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The Constitution of the Student Government of the Columbia University School of Social Work

Article I - Name of Organization

  1. The name of the organization comprising the student government shall be the Columbia University School of Social Work Student Union Executive Board.
  2. The Student Union is composed of the entire Student Body with official representation from the Executive Board.

Article II - Purpose

  1. The Executive Board shall be to function in numerous capacities.
    1. The Board will serve as the official representative of the students of CUSSW.
    2. The Board will organize and unite the Student Body in such a manner to achieve our collective goals and to provide for the special needs of individuals and groups within the Student Body.
    3. The Board will investigate any problems that may confront the students of CUSSW.
    4. The Board will make recommendations to the CUSSW officials and professors concerning any such problems.
    5. The Board will fully promote the desires of the students and continually work in their best interests.
    6. The Board will participate actively in matters of social concern.

Article III - Membership

  1. The following students shall be considered members of the Student Union:
    1. All currently matriculated Masters students and enrolled Doctoral students at CUSSW.
    2. All other students are ineligible.

Article IV - Structure

  1. The Executive Board shall consist of:
    1. A President.
    2. A Vice President.
    3. A Treasurer.
    4. A Special Events Coordinator(s).
    5. A Special Events Coordinator Assistant.
    6. A University Academic Senator.
    7. An Incumbent University Academic Senator.
    8. A Caucus Liaison.
    9. Five (5) First-year representatives.
    10. An Advanced Standing representative.
    11. A Reduced Residency representative.
    12. A Secretary.
    13. An Extended Representative.
    14. A 16-Month Representative.
    15. A Doctoral Student Representative.
    16. Two (2) Second Year-representatives.
    17. An International Student Representative.
  2. These officers shall collectively comprise the body known as the Executive Board.
  3. Duties:
    1. Shall function as the official Governing Board of the Student Body.
    2. Shall carry out all business as stated in this Constitution and any other business as deemed necessary by the membership or the Executive Board itself.
    3. Shall have financial legislative authority over all matters pertaining to the Student Body, except those specifically delegated to the membership.
    4. Shall, in part or in whole, represent the Student Body to any organization outside this body, such as faculty, administration and other appropriate organizations.
    5. Shall, in part or in whole, negotiate agreements with other organizations on behalf of the membership.
    6. Shall vote to approve the budget presented by the Treasurer for the benefit of the Student Body.
    7. Shall bring such matters, in addition to constitutionally provided matters, before the Executive Board, as it deems necessary.
    8. Shall have responsibility for determining the legitimacy of groups seeking caucus status.
  4. Procedures:
    1. Each office of the governing body shall have one equal vote.
    2. Decision shall be made by majority rule of a quorum present, except for amending the Constitution. A quorum shall consist of half of the Executive Board.

Article V - Powers of the Executive Board of the CUSSW Student Union

  1. Eligibility: Any member of the student body may run for any office subject to the following conditions:
    1. If an office is stipulated to be class specific, only members from that particular class may hold that office.
    2. Should a representative miss 25% of the meetings of the Executive Board (or be remiss in attending Executive Board functions), said representative will be given a warning. Should the absenteeism continue, the Executive Board may terminate said representative's tenure on the Executive Board at their discretion. A replacement may be appointed by the President with approval by the Executive Board.
    3. The Executive Board is the representative body of the Student Union of CUSSW and shall operate in accordance with the Constitution and by-laws.
  2. The Executive Board has the power, by two-thirds vote, to promulgate and amend the Constitution (see Article X).
  3. The Executive Board shall, on its own initiative, or upon request of the Dean of the school, consider and report to the Dean viewpoints and opinions of the student body of CUSSW on such educational, administrative, or extra-curricular matters as may affect the Student Body.

Article VI - Representation of Special Interests

  1. Any group that wishes to obtain representation and caucus status must follow these procedures:
    1. The group makes a formal petition from the proposed Student Organization in both writing and in person at an Executive Board meeting, requesting Caucus status.
    2. This petition will include a statement of purpose that conveys the group's interest, goals, action plan, organizational structure, an indication of numeric strength of its constituency through a student petition including at least twenty student signatures, and a comment on the social relevancy of the cause.
    3. The group will also submit a preliminary budget.
    4. The Executive Board votes on the petition after hearing the presentation by the group's spokesperson and conducting a discussion on the merits of the petition. The discussion and the vote will be closed to the Student Union.
    5. Caucus status is granted by the Governing Body voting with a simple majority (50%+) in favor of the formation of the caucus.
    6. The Secretary will officially inform the group, in writing, of the granting or denying of provisional representation status within a week after the vote.
    7. The group has the option of appealing the decision to the Executive Board within one week after official notification.
    8. The Executive Board may only uphold an appeal by a two-thirds majority of its members voting in favor of the petition.
    9. Each caucus will be allowed an agreed upon sum of money from the Student Union budget.
    10. A majority of a caucus budget and/or its activities must be for the benefit of the Student Union. The treasurer, in conjunction with the Executive Board, may deny funding for activities not deemed beneficial to the Student Union.
  2. School committees that include student members are to be appointed by the Executive Board.
    1. 1. The Executive Board will inform the Student Body of the available positions on the school committees.
    2. 2. The students interested in committee membership will fill out an application created by the Executive Board.
    3. 3. The Executive Board will appoint students to these committees taking in account every effort to represent diversity on these committees.
    4. 4. The President will inform all applicants of their committee status and will notify committee members of the committee meeting dates and times.

Article VII - Election Procedures

  1. No representative shall concurrently hold more than one office by either election or appointment.
  2. All retiring representatives shall provide transitional information to incoming representatives.
    1. This information will be provided at the final Executive Board meeting of the school year. If either representative is unable to attend, the two representatives will make alternate arrangements to ensure that the information is shared.
    2. The retiring representatives will complete a "Duties Sheet" provided by the coordinator in the Office of Leadership and Student Development. Each representative will list the general duties his or her position entails.
  3. A term of office is for one academic year, unless otherwise specified in Article IV.
  4. General Election:
    1. The entire Student Body shall be qualified to vote in a general election to be held on a date which the previously elected representatives shall decide upon. This date shall be no earlier than the fourth week of the semester, and no later than the eighth week of the semester for the elections that take place during the fall semester. This date shall be no earlier than the eighth week of the semester and no later than the twelfth week of the semester for the elections that take place during the spring semester.
    2. The ballot will be available to the membership in an electronic form (or paper form if this is unavailable). It will be accessible on the CUSSW website. It shall include all offices to be filled by a vote of the Student Union, and those offices that are class-specific, along with any referenda and amendment issues.
    3. Provisions must be made for write-in candidates.
    4. Each student may only vote once.
    5. Elections will be run for one week that the Executive Board designates.
    6. Procedure:
      1. Notification of elections must be given at least two weeks before the date of the election.
      2. Interested students must submit a short biographical statement to be made available to all voting.
      3. The votes shall be counted by the President and not by any candidates.
      4. A candidate will be declared the new representative if he/she receives the most votes of the Student Union within his or her respective race.
      5. In the event of a tie, the Executive Board will conduct a run-off.
      6. Final results of the election will be published and distributed to all students within a week of the polls closing.
      7. Candidates may run for no more than two positions. If a candidate receives the most votes for both positions, said candidate will be given the option to choose which position he or she will occupy. The candidate receiving the second most votes will fill the position left vacant.
      8. All representative-elects are expected to attend meetings and functions that will be necessary for transition and planning before the coming school year.
  5. Special Election:
    1. In order to more readily comply with University Senate procedures, an Incumbent University Academic Senator will be elected within the first 4 weeks of the Spring Semester.
    2. All current First Year and incoming 16-month students are eligible to run.
    3. Election procedures from Article VII still apply to this special election.
    4. This position will entail service as an Incumbent Senator for the remainder of Spring Semester and then continue on as the official University Academic Senator for the entire next academic year.

Article VIII - Recall of Elected Officials

  1. Any elected officer may be recalled for failure to perform their duties (as outlined in the Constitution and by-laws) according to the following procedures:
    1. The office may be vacated based on a majority vote.
    2. Vacancies following recall, or by resignation, shall be filled in accordance with procedures set forth in the Constitution.

Article IX - Financial Powers

  1. The Executive Board of the Student Union shall have the power to receive and disperse allotted funds from the University and from the School of Social Work. All funds allotted to the Executive Board, including Student Activity fees, shall be disbursed in a fair, equitable, and responsible manner so as to benefit the student body as a whole, taking into consideration diversity of student interest.
  2. The Executive Board also has the power to raise additional funds to carry on Student Union activities based on a majority vote.
  3. If they so choose, the Executive Board may appoint a Budget Committee to make recommendations to the Executive Board concerning income and expenditures. Final authority for all expenditures rests with the Executive Board and the approval of the administration.
  4. The Executive Board may not borrow money or incur a long-term credit obligation without prior approval of a majority of 40% of all matriculated students.
  5. The Executive Board shall make public all expenditures at open meetings of the Executive Board. Additionally, the Executive Board will make available copies of the budget and its expenditures.

Article X - Amendment Procedure

  1. A special election for the amendment of this constitution shall be done upon either of the following:
    1. A majority vote of the Executive Board or
    2. A petition signed (including student ID numbers) by 30% of the Student Body.
  2. For purposes of number 2 above, a quorum consists of 15% of the Student Body. Approval or disapproval of the amendment shall be decided by the majority of that quorum.

Article XI - Implementation of the Constitution

  1. This constitution shall go into effect if approved by the majority of the Student Body as detailed in Article X.
  2. Representatives will do a yearly audit of the Constitution to ensure its relevance and appropriateness.

RATIFIED 2/13/08
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