American University Student Government 2010-2011

RES. 11-12-009

A Resolution to Amend the Bules of Debate and Decorum in Order to Create a Means of Collaboration through Co-Active Besolution
IN THE SEVENTH UNDERGRADUATE SENATE
13

NOVEMBER 2011

Mr. SLATKO for the School of International Service

Co'sponsored by Mr. ROBINSON for the Kogod School of Business, Mr. LEWIS, Ms. FINN, Mr. IRWIN for the Class of 2O14, Mr. WISNIEWSKI for the Campus At-Large, Mr. ZONIS for the Class of 2Ot3, Mr. KELLY, Mr. STANLEY for the Class of 2O15, Ms. CIPRIANO for the School of Communication
Wereas, both the American University Student Government Undergraduate Senate (UGS) and the Resident Hall Association General Assembly (RHA-GA) are representative bodies promoting the best interest of the undergraduate student body, and;
Whereas, the Executive Boards

of both the American University Student Government and the Residence Hall Association have shown initiative in cooperation between the two organizations, and;

Whereas, both the UGS and the RHA-GA are tasked with pursuing means of advocacy through processes that mandate the principles of representation and a fair and free process, and; Vf/hereas, we recognize that the American University Student Government and the Residence Hall Association are both important means to the self-governance of the undergraduate student body, and;

Whereas, it ought to be the goal of the American University Student Government effectively display and pursue a cohesive student voice, and;

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Therefore, be it resolved that the following shall be inserted between Article II, Section 2, Subsection ii and Subsection iii of the Undergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum, and the proceeding clauses renumbered appropriately: The Residence Hall Association's RHA-SG Liaison shall also enjoy full speaking rights in the Undergraduate Senate during proceedings related to the consideration of coactive resolutions. This includes full speaking rights in committee and on the floor during periods of presentation, questioning, and debate during the aforementioned proceedings. The RHA-SG Liaison does not have the right to make or second motions, propose legislationn or votel additionally, these speaking rights shall be extended to the

RIIA-SG Liaison during proceedings that address the veto of a co-active resolution by the President of the Student Government.
Be itfurther resolved that Article II, Section 3, Subsection v of the Undergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum shall be stricken and replaced with the following:

Only members of the Senate may propose legislation; the only exception is that the Residence Hall Association may legislate and pass a co-active resolution, which may then be brought before the Senate with the sponsorship of at least one (1) Senator. The Speaker will provide for the proper means of submitting legislation upon assuming office by legislative order. If the original sponsor of the legislation wishes to recognize additional sponsors after its first reading, a motion to amend will be made on the floor requiring a majority.
Be it further resolved that Article II, Section 4, Subsection i of the Undergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum shall be stricken and replaced with the following:

All bills, confirmations, directives, referenda, and co-active resolutions are considered record votes that require a roll call vote. The Clerk will call the roll, recording member's votes and maintain records thereof. By default, all resolutions will be voted on by voice vote. If, due to a Member's request or in the opinion of the Chair, any vote is unclear, a call for division will be made such that members will then rise and be counted. By default, the election of the Speaker and committee Chairs will be voted on by secret ballot to be overseen by the Clerk or Parliamentarian. Members enjoy the
right to move to vote by any method they wish.
Be itfurther resolved that Article III, Section 1, Subsection i of the Undergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum shall be stricken and replaced with the following:

Every bill and nominee will be seen twice before the Senate, unless a motion to waive first reading is successful by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. Co-active resolutions will be seen twice before the Senate, and first reading cannot be waived. Directives, referenda, and resolutions shall have only one reading before the body.

Be it further resolved that the Article

III, Section 1, Subsection iii shall be added Undergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum and shall read as follows:

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The Committee on Rules and Privileges is the only appropriate committee for the consideration of a co-active resolution, regardless of the subject or topic of the
legislation. Be it further resolved that the following Article IV shall be inserted between the current Article III and Article IV of the Undergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum and shall read as follows:

IV. Means for the Consideration of Co-Active Resolutions 1. Origin in the Senate

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i. The Speaker of the Senate must first pass a Legislative Order that recognizes the Residence Hall Association's bylaws as being sufficiently aligned with the bylaws structuring co-active resolutions in the Senate. ii. A co-active resolution may be brought before the Senate by any member of the body for consideration, and must indicate itself as a co-active resolution in title. iii. Any such legislation, upon first consideration, will require two readings. The first reading must be within the Committee on Rules and Privileges and cannot be
waived. iv. A co-active resolution may rescind former legislation of the Undergraduate Senate if the co-active resolution originates in the Senate and explicitly states the action in the original language, or if it is amended by the Senate to the same end. v. A co-active resolution may direct individual officers of the American University Student Government to action if the co-active resolution originates in the Senate and explicitly states the action in the original language, or if it is amended by the Senate to the same end. vi. All other processes and procedures that determine the passage of a Bill and its first consideration on the floor of the Senate are also applicable to the passage of a co-active resolution, including required vote thresholds and amendment procedures. vii. Upon the passage of a co-active resolution on the floor of the Undergraduate Senate, it is provided to the Vice President of Advocacy of the Residence Hall Association within twenty-four Q4) hours. viii. If a co-active resolution originates within the Undergraduate Senate, the President of the Student Government may only sign the resolution if the exact same language is agreed upon and passed as legislation by both the Residence Hall Association General Assembly and the Undergraduate Senate. 2. Origin in the Residence Hall Association i. The Speaker of the Senate must first pass a Legislative Order that recognizes the Residence Hall Association's bylaws as being sufficiently aligned with the bylaws structuring co-active resolutions in the Senate. ii. A co-active resolution that is passed by the Residence Hall Association General Assembly may then be brought to the Undergraduate Senate with the sponsorship ofat least one (1) Senator. iii. After receipt of the co-active resolution from the Residence Hall Association, the Speaker has forty-eight (48) hours to notify the Senate for sponsorship. Any Senator can then assume sponsorship on a first-come, Iirst-serve basis. iv. The Senate sponsorship of any such legislation is responsible for the co-active resolutionn and Residence Hall Association members shall be received by the Senate as members of the public; this does not include the Residence Hall Association Student Government Liaison, who shall have full speaking rights during period of debate concerning a co-active resolution. v. If the co-active resolution passes in the Committee on Rules and Privileges and on the floor of the Senate, it must be provided to the President of the Student Government and the President of the Residence Hall Association for signatures within twenty-four Q$ hours. If no signature or veto is provided by either President with-in five (5) days of the presentation of the co-active resolution, it is considered approved.

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vi. If the co-active resolution is amended in either the Committee on Rules and
Privileges or on the floor of the Undergraduate Senate, the co-active resolution must follow the procedures of re-consideration outlined in Article IV, Section 3 of the Rules of Debate and Decorum. vii. If a co-active resolution originates within the Residence Hall Association General Assembly, the President of the Student Government may only sign the resolution if the exact same language is agreed upon and passed as Iegislation by both the Residence Hall Association General Assembly and the Undergraduate
Senate. 3. Procedures for Re-Consideration

resolution is approved by the Undergraduate Senate and then amended in the Residence Hall Association General Assembly, it may return to Undergraduate Senate as long as it is sponsored by at least one (1) Senator. This Senator is not necessarily the same Senator who sponsored the co-active resolution upon first consideration. Upon re-consideration, the first reading of a co-active resolution may be waived. ii. All other processes and procedures that determine the passage of a Bill and its consideration on the floor of the Senate are also applicable to the passage and reconsideration of a co-active resolution, including required vote thresholds and amendment procedures. iii. After receipt of the amended co-active resolution from the Residence Hall Association, the Speaker has forfy-eight (48) hours to notiff the Senate of resubmission. At this time, the original (if the co-active resolution originates in the Senate) or primary (the Senator who assumes sponsorship during first consideration) sponsor of the co-active resolution assumes sponsorship. This sponsorship may be rescinded in writing, at which point the Speaker has forty-eight (48) hours to notify the Senate for sponsorship. iv. If the co-active resolution, upon re-consideration, is amended in either the Committee on Rules and Privileges or on the floor of the Undergraduate Senate, the co-active resolution must follow the procedures of re-consideration outlined in Article IV, Section 3 of the Rules of Debate and Decorum. v. If a co-active resolution is initially approved by the Residence Hall Association General Assembly and received with sponsorship in the Undergraduate Senate, and then amended in the Committee on Rules and Privileges or on the floor of the Undergraduate Senate, the co-active resolution must follow the procedures of reconsideration outlined in Article IV, Section 3 of the Rules of Debate and Decorum. vi. The procedures for re-consideration may be re-applied to the re-consideration of a co-active resolution indefinitely. A co-active resolution may fail in accordance with established vote threshold requirements in the Committee on Rules and Privileges, on the floor of the Senate, or if it is not returned to the Senate by the Residence HaII Association. Additionally, if the co-active resolution has no sponsorship in the Undergraduate Senate two (2) weeks after the passage of the co-active resolution in the Residence Hall Association General Assembly, it shall fail. vii. A co-active resolution shall also fail if either the President of the Student Government or the President of the Residence Hall Association vetoes the Bill. The President of the Student Government has the power of veto in regards to a co-active resolution, and only the Senate may override that veto. Additionally, while the
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i. If a co-active

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Senate recognizes the Residence Hall Association President's right to veto a coactive resolution, only the Residence Hall Association General Assembly shall have the power to override an executive veto of the Residence Hall Association President, and only the Residence Hall Association General Assembly retains the power to create and maintain such a veto mechanism within their own bylaws. viii. Upon re-consideration, the President of the Student Government may only sign a co-active resolution if the exact same language is agreed upon and passed as legislation by both the Residence Hall Association General Assembly and the Undergraduate Senate. 4. Other Legislation in Relation to Co-Active Resolutions i. The passage or failure of a co-active resolution does not inhibit the Undergraduate Senate's legislative capabilities in the matter under consideration. The Undergraduate Senate shall retain its right to pass legislation on the matter if the co-active resolution fails or passes; additionally, a co-active resolution may be passed retroactively to reflect the joint recognition of the issue by both legislative bodies. ii. In order to pass legislation that is not in agreement with the co-active resolution, the Senate must rescind the co-active resolution through legislation, rendering the co-active resolution void.

Be it further resolved that the current Article IV of the Rules of Debate and Decorum shall be renumbered as Article V, Article V as Article VI, and Article VI as Article VII.

App.ove,J q uno.ntrn6q, Con )en+ TO WITH VOTES BY A VOTE OF PRESENT ON THIS DAY Ltt N/ov.t', bo-r TAlt

Brett T.lrf,anasio Speaker of the Undergraduate Senate

Hina M. Gir Clerk of the Undergraduate Senate

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