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BYLAWS
BOWDOIN STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Article I) Meetings
A. Meetings shall be run in a respectful and welcoming environment. The following
Rules of Order must be followed to ensure this environment, but those from outside
the Bowdoin Student GovernmentGeneral Assembly of Bowdoin Student Government
(Assembly) should not be required to know them in order to contribute
meaningfully to dialogue.
A.B. The Assembly shall meet regularly by rule or at the call of the Executive
Committee.
B.C. Rules of Order
i. Legislation will receive a first reading and will be voted on at the following
meeting.
ii. Meetings will automatically adjourn at 10:00pm.
iii. All business will be limited to an automatic 5 minute time limit which requires
a 1/5
th
second to extend.
iv. Any of the above rules may be temporarily suspended by a 2/3 vote of those
present.
v. The Constitution does not allow official business to be conducted without the
presence of 2/3 of the Assemblys membership (not including unfilled seats).
vi. The Chair only votes in the event of a tie or when the Constitution mandates
that s/he does so.
vii. All votes will be decided based on those present except those votes for which
the Constitution requires that the Assemblys entire membership be taken into
account.
C.D. Parliamentary Procedure
i. This procedure is established to provide a structural framework for Assembly
meetings, but the Assembly is a legislature not a debating society, and the
emphasis should never be on the parliamentary procedure.
i.ii. The current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern
any and all procedures of each meeting.
ii.iii. Motions (in descending order of precedence)
a. Point of Order: may interrupt anything in order to shed light on a
procedural or parliamentary error.
b. Introduce Legislation: any member may introduce legislation to be
included for discussion; requires no second or vote.
c. Amend: both legislation and motions may be amended; requires a
second and a majority vote.
d. Vote: forces a vote on the matter at hand, stopping all debate and
negating the 2-week rule; requires a second and a 2/3 majority vote.
e. Table: legislation may be laid on or taken from the table by a second
and a majority vote; the legislation being discussed during automatic
adjournment will be automatically tabled until the next meeting.
f. Suspend the Rules: rules i, ii, and iii in B C above may be suspended
by a 2/3 vote of those present.
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g. Extend Debate: a 1/5 second extends debate past the 5 minute mark.
h. Recess: requires a second and a majority vote to dismiss the meeting
for a specific period of time.
i. Adjourn: requires a second and a majority vote to end the meeting.
j. Point of Information: anybody may ask a question of the Chair
regarding procedural, parliamentary, or legislative issues.
D.E. Agenda
i. The President, as part of his constitutional authority, sets the Agenda for the
meeting. Public Comment Time must be included at the beginning. Any
member may introduce a piece of legislation as per CD.ii.b which will be
included on the agenda.
E.F. Executive Session
i. A 2/3 vote of the Assembly present may move the Assembly into Executive
Session.
ii. During Executive Session, all non-members of the Student Government must
leave the room
a. At the discretion of the Chair, Student Government Staff and Advisors
and former Student Government members may be allowed to stay.
b. The subject of an impeachment proceeding has every right to remain in
the room during the entirety of his impeachment proceeding, including
Executive Session.
c. The members and advisors of the Judicial Board may remain in the
room during Executive Session in order to communicate the names of
candidates to the Assembly.
d. Any other person may be admitted into Executive Session to
communicate sensitive information by a further 2/3 vote of those
present.
iii. No computers are to be used during Executive Session except with the
permission of the Chair.
iv. Any notes taken during Executive Session must be given to the Chair before
returning to normal business to ensure that no sensitive information has been
copied.
v. The Secretary may only take minutes during Executive Session if so directed
by the President and a majority of the Assembly present. These minutes will
be available only to the members of the Assembly.
vi. No votes may be taken during Executive Session.
vii. All impeachment proceedings (excepting the final vote) should take place
during Executive Session in order to protect the Assembly from being sued for
defamation. If the subject of an impeachment proceeding waives his right to
sue for defamation, the proceeding may take place outside of Executive
Session.
F.G. Chairperson
i. All meetings will be chaired by the President of the Bowdoin Student
Government.
ii. The President may designate a member of the Executive Committee as Chair
for a meeting which s/he is unable to attend.Should the President be unable to
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attend a meeting, the Chair pro tempore shall be determined by the Order of
Succession to the Presidency.
iii. The President may must designate any member of the Assembly asthe Vice
President for Student Government Affairs as Chair while s/he presents a piece
of legislation.

Article II) Attendance
A. Procedure
i. The Vice President for Student Government Affairs shall call roll at the
beginning of each regular Assembly meeting. The Chair of each Committee
shall call roll at the beginning of each Committee meeting.
ii. All absence records shall be cleared at the end of each semester.
B. Absence. An absence is defined as any member who, with no prior authorization from
the Vice President for Student Government Affairs, misses more than 25% of any
given Assembly meeting.
C. Warning. The Vice President for Student Government Affairs shall notify any member
within one absence of expulsion from the Assembly or removal from a Committee.
D. Expulsion.
i. Any member of the Assembly who has been absent from three or more regular
Assembly meetings, three or more regular meetings of his/her respective
primary Committee, or a combination of five absences from both the Assembly
and Committee meetings shall be expelled from the Assembly latae sententiae,
i.e. is not subject to any deliberation or vote.
ii. The Vice President for Student Government Affairs must notify the member of
his/her expulsion no more than forty-eight hours after a regular meeting of the
Assembly.
i.iii. The expelled member may appeal the decision to the Executive
Committee, and the Committee may reinstate the member by a 2/3 majority
vote.

Article III) Rules, Procedures, and Guidelines of the Student Organizations Oversight
Committee
A. Definitions
i. The Student Organizations Oversight Committee (SOOC) is responsible for
reviewing charter submissions, chartering qualified clubs, and helping those clubs
develop and fulfill their intended purpose. The ultimate goals of the SOOC are to:
a. Foster student leadership on campus
b. Enhance campus life through the support of club programming and
community building
ii. The SOOC essentially does four things:
a. Charters clubs
b. Maintains the records and charters of those clubs
c. Supports clubs in their programming and general functioning
d. Works closely with the SAFC to ensure Student Activities Fee money is
used effectively and efficiently
B. Annual Tasks
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i. There are several annual tasks that must be completed for the SOOC to operate
successfully.
ii. All-year
a. Event planning: Assist clubs throughout the event planning process to
ensure successful events
b. Club advertising: Assist clubs in advertising their events and activities to
the student body
c. Maintain the Student Orbit: Ensure that events and announcements made
to the Orbit are clear, organized, and easily understood
d. Improve the Student Orbit: Work with the Student Web Advisory Team to
ensure that the Orbit is meeting the needs of club leaders and students
e. College policy: Keep club leaders informed of relevant college policies and
advocate on their behalf on issues concerning club life
iii. Fall
a. Update Orbit: Make sure new club leaders are given the relevant
permissions to edit their Orbit pages
b. Club Leader Information Sessions: Go over College/SOOC/SAFC
policies with new club leadership and ensure that all relevant resources are
made available to them (SAFC Guidelines, Club Leaders Manual, Orbit, etc.)
c. Student Activities Fair: Work with the Student Activities Office to hold the
Activities Fair so clubs can recruit members and spread awareness
d. Update SOOC website/mail list: Update the SOOCs pages on the BSG
website, as well as the [email protected] list
e. Train New Members: Train each member of the SOOC in the event
planning and club management process to allow them to act as resources for
club leaders
f. New Charters Process: Begin considering and distributing new charters
iv. Spring
a. Review Charters: Make sure that club charters/constitutions are up to date
and relevant, and that clubs are completing their missions.
b. Oversee Club Elections: Ensure that clubs are conducting elections for new
club leadership, and that new leaders are being adequately oriented in their
new positions
c. Update mail lists: Update the following mail lists with the new leader
information:
1. [email protected] (club leaders)
2. [email protected]
3. [email protected] (a cappella leaders)
4. [email protected] (cultural club leaders)
f. Send out the Rechartering Survey: Draft and distribute the rechartering
survey via Qualtrics to all club leaders and approve their bids to recharter
g. Preserve Club Documentation: Archive all relevant club documentation
(website passwords, list passwords, etc. etc.) via the Rechartering survey to
ensure club continuity from year to year
C. The Club Chartering Process
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i. Unchartered Clubs may submit a new charter request online at the BSG website.
New requests are considered through the first semester and chartered on a rolling
basis.
ii. Club Chartering Guidelines: In order for a club to be considered for a charter, it
must:
a. Admit all students regardless of race, religion, age, ethnic or national origin,
gender, physical ability, or sexual orientation
b. Abide by the Bowdoin College Social and Code, Academic Honor Code,
Hazing Policy, and Nondiscrimination Policy.
c. Have a mission distinct from all other clubs on campus
d. Provide a leadership structure that will ensure the continuity of the club
from year to year
e. Campus Benefit: The club will ultimately benefit the Student Body
iii. If a club does not reach all of these goals, or requires resources that we cannot
realistically provide, they can be declined or asked to revise their charter
D. New Club Tasks
i. After a club is chartered, several tasks must be completed by the SOOC:
a. Add leaders/treasurers to their respective mail lists
b. Get a club account number
c. Set-up an Orbit club list
d. Train new leaders in club management, campus services, etc.
E. Supporting Clubs
i. The SOOC can offer many ways to assist clubs, from IT guidance to event planning.
SOOC members should be prepared to field any questions or concerns from club
leaders as they go about their club business. In addition, SOOC members may be
assigned as advisers/liaisons to a specific clubs event to ensure the smooth execution
of said event.
F. Club Membership Activities Policy (CMAP)
i. Scope of this Policy
a. This policy applies to organized club activities upon which club membership
is contingent or can reasonably be understood as contingent. This policy shall
apply only to clubs and club-sponsored activities; it will not apply to individual
activities involving team members.
ii. Affirmative Practices
a. There are many practices which are perfectly acceptable ways of welcoming
new members to a club and building team unity. These practices should always
be conducted in positive and affirmative manner.
Note that the opt out clause under the rules of conduct section below still
applies. Examples of acceptable activities include:
1. Nicknaming, provided names are not vulgar, insulting, demeaning or
discriminatory on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual
orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, physical traits or socioeconomic
status.
2. Games and challenges of a clearly innocent nature.
3. Specifically-assigned, functional responsibilities for the maintenance
of club activity.
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4. Club parties in accordance with College policies.
5. Group activities that include all members.
6. Ceremonies that are not explicitly intended to create fear or
embarrassment.
c. All organizations must abide by the Bowdoin College Hazing Policy, as set
by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.
b. This list is not intended to include all acceptable practices. Club leaders are
welcome to consult the VP for Student Organizations in advance of any
activities regarding the appropriateness of a particular activity.
iii. Rules of Conduct
a. Clear standards guide the conduct of club leaders and members as they plan
and implement club membership activities. These include:
1. Sensitivity to issues of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation,
religion, race, ethnicity, physical traits and socioeconomic status.
2. Providing clear and specific processes by which members can opt
out of any activity.
3. Members have a corresponding responsibility to use these processes
when provided and make all possible efforts to make leaders aware of
any concerns they might have.
4. There should be no implication that the use of controlled substances
is required for inclusion in a club.
5. Club activities cannot include the structured consumption of
controlled substances.
6. Opportunities for individual experiences should be consistent and
equivalent for all members.
7. Leaders should be conscious and respectful of personal knowledge
they already have of club members in designing club activities. This
knowledge should be used to avoid the adverse effects of activities that
relate to negative life experiences.
b. Unless so authorized by the Student Organizations Oversight Committee, no
chartered student organization may create sub-organizations under its
jurisdiction.
iv. Unacceptable Activities
a. The BSG will have no tolerance for structured activities that include the
potential for: physical harm, fear, intimidation, physical restraint, nudity,
verbal abuse, violations of the College Hazing Policy, violations of the Sexual
Assault and Misconduct Policy, or disrespect for gender, gender identity,
sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, physical traits, or socioeconomic
status. Also, activities intended to cause reputation-harming public
embarrassment or compel members to break laws or College policy are strictly
prohibited.
G. Procedure for Responding to Concerns of Violations of the CMAP
i. All concerns regarding policy violation will be brought to the attention of the BSG
by any member of the Student Affairs division of the College.
ii. The Student Organizations Oversight Committee (SOOC) will address all concerns
related to Club Membership Activities. Club leaders will be asked to provide a written
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response and will be given the opportunity to address the committee. A majority vote
of the committee will recommend a response to the Executive Committee of the BSG.
The Executive Committee will accept or modify the SOOCs proposed response and
make all relevant parties aware of its decision.
iii. These responses could include issuing a conditional public warning, reducing
funding for specific club activities, or revoking the clubs charter. The SOOC will
strive to ensure that the long-term impact of any punishment is limited, given the
changing composition of any club.
iv. A public report will be issued after the consideration of every concern with the
names of those involved omitted. The BSG will make every effort to protect the
anonymity of all students involved in this process.

Article IV) Officers of the Student Body
A. Election of the President and Vice Presidents of Bowdoin Student Government
i. The President and Vice Presidents will be elected at-large by the Student Body
in the spring.
ii. Elections shall be conducted as outlined by the Election Rules and
Regulations.
a. No person who is a candidate shall be eligible to conduct elections.
b. All candidates must submit a statement of candidacy that shall be
made available to the student body before elections.
c. Elections and the counting of votes will be done on-line with the
assistance of Information Technology. In the event of technical failure,
elections may be rescheduled or held by paper ballot.
d. Candidates shall be notified of results within 24 hours of closing the
election.
iii. When there is a vacancy in the Executive Committee, the Assembly shall elect
one of its members to fill the vacancy.
iv. No person may fill more than one seat on the Assembly simultaneously.
B. Officers and Responsibilities, in order of succession to the Presidency.
i. President The President is the primary representative of student opinion to
administrators and the leader of the Bowdoin Student Government. S/he chairs
the Assembly, the Executive Committee and the Leadership Council, sits as an
ex officio member of all Student Government committees, attends Faculty
Meetings, serves as a Student Representative to the Board of Trustees and as a
member of the Trustee Executive Committee. The President sets the agenda for
the Assembly, identifies priorities for the Executive Committee and directs the
activities of the Bowdoin Student Government. S/he oversees and supports all
functions of the Bowdoin Student Government. Students who have not served
as members of the Assembly are ineligible to serve as President.
ii. Vice President for Student Government Affairs The Vice President for
Student Government Affairs is responsible for organizing and supporting all
activities of the Bowdoin Student Government. S/he chairs the Student
Government Affairs Committee, sits as a Student Representative to the Board
of Trustees and serves as an alternate to the Executive Committee of the
Trustees. The Vice President for Student Government Affairs is responsible for
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ensuring the smooth functioning of the Bowdoin Student Government through
membership oversight and maintenance of the constitution, bylaws, budget and
regular processes. S/he will also oversee elections and appointments to
committees of the College. In the event that the President is temporarily unable
to fulfill her/his duties, the Vice President for Student Government Affairs will
serve as Acting President until the President reassumes her/his responsibilities.
iii. Vice President for Student Affairs The Vice President for Student Affairs is
responsible for all Bowdoin Student Government policy and programming
initiatives in the area of student life. S/he chairs the Student Affairs Committee
and sits as a member of the Trustee Committee on Student Affairs. The Vice
President for Student Affairs is responsible for liaising with administrators in
the Student Affairs Division of the College, crafting Bowdoin Student
Government policy related to student life and providing specific programming
to support Bowdoin Student Government initiatives.
iv. Vice President for Academic Affairs The Vice President for Academic
Affairs is responsible for all Bowdoin Student Government policy and
programming initiatives in the area of academic life. S/he chairs the Academic
Affairs Committee and sits as a member of the Trustee Committee on
Academic Affairs and on the Curriculum and Education Policy Committee.
The Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for building
relationships with faculty, liaising with administrators in the Academic Affairs
Division of the College, crafting all Bowdoin Student Government academic
policy and representing the Bowdoin Student Government in campus dialogue
regarding the curriculum and academic program.
v. Vice President for Student Organizations The Vice President for Student
Organizations is responsible for managing all Bowdoin Student Government
processes related to club life. S/he chairs the Student Organizations Oversight
Committee and sits as a member of the Student Activities Funding Committee.
The Vice President for Student Organizations, along with the Vice President
for the Treasury, is the Bowdoin Student Government liaison to the Student
Activities Office and oversees all chartering, club support and review
processes.
i.vi. Vice President for the Treasury The Vice President for the Treasury is
responsible for overseeing the club funding process. S/he chairs the Student
Activities Funding Committee and sits as a member of the Student
Organizations Oversight Committee. The Vice President for the Treasury,
along with the Vice President for Student Organizations, is the BSG liaison to
the Student Activities Office and the primary manager of the Student Activities
Fee. The Vice President for the Treasury shall also provide regular updates to
the status of the BSG Funds and Student Activities Fee.
vii. Vice President for Facilities and SustainabilityThe Vice President for
Facilities and Sustainability is responsible for all Bowdoin Student
Government policy and programming initiatives related to the physical and
virtual infrastructure of the campus. S/he chairs the Facilities and
Sustainability Committee and sits as a member of the Trustee Committee on
Facilities and Properties and the Campus Planning and Design Committee. The
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Vice President for Facilities and Sustainability is responsible for liaising with
administrators in the Facilities and Information Technology Divisions of the
College, crafting all Bowdoin Student Government facilities policy, advocating
for improved student services and spaces and representing the Bowdoin
Student Government in campus dialogue regarding future development.
C. iii) Staff
i. The Executive Committee will hire a paid, independent Secretary to keep
minutes at Assembly meetings as well as a Webmaster to maintain the website.
ii. The President may create additional unpaid staff positions and make
appointments to them with the approval of the Executive Committee. This
includes the Programming Director who will be appointed by the Executive
Committee, will act under its purview, and will attend Assembly meetings but
not vote.

Article IIIV) Elections Rules
B.D. Definitions
i. Campaign materials shall be defined as materials purchased and/or used by the
candidate or his/her campaign, for the purpose of advancing said candidacy.
ii. Campaigning shall be defined as any act used by the candidate, or his/her
campaign, for the purpose of advancing said candidacy.
iii. A constituency is the pool of eligible voters for each respective office.
iv. Private shall be defined as that which is not in the general view, not widely
known, and not facilitated by College.
v. Public shall be defined as that which is not private. For the purposes of BSG
elections all College forums or forums sponsored by College Organizations
shall be considered public.
vi. A campaign shall be defined as any person acting on a candidates behalf.
C.E. Qualifications
i. No person shall be a candidate for more than one office simultaneously.
ii. Candidates must submit a petition to the election coordinator by the designated
deadline to be eligible to run.
iii. Class Councils: Candidates must secure at least fifty signatures from their
respective constituency.
iv. Bowdoin Student Government Officers and Elected At-Large Representatives:
Candidates must secure at least fifty signatures from the entire student body.
v. Candidates for the Bowdoin Student Government President must have
previously served as a member of the Bowdoin Student Government.
vi. Candidates are required to attend an Information Session.
vii. Candidates must be enrolled in the College for the entire academic year for
which they are running excepting the BSG Representatives and Vice President
of the Junior Class.
D.F. Campaigning
i. Candidates shall not use College funds or resources for campaign purposes.
This does not include the use of college-funded media outlets.
ii. Candidates shall not provide gifts or giveaways to constituents while
campaigning.
Comment [AY1]: From the Constitution
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iii. Candidates shall not hold election campaign parties. Furthermore,
organizations cannot hold such parties on behalf of the candidate.
iv. Candidates shall not tamper with or electronically manipulate the voting
process.
v. Campaign materials must be removed when the election ends.
vi. Campaign materials, especially posters, are not to be hung on glass doors.
vii. Campaigning through mass e-mails is expressly prohibited. This includes the
use of group aliases or mailing lists, including those belonging to dorms,
houses, classes, and clubs.
viii. Candidates are bound to the Social and Honor Codes.
ix. Candidates will be provided with limited funding at the College Copy Center
for campaign materials.
E.G. Other
i. Elections must last for at least twenty-four hours.
ii. The Elections Commission shall be composed of all non-candidate members of
the Executive Committee along with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Judicial
Board. The Director of Student Activities shall sit as a non-voting member. In
the event that the number of non-candidate Executive Committee members
falls below three, all senior members of the BSG Assembly will join the
Commission.
iii. This body has the final authority related to these matters.
iv. The Elections Commission may choose to publicly warn and/or disqualify a
candidate who violates the Election Rules and/or they may cancel and
reschedule an election in which a candidate has committed a violation.
v. All candidates have a right to a hearing in the event that they are accused of
violating an election rule.
vi. Candidates may ask the Elections Commission to reconsider their ruling.

Article IVI) Student Representatives to Committees of the Faculty and Trustees
A. Committees. A complete list and description of all committees shall be updated as
necessary by the Vice President for Student Government Affairs, and shall be
available on the web.
B. Appointments. Appointments to the various College, Faculty, and Trustee committees
will be made by the Executive Committee.
C. Selection Criteria
i. Any student who is currently enrolled at Bowdoin and who, to the best of his
or her knowledge, will be enrolled for the entire term of his or her service is
eligible for committee positions.
ii. In the event an appointed student will be absent for part of the term of office
on the committee, it will be the student's responsibility to inform the Student
Government immediately and assist in the selection of a replacement.
D. Responsibilities of the Representatives
i. Students representatives to the Faculty and Trustee Committees shall serve
one-year terms from May to May, with the following exceptions.
ii. The student representative to the Financial Planning Committee shall be
appointed to a two-year term.
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Article VII) Selections to the Judicial Board
A. The Judicial Board will announce the vacancies on the Student Judicial Board and the
application procedure to the Bowdoin student body.
B. All applicants will be interviewed by a committee composed of the continuing Student
Judicial Board members and a member of the Assembly appointed by the Executive
Committee.
C. The names of the nominees are submitted for approval by the Assembly.

Article IVIII) Handling of Funds and Contracts
A.D. Allocations
i. All allocations from the Bowdoin Student Government account must be
approved by the Bowdoin Student Government Assembly.
ii. Members of the Executive Committee may use up to $150 in furtherance of
their official duties without an allocation.
B.E. Withdrawals
i. No withdrawals over $100 may be made from the Bowdoin Student
Government account without written authorization from either the President or
Vice President for Student Government Affairs.
ii. The President and Vice President for Student Government Affairs may not
authorize withdrawal of funds which have not been allocated as per above.
C.F. Contracts
i. No contract may be entered into on behalf of the Bowdoin Student
Government without the express written authorization of the President and
Vice President for Student Government Affairs.
ii. The President and Vice President for Student Government Affairs may not
enter into a contract on behalf of the Bowdoin Student Government without the
authorization of the Bowdoin Student Government Assembly.
iii. Any individual misrepresenting her/his ability to enter into contracts on behalf
of the Bowdoin Student Government will be subject to impeachment and
dismissal and such contractual obligations will be her/his sole responsibility.

Comment [AY2]: From the Constitution