JHU SGAThe 114th Session
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Spring 2024 Committee Bylaws Update Bill · 111th session

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**A Bill Updating the SGA Bylaws to Obey the Constitution**
Introduced By:
- President of the senate nasreen naqvi
- First considered this **18th** day of **April** in the Year **2023** and
- Next considered this **Xth** day of **Month** in the Year **2023**
+ Sophomore Class President Stone Meng and the Internal Affairs Committee
+ 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:
Senator **First Last** of the and

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# *Be it enacted by the Senate of the Student Government Association at Johns Hopkins University assembled that:*
1. **TITLE**
- This Act may be referred to as the “Spring 2023 Bylaws Update Bill”
+ This Act may be referred to as the “Spring 2024 Committee Bylaws Update Bill”
2. **FINDINGS AND PURPOSES**
1. FINDINGS
- 1. In April 2022, the SGA voted to amend the SGA Constitution to make major structural changes to the organization over the course of the next two years. Further edits to the Constitution were made in April 2023\.
- 2. Currently, the SGA Bylaws are designed around the 2023-2024 (111th) SGA Administration and do not account for the structural changes instituted beginning with the 2024-2025 (112th) SGA Administration.
+ 1. With the current biweekly meeting structure for certain committees, tasks are not efficiently completed.
+ 2. With committee attendance in general, some members are not actively participating, especially with virtual meetings.
2. PURPOSES
- 1. To amend the Bylaws of the Student Government Association at Johns Hopkins University to fit the current structure and practices of the SGA.
+ 1. To amend the Bylaws of the Student Government Association at Johns Hopkins University to improve committee participation.
3. **AMENDMENTS**
- | ARTICLE 3\. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH … *ARTICLE 3, SECTION 2\. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH* 3.2.1 THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AND THEIR CABINET … *3.2.1.2 VICE PRESIDENT* 3.2.1.2.1 Assists the President in all their duties. 3.2.1.2.2 Succeeds the President in case of their impeachment or resignation. 3.2.1.2.3 Accompanies the Student Body President to meetings with administrators when necessary. 3.2.1.2.4 Fosters community within the Senate. 3.2.1.2.5 Collaborates with the Student Body President, the Chair of Programming, and the SGA advisor to organize semesterly retreats. 3.2.1.2.6 Assists new members with writing legislation. 3.2.1.2.7 Fosters communication with the governing bodies of other divisions of the University (e.g., GRO, CSAC, JHUC). 3.2.1.2.8 Within the first month of each Senator’s or Cabinet Member’s term, uses campaign material, a form, and/or discussion with the member to determine their primary short- and long-term goals for their term in SGA. 3.2.1.2.9 Regularly references legislative and non-legislative work of each member to determine if they are making progress towards their goals. 3.2.1.2.9.1 This must be done at least once a month, but the Vice President is encouraged to check on different members throughout the month rather than examining every member at the same time. 3.2.1.2.9.2 The Vice President may work with the Student Body Secretary to create an organizational system to track and document each member’s goals and progress. 3.2.1.2.9.3 If a member does not seem to be working towards their goals, the Vice President shall contact the member to either meet with them or to connect them to another member of SGA who would be more capable of supporting the member. 3.2.1.2.9.4 If the member is still not making progress towards their goals after two months, the Vice President shall set up a meeting with themselves, an advisor of SGA, and any other relevant SGA members to | ARTICLE 3\. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH … *ARTICLE 3, SECTION 2\. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH* 3.2.1 THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AND THEIR CABINET … *3.2.1 STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT* 3.2.1.2.1 Assists the President in all their duties. 3.2.1.2.2 Succeeds the President in case of their impeachment or resignation. 3.2.1.2.3 Accompanies the Student Body President to meetings with administrators when necessary. 3.2.1.2.4 Fosters community within the Senate. 3.2.1.2.5 ~~Collaborates with the Student Body President, the Chair of Programming, and the SGA advisor to organize semesterly retreats.~~ 3.2.1.2.6 Assists new members with writing legislation. 3.2.1.2.7 Fosters communication with the governing bodies of other divisions of the University (e.g., GRO, CSAC, JHUC). 3.2.1.2.8 Within the first month of each Senator’s or Cabinet Member’s term, uses campaign material, a form, and/or discussion with the member to determine their primary short- and long-term goals for their term in SGA. 3.2.1.2.9 Regularly references legislative and non-legislative work of each member to determine if they are making progress towards their goals. 3.2.1.2.9.1 This must be done at least once a month, but the Vice President is encouraged to check on different members throughout the month rather than examining every member at the same time. 3.2.1.2.9.2 The Vice President may work with the Student Body Secretary to create an organizational system to track and document each member’s goals and progress. 3.2.1.2.9.3 If a member does not seem to be working towards their goals, the Vice President shall contact the member to either meet with them or to connect them to another member of SGA who would be more capable of supporting the member. 3.2.1.2.9.4 If the member is still not making progress towards their goals after two months, the Vice President shall set up a meeting with themselves, an advisor of SGA, and any other relevant SGA members. 3.2.1.2.9.5 Serves as the Presiding Officer or President of the Senate 3.2.1.2.9.6 Prepares the Agenda and communications each week in collaboration with the vice president of the senate. |
- | ----- | ----- |
- | Student Body Vice President Responsibilities | |
- | Current Language | Proposed Language |
+ | 4.1.2.5.1 The Standing Legislative Committees of the Senate shall be required to regularly meet at least once every two (2) weeks. | 4.1.2.5.1 The Standing Legislative Committees of the Senate shall be required to regularly meet at least once per week during the academic school year.<br>4.1.2.5.7 In the case that participants in committee meetings are not present in person at a previously agreed meeting location, they shall be required to join a web conference meeting with their cameras on.<br>a. Exceptions may be made to this rule, provided that participants notify the committee chair 24 hours in advance, for:<br>i. Proven, longstanding technical issues,<br>ii. Meetings taken while traveling,<br>b. Failure to follow this rule shall result in an unexcused absence being recorded for the participant. Repeat offenses should be dealt with by the committee chair through a meeting with the participant<br>4.1.2.5.8 Committee Chairs may assign tasks to committee members; the completion of these tasks may be required as part of the committee meeting attendance criteria at the discretion of the Committee Chairs.<br>4.1.2.5.9 Committee Chairs may introduce committee-specific policies but must relay such policies to the President of the Senate and the Executive Secretary within two business days before the implementation of the policies. |
+ | ----- | :---- |
| Rationale | |
- | Make Student Body Vice President responsible for more internal work and the Student Body President responsible for external facing work and make more distinguished roles between the two. | |
+ | Make Senators more active and engaged in the committee meetings, thus ensuring the efficient workflow of all committees. | |
The Bill hereby **PASSES/FAILS** by a vote of **\_\_** to **\_\_** with **\_\_** abstentions.

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