S-B.114.09.08.2026-1 | The Accountability Act

SENATE BYLAWS

CURRENT LANGUAGE

PROPOSED LANGUAGE

4.3.1.1.3 The agenda will contain a section titled “Initiative Updates’ that will require 3 senators to speak for one minute each about their personal/committee initiative updates. 4.3.1.1.3.1 The speakers will go in an order that is pre-determined for the term by the President of the Senate and the Secretary. This order will be determined before the third meeting of each term, and will be amended as necessary to reflect new members, or removed members. 4.3.1.1.3.2 If a Senator will not be there, they should send a ~75 word update to the President of the Senate to be displayed in lieu of their speaking time. If they have nothing to report and inform the President of the Senate of this, there are no consequences. However, if they fail to report anything it will be considered an unexcused absence. ===== 4.3.3.2 ABSENCES 4.3.3.2.1 Every member of SGA shall be permitted a total of 4 excused absences per academic semester (where the meetings that occur at the end of Spring are counted in the Fall semester of SGA), with an additional 2 excused absences for every additional committee beyond 1 committee that the member of SGA serves on. 4.3.3.2.1.1 If a member of SGA reaches half of the maximum number of excused absences, they will be informed of their attendance status by the Student Body Secretary. 4.3.3.2.1.2 If a member of SGA exceeds the maximum number of excused absences, they will be thanked for their service and summarily dismissed from SGA. 4.3.3.2.1.3 Senators who have 2 unexcused absences shall be subject to a required meeting with the Executive Board and the Advisor. 4.3.3.2.1.4 Senators who have 4 unexcused absences shall be thanked for their service and summarily dismissed from SGA per the Constitution. 4.3.3.1.2 Attendance at another SGA event beyond the required Senate and Committee meetings can be required by the President of the Senate and Student Body President. 4.3.3.1.2.1 This requirement can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. 4.3.3.1.2.2 In such cases, legitimate, previously held time conflicts shall be accommodated with an excused absence. 4.3.3.1.3 Any Presiding Officer or Chair is not allowed to excuse an absence after 1 week has passed since the meeting occurred. ===== 4.3.3.1.2 Attendance at Senate General Body Meetings, Executive Cabinet meetings, and advisor meetings is mandatory for the Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, Student Body Secretary, Student Body Treasurer, Director of Communications, and Student Body Chair of Programming. ==== 4.1.1.5 Senators may be considered in bad standing if they do not fulfill the aforementioned guidelines and subsequently may be subject to an impeachment hearing under Article IX of the Constitution. ==== 4.1.2.4 Initiatives born in committees must be documented and presented to a GBM by the author/Senators working on the initiative, and those initiatives must have proposed action items and deadlines. 4.1.2.4.1 Each action item must have a deadline by which the action item must be completed, with the only exception being that of sickness or physical inability to do so. 4.1.2.4.2 If feedback from any party isn’t given to an action item before its deadline, the Senator holds the right to continue forward with their action item, without waiting for the feedback. 4.1.2.4.3 The Senator(s) in charge of the initiative will present updates of their legislation at every GBM following each deadline of their proposed action items. Once an action item is completed, the Senator(s) may strike through, but not remove, the action item on the piece of legislature. 4.1.2.4.4 The author/Senator(s) must provide an update about their initiative’s action items at the GBM following the action item deadline. 4.1.2.4.5 The Senate holds the right to ask about updates to an initiative each week if the Senator(s) heading the initiative fails to present an update about their action items after the proposed deadline.

4.3.1.1.3 The agenda will contain a section titled “Initiative Updates’ that will require 3 senators to speak for one minute each about their personal/committee initiative updates. 4.3.1.1.3.1 The speakers will go in an order that is pre-determined for the term by the President of the Senate and the Secretary. This order will be determined before the third meeting of each term, and will be amended as necessary to reflect new members, or removed members. 4.3.1.1.3.2 If a Senator will not be there, they should send a ~75 word update to the President of the Senate to be displayed in lieu of their speaking time. If they have nothing to report and inform the President of the Senate of this, there are no consequences. The fact they have nothing to report will be announced in lieu of their speaking time or 75-word report if absent. However, if they fail to report anything it will be considered an unexcused absence. ==== 4.3.3.2 ABSENCES 4.3.3.2.1 Committee Absences and GBM Absences shall be counted separately. Any non-GBM meetings or other obligations expected of SGA members shall fall under Committee Absences. 4.3.3.2.21 Every member of SGA shall be permitted a total of 4 3 excused GBM absences per academic semester (where the meetings that occur at the end of Spring are counted in the Fall semester of SGA). 4.3.3.2.3 Every member of SGA shall be permitted with an additional 2 3 excused committee absences for every additional committee beyond 1 committee that the member of SGA serves on. These are counted as a total number and are not separated on a “per committee” basis. For example, a member on two committees may miss 6 meetings of one committee and none of the other, or 3 of each, etc. 4.3.3.2.1.1 If a member of SGA reaches half of the maximum number of excused absences for either category, they will be informed of their attendance status by the Student Body Secretary. 4.3.3.2.1.2 If a member of SGA exceeds the maximum number of excused absences, they will be thanked for their service and summarily dismissed from SGA. will be subject to an impeachment hearing under Article VII of the Constitution. If acquitted during impeachment, the member is entitled to 1 additional excused absence. If the individual exceeds these absences, they will be thanked for their services and dismissed. 4.3.3.2.1.3 Unexcused absences shall be counted across categories. Meaning, the total unexcused absences in both GBM and Committee absences shall be summed to determine total unexcused absences. 4.3.3.2.1.3.1. Senators who have 2 unexcused absences, counting both GBM and Committee absences together, shall be subject to a required meeting with the Executive Board and the Advisor. 4.3.3.2.1.3.2 Senators who have 3 unexcused absences shall be subject to an impeachment hearing under Article VIII of the Constitution. 4.3.3.2.1.3.3 Senators who have 4 unexcused absences and were previously acquitted during impeachment shall be thanked for their service and summarily dismissed from SGA per the Constitution. 4.3.3.1.2 Attendance at another SGA event beyond the required Senate and Committee meetings can be required by the President of the Senate and Student Body President, and absences from these events will count under Committee absences. 4.3.3.1.2.1 This requirement can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. 4.3.3.1.2.2 In such cases, legitimate, previously held time conflicts shall be accommodated without marking any absences. with an excused absence. 4.3.3.1.2.2. These previous conflicts must be communicated to the Secretary within a week of a required activity. If the activity is in less than a week, it will still be accommodated without marking any absences provided a retroactive excuse is provided within 1 week following the event. 4.3.3.1.2.2.2. If conflicts are not communicated in advance for activities taking place more than 1 week after announcement of required attendance, the absence is unexcused. 4.3.3.1.2.2.3. If members have a newly acquired conflict after announcement of the event, excused or unexcused determination may be decided by the Secretary. 4.3.3.1.3 Any Presiding Officer, or Chair, or the Secretary is not allowed to excuse an absence after 1 week has passed since the meeting or additional required activity occurred. ==== 4.3.3.1.2 Attendance at Senate General Body Meetings, Executive Cabinet meetings, and advisor meetings is mandatory for the Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, Student Body Secretary, Student Body Treasurer, Director of Communications, and Student Body Chair of Programming. Attendance at Senate GBMs for the Student Body Treasurer, Director of Communications, or Chair of Programming may be marked optional on a case-by-case basis upon agreement of the Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, and the President of the Senate. ==== 4.1.1.5 Senators may be considered in bad standing if they do not fulfill the aforementioned guidelines and subsequently may be subject to an impeachment hearing under Article VIII IX of the Constitution. ==== 4.1.2.4 Initiatives born in committees must be documented and presented to a GBM by the author/Senators working on the initiative, and those initiatives must have proposed action items and deadlines. 4.1.2.4.1 Each action item must have a deadline by which the action item must be completed, with the only exception being that of sickness or physical inability to do so. 4.1.2.4.2 If feedback from any party isn’t given to an action item before its deadline, the Senator holds the right to continue forward with their action item, without waiting for the feedback. 4.1.2.4.3 The Senator(s) in charge of the initiative will present updates of their legislation at every GBM following each deadline of their proposed action items. Once an action item is completed, the Senator(s) may strike through, but not remove, the action item on the piece of legislature. 4.1.2.4.4 The author/Senator(s) must provide an update about their initiative’s action items at the GBM following the action item deadline. 4.1.2.4.5 The Senate holds the right to ask about updates to an initiative each week if the Senator(s) heading the initiative fails to present an update about their action items after the proposed deadline. 4.1.2.4.6 The names of all Senators involved in initiatives or legislation, as well as a brief summary of initiatives or legislation they are or were involved in should be published on the SGA website and shared in a press release at the end of each term. The names of Senators without involvement in any initiatives or legislation will be similarly published for public awareness of Senator activities.

SGA CONSTITUTION

CURRENT LANGUAGE

PROPOSED LANGUAGE

ARTICLE IV Section Four: Attendance Attendance at Senate and Committee meetings is required of senators, and excused absences shall be granted at the discretion of the chair of the meeting for extenuating circumstances. If the member misses a total of 4 unexcused meetings per semester, they are automatically removed from the SGA. Attendance at another SGA event beyond the required Senate and Committee meetings can be required by the President of the Senate, but this requirement can be overturned by a ⅔ vote of the Senate. Further, in such cases, legitimate, previously held time conflicts shall be accommodated with an excused absence.

ARTICLE IV Section Four: Attendance Attendance at Senate and Committee meetings is required of senators, and excused absences shall be granted at the discretion of the chair of the meeting for extenuating circumstances. If the member misses a total of 4 unexcused meetings per semester, they are automatically removed from the SGA. Attendance at another SGA event beyond the required Senate and Committee meetings can be required by the President of the Senate, but this requirement can be overturned by a ⅔ vote of the Senate. Further, in such cases, legitimate, previously held time conflicts shall be accommodated with an excused absence. Specific attendance policies, including but not limited to, maximum number of and categories absences will be prescribed by the procedure established in the Senate Bylaws.