Constitution

Bates College Student Government Constitution

PREAMBLE

PREAMBLE

We, the Bates College Student Government, in order to ensure that the students of Bates College have an accessible structure through which they can express their opinions and enact change, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the government of our association.

ARTICLE I: Purpose

ARTICLE I: Purpose

Section 1: Name

The name of this organization shall be Bates College Student Government, hereafter
referred to as BCSG.

Section 2: BCSG

The Executive Board and the Assembly shall constitute the General Body of BCSG.
The purpose of this organization shall be to 1) serve as a representative body of all
students of Bates College; 2) be attentive to, advocate for, and address student needs
including but not limited to curricular needs, campus life, developing safe spaces, and
being responsive to the needs of the overall community 3) support the functioning and
organization of student clubs by the acquisition of funding and approval of new
initiatives; and 4) create and execute programs that materially contribute to Bates College
culture and improve the quality of life for all students. The third and fourth aspects of the
above will be facilitated by BCSGs specifically designated subcommittees, that focus on
student affairs, facilities, academics, and athletics.

BCSG, through the Committee Selection Board, is also responsible for appointing student
representatives to work on committees within the college that are working towards a
specific, short-term, or long-term, goal.

Section 3: The Executive Board

The Executive Board, hereafter referred to as the E-Board, shall serve as a mediator
between members of the administration and student concerns. It will also set and drive

Student Government’s vision. The E-Board is composed of the president, vice president
(or two co-presidents), chairs of Budgets and Clubs Boards (hereafter referred to as
BCB), and Committee Selection Board (hereafter referred to as CSB), and the secretaries
appointed by the president/co-presidents.

Section 4: The Assembly

The purpose of the Assembly shall be to serve as the direct representation for specific
class years enrolled at Bates College, as well as to communicate the concerns of their
constituents to the E-Board. The assembly will also propose and vote on motions that
come before BCSG.
The subcommittees of the BCSG, student affairs, facilities, academics, and athletics, will
work with a special focus on their respective areas of interest (same as the name of each
subcommittee). They will take a lead on those specific areas to gather community
concerns and needs and report back to the larger assembly.

Section 5: Advisors
The purpose of BCSG advisors shall be to serve as guidance for both the E-Board and the
Assembly in gathering information and making decisions.

  • The BCSG Advisor:
    ● Is a staff member from Campus Life.
    ● Attends all BCSG Assembly and E-Board meetings.
    ● Meets on a weekly basis with the BCSG President or Co-Presidents.
    ● Provides reasoned, knowledgeable advice to BCSG in navigating college
    systems and structures.
    ● Provides input as requested and/or necessary related to BCSG decisions.

ARTICLE II: Membership

ARTICLE II: Membership

Section 1: Composition

The General Body of BCSG must be made up of students currently enrolled full-time and
studying on campus at Bates College. The Assembly will contain a minimum of twelve (12) members.

For more information, refer to Article III, Section 1: Officers.

Section 2: Privileges and Responsibilities

The privileges and responsibilities of membership include an obligation to the student
body of Bates College to accurately assess and convey the needs and concerns of
constituents, and to have a direct working relationship with the members of the
administration of Bates College to seek counsel or advocate for the student body.

Section 3: Revocation

Membership may be revoked if any member of the organization is not upholding their
responsibilities or due to prolonged inactivity (as defined in Article IV and *by-laws).
Any member of the student body may present their concerns regarding a member to a
CSB member/co-chair, who may initiate an anonymous impeachment vote at the next
meeting at their discretion. Any impeachment process requires a two-thirds vote by the
BCSG Assembly. Any member removed by impeachment shall no longer be eligible to
serve in BCSG in any capacity unless an appeal to CSB is initiated.

Section 4: Nondiscrimination Policy

Membership shall be open to all currently enrolled students of Bates College, regardless
of age, creed, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status,
disability, national origin, or status as a veteran. This list is not exhaustive. To achieve
these goals, we strictly adhere to the Campus Life mission statement:

“Reflecting the Bates Institutional Plan, Campus Life plays an integral role in the education of the whole person, a “process through which students become aware of their interests, community, and purpose in the world.” We deepen the student experience by providing resources and opportunities to explore interests through involvement in student clubs and organizations, social events and programs, skill-building workshops, and employment opportunities. An equity and inclusion lens is foundational to our work – we actively aspire to dismantle -isms and -phobias, and partner with students to do the same in their areas of influence.”

ARTICLE III: Officers

ARTICLE III: Officers

Section 1: Positions

The BCSG Assembly is constituted of the BCSG Executive Board and the
individual Class Representatives.

The BCSG Executive Board, or the E-Board, shall be composed of the President
and the Vice President or Two Co-Presidents, the Secretary, the Chair of the
Committee Selection Board, and the Chair of the Budgets and Clubs Board.

The Assembly shall be comprised of Class Representatives including three (3)
members of the first-year class, three (3) members of the sophomore class, three (3)
members of the junior class, and three (3) members of the senior class.

The Assembly can also include At-Large-Representatives who represent the Bates
student body as a whole. At-Large-Representatives function similarly to the Class
Representatives are appointed by the BCSG assembly to fill any vacant Class
representative position that may exist following two (2) complete election
cycles.

Professional advisors to BCSG shall be Campus Life staff.

Section 2: Appointment and Terms

The President and Vice President or Two Co-presidents shall be appointed by popular
election of the entire student body. The Class Representatives in general shall be
appointed by popular election within their own constituent class year. The Chair of the
The Committee Selection Board and the Chair of the Budgets and Clubs Board shall be
appointed via election procedures internal to their respective organizational bodies. The
Secretaries shall be appointed by the President or the Co-Presidents and At-Large
Representatives shall be appointed via a process conducted in collaboration between the

Assembly and the Committee Selection Board. Unless re-elected, the terms of the
President, Vice President, or Co-Presidents, Assembly, Chair of the Committee Selection
Board, and Chair of the Budgets and Clubs Board, shall be for one (1) year, commencing
from their respective date of the appointment.

Section 3: Duties

  1. President
    1. The President is the Chair of the Executive Board, setting agendas for
      Executive Board meetings and determining the overall direction of Student
      Government.
    2. The President is able to call emergency meetings of the Student Government
      when the student body is needed to speak and a regular meeting is not
      scheduled soon enough for the Student Government to appropriately react.
  2. Vice President
    1. The Vice President has the responsibility to oversee members of the
      Assembly, maintaining contact with, and creating relationships with all
      Assembly members, in the interest of supporting them and ensuring that they
      are fulfilling their duties.
    2. The Vice President holds the responsibility of maintaining order during
      General Body meetings.
  3. Co-Presidents
    1. Co-Presidents will assume the role of Presidents with equity and balance
    2. Co-Presidents will have the same responsibilities noted in sections 1 and 2 4.
  4. Secretary
    1. The Secretary documents the proceedings of all General Body. Minutes must
      include, at minimum, all proposed legislation, votes, attendance of each
      meeting, as well as important points made by various members of BCSG
      during the meeting.
    2.  Minutes from General Body meetings must be posted to the BCSG website
      within 48 hours of the meeting’s occurrence. Minutes from E-Board
      meetings must be communicated to members of the Assembly within 48
      hours of the meeting’s occurrence.
    3. The Secretary must be present at all Student Government meetings, including, but not limited to, the regular full Student Government meetings
      and Executive Board meetings
  5. Chair of the Committee Selection Board
    1. a. The Chair of the Committee Selection Board leads the Board in its operation,
      per its organizational constitution, and reports to the E-Board and General
      Body concerning appointments of importance.
  6. Chair of the Funding and Activities Board
    1. The Funding and Activities Board leads the Board in its operation,
      per its organizational constitution, and makes regular reports to the E-Board
      and General Body concerning the financial health of BCSG, the state of club
      budgets, and the opportunities for further development of student clubs and
      their relationship with BCSG.
  7. Assembly Members
    1. Assembly Members are responsible to gather the observations, concerns, and
      questions of members of their respective class year. Each Assembly Member
      must therefore create and maintain relationships with their respective peers.
    2. Assembly Members should bring these business items to each General Body
      meeting as they arise for discussion and deliberation by other General Body
      members.
    3. Upon resolution of the business item, the Assembly Member who brought
      the item should correspond with the constituent from whom the item
      originated to communicate action, if any, BCSG has voted to take on their
      item.
    4. Assembly Member Special Duties
      1. Assembly Members from the senior class shall serve as Senior
        Marshals at Commencement. Senior Marshals assist with the
        tradition of turning the tassel at the Commencement ceremony.
      2. Assembly Members from the junior class shall serve as Junior
        Marshals at the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies.
        Junior Marshals assist with line up, leading the procession, and
        seating the senior class at these ceremonies. Juniors must be
        eligible to be on campus for Short Term for a reason other than
        being Junior Marshal in order to serve in this role.
  8. At-Large-Representatives
    1. At-large-representatives are selected by the BCSG committee to aid in the work
      of the assembly
    2. At-large-representatives are also responsible to gather the observations, concerns,
      and questions of members of their respective class year
    3. At-large-representatives are allowed to vote and hold voting to pass

Section 4: Succession

  1. If the President vacates office before their term expires, voluntarily or involuntarily, the
    Vice President assumes Interim President responsibilities until the Committee Selection
    Board organizes a special election to fill the position permanently.
  2. If the Vice President vacates office before their term expires, voluntarily or
    involuntarily, the Assembly appoints an Interim Vice President from the Assembly to
    serve until the Committee Selection Board organizes a special election to fill the
    position permanently.
  3. If the Secretary vacates office before their term expires, voluntarily or involuntarily, the
    President or Co-Presidents appoints an Interim Secretary from the Assembly to serve
    until the President or the Co-Presidents appoint a new Secretary through a hiring
    process run via Campus Life.
  4. If the Chair of the Committee Selection Board vacates office before their term expires,
    voluntarily or involuntarily, the Committee Selection Board selects a new Chair, per its
    organizational constitution.
  5. If the Chair of the Budgets and Clubs Board vacates office before their term expires,
    voluntarily or involuntarily, the Budgets and Clubs Board selects a new Chair, per its
    organizational constitution.
  6. If an Assembly Member vacates office before their term expires, voluntarily or
    involuntarily, the Assembly appoints a new At-Large-Representative, irrespective
    of class year, and that person serves until the next election.

ARTICLE IV: Meetings and Procedures

ARTICLE IV: Meetings and Procedures

Section 1: Meetings

General Body meetings of BCSG shall be held weekly, at a regular day and time to be
determined by the Secretary and approved by the Assembly. The President and Vice
President or Co-Presidents have the right to call General Body meetings. As General
Body meetings are open to the Bates community, they must occur at a consistent day,
time, and place, and may only be changed by a majority vote of the Assembly.

Section 2: Quorum

Two-thirds of the Assembly as well as the presence of the President, Vice President, or
Co-Presidents, and Secretaries shall constitute a quorum to transact business including
greater policy decisions or action plans that require consultation of the whole
Assembly.

Only the Assembly shall have the power to vote on business that comes before the
General Body of BCSG. A majority of those voting shall constitute an affirmative vote of
the Assembly. Each member of the Assembly shall be entitled to one vote, and the vote of
the majority of the Assembly at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be sufficient
to transact business. Business may be proposed by any member of the Bates community
recognized by the President or Co-Presidents however only members of the Assembly
may make motions from the floor with the intention of initiating a vote on such business.

Section 3: Rules of Order

The President or Co-Presidents maintain order during General Body meetings. This order
is outlined as follows, but must remain open to the shifting needs of this organization and
the Bates community:

  1. Introductions from any non-Student Government members
  2. Status updates on previous meeting business items in the following order:
    1. President on Executive Board business
    2. Chair of Budgets & Clubs Board on Budgets & Clubs Board business
    3. Chair of Committee Selection Board on Committee Selection Board business
    4. Chair of BCSG Sub-Committee on Sub-Committee business
    5. Assembly Members
  3. New Business
    1. Presentations of the non-Student Government members and discussion to
      follow, if needed.
    2. New business items from the Executive Board.
    3. New business items from the Assembly.
    4. New action members of the Student Government wish to discuss based on
      the three previous segments.
  4. Dismissal by a majority vote of the Assembly.

Section 4: Attendance

All members of the General Body are expected to attend each General Body meeting. A
maximum of four absences per semester are permitted due to extenuating circumstances.
More absences are allowed with excused circumstances. The absent BCSG member is
responsible for reading the minutes of the meeting in order to stay abreast of the latest
actions taken by BCSG. If any member of BCSG misses more than four meetings in a
single semester, the President or Co-Presidents will initiate impeachment proceedings
against them.

Note: If an assembly member cannot attend a meeting, they must notify the Secretary
within 24 hours of a meeting.

ARTICLE V: Elections

ARTICLE V: Elections

Section 1: Elected Positions
The President, Vice President, Co-Presidents, and Assembly members are elected by
popular vote of the student body of Bates College. The President and Vice President or
Co-Presidents are elected by the entire student body, Assembly Members are elected by
members of their respective class years.

Section 2: Coordination

Elections are coordinated by the Committee Selection Board and led by the Secretary. They are both responsible for 1) election publicity and outreach; 2) organizing
presentations, talks, and debates by candidates; 3) organizing and publicizing the voting
process, and 4) announcing election results.

Section 3: Timeline

There are two regular election periods during the academic year: one in the winter, and
one in the fall. The Committee Selection Board also hold special elections to fill
vacant elected office seats whenever this is required, following the same cadence noted
below.

    1. Winter Election: For President, Vice President, or Co-Presidents and Assembly
      Members from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

      1. The nomination period begins on the first Monday in March and closes the
        following Wednesday at 11:59 pm (3 days)
      2. Campaigning may begin at the moment a candidate’s nomination is
        submitted.
      3. Election polls open on the second Wednesday in March for one week
        (Second Wednesday to the Third Wednesday).
      4. Election results are announced no more than 6 days after the election polls
        close.
    2. Fall Election: For Assembly Members from the first-year class, and at-large Assembly
      Member representatives, i.e. Junior Representatives who are abroad.

      1. The nomination period begins on the third Monday of September at 12:01
        am and closes after 7 days (Monday to Monday).
      2. Campaigning may begin once a candidate’s nomination is submitted and
        may continue through the election period.
      3. Election polls open ten (10) days after the nomination period ends at 12:01
        am (the following week’s Wednesday)
      4. Polls close after 5 days at 12:01 am, on Monday at 11:59 pm
      5. Election results are announced no more than 6 days after the election polls
        closed

        1. Note: These timelines can be changed in extenuating circumstances. The BCSG election results shall not include the ranked order of the election results and/or the total number of votes received by any running candidate.