Senate. * r-vKl "4 I . I . I I / al 0 M \ M f\rr\ ina?n om/I u *u" 1 n>/iuiiioit miu wuii iiiu approval 01 me *" 1 Student Senate shall appoint judges as P'ac< provided in this constitution, and a cabinet of 'n'm such officers as he may deem necessary and ? other Student Government officers whose an(| appointments shall be established by Statute. 'e^ls The Student Senate may vest the power of St appointment of any other officer as they think corn proper, in the President 4 j>( ivcuiuvr any 011icer wnom ne nasappointed by II to any executive position by majority vote of Stud the Student Senate. 5 jj, 7) Act as the official representative of the seen Student Government. hisd 8) Shall coordinate the activities of the cabinet 6. N< officers and the various executive committees Sena and approve all policies made by them. 7. 9) With the assistance of the Treasurer Stati provide for the preparation of 0 semester ft A budget to be submitted in writing to th know Student Senate for approval. vvhic &ntS ;ion 3. Duties and Powers of the Vice sklent t Vice President of the Student Governmer II; erve as presiding otticer ot the Student ite and vote only in the case of a tie. ppoint chairmen and assign the members Itudent Senate committees with the ap 'al of the Senate. ppoint such officials as the Senate shall n necessary for expedient conduct of ite business. ommunicate all acts and resolutions of the ent Senate to the President of the Student ernment. eceive a stipend, not to exceed that of the ;ident, which shall not be raised or lowered ng his term of office. jrve in lieu of the President of the Student srnment in his absence or disability and eed to that office should it become perently vacated. ssume office after taking the following before the Student Senate: "I do solemnly ir (or affirm) that 1 will faithfully execute office of Vi fP Prpcirlpnt of thn QtusiArtf ?rnment of the Univesity of South ilina." ion 4. Duties and Powers of the isurer Treasurer of the Student Government I: ave access to all financial records of any ent organization which receives monies i Student Activity Fees. ecord all receipts, expenditures and apriations of monies from Student Governt. These records shall he nnhlir anH ect to audil as the Student Senate may ide. eport to the Senate by standard acting procedure when requested by the ent Senate. Tve as a member of the Student Affairs mittee. i responsible for presenting the Student ;rnment budget for the summer and each ister for approval by the Student Senate re putting the budget into effect eceive a stipend as provided for by the entSenate. ion 5. Duties and Powers of the Secretary Secretary of the Student Government ordinate the activities of the Clerk of the te and the Clerk of the Judicial Branch, aintain the official Student Government lives. 2 responsible for sending and receiving ial Student Government directives. ? responsible for seeing that the library ;in has official copies of all Student ;rnment directives. ordinate the activities of the Secretarial ;t as secretary to the President of the ent Government. ?ceive a stipend as provided for by Senate ite. oil 6. Term of Office President, Vice President, Secretary, and surer of Student Government and all prs appointed by them in the executive eh shall maintain in good conduct their jctive offices for a term of ont> vear frnm nauguration of the President in the spring e inauguration of the new President the wing spring. 1CLK 111. THE LEGISLATIVE ion 1. legislative power of the Student Governt shall be vested in a Student Senate and tatutes shall have binding effect on all r student governmental bodies. ion 2. Composition of the Student Senate position of the Student Senate shall be as ws: he Clerk of the Student Senate, appointed ne Vice President with the consent of the ent Senate whose duties shall be as ws: fike the official minutes and roll of all enl Senate meetings. aintain an archives 111 which shall Ik* ed an official copy of all regulations, the ites of the Student Senate meetings, and fficial correspondence as well as reports other information pertinent to the lative body nd, receive, and distribute all official ?spondence of the Student Senate. >rform any other duties assigned to him le presiding officer or a majority of the tin ociidic. ? authorized to organize and train a jtariat to assist him in the performance of uties. Dt be a voting member of the Student te. eceive a stipend as provided for by Senate ite. number of men and women shall be m as Student Senators, the number of h shall not exceed one per cent of the total >G coi enrollment of the previous fall semester at the main USC campus. Senators shall be equally apportioned according to population among the Senate residence areas which shall be provided for by Senate Statute. C. In order to serve in the Student Senate a student must be a member of the district area irom wnicn ne was elected. Seetion 3. Flection of Student Senators A. The election of student Senators shall be done according to statute. B. Any vacancies in the Student Senate will be filled b> appointment by the presidents of the respective residence area involved. The appointees must meet electoral requirements of that area and be approved by a majority vote of the Student Senate. Any vacancies in the Student Senate will be filled by Special Election in that district as soon as practical if un vuvnuv v uituia pi 1U1 lO IIK Dprillg Semester. C. The Student Senators of the Student Government and all officers appointed by them in the legislative branch shall maintain in good conduct their respective offices for a term of one year from the inaugurationof the new President in the spring to the inauguration of the new President the following spring. Section 4. Duties and Powers of the Student Senate The Student Senate shall, in accordance with this constitution: A. Have the power to make rules and regulations governing the non-academic conduct of the Student Body subject to approval by the President of the University. B. Have the power to make rules and regulations in academic areas with the approval of the faculty. C. Enact, by majority vote, by-laws to this constitution to be known as Student Government Statutes. D. Propose, by two-thirds vote, amendments to this constitution. E. Provide for the compilation and publication of legislation to insure that the student body is informed. F. Ratify all appointments made by the President of the Student Body by a majority vote. G. Establish its own meeting time and rules of procedure. H. Elect, as the first order of business of each newly elected Senate, a President ProTempore from among its membership. He shall be a voting member of the Student Senate. He shall act in lieu of the Vice President of the Student Government in his absence or disability and shall succeed to that office should it become permanently vacated. The appointment of the Clerk of the Senate shall be ratified at the same meeting. J. Allow only elected Student Senators to serve in the Student Senate and allow no proxies, substitutes, or alternates to act in place of a Student Senator. i\ vipcn tin mceungs 10 ine puonc unless designated by the President of the Student Senate or by a majority vote of that body, as an executive session. L. Allow non-members to address the Student Senate upon the invitation of a majority of that body. M. Have the sole power to declare vacancies in its membership for reasons to be determined by its statutes. N. Provide for the holding of a referendum nn pertinent issues to the Student Body. O. Have the power to censure any officer of the Student Government or the Student Senate by majority vote. I\ Have the power to initiate impeachment proceedings against any officer of the Student Government, on grounds of misconduct or neglect. Q. Provide for class organization. R. Have the power to pass resolutions by a majority vote which will not be subiect to presidential veto. S Have the power to approve and review the budget of the Student Government and shall have the power through its Monetary Affairs Committee acting in collaboration with the Treasurer of Student Government to execute the budget of the Student Government. T. Have the power to charter, upon approval of the President of the University, all groups of students who present a constitution, a list of officers and members. Charters may be revoked as provided by Senate statute and sucn revocations shall automatically l>e subject to review by the appropriate branch of the judiciary and by the President of the University. I). Subject to the approval of the President of the Student Government and the President of the University, shall fix the amount of student activity fees and provide for allocation of these monies V. The Student Senate shall have the sole power of impeachment of elected or appointed officials of the Student Government of (he University of South Carolina, but a majority of the members elected must concur therein. Upon the adoption of a resolution of impeachment, notice of impeachment of any officer, other than a Judge of the Supreme J istiti Court, shall be forthwith served upon the Chie Justice, by the clerk of the Senate, who shal thereupon call a session of the Supreme Cour to meet within ten work days after such notic< to try the impeachment. A notice of an im peachment of any judge of the Supreme Cour shall be served by the Clerk of the Senate t< any iudKe of the CamDus Court, and hi thereupon shall notify all the Judges of th< Campus Court to meet with him within ter work days to sit as a court to try such im peachment, which court shall organize bj electing one of its number to preside. N( person shall be convicted without the con currence of two-thirds of the members of th( court of impeachment, but judgement in cases of impeachment shall not extend further thar removal from office of the University the convicted has held, but the party impeached, whether convicted or acquitted shall never theless be liable to prosecution and punish ment according to law. No officer shall exercise his official duties after he shall have been impeached and notified thereof, until he shall have been acquitte. W. Have the power to determine rules for traffic and parking on the University of South Carolina campus in student areas with the approval of the President of the University. X. Provide for the formulation of residence area government. ARTICLE IV. THE JUDICIARY Section 1. Establishment of (he Judicia Branch The judicial powers of the University of Soutl Carolina shall be vested in a unified judiciary consisting of one University Supreme Court and such lower courts as shall be establishe< by actions and enactments of appropriaU agencies and officers of the University. Section 2. Rules and Procedures of thi University Judiciary The composition of the several courts, and th< trail procedures of the University Judiciary shall be decided by mutual consent of ap propriate University bodies and officers. Section 3. Power of the University Judiciary The University Judiciary shall have the powei to rule on appropriate questions relating t( procedures, regulations, and policies of th< University and the Student Government, anc cliall acfirtn l: * * unu uoin6M ^aui.iiui? ui icnifuifs as proviaec for actions and enactments of appropriate agencies and officers of the University Decisions of the Judiciary shall establist precedent subject to appropriate appellate channels. Section 4. Jurisdiction of the University Judiciary The Supreme Court shall have original anc exclusive jurisdiction over the trial of im peachment of any elected or appointed officia of Student Government and shall have the power to determine the existence of a vacancy in the offices of President, Vice-President, anc Treasurer of the Student Government. The Supreme Court shall have appellaU jurisdiction as to law and to fact over all cases arising from all student elections, violation ol University procedures, rules, or regulations b> students or chartered organizations, cases ir which a chartered organization is a party against another chartered organization, thi Student government, University or an individual, all cases arising from violations ol the Statement of Student Conduct, and the Constitution of the Student Government of the University, and such other appellate jurisdiction as shall be established bv actions and enactments of appropriate agencies and officers of the Univeristy. All decisions of the Supreme Court may be appealed by either party to the President of the University of South Carolina. All decisions of the President may be appealed by either party to the Hoard of Trustees of the University of South Carolina. Section 5. Klection, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Chief Justice The Supreme Court shall elect therein a Chief Justice who shall serve as the chief executive 4 U ~ !-: * " ? ui iiic university courts. The term of office shall be as provided for by actions and enactments of appropriate agencies and officers of the University. It shall be the responsibility and duty of the Chief Justice to preside over the Supreme Court, prepare and present the budget of the Judiciary, notify the appropriate University officials when vacancies occur on the Supreme Court and lxmer Courts, and represent the University Court to the University of South v?i uuua. The Chief Justice shall receive a stipend which shall not exceed that of the President of the Student Government, and shall not l>e diminished during his or her term of office. Section 6. Term of Office of Judges Judges of both the Supreme Court and the Lower Courts shall hold their offices during (iA/wl ' iicnnviui as uennea by the Kthical Standards for Judges and Justices established by the Judicial System. The term of office of judges and justices of both the Supreme Court and the Lower Courts shall be established by actions and enactments of appropriate agencies and officers of the University. ition f Section 7. Continuance in Office I Judges of both the Supreme Court and the t I,ower Courts appointed under the provisions - of the previous Judiccial Article in the Con &UIUUUH ui me oiuueiu *jovernmeni Ol uie t University of South Carolina shall be continued > in office without interruption until the exJ piration of their term of office as defined under J that article. 1 AKTICLE V. ELECTIONS ANI) QUALIFICATIONS ? Section 1. Offices to be filled under the Student Govern; ment Constitution, qualifications for office, i and method of election. 1 A. The following elective and appointive of iiut?s?biiciu w u?ikhuivu as majoromces: 1. The President of the Student Government, at least junior in standing at the time of I inauguration and should have earned at least 30 hours at the University of South Carolina, | general election. 2. Vice President of the Student Government, at least junior in standing at the time of inauguration with at least 21 hours earned at the University of South Carolina, general election. 3. Treasurer of the Student Government, at least sophomore in standing, general election. a c oamtnmi n ? * - * owicmiij ui me oiuucia uuvci mucin, m least sophomore standing, general election. 1 B. All other elective and appointive offices shall be designated as minor or major offices ! by the Student Senate. f Section 2. A. All candidates for office requiring certain i class standing must have earned prior to the ; time of their inauguration the following number of semester hours credit: ; Senior standing-75 hours Junior standing - 45 hours ; Sophomore standing -12 hours The above refers to standing in the spring .fall standing is 15 hours greater. Graduate standing is acceptance in graduate school for the following term. B. Any full-time student carrying at least a ' minimum load may be a candidate for or hold , office. No student shall be a candidate for or j hold more than one major office. 1 C. No student senator may be a member of the ; executive or judicial branch of Student Government. i D. No member of the executive may serve in - the legislative or judicial branch of Student Government. iiriiiuii j. i ime 01 tMPCiion A. The Spring election is to be held at least six 1 weeks prior to the end of spring term. The exact date will be established by Senate I Statute. The following elective offices will be filled on that day: J I. President of the Student Government 2. Vice President of the Student Government 3. Secretary of the Student Government ; 4. Treasurer of the Student Government 5. Student Senators 6. Any others provided for by Senate Statute. B. The Fall election is to be held within six weeks after the start of the fall term. The exact date will be established by Senate Statute. The r following elective offices will be filled on that day: 1 Student Senate vacancies and Freshman ! Senators. 2. Any others provided by Senate Statute. Section 4. Procedures for Nominations and E lections A Procedures for nominations and elections will be determined by Student Senate Statute. B Election officials will be appointed by the Student Government President and confirmed by a majority vote of the Student Senate. These officials shall not hold any other Student Government office or be a candidate for any other Student Government elective office. Each candidate will be responsible for knowledge of the qualifications for the office which ne seeks, and election rules as established by Student Senate Statutes. 1) All elections shall l>e conducted by secret ballot. K. To In; elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast in the first election. In the case that no candidate shall receive a majority, there shall be a run-off election on a day designated by the Election Committee within 14 days after the first election, upon approval by a majority vote of the Student Senate. Those candidates receiving a majority 111 III.. n..? I? -l-_i ... ...V > Uiruil ollclll DC Utxiai ltl I'ltl'lt'Q AHTIC'LK VI. AMKNDMKNTS Amendments to this constitution may he proposed hy a two thirds majority vote of the Senate or hy a petition signed hy no less than ten per cent of the Student Body A proposed amendment shall become effective when ratified by a two thirds majority of those voting in a campus-wide election All amendments shall be voted on within 60 days after IxMng proposed Any proposed amendment must be made public not less than 14 days before the election in which it is to be considered.