JHU SGAThe 114th Session

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JHU SGA Bylaws (Amended October 20th 2026) · 114th session

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**JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY**
- *Last Updated October 2026*
+ *Last Updated November 2026*
**ARTICLE 1\. TITLE AND PURPOSE**

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4.1.3.5.8. Transfer Students
+ 4.1.3.5.9. LGBTQIA+ Students
+
> > > > > >
**4.1.4 SENATORIAL VACANCIES**

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5.1.4.2.5.1.8. Transfer Students: Transfer Student Union (TSU) and the Department of Student Transitions.
+ 5.1.4.2.5.1.9. LGBTQIA+ Students: All university groups related to LGBTQIA+ life at Hopkins including but not limited to the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance, Athletes Ally, and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
+
> > > > > > 4.1.4.2.5.2. Each campus group may solicit applications and nominate any number of interested students, including but not limited to the leadership of the campus group. Any undergraduate student may nominate themselves for a position as well. All applicants will submit a short bio and why they are interested in the role.
> > > > > > 4.1.4.2.5.3. All Senators will have access to all of the applicants’ responses prior to the start of the voting period. No applicants will be added after the voting period begins.

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> > > > > > 4.3.1.3.6.1 Any member can challenge the Chair’s decision to recess by appealing the Chair’s decision, at which time a vote will immediately commence on appealing the Chair’s decision, and the Chair’s decision can be overturned with a 2/3 vote.
- 4.3.1.3.7 Suspension of Rules
+ 4.3.1.3.7 Closing of a Session
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.1 The assembly can adopt a motion to Suspend the Rules interfering with the proposed action—provided that the proposal is not in conflict with the Constitution.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.1 Per the Constitution, all SGA meetings are open to the public except meetings that are closed by 2/3 (two thirds) of the Senate.
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.2 When business is pending, Suspend the Rules takes precedence over any motion if it is for a purpose connected with that motion.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.2 The Senate may adopt a motion to close the session. The motion must be seconded and then approved by 2/3 (two thirds) of the members of the Senate present.
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.3 Can be applied to any rule of the assembly except those in the Constitution.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.3 The motioner must include brief reasoning for closing the session in their motion.
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.4 Must be seconded.
+ > > > > > >
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.5 Requires a vote equivalent to two-thirds of the entire membership of the Senate, regardless of attendance.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.4 The motion may specify whether the closed session is closed to just the Senate or the entire SGA.
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.6 In making the incidental motion to Suspend the Rules, the particular rule or rules to be suspended are not mentioned; but the motion must state its specific purpose, and its adoption permits nothing else to be done under the suspension.
+ 4.3.1.3.7.4.1 If unspecified, the motion is assumed to close the session to the entire SGA.
- 4.3.1.3.7.6.1 The rules are unsuspended upon the completion of the specific purpose, as determined by the chair.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.5 The motion may specify whether the closed session does or does not permit the SGA advisor(s) to remain.
- 4.3.1.3.7.6.2 The rules can be unsuspended at any time with a majority vote following a motion to unsuspend the Rules.
+ 4.3.1.3.7.5.1 If unspecified, the motion is assumed to permit the SGA advisor(s) to remain.
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.7 If a motion to Suspend the Rules is adopted and its object is to allow consideration of business that could not otherwise have been considered at the time, the chair immediately recognizes the member who moved the suspension of the rules, to make the appropriate motion that will bring up the desired business. Or, if no further motion is necessary (for example, if the two motions were combined as indicated above, or if the question is one that was postponed), the chair announces the business as pending.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.6 Upon adopting the motion, students, faculty, members of the public, and any other individuals not contained in the groups specified in the motion to close the session must leave the meeting until it is reopened.
- > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.8 Rules protecting a basic right of the individual member cannot be suspended.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.7 Notes shall still be taken and votes shall still be recorded. All votes, notes, documents, minutes, discussion, proceedings, and other records from and of the closed session shall be kept confidential only to those persons contained in the groups specified in the motion to close the session, whether or not they were present.
+ 4.3.1.3.7.7.1 Notes and votes shall be recorded by the Secretary, if the Executive branch is included in the closed session. If the Executive branch is not included in the closed session, the President of the Senate shall select someone else (i.e., the Vice President of the Senate) to take notes, record votes, and keep other records as necessary.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.7.8 The Senate may adopt a motion to reopen the closed session. The motion must be seconded and then approved by a simple majority (any proportion greater than one half) of the members of the Senate present.
+
+ 4.3.1.3.8 Suspension of Rules
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.1 The assembly can adopt a motion to Suspend the Rules interfering with the proposed action—provided that the proposal is not in conflict with the Constitution.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.2 When business is pending, Suspend the Rules takes precedence over any motion if it is for a purpose connected with that motion.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.3 Can be applied to any rule of the assembly except those in the Constitution.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.4 Must be seconded.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.5 Requires a vote equivalent to two-thirds of the entire membership of the Senate, regardless of attendance.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.6 In making the incidental motion to Suspend the Rules, the particular rule or rules to be suspended are not mentioned; but the motion must state its specific purpose, and its adoption permits nothing else to be done under the suspension.
+
+ 4.3.1.3.8.6.1 The rules are unsuspended upon the completion of the specific purpose, as determined by the chair.
+
+ 4.3.1.3.8.6.2 The rules can be unsuspended at any time with a majority vote following a motion to unsuspend the Rules.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.7 If a motion to Suspend the Rules is adopted and its object is to allow consideration of business that could not otherwise have been considered at the time, the chair immediately recognizes the member who moved the suspension of the rules, to make the appropriate motion that will bring up the desired business. Or, if no further motion is necessary (for example, if the two motions were combined as indicated above, or if the question is one that was postponed), the chair announces the business as pending.
+
+ > > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.8 Rules protecting a basic right of the individual member cannot be suspended.
+
4.3.1.3.8 Quorum
> > > > > > 4.3.1.3.8.1 A minimum number of SGA members shall be required to be present in any SGA meeting (including but not limited to general body meetings, committee meetings, executive meetings, etc.) in order for official business to be conducted.

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4.3.3.2.1 Committee Absences and GBM Absences shall be counted separately. Any non-GBM meetings or other obligations expected of SGA members shall fall under Committee Absences.
- 4.3.3.2.2 Every member of SGA shall be permitted a total of 3 excused GBM absences per academic semester (where the meetings that occur at the end of Spring are counted in the Fall semester of SGA).
+ 4.3.3.2.2 Every member of SGA shall be permitted a total of 2.5 excused GBM absences per academic semester (where the meetings that occur at the end of Spring are counted in the Fall semester of SGA).
- 4.3.3.2.3. Every member of SGA shall be permitted an additional 3 excused committee absences for every committee that the member of SGA serves on. These are counted as a total number and are not separated on a “per committee” basis. For example, a member on two committees may miss 6 meetings of one committee and none of the other, or 3 of each, etc.
+ 4.3.3.2.3. Every member of SGA shall be permitted a total of 2.5 excused committee absences for every committee that the member of SGA serves on. These are counted as a total number and are not separated on a “per committee” basis. For example, a member on two committees may miss no more than 5 meetings of one committee and none of the other, or 2.5 of each, etc.
> > > > > > 4.3.3.2.3.1 If a member of SGA reaches two-thirds (2/3rds) of the maximum number of excused absences for either category, they will be informed of their attendance status by the Student Body Secretary.
- > > > > > > 4.3.3.2.3.2 If a member of SGA exceeds the maximum number of excused absences for either category,they will be subject to an impeachment hearing under Article VII of the Constitution. If acquitted during impeachment, the member is entitled to 1 additional excused absence in the category for which they met the maximum. If the individual exceeds these absences, they will be thanked for their services and dismissed from SGA.
+ > > > > > > 4.3.3.2.3.2 If a member of SGA exceeds the maximum number of excused absences for either category, they will be subject to an impeachment hearing under Article VII of the Constitution. If acquitted during impeachment, the member is entitled to 1 additional excused absence in the category for which they met the maximum. If the individual exceeds the extra absence, they will be thanked for their services and dismissed from SGA.
4.3.3.2.4 Unexcused absences shall be counted across categories. Meaning, the total unexcused absences in both GBM and Committee absences shall be summed to determine total unexcused absences.

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