Our Energy is Mind Power.

The By-laws of

the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Student Government Association

Text Box: ARTICLE I: STANDING COMMITTEES   There shall be five (5) Student Government Association (SGA) standing committees. Committee chairpersons shall be nominated by the SGA President and Vice President and confirmed by a majority vote of the SGA. Committee members are appointed by the SGA Vice-President and SGA President with the assistance of the Executive Board as necessary.   Section 1: Standing Committees shall meet regularly, no less than twice monthly, unless unforeseen circumstances or scheduling conflicts render the cancellation of a meeting necessary. Committees should also strive to hold their meetings at a regular time and place.   Section 2: The names and jurisdictions of the five (5) standing committees shall be as follows:   A.     ELECTIONS: Shall determine the methods and procedures that all campus wide undergraduate elections will follow, as approved by the SGA. Shall be responsible for organizing all campus wide undergraduate elections. Shall be responsible for organizing all referendums. Shall be comprised of no less than two (2) Senators and a chairperson appointed by the SGA President and Vice President.   B.     PUBLIC RELATIONS: Shall publicize all significant business of the SGA, its committees, and their functions, through whatever means accessible, in order to increase the awareness and involvement of SGA in the University and Indiana Communities. Shall assist the Executive Board and Elections Committee with recruitment. Shall be responsible for organizing all SGA activities and programs. Shall explore and report on various statewide and local issues that affect the IUP Students. Shall help to foster positive relations between the IUP student body and the Indiana Community through local governing agencies, including but not limited to the Indiana Borough Council, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, White Township Supervisors, and state legislative officials. Shall organize activities to increase student awareness of statewide and local issues. Shall work with the Board of Student Government Presidents Vice-Chairman of Advocacy. Shall be comprised of no less than two (2) Senators and a chairperson appointed by the SGA President and Vice President.   C.     OUTREACH: Shall actively meet and seek input from other student organizations. Shall, with the Public Relations Committee, increase awareness of the SGA in the University and local communities. Shall promote exposure to and education on diversity and multiculturalism. Shall explore and offer solutions to the problems that affect the University's minority populations. Shall advocate for the rights and needs of, and strive for the mutual understanding and acceptance of, the University's many diverse groups with respect to race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disabilities, age, and sexual orientation and identity. Shall work with the Board of Student Government Presidents Vice Chairman of Community Service. Shall be comprised of no less than two (2) Senators and a chairperson appointed by the SGA President and Vice President.   D.     UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS: Shall explore and offer solutions to issues that affect the University as a whole, which includes but are not limited to academic affairs, athletics, campus environmental issues, campus recreation and instructional facilities, and off-campus residents' affairs. Shall explore and offer solutions to the issues that affect the University's residence and dining facilities. Shall explore and offer solutions to issues that concern the needs of students involved in Greek organizations-social and service- as well as students who are veterans, reservists, Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets or members of the National Guard. Shall establish sub-committees as necessary to ensure that the student body's perspective is represented on issues not generally under the purview of any other SGA committee unless SGA declares otherwise. Shall be comprised of no less than two (2) Senators and a chairperson appointed by the SGA President and Vice President.   E.      RULES: Shall protect and carry out the ideals and fundamental responsibilities established by the SGA Constitution and Bylaws. Shall have the sole power to review SGA resolutions, rules, and procedures to determine their constitutionality. Shall have the power to handle suspensions, expulsions, and impeachments as detailed under the appropriate sections of the SGA Constitution. Shall have the power to handle SGA meeting exemptions as stated under Article III, Section 5 of the SGA Constitution. Shall review and approve organization constitutions as stated in the “Guidelines for Recognizing Organizations.” Shall be asked to serve on Recognized Organization Review Boards, however, service on these Boards is not limited to the members of the Rules Committee. Shall advise the SGA on what parliamentary procedure it should follow. Shall be comprised of no less than two (2) Senators and a chairperson appointed by the SGA President and Vice President.   ARTICLE II: COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP   Section 1: Each member of the SGA shall serve on one (1) and no more than two (2) standing Committees of SGA.


Text Box:   Section 3: The officers of the committees shall be:   A.     CHAIRPERSON: Each committee shall have a chairperson appointed by the SGA President and Vice President for confirmation by the SGA. The duties and responsibilities of the chairperson shall be as follows:   1. Report all committee business to the SGA Vice President on a bi-weekly basis. 2. Preside at all committee meetings and be responsible for carrying out all committee directives. 3. Assign the duties to the committee members, and develop a weekly and semester calendar insofar as possible. 4. Report, at all SGA and Exec Board meetings, important business upon which his/her committee is working. 5. Vote in committee only when the vote is tied. 6. Establish the time, date and place of the regular and special meetings of the committee. The time and place of the meetings shall be suitable to as many committee members as possible. 7. Decide if a member of the committee may be excused from a committee meeting.   Failure to execute the duties and responsibilities of the position as stated in these Bylaws shall be cause for the President to ask for the chairperson's resignation.   B. VICE CHAIRPERSON: Each committee shall have a vice chairperson who shall be elected by the committee. The duties and responsibilities of the vice chairperson shall be as follows: 1. Assist the chairperson with the completion of his/her duties. 2. Assume the duties and responsibilities of the committee chairperson in the chairperson's absence. C. SECRETARY: Each committee shall have a secretary who shall be elected by the committee. The duties and responsibilities of the secretary shall be as follows: 1. Record the minutes of all meetings which shall include: a. The Roll b. Movers and seconders of all motions c. Amendments d. Parliamentary rulings e. All roll-call votes f. The outcome of all votes taken g. Any other pertinent notes not previously mentioned  


Text Box: 2. Inform all members of the committee where and when the committee shall meet and place all information for the committee members on the office calendar. 3. Inform the chairperson which members of the committee have two consecutive or a total of three unexcused absences.   ARTICLE III: COMMITTEE POWERS   Section 1: Each committee shall have the authority to take action within its jurisdiction. Such powers shall include, subject to the approval of the SGA, any legislation that originates within the committee or legislation referred to the committee by the SGA or the SGA President. Each committee shall act responsibility on all proposals, bills, resolution, and other matters and shall amend or create legislation pertaining to its jurisdiction. Section 2: Each committee shall have the power to create sub-committees which shall act within the overall committee's jurisdiction. The committee chairperson shall appoint the chairperson of the sub-committee. 1. All sub-committee actions are subject to the approval from the standing committee from which they were formed. 2. The standing committee may call before it for review and action any business of the sub-committee. 3. Chairpersons of the standing committee may serve as ex-officio members of the sub-committee. 4. Minutes of the sub-committee shall be kept with files of the standing committee from which it was formed. 5. There shall be a minimum of two (2) members on each sub-committee.   ARTICLE IV: AD HOC COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES   Section 1: Ad-hoc committees and task forces shall be formed by the SGA as the need arises and they shall exist only so long as necessary to accomplish their assigned purpose, or until discharged by the SGA. An ad-hoc committee or a task force shall also be subject to all Committee regulations as stated within the Bylaws, unless the SGA stipulates otherwise.   ARTICLE V: CONGRESSIONAL PROCEDURES   Section 1: Agenda Requirement: All business to be brought before the SGA shall be presented in writing to the SGA President for inclusion on the agenda no later than three (3) hours before a meeting of the SGA.    


Text Box: Section 2: Amendments: A by-law shall be initiated by a first reading before the SGA. It may be amended, passed, or rescinded by a two- thirds (2/3) majority vote of the SGA after the second reading.   Section 3: Availability of Agenda: A chalkboard listing or copies of the agenda in parliamentary form shall be made available to the members of the SGA at the beginning of each meeting.   Section 4: Availability of Written Reports: Copies of lengthy or complicated items of business shall be made available to each member of the SGA through the SGA office at least thirty (30) minutes before a meeting where the said business is to be considered. If possible, advance notice of such reports shall be posted in the SGA office and announced to the SGA.   Section 5: Business Not on the Agenda: Any business not on the agenda before the beginning of a meeting of the SGA shall be brought to the floor of said meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the SGA. Section 6: Completion of Business: Unless ruled otherwise by the chairperson of the SGA, a motion for adjournment is out of order until all items on the agenda have been considered by the SGA and all important announcements have been made.   Section 7: Control of Committee Actions: The SGA may grant special powers to any committee actions, or those called before the SGA for consideration by a majority vote.   Section 8: Illegal Ending of Debate: A motion to table, refer to committee or postpone indefinitely is out of order during the first five (5) minutes of debate.   Section 9: Illegal Votes: Votes by guest or proxy shall not be counted.   Section 10: Informal Discussion: If complicated, demanding, controversial issues or items of business are pending before the SGA, a motion to consider the question informally may be put to a vote on its floor. If such a motion is passed, the item of business may be discussed as in committee in an effort to determine a course of action, consensus and/or the wording of an appropriate motion. Informal consideration is ended when a conclusive recommendation is made by the President.   Section 11: Knowledge and Implementation of Rules: It shall be the duty of every member of SGA to read, understand, and retain a reference copy of the SGA Constitution and Bylaws. A.     The Rules Committee shall make certain that copies of the Constitution and Bylaws are distributed to every member of SGA B.     It shall be the responsibility of the Elections Committee with any needed assistance from the Rules Committee to make copies of the Constitution and Bylaws available to all candidates for SGA positions and to call to the attention of such candidates the duties and responsibilities of SGA positions. C.     The SGA President will call a meeting of the Executive Board at the beginning of each semester for the purpose of reviewing the SGA Constitution and Bylaws and plans for the semester and discussing their implementation.   Section 12: Majority Votes: As defined by Robert's Rules of Order, the word majority means more than half; this term is used without further qualification by the SGA and means more than half of the votes cast by persons legally entitled to vote and excludes abstentions.   Section 13: Non-Members of Assembly SGA: All non-members of the SGA attending an SGA meeting shall be called guests. All orderly guests shall be welcomed at any meeting. The President of SGA may invite or permit a guest to speak. A member of the SGA may yield the floor to a guest.   Section 14: The President: Shall be authorized to approve expenditures of fifty (50) dollars or less on any specific item, but he/she must notify the SGA Treasurer.   Section 15: Quorum: Quorum, as defined by Robert's Rules of Order, shall not be waived.   Section 16: Special Votes: When an item of business is being voted upon, a member of the SGA may call for a "division of the house" (a vote by show of hands), a roll-call vote, or a ballot vote at any time before the next item of business has been introduced on the floor of the SGA. If a roll-call or ballot vote has been requested, the President shall decide the propriety of said vote. The decision of the President may be appealed by a majority vote of the SGA.   Section 17: Standing Rules: All existing procedures, operations, duties, etc., of the SGA and its members, in accordance with, but not included in the SGA Constitution or Bylaws (ex: meeting time and place, order of business informal procedure), shall be considered Standing Rules of SGA. Such rules may be changed by the SGA at any meeting which has quorum.   Section 18: Unfinished business: Any unfinished business of a meeting of the SGA shall be made available to members of the SGA at the beginning of each meeting.   Section 19: Voting: There are three (3) possible ways of voting on any issue in SGA. Members may vote "aye", "nay", or "abstain". Any member who does not vote in one of these ways will be counted as an abstention if he/she is physically present.  


Text Box:   ARTICLE VI: RECALL OF REFERENDUMS AND PROPOSITIONS   Section 1: Recall of a previously approved referendum or proposition requires a two-third (2/3) vote of the SGA or a petition containing ten (10) percent of the signatures of IUP student body's current enrollment. A.  The recall shall be administered by the Elections Committee and shall take place within four (4) academic weeks after the recall vote passes in the SGA or the petition is received by the SGA President.   B.  An adequate explanation of voting on a recall shall be presented to the student body. 1. By voting "Yes" the student is voting to maintain the previously approved referendum or proposition. 2. By voting "No" the student is voting to rescind the previously approved referendum or proposition.   ARTICLE VII: ELECTIONS GUIDELINES   Section 1: TIME   The SGA President, SGA Vice-President, members of the Student Co-op Board of Directors, and thirty-six (36) SGA Senators (those not representing residence halls) shall be elected in a university wide election each Spring semester. Elections will occur over two consecutive class days. The election shall commence on the second Wednesday in April and conclude on the following Thursday of April. If extenuating circumstances prevail an alternate date and time shall be chosen by the Elections Committee. Eleven (11) SGA Senators will be selected by the Residence Hall Association during the first two (2) weeks of the fall semester.   Section 2: POLLING LOCATIONS   Polling locations shall be recommended by the Elections Committee and approved by the Executive Committee.   Section 3: ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT   A.     At least one (1) open presidential debate shall be held on Monday prior to the general election.   B.     At least one (1) open vice-presidential debate shall be held at least one (1) week prior to the general election, not to be held on the same day as any presidential debate.   C.     It is the responsibility of the Elections Committee, with any necessary assistance from the SGA Public Relations Committee, to publicize these events via whatever accessible medium.  


Text Box:   Section 4: CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY   It is required that posters, banners, chalkings, signs and all campaign events follow guidelines set forth in The Source.   Section 5: DECLARING CANDIDACY A.     All candidates for elected offices shall be declared candidates only after completion of the appropriate application(s) have been reviewed and accepted by the Elections Committee. Their names will appear on the ballot on URSA during the election.   B.     All candidates shall meet all qualifications set forth in the Constitution.   C.     All candidates shall complete and return a ballot petition consisting of the printed names with their respective signatures of undergraduate students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with the following specifications: 1.    Presidential tickets shall personally obtain and submit to the Elections Committee at least two hundred (200) printed names with their respective signatures. 2.    Candidates for the Student Co-op Board of Directors shall personally obtain and submit to the Elections Committee at least one hundred (100) printed names with their respective signatures. 3.    Candidates for the thirty-six (36) SGA Senator seats (those not representing residence halls) shall personally obtain and submit to the Elections Committee at least fifty (50) printed names with their respective signatures.   D.     Any candidate running for more than one position shall need only one ballot petition with the appropriate number of signatures so as the number of signatures meets the minimum requirement for the position with the larger number of required signatures.   Section 6: CAMPAIGN EXPENSE GUIDELINES   A.     Campaigning expenses may include, but are not limited to, the following: Fundraising functions (i.e. events, rallies, etc.) Any advertisement in The Penn Radio and Television advertisements Posters, Banners and chalkings Buttons Pamphlets and leaflets Transportation to the branch Campuses    


Text Box: B.     Presidential and Vice Presidential Tickets: 1.    Or campaign staff of the same may not spend monies in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00) while campaigning for office. 2.    Shall submit to the Elections Committee an itemized financial statement within forty-eight (48) hours of the conclusion of the election. This financial statement shall include all sources of income and all related campaign expenses with receipts attached. 3.    Campaign contributions not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). One hundred dollars ($100.00) may be solicited and accepted from enrolled students of Indiana University of Pennsylvania only.   C.     No candidate for the office of SGA Senator or the Student Co-op Board of Directors may spend monies in excess of two hundred dollars ($200.00) while campaigning for office.   Section 7: ELECTION GUIDELINES   A.     No campaigning may take place within administrative offices, the student office suites and or the Center for Student Life, by anyone. If extenuating circumstances prevail and the Elections Committee must choose an alternate voting area, use paper balloting, no campaigning may take place within thirty (30) feet of the designated voting area by anyone, unless otherwise stated by the Elections Committee.   B.     No campaigning may ever take place within the SGA offices by anyone.   C.     Candidates are permitted to post poll watchers at the voting locations of their choice. It shall be the candidate's responsibility to inform poll watchers of all election guidelines. There shall no be more than two (2) poll watchers per candidate per polling location.   Section 8: WRITE-IN CANDIDATES   A.     All write-in candidates shall be subject to the terms and conditions relating to SGA Election Guidelines set fourth in this article.   B.     Write-in candidates for a given office shall meet all qualifications set forth in this body's Constitution.   C.     Any write-in candidate who wins a seat with at least ten (10) votes shall be contacted by the Elections Committee via mail or official university Email to inform him/her of his/her election   D.     A write-in candidate must notify the Elections Chairperson, in writing via mail or official university Email, of his/her desire to accept his/her respective seat within SGA prior to the final meeting of the outgoing SGA.   Section 9: PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES   A.     All violations and complaints against a candidate shall be brought to the Elections Committee.   B.     The Elections Committee, with any necessary assistance from the Rules Committee, shall investigate said violation and determine if the candidate is in fact in violation.   C.     If found in violation and subsequently disqualified by the Elections Committee, the candidate may appeal the committee's decision to the outgoing SGA. The outgoing SGA may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, override the Elections Committee decision. Such a veto must be brought to the floor of the SGA in the form of a motion by the disqualified candidate.   D.     Violations of university policy shall be referred to the appropriate university official with prosecution and subsequent disciplinary action for said violation at the discretion of the university.   ARTICLE VIII: HOMECOMING ELECTION GUIDELINES   Section 1: TIME The Homecoming King and Queen shall be elected in a university wide election each Fall semester. Elections shall commence and conclude on the Wednesday two weeks before Homecoming. If extenuating circumstances prevail an alternate date and time shall be chosen by the Elections Committee.   Section 2: POLLING LOCATIONS   Polling locations shall be recommended by the Elections Committee and approved by the SGA. Section 3: CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY   A.     It is the responsibility of the Elections Committee, with any necessary assistance from the SGA Public Relations Committee, to publicize these events via accessible medium.   B.     It is required that posters, banners, chalkings, signs, and all campaign events follow guidelines set forth in The Source.   Section 4: DECLARING CANDIDACY   A.     All candidates for Homecoming King and Queen shall be declared candidates only after completion of the appropriate application(s) and the review and acceptance of these applications by the Elections Committee.   B.     All candidates shall meet the guidelines set forth in the SGA Bylaws, including but not limited to the following: 1.    University academic good standing 2.    Judicial good standing   Section 5: CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS A.     No campaigning may take place within the previously designated voting area(s) by anyone. If extenuating circumstances prevail the Elections Committee must choose an alternative voting area. No campaigning may take place within thirty (30) feet of the designated voting area by anyone, unless otherwise stated by the Elections Committee.   B.     No campaigning may ever take place within the SGA offices by anyone. C.     Candidates are permitted to post poll watchers at the voting locations of their choice. It shall be the candidates’ responsibility to inform poll watchers of the elections guidelines. There shall not be more than two (2) poll watchers per candidate per polling location.   Section 6: WRITE-IN CANDIDATES   A.     All write-in candidates shall be subject to the terms and conditions relating to Homecoming Election Guidelines set forth in this article.   B.     Write-in candidates for King and Queen shall meet all qualifications set forth in this body's Bylaws.   C.     Any write-in candidate who wins the title of Homecoming King or Queen shall be notified by the Elections Committee to inform him/her of his/her election.   D.     A write-in candidate must notify the Elections Chairperson, in writing, of his/her desire to accepts his/her respective position as Homecoming King or Queen. Section 7: PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES   A. All violations and complaints shall be brought to the Elections Committee. B.     The Elections Committee, with any necessary assistance from the Rules Committee, shall investigate said violation and determine if the candidate is in fact in violation. C.     If found in violation and subsequently disqualified by the Elections Committee, the candidate may appeal the committee's decision to the SGA. The SGA may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, override the Elections Committee decision. Such a vote must be brought to the floor of the SGA. D.     Violations of university policy shall be referred to the appropriate university official with prosecution and subsequent disciplinary action for said violation at the discretion of the university.   ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS WITH ORGANIZATIONS   Section 1: GUIDELINES   A.     Every member of the SGA is encouraged to speak to organized groups of IUP students outside of SGA. B.     Members may receive credit for up to three (3) office hours for each organization they speak with, up to three (3) per semester.   Section 2: CONFIRMATION   A.     Written confirmation must be presented to the Rules Committee within two (2) weeks of the meeting.   B.     A brief written summary of the discussion must be presented with the confirmation note. C.     In lieu of a written summary, an oral report may be presented to the SGA.    


Section 3:  CONTENT OF MEETING

 

A.     The discussion must include:

1.    SGA’s purpose

2.    How to get in touch with SGA

3.    Student's concerns and problems

 

Section 4:  EXCEPTIONS

A.     Any meeting in connection with a campaign for SGA office will not count as fulfilling the requirements of this article.

 

ARTICLE X: STIPENDS

 

Section 1:  "NOTICE"- If any positions exist within SGA that receive financial compensation, the amount of said compensation will be an item of public information. Any changes in the amount of stipends, whether initiated by SGA or regular (as in percentage or CPI adjustments), shall be presented to the SGA prior to submission of such numbers for budget allocation requests.

 

Section 2:  "GUARANTEED TRANSITION"- For all compensated SGA members, an amount of their total available compensation shall be withheld until they provide their replacement with "transitional training" including but not limited to and End-of-year report and a training session.

 

A.     TRANSITION DEFINED

1.       End-of-year reports shall, at bare minimum, consist of 4 sections;

-       A typed end-of-year report of recommendations, failures, successes, etc. and hopes for the future of the organization

-       A calendar of all activities and appointments

-       A complete docket of all attempted projects (numbered and dated for all reviews, actions, and completions).

-       Contact information for persons involved in the work over the course of the semester

2.       Copies of end-of-year reports shall be provided, in person, to successors and shall be placed on file in the SGA office.

3.       Training Sessions shall include discussion of successful and unsuccessful methods, advising, and question-and-answer period.

 

B.     LEGITIMACY- Payment of withheld funds is contingent upon completion of transition and will be subject to approval by the SGA, based on recommendation from the SGA President.

Or in the case of the SGA President and Vice-President, upon approval by the SGA based on recommendation from the SGA Advisor.

                

C.     PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT - In the case of the SGA President and Vice-President, stipends shall be paid in regular increments of equal payments. At least 30% of each payment shall be withheld until they provide the following transitional materials to their successors.

1.       The vice-presidential transition shall consist of the end-of-year report and training session as described in Article X, Section 2.

2.       The Presidential transition shall consist of the end-of-year report (Article X, Section 2, A-1) and meetings with all new executives, including the newly elected president, prior to the last meeting of the semester conducted according to Article X, Section 2, A-2.

 

ARTICLE XI: EFFECTIVE

 

Section 1:       These bylaws will become effective upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Student Government Association and will be reviewed and ratified every fall semester at the third SGA meeting.