5. SENATE AND EXECUTIVE

1. The purpose of the SGA office is to allow student body access to elected representatives during regular school hours. The office will be open on weekdays according to the senator office hour schedule for the semester.  

2. Each senator is required to work a minimum of three hours per semester of campus/community service (at the discretion of the SGA officers). If an occasion arises when a person cannot work a scheduled service event, then he/she must notify a member of the Executive Branch. If a senator fails to work a scheduled time without notifying a member of the Executive Branch, it will then be considered an unexcused service hour. Two unexcused service hours are equivalent to missing one legislative meeting.

3. Attendance is mandatory for all SGA members, executives and legislators alike. Any member that accrues more than three unexcused absences will be asked to tender his/her resignation.

ARTICLE VII
ELECTIONS

SECTION I

1. Election Procedure for Officers

1. Petitions for SGA officers can be picked up from Monday of the second full week February until the Thursday of the third full week of February. These petitions will be available in the Student Affairs Office.

2. A qualifications meeting for candidates will be held in the SGA Meeting Room at 3:00 P.M. on the Friday of the third full week of February. All petitions must be turned in at this time.

3. Campaigning will begin at 8:00 A.M. following the qualifications meeting.

4. Elections will be held on Monday and Tuesday of the first full week of March. If a run off is necessary, it will be held on the Thursday following the official election.

2. Election Procedure for Senators:

1. Petitions may be picked up on the Monday of the 1st full week of April until the Thursday of the 2^nd week. These petitions will be available in the Student Affairs Office.

2. A qualifications meeting for candidates will be held in the SGA meeting room at 3:00 P.M. on the Friday of the second week of April. All petitions must be turned in at this time.

3. Clause for Election Procedures

On behalf of the SGA, the Student Affairs Office has the right to change the dates concerning elections, which are stated above, if a schedule conflict should arise with these dates as applied to the school calendar.

SECTION II:

In order to ensure that all students are aware of upcoming SGA elections, the Attorney General, on behalf of the SGA will run an advertisement in the student newspaper, "The Life." This ad will run at least two weeks prior to the petition deadline, provided that advertisement space is available.

SECTION III: Campaign Rules

1. A candidate may acquire up to $150.00 in personal expenses and may receive an unlimited amount of donations.

2. No campaigning materials will be placed on walls, doors, bulletin boards, trees, or in classrooms.

3. Campaigning is allowed on the day of the election; however, a candidate must refrain from campaigning within a campus computer lab on the day of elections.

4. All campaign materials must be down by noon the day following the election. If campaign materials are not taken down during this time period, the candidate will be fined $50.00. After a period of 14 days, the fine will be increased by 50%.

5. Any alternative modes not outlined in the petition for campaigning must be approved by the Student Life Office or Attorney General.

SECTION IV: Ballot Counting and Posting of Results

1. The winners of elections will be based on a simple majority, which is equal to 50% plus one of all ballots cast.

2. In the event of where elected positions have more than one position available, the top vote-getters of that election will hold those positions.

3. The results of the SGA elections dealing with constitutional amendments, officer elections, and senator elections shall be sent out by e-mail to all UWA students by the Student Life Office.

4. Newly elected officers will become ex-officio members of the executive cabinet. Prior to taking office, it will be mandatory that all new officers attend all meetings of spring semester. The new legislature will take office the first Monday of May.

ARTICLE VIII
VACANCIES

Any vacancy shall be filled by the following process. Any candidate interested in a position must turn in a written request to the SGA President. The written requests shall be on file in the SGA office. A candidate will be recommended by the President for ratification by a two-thirds vote by the legislature. 

ARTICLE IX
IMPEACHMENT

SECTION I

The legislature shall have the sole authority in all impeachment proceedings.

SECTION II

Any officer or senator failing to meet their qualifications and duties as stated in Article VI may have impeachment charges brought against them by any member of the legislature.

SECTION III

Impeachment charges must first be brought before the Judicial Committee.

SECTION IV

A three-quarter majority of votes of the legislature shall be necessary for removal from office.

ARTICLE X
OFFICE LIMITATIONS

No student may hold more than one office in the SGA at the same time. 

ARTICLE XI
GREEKS AND ORGANIZATIONS

SECTION I: Greeks

1. Each Greek social fraternity and sorority shall meet the membership requirements of the Inter-Fraternity Council or the Panhellenic Council in order to maintain voting privileges in the Student Government Association.  The Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) and the Panhellenic Council shall be responsible for submitting a list of Greek organizations not meeting requirements as soon as the situation arises, or a verification may be requested by the SGA if one is in question.

2. If a social fraternity or sorority loses recognition by the Inter-Fraternity Council or the Panhellenic Council, the organization shall lose recognition and voting privileges within the SGA.

SECTION II: Organizations

1. Any group whose activities are not offered for college credit is considered to be an organization. Organizations that have previously received funding from the SGA are limited to funding from the organizational account. Any group whose activities are offered for college credit are eligible to receive funds from academic co-sponsorship.

2. Each organization shall maintain a minimum of eight active members-excluding honor societies.

3. It is the responsibility of all organizations on campus to submit a list of active members, current advisors, and the financial statement of that organization when they request financial aid from the SGA. They shall also submit the names of two members who will serve as their representatives to the SGA and all new members names prior to the first meeting of the semester.

SECTION III: Constitutions

Any group seeking to be recognized as an organization by the SGA shall present a constitution for review to the Attorney General who will then present the reviewed constitution to the legislature along with his/her recommendations for their consideration. Acceptance must pass a majority vote in the legislature.

SECTION IV: Organizational Funding

The SGA will allot no more than $450.00 to any organization on campus. An organization must submit their request to the SGA Finance Committee, which will be appointed as needed by the President of the SGA. The required material must be submitted to the Finance Committee at least one week prior to the date that the organization is scheduled to appear before the SGA. The Finance Committee will evaluate the organization's request to make sure that all required materials have been submitted, and then bring the request before the SGA along with their ruling. The SGA may allot funds to help an organization with their registration fees and traveling costs to their national or regional conventions, and the SGA may only allot funds to help the minimal required numbers of organizational members to attend. An organization may request funds any number of times, but may receive funds only once per fiscal year. The fiscal year will consist of time in which the new budget is approved through the end of that budget year, or at the time the organizational budget is depleted. No funds will be transferred from any other fund into the organizational fund, nor will discretionary funds be used to help fund an organization. The legislative body is under no obligation to give funds to any organization unless it deems necessary. 

ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this constitution shall originate through the legislature. All proposed amendments shall be typed and signed by a senator of the SGA. They shall be given to the Secretary by the Wednesday prior to the next business meeting. All proposed amendments shall then be investigated by the by-laws committee prior to consideration of the legislature. If the proposed amendment receives a two-thirds confirmation vote from the legislature, it must then go before a vote of the student body, where it must receive a two-thirds vote to be enacted. 

THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA 
SGA POLICIES

1. Balloon Policy: Due to the growing concern dealing with the abuse of our environment, the SGA shall adopt the policy that intentional release of any balloons shall henceforth be prohibited from any and all UWA related functions.

2. Any UWA student may use SGA markers as long as they are escorted and supervised by an SGA senator or officer. Markers shall be used in the area of the SUB.

3. Elected members of the SGA must remain impartial and should lobby only for the group that they were elected to represent.

4. All members of the SGA shall act in a professional and respectable manner when representing the SGA. All members shall also follow the student code of conduct as stated in the student handbook.

5. If a legislator comes into a meeting after the roll call and minutes, he/she is considered tardy. Two unexcused tardies will be an unexcused absence.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA
SGA BY-LAWS

1. Academic Co-Sponsorship

1. As stated in Article XI, Section II, Paragraph (A) of the SGA Constitution, any group whose activities are offered for college credit are eligible to receive funds from the SGA as an academic co-sponsorship.

2. The legislative body is under no obligation to give funds to any group under the academic co-sponsoring program.

3. The SGA will allot no more than $675 to any group requesting academic co-sponsorship during a particular school year.

4. Any group requesting funds from the SGA must submit their request to the SGA Finance Committee at least one week prior to the date that the group is scheduled to appear before the SGA. The request should include a complete budget and should indicate the amount of money being requested from the SGA. A list of other contributors towards the activity or project and their amount of support should also be provided.

5. When funds are being requested to support field-trips, a list of students going on the trip must be submitted to the Finance Committee. For trips, SGA funds may only be requested to cover lodging, transportation, and registration.

6. The Finance Committee will make a report to the legislative body whether the group should be funded. The Finance Committee will also recommend what level of funding should be provided.

2. Voting Privileges

1. Must be a recognized student organization.

2. A 3/4 majority of votes of the present legislature shall be necessary to receive voting privileges.

3. Organizations not present to meetings for one semester will automatically loose their legislative chair.

4. Must be recognized for one semester before petitioning for voting privileges.

5. One semester probation for organizations receiving new voting privileges. If while on probation an organization looses it vote, it will automatically lose their Legislative Chair and not be able to petition for a vote for two semesters (including summer).