The Constitution of the Ohio University Student Senate

We the students of Ohio University, Athens campus, of the belief that students have the right and obligation to participate in the formulation and application of both university and community policy, hereby establish the Ohio University Student Senate in order that such rights are protected and obligations met.

Article I

Senate shall establish working relationships with the University and Athens communities; maintain relationships with other governing bodies of the University; propose policies and procedures within the Senate; bring before the student body issues affecting their rights, privileges, and life as students and members of the Athens Community; maintain balanced budgets for Senate; establish Rules and Procedures for the Senate; regulate and conduct Senate elections; recommend students to sit on the Board of Trustees; provide funding to recognized student organizations; appoint students to University committees to ensure student input on all matters concerning the University, and do that which is necessary and proper to serve and protect the rights, interests, and needs of Ohio University students and to execute the powers and responsibilities of this Senate.

Article II

Section 1. All students of Ohio University, Athens campus, shall be eligible to vote in a Senate election. No student shall vote more than one time during any Senate election.

Section 2. All students of Ohio University, Athens campus, in good academic standing and enrolled full time, may serve as an Executive Officer or Senator.

Section 3. There shall be at least one meeting held each calendar month, excepting June, July, August, and December. Students of Ohio University, Athens campus wishing to have an item placed on the agenda shall make such request to the President before the meeting is called to order.

Article III

Section 1. The Senate shall be composed of Executive Officers, each having one vote, and Senators, each having one vote. Senators shall either represent a particular constituency or serve as Commissioner. Executive Officers and Senators shall hold office for one year during good behavior. All terms of office shall commence and end at the last meeting of Senate in the academic year.

Section 2. The Executive Officers of Senate shall be the President, Vice President, and Treasurer and each shall be elected by plurality of students voting in a Senate election. When chairing a general meeting of Senate, the President or President Pro Tempore shall vote only in case of a tie.

Section 3. There shall be one Senator who serves as Commissioner for each Commission. Senators serving under authority of this section shall be appointed by the Executive Officers and shall be subject to removal by a majority of the Executive Officers. The dismissal of a Senator who serves as commissioner may be appealed by a Senator. With the concurrence of two thirds of Senators and Executive Officers, the decision of the Executive Officers shall be overturned. A commission shall represent a significant portion of the student body, act on vital student issues, and serve a significant long term need. Commissions may be established and eliminated with the concurrence of two thirds of Senators and Executive Officers.

Section 4. There shall be Senators elected by a plurality of student voting in a Senate election to represent students enrolled in each college, students living off-campus, students living in each residential green, and the entire student body. There shall be at least one Senator who represents the Greek community.

Section 5. Senate shall adopt Rules and Procedures with the concurrence of two thirds of Senators and Executive Officers. Amendments to the Rules and Procedures of Senate regarding elections adopted in a quarter in which an election is held shall not become effective until the following quarter.

Section 6. Executive Officers, Senators, staff, officers, and subdivisions of Senate shall not engage in discriminatory behavior.

Section 7. Senate shall create or dissolve, with the concurrence of two thirds of seated Senators and Executive Officers, several Committees, each having jurisdiction over certain internal operations of Senate and composed Senators. There shall be a Committee on the Budget and a Committee on Rules and Procedures.

Section 8. Senate shall create or dissolve standing committees with the concurrence of two thirds of Senators and Executive Officers. Standing Committees should be created to provide advice to Senate which is not internal in nature and shall be governed under the Rules and Procedures of Senate.

Article IV

Section 1. There shall be a commission to distribute funds to registered student organizations. There shall be a General Assembly composed of members of the university community, including students elected by a plurality is a Senate election. The General Assembly shall have the power to distribute funds for the purpose of funding registered student organizations.

Section 2. Upon recommendation brought before Senate to change the membership of the General Assembly by the Senator responsible for distributing funds to registered student organizations and with the concurrence of a majority of Senators and Executive Officers, Senate shall present the change to the Advisor of Senate. With the approval of the Advisor to Senate, the change shall be enacted. The decision of the Advisor to Senate shall be overturned by Senate with the concurrence of two thirds of Senators and Executive Officers.

Article V

Section 1. Senate shall establish rules of conduct and standards for Executive Officers, Senators, staff, and others associated with Senate. Senate shall have the power to try all impeachments. An article of impeachment shall be adopted with the concurrence two thirds of seated Senators and Executive Officers.

Section 2. Judgment in cases of impeachment regarding gross or willful neglect of duty to Senate shall result in expulsion from Senate. Judgment shall be issued with the concurrence two thirds of seated Senators and Executive Officers.

Section 3. A student has the right to bring accusation of improper activity or conduct in written form to Senate during a general body meeting of Senate. The student may bring the complaint to the attention of any Senator who shall then present the complaint to Senate during a general meeting of Senate.

Section 4. Senate shall evaluate the performance of the Executive Officers during the fourth week of each quarter.

Section 5. Senate, with the concurrence of two thirds of seated Senators and Executive Officers voting by ballot during the last general meeting of Senate in Fall an Winter quarters, shall remove from office an Executive Officer, including all privileges, responsibilities, and compensations associated with that office.

Article VI

Section 1. If there is a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall become President. If there is no Vice President, the Treasurer shall become President. If there is neither a Vice President nor a Treasurer, a Senator shall be elected by a plurality of ballots cast by Senators to become President. If there is a vacancy in the office of Vice President a Senator shall be elected by a plurality of ballots cast by Senators and Executive Officers to become Vice President. If there is a vacancy in the office of Treasurer, a Senator shall be elected by a plurality of ballots cast by Senators and Executive Officers to become Treasurer.

Section 2. If a Senator who serves as a Commissioner resigns or is removed from office, the Vice Commissioner shall assume the office of the Senator until the Executive Officers appoint a Senator.

Section 3. If a Senator holding an elected position, excluding the Executive Officers, resigns or is removed from office, the order of succession shall be those persons who ran for that position in order of votes received. If there are no remaining candidates who wish to assume office, the Vice President shall solicit applications for the position. A nominee, fulfilling all requirements for the position, shall be placed before Senate for confirmation. Upon confirmation, the Senator shall complete the term.

Section 4. An Executive Officer or Senator who is graduating at the end of the term and does not need to enroll for full time status in order to graduate may continue to hold office.

Article VII

With the concurrence of two thirds of seated Senators and Executive Officers, or upon presentation to Senate during a scheduled meeting of a petition signed by at least ten percent of students currently registered at Ohio University, Athens Campus, a proposed Amendment to this Constitution shall be voted upon by eligible students in an election by the end of the following quarter, excluding summer sessions. Upon concurrence of a majority of students voting on the Amendment in a campus election, the proposed amendment shall be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval. Upon approval by the Board of Trustees, this Constitution shall be amended.

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