Article II – Senate

Article II – Senate

Section A – Elections and Position Eligibility

1. Senators for each voting district shall be elected by a majority vote given by the residents of the voting district. The RA can reserve the right to change the process of the election if the majority vote is not possible. If one candidate does not receive the majority vote, the candidate with the least number of votes shall be dropped from the ballot and a vote will be taken for the remaining candidates. Ties shall be resolved through a game of rock/paper/scissors.
2. Unless an exemption is granted, no student may simultaneously hold both a paid IMPACT non-Senator position and a paid Senator position. Any such exception shall require the approval of the Vice President and a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
3. Any student who holds a position in Student Government shall comply with the Constitution, Constitutional Bylaws, and enacted legislation.
4. Consistent failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for removal.
   

Section B – Attendance

1. Each Senator shall be absent from no more than three (3) meetings of the Senate General Assembly each semester.
2. Each Senator shall be absent from no more than three (3) meetings of each committee they are a member of each semester.
3. Each Senator shall have no more than three (3) substitutions in the Senate General Assembly each semester.
4. Committee Chairs may take attendance in all official committee meetings and report attendance to the President Pro Tempore.
5. When a Senator violates parts 1, 2, or 3 the President Pro Tempore shall notify the Senator and the Resident Assistant of the Senator’s district of the Senator’s removal from the Senate.
6. A Senator may receive an exemption from the stipulations of part 1 given the following:
   • Exceptions shall only be given for a valid academic reason requiring mandatory attendance during the time at which the Senate General Assembly meets.
   • The exemption shall only be valid for one (1) academic semester at a time, and consecutive exemptions shall require new approval.
   • The Senator seeking exemption shall serve on a committee during the time of their exemption and be subject to the committee attendance requirements of part 2 above.
   • The senator seeking exemption shall meet with the Vice President and President Pro Tempore to present their case for exception.
   • The Vice President and President Pro Tempore shall evaluate the validity of the exemption request and the potential contribution of the Senator seeking exemption.
   • If approved, the exempt Senator shall not be factored into quorum calculations required by the Constitution, Article II, Section D, Subsection a, so long as they remain exempt.

Section C – Vacancy Elections

• In the event of a vacancy in a Senator position, elections shall be held per Section A of this article. Per Article II, Section B of the Constitution, Senators filling vacancies shall not assume their duties or powers until they have been trained.

Section D – Mandatory Committee Membership

• Each Senator shall be a member of a committee for the first full two semesters of his/her tenure. A full semester of service shall be counted if the senator is elected by the election dates specified in the election procedures defined in the Senate Bylaws.

Section E – Senate Officers

President Pro Tempore

• The Vice President shall oversee the PPT election. Candidates will be nominated by their colleagues and all candidates shall speak to the Senate before the election takes place. In the election, if one candidate does not receive the majority, the candidate with the least number of votes will be dropped from the ballot and a vote will be taken for the remaining candidates. The Vice President shall determine the method for resolving ties.
• Should the PPT be unable to perform their duties, the Vice President may request the authority to carry out the duties outlined in Article III Section F of the Senate Bylaws until the PPT is able to perform their duties. These powers shall be granted upon a two-thirds vote of the Senate. When the PPT is ready to resume their duties, the VP will announce in the next session the return of powers to the PPT.
• Should the PPT be absent for three consecutive weeks, their continued service must be confirmed by a two-thirds majority vote in the following session of the Senate.
• Should the office of PPT become vacant, the Vice President shall hold a special election in accordance with PPT election procedures within 10 days of the vacancy, per Article II, Section C, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution. The Secretary shall inform all eligible candidates of the vacancy at least 72 hours before the special election.