Student Parliament
Constitution
The name of this organization shall be Jackson Community College Student Parliament and it serves the Jackson Community College Student Association. All registered JCC students are members of JCCSA.
Any currently enrolled JCC student is a member of the JCCSA and is afforded all rights and responsibilities in general and special elections of Student Parliament. To run for a Student Parliament, each student must meet specific guidelines outlined in the Election Process found in Article VIII of the Constitution.
The purpose of Student Parliament shall be to actively represent Jackson Community College students from all tri-county locations in matters pertaining to their overall learning, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities afforded to them as JCC students.
The governing body of Student Parliament and all representatives and chairpersons shall be recognized as the official representatives of the JCCSA in matters pertaining to academic, co-curricular, extra-curricular programs, services and records and registration. This governance extends to all JCC students in all JCC service areas.
Article V: Executive Council (EC) & Other Representatives Duties and Responsibilities
Section 1: Executive Council (EC) consists of the following members
- President
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
Other Voting members include:
A. Special Events Committee Chairperson
B. Facilities Committee Chairperson
C. Student Services & Recruitment Committee Chairperson
D. Intramurals and Athletics Committee Chairperson
E. Center for Student Success Committee Chairperson
Section 2: EC Duties and Responsibilities
President: Responsible for the overall administration of the Student Parliament and all of its functions, activities and processes. Duties include:
· Create ad hoc committees as necessary
· Plan and organize weekly meeting agendas
· Meet weekly with Parliament’s advisor
· Meet monthly with the College President
· Initiate changes to Parliament By-Laws
· President has no vote unless there is a tie
· Primary representative and liaison for JCC students in matters pertaining the JCCSA and faculty, staff, administration, Board of Trustees and the External Community
· Meets with the JCC Board of Trustees one time per semester
· Veto authority
· Coordinate Student Parliament Summer Planning Retreat
· Serve on the Student Life Committee as outlined in the JCC Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
Vice President: The Vice President assists the President in the overall administration of Student Parliament and all of its functions, processes and activities. Duties include:
· Assume presidential responsibilities in absence of the President
· Assume all presidential power, authority and responsibility should the President leave her/his position or be dismissed
· Serve as Board Parliamentarian for monthly board meetings and special business meetings as called by the President or Advisor
· Serve as Student Parliament’s primary Adjudication Officer
· Implement Leadership in-services and training for EC and Student Parliament
· Supervise all Committee Chairpersons and their activities
· Serve on the Student Life Committee as outlined in the JCC Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
· Other Duties as assigned by the President
Treasurer: Responsible for the overall administration of the Student Parliament’s Budget. Duties include:
· Maintain complete and accurate records of Student Parliament spending and issue and monitor all Student Organizations annual monetary allocations
· Research and surface fundraising opportunities for Student Parliament, student organizations and JCCSA
· Provide copies of financial records and budgetary status for Student Parliament meetings
· Act in place of the President and/or the Vice President in cases when the President and the Vice President are temporarily unable to perform their duties
· Meets monthly with the Special Events Chairperson
· Other duties as assigned by the President
Secretary: Responsible for the overall administration of Student Parliament’s internal and external communication. Duties include:
· Record attendance and minutes of every Student Parliament meeting
· Make minutes available to the Parliament, faculty, staff, administration members and student organization representatives.
· Serve as Liaison to the Phoenix, the College student newspaper.
· Write and edit Student Life’s “Inside Scoop/Grapevine” monthly publication
· Provide calendar updates and making copies available
· Update the Constitution/By-Laws as needed
· Edit and insure accuracy of all printed material developed by Student Parliament
· Provide support to the President and Vice President in facilitating the Student Parliament Summer Retreat
· Update the Student Parliament webpage
· Other duties as assigned by the President
Section 3: Committee Chairpersons Duties (Non-elected positions held by College Student Ambassadors):
Committee Chairperson, Student Services & Recruitment: Duties include:
· Attend all weekly Student Parliament meetings
· Vote on all motions considered by Student Parliament
· Meet monthly with the Advisor to Student Ambassadors
· Serve as lead Student Parliament Liaison for fall, winter and spring new student orientations
· Assist Student Services in surveying students regarding the JCC admittance process and orientation system
· Represent Student Parliament on the Student Services Orientation Committee
· Meet monthly with the Vice President
· Other duties as assigned by the Vice President & Advisor
Committee Chairperson, Intramurals and Athletics: Duties include:
· Attend all weekly Student Parliament meetings
· Vote on all motions considered by Student Parliament
· Meet weekly with the Intramurals Coordinator
· Serve as a Student Parliament Liaison for fall, winter and spring new student orientations
· Assist the Intramurals Coordinator in marketing the Intramurals program and surveying students about interests, etc.
· Work with the Assistant Dean of Student Life to research and develop new intramural and club sports opportunities for men and women
· Meet monthly with the Vice President
· Other duties as assigned by the Vice President & Advisor
Committee Chairperson, Special Events: Duties include:
· Attend all weekly Student Parliament meetings
· Vote on all motions considered by Student Parliament
· Serve as a Student Parliament Liaison for fall, winter and spring new student orientations
· Coordinate Welcome Week and Winterfest Celebrations
· Assist Student Services in surveying students regarding the JCC student activities on campus
· Meet monthly with the Treasurer
· Other duties as assigned by the Vice President & Advisor
Committee Chairperson, Facilities: Duties include:
· Attend all weekly Student Parliament meetings
· Vote on all motions considered by Student Parliament
· Meet monthly with Director of Facilities Operations
· Serve as a Student Parliament Liaison for fall, winter and spring new student orientations
· Assist Student Services in surveying students regarding the quality of JCC facilities for all JCC campuses
· Represent Student Parliament at regular and special meetings held by Facilities Operations
· Other duties as assigned by the Vice President & Advisor
Committee Chairperson, Center for Student Success: Duties include:
· Attend all weekly Student Parliament meetings
· Vote on all motions considered by Student Parliament
· Meet regularly with Director of Center for Student Success
· Serve as a Student Parliament Liaison for fall, winter and spring new student orientations
· Attend regular and Special Center for Student Success staff and informational meetings
· Assist Student Services and the Center for Student Success in surveying students regarding the quality of services provided for students with special needs
· Other duties as assigned by the Vice President & Advisor
Section 4: Student Organization Representatives Duties
Student Organization Representatives: Duties include:
· Attend all monthly Student Parliament meetings.
· Vote on all motions related to Student Organizations
· Inform Student Parliament about events, projects and updates connected with the campus organization.
· Meet with the Vice President & President one time per semester.
Important notes:
· If a designated representative cannot attend a Student Parliament meeting it is up to the organization’s advisor and the regular representative to ensure that another member of the organization attends the meeting.
· All Student Organization Representatives must attend a one hour seminar at the beginning of academic year to learn about Student Parliament By-Laws, Parliamentary Procedure and their rights and responsibilities as organizational representatives. The full voting rights of the representative and his/her organization can be enacted only upon completion of the seminar.
Article VI. Student Parliament Membership Qualifications
Section 1: Executive Council Qualifications:
· All elected members of Student Parliament must be currently enrolled JCC students and must be registered in a minimum of six college credits each semester in office.
· All elected members must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25.
Section 2: Committee Chairpersons (non-elected position held by College Student Ambassadors):
a. All Student Parliament Committee Chairpersons must be currently enrolled at JCC and must be registered for a minimum of six college credits each semester in the position.
b. All Committee Chairpersons must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.25 as outlined in the Election Code & Procedures found in the Student Parliament By-Laws:
Article VII. Rules and Restrictions
Officers and committee chairpersons must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.25 and they must hold a minimum part-time student status which is designated as six college undergraduate credits. Any officer or committee chairperson whose cumulative GPA falls under a 2.25 will have one academic semester to raise his/her GPA. If after one semester, the cumulative GPA is still under 2.25, the student will automatically be removed from office.
Students may not fall under part-time status during each academic semester. Students who fall below a part-time schedule must add more credits in a given semester or face removal from their Student Parliament position.
Article VIII. Elections Code & Membership Vacancies
Elections are held in November of each academic year. Each officer, serves a year-long term, beginning January of each year through December of that same year. (Please see the Jackson Community College Election Code for specific policies, processes and guidelines related to General Elections, Special Elections and Position Vacancies. This document is located at the end of the Student Parliament By-Laws).
Article IX. Parliamentary Meetings and Voting:
Section 1: Conduct of Parliament Meetings
Parliament meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the most recent official edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
The Vice President shall serve as Parliamentarian all regular board meetings and special sessions of Student Parliament and shall be charged with interpreting and enforcing orderly parliamentary procedure. In the absence of the Vice President, the Treasurer shall preside over the meeting and have all the duties and powers of a chairperson, while retaining all the duties and powers of a Treasurer.
Section 2: Quorum
The Quorum requirement for voting at meetings of Parliament shall be satisfied when three Executive Council members and four Committee Chairpersons are present at the meeting.
Section 3: Voting
A motion is carried or fails when 2/3 of the voting membership cast votes in agreement with one another. The President does not vote unless there is a tie among the voting members.
Article X. New Campus Organization Recognition
Each new student interest group must fill out an application with Student Parliament to be considered for full organizational recognition. Please read the New Student Organization Recognition Process for specific details about how to become a recognized student organization.
The term of Office for elected Executive Council members begins in January of each year and ends in December of the same year.
Article XII. Removal from Office
Section 1: Impeachment
Any member of the Executive Council may be impeached. A charge of impeachment may be made against any officer during an official Student Parliament meeting. Only voting members of the Student Parliament may issue a motion of impeachment. It takes a 2/3 vote among voting members for impeachment to occur.
Section 2: Recall
- Any Executive Council member may be recalled by the constituency that elected him/her.
- Any member of the JCCSA may initiate a Recall petition. In order for a petition to be accepted it must encompass 15% of the total number of voters who voted during the general elections.
- If the petition is valid, the Executive Council member will be given 15 days to resign. If the Executive Council member does not wish to resign the incumbent is automatically placed on a recall ballot along with any other current student(s) who qualify for candidacy and a special election is held. Please read about Special Elections is the Elections Code document at end of the Student Parliament By-Laws.
- Recall procedures may not begin until one month after the incumbent Executive Council member takes begins his/her term.
- Whoever is elected in a recall election shall hold office for the remainder of the original term of office
Section 3: Disciplinary Actions (Probation)
Executive Council members and Committee Chairpersons are all expected to abide by the Standards set for in the Constitution. Failure to uphold these standards may lead to disciplinary action including a verbal warning, written warning and Probation. Student Ambassadors serving as Committee Chairpersons may also be subject to disciplinary sanctioning related to their employment status.
Any voting member of Student Parliament may move to issue disciplinary action in cases where a Student Parliament member violates Student Parliament, College, local, state or federal policies and/or laws. Any disciplinary action must be voted upon by Student Parliament and must pass by a 2/3 vote.
Section I: Origin
Amendments to the Constitution may originate through:
a. Any member of the Executive Council
b. A petition containing the signatures of no less than 15% of the voting members of Student Parliament
Section 2: Confirmation
All amendments must be presented before Student Parliament Executive Council and Voting Committee Chairpersons for a 2/3 confirmation prior to being placed before the entire Student Parliament voting body for ratification.
Section 3: Ratification
Proposed amendments must be put to a vote before all voting members of Student Parliament and pass by a 2/3 vote for ratification.
Section 4: Enactments
A ratified amendment shall take effect on the date specified in the amendment. If not specified, it shall take effect immediately upon ratification.
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