SGA senate amends constitution
ed komenda
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: News
The Student Government Association passed several amendments in regard to both the constitutional bylaws and constitution itself at the last meeting of the 40th Legislative Session.
The first major bylaw amendment (Bylaws Amendment 2008-09.05) addressed the absence of "a deliberative body with the purpose or duty of addressing concerns" in regard to the "interpretations of the constitution, bylaws, rules and other governing documents and procedures," according to the literature of the bill.
The amendment proposed the adoption of a new body, comprised of seven student members and six faculty members and labeled as the Council on Governance and Appeals.
"Essentially what COGA is supposed to do is to act as an oversight committee and a hearing board," SGA Attorney General Josh Jefferson said. "In the event that somebody takes issues with an interpretation of the constitution, what COGA is supposed to do is give that person an avenue other than talking directly to the attorney general."
He added that COGA was designed to function as a body comparable to the Supreme Court.
SGA Senator Ryan Hamilton added that the deliberative body was needed, citing the 2005 abolishment of the Council on Student Welfare, which previously functioned as that deliberative body.
According to a whereas clause on the amendment, its purpose was to "ensure the integrity, fairness and impartiality of decisions made in regard" to interpretations of the constitution.
The second amendment (Bylaws Amendment 2008-09.06) also concerned COGA, in that it gave the body the power to discuss and determine the final outcome of an appeal in regard to "election rule violations," according to the amendment's literature.
"What happens now, and how it currently works, is that the election committee makes a ruling and if you have an issue with the ruling you would take it to the Senate, where it would require a three-fourths vote to overturn (the Election Committee's) decision," Jefferson said in regard to the process used in this year's election
The first major bylaw amendment (Bylaws Amendment 2008-09.05) addressed the absence of "a deliberative body with the purpose or duty of addressing concerns" in regard to the "interpretations of the constitution, bylaws, rules and other governing documents and procedures," according to the literature of the bill.
The amendment proposed the adoption of a new body, comprised of seven student members and six faculty members and labeled as the Council on Governance and Appeals.
"Essentially what COGA is supposed to do is to act as an oversight committee and a hearing board," SGA Attorney General Josh Jefferson said. "In the event that somebody takes issues with an interpretation of the constitution, what COGA is supposed to do is give that person an avenue other than talking directly to the attorney general."
He added that COGA was designed to function as a body comparable to the Supreme Court.
SGA Senator Ryan Hamilton added that the deliberative body was needed, citing the 2005 abolishment of the Council on Student Welfare, which previously functioned as that deliberative body.
According to a whereas clause on the amendment, its purpose was to "ensure the integrity, fairness and impartiality of decisions made in regard" to interpretations of the constitution.
The second amendment (Bylaws Amendment 2008-09.06) also concerned COGA, in that it gave the body the power to discuss and determine the final outcome of an appeal in regard to "election rule violations," according to the amendment's literature.
"What happens now, and how it currently works, is that the election committee makes a ruling and if you have an issue with the ruling you would take it to the Senate, where it would require a three-fourths vote to overturn (the Election Committee's) decision," Jefferson said in regard to the process used in this year's election
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Mike
posted 4/22/09 @ 11:13 AM CST
So does "Amendment 2008-09.01" go into effect immediately or will it only effect future elections?
I am assuming that the amendment was drafted b/c Tony Thomas put himself on the election ballot for President and Senator at Large. (Continued…)
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