Preamble: [top]
In order that all members of the student body of the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University may participate equally in all affairs of the college, enjoy all rights and privileges on an equal basis, and to become better integrated in the affairs of the student organizations of the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, we, the members of the said Student Body, pursuant to authority conferred, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
ARTICLE I - Name of Organization: [top]
The name of this organization shall be the Student Body of the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University.
ARTICLE II - Purpose of the Organization: [top]
The purpose of this organization shall be:
Section A. The promotion of college activities.
Section B. The promotion among the students of the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University of a more community-like atmosphere.
Section C. The settlement of all affairs which concern the best interest of the Student Body.
Section D. The attainment of those things which help further the college.
ARTICLE III - Membership: [top]
All full-time regularly matriculated students of the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University shall be members of this organization.
ARTICLE IV - The Student Government Association: [top]
Section A. The governing body of the Student Body shall be designated the Student Government Association.
Section B. The Student Government Association shall be composed of the following members:
1. Voting members:
a. Officers of the Student Government Association.
b. Representatives from each class or department of each school of the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University as defined in the Bylaws. (11. A. 1. a.).
c. Editor of the X-Ray (the yearbook)
2. Non-voting members:
a. Presidents of the Schools and Training programs as listed in Article III.
b. Class Presidents.
c. Officers of the X-Ray staff.
d. Co-Chairman of all standing committees.3. The officers of the Student Government Association shall be referred to as the Executive Board of the Student Government Association.
Section C. Election of Officers
1. The Student Government Association shall elect from the student body the following:
(1) President
(2) Vice Presidents
(3) Secretary
(4) Treasurer2. The officers and committee chairperson of the Student Government Association shall serve from the time of their installation until the election of new officers and chairpersons, after which they shall be responsible to the incoming officers and chairpersons, after which they shall be responsible to the incoming officers and chairpersons, and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the same until graduation of that scholastic year.
Section D. Duties and Powers of the Student Government Association
1. It shall see that all student elections are conducted properly and shall decide the validity of the same in case of contest.
2. It shall have exclusive power of appropriation of the Student Body Fund and shall disperse the same for the best interest of the Student Body.
3. It shall request an institutional accountant to audit the books of all persons and organizations handling Student Body Funds.
a. The books shall be audited when the fund's records show a discrepancy; and when the Treasurer and fellow officers of the Student Government Association, the Dean of MCV Student Affairs, and Fiscal Administrator to the Student Government Association deem the discrepancy warrants an appropriate investigation.
b. Should the report of the accountant be unsatisfactory in regard to a particular account and show a deficit, the deficit must be made up from the Student Body Fund before any other disbursements can be made, or the deficit can be satisfied by assessing the contingent deposit of each student.
c. The Student Government Association must request an internal audit on a regular biennium basis (i.e., on even years).
4. It shall interpret the Constitution whenever any article, section, or phrase thereof is in question.
5. It shall pass on all voluntary resignations occurring within the Student Government Association, and before accepting a resignation from any Executive member of the Student Government, shall require the Executive Board to appoint a replacement from the Student Body.
6. It shall require the resignation from any unsatisfactory officer or member of the Student Government Association. Any member who is absent without leave or fails to provide a replacement for two meetings shall be deemed to have automatically relinquished their seat on the Student Government Association, and the class concerned shall elect a representative to fill the remainder of the term.
7. It shall allow any student to appear before the General Assembly to present for consideration any question of interest, provided that person submits a written statement to the Student Government Association president at least ten days prior to that meeting.
8. It shall act as the representative of the Student Body in any situation when such representation is needed, and after proper hearing, it shall settle grievances or complaints between classes or student organizations affecting the Student Body as a whole.
Section E. Meetings of the Student Government Association:
1. The Student Government Association Meetings will be held at least every six weeks during the school session.
2. A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE V - Student Body Meetings: [top]
Section A. Meetings of the Student Body shall be held as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.
Section B. A majority of the Student Body membership shall constitute a quorum.
Section C. The Student Body, by a two-thirds vote of a quorum at a meeting which has been duly advertised for seven days may rescind any action of the Student Government Association or its officers.
ARTICLE VI - The Honor Council: [top]
Section A. This judicial body, having jurisdiction over the honor code of the Student Body, shall be designated the Honor Council.
Section B. The Honor Council shall be composed of the following members: A maximum of two representatives from each class of each school of the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Section C. Election of Officers
1. The present Honor Council shall elect from the rising members of the incoming council, the following:
a. Chairperson
b. Secretary2. The outgoing Honor Council shall serve until graduation of that scholastic year. The newly elected basic Honor Council shall attend all meetings held after their election.
Section D. The appropriation of all funds and payment of all expenses concerning the Honor Council, will be controlled by the Student Government shall attend all meetings held after their election.
Section E. Any changes in the Medical College of Virginia Honor Code as resolved by the Honor Council must be first presented to the MCV Student Government Association and approved by a two-thirds vote of representatives present (quorum must be ensured) at a subsequent meeting.
ARTICLE VII - Board of Publications [top]
The essential function of the Board is to provide stability and continuity of control of the Student Body Publications.
Section A. Membership
1. The officers of the Publications Board shall be: The President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer of the Student Government Association.
2. The Editor-in-Chief and Business Manager of each Publication shall also be members.
ARTICLE VIII - Student Government [top]
Section A. Student Government Fee
1. A student government fee shall be paid by each full-time member of the Student Body upon matriculation.
2. Said fee shall be collected by the Treasurer of Virginia Commonwealth University, who shall turn over Student Government Association funds to the Treasurer of the Student Government Association.
3. A student government fee increase after a majority approval by the Student Government Association, must be presented to the University Tuition and Fees Committee for subsequent discussion and approval.
Section B. Power of Appropriation
1. The power of appropriation of the Student Body Fund shall be vested exclusively in the Student Government Association.
2. All members of the Student Body shall have the opportunity to participate equally in the benefits afforded herein.
3. All appropriations shall be made only after a budget has been submitted by the organization requesting such appropriations to the Student Government Association in the following manner:
a. Budget of the X-Ray shall be submitted to the Executive Board prior to the end of the scholastic year for the following year's publications. This budget must be acted upon and approved prior to the end of the school year to facilitate the planning and making contracts for the publications for the following year.
b. All budgets to be submitted to the Student Government Association shall be submitted at a meeting which shall be held within four weeks after the beginning of the current scholastic year.
4. A mid-year budget review must be presented to the Student Government Association by the Treasurer. Any additional changes or requests to the budget may be made at this time subject to thorough discussion and majority of quorum approval.
ARTICLE IX - Amendments [top]
1. Any amendments shall be proposed only by the following methods:
a. A two-thirds vote of a quorum of the Student Government Association.
b. A petition signed by twenty-five members of the Student Body and presented to the Student Government Association.2. Any proposed amendment shall be made public at least one week prior to being voted on, by being posted in conspicuous places in all schools on the MCV campus.
3. A proposed amendment shall be voted on by secret ballot, or a voice vote approved at a prior meeting. A proposed amendment change must have at least one week's notice prior to vote.
4. If an amendment is proposed through the Student Government Association, or by petition, it must receive two-thirds vote of the members present at the meeting (quorum must be ensured) of the Student Government Association.
1. An amendment to the bylaws may be proposed by any voting member of the Student Government Association.
2. Any proposed amendment shall be made public at least one week prior to being voted on by being posted in conspicuous places in all schools.
3. An amendment to the bylaws must receive two-thirds vote of the members of the Student Government Association present at the meeting (quorum must be ensured). This meeting to be not less than one week following that at which a proposal was made.