Adopted on December 3, 2002

Preamble

The students of the University of Vermont, in order to realize student power at the University, to create the official representative voice of the student body at the University, to have a major role in the decision-making process at the University, and to promote the welfare of the cultural, academic, and social aspects of the University community, do hereby establish, by this constitution an association of governance.

This association or any part thereof shall not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, age, economic or social class, major, or minor.

Article I

General Provisions

Section 1. Names, Abbreviations, and Definitions

A. The name of this organization shall be the University of Vermont Student Government Association.
B. For the purposes of this document the University of Vermont may be referred to as UVM.
C. For the purposes of this document the Student Government Association may be referred to as the SGA.
D. For the purposes of this document the Student Government Association shall be defined as all UVM students who pay the student activities fee.
E. For the purposes of this document Student Government shall be defined as the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Senate of SGA.
F. For the purposes of this document the Senate shall be defined as the body consisting of the forty Senators elected by the SGA.

Section 2. Definition of Membership

A. All undergraduate degree students of UVM, paying the student activities fee, shall be members of the SGA.
B. Graduate, medical, non-degree, part-time, or other students of UVM may join SGA through compliance with subsection C of this section.
C. All members shall pay the SGA fee which is collected by UVM and budgeted by the SGA Finance Committee and Treasurer and approved by the SGA Senate.
D. Any full-time undergraduate student who is a member of the SGA is eligible to hold any position within the Student Government.
E. Any part-time, medical, or graduate student who is a member of the SGA is eligible to hold any Student Government position with the exception of President, Vice President, and Treasurer, and Speaker of the Senate.

Article II

The Executive Branch

Section 1. The President

A. Shall be a member of the SGA, elected by the membership, and a full-time, matriculated student at the time of elections for each semester while holding office.
B. Shall be elected for the summer, fall and, spring terms.
C. Shall act as the Chief Executive Officer of the SGA.
D. Shall attend Senate meetings.
E. Shall manage SGA office operations.
F. Shall chair all public hearings of the SGA unless the agenda of the said hearing is deemed by the Executive Committee to be more relevant to a committee of the Senate, in which case the chair of that committee shall preside over the hearing.
G. Shall nominate the Treasurer, Speaker of the Senate, and other aides or assistants that he/she deems necessary.
H. May veto any action of the Senate and/or its committees within three business days.
I. Shall be responsible for immediately notifying the Senate of any Presidential veto.
J. Shall be an ex-officio member of all SGA committees.
K. May delegate specific matters to any Senate committee when necessary.
L. Shall be responsible for presenting a weekly report on his/her activities to the Senate.
M. Shall work with University administration on policy-making that may affect students.
N. Shall be chair of the Executive Committee.
O. Shall receive a weekly stipend. The amount will be determined by the previous year's budget and be approved by a 2/3 vote of the SGA Senate.
P. The President shall be responsible for calling two meetings of the newly elected Senate before the close of the spring semester.

Section 2. The Vice President

A. Shall be a member of the SGA, elected by the membership, and a full-time, matriculated student at the time of elections and for each semester while holding office.
B. Shall be elected for summer, fall, and spring terms.
C. Shall act as President in the absence of the President.
D. Shall have the power of the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
E. Shall be responsible for presenting a weekly report on his/her activities to the Senate.
F. Shall assist the President in managing SGA office operations.
G. Shall chair the Student Appointments Committee and be responsible for nominating, training, and maintaining contact with all student representatives and applicants, and filling senatorial vacancies.
H. Shall develop student appointment opportunities throughout campus.
I. Shall be an ex-officio member of all SGA committees.
J. Shall be a member of the SGA Executive Committee.
K. Shall receive a weekly stipend. The amount will be determined by the previous year's budget and be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Senate.

Section 3. The Treasurer

A. Shall be a member of the SGA and a full-time, matriculated student at the time of nomination and for each semester while holding office.
B. Shall be nominated and appointed for the summer, fall, and spring terms.
C. Shall be nominated by the President-Elect within three weeks of the Presidential Election. The incoming Senate shall approve the nominee by a 2/3 vote.
D. Shall be responsible for the financial affairs of the SGA, which shall include an annual review of the SGA Financial Policies Manual, and the Financial Policies Manual of the Senate.
E. Shall supervise the activities of the Financial Manager.
F. Shall supervise the SGA's financial structure, planning, and operations.
G. Shall be responsible for presenting a weekly report on his/her activities to the Senate.
H. Shall prepare in cooperation with the President and Vice President, the central budget of the Student Government. I. Shall attend all Finance Committee meetings.
J. Shall work closely with the Student Activities committee to maintain good relations with potential and recognized clubs. K. Shall take an oath of office, administered by the President of the SGA.
L. Shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
M. Shall receive a weekly stipend. The amount will be determined by the previous year's budget and be approved by a 2/3 vote of the SGA Senate.

Section 4. The Speaker of the Senate

A. Shall be an elected or appointed Senator and a member of the SGA and a full-time, matriculated student at the time of senatorial elections and for each semester while holding office.
B. Shall be nominated from among the Senate's membership by the President within two weeks of the spring senatorial elections and shall be approved by a 2/3 vote of Senators present at a Senate meeting to be held within one week after nomination. Members of the Senate who have applied for the position of Speaker shall not be allowed to vote on approval of the Speaker of the Senate.
C. Shall be nominated and appointed for a one or two semester term, as per the discretion of the President.
D. Shall retain his/her right to vote as a Senator. This vote can be cast and counted at the time of the Senate vote.
E. Shall moderate and facilitate Senate meetings upon consultation with the Executive Committee.
F. Shall be responsible for conducting Senate meetings in an objective manner. If any Senator or member of the Executive Committee deems the Speaker of the Senate unable to do so, the Speaker of the Senate shall be required to temporarily resign his/her duties as Speaker of the Senate upon approval by a 2/3 vote of the Senate. Duties will be assigned to an individual receiving the approval of a majority of Senators present and voting.
G. Shall be required to temporarily resign his/her duties as Speaker of the Senate to any member of the Executive Committee if he/she wishes to present his/her personal views during a Senate meeting.
H. Shall be responsible for recording and reporting attendance in accordance with the SGA Senate Operations and Legislation Organization Act.
I. Shall be responsible for providing Senate committees with Senate General Assembly Meeting agendas in accordance with the Senate Operations and Legislation Organization Act.
J. Shall be a member of the Executive Committee and Chair the Constitution Committee.
K. Shall be responsible for the organization and maintenance of all SGA legislation in accordance with the SGA Senate Operations and Legislation Organization Act.
L. Shall receive a weekly stipend. The amount will be determined by the previous year's budget and be approved by a 2/3 vote of the SGA Senate.

Section 5. Standing-Committee Chairpersons

A. Shall be appointed by the President and Vice President to preside over their respective committee meetings and delegate responsibilities set forth by the President and Vice President.
B. Shall be responsible for setting a clear agenda of goals for his/her committee.
C. Shall be responsible for giving or delegating a weekly report of his or her committee's activities to the Senate.
D. Shall be removed if deemed necessary by a 3/4 vote of the respective committee, and shall be given a chance to join another committee if a vacant seat is available. A replacement shall be accepted by a majority vote of the respective committee.
E. Shall be responsible for following through with resolutions pertinent to that committee.
F. Shall be responsible for recording attendance for committee members at committee meetings and shall report to the Speaker of the Senate and the Executive Committee the attendance status of his/her respective committee.
G. Shall receive a weekly stipend. The amount will be determined by the previous year's budget and be approved by a 2/3 vote of the SGA Senate.

Section 6. The Executive Committee

A. Shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Speaker of the Senate, and Chairpersons of each Senate committee.
B. Shall prepare the agenda of Senate General Assembly Meetings.
C. Shall consider and make recommendations on the rules and procedures of the Senate.
D. Shall direct proposed bills, resolutions, and amendments to the appropriate committees for consideration.
E. Shall establish, for specific term, ad hoc committees, as it deems necessary.
F. Shall serve as advisors to the SGA President.
G. Shall meet once a week, unless deemed unnecessary by the SGA President or Vice President.
H. Shall be responsible for the removal of a Senator from the position of Chair by a 2/3 vote of the executive committee. The Chair in question shall not be allowed to vote on the removal.

Article III

The Legislature Branch

Section 1. The Legislative power of the SGA shall be vested in the Senate and the committees there of:

Section 2. Senate:

A. Shall be composed of forty (40) members, who shall be elected from two categories: members living in University residence halls; and members living in off-campus housing, including Greek houses, married student housing, and Fort Ethan Allen.
1. Only those students living off-campus and students living on-campus, who are planning to move off-campus, are eligible to run for one of the twenty (20) off-campus Senatorial seats.
2. Only those students planning to live on campus the year following the election are eligible to run for the fifteen (15) on-campus Senatorial seats.
3. Any member of the SGA running for a Senatorial position must have at least one fall or spring semester left at UVM.
4. Five (5) on-campus seats will be filled by an election open only to first-year students. The election shall be held within the first two weeks of the fall semester, and shall be carried out under the direction of the Secretary of Elections. B. No person shall assume the position of Senator who is not a member of the SGA.
C. Shall meet in General Assembly once a week, unless deemed unnecessary by the Executive Committee.
D. Shall meet in Emergency or Special Session at the request of the SGA Executive Committee, or a petition signed by at least 2/3 of the Senate's membership. All Senators shall be notified of Emergency or Special Session at least twelve hours in advance of said meetings.
E. Shall have the sole authority by a 2/3 vote of Senators present to overrule a Presidential Veto of an action by the Senate or one of its committees. This action must occur at one of the two Senate General Assembly Meetings following the veto to be effective, or during an Emergency Session held within one week from the day the Presidential Veto occurred.
F. Shall immediately notify both the Speaker of the Senate and the chairperson of their Senate committee if they are to be absent from a Senate General Assembly Meeting.
G. Shall represent and act on behalf of SGA members.
H. Shall approve all bills, resolutions, and amendments pertaining to the formulation of SGA policies by a majority vote of Senators present and voting.
I. Shall have the sole authority to enact an annual budget for the SGA, requiring a 2/3 vote of Senators present and voting to pass.
J. Shall by a 2/3 vote of Senators present and voting have the power to increase or decrease SGA stipends when deemed necessary.
K. Shall consist of six (6) standing committees. Senators shall be assigned to these committees by the President, with due regard to their own preferences, except for the Constitution Committee and the Student Appointments Committee which shall consist of one (1) Senator nominated from each standing committee.
L. Shall, at all SGA functions, abide by university policies, local ordinances, and state and federal laws.
M. Senate committee chairs shall be appointed for the next term of office by the last Senate General Assembly Meeting of the spring semester.
N. Shall be responsible for attending all Senate General Assembly Meetings in accordance with the SGA Senate Operations and Legislation Organization Act.
O. The standing committees shall be:

1. The Academic Affairs Committee:

a. Shall consist of six (6) Senators.
b. Shall consider matters of student interest in the areas of academic policy, curriculum, and faculty-student relations, and recommend actions to the Senate.
c. Shall delegate one member, preferably the chairperson, to attend the Faculty Senate Curricular Committee meetings.
d. Shall represent student interests to campus committees pertaining to Academic Affairs.

2. The Finance Committee:
a. Shall consist of seven (7) Senators
b. Shall be responsible for considering and making recommendations to the Senate on all proposed budgets of SGA organizations on or before April 30 of each year.
c. Shall organize and maintain all finance documentation and legislation.
d. Shall consider matters concerned with Student Government financial affairs.
e. Shall review and recommend the financial policies of the Student Government, to be approved by a 2/3 vote of Senators present and voting by April 30th of each year. f. Shall monitor and enforce financial policies approved by the Senate.

3. The Public Affairs Committee:
a. Shall consist of seven (7) Senators.
b. Shall act to ensure that the SGA is informed of the activities of the Student Government.
c. Shall be responsible for communicating Student Government actions to the SGA.
d. Shall coordinate all Student Government publicity, including student appointment positions, Board of Trustees selection, and Student Government elections.
e. Shall seek and receive complaints and suggestions from the SGA and bring them to the attention of the proper Senate committee.
f. Shall maintain links with media groups recognized by the Student Government.

4. The Committee on Legislative Action:
a. Shall consist of seven (7) Senators.
b. Shall serve as the external student voice to Burlington and the Vermont community.
c. Shall work towards improving relations with the State of Vermont and the City of Burlington.
d. Shall provide, in conjunction with other University departments, information to the Vermont General Assembly.
e. Shall communicate with the University Administration on matters regarding relations with the City of Burlington and the State of Vermont.
f. Shall inform the SGA and Student Government of international, national, state, and local issues that pertain to the University of Vermont.
g. Shall hold forums between local colleges' administrations and Student Governments, the City of Burlington, Burlington Police Department, and UVM Police Services.

5. The Student Action Committee:
a. Shall consist of six (6) Senators.
b. Shall consider matters concerning student interests and issues on the university, local, state, and federal levels and recommend resolutions and actions to the Senate.
c. Shall consider diversity issues.
d. Shall consider student safety issues.
e. Shall assign a committee member to act as liaison to the Inter-Resident Association.
f. Shall consider and make recommendations on other matters concerning the collective interests of the SGA.

6. The Student Activities Committee:
a. Shall consist of seven (6) Senators.
b. Shall consider all requests for Student Government recognition and submit them before the Senate for approval.
c. Shall consider other matters concerning student organizations.
d. Shall consider and make recommendations to the Finance Committee on eligibility for funding.
e. Shall be responsible for monitoring SGA organizations during meetings and events, and shall keep in close contact with club officials to ensure that they are running smoothly and correctly.
f. Shall review student organizations and organization space needs and assign office locations.
g. Shall serve as an advocate for resolving student organization issues.
h. Shall contact organizations on a monthly basis.
i. Shall be responsible for reviewing Student Government recognized organizations to assure compliance with University Policies, the SGA Code of Conduct, and Article VII of this Constitution, and if deemed necessary issue censures or recommend sanctions or de-recognition to the Senate in accordance with Article VII, section 7 and 8 of this constitution.
j. Shall be responsible for investigating student exclusions from participating in SGA recognized organization events, in accordance with Article VII, Section 10 of this constitution.
P. The Non-Standing Committees shall be:

7. The Student Appointments Committee:
a. Shall consist of six (6) Senators, one (1) from each of the standing senatorial committees.
b. Shall be chaired by the Vice President, who will be the principal liaison between all student applicants/representatives and the Senate.
c. Shall under the direction of the Vice President, be responsible for appointing students to campus committees and filling senatorial vacancies.
d. A majority vote of committee members present and voting will be required to appoint students to committees and to nominate candidates to fill Senatorial vacancies.
e. Shall be responsible for ensuring all student representatives appointed by the Student Government to University Committees report back to the Senate or to the Student Appointments Committee at least once per semester.

8. The Constitution Committee;
a. Shall consist of six (6) senators, one (1) from each of the standing senatorial committees, speaker of the senate, the President-ex officio, Vice President-ex officio, and the Treasurer-ex officio.
b. The powers of the committee shall consist of drafting amendments, researching amendments, referring all amendments to Senate, and interpreting the Constitution.
c. All voting within the committee will be a simple majority.
d. The Speaker of the Senate will hold the committees position of chair. The Speaker of the Senate will be a non-voting member, except in the event of a tie, in which he/she will have a tie-breaking vote. In the event the speaker of the senate is vacant, the committee will elect a chair for the committee.
e. The Constitution Committee shall have the sole authority to recommend interpretations, content, and intent of this Constitution.

Article IV

Quorum

Section 1. Legislation can only be voted upon or enacted by the Senate or committees thereof if a quorum is present.

A. The Senate quorum is reached when 2/3 of its members are present.
B. The committee quorum is reached when 2/3 of the committee members are present.

Article V

Conflict of Interest

Section 1. If a potential conflict of interest pertaining to any Officer(s) or Senator(s) of the Student Government is raised by any member of the SGA, then the following steps are to be taken. In this case, conflict of interest is to be defined as a conflict between the private interests and the official responsibilities of a person in a position of trust.

A. If a question of conflict of interest is raised, the Officer(s) or Senator(s) in question is/are entitled to speak his/her defense. Then the Senate Speaker shall call a vote among all Senators, excluding the Officer(s) or Senator(s) in question.
B. If the majority of Senators present and voting feel there is a conflict of interest, the member(s) in question will be excluded from voting until the next motion is on the table.
C. Those found to have a potential conflict of interest shall be permitted to participate in discussion but shall not be permitted to vote.

Section 2. All members of the Student Government shall abstain from voting on any legislation concerning any student organization in which they are actively participating.

Article VI

Elections

Section 1. General

A. The President shall nominate a Senator to be the Secretary of Elections at the first meeting of the new Senate; he/she shall then be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Senate at the next General Assembly Meeting following nomination.
B. The Secretary of Elections shall coordinate elections of President, Vice President, and Senators with the assistance of the Student Government and associated staff.
C. The Secretary of Elections shall conduct elections in accordance with SGA election rules and procedures.
D. Votes cast in each election shall be canvassed and tabulated with the results certified by the Secretary of Elections with the aid of the Student Government advisor.
E. Notification of the results of the elections will be made public within 24 hours of the polls closing.

Section 2. First Year Elections

A. There shall be five on-campus seats of the Senate reserved for first year students.
B. The elections of first year students shall take place in accordance with Article III, Section 2, sub-section A.
C. These elections shall not last for more than two (2) consecutive days.
D. In the event of a tie, the runoff election shall take place within one week.

Section 3. Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections

A. Elections of the SGA President and Vice President shall begin on the second Wednesday of March and shall not last for more than two (2) consecutive days.
B. The winning candidates shall be determined by plurality.
C. In the event of a tie, a runoff election shall take place within three weeks.
D. If a winning candidate formally declines the position within a 72 hour period, a new election shall take place.
E. The President of SGA shall relinquish all powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Student Government to the President-Elect of the UVM SGA no later than two weeks before the adjournment of the spring semester. The official transfer of power shall occur at the final meeting of the current Senate.
F. The President elect and Vice President elect shall seal his/her commitment to the University at the behest of the Senate in the form of an Oath of Service.

Section 4. Senate Elections

A. Senatorial elections shall begin on the first Wednesday of April and shall not last for more than two (2) consecutive days.
B. Senatorial elections shall be held in accordance with Article III, Section 2, Sub-section A of this Constitution.
C. Winning candidates shall be determined by plurality.
D. Any Senator who begins an academic year following his/her April election on a different campus to which he/she was elected, shall be assigned to any vacant seat as per their new resident status. If no vacant seat exists, that Senator will automatically lose their seat.
E. Senators-elect will assume the duties of the Senate at the behest of the President in the form of an Oath of Service given at the first meeting of the newly elected Senate.

Article VII

Student Organizations

Section 1. Student Organizations are those groups that the Student Government has granted the authority to:

A. Enroll UVM students who are members of the SGA. B. Use the name "University of Vermont," "UVM," and University marks in accordance with University policies. C. Become eligible for funding upon recommendation of the Student Activities Committee and the Finance Committee.
D. Use space in University buildings and on University grounds.
E. Place notices on University bulletin boards.

Section 2. In order to be eligible for recognition a student organization:

A. Shall contribute to the cultural, social, educational or recreational welfare of its membership and support the purpose of the Student Government as set forth by this Constitution.
B. Shall not allow non-SGA members to participate in their organization and activities. However, should a student organization wish to justify a temporary non-student role (as in an instructional function) they may petition the Student Activities Committee for approval.
C. Shall exercise direction and control over its programming.
D. Shall select a full time, or part-time, faculty or staff member of UVM as its advisor.
E. Shall fulfill reasonable administrative and informative responsibilities imposed by the Student Government.
F. Shall provide an inventory of all equipment by April 30 of each year. This information shall be kept up to date and subject to verification by the Finance Committee.
G. Shall provide the Finance Committee with information concerning all financial policies in writing upon request.
H. Shall re-submit a copy of its Constitution and Statement of Purpose to the Student Activities Committee for annual review and approval.
I. Shall remain active. In-activity shall be determined by the Student Activities Committee.
J. Shall already be abiding by the SGA Code of Conduct.
K. Shall hold officer elections for the following fall semester by April 1.

Section 3. In order to apply for recognition a club must meet the following membership qualifications:

A. Any organization that comes forward for recognition shall be considered for recognition upon recommendation from the Student Activities Committee.
B. Any organization that comes forward for recognition must meet the guidelines outlined in Article VII, Section 2 of this constitution.

Section 4. In order to apply for recognition, a group must meet the qualifications outlined in Section 3, submit to the Student Activities Committee a Statement of Purpose, a Constitution, and comply with reasonable requests for other information.

Section 5. In order to maintain status as an SGA recognized organization, each organization must submit an official SGA Report Form by the fifth of every month during the Fall and Spring semester. The report form must be signed by the organization's President and will include information about meetings, membership, projects for the past month, and upcoming projects. Failure to hand in report forms can constitute censures as outlined in Article VII, Section 7.

Section 6. Any SGA recognized organization shall allow for monitoring, and participation in the annual review, of the organization by the Student Activities Committee. When the Student Activities Committee finds that an organization is not in compliance with University Policies, the SGA constitution, the SGA Code of Conduct, local, state, or federal laws it shall recommend to the Senate that the student organization be sanctioned. A resolution shall be submitted to the Senate outlining the reason why the student organization is being sanctioned. A 2/3 vote of the Senate shall be required to sanction a student organization.

Section 7. Censures

A. The Student Activities committee shall use censures to monitor the willingness of SGA organizations to comply with SGA administrative practices.
1. A censure shall be recorded when a student organization has committed an infraction deemed minor by the Student Activities Committee.
2. Senate approval shall not be required for the Student Activities Committee to issue a censure.

Section 8. Sanctions and De-recognition

A. The Student Activities Committee shall recommend sanctions to the Senate for approval.
1. The Student Activities Committee shall have the authority to recommend any sanctions, in the form of a bill, they deem appropriate if an SGA organization is found to be in violation of University Policies, the SGA Code of Conduct, SGA Constitution, local, state, or federal law. All sanctions shall require a 2/3 vote of Senators present and voting.
2. The Student Activities Committee shall have the authority to recommend de-recognition of any SGA organization.

Section 9. No SGA organization shall discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, age, economic or social class, major, or minor.

Section 10. Student exclusion from participation in an SGA recognized organization event.

A. Any student who is rejected from participation in an SGA recognized organization event may appeal to the Student Activities Committee within one week of the rejection.
1. The Student Activities Committee will investigate the rejection to determine if the rejection is justified due to the competitive or specialized nature of the club.
2. If the Student Activities Committee finds the organizations discrimination to be unjustified it shall notify the organization that is must allow the rejected student to participate. The Student Activities Committee shall, if deemed necessary, also issue censure or sanction for the discrimination.
B. If the Student Activities Committee deems the issue to be out of the scope of the SGA it shall defer the issue to University officials.

Article VIII

Petition, Referendum, Impeachment, and Resignation

Section 1. Petition

A. A formal petition clearly stating its intended action, and endorsed by at least ten (10) percent of the SGA membership shall, when submitted to the President, have the authority to cause any of the following:
1. Order reconsideration of any action taken by the Student Government.
2. Order the President to call a public hearing of the SGA.

Section 2. Referendum

A. If, for any reason, any member of the SGA wishes to bypass the Senate to address an issue, a referendum may be brought by creating a petition endorsed by twenty (20) percent of the membership.
B. A referendum shall be placed on a separate ballot at the next Student Government election for a vote. C. In order for the referendum to pass it must receive a plurality of the vote with turnout defined as no less than thirty-five (35) percent of the SGA.
D. If turnout, in accordance with Article VIII, Section 2, subsection C, is not reached then the referendum shall not be implemented.

Section 3. Impeachment and Removal of Student Government Officers and Senators

A. Motions to impeach any Officer or Senator of the Student Government may be brought by petition on grounds of incompetence, ineligibility, dishonesty, or an action in violation of this Constitution or, at any SGA function, action in violation of University policy, local, state or federal law.
B. Motions shall be automatically referred to the Executive Committee. The committee shall be responsible for investigation of the charges and recommendation of impeachment of the Officer or Senator if deemed necessary.
C. Petitions for impeachment must arise in the following manner:
1. If for President or any other officer, signatures of at least ten (10) percent of the SGA.
2. If for any on or off-campus Senator, signatures of at least ten (10) percent of the SGA membership.
3. The Executive committee of SGA, by a 2/3 vote, may declare a Senator's seat vacant if he or she has been absent from two (2) consecutive Senate General Assembly meetings, or if found by a 2/3 vote of the Executive committee, declare a Senator's seat vacant if they have been found deficient in meeting his/her duties set forth in this Constitution. 4. A statement of the reason(s) for impeachment.
5. 3/4 of the Senate must be present to hold an impeachment vote.
6. A 2/3 vote of all Senators present and voting is needed for conviction and shall cause immediate removal from office.

Section 4. Resignation

A. An Officer or Senator may resign by submitting a written statement of intent to the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Filling Vacancies

A. In the event that the President resigns or is impeached, the Vice President shall assume the position of the President and make nominations to the Senate for a new Vice President within two weeks from the removal or resignation of the President. The Vice Presidential nominee shall be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Senate.
B. In the event that the Vice President resigns or is removed, his/her position shall be filled by the chairperson of the Academic Affairs Committee until a Vice-Presidential nominee has been approved.
C. In the event that the Treasurer resigns or is removed, his/her position shall be filled by the Chairperson of the Finance committee until a new Treasurer is nominated and approved in accordance with Article II, Section 3, Sub-section C, of this Constitution. D. In the event that a Senator resigns or is impeached, the Student Appointments Committee will be responsible for filling the vacant seat. The Student Appointments Committee shall nominate candidates in accordance with Article III, Section P, Sub-section 7(d). Those candidates must then be approved by a 2/3 vote of Senators present and voting at the Senate General Assembly Meeting following nomination.

Article IX

Amendments

A. Amendments to this Constitution must be presented to the SGA in a public hearing that is advertised to the University community at least two weeks in advance.
B. Amendments to this Constitution must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Senate.

Article X

Adoption and Dissolution

A. Adoption or Dissolution to this Constitution must be presented to the SGA in a public hearing that is advertised to the University community at least two weeks in advance.
B. 3/4 of the Senate must be present to vote on adoption or dissolution of this Constitution.
C. Adoption of a new Constitution or dissolution of this Constitution must be approved by a 3/4 vote of the Senate.
D. Adoption and Dissolution may occur simultaneously.

Article XI

Financial Policies

A. The Financial Policies Manual is the official document defining Financial Operations and Policies of the SGA.

Article XII

Scope

A. This Constitution shall take precedence over all other instruments for the governance of the membership or any part thereof.