ASUW Student Senate - Senate Rules

D. Time Limits on Agenda Items
Any item appearing on the agenda may be limited with either a limit on the total time to be spent or a time at which consideration shall move onto the next item without taking action on the present item. Time limits may only be altered by 2/3rds majority of those present and voting or a simple majority upon recommendation of the Chair.

SECTION 2. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

A. Presidential Privilege
Presidential Privilege, once granted, shall allow the President to address the Senate. Immediately following the address, the Senate and gallery shall be allowed to ask questions of the President.

B. Board of Directors Report
The Board of Directors Report shall allow one or both of the Board Liaisons to address the Senate. Immediately following the address, the Senate and gallery shall be allowed to ask questions of the Board Representative(s).

C. GPSS Report
The GPSS Report shall allow the GPSS representative to address the Senate on issues currently affecting the Graduate & Professional Student Senate. Immediately following the address, the Senate and gallery shall be allowed to ask questions of the GPSS Representative.

D. Public Forum
Public Forum, once granted, shall allow a speaker to address the Senate for a period to be determined by the Steering Committee. Immediately following the address, the Senate and gallery shall be allowed to ask questions of the speaker. The Chair has the right to end the Public Forum at any time.

SECTION 3. DEBATE

A. General Provisions & Limitations

1. Debate shall be open to any individual in the Senate Chambers.

2. Individuals shall have the opportunity to speak no more than twice per motion, for a period of three minutes each.

3. Senators may yield their speaking time to any other individual on the floor, who may only yield back to the original speaker.

4. Members of the Association who are not Senators may only yield to one other individual when called upon for the purpose of answering a question.

5. The Steering Committee may modify these procedures for any particular agenda item as it deems necessary.

SECTION 4. POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHAIR

A. General Provisions

1. The Chair shall conduct all meetings of the Senate with fairness and good faith.

2. The Chair shall maintain order during debate and enforce decorum.

3. The Chair may cancel a Senate meeting in the event of an emergency.

RULE II - CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION

A. Procedure

1. All legislation must be submitted online using the Senate website.

2. Upon submission, legislation shall be automatically referred to the Steering Committee, which must take action upon the legislation at their next meeting.

SECTION 2. CLASSIFICATION

A. General Classification
All legislation submitted for consideration shall be initially classified as a Resolution, Senate Bill, Organic Act, Senate Order, or Legislative Directive.

B. Enactment Clauses

1. All Resolutions shall include the following enactment clause: "BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON THAT:"

2. All Senate Bills shall include the following enactment clause: "BE IT RECOMMENDED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STUDENT SENATE THAT:"

3. All Organic Acts shall include the following enactment clause: "BE IT ENACTED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STUDENT SENATE THAT:"

4. All Senate Orders shall include the following enactment clause: "BE IT ORDERED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STUDENT SENATE THAT:"

5. All Legislative Directives shall include the following enactment clause: "BE IT DIRECTED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON THAT:"

SECTION 3. SPONSORS

A. Sponsorship

1. In order to be considered, all legislation must have one person designated as a primary sponsor and may optionally include others as co-sponsor(s).

2. If the legislation was submitted by an ASUW entity, that entity may be listed as the sponsor and shall send a representative to the Senate to introduce the legislation.

3. If the legislation was submitted collectively by a Senate Committee, the committee chair or his/her designee shall serve as the sponsor.

B. Sponsor Identification

1. All sponsors must be properly identified on every piece of legislation. Any sponsor who is not properly identified as defined in this sub-section shall be removed from the sponsor list by the Senate Vice-Chair.

2. Senators must be identified as a Senator and by their constituency. Senate Officers, Committee Chairs, and Liaisons may include their office.

3. ASUW employees must be identified by their job title and their department, commission, or program.

4. ASUW members who are not Senators or ASUW employees must be identified by either a specific constituency, RSO, organization, or simply as "ASUW Member".

SECTION 4. DESIGNATOR
The Senate Secretary shall assign a unique designator to all properly submitted legislation in the form of "C S-N", in which "C" denotes the proper legislative class ('R', 'SB', 'OA', 'SO', 'LD'), "S" denotes the Senate session number, and "N" denotes a numberin ascending order within the appropriate legislative class.

SECTION 5. STEERING REFERRAL
All properly submitted legislation must be referred for Committee consideration at the next Steering meeting following submission. Legislation improperly submitted which cannot be readily fixed shall be stricken from the record. Resolutions of a timely nature may bypass Committee Consideration with Steering approval.

SECTION 6. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

A. General Provisions

1. Each Standing Committee shall maintain its own calendar for consideration of legislation. All other committees, having legislation referred to them by Steering, must consider it immediately.

2. A Committee may consider legislation for up to two committee meetings following referral.

3. An extension of an additional two weeks may be requested by the Committee Chair at the first Steering Committee meeting after the two26 meeting limitation has elapsed.

4. Having failed to secure an extension, or having exhausted the extension, any legislation without a committee recommendation shall be tabled indefinitely and may no longer be considered by the committee nor shall it be considered by the Senate absent a motion to discharge the committee.

B. Committee Reports

1. The Committee may report the legislation to the Senate with either a favorable or unfavorable recommendation. The Committee may also report the legislation without a recommendation with a 2/3rds vote of the Committee.

2. The Committee, having chosen to report the legislation, shall select members of the Committee to give the majority and minority report. Members may only report for the side on which they voted.

SECTION 7. SENATE CONSIDERATION

A. Adding Legislation to the Senate Calendar
Legislation reported out of Committee or bypassing Committee consideration shall be placed on the Senate Agenda under "New Business" for the next meeting during which legislation is considered.

B. First Readings

1. When the Senate first begins consideration of a new piece of legislation, the Chair shall request the sponsor, or in the absence of the sponsor a cosponsor, to read the legislation.

(a) If no sponsor or cosponsor is present at the time of First Readings, the legislation shall be tabled until the Steering decides to place in back on the agenda.

2. The Chair shall then call for the Majority and Minority reports from the committee to which it was referred. If Committee consideration was bypassed or reported with no recommendation the Vice Chair shall provide an objective review of the legislation.

3. The Sponsor shall then have three minutes to review the legislation.

4. The Chair shall then ask for First Readings questions. Such questions must be limited to explanatory or implication questions and may not be argumentative. The Chair shall disregard all questions not meeting these criteria.

5. Having exhausted all First Readings questions, exhausted the time scheduled for first readings, or with the approval of a motion to end debate, First Readings shall be closed.

6. Legislation having completed First Readings shall be placed on the Senate Agenda under "Old Business" for the next meeting during which legislation is considered.

C. Second Readings

1. Upon consideration of an existing piece of legislation that has already completed First Readings, the Chair shall call for Second Readings and request the sponsor, or in the absence of the sponsor a cosponsor, to read the legislation.

(a) If no sponsor or cosponsor is present at the time of Second Readings the legislation shall be tabled until the Steering decides to place it back on the agenda.

2. The Chair shall again call for the Majority and Minority Committee reports. If Committee Consideration was bypassed or reported with no recommendation the Vice Chair shall provide an objective review of the legislation.

3. The Sponsor shall then have three minutes to present the legislation and give arguments in favor of its passage.

4. The Chair shall then preside over debate for the time specified in the agenda, or absent a time, for no longer than 20 minutes.

5. Once there is no further debate, or with the approval of a motion to end debate, Second Readings shall be closed. If time elapses before Second Readings have closed, the legislation shall be placed on the Senate Agenda under "Unfinished Business" for the next meeting during which legislation is considered.

6. The Chair shall then order the yeas and nays by voice vote.

(a) Should any Senator disagree with the determination of the Chair they shall request division. Unless there is absolutely no doubt as to the outcome of the vote, a request for division shall not be ruled dilatory.

(b) If division has been called, the Chair shall order the yeas and nays by raised placards.

D. Roll Call

1. A privileged motion for a roll call vote may be made by any Senator following debate but not after a call for division has been completed and the Chair has announced the results of the vote.

2. The motion shall be carried with 10% of present voting Senators.

3. A motion for a roll call vote shall not be debatable.

4. Upon passage of the motion, the Membership Coordinator shall read the name of each Senator who is considered present at the time of the motion for a roll call. The Vice-Chair shall record each individual Senator's vote.

RULE III - STEERING COMMITTEE

SECTION 1. AGENDA

A. General Provisions

1. The Chair shall present a draft Agenda for each Senate meeting, based on the standard agenda in Rule I, to the Steering Committee.

2. The Steering Committee shall approve it or adjust it to best accommodate the business before the Senate.

3. The Steering Committee may set time limits on any agenda item.

SECTION 2. PUBLIC FORUM

A. General Provisions

1. To obtain Public Forum time, the speaker or a proxy must appear before a Steering Committee meeting prior to the Senate meeting at which the speaker wishes to speak.

2. The Chair may waive the appearance before Steering if he or she deems it appropriate.

3. The Steering Committee must determine the appropriateness of the Public Forum based on, but not limited to, such factors as time sensitivity of the presentation, amount of business before the Senate, and interest to students.

4. The Steering Committee may set time limits for Public Forum.

5. Groups or individuals denied Public Forum time may be placed on the Agenda under Announcements.

SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE SENATE

A. Requirements

1. Special Meetings may be called in order to conduct urgent and time sensitive business.

2. Calling a Special Meeting shall require the approval of a majority of voting members present at the Steering Committee.

3. Special Meetings convened for any other purpose must be approved by a majority of the Senate, or by a 2/3rds majority of the Steering Committee.

B. Quorum

1. A quorum must be present to conduct business during a Special Meeting.

2. Absent a quorum, the Senate may only provisionally pass legislation of an urgent matter which must be ratified during the next Senate meeting that meets quorum.

SECTION 4. LEGISLATION

A. General Provisions

1. The Chair may recommend to the Steering Committee the appropriate Standing or Special Committee to which legislation should be referred.

2. The Steering Committee shall refer legislation to the Standing or Special Committee whose competency most closely relates to the subject of the legislation.

3. If Steering finds a piece of legislation lacking in information, clarity, or other attribute, it may refer the legislation with instructions to the Standing or Special Committee to provide further research or request more information from the sponsor.

4. All legislation pertaining to Bylaws and Rules of the Senate shall be referred to the Steering Committee for consideration. The Steering Committee shall have the power to table the legislation indefinitely.

RULE IV - ATTENDANCE

SECTION 1. ATTENDANCE POLICY

A. Absences

1. A Senator shall be considered absent from a meeting if they are not present and if they do not send a proxy.

2. Following the first two initial absences during a Senate Session, the absent Senator shall be subject to a letter of notification by the Membership Coordinator.

3. A third absence shall result in further notification to both the Senator and their constituency.

4. A fourth absence will result in a final warning to both the Senator and their constituency.

5. A fifth absence will result in the suspension of the seat until the constituency can find another ASUW Member to fill the seat.

6. If a new ASUW Member fills a Senate Seat either to replace a current Senator or to fill a suspended seat the absence count shall be reset to zero.

RULE V - PROXIES

SECTION 1. USE OF PROXIES

A. Form

1. The Membership Coordinator shall develop a standardized proxy form and shall make it available on the Senate website and at Senate meetings.

2. All valid proxies must be executed using the standard form.

B. Restrictions

1. A proxy shall only be valid for one meeting of the Senate.

2. In the case of an extended absence by a Senator, and with prior notification, the Membership Coordinator shall have the discretion to approve a proxy for a period up to but not exceeding sixty (60) days.

3. No individual may hold more than one proxy or otherwise be entitled to more than two votes as a result of holding a proxy.

C. Approval

1. Proxies must be presented to the Membership Coordinator by the start of the meeting for which they are valid.

2. If the Membership Coordinator determines that a proxy is in proper order, the person holding that proxy shall be entitled to vote on behalf of the proxied member.

3. The attendance record for the Senator executing the proxy shall be notated that the Senator was present by virtue of a proxy.

RULE VI - SENATE LIAISONS

SECTION 1. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Committee Attendance

1. All liaisons must attend all meetings of their assigned committee.

2. In the case that they are unable to attend a meeting the Senate Chair shall be authorized to serve on their behalf or designate a proxy.

B. Liaison Report
Liaisons will submit a liaison report to the Senate Chair no later than one week after their assigned committee meeting. The reports shall be made available to all members of Senate.

C. Senate Attendance

1. Liaisons must attend no less that 80% of all Senate meetings per year.

2. Excused absences and sending a proxy will count against attendance for the purposes of assessing completion of liaisons duties and responsibilities.

D. Verbal Reports

1. Liaisons will give a report to the Senate at the request of the Chair on matters of importance.

2. These reports shall take place immediately after the Chair's Report on the agenda.

3. These reports need not appear on the agenda to be in order unless they are prescribing a legislative action.

E. Binding Effects of Legislation
While acting as liaisons, members are bound to the decisions of Senate. In the absence of previous Senate decisions, the Senate Chair will provide copies of pertinent legislation to better communicate the will of Senate.

SECTION 2. PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL OF LIAISONS

A. Causes for Removal

1. If a liaison fails to complete any of the prescribed duties or responsibilities, they may be removed.

B. Removal Procedure

1. An Organic Act listing the specific duties or responsibilities that have not been completed shall be submitted for consideration and requesting the removal of the member from the liaison position.

2. The Chair shall notify the specified liaison that an Organic Act for Removal has been submitted and that they may present their defense before the Steering Committee. This notification must be in writing and must be provided to the specified liaison at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled Steering meeting.

3. The Steering Committee shall consider the Organic Act and all relevant evidence; this may include testimony from the sponsor of the Organic Act and the liaison in question. The Steering Committee shall choose to:

(i) concur with the Organic Act and pass it on to the Senate for a vote at the next meeting of the Senate;

(ii) amend the reasons for removal and pass it on to the Senate for a vote at the next meeting of the Senate; or

(iii) fail the Organic Act in its entirety.

4. The Organic Act, once before the Senate, shall be in order before all other Orders of the Day. Debate about the Organic Act shall be limited to the reasons listed in the Organic Act for why the liaison has failed to fulfill their duties or responsibilities.

5. Upon majority approval of the Organic Act the liaison shall be removed from the position.

6. Once the liaison has been removed the Chair shall open nominations for the vacant liaison. The previously removed liaison may not be nominated at this time, although they may be nominated for other liaison positions or subsequent vacancies of their previous liaison position.

RULE VII - LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVES

SECTION 1. REFERRAL

A. Procedure

1. A proposed Legislative Directive submitted by the Legislative Steering Committee or by the Board of Directors shall immediately be referred to the Floor of the Senate by the Steering Committee.

2. Referral of Legislative Directives submitted by Senators, not previously reviewed by the Legislative Steering Committee, shall be postponed for a period of one week during which an advisory opinion shall be sought from the Legislative Steering Committee.

(a) After one week has elapsed, Steering shall refer the Legislative Directive to the Floor of the Senate regardless of whether the Legislative Steering Committee has rendered an advisory opinion.

(b) If the Legislative Steering Committee has rendered an advisory opinion, it shall be attached to the Directive and treated as a committee report during consideration on the floor.

SECTION 2. CONSIDERATION

A. First Readings

1. Legislative Directives originating from the Legislative Steering Committee shall be jointly presented by the Senate Liaison to the Legislative Steering Committee and a representative from the Office of Government Relations.

2. Legislative Directives submitted by Senators shall be presented by the sponsor, assisted by the Senate Liaison to the Legislative Steering Committee.

3. Before presentation, the Chair shall outline the following process to the Senate and answer any questions regarding the process.

4. Presentation shall include a rationale for the Legislative Directive, any relevant history, and possible legislative situations where the item may be applied. Explanatory questions from the floor shall be answered by the presenters.

5. If the Legislative Directive includes more than one point, each point shall be presented separately. Once all questions have been answered or allowed time elapsed, the presenters shall move on to the next point until each point has been addressed.

6. Once all points have been addressed, the Legislative Directive shall be placed on Second Readings for the next Senate Meeting.

(a) If the Legislative Steering Committee has determined that the Legislative Directive is of an urgent and time-sensitive nature, the Legislative Directive may be immediately placed on Second Readings by a majority vote.

(b) Steering may, at its discretion, schedule a Legislative Directive to receive both First and Second Readings during one meeting if the matter requires urgent attention.

B. Second Readings

1. Presenters during Second Readings shall be the same as under First Readings.

2. Before consideration, the Chair shall outline the following process to the Senate and answer any questions regarding the process.

3. If a Legislative Directive contains multiple points, each point must be2 considered separately and in order in which they appear.

(a) During consideration of individual points it shall be in order to make motions adding, deleting, or modifying the current point.

(b) Once the point has been approved or deleted, motions to modify the point beyond placement in the agenda shall no longer be in order.

4. If a Legislative Directive contains multiple tiers, each tier must be considered separately and in order in which they appear.

(a) Once each point within a tier has been considered and approved or deleted, it shall be in order to make motions adding additional points to the tier.

(b) Once a tier has been approved motions to add new points to a tier other than those moved from other tiers shall no longer be in order.

5. Once all parts of a Legislative Directive have received approval it shall be in order to make motions altering the order of points within the Legislative Agenda. It shall not be in order to propose additional points, modify existing points or delete existing points.

6. Once all motions regarding placement have been considered, it shall be in order to approve the entire Legislative Directive. Approval shall require a simple majority of Senate.

7. If the Legislative Directive is creating a completely new Legislative Agenda a roll call vote shall be conducted.

8. Following approval of any Legislative Directive the Senate Liaison to the Legislative Steering Committee shall present the final copy to the Legislative Steering Committee.

SECTION 3. RESOLUTION OF DIFFERENCES WITH THE BOARD

A. General Provisions

1. If the Senate and the Board of Directors do not pass identical copies of a proposed Legislative Directive, the Steering Committee shall consider the differences.

(a) If Steering considers the amendments to be non-controversial, a vote to adopt the amendments shall be scheduled for the next Senate meeting. Should Senate reject the changes the Senate shall offer to go into conference with representatives from the Board of Directors.

(b) If Steering considers the amendments to be controversial the Senate shall offer to go into conference with representatives from the Board of Directors.

B. Resolution Conference

1. Senate Conferees shall be the Senate Chair, the Senate Liaison to the Legislative Steering Committee, and one Senator elected by the Senate in an expedited manner.

2. Senate Conferees shall meet with Board Representatives in a Resolution Conference to discuss a compromise on issues of difference.

3. If two of three Senate Conferees agree to a compromise with the Board Representatives, the compromise shall be presented to the Full Senate for consideration at the Senate meeting immediately following the Resolution Conference.

4. The Senate shall debate, but may not amend, the proposed compromise. Once time has expired, the Senate shall immediately vote to approve or reject the compromise.

5. If either the Senate or the Board rejects the compromise, Senate Conferees shall meet with Representatives of the Board of Directors to establish a new compromise.

RULE VIII - SPECIAL COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. SENATE OFFICER REVIEW COMMITTEE

A. Membership

1. The following shall constitute the membership of the Senate Officer Review Committee:

(i) the Senate Judicial Liaison;

(ii) three at-large Senators to be elected at the beginning of the year;

(iii) the ASUW President;

(iv) the ASUW Personnel Director (without vote); and

(v) the Senate SAO Adviser (without vote);

2. No member of this committee shall be permitted to provide a proxy.

3. The Senate Judicial Liaison shall be chair of the committee, ex-officio, and shall only vote in the case of a tie.

B. Competency

1. The committee shall review all formal complaints against paid Senate Officers.

2. The committee shall also be charged with recommending a course of action for the Senate and the Board when sanctioning a paid Senate Officer, and shall monitor the situation when pay has been suspended to determine if pay should be reinstated.

C. Meetings

1. The committee shall be called to order on an as-needed basis whenever a formal complaint has been filed with the ASUW Personnel Director.

2. The committee shall be called to order two weeks after a Senate Officer's pay has been suspended to determine if pay should be reinstated or if further actions are necessary. If, after the two week review, no different action is recommended, the committee shall conduct subsequent reviews upon the request of the sanctioned officer and with the consent of the appropriate chairing officer.

3. Should the committee not be called to order during any session by the fifth week of Spring Quarter, it shall meet to review the committee's purpose and procedures and make recommendations as needed.

D. Authorities

1. The committee shall have the following powers and authorities:

(i) issue requests for information to any Senate Officer or Board Member necessary to ascertain the validity of a properly filed complaint;

(ii) recommend to the Board of Directors that a paid Senate Officer have their pay suspended;

(iii) recommend to the Board to reinstate the pay of a paid Senate Officer who has had their pay previously suspended;

(iv) draft an Organic Act to remove a paid Senate Officer from office; and

(v) issue recommendations on the procedures of the Committee to ensure it can fulfill its intended purpose.

SECTION 2. STUDENT SENATE COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY

A. Membership

1. Senate Liaisons to the Finance & Budget Committee

2. Senate Liaison to the Legislation Steering Committee

3. Senate Liaison to the Personnel Committee

4. Senate Liaison to the Judicial Committee

5. Student Senate Vice-Chair

B. Chair
The Student Senate Chair shall be chair of the committee, ex-officio, and only vote in the case of a tie.

C. Competency

1. Review all Senate Orders for Recall

2. Recommend course of action for Student Senate regarding Senate Orders for Recall

D. Meetings

1. The committee shall be called to order on an as needed basis whenever a Senate Order for Recall is referred to the Committee by the Steering Committee.

2. The committee shall have two weeks from the date of submission to consider the allegations in the recall and determine their validity and if there is sufficient grounds for recall.

E. Authorities

1. May make requests for information of any Student Senate Officer necessary to ascertain the validity of Senate Order for Recall.

2. May make Requests for Information of any member of the Board of Directors.

RULE IX - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. Standing & Authorized Special Committees

1. All Standing Committees, and those specifically authorized Special Committees, may issue a Request for Information on a specific topic by a simple majority of the voting membership of the committee. The topic in question must be within the scope of competency of the committee.

2. Board Members may elect to either respond with a written response or a personal appearance within two Senate meetings after the request is issued.

3. Should the Board Member elected to respond with a written response and the answers provided are not sufficient for the committee, the committee may petition the full Senate to authorize a request for a Personal Appearance. Such petitions shall be made during the Request for Information agenda item.

B. Steering Committee

1. The Vice Chair may request that the Steering Committee issue a Request for Information. No other member of Steering or member of the Senate may make a request of Steering.

2. The Steering Committee may issue a Request for Information on a specific topic following such a petition and may specify if the response is to be either a written response or personal appearance.

3. The Board Member must provide a response within two Senate meetings after the request is issued.

C. Senators

1. Any Senator may petition the Senate for a Request for Information on a specific topic during the Request for Information period of the Agenda.

2. The Senate shall consider the motion for no longer the five minutes.

3. The request will be issued if approved by 20% of the present voting Senators.

4. The Board Member may elect to either respond with a written response or a personal appearance within two Senate meetings after the request is issued.

5. Should the Board Member elected to respond with a written response and the answers provided are not sufficient for the petitioner, the Senator may petition the full Senate to authorize a request for a personal appearance. Such petitions shall be made during the Request for Information agenda item and requires majority approval.

RULE X - SENATE AWARDS

SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Awards shall be bestowed during the final meeting of Spring Quarter. To be eligible for these awards, Senators must have served as a Senator for at least two quarters. If it is determined that no suitable candidate can be found, no award shall be bestowed. These awards shall be of three types: Senate Awards, Select Awards, and Certificates of Tenure.

SECTION 2. AWARDS

A. Senate Awards

1. In selecting a recipient for a Senate Award, nominations shall be made from the floor by any Senator, followed by a brief speech from the nominator explaining why the nominee is a worthy recipient. After the conclusion of the nomination presentations, a vote shall be conducted by closed ballot.

2. The Senate may award one Senator with the Senate Award for Leadership. Candidates should exemplify the qualities of leadership and commitment.

3. The Senate may award one Senator with the Senate Award for Oratory. Candidates should have contributed to the debate in Senate by enhancing Senate discourse, conducting and sharing meaningful research, and showing a dedication to reasoned deliberation.

B. Select Awards

1. Recipients of Select Awards shall be chosen by the body or individual specified.

2. The Senate Chair may award one Senator with the Chair's Award. Candidates should exhibit an unparalleled dedication to Senate.

3. The Senate Steering Committee may award one Senator with the Steering Committee Award. Candidates should exhibit qualities of an excellent participant in Senate, which may include: consistent attendance, participation, research, oratory, commitment, leadership, and achievement.

SECTION 3. CERTIFICATES OF TENURE
Any Senator who has served for two consecutive quarters during a session of Senate shall receive a Certificate of Tenure. Such certificate shall note the session, the Senator's name, their constituency, any Senate positions held during their tenure, and a note for perfect attendance.

RULE XI - AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
The outlined process for amending governing documents only applies to the Senate Bylaws and Rules.

SECTION 2. PROCEDURE

A. Format of Amendments

1. Amendments shall be submitted in the form of an Organic Act.

(a) Any Organic Act to strike a section must include the text to be stricken.

(b) Any Organic Act to modify a section must include the text before and after modification.

(d) All text currently in force shall be placed in whereas clauses and all proposed text shall be placed in that clauses.

(e) Any Organic Act proposing an amendment to a governing document may not contain any other proposed action.

B. Consideration by the Steering Committee

1. Amendments shall be considered at the next Steering Committee meeting following its submission.

2. Steering shall debate the purpose and merits of a proposed amendment at the first meeting and shall vote to further consider the amendment. Any amendment failing to receive a simple majority for further consider shall be considered tabled indefinitely.

3. Steering shall, at the meeting following the vote for further consideration, debate and approve word choice and construction of the amendment to ensure consistency, voice, clarity, and structure in relation to the Bylaws and Rules. Steering may neither table nor fail an amendment at this meeting.

4. Steering shall draft a written statement outlining the positive and negative consequences of the amendments adoption. Even if the amendment is approved of by Steering unanimously, Steering must provide arguments against adoption in the statement.

C. Consideration by the Senate

1. At the beginning of consideration, the sponsor of the amendment shall present the proposed amendment.

2. The Vice Chair shall present the written statement from the Steering Committee to the Senate.

3. The Senate shall consider the amendments under normal procedure for an Organic Act.

4. Amendments shall be adopted by the Senate in accordance with the thresholds specified in Article X of the Bylaws.

5. The Senate Vice-Chair shall present all amendments to the Bylaws at the next Board of Directors Meeting.

6. The governing documents shall be updated online within two weeks of the adoption of any amendment. The document shall note the date and session on which the amendment was adopted.

7. The officer charged with updating the governing documents shall have the authority to add, remove, or update cross-references as necessary after the adoption of an amendment.

SECTION 3. REGULAR REVIEW
During the summer immediately preceding a Presidential election, the Senate shall establish a Select Committee to review the Senate Bylaws and Rules. This committee shall produce recommendations to be considered during the following session.

Document History

During the 10th Session of the Senate, 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.

History 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

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