IAC Constitution Review
The Standard and Emily Bernet, Speaker Pro Tempore

1.  There have been rumors that the student organization constitutions will be looked at with more scrutiny this year. Is that true? Why?

Student organization constitutions are not being looked at with more scrutiny this year as compared to previous years. The difference is that in the spring semester last year SGA adopted a document that provides a list of guidelines that detail what is needed in an organization’s constitution. This document is the Student Organization Development and Assistant Act of 2010 (SODA). This document is helpful because it works not only as a guide for students writing a constitution but as a tool for current members of the Internal Affairs Committee (IAC) to use while they are reviewing constitutions.

2.  If so, is there something specific you are going to review firmer within the student organization constitutions? Why?

N/a.

3.  Why are student organization constitutions reviewed annually?

Student organization constitutions are not reviewed annually. They are reviewed when organizations first write their constitutions and again when they decide to make revisions to their constitutions.

4.  Have there been any new regulations for the student organization’s constitutions this year? If so, what are they?

The new regulations for student organization constitutions are not new this year but were new in April of 2010. The regulations are a part of the Student Organization Development and Assistant Act. A few requirements detailed in SODA include that constitutions state that officers must be Missouri State students, and that there must be processes for impeachment and filling officer vacancies. The document can be found on the SGA website.

5.  How do you or will you help student organizations meet the new guidelines?

IAC helps organizations follow the guidelines by writing comments on their constitutions. Sometimes IAC has general suggestions that would make an organization’s constitution better, and we make sure that they are listed as suggestions, whereas a requirement is stated as a SODA requirement. After we make changes, the constitution is given back to the organization for revision. The Student Government Association is currently creating a constitution generator that will help new student organizations create constitutions that will pass SODA and other constitutional requirements.  This web application will allow members of campus to pick from several pre-filled options and, upon completion, will export a completed constitution to Microsoft Word.

6.  What do new student organizations have the most trouble with when it comes to meeting the standards of having a constitution and bylaws?

The biggest problem that organizations have when writing or revising their constitutions is making sure the enabling clause is correct and word for word as listed in SODA. This clause is placed at the end of every constitution and states how the constitution will be ratified.