Preamble

We aim to establish a student government that will effectively represent its constituents in the decision-making process of the University, provide needed services to the students, and further the interests of UA Little Rock and its students. To these ends, we, the students of this University, do hereby establish this Constitution of the Student Government Association of the UA Little Rock.

Composition of the Student Government Association and Senate

All currently enrolled degree-seeking students of UA Little Rock, as determined by the Office of the Registrar, shall be eligible for Student Government Association (SGA) membership. All currently enrolled degree-seeking students shall be eligible for any Student Government Association office, except where prohibited by relevant Student Government Association Bylaws. No person shall hold more than one elected Student Government Association position concurrently. The Dean of Students serves as the Advisor to the SGA.

The SGA Senate is composed of five senators representing each main campus college of UA Little Rock and fifteen at-large senators representing undeclared or unknown majors. Of those fifteen at-large senators, at least three will be graduate students, three will be first-year students, three will be senior students (90-124 credit hours), one will be a member of the UA Little Rock Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and one will be an international student nominated by the Office of International Student Services. SGA Officers are ex officio members of the Senate without vote.

Any Senate seat that becomes vacant between elections shall be temporarily filled by appointment by the SGA President.

Functions of the SGA Senate

The Student Government Association (SGA) serves as the liaison for UA Little Rock students with the administration. UA Little Rock students, acting through the Student Government Association Senate, may make recommendations to the chancellor relating to the quality of life of the students, the efficiency of the University’s operations, academic and institutional policies, and any matter of student concern. The SGA Senate shall also approve the SGA’s annual budget and all SGA expenditures, assist in the administration of SGA programs and in the operation of the SGA office, and make and administer rules governing SGA elections.

The chancellor may approve any recommendation of the SGA Senate within fifteen calendar days after such recommendation has been presented to the chancellor. The chancellor shall provide written reasons to the SGA Senate for not acting favorably on a recommendation. If the chancellor declines to act favorably on a recommendation of the SGA Senate, and no other option can be agreed upon to the satisfaction of the SGA and the chancellor in a reasonable period of time, then the three campus governing bodies may, by a three-fifths vote of their membership, request that the president of the University of Arkansas System consider the matter. If the matter is not resolved within thirty days of its referral to the president, the president may submit the matter to the Board of Trustees for consideration.

Each new SGA Senate shall commence during the first thirty days of the Fall semester.

Officers of the SGA Senate

The executive officers of the SGA Senate shall include the president, vice president, secretary, and the chief of staff. The one-year term of these officers begins on June 1st.

The president and vice president shall be elected by the student body in elections provided for in the SGA Bylaws. The president and vice president must be in at least the second consecutive semester of attendance at UA Little Rock at the time of election as determined by the Office of the Registrar; must have at least a 2.75 GPA; must be enrolled in at least six hours when elected and during the fall and spring semesters of office. The president must have served at least one semester in the SGA prior to candidacy. The vice president must have served at least one semester in the SGA or be interviewed and approved by a simple majority of the current SGA Senate prior to candidacy.

The secretary and chief of staff will be nominated by the president and then confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the SGA Senate following guidelines provided in the SGA Bylaws. If the nominee is rejected, the president will select another nominee for Senate confirmation.

The specific responsibilities of each SGA officer will be provided for in SGA Bylaws. If the offices of the president and vice president become vacant at any time, the chief of staff shall become the interim president and after the approval of the Senate by a two-thirds vote, shall appoint an interim vice president. A special election for the president and vice president shall be held one month before the end of the semester if the offices become vacant in the fall semester; if the vacancies occur in the spring semester, they will be filled in the regular election. This special election will follow the election rules provided in the SGA Bylaws.

Executive Committee of the SGA

In addition to the president, vice president, secretary, and chief of staff, the executive committee of the SGA will include the leaders of all SGA standing committees and the president of the Graduate Student Association or a graduate student designee.

Meetings of the SGA Senate

The SGA vice president shall serve as chair of the SGA Senate. The chair shall call the first meeting of the new Senate, which shall be held during the first thirty days of the fall semester. The Senate shall determine the time, place, and frequency of its regular meetings. Additional meetings may be called by the chair of the Senate at their discretion or at the request of a majority of the Senate. SGA Senate meetings are open to all represented members, although the vice president may limit floor privileges.

A majority of the Senate shall constitute a quorum. The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall constitute authority for the proceedings of the Senate, except where superseded by SGA Bylaws.

The Executive Committee shall set the agenda and ensure its distribution at least five business
days before the meeting. The agenda will be made available to all represented members and to
the presidents of the Faculty Senate and Staff Senate. Subject to challenge on the floor of the
SGA Senate, the Executive Committee will indicate whether agenda items represent official
recommendations to the Chancellor.

Minutes of the meetings shall be made available to all represented members, the chancellor, and the presidents of the Faculty Senate and the Staff Senate promptly following the meeting. The minutes shall also be archived and made accessible to the public upon request.

Committees of the SGA

Subject to this Constitution and policies of the Board of Trustees and UA Little Rock, the SGA
may establish standing or ad hoc committees in aid of its work.

Standing committees may include but are not limited to: Student Court, Maroon Mob, the Executive Oversight Committee, Judicial Review Committee, and the Graduate Student Association. The Graduate Student Association, as a standing committee of the SGA, provides a venue for graduate student community, advocacy, and programming.

The SGA Bylaws shall provide details about the charge and composition of each SGA committee, including rules for the selection of the committee’s leader. The Bylaws will also explain the process for creating new committees and making changes to existing committees.

Bylaws of the SGA

The SGA shall establish bylaws for its operation and may amend those bylaws by three-fourths vote of those present and voting at one SGA Senate meeting, provided that a quorum is present and the proposed amendment was included in the meeting agenda. All SGA bylaws must be consistent with applicable policies of the Board of Trustees, the UA System, UA Little Rock, and this Constitution.