CONSTITUTION OF THE STUDENT BODY
OF TRINIDAD STATE JUNIOR COLLEGE

PREAMBLE

We, the students of Trinidad State Junior College, do hereby recognize that, as students of this institution, we have certain responsibilities and privileges. These responsibilities and privileges are essentially ours because of the nature of the situation. They are dictated by the needs of the student body, and institution. In order to more clearly define these responsibilities and privileges, we do hereby establish this Constitution of the Students of Trinidad State Junior College.

 ARTICLE I:Establishment of a Student Government

SECTION I: Definition of the Governing Body

This section hereby establishes the governing body of Trinidad State Junior College, which will be known as the Student Government Association (SGA) of Trinidad State Junior College. The SGA will represent the student body by being their voice to the administration and by promoting a fulfilling college experience.

SECTION II: Officers of the SGA
The officers of SGA shall be the President (S), Vice-President (S), Chief of Staff (F or S), Executive Secretary (S), Student Affairs Officer (F or S), Corresponding Secretary (F), Primary and Secondary SSAC Representatives (S and F), Speaker of the Student Senate (S), Community/ External Affairs Officer (F or S). The SGA President may make one non-stipend, non-voting appointment to the SGA. (F = Freshman and S = Sophomore student.)

SECTION III: Organization  
The SGA shall consist of two chambers: the Executive Council and the Student Senate.

Executive power and policy matters shall be vested in the Executive Council. Executive power shall include representation at special occasions, meeting with administration on matters concerning the general welfare and policies of the college and the student body, and the execution of matters enacted by the Executive Council and by the Student Senate. Policy matters include representing student interests by sitting on the college’s administrative committees, or by presenting issues concerning the student body to the administration directly. The Executive council shall also initiate the policy and direction for SGA as a whole, and make the initial budgeting priorities.

Legislative power shall be vested in the Student Senate. Legislative matters shall include advising the Executive Council on matters of college policy regarding the student population. The Senate will also approve of, and determine how to implement policy directives from the Executive Council. Student activities will originate from the Senate, to be implemented by a standing activities committee. The Senate shall also be responsible for the approval of budgets. The Student Senate will consist of all elected SGA officers and Student Senators. Each member shall have one vote in the Senate, except the SGA President, who will only vote in the case of a tie.
All clubs and organizations shall be represented in the Senate once they are approved by the Office of Student Life and the SGA Executive Council. Larger organizations may be represented by two voting Senators; smaller organizations will have one voting senator. Rules for organizations and Senate representatives are found in Article III Section II, Article IV Section II and Article VI.

SECTION IV: SGA Qualifications
All fee-paying students in good standing are eligible to run for SGA. Candidates for SGA must have and maintain a minimum of 9 credit hours and have a 2.5 grade point average (this rule does not apply to incoming freshmen at the time of their election).

ARTICLE II: Separation of Powers

SECTION I: Scope of Authorities
The SGA is the official representation of the student body. They shall present issues to the college faculty and administration concerning the welfare of the student body or a group therein, and provide activities and events for the students.

SECTION II: Student Representation in the Senate
In order for a diverse student population to have a voice for their interests, a group of students must be represented in the Senate as an organization, or file a petition to the Senate. Ideas proposed by Senators, if passed, are legitimate as representative of the interests of the student body. Items introduced by petition, however, must first be determined if they are serving the student body’s interests or private interests. Decisions made by the Senate regarding institutional functions must be directed to the Executive Council for implementation. Decisions regarding activities and events will be implemented through an activities committee.
 
SECTION III: Responsibilities of the Executive Council
The Executive Council is vested with the authority to speak for the student body and may make motions that diverge from the traditions and customs of student life at Trinidad State Junior College. Decisions on proposals shall be decided by a majority vote of the Executive Council. Actions to be taken in concert with the college administration shall be executed by Executive Council. Directives for student government events shall be sent to the Senate.

SECTION IV: Checks and Balances
The Executive Council may veto decisions made by the Senate. Vetoes may be overturned with a two-thirds (2/3) Senate majority vote. The Senate may oversee Executive Council actions and decisions to ensure that they are in compliance with college and student government policies. Also see Article III Section I, Impeachment of Officers. The faculty adviser shall have no voting power in either chamber of student government.

ARTICLE III: Judicial Functions

SECTION I: Impeachment of Officers
Should a member of SGA be negligent in his/her duties, drop below the required qualifications stated in Article I Section IV, violate college or SGA policies or for conduct unbecoming of a student representative, a formal complaint may be submitted to the Senate by any student, SGA member or faculty member. An impeachment hearing between the accuser and the accused shall be held to review the claim and determine an appropriate course of action. A three-quarters (_) vote of the Senate is required for removal from office. All decisions may be appealed to the Administrative Council of the College.

SECTION II: Senator / Organization Infractions
Any organization or specific Senator who violates college or SGA policies may be subject to expulsion from the Senate. If a student organization fails to send representation to the Senate, or reasons for their absence to be excused, for two consecutive meetings, they shall receive a warning prior to the next meeting. The third unexcused absence shall result in that organization’s expulsion from the Senate. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate may revoke an organization’s status as a campus approved organization. An unrepresented organization shall be automatically revoked upon the start of the next semester.

SECTION III: The Disciplinary Standards Committee
The Disciplinary Standards Committee shall consist of three student members, and two appointed SGA officers. This committee may be appealed to in order to overturn disciplinary measures meted out by the Student Senate, or the college administration.

ARTCILE IV: Official Positions

SECTION I: SGA Elections
Elections for the sophomore officers in SGA will be held on the first Tuesday of April, and elections for the freshmen positions and other vacancies will be held on the second Tuesday of September of the Fall Semester. Newly elected sophomore officers will officially take office on the last meeting before spring finals

SECTION II: Senators
Each student club or organization must represent itself in the Student Senate. A Senator is defined as the voting representative(s) of an organization, who will be recognized as such at the start of each session of the Senate. The number of representatives may exceed the number of Senators to ensure effective representation of that organization, but their voting powers shall be limited to their recognized Senators.

SECTION III: Composition of the Executive Council
The Executive Council shall consist of five members. The SGA President, Vice-President and Student Affairs Officer shall sit on the Executive Council, along with two other SGA officers, to be appointed by the Executive Council, and approved by the Senate. The Council shall appoint the following positions within itself: Chairman, Chairman Pro-tem, Treasurer, and Secretary (only if the Executive Secretary is not already on the Council). Should a vacancy occur on the Council, the Senate shall immediately appoint a replacement.

SECTION IV: Negligence of Duties
Any person holding an elected or appointed office in the student government who is negligent in performing his/her prescribed duties shall be subject to impeachment and/or removal. An impeachment hearing in the Senate shall be necessary to determine negligence and penalty.

ARTICLE V: Meeting Requirements

SECTION I: Meeting Schedules
The first meeting of the full Student Senate shall be in the fourth full week of the Fall Semester. At this meeting, the meeting schedule of both chambers shall be announced. The Executive Council will meet once a month. The SGA Senate shall meet at least three times a semester (once at the beginning and once near the end, and one mid-semester). All activities and administrative committees shall be held and attended as necessary. Meetings schedules may occur more frequently and as they are needed.

SECTION II: Meeting Posting
All meetings, or changes in the meeting schedule, must be announced in a public commons area at least 24 hours prior.

SECTION III: Quorum
To hold a regular meeting, there must be a quorum present. The minimum number of officers and/or Senators for a quorum shall be a majority, or half plus one in the case of an even number.

SECTION IV: Required Formalities
In order to make clear and effective decisions that affect the student body and student funds, Executive Council and Senate meetings shall be held following basic parliamentary procedures. This shall include prior setting and posting a meeting agenda, keeping meeting minutes (a public record of all decisions made in a given meeting), and courtesy to those attending the meeting. The chairman will be responsible for the conduct of an organized meeting.

ARTICLE VI: Student Organizations

SECTION I: Forming a Club or Organization
The Executive Council may grant recognition to any group of students who wish to organize in the form of a charter, after they meet the following requirements:

A. They must submit a roster of charter members in the form of a petition with intent to form a club or organization.
B. They must have a faculty, staff, or administrative sponsor from Trinidad State Junior College.
C. They must elect officers (at a minimum, an organizational chairman, spokesman or President)
D. They must send representation to Senate meetings.
E. They must write a charter or constitution stating their purpose and structure, and submit it to SGA and the Office of Student Life.
F. Records of decisions concerning organization funds need to be kept for public review.

An organization must at the minimum have 5 charter members, which would allow them one vote in the Senate. A larger organization must submit 10 or more charter members to have two votes. Any block of students wishing to be represented in the Senate may petition for approval to the SGA. At least one half of the charter members must be full time students.
 

SECTION II: Privileges of an Organization
Chartered organizations that have been granted recognition by the SGA will have the following privileges:

A. Representation and authority in the Student Senate
B. The right to hold meetings on campus
C. The right to hold and/or sponsor social activities on campus
D. The privilege of conducting fund-raising campaigns on campus
E. To request the use of college transportation.

ARTICLE VII: Constitutional Changes

SECTION I: Source of Changes
Any amendments to this constitution may originate from the student body, via petition, or from the SGA. SGA proposals shall be initiated by the Executive Council.

SECTION II: Approval and Ratification
All proposals to amend the constitution must be passed in the Senate, and then ratified by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of ballots cast by fee-paying students.

ARTICLE VIII: By-Laws

The by-laws shall be initiated to cover specific cases and situations. These by-laws are subject to change by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Student Senate.

By-Laws
The by-laws are presented as a guide to SGA as a list of written student policies on which to base decisions of Trinidad State Junior College, Student Government Organization.

Duties of Student Leadership Officers:

Each officer in the TSJC SGA is responsible for attending, participating and working in the production of student activities’ programs and events. Each officer must keep office hours and be available for students and the Coordinator of Student Life/Activities. These responsibilities will not be waived for any officer.

President
The President (sophomore) is the primary officer of the SGA. The President serves as the official representative of the student body at special events and occasions as invites by the President and administration of the college. The President presides over Executive Council meetings unless a different chairman is selected, serves as the official spokesperson to the college’s administration, and is ex-officio of all committees.

Vice-President
The Vice-President (sophomore) shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence or removal from the office. The Vice-President is the executive chair of all committees, standing and appointed. The Vice-President shall serve as Election Commissioner when appropriate.

Speaker of the Student Senate
The Speaker (sophomore) serves as the leader and chief officer of the Student Senate. This Officer is the presiding officer for all matters brought before this body. He/she will also serve as a non-voting member of the Executive Council in order to determine which executive measures need to be sent to the Senate for approval. Legislative agenda shall be formed by the Speaker, and he/she will receive all complaints for impeachment of officers.

Student Affairs Officer
The Chief Student Affairs Officer (freshman or sophomore) shall serve as the liaison for student services and student life matters. This office will be represented on the college’s Student Affairs Committee and work directly with the Dean of Student Life on policies, concerns and projects that affect the welfare and or services of students at Trinidad State Junior College.

Public/Community Affairs Officer
TSJC not only affect students, but also provides a forum for community interaction, which can in turn positively support the needs of the college. This officer (freshman or sophomore) will serve as the liaison to the community, by promoting community involvement with student activities and student life. The Public Affairs officer will also work cooperatively with the College’s Public Information and Institutional Development officers

Executive Secretary and Corresponding Secretary
The Executive Secretary (sophomore) shall keep minutes and records of Executive Council and Senate meetings and shall finalize all minutes to be posted publicly and given to the Dean of Student Services and/or Director of Student Life and the SGA adviser. The Executive Secretary shall keep records of position responsibilities and office hours.

The Corresponding Secretary shall assume the duties of the Executive Secretary in his/her absence. The Corresponding Secretary shall serve as keeper of records for the Election Commission, assist the Executive Secretary with SGA records and receives and dispenses all correspondences.

State Student Advisory Committee Representatives
Primary: The primary representative (freshman or sophomore) serves as the official representative and voice of the student body of Trinidad State Junior College in the State Student Advisory Council. The primary shall serve on the Elections Commission.

Secondary: The secondary representative (freshman or sophomore) shall assume the responsibilities of the primary position in the absence of the primary, or if the primary is elected to state office. The secondary will assist the Executive Council’s treasurer in keeping track of finances.

*TSJC SSAC Representatives are responsible to the student of Trinidad State Junior College, and will adhere to the standards set by the SSAC, its Constitution and By-laws. The students of TSJC have given SSAC representatives the authority to voice their concerns through the SSAC. All TSJC SSAC representatives will keep office hours, work on projects, programs and student activities the same as all other SGA officers. These positions can directly benefit the students at TSJC. SSAC is not for personal use, but is a vehicle for the students in the Community College System of Colorado to have a voice with the State Board for Colorado Community Colleges and Occupational Education System.

Organization Activities

Approval Procedure
Any approved organization must request the permission of the Senate through the Office of Student Life to sponsor any activities or projects on campus. A special session of the Senate should be called if necessary, to expedite approval of activities. Such petitioning should be made through the petition forms available in the SGA or Student Life Offices. The earliest petitions filed shall have priority over conflicting petitions.  

Definition of a Petition
A. A petition shall be a formal written statement circulated by any organization, student, or group of students and presented to the SGA Senate with the signatures of at least twenty-five (25) students, the majority of whom must be full-time students.

B. Any activities sponsored by the SGA shall be governed by the rule that there will be no drinking of alcoholic beverages on campus, in accordance with the alcohol policies of Trinidad State Junior College.

Committees

Activities Committee
The SGA will operate a standing Activities Committee. This committee shall enact all resolutions from the Senate on student activities. It shall work closely with the Coordinator of Student Life/Activities, and consist of all available SGA officers and student volunteers. This committee shall carryout detailed planning of activities through the execution of activities.
 
Administrative Committees
In order to speak for the student body with the administration, the SGA will be represented in the following committees: Cafeteria Committee, Student Fees Committee, Dormitory Committee, TSJC Marketing Committee (including recruiting), Disciplinary Standards Committee, and Safety Committee. At the permission of the administration, SGA may also be represented in the President’s Cabinet and the college’s Strategic Planning Committee. For descriptions of the functions of these committees, initial coordinations should be made between the SGA and the Dean of Student Services.

Committee Appointments
The SGA Advisor, in consultation with the SGA President, may make appointments to College and Student Committees as appropriate. The Executive Council may make appointments to standing and special committees for projects within the SGA’s authority.

Finances

The Executive Council shall appoint a treasurer. The Executive Council’s Treasurer shall be the SGA expert on the financial situation of the funding available to student life. The Treasurer will work with the SGA advisor on proposed financial spending, and borrowing plans, in order for the Executive Council and Senate to decide on budgetary matters.  

ARTICLE IX: Amendments

AMMENDMENT I
This amendment modifies the Constitution in its entirety, by reorganizing the basic structure herein to make more understandable the role and functions of student government at Trinidad State Junior College. Passed by vote of the student body on 9 May, 2006. All changes are self enacting as of the start of the 2006-2007 school year.