SSB 2007-- 04

Sponsored by: Government and Legislative Affairs Committee

A Bill for: Changes to the Constitution of the Northern Iowa Student

Government

First Reading: September 6, 2006

Second Reading: September 13, 2006

Vote: Fails 1-21-0

Presidential Action: _______________________________________________________________

Grant Erwin- President Date
_________________________________________________________________________________

WHEREAS: The Government and Legislative Affairs Committee, of the Northern

Iowa Student Government, were asked by a variety of members of the Legislative
and Executive branches to look into changing the Constitution; and

WHEREAS: The Government and Legislative Affairs Committee has taken into
effect the thoughts and ideas of a variety of members of the Northern Iowa Student
Government on the issue of Constitutional changes; and

WHEREAS: The committee has met several times and has proposed the
recommended changes in the Constitution.

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED: That the Northern Iowa Student Government

approve the recommended Constitutional changes and send them on to the
Northern Iowa Student Government President to be signed and placed on the ballot
in a referendum vote for the Fall Special Election. Writing in italics is to be added to
the Constitution. Writing that has been stuck through is to be stricken from the
Constitution. The changes are as follows:

ARTICLE II. EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Section 2.

A. President and Vice President. The President and Vice President shall run as a ticket and be selected
by a majority of students voting in the annual general Presidential and Vice Presidential election. If no
ticket receives a majority of the vote, a run-off election shall be held one week later between the two
tickets with the highest vote totals, upon confirmation of the Election Commission.

B. Directors. After the general Presidential and Vice Presidential election, a public announcement by
the President-elect shall be made seeking applications for the Directorships established by this
Constitution. At least two weeks after this announcement, the President-elect shall present one nominee
for each position before the Senate elected in the aforementioned general election for confirmation.
Failing to secure a majority vote for any position, the President must submit another nominee.

ARTICLE III. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The legislative powers of the Student Government shall be vested in the Senate.
Section 1. Composition of the Senate

The Senate shall be composed of one Senator for every three hundred students based on fall enrollment
figures, to be divided as follows:

A. Off-Campus. There shall be one Senator for every three hundred students residing off campus.

B. Residence Halls and University Apartments. There shall be one Senator for every three

hundred students residing on campus. On-campus constituencies shall consist of each residence hall,
R.O.T.H., and University Apartments. Each constituency shall have at least one Senator.

C. Campus At-Large. For every three hundred students residing on campus, there shall be one

Senator. This number minus the total number of residence hall, R.O.T.H., and University Apartments
Senators shall comprise the number of campus at-large Senators.

The Senate shall be composed of forty, to be divided as follows:

A. Off-Campus. There shall be seventeen Off-Campus Senators.

B. Residence Halls and University Apartments. There shall be one Senator for Dancer Hall, one
Senator for Bender Hall, one Senator for Lawther Hall, one Senator for Bartlett Hall, one Senator for
Shull Hall, one Senator for Hagemann Hall, one Senator for Noehren Hall, one Senator for Rider Hall,
one Senator for Campbell Hall, one Senator for ROTH, and one Senator for University Apartments.

C. University At-Large. There shall be six University At-Large Senators chosen from the entire student
body.

D. Colleges. There shall be one Senator for College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, one Senator for
College of Natural Sciences, one Senator for the College of Business Administration, one senator for the
College of Education, one Senator for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and one Senator for the
Graduate College.

Section 2. Election

All Senators shall be chosen during the annual general election by a plurality vote from the constituents of
the area in which they seek office.

Off-Campus Senators and Residence Hall and University Apartment Senators shall be chosen during the
annual General election by a plurality vote from the constituents of the area in which they seek office.

University At-Large Senators shall be chosen during the University At-Large election by a plurality vote
from the student body.

Section 5. Vacancies

Any vacancies in the Senate shall be filled by appointment of the Speaker and confirmed by a two-thirds
vote of the Senate. Any Senators appointed prior to a special election shall run in said election to retain
their seat.
Article V. Elections
Section 1. Dates
The Northern Iowa Student Government General Election shall be held each year on the date(s)
determined by the Election Rules. Special Elections shall be held on dates determined by the Election
Commission.

The Northern Iowa Student Government Presidential and Vice Presidential Election shall be held each
year on the last Tuesday and Wednesday in February. The Northern Iowa Student Government General
Election shall be held the first Tuesday and Wednesday in April. The Northern Iowa Student Government
University At-Large Election shall be held the last Tuesday and Wednesday in September.

Section 2. Election Commission

An Election Commission shall be established by the Senate. Election Commission members shall be
chosen as outlined in the Northern Iowa Student Government By-Laws. The Election Commission
shall conduct all Student Government elections. They shall also establish rules for all Special,
Presidential and Vice Presidential, General, and University At-Large Elections, providing that such rules
do not conflict with the Student Government Constitution or By-Laws. Rules are provided in the
Northern Iowa Student Government Election Rules document. The Election Commission shall have
original jurisdiction over all election contests. The Election Commission shall be responsible for the
certification of all Student Government Elections. If an election is not certified, the Election Commission
shall hold a new election.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated by a two-thirds vote of the Senate or by petition of
fifteen percent of the Student Body. Amendments shall be ratified by a majority vote of the Student Body
voting in either the Presidential and Vice Presidential, General, University At-Large, or Special election.
Each amendment shall be presented in bill form and shall have two readings before the Senate, and the
proposed amendment must be published at least two weeks before the vote.