Our Guiding Documents - Associated Students of NMU

1. Legislative Assembly

The legislative powers of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University shall be vested in the Assembly.

2. Membership

The Assembly of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University shall consist of representatives based on the following criteria:

Academic Representatives

• One representative per academic college
• One General university programs representatives

Additionally, for each 1,000 students enrolled in the above College and General Program areas, one additional representative will be added for that College or General Program.

Population numbers will be gathered and used from the Fall semester of the current academic year during which the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University elections are held.

In the event of a decimal fraction for representation, using the formula outlined above, the number will always be rounded down.

Residence Representatives

• One Representative shall be elected to represent students residing in Quad I and II (Gant, Spalding, Halverson, Payne, Van Antwerp and Hunt Halls.)
• One Representative shall be elected to represent students residing in on-campus apartments.
• One Representative shall be elected to represent students residing in Magers, West, Meyland, and Spooner Halls.
• One Representative shall be elected to represent students in off campus housing.

Additionally, for each 850 students residing in the above living areas, one additional representative will be added for that residence.
Population numbers will be gathered and used from the Fall Semester of the current academic year during which the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University elections are held.
In the event of a decimal fraction for representation, using the formula outlined above, the number will always be rounded down.

Chair of the Assembly

The General Assembly is required during the first official session to elect a Chair of the Assembly.  The President of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University must also approve the Chair.

3. Vacancies

A vacancy shall occur when a member informs the Assembly in writing of his/her resignation or is removed from office.  Vacancies shall be filled through an application and interview process, followed by approval of three-fourths of the Assembly.

4. Rules and Procedures of the Assembly

A. Quorum: A quorum consisting of a majority of the Assembly's voting members shall be necessary to conduct all formal business.  Vacant positions shall not be considered a part of the total voting membership for purposes of establishing a quorum and other voting requirements.

B. Parliamentary Authority: The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern the Assembly in cases in which they are inconsistent with this Constitution and its Bylaws.

C. Minutes: Minutes shall be taken at all Assembly proceedings.  These minutes shall be considered public and available upon request.

D. Meetings: Meetings of the Assembly shall be held no less than every other week during the Fall and Winter Semesters when classes are in regular session.

E. Voting: Each Representative shall have one vote with the exception of the Chair of the Assembly who shall be a non-voting member of the Assembly.  In the event of a tie, the Chair of the Assembly shall vote.

F. Presidential Privilege: The President of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University is entitled to a time period of no less than five minutes at the beginning of the Assembly's meeting to address the Representatives.

5. Committees

The Assembly shall assume authority on behalf of the student body to establish standing and special committees, as it deems necessary.  These committees may be abolished by a two-thirds vote of the Assembly.

Committee for Appointments

At its first regularly scheduled meeting of the Fall Semester, the Assembly shall choose from among its voting members, four representatives to sit with the Vice-President on a Committee for Appointments.  This committee shall recommend students to fill all appointed positions and vacant positions under the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.  Students recommended for appointment shall require majority vote approval of the Assembly.

Elections Committee

An Elections Committee shall be formed annually to handle all Associated Students of Northern Michigan University student body elections and referendum.

Student Affairs Committee

All representatives serving from residential constituencies shall sit on the Student Affairs Committee.

Academic Affairs Committee

All representatives serving from Academic Colleges and the General University Programs shall sit on the Academic Affairs Committee.

Student Finance Committee

The Student Finance Committee is a permanent standing committee of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University and will be chaired by the Treasurer of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University in accordance with Article II, section 3 of this Constitution.

Other Standing Committees

The members of all standing committees under the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University must be approved by majority vote of the Assembly.  Each standing committee may interview candidates to fill vacancies on their respective committees and present their recommendations to the Assembly for approval.

The Associated Students of Northern Michigan University Assembly and Executive Council shall establish new committees, as it deems necessary.

6. Authority of the Assembly and its Members

Representatives

A. The Assembly shall assume authority on behalf of the student body for developing legislation.  In the development of such legislation, each representative shall attempt to take into consideration the wishes of his/her constituents.

B. The Assembly may recommend to the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees by three-fourths approval, a revision of the student activity fee, to be assessed upon all students enrolled at the Marquette campus, provided the student body has approved a  referendum concerning the fee.  This fee shall be collected as specified in the Bylaws.

C. The Assembly may override a presidential veto by a three-fourths majority vote, providing the vote to overturn occurs within two weeks of the original veto by the President.

D. The Assembly shall have the power to regulate and conduct all Associated Students of Northern Michigan University elections.

E. The Assembly may call a general assembly of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

F. The Assembly shall have the power to insure the existence of a student judiciary system and to periodically evaluate its effectiveness in reference to Constitutional, Bylaw, and student government review.

7. Chair of the Assembly

The Chair of the Assembly facilitates the Assembly's meetings by ensuring that proper procedures are followed.

1. Executive Council

The executive power of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University rests with the Executive Council of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.  The Executive Council shall consist of the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

2. Powers and Duties of the President

A. The President is the official head of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, and as such speaks for the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

B. The President of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University shall serve as the chair of the Executive Council.

C. The President or his/her designate shall serve as the official representative of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University and be a member ex-officio of all committees, with the exception of the Elections Committee, established under this constitution, Bylaws, or under the executive decree.

D. The President may call a general assembly of the student body.

E. The President may call special sessions of the Assembly if he/she deems it appropriate to the functioning of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

F. The President shall call for the determination of an election schedule.

G. The President may veto any legislation passed by the Assembly within two weeks from when action was taken.  The President must submit in writing to the Assembly his/her reasons for the veto.

H. The President has the power to recommend policies to the Assembly at the beginning of each semester and periodically thereafter.  This must be in the form of a written report.

3. Powers and Duties of the Vice-President

A. The Vice-President shall serve as the chair of the Executive Council in the absence of the President.

B. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the execution of his/her duties.

C. The Vice-President also serves as Chair of the Appointments Committee.

D. The Vice-President shall succeed to the office of President in the event of a vacancy in that office.

4. Responsibilities of the Treasurer

A. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the President.

B. TheTreasurer of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University will also serve as the Chair of the Student Finance Committee.

C. The Treasurer shall prepare and present to the Assembly and Executive Council a detailed request for the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University Operating Budget for the Fall, Winter, and Summer Sessions.

D. The Treasurer shall maintain an accurate, up-to-date ledger by line item for all expenditures from the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University Operating Budget.

E. The Treasurer shall present a written report of all expenditures and the present balance by the line item at each regular meeting of the Assembly and Executive Council.

F. The Treasurer shall have unlimited access to all records of financial transactions involving the Student Discretionary Activity Fund.

G. The Treasurer shall be privy to all findings of the auditor's report involving the Student Discretionary Activity Fund.

5. Powers and Duties of the Executive Council

A. The Executive council shall meet no less than once a week during the Fall and Winter Semesters when classes are in regular session.

B. The Executive Council shall assist the President in the execution of his/her function.

6. Vacancies in the Presidency and Vice Presidency

A. In the event of removal, resignation, incapacity, or extended absence of the President, the elected Vice-President shall assume the office of President.

B. In the event of removal, resignation, incapacity, or extended absence of the Vice-President, the vacancy shall be filled by Presidential appointment and is subject to confirmation by a three-fourths vote of the Assembly.

C. In the event that both the President and Vice-President are removed, resign, or otherwise vacate their offices, the Assembly shall choose from among its voting members a President and Vice-President who shall assume the roles of the Executives.

The Associated Students of Northern Michigan University are furthermore governed by the additional:

1. Requirements and Qualifications

Only persons who meet the following criteria shall be eligible for membership in the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, Subcommittees and appointments to other committees:

A. Must be registered for six or more credit hours during the Fall and Winter Semesters on the Marquette campus of Northern Michigan University.

B. Must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

C. Must be free of any form of University imposed Disciplinary Probation, as defined in the Student Handbook, part 2-Student Code, 2.9-Penalties, imposed through the University's judicial process.

D. Associated Students of Northern Michigan University members must live in their constituency or be enrolled in their constituency during the Fall and Winter Semesters of their term of office.

E. All Student Judiciary members are exempt from Constituency requirements.

F. Executive Council for the purpose of constituency requirement must be enrolled on the Marquette campus.

2. Election Requirements

A. The President shall set the timeline for annual elections in accordance with Article II, section 2, letter F of this Constitution.

B. Australian ballot shall elect all representatives of Associated Students of Northern Michigan University from their constituencies during the general elections.

C. General elections shall be held no later than two weeks prior to the end of the Winter Semester on a date set by the Elections Committee with the approval of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

D. The Associated Students of Northern Michigan University shall assume office no later than one week following the election and shall serve the until the next Assembly assumes office in the next academic year.

3. Impeachment and Removal

A. The President, Vice-President, members of the All Student Judiciary and Assembly representatives shall be liable to impeachment for misconduct and neglect of office.

B. Any member of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University and All Student Judiciary may bring impeachment charges through their respective branch before the Assembly.  Upon a three-fourths affirmative vote of the Assembly, the charges will be referred to the All Student Judiciary or other comparable student judiciary.

C. Upon conviction by the members of the All Student Judiciary or other comparable student judiciary, the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University or All Student Judiciary member charged shall be removed from office and forever be banned from service in any form in Student Government and any committee or position of appointment granted by the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

D. Persons appointed to positions by the Assembly (i.e. Treasurer, secretaries, and any member of a subcommittee) may be removed by a three-fourths affirmative vote of the Assembly, without the need of impeachment and review of the All Student Judiciary.

4. Advisors

A. The Advisor(s) for Associated Students of Northern Michigan University shall be appointed directly by the President of Northern Michigan University.

B. No less than one Advisor must be appointed by the second week of the Fall Semester.

C. The Advisor(s) shall serve one-year term(s).

5. Referendum

A. The sole authority to call a referendum is a privilege of the President of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

B. A referendum may be called at any time by the President of Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, and approved by a three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly.

1. ASNMU Judiciary

The judicial responsibility of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University shall be vested in the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University Judiciary.

2. Membership and Eligibility

Eligibility requirements of the ASNMU Judiciary shall be in accordance with the provisions of the ASNMU Constitution and subsequent Bylaws.

The ASNMU Judiciary shall consist of five members. Each member will be appointed by the President of ASNMU, followed by approval of three-fourths of the Assembly. Judiciary members’ terms are up two academic years.

The membership of the ASNMU Judiciary shall pick a Chair during the first official session of the ASNMU Judiciary in the fall semester.

3. Vacancies

A vacancy shall occur when a justice informs the Chair of the ASNMU Judiciary and the President of ASNMU in writing of his/her resignations or is removed from office. Vacancies shall be filled by Presidential appointment and approval of the Assembly of ASNMU.

If no presidential appointment is approved by the Assembly by the third regularly scheduled meeting following the resignation of an ASNMUJ member, the Academic Affairs chair and Student Affairs chair may collectively submit one name per ASNMUJ vacancy as a nomination.

4. Rules and Procedures

1. Quorum: A quorum consisting of a majority of the ASNMU judiciary members shall be necessary to conduct all formal business. Vacant positions shall not be considered a part of the total voting membership for purposes of establishing a quorum and other voting requirements.
2. Meetings: The Chair shall call sessions of the judiciary if he/she deems it appropriate to the functioning of the ASNMU Judiciary. Meetings shall grant no less than five minutes for both the plaintiff and the defense to present their cases.
3. Voting and Opinions: Each judiciary member shall have one vote, with the exception of the Chair. The Chair shall vote only to make or break a tie. The chair shall provide a written opinion of the judiciary. These opinions shall be considered public and available upon request.

5. Powers The ASNMU judiciary shall have final jurisdiction in the following areas:

1. The constitutionality of any action taken by the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University and its committees.
2. Questions concerning the qualifications of any member of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.
3. Interpretations of the Constitution of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.
4. Appeals of complaints lodged with the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University Elections Committee concerning elections and referendum.
5. The ASNMU Judiciary shall be responsible to swear in all members of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University.

A. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by a majority vote of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University Assembly or by petition of ten percent of the qualified voters.

B. A ballot shall be effective within thirty class days of presentation.  Having been approved by a simple majority of those votes cast, the proposed amendment shall be presented to the Board of Control.

C. The ASNMU Constitution shall be available to students on the ASNMU website and in paper form. The Constitution will be updated online on an annual basis by the Director of Information Technologies and paper copies shall be reprinted as deemed necessary by the general assembly.