(a) Appointment of standing committees. The President shall appoint each Senator to one of the seven standing committees, as follows:

1. Academics;
2. Campus Community;
3. Diversity;
4. Finance;
5. Government Operations;
6. Tuition and Fees;
7. University Affairs.

Each Senator shall be appointed to a standing committee at least five (5) class days prior to the Senate meeting following his or her assumption of office. No Senator may be removed from a committee once appointed to it except by the consent of the Senator to be so removed, and no senator may be appointed to a committee except with the consent of the Senator to be so appointed.

(b) Committee Chairs. The President shall appoint one Senator to serve as Chair of each standing committee no later than the last regular class day of the Spring semester. The Chair of a committee shall be considered a full voting member of the committee, with the exception of the Student Body Treasurer, who shall have no vote on the Finance committee. The Chair of each committee shall serve at the discretion of the President.

(c) Additional committee officers. Each committee shall elect a Vice-chair from its membership at its first meeting following the complete appointment of elected Senators to committees, and again at such times the office might become vacant. Additional officers may be designated by the committee or the chair.

(d) Duties of committee Chairs. Standing committee chairs shall be responsible for such duties typical of the office of chair, including coordinating committee meetings, recording the attendance of committee members, and preparing committee reports for the Senate. Standing committee chairs shall also perform duties pertaining to their committees by request of the President, not inconsistent with these Statutes. The Vice-chair shall fulfill the duties of the Chair at such times the Chair is unable to do so.

(e) General duties of standing committees. Standing committees shall be responsible for the consideration of all questions referred to them by the Senate or the President, the preparation of legislation they deem necessary for the welfare of the Student Body or as directed by the Senate in instructions, and the preparation of all reports required by these Rules or deemed necessary at the discretion of the Chair.

(f) Membership size requirements for standing committees. At no time shall any standing committee be composed of less than three (3) members, or less than the number prescribed elsewhere in these Rules for the committee, whichever is greater. Should membership of a committee fall below its allotted minimum, the President shall inform the Senate and seek Senators who wish to transfer to the committee. Should a committee be unable to obtain the prescribed minimum number of members, it may continue to operate, provided that a quorum of the committee shall be a simple majority of its minimum prescribed membership."

"Rule 12. Committee Procedure.

(a) Call of meetings. Standing committees shall meet at least once every two full class (2) weeks during the fall and spring semesters, at the time and place prescribed by the chair. A simple majority of the committee’s membership may, by written petition, instruct the chair to schedule a meeting. The chair shall announce all committee meetings to all Senators via electronic email at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting. A quorum of the committee shall consist of a simple majority of the membership of that committee, except as provided in Rule 9(f) for committees whose membership is below the minimum prescribed membership. Committees may enact such other rules, not inconsistent with these Rules, as they see fit.

(b) Committee reports. Committees may, upon completing their deliberations, report legislation to the Senate by a simple majority vote of the committee. Such a report shall be submitted in electronic form by the Chair of the committee in the manner prescribed by the President to him or her and to the Student Government Office Administrative Assistant, and may include recommendations for the Senate consideration of the legislation, including requests that the closed rule on amendments be invoked or that debate be limited or extended. Committee reports take effect immediately upon being filed.

(c) Discharge from consideration. Any legislation remaining in a committee may be discharged from the committee, provided that the notice of intent to offer the motion is sent to all Senators by electronic mail at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting. Passage of the motion to discharge shall require a simple majority vote, unless the matter to be discharged has been in committee less than five (5) class weeks or has received a committee recommendation against consideration, in which case a two-thirds vote shall be required.

(d) Consideration of legislation. Committees shall consider all legislation referred to them. No legislation may be considered at a committee meeting unless either the chair announced its consideration or a Senator announced intent to move for its consideration. Such announcements shall be sent by electronic mail to all Senators, at least twelve (12) hours prior to the meeting in the case of a Senator and at least twenty-four (24) prior in the case of the chair. All reports recommending Senate consideration of legislation must be submitted no later than noon on the Monday prior to a Wednesday Senate meeting in order to be considered at that meeting.

(e) Senator participation in committees. Any Senator may attend and participate in the deliberations of any committee, but he or she shall have no vote unless a member of said committee."

Michael D. Anthony

Student Senate President

Student Body President