Senate

Senate Positions

Secretary - record, prepare, and distribute the detailed minutes of Student Senate proceedings

Parliamentarian - advise the presiding officer on matters of parliamentary procedure during Student Senate meetings

Sergeant-At-Arms - maintain order during Student Senate meetings, to be in charge of the physical set up of the Student Senate sessions, and to pass out any literature during the course of the meeting

All four of the standing legislative committees (Academic issues, governmental affairs, public policy, student rights and interests) all have room for non-elected students to serve on them.

Roles and Responsibilities of College Senators

Two College Senators are elected by their standing Tribunals within each college at the University (ie: CECH, Engineering, A&S, CCM, DAAP, CoB, CAS, etc.).  These Senators are the official representatives of their college Tribunals and are meant to act in the best interest of those they represent.

Mandated by the Student Senate, these Senators are required to complete 3 office hours per week (or a total of 30 per quarter) either within the Student Government office related to Student Government events or by attending events and meetings within their own college.  These Senators are required to attend the Student Senate meetings as well as their own College Tribunal meetings, these meetings do not count as office hours.  These Senators must maintain a 2.0 GPA (unless higher mandated by the College's own Tribunal).

Roles and Responsibilities of At-Large Senators

There are eight Senators who are elected at large, by the student body during Spring Election Week.  The mission of these student Senators is to represent the beliefs of the student body as a whole.  These Senators are also required to perform 3 office hours a week (30 hours for the quarter) while remaining in good academic standing. They are required to attend the weekly Senate meetings but are not required to attend any of the Tribunal meetings from their respective colleges, however it is greatly encouraged that these students attend many diverse student group meetings and use these interactions as an opportunity to develop a better understanding of the wants and needs of the general populous of the student body.

Roles of the Office of Speaker

Can be found in Article II, Title I, Section 1a-j of the By-Laws

Include:
  • Serving as the official representative of Student Senate
  • Overseeing and coordinating all standing and ad-hoc legislative committees
  • Acting as presiding officer during Student Senate meetings
  • Determining the Chairs and Structure of each legislative committee with the approval of Student Senate
  • Appointing and overseeing the Secretary of Senate, Parliamentarian, and Sergeant-At-Arms with Senate approval
  • Communicating with Student Court and Student Court of Appeals
  • Chairing the Ways and Means Committee