Constitutional Amendment C-1-23: A CONSUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE TIMING OF THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL ADDRESS

Authors: Madeline Martin, SGA President
Sponsors: Speaker Geiger, Secretary Frazier, Senator Akins, Senator Nangle, Senator Smalley, Senator Golden, Senator Howell, Senator Derisavi, Senator Outlaw, Senator Patrick, Senator Wilson, Senator Wiltanger, Senator Sims, Senator Harnage, Senator McLendon, Senator Baggett
Endorsements: Jack Steinmetz, Executive Vice President; Cameron Doyle, SGA Vice President for Academic Affairs; Lauryn Parker, SGA Vice President for Financial Affairs; Collier Dobbs, SGA Vice President for External Affairs; Josie Schmitt, SGA Executive Secretary; Izzy Boyd, SGA Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Luke Dille, Vice President for Student Affairs; Colin Marcum, SGA Chief of Staff;

A CONSTIUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE TIMING OF THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL ADDRESS

Section 1. Findings

The State of the School address is established to “take place on the 2nd Tuesday of November each year.” This date falls on election day for many local, state, and national offices. With UA’s large in-state population, this can create difficulties to leave campus to vote while also attending the State of the School event.
Furthermore, for those who want to watch the election results come in would either miss the State of the School Address or said elections results.
Therefore, the time has come to change the date of the State of the School Address to amplify opportunities for being a civilly engaged student and citizen. The updates are reflected in red.

Section 2. Constitution and Updates

Section 5: Executive Powers and Duties of the President. The President of the Student
Government Association shall:

A. Lead the SGA in achieving the objectives of this Constitution.
B. Serve as chairperson of the Executive Council.
C. Appoint the Chief of Staff within ten full class days of the beginning of his or her term
of office.
D. Notify the Senate, in writing, of any vacancies which may occur in the Executive
Council or Executive Cabinet, within ten full class days of receiving notice of such
vacancy. If the Senate by its adjournment prevents such notice, the notice shall be
given at the first meeting of the Senate after its adjournment.
E. Call special sessions of the Senate when deemed necessary.
F. Reappoint any appointed officials of the executive branch who serve at the will of
the President according to the provisions of Article IV, Section 4.
G. Form new committees as needed and assign them to the appropriate executive
branch officials.
H. Serve as a member or an ex-officio member of all executive committees.
I. Deliver the “State of the School Address” each semester.
1. The State of the School Address shall take place on the 2nd Tuesday of
November each year. The State of the School Address shall take place in
January of each year.
J. Possess a limited veto power.
1. The SGA President shall exercise veto power as he or she sees fit over all Acts
of Senate and Bills of Law passed by the Senate.
a. A veto of Acts of Senate and Bills of Law must be done within five
full class days after the President’s receipt of said legislation.
b. After five full class days following the President’s initial receipt, all
Acts of Senate and Bills of Laws will be considered passed with or
without the President’s signature unless vetoed.
2. The SGA President shall not possess the right to exercise a line-item veto over
all Acts of Senate and Bills of Law passed by the Senate.
3. The SGA President shall not possess the right to exercise a veto or line-item
veto on Resolutions passed by the Senate.
K. Serve as chief liaison between the SGA and organizations internal and external to The
University of Alabama.
L. Serve as the student representative to The University of Alabama System Board of
Trustees, or if unable to attend, ensure the Executive Vice President is able to attend.
M. Schedule Executive Council meetings.
N. Instruct the incoming SGA President on all matters pertaining to the office of President before leaving office.

Section 3. Ratification

This amendment will become law upon vote by 2/3rds vote of the SGA Senate and referendum of the student body.

Section 4. Legitimacy and Awareness

This amendment, if passed in the Senate by the appropriate margins, will be posted at least two (2) weeks in advance of the Spring SGA Elections on the SGA website for students to review.
Be it further resolved, that copies of this Act be sent to: Dr. Stuart R. Bell, President of the University of Alabama; Dr. Steven Hood, Vice-President for Student Life; Angel Narvaez-Lugo, The University of Alabama Student Government Advisor; Taryn Gieger, Speaker of the Senate; Caleb Thome, Chief Justice; Ansley Stamper, Chair of the SGA Elections Board; Dr. Kat Gillan, SGA Elections Board Advisor; The Crimson White; and others as may be deemed necessary at a later date.


View C-1-23 (PDF)

Constitutional Amendment C-1-22: AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION OF AN ACT OF THE SENATE

Authors: Senator Elizabeth Prophet, Speaker of The Senate CJ Pearson
Sponsors: Senator Kieghan Nangle, Secretary of The Senate Taryn Geiger, Senator Noel Kenney, Senator Xzarria Peterson, Senator Jack Rudder, Senator Clay Bruce, Senator Tyler Tannehill, Senator Jennifer Baggett
Endorsements: Collier Dobbs, Vice President of External Affairs; Lauryn Parker, Vice President of Financial Affairs; Josie Schmitt, Executive Secretary, Luke Dille; Vice President of Student Affairs

AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION OF AN ACT OF THE SENATE

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Student Government Association assembled.

Section 1. Findings:

A. In a recent decision issued by the Judicial Board, it was ordered by the Court that A-03-21 was invalidated under the pretense that it did not pertain to “matters involving“ some sort of monetary allocation”.
B. However, it has long been the practice and interpretation of the legislative branch of the Student Government Association that an Act pertains to all actions, initiatives, and/or programming to be carried out by the Student Government Association, with and without monetary allocation.
C. As a result of the recent opinion of the Judicial Board, it has now become both a pressing and urgent need to further clarify the legislative actions that rightly fall underneath the category of “Act”.

Section 2. Amendment to the Constitution: changes in red

ARTICLE III – LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Section 8: Presentation and passage of legislation. Two-thirds of the Senate’s voting members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.
A. All legislation of the Senate shall be categorized as follows:
1. Acts of Senate: Acts which authorize or mandate the Executive Branch to begin a new SGA program, project or initiative, or allocation of the SGA budget. All Acts of Senate are subject to presidential veto as outlined in Article IV, Section 5, subsection J.
2. Bills of Law: The SGA Budget and amendments to the SGA Code of Laws. All Bills of Law are subject to presidential veto as outlined in Article IV, Section 5, subsection J.
3. Resolutions: Expressions of sentiment of the Senate, which are not subject to presidential veto outlined in Article IV, Section 5, subsection J(3).


View C-01-22 (PDF)