Senate of the Student Government Association of The Johns Hopkins University
{ S. Bill 23-24, 02}
A Bill to Amend the SGA Constitution Regarding Caucus Elections
Introduced By: 2025 Class Senator Molly Kuzma First considered this 27th day of February in the Year 2024 and Next considered this Xth day of Month in the Year 2024
Sponsored By: WSE Senator Angela Sadlowski and FLI Caucus Senator Sun Moon
Referred to the Senate by the ___________ which recommends its Passage by a vote of X to X.
Be it enacted by the Senate of the Student Government Association at Johns Hopkins University assembled that:
- TITLE This Act may be referred to as the “Constitutional Amendment for Caucus Elections Bill”
- FINDINGS AND PURPOSES
- FINDINGS
- In response to the need for streamlined election procedures for caucus positions within the Student Government Association (SGA), it is necessary to amend the SGA Constitution to grant discretionary powers to the Committee on Student Elections (CSE).
- PURPOSES
- To amend the SGA Constitution to empower the Committee on Student Elections (CSE) with discretionary powers to conduct elections for caucus positions established within the SGA.
- FINDINGS
- AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE IV: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH … ARTICLE 4, SECTION 1. Structure The Legislative Branch shall be composed of the Student Senate and shall meet at least once a week during the fall and spring semesters. The Senate shall be comprised of the following representatives, elected from amongst their constituent groups: Five Class Senators from each graduating class, totalling twenty class representatives. a. One of these representatives, who shall be the primary class representative and must run as a separate position on the ballot, shall be chosen by a classwide election for “Class President”. This position remains that of a Senator for the intent of the Senate. The remaining four representatives shall be chosen by a concurrent classwide election for “Class Senators”. Class representatives may serve as non-voting ex-officio members of their Class Programming Council if they so choose. Seven Academic Senators from the Krieger School and Five Academic Senators from the Whiting school, totaling twelve representatives. One Senator from each category of student organizations SGA recognizes, elected from amongst the student body, totalling nine representatives. A Chair of each SGA Caucus shall be elected from amongst the student body, and be a Senator in the Senate, if the following conditions are met: The caucus must have been established in the SGA Bylaws prior to January 1st of the election year. The caucus must remain in existence at the time of elections. Representatives shall be chosen by raw vote total within each election (i.e. the top five representatives from each school are chosen). The Legislative Branch shall also have the authority to appoint a Senate Parliamentarian with the majority consent of the Senate. The Senate Parliamentarian shall be tasked with knowing and maintaining the Senate’s adherence to Robert’s Rules of Order and all governing documents of the SGA. The President of the Senate shall oversee this appointment process.
ARTICLE IV: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH … ARTICLE 4, SECTION 1. Structure The Legislative Branch shall be composed of the Student Senate and shall meet at least once a week during the fall and spring semesters. The Senate shall be comprised of the following representatives, elected from amongst their constituent groups: Five Class Senators from each graduating class, totalling twenty class representatives. a. One of these representatives, who shall be the primary class representative and must run as a separate position on the ballot, shall be chosen by a classwide election for “Class President”. This position remains that of a Senator for the intent of the Senate. The remaining four representatives shall be chosen by a concurrent classwide election for “Class Senators”. Class representatives may serve as non-voting ex-officio members of their Class Programming Council if they so choose. Seven Academic Senators from the Krieger School and Five Academic Senators from the Whiting school, totaling twelve representatives. One Senator from each category of student organizations SGA recognizes, elected from amongst the student body, totalling nine representatives. A Chair of each SGA Caucus shall be elected from amongst the student body, and be a Senator in the Senate, if the following conditions are met: The caucus must have been established in the SGA Bylaws prior to the election. The caucus must remain in existence at the time of elections. Representatives shall be chosen by raw vote total within each election (i.e. the top five representatives from each school are chosen). The Legislative Branch shall also have the authority to appoint a Senate Parliamentarian with the majority consent of the Senate. The Senate Parliamentarian shall be tasked with knowing and maintaining the Senate’s adherence to Robert’s Rules of Order and all governing documents of the SGA. The President of the Senate shall oversee this appointment process
Current Language
Proposed Language
Rationale
This amendment aims to streamline the election process, promote inclusivity within the SGA, and ensure that all eligible caucus members have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
The Bill hereby PASSES/FAILS by a vote of __ to __ with __ 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:
__________________________________ Ryan Chou Student Body President of the SGA at Johns Hopkins University
__________________________________
Nasreen naqvi President of the Senate of the SGA at Johns Hopkins University
__________________________________ Jackson Morris Student Body Vice President of the SGA at Johns Hopkins University
__________________________________ Amy Li Student Body Secretary of the SGA at Johns Hopkins University
__________________________________ Jenny Chen Student Body Treasurer of the SGA at Johns Hopkins University
Signatures of Ceremony:
__________________________________ Molly Kuzma Introducer of the Bill
__________________________________ Angela Sadlowski Co-Sponsor of the Bill
__________________________________ Sun Moon Co-Sponsor of the Bill
