Article V – Duties and Powers of the Student Government Association

Section 1 – General

1. The Student Government Association has the authority, subject to the bylaws and policies of Centre College, to recognize, legislate, and set standards for all other student organizations. Student organizations retain the right to set standards for their own internal governance, so long as such standards are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws, legislation passed by SGA, or the rules of conduct of Centre College. Student Government Association legislation shall take precedence over any conflicting rules or practices of any other student organization.
2. The Student Government Association shall:
   1. Hold at least ten general sessions per academic year, which, subject to Section 2F of this Article, will be open to the entire student body;
   2. Run all general sessions in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order;
   3. Serve as a forum of student opinion on academic, social, and extracurricular issues;
   4. Make recommendations to and advise the College faculty and administration on behalf of the student body;
   5. Enact legislation and take other action in accordance with procedures set forth in Section 2 of this Article;
   6. Institute projects for the improvement of the campus community;
   7. Appropriate funds for the operation of recognized student organizations, or revoke such funds as SGA deems appropriate, in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Constitution and the Bylaws;
   8. Set standards for elections of its members and officers.

Section 2 – Legislation and other Action

1. The Student Government Association and each branch or committee of SGA shall require a quorum of at least sixty percent of its members and/or their designated proxies in order to conduct business.
2. The Student Government Association has the authority to pass legislation or take other action on behalf of the student body.

1. Such legislation or action shall include, but not be limited to, bills, resolutions, the election of officers, funding requests, approvals, and amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.
2. A majority affirmative vote of members present shall be necessary to enact such legislation or take such action, unless otherwise stated in the Constitution or Bylaws.  Likewise, a majority affirmative vote of members present at each branch or committee of SGA shall be necessary for such branch or committee to take action, unless otherwise statement in the Constitution or Bylaws.

3. Every member and committee of SGA has the power to propose legislation

                 a.  Legislation should be filed with the SGA President, who shall review it with the Executive Committee.

                 b.  Legislation proposed by a member of committee of SGA must be placed on the agenda within two general sessions from when it is received by the President.

        4.  The student body has the power, by petition, and subject to the bylaws and policies of Centre College, to propose legislation in one of two ways:

1. Student interest groups may apply to SGA for recognition as a new student organization. All application materials shall be filed with the Director of Campus Activities and SGA President, who shall review such materials with the Executive Committee in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Bylaws prior to presenting them to a general session of SGA for approval or rejection.

                     a.  A majority affirmative vote of those SGA members present at a general session at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for approval.

                     b. Student organizations will be recognized as one of two groups, Affinity or Interest:

                         i.  Affinity-based student organizations are those that primarily serve, according to their constitutions and event-planning, historically marginalized groups in the U.S. pertaining to the following identity markers (alphabetized): ability, gender/gender expression, race/ethnicity, sexuality, or socioeconomic class; and, .

                         ii.  Interest-based student organizations are all other organizations that cater to the hobbies and choice-based alignments of students. This includes faith, honor, art, service, and sport organizations on campus.

                     c. Distinctions between the two organization types will be made where appropriate, acknowledging the historic-structural burdens on affinity-based groups by granting the following accommodations: 
                          i. Financing will take into account the value Affinity-based organizations add to campus through education/cultural events, and give funding consideration to events that diversify and amplify perspectives of those historically marginalized by the College. Affinity designation will serve as a factor among many to consider with ultimate recommendation up to Finance committee and ultimate decisions up to SGA general body; and,

                          ii. Culture committee will provide individualized support for Affinity-based organizations by serving on the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Intercultural committee, serving as liaison between SGA and Affinity-based organizations. 

                     d. Application filed to Culture Committee Chair to be brought to Executive committee for discussion and recommendation to be submitted to the general body 

                     e. Final approval or appeal by simple majority of SGA general body, with the Executive committee decision recommendation to be submitted to general session no later than two weeks of its filing to Culture Chair

               2. Students may propose legislation other than student organization recognition legislation on their own initiative, and directly enact or reject such legislation at a campus-wide election.

                     a. An initiative petition to propose legislation must contain the signatures of at least fifteen percent of the student body. 

                     b. The petition shall be filed with the SGA President, who shall submit the question to the student body within two weeks of such filing for its approval or disapproval.

                     c. A majority affirmative vote of no less than twenty-five percent of the student body shall be necessary to enact such legislation.

     5.  The student body has the power to repeal any legislation passed by SGA at a campus-wide election.

               1. A referendum petition to repeal any legislation passed by SGA must contain the signatures of at least fifteen percent of the student body.

               2. The petition shall be filed with the SGA President, who shall submit the question to the student body within two weeks of such filing for its approval or disapproval.

               3. A majority affirmative vote of no less than twenty-five percent of the student body shall be necessary to repeal such legislation.

      6. Members of the student body generally shall have the right to petition SGA and to be present for discussions at all general sessions, subject to Robert’s Rules of Order. However, the right to close meetings to the public and/or the student body is reserved to SGA. Such an action shall require a majority vote of the members of SGA present.

      7. Student organizations and members of the student body generally shall have the right to appeal legislation passed by SGA to the Student Judiciary, which, in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws, shall determine if such legislation violates the policies and bylaws of Centre College and/or the Constitution and Bylaws.

               1. If it determines that such a violation exists, the Student Judiciary has the power to nullify the disputed legislation by an affirmative two-thirds vote of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

               2. If the disputed legislation is susceptible of various interpretations and one or more of the reasonable interpretations would not be in violation of the policies and bylaws of Centre College or the Constitution and Bylaws, such a reasonable interpretation shall be given to the disputed legislation by the Student Judiciary.