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ARTICLE VI. Transition, Removals and Vacancies
Section 1: In the event that any Senate seat is vacated for any reason including but not limited to resignation, removal, or expiration of a term without an elected successor, the Executive Vice-President shall nominate two persons of the same class as the vacant seat to fill the vacancy, whereby the Senate shall, by majority vote, elect one of them to serve the remainder of the term within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the nomination.
Section 2: Should the office of any Vice-President be vacated for any reason including but not limited to resignation, removal, or expiration of a term without an elected successor, the President shall nominate one person qualified under this Constitution to fill the vacancy, and shall submit his/her name to the Senate for consideration. The Senate shall, by majority vote, accept or reject the nomination of the President within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the nomination.
Section 3: Should the office of President become vacant for any reason, including but not limited to resignation, removal, or expiration of a term without an elected successor, the Executive Vice-President of Student Affairs shall assume the Office of President, and shall nominate a qualified person to serve as Executive Vice-President, pursuant to Section 2 of this Article.
Section 4: Should both the office of President and Executive Vice-President of Student Affairs both be vacant, then the line of succession shall be as follows: Vice-President of Business Affairs, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Vice-President of Public Affairs, President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Should any of the aforementioned officers assume the Office of President, they shall hold the title of Acting President, and shall serve for no more than thirty (30) days, at which time a special election shall be held to fill the office of President. Once elected and sworn, the new President shall fill any vacancies in the Executive Board pursuant to Section 2 of this Article.
Section 5: No person shall be removed from office but upon recommendation by the Ethics Committee and a 2/3 affirmative vote of the Senate. The Ethics Committee shall be comprised of the Executive Vice-President of Student Affairs (Chair), the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Executive Senators, and one Senator appointed by the President. In the event that any person on the Ethics Committee becomes a subject of investigation, the President shall direct another Senator to sit in his/her place for the duration of the investigation.
Section 6: Upon a recommendation by a majority vote of the Ethics Committee, the Senate shall convene in extraordinary session and shall have sole power of impeachment during these proceedings. No person shall be impeached and removed from office, but upon affirmative vote by 2/3 of all Senators and Vice-Presidents duly elected and sworn (16 votes, assuming no vacancies). Once removed, the office shall be declared vacant by the President, and the Seat shall be filled pursuant to the appropriate Section of this Article.
Section 7: The Senate shall prescribe the method of investigation to be employed by the Ethics Committee, provided that no action be taken that would be contrary to this Constitution or promulgated University policy.
Section 8: The Senators-Elect shall take office two weeks before the closing of the academic year, unless the Senate, through legislation in the Code of Election, prescribes a different day.
Section 9: The President-Elect and Vice-Presidents-Elect shall take office one week prior to the scheduled Senate elections, unless the Senate, through legislation in the Code of Election, prescribes a different day.
Section 10: Should any vacancies occur after the certification of election results but before the seating of the Senators-Elect or Officers-Elect, no action shall be taken until the new Senate and Executive Officers are sworn.
Section 11: Should any candidate for election be unopposed, his/her name shall appear on a yes/no ballot, and shall require a majority of “yes” votes to be considered elected. In the event that a majority of students vote “no”, then the office shall be declared vacant, but no action shall be taken until the new Senate and Executive Officers are sworn, and then any action taken shall be subject to Section 1 or Section 2 or Section 3 of this Article, depending on the vacancy.