Student Government Association

Any student can initiate an initiative by launching a petition.  All members of the student body are eligible to propose a new measure in this way, ensuring inclusivity in who can bring ideas forward.

To qualify an initiative, the proposing student must gather signatures from at least 5% of the student body in support of the proposal . This threshold demonstrates that the idea has a base level of support from the campus community before it moves forward.

The petition must be submitted to the SGA Secretary, who is responsible for reviewing it. The SGA Secretary will verify that the initiative is in the proper format and that the petition contains the required number of valid signatures. This step is to ensure the petition meets all formal requirements as outlined by the Constitution.

If the petition is verified and meets the criteria, the SGA Secretary will present the initiative to the SGA Senate for consideration. This presentation to the Senate must occur within one month of the petition’s validation . At this stage, the Senate will formally discuss the proposed legislation at a Senate meeting.

It may pass the initiative as written, effectively accepting the students’ proposal and making it SGA legislation, or it may propose amendments (changes) to the initiative . In essence, the Senate can agree with the proposal and enact it, or suggest modifications if they believe changes are needed. (Note: If an initiative does become enacted SGA policy, the Senate retains the power to later repeal that student-enacted initiative by a two-thirds majority vote, if necessary.

If the Senate decides to propose amendments rather than passing the initiative exactly as submitted, the initiative isn’t finalized yet. Instead, the amended version of the initiative must be returned to the student body for a campus-wide vote on those changes . This student referendum on the amended initiative must be held within one month, giving all students the chance to approve or reject the modified proposal

An initiative is approved and becomes official policy if it gains a simple majority support in the student body vote  (in cases where a student vote is held). If the Senate passed the initiative without changes, it becomes SGA legislation at that point. Once an initiative is approved through either route, it takes effect immediately as a new SGA law or policy, unless the text of the initiative specified a different effective date . This means the change the initiative calls for is put into action right away (for example, if the initiative was to create a new program, that program would officially be authorized to start).

A referendum is used to put an existing issue directly to student vote. This can apply to any SGA legislation or resolution that has been introduced or approved, where there is a call to get student body input or consent on that matter . It ensures that on particularly impactful decisions, the broader student population can directly weigh in.

There are two ways a referendum can be initiated. First, the SGA Senate itself can call for a referendum by a simple majority vote of the Senate – essentially deciding to let students vote on a question . Second, students can initiate a referendum via a petition: if a petition calling for a referendum on a specific issue gains signatures from at least 10% of the student body, that also triggers a referendum . This means even if the Senate doesn’t voluntarily put an issue to a student vote, students can petition to force a referendum, provided enough students support that demand.

Referendums may be either binding or non-binding. A binding referendum means that its outcome will result in action – for example, an existing SGA policy will be changed or repealed according to the vote results. A non-binding referendum is essentially an advisory poll of student opinion (the results inform SGA and administration but might not directly enact a change). The status (binding or non-binding) of a referendum is indicated clearly in the text of the referendum question . By default, most referendums on legislation are intended to be binding, especially if they were initiated to challenge or confirm an SGA Senate decision.

For student-initiated referendums (those started by petition), the petition must be submitted to the SGA Secretary. The SGA Secretary will review the referendum petition to ensure it’s in the proper format and that it has the required number of signatures . If everything is in order (i.e., the 10% signature requirement is met and the petition is valid), the SGA Secretary will schedule a campus-wide vote on the referendum within one month . In the case of a Senate-initiated referendum, the Senate’s vote to hold a referendum would likewise result in scheduling the student vote, typically coordinated by the SGA Secretary and the Elections Commission according to SGA election guidelines.

In the referendum election, all students vote “Yes” or “No” on the question at hand. The decision is determined by simple majority vote . If a majority of student voters vote in favor of the referendum’s proposal (for example, “Yes” to a certain change), and the referendum is binding, then the specified action is taken. According to the SGA Constitution, if a referendum passes, “the specific question, issue, or piece of legislation shall be amended or repealed as specified in the referendum” . In practical terms, this means the outcome that the referendum outlined is implemented: for instance, an SGA policy could be overturned or altered directly by the student vote. If the referendum is non-binding, the results will be considered by the SGA and university administration as a strong expression of student opinion, though further steps might be needed to enact changes officially. If the majority votes against the referendum question, then the status quo remains (no change to the policy or issue in question).

A recall can be initiated by any student in the constituency that elected the official in question. “Constituency” means the group of students who the official represents – for instance, all students for a student body President, or all students of a particular college for their Senator. To start a recall, the initiating student (or group of students) must gather a petition with signatures from at least 10% of that constituency’s members . This 10% threshold applies to the relevant student population (e.g., 10% of the entire student body to recall a campus-wide official, or 10% of a college’s students to recall a college-specific Senator). Gathering these signatures demonstrates substantial support for holding a recall election.

The completed recall petition (with the required signatures) is submitted to the SGA Secretary for verification. The SGA Secretary will review the recall petition to ensure it is in proper form and that the signature requirement is satisfied . Just like with initiatives and referendums, this step confirms that the petition is legitimate and meets constitutional requirements before any election is called.

Once a recall petition is verified, the SGA will arrange for a recall election. Before that election takes place, the official who is facing recall is given an opportunity to defend themselves and present their case to the constituents . In practice, this might involve the official speaking at a forum or issuing a statement about their performance, so that students can hear their perspective. Additionally, the official in question is automatically placed on the ballot for the recall election  – meaning they have the chance to be chosen again by the voters if the voters decide not to remove them. Other interested candidates who wish to replace the official can also be on the ballot, but those individuals must qualify as candidates according to the normal election rules (for example, meeting any requirements set by the SGA Elections Commission) . In summary, the recall election ballot will typically list the current office-holder and any other candidates who qualified to run for that position.

After verification, a special election will be scheduled to allow the constituency to vote on the recall. The SGA Secretary is responsible for scheduling this recall election, and it must take place within roughly one month of the petition’s validation  (ensuring the matter is resolved in a timely manner). During this election, students will cast their votes to either recall (remove) the official or retain them, and simultaneously, because other candidates are on the ballot, they are essentially choosing who should hold the office going forward.

The recall election is decided by a simple majority of the voting students in that constituency . If a majority of voters choose to recall the official (i.e. vote in favor of removing them), the SGA Constitution mandates that the official is removed from office immediately . The removal is effective right away, so the official loses their position as soon as the results are confirmed. In that event, the candidate (from the recall election ballot) who receives the most votes would assume the position for the remainder of the term, effectively replacing the recalled official. (Because the incumbent is listed on the ballot, it is possible for them to win the most votes and thus remain in office if a majority did not vote to remove them; in such a case, the recall would fail and the official would continue in their role.) If the majority votes against the recall (meaning they do not want to remove the official), then the official remains in office and finishes their term as usual, and no change in leadership occurs.

First, clarify what you want to accomplish and select the correct process:

• If you want to introduce a new policy or change an SGA rule, an Initiative is the appropriate path.
• If you want to challenge or affirm a decision/policy already made by SGA, or bring a major question to a student vote, you’ll want a Referendum.
• If you seek to remove an elected SGA officer from their position, you should pursue a Recall.

Identifying the correct category is important because it determines the requirements (such as how many signatures you need) and the process that will follow.

Once you know the type:

• For an initiative, write a clear description or text of the legislation/policy change you propose. Be as specific as possible about what you want to happen or what rule you want created or changed.
• For a referendum, formulate the question or identify the existing SGA legislation that students will be voting on. (E.g., “Should the SGA allocate more funding to campus lighting improvements?” or a statement to approve/reject a specific bill passed by the Senate.)
• For a recall, identify the official by name and position, and prepare a brief explanation (if you wish) of why the recall is being sought. This explanation can help when gathering support, though formally the petition just needs to state the intent to recall the specific person.

Make sure your proposal is concise, understandable, and addresses a single issue. This will make it easier to communicate to other students and to avoid confusion during the process.

This is the most crucial step. You will need to gather fellow students’ signatures on a petition to demonstrate support:

• Initiative petition: require signatures from at least 5% of the entire student body.
• Referendum petition: require signatures from at least 10% of the student body (for a student-initiated referendum)
  • Note: If the referendum is being initiated through the SGA Senate, you do not need to gather signatures yourself, but you might lobby your SGA Senators to support holding the referendum.
• Recall petition: require signatures from at least 10% of the constituency that the official represents.
  • For example, if recalling a Senator from the College of Engineering, 10% of Engineering students must sign; if recalling a student body President (who represents all students), 10% of the total student body is needed.

Petitions can be in paper form (physical signatures) or any method allowed by SGA (check if SGA permits electronic petitions). It’s a good idea to collect more than the minimum number of signatures in case some are determined to be ineligible or duplicated. Make sure to include student identifiers as required (typically name and student ID or email) so that signatures can be validated.

Once you have the necessary signatures, you’ll submit the petition to the SGA Secretary. The SGA Secretary is the official who handles the validation of petitions for initiatives, referendums, and recalls. They will review your petition to ensure it’s in the proper format and that you have indeed met the signature requirement. This review process may involve checking that all signatories are current students and that the percentages are met relative to the current student enrollment numbers. Be sure to submit before any deadline if one is specified (for example, some petitions might need to be submitted by a certain date to appear on the next election ballot).

You should also provide your contact information when submitting, in case the SGA needs to clarify anything or inform you of the next steps. After submission, the SGA Secretary will let you know whether the petition is validated or if there are any issues to correct.

After verification, the process moves into the formal SGA channels:

• If you submitted an initiative: A validated initiative petition will be forwarded to the SGA Senate. The Senate is required to consider your proposed legislation, typically within about one month of validation . You may be invited to speak about the initiative or provide additional information during the Senate meeting when it’s discussed (though this can vary). Pay attention to SGA announcements or agendas to know when your initiative will be on the docket.
• If you submitted a referendum petition: Once validated, the SGA will schedule a campus-wide vote on the referendum. This will usually be a special election held within roughly one month as well  (often coordinated to ensure sufficient notice and turnout). The exact date and details will be announced by SGA or the Elections Commission, and the wording of the referendum question will be confirmed.
• If you submitted a recall petition: Upon validation, the SGA will schedule a special recall election for that position, to take place in about one month’s time . SGA will notify the community and especially the affected constituency about the upcoming election. The official facing recall will also be informed and given instructions on the process (including their right to be on the ballot). During this period, additional candidates may declare to run in the recall election as well.

In all cases, SGA will publicize the upcoming vote or Senate consideration so that students know it’s happening. Keep an eye on the SGA website, social media, or your student email for these announcements.

Once your ballot measure is set to go forward (either to the Senate or to a student vote), your role isn’t over. It’s important to inform and engage other students about your proposal:

• For an initiative or referendum that will be decided by student vote, you might consider campaigning for it. This could involve creating informational flyers, hosting discussions, or using social media to explain why students should vote “Yes” or “No” on your measure. Remember to follow any SGA election rules about campaigning (for fairness, SGA usually has guidelines on posting, spending, etc., even for referendum campaigns).
• For a recall, there will effectively be an election campaign. The official who is up for recall may campaign to keep their position, and any other candidates running will campaign to be elected. As the petitioner, you might support a particular outcome (for example, you might be rallying students to vote “Yes” to recall the official, and perhaps support an alternative candidate). Make sure to conduct any advocacy according to the election rules provided by SGA.

Encouraging a strong voter turnout is key. A ballot measure reflects student voice best when many students participate. Engage with student organizations, classmates, and friends to raise awareness about the voting dates and how to vote.

After the vote or Senate decision, be sure to follow the outcome:

• If your initiative is adopted by the Senate or approved by student vote, congratulations – it will become new policy! You may want to work with SGA members to see that it’s implemented properly.
• If your referendum passes, the specified change should be implemented by SGA or the relevant authority. If it was non-binding, SGA should still address the outcome and respond to student opinion.
• If the recall succeeds, the official is removed and the new person (if one was elected) will take office. If the recall fails, the official continues in their role.
• In any case, take pride in having engaged in the democratic process. Win or lose, bringing an issue to a vote is a significant contribution to student governance.

If a measure doesn’t pass, you might consider why (perhaps not enough students agreed or voted) and, if appropriate, you could refine your proposal or approach and try again in the future, following the required processes.