ASUW Student Senate - Senate Bylaws

We, the Associated Students of the University of Washington Student Senate, in order to provide student representation within the Association; to determine student opinion on any issue affecting students; to provide oversight of the management of the Association; to exercise the authorities granted by the Association Constitution to the Student Senate; to promote all student interests to the University and the community; to provide a forum for discussion among students, faculty, and administrators; to promote individual leadership and group action; to supplement and complement formal education at the University of Washington; and to provide an environment in which all students may participate in the achievement of the above goals, do affirm and establish these Bylaws of the Student Senate.

ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION & PURPOSE

SECTION 1. NAME
The name of this body shall be the Associated Students of the University of Washington Student Senate ("Senate").

SECTION 2. PURPOSE
The Senate is responsible for formulating the official opinion of the Associated Students of the University of Washington ("ASUW" or "Association"), providing oversight to the functioning of the ASUW, and serving as a conduit for students and campus organizations to participate in the affairs of the Association. [ASUW Const., Art. VIII, ¤1(A)]

SECTION 3. POSITION WITHIN ASUW
The Senate is an independent entity within the Association, possessing those legislative and other powers delegated to it under the ASUW Constitution.

SECTION 4. RELATIONSHIP TO CAMPUS COMMUNITY

A. Gathering Information
The Senate shall make reasonable efforts to gather information from the campus at large and any other appropriate sources to aid in deliberations.

B. Dissemination of Information
The Senate shall make reasonable efforts to disseminate information regarding its activities and actions to the campus community.

SECTION 5. RELATIONSHIP TO ASUW VOLUNTEERS

A. Soliciting Opinions
The Senate shall take special care to solicit the opinion of relevant ASUW volunteers before rendering official opinions.

B. Informing Volunteers
The Senate shall take special care to inform ASUW volunteers of pertinent resolutions of student opinion.

SECTION 6. CHARGE OF THE CHAIR
The Senate Chair shall be charged with ensuring that this Article is held as a principle of the Senate and shall have all necessary authority to carry out its purpose.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. SENATE SEATS

A. Senate Seat Classification
All Senate Seats shall be classified as either ASUW Senate Seats, Living Group Senate Seats, or Registered Student Organization Senate Seats.

B. Certification
All Senate Seats must first be certified prior to being activated and filled, using the appropriate certification process prescribed for that seat in these Bylaws.

C. Senate Membership List

1. All certified Senate Seats must be listed on the Senate Membership List.
2. Any Senate Seat that is not re-certified by the end of Fall Quarter during any session or which is decertified by the Membership Coordinator shall be taken off the Senate Membership List.

SECTION 2. CERTIFICATION PROCESS

A. Certification of ASUW Senate Seats
ASUW Senate Seats shall be immediately certified by the Membership Coordinator upon receipt of the proper Seat Appointment Form.

B. Certification of Living Group Seats

1. During Fall Quarter, the designated representatives for Residence Hall Students, Residential Fraternity & Sorority ("Greek") Students, and Commuter Students shall draft Seat Allocation Plans outlining how they shall satisfy the Constitutional guarantee that each member of the ASUW shall be represented by a Living Group Senator and that an emphasis is placed on equally representing all members of each living group.

(a) The Membership Coordinator and the ASUW Vice President shall prepare the Seat Allocation Plan for Commuter students.

(b) The Interfraternity Council ("IFC") and Panhellenic Association ("Panhellenic") shall jointly prepare the Seat Allocation Plan for Greek students.

2. Each Seat Allocation Plan must be reviewed by the Membership Committee to ensure the plan will satisfy all Constitutional guarantees and commitments.

(a) The Steering Committee shall assume the responsibilities of the Membership Committee in reviewing the Seat Allocation Plan for Commuter students.

3. If the Membership Committee rejects a Seat Allocation Plan, the Committee shall provide a written explanation and suggestions for improving the plan to the designated representative within two (2) days of their decision.

4. If the Membership Committee approves a Seat Allocation Plan, all Living Group Senate Seats falling under that plan shall be immediately certified by the Membership Coordinator.

C. Certification of Registered Student Organization Senate Seats

1. During Fall Quarter, any Registered Student Organization ("RSO") seeking to re-certify an RSO Senate Seat must submit an RSO Senate Seat Certification Form by the start of the ninth week of the quarter.

2. RSOs seeking first time certification may submit the RSO Senate Seat Certification Form anytime during the Session until the week prior to Senate Officer Elections during Spring Quarter.

3. The RSO Senate Seat Certification Form must include:

(i) a written RSO Representation Statement developed by the officers of that RSO and signed by the RSO President or appropriate organization leader;

(ii) a signed statement that the RSO has been registered with the Student Activities Office for at least one full year; and

(iii) a list of 30 unique signatures of ASUW Members, including their printed names and valid UW student numbers, who have read the RSO Representation Statement and have agreed to be represented by the RSO in the Senate.

4. The form shall be submitted to the Membership Coordinator, who shall confirm that no name submitted match any name listed on a previously certified RSO Senate Seat Certification Form.

(a) Any duplicate name shall be stricken from the form under review.

(b) If there are less than 30 signatures remaining after all duplicates have been stricken, the form shall be returned to the RSO who may resubmit after securing the necessary 30 unique signatures.

5. The Membership Coordinator shall confirm with the Student Activities Office that the RSO has been registered for at least one full year.

6. If the Membership Coordinator believes that the RSO is in violation of the Constitutional prohibition on Living Group-based RSOs, they shall refer the Certification Form to the Chair who shall make a determination.

7. Any RSO completing the above requirements shall be entitled to a certified Senate Seat.

8. The Membership Coordinator shall retain a physical copy of all RSO Senate Seat Certification Forms and provide a copy to the Student Activities Office, who may transmit the signatures to the Office of the Registrar for verification.

9. If any of the 30 signatures is later determined to be invalid or not meeting the requirements established in these Bylaws, the Senate Seat in question shall be decertified by the Membership Coordinator until a new signature is provided to replace it.

10. Any RSO who is denied certification or believes that the certification process is being handled improperly may appeal to the Chair. If no resolution is reached, the RSO may appeal to the Student Activities Office.

11. Any RSO seat granted as a dedicated seat and exempted from Constitutional seat requirements shall be immediately certified by the Membership Coordinator upon receipt of the proper Seat Certification Form. [ASUW Const., Art. VIII, ¤2(A)(3)(b)]

SECTION 3. STUDENT SENATORS

A. General Provisions

1. Any ASUW member appointed to fill a certified Senate Seat, having submitted a Seat Appointment Form approved by the Membership Coordinator, shall be considered a Senator.

2. Each ASUW member appointed to fill a seat must submit a Seat Appointment Form to the Membership Coordinator.

3. No ASUW member may fill more than one certified Senate Seat simultaneously.

4. The Membership Coordinator shall approve Seat Appointment Forms provided that it meets all necessary requirements. Once a form has been approved, all rights and responsibilities of a Senator shall be conferred.

5. Seat Appointment Forms submitted to fill a seat for the first time during a session or to replace a Senator in violation of attendance rules shall be approved once the new or replacement ASUW member has attended one full Senate meeting.

B. Appointment Qualifications

1. ASUW members who do not reside in an IFC or Panhellenic-recognized house or in one of the Residence Halls governed by RHSA, may be appointed to fill a Commuter Senate Seat by the ASUW Vice President and Membership Coordinator and confirmed by the Board of Directors in accordance with the approved Seat Allocation Plan for Commuter Seats.

(a) The Membership Coordinator shall approve the Seat Appointment Form provided it is signed by the ASUW member to be appointed and the ASUW Vice President.

(b) The form must be accompanied by a Commuter Representation Statement with a brief biography and statement of purpose while serving in the Senate.

2. ASUW members who live in a Residence Hall governed by RHSA may be appointed to fill a Residence Hall Senate Seat by the Residence Hall Student Association in accordance with the approved Seat Allocation Plan for Residence Hall Seats.

3. ASUW members, who live in an IFC or Panhellenic recognized House, may be appointed to fill a Greek Senate Seat by either the IFC or Panhellenic in accordance with the approved Seat Allocation Plan for Greek Seats.

4. ASUW members shall be appointed to fill an RSO Senate Seat in accordance with the governing rules adopted by the RSO.

5. ASUW members shall be appointed to fill an ASUW Senate Seat in accordance with the governing rules adopted by the ASUW entity.

6. The Membership Coordinator shall approve Seat Appointment Forms, provided that each form is signed by the ASUW member to be appointed and:

(i) the designated representative of RHSA, in the case of a Residence Hall Senate Seats;

(ii) the designated representative of IFC or Panhellenic, in the case of Greek Senate Seats;

(iii) an officer of the RSO, in the case of an RSO Senate Seat; or

(iv) the head of the ASUW entity, in the case of an ASUW Senate Seat;

SECTION 4. MEMBERSHIP FORMS

A. General Provisions

1. All forms found in this article and accompanying rules shall be developed by the Membership Coordinator and approved by the Membership Committee. Approved forms shall be available online and in the Senate Office.

2. The Membership Coordinator shall make every effort to ensure copies are available at all times to any interested party.

3. All information submitted through the appointment and certification process shall be made publicly available except names, signatures, and student numbers collected for RSO Seat Certification.

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS

SECTION 1. SENATE OFFICERS

A. Officers - Defined
The officers of the Senate shall be the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary, and the Membership Coordinator.

B. Period of Service
Senate Officers shall be elected during Spring Quarter for the following academic year and shall serve from the first day of Summer Quarter until the last day of Spring Quarter.

C. Election Process

1. Nominations for officer positions shall be taken at the first Senate meeting following the completion of the ASUW General Election each year.

2. Any member of the Association may be nominated for a Senate office.

3. Senate officers shall be elected in accordance with the Senate Selection Process defined in Article IX of these Bylaws. The vote shall be conducted by closed ballot and at no time shall a individual vote of a Senator be disclosed.

SECTION 2. SENATE CHAIR

A. Compensation

1. No stipend shall be drawn during the Summer Quarter.

2. During Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, the Chair shall draw a stipend totaling $4,403.

B. Duties & Responsibilities

1. The Chair shall complete the following tasks on a weekly basis:

(i) hold a minimum of seven (7) office hours outside of meetings;

(ii) convene and chair meetings of the Senate;

(iii) convene and chair meetings of the Steering Committee;

(iv) establish the agenda for each Senate meeting, subject to the approval of the Steering Committee;

(v) notify all Senators of meetings and other relevant information through the use of the Senate e-mail list;

(vi) prepare and deliver a weekly Chair's report to the Senate; and

(vii) appoint Senators to Standing Committees, subject to the approval of the Steering Committee.

2. The Chair shall complete the following tasks at least twice per quarter:

(i) meet with each Standing Committee Chair to discuss responsibilities and evaluate performance;

(ii) conduct Senate Officer reviews; and

(iii) maintain budget records.

3. The Chair shall complete the following tasks on a quarterly basis:

(i) prepare an Entity Report for the ASUW Board of Directors ("Board");

(ii) schedule a regular time and day for Steering Committee meetings;

(iii) coordinate efforts to maintain the Senate website;

(iv) meet with each Senate liaison to discuss responsibilities and evaluate performance; and

(v) conduct goal-setting sessions with other Senate Officers.

4. The Chair shall attend to the following general responsibilities during the entire term:

(i) follow all Senate Bylaws and Rules;

(ii) seek effective follow-through on Resolutions that have been approved by the Senate;

(iii) ensure and assist in the completion of all Senate responsibilities;

(iv) ensure the general fairness of Senate;

(v) serve as the primary spokesperson for the Senate;

(vi) schedule all Senate meetings before the start of Fall Quarter for the upcoming session;

(vii) update the Senate Handbook over the summer for the upcoming session;

(viii) train Committee Chairs as necessary;

(ix) train the incoming officers following their election; and

(x) attend ASUW training and orientation.

SECTION 3. SENATE VICE-CHAIR

A. Compensation

1. No stipend shall be drawn during the Summer Quarter.

2. During Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, the Vice Chair shall draw a stipend totaling $3,273.

B. Duties & Responsibilities

1. The Vice-Chair shall complete the following tasks on a weekly basis:

(i) hold a minimum of five (5) office hours outside of meetings;

(ii) attend all meetings of the Steering Committee;

(iii) attend all meetings of the Senate, and assist as needed in the coordination of Senate meetings;

(iv) fill the seat on the Board that is constitutionally delineated to the Senate; [ASUW Const., Art. VI, ¤1(A)(7)]

(v) introduce all Senate Bills that pass the Senate to the Board at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting;

(vi) notify the Board of all approved Resolutions, Orders, Legislative Directives, Requests for Information, and any other relevant actions taken by the Senate to ensure that the Board remains informed about Senate's activities;

(vii) report to the Senate on actions taken by the Board in regard to Senate Resolutions or Bills; and

(viii) update the Senate Legislative Database to reflect all amendments to and dispositions of legislation by Senate committees, the Steering Committee, or by the Senate; and

(ix) compile and send out a Weekly Events e-mail to the Senate e-mail list.

2. The Vice-Chair shall complete the following tasks at least twice per quarter:

(i) organize Senate public events;

(ii) maintain an in-office calendar of ASUW efforts;

(iii) organize new Senator orientations;

(iv) coordinate with the Secretary to maintain and update the ASUW Standing Opinion Index on the Senate website; and

(v) confirm the configuration and reservation of the Senate meeting room; and

(vi) complete a Senate Officer Review with the Chair.

3. The Vice-Chair shall complete the following tasks on a quarterly basis:

(i) coordinate the attendance of public speakers to the Senate; and

(ii) maintain and review the list of all Select Committees of the Senate, recommending to the Senate the dissolution of Select Committees where applicable.

4. The Vice-Chair shall attend to the following general responsibilities during the entire term:

(i) follow all Senate Bylaws and Rules;

(ii) preside over the Steering Committee and the Senate in the absence of the Chair;

(iii) provide legislative assistance to Senators;

(iv) oversee the work of all Standing committees, providing all necessary assistance and guidance to Standing Committee chairs;

(v) serve as the Senate parliamentarian;

(vi) train the incoming officers following their election; and

(vii) attend ASUW training and orientation.

SECTION 4. SENATE SECRETARY

A. Compensation

1. No stipend shall be drawn during the Summer Quarter.

2. During Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, the Secretary shall draw a stipend totaling $2,890.

B. Duties & Responsibilities

1. The Secretary shall complete the following tasks on a weekly basis:

(i) hold a minimum of five (5) office hours outside of meetings;

(ii) take minutes at all Senate and Steering Committee meetings, and publish those minutes on the Senate website;

(iii) prepare and submit the Senate minutes to the Steering Committee for approval;

(iv) incorporate the minutes from all Senate committees into the Senate minutes;

(v) prepare a digital projector and other necessary equipment and documents to display current business during Senate meetings;

(vi) publish the Agenda on the Senate website at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the next Senate meeting;

(vii) collect and post on the Senate website all press clippings relating to the Senate; and

(viii) publish Liaison reports on the Senate website.

2. The Secretary shall complete the following tasks at least twice per quarter:

(i) incorporate approved changes in the Bylaws and Rules into the electronic copy on the Senate website and all other publicly accessible copies;

(ii) coordinate with the Vice-Chair to maintain and update the ASUW Standing Opinion Index on the Senate website; and

(iii) complete a Senate Officer Review with the Chair.

3. The Secretary shall complete the following tasks on a quarterly basis:

(i) post Senate office hours for officers and committee chairs.

4. The Secretary shall attend to the following general responsibilities during the entire term:

(i) follow all Senate Bylaws and Rules;

(ii) perform tasks as assigned by the Chair;

(iii) provide expertise when considering changes to the Senate Rules or Bylaws;

(iv) train the incoming officers following their election; and

(v) attend ASUW training and orientation; and

(vi) maintain and update an online membership database.

SECTION 5. MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR

A. Compensation

1. No stipend shall be drawn during the Summer Quarter.

2. During Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, the Membership Coordinator shall draw a stipend totaling $3,179.

B. Duties & Responsibilities

1. The Membership Coordinator shall complete the following tasks on a weekly basis:

(i) hold a minimum of five (5) office hours outside of meetings;

(ii) attend all meetings of the Steering Committee;

(iii) attend all meetings of the Senate;

(iv) receive and process all forms relating to Senate membership;

(v) coordinate attendance-taking at each Senate meeting;

(vi) maintain and update the Senate Membership List for the duration of the session;

(vii) notify Senators and constituencies of attendance infractions as required by the attendance policy;

(viii) receive and approve proxies at Senate meetings and verify that all proxies are voted consistent with any proxy instructions;

(ix) chair the Membership Committee; and

(x) provide to the Chair a list of all Senators in good standing who require assignment to a Standing Committee.

2. The Membership Coordinator shall complete the following tasks at least twice per quarter:

(i) complete a Senate Officer Review with the Chair.

3. The Membership Coordinator shall complete the following tasks on a quarterly basis:

(i) distribute membership materials to new Senators; and

(ii) review Senate Membership forms to ensure that they are meeting requirements and create or remove forms as necessary.

4. The Membership Coordinator shall attend to the following general responsibilities during the entire term:

(i) follow all Senate Bylaws and Rules;

(ii) perform tasks as assigned by the Chair;

(iii) jointly appoint Commuter Senators with the ASUW Vice President;

(iv) update and maintain a complete Senate contact information list and update all Senate e-mail lists as necessary;

(v) organize awards and recognition efforts of the Senate;

(vi) train the incoming officers following their election; and

(vii) attend ASUW training and orientation.

SECTION 6. SENATE OFFICERS AS ASUW EMPLOYEES
As an employee of the ASUW and an officer of the Senate, Senate Officers must abide by both sets of policies. Any Personnel complaint against any Senate Officer alleging misconduct based on the ASUW Constitution, ASUW Bylaws or Personnel Policies shall be handled in accordance with the ASUW Personnel Policies. This process may result in termination as an ASUW employee, but may not remove a Senator from their position as a Senate Officer.

SECTION 7. OFFICER REVIEW

A. Quarterly Reviews

1. Each Quarter the Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Membership Coordinator will meet individually with the Chair to review job performance and compliance with assigned responsibilities. Upon completion of the quarterly officer reviews, the Chair shall be reviewed by the ASUW President. Each officer shall also fill out a job review sheet on a monthly basis.

2. If, after a quarterly review or the submission of a monthly review sheet, the reviewer finds the officer to have failed to comply with all relevant job requirements, the reviewer shall file a complaint with the Personnel Director.

B. Personnel Complaints

1. Any member of the ASUW may file a complaint regarding a paid Officer's failure to comply with delineated job requirements with the Personnel Director.

2. If a complaint has been filed alleging that an Officer has failed to comply with their job requirements, a meeting with the Personnel Director, the Senate Chair -- or the ASUW President, if the Chair is the officer in question -- and the officer in question will be called to review the matter. During this meeting a plan will be developed to ensure compliance with job requirements.

3. If the Chair, or President if the Chair is the officer in question, determines that the officer has failed to follow the agreed upon plan, they will call a meeting of the Senate Officer Review Committee to review the conduct of the Officer in question.

4. The Officer in question shall be notified no later than three days in advance of the Committee meeting. The Committee meeting shall be conducted under the same confidentiality requirements as required by ASUW Personnel Policies.

5. The Committee may recommend three courses of action:

(i) find no fault with the officer and dismiss the complaint;

(ii) find the officer in violation and recommend that the Board freeze the officer's pay until further notice; or

(iii) find the officer in egregious violation and draft an Organic Act for removal, listing the specific complaints and only including failures in specified job requirements, to be submitted to the Senate.

6. If the Committee dismisses the complaint, a Senator may still draft an Organic Act to remove the officer for consideration. It shall be noted in the act that the Senate Officer Review Committee previously dismissed the complaint.

7. If the committee recommends that the Board freeze the officer's pay, the Board shall consider the merits of the recommendation and act accordingly. Pay shall only be reinstated after the Senate Officer Review Committee finds the officer to be in compliance, recommends that the Board reinstates pay, and Board votes to do so.

8. If the Committee drafts an Organic Act for removal, the Senate shall consider this Act at its next meeting. If the Chair is the officer to be removed, the Chair shall step down as presiding officer for the period of debate on the Organic Act.

9. Should the Organic Act attain the necessary majority approval, the Officer shall be removed from office and the procedure to replace that officer shall be initiated.

SECTION 8. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

A. Calling a Vote

1. Any Senator may request a vote of confidence in the Senate Chair or Vice- Chair during a Senate meeting. A request regarding an officer not currently present shall only be in order if the officer was absent at the previous meeting of the Senate.

2. The public support of at least ten (10) other Senators shall be required in order for the vote to be scheduled.

3. The vote of confidence shall be placed on the agenda for the immediately subsequent Senate meeting as the first order of business.

B. Procedure

1. Prior to the vote of confidence, the requester and the Officer in question shall each have three minutes to present arguments.

2. Following presentations, the Membership Coordinator shall conduct a roll-call vote on the question.

3. Should the Officer fail to receive a majority vote of confidence, they shall immediately step down and may not stand for reelection to the post during the current Session.

ARTICLE IV. LEGISLATIVE POWERS

SECTION 1. RESOLUTIONS

A. General Provisions

1. All Resolutions of student opinion shall originate in the Senate and shall stand as the official opinion of the Association. [ASUW Const., Art. VIII, ¤3(B)(1)]

2. Senate may bestow recognition upon any individual or group on behalf of the Association in the form of a Resolution.

3. All Resolutions shall take effect upon approval by the Senate and shall remain in effect unless the Board exercises its power to refer, amend, or veto the Resolution. [ASUW Const., Art. VIII, ¤3(B)(2)]

B. Sponsorship

1. All Resolutions must have one person or entity designated as a primary sponsor and may optionally include others as co-sponsor(s).

2. A Resolution may be sponsored by any member of the Association.

3. A Resolution may also be sponsored by a Standing Committee of the Senate or by any ASUW Entity.

C. Board Referral Procedure

1. The Board may elect to refer a Resolution back to the Senate if it determines that the Senate has not given the Resolution adequate consideration, provided that no resolution may be referred back to the Senate more than twice. [ASUW Const., Art. VIII, ¤3(B)(2)(a)]

2. Upon initial referral by the Board, the Resolution shall be placed on the agenda at the first Senate meeting following the referral.

(a) Prior to re-consideration of the legislation, one of the Board liaisons to the Senate shall explain the reasons for referral and present the Board recommendations for the Resolution.

(b) Following that presentation, the full Senate shall re-consider the legislation.

3. Upon second referral, the Resolution shall be placed on the Steering Committee agenda at its first meeting following referral.

(a) Unless the Steering Committee acts within two weeks, the Resolution shall be automatically referred to the floor, at which point the Senate shall follow the procedure defined in subsection(C)(2) of this section.

(b) The Steering Committee may, by a majority, elect to waive additional consideration of the Resolution by the Senate and send the Resolution back to the Board, in which case 10% of the voting membership of Senate must approve the waiver.

4. In the event that the Senate does not approve the waiver by the Steering Committee, the legislation shall be placed on the agenda for that meeting and the procedure defined in subsection (C)(2) of this section shall be followed.

D. Override Powers

1. The Board may amend or veto a Resolution within two weeks of the Resolution's approval by the Senate. [ASUW Const., Art. VIII, ¤3(B)(2)(b-c)]

2. An amendment by the Board may be overridden by a 2/3rds vote of the voting membership of the Senate within two weeks following the amendment.

3. A veto by the Board may be overridden by a 2/3rds vote of the voting membership of the Senate at any time during the session in which the legislation was vetoed.

4. The Vice-Chair shall inform the Senate of any Board action taken upon a Resolution.

5. An override vote may be scheduled in advance by the Steering Committee or added to the agenda during a Senate meeting.

SECTION 2. SENATE BILLS

A. General Provisions

1. Through the adoption of a Senate Bill, the Senate shall make policy recommendations to the Board regarding any aspect of ASUW operations or in any other area in which the Board is empowered to act.

2. Upon approval by the Board, a Senate Bill shall have the same force and effect as a Board Bill. [ASUW Const., Art. VIII, ¤3(A)]

B. Sponsorship
All Senate Bills must have one Senator designated as a primary sponsor and may include other Senators as co-sponsor(s). No other individuals or entities may sponsor or co-sponsor a Senate Bill.

SECTION 3. ORGANIC ACTS

A. General Provisions

1. Any matter internal to the Senate and under the full control and discretion of the Senate may be considered through an Organic Act.

2. Organic Acts shall take effect immediately upon passage by the Senate.

B. Sponsorship
All Organic Acts must have one Senator designated as a primary sponsor and may include other Senators as co-sponsor(s). No other individuals or entities may sponsor or co-sponsor an Organic Act.

SECTION 4. SENATE ORDERS

A. General Provisions

1. Any matter affecting the ASUW or its entities in which the Senate is empowered to act on its own shall be considered through a Senate Order.

2. Senate Orders shall take effect immediately upon passage by the Senate.

B. Sponsorship
Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, all Senate Orders must have one Senator designated as a primary sponsor and may optionally include other Senators as co-sponsor(s). No other individuals or entities may sponsor or co-sponsor a Senate Order.

SECTION 5. LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVES

A. General Provisions

1. Any amendments to the ASUW Legislative Agenda or directives on lobbying positions shall be considered through a Legislative Directive.

2. Legislative Directives shall take effect once identical drafts of the Directive have been approved by the Senate and the Board. The resolution process for any disputes regarding Legislative Directives shall be set forth in the Senate Rules.

B. Sponsorship
Legislative Directives may only be sponsored by a Senator, a member of the Board, or by the ASUW Legislative Steering Committee. The Directive must have one of the eligible persons or entities listed above designated as a primary sponsor and may include other Senators as co-sponsor(s).

ARTICLE V. OTHER POWERS & FUNCTIONS

SECTION 1. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

A. General Provisions

1. Requests for Information may be issued to Board members by Standing Committees, authorized Special Committees, the Steering Committee, or the Senate.

2. All Requests for Information must include a specific topic and may either specify a particular Board member or request that the Board select a member to respond.

3. Upon the issuance of a Request for Information, the Senate Vice-Chair shall communicate it to the Board at the immediately following board meeting.

B. Responses

1. A Board member may, unless otherwise indicated, elect to respond by written response. The written response must provide sufficient information regarding the topic in question as to meet the expectations of the petitioners.

2. A Board member may respond by personal appearance. During a personal appearance, the Board member may give an initial presentation on the specified topic, followed by questions from the Senate. The Chair shall disregard any question deemed outside the scope of the specified topic.

SECTION 2. RECALL

A. General Provisions

1. The Senate may order a recall of any Board member with the approval of 3/4ths of the voting membership of the Senate. [ASUW Const., Art. VI, ¤7(A)(1)(b)]

2. The motion for a recall must be submitted in the form of a Senate Order.

3. Only a Senator in good standing may sponsor a recall order.4. The recall order shall not be considered unless it has been co-sponsored by at least ten (10) other Senators in good standing.

5. Any member of the Association may co-sponsor the legislation.

B. Grounds for Recall

1. No recall order shall be considered unless it lists specific charges against the Board member and provides verifiable facts concerning the charges.

2. The following shall constitute proper grounds for a recall:

(i) intentional violation of the ASUW Constitution or Bylaws;

(ii) negligent violation of the ASUW Constitution or Bylaws without necessary steps taken to rectify violation;

(iii) intentional violation of a Senate Resolution;

(iv) negligent violation of a Senate Resolution without necessary steps taken to rectify violation;

(v) failure to appear or adequately respond to a Request for Information after proper notification; or

(vi) continued failure to complete tasks assigned by the ASUW Constitution, ASUW Bylaws, or a Board Bill.

C. Procedure

1. Upon submission, a Senate Order for Recall shall be automatically referred to the Special Committee on Accountability.

2. The Committee shall have two weeks from the date of submission to consider the allegations made in the recall order and determine their validity and if they are sufficient grounds for recall. The Committee must vote by simple majority to send the order to the Senate for consideration.

3. In the event that the Committee does not send the Order to the full Senate, a motion to discharge the Recall Order from the Committee and consider it on the floor shall require a 2/3rds majority.

4. The Board member named in the recall order shall be granted the opportunity to address the Senate before the final vote is taken. If the Board member elects to address the Senate, a period of not less than ten (10) minutes shall be provided for the Senate to ask questions.

5. If the recall order passes by the voting threshold specified above, it will be referred to the Board for consideration, and a special election shall be scheduled for the earliest possible date unless the recall order is overridden by a 2/3rds vote of the Board membership.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

SECTION 1. SESSION
The regular session of the Senate shall start on the first day of Autumn Quarter and shall end on the last day of Spring Quarter.

SECTION 2. MEETING SCHEDULE

A. Regular Meetings

1. The first meeting of the regular session shall occur no later than the second full week of Autumn Quarter.

2. Meetings shall be held weekly while school is in session except during finals week each quarter.

B. Special Meetings

1. Special meetings of the Senate may be called by the Steering Committee during the regular session of the Senate as needed.

2. At least two (2) days prior notice shall be provided to all Senators of a special meeting.

SECTION 3. SUCCESSION OF THE CHAIR

A. Order of Succession

1. The following shall be the order of succession to chair a Senate meeting: Senate Chair, Senate Vice-Chair, Senate Secretary, and Senate Membership Coordinator.

2. The highest-ranked officer present shall chair the meeting until adjournment or until an officer higher in the order of succession is present.

SECTION 4. QUORUM

A. Defined
Quorum of the Senate shall consist of the presence, either in person or by proxy, of at least 40% of the filled voting seats in the Senate.

B. Absence of a Quorum
Senate shall not conduct business in the absence of a quorum, except:

(i) to receive reports from Senate officers, Committee Chairs, the BOD liaisons to the Senate, the GPSS liaisons to the Senate, or the ASUW President;

(ii) to conduct Public Forum; or

(iii) to adjourn.

SECTION 5. ADDRESSING THE SENATE
All members of the Association shall have the opportunity to address the Senate regarding any Resolution under consideration upon proper recognition by the Chair.

SECTION 6. VOTING RESTRICTIONS
Only Senators shall be permitted to vote on motions before the Senate and shall only be entitled to do so if present, either in person or by proxy.

SECTION 7. PROXY

A. Proxy Rights
Any member of the Senate may proxy their vote to another Senator or to a member of their constituency.

B. Form
All proxies shall be in writing, utilizing the Senate Proxy Form, and shall include the name of the person executing the proxy, the name of the person to whom the proxy is given, the time period for which the proxy is valid, and instructions, if any, on the voting of the proxy.

C. Instructions

1. Proxies may not be utilized in a manner inconsistent with any instructions or restrictions included with the proxy.

2. Should the Chair or Membership Coordinator discover that a proxy has been utilized in violation of the proxy instructions, that proxy shall be discarded and cannot be used for any purpose other than recording the attendance of the person who executed the proxy.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

A. Academic Affairs Committee
The Academic Affairs Committee shall discuss subjects pertaining to the classroom experiences and/or the academic life of students. Topics relating to, but not limited to, curriculum, minor/major or graduation requirements, classroom resources, course scheduling, and other academic issues fall within the jurisdiction of this committee.

B. Campus Affairs Committee
The Campus Affairs Committee shall consider matters regarding the lives of students outside the classroom but within the boundaries of the University and student life. Topics relating to, but not limited to, student insurance, food and housing policies, campus organizations, student services, student rights, and other campus-wide issues fall within the jurisdiction of this committee.

C. Faculty & Administrative Affairs Committee
The Faculty/Administrative Affairs Committee shall focus on issues involving the faculty and/or administration of the University. The Committee shall also serve as a communication bridge between students and the faculty and administration. Topics relating to, but not limited to, university policies, professor or instructor recognition, tuition and other student fees, faculty unionization, and other faculty or administrative issues fall within the jurisdiction of this committee.

D. General Affairs Committee
The General Affairs Committee shall deliberate on matters of concern that reach beyond campus or do not readily fit into the framework of the other committees. Topics involving, but not limited to, student discounts with local businesses, broad community service projects, local, state, and national issues, and other non-campus related issues fall within the jurisdiction of this committee.

E. Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall handle all issues associated with Senate Membership. Tasks shall include, but are not limited to, enforcing the Senate Attendance Policy, reviewing Seat Allocation Plans, assisting the Membership Coordinator in his/her duties, and reviewing any legislation pertaining to Senate Membership or performing any tasks as directed by the Membership Coordinator.

F. Publicity & Outreach Committee
The Publicity and Outreach Committee shall be charged with informing the student body about the Senate and its activities and promoting student involvement with the Senate. Tasks shall include organizing forums with the assistance of the Senate Vice-Chair, attending the meetings of campus groups outside of Senate, setting up Senate Socials, holding tabling events, postering and flyering, and placing radio ads on RainyDawg Radio.

G. Off-Campus Student Affairs Committee
The Off-campus Student Transportation, Insurance, Finance, and Housing Committee shall take up and consider issues directly relating to those students with restrictions to access of resources concerning transportation, insurance, personal finance, and off4 campus housing. This committee is specifically charged with providing information and education to greater access of resources for students of off campus living, commuters, the disabled, and elderly.

SECTION 2. STEERING COMMITTEE

A. Formation & Duration
The Steering Committee shall exist permanently as a Committee of the Senate with the powers set forth in these Bylaws and in the Rules.

B. Membership

1. The following shall be the ex-officio voting members of the Steering Committee:

(i) all Senate Officers;

(ii) the Chair of each Standing Committee, or the Vice-Chair of the Committee in the absence of the Chair;

(iii) the two BOD members designated as BOD liaisons to the Senate; and

(iv) the ASUW President; and

(v) one of the two Senators designated as GPSS liaisons to the Senate.

2. A representative from the Student Activities Office shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Steering Committee.

3. Quorum shall be a majority of members. The absence of Standing Committee Chairs before their election shall not count against quorum.

C. Committee Chair
The Steering Committee shall be chaired by the Senate Chair or by the Senate Vice-Chair in the absence of the Chair.

D. Meetings
The Steering Committee shall meet at least once per week at the call of the Chair during weeks when school is in session.

E. Powers & Functions

1. The Steering Committee shall have the authority to:

(i) review all legislation upon submission and refer it to a Standing Committee, a Select Committee authorized to consider legislation, to the Steering Committee itself where authorized by the Bylaws or Rules, or straight to the floor;

(ii) arrange and plan all meetings of the Senate;

(iii) approve the appointment of Senators to Standing Committees;

(iv) review and approve minutes of the Senate;

(v) review and approve requests for Public Forum;

(vi) issue a Request for Information to a BOD member;

(vii) call special meetings of the Senate during the regular session as needed consistent with the provisions of Article VI, Section 2(B);

(viii) provide information and assistance to Senators as needed; and

(ix) exercise all other authorities as granted in the these Bylaws and Rules.

2. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for developing and reviewing the Senate Bylaws and Rules, and shall be empowered to refer legislation concerning the Bylaws and Rules to itself for consideration.

SECTION 3. STANDING COMMITTEES - GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. Formation
Standing Committees of the Senate shall be formed through an Organic Act to amend the Bylaws. Standing Committees shall be listed under Section 1 of this Article and must contain a general description of competency.

B. Membership

1. Each Senator shall be assigned to one (1) Standing Committee.

2. Committee assignments shall be made by the Chair and confirmed by the Steering Committee.

3. Only those members assigned to a Standing Committee shall exercise the right to vote on matters before that Committee.

C. Committee Chair

1. Each Standing Committee Chair shall be elected in the Fall Quarter of the current session, with the exception of the Membership Committee whose Chair shall be the Membership Coordinator.

2. Duties of a Standing Committee Chair shall consist of the following:

(i) serve as the Chair of the Standing Committee until the adjournment of the session;

(ii) provide expertise and knowledge in the specific area of the respective committee;

(iii) facilitate fair and productive discussions of legislation within the committee;

(iv) call weekly meetings of the committee;

(v) make weekly reports to the Senate of the committee's actions;

(vi) take attendance at committee meetings, and assist the Membership coordinator as required in taking attendance at Senate meetings;

(vii) meet with the Senate Chair each quarter to discuss goals and responsibilities;

(viii) attend and participate in meetings of the Steering Committee;

(ix) hold a minimum of one (1) office hour each week outside of Senate and committee meetings; and

(x) maintain an e-mail list for the members of the committee.

3. Standing Committee Chairs shall be elected by the membership of the Committee.

4. Nominations for the Chair of each committee shall be taken from the floor of the Senate during the second meeting of the Senate after the beginning of a new session and shall remain open for the succeeding week.

5. All Senators, with the exception of Senate Officers, are eligible to serve as the Chair of any committee, regardless of the committee to which they have been assigned.

6. Once nominations have been closed, the membership of each committee shall elect a Chair for that specific committee by closed ballot. Senators may only cast a vote for the chair of standing committee to which they have been assigned.

7. Standing Committee Chairs shall be elected in accordance with the Senate Selection Process as defined in Article IX of these Bylaws.

D. Committee Vice-Chair

1. Each Standing Committee Vice-Chair shall be elected at the first meeting of the committee during the session from among the membership of the committee.

2. Duties of a Committee Vice-Chair shall consist of the following:

(i) take minutes of the committee meetings and transmit the minutes to the Senate Secretary within forty-eight (48) hours;

(ii) act as the Chair of the committee in the absence of the Committee Chair;

(iii) attend and vote at Steering Committee meetings in the absence of the Committee Chair; and

(iv) assist the Committee Chair as required.

E. Competency
Each Standing Committee shall be authorized to consider any Resolution, Senate Bill, or Organic Act falling within the committee's area of competency as defined in Section 1 of this Article.

F. Duration

1. Standing Committees shall exist as long as they are listed in Section 1 of this Article.

2. Standing Committees shall cease to meet or operate upon the adjournment sine die of the Senate and shall reconvene once the Senate has been called back to order.

G. Meetings

1. Standing Committees shall meet once per week at the call of the Committee Chair.

2. Unless a waiver is granted by the Steering Committee, all Standing Committees shall meet and conduct their business in the one (1) hour period prior to all Senate meetings.

H. Powers & Functions

1. Standing Committees shall have the authority to:

(i) consider legislation that has been referred to them and to recommend legislation to the floor for further consideration;

(ii) formulate and draft legislation and submit it on behalf of the committee;

(iii) issue Requests for Information to BOD members, and where necessary, petition the Senate for a personal appearance of a BOD member before the committee; and

(iv) elect additional committee officers as needed.

SECTION 4. SPECIAL COMMITTEES - GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. Formation
Special Committee of the Senate shall be formed through an Organic Act to amend the Senate Rules.

B. Membership
Membership of a Special Committee shall be defined in the Rules and must be closed.

C. Committee Chair
Special Committee Chairs shall be serve ex-officio or shall be elected by the membership of the Senate as specified in the Rules.

D. Competency
Special Committees are only authorized to consider specific issues which arise on a regular yearly basis.

E. Duration

1. Select Committees shall exist as long as they are listed in Rules.

2. Select Committees shall cease to meet or operate upon the adjournment sine die of the Senate and shall reconvene upon the call of the Committee Chair or the Senate Vice-Chair once the Senate has been called back to order.

F. Meetings

1. Special Committees must meet at least once per session, but may meet more often as specified in the Rules.

2. The Senate Vice-Chair shall be responsible for ensuring that meetings of the Special Committees occur. Should the Special Committee fail to meet during a session, the Vice-Chair must draft and sponsor an Organic Act to eliminate the Special Committee.

G. Powers & Functions
Special Committees may only exercise those powers granted to them in the Bylaws or Rules.

SECTION 5. SELECT COMMITTEES - GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. Formation
Select Committees of the Senate shall be formed through an Organic Act. The Senate Vice-Chair shall maintain the list of all current Select Committees.

B. Membership
Membership of a Select Committee shall be defined in the Organic Act.

C. Committee Chair
Select Committee Chairs shall be elected by the membership of the Senate.

D. Competency
Select Committees are only authorized to consider specific issues of a timely nature and must have a specified task.

E. Duration

1. Select Committees shall exist as specified in the Organic Act and shall dissolve on the specified date.

2. The Senate may extend the committee's period of operation.

F. Meetings

1. Select Committees must meet as specified in the Organic Act.

2. If no meeting schedule is specified, the committee shall meet at the call of the committee chair.

G. Powers & Functions

1. Select Committees shall only be empowered to formulate recommendations for consideration by the full Senate.

2. Select Committees may not issue Requests for Information.

ARTICLE VIII. LIAISONS

SECTION 1. SENATE LIAISONS

A. General Provisions

1. The Student Senate shall appoint one Senator to act as a liaison to each ASUW Delineated and Standing Committee, Task Force, and any other committee or organization as authorized except the Governance Committee and the EAC.

2. In the situation where the committee has open membership, multiple Senators may be appointed provided that one Senator is designated as the reporting liaison to the Senate.

B. Elections

1. Nomination and elections of Senate liaisons shall be conducted before the full Senate and shall be completed by the fourth meeting of Student Senate.

2. If at any time or for any reason there is an unfilled liaison position, the Senate shall hold nominations and elect a replacement liaison at the next Senate meeting.

3. Senate liaisons shall be elected in accordance with the Senate Selection Process as defined in Article IX of these Bylaws.

C. Absence
In the event of an absence by the Senate liaison at a designated committee meeting, the Senate Chair shall be authorized to serve on their behalf or designate a proxy.

ARTICLE IX. POLICY

SECTION 1. SENATE SELECTION PROCESS

A. Defined
The Senate Selection Process governs the elections for all elected positions within the Senate.

B. Timeline

1. Unless otherwise specified, elections shall occur over a span of at least two (2) Senate meetings.

2. Nominations shall be taken at both the first and second meetings, and the election shall be held immediately following the close of the nominating period at the second meeting.

3. In the event that expediency is required, the Senate may, choose by majority vote or as required by these Bylaws and Rules, hold nominations and elections during one meeting.

C. Procedure

1. The Senate Chair shall take nominations or ask for volunteers from the floor. Unless otherwise specified, or unless the second meeting requirement has been waived, nominations shall be solicited at two consecutive meetings.

2. Following the close of nominations, candidates for the position in question shall each have the opportunity to make a statement in the order in which they were nominated. The Senate Chair shall set a uniform time for candidate statements in accordance with meeting demands.

3. With preference granted to Senators, the Chair shall accept questions from the floor for the candidates. The Chair shall restrict the time of the question and answer period in accordance with meeting demands.

4. For the election of Senate Officers, each candidate for each office shall be asked a prepared question by the outgoing officer in that position. In the event that the outgoing officer is running for an additional term, the question shall be prepared by the Chair or by the Vice-Chair if the Chair is the officer seeking another term.

5. At the discretion of the Chair, a discussion period shall occur once all candidates have cast their votes and left the meeting room. The Senate Chair shall take special care to maintain decorum during discussion and shall place time restrictions on the discussion period in accordance with meeting demands.

D. Instant Runoff Voting

1. The Senate shall utilize the following method of Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) to elect candidates for office with a majority vote.

2. All voting senators shall receive ballot with a number of spaces equal to the number of candidates running for the position.

3. The voting senator shall rank the candidates in the order of his or her preference, listing as many or as few candidates as the senator chooses.

4. The Senate Vice-Chair and Senate Membership Coordinator, observed by an SAO Adviser, shall be responsible for counting all ballots cast. In the case that either the Senate Vice-Chair or Senate Membership Coordinator is a candidate on the ballot to be counted, they shall be replaced by a Senator selected by the SAO Adviser.

5. The ballots are first separated by first preference. If no candidate has a majority of the first preference votes, the least preferred candidate is dropped and all votes for that candidate shall be reapportioned based on the second preference of those ballots.

6. Once a candidate's name is dropped, they are no longer an active candidate for the position. A candidate is active until deemed inactive, regardless of status as a write-in candidate or nominee.

7. The process of removing the least preferred candidate and reapportioning the votes shall continue until one candidate receives a majority of the ballots cast.

8. If a ballot's first preference is eliminated and the next preference(s) have already been eliminated, the next active candidate in the order of preference shall receive the vote.

9. Those ballots cast that fail to list an active candidate shall not count in determining a majority. If, during this process, a ballot no longer lists any active candidates, it shall be discarded and shall not count in determining a majority.

E. Other Methods of Voting

1. If only two candidates are seeking office, and the election does not require a closed ballot, the Chair may elect to hold the vote by raised placards. The candidate receiving the majority of votes cast shall be elected.

2. If only one candidate is seeking office, a motion to elect by acclamation shall be entertained.

3. Following a round of voting in an election where raised placards are used to tally votes, if there are six or more candidates, the chair may decide to eliminate to eliminate half of the candidates who received the fewest votes. No more than fifty percent of the candidates may be eliminated following a single round of voting unless there are more than ten candidates.

ARTICLE X. AUTHORITY

SECTION 1. ASUW CONSTITUTION
The ASUW Constitution, as the principal governing document of the Association, shall have the highest authority over the Senate.

SECTION 2. SENATE BYLAWS

A. General Provisions

1. These Bylaws shall be the governing document of the Student Senate, authoritative in all cases in which it does not conflict with the ASUW Constitution.

2. The powers and restrictions of the Senate, as set forth in these Bylaws, are derived from the ASUW Constitution and any other powers granted by the ASUW Bylaws.

3. No portion of these Bylaws may be suspended at any time.

B. Amendment

1. The Bylaws may be amended by 2/3rds of the voting Senate membership.

2. All amendments shall take effect upon the adjournment of the Senate meeting at which they were approved.

3. Amendments shall be read to be consistent with the existing Bylaws whenever possible. If a consistent reading is not possible, the most recent amendment shall take precedence.

C. Ratification
These Bylaws shall be adopted in their entirety upon the approval of 2/3rds of the voting Senate membership, replacing all previous bylaws of the Senate.

SECTION 3. SENATE RULES

A. General Provisions

1. The Senate Rules shall be the procedural governing document of the Student Senate, deriving its authority from these Bylaws.

2. The Rules may only expound upon the powers, limitations, and responsibilities found within the other governing documents in this Article and shall yield to the Senate Bylaws in cases of conflict.

3. Any portion of the Rules may be suspended by 2/3rds of the present voting membership of the Senate. No committee or other entity may suspend the Rules.

B. Amendment

1. The Rules may be amended by a simple majority of the voting Senate membership.

2. All amendments shall take effect immediately following passage unless otherwise specified.

3. Amendments shall be read to be consistent with the existing Rules whenever possible. If a consistent reading is not possible, the most recent amendment shall take precedence.

C. Ratification
These Rules shall be adopted in their entirety upon the approval of a simple majority of the voting Senate membership, replacing all previous rules of the Senate.

SECTION 4. SENATE MEMBERSHIP LIST
The Senate Membership List shall be the official roster of voting Senators and shall list all certified seats that have been properly filled. Certified seats that are not filled shall also be listed. The Senate Membership Coordinator shall maintain and update the Membership List as necessary.

SECTION 5. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure [4th Ed.] by Alice Sturgis shall govern all activities of the Senate in all cases to which it is applicable and does not conflict with the authorities listed in this Article.

APPENDIX A - STYLE GUIDELINES

The following shall constitute the style guidelines for the Senate Bylaws and Rules. Amendments to either of these documents should be properly formatted to be consistent in terms of style and voice with these guidelines.

1) Articles shall begin after a page break and shall start on the first line of a new page. The Article number should be printed in roman numerals and capitalized (e.g. "ARTICLE XIX"). The text should be Palatino Linotype, 12 point, bold-faced, underlined, and centered on the page. The next line should have the title of the article, also capitalized. The text should be Palatino Linotype, 12 point, bold-faced, and centered on the page. A blank line should follow the title of the article.

2) New sections should be capitalized and should include the section number and name (e.g. "SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS"). The text should be Palatino Linotype, 12 point, bold faced, and left-aligned with no indentation from the margin.

a. Unnumbered section text should be placed inline with the section heading with no indentation. The text should be Palatino Linotype, 12 point, and left-aligned.

3) First-level subsections should be numbered A-Z in descending order and should include a descriptive title for the subsection (e.g. "A. General Provisions"). The subsection number and text should be Palatino Linotype, 11 point, bold-faced, and left-aligned with a 0.5" indentation from the margin.

a. Unnumbered subsection text should be aligned with the text of the subsection header at 1.0" indented from the margin. The text should be Palatino Linotype, 11 point and left aligned.

4) Second-level subsections should be numbered 1-100 in ascending order and should only include the subsection content without a title (e.g. "1. The quick brown fox..."). The text should be Palatino Linotype, 11 point, and left-aligned. The section number should be bold-faced and indented 1.0" from the margin. The text should be indented 1.5" from the margin.

5) Third-level subsections, if in the form of complete sentences or ideas, should be numbered (a)-(z) in descending order without a title (e.g. "(a) The quick brown fox..."). The text should be Palatino Linotype, 10 point, and left-aligned. The section number should be bold-faced and indented 1.5" from the margin. The text should be indented 2.0" from the margin.

6) Third-level subsections, if in the form of an ordered lists of items, should be numbered (i)-(xx) in lower-case roman numerals without a title (e.g. "(i) quick brown foxes;"). All items should end with a semi-colon, except for the last two items in the list. The second-to-last item should end with a semi-colon, followed by either "and" or "or", and the final item should be followed by a period. The text should be Palatino Linotype, 10 point, and left-aligned. The section number should be bold-faced and indented 1.5" from the margin. The text should be indented 2.0" from the margin. No subsections may occur inside an ordered list.

7) Fourth-level subsections, whether in the form of a complete sentence or list, should be numbered (i)-(xx) in lower-case roman numerals without a title, utilizing the punctuation guidelines above. The text should be Palatino Linotype, 10 point, and left-aligned. The section number should be bold-faced and indented 2.0" from the margin. The text should be indented 2.5" from the margin. No subsections may occur below this level.

History of the Bylaws: what has come before

This document was prepared August 25, 1994 by Michael Henry, after discussion with the Summer Steering Committee. Sections of this document were taken from the Student Assembly Bylaws, originally written March 30, 1984 with subsequent revisions.

This document was updated after amendment on 4 September, 1997 by Anthony Gipe.

This document was updated following the 5th session (1998-1999) by Eric Stride in preparation for the Senate's 6th regular session. (Summer 1999)

Senate Reform: The Next Step

During the 10th Session, Senate Bill 10-6 established the Senate Reform Task Force. Under the leadership of then Chair Cammie Croft and previous Chair Sean Kellogg, the task force made sweeping recommendations changing the structure and makeup of the Senate, and also, changing the nature of the relationship between the Senate and the rest of the ASUW. After Board modifications to the original recommendations, the ASUW electorate voted to amend the Constitution and incorporate the reforms by a 56% margin in Spring 2004.

These reforms rendered the existing Senate bylaws and rules virutally useless, and Organic Act 10-6 was passed to form a Summer Committee that would create new bylaws and rules which would bring the body into compliance with the reforms, and also improve the Senate's efficiency in general. The Summer Committee's final review was presented to the 11th Session of the Student Senate by Chair Zachary Tobin, and after three weeks of review, the body adopted these bylaws and rules on October 26, 2004, thus ending a five-year process of ASUW reform.

"Senate Reform: The Next Step" submitted by Alex Kim

Updated October 27, 2004 by Alex Kim
Updated May 3, 2004 by David Morgan
Updated October 15, 2003 by David Morgan
Updated October 2001, by Eric Stride
Updated September 2000, by Eric Stride.

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