Student Senate for California Community Colleges Region IV Constitution PREAMBLE We, the students of the California Community College System, do hereby establish the Student Senate for California Community Colleges Region IV, in conjunction with local associated student organizations, to represent the students in Region IV community colleges at the state level through the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. Further, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges Region IV is recognized as the representative community college associated student government organization before the Board of Governors and Chancellor s Office in accordance with Title 5, Section 50002. ARTICLE I. NAME The name of this student body organization shall be the Student Senate for California Community Colleges Region IV, hereafter referred to as Region IV Student Senate. ARTICLE II. PURPOSE Section 1. Purpose The Region IV Student Senate shall fulfill the following responsibilities: a) Representation To serve as the voice of the students in matters of statewide and regional concerns before the SSCCC and officials with subject matter and/or local jurisdiction. b) Collaboration To foster relationships with different student boards, local student senates, and other statewide agencies or organizations that have an interest in student affairs. c) Accountability To function as a democratically elected and empowered body remaining accountable to its constituency, expressing the general will of the students and following through with its responsibilities. d) Communication 1
To Provide ongoing dissemination of information in order to enhance awareness of statewide and regional issues and maximize input from students. ARTICLE III. REGION IV STUDENT SENATE Constituency All Region IV community college students shall be represented by the Region IV Student Senate and may fully participate in accordance with the provisions set forth in the constitution and California Community Colleges in Region IV a) List of Colleges 1. Cabrillo 2. Chabot 3. De Anza 4. Evergreen Valley 5. Foothill 6. Gavilan 7. Hartnell 8. Las Positas 9. Mission 10. Monterey Peninsula 11. Ohlone 12. San Jose City 13. West Valley ARTICLE IV. REGION IV STUDENT SENATE Representatives The Region IV Student Senate shall be comprised of one regional voting delegate from each Region IV college, one non voting delegate from a Region IV college to hold the position of Chair, and one non voting delegate from a Region IV college to hold the position of Justice. The colleges in Region IV are defined in Article 3, Section 2a. Eligibility Region IV Student Senate Representatives shall continuously meet the requirements specified in Education Code 76061. Selection and Term a) Each voting delegate shall be appointed by their local associated student body within Region IV in accordance with a voting process established by their respective community college. b) The Chair and Justice shall be selected in accordance with the procedures in Article IV, Section 8b. 2
c) All Region IV delegates, voting and non voting, shall serve for a one year term beginning July 1 st through June 30 th. Section 4. Section 5. Vacancies In the case of a vacancy of a Region IV voting delegate, the respective community college shall select a replacement in accordance with their local procedures. In the case of vacancy of either the Chair, or the Justice of Region IV, a replacement shall be immediately elected in accordance with Article IV, Section 8b. Meetings The Region IV Student Senate shall have at least one regional meeting per month. Section 6. Section 7. Voting All Region IV Student Senate delegates, shall have an individual vote, with the exception of the Chair and Justice. The Chair shall only vote in the case of a tie. Power and Duties a) The Region IV Student Senate shall implement policies adopted by the region, act on behalf of Region IV to transact business and perform other functions consistent with the intent, purpose, and provisions of the governing documents. b) The Region IV Student Senate has the authority to create bylaws to implement the articles of the constitution, establish uniformity for the conduct of elections and other necessary business of the Region IV Student Senate. c) The Region IV Student Senate shall reserve the fiscal powers and responsibilities on behalf of Region IV as defined in the bylaws except as prohibited by law. Section 8. Executive Officers a) List of Officers The Executive Officers of Region IV Student Senate shall include the Chair, Vice Chair, Justice, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Officer, and Outreach Coordinator. b) Selection All officers shall be elected by the Region IV Student Senate and shall be chosen among the voting delegates of the Region IV Student Senate by simple majority vote except in the case of the Chair and Justice. The Chair and Justice shall be chosen from among the students of the colleges in Region IV as listed in Article III, Section 2a by a majority vote c) Order of Succession The order of succession shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Justice, Treasurer, Communications Officer, Activities Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator, and Secretary. 3
d) Duties of Officers i. Chair The Chair shall act as a spokesperson for the Region IV Student Senate and preside over all administrative duties as outlined by the ii. Vice Chair The Vice Chair shall assist the chair and assume the tasks of the Chair in case of absence and all other duties as outlined by the iii. Justice The Justice shall advise the Region IV Student Senate on procedure aid in the creation and interpretation of governing documents and all other duties as outlined by the iv. Communications Officer The Communications officer shall be in charge of dissemination of information and all other duties as outlined by the v. Treasurer The Treasurer shall keep track of all finances and report all expenditures and all other duties as outlined by the The treasurer shall work diligently with our financial account advisor to ensure transparency and financial accountability. vi. Outreach Coordinator The Outreach Coordinator shall be responsible for coordinating all marketing materials, events and all other duties as outlined by the The Outreach Coordinator shall work alongside the Communications Officer for the dissemination of information of throughout the region. vii. Secretary The Secretary shall be in charge of all record keeping and all other duties as outlined by the ARTICLE V. REGION IV SENATORS 4
Governance and Policy Senators, two (2) i. Shall participate in any and all shared governance activities and committees as directed by the Region IV Council and the SSCCC Council and report back to the Region IV Council ii. Shall uphold the Region IV constitution and bylaws as well as the SSCCC Constitution and iii. Shall report monthly to the Region IV Council on any shared governance activities. iv. The Region IV Chair may serve as one of the Governance and Policy Senators External Affairs Senator, one (1) i. Shall participate in any and all External Affairs activities and committees as directed by the Region IV Council and the SSCCC. ii. Shall uphold the Region IV constitution and bylaws as well as the SSCCC Constitution and iii. Shall report monthly to the Region IV Council on any External Affairs activities. ARTICLE VI. ACTION Power Clause In conjunction with SSCCC, Region IV shall be granted authority to meet and conduct business for Region IV Student Senate. Quorum At the Region IV meeting, a quorum to conduct Region IV Student Senate business shall consist of a simple majority of authorized voting delegates from each college as designated for Region IV, notwithstanding those colleges who are certified inactive in accordance with the Referendum A referendum on an action taken by the Region IV Student Senate assembly may be called by a resolution requesting such action by one third of the Region IV Student Senate. Approval of the referendum shall require a majority vote. ARTICLE VII. ADVISOR Role of Advisor 5
An advisor may be identified at each Region IV Student Senate meeting to provide guidance and support. ARTICLE VIII. PROCEDURE Ratification The constitution becomes effective upon adoption by a two thirds vote of the present Region IV Student Senate voting delegates. Constitutional Amendments a) Constitution may be amended only by a two thirds vote of the present Region IV Student Senate voting delegates. b) Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be discussed and/or acted upon at the Region IV meeting upon receipt by the Chair. Any Region IV community college or any Region IV community college student can bring forward a resolution to their respective voting delegate to be presented at the next regional meeting. In order for a resolution to be addressed, a resolution must be signed by a majority of the voting delegates and received, at the latest, a day prior to the meeting. Bylaws Bylaws may be adopted or amended by a 2/3 vote of present Region IV voting delegates after two readings of the proposal. The proposal shall be read for the second time not less than two regularly scheduled meetings after the first meeting. ARTICLE IX. RULES OF PROCEDURE Parliamentary Authority All meetings of Region IV shall be conducted according to the current edition of Robert s Rules of Order. Brown Act All meetings of the Region IV Student Senate shall abide by the provisions stated in the Brown Act. ARTICLE IX. INELIGIBILITY, IMPEACHMENT, RECALL, AND NOTIFICATION Academic Ineligibility The Region IV Student Senate Shall Declare any executive/regional representative position vacant if the member becomes academically ineligible in accordance with requirements set forth in Article IV, Section 2 of this constitution. Attendance Ineligibility 6
Regional representatives and executive members will be declared ineligible if they accumulate two (2) unexcused absences from SSCCC meetings and/or Region IV Student Senate related meetings. Impeachment Any Region IV Student Senate executive member, may be charged with misconduct or neglect of duty by a Region IV Student Senate voting delegate and removed from Executive Office but shall remain a voting delegate of Region IV except in the case of the Justice and the Chair, who would be removed completely. Misconduct is defined as those acts pertaining to mismanagement of position responsibilities and/or funds; improper behavior as defined under the guidelines for Student Conduct in the Education Code and the policies stated by the SSCCC. Neglect of Duty is defined as unwillingness to complete with or fulfill duties of elected position. a) Removal of executive members shall be done by 2/3 vote of voting delegates present at the Region IV meeting. b) Upon removal, the school of that member shall be notified by another regional executive member. Section 4. Recall/Removal of Regional Representatives Region IV representatives may be charged with misconduct or neglect of duty by a Region IV voting delegate. Misconduct is defined as those acts pertaining to mismanagement of position responsibilities and/or funds; improper behavior as defined under the guidelines for Student Conduct in the Education Code and the policies stated by the SSCCC. Neglect of Duty is defined as unwillingness to complete with or fulfill duties of elected position. a) Removal of regional representatives shall be done by 2/3 vote of voting delegates present at the Region IV meeting. b) Upon removal, the school of that representative shall be notified by a regional executive member. Section 5. Voting Delegate Non Participation Notification Region IV Student Senate reserves the right to inform advisor(s) of voting delegate non participation. Adopted on November 10 th, 2007 at the SSCCC Fall General Assembly Amended on June 18 th, 2011 at Evergreen Valley College Amended by Resolution #01/11 12 on October 15, 2011 at Mission College Amended by Region IV Council January 11, 2013 San Jose City College 7