STANDING RULES

Of the

University of Maine

GENERAL STUDENT SENATE 

RULE 1

MEMBERSHIP OF THE GENERAL STUDENT SENATE

SECTION 1 – SENATORS

•  The General Student Senate (herein after referred to as the “GSS”) shall consist of not less than ten (10) and not more than thirty-five (35) Senators.

•  Apportionment of the Senate shall be on a basis that will ensure, as far as it is practicable, that equal numbers of voters can vote for proportionally equal numbers of Senators. The Fair Elections Practices Commission Chair will propose a resolution apportioning Senate seats on the second regular meeting of the Fall Semester.

•  For any reason, in the event of vacancies in Senate seats, the President of the GSS shall appoint members to fill said vacancies.

•  Prerequisites for being seated as a Senator will be as follows:

•  The candidate must be a current University of Maine undergraduate student.

•  The candidate must complete an information sheet and petition with not less than twenty-five (25) signatures from members of the academic college the candidate wishes to represent.

•  The candidate must be interviewed by the President of the GSS prior to the meeting at which he/she will be sworn in. If the President of the GSS finds the candidate meets all prerequisites for membership, he/she will be automatically placed on the agenda to be sworn in at the next GSS meeting.

•  No Senator who has previously been dismissed may be appointed to a vacant seat any sooner than four (4) regular meetings following the dismissal.

•  Senators shall enjoy all rights and privileges common to membership in a parliamentary body, subject to these Standing Rules.

•  The President of the GSS has the authority to remove a Senator based on his/her inability to fulfill the duties as written in Rule One, Section One of these Standing Rules. The Senator has the ability to request that the GSS overturn the decision of the President of the GSS. A two-thirds (2/3 rds ) roll-call vote is needed to reverse the decision of the President of the GSS.

•  The GSS itself has the authority to remove a Senator. This will be made with a two-thirds (2/3 rds ) vote for removal at a trial. This trial will occur after the passage of a special resolution calling for a trial for the removal of the Senator.

SECTION 2 – REQUIREMENTS OF SENATORS

•  Each Senator must serve on not less than one Standing Committee within the General Student Senate.

•  The President of the GSS shall dismiss from his or her respective seat any Senator who accumulates two (2) unexcused absences from either GSS meetings or meetings of his or her respective committee(s) in a given session. A member not present or excused during final roll call shall be considered absent.

•  Each Senator must attend not less than two (2) academic classes per semester to report on GSS activities, as well as any other information felt necessary.

SECTION 3 – EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS

•  The Ex-Officio members of the General Student Senate shall be The President of Student Government, the Vice President for Financial Affairs, The Vice President for Student Entertainment, the Presidents of all Representative Boards, the Presidents of the Community Associations, the Director of External Affairs, the Faculty Senate Representative, the Board of Trustees Representative, the University System Liaison, the FEPC Chair, the Legal Services Liaison and any members of Student-Administrative Committees. All Ex-Officio members shall be required to report during regular Senate meetings and as such shall have a place on the agenda to do so.

•  Save the President of Student Government, the Vice President for Financial Affairs, the Vice President of Student Organizations, the Vice President for Student Entertainment, and any Senators who hold Ex-Officio seats, the Ex-Officio officers may not propose resolutions to the Senate.

•  Save any Senators who hold Ex-Officio seats, the Ex-Officio officers may not vote or make motions, except to rise to a Point of Information or a Point of Personal Privilege.

•  Ex-Officio officers may make nominations, and may debate at the discretion of the Chair.

SECTION 4 – ELECTIONS

A. The date of the GSS elections shall be held in accordance with the FEPC Guidelines.

B. The Senators of the GSS shall be elected by a plurality vote of their constituency.

C. If an election is held for any Senate seat and no candidates run for the seat, the President of the GSS shall report any and all such occurrences at the next meeting of the GSS after such an election, as part of his/her report. In such cases, it shall be the duty of the President and members of the GSS to seek out possible candidates for the seat.

SECTION 5 – NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS

•  Nominations of four (4) Senators to the Executive Budgetary Committee, two (2) members of the President's Cabinet, the Faculty Senate Representative, Board of Trustees Representative, University System Liaison, FEPC Chair, and Legal Services Liaison shall be held one week before Senate approval will be voted upon, unless the number of nominations equals the number of positions to be filled, in which case appointment is automatic.

•  The four (4) seats on the Executive Budgetary Committee shall be nominated beginning with the last regular meeting of a session of the General Student Senate, with nominations concluding and elections taking place at the following meeting (the first of the new session), or when any seat should fall vacant.

•  The two seats on the President's Cabinet shall be appointed on the first meeting following a new President of Student Government taking office, or when any seat should fall vacant.

•  All other elections and appointments shall occur when the seat shall fall vacant. Terms for all aforementioned appointments are indefinite; save the Board of Trustees Representative, who shall have a 2-year appointment, which shall begin once appointed to the position.

E. Voting in cases of contention shall be conducted by secret ballot and the winner shall be chosen by plurality vote. The FEPC Chair shall conduct any ballot counting (except in any cases in which a conflict of interest would arise, at which time a new ballot counter would be appointed by the President of the GSS), and announce the winner at that meeting.

F. Voting in such cases shall require the voting Senator's name, district and vote, or the ballot shall not be counted.

RULE 2

TAKING THE OFFICE OF SENATOR

SECTION 1 – PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS

•  In the case of elected Senators, after the presentation of credentials, the Senator shall immediately be sworn in. In the case of an appointment, the Senate shall have the right to question the candidate, debate the candidates appointment, and vote on whether to accept the candidate or not. If approved, the candidate will then immediately be sworn in.

SECTION 2 – THE SENATORIAL OATH OF OFFICE

Each potential Senator shall be required to stand, raise his/her right hand, and repeat the following prior to being officially seated as a Senator:

I state your name , do solemnly swear, that I will support and uphold the Constitution of Student Government, Inc, and all other rules and guidelines to which I will be held. Further I swear to well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, while representing my constituency, and the University of Maine .

SECTION 3 – TERM

Once seated following taking the oath of office, a Senator's term shall extend until the last meeting of the session in which they were sworn in adjourns.

RULE 3

PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL STUDENT SENATE

SECTION 1 – POWERS

A. The President of the GSS shall be the Vice President of Student Government.

B. The President of the GSS shall serve as the Chair of said body.

C. The President of the GSS shall call all meetings of said body.

D. The President of the GSS shall have the right to excuse members from meetings with sufficient excuse.

E. During the first regular meeting of the newly elected Senate, the President of the GSS shall propose nominations for the committee structure of the Senate, including the chair of each committee, which will be confirmed with the advice and approval of the GSS.

F. The President of the GSS may approve changes in committee membership at any time. If the Chair of a committee shall fall vacant, the President of the GSS shall propose a new officer to fill the vacancy, which will be confirmed with the advice and approval of the GSS.

SECTION 2 – DUTIES

A. At the first meeting of the newly elected Senate, the President of the GSS shall submit the “Order of Chair” which shall be a list of ten members, in priority order, who may serve as chair of GSS meetings in the case of absence or debate by the President of the GSS. The list shall begin with the President Pro tempore, and followed by 9 members. This list may be changed by the President of the GSS at any time, and any such changes must be reported to the Senate.

B. The President of the GSS shall report all activities, communications and announcements that have occurred prior to the regular meeting the report is to be given at.

C. The President of the GSS shall be an ex-officio member of all Standing Committees of the General Student Senate.

D. The President of the GSS shall maintain all resolutions in a given Senate session. He/she shall keep record of all resolutions in their final form (after any amendments), the committee assigned, the vote of the committee, the decision of the Senate, and the vote of the Senate.

E. The President of the GSS must sign all resolutions in their final form and present said resolution to the President's Cabinet for consideration.

F. The President of the GSS shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the GSS.

RULE 4

OTHER OFFICERS OF THE SENATE

SECTION 1 – PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

A. The President Pro tempore shall be nominated and elected, by majority vote, by the fourth regular meeting of the GSS following the Inauguration of the newly elected President and Vice President of Student Government, or when the position should fall vacant.

B. The President Pro tempore shall be an elected Senator of the GSS.

C. The President Pro tempore shall assume control of the Chair with the absence of the President of the GSS, or when the President of the GSS takes part in the floor debate.

D. The President Pro tempore shall perform such other activities as directed by the President of the GSS or the GSS.

SECTION 2 – CLERK OF THE GSS

A. The Clerk of the GSS shall be appointed by the President of the GSS with the advice and approval of the GSS on the fourth regular meeting of the GSS following the Inauguration of the newly elected President and Vice President of Student Government, or when the position should fall vacant.

B. The Clerk of the GSS shall read all resolutions into the record.

C. The Clerk of the GSS shall record all proceedings of each meeting of the GSS.

D. The Clerk of the GSS shall keep and maintain attendance records of the meetings of the GSS.

E. The Clerk of the GSS shall provide copies of the minutes to all Senators and other interested parties.

F. The Clerk of the GSS shall perform other duties as may be directed by the President of the GSS or the GSS.

SECTION 3 – PARLIAMENTARIAN OF THE GSS

A. The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President of the GSS with the advice and approval of the GSS on the fourth regular meeting of the GSS following the Inauguration of the newly elected President and Vice President of Student Government, or when the position should fall vacant.

B. The Parliamentarian shall advise and inform the Chair of proper parliamentary procedure.

C. The Parliamentarian shall advise and inform the Chair on the rules and procedures of the GSS.

D. The Parliamentarian shall be eligible to serve as a Chair of the Governmental Procedures Committee of the GSS.

E. The Parliamentarian shall perform such other duties as directed by the President of the GSS or the GSS.

SECTION 4 – SERGEANT AT ARMS

A. The Sergeant at Arms shall be appointed by the President of the GSS with the advice and approval of the GSS on the fourth regular meeting of the GSS following the Inauguration of the newly elected President and Vice President of Student Government, or when the position should fall vacant.

B. The Sergeant at Arms shall have the duty of securing the GSS chamber, keeping order at the direction of the President of the GSS or the GSS, and insuring the removal of all non-members during executive sessions.

C. The Sergeant at Arms shall perform other such duties as directed by the President of the GSS or the GSS.

SECTION 5 – SENATE HISTORIAN

A. The Historian of the Senate shall be appointed by the President of the GSS with the advice and approval of the GSS on the first regular meeting of the GSS following the swearing in of the new GSS session, or when the position should fall vacant.

B. The Historian of the Senate shall have the duty of maintaining a record of all Senate Activities in a given session. This includes the maintenance of a session journal, which shall be the collection of all minutes of the session in which the Historian serves. The Historian shall also maintain an album of newspaper articles pertaining to Student Government business, pictures taken at Student Government events, and any other such relevant media pertaining to Student Government business.

C. The Historian of the Senate shall perform other such duties as directed by the President of the GSS or the GSS.

RULE 5

MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL STUDENT SENATE

SECTION 1 - SESSION

A GSS session shall constitute all meetings from the date of the first GSS meeting following the regular GSS elections.

SECTION 2 - MEETING ATTENDANCE

A. Any person may have the privilege of attending the meetings of the GSS for the purpose of viewing the meeting, with the exception of executive session.

B. Non-members attending may only speak during the “General Good and Welfare” section of the meeting unless recognized by the President of the GSS.

C. The GSS reserves the right to go into Executive Session by majority vote, or through the chair if raised as a question of privilege. The GSS shall handle executive session according to the procedures detailed in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

1. Executive Session which expels non-members, however retains ex-officio members of the Senate.

2. Executive Session which expels everyone save the Senators themselves and the President of the GSS (unless his/her removal is otherwise specified in the motion).

D. During either of the Executive Sessions, the Clerk of the GSS shall be present and record minutes during the session for publication in the minutes.

E. Proxy voting, as it is commonly known for temporarily granting another the powers of the office of Senator for a meeting, shall not be permitted in any meeting of Student Government, Inc.”

SECTION 3 - RULES OF ORDER

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall act as the Rules of Order and as

Such, shall govern the conduct of the meetings of the Senate, except as otherwise provided by these Standing Rules.

SECTION 4 - QUORUM

Quorum for any GSS meeting shall consist of the majority of the voting membership of the GSS in good standing, or their substitutes, however the minimum quorum at any given meeting may not drop below 10.

SECTION 5 – REGULAR MEETINGS

A. Regular meetings of the GSS shall be held weekly during the academic year.

B. Regular meetings of the GSS shall be held on Tuesday nights.

C. Regular meetings of the GSS shall be held at 6:00pm.

SECTION 6 - AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETINGS

The first three items on the agenda for all regular meetings shall be as follows:

•  Call to Order

•  Roll Call

•  Disposition of Minutes & Approval of the Agenda

The remainder of the agenda shall be at the discretion of the Chair, subject to the approval of the General Student Senate.

SECTION 7 – SPECIAL MEETINGS

A. Special meetings of the GSS shall be called by the President of the GSS upon petition of 25% of the membership, or by dictate of the President of Student Government, Inc.

B. Special meetings shall take place no sooner than one and a half hours after the decision to call such a meeting. Any person may be appointed by the

President of the GSS to reach Senators until all have been contacted or until the commencement of the special meeting.

SECTION 8 - ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING

A. The VPFA, or duly appointed member of EBC shall be given ten minutes to speak about the annual budget it is submitting. The ten minutes must be available to the speaker, but the speaker need not use all of the ten minutes. There shall be five minutes when this representative has finished speaking for questions of the representative. The entire five minutes must be available to the GSS, but it does not all have to be used.

B. Each club requesting funding must have a representative present, and shall be given two minutes to speak on its allocation in the budget submitted by the EBC. The two minutes must be available to each club, but each club need not use the entire two minutes. When each club has finished speaking, the President of the GSS may allow one minute for questions of the representative to be asked by the GSS, at the request of a Senator.

C. The Chair, President, or duly appointed representative of each Board of Student Government, Inc. shall be given four minutes to speak on its allocation in the budget submitted by the EBC. The four minutes must be available to each Board, but each Board need not use the entire four minutes. When each representative has finished speaking, the President of the GSS may allow one minute for questions of the representative to be asked by the GSS, at the request of a Senator.

D. The Chair, Vice-Chair, or duly appointed Senator of each standing committee of the GSS that applied for funding in the budget shall be allowed speaking time in the manner described for Boards above.

E. The Chair, Vice-Chair, or duly appointed representative of each commission of Student Government, Inc. that applied for funding in the budget shall be allowed speaking time in the manner described for Boards above.

F. During the time when representatives are speaking in regards to their allocations, no debate shall be allowed. After all representatives have been allowed to speak in the manner provided, the President shall conduct the remainder of the meeting in accordance with these Standing Rules. The goal of this meeting shall be to pass an Annual Budget, but the GSS shall not be required to pass the budget at this meeting; a motion to accept the budget may be tabled until the next meeting of the GSS. The rules detailed above shall apply only to the meeting of the GSS at which the Annual Budget is proposed by the EBC.

G. At any subsequent meeting of the GSS after the one in which the Annual Budget is proposed, in which a motion concerning the Annual Budget is Unfinished Business and must be dealt with, that motion shall be the first item on the agenda after Club Maintenance and before Executive Reports.

SECTION 9 – EVALUATIONS

A. Evaluations performed by the General Student Senate must be performed in executive session which expels all officers, and the President Pro Tempore

shall lead the meeting until such time as the evaluation has been completed.

B. This evaluation shall take place at the last regular meeting in both November and April. All evaluations shall be permanently kept in the employee's file in the Financial Affairs Office.

C. Once in executive session, all Senators shall fill out employee evaluation forms and submit them to the Chair of the Governmental Procedures Committee. The President Pro Tempore shall then allow not more than 15 minutes of commentary on all officers being reviewed, which shall be recorded by the Chair of the Governmental Procedures Committee.

D. The Chair of the Governmental Procedures Committee shall review all evaluations and comments, and together with the Governmental Procedures Committee (save the President of the GSS) shall conduct a formal evaluation with those being reviewed at the next Governmental Procedures meeting. Following the evaluation, Senate will be conducted.

SECTION 10 – TRIAL MEETINGS

•  Trial meetings will be held exactly one week after a trial resolution passes. During these meetings, the trial shall be the only business considered. If the trial occurs in place of a regular meeting, a regular meeting can be reconvened after the adjournment of a trial meeting.

•  The agenda and conduct of the hearing shall be in accordance with all that falls under Rule 10 of these Standing Rules.

SECTION 11 – ROLL CALL

The roll shall be called at the beginning and at the end of each meeting of the GSS.

SECTION 12 – ADVICE AND CONSENT

•  All requests made requiring advice and consent of the GSS shall immediately move into a period of debate upon coming to it in the order of business.

•  A vote must ensue on all advice and consent requests—to pass with a 2/3 vote of the present members, unless there is a motion to unanimous consent prior to a vote.

RULE 6

RESOLUTIONS

SECTION 1 - TYPES OF RESOLUTIONS

•  Financial resolutions may be introduced and voted upon in the same regular meeting of the GSS, provided the EBC has reviewed and passed said resolutions. Passage of any financial resolutions shall require a two-thirds majority.

•  Resolutions that require letters be sent must attach a copy of the letter to be sent when the resolution is introduced. The letter will be subject to amendment by the GSS. These resolutions must be voted on no earlier than the week following its introduction , unless said resolution is placed in the “Consent Agenda”.

•  Resolutions that would amend Student Government documents must have both the current wording and the proposed change of wording on the resolution, or attached. These resolutions must be voted on no earlier than the week following its introduction.

•  Resolutions expressing the opinion of the General Student Senate must have a clear statement, expressing the opinion to be voted on. These resolutions must be voted on no earlier than the week following its introduction, unless said resolution is placed in the “Consent Agenda”.

•  If judicial action, such as Impeachment or Removal of a Student Government Executive or Senator is desired, a resolution calling for a trial must be introduced. This resolution shall be to call a trial to try an individual or case. It shall not be referred to committee and shall be voted upon in the same meeting it is introduced. If passed, the trial shall be held exactly one week after the resolution was passed.

•  Resolutions that would require the use of the First Class voting system shall only be considered once each semester, on the second meeting of October and the second meeting of March.

SECTION 2 - TIMETABLE OF RESOLUTIONS

A. A resolution shall be brought before the GSS no later than the second meeting of the GSS following its introduction, unless a later time is agreed upon by the sponsor or unless tabled by a two-thirds vote of the GSS.

B. Any resolution not brought to the floor at a regular meeting shall come up under Unfinished Business at the next regular meeting. If a resolution has not been voted upon by the end of a session it shall be brought up during “Unfinished Business” at the first regular meeting of the next session, provided that the original sponsor is a member of the next session.

C. All committees with jurisdiction over a resolution shall have until the second meeting, after its introduction, to report on a resolution sent to them. If the committee does not meet on the resolution, it shall come to the floor without a committee decision.

SECTION 3 - SPONSOR

•  There shall only be one Sponsor of a given resolution.

•  Only the President of Student Government, the President of the GSS, the Vice President for Financial Affairs, the Vice President of Student Organizations, the Vice President for Student Entertainment, and current Senators may sponsor resolutions for consideration of the GSS; except as indicated in Rule 7, Section 4, subsections C, D and E.

•  Students via initiative may propose resolutions.

•  The Cabinet, the Vice Presidential Cabinet, Bo ards, or Community Associations may propose resolutions, provided their membership approves of the resolution to be introduced.

•  Standing Committees, Ad-Hoc Committees, College Caucuses, and the Fair Election Practices Commission may also propose resolutions for consideration by the GSS, provided said resolution is approved by their membership.

•  All resolutions sponsored by boards, committees, and associations, when brought to the floor on the order of business, are to move directly to debate.

SECTION 4 - CO-SPONSOR

•  Only the President of Student Government, the President of the GSS, The Vice President for Financial Affairs, the Vice President of Student Organizations, the Vice President for Student Entertainment and current Senators may be a Co-Sponsor of a resolution.

•  Co-Sponsors must be designated before the introduction of any resolution.

•  In the absence of the Sponsor, a Co-Sponsor may present the resolution as the acting Sponsor.

SECTION 5 - INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS

•  No later than one day prior to the Senate meeting at which a resolution will be introduced, the Sponsor must submit to the President of the GSS a full, typed copy of the resolution.

•  All resolutions will be introduced into the record under the agenda item, “new resolutions”.

•  The Clerk of the GSS shall read all resolutions into the record.

SECTION 6 - NUMBERING OF RESOLUTIONS

After the Clerk has finished reading a resolution into the record, the President of the GSS shall number the resolution. The resolution shall be numbered as follows:

1. The first number shall be the number of the Senate session, followed by the letter S and a hyphen.

2. The second letter will coincide with the number of resolutions introduced at that point, followed by a hyphen.

3. The third, fourth and fifth numbers shall be the number month, day and two digit year the resolution was introduced on, separated by hyphens.

SECTION 7 - REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE

After the Sponsor has finished reading a resolution into the record, the President of the GSS shall refer the resolution to committee, unless he or she feels that it is not necessary, or if the resolution is placed on the “Consent Agenda”. If sent to committee, then that particular committee shall The resolution is then sent to the committee for consideration prior to its being voted upon in the full Senate.

SECTION 8 - PLACEMENT ON THE AGENDA

•  All resolutions which are introduced and voted upon in the same day shall be considered under the agenda item, “new business”, or the “Consent Agenda.”

•  All resolutions introduced prior to the meeting it shall be considered on shall be considered under the agenda item, “unfinished business”, or the “Consent Agenda.”

SECTION 9 - DEBATE

•  Sponsors and Co-Sponsors may speak on a given resolution before any others.

•  Debate by members on resolutions may not be limited any further than speaking twice for 5 minutes total. Expansion of debate rights may be given at the discretion of the President of the GSS, or if before debate, by majority vote, or if during debate, by unanimous consent.

SECTION 10 - AMENDMENTS

•  A friendly amendment can be made by the Sponsor of a resolution prior to its acceptance into the record of the Senate. Friendly amendments can not be made by Co-Sponsors.

•  Amendments to resolutions must be approved by a two-thirds majority.

SECTION 11 - VOTING

A. Any member may call for a division requiring a standing vote after any regular vote. A roll call vote on a motion may be called upon request of 1/5 of the members present or at the discretion of the President of the GSS.

B. The GSS reserves the right to vote by secret ballot when voting on appointments. The GSS may also vote on any issue by ballot with a majority vote of GSS membership, provided a quorum exists, if the GSS and/or President of the GSS feel their votes may be swayed by outside forces. The ballots must contain the Senator's full name, district, and vote. Results of the vote shall be immediately made public and votes of individual Senators shall be made public knowledge upon request after the adjournment of that meeting.

C. To prevent a conflict of interest, if a resolution calls for funding a group to which a Senator belongs, that Senator shall be required to abstain from the vote on said resolution.

SECTION 12 - IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS

•  All resolutions must be met on by the President's Cabinet before being implemented, except financial resolutions.

•  Financial resolutions shall be implemented no earlier than Wednesday at noon following the regular Senate meeting in which the resolution was approved. If the President's Cabinet has not considered the resolution, it shall be implemented in any case. After implementation of the financial resolution, the President's Cabinet may not veto the Resolution.

•  Financial resolutions that are approved during a Special Meeting of the General Student Senate shall be implemented no sooner than noon, two (2) business days after the meeting in which they are approved.

SECTION 13 - PRESIDENT OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT'S SIGNATURE

The President of Student Government must sign all resolutions after they are approved by his/her Cabinet, or after they are implemented. The signed copy of the resolution shall be kept on file by the President of the GSS and filed in the archives at the end of a given Senate session.

SECTION 14 – CONSENT AGENDA

•  The Consent Agenda shall be the section where reading of two types of resolutions is performed: Potential unanimous consent resolutions and Executive Budgetary Committee resolutions.

•  No controversial resolutions are to be placed in the Consent Agenda . Any resolution can be removed from the Consent Agenda by a majority vote of the Senate. If removed, the President of the General Student Senate shall move the resolution to the most appropriate section of the agenda, subject to the approval of the Senate.

•  The Presiding officer of the General Student Senate, prior to a Senate meeting, shall move any potential unanimous consent resolutions into the Consent agenda. New resolutions that haven't had a first reading shall be read in “New Resolutions” but can still be passed in the same meeting in the Consent Agenda.

•  The General Student Senate can vote to move a resolution to the Consent Agenda if they see fit. This adjustment should be made during approval of the agenda, but can happen at any time.

•  All non-financial resolutions are to be read after financial resolutions. The Clerk of the Senate shall read out the name and number of each resolution and then the President of the GSS shall read out the resolution's sponsor. After a gavel vote, the resolution is passed. If a Senator objects, the resolution is immediately put to a vote.

•  Resolutions on the Consent Agenda are not required to be sent to committee or be postponed for a week after the first reading.

•  If it is the pleasure of the Senate to agree to all resolutions in the Consent Agenda, a Senator at any time during readings of resolutions in the Consent Agenda, may move to dispense with the reading of the Consent Agenda. The Chair shall then ask for any objection, and if there are none, all resolutions in the Consent Agenda are automatically approved.

RULE 7

COMMITTEES OF THE GENERAL STUDENT SENATE

SECTION 1 – STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE GSS

•  The Standing Committee on Legislative Relations shall have jurisdiction over all legislative affairs (Federal, State, and Local) concerning the University of Maine and UMSG, Inc.

•  The Standing Committee on Membership shall have jurisdiction over all issues surrounding recruiting new senators, and retention of current senators. The Membership Committee shall also monitor the adherence of senators to the requirements laid out in these Standing Rules.

•  The Standing Committee on Administrative and Academic Policy shall have jurisdiction over all issues involving officials of the University of Maine and University of Maine system administration, as well as any policies of both the University of Maine and the University of Maine system. It shall also have jurisdiction over all issues involving the education and academic policies affecting University of Maine students.

•  The Standing Committee on Services shall have jurisdiction over all issues involving services provided to students by the University of Maine . This includes parking, dining, textbooks, and other services provided.

•  The Standing Committee on Policy and Procedure shall have jurisdiction over issues of SG policy and its procedures, including jurisdiction over all SG documents.

•  Membership of the Standing Committees of the GSS shall consist of Senators in the GSS. The President of the General Student Senate shall determine committee make-up. All members of the undergraduate student body shall have the ability to be a member on any standing committee, with the approval of the Senate President. The terms of membership of each Standing Committee shall end upon the adjournment of the last regular meeting of a Senate session.

•  Senators must serve on two Standing Committees: A primary committee and a secondary committee. Rule 1, Section 2 of these Standing Rules, shall govern primary committee attendance requirements. Secondary committee attendance requirements shall entitle members to one additional unexcused absence beyond that permitted by Rule 1, Section 2 of these Standing Rules. Said absence does not count against the overall total of unexcused absences by a Senator.

•  Any Senator who serves as a member of either an Executive Committee of the GSS (as defined by Rule 8, Section 2 of these policies), or of either President's or Vice President's Cabinet, shall only be required to maintain one, primary, Standing Committee assignment.

SECTION 2 – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF THE GSS

•  The Executive Budgetary Committee (EBC) shall have jurisdiction over only:

•  The Annual Budget

•  Additional Disbursements of Funds

•  The Financial Policies

•  The Student Entertainment Committee (SEC) shall have jurisdiction over approval of all matters involving the Division of Student Entertainment.

SECTION 3 – SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE GSS

•  Special committees may be formed at any time by the GSS.

•  Special committees shall serve a strict purpose of research, recommendation, or investigation.

•  Special committees are dissolved after the adjournment of the last meeting of the GSS at the end of a Senate session, unless granted an extension by the GSS for special circumstances.

•  If committee membership is not decided by the GSS within the enabling resolution of a given Special Committee within the enabling resolution of a given special committee, the President of the Senate shall have sole power to appoint all members of said special committee, with the advise and consent of the GSS.

SECTION 4 – DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEES

•  The duties of each Standing Committee shall be as follows:

•  To study proposed legislation sent to them for consideration, and report on such resolution to the GSS within a reasonable period of time.

•  To initiate legislation.

•  To conduct investigations in their areas of jurisdiction.

•  To oversee the executive departments and administrative agencies in their areas of authority.

•  Committees shall act on resolutions sent to them within two weeks of said resolution being sent to the Committee.

SECTION 5 – COMMITTEE MEETINGS

•  The Committees of the GSS shall hold regular meetings at least once every week during the academic year, provided there is a GSS meeting scheduled for that week.

•  Committee meetings shall be held at a time not to be changed during the semester without a two week notice to the GSS. If it is necessary to change the time under the two-week time limit, a request may be made by the chair of said committee to GSS at a regular meeting, to be approved by a 2/3 rds vote of those present.

•  All committee meetings are to be open, except those that are moved to executive session by a majority vote. Such a motion expels all non-members.

•  Quorum in Standing Committees shall never fall below three: The chair and two other members.

SECTION 6 – COMMITTEE ACTION

•  Standing Committees of the GSS shall take one of the following actions on all resolutions submitted to it:

•  Ought to Pass (OTP)

•  Ought NOT to Pass (ONTP)

•  Ought to Pass with Amendments (OTPA)

•  Decisions of Standing Committees regarding resolutions submitted to them shall have the following effects:

•  An ought to pass recommendation shall send the resolution to the Senate floor to be voted upon at the next regular meeting of the GSS.

•  Any ought to pass with amendment recommendation shall send the resolution to the Senate floor at the next regular meeting of the GSS to be voted upon as amended.

•  An ought not to pass recommendation will immediately terminate any further consideration of a resolution by the GSS.

• i. A resolution that terminates in committee may be brought to the Senate floor through a discharge petition within 14 days of its defeat. This petition must be signed by at least one-half the Senators present at the regular meeting in which the resolution is to be considered. The petition may be filled out and signed prior to said GSS meeting. The petition to discharge, accompanied by the resolution to be considered, shall be considered under “New Business.”

SECTION 7 – REPORTING TO THE GSS

•  Committees, Boards, and Associations of Student Government shall report to each regular meeting of the GSS to keep the Senate informed of their projects, status, and other pertinent information: at the request of the President of the GSS, reports may need to be submitted in writing.

•  All reports must be submitted in writing to the President of the Senate, or his/her designee.

RULE 8

SENATE FINANCES

SECTION 1 – VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS (VPFA)

The VPFA shall report to the GSS at each regular meeting.

SECTION 2 – APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET

The annual budget of the University of Maine Student Government, Inc. shall be accepted by a two-thirds (2/3) roll call vote of the GSS.

SECTION 3 – OVER FUNDED GROUPS

Student Government will subtract any amount of money overspent by any group funded by Student Government from the following year's approved budget.

SECTION 4 – FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS

All motions and/or resolutions on the questions of funding and finance shall require a two-thirds vote of the GSS to pass.

SECTION 5 – FINANCIAL POLICIES

The GSS shall adhere to and adopt its own Financial Policies for any matters of finance pertaining to the University of Maine Student Government , Inc. and its recognized organizations.

SECTION 6 – CONTRACT APPROVAL

A. Any contract that is for the purpose of hiring personnel or rendering services for UMSG, Inc. shall require the approval of the GSS, with the exception of the Student Entertainment Division.

B. The contract shall be negotiated by the President of Student Government, a representative from the FAO selected by the VPFA and any others deemed necessary by the President of Student Government. These additional members selected by the President of Student Government shall be approved by the GSS.

C. No contract may be signed without approval of the GSS. The President of Student Government and the VPFA shall sign on behalf of UMSG Inc. in all contracts of this type after GSS approval has been granted, except in which time class is not in session for summer break.

SECTION 7 – FINANCIAL SUSPENSION

If a Student Government funded group is placed under financial suspension two times within the fiscal year (July 1st to June 31st), they will have all funds automatically removed from their respective budget lines. This can be repealed by a two-thirds vote of the GSS.

RULE 9

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CABINET

SECTION 1 - PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose of the Vice Presidential Cabinet to serve as an advisory body to the Vice President of Student Government and to help coordinate activities of Student Government.

SECTION 2 - AUTHORITY

Shall have the authority to propose resolutions to the General Student Senate.

SECTION 3 - CHAIRPERSON

The chairperson the Vice Presidential Cabinet shall be the Vice President of Student Government.

SECTION 4 - MEMBERSHIP

•  Shall consist of the Chairs of each Standing Committee, the Chairs of each currently existing Ad-Hoc Committee, the Chairs of each College Caucus, the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, the Senate Historian, the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms, and two Senators from the GSS.

•  The Vice President shall have the discretion of appointing ex-officio members, as he/she deems necessary, subject to the approval of the GSS.

SECTION 5 - MEETINGS

A. Shall meet every week at a time a place decided at the discretion of the

chairperson.

B. Vice Presidential Cabinet shall run in accordance with its own governing

documents.

C. Special meeting of the Vice Presidential Cabinet may be held at the discretion of the Vice President of Student Government or upon the request of at least three (3) members of the Vice Presidential Cabinet.

D. The Vice Presidential Cabinet Members shall exchange progress reports about their respective college or committee at each meeting.

RULE 10

JUDICIAL PROCEDURES

SECTION 1 – CONSIDERATION OF JUDICIAL PROCEDURES

Before consideration of a judicial case occurs, passage of a trial resolution must occur.

SECTION 2 – PRESIDING OFFICER

•  Shall be the President of the GSS

•  In such cases as the President of the GSS is involved in the legal process and shall be required to participate in the trial, the “Order of the Chair” shall be used to find a suitable Presiding Officer who is not involved in the process.

•  The Presiding Officer shall serve as Judge during the proceedings, and shall make all determinations regarding witnesses, evidence and other such proceedings.

SECTION 3 – PARTICIPANTS IN JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

•  The accused shall have one lead defense agent who shall provide for the defense of the accused

•  The prosecution agent shall be designated by the Sponsor of the resolution calling for the trial.

•  The Senate as a whole shall serve as the Jury. They shall decide the case by a roll-call vote.

•  Any Senator who shall be conducting the prosecution or defense during a trial shall forfeit his/her membership for the duration of that trial.

•  Any ex-officio member may participate in the prosecution or defense.

•  Senators may not be called as witnesses.

SECTION 4 - STANDARDS OF THE TRIAL

•  All evidence shall be presented to the Presiding Officer prior to the trial, and said evidence shall be numbered by the Presiding Officer for reference of Prosecution and Defense agents during the trial.

•  All approved evidence may be presented to the Jury during examinations of witnesses.

•  No hearsay, as defined by Maine State Law shall be admitted into evidence.

SECTION 5 – AGENDA OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

The trial shall be the only business considered at the meeting. This special meeting shall be held exactly one week after passage of the trial resolution. The agenda of the trial shall be as follows:

1. Call to Order

2. Roll call of the Jury, Defense and Prosecution

3. Statement of the Charges and action to be taken if guilty

4. Entering of Plea by the accused

5. Opening statement of the Prosecution

6. Opening statement of the Defense

7. Questioning of Prosecution Witnesses

8. Cross-examination of Prosecution Witnesses

9. Questioning of Defense Witnesses

10. Cross-examination of Defense Witnesses

11. Closing statement of the Prosecution

12. Closing statement of the Defense

13. Executive session sans ex-officio members for deliberation. Deliberation shall take the form of debate unrestricted by time overseen by the Presiding officer.

14. Roll Call Vote of the Jury (recorded in the minutes) of “Guilty” or “not Guilty”

15. Deliberation of punishment. In cases of guilt meaning removal or impeachment, the punishment shall be removal from office or impeachment subject to removal by the General Student Body. In cases where other judicial matters are concerned a punishment shall be determined in the same manner the deliberation of guilt was.

16. Session opens

17. Delivering of the verdict by the Presiding Officer

18. Delivering of the verdict of punishment by the Presiding Officer

19. Adjournment

SECTION 6 – AFTER JUDGMENT IS RENDERED

All judicial decisions of the GSS are final and not subject to any motions to reconsider or rescind. All verdicts shall take effect immediately.

RULE 11

AMENDMENTS

These Standing Rules may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3 rds ) vote of the Senate membership present, provided a quorum exists, at any regular meeting of the GSS and provided that notice of the proposed amendments has been given no later than at the previous meeting.