Bylaws

SECTION 1.  The proceedings of the West Texas A&M University Student Senate shall be governed by the latest edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

SECTION 2.  Exceptions to ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER shall be stated within these bylaws.

ARTICLE II
OFFICERS

SECTION 2.  The president of Student Senate shall be the vice president of Student Government and shall have the following duties:

1. To prepare an agenda for each Student Senate meeting. All proposed business shall be submitted to the president of Student Senate no later than two (2) class days before Senate convenes. Business submitted later than this deadline shall be placed on the agenda at the discretion of the president of Student Senate.
2. To number all legislation to be considered by Student Senate.
3. To announce vacant Senate seats immediately following the resignation, removal or death of a senator. Vacancies shall be publicized.
4. To recognize a member of the gallery who wishes to speak on the issue immediately before the Student Senate. Senators will have precedence over the gallery in being recognized.
5. To prepare a list of fun fines with the chair of the Governmental Operations committee on or before the third meeting of each semester.
6. To sign Internal Resolutions approved by the proper margin of Student Senate. The president of Student Senate shall have no veto power.
7. To call special or emergency meetings of the WTAMU Student Senate in times of need or crisis, with a membership quorum.

SUBSECTION 1

1. 48 hour notice much be taken before the meeting can take place: phone, letter, e-mail, etc.
2. There will be a suspension of the following rules during a special meeting.

• Dress Code
• Failure to provide advanced notice of absence

SECTION 3.  The president pro-tem shall be a senator nominated from the floor of the Senate on or before the third regular meeting of the Senate and shall receive a simple majority of votes cast by secret ballot. The president pro-tem shall fulfill the duties of this position as outlined in the Constitution.

SECTION 4.  The parliamentarian shall be a senator nominated from the floor of the Senate on or before the third meeting and shall receive a simple majority of votes cast by secret ballot. The parliamentarian shall fulfill the duties of this position as outlined in the Constitution.

SECTION 5.  The parliamentarian pro-tem shall be a senator nominated from the floor of the Senate on or before the third meeting and shall receive a simple majority of votes cast by secret ballot. The parliamentarian pro-tem shall fulfill the duties of this position as outlined in the Constitution. The parliamentarian pro-tem will also assess fun fines in conjunction with the president of Senate.

SECTION 6.  The sergeant at arms shall be a senator nominated from the floor of the Senate on or before the third meeting and shall receive a simple majority of votes cast by secret ballot. The sergeant at arms shall find a Senator or complete the following duties themselves:

1. To close the door to the Senate Chambers upon the President calling the meeting to order.
2. To lead the Senate in an invocation at the beginning of each Senate meeting.
3. To lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each Senate meeting.

ARTICLE III
SENATOR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To call for a roll call vote when the floor vote is divided.
2. To have people recognized from the gallery at their request.
3. To introduce all legislation that the Senate shall consider.
4. To attend all scheduled Senate meetings, special sessions, and committee meetings of which they are a member.
5. To run student polls as needed or requested by a member of Student Government.
6. To wear professional attire to all Senate meetings as defined by the following list.

            For males without Senate shirt:

• No shorts
• Pressed pants, which does not include jeans
• Nice, pressed, collared shirt with tie
• Shirt tucked in
• Clean dress shoes, no sandals
• No hats

• Senate polo tucked in
• Pressed dress pants or jeans
• No shorts
• Clean shoes, no sandals
• No hats

            For females without Senate shirt:

• No shorts or jeans
• Pressed dress pants which does not include jeans, skirt or dress
• Clean dress shoes or nice sandals, no flip-flops
• Nice shirt
• No hats
• No midriff showing or provocative attire

            For females with Senate shirt:

• Senate polo tucked in
• Pressed dress pants, skirt or jeans
• No shorts
• Clean shoes or sandals, no flip-flops
• No hats

7. Senators shall wear nametags at all Student Government functions.
8. To pay any and all fun fines incurred throughout the semester.

1. Failure to pay fines by the end of the current semester shall result in a hold on the student's records.
2. Senators may challenge a fine by meeting with the president of Student Senate, parliamentarian pro-tem, and chair of the Governmental Operations committee within one week of the assessed fine; any decision made is final.

9. To sign a notebook agreement in order to receive a Student Senate notebook. Each senator shall comply with the rules set forth in the notebook agreement. Failure to return a notebook at the end of each semester shall result in a fine. A hold will be placed on the student's records until the notebook is returned or the fine is paid.

SECTION 2.  Any changes made to the list of fun fines throughout the semester must be approved by a majority vote of Student Senate. Fines are to be used when Student Government is approached by organizations for donations in exchange for using the Student Government logo on their event materials and/or publicity. Any donations must be approved by Senate.

ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Report to the president of Student Senate its recommendations on the acceptance of excuses from senators for their Senate and Dean visit absences.

2. Oversee that the official ballot, the eligibility of potential candidates, and determining and publicizing the official results of all Student Government elections is carried out by the Chief Justice and the Student Government Secretary.

3. Report to the Senate its recommendations concerning changes in the techniques of operation in the Student Government.

4. Report to the Senate its recommendations on amendments to the Student Government Constitution, Student Senate Bylaws and Election Code.

5. Have a member serve on Campus Organization Funds Committee (COFC).

6. Research and report to Senate on all student fiscal affairs (i.e., student service fees).

7. Report to the Senate its recommendations concerning technology on campus.

8. Report to the Senate on matters dealing with other universities and the Texas A&M University System.

9. Chairman must serve on the Student Fee Advisory Committee

10. Report to the Senate on State and Federal legislative matters pertaining to Rules Appropriations.

11. Have members serve on Information Technology Committee, Student Endowment Fun.

1. Report to the Senate its recommendations concerning the relationship between students and faculty, staff and administration.

2. Meet with the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs once each long semester.

3. Report to the Senate its suggestions for changes in the curriculum offered by West Texas A&M University.

4. Report to the Senate its recommendations concerning all academic areas.

5. Report to the Senate on State and Federal legislative matters pertaining to Academic Affairs.

6. Assist with any Student Government related programs when necessary.

7. Write a bi-monthly article for the student newspaper summarizing the proceedings and events of Student Senate.

8. Have  members serve on the Academic Appeals, Core Curriculum, and Curriculum standing committees.

SECTION 3.  The committee for Student Affairs shall:

1. Report to the Senate its recommendations concerning the relationship of West Texas A&M University's campus organizations to the Student Body.

2. Report to the Senate its recommendations concerning all matters involving the life of the students on the WTAMU campuses.

3. Report to the Senate its recommendations concerning the relationship of West Texas A&M University to the public, including image-building and recruitment.

4. Create ways to enhance Senator relations with the student body, faculty, staff and administration.

5. Work with the president of Student Senate to produce all materials that advertise the events that Student Senate organizes.

6. Facilitate the maintenance of the Student Government website.

7. Report to Student Senate its recommendations for improving campus and public awareness of Student Government events.

8. Meet with the Vice President for Student Affairs once each long semester

9. Report to the Senate on State and Federal legislative matters pertaining to Student Affairs.

10. Have members serve on Code of Student Life, Student Advisory Board for Athletic Complex, and Homecoming committee.

11. Facilitate an annual Veterans Day celebration for current and veteran military personnel within WTAMU’s student, faculty, staff and administration populations

12. Oversee the Representative to the City of Canyon Town Hall meetings who shall:

SUBSECTION 1

1. Confirmed by 2/3 vote of the Student Senate.

2. Report to the Student Affairs committee directly on all matters to and of WTAMU and the City of Canyon

3. Report to the Senate floor on all minutes of Canyons Town Hall meetings that occur during the fall and spring semesters of the WTAMU campus.

SECTION 4.  The committees shall:

1. Form subcommittees at the discretion of the Senate President and/or the Committee Chairmen to be held for the academic year.

2. Form Ad-Hoc Committees when deemed necessary at the discretion of the Committee Chairman.

3. Require the Committee Chairmen to attend a weekly staff meeting throughout the academic year to be determined by the Student Body President, Vice President, and Chief Justice.

4. Require the Committee Chairmen to work 1 hour during the week in the Student Government Office to finalize work for the next Senate meeting.

ARTICLE V
LEGISLATION

Legislation of the Student Senate shall:

SECTION 1.  Be in written form including a number, title, preamble, and enactment.

1. All legislation or written actions of the Senate shall be numbered with two letters and five numerals. The number shall be assigned by the president of the Student Senate.

2. The two letters shall designate the type of legislation.

1. Constitutional Amendments are used primarily as recommendations to change the Student Government Constitution and shall be designated - CA;

2. Senate Bills are used primarily as recommendations for Chief Justice, Student Judicial Board members, University Standing Committee members, and Election Code revisions and shall be designated - SB;

3. Senate Resolutions are used primarily to formally acknowledge recommendations, accomplishments, investigations or endorsements and shall be designated - SR;

4. Senate Internal Resolutions are used primarily to acknowledge procedural changes within Student Senate's power and shall be designated - IR.

3. The five numerals shall be designated as follows: The first digit will be the number of the semester in which the legislation is introduced, "one" (1) meaning the fall semester and "two" (2) meaning the spring semester; the next two digits represent whether the legislation is the first, second, etc. legislation to be presented to the Senate that semester; the final two digits represent the year in which the legislation is introduced.

SECTION 2.  Be defined as a simple resolution when introduced in the form of a motion on the Senate floor. Simple resolutions do not have to be in written form.

SECTION 3.  Be defined as formal legislation when introduced in written form.

SECTION 4.  Be introduced by a senator by being read while the senator has the floor.

SECTION 5.  Be referred to a committee by the president of the Student Senate upon motion from the floor.

SECTION 6.  Be reintroduced by the committee after being referred pending the committee approval.

SECTION 7.  Be sent to the president of Student Government, after approval by the proper margin, if the legislation is a Constitutional Amendment, Senate Bill or Senate Resolution.

SECTION 8.  Be sent to the president of Student Senate, after approval by the proper margin, if the legislation is an Internal Resolution.

1. Any Internal Resolution not signed within 10 days will be considered signed by the president of Student Senate.

2. Internal Resolutions shall become effective upon approval of the Student Senate.

ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these bylaws shall:

SECTION 1.  Be attached directly to the current bylaws.

SECTION 2.  Be effective upon a 2/3 vote of the senators present provided the amendment was submitted as an internal resolution at a regular meeting of the Student Senate.

Amendments of IR:10308 dated 10/27/08,10508 dated 10/27/08, 10608 dated 11/17/08, 20409 dated 3/9/09, 20509 dated 4/13/09, and 21009 dated 4/27/09
Incorporated into body of document.
Subject to Correction of Clerical Errors