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Piedmont Virginia Community College

Student Government Association


Constitution
We, the students of Piedmont Virginia Community College of the Virginia Community
College System in order to promote cooperation among all students at this institution, to
form an effective student government and to formulate those policies essential to the
functioning of the government, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Student
Government Association of Piedmont Virginia Community College.

ARTICLE I: GENERAL
Section 1: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Student Government Association of
Piedmont Virginia Community College.
Section 2: Purpose
As students of Piedmont Virginia Community College and members of the Student
Government, we have six primary purposes.
1. To facilitate channels of communication between students, faculty/staff, and
administration.
2. To provide funding for activities deemed to be of student interest and benefit.
3. To provide educational, leadership, and cultural opportunities for students.
4. To provide student representation for college committees.
5. To incorporate the colleges strategic plan into student activities.
6. To ensure that student interests and concerns are clearly communicated.
Section 3: Authority
The authority of the Student Government Association is derived from the consent of the
students of the Piedmont Virginia Community College.
Section 4: Non-Discrimination
The Student Government Association of Piedmont Virginia Community College will not
restrict membership and/or activity by reason of age, citizenship, color, disability,
gender, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, or sexual orientation.

ARTICLE II: SGA BODY STRUCTURE


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The Student Government Body shall consist of Voting Members, Club Representatives,
Executive Board Members, Senators, and Department Members. The Senators, Club
Representatives and Executive Board Members shall act as the Legislature Body of
SGA.
Section 1: Voting Members
1. Members of the student body shall include all enrolled students at Piedmont
Virginia Community College.
2. The voting membership shall consist of all students enrolled in credit courses.
Section 2: Clubs Representatives
Each recognized clubs should elect its Club Representatives within nine days after Club
Day.
1. The quantity equal to 30% of the number of recognized Clubs, rounded up, shall
be filled through At-Large member recruitment.
2. The quantity equal to 100% of the number of recognized Clubs shall be reserved
for Club Representatives for nine (9) days after Club Day.
3. After nine (9) days, unfilled Club Representative positions may be filled through
At-Large member recruitment. At-Large recruits shall be selected through an
application and interview process conducted by the Executive Board.
Section 3: Executive Board
An Executive Board comprised of six Executive Board Members shall lead the SGA.
The Boards term of office shall commence at the beginning of the fall semester and last
for one year. The President and Vice President of the Student Government Association
shall be elected by receiving the majority of votes of the student body at the annual
elections held each year. The SGA Legislature Body shall elect directors of Events,
Public Relations, Student Voice, and Secretary.
A. Members of the Executive Board.
1. President: The President shall be responsible for representing the views and
concerns of the Student Body to the College administration and the community,
and for leading efforts to improve student life and resolve student grievances.
The President shall serve on the Student Government Body as the presiding
officer, and he/she shall have voice but no vote, except in the case of a tie and in
Executive Board Meetings.
2. Vice President: The Vice President shall coordinate the transition process and
implement training procedures for new members, as well as assist the President
in any or all of his/her duties, and assume the duties of the President in cases of
absence, resignation, or impeachment.
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3. Director of Events: The Director of Events shall lead and manage the Events
Department, which organizes and runs SGA-hosted social events across the
campus and the community.
4. Director of Public Relations: Director of Public Relations shall lead and manage
the Public Relations Department, which develops and maintains SGA media,
broadcasts SGA meeting via YouTube and Facebook, outreach, administrationspecific polling, and appreciation processes.
5. Director of Student Voice: The Director of Student Voice shall lead and manage
the Student Voice Department, shall submit SGA-approved project proposals to
the appropriate college staff, and shall communicate the results of projects to the
SGA body.
6. Secretary: The Secretary documents the actions of the SGA, manages general
attendance records, and records general meeting minutes.
B. Within Executive Board meetings, a quorum shall be present to conduct business
requiring a vote. A quorum shall consist of five Board Members. Decisions shall be
made with at least a five-vote approval. Executive Members shall not vote by proxy.
Section 4: Senators
The voting members shall elect three senators to participate in the College Senate. The
senators and SGA President meet with President of the College once a month with to
report SGA and students opinions of pertinent topics. The President of the SGA shall
appoint one alternate senator.
Section 5: Departments
All members not serving as a senator, alternate senator, or on the Executive Board shall
join one of three departments: The Events Department, the Public Relations
Department, or the Student Voice Department. The Vice President shall coordinate the
assignment of Members to Departments.
1. The Events Department manages and primarily runs SGA social events and
initiates advertising for those events.
2. The Public Relations Department creates and distributes SGA promotional
media, broadcasts SGA meeting via YouTube and Facebook, manages SGA
outreach/recruitment programs, and conducts on-demand student polling for
issues and decisions that are currently being reviewed by college administration.
3. The Student Voice Department maintains the Student Voice Initiative, edits
proposals, prepares project proposals for submission to the college
administration, and conducts any necessary polling to determine student opinion
of or interest in proposed or potential plans.

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Section 6: SGA Legislature Body


A. The Senators, Club Representatives and Executive Board Members shall act as the
legislature of SGA. Only SGA Legislature members meeting Member Requirements
may cast votes. Decisions shall be made by majority vote. Legislature Members shall
not vote by proxy. The Student Government Legislature Body shall have the following
powers:
1. To make formal proposals to administration regarding any student issue.
2. To create and modify amendments to the SGAs Constitution.
B. Requirements for SGA Legislature Members.
1. All members must be enrolled at the College and must hold a minimum of a 2.5
cumulative GPA and be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours at the College. Firstsemester freshmen may join, provided that their GPA is verified upon conclusion
of the first semester.
2. Attendance and participation in SGA meetings is mandatory for all members. Two
unexcused absences from general SGA meetings or department meetings may
result in a review by the Executive Board for consideration for removal from the
SGA. An SGA member may be
Section 7: College Committee Representatives
A. Twelve members will be elected from the Student Government Legislature Body to
serve on the following committees:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Administrative Services: One main representative one alternative representative


Curriculum and Instruction: Two main representatives
Student Services: Six main representatives
Sustainability: One main representative
Enrollment: One main representative

B. Their responsibilities on these college committees will be in addition to their


departmental, senatorial, or executive duties.
C. College Committee Representatives shall be elected by majority vote of the Student
Government Body (see Article III, Section 2).
1. In the case of vacancy during the academic year, an election by the SGA voting
body for the pertinent position shall be held.
2. In the case of a vacancy and an absence of an SGA voting body, appointments
shall be made by the Executive Board.

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ARTICLE III: ELECTIONS


Section 1: Qualifications
A candidate for a Student Government Association office shall be a registered credit
enrolled student at the time of election. He or she must have a cumulative grade point
average of at least 2.5 in all scholastic work. All elected officers must be credit enrolled
as a student in the fall or the spring semester of the year they are elected and/or are
appointed to office.
Section 2: Nominations
Eligibility for President, Vice President, and Senators
To qualify, a candidate preferably must have at least one semester of SGA experience
unless there is no qualified candidate running for the office.
1. Nominations for officers for the upcoming academic year shall be held at the first
regular meeting in March during the spring semester. A student interested in the
office can nominate himself/herself. Each candidate is required to submit a brief
bio about himself/ herself and their goal for the SGA if they were to be elected to
office. The bios of the candidates will be posted online on the SGA webpage.
2. Announcement for seeking eligible candidates for SGA offices will be posted on
all bulletin boards on campus, and via student mass emailing.
Section 3: Elections
1. Election for officers will take place online during September of the fall semester.
Prior to the election, the candidates brief bios will be posted on the SGA
webpage.
2. An officer cannot hold another position in the Student Government Association
while acting as the president, vice-president, or secretary, i.e.; SGA club
representative for another club on campus.
3. If an elected officer resigns or transfer after serving for the Fall semester, at the
onset of the Spring semester, the process shall be as follows: 1) the vicepresident will assume the presidents office 2) the secretary will step into the vicepresident office 3) the SGA advisor will appoint a member of the SGA to fill the
office by the recommendation of the SGA Legislature Body.
4. In the rare case that only one (1) person is running for an office, he/she must be
confirmed by three-fourths (3/4) of the entire association vote in session at that
time. If the association does not confirm the candidate, the SGA advisor will
make an administrative decision.
5. In the rare case that there are no candidates running for the open offices in April,
the SGA advisor/Student Activities Director will make recommendations for
nominees and reschedule the election if time permits. The SGA advisor/Student
Activities Director will preside over meetings until the offices are filled by election
or appointment.
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Section 4: Tenure of Office


Tenure of office for all elected offices shall be for one academic year from the date of
installation. Members that held offices during one previous academic year can run for
an office for the next academic year pending meeting the qualifications.

ARTICLE IV: IMPEACHMENT, RESIGNATION, AND


REPLACEMENT
Section 1: Impeachment
A. Any elected or appointed member of the SGA may be impeached for malfeasance,
gross incompetence, or for failing to fulfill the duties of their position.
B. The procedure for impeachment and removal from position shall be as follows:
1. The Student Government Legislature Body shall have the power to initiate the
impeachment procedure of a member of the SGA by approving a written
statement of charges by a majority vote.
2. At the next regularly scheduled SGA meeting, there shall be an impeachment
trial with the twelve randomly selected students from the student body serving as
the jury.
3. The impeached member shall be supplied with the written statement of charges
within twenty-four hours after the vote. The impeached member may have
another student to represent him or her and defend the accusation on his or her
behalf. The impeached member may have a third-party testify on his or her
behalf as to his or her character, and why he or she should not be removed from
office.
4. After a full hearing of the charges, a majority vote of the jury shall be necessary
to vacate the position of the impeached member.
Section 2: Resignation
1. A member of Student Government Association may resign from his or her
position at any time by submitting a written letter of resignation to the President.
2. Any Member whose enrollment is terminated shall be considered to have
resigned from his or her position.
Section 3: Replacement
1. A Presidential vacancy shall be filled by the Vice President. An election for a
replacement Vice President shall be held within one month of the vacancy.
2. A vacancy in the office of any other Executive Board Member shall be temporarily
filled by the President. An election for a replacement Executive Board Member
shall be held within one month of the vacancy.
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ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS AND RATIFICATION


Section 1: Proposal of Amendments
A. Amendments to the SGA Constitution may be proposed by any member using any of
the following methods:
1. By a written petition of twenty-five students, submitted to the Student
Government Body, and passed by a two-thirds vote of the Student Government
Body.
2. By a one half vote of the Student Government Legislature Body.
3. By a unanimous vote of the Executive Board
B. Amendments may not appropriate funds.
Section 2: Amendment Passage
Two-thirds of the present and voting SGA Legislature Body members must vote in favor
of the amendment during elections.
Section 3: Ratification
1. For ratification of this Constitution, two-thirds of those voting must vote in favor of
adopting this Constitution.
2. This Constitution shall take effect upon its ratification.
Clause I: Being that the Executive Board is directly affected by this new
Constitution, the 2014 Executive Members shall maintain their positions during
the winter break until re-elections can be held in September, 2015.
3. The ratification of this Constitution shall supersede all previous Constitutions of
the Student Government Association.

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