Constitution

Article I . Name

The name of this organization shall be the CGC Student Government Association of The Citadel; herefore called the Student Government Association (SGA).

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the SGA shall be:

Section I. To represent the CGC student body in addressing and identifying academic, professional and social concerns.

Section II. To serve as a liaison between the CGC student body and the College administration in order to effectively represent student concerns, opinions, and welfare to the administration; and to propagate and endorse the exchange of information from the administration to the student body.

Section III. To elect CGC students to serve on the CGC committees for which representation is necessary.

Section IV. To organize and implement a variety of events that promotes fellowship, personal growth, networking opportunities and enjoyment of Citadel students.

Section V. To execute policies and procedures that effectively increase the overall quality of student services and academic programs to further enhance the education of The Citadel's graduate students.

Article III. Membership

Section I. Each school is entitled to the following number of representatives based on the enrollment for each school.

School Representatives

Humanities and Social Sciences 2

Science and Mathematics 2

Engineering 2

Education 2

Business Administration 2

Alumni 1

Section II. Any full-time or part-time graduate or professional student at The Citadel may participate in activities of the SGA. However, only elected SGA members shall have voting privileges.

Section III. The SGA will consist of 10 representatives from The Citadel's schools and an alumnus of The Citadel Graduate College.

Section IV. The Executive Council will consist of 4 members from the elected SGA representatives.

Article IV. Elections

Section I. Elections will be held at the end of each spring term. Elections will be done through the CGC SGA website. Students will e-mail their nominations to the CGC SGA e-mail address at CGPC_SGA@Citadel.Edu. Open nominations will last for a period of one (1) week. After all nominations have been made, students will be asked to vote for their school's nominations through the SGA website. Voting will last for a period of one (1) week. The two (2) nominees with the highest votes will be recognized as representatives for that particular school.

Section II. Term length for representatives will be for one academic year, beginning the fall term after elections. In the event that a representative can not fulfill their duty, he/she will be relieved of their position. A special election will be held to replace the vacant spot.

Article V. Meetings

Section I. There will be one meeting each month, at the beginning of each month at the time and place of the council's choosing.

Section II. Special meetings may be called at the request of the President of the SGA or the Associate Dean of the CGC.

Section III. The proceedings of the meeting must be posted and publicized on the SGA website within 3 days after approval. The secretary is awarded the duty to post and publicize the meeting minutes for review of the graduate student body.

Section IV. Attendance

a. All SGA members shall be required to attend all regularly scheduled meetings. In the event circumstances prevent a representative to attend a meeting, that representative shall submit an excuse, written or oral in advance to the Secretary of SGA. The Executive Committee has the power to excuse or not excuse, the absence. If a previously designated substitute attends the meeting then the absence will be allowable. Any SGA member who accrues more than 2 unexcused absences shall automatically lose his/her position. The President of SGA will notify the representatives constituency or Department Head, in writing, of his/her removal from office.

BYLAWS

Article I. Officers' Duties

Section I. The President shall:

•  Convene SGA meetings as necessary.

• Organize and advertise SGA meetings, or appoint a member(s) to do so.

•  Preside at all SGA meetings.

•  Chair the Executive Committee and Student Affairs Committee

•  Perform any other functions necessary and proper for the welfare of the SGA not expressly prohibited or otherwise delegated by the provisions of the Constitution or Bylaws.

•  Abstains from voting except in the case of a tie

•  Serves on the Faculty Governing Council as a representative of the SGA

Section II. The Vice President shall:

•  Serve as a liaison between CGC administration and SGA, in conjunction with the President.

•  Report to the SGA concerning administrative decisions and developments impacting graduate student life.

•  Chair Academic Oversight Committee

•  Serve as a SGA parliamentarian, assuring proper interpretation and implementation of the Constitution and Bylaws.

•  Shall act in lieu of the President if President is unable to perform the duties of the office and shall succeed the office if a vacancy occurs.

•  Performs other duties as requested by the President

Section III. The Recording Secretary shall:

•  Record and distribute the minutes of SGA meetings.

•  Oversee all electronic messages between the SGA members.

•  Chair Communications Committee

•  Assist the President in the execution of his/her duties.

•  Notify SGA members of monthly meetings

•  Responsible for updating and accuracy of SGA website

•  Performs other duties as requested by the President

Section IV: Treasurer

1. Shall develop, present, and manage an operating budget

2. Provides a budget report at each SGA meeting

3. Keeps records of accounts

4. Deposits the organization's funds

5. Makes expenditures in a manner approved by the SGA

6. Chair Program and Promotions Committee

7. Performs duties as requested by the President

Article II. Representatives Duties

1. Attend all SGA meetings or provide an alternate

2. Inform his/her constituents of the SGA proceedings

3. Promote SGA events and initiatives in his/her department

4. Communicate concerns and issues of his/her constituents to the SGA

5. Actively participate in at least 1 committee

Article III. Committees(14)

Section I. Any part-time or full-time student at The Citadel shall be eligible for membership on any of the standing committees

Section II. The Secretary will post an e-mail to the CGC student body to ascertain interest in membership of a committee.

Section III. The SGA committees are, but not limited to the following: Executive Committee, Academic Oversight Committee, Program and Promotions Committee, Student Affairs Committee, and Communications Committee

(a) Executive Committee – The President shall chair this committee. The Executive Committee shall include the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer. The objective of this committee is oversee, organize, plan and execute the proceedings of SGA.

(b) Academic Oversight Committee – The Vice-President shall chair this committee. The Academic Oversight Committee's objective is to assume student leadership in the promotion of the dynamic process of learning at The Citadel. This includes striving to attain highly qualified faculty and students. Furthermore, this committee is responsible for the support of any ideals or actions that will facilitate the acquisition and transfer of knowledge and skills amongst faculty and students. The recommendations and actions of the Academic Oversight Committee are to be exchanged with the Citadel's Deans and Associate Dean of CGC

(c) Program and Promotions Committee – The Treasurer shall chair this committee. The Program and Promotions Committee's objective is to organize, schedule, promote, and execute a variety of social, cultural, and recreational activities for CGC students.

(d) Student Affairs Committee – The President shall chair this committee. The Student Welfare Committee is aimed to recognize non-curricular student concerns and needs; investigate how changes can be implemented to increase student welfare; take these concerns and needs from the students to Associate Dean of CGC and/or other appropriate administration to reach a resolution or to make changes; the resulting actions will then be communicated to the student body.

(e) Communications Committee – The Secretary shall chair this committee. The Communication Committee is aimed to improve the communication among SGA members, The Citadel's administration, faculty and the student body. This committee is also responsible for the update and accuracy of the website.

(f) Research and Development – The President shall chair this committee. The Research and Development committee is aimed to find, research, and develop funding and scholarship opportunities for The Citadel's CGC student body

Article IV. Voting

Section I. All SGA members except the President shall be entitled to cast one vote on any proposal or in any election. There shall be not voting by proxy.

Section II. All proposals, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution or Bylaws, shall require a simple majority of votes cast in person

Section III. A quorum shall be defined as one-half of the SGA membership.

Article V. Executive Elections

Section I. The President, Vice-President, and Recording Secretary shall be elected at the last meeting of the spring term, and shall take office immediately upon election.

Section II. The President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer will be elected from the already elected representatives from the schools.

Section III. A quorum shall be required for any meeting at which an election takes place.

Section IV. All candidates for President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer shall be allowed to make a speech on their own behalf. Voting shall be by secret ballot.

Section V. If an appointed officer fails to complete his/her term or fulfill his/her duties, he/she will be recommended for impeachment by a SGA member or the Executive Council

Article VI. Judicial Authority

Section I. Impeachment and Expulsion

A.) An Executive Council member not present at two consecutive SGA meetings will face a vote of impeachment

1) The President of SGA (or Vice-President, in the case that the President is to be impeached) will notify the Executive Board member two weeks in advance of the meeting where the motion to impeach will be introduced.

2.) A vote of impeachment will pass by majority

B.) A motion for a vote to impeach can also be made by any member of the SGA regarding any member of the Executive Board.

1.) Once a vote to impeach has failed, another impeachment vote cannot be held regarding the same Executive Board member during the same or the next successive meeting of the SGA.

C.) After the impeachment vote has passed against an Executive Board member, he/she is immediately removed for the position and a replacement must be elected by the following SGA meeting.

1.) The President will assume all duties and responsibilities of the missing Executive Board member

D.) Expulsion from SGA will follow the same procedure outlined in the Bylaws 6.1 (b-c)

Article VII. Amendments and Adoption

Section I. Any CGC student may introduce amendments to the SGA constitution to the Academic Oversight Committee. At the next meeting of the Academic Oversight Committee, the committee will discuss the proposed amendment and introduce the proposed amendment at the following meeting of the SGA along with their recommendation. The proposed amendment will be discussed by the SGA at that meeting and will be voted on and carried by a two-thirds vote.

Section II. This Constitution and Bylaws shall be adopted by a vote of approval and signature by at least three-fourths of the Graduate Student Government Association.