Acronyms Galore
SATF
Student Activities Trust Fund
Used to clear up a previous statement or to provide relevant information to Senate.
Point of Clarification
S1 Trivia: $1,509,668
Money for RSOS
The Vice Chairs that serve on a committee that works as the Senate’s liaison between the undergraduate students and the University administration to maintain and improve campus services.
Aliana Liz Tavares and Alicia Pedini
How many Legislative Committees are there?
8
ESO *and the acronyms within it*
Established Student Organization, Registered Student Organization, Agencies
"I cannot hear the Speaker." is an example of this parliamentary point
Point of Personal Privilege
S1 Trivia: $525,500
STIMMYS
SGA Senior who studies dance and finance!
Brandon Barker
How many Cabinet positions exist currently?
as of last week there are 12!
SACL * and Who's the head of it?*
Student Affairs and Campus Life
VCBHL - Vice Chancellor Brandi Hephner LaBanc
By what date must the SGA have held their General Elections?
March 25th
S1 Trivia: $6.2 million
Total money requested by RSOs and Agencies
The newly elected Parliamentary Debate Vice President of External Operations
Shayan Raza
What is Speaker Fox's favorite animal? Bonus points if you can name her second favorite too.
Giraffe and Chameleon
UROC
Undergraduate Registry Oversight Committee
Name any two powers of the Legislative Branch granted by the Constitution
A. Review and make recommendations regarding the Student Activities Fee. A recommended increase in the Student Activities Fee of over 7.5% shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting, and an affirmative vote of the SGA membership through an Action Referendum.
B. Determine and provide for its rules and procedures, elect its officers, and fix the time and place of its meetings, provided that there be a regular meeting with fixed time and place at least once every week of the University academic calendar.
C. Require the attendance of its members by rule.
D. Expel a member of the Senate. The act of Expulsion shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
E. Enact, amend, or repeal the General By-laws of the SGA, unless otherwise provided for by the General By-laws of the SGA. Such an act shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting, and the approval of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
F. Ratify SGA Elections within thirty (30) calendar days of the election. Such an act shall require a majority vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
G. Initiate a referendum as defined by Article VIII of this Constitution. Such an act shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
H. Decide tie General or Special Elections at its first meeting following the election. Such an act shall require a majority vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
I. Recommend the Student Activities Trust Fund Budget Request. Such an Act shall require a majority vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting, and shall be reviewed by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Campus Budget Officers, the Chancellor, and the University President, before submission to the Board of Trustees for approval.
J. Recommend the Student Activities Trust Fund Operating Budget by enactment of the Annual SGA S-1 Budget Act. Such an Act shall require a majority vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting, and shall be submitted to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for approval. Disbursements therefrom shall be in accordance with duly established University financial and operational policies and campus procedures.
K. Override a presidential veto. Such an act shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
L. Approve Executive Cabinet and Student Judiciary appointments. Such an act shall require a majority vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
M. Require reports from the President and Executive Cabinet on any matter relevant to the functioning of the SGA.
N. Impeach an elected officer of the SGA. Such an act shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
O. Provide for the succession to those elected offices of the SGA not otherwise provided for by this Constitution.
P. Provide for the transition of the SGA to this Constitution.
Q. Promote the general welfare and interests of the undergraduate student body by making recommendations on policies and procedures consistent with Trustee Document T73-098, as amended, provided that, when an action is intended as a formal recommendation from the SGA, as a governance body, it shall be submitted in accordance with the procedures prescribed in said document.
By what date must an RSO activate this year to be eligible for a stimmy check?
SGA member who served as the Interim Chair of Finance over the summer and did an amazing job :)
Meher Gandhi
When was the last time the SGA Constitution was updated?
1994
PTAB
Parking and Transportation Advisory Board
Please describe the Senate Attendance Policy
Section 1 Senators shall attend all meetings of the Senate and the Senate Committees to which they are assigned. All absences and the nature thereof, shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
Section 2 The Associate Speaker of the Senate shall take roll call at the beginning and end of all meetings of the Senate. An unexcused absence from each roll call shall constitute one-half (1/2) absence from the Senate.
Section 3 In the event of a roll call vote during a formal Senate session, one-half (1/2) absence shall be attributed to any Senator not present.
Section 4 The Chair of each Senate Committee shall take attendance at the beginning of each meeting of the Committee. An unexcused absence from a Committee meeting shall constitute one-half (1/2) absence from the Senate.
Section 5 A Senator may only accumulate one (1) full absence per Senate meeting.
Section 6 Upon a Senator’s accumulation of two (2) unexcused absences from the Senate, the Associate Speaker shall notify said Senator that accumulation of unexcused absences totaling three (3) shall result in resignation by non-attendance.
Section 7 Upon accumulation of three (3) unexcused absences from the Senate, the Associate Speaker shall consider the Senator to have resigned their Senate seat by nonattendance, and shall declare the seat vacant.
Section 8 If a Senator shall appeal the decision of the Associate Speaker after having resigned by non-attendance, the Senator may be reinstated and have up to one (1) absence stricken from the record, upon a majority vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting.
Section 9 At the beginning of each Regular Period of the Senate, as defined by Title II, Chapter 2, of the By-laws of the SGA, the Associate Speaker shall record zero (0) absences for each Senator.
Section 10 Absences from a meeting of the Senate may be excused by the Associate Speaker and absences from a meeting of a Committee of the Senate may be excused by the Committee Chair, for any one (1) of the reasons prescribed herein:
Personal illness;
Family illness;
An exam scheduled for the day immediately following the Senate meeting;
Required class meeting, exam, or exam review session;
No more than 4 excused absences for “required class meetings” will be granted to any one member of the Senate during the Regular period.
Religious observances; and
Mandatory work-related commitment, the scheduling of which is outside the Senate members’ control.
Section 11 In the event an excused absence is requested for one of the reasons listed in Section 10, directly above, the Associate Speaker or Committee Chair may, within seven (7) Calendar days of the absence, request written verification of the reason for such absence.
Written verification may include, but is not limited to, doctor’s notes, course registration and exam schedules, written work schedules, or other documentation evidencing the reason for an absence.
In the event that written verification is requested, the Senate member shall have seven (7) Calendar days to provide such to the Associate Speaker or Committee Chair that made the request.
If the Senate member fails to provide written verification within seven (7) Calendar days of such a request, their absence shall not be excused.
Section 12 Any Senator who has resigned by non-attendance shall not be appointed back in the Senate by the Senate during the current Senate Session unless provided by Section 8 of this Chapter.
S1 Trivia: 128
Biggest line item budget
Vice Chair for the Committee that works to organize and collaborate for increased rights and representation for undergraduate students at UMASS Amherst.
Sophia Bloom
How many years has Lydia advised the UMass SGA?
12 years