Constitution

    Article I. Name (top)
  • The name of this organization shall be the Marietta College Student Body.

    Article II. Purpose and Intent (top)
  • The purpose of the student government of Marietta College is to provide capable, representative, and responsible leadership in student life and activities, and to provide a legitimate channel through which the views of the student body may be represented to the other segments of the College community. The intent of this Constitution is to establish offices, agencies, and procedures through which the purposes of the student government may be best fulfilled.

    Article III. Membership (top)
  • Every matriculated student of Marietta College shall be a member of the Marietta College Student Body and shall be subject to the regulations of this Constitution and its Bylaws.

    Article IV. Organization (top)
  • Section I. Student Senate
      The governing board of the Student Body shall be the Student Senate. The executive powers of the Student Body shall be vested in the Student Senate.

      A. Officers
    • 1. Number and Title
        The officers of the Marietta College Student Body shall be the president, the vice president, the treasurer, and the secretary of the student body.
    • 2. Term
        a. The term of the office for the president, the vice president, the treasurer, and the secretary of the student body shall be one year.
        b. Their terms shall begin with their installation at the first meeting of the Student Senate, occurring the first week of April.
        c. These officers shall be eligible for re-election and appointment.
    • 3. Election
        The regular election of the president, the vice president, the treasurer, and the secretary of the student body shall be held during the academic year preceding their term of office. Nominations and campus elections shall be held according to regulations set forth in the Bylaws.
    • 4. Appointment
        a. The secretary of the student body shall be appointed by the president, vice president, and treasurer of Student Senate after an application and interview process.
        b. The appointment shall be ratified by two-thirds of Student Senate.
    • 5. Vacancies
        a. In the event that the president of the student body is or becomes unable to fulfill his/her duties, the vice president of the Student Senate shall automatically become president. A special student body election shall be held within three weeks of the vice president's elevation to elect a new vice president.
        b. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the vice president, the Student Senate shall appoint a temporary vice president until such time as a new election can be held to fill the vacancy. This election shall occur within three weeks of the vacancy.
        c. In the event of a vacancy in the office of treasurer, the Student Senate shall appoint a temporary treasurer until such time as a new election can be held to fill the vacancy. This election shall occur within three weeks of the vacancy.
        d. In the event of a vacancy in the office of secretary, the Student Senate shall refer to the appointment process within three weeks.
      B. Advisors
    • 1. Number and Title
        a. The Student Senate shall have two advisors.
        b. There shall be one administrative advisor and one faculty advisor.
    • 2. Term
        a. The term of office for the administrative and faculty advisors shall be one year.
        b. These advisors shall be eligible for re-appointment.
    • 3. Selection
        a. The recommendation of both faculty and administrative advisors will be made by the officers of the Student Senate and presented to the full Student Senate.
        b. Two-thirds majority vote of the full Student Senate is needed for ratification.
        c. The advisors shall take membership upon ratification, taking place no later than the last week of April.
    • 4. Vacancies
        a. In the event that the faculty or administrative advisor is or becomes unable to fulfill his/her duties another advisor will be selected within two weeks.
        b. The advisor shall be selected according to the procedure previously outlined in this Constitution.
      C. Membership
    • 1. The membership of the Student Senate shall consist of the four Student Body Officers, the chair of the College Union Board, the senators, and commissioners specified in the bylaws.
    • 2. The term of office for Student Senate members shall commence upon their election, which shall be no later than the fourth week of the fall semester.
    • 3. The term of office for Student Senate members shall be one year.
    • 4. Commissioners shall
        a. Fill out an application.
        b. Undergo an interview with the Executive Officers and any member of Student Senate wishing to participate.
        c. Be ratified by two-thirds of the full Student Senate.
    • 5. In the event of a vacancy in the Student Senate, a special election shall be held within three weeks.
    • 6. A faculty and an administrative advisor shall also have membership in the Student Senate, and responsibilities as specified in Article IV, Section 1, Part F of this Constitution.
      D. Requirements
    • The members of the Student Senate shall be, during their terms of office, members of the Marietta College Student Body. The two advisors shall not be bound this requirement.
      E. Responsibilities and Functions of the Student Senate Executive Officers.
    • 1. The President of the student body shall:
        a. Preside at all meetings of the Student Senate as a non-voting member unless in the case of a tie, and at all meetings of the student body called Student Senate.
        b. Maintain relations with the College faculty and with the College administration.
        c. Call and preside over special meetings of the student body when he or she deems it necessary.
        d. Serve ex officio as a member of all Student Senate committees without a vote.
        e. Represent the student body at ceremonial functions.
    • 2. The vice president of the student body shall:
        a. Attend all meetings of the Student Senate as a voting member.
        b. Preside at all meetings of the Student Senate as a voting member in the absence of the president.
        c. Perform all other duties and responsibilities of the president during the president's absence or incapacity or when requested to do so by the president.
        d. Succeed to the office of president as provided in Article IV, Section 1, Part A, Number 4, a.
        e. Be responsible for reviewing appointments to the Student Senate's various boards and committee representatives.
        f. Be responsible for informing the applicants of appointments to various boards and committees.
        g. Work in conjunction with the president on duties necessary to administrate the Student Senate's functions, committees, and staff.
        h. Maintain communication between the various boards and committees.
        i. Be responsible for planning and coordinating all Senior Week activities.
        j. Perform all other duties appropriate to this office as specified in this Constitution and Bylaws.
    • 3. The treasurer of the student body shall:
        a. Attend all meetings of the Student Senate as a voting member.
        b. Keep all financial records of and certify all expenditures from the student body active and reserve accounts.
        c. Render complete monthly financial statements to the Student Senate concerning the status of the student body active and reserve accounts.
        d. Maintain communication with the College Union Board and the financial officers of the various student government organizations financed through the Student Senate.
        e. Chair the Appropriations Committee of the Student Senate.
        f. Turn over all files and financial records to the newly elected student body treasurer.
        g. Perform all other duties appropriate to this office as specified in this Constitution and its Bylaws.
        h. Present allocations for the approval of Student Senate.
    • 4. The secretary of the student body shall
        a. Attend all meetings of the Student Senate as a non-voting member.
        b. Take attendance.
        c. Be responsible for recording and distributing minutes every week.
        d. Maintain all avenues of communication between Student Senate and the College community.
        e. Perform all other duties appropriate to this office as specified in this Constitution and Bylaws.
      F. Responsibilities and Functions of the Student Senate.
    • 1. It shall be the duty of the Student Senate to discuss in open assembly any student activities, changes, or recommendations affecting the student body.
    • 2. The Student Senate shall appoint, by an absolute majority, all student representatives to any legislative, judicial, and administrative boards involved in communal government according to the procedures set forth in their Bylaws, after due notice is given to the student body.
    • 3. The Student Senate shall have the authority to create committees and to appoint committee members and a chair when deemed necessary. Committee membership shall be open to all full-time undergraduate students at Marietta College.
    • 4. The Student Senate shall have the power of budgeting and allocating all funds in the student body active and reserve accounts for its own use, for use by the College Union Board, or for the proper functioning of any student organizations as specified in the Bylaws.
    • 5. The Student Senate shall communicate to the student body any recommendations, appointments, directives, etc. made by the Student Senate.
    • 6. The Student Senate shall determine and govern the number and kind of college wide student elections, except those delegated to the Judicial Board in Article III, according to the procedures set forth in the Bylaws.
    • 7. The Student Senate has the power to rescind any of its appointments by a two-thirds vote of the senators.
      G. Honoraria
    • 1. The president of the student body shall receive an amount equal to 1.6% of the current year budget of the Student Senate.
    • 2. The vice president of the student body shall receive an amount equal to 1.2% of the current year budget of the Student Senate.
    • 3. The treasurer of the student body shall receive an amount equal to 1.2% of the current year budget of the Student Senate.
    • 4. The secretary of the student body shall receive an amount equal to 0.50% of the current year budget of the Student Senate.
      H. Meetings of the Student Senate
    • 1. The Student Senate shall hold forums open to the entire College community at least once each semester for the purpose of disseminating information and soliciting the opinions of the student body.
    • 2. Special meetings may be called at the designation of the president or of any five senators.
      I. Referendum and Initiative
    • 1. Whenever 10 percent of the student body requests it, by formal petition, any recommendation, appointment, directive, etc. made by the Student Senate will be subject to a referendum vote by the entire student body and must be passed by an absolute majority of the student body voting.
    • 2. The Marietta College Student Body may, by a petition of at least 10 percent of the Student Body, make proposals on policy issues which shall be considered by the student body in a campus-wide vote.
    • 3. The Student Senate may refer to the Student Body for a vote on any matter it deems necessary. The issues must be approved by a majority of those voting, with an absolute majority of the Student Body voting.
      J. Recall
    • Whenever 20 percent of the constituents of a member of the Student Senate requests it, through formal petition, that member shall be subject to a recall vote by the constituents he or she represents. An absolute majority vote of the constituents will remove the member.
  • Section 2. College Union Board
      A. Officers
    • 1. Executive members and committee chairs shall be selected by the current Executive officers of College Union Board, College Union Board advisor(s).
    • 2. The officers and chairs shall be selected no later than the first week of April.
    • 3. The term of office for each officer and chair shall correspond to the academic year following his/her appointment.
      B. Membership
    • 1. The Activities Board shall consist of Executive Officers and committee chairs selected from the student body through an application and interview process.
    • 2. The president, vice president, and treasurer of Student Senate shall not be eligible for an executive position on College Union Board.
      C. Organization
    • The internal structure of the College Union Board, including committees and offices not enumerated in this Constitution, shall be determined by the College Union Board.
      D. Powers and Duties
    • 1. The College Union Board shall report the projected yearly budget and program schedule to Student Senate.
    • 2. The College Union Board can concern itself with the planning and/or coordinating of any or all campus social activity or special event in its Bylaws.
    • 3. All policy decisions of the College Union Board shall be reported to the Student Senate by the chair of the College Union Board.
    • 4. The chair of the College Union Board shall attend all meetings of the Student Senate as a voting member.
  • Section 3. Senate Judicial Board
      A. Composition
    • The board shall be composed of five members.
      B. Membership
    • 1. Requirements
        Each member of the board shall, during his or her term of appointment, be a full-time undergraduate student of Marietta College. All members shall be eligible for reappointment.
    • 2. Limitations
        A member of the Senate Judicial Board shall not be a member of Student Senate while occupying a seat on the Senate Judicial Board.
    • 3. Selection
        The new members of the board shall be appointed by the Student Senate by a majority vote. The appointment of members shall be made no later than the fourth week of April, according to procedures set forth in the Bylaws.
      C. Chair
    • 1. Selection of Chair
        The chair shall be appointed by the Student Senate by an absolute majority vote.
    • 2. Responsibilities and Functions of the Chair
        The chair shall:
      • a. Serve as the official representative of the Senate Judicial Board.
      • b. Preside at all meetings of the board.
      • c. Call special meetings of the board when he or she deems it necessary.
      • d. Investigate all reported cases over which the board has jurisdiction.
      • e. Bring cases of suspected violations to the attention of the board.
      • f. Issue all decisions of the board.
      • g. Maintain relations with the College administration, faculty, and student body.
      • h. Perform all other duties appropriate to this office as specified in this Constitution and its Bylaws.
      D. Meetings
    • 1. Regular and Special Meetings
        a. The Senate Judicial Board shall decide on a regular time of meeting and shall meet at that time when it is deemed necessary by the chair.
        b. The chair may call special meetings when he or she sees fit.
        c. The president of the student body shall sit ex-officio as a non-voting member of the board at meetings involving constitutional interpretation.
        d. Upon the petition of the Student Senate or by request of the Senate Judicial Board members, a special meeting shall be held.
    • 2. Quorum
        The Senate Judicial Board shall not transact any official business with any member absent.
      E. Duty and Jurisdiction
    • The Senate Judicial Board shall:
        1. Have the power to interpret the Student Body Constitution when necessary.
        2. Have jurisdiction over cases involving violations of the Student Body Constitution.
        3. Make reports and conduct investigations as specified in the Bylaws.
        4. Conduct all initiatives, referendums, and recall votes.
      F. Decisions of the Board
    • Decisions of the Senate Judicial Board shall be arrived at by a secret ballot and must have four affirmative votes from the full membership of the board.

    Article V. Ratification (top)
  • Ratification by an absolute majority of the Marietta College Student Body shall be sufficient for the adoption of this Constitution. This Constitution shall supersede any previous constitutions of the Marietta College Student Body. All elections held under previous constitutions shall be considered valid under this Constitution. All appointments, directives, etc., made by the Student Body Executive Board shall remain valid so long as they do not conflict with this Constitution. All bylaws existing under previous constitutions shall be in effect to the extent that such bylaws are not in contradiction with or included in this Constitution.

    Article VI. Amendments (top)
  • A. The Student Senate, whenever two-thirds of its members deem it necessary, or the student body, by petition of not less than 10 percent of its members shall propose amendments to this Constitutions.
  • B. All proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be valid to all intents and purposes when ratified by an absolute majority of the Marietta College Student Body.

(Last Revised: September 2002)