Constitution
Bates College Student Government Constitution
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.PREAMBLE
PREAMBLE
Section 1: Name The name of this organization shall be Bates College Student Government, hereafter Section 2: BCSG The Executive Board and the Assembly shall constitute the General Body of BCSG. BCSG, through the Committee Selection Board, is also responsible for appointing student Section 3: The Executive Board The Executive Board, hereafter referred to as the E-Board, shall serve as a mediator Student Government’s vision. The E-Board is composed of the president, vice president Section 4: The Assembly The purpose of the Assembly shall be to serve as the direct representation for specific Section 5: Advisors Section 1: Composition The General Body of BCSG must be made up of students currently enrolled full-time and 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 Section 3: Revocation Membership may be revoked if any member of the organization is not upholding their Section 4: Nondiscrimination Policy Membership shall be open to all currently enrolled students of Bates College, regardless “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.” Section 1: Positions The BCSG Assembly is constituted of the BCSG Executive Board and the The BCSG Executive Board, or the E-Board, shall be composed of the President The Assembly shall be comprised of Class Representatives including three (3) The Assembly can also include At-Large-Representatives who represent the Bates 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 Assembly and the Committee Selection Board. Unless re-elected, the terms of the Section 3: Duties Section 4: Succession Section 1: Meetings General Body meetings of BCSG shall be held weekly, at a regular day and time to be Section 2: Quorum Two-thirds of the Assembly as well as the presence of the President, Vice President, or Only the Assembly shall have the power to vote on business that comes before the Section 3: Rules of Order The President or Co-Presidents maintain order during General Body meetings. This order Section 4: Attendance All members of the General Body are expected to attend each General Body meeting. A Note: If an assembly member cannot attend a meeting, they must notify the Secretary Section 1: Elected Positions 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 Section 3: Timeline There are two regular election periods during the academic year: one in the winter, andARTICLE I: Purpose
ARTICLE I: Purpose
referred to as 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.
representatives to work on committees within the college that are working towards a
specific, short-term, or long-term, goal.
between members of the administration and student concerns. It will also set and drive
(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.
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.
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.
● 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
studying on campus at Bates College. The Assembly will contain a minimum of twelve (12) members.
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.
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.
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:ARTICLE III: Officers
ARTICLE III: Officers
individual Class Representatives.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Executive Board meetings and determining the overall direction of 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.
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.
General Body meetings.
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.
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.
and Executive Board meetings
per its organizational constitution, and reports to the E-Board and General
Body concerning appointments of importance.
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.
questions of members of their respective class year. Each Assembly Member
must therefore create and maintain relationships with their respective peers.
meeting as they arise for discussion and deliberation by other General Body
members.
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.
Marshals at Commencement. Senior Marshals assist with the
tradition of turning the tassel at the Commencement ceremony.
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.
of the assembly
and questions of members of their respective class year
Vice President assumes Interim President responsibilities until the Committee Selection
Board organizes a special election to fill the position permanently.
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.
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.
voluntarily or involuntarily, the Committee Selection Board selects a new Chair, per its
organizational constitution.
voluntarily or involuntarily, the Budgets and Clubs Board selects a new Chair, per its
organizational constitution.
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
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.
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.
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.
is outlined as follows, but must remain open to the shifting needs of this organization and
the Bates community:
follow, if needed.
the three previous segments.
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.
within 24 hours of a meeting.ARTICLE V: Elections
ARTICLE V: Elections
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.
presentations, talks, and debates by candidates; 3) organizing and publicizing the voting
process, and 4) announcing election results.
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.
Members from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.
following Wednesday at 11:59 pm (3 days)
submitted.
(Second Wednesday to the Third Wednesday).
close.
Member representatives, i.e. Junior Representatives who are abroad.
am and closes after 7 days (Monday to Monday).
may continue through the election period.
am (the following week’s Wednesday)
closed