Senate of the Student Government Association of The Johns Hopkins University
{ S. Bill 23-24, 22 }
An Act to Amend the Bylaws section concerning the Student Activities Commission
Introduced By: President Ryan Chou and Treasurer Jenny Chen and Finance Committee Co-Chair Junior class senator Brandon Benjamin considered this 14th day of November in the Year 2023
Sponsored By: Senator Mufasa Cruz Moreno of the Senior Class and Senator Kelley Huang of the Senior Class
Referred to the senate by the Committee on Internal Affairs which recommends its passage by a vote of 7 to 0.
Be it enacted by the Senate of the Student Government Association of The Johns Hopkins University assembled that:
SECTION 1. TITLE. This Act may be referred to as the “SAC Removal Bylaws Amendment Act”
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
- SGA — The term “SGA” shall refer to the Student Government Association of The Johns Hopkins University.
- JHU, Hopkins — The terms “JHU” and “Hopkins” shall refer to Johns Hopkins University.
- SAC — The term “SAC” shall refer to the Student Activities Commission
SECTION 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
- FINDINGS
- SAC has not been a part of the Finance Committee for the past 3 years, so we find that it is no longer necessary for it to be included in the Bylaws.
- SAC, while intended to include voices outside of SGA in the budget review/approval process, in practice, that has not been the case. Only 1-2 SAC members attended the committee meetings each week, and rarely provided contributions to the discussion.
- The Finance Committee has expanded significantly, and as all SGA members are required to be a part of Finance or Student Organizations, we believe that there are and will be committee members that represent the various interests and identities of the Student Body that the SAC was intended to provide.
- Given the large size of the Finance Committee, it would lead to undue difficulties trying to accommodate the 8 additional schedules of SAC voting Commissioners.
- PURPOSES
- To codify the removal of the SAC following agreement and pilot testing by the Co-chairs of the SGA Senate Committee on Finance.
SECTION 4. AMENDMENT
Current Language
Proposed Language
3.1.2.3 STUDENT ACTIVITIES COMMISSION 3.1.2.3.1 The Student Activities Commission, hereafter referred to as SAC, shall be a subsidiary of the SGA Finance Committee chaired by the SGA Treasurer. 3.1.2.3.2 MEMBERSHIP 3.1.2.3.2.1 The SAC shall be comprised of eight (8) voting Commissioners. 3.1.2.3.2.2 At each convening of SAC, it shall be the responsibility of the Executive Treasurer to ensure that no more than 8 Finance Committee members attend as voting members. 3.1.2.3.2.2.1 In the event that there are more than 8 Finance Committee members interested in attending a SAC meeting as a voting member, the Executive Treasurer shall allow the first 8 members who RSVP for the SAC meeting to attend as voting members. 3.1.2.3.2.3 All Finance Committee members are required to attend any SAC meeting regardless of whether or not they are a voting member for said meeting. 3.1.2.3.2.4 The SGA Treasurer shall have the right with approval of a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate to remove any member of SAC. 3.1.2.3.2.4.1 The collective SAC body (including both commissioners and Finance Committee Members) can request the removal of a commissioner by a two-thirds vote to then be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate.
3.1.2.3 STUDENT ACTIVITIES COMMISSION
3.1.2.3.1 The Student Activities Commission, hereafter referred to as SAC, shall be a subsidiary of the SGA Finance Committee
chaired by the SGA Treasurer.
3.1.2.3.2 MEMBERSHIP
3.1.2.3.2.1 The SAC shall be comprised of eight (8) voting Commissioners.
3.1.2.3.2.2 At each convening of SAC, it shall be the responsibility of the Executive Treasurer to ensure that no more than 8 Finance Committee members attend as voting members.
3.1.2.3.2.2.1 In the event that there are more than 8 Finance Committee members interested in attending a SAC meeting as a voting member, the Executive Treasurer shall allow the first 8 members who RSVP for the SAC meeting to attend as voting members.
3.1.2.3.2.3 All Finance Committee members are required to attend any SAC meeting regardless of whether or not they are a voting member for said meeting.
3.1.2.3.2.4 The SGA Treasurer shall have the right with approval of a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate to remove any member of SAC.
3.1.2.3.2.4.1 The collective SAC body (including both commissioners and Finance Committee Members) can request the removal of a commissioner by a two-thirds vote to then be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate.
3.1.2.3.3.1 All SAC Commissioners and voting finance committee members shall be eligible to 1 vote in every decision.
3.1.2.3.3.1 All SAC Commissioners and voting finance committee members shall be eligible to 1 vote in every decision.
3.1.2.3.3.3 Any person at a SAC meeting who is a part of an organization that submitted a grant, shall be asked to leave while the committee discusses the grant and will be unable to vote on said grant.
3.1.2.3.3.3 Any person at a Finance Committee meeting who is a part of an organization that submitted a grant, shall be asked to abstain from participating in the Committee’s discussion of the grant and will be unable to vote on said grant.
3.1.2.3.3.5 The Senate can overturn any decision of the SAC by a two-thirds majority vote.
3.1.2.3.3.5 The Senate can overturn any decision of the Finance Committee by a two-thirds majority vote.
3.1.2.3.4.1 The SAC will evaluate grant proposals based on the following four criteria: 3.1.2.3.4.1.1 The SAC Funding Guidelines. 3.1.2.3.4.1.2 Feasibility. 3.1.2.3.4.1.3 Impact. 3.1.2.3.4.1.4 Other funding sources that the club is receiving for the proposal.
3.1.2.3.4.1 The Finance Committee will evaluate grant proposals based on the following four criteria: 3.1.2.3.4.1.1 The SAC Funding Guidelines. 3.1.2.3.4.1.2 Feasibility. 3.1.2.3.4.1.3 Impact. 3.1.2.3.4.1.4 Other funding sources that the club is receiving for the proposal.
3.1.2.3.4.2 The SAC shall be responsible for maintaining a set of funding policies and caps by which all decisions shall be based. These will be set annually and approved or amended by the Senate in the month prior to reregistration. In addition, they must publish these policies and caps to the student body once approved by the Senate.
3.1.2.3.4.2 The Finance Committee shall be responsible for maintaining a set of funding policies and caps by which all decisions shall be based. These will be set annually and approved or amended by the Senate in the month prior to reregistration. In addition, they must publish these policies and caps to the student body once approved by the Senate.
3.1.2.4 RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES 3.1.2.4.1 Upon creation of a vacancy, whether through graduation, resignation, or removal, the Chair of the Commission will be responsible for filling the open position as soon as possible. 3.1.2.4.2 The recruiting process shall be divided into three parts: 3.1.2.4.2.1 An application designed to gauge interest in and knowledge of the body 3.1.2.4.2.2 An interview with the Chair and sitting Commissioners. 3.1.2.4.2.3 Confirmation from a majority vote of the Senate. 3.1.2.4.3 Commission membership should be based on the merit of the individual and should be justifiable to the SGA Senate for confirmation. 3.1.2.4.4 All appointments made by the Chair shall be approved by the SGA Senate by a simple majority.
3.1.2.4 RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES
3.1.2.4.1 Upon creation of a vacancy, whether through graduation, resignation, or removal, the Chair of the Commission will be responsible for filling the open position as soon as possible. 3.1.2.4.2 The recruiting process shall be divided into three
parts:
3.1.2.4.2.1 An application designed to gauge interest in and knowledge of the body 3.1.2.4.2.2 An interview with the Chair and sitting Commissioners.
3.1.2.4.2.3 Confirmation from a majority vote of the Senate.
3.1.2.4.3 Commission membership should be based on the merit of the individual and should be justifiable to the SGA Senate for confirmation.
3.1.2.4.4 All appointments made by the Chair shall be approved by the SGA Senate by a simple majority.
3.2.1.4.2 Chairing, appointing, and managing the Student Activities Commission.
3.2.1.4.2 Chairing, appointing, and managing the Finance Committee.
4.1.2.1.4.3.1.2 The Executive Treasurer is the Chairman of the SAC and shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee on Finance.
4.1.2.1.4.3.1.2 The Executive Treasurer shall serve as the co-chair and an ex-officio member of the Committee on Finance.
4.1.2.1.4.3.2 To evaluate and vote on all legislation of allocating funds from the senate, that is sent to the Finance Committee by the Sunday immediately preceding the General Body Meeting by the time set by the Rules Bill.
4.1.2.1.4.3.2 To evaluate and vote on all legislation of allocating funds from the senate, that is sent to the Finance Committee by the scheduled committee meeting immediately preceding the General Body Meeting by the time set by the Rules Bill.
4.1.2.1.4.3.2 To evaluate and vote on all legislation of allocating funds from the senate, that is sent to the Finance Committee by the Sunday immediately preceding the General Body Meeting by the time set by the Rules Bill.
4.1.2.1.4.3.2 To evaluate and vote on all legislation of allocating funds from the senate, that is sent to the Finance Committee by the scheduled committee meeting immediately preceding the General Body Meeting by the time set by the Rules Bill.
4.1.2.1.4.3.4 To review and approve the SAC Bylaws and criteria for funding student organizations updated by the SAC.
4.1.2.1.4.3.4 To edit, review, and approve the SAC Bylaws and criteria for funding student organizations updated by the Executive Treasurer.
4.1.2.1.4.3.5 To collaborate with the Committee on Student Organizations and the SAC to guarantee the success of student organizations by aiding groups through their grant and sponsorship request process.
4.1.2.1.4.3.5 To collaborate with the Committee on Student Organizations and the SAC to guarantee the success of student organizations by aiding groups through their grant and sponsorship request process.
4.1.2.1.4.3.8 To appoint at least one Senator serving on the Committee on Finance to attend each meeting of the Student Activities Commission as a non-voting, ex-officio participant.
4.1.2.1.4.3.8 To appoint at least one Senator serving on the Committee on Finance to attend each meeting of the Student Activities Commission as a non-voting, ex-officio participant.
Other mentions of “SAC” and “Student Activities Commission” will be appropriately removed at the discretion of the Committee on Internal Affairs and reported to the Senate, a power granted by Article IX point 2 of the Constitution.
SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY. Should any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance be held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
The Bill hereby PASSES by a vote of 26 to 0 with 0 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 Executive President of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Jackson morris Executive Vice President of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Amy li Executive Secretary of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Jenny Chen Executive Treasurer of the Johns Hopkins SGA
__________________________________ Dalhart dobbs President of the senate of the johns hopkins SGA
Signatures of Ceremony:
__________________________________ Jenny chen Introducer of the Bill
__________________________________ Mufasa cruz moreno Co-Sponsor of the Bill
__________________________________ Kelley huang Co-Sponsor of the Bill