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Committees of the
Student Senate
2007 - 2008
Committees, like Senate as a whole,
serve two broad purposes: to create a more effective
institution and to create good university and student
affairs policy. In order to accomplish these goals,
Senate needs information and expertise. Through the
division of labor, the committee system provides such
expertise. As a result, the Senate is able to develop
policy in a manner that reduces the uncertainty associated
with the policy making process and to ensure the institutions
prominence in the process. In order to prevent the committees
from using their position for the benefit of their own
members, the chamber retains the right to amend or reject
committee recommendations and, if necessary, to abolish
or restructure its committees. Every member of Senate
must serve on a committee. The Executive Vice President
has final say on committee assignments. There are three
types of committees in which Senate deals with: standing,
select, and cabinet. Each are explained below.
Standing Committees
The following are a list
of the three standing committees of ASG and Senate.
The term "standing committee" means a permanent
entity created by law or amendment to the Standing Rules.
Standing committees continue from Senate to Senate,
except in those rare instances when they are eliminated
and new ones are formed. Standing committees process
the bulk of Senate's daily and annual agenda of business.
Seldom are measures considered on the Senate floor without
first being referred to, and approved by, the appropriate
standing committee.
- Oversight Committee
As the primary watchdog of all ASG activities, the
Oversight Committee is charged with a wide range of
duties to ensure that all members of student government
are fulfilling their constitutional requirements.
The committee is vested with the authority to deal
with any disciplinary investigations or hearings resulting
from any violation of the rules of procedures. In
addition, the committee also reviews the constitutions
of newly formed student organizations that wish to
be recognized by the university to ensure that they
are consistent with the rules set forth in the ASG
by-laws. Finally, the Oversight Committee keeps track
of the business of ASG. Cabinet members, for instance,
must submit a report to Oversight each month. The
committee then reviews the reports to ensure that
each cabinet officer is fulfilling their respective
duties. As previously mentioned, the committee is
chaired by the President Pro Tempore who will be elected
by the third senate meeting of the year.
- Administrative Committee
The Administrative Committee is a group of senators
that review legislation to make sure that it is consistent
with the ASG constitution. An additional responsibility
of this committee is to review our own constitution
and bylaws to ensure that there are no internal contradictions.
The role of the administrative committee is essential
in light of a recent ruling by Student Court that
both the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch of
ASG more closely monitor and abide by the by-laws
set forth by Senate. In the event that the Associated
Student Government or one its subsidiary bodies must
take action in an area not explicitly outlined in
the constitution or by-laws, the committee shall assist,
where possible, in the execution of those actions.
The committee shall elect its own chair by a means
agreed upon by the majority of the members. Knowledge
of the ASG constitution, or at least a desire to learn
more about it, is required for this committee.
- Committee on Student Organization Funding
The purpose of the
committee is to allocate monies to various student
organizations approved by Senate for funding in order
to promote activities that meet the social, cultural,
physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional needs
of the students involved. The committee, chaired by
the Vice President of Management or designee, is charged
with the responsibility to hold hearings in which
student organizations can present their case for funding.
After holding a series of these hearings, the committee
shall convene and determine the specific monetary
allocation that each group will receive. Senate shall
then debate and approve the allocation.
- Committee on the Budget
The purpose of the committee is to review the expenditures
of all of the branches, departments, agencies, committees,
councils, and ancillary organizations of the ASG.
The committee also has the authority to review the
University budget and to report on the same to the
Student Senate. This all to provide greater fiscal
accountability and to set a standard for responsible
use of student monies throughout the University.
Select Committees
Select, or special, committees
(the terms are interchangeable)
are usually temporary panels that go out of business
after the one year life of the Senate in which they
were created. Some select committees take on the attributes
of permanent committees. For instance, the Funding Analysis
Commission from the 1997/1998 session of Senate convened
during the 1998/1999 session of Senate, although under
the new name of the Funding Oversight Committee. Select
committees usually do not have the "legislative
authority" found in the standing committees such
as the right to receive and report out measures; they
can only study, investigate, and make recommendations.
Senate forms select committees for a number of reasons.
First, they accommodate the concerns of individual members
of the body. Second, the can be a point of access for
various groups on campus to more closely influence the
drafting of certain proposals. Third, select committees
supplement the standing committees by overseeing and
investigating issues that the permanent panels lack
time or prefer to ignore. Finally, these committees
can be set up to coordinate consideration of issues
that overlap the jurisdiction of the standing committees
or the three branches of ASG.
Cabinet Committees
Cabinet committees, often
times referred to as Cabinet staff, are formed through
the various offices within the Executive Branch of ASG.
These are by far the largest of the Senate committees.
Chaired by the respective head of the office, the committees
deal with issues that are in relation to said officers
duties. For instance, the committee headed by the Secretary
for Off-Campus affairs will deal with off campus issues
such as landlord-tenant relations. A listing of the
cabinet officers can be found on the executive branch
page. Senators are encouraged to talk to each member
of cabinet in order to gain a better understanding of
the issues that each office will be handling. Senate
uses cabinet committees for study and investigation
into broad areas affecting academic and student affairs
policy. Often, legislation results from the research
completed by these committees. Cabinet committees, unlike
other Senate committees, deal with specific programs
sponsored by the various officers within the Executive
Branch. Senators serving on these committees will be
asked to help organize and implement various programming
ideas - such as the Outstanding Teachers Award Banquet
held by the Secretary for Academic Affairs.
Committe Meetings Times
are as follows:
President's
Staff Committee: TBD (ASG Office)
Academic Affairs Coalition:
TBD (ASG Office)
RHA General
Assembly Meetings: Mondays at 7PM (111 Harrison)
ASG Senate
Meetings: Tuesdays at 6PM (111 Harrison)
Oxford
Tenants Organization: TBD (ASG Office)
Elections Commmittee: TBD (ASG Office)
Communications Committee:
TBD (ASG Office)
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