Preamble

ARTICLE I. NAME

The association shall be named the Associated Students of MSU-Northern (ASMSU-N) and referred to as the Associated Students.

 

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

Any student registered for classes and who have paid the Student Activity Fee shall be granted active membership, and have all attendant rights and privileges.

 

ARTICLE III. SENATE

The Senate is the Legislative body of the Associated Students.  Legislative powers of the Associated Students shall be vested in the Senate.

 

Section 1. Officers

The officers of the Associated Students’ Senate shall be:

A. President

B. Vice President

C. Business Manager

 

Section 2. Selection/Election of Officers

A. Each officer of the Associated Students shall:

1. be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the Associated Students in the Fall or Spring Semester General Election,
    
2. maintain a 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA, through out his/her term of office,
    
3. maintain membership as stated in Article II,
    
4. and have at least 24 credits, (24 of which are completed while in residence at MSU-N) at the time he/she takes office.

Section 3.  Duties of Officers

A. The President shall carry out the duties of the office as defined by the ASMSU-N Bylaws.

B. The Vice-President shall carry out the duties of the office as defined by the ASMSU-N Bylaws.

C. The Business Manager shall carry out the duties of the office as defined by the ASMSU-N Bylaws.

D. Succession

1. In the absence of the President, the order of succession shall be the Vice President, followed by the Business Manager.
    
2. In the event that all officers are incapacitated on a permanent basis, the Judicial Council shall determine the most judicious means of obtaining new officers.

Section 4. Membership

A. The voting membership of the Senate shall consist of:

1. Three executive officers (President, who shall vote only in the case of a tie vote; Vice-President, and Business Manager.)
2. One Media Council Coordinator
3. One Program Council Coordinator
4. One Recreation Council Coordinator
5. Nine Senators at Large
6. Two Freshman Senators

B. Advisors

1. The Senate shall select one Faculty advisor and one Administrative advisor by their third regularly scheduled meeting.
2. The advisors’ terms are for one calendar year.
3. The advisors will act as ex-officio, non-voting members of the Senate.

Section 5. Selection/Election of Senator and Council Coordinators

Senator at Large and Council coordinator shall be composed of members chosen at the Fall and Spring general elections as outlined in the ASMSU-N Bylaws.

 

Section 6. Qualifications

Each Senator and council Coordinator shall:

A. be an active member of ASMSU-N and shall have

B. maintain a 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA, through out his/her term of office.

C. And have at least 24 credits, (24 of which are completed while in residence at MSU-N at the time he/she takes office with the exception of Freshman Senators at Large.

 

Section 7. Duties

A.      The members of the Senate shall:

1. attend regular and special meetings of the Senate,
2. each serve on two standing committees,
3. perform duties enumerated in the Bylaws.

B.     The Council Coordinators shall:

1. attend regular and special meetings of the Senate,
2. perform duties enumerated in the Bylaws.

Section 8. Removal

A.  Officers, Senators, and Council coordinators shall be automatically removed from office upon:

1. failure to have and maintain a 2.00 minimum GPA, per Semester he/she holds office.
2. violation of any rule enumerated in the Bylaws.

Section 9. Resignation

A. An official resignation must be presented in writing to the ASMSU-N President.

B. The president will bring the resignation to the Senate.

C. The resignation is only official upon acceptance by the Senate.

 

Section 10. Impeachment

A.  Any member of the Senate may be impeached for violating his/her responsibilities as defined in the constitution and Bylaws.

B.  The impeachment proceedings shall be conducted according to the impeachment procedures outlined in the Bylaws.

C.  The impeachment trial shall be conducted by the Judicial Council.

 

Section 11. Vacancies

A.  When a vacancy occurs in any of the elected Senate positions, the position will be declared vacant and will be publicly advertised for five calendar days as a position open for replacement.  The Campus Affairs committee shall convene over the application process, and submit the name(s) of the eligible student(s) to the President who shall appoint said student(s) for the remaining term of office; with the advice and consent of the Senate.

 

ARTICLE IV. FINANCE

 

Section 1. Definition

The Associated Students shall be supported and maintained with funds derived from student activity fees.

Section 2. Purpose

A. The Senate shall be responsible for developing and maintaining a fiscal policy and procedures, which shall be followed in all expenditures of funds.

B. The Senate shall develop and publish an annual budget each Spring for the following academic year.

C. No funds shall be disbursed until the Chancellor of Montana State University – Northern approves the ASMSU-N Senate annual budget.

 

ARTICLE V. SENATE MEETINGS

 

Section 1. Regular Meetings

A. The Senate must convene at least twice a month during the academic year.  The regular location and time shall be established by the Senate.  All regular meetings are open to any member of the Associated Students.

B. Two-thirds of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum.

C. Executive Session

1. The Senate executive consists of the President and all voting Senate members.
2. The executive session shall be called in accordance with State and Federal law.
3. The Senate may call an executive session by two-thirds vote.

D. Town Hall Meeting

1. The Senate must hold a Town hall meeting once every Fall and Spring Semester.
2. A Town Hall Meeting is one in which any Associated Student may attend, and:

a. Bring any issue before the Senate,
b. Speak on any issue before the Senate,
c. And vote on any issue before the Senate, unless noted in the Bylaws.

E. All proceedings of the Senate shall be conducted in conformity with Robert’s Rules of Order.  In the case of a conflict the Constitution and/or Bylaws shall rule.

 

Section 2. Special Meetings

Special Meetings may be called by the President or by a two-thirds vote of the Senate.

 

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND COUNCILS

Section 1. Definition

A. Activities of the Associated Students shall be handled through such standing committees, commissions, and councils as established in the Bylaws and any other committees which the President, with the advice and approval of the Senate, deems necessary.

B. Members of the Senate committees shall be appointed by the President with the advice and approval of the Senate, unless otherwise stated in the Constitution and/or Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE VII.  JUDICIAL COUNCIL

 

Section 1. Definition

The Judicial Council decides on any matter not specifically covered in the Constitution.

 

Section 2. Duties

A. To interpret the Constitution when a majority of the members of the Senate request an interpretation.

B. To make the rulings on the legality of committee activities under Senate policy when requested to do so by a majority of the Senate.

C. To try cases of impeachment when cases are presented before the Judicial Council by the Senate.

 

Section 3. Membership

A. The membership shall include three students appointed by the incumbent President, and approved by two-thirds of the incumbent Senate at the last regular meeting in April.

B. Members will take office the first day of Fall term and serve to the end of Spring term.

C. One member, selected by members of the council, shall serve as Chief Justice of the Council.

D. If any members of the Council resign, the Council shall nominate a successor, to be approved by the Senate.

E. Members of the Council:

1. shall be of at least Sophomore standing.
2. shall have and maintain a GPA of 2.00 or better throughout each semester they hold office.
3. shall be enrolled as members of the Associated Students each term they are in office.
4. shall not be a member of the Senate of any other Senate committee, commission, or council, or an officer of any campus club or organization.
5. cannot be a graduate student.

Section 4. Meetings

A. The Judicial Council shall meet within two school days after receiving a request for consideration of an issue. Within a period of three school days, the Council must render a judgment unless the President of the Associated Students grants an extension of time.

B. If the President declines to grant an extension the Judicial council must make a ruling at the next regularly scheduled Senate meeting.

C. If the Judicial Council does not render a judgment within the specified time the responsibility reverts to the Senate.

 

Section 5. Binding Authority

A. The Judicial council judgments are binding in the Senate and all parties involved.

B. Judgments remain in effect until superseded by the constitutional or legislative change or by a subsequent ruling from the Judicial Council.

 

ARTICLE VIII. ELECTION COMMISSION

 

Section 1. Definition

There shall be an Election Commission responsible for conducting all Senate elections.

 

Section 2. Membership

A. The Commission shall consist of a chairperson and four members recommended by the Campus Affairs Committee, and appointed by the incumbent President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

B. Appointments shall be made prior to the end of each academic year.

C. Term of office begins the first day of Fall term and ends the last day of Spring term.

D. A member of the Election Commission shall not be a member of the Senate or any other Senate committee, commission, or council, nor may they be an officer in a club or organization.

E. Members must have and maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

 

ARTICLE IX. ELECTIONS

 

Section 1. Qualifications

Only the members of the Associated Students shall be eligible to hold any elected or appointed position or to vote in any Associated Student election. A person shall not hold or be a candidate for more than one elected position at one time.

 

Section 2. Elections

All Associated Student elections shall be under the supervision of the Election commission, unless otherwise noted in the Constitution or Bylaws

 

ARTICLE X. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

 

Section 1. Initiative

A. Legislation may be placed on the ballot of a general election for action by ASMSU-N upon presentation of a petition specifying the action to be considered and bearing the signatures of fifteen percent active members of ASMSU-N.

B. Passage requires two-thirds vote of all ballots cast.

 

Section 2. Referendum

A. Any act of the Senate may be referred by a petition specifying the action to be considered and bearing the signatures of fifteen percent of active members of ASMSU-N.

B. Passage requires Two-thirds vote of all ballots cast.

 

Section 3. Enactment

A. The Senate must hold a special election within fifteen school days.

B. Initiated and referred measures that pass shall take effect immediately.

C. Initiated and referred measures tat fail shall not be reconsidered for at least ninety days from the date of election.

 

ARTICLE XI. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUPS

 

Section 1. Responsibility

A. Student organizations and clubs are responsible to the Senate, and:

1. must have a Constitution and any Bylaws on file with the Senate.
2. must have an active advisor whose duty is to assure the organization or club obeys all State and Federal laws and regulations and University System unit policies.
3. must complete and IOC registration form within six weeks of the start of the Fall or Spring Semester.

B. Organizations and clubs shall present reports to the Senate upon the request of the Senate.

 

Section 2. Standing committees, Commissions, and Councils

A. The Senate exercises supervision over all standing committees, commissions, and councils.  Any recommendations of the standing committees, commissions, and councils require a majority vote from the Senate for adoption.

Section 3. Appointments

A. The appointments of all chairpersons and members of the committees, commissions, and councils shall be made by the President or Vice President unless otherwise provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws.

B. All appointments shall be appointed as the Bylaws direct, and subject to Senate approval.

 

ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS

A proposed amendment shall be substituted to vote by a majority approval of the Senate, or by a petition of fifteen percent of the active members of the Associated Students. Twenty-five percent of the active members must vote, and those two-thirds must vote for the amendment for ratification.

 

ARTICLE XIII. BYLAWS

Section 1. Definition

The Senate shall enact such measures as necessary to carry out the provisions of the Constitution.

 

Section 2. Enactment

New Bylaws or changes in existing Bylaws must be read at a Senate meeting and voted upon at the next regular Senate meeting.

 

ARTICLE XIV. SPECIAL ENACTMENT

This Constitution shall take effect immediately upon its passage. This Constitution replaces and repeals all previous Constitutions

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