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Student Senate Application
Bylaws:
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Student Senate
Article I: Title
The name of the organization shall be the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Student Senate, which hereafter may be referred to as the Student Senate
Article II: Charge
The Student Senate shall participate in all levels of institutional governance and shall be the chief student legislative authority for information and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests in keeping with Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5). The Student Senate possesses the primary responsibility for the representation of the student views, opinions, and ideas throughout all levels of university governance. To this end, the Student Senate shall review and consider any university matters that it deems appropriate. Finally, the Student Senate shall be responsible for the analysis and review of municipal, state, and federal legislation affecting students and relevant to student issues.
Article III: Powers Reserved by the Senate
The Student Senate shall have the sole power of impeachment over student government members with those exceptions made in the Student Government Constitution. The Student Senate will establish the process of impeachment concurrent with Article 1, Section 2, Sub-section 6, pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 19.85.
Article IV: Section I: Membership
Membership of the Student Senate shall be comprised of designated seats to ensure maximum
student input and participation. Representatives of both Student Governments Association
bodies and other external groups and individuals shall fill these seats. The make-up of
the Student Senate shall be as follows:
- SGA Vice President acting as President of the Student Senate (vote only to determine majority)
- Speaker of the Student Senate
- Student Senators at large (35)
- Student Government Association President (Ex-officio non-voting)
- Resident Hall and Apartment Association President (Ex-officio non-voting)
- Standing Executive Secretaries (Ex-officio non-voting)*
- Faculty Senate Representative (1) (Ex-officio non-voting)
- Dean of Students or appointed representative (Ex-officio non-voting)
- Chancellor (Ex-officio non-voting)
*Only the standing Secretaries as described in the Student Government Constitution Article 1, Section 3, Sub-section 1 and 2 are to be considered members of the Senate.
Article IV: Section II: Membership Vacancies
The President, Vice-President, and Senators at large shall be elected by the student body
in the spring elections for the following an academic year.
(1) During the first meeting of the Student Senate after the Spring elections, Senators
shall elect from its membership a Speaker of the Student Senate. The President of the
Student Senate will entertain nominations from the floor. Immediately after, a roll call
vote will be taken. The Senator receiving simple majority shall be made Speaker of the
Student Senate.
(2) If during the course of the academic year senator seats become available, an
application process to include 100 signatures of enrolled UW-Green Bay students, is to
be used to fill vacancies. The Senate must then approve applicants by a simple majority.
In the event of a vacancy in the position of the Speaker, due to
resignation, impeachment, academic ineligibility, or death, the Senate shall
vote upon a successor in the same method as initial choosing in accordance
with Article IV, Section II, Sub-section I of these by-laws.
Article V: Section I: Senator Qualifications
The Student Senate is open to any student currently enrolled at the
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). They may, by election or appointment,
become active members in the Student Senate. Pursuant to Article 4, Section
1 of the SGA Constitution, all active members of the Student Senate must be
carryings at least three credits per semester and must have a 2.0 cumulative
grade point average, calculated on a 4.0 scale. New students not having a
cumulative GPA are considered eligible for active membership in the Student
Senate. If a member of the Student Senate falls under a 2.0 GPA, the procedure
will be followed as outlined in the SGA Constitution referenced above.
Article V: Section II: Terms of Student Senators
All Student Senators elected in the Spring Elections shall serve for one year beginning on
May 1.
All Student Senators who became members through application shall serve until the May 1
following their approval.
Any member of the Student Senate who finds it necessary to resign shall do so in writing to
the Speaker.
Article V: Section III: Duties of Student Senators
All Senators holding at-large seats shall serve on at least two standing committees
(Environmental Affairs Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, University Governance
Committee, Union and Dining Committee, Health and Safety Committee, Student Resources
Committee, Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee, and Student Recreation and
Athletics Committee) as available.
All Senators should attend all required meetings unless excused. If a Senator is unable to
attend a meeting, the Senator should contact the Speaker of the Student Senate prior to
the scheduled meeting time and notify her/him of the reason for the absence.
More than two (2) excused absences, one (1) unexcused absences from
the general assembly will result in termination from position. Three
(3) excused absences, two (2) unexcused absences from each of the
committee said member is active in shall result in termination from
position. A Student Senator in this situation may appeal to the student
court, and the appeal can be overturned by simple majority. The Speaker
or Chairperson may approve additional absences when special circumstances
need to be considered.
Student Senators are required to post and advertise at least two separate open office hours
a semester to make themselves available to their constituencies.
Article VI: Officers of the Student Senate
Duties of the Speaker of the Student Senate:
The Speaker of the Student Senate shall be the person who represents the Student Senate at
all levels of University governance, administration, other SGA bodies, and to any and all
other groups or organizations that the Senate deems necessary. Thus, the Speaker's loyalties
lie exclusively with the Student Senate. He/She will allow all personal feelings and opinions
to be set aside in order to represent the views of the Senate as a whole.
The Speaker's responsibilities are, but not limited to:
Being responsible for the convening and conducting of all Student Senate meetings in
accordance with these bylaws, the SGA Constitution, and the most recent edition of Robert's
Rules of Order. Thus the Speaker of the Student Senate has final approval of the meeting
place, time, and agenda for all Senate Meetings.
Shall promote and recruit for the Student Senate.
Meet weekly with the Student Senate's resource liaison.
The Speaker shall provide written notice to the Secretary of the Faculty and Academic
Staff alerting her/him of the availability of a seat for a Faculty Representative. It is
then the responsibility of Secretary of the Faculty and Academic Staff (or their designee)
to send a representative to the Student Senate.
Shall be responsible for the hiring and supervision of the Student Senate Executive
Assistant.
Shall vote in all matters before the Student Senate, in the case of a roll call vote, shall
vote last in accordance with Robert's Rules.
Form ad-hoc committees to address issues of particular complexity or controversy.
Shall be responsible for all the financial transactions of the Student Senate, and shall submit
a budget to the SGA President.
Duties of the Student Senate Executive Assistant:
Responsibility for recording of minutes, the preparation of agendas, and the duplication
there of.
Typing, duplicating, and other pertinent Student Senate secretarial work as designated by
the President of the Student Senate or Speaker of the Student Senate.
Regulating the use of Student Senate office supplies and ordering replacement supplies with
the consultation of the President of the Student Senate and/or Speaker of the Student
Senate.
Research when deemed necessary by the Student Senate and/or Speaker of the Student Senate.
Ensure that all passed resolution and bills be properly archived with the campus library.
Article VII: Meetings of the Student Senate
The Student Senate shall meet at a minimum of once a month during the academic year at a time
and location accessible to the members.
The most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary guide in all
matters not governed by these bylaws.
All matters not provided for in these bylaws, the SGA Constitution, the Merger
Implementation Statement, University regulations, State Statutes, or the most recent edition
of Robert's Rules of Order shall be determined at the discretion of the Speaker (or action
chair).
All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Wisconsin Open Meeting Laws.
Each Student Senator shall have one vote, and may proxy that vote at any time.
Any motion to regulate debate shall require a two-thirds majority vote in order to be
enacted.
Any member making a motion shall be given first opportunity to speak to his/her motion and
may not speak again until all others have, if so desired.
Any motion requiring action on the part of the Student Senate shall contain a proviso as to
which officer; director, senator, or committee shall be designated to follow through on the
intent of the motion.
A minority report may be filed in the Student Senate minutes upon request.
All resolutions and bills submitted to the Student Senate for consideration must also be forwarded, reasonably in advance of the next Senate meeting, to the appropriate Senate committee for due consideration, if such a committee exists, before being considered by the Student Senate. The committee need not take action on the resolution or bill prior to its consideration by the full Senate.
Resolution and bills need not originate within a Senate committee.
Any resolution submitted for approval to the Student Senate must be co-sponsored by a
current member of the Student Senate.
The sponsor and co-sponsor of a resolution must provide written documentation of sponsorship
and co-sponsorship to the Speaker of the Student Senate.
The United States flag will be displayed at meetings and the Pledge of Allegiance shall be
recited at the beginning of each meeting. Members are not required to recite the Pledge
of Allegiance but it is strongly encouraged.
Any Student Senate committee utilizing the Automatic Consent clause defined in Article 1, Section 3, Sub-section 11 of the Student Government Constitution must forward their committee decision to the Speaker of the Senate at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Student Senate.
Article VIII: House Decorum Rules
The following House Decorum Rules are to be strictly adhered to.
If at any time the Chairperson of the Senate feels that a member of the Senate is in
violation of said rules, the Chairperson of the Senate reserves the right to reprimand said
member in a responsible manner. The Chairperson has one week, from the incident, to
present disciplinary action to the Senate.
The Student Court reserves the right to overrule the disciplinary action of the Chairperson if
the member being reprimand files an appeal.
House Decorum Rules
- Silence from the assembly when a member has the floor.
- A consecutive speaking limit, to be proposed by the Chairperson, with no less than two
minute speaking limit. Speaking limit does not apply to presentation of resolutions or
amendments.
- Member must face the assembly when presenting a resolution.
- Civil discourse must be adhered to at all times. All members of the Senate will be
treated with respect and courtesy.
- Negative language directed at another member of the assembly will not be condoned.
- All members are to report to meetings on schedule.
- The wearing of headgear, with the exception of religious articles, is forbidden.
- Personal recesses must be submitted to the Chairperson verbally or through writing.
- Consumption of food is limited to beverages.
- All electronic devices are to be silenced. Members may be asked to discontinue use if
they become a distraction.
Article IX: Bylaw Amendments
Amendment to these bylaws of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Student Senate may be
proposed and heard at any regular meeting of the Student Senate. All proposed amendments to
these bylaws must submitted in writing to each of the Senators three days prior to the date
of the meeting in which the amendments will be considered. All bylaw amendments must be tabled
for a period of one week and will require a two-thirds majority vote of the present,
voting Student Senators in order to be enacted.
Submitted for consideration to the Student Senate by the Speaker of the Student Senate and
Speaker Pro-Temp of the Student Senate (2005-2006 Academic Term)
Approved April 16, 2007
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