Canisius College

PREAMBLE
We, the Undergraduate Students of Canisius College, in pursuit of academic excellence, and ethical and spiritual growth for the community of Canisius, pledge ourselves to the development of the whole person, to the ideals and values of the Jesuit tradition, to the search for truth and human understanding in all facets of Canisius community life, and to insure a responsible attitude on the part of this community toward the challenges of society, place our trust in God to guide us in all our endeavors. In pledging this, we are bound to protect and uphold, to the best of our ability, the rights and privileges guaranteed to our members by this constitution and the Community Standards of this College, and do hereby independently establish the Canisius College Undergraduate Student Association.

ARTICLE I: NAME OF ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization shall be the Undergraduate Student Association hereafter referred to as U.S.A.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section A: MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
Any undergraduate student currently registered and enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, Wehle School of Business, and the School of Education and Human Services, in compliance with the rules and policies of Canisius College, shall be a member of U.S.A. A registered student is one who has paid the student tax.

Section B: NONDISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
No member shall be denied full and equal opportunities in the U.S.A. on the basis of race, religion, sex, color, creed, disability, age, sexual orientation, national and/or ethnic origin.

Section C: SUFFRAGE AND OFFICE HOLDING
The rights and privileges of members of the U.S.A. shall be:
1) The right to vote in all the U.S.A. elections for which they are eligible.
2) The opportunity to participate in all Association organizations, committees, activities and programs for which they are eligible.
3) The opportunity for full-time students to run for and hold elected positions in the U.S.A., providing all requirements for that position are met.

ARTICLE III: THE SENATE

Section A: POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITES

The Student Senate shall be the elected and appointed body chosen to represent the members of the U.S.A. The senate shall be primary legislative body of the U.S.A. and shall have the primary responsibility for the fiscal affairs of the U.S.A.
1) The Student Senate shall have the power to:
a) Approve all policies and programs to
be undertaken in the name of the
students of Canisius College;
b) Pass all legislation for the benefit of
the U.S.A.;
c) Be the final arbiter of decisions of the
Standing committees;
d) Approve all committee appointments
made by the Executive Board;
e) Grant or revoke charters of student
organizations, and be the final arbiter of
all club constitutional amendments,
which cannot go into effect until after
the first Student Senate meeting after
their presentation to the Speaker of
the Senate;
f) Remove from office by 2/3 vote of the
entire senate any senator found to be
guilty of and in neglect of duty;
g) Remove from office by 2/3 vote of
the entire senate any member of the
standing committees and college
h) Remove from office by 2/3 vote of
the entire senate any executive officer
of the U.S.A. found to be guilty of and in
neglect of duty;
i) Override a presidential veto by a 2/3
vote of the entire senate;
j) Require each member to serve on
three committees (one
standing committee of the U.S.A. and
one college committee);
k) Require each member to attend at
least two campus sponsored events per
month.

2) The Student Senate shall have the
following responsibilities:
a) To promote student interest in all
areas of College life,
b) To raise and allocate funds,
c) To coordinate and support the U.S.A.
activities,
d) To review, advise and make
recommendations, asappropriate to the
College administration regarding the
establishment and implementation of
College policies and procedures,
e) To have senators be active
participants on College boards,
committees and councils, as designated
by the College Administration,
f) Promote school spirit and help
students develop into leaders,
g) To hold elections and meetings to
discuss and vote on important issues
related to student life.

Section B: Membership

The members of the Student Senate shall consist of:
1) Twenty-four full-time students elected to a term of one year according to the following conditions:
a) Each of the four classes will elect five senators and one alternate from among its own members.
b) Each senator must maintain a gpa of at least 2.5 during both the fall and the spring semesters.
c) Each senator must carry a load of at least 12-credit hours during both the fall and the spring semesters.
d) Only students carrying at least 12-
credit hours are eligible to vote.
e) In case of dispute, the Elections Committee will decide to which class a candidate or voter belongs.
f) Alternate Senators shall:
i) Be the candidate who receives sixth
place in Spring elections;
ii) Serve as an understudy to their
class senators;
iii) Have all responsibilities of voting
senators;
iv) Have the authority to speak their
voice in all student senate meetings;
v) Only have the authority to vote or to
make motions in the absence of a
senator from his/her respective class;
and
vi) Assume the full responsibilities of
the class senator in the absence,
resignation, or dismissal of a class
senator.

2) A quorum for the Student Senate shall be a
simple majority of voting members. Ex officio
members shall not be counted as part of quorum.
All meetings of the Senate shall be conducted in
accordance with the latest edition of Robert’s
Rules of Order. Meetings of the Senate shall take
place at least twice per month, throughout the
fall and spring semesters, excepting College
holidays.

Section C: Standing Committees

The standing committees of the Student Senate shall be the final arbiters of matters of their respective concerns should it be impossible for the Student Senate to meet. The Student Senate shall maintain four active committees and three semi-active committees:

Active Committees: 1) Senate Finance Committee
2) Senate Programming Board
3) JUSTICE Board
4) Diversity Board

Semi-Active Committees: 1) Senate Elections
Committee
2) Senate Lobbying
Committee
3) Senate Constitutional
Committee

1. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Each standing committee shall consist of at least two senate members in addition to the chair.
a) Members shall be appointed by the executive
board.
b) Membership appointments expire at the end each academic year.
c) Committees may choose additional officers from among their members with the consent of the Executive Board if it is necessary or beneficial to their operation.

2. DUTIES OF SENATE COMMITTEES

The Senate Finance Committee, consisting of five members of the Student Senate and six non-Senate members, shall:
a) Establish norms for the internal mechanism of the
Finance Committee;
b) Establish norms and be the primary arbiter for the
equitable distribution of moneys;
c) Have the power to freeze all funds of student
organizations;
d) Review all expenditures of student organizations;
e) Present a typed report to the Senate at meetings
(upon request);
f) Report to the U.S.A. funded clubs and
organizations at periodic intervals;
g) Enforce an initial budget request submission
deadline for all active U.S.A. funded organizations
that will be set four weeks after the close of classes
for the academic year (by the end of May)
immediately preceding the year for which funding is
requested;
h) Allocate initial funding to all active U.S.A. funded
organizations by the first meeting of the Student
Senate in September;
i) Examine the position of the student tax

The Student Programming Board, consisting of at
least six members of the Student Senate and any
members of the U.S.A. shall:
a) Be responsible for all major programming done on
the campus of Canisius College, or under the auspices
of the college;
b) Incorporate committees with the advice and
consent of the Student Senate in order to carry out
programming;

The Senate JUSTICE Board shall:
a) Be responsible for creating programs to educate
students about Jesuit ideals and values;
b) Work closely with Campus Ministry to create new
opportunities for service and for spreading justice
both in the surrounding community and worldwide;
c) Gather feedback from the Canisius community
concerning any justice issue that is presented by the
National JUSTICE organization;
d) Help to prepare interfaith prayer services upon
request;
e) Meet on a bi-weekly basis to discuss possible
actions against injustice as presented by the National
JUSTICE organization;
f) Participate in various community based activities;
g) Work with Campus Ministry in coordinating
monthly service opportunities;
h) Work with college representatives from Waste
Management and Facilities Management to organize
campus-wide recycling;
i) Work with Residence Life in the strategic placing of
recycling bins in resident housing; and
j) Determine guidelines for recycling to be posted
around campus.

The Senate Diversity Board shall:
a) Be responsible for creating programs to educate
students about diversity;
b) Work closely with diverse organizations to create
new opportunities for spreading diverse ideals on the
Canisius College campus and surrounding
community;
c) Gather feedback from the Canisius community
concerning any diversity issue that is presented by
other organizations on campus;
d) Meet on a bi-weekly basis to discuss upcoming
programs or events on campus;
e) Participate in various community based activities;
and
f) Work with other organizations to carry out their
diverse missions.

The Elections Committee shall:
a) Be the primary arbiter of mechanics for all elections
and referendums. In this capacity it shall formulate
regulations and ensure equal application of those
regulations. A violation of the election egulations can
only be determined by a majority of the Elections
Committee, or the Committee Chair; and
b) With the approval of the Senate, set an election
date which allows for one regularly scheduled meeting
after the elections have occurred for the approval of
the election results by the Senate

The Lobbying Committee shall:
a) Provide opportunity and encouragement for active
political participation for members of the Canisius
College community through a voter registration drive;
b) Represent the interests of Canisius College
students in the areas of financial aid and other
legislative concerns on the local, state, and federal
levels; and
c) Report to the Student Senate on the progress of its
activities through the voice of the respective
chairpersons or a substitute designated by the
respective chairperson(s).

The Constitutional Committee shall:
a) Be responsible for reviewing the U.S.A.
Constitution, bylaws and guidelines at least once each
semester; and
b) Consist of the Chairperson; the President, the
Executive Vice-President, the Vice-Presidents for
Business and Finance, Programming, and
Communications; one Senator from each class; and
up to five non-Senate members.

ARTICLE IV: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board shall be primarily responsible for the coordination, implementation, and evaluation of all Association activities, programs and services. The Executive Board shall have the power to dispose of U.S.A. property and determine the use of assigned U.S.A. space provided that these are consistent with appropriate College policies and procedures. All members of the Executive Board sit on the Senate as ex officio members but are required to attend all Executive/Cabinet and Senate meetings. There shall be five executive officers elected in accordance with Article VI; The President, the Executive Vice President, the Vice President for Business and Finance, Vice President for Programming and a Vice Programming for Communications.

1) The President shall:
a) Be any undergraduate student elected by the U.S.A.;
b) Attend all meetings of the Student Senate;
c) Defend and preserve the constitution of the U.S.A.;
d) Serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Senate and
official spokesperson of the U.S.A.;
e) Have veto power over legislation of the Student Senate;
f) Have the power to call a general student meeting and/or special meeting of the Student Senate;
g) Execute all legislation passed by the Student Senate;
h) Be a student representative on the College Finance &
Budget Committee;
i) Be a student representative on the College Board of Trustees
& Board of Regents;
j) In the case of a tie regarding any vote before the Senate, the President shall cast a tie breaking vote; and
k) Have the right to create ad hoc committees to fill specific needs as required for the proper operation of the student government. The Executive Board shall appoint members of the ad hoc committees.

2) The Executive Vice President shall:
a) Be any undergraduate student elected by the U.S.A.;
b) Assist the President in the management of the Senate;
c) Be an alternate student representative on the College
Budget Committee;
d) Serve as Chair of the Freshman Senate Elections
Committee;
e) Be responsible for assuring that all members of the Student Senate meet their responsibilities;
f) Function in the role of president should the president be unable to perform the duties of office;
g) Be a student representative on the College’s Core Curriculum
Committee;
h) Assume the responsibilities of presiding over Senate meetings according to parliamentary procedure in the absence of the Chair.

3) The Vice President for Business and Finance shall:
a) Be any undergraduate student elected by the U.S.A.;
b) Be the chief business officer of the U.S.A.;
c) Be the treasurer of the Student Senate;
d) Maintain a personal record of all expenditures of the Student
Senate;
e) Serve as Chair of the Finance Committee;
f) Call and preside over all finance committee meetings;
g) Maintain a record of all allocations to clubs and
organizations;
h) Examine U.S.A. funded club and organization budgets and report any improprieties to the Finance Committee and the Student Senate;
i) Be a student representative on the College Finance & Budget Committee.

4) The Vice-President for Programming shall:
a) Be any undergraduate student elected by the U.S.A.;
b) Be responsible for the overseeing of all functions of the
S.P.B.; and
c) Serve as the Chair of the Senate Programming Board.

5) The Vice President of Communications shall:
a) Be any undergraduate student elected by the U.S.A.;
b) Attend all Senate and Selections Committee meetings and
record minutes;
c) Prepare and distribute all materials relating to the operations
of the Senate;
d) Be in charge of press releases;
e) Be responsible for phone and e-mail messages; and
f) Maintain the U.S.A. web-site

ARTICLE V: THE CABINET

The Cabinet shall be responsible for adequately representing student organizations and groups that work with specific aspects of College life, specifically the Residential, Commuter, and athletic populations. All members of the Cabinet on the Senate serve as ex officio members but are required to attend all Executive/Cabinet and Senate meetings. There shall be six cabinet members appointed by their respective organization or appointed by the Executive Board and voted into office by the Senate, a Chairperson, a R.H.A. Representative, a C.S.A. Representative, a S.A.A.C. Representative, a J.U.S.T.I.C.E Board Representative, and a Diversity Board Representative.

1) The Speaker of the Senate shall:

a) Be any undergraduate student who applies and is elected to the position of chair by the members of the Senate;
b) Conduct all meetings of the Student Senate according to
parliamentary procedure;
c) Present to the Executive Board any club constitutional amendments for recommendation to the Student Senate;
d) Be responsible for maintaining the U.S.A. constitution; and
e) Be the Chair of the Constitutional Committee.

2) A Residence Hall Association (R.H.A.) Representative shall:

a) Be appointed by the President of the R.H.A;
b) Be any undergraduate student who has resided in the residence halls or College owned housing for at least four semesters; and
c) Have the authority to represent the R.H.A. and thereby the
resident population.
3) A Commuter Student Association (C.S.A.) Representative shall:
a) Be appointed by the President of the C.S.A.;
b) Be any undergraduate student who has been registered as a commuter for at least two semesters; and
c) Have the authority to represent the C.S.A. and thereby the
commuter population.

4) A Student Athletic Advisory Committee Representative shall:

a) Be appointed by the President of the Student Athletic
Advisory Committee;
b) Be an undergraduate student athlete on one of the 28 NCAA
Division 1 athletic teams; and
c) Have the authority to represent the S.A.A.C. and thereby
the student-athlete population.

5) A Jesuit Undergraduate Students Together In Concerned Empowerment (J.U.S.T.I.C.E.) Board Representative shall:
a) Be any undergraduate student selected by the Senate e-board and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate;
b) Have the responsibility to oversee all of the functions of the JUSTICE Board, to promote Jesuit values and ideals, and to incorporate these ideals into student life;
c) Represent Canisius at the national and regional JUSTICE conferences (when appropriate); and
d) Serve as the correspondent between National JUSTICE and
the Canisius JUSTICE Board.

6) A Diversity Committee Representative shall:
a) Be any undergraduate student selected by the senate e-board and confirmed by a majority vote of the senate;
b) Ensure the equal representation of the diverse student
population of Canisius College;
c) Have the responsibility to oversee and adequately represent all clubs listed as a cultural club or organization by the Office of Campus Programming and Leadership Development;
d) Be responsible for responding to concerns or issues that specifically affect cultural clubs or organizations.

7) Additional Cabinet Representatives may be appointed for one year terms by the acting Senate. Any additional representatives shall:
a) Be any member of the undergraduate student population
b) Represent the interests of his/her club/organization in front of
c) Offer feedback and comments concerning the goals and plans

ARTICLE V: GENERAL ELECTIONS

Section A: ELECTIONS

There shall be the U.S.A. election held in the month of April to elect all student members of the Senate, except for the Freshman Class Senators. The Freshman Class Senators shall be elected no later than the second week of October. The Elections Chairperson shall supervise the general elections according to the rules outlined in the Election Guidelines.

Section B: TERM OF OFFICE
All elected positions, except for the Freshman Class Senators, shall be for a term of one-year commencing with the official swearing in of new officers. The Freshman Class Senators shall be elected for a term of seven months commencing with the official swearing in of new officers.

ARTICLE VI: RIGHTS RESERVED TO STUDENTS
The members of the Undergraduate Student Association retain the right to recall their duly elected representatives, initiate legislation, and demand referendums upon the presentation of a petition bearing the signatures of 350 students.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
Constitutional amendments must be presented to the Chair five days prior to the meeting at which they will be presented. This Constitution may be amended in two ways:
1) By a 2/3 vote of the entire Student Senate passed at two
2) By a majority vote of the entire U.S.A.

ARTICLE VIII: SUCCESSION AND VACANCIES
Section A: Should the President of the U.S.A. be unable to discharge the duties of the office, the Executive Vice President of the U.S.A. will assume the office of President.
Section B: Any other vacancy in the executive board may be filled at the
discretion of the Student Senate until such time as the elections
committee arranges for a new election.
Section C: In the absence of a senator from a given class, the alternate
senator (the sixth highest vote receiver) may discharge the full duties of
that senator. If an alternate is not available to the post, the U.S.A.
President with the approval of the majority of the Senators of that given
class shall appoint a senator to fill the vacancy. The appointment is
subject to the approval of the Senate.
Section D: If an alternate’s position should be vacant, the U.S.A.

ARTICLE IX: DEFINITIONS

Legislation: all matter brought before the Student Senate with the exception of constitutional amendments and bill of impeachment.

Ex officio: for purposes of the Senate, ex officio means non-voting.

ARTICLE X: ADOPTION
This constitution shall be considered adopted, upon the approval of the members of the U.S.A., in two consecutive meetings by a majority vote of the Senate. Upon adoption of this Constitution, appointments that would have continued under the prior Constitution and any legislative acts not superceded by this new Constitution shall continue in effect. In the cases of uncertainty regarding procedural matters, consult Robert’s Rules of Order.

Undergraduate Student