JHU SGAThe 114th Session

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Closed Session Clarification Act

Bill / Bylaws amendment · 114th session · dated October 20, 2026 · updated October 31, 2026

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Senate
of the
Student Government Association
of
The Johns Hopkins University
{ S. Bill. 114.10.20.2026-1 }
A Bill to Amend The Bylaws of the Senate
Closed Session Clarification Act
Introduced by: Religious and Spiritual Life Senator and Vice Chair of Internal Affairs Cole Liazos-Coffey
Sponsored by: Vice President of the Senate and Chair of Internal Affairs Shreemann Patel and Sophomore Class President and Chair of Student Services Veda Kommineni
Presented for First Reading this 20th day of October in the year 2026

SECTION 1. TITLE.

This Act may be referred to as the “Closed Session Clarification Act”

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.

  1. SGA — The term “SGA” shall refer to the Student Government Association of The Johns Hopkins University.
  2. JHU, Hopkins – The terms “JHU” and “Hopkins” shall refer to the Johns Hopkins University.

SECTION 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

  1. FINDINGS: Whereas
    1. The Constitution grants the Senate the power to close an SGA meeting for the purpose of Impeachment and other sensitive matters deemed necessary by the Senate
    2. The Constitution, Bylaws, and Procedural Rules lack detail and clarity on closing meetings or the “closed session”
  2. PURPOSES: Therefore, this act aims to:
    1. Clarify the parameters and process of closing a session

SECTION 4. AMENDMENTS

SENATE BYLAWS
CURRENT LANGUAGEPROPOSED LANGUAGE
4.3.1.3 ORDER4.3.1.3.7 Suspension of Rules4.3.1.3.7.1 The assembly can adopt a motion to Suspend the Rules interfering with the proposed action—provided that the proposal is not in conflict with the Constitution.4.3.1.3.7.2 When business is pending, Suspend the Rules takes precedence over any motion if it is for a purpose connected with that motion.4.3.1.3.7.3 Can be applied to any rule of the assembly except those in the Constitution.4.3.1.3.7.4 Must be seconded.4.3.1.3.7.5 Requires a vote equivalent to two-thirds of the entire membership of the Senate, regardless of attendance.4.3.1.3.7.6 In making the incidental motion to Suspend the Rules, the particular rule or rules to be suspended are not mentioned; but the motion must state its specific purpose, and its adoption permits nothing else to be done under the suspension.4.3.1.3.7.6.1 The rules are unsuspended upon the completion of the specific purpose, as determined by the chair.4.3.1.3.7.6.2 The rules can be unsuspended at any time with a majority vote following a motion to unsuspend the Rules.4.3.1.3.7.7 If a motion to Suspend the Rules is adopted and its object is to allow consideration of business that could not otherwise have been considered at the time, the chair immediately recognizes the member who moved the suspension of the rules, to make the appropriate motion that will bring up the desired business. Or, if no further motion is necessary (for example, if the two motions were combined as indicated above, or if the question is one that was postponed), the chair announces the business as pending.4.3.1.3.7.8 Rules protecting a basic right of the individual member cannot be suspended.4.3.1.3.8 Quorum4.3.1.3.8.1 A minimum number of SGA members shall be required to be present in any SGA meeting (including but not limited to general body meetings, committee meetings, executive meetings, etc.) in order for official business to be conducted.4.3.1.3.8.2 The requirement for quorum shall be defined as 50% + 1 (one) of the total voting membership of that group if there is an even number of members, or 50% and rounded up of the total voting membership of that group if there is an odd number of members.4.3.1.3 ORDER 4.3.1.3.7 Closing of a Session4.3.1.3.7.1 Per the Constitution, all SGA meetings are open to the public except meetings that are closed by 2/3 (two thirds) of the Senate.4.3.1.3.7.2 The Senate may adopt a motion to close the session. The motion must be seconded and then approved by 2/3 (two thirds) of the members of the Senate present.4.3.1.3.7.3 The motioner must include brief reasoning for closing the session in their motion.4.3.1.3.7.4 The motion may specify whether the closed session is closed to just the Senate or the entire SGA. 4.3.1.3.7.4.1 If unspecified, the motion is assumed to close the session to the entire SGA.4.3.1.3.7.5 The motion may specify whether the closed session does or does not permit the SGA advisor(s) to remain. 4.3.1.3.7.5.1 If unspecified, the motion is assumed to permit the SGA advisor(s) to remain.4.3.1.3.7.6 Upon adopting the motion, students, faculty, members of the public, and any other individuals not contained in the groups specified in the motion to close the session must leave the meeting until it is reopened.4.3.1.3.7.7 Notes shall still be taken and votes shall still be recorded. All votes, notes, documents, minutes, discussion, proceedings, and other records from and of the closed session shall be kept confidential only to those persons contained in the groups specified in the motion to close the session, whether or not they were present.4.3.1.3.7.7.1 Notes and votes shall be recorded by the Secretary, if the Executive branch is included in the closed session. If the Executive branch is not included in the closed session, the President of the Senate shall select someone else (i.e., the Vice President of the Senate) to take notes, record votes, and keep other records as necessary.4.3.1.3.7.8 The Senate may adopt a motion to reopen the closed session. The motion must be seconded and then approved by a simple majority (any proportion greater than one half) of the members of the Senate present.4.3.1.3.78 Suspension of Rules 4.3.1.3.78.1 The assembly can adopt a motion to Suspend the Rules interfering with the proposed action—provided that the proposal is not in conflict with the Constitution. 4.3.1.3.78.2 When business is pending, Suspend the Rules takes precedence over any motion if it is for a purpose connected with that motion. 4.3.1.3.78.3 Can be applied to any rule of the assembly except those in the Constitution. 4.3.1.3.78.4 Must be seconded. 4.3.1.3.78.5 Requires a vote equivalent to two-thirds of the entire membership of the Senate, regardless of attendance.4.3.1.3.78.6 In making the incidental motion to Suspend the Rules, the particular rule or rules to be suspended are not mentioned; but the motion must state its specific purpose, and its adoption permits nothing else to be done under the suspension. 4.3.1.3.78.6.1 The rules are unsuspended upon the completion of the specific purpose, as determined by the chair. 4.3.1.3.78.6.2 The rules can be unsuspended at any time with a majority vote following a motion to unsuspend the Rules. 4.3.1.3.78.7 If a motion to Suspend the Rules is adopted and its object is to allow consideration of business that could not otherwise have been considered at the time, the chair immediately recognizes the member who moved the suspension of the rules, to make the appropriate motion that will bring up the desired business. Or, if no further motion is necessary (for example, if the two motions were combined as indicated above, or if the question is one that was postponed), the chair announces the business as pending. 4.3.1.3.78.8 Rules protecting a basic right of the individual member cannot be suspended.4.3.1.3.89 Quorum4.3.1.3.89.1 A minimum number of SGA members shall be required to be present in any SGA meeting (including but not limited to general body meetings, committee meetings, executive meetings, etc.) in order for official business to be conducted. 4.3.1.3.89.2 The requirement for quorum shall be defined as 50% + 1 (one) of the total voting membership of that group if there is an even number of members, or 50% and rounded up of the total voting membership of that group if there is an odd number of members.

SECTION 5. ACTION ITEMS.

  1. To be done by Secretary Honora Muratori before 11/15/2026:
    1. Amend Bylaws Appropriately

The Amendment is hereby ADOPTED/LOST by a vote of X to X with X abstentions.

Upon passage, we have hereunto set our hands and caused the seal of the Senate to be affixed to this bill indicating the Senate’s assent and thus officially designated the bill’s adoption as law.

Signatures of Enactment:

__________________________________ Jason Yu Student Body President of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Sumire Sumi Student Body Vice President of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Jazzlyn Fernandez President of the Senate of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Honora Muratori Student Body Secretary of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Amy Xu Student Body Treasurer of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Grace Guan Student Body Chair of Programming for the Johns Hopkins SGA

Signatures of Ceremony:

__________________________________ Cole Liazos-Coffey, Religious and Spiritual Life Senator and Vice Chair of Internal Affairs
__________________________________ Shreemann Patel, Vice President of the Senate and Chair of Internal Affairs
__________________________________ NAME, POSITION
__________________________________ NAME, POSITION