SGA Constitution

Name And Membership

The official student governing body shall be known as the Student Government Association (SGA) of Montgomery Community College. Membership shall consist of full- and part-time students who have registered for curriculum courses. All members shall have paid the required activity fee set for students by the institution. Any student registering for classes may join the SGA by paying the required activity fee for each term. Membership is open to all students regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, or handicap. Participation, however, is voluntary.

Objectives

• To form a strong responsive student body and enhance the learning process at Montgomery Community College.
• To support and protect the interests of Montgomery Community College.
• To develop an official means of communication between the student body and officials at MCC.
• To encourage student participation in school functions, both formal and informal.

Article I - Executive Board

The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the Student Government Association, and the Vice President of Student Services.

Article II - Officers

The Student Council shall be composed of a President, Day Vice-President and Evening Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, curriculum and club elected representatives and the Vice President of Student Services who serves as the SGA Advisor. The Vice President of Student Services shall be considered a member in good standing of the Student Council of the SGA at all times. All SGA activities must be approved by the Vice President of Student Services. Appeals concerning decisions by the Vice President of Student Services shall be in accordance with Article XII, Section G.

Article III - Nominations for Offices

Section A. Nominations of candidates may be from the floor in an open meeting of the SGA curriculum and club representatives to the Student Council.

Section B. The Student Government Association meeting for the election of officers shall be sufficiently advertised at least five (5) days prior to the actual meeting.

Section C. Eligible candidates shall be composed of full-time and part-time curriculum students selected as a curriculum or club representative to the Student Council.

Section D. A candidate must be a student in good standing as defined by the College.

Article IV - Election of Officers

Section A. Election of officers shall be held within thirty (30) academic days after the opening of the fall term except the SGA Presidential Election, which will be held in Spring Semester each year.

Section B. Election shall be by secret ballot.

Section C. A candidate will be declared winner by a simple majority of the votes cast.

Section D. In the event of a tie vote, a run-off election shall be held within five (5) days following the day of the initial election.

Section E. A recount of votes cast may be demanded, after showing due cause, by a candidate within five (5) academic days following an election. The recount shall be completed within ten (10) academic days following the regular election.

Section F. A special election by the Student Council will be held to fill any occurring vacancy on the Executive Board of the Student Government Association. Public notice will be posted five (5) school days prior to the election.

Section G. Eligible voters shall be composed of full-time students and part-time curriculum students who have been selected as curriculum or club representatives from each day and evening curriculum and club at the College.

Article V - Limitations of and Resignation from Elected Offices

Section A. An individual may not hold more than one elective office concurrently.

Section B. Any elected officer may, upon presentation of a resignation to his/her fellow Student Council Officers, formally resign from elective office. The resignation does not require any signature other than the individual officer. The student body shall be notified of any changes in the Student Council as a result of the above resignation actions.

Section C. An individual may not hold any elective office while being directly employed on a permanent part-time or full-time basis by the College.

Article VI - The Term, Qualifications and Duties of The President of the Student Government Association

Section A. Term - The term of office shall be from inauguration to inauguration with election for the President of the Student Government Association being held in Spring Semester of each year.

Section B. Qualifications - The President shall be a student in good standing enrolled in a curriculum with not less than two (2) semesters of study remaining.

Section C. Duties -

1. Be familiar with parliamentary procedure and preside at all Student Government Association and Student Council meetings, using appropriate procedures for the occasion.
2. To select members for special committees as required to fulfill the responsibilities of the Student Government Association.
3. To call unscheduled, special meetings of the Executive Board, the Student Council, or the Student Government Association upon approval of the Vice President of Student Services.
4. To act as the official representative of the Student Government Association in all matters concerning the student body.
5. The President shall have no veto power.
6. In Executive Board meetings, the President will vote only to break a deadlock or tie vote.
7. Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Trustees at the College.
8. To appoint representatives to attend meetings or serve on committees as necessary.

Article VII - The Term, Qualifications, and Duties of the Day Vice-President of the Student Government Association

Section A. Term - The term of office shall be from inauguration to inauguration with election for this office being held in Fall Semester of each year.

Section B. Qualifications - The Day Vice-President shall be a student in good standing enrolled in a curriculum with no less than two (2) semesters of study remaining.

Section C. Duties -

1. To assume the duties of the SGA President in the event of the President's absence for any cause or removal or resignation from office.
2. To serve on all standing committees as a non-voting member except in case of a tie vote or deadlock.
3. To perform all functions lawfully delegated to him/her by the SGA President.
4. To serve as a bond between the day and evening students in coordination with the Evening Vice-President.

Article VIII - The Term, Qualifications, and Duties of the Evening Vice-President of the Student Government Association

Section A. Term - The term of office shall be from inauguration to inauguration with election of this office being held in Fall Semester of each year.

Section B. The Evening Vice-President shall be an evening student in good standing enrolled in a curriculum with no less than two (2) semesters of study remaining.

Section C. Duties -

1. To serve as a bond between the evening and day students.
2. To assume all duties during the evening hours of the SGA President in the event of the President's absence for any cause.
3. To perform all functions lawfully delegated by the SGA President.
4. To assume duties of the SGA President in the event of the President's or Day Vice-President's resignation or removal from office.

Article IX - The Term, Qualifications, and Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer of the Student Government Association

Section A. Term - The term of office shall be from inauguration to inauguration with election of this office being held in Fall Semester of each year.

Section B. Qualifications - The Secretary shall be a student in good standing enrolled in a curriculum with a duration of not less than two (2) semesters of study remaining.

Section C. Duties -

1. To keep the minutes of all meetings up-to-date and to provide copies of the minutes to all members of the Student Council and the Vice President of Student Services at each regular monthly scheduled SGA meeting. A copy of the minutes will be placed on file in the College President's office.
2. To be responsible for all correspondence of the Council.
3. To keep an accurate financial report of SGA funds.
4. Provide data concerning the financial status to the Student Council at its regular meetings.
5. To oversee all financial disbursements approved by the Student Council.

Article X - Curriculum & Club Representatives

Section A. Election - Nominations for curriculum and club representatives will be held during the first fifteen (15) days of each Fall Semester in individual class meetings. One representative will be elected within each curricula and club. Day and evening curricula shall have separate representatives. Election of representatives shall be on an annual basis, except to fill vacancies that may occur during the academic year.

Section B. Duties -

1. To represent each curriculum or club in Student Government Council meetings thus giving students a voice in all SGA elective functions.
2. To return to respective curricula or club and report contents of each SGA meeting and allow open discussion and class or club input.
3. To serve on committees as approved by the SGA President and be actively involved in Student Government affairs.
4. As a member of the Student Council, vote the desires of a majority of the group he/she represents concerning all voting matters.
5. Present to the Executive Board any business matters by his/her curriculum or club to be considered by future Student Council meetings or SGA meetings.

Section C. Attendance In Meetings - Upon two consecutive absences by the curriculum or club representative at scheduled SGA meetings, he/she may be dismissed from the Student Council and the curriculum or club will receive a notice to this effect and be asked to elect another representative, except in the nature that a valid excuse can be submitted by the said representative to the Vice President of Student Services and members of the Student Council. Meetings shall be called by the Student Council with approval of the Vice President of Student Services.

Article XI - SGA Advisor

The SGA Advisor shall be a full-time employee and member of the Student Services or Academic Affairs staff. The advisor shall have no voting power nor veto power. The advisor shall make recommendations as to the course of action to be taken by the SGA in accordance with College policies and guidelines.

Article XII - The Student Council

Responsibilities:

1. To establish committees.
2. To establish the time of SGA Council meetings in accordance with clearance from the Vice President of Student Services.
3. To regulate campus elections for SGA offices.
4. At each meeting; a simple majority shall constitute a quorum.
5. Meeting shall be open meetings, and may be attended by any interested persons affiliated with Montgomery Community College.
6. The Student Council shall have the final decisions in all matters concerning the SGA. Decisions on all matters shall be made by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board. A quorum must have been established.
7. Upon a fifty-one percent (51%) vote of the Student Government Association or majority vote of the Student Council, a petition for redress of grievances shall be presented first to the Vice President of Student Services. If rejected by the Vice President of Student Services, the Student Council has the authority to direct the petition to the President of the College. If the President rejects the petition and the Student Council is not in agreement with this action, they may request that the President of Montgomery Community College direct the petition to the Board of Trustees for their decision. The decision of the Board of Trustees shall be final. Upon decision of a petition to the Board of Trustees, a representative from the SGA Executive Board shall be present and shall be allowed to express the views of the Student Government Association regarding the content of the petition.
8. No monies shall be authorized for expenditures without the consent of the Student Council. Written authorization shall be made to the Business Office. Written authorization shall bear the signatures of an SGA Officer, and the Vice President of Student Services.
9. To recommend approval of new clubs or organizations to the Vice President of Student Services.
10. To approve by majority vote the call for a campus wide vote on any issue or matter related to SGA affairs.

Article XIII - Standing Committees & Special Committees

Section A. Appointment - List of Officers

Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Student Government Association President and shall consist of members in good standing. Special Committees are approved for short-term special assignments. Any member of any committee shall be subject to denial or removal upon majority recommendation of the Student Council. A list of all committee members will be furnished for the student body.

Section B. The Election Committee

The Election Committee shall have the duty of establishing and monitoring election procedures, including the duties and responsibilities of setting election dates, counting the votes, establishing meeting time for the nomination and petitions of recount. The Election Committee shall be appointed by the SGA President and shall consist of five (5) Student Council representatives. From the five members, a chairperson shall be selected. All election procedures shall be handled by this Committee.

Section C. The Calendar Committee

The Calendar Committee shall have the duties and responsibilities of working with the Vice President of Student Services in establishing a school calendar of events, both formal and informal, curriculum or non-curriculum. The Calendar Committee, by its very nature, will be required to work very closely with other committees in establishing a calendar of events and specifying dates for the events.

Section D. The Publicity Committee

The Publicity Committee shall have the duties and responsibilities of publicizing any and all SGA functions. The Publicity Committee may be called upon from time to time to aid the faculty and staff of Montgomery Community College in advertising campaigns and publicity.

Section E. The Social Committee

The Social Committee shall have the duties and responsibilities of deciding upon formal and informal events of a social nature affecting the students. The Committee shall also have the responsibility for planning, organizing and carrying out the events under its jurisdiction, and shall be held responsible for the precise management of the events.

Section F. The Budget Committee

A Budget Committee shall be appointed by the SGA President from members of the Student Council. This committee shall draw up a budget and present it to the Student Council. Upon majority vote by members present, the budget shall be forwarded to Vice President of Student Services for approval.

Article XIV - Impeachment

A. Against SGA Officers

Impeachment proceedings may be started by petition signed by fifty-one percent (51%) of the SGA members as defined under the "Name and Membership" section, or two thirds (2/3) of the Student Council. This petition must be presented to the Secretary who will present it at the next regular meeting of the Student Council. After the petition is read at the Student Council meeting the council shall have five consecutive school days to reach a verdict Student Council or the Student Government Association.

B. Against Elected Curriculum or Club Representatives

Any representative shall be removed from office by a majority vote in favor of removal by the Student Council. Verdict of conviction by two thirds (2/3) secret vote of the Student Council shall call for removal from office only. No further action shall be taken against the defendant by the Student Council.

Article XV - Power of Veto by MCC Board of Trustees

A. The Board of Trustees of Montgomery Community College shall have and are granted final authority under and in keeping with this constitution to over-rule action take in the Student Council. This action by the Board of Trustees is looked upon as a last resort action, and will be used only in the direst circumstances.

B. If the Board of Trustees of MCC over-rule action taken by the Student Council as representatives of the Student Government Association, they (the Board of Trustees) shall submit, within fourteen (14) days, in written form, their reasons for over-ruling the action. The written form shall be submitted directly to the President of MCC.

Article XVI - Amendments

Amendments to this constitution will be necessary. When the Student Government Association and the Student Council deem it necessary, the constitution may be completely revised or amended. Revision or amendment shall require two thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present at a special called meeting of the SGA. A Constitution Study Committee shall consist of at least five (5) members of the Student Council. The Constitution Study Committee will elect one member as chairperson. After approval of the Student Government Association, amendments to or revisions of this constitution must be presented to the MCC Board of Trustees through the Office of the Vice President of Student Services for final approval.

Article XVII - Budget

An annual budget shall be prepared and approved by the Student Council prior to being forwarded to the Vice President of Student Services who has the authority for all SGA matters.