LEGISLATION PASSED

A Bill to Reform the Legislation Certification Process

Requires the Chief Justice to update the Student Government Codes monthly and empowers the Speaker to certify them if the deadline is missed.

By Common Sense Carolina | Sep 1, 2025 | 3 min read

Summary

The Student Government Codes are the rules that govern everything from elections to funding. Under the old system, only the Chief Justice could update them — and there was no deadline. Legislation could pass the Senate and never actually appear in the Codes.

This bill requires the Chief Justice to update the Codes within five university days of the start of each month. If they miss the deadline, the Speaker of the Senate is empowered to certify and update the Codes. Both offices now share joint certification authority, and any non-substantive formatting edits must be documented and approved by the Senate.

Full Text

117th Student Senate of the University of South Carolina

Sponsored by Senators Whisenant, Lapsley, Jacobson, Walker, Miles, Gauvin, Dworzanowski

SECTION 1: Edit Section 5-1-10 to read:

There shall be a chief justice of the Constitutional Council, whose duties shall include but are not limited to:

(A) Serving as the custodian of the Student Government Constitution, Codes, and passed Student Body Legislation, and applying all passed Student Body Legislation and constitutional amendments to the Student Government Codes and Constitution, respectively;

  • (1) The Chief Justice will be required to update the Student Government Codes no more than five (5) university days following the first day of each month throughout the Student Government term;
    • (i) The Chief Justice will submit the updated Student Government Codes to the Office of the Speaker of the Student Senate by 5:00 PM on the day of the deadline;
    • (ii) Upon the Chief Justice’s failure to update and certify the codes within five (5) university days following the start of each month, the Office of the Speaker of the Student Senate shall be empowered to certify and update the Codes to reflect the enacted changes.
      • The Chief Justice shall deliver a memorandum explaining their failure.
      • The Speaker shall have ten (10) university days to certify and update the Codes.
    • (iii) Certification shall include incorporating amendments and ensuring updated versions are publicly available.
    • (iv) The Speaker shall not make substantive alterations beyond what was passed. Disputes shall be resolved by the Chief Justice.
    • (v) The Speaker and the Chief Justice shall retain joint authority to certify the Codes.
  • (2) The Chief Justice may make non-substantive edits for formatting, grammar, and consistency, documented and approved by the Senate within ten (10) business days.
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