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The USG Constitution
ARTICLE V - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (SENATE)
Section I
Membership
A. The Senate shall be composed of 20 elected Senators and the Executive Branch, which includes, the President, Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Vice Treasurer, and four (4) Administrative Vice Presidents. In addition the Senator Pro-Tem and the Rules and Regulations Chair shall also be member sof the Senate.
B. The senate shall have no more than five (5) less Students-At-Large than Senators.
1. Students-At-Large must fill out an application and be approved by the senate before assuming office.
2. All legislative branch members must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (with the exception of the Executive Branch).
3. Students-at-Large are non-Voting Members of the Senate
Section II
Responsibilities of Legislative Branch
A. Meetings
1. The Senate may investigate and act on all matters that may affect the USG members.
2. The USG has the right to tax its membership to provide funds for educational, recreational, cultural, and social programs and to provide funds for the general welfare of the student body.
3. Meetings will be scheduled at least once a week on a date set by the members of the Senate.
4. Special meetings may be called by the USG President or in the absence of the President by the Vice President, or by a majority (14) of the Legislative Branch, or by two percent (2%) of the USG membership by petition.
B. Quorum
1. A quorum consisting of a majority (14) of the voting members of the Senate shall be required to conduct business.
2. In a meeting where the active voting membership is affected by vacancies, quorum shall be a majority of the current active voting members.
C. Duties and Powers of Legislative Branch
1. Allocation of the USG Budget for the ensuing year.
2. Oversee income and expenses of the USG funded organizations through the Budget Committee.
3. Budget Changes:
a. Approve all line item changes in excess of $1,000.00 or which are in excess of 20% of the organization's entire budget.
b. Approve all cash balance withdrawals in excess of $1,500.00.
c. The President of the college or his designee must approve all changes in the USG Budget if the SUNY Board of Trustees requires it.
d. Referendum shall not be held to determine financial allocations to organizations recognized or otherwise. This provision shall only be affected or amended by a 4/5 vote of three successive legislations.
4. Confiscate books and withdraw the right to use the USG funds of any group upon the suspension or withdrawal of the constitution of that USG organization.
5. Shall act as liaisons to USG organizations.
6. The Senate may overrule any action of the Treasurer and/or the Budget Committee by a majority of members present.
7. Conduct referendums and polls to determine student opinion on relevant matters.
8. Develop the USG activities - recreational, educational, social and cultural.
9. Pass legislation for the general welfare of the student body.
10. Ratify constitutions and amendments to existing constitutions for all organizations and groups who are currently recognized or are working toward becoming a USG recognized organization.
11. Complete and return all liason reports. (Not to exceed two groups per senator with no more than two reports a semester per group.)
D. The Senate for the purpose of expediting the affairs of the Senate shall make the House Rules.
E. Attendance
1. Requirements
a. All Senators and Student at Larges are required to attend all Senate and/or respective committee meetings.
b. All Senators and Student at Larges are required to attend any event that the Executive Branch deems necessary.
c. The Rules Chair and Executive Vice President shall monitor committee and Senate absences and inform the President of any Violations.
2. Violations
a. Any member of the USG holding an office that has three (3) absences in one semester shall be immediately dismissed from office. After two (2) absences, the Rules and Regulations Chair shall issue a warning to the said Senator or Student at Large.
b. Anyone arriving after the conclusion of roll call to a Senate meeting will be charged with 1⁄2 an absence. Anyone leaving a Senate meeting early will be charged with 1⁄2 an absence; attendance to be taken before adjournment.
1) Only the President and/or Executive Vice President may excuse an individual from a Senate meeting.
c. For each liaison report not completed and turned in not completed the senator shall receive a 1⁄2 absence on due date.
1) Only the Senator Pro-Tempore may excuse an individual from a liaison report.
d. For any function a Senator or Student at Large fails to attend when he/she has previously committed to the function, they shall be charged a 1⁄2 absence.
1) Only the individual organizing the event may excuse a member from the event.
e. Any Senator or Student at Large shall have 7 days to contest an absence from the date the absence occurred.
F. Qualifications of USG Senators:
1. Must be activity fee paying members of the USG.
2. Senators must have and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
3. Must resign any officer position they may have in any of the USG organizations.
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