ABOUT THE

GENERAL STUDENT SENATE

The General Student Senate is the legislative arm of Student Government.  It is responsible for most of the activity Student Government engages in.  What follows is the Constitutional description of the General Student Senate.

PART I – GENERAL STUDENT SENATE (GSS)

SECTION 1 - PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose of the GSS to serve as the Legislative and Judicial Body of the Student Government. 

SECTION 2 - POWERS

A.  Shall be the final authority on all matters of finance.

B.  Shall be the final authority on all matters of policy which concern Student Government.

C.  Shall have the power to make regulations concerning the General Student Body.

D.  Shall retain all judicial power of Student Government including the power to interpret this Constitution.  In the event a complaint is filed against the entire GSS then the GSS Oversight Commission shall be the final authority on that complaint only as enumerated under Article IV, Part II.

E.  Shall have the power to send any resolution to a referendum of the General Student Body by a three-fifths (3/5) vote.

F.  Shall have the power to make recommendations to other legislative and administrative bodies and officials concerning the welfare of the General Student Body.

G.  Shall have the power to recognize, and to remove said recognition, from student organizations.

H.  May call upon any member of the Executive Branch to come before the GSS and to be publicly accountable for his/her actions.

I.   Shall appoint, or cause to be appointed its own committees.

J.   Shall initiate programs as needs arise.

SECTION 3 - MEMBERSHIP 

A.  Shall consist of not less than thirty-five (35) and not more than fifty-five (55) seats for membership.  Members seated shall be titled Senators, to be apportioned on a basis that will ensure, as far as it is practicable, that equal numbers of voters can vote for proportionally equal numbers of senators.

B.  Shall set the qualifications for its membership.

C.  Shall hold one (1) election a year.

SECTION 4 - GSS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

The GSS shall be run in accordance with its own governing documents which shall regulate the procedures of the body.