Constitutional Bylaws

Article I - Budget

Section A - Fiscal Periods

1. The fiscal period for the Fall semester shall begin in the 12th day of classes of the Fall semester and shall extend to the 11th day of classes of the Spring semester.

2. The fiscal period for the Spring semester shall begin on the 12th day of classes of the Spring semester and shall be extended to the last day of the second week before the end of the Spring semester classes.

3. The fiscal period for the summer shall begin on the first day of classes of the last week in the Spring semester and shall extend to the 12th day of classes of the Fall semester.

Section B - Automatic Allocations

1. LSM shall automatically receive 25% of the total amount of funds allocated to Student Government.

2. YAC shall automatically receive 25% of the total amount of funds allocated to Student Government.

3. The Executive Branch shall automatically receive 5% of the total amount of funds allocated to Student Government.

Section C - Automatic Carryover

1. No funds shall be automatically allocated for use during Christmas break.

2. The Executive Branch shall allocate at least $500 of its budget for use during the summer fiscal period.

3. Senate shall allocate at least $1300 of its budget for use during the summer fiscal period, as well as for use by the Vice President for Senate training and start-up costs.

4. LSM shall allocate at least $1000 of its budget for use during the summer fiscal period.

5. YAC shall allocate at least $2000 of its budget for use during the summer fiscal period.

Section D - Stipends

1. All officer compensation shall be in the form of a participatory merit stipend; the percentage of the stipend received shall equal the percentage of the term served.

2. The Executive Officers shall receive the following amounts per semester:

   • President: $2,000;

   • Vice President: $1,500;

   • LSM President: $1,500;

   • YAC President: $1,500;

3. Senate officers shall receive the following amounts per semester:

   • President Pro Tempore: $750;

   • Secretary: $750;

4. LSM General Compensation Funds shall be determined by the LSM Bylaws.

5. YAC officers shall receive the following amounts per semester:

   • General Stipend Fund: $3,000;

6. Officer compensation shall not exceed 40% of the funds allocated to Student Government. Officer compensation shall be scaled proportionally if it surpasses this percentage.

Section E - Allocation Bills

1. Senate must pass a general allocation bill by the second session after Student Government receives funds from the University in excess of $5000.

2. Neither YAC nor LSM may be allowed to spend any funds in the excess of $2500 on any given event without the explicit approval of Student Senate, with the exception of Hootenanny and any donation to spring break missions. Approval shall only be granted by means of passing a bill stating the amount of money to be spent as well as how the funds will be used.

Article II - Senate

Section A - Elections and Position Eligibility

1. Senators for each voting district shall be elected by a majority vote given by the residents of the voting district. The RA can reserve the right to change the process of the election if the majority vote is not possible. If one candidate does not receive the majority vote, the candidate with the least number of votes shall be dropped from the ballot and a vote will be taken for the remaining candidates. Ties shall be resolved through a game of rock/paper/scissors.

2. Unless an exemption is granted, no student may simultaneously hold both a paid IMPACT non-Senator position and a Senator position. Any such exception shall require the approval of the Vice President and a two-thirds vote of Senate.

3. Any student who holds a position in Student Government shall comply with the Constitution, Constitutional Bylaws, and enacted legislation.

4. Consistent failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for removal.

Section B - Attendance

• Each Senator shall be absent from no more than three (3) meetings of the Senate General Assembly each semester.

• Each Senator shall be absent from no more than three (3) meetings of each committee they are a member of each semester.

• Each Senator shall have no more than three (3) substitutions in Senate General Assembly each semester.

• Committee Chairs may take attendance in all official committee meetings and report attendance to the President Pro Tempore.

• When a Senator violates parts 1, 2, or 3 the President Pro Tempore shall notify the Senator and the Resident Assistant of the Senator’s district of the Senator’s removal from Senate.

• A Senator may receive an exemption from the stipulations of part 1 given the following:

• Exceptions shall only be given for a valid academic reason requiring mandatory attendance during the time at which Senate General Assembly meets.

• The exemption shall only be valid for one (1) academic semester at a time, and consecutive exemptions shall require an additional approval, as per subparts a, c, d, e, f, g and h, for each semester.

• The Senator seeking exemption shall serve on a committee during the time of their exemption and be subject to the committee attendance requirements of part 2 above.

• The senator seeking exemption shall meet with the Vice President, the President Pro Tempore, and the Committee Chairs (as defined by the Senate Bylaws) and present their case for exception.

• The Vice President, the President Pro Tempere, and the Committee Chairs shall evaluate the validity of the exemption request and the potential contribution of the Senator seeking exemption. This shall be decided by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the Vice President shall be the deciding vote.

• Given approval by process of subpart e, the exemption request shall be presented to Senate in the Senate General Assembly by the Vice President and voted on by Senate.

• The exemption shall require a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

• If approved, the exempt Senator shall not be factored into quorum calculations required by the Constitution, Article II, Section D, Subsection a, so long as they remain exempt.

Section C - Vacancy Elections

• In the event of a vacancy in a Senator position, elections shall be held per Section A of this article. Per Article II, Section B, Subsection a, Clause v of the Constitution, Senators filling vacancies shall not assume their duties or powers until they have been trained.

Section D - Mandatory Committee Membership

• Each Senator shall be a member of a committee for the first full two semesters of his/her tenure. A full semester of service shall be counted if the senator is elected by the election dates specified in the election procedures defined in the Senate Bylaws.

Section E - Senate Officers

Secretary

• The Vice President shall oversee the Senate Secretary election. Candidates shall speak before Senate if called upon to do so. The Secretary shall be selected from the candidates by a Senate majority vote. In the election, if one candidate does not receive the majority vote, the candidate with the least number of votes will be dropped from the ballot and a vote will be taken for the remaining candidates. The Vice President shall determine the method for resolving ties.

• Should the office of Senate Secretary become vacant, the Vice President shall hold a special election in accordance with Senate Secretary election procedures within 15 class days of the vacancy, per Article II, Section C, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution. The entire traditional student body shall be informed of the vacancy. If there is no Senate Secretary during the time before the special election, the PPT will designate a Senator to act as Senate Secretary until a replacement is selected.

• The Secretary shall report to Senate in written or electronic form on the day of each regular meeting concerning the status of each bill passed by Senate but not yet fully executed.

• The Secretary shall have authority to reprimand those uncooperative with the execution of the Secretary's duties.

• The Secretary shall willingly render time and services to the Vice President, Senate Officers, and Committee Chairs, for the purpose of coordinating and administrating business related to senate.

• The Secretary shall be responsible for the maintenance and administration of official senate web pages or resources, as instructed by the Public Records Committee Chair.

President Pro Tempore

• The Vice President shall oversee the PPT election. Candidates will be nominated by their colleagues and all candidates shall speak to Senate before the election takes place. In the election, if one candidate does not receive the majority vote, the candidate with the least number of votes will be dropped from the ballot and a vote will be taken for the remaining candidates. The Vice President shall determine the method for resolving ties.

• Should the PPT be unable to perform their duties, the Vice President may request the authority to carry out the duties outlined in Article III Section F of the Senate Bylaws until the PPT is able to perform their duties. These powers shall be granted upon a two-thirds vote of Senate. When the PPT is ready to resume their duties, the VP will announce in the next session the return of powers to the PPT.

• Should the PPT be absent for three consecutive weeks, their continued service must be confirmed by a two-thirds majority vote in the following session of Senate.

• Should the office of PPT become vacant, the Vice President shall hold a special election in accordance with PPT election procedures within 10 days of the vacancy, per Article II, Section C, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution. The Secretary shall inform all eligible candidates of the vacancy at least 72 hours before the special election.

Sergeant-at-Arms

• The Vice President shall oversee the Sergeant at Arms appointment. The candidate will be nominated by the Vice President and shall speak to Senate before being confirmed by a majority vote of Senate. Should the candidate fail to be confirmed, the Vice President shall appoint another candidate.

• Should the Sergeant at Arms be absent for three consecutive weeks, their continued service must be confirmed by a two-thirds majority vote in the following session of Senate.

• Should the office of Sergeant at Arms become vacant, the Vice President shall hold a special election in accordance with Sergeant at Arms election procedures within 10 days of the vacancy, per Article II, Section C, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution. The Vice President shall inform all eligible candidates of the vacancy at least 72 hours before the special election.

Article III - Clubs and Organizations

Section A - Definitions

• Clubs shall be defined as associations of students with a faculty sponsor, organized around a common interest which derives its legitimacy and existence from Student Life, and funding from Student Government. Clubs shall require re-recognition by Student Life each year.

• Organizations shall be defined as associations of students with a faculty sponsor, organized around a common interest, project or competition which derives its legitimacy and existence from the University outside of Student Life. Organizations do not need to be re-recognized each year.

• No club or organization based solely upon on- or off-campus living arrangements shall be recognized or be allocated any monies.

Section B - Recognition

• In order to be recognized, clubs must apply to Student Life, filling out all forms and attaching all paperwork required, as well as fulfilling any legal requirements.

Section C - Funding

• All official clubs and organizations seeking funding from Senate shall be required to submit a budget, explicitly following any requirements set forth by the Financial Appropriations Committee.

• Senate reserves the right to deny, upon recommendation of the Financial Appropriations Committee Chair and by a majority vote, any official club or organization funding if the requirements set forth by the standing Financial Appropriations Committee are not met.

Section D - Investigation and Sanction

• All official clubs, organizations, and non-residential societies shall present to Senate a financial report showing all income and expenditures within ten class days of Senate's request.

• In addition to revocation of official status, per Article V, Section C of the Constitution, Senate may, as a sanction of a club, organization or non-residential society, require all or some money allocated to the club, organization or non-residential society during the same fiscal period to be returned to Senate within 10 school days, and require reports to Financial Appropriations Committee or the entire Senate Assembly regarding remedial actions taken.

• Any club that has previously received funds from Senate and has gone two years or more without being officially recognized by Student Life and without having members will have the funds in its account reverted back to the Senate General Fund.

Section E - Residential Club Ban

• No club or organization based upon on-campus living arrangements shall be recognized.

• No club or organization based upon living arrangements shall be allocated any monies.

Article IV - Oath of Office

Section A - The Oath of Office

• “I, __________ , do solemnly affirm that I will uphold the Constitution of the Student Body of LeTourneau University, that I will support the mission of LeTourneau University as set forth by the LeTourneau University Student Handbook, that I will live in a Christ-like manner, and that I accept this obligation freely to serve God and my fellow students faithfully in the duties of the office of __________.”

Section B - Administering the Oath of Office

• The members of the Executive Cabinet must take the oath of office in chapel during the last month of the semester preceding their term of office.

• The oath of office shall be administered to the Student Body President-elect by a member of the President’s Cabinet. The newly elected Student Body President shall administer the oath of office to the other newly elected members of the Executive Cabinet.

• If an office is vacated during the year or not filled during the general election, the person filling that office must take the oath of office within ten class days of appointment or election.

• Those who replace members of the Executive Cabinet must take the oath of office during chapel.

• All newly elected senators must have the oath administered to them in a Student Senate General Assembly meeting by the Vice President.

Article V - Executive Election

Section A – General Electorate

• The General Electorate shall consist of all LeTourneau students whom the University requires to pay a Student Government fee. 

• Members of the General Electorate shall have the right to participate in Student Government sponsored events.

Section B – Position Eligibility

• Position eligibility shall be defined by the Constitution and enforced by the Governmental Processes Committee.

Section C – Announcement of Elections

• Notice of the upcoming executive election and information concerning existing positions shall be given to the students in conjunction with IMPACT.

• Applications shall be available at the IMPACT informational meeting.

• Other publicity concerning the executive election shall be the responsibility of the Governmental Processes Committee.

• Elections shall be announced in chapel before the IMPACT informational meeting.

• For any applicant to be eligible to begin the election process they must complete and submit an IMPACT application.

Section D - Interview

• Applicants running for executive cabinet positions shall attend a mandatory interview with the member of the Administration of LeTourneau University whomst works in closest proximity to said Executive Cabinet position or appointed designee of said member, and/or the Dean of Students, at least one member of the Executive Cabinet, and at least two members of the Governmental Processes committee.

• Interviews shall be conducted by members of the Executive Cabinet or Governmental Process Committee members not running for the office for which the applicant is being interviewed. If a member of the Interview process is disqualified in this way, they should be replaced with a Governmental Processes Committee, or Executive Cabinet Member.

• The chair of the Governmental Processes Committee shall appoint the members of the interview committee in accordance with the specifications of this section.

• Applicants may be denied candidacy by the interviewers with a unanimous vote by secret ballot of the interviewers present.

• Applicants must be informed of the reason for denial in writing (email or paper) seven (7) days prior to the due date for signatures. The applicant reserves the right to disclose reasons for denial to whomever they see fit, providing they do not release the private information of others in keeping with the laws of the state of Texas and the United States of America.

Section E – Signature

• To be eligible for an Executive Cabinet position, the applicant must collect the signatures of 25% of the Electorate in a one-week period to begin when the interviews end.

• Signatures shall be collected on an official paper form which shall be given to the applicant after the last interview takes place.

• The collection of signatures shall be submitted to the Governmental Processes Committee.

• If an applicant has previously held the office and is seeking uncontested reelection, they may submit an appeal to the Student Body Senate requesting exemption from signature collection.

• Seven days before elections, if more than six applicants meet the signature requirements only the six with the most signatures will be given candidacy including those seeking candidacy via Section K.

Section F – Debates

• Debates shall take place between the conclusion of the interviews and the election.

• Debates shall be announced in chapel.

• Campaign speeches shall be given in chapel on the day of the election.

Section G – Election Process

• Voting shall take place by paper or online ballot by discretion of the Governmental Processes Committee. These shall be available after chapel on the day of the election.

• Voting shall be available online for three days following the election.

• Online voting shall take place using online software that shall be specified by the Governmental Processes Committee and approved by Information Technology and the Dean of Students. The source code for such software shall be made available to students or administrative staff upon request unless it is a third-party commercial tool.

• Voting shall not begin until the conclusion of the election chapel.

• Candidates shall be listed on the ballot in alphabetical order and grouped by position.

• The results of the election shall be announced publicly, and the results placed in the public record and posted on the Student Government Web Pages.

Section H – Voting

1. • Voters shall mark their ballots by rank, signifying their first, second, third, fourth, etc. choices for the positions.

   • The election shall be determined by a ranked order voting process. If no single candidate wins with more than 50% of the votes in any round, then the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and another round of vote tallying commences until two candidates remain.

   • When only two candidates remain, only a majority shall be required to win that round of elections.

   • 4. If the difference in points between the candidates for first and second place is less than or equal to 5% of the total points counted, a runoff may be conducted according to Section I, by the discretion of the second-place candidate.

Section I – Runoff Procedures

1. • The runoff election shall be announced to the student body in chapel at least one week in advance. The runoff election may be conducted in chapel and online or entirely through online voting and shall be open for the same length of time as the Executive Election was that year.

   • The runoff shall not be the rank-vote system in Section H; each voter shall vote for the one candidate they prefer.

   • The candidate receiving the majority of votes shall be declared the winner.

   • Campaigning may be continued by the candidates during the time leading up to the runoff election.

Section J – Recount Procedure

1. • If a recount must be done, the winners for other positions with a clear winner may still be announced.

   • A recount must occur within one week of the ending of the election for which the recount is occurring.

   • The recount process shall recount all paper ballots and reverify all student IDs on such ballots.

   • The recount shall be conducted by two members of the Governmental Processes Committee and two other senators, not on the Governmental Processes Committee and not running for any office, nominated by the President Pro Tempore and Individually Approved by a 2/3 vote of the Senate by way of secret ballot.

   • Any discrepancies found during the recount shall be accounted for and explained to the satisfaction of the Governmental Processes Committee.

Section K – Write-In Candidate

1. • An applicant may declare themselves a Write-In candidate at any point and must follow all normal rulings for applicants.

   • Write-In applicants are not required to complete the Interview process even if they have previously been denied by the Interview process.

   • Write in candidates will be required to collect signatures of thirty percent of the general electorate instead of the standard twenty five percent. Or require 2/3 approval from Senate and signatures of 25 percent of the general electorate seven days before the election.

Section L – Student Initiative Process

1. • All members of the electorate shall have the right to propose a non-appropriations initiative to be placed on the ballot of the next executive election, unless a special election is called by senate

   • The initiative shall be presented to the Governmental Processes Committee in writing. The wording may afterward be amended, upon approval by the Governmental Processes Committee, provided the amendment does not change the intent of the original initiative submitted, or significantly change the content of the original initiative.

   • The Governmental Processes Committee shall provide official signature forms to the sponsoring student(s) within one week of receipt of the proposed initiative. The sponsor(s) of the initiative must obtain the signatures, on the provided forms, of no less than thirty percent of the electorate indicating their support of the initiative as a submitted to the Governmental Processes Committee.

   • The completed signature forms must be returned to the Governmental Processes Committee no less than one week before the election. The Governmental Processes Committee shall certify the validity of the signatures submitted.

   • The initiative shall be passed upon winning a simple majority approval of those voting on the initiative in the election.

   • The senate may at any time, by a 2/3 majority vote, submit an initiative to the student body to be voted upon.

   • This initiative shall be placed on the ballot at the next executive election unless a special election is called by the senate.

   • It shall be passed upon winning a simple majority approval of those voting on the initiative in the election.

   • A special election may be called at any time to put forth an initiative or constitutional amendment to the electorate for approval.

   • The proposal to call a special election must be approved by 2/3 of the senate body and the student body president.

   • If approved by the senate and student body president, the special election shall be announced to the electorate no less than ten class days before the election is held. The election may be held I chapel and online or online only.

Section M – Amending Article V

1. • Any amendments made to Article V must be made within the first seven weeks of fall semester if they are to take effect in the elections of the proceeding spring semester. 

   • Amendments to Article V require ¾ of the student senate approval to be ratified. 

   • Any amendment not initiated by the Governmental Processes shall be reviewed by the Governmental Processes Committee before being proposed to Senate for a vote.

Article VI - Unsigned Legislation

Section A - Vetoed and Unsigned Legislation

1. Vetoed legislation may be passed over the veto by Senate with a 2/3 majority vote.

2. Legislation not signed by the President within 6 days of passage by Senate shall take effect as if it had been signed.