ConstitutionofTempleStudentGovernment
We,theStudentsofTempleUniversity–OfTheCommonwealthSystemofHigherEducation,
inordertoprovidearepresentativegovernment,fosterunderstandingandinvolvement
amongallmembersoftheuniversitycommunity,advocateinthebestinterestsofadiverse
studentbody,serveasaconscienceoftheuniversityadministrationinthemanagementofthis
institution,holdtheuniversityadministrationaccountableforthequalityofstudentlife,act
astheofficialvoiceofstudentsinacademic,institutionalandcampusaffairs,doordainand
establishthisConstitutionofTempleStudentGovernment
ArticleI:NameandPurpose
Section1:Name
i.
ThenameofthisorganizationshallbeTempleStudentGovernment
Section2:Purpose
i. ThepurposeofTempleStudentGovernmentshallbeto:
a. Representtheneedsandinterestsofthestudentbodyandtobetheir
voicetotheuniversityadministration,faculty,andothermembersof
theuniversitycommunity,aswellasoutsideorganizationsatthe
local,state,andfederallevels,
b. Initiate,develop,andmaintainservicesthataddressstudentneeds
andensuretheefficiencyofexistingservices,
c. Stimulateandfacilitatecommunicationandinteractionbetweenthe
membersofthestudentbody,theuniversitycommunity,andthe
surroundingcommunity,
d. Deliverinformationtostudentsonthestateofthestudentsandother
issuesoreventspertinenttothestudentbody,
e. Allocatefundingforstudentorganizationalprogrammingtopromote
andenhancetheeducational,recreational,social,andculturallifeof
thestudentbody,and;
f. Adoptwhateveradditionalresponsibilitiesitdeemsnecessaryto
fulfillitsobligationtostudents.
Section3:Scope:
i.
NoportionofthisConstitutionoritssubsidiarydocuments,eitherinwhole
orinpart,shallbeinterpretedsoastodenystudentstherightsgrantedunto
thembythelawsandregulationsoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,
CommonwealthofPennsylvania,CityandCountyofPhiladelphia,orTemple
University.
ArticleII:TheParliament
Section1:Purpose
i.
Theparliamentshallconsistofarepresentativebodyofstudentswhose
primaryfunctionistoconsiderandproposeinitiativesthataddressaspects
ofstudentlife
Section2:Organization
i.
Theparliamentshallbeledbyaspeakerdulyelectedfromamongthe
representatives.
ii. Committees:
a. Standingcommittees:
1. Theparliamentshallbedividedintosixstandingcommittees:
i. AcademicAffairs;StudentLife;Diversity&Inclusivity;
PrideandTradition;Local,Government,and
CommunityAffairs;Wellness
2. Eachparliamentmemberwiththeexceptionofthespeaker
shallbeamemberofoneandonlyonestandingcommittee
3. Membershipinstandingcommitteesisdeterminedatthe
beginningofeachtermbythespeakerinconcertwiththe
parliamentarian
4. EachrespectivecommitteeshallelectaCommitteeChairthat
overseestheprocessesanddailyfunctionsoftheCommittee
b. Ad-hoccommittees:
1. Ad-hoccommitteesmaybeformedforthepurposeof
addressingatopicalissue
2. Membershipofanad-hoccommitteeshallbeatthediscretion
ofthesponsorofthecommitteeinconcertwiththespeaker
3. Ad-Hoccommitteesshallfunctioninthesamemanneras
standingcommittees
Section3:PowersandResponsibilities
i. TheParliamentshalloperateasalegislativebody
ii. TheParliamentshallhavethepowerandresponsibilityto:
a. Passresolutionsthatexpresstheopinionsofthestudentbody,
1. Theseresolutionsshalltaketwoforms:bindingand
nonbinding
i. Nonbindingresolutionsrequireasimplemajorityof
thosepresent
ii. Bindingresolutionsrequirea¾voteofthosepresent
b. Createaforumforstudentconcerns,
c. ElectaSpeakerandothernecessarychairsfromwithinits
membershiptoassistinitsadministrationusingproceduresdefined
intheParliamentaryBylaws
Section4:Eligibility
i. Studentsshallnotrunforelectionorserveasamemberoftheparliament
unlessthey:
a. SuccessfullymaintainaminimumcumulativeGPAof2.5orhigher
duringelectionsandwhileinoffice
b. Maintainfull-timestatus,definedbytheUniversityasregisteredforat
leasttwelve(12)credithoursof“full-time”enrollmentasdefinedby
theUniversity
c. Payanyandalldebtstotheuniversity
Section5:Membership
i. Allparliamentmembersshallbeelectedonanannualbasisusingprocedures
setforthinthebylaws
ii. Themembershipshallconsistof37representatives:
a. Onerepresentativesfromeachundergraduateschoolorcollege:
1. CollegeofScienceandTechnology
2. CollegeofPublicHealth
3. CollegeofLiberalArts
4. CollegeofEducation
5. CollegeofEngineering
6. TylerSchoolofArt
7. BoyerCollegeofMusicandDance
8. SchoolofMediaandCommunication
9. FoxSchoolofBusiness
10. SchoolofSocialWork
11. SchoolofSports,Tourism,andHospitalityManagement
12. SchoolofTheatre,Film,andMediaArts
b. Tworepresentativeseachfromthefollowingyears:
1. Firstyear,definedasstudentswhoarenottransferswho
enteredinthecurrentyearwith0-29credits
2. Secondyear,definedasstudentswhoarenottransferswho
enteredinthepreviousyearortransferstudentswhoentered
inthepreviousyearwith0-29credits
3. Thirdyear,definedasstudentswhoarenottransferswho
enteredintheyearbeforethepreviousyearplustransfer
studentswhoenteredinthepreviousyearwith30-59credits
orwhoenteredintheyearbeforethepreviousyearwith0-29
credits
4. Fourthplusyear,definedasstudentswhoarenottransfers
whoenteredinorbeforethreeyearspreviousplustransfer
studentswhoenteredinthepreviousyearwith60+creditsor
whoenteredintheyearbeforethepreviousyearwith30+
creditsorwhoenteredinorbeforethreeyearspreviouswith
0+credits
c. Onerepresentativefromnewtransferstudents,definedasstudents
whoaretransferstudentsandbegantakingcoursesatTemplewithin
thepastyear
d. OnerepresentativefromgraduatestudentsenrolledatTemple
e. TenrepresentativesofSpecialInterestGroups:
1. 1representativefromtheResidentHallAssociation
2. 1representativeforCommuters
3. 1representativefromFraternityandSororityLife
4. 1representativeforStudentAthletes
5. 2representativesforMulticulturalStudents
6. 1representativeforHonorsStudents
7. 1representativeforDisabilityResourceServices
8. 1representativeforInternationalStudents
9. 1representativeforLGBTQIA+Students
f. Fiveatlargerepresentativesfromamongtheeligiblestudentbody
iii. Impeachment
a. TheAuditorGeneralshallinvestigateallaccusationsofviolatingthis
ConstitutionortheBylawsorforflagrantabuseoftheofficebyany
memberofTSGupontheauthorizationordirectionoftheParliament
b. IftheAuditorGeneralfindsprobablecauseforimpeachment,they
shallrecommendtotheParliamentArticlesofImpeachment,which
shallspecificallydetailanytransgressionsandwhyanimpeachment
isnecessary.
c. TheParliamentshalldebatethemeritsoftheArticlesofImpeachment
andvoteoneachArticleofImpeachment. d. InordertoconvictinCasesofImpeachment,eachArticleof
Impeachmentshallrequirea2/3majorityvoteofcurrent
membershipoftheParliament
e. JudgmentinCasesofImpeachmentshallnotextendfurtherthan
removalfromofficeanddisqualificationtoholdanysubsequentoffice
withinTempleStudentGovernment
iv. Vacancies
a. Intheeventofavacancy,thefirstrunnerupthatranforthevacant
seatduringelectionsshallbeofferedtheseat
b. Ifthefirstrunnerupisunableorunwillingtoassumetheposition,an
invitationshallbeextendedtothesecondrunnerupandtheprocess
shallcontinueinthismanneruntilthepositionisfilled
c. Shouldtherebenoothercandidatesforaseat,theparliamentshall
offeranopeninvitationforthegeneralstudentbodytoapplyforthe
position.
1. Inthiscase,Parliamentwillholdanopendiscussionwiththe
applicantsanddecidebyamajorityvotewhoreceivesthe
position.
Section6:Bylaws
i.
TheparliamentshallmaintainasetofParliamentaryBylawstogovernthe
functionoftheparliament
ii. AmendingtheParliamentaryBylawsshallrequireeithera⅔voteplusthe
approvaloftheParliamentarianora¾votewithouttheapprovalofthe
Parliamentarian
a. AvotetoamendtheBylawsmustbetakenonesessionafterclotureof
thediscussionoftheproposedamendmentsoastoallowtimeforthe
proposedamendmenttobefullyconsidered
iii. ThisconstitutiontakesprecedenceatalltimesovertheBylaws
ArticleIII:TheExecutiveBranch
Section1:Purpose
i.
TheExecutiveBranchshallconsistofateamofstudentswhoseprimary
functionsincludeexecutinginitiativestoimprovethestudentexperienceand
servingastheliaisonbetweenadministratorsandthestudentbody.
Section2:RolesandSuccession
i.
StudentBodyPresident
a. ThedutiesoftheStudentBodyPresidentshallinclude,butshallnot
belimitedto:
1. Servingasthechiefstudentadvocate,
2. Executing,implementing,andpromotingtheinitiativesand
decisionsofTempleStudentGovernment,
3. ActingasthefaceofTempleStudentGovernmentboth
internallyandexternally,
4. AppointingtheChiefofStaff,
5. Servingasanex-officiomemberwithspeakingandintroducing
rightsonanyandallParliamentmeetings,betheyfullor
committee,and;
6. Forminginternalworkinggroupsasneeded
ii. VicePresidentofServices
a. ThedutiesoftheVicePresidentofServicesshallinclude,butshallnot
belimitedto:
1. Advocatingforservicesthatmeetthedemonstratedneedsof
students,
2. Maintainingcommunicationthroughouttheuniversity
communitywithstudents,faculty,staff,andadministration,
and;
3. Overseeingandimprovingexistingservices
iii. VicePresidentofExternalAffairs
a. ThedutiesoftheVicePresidentofExternalAffairsshallinclude,but
shallnotbelimited:
1. Maintainingcommunicationbetweentheuniversity
communityandthesurroundingcommunity,
2. Collaboratingwithuniversitypartnersindesigning,
implementing,andimprovingstudentengagementwiththe
surroundingcommunity,and;
3. AdvocatingforTempleUniversitystudentstoalllevelsof
government
iv. ChiefofStaff
a. ThedutiesoftheChiefofStaffshallinclude,butshallnotbelimitedto:
1. AdvisingtheStudentBodyPresident,
2. OrganizingthedailyoperationsofTempleStudent
Government,
3. Overseeingtheprocessofdispersingallocationstostudent
organizationsinconcertwiththeStudentActivitiesOffice,
4. Assigningandorganizingfunctionsandresponsibilitieswithin
TempleStudentGovernment,and;
5. SupportingtheExecutiveOffice
v. AuditorGeneral
a. ThedutiesoftheAuditorGeneralshallinclude,butshallnotbe
limitedto:
1. Actingastheinternalmonitoroftheorganization,
2. Maintaining,enforcingandinterpretingtheTempleStudent
GovernmentConstitutionandBylaws,
3. Conductingallimpeachmentinvestigations,and;
4. AdministeringtheoathofofficetoallmembersofTemple
StudentGovernment.
vi. CommunicationsDirector
a. ThedutiesoftheCommunicationsDirectorshallinclude,butshallnot
belimitedto:
1. PromotingawarenessofTempleStudentGovernmentand
TempleUniversityservices,
2. Providingmechanismsforstudentfeedback,
3. Overseeingallmediarelations,and;
4. ManagingalloutreacheffortsincludingsocialmediaandThe
TempleStudentGovernmentwebsite
vii. AdministrativeAdvisor
a. TheDirectorofStudentActivitiesshallserveastheAdministrative
Advisor
b. TheAdministrativeAdvisorshallprovideadviceandcontinuity
throughalldecisionmakingprocesseswithinTempleStudent
Government
viii.
ExecutiveOffice
a. TheExecutiveOfficeshallincludetheStudentBodyPresident,Vice
PresidentofServices,VicePresidentofExternalAffairs,andChiefof
Staff.
ix. SeniorLeadershipTeam
a. TheSeniorLeadershipTeamshallincludetheStudentBodyPresident,
VicePresidentofServices,VicePresidentofExternalAffairs,Chiefof
Staff,DeputyChiefofStaff,andCommunicationsDirector.
b. TheSeniorLeadershipTeamisresponsiblefor:
1. CollectivelymanagingtheoperationsoftheExecutiveBranch
2. ByconsensussettingthedirectionoftheExecutiveBranch
x. ExecutiveStaff
a. TheExecutiveOfficeshalldeterminethepowersandresponsibilities
oftheExecutiveStaff,whichshallbedelineatedintheBylaws
xi. Succession
a. InthecaseofPresidentialincapacitationorimpeachmenttheorderof
successionshallbe:
1. VicePresidentofServices
2. VicePresidentofExternalAffairs
3. ChiefofStaff
b. ReplacementofExecutiveOfficepositionsvacantduetosuccession
shallbefilledbyappointmentatthediscretionoftheremaining
ExecutiveOfficers
Section3:PowersandResponsibilities
i. TheExecutiveBranchshalloperateasaliaisonbetweenthestudentbody,
administrators,includingtheBoardofTrustees,andanyorganization
externaltoTempleUniversity
ii. TheExecutiveBranchshallserveasthepointofcontactforallexternal
communicationsofTSG
iii. TheExecutiveBranchshallhavethepowerandresponsibilityto:
a. Organizeandenactinitiativesthatimprovetheexperienceofthe
studentbody,
1. TheseinitiativesshallbeproposedbyeithertheParliamentor
theExecutiveBranch
2. Shouldaresolutionbebinding,theExecutiveBranchshall
provideregularstatusupdatestotheParliament
b. AuthorizetheuseofTSGfundsbyanymemberofTSG
c. IncollaborationwithStudentActivities,disbursefundingtostudent
organizations
Section4:Eligibility
i. Studentsshallnotrunforelectionorserveasamemberoftheexecutive
branchunlessthey:
a. SuccessfullymaintainaminimumcumulativeGPAof2.5orhigher
duringelectionsandwhileinoffice
b. Maintainfull-timestatus,definedbytheUniversityasregisteredforat
leasttwelve(12)credithoursof“full-time”enrollmentasdefinedby
theUniversity
c. Payanyandalldebtstotheuniversity
Section5:Membership
i.
Elections
a. TempleStudentGovernmentshallholdannualstudentbodyelections
betweenMarchandApril
b. Theseelectionswillbeorganizedbyanelectionscommissioner,who
shallbeappointedbytheExecutiveOffice
c. TheprocessandproceduresshallbefurtherdelineatedintheBylaws.
Ataminimum,thereshallbeannualelectionsforStudentBody
President,VicePresidentofServices,andVicePresidentofExternal
Affairs
ii. AppointmentandTerminationofExecutiveStaff
a. TheExecutiveOffice,upontheirinauguration,shallholdopen
interviewsforallExecutiveStaffpositionsandshallappointthebest
candidateforeachposition
b. TerminationofExecutiveStaffotherthantheAuditorGeneralisatthe
discretionoftheExecutiveOffice,withtheadviceoftheAuditor
General
c. ReasonsforTerminationshallincludebutarenotlimitedto:
1. ViolationoftheStudentConductCode,thisConstitution,orthe
ExecutiveBylaws
2. Derelictionofduty
3. Insubordination
d. TerminationoftheAuditorGeneralshalloccuronlywiththeconsent
oftheAdministrativeAdvisor
iii. Impeachment
a. TheAuditorGeneralshallinvestigateallaccusationsofviolatingthis
ConstitutionortheBylawsorforflagrantabuseoftheirofficebyany
memberoftheExecutiveOffice
1. IftheAuditorGeneralfindsprobablecauseforimpeachment,
theyshallrecommendtoboththeExecutiveBranchandthe
ParliamentArticlesofImpeachment,whichshallspecifically
detailanytransgressionsandwhyanimpeachmentis
necessary.
2. BoththeExecutiveBranchandParliamentshalldebatethe
meritsoftheArticlesofImpeachmentandvoteoneachArticle
ofImpeachment.
3. InordertoconvictinCasesofImpeachment,eachArticleof
Impeachmentshallrequirea2/3voteofboththeParliament
andtheExecutiveBranch
b. JudgmentinCasesofImpeachmentshallnotextendfurtherthan
removalfromofficeanddisqualificationtoholdanysubsequentoffice
withinTempleStudentGovernment
Section6:Bylaws
i. TheExecutiveBranchshallmaintainasetofExecutiveBylawstogovernthe
functionofthebranch.
ii. AmendingtheExecutiveBylawsshallrequireeithera⅔voteplusthe
approvaloftheAuditorGeneralora¾votewithouttheapprovalofthe
AuditorGeneral
iii. ThisconstitutiontakesprecedenceatalltimesovertheExecutiveBylaws
ArticleIV:GeneralAssembly
Section1:Membership
i.
ThemembershipoftheGeneralAssemblyshallbecomposedofstudents
representingvariousconstituencies,includingbutnotlimitedtostudent
organizations,theschoolsandcollegesoftheuniversity,graduatingclasses
andrepresentatives-at-large
Section2:Meetings
i. TheGeneralAssemblyshallholdpublicmeetingseveryMondayduringthe
academicyearbetween4:00PMand5:00PM,unlessextremecirculations
causecancellation
ArticleV:Amendments
Section1:AmendmentProcess
i.
ProposedamendmentstothisConstitutionshallbepresentedinwritingtoa
jointcommitteeconsistingoftheChairofeachofthesixstanding
ParliamentaryCommittees,theSpeakeroftheParliament,Parliamentarian,
AuditorGeneral,StudentBodyPresident,VicePresidentofServices,Vice
PresidentofExternalAffairs,ChiefofStaff,DeputyChiefofStaff,andthe
CommunicationsDirector.
ii. Upontheapprovalofthestrictmajorityofthiscommittee,therequestshall
bemovedtoavotebytheentireTempleStudentGovernmentTeam.
iii. Afavorableresponseby3/4eachoftheParliamentandtheExecutiveBranch
combinedshallberequiredtoapprovetheamendment.
iv. AllamendmentstothisConstitutionshallbeaddedtotheendofthis
documentundertheheading“Amendments,”andshallbenumbered
accordingtothedateofadoption.
ArticleVI:Ratification
Section1:RatificationofaReplacementConstitution
i.
AConstitutionshalltakeeffectuponratificationbyathree-fourths(¾)vote
ofboththeParliamentandtheExecutiveBranchalongwitha⅔voteofthe
GeneralAssembly.Uponratification,allpreviousConstitutions,Bylaws,and
othergoverningdocumentsshallberenderednullandvoid,andall
AssembliesandCommitteesorganizedunderthesamenameshallbe
dissolved.AllOfficersshalltransfertotheircorrespondingrolesunderthe
newConstitutionifsuchacorrespondingroleexists.