Our Constitution 

REGION III CONSTITUTION 

(As amended on February 23, 2024)

PREAMBLE

The Region III member colleges of the Texas Junior College Student Government Association hereinafter known as TJCSGA, in order to promote benevolence, unity, and leadership among colleges, trade and/or technical schools, do establish this constitution.

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Texas Junior College Student Government Association Region III, herein after known as Region III. This constitution does not supersede the TJCSGA State Constitution.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of Region III shall be:

Section 1: To uphold superior relationships among the members of Region III and the state of Texas.

Section 2: To serve the Texas Junior College Student Government Association hereafter known as TJCSGA to the best of our abilities and knowledge through continued participation and acts of leadership. 

Section 3: To give all member colleges an active role within the Texas Political System.

Section 4: To provide a region wide network of communication and collaborative leadership so as to expand our influence as a Region onto our local communities and the state of Texas. 

Section 5: To represent the needs and interests of Region III members.

Article III – Membership

Region III shall consist of General and Executive Memberships:

Section 1: General Membership

A. As well as meeting the criteria of the TJCSGA State Constitution, member colleges shall pay additional Region III dues. All dues must be paid in full on or by the Fall Region III Conference.  


B. All member colleges in all business matters that arise within Region III shall have four (4) votes. Proxy votes are accepted if presented to the Region III President before a business meeting is called to order. 

Section 2: Executive Membership

A. Executive membership is granted to the duly elected officer member colleges  of Region III and the individuals serving as Advisor and Advisor-Elect. The member colleges  elected to office shall be responsible for the conduct of the office. The Advisor and Advisor-Elect shall serve as participating, non-voting members of the Executive Board.


B. Each member school elected to office shall designate one individual to serve on their behalf as a member of the Executive Board. Unless otherwise specified, the responsibilities and injunctions of each office role shall apply only to the designated representative and not the delegations.

Article IV – Campaigning for Office

Section 1: Nominations for executive officer positions shall be made by another Region III school and the acceptance of nomination must be made by the nominated school. 


Section 2: All nominated schools will deliver a speech not to exceed three (3) minutes and election of officers shall be determined by majority vote of schools in good standing with Region III. 


Section 3: Election of officers shall take place during the final Region III meeting at the TJCSGA State Convention.


Section 4: If at any point a vacancy occurs within the Executive Board, the Region III member school that holds the position shall be responsible for replacing the vacated position with a student from their schools, within a time frame allotted by the Executive Board.


Section 5: In the event that an officer school decides to forfeit their position, the position must be filled through an appointment by a two-thirds (⅔) vote from the Executive Board. 


Section 6: 

Oath of Office: "I hereby affirm that I will faithfully uphold the tenets of the Region III Constitution and, to the best of my ability, conduct myself with a level of integrity and responsibility befitting of my office."

Article V - Officers

Section 1: The Executive Officers shall be: (A) President, (B) Vice- President, (C) Secretary, (D) Parliamentarian, (E) Treasurer, (F) Editor, (G) Advisor, and (H) Advisor-Elect.

Section 2: Duties of the Executive Officers shall be:

A. President:

1. To attend and preside over all Region III and Executive board meetings.

2. To appoint and dissolve committees, as deemed necessary, and to instruct each in their duties.

3. To vote only in the event of a tie.

4. To serve as chief spokesperson for Region III.

5. To present a complete agenda of all Regional activities to member colleges .

6. To ensure and see that all member colleges uphold the purpose of the TJCSGA and Region III.

7. To enforce all provisions of the Constitution and standing rules of the Association.

8. To call special meetings of Region III and the Executive Board as necessary.

9. To correspond with the TJCSGA Executive Board throughout their term.

B. Vice-President: 

1. To execute the duties of the President in their absence.

2. To attend all Region III and Executive Board meetings.

3. To be an ex-officio member of the Judicial Committee.

4. To organize and schedule speakers, programs, and entertainment for the Regional conferences.         

C. Secretary:

1.   To execute the duties of the Vice-President in their absence.

2.   To attend all Region III and Executive Board meetings.

3.   To keep an accurate record of all Region III proceedings and share a copy to each member school and the website prior to the next meeting.                   

4.   To call roll at Region III Conferences and make necessary announcements.

5.   To compile and keep a current list of all members colleges and advisors with the contact information.

6.  To maintain a dual set of records for Region III. One set shall be turned over to         the State Advisor at the conclusion of the final Region III meeting at the annual TJCSGA State Convention. The second set shall be completed and sent to the newly elected secretary no later than 30 days after the adjournment of the TJCSGA State Convention. 

D. Parliamentarian:

1.   To execute the duties of the Secretary in their absence.

2.   To attend all Region III and Executive Board meetings.

4.   To have in their possession at all meetings: (1) copies of the Region III Constitution, (2) TJCSGA Constitution, (3) “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised”, and (4) standing rules Region III may adopt.    

E.  Treasurer:

1.   To execute the duties of the Parliamentarian in their absence.

2.   To attend all Region III and  Executive Board meetings.

3. To be responsible for the collection of all dues and fees during the year.

4.   To provide an accurate and up to date budget report at all Region III meetings.

5.   To turn the records over and transfer funds to the incoming Treasurer no later than 30 days after the adjournment of the State Convention, including a final report.

6.  To sign all the checks for the organization.

F.  Editor:

1.  To execute the duties of the Treasurer in their absence.

2.  To attend all Region III and Executive Board meetings.

3.  To manage and update social media accounts and the website frequently.

4.  To document and take photos at all Region III events.

G.  Advisor:

1.   To coordinate a new officer orientation session prior to the start of the academic year. 

2.  To attend all Region III and Executive Board meetings. 

3.  To assist the Executive Board in the completion of their duties.

4.   To aid the Executive Board with all General Assemblies and ensure all policies are upheld.

5.  To provide the Region III member colleges with a set of dates to choose from for the upcoming Region III Conferences.

6.  To assist in approval of all expenditures.

H.  Advisor-Elect:

1.     To execute the duties of the Advisor in their absence. 

2.     To attend all Region III and Executive Board meetings.

3. To assist the Executive Board in the completion of their duties.

4. To assist in approval of all expenditures.

5. To provide the Region III member colleges with an itinerary and information at least two (2) weeks in advance for the Region III Fall and Spring Conferences.

6. To serve as Region III Advisor the following year.

Article VI – Executive Board

Section 1: The members of the Executive Board shall be the officer representatives of Region III. 

Section 2: The duties of the Executive board shall be:

A. To attend all Region III and Executive Board meetings.

B. To determine and enforce the policies of Region III and TJCSGA. 

C. To approve and set the dates, fees, and locations of each Regional Conference.

Article VII – Meetings

Section 1: Regional Conferences

A.  All business for Region III will be conducted at the Fall and Spring Region III conferences at the TJCSGA State Convention and at any other Region III meeting(s) deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

B.  All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised”.

C.  New Executive Board members shall be determined at the last TJCSGA State Convention Region III meeting.

Section 2: Executive Board Meetings

A.  Executive Board Meetings shall be called upon by the President of Region III or by a simple majority of the Region III Executive Board.

B.  Quorum for an Executive Board meeting shall be a simple majority of its members, including one advisor and four officers. 

C. The Executive Board shall meet at least once (1) between each of the regular Regional Conferences.

If an Executive Board member cannot appear for the meeting, they must notify the Region III President and find a replacement that will fulfill their duties for the respective meeting. 

Section 3:  Committee Meetings

A.  Committee Meetings may be called by the chairman of the committee when deemed necessary.

Article VIII – Committees

Section 1:  The President shall appoint committees, unless otherwise specified by this constitution or the resolution creating the committee. Members appointed to a committee shall be responsible for designating the student to represent them on that committee. Members of the committee shall appoint the chair. No member may serve on more than one (1) committee. 

A. Unless otherwise specified, no Executive Board member may serve on a committee except for the Judiciary Committee and Region of the Year Committee.

Section 2:  Standing Committees

The following committees shall be the standing committees of this Region:

A. Awards Committee

1. The committee shall be composed of one (1) delegate from each Region III member school under the following criteria: 

a. Each member school attending the Regional Conference shall establish the time and manner of choosing their delegate, unless they are competing for an individual award. 

b. Each delegate shall have one (1) vote according to the State regulated score card. 

c. If it is deemed necessary that the committee have additional members, the Executive Board may call upon other representatives from each school and/or outside sources to assist with the judging process. These specifics shall be outlined in the Competition Guidelines by the State Executive Board no later than December. 

2. This committee shall elect a chair from the students chosen to serve on the committee.

3. All awards submissions are due by the close of registration of the Spring Regional Conference.

4. The committee shall be responsible for judging each competition. The committee shall use the same scoring system that is required by the State Competition Guidelines to ensure that each college competing fulfills the criteria requirements of each competition. The highest and lowest scores from each category shall be discarded.

5. The committee may also recommend changes in the number of competitions for the following year’s Regional meeting to the incoming Executive Board. Once approved, the guidelines will be published in the registration packet prior to the following Regional Conference.

6. An available advisor shall serve as an ex-officio member of this committee, unless if they are competing for an individual award. 

7. The Region Advisor will conduct an orientation for the committee.

8. The Region III Student of the Year will be awarded a $250 scholarship to the school of their choice by the following term.

B. Constitution and Bylaws Committee

C. Judicial Committee

1.  A committee composed of one member from each Region III member school and the chair shall meet at the Regional meeting to review allegations of misconduct by any member or school.

2.  Each school shall send their own parliamentarian to represent them on this committee. If a school does not have a parliamentarian then that school may choose one (1) representative to represent them on this committee.

3. This committee shall determine if disciplinary action shall be taken against any accused party and shall recommend to the Executive Board the action to be taken. The Executive Board may impose a less severe penalty or none at all but may not impose a more severe penalty than the one recommended by the Judicial Committee.

4. This committee shall be guided by the TJCSGA Disciplinary Policy in determining misconduct and penalties.

5. The chair of this committee shall be the Regional Parliamentarian, unless a grievance is heard against the Parliamentarian, in which case the Regional President shall assume the chair.

6. The Region III Advisor-Elect shall serve as an ex-officio member of this committee.

D. Region of the Year Competition Committee

1. A committee composed of one (1) member from each Region III member school shall meet at both the Fall and Spring Region Conferences, prior to the first General Assembly, to consult on the Region of the Year competition entry.

2. This committee shall meet with the Editor to report on their findings prior to the first General Assembly of the Regional meeting.

3. This committee is authorized to compile information and complete the Region of the Year Award competition entry to be submitted for the TJCSGA State Convention.

4. The advisor of the school holding the Editor office, or an available advisor, shall be permitted to give advice on the completion of this competition entry.

Article IX – Amendments

Section 1: The Region III Constitution may be amended at any meeting of the Association by two-thirds (2/3) vote of its Quorum, providing that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the members of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee by close of registration of each meeting.

Section 2: All amendments submitted for consideration to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee with: (1) the full name of the school(s) which is sponsoring the amendment, and (2) at least the last name(s) of the principle author(s) of the amendment.

Section 3: Amendments become effective immediately upon ratification by two-thirds majority of the Association.

Section 4: As a member of the TJCSGA, the Region III Constitution recognizes the TJCSGA Constitution as a superior document.

Article X – Rights of Member Colleges

Section 1: The Region III shall not infringe upon the rights, which are reserved to those individual member colleges. As such, the member colleges shall not infringe upon the rights reserved to the Region III.

Section 2: The members of Region III have the following rights:

A. To make rules and regulations considering their own method of self- governance.

B. To conduct relations with other colleges and organizations.

Section 3:  Region III shall defend and maintain the rights for its member colleges to have their own identity and autonomy.

Article XI – Ratification

Upon ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the member colleges of Region III, This Constitution shall become the superior document of the TJCSGA Region III.