Western Illinois University
Student Government
Association
Constitution & Bylaws
Western Illinois University
Student Government Association Constitution
Revised April 2015
Mission Statement
The mission of the Western Illinois University Student Government Association is to promote the
general welfare of students through the representation of their concerns, viewpoints, and interests
regarding governance issues to the administration and faculty of our distinguished University.
Through this service, the Student Government Association will strive to improve the quality of
academic and co-curricular experiences at Western Illinois University and provide developmental
opportunities for its members.
Article I
Name
Section 1
The name of this organization shall be the Western Illinois University Student
Government Association, hereafter referred to as SGA.
Section 2
Section 1
This organization shall comply with all university and campus policies and
regulations and local, state, and federal laws.
Article II
Authorities and Power
This organization is established under the policies and procedures of the Western
Illinois University Board of Trustees and through the University President and/or
Vice President for Student Services. The exercise of its functions should be made
subject to such conditions as they may prescribe.
Section 2
Authorities and powers vested in the student body of Western Illinois University
shall be exercised by SGA except where otherwise described in this Constitution or
Bylaws.
Section 3
SGA shall recognize authorities and powers vested in a number of bodies
representing specialized interests and activities on campus.
Section 4
SGA shall comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
Section 1
Article III
Membership
Members and officers must be enrolled students at Western Illinois University.
Section 2
Non-students may act as associate members, but may not vote or hold office.
Section 1
Section 2
Section 1
Section 1
Section 2
Article IV
Non-Discrimination Clauses
This organization shall not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual
orientation, gender identity and gender expression, religion, age, marital status,
national origin, disability, or veteran status. This policy will include, but not be
limited to, recruiting, membership, organization activities, or opportunities to hold
office.
SGA shall be a safe environment conducive to respectful debate. Members shall not
slander, libel, harass, threaten, intimidate, or make disrespectful comments or
gestures of any kind toward any one attending SGA functions. Continuous or gross
violation of this rule may result in removal.
Article V
Statement of Non-Hazing
This organization will not conspire to engage in hazing, or commit any act that
causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or
disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or person
attending the institution.
Article VI
Governing Documents and Amendments
The SGA constitution shall take precedence over SGA bylaws. SGA bylaws shall
take precedence over SGA Senate rules.
SGA membership shall be subject to SGA governing documents and are subject to
any consequences, with advisor accordance, as deemed by the Attorney General with
final approval of the SGA President, except in cases where the SGA President is the
member in question.
Section 3
SGA constitutional amendments shall require Operational Policies Committee,
Presidential, and Speaker of the Senate approval before Senate audience and shall
require two (2) readings before Senate approval may take place.
Section 4
SGA bylaw changes shall require Operational Policies Committee approval before
Senate audience.
Section 5
SGA Senate rules shall be, with current legislative session approval, at the discretion
of the Speaker of the Senate.
Section 6
Any governing document amendment/alterations shall go into effect immediately
following approval from The Senate, President, and SGA advisor.
Section 1
Article VII
Composition and Duties of the Student Government Association
The SGA shall consist of an Executive Branch charged with executing any and
all necessary action required in the completion of all legislative decrees. The
Executive Branch shall consist of a President, Vice President, Chief of Staff,
Director of Finance, Attorney General, Director of Academic Affairs, Director
of Student Services, Director of Technology, Director of Public Relations, and
Student Member to the Board of Trustees. The Executive Branch shall represent
SGA in all University activities either directly or indirectly as deemed by the
President.
Section 2
The SGA shall consist of a Legislative Branch hereafter referred to as The Senate.
The Senate shall consist of constituency elected Senators, a Speaker of the Senate,
and a Speaker pro tempore. The Senate shall also consist of a Senate Clerk, who shall
serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member. The Senate shall represent various
constituencies and seek to enact legislation pertaining to the betterment of not only
their respective constituencies, but also Western Illinois University as a whole.
Section 3
The SGA shall consist of various committees necessary to the effective inquiry,
effects, execution, and benefit of any organizational, University, or membership
need. The Speaker of the Senate in conjunction with the President shall prescribe the
make up of these standing committees.
Committees shall be as follows:
-The Appointments Committee
-The Operational Policies Committee
-The Student Services Committee
-The Academic Affairs Committee
-The Finance and Special Projects Committee
Section 4
The SGA shall consist of various councils necessary to the effective inquiry, effects,
execution, and benefit of any organizational, University, or membership need. The
SGA President or the Appointments Committee with advice and consent of the
Legislative Branch shall prescribe the membership make up of these standing
councils.
Councils shall be as follows:
-The Council on Student Activity Funds (CSAF)
-The Council on Student Elections and Representation (CSER)
Section 5
Advisors as deemed by the Office of Student Activities shall oversee the SGA.
Advisors shall be neutral overseeing agents, serve to aid effective partnership
between the SGA and University Administration, and shall uphold the Constitution
while aiding membership in matters pertaining to SGA.
Section 1
Section 1
Article VIII
Financial Obligation
A majority of voting members of this organization may determine reasonable dues
and fees assessed to each member at the beginning of each semester. A specific
member or members, designated by this organization, shall be responsible for
payment in full of all debts accumulated by the organization not covered by funds on
deposit.
Article IX
Elections
The Council on Student Elections and Representation (CSER) shall be prescribed
any and all authority in matters pertaining to the election of any campus-wide SGA
election.
Section 2
The SGA President and Vice President shall be jointly selected by a campus-wide
election. The Student Member to the Board of Trustees shall be selected by a
campus wide-election. The Speaker of the Senate shall be selected by the Senate
from within the Senate. The Speaker pro tempore shall be selected via Senate
election by the third meeting of each respective legislative session.
Section 3
The Senate members shall be elected by each respective constituency. Speaker of the
Senate and Speaker pro tempore must be sitting Senate members or, in the case of
reelection, the current Speaker of the Senate.
Section 4
Senators shall be elected according to the policies put in place by their various
constituencies. The make up of The Senate shall be as follows:
Organization
Senators
Organization
One senator from each
1
Student Athletic Advisory
occupied residence hall
Committee
complex
Senators
*
6
1
Student Tenant Union
Panhellenic Council
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Interfraternity Council
Black Student Association
Latin American Student
Organization
International Friendship Club
1
Inter-Hall Council
1
1
2
United Greek Council
Oasis
5
Section 5
Section 1
Section 1
1
Unity
Students for Disability
Awareness
Centennial Honors College
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business and
Technology
College of Education of
Human Services
College of Fine Arts and
Communication
Senator At-Large
All SGA members must be in good judicial and academic standing and may not seek
to be elected to more than one office in a given legislative session. The Student
Member to the Board of Trustees must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5,
as dictated by Illinois State Law. The SGA President and Vice President must
maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Article X
Not For Profit Statement
This is a not-for-profit organization.
Article XI
Statement of Compliance with Campus Regulations
This organization shall comply with all university and campus policies and
regulations and local, state, and federal laws.
Bylaws
Section 1
Article I
Duties of the Executive Branch
The Executive Branch shall advise and recommend internal policies to the President,
encourage the publication of legislation regarding issues in which they are involved,
annually publish and enforce tenants of the SGA Regulations, participate in assigned
Councils and Committees as representatives of the student body, and enhance
communication between the divisions of SGA. Members of the Executive Branch
(excluding the Chief of Staff) are appointed and removed by the President with
appointment requiring approval by the Senate. The Chief of Staff is appointed and
removed directly by the President.
Section 2
Duties of the President are as follows:
1. Appoint members of the Executive Cabinet, Advisor(s), and student members to
various councils and committees within the University and community at large
where authorized or encouraged with the advice and consent of The Senate or its
designate.
2. Form ad hoc councils and committees as necessary.
3. Appoint the Chairperson and all members to ad-hoc councils and committees
with the advice and consent of The Senate or its designate.
4. Fill vacancies in the Senator At-Large positions.
5. Execute all contracts and agreements of SGA.
6. Oversee and administer all affairs of the Executive Branch.
7. Convene Special meetings of The Senate when deemed necessary and in
conjunction with the Speaker of the Senate.
8. Serve as the student’s representative to joint University-Community councils and
committees.
9. Represent the student body of Western Illinois University through participation
in all levels of University and community affairs.
10. Have final signing authority over SGA Legislation. The Senate may overturn a
veto with a 3/4 vote of The Senate.
11. Post and maintain office hours.
Section 3
Duties of the Vice President are as follows:
1. Represent the President when necessary.
2. Serve as Chairperson of the Executive Cabinet.
3. Attend and coordinate regular strategy meetings with each Director of the
Executive Cabinet.
4. Represent the student body of Western Illinois University through participation
in all levels of University and community affairs.
5. Represent the student body at Community University Partnership Program.
6. Post and maintain office hours.
Section 4
Duties of the Chief of Staff are as follows:
1. Report directly to the SGA President.
2. Provide advice to the SGA President as needed or upon request.
3. Assist the SGA Vice President in coordination of the affairs of the Executive
Branch.
4. Serve as the governmental liaison for SGA.
5. Serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member to the Appointments Committee.
6. Advise the SGA President in the appointment process.
7. Directly oversee the President’s staff and appointees to various non-SGA
councils and committees.
8. Appoint or act as a temporary liaison to non-SGA councils and committees
when a vacancy exists.
9. Periodically coordinate reports of non-SGA council/committee liaisons to the
Senate.
10. Attend all SGA Cabinet and Senate meetings.
Section 5
Duties of the Director of Finance are as follows:
1. Maintain the records, financial accounts, and fiscal integrity of SGA and its
subcommittees.
2. Provide an itemized budget report to the Executive and Legislative Branches
when requested.
3. Coordinate the issue of direct payment authorizations with the Advisor(s) when
required.
4. Approve expenditures not specifically authorized by the voting members of The
Senate according to the Regulations.
5. Serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Finance and Special Projects
Committee.
Section 6
Duties of the Attorney General are as follows:
1. Serve as the Ethics Officer of SGA by investigating instances of fraud and
malfeasances within both divisions of SGA and its subcommittees.
2. Verify the qualifications of all officers of SGA and its subcommittees.
3. Serve as the Induction Officer for all students elected or appointed to SGA and
its subcommittees.
4. Serve as the Chairperson of the Council on Student Elections and
Representation (CSER).
5. Serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Operational Policies
Committee.
6. All authority and action is subject to approval by the SGA President.
Section 7
Duties of the Director of Academic Affairs are as follows:
1. Serve as the student’s representative to the Office of the Provost and Academic
Vice President.
2. Serve as the student’s representative to the Office of the Registrar.
3. Serve as the student’s representative to Faculty Senate.
4. Serve as the student’s representative to the Council on Curricular Programs and
Instruction (CCPI).
5. Serve as the student’s representative to the Council on General Education
(CGE).
6. Serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Academic Affairs Committee.
Section 8
Duties of the Director of Student Services are as follows:
1. Plan and coordinate any student-related events authorized by the President or
The Senate.
2. Serve as a link between SGA and other University governing boards.
3. Plan any SGA programs, including the annual formal dinner.
4. Serve as a non-voting, advisory member to the Student Services Committee.
5. Convene monthly meetings with the Vice President of Student Services.
Section 9
Duties of the Director of Technology are as follows:
1. Maintain the SGA website and technology.
2. Serve as the student’s representative to University Technology.
3. Serve as the student’s representative to the Council for Instructional Technology
(CIT).
4. Serve as the student’s representative to University Technology councils and
committees when requested by the President.
Section 10
Duties of the Director of Public Relations are as follows:
1. Coordinate all SGA publicity and public affairs.
2. Coordinate media coverage of The Senate meetings and other SGA functions.
3. Serve as the main contact for all media outlets.
4. Serve as the student’s representative to the University Theme Committee (UTC).
5. Coordinate all lobbying efforts on behalf of the student body.
Section 11
Duties of the Student Member to the Board of Trustees are as follows:
1. Serve as a student representative to the Western Illinois University Board of
Trustees.
2. Represent the student body of Western Illinois University through participation
in all levels of University and community affairs.
Section 1
Article II
Duties of the Legislative Branch
Duties of the Speaker of the Senate are as follows:
1. Preside over Senate meetings.
2. Appoint the Senate Clerk with the advice and consent of The Senate.
3. Appoint the Chairpersons of all Legislative Standing Committees.
4. Assign and remove members of all Legislative Standing Committees.
5. Assist The Senate in proposing and acting on legislation, and vote in the
event of a tie. When the Speaker of the Senate is not acting chairperson, he
or she retains full voting rights.
6. Prepare the agenda for all Senate meetings.
7. Convene Special meetings of The Senate when deemed necessary and in
conjunction with the President.
8. Oversee the orientation of newly appointed Senators.
9. Forward all passed legislation to the appropriate administrative officials.
10. Post and maintain office hours.
Section 2
Duties of the Speaker pro tempore are as follows:
1. Represent the Speaker of the Senate when necessary.
2. Preside over The Senate in the event The Senate considers removal action against
the acting Speaker of the Senate.
Section 3
Duties of the Senators, including five (5) Senators At-Large, are as follows:
1. Present the concerns of their constituency before The Senate.
2. Serve as a voting representative of their constituency in The Senate.
3. Serve as a voting member to one of the Legislative Standing Committees.
4. Propose and sponsor legislation.
5. Consider appointments made by the President.
6. Consider and establish The Senate’s annual Rules of Procedure.
7. Consider and establish rules and procedure for SGA subcommittees.
Section 1
Section 2
Article III
Duties of the Councils and Committees
SGA shall create various councils and committees to initiate SGA policies and
proposals. It shall make recommendations on and assist in the enforcement of the
policies and regulations of Western Illinois University.
Council on Student Elections and Representation (CSER)
1. Purpose:
A. The Council on Student Elections and Representation shall serve to set,
oversee, and evaluate all elections processes on campus.
2. Membership and Removal of Members:
A. Student Membership:
i. Seven (7) students shall be appointed to the Council by the Appointments
Committee in accordance with the appointments process.
ii. No member of SGA shall be allowed to serve on the Council, excluding
the SGA Attorney General.
iii. The Vice President of SGA shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting
member.
iv. The Graduate Advisor to SGA shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting
member.
B. Removal from the Council:
i. Any member may be subject to removal via the SGA removal process.
C. Eligibility:
i. Students serving on the Council must be in good judicial and academic
standing with the University.
3. Organization:
A. The Council shall be chaired by the Attorney General.
B. The Council will review and make recommendations on the requirements
regarding SGA elections and serve as a review board for all issues regarding such
matters.
4. Duties and Responsibilities:
A. Develop and periodically review policies concerning student elections.
Section 3
Council on Student Activity Funds (CSAF)
1. Membership and Removal of Members:
A. Membership:
i. The Council shall be comprised of six (6) student members. Four (4)
members shall be appointed to the Council by the President or the
Appointments Committee in accordance with the appointment process. All
appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. The Director of Finance
and Chairperson of the Finance and Special Projects Committee shall serve
as voting liaisons of SGA.
ii. No member may vote on the budget of any organization of which they
maintain membership.
B. Faculty / Administrative Membership:
i. The Director of Student Activities shall serve as a non-voting Advisor.
ii. Three (3) faculty members shall be appointed to the Council by Faculty
Senate in accordance with its guidelines.
iii. Terms for faculty members shall run for three (3) years.
iv. Faculty members may serve one (1) three (3) year term. Terms shall be
staggered according to the guidelines of Faculty Senate.
v. The Organizational Finance Officer shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting
member of the Council.
C. Removal from the Council:
i. Any member may be subject to removal via the SGA removal process.
D. Eligibility:
i. Faculty and staff serving on the Council must have current on-campus
appointments. Students serving on the Council must be in good judicial
standing with the University.
2. Organization:
A. The actions of the Council may be reviewed by the Senate or an appropriate
committee thereof. This Council shall operate under the policies prescribed by
the Board of Trustees regarding the administration of student activity fees.
B. A file of the minutes of all meetings shall be kept by the secretary and the
Organizational Finance Officer. The file shall be passed on to each successive
Chairperson and shall be open to public review.
C. Suspension of the operations of this Council will be enacted by a two thirds
(2/3) majority vote of Senate membership and approval by the President.
Written notification of such action will be forwarded to the Director of Student
Activities, the Associate Vice President for Student Services, the Vice President
for Student Services, and the University President. In the event the suspension is
approved, the Finance and Special Projects Committee will perform all duties
and responsibilities of the Council until a new Council is formed through the
appointments process.
3. Duties and Responsibilities:
A. Awarding of Student Activity Funds:
i. The Council shall have the power to approve or disapprove of budget
requests from student organizations that request the allocation of student
activity fees. These requests shall be made to the Senate in the form of a
CSAF Resolution.
ii. The Council shall recommend approval or disapproval of reallocation
requests from student organizations to the Senate. This recommendation
shall be in the form of a CSAF Resolution.
iii. The Council shall reserve the right to place a portion of student activity
fees in a reserve account for unforeseen circumstances.
iv. Council resolutions will be submitted to the Senate and require a majority
vote of quorum for approval. The President shall have five (5) class days to
approve or veto said resolution(s). In the event the veto is exercised, the
Senate may override the veto by a 3/4 vote of quorum. The resolution(s)
shall then be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Services for further
approval. If after five (5) class days the resolution(s) has not been signed, the
legislation will be forwarded to the University President for consideration. In
the event that the University President disapproves the resolution(s), they
will be submitted to the student body in the form of a referendum. In the
event of a successful (majority) vote in favor of the referendum, the
resolution(s) shall be submitted directly to the Board of Trustees for
consideration via the Student Member to the Board of Trustees.
B. Policies for Requesting Student Activity Funds:
i. An organization is eligible for an appropriation only if it is officially
registered with the University as a duly constituted body whose membership
is open to all students and whose programs are open to all students through
participation and whose functions are not directly provided for by state
appropriations for educational purposes.
ii. Any organization not meeting all of the criteria may appeal to the Senate
for the right to reappear before CSAF.
iii. If an organization experiences an emergency or funds are needed for
special programming, the organization may appeal to the Senate for the right
to secure an appearance before CSAF.
iv. The Organizational Finance Officer shall have, upon request, immediate
access to the financial files of every organization funded by the Council.
v. The Council shall reserve the right to freeze organizational funds.
vi. A decision to freeze an organization’s funds may be appealed to the
Finance and Special Projects Committee.
Section 1
Article IV
Bills and Resolutions
All bills and resolutions presented for consideration by the Senate shall adhere to the
following:
1. Any Western Illinois University student may author a bill or resolution for
consideration by The Senate.
2. Legislation must have at least one (1) sponsor. Only Senators may serve as
sponsors.
3. All legislation shall be presented to the Speaker of the Senate, who will place the
legislation on the agenda or refer the legislation to the appropriate Senate Standing
Committee.
4. Committee Chairpersons shall contact the author(s) and sponsor(s) of any
legislation referred to their committees in regards to the time and place of the
meeting at which the legislation is to be discussed. Chairpersons shall make every
effort to ensure that the author(s) and sponsor(s) have the opportunity to endorse
and defend their legislation prior to a committee vote and referral to the Senate.
5. Committees may amend or modify any legislation by a majority vote of committee
membership.
6. Legislation disapproved by a committee shall not be placed on the agenda during
the current legislative session nor shall the Speaker of the Senate accept any
legislation of similar purpose during that session.
7. Passage of the legislation will occur if it receives a simple majority vote in The
Senate (excluding Constitutional Amendments).
8. Upon passage of Legislation, the SGA President must sign the legislation for it to
be passed onto the SGA Advisor and/or other appropriate University Officials.
9. The SGA President may exercise a Presidential Veto over SGA legislation
10. A 3/4 majority Senate vote will override a Presidential Veto.
11. Bills of Appropriation requesting monies for co-sponsorships of events with
other student organizations may not, in total, equal more than twenty (20) percent of
the total SGA yearly budget, per legislative session.
Section 1
Section 2
Section 1
Article V
SGA Academic Scholarship
The Student Government Association shall provide three (3) scholarships per
academic year in the amount of five-hundred ($500) dollars each.
Procedures:
1. The Finance and Special Projects Committee shall be responsible for the
execution and distribution of the SGA Academic Scholarship.
2. The Chairperson of the Finance and Special Projects Committee shall have
applications prepared and available to interested students.
3. The Chairperson of the Finance and Special Projects Committee shall be
responsible for coordinating the planning and distribution of the SGA Academic
Scholarship with all appropriate University offices.
Article VI
Removal and Succession
Cause for Removal shall be defined as noncompliance with duties assigned by the
SGA Cabinet or delineated within this document. Cause for removal shall also
include grounds found by 3/4 members of the SGA Cabinet to constitute good and
sufficient cause. The SGA Cabinet can then recommend impeachment to The
Senate.
Section 2
Process for Removal:
1. Upon, and only after, recommendation of removal from the Cabinet, a Senator
must charge the SGA member with the reason for removal publicly at a meeting of
The Senate. The charged SGA member must be offered an opportunity to defend
himself or herself at the next meeting of The Senate. A 3/4 majority vote of The
Senate is required for a member to be removed.
2. The removal bars members from re-entry into SGA for the remainder of that
legislative session.
Section 3
Succession of any removed member shall proceed as delineated in this document.
Various constituencies will elect new Senators, the SGA President will fill Cabinet
and Senator At-Large vacancies with advice and consent of The Senate, and the
Speaker of the Senate will fill Legislative Committee Chair position.