CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
OF THE STUDENT BODY OF THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
(last updated January 29, 2008)

Article I. Name and Purpose

Section 2

• To facilitate the exchange of information and ideas between the six colleges and all students attending the Medical University of South Carolina.
• To serve as a liaison between MUSC Students and the University administration in order to represent student opinion, needs and interests to the administration; and to disseminate and promote the exchange of information from the administration to students.
• To take action to increase the quality of student services and academic programs in order to further enhance the education of MUSC students.
• To plan and execute a variety of social, cultural and recreational events to promote fellowship, personal growth, and enjoyment of MUSC students and the University community.
• To maintain a budget, within the allocated funds, to most effectively serve the MUSC student body.

Article II. Membership

Section 1
Each college in the Medical University of South Carolina is entitled to the following number of representatives based on population and need for adequate communication:

College/Organization
Total Number of Representatives
  CHP 14
  Dental 4
  Graduate Studies 5
  Medicine 10
  Nursing 7
  Pharmacy 5
  Multicultural Student Advisory Board 1
  International Student Association 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

Section 8 – Function Policy

Section 9

Section 1
The officers of the Student Government Association of the Medical University of South Carolina shall be the President, Academic Vice President, Program Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2

Section 3

• The management of the elections shall be conducted by the Executive Committee, formerly the Elections Committee (See Article V, Section 2b).
• Elections shall be held in March and the newly elected officers are strongly encouraged to attend all executive and general SGA meetings on or after April 1. Upon May 1, the newly elected officers will assume active duties and powers.
• All candidates for Student Body executive offices shall be self-nominated in the Office of Student Programs, and upon such nomination, the candidate will sign a form stating that they have read the entire Constitution and agree to follow current stated regulations and amendments.
• The candidates will be given a filing period to present their candidacy form. The Executive Committee will determine the dates for this period, which will extend for a timeframe of between two to four weeks; the Executive Committee will publicize this period at least one week before the opening day. The final day of the filing period must be on a school day and will end at 5:00 p.m. In the case of no candidates filing for a particular office, the filing period for such office will be extended for one-week periods repeatedly until at least one candidate presents.
• A plurality of the votes cast will be required to elect the officers. In the event of a tie, campus-wide, run-off elections shall be held for the tying candidates until one receives a plurality of votes in an election. The Executive Committee will determine the dates of the additional elections.
• Electoral disputes deemed significant by the Executive Committee shall be decided by a discussion and vote in the general SGA meeting. Candidates must file a written complaint within two working days of the closing of the polls.
• Campaign procedures and ethics will be stipulated to all candidates in writing from the Executive Committee, and the candidate will sign a form of consent to such regulation upon filing for candidacy.
• Elections will be held over a two-day period with the hours, sites, and ballot procedures set by the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee may choose to use the assistance of the Student Programs Office and voting members of the SGA for assistance of poll operation.
• Any officer running for re-election will not be able to participate in the election process.

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

• Shall be the chief executive officer of the SGA.
• Shall chair the Executive Committee and preside over meeting of the SGA every two weeks.
• Shall be the official representative of the student body of the Medical University of South Carolina, including attending meetings of the Board of Trustees, faculty/administration meetings, taking part in ceremonies and events, and other responsibilities.
• Shall plan and conduct SGA elections as chairman of the Executive Committee, unless running for reelection.
• Shall chair the Student Welfare Committee.
• Shall be in Charleston over the majority of the summer to make plans for the upcoming year.
• Shall be responsible for the overall operation of programs, finances and continuity of the MUSC SGA.
• Shall keep in close contact with Student Programs staff to ensure proper organization of all procedures and activities.
• Shall organize and chair at least one annual meeting of all MUSC student organization presidents.
• Shall organize and chair monthly meetings of college student government presidents (the Presidents’ Council).
• Shall work closely with Parking Management to make plans for, publicize, and coordinate Returning Student Parking Registration, including the approval of proxies.
• Shall have the power to veto any decision made by the SGA.

Section 8

• Shall assist the President in the execution of SGA policies and operations.
• Shall chair the Academic Affairs Committee.
• Shall keep in close contact with the Student Programs Office to assure proper organization of all procedures and activities.
• Shall plan and conduct a constitutional review and/or update every two years.
• Shall attend university-wide academic affairs committee meetings.
• Shall attend meetings and/or maintain contact with the administrations of the Offices of Enrollment Services and the Library and report any changes in policy to the SGA.
• Shall act in lieu of the President if the President is unable to perform the duties of the office and shall succeed the office if a vacancy occurs.
• Shall organize and chair meetings of college honor council presidents (the University Honor Council) each semester.
• Shall act as Parliamentarian to interpret and enforce "Robert’s Rules of Order".

Section 9

• Shall chair the Programs Committee.
• Shall work closely with the Student Programs staff to assure that all programs are properly organized. At certain times of the year, this will require daily communication with the Student Programs Office.
• Shall plan and manage Fall Workshop and social events for all SGA Members.
• Shall be in Charleston over the majority of the summer to make plans for the upcoming year.
• Shall keep in close contact with the Student Programs Office to assure proper organization of all procedures and activities.

Section 10
The Treasurer:

• Shall be in charge of all monetary affairs of the SGA. This includes computerized record keeping and the timely depositing/distribution of funds to both the University account and checking accounts.
• Shall ensure that the SGA checkbook is continually and accurately balanced.
• Shall develop, present and manage an operating budget.
• Shall report on finances of the SGA on a monthly basis.
• Shall maintain close contact with the Student Programs staff to assure proper organization of all procedures and activities.
• Shall be involved in any fund raising projects deemed desirable or necessary by the SGA.
• Shall chair the Service Committee.
• Shall work closely with MUSC Gives Back to organize service projects and communicated volunteer opportunities to the SGA.

Section 11
The Secretary:

• Shall maintain all official records of the SGA on the SGA’s computer, including membership, rosters, agendas, and minutes.
• Shall notify SGA representatives of scheduled meetings.
• Shall take roll and manage the attendance policy.
• Shall handle all SGA correspondence and the posting of minutes.
• Shall maintain close contact with the Student Programs Staff to assure proper organization of all procedures and activities.
• Shall be responsible for the accuracy and effectiveness of SGA’s organizational web page.

Article IV. Meetings

Section 1
Regular meetings of the SGA shall be held at least twice a month. Special meetings may be called by the President as needed and also may be scheduled by the SGA at a regular meeting.

Section 2
Questions concerning procedural matters shall be settled by reference to Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) except when covered by a specific provision of this Constitution.

Section 3
Decisions before the SGA can be made by a majority vote of the eligible members, provided that a quorum of at least 2/3 of the members is present.

Section 4
Designated substitutes may vote in the absence of representatives.

Section 5
The proceedings of the SGA must be posted in minute-format or otherwise publicized promptly after approval. The secretary has the obligation to maintain communications between the SGA and the Student Body.

Section 6
The SGA may override a presidential veto with a 2/3 majority re-vote, provided that a quorum of members is present.

Article V.  Committees

Section 1
With the exception of the Executive Committee, the membership of the standing committees will be open to at least one MUSC student from each of the six colleges.

Section 2
The SGA shall have the following standing committees: Academic Affairs Committee, Executive Committee, Program Committee, Student Welfare Committee, Service Committee and Communications Committee. New committees may be formed by approval of the SGA.

(a) The Academic Vice President shall serve as the chairperson of the Academic Affairs Committee. The Academic Affairs Committee is to assume student leadership in the promotion of the dynamic process of learning at MUSC. This includes striving to achieve highly qualified faculty and able students. In addition, this committee is to support any ideals or actions that will facilitate the acquisition and transfer of knowledge and skills amongst faculty and students. The responsibilities of the Academic Affairs Committee include conducting a constitutional review every two years and calculating the number of representatives for the colleges each year by February 28 based on the number of students in each college from the previous academic year according to the procedures set forth in Appendix A of this document. The recommendations and actions of the Academic Affairs Committee are to be exchanged with the MUSC Deans, the MUSC Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the MUSC President and the Board of Trustees.

(b) The President shall serve as the chairperson of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall include the President, Academic Vice President, Program Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The function of the Executive committee is to oversee, plan, organize, and monitor the business of the SGA. In addition, they shall conduct elections in a timely and proper manner and encourage the highest level of student participation in candidacy, voting and poll management.

(c) The Program Vice President shall serve as the chairperson of the Program Committee. The function of the Program Committee is to schedule, plan, promote, manage, and evaluate a variety of social, cultural, and recreational events and activities for MUSC students and the University community.

(d) The President shall serve as the chairperson of the Student Welfare Committee. The function of the Student Welfare Committee is to identify noncurricular student concerns and needs; explore the situation around these concerns and needs; take these concerns and needs to the appropriate administrator/faculty members to reach a resolution or make change; and to communicate related information/action to the student body.

(e) The Treasurer shall serve as chairperson of the Service Committee. The function of the Service Committee is to plan, organize and manage service projects for the SGA membership. The Service Committee may also work in conjunction with MUSC Gives Back to communicate volunteer opportunities to the student government.

(g) The Secretary shall serve as chairperson of the Communications Committee. The function of the Communications Committee is to maintain and improve communication among SGA, the MUSC administrative staff, faculty and all students at MUSC. The committee also works on the contents of the SGA website.

Article VI.  Specific Functions

Section 1. Budget

(a) The SGA will establish a general balanced budget plan twice a year. The proposed budgets will be prepared by the Treasurer in conjunction with the other members of the Executive Committee and presented to the SGA at the annual Fall Retreat, and the first meeting in February. The spring budget will reflect any changes necessary due to actual fall expenditures. The budget may be approved by a simple majority vote at the next meeting provided that a quorum is present.

(b) Expenditures which are not included in the budget plan and which exceed 1000 dollars will be presented to the SGA for approval. Expenditures less than 1000 dollars may be approved by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Relationship with other student organizations
The SGA is not authorized to determine the policies and business of other student organizations at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The SGA is expected and obliged to facilitate the exchange of ideas, information, and appropriate resources among such groups, as much as possible. To achieve such goals the President of the SGA will both initiate and lead a meeting at least once a semester for all student presidents of MUSC colleges and university wide organizations.

The SGA shall work to co-sponsor campus-wide programs with other student organizations. An organization wishing to co-sponsor an event with the MUSC SGA must share the related expenses and event assistance 50/50.

The President shall chair an annual meeting of the presidents of all student organizations. The function of these meetings is to encourage communication between leaders of University organizations and to more effectively plan University functions.

Article VII. Constitutional Amendments

Any MUSC student may introduce amendments to the SGA constitution to the Academic Affairs Committee. At the next meeting of the Academic Affairs Committee, the committee will discuss the proposed amendment and introduce the proposed amendment at the following meeting of the SGA along with their recommendation. The proposed amendment will be discussed by the SGA at that meeting and will be voted on in a timely manner. A two-thirds vote will carry the amendment.

APPENDIX A

Algorithm for College Representation

Procedure:

• Divide each enrollment figure by 50 (Column B/50).
• Adjust the lowest resulting quotient (Column C) to 3.5.
• The difference between the lowest quotient in column C and 3.5 is the constant for the year.
• Subtract the constant from each remaining quotients (Column C – Constant= Column D)
• Round the result to the nearest whole number. This provides the revised number of representatives for the following year (Column E).

Example (From 2006-2007)