Section 4. Officers

  • The Senate shall elect from its membership a Speaker Pro-Tem at its first regular meeting following Fall Semester elections. The Speaker Pro-Tem shall assume the duties of the Executive First Vice President only if the First Vice President is unable to serve as Chairperson, as formally declared by the First Vice President in writing.
  • The Chairperson of the Senate shall appoint a Clerk from among SGA members to maintain a permanent record of attendance, minutes, and official documents for all Senate meetings. In the Clerk’s absence, the Chairperson shall appoint a temporary Clerk. All records shall be retained in the Student Government Association Office and made available to the student body upon request.

Section 5. Authority

  • Impeachment Power: The Senate may impeach, for cause, any Executive Officer, Senator, or Justice of the Student Court by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate membership. Causes include violation of this Constitution, misconduct, or failure to perform duties. Upon submission of an impeachment motion, the University administration shall have no more than four (4) business days to review the matter. After this period, the Senate retains full and final authority to proceed with the vote. No administrative body may delay, veto, or nullify a Senate vote beyond this timeframe. The Senate shall ensure due process, including notice to the member in question, opportunity to respond, and written documentation of proceedings.
  • Veto Override: The Senate may override a presidential veto by a majority two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership. Such an override is final and cannot be negated by administrative action.
  • Committees: The Senate may establish special or standing committees as necessary to fulfill its duties, including investigation, oversight, and legislative review.
  • Bylaws and Procedural Amendments: The Senate may establish or amend its bylaws by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, following a first reading conducted at least 24 hours prior to the vote.
  • Reversal of Officer Actions: The Senate may reverse or direct any officer action through a two-thirds (2/3) vote or majority vote as outlined in this Constitution. Administrative interference in these decisions is strictly prohibited.
  • Chartering of Student Organizations: The Senate shall review and approve the chartering of student organizations that meet SGA recognition requirements. The Senate may