Constitution
State University of New York at New Paltz
Student Association Constitution
Amended May 1982, My 1983, April 1985, May 1988, May 1990, April 1993, April 2002, April 2006 and April 2007
Prepared by President Brian Elliot Gold and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Governance Benjamin Paul Olsen on March 1, 2008.
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Student Association of SUNY New Paltz and as such is
considered, in any part or its whole, a public body.
Article II: Purpose
The purpose of this organization is to act as the governance system of the student body of SUNY New
Paltz to ensure fair representation of the student body in all college-related matters, and to fairly distribute
and oversee mandatory activity fees.
Article III: Membership
Section 1
All students attending SUNY New Paltz shall be members of the Student Association.
Section 2
Membership in the Student Association guarantees:
A. Participation in events sponsored by the Student Association.
B. Equality of rights shall not be denied to any student.
C. Participation in general elections (voting is restricted to activity-fee paying students).
D. Attendance in any meeting of the Student Association.
E. The right of every student to petition the Senate on specific issues.
Article IV: Governance
The governance of the Student Association shall be vested in the Senate and Council of Organizations,
the Executive Board, the Programming Board and the Judicial Board.
Article V: The Senate
Section 1
The primary legislative powers of the Student Association shall be vested in the Senate.
Section 2
The Senate will be comprised of twenty-five activity fee paying students.
Section 3
A. Initiate legislation pertaining to representing, advocating, and furthering the interest and welfare
of the students of SUNY New Paltz.
B. Identify and develop goals and priorities for the Student Association.
C. Serve as the agency that elects senators to fill standing Student Association Committees
including, but not limited to:
1. Budget and Finance Committee [(5 members) in conjunction with 5 members from the
Council of Organization.]
2. Constitution and Rules Committee [(5 members) in conjunction with 5 members from the
Council of Organizations.]
D. Review, amend, and approve the Student Association budget as proposed by the Budget and
Finance Committee.
E. Initiate amendments to the Constitution.
F. Serve as the agency that confirms students to fill student seats on standing, college-wide
committees upon nomination of the Student Association President. These include, but are not
limited to:
1. College Auxiliary Services Board (CAS)
2. Academic Senate and its committees
3. College Academic Appeals Committee
G. To elect the Senate Chair from the Senate. That election is to take place in the Spring semester
and whenever the position becomes vacant.
H. Serve as the agency that confirms presidential nominations to the Judicial Board.
I. Serve as the agency that confirms Executive Board nominations to the Executive Board when a
position becomes vacant.
Section 4
In order for any official Senate business to be conducted a quorum is required. A quorum shall be defined
as fifty percent (50%) plus one of the seated members of the Senate (for Senate business), or one half
(1/2) of the Student Association standing committees, including ad-hoc committees.
Section 5
Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be used when meeting of the Senate are conducted, and in
standing committees when a majority of the committee’s members deem it necessary.
Section 6
The Senate shall have the power to override Executive Board vetoes by a two thirds (2/3) majority of
those present.
Section 7
The Senate shall have the power to impeach any official of the Student Association by a majority vote of
those present.
Section 8
The Senate shall have the power to remove impeached officers of the Student Association by a two-thirds
(2/3) majority of those present.
Article VI: The Council of Organizations
Section 1
The Council of Organizations is the representative body of all recognized student clubs and organizations.
An Organization denied admittance to the Council will be required to wait until the following semester to
seek recognition.
Section 2
The Council of Organizations shall be composed of one representative from each recognized
organization.
Section 3
A. Officially recognize student clubs and organizations.
B. Serve as the agency that elects Council representatives to fill the following committees
1. Budget and Finance Committee (5 members in conjunction with 5 members from the
Senate.)
2. Constitution and Rules Committee (5 members in conjunction with 5 members from the
Senate.)
3. Programming Board (5 members in conjunction with 6 members elected at large from the
student body.)
C. Establish boards in the following areas:
1. Social and Cultural Services
2. Fine and Performing Arts
3. Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation
4. Advocacy
5. Academic Services
6. Media
D. The Council of Organizations shall have the power to review all Senate legislation and remand it
to the Senate for further action with the exception of the budget.
E. To elect a Council of Organizations chair from the Council. That election is to take place in the
Spring Semester and whenever the position becomes vacant.
Section 4
Council of Organizations decision making shall be made in the following manner.
A. In order for any official Council of Organizations business to be conducted, a quorum is required.
A quorum shall be defined as one half (1/2) of the total membership of the Council of
Organizations (for Council business) and one half (1/2) of the boards (for board business).
B. All decisions by the Council of Organizations and its standing boards shall require a simple
majority of those members present in the quorum.
Article VII: The Executive Board
Section 1
The Executive Board shall function as the primary administrative branch of the Student Association.
Section 2
The Executive Board shall be composed of the following officers:
A. President
B. Executive Vice-President
C. Vice-President for Finance
D. Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Governance
E. Vice-President for Programming
Section 3
Duties and responsibilities of the Executive Board shall include:
A. Manage and supervise daily administrative operations of the Student Association.
B. Be responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the Senate and the Council of
Organizations.
C. Have the power to veto decisions of the Senate by majority vote if the Executive Board believes
the decision is not in the best interest of the student body. The Senate must be informed of the
Executive Board’s veto by the next Senate meeting.
D. Serve as non-voting members of all Student Association houses and committees, except as noted
elsewhere.
E. Manage and supervise the basic administration support system for Level One operations (such as
office supplies, copying, outside communications - phone/mail).
Article VIII: The Programming Board
Section 1
The Programming Board shall act as the primary program coordinating body for the Student Association.
Section 2
The student body will elect half plus one of the Programming Board members at large and the remainder
of the members will represent each of the standing boards of the Council of Organizations, chosen by
their respective board.
Section 3
The duties and responsibilities of the Programming Board shall include:
A. Coordinate Programming
B. Review and approve programs and requests.
C. Review program expenditures and approve allocation of funds from appropriate lines.
D. Act in accordance with the Programming Board By-laws and guidelines set forth to ensure proper
programming.
Article IX: The Student Association Judicial Board
Section 1
All judicial powers of the Student Association shall be rested in the Judicial Board.
Section 2
A. The one (1) Chief Justice and four (4) Associate Justices of the Judicial Board shall be nominated
by the President of the Student Association and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate.
B. A justice must be a member of the Student Association.
C. Each justice shall serve until they resign, or are impeached and removed, or are no longer a
student at SUNY New Paltz.
Section 3
The duties and responsibilities of the Judicial Board shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. Interpret and review the constitutionality of all actions of the Student Association and its various
substructures.
B. Serve as primary student representatives to the College judicial system.
Article X: Terms of Office for Elected Officials
Section 1
The term of office for members of the Executive Board shall be twelve (12) months in length
commencing on May 15 and concluding on May 14 of the following year (with the exception of the Vice-
President for Finance who shall remain until May 31, with the new Vice-President for Finance having
signatory powers commencing on the first of June).
Section 2
The term of office for senators shall be twelve (12) months in length, commencing one day after the end
of the semester in which their election took place.
Section 3
The term of office for all Programming Board members shall be twelve (12) months in length
commencing on May 15 and concluding on May 14 of the following year.
Article XI: Meetings
Section 1
The Executive Board shall meet at least once every week and as conditions warrant.
Section 2
The Senate shall meet legislatively at least every other week and in committees those weeks in between,
unless conditions warrant otherwise.
Section 3
The Council of Organizations shall meet at least once per month and as conditions warrant.
Section 4
The Judicial Board shall meet as conditions warrant.
Section 5
The Budget and Finance Committee shall meet once every two (2) weeks and as conditions warrant.
Section 6
The Constitution and Rules Committee shall meet once every two (2) weeks and as conditions warrant.
Section 7
The Programming Board shall meet once a week and as conditions warrant.
Article XII: General Elections
Section 1
The General Election of officials shall occur in the following manner:
A. All positions on the Executive Board shall be elected at large.
B. All positions on the Programming Board shall be elected at large with the exception of the five
(5) members elected from the Council of Organizations.
C. All Senators shall be elected at-large
Section 2
Requirements for elected positions:
A. All candidates must be in good academic standing.
B. All elected officials must be in good academic standing throughout the duration of their term in
office or be subject to forfeiture of their position.
Section 3
The timetable for elections shall be as follows:
A. Election of the Executive board shall take place in the Spring semester on or about April 30.
B. Elections for 15 seats of the Student Senate shall occur on or around December 10th; elections for
10 seats of the Student Senate shall occur on or around April 30 (in conjunction with the
Executive Board elections). Any seats open as a result of resignation or removal of Senators will
be subject to the next general election, in which the remainder of those terms shall be served by
the candidates receiving the highest number of votes other than those elected to regularly
scheduled seats.
C. Elections for the Programming Board shall take place in the Spring semester on or about April 30
(in conjunction with the Executive Board elections).
Article XIII: Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1
Amendments to the Constitution proposed for ratification by a vote of the activity-fee paying student
body may be placed on a special election ballot by either of the following methods:
A. A petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the total student body may be submitted to the Student
Association Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Governance.
B. Any member of the Senate may submit an amendment to the Constitution for review by the
Senate. It shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those members present in order to be placed
in a constitutional election.
Section 2
All constitutional amendments shall be placed before the student body within twenty one (21) days of
receipt by the Student Association Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Governance or within twenty
one (21) days after approval by the Senate.
Section 3
For any proposed constitutional amendment to be ratified, at least ten percent(10%) of the activity-fee
paying students must cast ballots on the constitutional proposition. Of the ballots cast, a simple majority
will ratify the proposed amendment to the Constitution.
Article XIV: Altering the Activity Fee
In order to alter the student activity fee, the entire student body must have the opportunity to vote in favor
or against the proposed changes. The majority vote of the students will be held binding on the Student
Association. The Student Association will honor the reasons for which the students changed the activity
fee.
Article XV: Referenda
Section 1
In order for a referenda to be placed before the student body for a vote, a petition with the signatories
from ten percent (10%) of the total student body must be submitted to the Student Association Vice-
President for Student and Academic Affairs.
Section 2
The election for a referendum must be held within twenty-one (21) days of receipt by the Student
Association Vice-President for Student and Academic Affairs and Governance of the petition calling for
the referenda while classes are in session.
Section 3
Referenda may only reallocate funds which were previously allocated by referenda.
Section 4
To be held binding by the Student Association, 12.5% of the student population must cast a vote on the
referendum, and a majority of the votes cast shall bind the Student Association.
Section 5
No referenda can be run that can have the effect of allocating funds for more than two (2) years.
Article XVII: Historical Ratification
Five hundred (500) activity-fee paying students must vote in the constitutional election for this
constitutional election to be valid. This Constitution shall be ratified by a simple majority of the votes
cast. (This Constitution originally passed in 1981.)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Student Association Constitution.pdf | 107.34 KB |