GOVERNMENT BILL 14
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ISSUE A STUDENT REFERENDUM ON THE ADOPTION OF A REVISED STUDENT BODY CONSTITUTION
Short Title: Constitutional Revision Act. (Public)
Sponsored by: Senators Fabricius and Palin.
First Reading: May 1, 2002. Version Date: April 29, 2002.
Referred to: ____________________________________________________________.
BE IT ENACTED, by the NC State University Student Senate that:
Section 1. the Student Body Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:
We the students of North Carolina State University, desiring to preserve within the University an atmosphere of free discussion, inquiry, and self-expression, to insure the personal freedom and general welfare of the Student Body, and to continue in our tradition of responsible self-government, do hereby establish this constitution of the North Carolina State University Student Body.
FRANCHISE AND CITIZENSHIP
All students who are enrolled in the University and who have paid the Student Government Fee shall be considered citizens entitled to vote in the Student Body Elections and to participate in Student Body Government.
ARTICLE I EXECUTIVE
STUDENT BODY OFFICERS
SECTION ONE -- AUTHORITY
The executive power of the Student Body shall be vested in the Student Body President, who shall have the assistance of the Student Senate President and the Student Body Treasurer.
SECTION TWO -- ELECTIONS
The Student Body Officers shall be elected for a one-year term by a majority of those voting in the Student Body Elections. At the time of the election, each Officer shall be a citizen of North Carolina State University as well as a student in good standing. Furthermore, the Student Body Officers must remain enrolled in the University, and also remain students in good standing for their entire term in office. The Student Body Officers shall be chosen from the Student Body at large, subject to requirements which shall be listed in the Student Body Statutes.
SECTION THREE -- STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
The Student Body President shall:
SECTION FOUR -- STUDENT SENATE PRESIDENT
The Student Senate President shall:
SECTION FIVE -- STUDENT BODY TREASURER
The Student Body Treasurer shall:
SECTION SIX -- STUDENT BODY COMPTROLLER
The Student Body Comptroller shall:
The Student Body Comptroller shall be appointed by the Student Body President and Student Body Treasurer subject to the approval of the Student Senate by a two-thirds vote.
SECTION SEVEN -- STUDENT BODY CHIEF JUSTICE
The Student Body Chief Justice shall:
LINES OF SUCCESSION
SECTION EIGHT -- STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT SUCCESSION
If the Student Body President is removed or leaves office for any reason he shall be replaced by the Student Senate President.
If the Student Senate President is removed or leaves office for any reason he shall be replaced by the Student Senate President Pro Tempore.
SECTION TEN -- STUDENT BODY TREASURER SUCCESSION
If the Student Body Treasurer is removed or leaves office for any reason the duties of the Treasurer shall devolve to the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee. If the Spring Election does not occur within thirty (30) days of the vacation of this position, a special election shall be held thirty (30) days after the vacation of this position to elect a new Student Body Treasurer, to serve the remainder of the vacating official's term.
SECTION ELEVEN -- STUDENT BODY CHIEF JUSTICE SUCCESSION
If the Student Body Chief Justice is removed or leaves office for any reason the duties of the Chief Justice shall devolve to the Executive Assistant to the Chief Justice. If the Spring Election does not occur within thirty (30) days of the vacation of this position, a special election shall be held thirty (30) days after the vacation of this position to elect a new Student Body Chief Justice, to serve the remainder of the vacating official's term.
STUDENT BODY COMMISSIONS
SECTION TWELVE -- COMMISSION COMPOSITION
Each Commission shall be administered by a Chairman and such other personnel as authorized by Executive Order. All commission members shall be appointed by the Student Body President.
SECTION THIRTEEN-- COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES
Each Student Body Commission shall:
ARTICLE II LEGISLATIVE
SECTION ONE -- STUDENT SENATE
The supreme legislative power for the Student Body shall be vested in the Student Senate.
SECTION TWO -- STUDENT SENATE COMPOSITION
The Student Senate shall be composed of sixty-four Senators who shall represent each of the colleges of the University and special students.
SECTION THREE -- STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
At the time of the election, each Senator shall be a citizen of North Carolina State University as well as a student in good standing. Furthermore, Senators must remain enrolled in the University, and also remain students in good standing for their entire term in office. Every senator elected by a College Student Body shall be enrolled in that College, as determined by procedures set forth in the Student Body Statutes.
SECTION FOUR -- STUDENT SENATE APPORTIONMENT
Senators shall be apportioned among the colleges and recognized programs according to percentage of enrollment, as specified in the Student Body Statutes.
SECTION FIVE -- STUDENT SENATE VACANCIES
In the event of a vacancy in the Student Senate, the Student Senate President shall appoint a replacement from, when practicable, the same college or recognized program.
SECTION SIX -- STUDENT SENATE POWERS AND DUTIES
The Student Senate shall:
i. to agencies of Student Body Government;
ii. to such co-curricular activities registered with the University as it shall deem compatible with the general welfare of the Student Body, provided that all funds appropriated for use but not expended during a given year shall remain in the Student Body Funds;
i. that individual has been elected by the student body or
ii. that individual has been approved by the Student Senate through a constitutionally specified majority;
SECTION SEVEN -- STUDENT SENATE OFFICERS
The Student Senate President shall be the presiding officer of the Senate. The Student Senate shall select from its membership such other officers as may be necessary for its successful operation.
SECTION EIGHT -- STUDENT SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES
The concerns of the Student Senate shall be investigated and legislation may be formulated by the Student Senate Standing Committees. The specific area of concern and the specific duties of each Standing Committee shall be as chartered in the Student Body Statutes. Select, Special, and Ad Hoc Committees shall be formed by the Student Senate in the event that a matter of concern is not within the jurisdiction of the Standing Committees.
THE COLLEGE COUNCILS
SECTION NINE -- COLLEGE COUNCILS
Each of the several colleges of the University shall form Student Government organizations known as College Councils. Every College Council shall select representatives according to the guidelines drafted by the particular College Council. Each department in the school shall have the right to send student representatives to the school council if they so desire. The number of representatives from each department shall be left to the discretion of the College Council.
Each College Council shall establish a separate constitution which does not conflict with any part of this Constitution. Each College Council's constitution and subsequent amendments to that constitution must be ratified by two-thirds of the vote in a referendum of the College's enfranchised students.
SECTION TEN -- COLLEGE COUNCILS POWERS AND DUTIES
The College Councils shall:
THE RESIDENCE AREA COUNCILS
SECTION ELEVEN -- RESIDENCE AREA COUNCILS
Each of the Campus Residence Areas shall form student government organizations known as Residence Area Councils, which shall include representation from each residence unit within that Area. The campus residence areas shall be: Fraternity Area, the Residence Hall Area, the Off-Campus Area, and the E.S. King Village Area.
Each Residence Area Council shall establish a separate constitution which does not conflict with any part of this Constitution.
SECTION TWELVE -- RESIDENCE AREA COUNCILS POWERS AND DUTIES
Legislative power for Residence Areas shall be vested in the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Inter-Residence Council, the Off Campus Council, and the E.S. King Village Council. Each Residence Area Council shall:
THE STUDENT BODY CODE
SECTION ONE -- JUDICIAL SYSTEM AUTHORITY
The Judicial System is authorized to protect the rights of the Student Body and to insure the acceptance of responsibilities through procedures which shall be detailed in the Student Body Statutes.
SECTION TWO -- BASIC CODE
The Student Body Code prescribes that university students must not lie, cheat, or steal, nor exhibit behavior which does not reflect the standards of the Student Body.
SECTION THREE -- RULES OF CONDUCT
The Student Body Statutes may contain particular rules and regulations within the framework of the basic code.
SECTION FOUR -- RIGHTS OF THE RESPONDENT
No respondent shall be denied the right:
SECTION FIVE -- RIGHTS OF THE COMPLAINTANT
No Complainant shall be denied the right:
c. to receive assistance from a student or faculty member of his choice; or to receive assistance from the Judicial Affairs office;
THE JUDICIAL BOARD SYSTEM
SECTION SIX -- JUDICIAL BOARD CHARTER
The Judicial Board shall be chartered in the Student Body Statutes. The charter shall contain specifications detailing Board jurisdiction, composition, qualifications for election, and rules of procedure.
SECTION SEVEN -- JUDICIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP
No member of the Student Body Judicial Board may be a Student Body Officer, Senator, or may hold another position within the Judicial Board System. Members of the Student Body Judicial Board shall be selected through the process detailed in the Student Body Statutes.
THE JUDICIAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
SECTION EIGHT -- JUDICIAL AFFAIRS OFFICE POWERS AND DUTIES
The Judicial Affairs Office shall:
SECTION NINE -- JUDICIAL AFFAIRS OFFICE COMPOSITION
The Judicial Affairs Office shall be composed of:
b. assistants appointed by the Student Body Chief Justice with approval of the Student Senate.
THE REVIEW BOARD
SECTION TEN -- REVIEW BOARD
The supreme power of judicial review and shall be vested within the Review board of the Student Body.
SECTION ELEVEN -- REVIEW BOARD COMPOSITION
The Review board shall be composed of the Chief Justice and at least four Associate Justices, who shall not be Student Body Officers or Senators, appointed by the Student Body President and confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. Associate Justices must be citizens of the University and shall hold their offices during good behavior.
SECTION TWELVE -- REVIEW BOARD CHARTER
The Review Board shall be chartered in the Student Body Statutes. The charter shall contain specifications detailing jurisdiction of the court, composition, qualifications for appointment, and rules of procedure.
ARTICLE IV HONOR STATEMENT
We, the North Carolina State University Community, in order to foster an environment of scholarship and mutual disdain for academic dishonesty, hereby commit ourselves to uphold the principles of honor, integrity, and moral responsibility. As a community we deem it necessary:
to cultivate within each member these principles which will be adhered to throughout one's life;
to create trustworthy members of the community by placing trust in them;
to prevent any student from gaining an unfair advantage through dishonesty.
Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the members of the North Carolina State University Community:
to exercise judgement in accordance with these principles;
to encourage fellow members of the community to uphold these principles;
to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Code of Student Conduct.
ARTICLE V STUDENT MEDIA AUTHORITY
PREAMBLE -- CODE OF ETHICS
The student media are valuable in establishing and preserving an atmosphere of free and responsible discussion and intellectual exploration within the University community. To that end, the Student Media Authority exists to ensure that the code of ethics is followed. If such a goal is to be reached, freedom of inquiry and expression are guaranteed and, of equal importance, corollary responsibilities must be exercised by student editors and managers to provide reliable and responsible journalism. Such responsibilities include the avoidance of libel, obscenity, undocumented allegations, undue harassment, and unwarranted attacks on personal integrity.
SECTION ONE -- STUDENT MEDIA AUTHORITY JURISDICTION
All Media which are supported in whole or in part by funds from University Student Media Fees shall be defined as Student Body Media and shall be under the jurisdiction of the Student Media Authority.
SECTION TWO -- STUDENT MEDIA AUTHORITY COMPOSITION
Representation of the Media Authority shall be:
SECTION THREE -- STUDENT MEDIA AUTHORITY POWERS AND DUTIES
The Student Media Authority shall:
SECTION FOUR -- STUDENT MEDIA AUTHORITY OFFICERS
The Student Media Authority shall elect from the Student Body Representatives a Student Media Chair, who shall serve as a presiding officer.
SECTION FIVE -- THE STUDENT MEDIA STATUTES
The Student Media Statutes shall be the by-laws of this Article of the Constitution and shall require passage by a two-thirds majority vote of the Student Media Authority every year and shall not require passage by the Student Senate.
Each Student Body Media Charter must be entered in the Student Media Statutes. The Student Media Statutes shall be considered a part of the Student Body Documents and shall be available for the information of the Student Body.
ARTICLE VI STUDENT BODY STATUTES
The Student Body Statutes shall be the by-laws of the Constitution and shall require passage by a two-thirds majority vote of the Student Senate.
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS TO THE STUDENT BODY CONSTITUTION
All amendments to this Student Body Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority vote of those students voting in the Student Body Referendum following:
Section 2. Upon enrollment this act shall be presented, in its entirety, to the Student Body in the form of a single referendum.
Section 3. This act, with the sole exception of Article II Section 2, shall become effective upon approval o f two-thirds of those students voting in the said referendum.
Section 4. Article II Section 2 shall become effective upon the adjournment sine die of the 2002-2003 session of the Student Senate, provided that the aforementioned referendum received approval of two-thirds of those students voting in the said referendum.