Standing Rule 1

Subject: Standing Rules

Purpose: To define Standing Rules

Standing Rules, as defined by Roberts Rules of Order, when adopted by the ASWNMU Senate as legislation, become the contents of the ASWNMU Senate Manual of Operations Guidelines.

A Standing Rule, to be adopted, must receive the consent of two-thirds of the Senate.

A Standing Rule, to be amended or repealed, must receive the consent of three-quarters.

A Standing Rule, to be suspended, must receive the consent of the entire Senate.

Standing Rule 2

Subject: Quorum

Purpose: To define quorum and establish the minimum number of members applicable to various senate sizes. According to Roberts Rules of Order: The Modern Edition, quorum is defined as, “…the minimum number of members who must be present at a meeting for the transaction of business. Unless there is a rule to the contrary, a quorum is a majority of the members…” Accordingly, the following table establishes the minimum number of members who must be present for the transaction of business at a regular or special meeting of the ASWNMU Senate. 

Senate	Quorum	Senate	Quorum
14	8	7	4
13	7	6	4
12	7	5	3
11	6	4	3
10	6	3	2
9	5	2	2
8	5	1	1

 

Standing Rule 3

Subject: Attendance

Purpose: To establish a policy defining tardiness and absence in relation to the ASWNMU Senate regularly scheduled meetings.

Absence: If a Senator is absent from three regular meetings in one academic year, they will forfeit the held Senate position.

In addition, if a senator is absent from two caucuses it will result in one absence toward their meetings.  (Miss two caucuses = missing one regular senate meeting)

Tardy: If a Senator arrives at regular meeting after call to order but before end of old business, they are issued a tardy.

If a Senator receives three tardy in one academic year they will receive one absence.

If a Senator arrives at a regular meeting after call to order and after start of new business, they will receive one full absence.

Standing Rule 4

 

Subject:  Proxy Voting

 

Purpose:  To establish the policy permitting an absent Senator to vote.

 

Article I: A vote by proxy shall only be permitted for items under Old business on that meetings agenda.

 

Article II: A vote by proxy shall be submitted in the appropriate format to the President Pro Tempore or the Floor leader of the Senate in person by the individual casting the proxy vote.

 

Article III: A single proxy must be submitted for each item under old business that the Senator wishes to vote on at that particular meeting.

 

Article IV: A submission of a proxy vote does not excuse a Senator from being tardy or absent from a regular Senate meeting.

 

Standing Rule 5

 

Subject:  Agenda

 

Purpose:  To establish a specific order of Business for regularly scheduled ASWNMU Senate Meetings.

 

Article I: The agenda for regularly scheduled ASWNMU Senate meetings shall be as follows:

 

I.                   Call to Order

II.                Opening Ceremonies

III.             Roll Call

IV.             Approval of Agenda

V.                Approval of Minutes

VI.             ASWNMU Executive Council Reports

a.       President

b.      Vice President

c.       Secretary

d.      Treasurer

e.       Attorney General

f.       Governmental Affairs Director

g.      (Any other appointed positions)

h.      Committee Reports

VII.          Old Business

VIII.       New Business

IX.             Announcements

X.                Adjournment

 

Article II: Provisions for certain line items of the agenda

 

Section 1: Line item IV, ASWNMU Executive Council Reports, presentations of such reports to the ASWNMU Senate by any member of the Executive Branch shall be at the discretion of said officer, excluding the Treasurer who report is mandatory.

 

Article III: Line item VIII, new business, recognition of clubs and Organizations and Club funding allocations shall take precedence over any other item in new business.

 

Article IV:

 

Section 1: The agenda shall be maintained by the Pro Tempore and Secretary of the Senate.  The Secretary of the Senate will be responsible for preparing, organizing, and distributing the agenda.  The distribution of said agenda falls on the Secretary of the Senate.

 

Section 2: The agenda shall be available to every member of the ASWNMU and will be posted the Monday before the bi-weekly meeting.  The deadline for all legislation to be submitted to be placed on the agenda shall be the one business day before the posting of the agenda, and it must be submitted to the Attorney General for review.

 

Standing Rule 6

 

Subject: Senate Pro tempore Position

 

Purpose: Description of duties, election and vacancies of position.

 

Article I: Position Defined

The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is a constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the President of the Senate (Executive Council Vice President), is elected by the members of the Senate. The Pro tempore shall conduct legislative consideration and representation duties of a Senator on behalf of ASWNMU Student Body.

 

Section I: Election to Position

The potential candidate must hold a valid and current Senate position, per standing rule 10 election rules by student body or appointment by student body President and Senate approval. Further a nomination by a standing Senator and be elected by the existing Senate body by majority vote.

 

Section II: Replacement of Vacated Position

Nomination by a standing Senator and a majority elect by existing senate body from a valid senate seat holder.

 

Article II: Position Duties

 

Section I: General Duties

All regular senate duties as defined by ASWNMU Constitution Article III, Section III, Subsections A-H

 

Section II: Specific Duties

The finalization of the regular Senate Meeting agenda—getting them to the Senate Secretary for campus posting, Checking documented Senate hours and maintaining absence log of Senators, Update senate mail boxes with any relevant student government information, Electronic communication with student government web master as well as e-mail reminders to Senate and Executive council members, Facilitate scheduled senate caucuses, Chair senate in absence of Senate President

 

Standing Rule 7

 

Subject: Senate Floor Leader

 

Purpose: Description of duties, election and vacancies of position.

Article I: Position Defined

The position of Senate Floor Leader is to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for the Senate to manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By custom, the Presiding Officer gives the floor leader priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate. Assist Pro Tempore fill role in case of vacancy until new elect can be validated and sworn in

 

Section I: Election to Position

The potential candidate must hold a valid and current Senate position, per standing rule 10 election rules by student body or appointment by student body President and Senate approval. Further a nomination by a standing Senator and be elected by the existing Senate body by majority vote.

 

Section II: Replacement of Vacated Position

Nomination by a standing Senator and a majority elect by existing senate body from a valid senate seat holder.

 

Article II: Position Duties

 

Section I: General Duties All regular senate duties as defined by ASWNMU Constitution Article III, Section III, Subsections A-H

 

Section II: Specific Duties

Ensure Senate meeting chambers or public meeting room is secured and properly set up for meetings, Facilitating a clean and orderly Senate chambers. Secure reference materials, documentation, and presentation equipment for meetings and caucuses. Keeper of the flag. Update senate notebooks and materials for Senate information

 

Standing Rule 8

 

Subject: Senate Secretary

 

Purpose: Description of duties, election and vacancies of position.

 

Article I: Position Defined

The Secretary for the Senate is elected to serve as scheduling and information coordinators between the Senate officers and individual Senators.

 

Section I: Election to Position

The potential candidate must hold a valid and current Senate position, per standing rule 10 election rules by student body or appointment by student body President and Senate approval.

 

Section II: Replacement of Vacated Position

Nomination by a standing Senator and a majority elect by existing senate body from a valid senate seat holder.

 

Article II: Position Duties

 

Section I: General Duties

All regular senate duties as defined by ASWNMU Constitution Article III, Section III, Subsections A-H

 

Section II: Specific Duties

Taking minutes of all required meetings, Updating and distribution of Student Government contact list, Help acquire and organize business for meeting agenda. Convey minutes: web master, Senate boxes, and Executive Council boxes.

 

Standing Rule 9

Subject: Sergeant-at-arms

Purpose: To establish a by-partisan sergeant-at-arms for all scheduled Senate meetings, and explain their duties in said position.

Article I: The position of sergeant-at-arms shall be held by the current acting ASWNMU Attorney General.  This is for the sole purpose to have an un-biased position and to relieve all Senators of the duties of said position.  In addition, the Attorney General’s position requires him/her to be well versed in all constitutional procedures, Robert’s Rules of Order procedures and well versed in all by-laws and standing rules, which makes him/her the most qualified to carry out duties of said position.

Article II: Duties of position shall be tasked with ensuring a point of order at all times during meetings, bringing any procedural breeches to the attention of the executive officer of the meeting, administering a requirement to cease offensive behavior by members and non-members present at the meeting and enacting any removal of individuals who are continuing offenders with the aid of campus police.

Article III: In case of Attorney General’s absence at a meeting, the appointment of another sergeant-at-arms for that meeting will be the responsibility of executive officer of said meeting, and will last only for the duration of that meeting.

Standing Rule 10

Subject:  Legislation

Purpose: To ensure that all Senators have copies of all Legislation in a timely fashion.

Article I: To ensure clarity, before any legislation can be presented to the Senate in a meeting copies of said bill must be handed to all senators that will be present to vote on the bill being presented.

Standing Rule 11

Subject:  New Senator Preparation

Purpose:  To train new Senators who have not help the position before in the procedures of the ASWNMU Senate meetings.

Article I: The Executive Council Vice President in conjunction with the faculty advisor or any other knowledgeable figure on R.R.o.O. and Constitutional procedure shall arrange a workshop or mock meeting at the beginning of each semester. This shall be done within the first four weeks of each semester in said academic year.  The meeting needs to focus on all procedures that deal with ASWNMU meetings such as voting, making motions, etc… In the event that there are no senators that have not held the position before, the meeting is not necessary, but a refresher on all procedures is a good idea. All details dealing with the meeting are at the discretion of the Executive Council Vice President.