Constitution

Student Government Association | Constitution

THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS GOVERNING

THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OF

THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

PAUL H. NITZE

SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

PREAMBLEThe objectives of the Student Government Association (SGA) of The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) include the following: 

1) Orienting and introducing new students to the school;

2) Representing the student body to the administration, faculty, community and alumni;

3) Promoting student opinion and interests;

4) Ensuring proper student representation at the appropriate levels of policy formulation at SAIS;

5) Encouraging student participation in the development of SAIS. 

In pursuing these objectives, the SGA will remain responsible and accountable to the student body and sensitive to the long-term interests of SAIS.  In working to ensure proper student representation, the SGA reserves the right to be consulted on appointments of student representatives to SAIS programs and affiliated bodies in The Johns Hopkins University System.  The SGA will abide by the rules set forth in this document and will ensure that its work responds to the demands of its mission and the ever changing environment within which it operates. 

Article 1

SGA Composition

1) There shall be an elected SGA Executive. It shall comprise:

a. The President of the SGA, who shall be Chair of the Executive and the principal officer of the SGA

b. The Vice-President

c. The Treasurer

d. The Bologna Center Representative

e. The Social Chair

f.  Two First-year Representatives

g. The MIPP Representative

 
 Article 2

The President

1) The President shall maintain the external orientation, ensuring that proper communication and activities are conducted between the SAIS student body and other elements of The Johns Hopkins University community.  These bodies include:

a. The Deans of SAIS

b. The SAIS Alumni Council

c. The SAIS Advisory Council

d. The Johns Hopkins University Executive Alumni Committee

e. The Johns Hopkins University Student Advisory Council (which is operated through the ProvostÃ_s office).

2) The President shall serve as spokesperson for the student body and preside over SGA meetings.

3) The President shall work closely with the Vice-President on the formation and administration of student committees.

4) The President shall convene and preside over all open student meetings.

5) The President shall ultimately be responsible for all SGA functions and obligations.

6) The President shall have the authority to appoint new members of the SGA if members resign or are impeached.

Article 3

The Vice-President

1) The Vice-President shall maintain the internal orientation of the SGA, overseeing student activities and committees and concentrating on the administrative needs of the student body and SGA.

2) The Vice-President assumes presidential duties and responsibilities in the PresidentÃ_s absence.

3) The Vice-President shall ensure that the SGA maintains the appropriate level of transparency with the student body.  This shall be done in the following ways:

a. Posting the minutes of SGA and Committee meetings online when appropriate;

b. Maintaining means for anonymous student feedback as well as open channels of regular communication;

c. Operating regular and well-publicized office hours;

d. Taking advantage of another appropriate and useful means of ensuring student awareness of SGA services;

4) The Vice-President shall assume principle responsibility for the academic affairs portfolio.  As Academic Committee Chairperson, the Vice-president shall act to:

a. Liaise with the SAIS Academic Board;

b. Preside over Academic Affairs Committee meetings and coordinates its activities;

c. Ensure representation of one student from each department, as well as both a MIPP and PhD representative, to the Academic Affairs Committee;

d. Ensure student representation to all department chairs;

e. Ensure student representation on faculty search committees;

f. Coordinate student activities involving the Admissions Office.

5) The Vice-President shall be responsible for communicating the activities of the Academic  Committee, its student representatives and relevant departmental developments to the SGA.

Article 4

The Treasurer

1) The Treasurer shall act as the custodian and remitter of all SGA funds.

a. SGA funds shall be disbursed for relevant student activities in accordance with the rules governing student organizations and other student activities established by the SGA. 

b. SGA funds for activities shall be disbursed only after other avenues of funding have been exhausted.

c. The Treasurer shall act in concert and consultation on budgetary questions with the SGA and shall be the primary signatory on all SGA accounts.

i. No SGA member shall approve a budgetary expense outside predetermined budget limits without consulting the Treasurer or the President when the Treasurer is not available.

ii. No SGA member shall be allowed to reimburse him or herself for any expenses incurred on behalf of the SGA or another approved student organization, but must have another member of the SGA issue and sign such a reimbursement.

iii. In the event that the Treasurer requires reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the SGA or another approved student organization, such a reimbursement must be issued and signed by either the President or Vice-president.

2) While the above is primarily the SGA treasurer's domain, it behooves the SGA to act in concert and consultation on budgetary questions.  Ultimately though, only the treasurer shall disburse student funds aside from the exceptions mentioned.

3) The Treasurer shall be the student representative to the SAIS administration on all budgeting issues.

4) The Treasurer shall annually present the student budget for SGA and administration approval.

5) The Treasurer shall arbitrate on the behalf of students over financial aid problems.

6) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial administration of weekly happy hours.

7) The Treasurer shall be the primary contact person for all student organizations and as such shall oversee new club registration and communication between the SGA, leaders of student organizations, Career Services and Student Life.

Article 5

The Bologna Center Representative

1) The Bologna Center Representative shall attend to the academic and service needs of returning Bologna students.  As such the Bologna Center Representative shall closely liaise with all other SGA officers in planning Orientation.

2) The Bologna Center Representative shall organize events, which help to integrate returning Bologna students into the Washington student body.

3) The Bologna Center Representative shall serve as student representative on the administrationÃ_s Bologna Committee.

4) The Bologna Center Representative shall ensure that all relevant information is properly communicated between the Washington and Bologna student bodies.

5) The Bologna Center Representative shall prepare for and facilitate the arrival of the next Bologna Center Class.

6) The Bologna Center Representative shall act as the DC liaison for the Bologna Center Student Government.

 Article 6

The Social Chair

1) The Social Chair shall organize, recruit and oversee the work and functions of the social committee.

2) The Social Chair will also serve as the Director of the Student Foundation, and as such, will work to raise funds for summer internship scholarships or other charities selected by the SGA with input from the student body.

3) The Social Chair shall be directly responsible for the organization of six school-wide annual social events that may include:

a. Welcome Back Dance

b. Halloween Party

c. International Dinner

d. Student Auction including Mr. SAIS

e. SAISapalooza (the student talent show)

f. Spring Formal

4) The Social Chair shall optimize the organization of the six school-wide annual social events so to build community among students. The Social Chair shall be guided by this primary objective while aiming to maximize the Social CommitteeÃ_s donation to the Student Foundation.

5) The Social Chair shall appoint, in agreement with the SGA, individual students to oversee the organization of all other school-wide social events.

 Article 7

The First-year Representatives

1) The First-year Representatives shall attend to the academic and service needs of all members of the first-year class.

2) The First-year Representatives shall organize events which help to integrate the first-year class into the Washington student body.

3) The First-year Representatives shall be responsible for the drafting and dissemination of the SGAÃ_s weekly informational emails.

Article 8

The MIPP Representative

1) The MIPP Representative shall attend to the academic and service needs of all MIPP students.

2) The MIPP Representative shall organize events, which help to integrate MIPP students into the Washington student body.

Article 9

SGA Committee Portfolios

In addition to the responsibilities described above, each newly-elected SGA shall distribute the following portfolios among themselves and interested students. The chair person of each committee shall organize, recruit and oversee the committee and its functions. If student interest is not sufficient to delegate chairperson responsibility outside the immediate scope of the elected officers, the SGA shall then divide responsibility for these portfolios ñ evenly, definitively, and according to each officerÃ_s interests ñ among themselves at the beginning of their term.  All committees shall report to the SGA and shall have expenditures approved by the SGA.  The SGA President shall ensure that all chairpersons are appointed no later than one week after the election of the MIPP and First-year Representatives.  The Chair of the Orientation Committee shall be appointed before the end of the previous academic year.  In the event of a disputed appointment, the SGA Executive shall have the final vote.

The SGA shall institute the following committees:

1) The Orientation Committee

a. This committee shall be formed by the beginning of May of the previous Academic Year by the incoming DC SGA representatives.

b. This committee shall aid the administration in the scheduling of events and informational sessions to orient incoming first-year students, returning Bologna students, MIPP and PhD candidates to the academic requirements and student services of the SAIS DC campus.

c. Shall organize a group of volunteer students to house for short periods incoming students who are new to Washington.

d. Shall work closely with the Social Committee in organizing social events for Orientation that incorporate as many returning DC, Bologna and first-year students as possible so to better integrate the campus before the start of classes.

e. Shall assist the administration with a mini-orientation for the traditionally smaller number of students entering in January.

f. Shall report to the SGA on all committee activities.

2) The Academic Committee

a. Shall ensure that the concerns and desires of the Student body are accurately represented in the academic planning and decision making at SAIS.

b. Shall be composed of committee members from each academic program as well as from the MIPP and PhD programs.  Each committee member shall be responsible for the following:

i. Representing intra-program concerns to the program director;

ii. Ensuring student participation on search committees;

iii. Striving for student representation on any program budgetary decision-making;

iv. Working to increase the response rate of course evaluations at the end of each semester and posting this information electronically;

v. Soliciting copies of midterms and finals from professors and posting this information electronically;

vi. Reporting through regularly scheduled meetings to the Chair of the Academic Committee.

c. Shall liaise on behalf of students with each academic program and assist programs in disseminating information to their respective students regarding responses to concerns, complaints and suggestions when necessary.

d. Shall conduct a survey each semester designed to gauge student opinion of the quality of SAIS academic programs, student services and facilities.  Each survey shall be prepared and administered no later than the first week of November and the first week of April in the fall and spring semesters respectively.  In pursuing this responsibility, the Academic Committee shall:

i. Work closely with the SGA Student Services Committee as well as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in formulating survey questions and format;

ii. Advertise for the survey in a sufficient manner to guarantee maximum return rates;

iii. Compile the findings into a results report which is then to be posted online highlighting the issues raised by students, steps taken and plans for addressing these issues.

e. Shall conduct an exit poll in May of all students, monitoring the opinions with regard the quality of SAIS academic and departmental programs as well as that of the schoolÃ_s student services and facilities.

f. Shall report to the SGA on all committee activities.

3) The Student Services Committee:

a. Shall ensure the maintenance of student services, with particular reference to the following offices and entities:

i. Financial Aid

ii. Business Office

iii. Information Technology and computer services

iv. Communications

v. Registrar

vi. Student Life

vii. Cafeteria and food services

viii. Library Services

ix. Career Services

x. International Student Services

xi. Student Facilities

b. Shall be composed of committee members representing as many academic programs as possible with each one assigned a particular office or aspect of student services on which to concentrate.  These committee members will then act as the primary liaisons between the SGA and their assigned office or entity of student services and will report regularly to the Chair of the Student Services Committee.

c. Shall be formed at the beginning of the academic year during Orientation with spaces left open for interested first-year students.    

d. Shall work in close partnership each semester with the Academic Committee in the creation, administration and results reporting of the school-wide survey with the specific responsibility for all non-academic aspects.

e. Shall closely cooperate with all offices of student services and personnel to ensure continuous improvement of services at SAIS.

f. Shall report to the SGA on all committee activities.

4) The Social Committee and Student Foundation:

a. Shall oversee the organization of all annual SAIS social events.

b. Shall work closely with the Treasurer on financial arrangements surrounding SGA sponsored events including the drafting and approval of the annual SGA budget before the first day of class of the fall semester.

c. Shall devote the revenue earned from social events to raise funds for the Student Foundation to be used for summer internship scholarships or other charities selected by the SGA with input from the student body.

d. Shall ensure the formation of a Class Gift Committee in coordination with the Development Office.

e. Shall report to the SGA on all committee activities.

5) The Community Affairs Committee:

a. Shall encourage and coordinate SAIS student participation in the community outside of SAIS.

b. Shall coordinate student volunteer projects in the Washington, DC community.

c. Shall establish and build upon links with the other international graduate studies programs in Washington and throughout the country. 

d. Shall establish and build upon social and community links with The Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus and other graduate divisions.

e. Shall report to the SGA on all committee activities.

6) The Commencement Committee

a. Shall be receptive to student opinion when selecting the commencement speaker.

b. Shall work with the administration over the course of the academic year to ensure the best possible commencement speaker.

c. Shall convey a list of six names to the administration before the end of May of the preceding academic year.

d. Shall, in the event the dean is unable to get an acceptance from among the candidates on the first list, in haste produce for the dean a back-up list of similar length.

e. Shall report to the other members of the SGA on all committee activities, methods being used for name solicitation and general progress toward the compilation of a final list.

f. Shall assist the administration in ensuring that all students register to graduate and make appropriate related arrangements including cap and gown purchases in a timely manner.

Article 10

SGA Elections

1) Timing and Conditions

a. The President, the Treasurer and the Social Chair shall be selected by MA1, MA2, MA3 and non-graduating PhD candidates through elections that should be held no later than spring break of the spring semester.

b. The newly elected President, Treasurer and Social Chair shall serve on the SGA Executive as non-voting members-elect until the official hand over of business at the end of the last day of classes of the spring semester.

c. All full-time MA students enrolled in their first or second semester at the time of the election shall be eligible to run for the offices of the President, the Treasurer and the Social Chair.

d. Candidates shall run for specific offices.

e. The MIPP Representative shall be elected from among the MIPP student population no later than four weeks into the fall semester.  Only MIPP students shall be eligible to vote.

f.  The two First-year Representatives shall be elected from among the first-year population no later than four weeks into the fall semester.  Only first-year students shall be eligible to vote.

g. The Vice President and the Bologna Center Representative shall be elected at the Bologna Center campus in accordance with the by-laws of the Bologna Center SGA.

2) Mode of election

a. Each candidate shall submit a document outlining his or her platform together with his or her intent to run for office to the SGA by the deadline set by the sitting SGA.

b. Candidates shall be announced, with their respective platforms, after two weeks notification of all upcoming elections.

c. Elections shall be held no less than one week after official notification of candidates and announcement of polling dates, times and locations.

d. Elections shall be held over the course of three full days of online balloting.  The ballot is secret.  The candidate with the highest number of direct votes shall win the elections.

e. Academic programs and PhD candidates should choose student representatives for the next yearÃ_s Academic Affairs Committee concurrently with SGA elections, but may do so according to the method each deems most appropriate.

3) SGAÃ_s Election Responsibilities

a. The SGA shall canvass first and second semester MA students interested in running for SGA office.

b. The SGA shall arrange and advertise for elections.

c. The SGA shall coordinate with the administration to administer the online election and make available, on demand, tabulated election results.

d. The SGA shall provide the incoming SGA with information concerning all ongoing business and procedures.

Article 11

Disciplinary Procedures of the SGA

1) As the Chair of the Executive and principle officer, the President is responsible for ensuring that all SGA members are fulfilling their constitutional duties and any other responsibilities conferred upon them by the SGA.

2) In the event that SGA members are receiving remuneration for their work:

a. The disbursement of these moneys shall be conditional upon successful and satisfactory completion of responsibilities as outlined by the constitution and conferred by the SGA.

b. The President, in consultation with the other members of the SGA, shall determine when and if responsibilities have been successfully and satisfactorily completed and will have the power to delay, decrease or cancel remuneration when deemed necessary and appropriate.

c. The SGA shall be able to overrule the disciplinary decisions of the President regarding remuneration with the vote of 5 members.  Neither the President nor the Representative in question will be eligible to vote in this matter.

d. The SGA will also be able to delay, decrease or cancel remuneration for the President with the votes of 5 members.

e. If remuneration is canceled or decreased for any member of the SGA, then the balance will be divided among the remaining members evenly unless a majority of the remaining SGA members selects some other arrangement. 

3) SGA Representatives can be impeached and removed from office in one of two ways:

a. A unanimous decision by the other seven SGA officers.

b. 66% student support for the removal in a special school-wide referendum with at least 25% of the student population voting.

   & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      & amp;nbsp;      < ;/strong>

Article 12

Constitutional Amendment Procedures

1) Amendments to the Constitution may be ratified in two ways:

a. Put to a student referendum:

i. To put an Amendment to a student referendum it must have unanimous support from the SGA or signatures from 10% of the student body;

ii. To be ratified by referendum, the amendment must win 66% of the vote with at least 25% of the student population voting.

b. Unanimous approval by the SGA:

i. This vote must take place in a public town hall meeting that has been listed on the SAIS master calendar for at least two-weeks;

ii. Any proposed amendment that does not receive unanimous SGA approval after going before a town hall meeting will automatically go to school-wide referendum.

Ratified by unanimous town-hall vote:  Tuesday, the 28th of April 2009