Constitution
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McNutt Student Government
Constitution of the
Paul V. McNutt Center Student Government
Preamble
We, the residents of the Paul V. McNutt Center at Indiana University, in order to effectively represent ourselves, to create a means for student involvement, and to efficiently use collected funds for the greater common good, do hereby establish this constitution.
Article I: Membership
The Paul V. McNutt Center Student Government is composed of all students residing in the Paul V. McNutt Center who have paid the student activity fee.
Article II: Elected Officers
Section 1: Types of Elected Officers
There shall be four types of elected officers that will fill nine elected seats in the Government. There shall be one President, one Vice-President for Programs and Special Events, one Vice-President of Finance and Administration, and six Governors (one each from Bocobo, Delgado, Dejoya, Bordner, Crone, and Bryan).
Section 2: President and Vice-Presidents
The President and Vice-Presidents will be elected by a simple majority of ballots cast in the election. Should no person receive a majority of the votes, a run-off election shall be held between the two persons receiving the most votes. The term of office for these officers will be April 1st to April 1st of each calendar year.
Section 3: Governors
The Governors will be elected within 14 days of the start of class each fall term. Residents will vote only in the election of the governor who will represent their building. A majority of ballots cast will determine the winner. Should no person receive a majority of the votes, a run-off election shall be held between the two persons receiving the most votes. Governors shall serve terms lasting from election until the end of the academic year.
Section 4: Vacancies
In the case of vacancies of office, an election shall be held to fill the vacancy. If only on candidate intends to run, they can be appointed to the position with a 2/3 vote of the remaining elected officers.
In case of a vacancy of the office of President, a President Pro-Tempore will be appointed from the Governors by a majority vote of the Vice-Presidents and Governors, until such time as the election of a new President occurs.
Section 5: Impeachment
Elected officers can be impeached by a 2/3 majority vote of the nine elected officers, a 2/3 majority vote by the members of the judicial board, or a petition signed by 2/3 of the members of the government. Impeachment proceedings can be appealed to the RHA Judicial Board.
Article III: Appointed Officers
Section I: Judicial Board
A Judicial Board shall be assembled by the Paul V. McNutt Center staff in coordination with the Governing Council. Once the nominees are assembled, the Governing Council shall approve their appointments by a 2/3 margin of voting.
The Judicial Board shall consist only of members who are not holding other elected or appointed positions within the government.
Judicial Board will have the authority to hear cases of student misconduct under the jurisdiction of the Paul V. McNutt Student Government, the Residence Hall Association, and the Dean of Student’s Office.
The Judicial Board shall also serve as the final authority over interpretation of this constitution.
Section 2: Building Officers
Each elected Governor shall have the authority to assemble a Vice-Governor and other assistants as are necessary to each individual building’s needs which may include a representative from each floor.
Section 3: Assistants to the Vice-Presidents
Vice-Presidents have the option of appointing one or two assistants with a 2/3 majority approval of the Elected Officers.
Section 4: Recall
Appointed officers can be impeached by a 2/3 majority vote of the nine elected officers, a 2/3 majority vote by the members of the judicial board, or a petition signed by 2/3 of the members of the government (for Judicial Board members) or building (for Building Officers). Impeachment proceedings can be appealed to the RHA Judicial Board.
Article IV: Governing Council
The majority of business will be conducted at Governing Council meetings which will consist of the President, the two Vice-Presidents, and the Governors. These meetings will be held no less than once every two weeks while the center is open. They will be open to all members of the government to attend but voting will be limited to the Vice-Presidents and Governors except in the case of a tie, when the President shall cast the deciding vote.
Quorum for voting shall be set at all nine elected officers (or their proxy) being present. Only Vice-Presidents and Governors have the option of appointing a proxy.
Meetings will be conducted via a published agenda and in accordance with the policy book.
Article V: Advisors
The government shall appoint a minimum of one advisor to the Governing Council. Additional advisors may be appointed as necessary. Advisors shall be appointed after consultation with the Residential Operations staff of the Paul V. McNutt Residence Center.
Article VI: By-laws
The Government shall establish By-laws that are public and subject to change by a 2/3 majority vote of the Governing Council.
Article VII: Amendments
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any Elected Officer of the government and once approved by a 51% majority of the elected officers, shall be sent as a referendum to the members of the government to vote. A 51% majority of the voting members must approve the amendment.
Article VIII: Ratification
This Constitution shall be deemed ratified once the current student government approves it and sends it to a vote by the members of the Paul V. McNutt Center Student Government.
Bylaws for the Student Government Constitution
of Paul V. McNutt Residence Center
Section I: Bills and Other Agenda Items
A.) Quorum, all nine members of the Governing Council or a proxy for them,
must be present to vote on bills that involve money.
B.) All bills must be submitted to the executives on or before the Friday prior to
the meeting.
C.) Bills requesting sponsorship or funding must include the following:
1) Name of presenter
2) Position of presenter
3) Organization name
4) Event Title
5) Brief description of the event
6) Benefits to McNutt Residents
7) Budget breakdown
8) Estimate of how much asking McNutt GC for
D.) Agenda items for meetings, other than bills, must be submitted to the
executives 24 hours prior to the meeting.
Section II: Governing Council (GC) Meetings
A.) GC meetings will be held weekly, unless voted otherwise.
B.) GC meetings are to be open to the public.
C.) At each meeting someone should be appointed to keep the minutes and record
all votes in them.
Section III: Absences
A.) Two unexcused absences in one semester will result in a building’s
Residents being notified, this could lead to impeachment.
B.) A third unexcused absence will result in impeachment procedures being
initiated by one the Vice-Presidents.
C.) Excused absences include: academic field trips, academic or student
related conference, academic tests, required class activities, serious personal
illness, family emergency and major religious holidays.
D.) Unexcused absences include: a lack of time management skills such as
waiting until the night before to study or do a project, small group study
sessions, other student organization meetings, etc.
modified Fall 2005