Student Union Bylaws

Parlimentary Authority
Senate Meeting Procedure
Executive Officers
Senate Committees
Finance Board
Counseling and Advisory Service Fund
Financial Activities
Charters
Recognition
Election Procedures
Duties of Senators
Student Representatives
Special Senate Programs
Amendments

Article I: Parlimentary Authority

The Parliamentary rules, as set out in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, shall govern the conduct of all official meetings of the Student Senate (hereafter referred to as Senate), except as may otherwise be provided for in the Union Constitution and these By-Laws.

Article II: Senate Meeting Procedure

Section 1

Meetings of the Senate shall be held at least once every ten academic days during the period of the school year with regular classes in session. All members shall be given reasonable notice of all meetings. The agenda for each regular meeting shall be posted two academic days before the meeting. The order of business shall be:

Call to Order
Roll Call
Approval of the Minutes
Communications
1. Administrative
2. Student Communications
3. University Committee Reports
Charters/Recognitions/Decharters
Executive Officer Reports
1. Approval of the Budget
Unfinished Business
New business
Senator Reports

Project Reports
Senate Committee Reports

Open Forum

Section 2

No individual may vote at Senate meetings unless s/he has been certified by the Union Secretary as having been duly elected and sworn-in as a member of the Senate.

Section 3

All resolutions and other new business of the Senate must be submitted to the Executive Senator at least three academic days before a meeting. No new resolutions may be submitted after this time, unless the Senate, by a two-thirds vote, agrees that an emergency situation makes this reasonably necessary.

Section 4

The Senate shall not act unless a quorum is present. A majority shall constitute a quorum.

Section 5

The Senate President shall schedule and announce the meetings of the Senate and call them to order.

Section 6

The Senate shall have the power to enter executive session by a two-thirds vote.

Unless mentioned in the By-Laws, no business may be voted upon in executive session.
The senate, by majority vote, may move out of executive session.
Executive session may be recorded but not broadcast.

Section 7

The following shall be special rules of order:

A roll call vote shall be taken upon the request of one senator.
A straw poll vote shall be taken upon the request of 2 senators.
By a two-thirds vote the Senate may compel the Senate President to hand down the chair to the Executive Senator.
Members of the Senate shall be limited to three minutes per speech, at the discretion of the Chair, except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws.
No Senator shall cast a vote by proxy.
A two-thirds vote of the Senate shall mandate the Senate President to appoint a permanent parliamentarian.

Article III: Executive Officers

Section 1

Each semester the Senators shall elect an Executive Senator.

The election procedure for the Executive Senator shall be:
1. Two meetings before the end of the semester nominations shall be taken for those interested in running for the position.
2. At the next meeting the senate shall enter into executive session in order to elect the Executive Senator.
3. The voting shall be by secret ballot with the candidates for the position not present at the time of the balloting.
4. Should there be a tie, a second balloting shall take place.
5. A simple majority of the votes cast shall be sufficient to win election.
The duties of the Executive Senator shall be:
1. To represent the interests of the Senators to the executive officers
2. To report to the Senators on meetings of the executive officers
Voting Procedure
1. Each voter shall mark on their ballot the order of preference they have fot the election of each candidate.
2. This shall be done by numbering the candidates in a space provided on the ballot.
3. 1 shall signify the candidate that is a voter's first choice, 2 their second, 3 their third, with each subsequent number indicating a decreasing level of preference
4. Voters shall not use the same number to mark more than one candidate.
5. Voters shall not skip a number in their sequence of preference.
Ballot Counting
1. The first choice marked on each ballot shall be counted initially by election officials.
  1. If any candidate receives a majority of first choices, that candidate shall be declared elected.
2. If no candidate receives a majority of first choices recounting shall take place by the following procedure:
  1. In every round of counting, each ballot is counted as one vote for that ballot's highest ranked advancing candidate.
  2. Advancing candidate shall be degined as one that has not been eliminated.
  3. A candidate shall be eliminated when they receive the fewest votes in a round of counting.
    1. If two or more candidates tie for the least number of votes, they shall not be eliminated if their combined percentage of the vote is equal to or greater than 40% of the total votes cast. In such a situation the totals shall be read to the voters, who shall then cast new ballots.
  4. A candidate receiving a majority of valid votes in a round is declared Executive Senator.
  5. this process of eliminating the candidate with the fewest votes and recounting all ballots shall continue until one candidate receives a majority of the valid votes in a round.
3. If a ballot has no more available choices ranked on it, that ballot shall be declared "exhausted" and not counted in that round or any subsequent round.
  1. Ballots skipping one number shall be counted for that voter's next clearly indicated choice, but ballots skipping more than one number will be declared exhausted when this skipping of numbers is reached.
  2. Ballots with two or more of the same number shall be declared exhausted when such duplicate rankings are reached unless only one of the candidates with the duplicate rankings is an advancing candidate.

Section 2

Each member of the Executive Office shall periodically report to the Senate during meetings of the Senate.

Each Executive Officer must make at least one report per calendar month.
The Senate may, by a majority vote, mandate that a particular Executive Officer reports at a particular Senate meeting.
The Senate may not preclude an Executive Officer from reporting at a particular Senate meeting.
The Union Treasurer must submit a budget report to the Senate for every meeting.

Section 3

There shall be established a Union Register.

The Union Register shall contain a record of all legislation passed by the senate.
The Union Register shall be maintained by the Union Secretary.

Section 4

The members of the executive office shall serve at least five office hours in the Student Union Office.

Article IV: Senate Committees

Section 1

There shall be three forms of Senate Committees - standing committees, temporary committees, and subcommittees.

All standing committees must be established in these by-laws.

Section 2

The Senate President shall, subject to Senate confirmation by the majority of present and voting Senators, appoint all standing and temporary committee chairs.

Section 3

The rules and procedures of Senate Committees are as follows:

The actions of Senate Committees must be in line with the general goals and aims of the Senate. It shall be the responsibility of the Senate Chair of the Committee to ensure that the Committee remains in line with the goals of the Senate.
Meetings shall be held weekly and shall be called by the Senate Chair of the Committee and the Non-Senate Chair of the Committee.
All decisions made by the Senate Committee Chairs - be it policy, finances, or otherwise - shall not be made without consultation of the Committee.
The Senate Chair of the Committee has the ultimate authority on Committee finances but shall not act without first consulting the Non-Senate Chair of the Committee and the Committee.
Each Committee shall be required to report to the Senate at the meeting immediately following the Committee Meeting. The report shall be submitted by the Senate Chair of the Committee. In the absence of the Senate Chair of the Committee, the Non-Senate Chair of the Committee shall submit the report. The absence of both Committee Chairs, the report shall be submitted by a member of the Committee.
If the position of Senate Chair of the Committee becomes vacant, all authority delegated to the Senate Chair of the Committee shall fall to the Executive Senator or the Vice President.
Committees shall have the right to use Union resources at the discretion of the Union Secretary.
All campus communications prepared by Committees must be approved by the Executive Senator or the Vice President prior to distribution.
In the event that the Senate Chair of the Committee or the Non-Senate Chair of the Committee fails to adhere to these rules and procedures and/or the duties prescribed to the Senate Committee Chairs in the By-Laws, the Vice President shall have the authority to remove him or her from the chair position.
All Senate Committees must produce a report at least once a year detailing the work they have done as a committee and present it at the Senate meeting prior to Spring Inaugurations.

Section 4

The following shall be standing committees of the Senate:

The Committee on Senate Services: This committee shall address any concerns or issues raised regarding the nature and availability of services provided by the Student Senate. These concerns and issues shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. The committee shall attempt to organize and run Senate shuttle bus services to Logan Airport preceding student vacation times.
2. The committee shall organize a weekend of spirit raising activities to be called Doing Justice: a Brandeis Appreciation Weekend.
  1. This weekend shall occur by the end of October each year.
3. The committee shall hold an all-you-can eat buffet at the onset of the finals period for both the fall and spring semesters.
4. The committee shall work to develop new services to address student needs.
5. The committee shall hold a second semester Activities Fair.
  1. The Fair shall be held within two weeks of the first day of classes of second semester.
  2. SAF Groups and Senate chartered and recognized clubs and organizations should be notified by the committee in a timely manner during the first semester.
The Committee on Student Advocacy: The purpose of this committee shall be to address student concerns with University life. It shall also serve as a resource for students and Senators in completing projects to benefit the Brandeis Committee. The Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. Committee members shall conduct campus-wide "dorm raps" to elicit student concerns.
2. The Committee shall undertake at least one major project per semester based on the feedback it receives from the students.
The Committee on Social Justice: This committee shall be composed of Senators and other students who will work together to accomplish projects focusing on issues of Social Justice. The Committee will investigate, publicize, and act upon student concerns. It will work to represent students' convictions to each other, the administration, and the larger community. The Committee will work to ensure that the Brandeis community's internal operations as well as its interactions with the larger world reflect a communal social conscience.
1. The Committee must compile and present to the Senate Executive and student body at least one report per semester investigating an instance of social justice and or injustice on the Brandeis campus. The report should include a proposed plan of action if the findings warrant.
2. The Committee shall present the report prepared under section i) to the student body in a publicized public forum.
The Senate Diversity Committee (hereafter referred to as "the Committee"): The Committee shall, through collaboration with the Intercultural Center community and other underrepresented groups on campus, will coordinate events, promote institutional change at Brandeis, and work to encourage interaction and connections between various parts of the Brandeis community. Through these efforts the Committee will work to give underrepresented communities a voice on campus and to help organize advocacy for initiatives related to improving coexistence, civil rights, and civil liberties at Brandeis and beyond. The structure and duties of the Committee shall be as follows:
1. The Senator for Racial Minority Students will serve as the Senate chair of the comittee. In accordance with the Student Union bylaws, article IV, section 2, the position of non-senate chair will be filled by a member of the student body appointed by the President of the Student Union Senate. Positions on the Committee will be reserved for the Student Union President or the President's appointed representative for matters pertaining to diversity and the duly elected Transitional Year Program Senator, who are hereby required to fill said positions for the duration of their terms in office. The remainder of the committee shall be open to and comprised of senators and interested members of the student body.
2. The Committee shall undertake at least one major project per semester based on the feedback it receives from the student body.
3. The Committee shall host an event featuring a speaker to address issues of diversity at least once a year.
4. The Committee must compile and present to the Student Body at least one report per year describing their work on diversity.
5. The Committee as a whole must meet at least once a month with the Assistant Dean of Student Life for the Support of Diversity.
6. The Senate Chair of the committee must meet at least once a semester with the Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment.
7. The committee is further encouraged to meet with administrators whose areas of responsibility intersect with issues with which the committee is concerned.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means: This committee's purpose is to enhance the efficiency of the Senate and to streamline the legislative process. The committee will strive to assist people bringing business before the Senate on how to adhere to the rules and guidelines set forth in the Union Constitution and the By-Laws. This committee shall act in accordance with the following:
1. The committee shall only be open to members of the Senate.
2. At the discretion of the Chair or the majority of present committee members, those who are not Student Union Senators may attend.
3. Prior to each meeting of the senate, the Ways and Means committee shall meet to review the agenda and business to come before the Senate.
4. The committee chair is ultimately responsible for contacting those students and/or club leaders who submitted legislation so that any issues addressed at the committee meeting are resolved prior to the Senate meeting. The chair may delegate responsibility as s/he deems appropriate.
5. The committee chair shall compile a recommendation to the Senate no less than one day prior to each meeting, discussing the findings of the committee.
6. The committee may advise persons bringing legislation and other business before the Senate on how to conform such business to the rules of the Senate.
7. Neither the committee nor its members may require that persons bringing business before the senate make modifications to that business.
8. The chair retains the right to prevent legislation or other business from reaching the floor but most notify the Senate of their reasons. By a 2/3 vote, the Senate may bring said business to the floor.

Article V: Finance Board

Section 1

The purpose of the Finance Board shall be to allocate and supervise funding for Union Chartered Organizations. The Finance Board shall act in accordance with the By-Laws.

The Board shall not act unless a quorum is present. A quorum of the Board shall consist of four members. The Board may, by unanimous consent, vote by email on funding requests.
Each member of the Finance Board, except the Treasurer, shall serve at least two office hours per week in the Student Union Office.
The Finance Board shall meet at least every five academic days while regular classes are in session. The first meeting of the Finance Board shall be convened by the Treasurer. Thereafter all Board meetings shall be scheduled by the Chair.
Each member of the Finance Board shall have one vote. Approval of any allocation requires a majority vote. Members of the Board may not cast their votes by proxy.
No Finance Board meetings will be open to the public in order to facilitate the Board's performance of its duties.
On or about the end of every semester, there shall be a special meeting of the Finance Board called Early Marathon Session for the allocation of funding for the following semester. On or about the beginning of every semester, there shall also be a special meeting of the Finance Board called Regular Marathon Session for the allocation of funding for the present semester. The Finance Board must reserve at least 10% of its funding for STEP (Short-Term Expense Planning) meetings for the following (and present, respectively) semester. The meetings shall be confidential. Allocations decisions shall not unduly penalize chartered organizations for outside fundraising that is consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws.
A Presidential veto with respect to Marathon Session may not occur more than seventy-two hours after its submission to the Union President. A Presidential veto with respect to any other allocation decisions must occur within twenty-four hours of the publication of those allocations. The Finance Board must vote on the subject of the veto within seventy-two hours of notification of the veto. No pocket veto may occur.
All Finance Board checks must be signed by the Treasurer or the Union President.
If requesting funding for the coming semester, a Union Chartered Organization must additionally submit a funding application in advance of Marathon session.

Section 2

At times it may become necessary to place a Union Chartered Organization under receivership under the Finance Board for organizational or financial problems.

The Finance Board may approve the placing of a Union Chartered Organization into and its removal from receivership by a majority of those members present and voting.
The Finance Board shall provide the Union Chartered Organization with financial and organizational advice.
The receiver shall be a member of the Finance Board.
The receiver shall meet with Union Chartered Organization officers to discuss and offer advice upon organizational and financial transactions. The receiver will then report to the Finance Board.

Section 3

The Finance Board may by unanimous consent purchase equipment for the use of all Union Organizations or individuals to which they grant permission. Such purchases may not exceed 10% of the Finance Board's semester budget.

Section 4

In 1980, Peter S. Falk, a student at Brandeis, was struck down by cancer in the prime of his life. The class of 1980 established the Peter S. Falk Olympics so as to memorialize him and raise money for the American Cancer Society. In 1998 the Student Union Senate changed this memorial to the Peter S. Falk Memorial Fund. The Fund works as follows:

The Finance Board will be allotted $300 at the beginning of each Fall semester from the Student Union budget to allocate by the end of that semester towards:
1. Fundraisers sponsored by a Union Organization, where all of the monetary profit will go towards a non-profit organization centered on cancer research and/or awareness.
2. A cancer awareness event or program run by a Union Organization which educates students on an issue or issues involving cancer.
The Chair of the Finance Board will be responsible for notifying Union Organizations that are planning such events

Article VI: Counseling and Advisory Service Fund

Section 1

The purpose of the CASF is to provide funding to student run organizations which provide counseling and/or advisory services and are not eligible to receive funding through the Finance Board process. The Senate shall allot up to 5.56% of its portion of the Student Activities Fee to be used for the CASF.

Section 2

CASF organizations must meet all of the following criteria:

The organization must perform a counseling and/or advisory service to the Brandeis Community, which by its very nature causes membership to be restrictive and unavoidably selective.
Member training must be necessary to participate in the organization.
Members cannot profit financially in any manner from organization activity.

The following groups are CASF Groups:

Student Sexuality Information Service
Rape Crisis Hotline

Section 3

Money shall be allocated to the eligible organizations as follows:

No earlier than three weeks before the Senate budget meeting, the Treasurer shall meet with representatives from each eligible organization to discuss their relative financial needs. The purpose of this meeting will only be for exchange of information; no binding votes will be taken.
At the Senate budget meeting, each eligible organization will submit a budget for the upcoming semester to the Union Senate in executive session.
During executive session, a representative of the CASF organization must provide the Senate with an approximate annual account of all services provided by the CASF organization. This account must be a compilation of records from all counselors of the organization and initialed by them. This account also applies to organizations under consideration for CASF status.
The Senate shall not compel a CASF group to reveal the names or identities of those persons served by the organization nor their identifying characteristics.
A representative of the organization must be present at the meeting when the request is submitted and at any subsequent meetings when the issue is discussed.
Voting on funding will require a simple majority to pass at the meeting at which the request is presented, or thereafter.
The Senate may change the amount requested by a two-thirds vote and this will not require a second meeting to vote on the entire measure.
Eligible organizations may approach the Senate for additional funding furing the semester in which they will use the funding. This funding will be granted by the procedure in subsections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this section.
At the end of the semester, and funds remaning from the initial amount will be returned to the Senate for general use.

Section 4

Should the Senate hold a vote concerning the eligibility of a CASF organization, the Executive Senator must notify a member of the Executive Board of said organization at least four academic days before the vote.

Article VII: Financial Activities

Section 1

Funding requests to the Senate must meet certain conditions:

The request for funding must be submitted at the Senate meeting prior to the meeting at which the vote shall be taken.
A representative of the group asking for money must be present at the meeting when the request is presented and at any subsequent meetings where the issue is discussed.
Voting on the funding will require a simple majority to pass at the second meeting or thereafter. If the Senate deems that an emergency exists, it may waive this rule by a 2/3 vote.
The Senate is allowed to change the dollar value of the request, and this will not require a third meeting to vote on the entire measure.
A reimbursement or preauthorization check relating to an event must be requested no later than two weeks after the event occurs. If funds are not requested withing two weeks of the event the Senate Money Resolution becomes null and void, and the Senate shall have no obligation to pass an similar money resolution.
For money resolutions not relating to an event, a timeline must be presented with the request. If two weeks pass after the money should have been requested, as dictated by the timeline, the Senate Money Resolution shall become null and void, and the Senate shall have no obligation to pass any similar money resolution. Prior to submission, all Senate Money Resolutions must be accompanies by proof of cost for the items to be purchased or services to be obtained. This rule cal be overridden by a majority vote of present members.
Prior to the disbursement of any funds resulting from a Senate Money resolution, the Treasurer must be provided with proof of cost for the items purchased or services obtained.
If the actual cost of any item or service obtained with funds from the Senate Money Resolution differs significantly from projected cost, the Treasurer shall make a report of the discrepancy to the Senate at the next regular meeting.

Section 2

All money left in the senate discretionary budget at the end of each and every fiscal semester shall be reallocated to the following fiscal semester's senate discretionary. When these funds are discovered and appropriately calculated, the Union Treasurer must submit an outline of said values to the Union Senate to be approved and officially transferred. The senate must make every attempt to allocate unspent money and/or spend all money in their budget and reserves the right to reallocate to subsequent budgets only as a last resort.

Section 3

The Union Treasurer shall set a date at the penultimate Senate meeting of each semester by which all allocated funds from the Senate Discretionary must be requested from the Treasurer by its recipients. Unless a deadline is set by the Senate on the specific Senate Money Resolution, all Senate Discretionary allocations remaining unclaimed by the recipients after this date shall be considered unspent for the semester.

Article VIII: Charters

Section 1

The Senate shall have the power to grant or deny charters by a majority of those members present and voting. To receive a charter, an organization must:

Be open to all members of the Brandeis community.
Not discriminate against members on the basis of sex, race, religion, sexual preference, graduating class, age, nationality, or physical disability.
Not charge its members fees or dues or frequently engage in cost prohibitive activities without an attempt to offset costs through fundraising or allocated monies.
Not duplicate the purpose or goals of a currently chartered organization.
Not be a fraternity or sorority.

Section 2

The Senate is not obligated to charter a club, which satisfies the above criteria; senators may base their votes on their own assessment of the club's merit.

Section 3

Except as specified in Article VIII Section 14, each organization that wishes to be chartered must submit, along with a proposed constitution and purpose, the names, signatures, class years, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least a total of 100 Union members with at least 10 Union members wishing to join the club and to commit to active involvement after chartering and the remaining signatures from Union members who wish to show their support of the organization becoming a chartered club on campus. Both of these lists must be submitted either via approved electronic submission or on forms provided in the Student Union Office that have the following headings on them:

Member List -- I plan on becoming a member of _____________ (insert organization name here). Should it become a chartered organization of the Student Union, I intend to be an active participant in the events and projects of said club.

Supporter List -- I support _____________ (insert organization name here) being chartered as a Student Union organization. I understand that by becoming chartered, ____________ will be given the use of Student Union copy machines, the ability to reserve rooms on Campus and the opportunity to go before the Finance Board for funding.

One senator must also provide a signature verifying that the proposed charter (purpose + constitution) conforms to these By-Laws.

In extenuating circumstances, the Senate reserves the right to consider a club that has not fulfilled the above signature requirement. In order to consider such a club, the club must submit a letter stating how the organization has attempted to obtain the necessary signatures and why the club feels it has been an impossible endeavor. At the discretion of the Executive Senator, such a club may be added to the agenda for charter consideration. Such a club may also, by a 2/3-majority vote of the Senate, have its charter taken off the floor.

Each organization must have a Constitution, which includes:
1. Name
2. Purpose
3. Officers -- including their method of selection
4. Membership criteria
5. Amendment procedures
6. Statement of non-exclusivity
All officers of the organization must be undergraduate or Transitional Year Program students attending Brandeis University.

Section 4

For consideration at a Senate meeting, the proposed charter must be submitted to the Executive Senator in the Senate office at least three academic days before the next Senate meeting.

At least three of the ten undergraduates on the chartering form must attend the Senate meeting during the chartering of the organization.
Charters shall be voted upon as presented or as amended by the representatives of the proposed charter.

Section 5

The Senate has the power to decharter or restrict rights and privileges of any chartered organization, which does any of the following:

Violates any of the chartering criteria.
Violates any of the rules of the By-Laws (including but not limited to election rules and guidelines), the Union Constitution, the University, or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Digresses from the purpose stated in its adopted charter form, or alters its purpose without majority approval of the Student Senate.
Does not comply with sanctions placed on it by the Union Judiciary.
Is formally recommended for decharter by the Finance Board.
1. It is the responsibility of the Finance Board chairperson and/or the Treasurer to bring it to the attention of the Senate that such a vote has occurred.
2. The Senate vote is to take place at the meeting immediately following the Allocations vote, as long as the Union Organization receives two academic days notice.
Pays a club member for performing the specific activity germane to a reasonable interpretation of the club's purpose.
Changes any part of its constitution other than the purpose without providing a copy of the new constitution to the Student Union Secretary within 10 academic days
Does not inform the Student Union Secretary, within 10 academic days of a change in elected officers
Does not send a representative to a mandatory meeting of club leaders, hereafter referred to as Club Leaders Meeting (CLM)
1. The Student Union President shall have the authority to call a CLM up to once per academic semester by giving club leaders 10 academic days of notice.
Violates the Student Union Advertising Policy as it is proscribed by the Student Union Senate.

Section 6

The motion for dechartering must be passed by a two-thirds vote of all those Senators present and voting.

The organization in question must be notified by the Executive Senator that it is being considered for dechartering at least two academic days before the meeting.

Section 7

The privileges of chartered organizations shall include:

The privilege to use the university name and seal.
The privilege to use university facilities.
The privilege to use Union resources.
The privilege to request funding from the Finance Board, which shall be limited to chartered organizations.

Section 8

Chartered organizations must submit updated constitutions once a year to the Secretary along with names and signatures of 10 members.

Any changes to a Union Organization constitution must be submitted to the Secretary.
In addition, the club must post at least 2 events or open meetings on the myBrandeis Community Calendar every semester.

Section 9

No Chartered Organization may spend SAF monies on a non-Union member in lieu of a member of the Undergraduate Student Union.

Section 10

All changes to the purpose of a Chartered or Recognized Organization must be approved by a majority vote of the Senate.

Section 11

The Secretary of the Student Union must be provided upon request a copy of any chartered or recognized organization's constitution up to once per academic semester.

Section 12

Chartered and Recognized organizations are responsible for checking their allocated mailboxes at least every five academic days.

Section 13

Within 3 academic weeks of chartering, Chartered and Recognized organizations must submit an all campus e-mail to the Secretary of the Student Union detailing an open meeting to join the club.

Section 14

Under Article IX Section 1, after having been recognized for at least 13 academic weeks, a club may expedite the chartering process and appear before the senate for chartering if the club:

Resubmits its constitution and purpose with the names, signatures, class years, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least a total of 35 Union members with at least 10 Union members wishing to join the club and to commit to active involvement after chartering and the remaining signatures from Union members who wish to show their support of the organization becoming a chartered club on campus. Both of these lists must be submitted either via approved electronic submission or on forms provided in the Student Union Office.
1. In considering such a club by this expedited process, the senate must consider whether the recognized club has had an active presence on campus. Such presence shall be judged on criteria including, but not restricted to: number of meetings held, number of events held, and creation of a product that furthers the club's purpose to the Brandeis campus.

Artivle IX: Recognition

Section 1

The senate shall have the power to grant recognition to an organization by a majority vote of those present and voting. In order to achieve recognition, an organization must abide by the following criteria:

A charter (constitution + purpose) which abides by the standards set forth in Article 8, Section 3 of these By-laws, with the exception that only 5 signatories are necessary.
Not be a fraternity or a sorority.

Section 2

The privileges of a recognized organization shall be:

The privilege to use the university name and seal.
The privilege to use university facilities.
The privilege to use Union resources.

Section 3

The senate may not grant any of the privileges mentioned in Article 9, Section 2 to social fraternities or sororities.

Article X: Elections Procedures

Section 1

At least ten academic days prior to the start of balloting, the Chief of Elections shall communicate to the Union the timeline for elections and shall promulgate the rules and procedures for that election period.

Section 2

Candidates for office must attend a mandatory candidates meeting and indicate their intent to run for office in accordance with the rules set by the Chief of Elections.

Candidates who cannot attend the mandatory candidates meeting may make alternative arrangements at the discretion of the Chief of Elections.
Candidacies are not valid until accepted by the Chief of Elections.

Section 3

Candidates shall be allowed to campaign for at least five academic days prior to the start of balloting.

Section 4

Candidates must abide by the following "fair elections" rules:

No money may be spent on a campaign by a candidate or his or her supporters.
No libelous or slanderous statements may be made by a candidate or his or her supproters.
Failure to observe the provisions of this article or any other provision of the Student Union Constitution and Bylaws may result in forfeiture of candidacy at the discretion of the Chief of Elections.
Should a candidate be disqualified during balloting, the election shall be voided and a new election for that possition shall be held. Should a candidate be disqualified after balloting has been completed, a new election for that position shall be held if the disqualification affects the outcome of the ballot.

Article XI: Duties of Senators

Section 1

Senators shall serve as representatives of their constituencies to the Senate.

Section 2

The following shall be the duties of all Senators:

To attend all meetings of the Senate and committees on which they serve.
Serve at least four office hours per week at the beginning of the fall semester before quad senators are sworn in, and at least three office hours per week after the swearing in of Quad Senators to staff the Student Union Office.
Serve on all assigned Senate committees.
To perform at least one project which is beneficial to the Brandeis Community.
To meet with their administrative liaisons, as appointed by the Union President, at least twice a semester.

Section 3

The following shall be the duties of the Union Senators at Large:

To serve as Executive officers of the Senate
To serve at least five office hours per week

Section 4

The following shall be the duties of class senators:

A class senator shall be responsible for organizing and holding one class event per semester.

Section 5

The following shall be the duties of quad senators:

Whenever possible, attend meetings of resident life staff for their respective quad.
Shall conduct dorm raps in their respective quads, at least once a semester, and shall give a report at the next senate meeting.

Section 6

The following shall be the duties of the Senator for Racial Minority Students:

Preside as Senate chair of the Student Union Senate Diversity Committee.
Schedule one Anti-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment workshop every semester.
Reach out to the ICC at least twice a month (by attending an ICC general programming board meeting).
Meet with the Director of the Intercultural Center
Meet with the Assistant Dean of Student Life for the Support of Diversity

The Senator for Racial Minority Students is encouraged to work on issues of racial minority students including but not limited to: Admissions, Faculty of Color, Minority Alumni Network.

Section 7

The duties of the Off-Campus Senator shall include:

Working closely with an administrative liaison for off-campus services to develop programs on off-campus living for the student body. It is recommended that one program be conducted in November and one in March. It is additionally recommended that the Off-Campus Senator prepare a table of information on off-campus living options at the University Housing Lottery.
Meeting with the liaison for off-campus services at least 3 times per semester.

Article XII: Student Representatives

Section 1

There shall exist positions of union representation to University Committees, which shall express student opinions, and concerns to the administration.

Section 2

All Presidential Appointees must be present at the time of their Senate confirmation, or provide in writing a reason as to his/her absence to the Secretary three days prior to the confirmation.

An appointment shall be confirmed by majority vote of the Senate.

Section 3

The Presidential Appointment process for Student Representatives shall be governed by the following procedures:

When applications are received the Union President shall inform the Senate that the selection process is beginning and request their input.
The Union President shall notify all Senators at least three academic days prior to the confirmation meeting of the proposed appointments to University committees.
Notification shall at least include making candidate's applications available for Senators and other concerned students to read.

Section 4

The Student Representatives to the Board of Trustees shall serve at least two office hours per week in the Student Union office.

Section 5

The Student Representatives to the University Curriculum Committee shall serve at least two office hours per week in the Student Union Office.

Article XIII: Special Senate Programs

Section 1

The Senior Programs Fee shall be allocated in the following manner:

Senior Week: 55.25%
Junior/Senior Formal: 41.25%
Mid-Year Graduation: 3.5%
By the last Senate meeting of each academic year, member(s) of the incoming Junior and Senior classes shall appoint coordinator(s) to oversee Senior Week, Junior/Senior Formal, and Mid-Year Graduation.
The coordinator(s) shall establish with the Treasurer of the Union a separate account for all funds.
Any surplus funds from Mid-Year Graduation shall be divided evenly between the Senior Week and Junior/Senior Formal accounts.
Any surplus in the Senior Programs accounts shall be carried over to next years Senior Programs.

Section 2

The David Alexander '79 Memorial Award for Social Consciousness and Activism in the Brandeis community was established in 1980 by the Senate in honor of former Senate Secretary, Parliamentarian, and social activist David Alexander who died in a tragic auto accident in January 1980.

The Senate shall announce to the community by the first week in March that it is accepting nominations for this award.
Nominations may be made to the office of Student Affairs until the deadline set by the Union Executive Office
1. Any member of the Brandeis Student Union may make a nomination.
2. Nominations must be typed and state the name of the nominee, the name of the nominator, and explanation of the qualifications of the nominee.
3. If a member of the Union Executive Office is a nominee, s/he may not participate in voting process in the voting process.
After receiving all nominations the Union Executive Office shall meet to determine by majority vote the recipient of the award.
All nominees must be graduating seniors who meet the following criteria:
1. The award is based on a student's actions on any social problem or set of societal problems, be they environmental, political, social, cultural, etc. These actions must have had a significant impact on the Brandeis community.
2. The services rendered by the student during his/her time at Brandeis ought to have been services provided directly to the Brandeis community. This award is not for social consciousness and activism outside the university.

Section 3

The Senate shall each year, through the appointment of an editor, produce and publish a Course Evaluation Guide (CEG).The editor may share his/her stipend with as many assistants as s/he feels are necessary.

The Union President shall, in consultation with the most recent CEG editor, select the editor.
The appointment must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate.
The selection process shall consist of applications and interviews.
1. The Union President shall make applications available by the second week in February.
The duties of the CEG editor shall be:
1. To compile summaries of the comments of the course evaluations
2. To compile numerical statistics with the assistance of the office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences
3. To arrange for all facets of publication of the CEG
The CEG editor(s) shall be granted a total stipend of $1,750 and shall increase every year by a rate equal to the percentage change in tuition (C.O.L.A.).Forty percent of the total stipend shall be paid during the last week of the spring semester. The rest shall be paid upon the publication of the CEG.
The CEG must be readily available to all undergraduates by the Friday before the new students arrive for the fall semester.
1. Each working day that the CEG is not available to students past this deadline, $100 will be deducted from the editor's total salary, at the discretion of the Union President.

Section 4

The Senate shall each year, through the appointment of an editor, produce and publish a New Student Facebook and Guide. The editor may share his/her stipend with as many assistants as s/he feels are necessary.

The Union President, in consultation with the Executive Office, shall select the editor.
The appointment must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate.
The selection process shall consist of applications and interviews.
1. The Union President shall make applications available by the second week in February.
The New Student Facebook and Guide shall include, but shall not be limited to, photos of new students who wish to participate, information on the clubs and organizations of the Student Union, a directory of all Student Union officers for the upcoming year, and a description of the services provided by the Union. At the discretion of the editor, other items may be included.
The duties of the New Student Facebook and Guide editor shall be:
1. To solicit and collect photographs from new students to be included in the guide
2. To solicit and collect information on Student Union clubs and organizations to be included in the guide
3. To arrange for all facets of publication of the guide
4. To arrange for the distribution of the guide, in cooperation with the Orientation Core Committee.
5. To perform any additional tasks, as assigned by the Union President, necessary in order to produce the guide
The New Student Facebook and Guide editor(s) shall be granted a total stipend of $2,000 and shall increase every year by a rate equal to the percentage change in tuition (C.O.L.A.).Forty percent of the total stipend shall be paid during the last week of the spring semester. The rest shall be paid upon the publication of the guide.
The New Student Facebook and Guide must be readily available to all incoming students by the Monday before Opening Sunday each fall.
1. Each working day that the guide is not available to students past this deadline, $100 will be deducted from the editor's total salary, at the discretion of the Union President.

Section 5

The Project Brandeis University Spirit Committee (PBUS): This committee shall be composed of Senators and students who wish to pursue the fostering of school spirit at Brandeis University. Through the support of athletic teams and the holding of any related events -- social, sporting, or academic -- the Committee will seek to promote and further the character and spirit of Brandeis University.

The Committee will be responsible to hold at least one (1) pep rally per academic year.
The Committee will establish and continue a liaison system to as many varsity sports teams as possible, the purpose of which is to obtain and, consequently, sustain what the needs of teams are from students, the Committee, and Brandeis. The main purpose of the liaison system will be to ensure that games, events, and teams are advertised throughout campus.

Like other standing committees of the Senate, the Senate Chair and/or non-Senate co-chair of Project Brandeis University Spirit will be responsible to report the Committee's activity at each Senate meeting.

Section 6

The Brandeis Student Union Teaching Award was established in the Spring of 2001 to honor an exceptional professor at Brandeis, and take in to account the opinions of the students as expressed in the Course Evaluation Guide.

The three professors who receive the highest Instructor Ratings from the Course Evaluation Guide in each School shall be placed on a ballot and presented to the student body.
1. The Schools shall be determined by a majority vote of the senate, but will originally consist of:
  1. School of Sciencs
  2. School of Creative Arts
  3. School of Humanities
  4. School of Social Science
2. any three professors who belong to a program but do not have appointments, technically, within a School may be placed on the ballot by a two-thirds vote of the senate.
3. In the event that there is a tie within a school or program in the Instructor Ratings of the Course Evaluation Guide, all professors who are in contention for being top three shall be placed on the ballot.
4. The ballot shall take place on or before the official last day of classes.
The professor who receives the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner of the Brandeis Student Union Teaching Award and shall receive a five hundred dollar prize and an engraved plaque from the Student Union Government.
1. In the event of a tie, a run-off election between the tying candidates shall be held.
2. It shall be the responsibility of the Union Secretary to acquire and engrave the plaque.
3. The plaque shall include at least the professor's name and position, the name of the award (Brandeis Student Union Teaching Award), and the year.
In addition, the winning professor's name and position shall be engraved on a plaque within the Student Union Government office.
1. It shall be the responsibility of the Union Secretary to acquire and engrave the plaque.

Section 7

There shall exist the Student Union Club Liaison Program (The Program). The Program shall serve the clubs of the Union by proactively educate club leaders and their memberships on resources available and beneficial to clubs and organizations of the Brandeis Student Union. Additionally, The Program shall serve as outlet for club advocacy related issues between clubs and the Union Government and the Administration of Brandeis University.

The Program shall provide services related to, but not limited to, the following: human, material, and financial resources of the Brandeis Student Union, the Brandeis University, and the greater Brandeis University community. It shall provide this service by proactively engaging with and directly meeting with Union clubs and organizations
The Program shall be operated by the Club Resources Coordinator (CRC), who shall be nominated annually by the President of the Union, at or prior to the second Senate meeting of the Academic Year, and confirmed by a 2/3rds vote of the Senate.
The President of the Student Union, at his or her discretion, may appoint the Club Resources Coordinator to the Executive Board of the Student Union. As an Executive Board member, the Club Resources Coordinator may be assigned additional responsibilities by the President. A 2/3rds vote of the Senate is needed for the Club Resources Coordinator to be confirmed to the Executive Board.
The Club Resources Coordinator shall report to the Senate no less than once a month on the activities of The Program. The Senate can mandate the Club Resources Coordinator to report at a particular Senate meeting, on the activities of The Program, by a majority vote.
The Program shall have membership of trained staff members (The Liaisons), who represent and do the work of The Program under the direction of the Club Resources Coordinator.
The Liaisons will be chosen by the Club Resources Coordinator after a public search and application process. The Club Resources Coordinator shall be the intermediary in the relationship between The Liaisons, the Senate, and the rest of the Student Union Government.

Section 8

There shall exist the Student Union Office for Judicial and Academic Advocacy (OJAA). The OJAA shall serve the student body by providing advocacy for students involved in, and as a student oversight body for, the University's Judicial Education system and academic policy disputes.

The OJAA shall provide services including, but not limited to, the following: individual student advocacy, policy initiatives, administrative oversight and general student body education.
The OJAA shall be run by the Director, who shall be nominated to the Senate annually by the members of the Office, and confirmed by a 2/3rds vote of the Senate.
The Director shall report to the Senate no less than once a month on the activities of the OJAA. The Senate can mandate the Director to report at a particular Senate meeting by a majority vote.
The OJAA shall establish a structure and set of guidelines to instruct the Director on the selection of a staff, their responsibilities, and office practices.
The OJAA shall produce an annual and public report on the activities of the office and a review of University policies and practices in the fields of Judicial Education and academic policies. This report shall be made available to the student body prior to the last academic day of each academic year.
The President of the Student Union, at his or her discretion, may appoint the Director of the OJAA to the Union Executive Board. As an Executive Board member the Director of the OJAA may be assigned additional responsibilities by the President. A 2/3rds vote of the Senate is needed for the Director to be confirmed to the Union Executive Board.
1. The Director of the OJAA may be removed from the Executive Board, by the Senate, through the mandated removal procedures.
2. The Director of the OJAA may be impeached from his or her position on the OJAA through the impeachment procedures detailed in the Constitution. The Director may not be removed in any way except impeachment by the Union, or removal initiated internally by the OJAA, following office guidelines.
The OJAA shall receive an operating budget to be included in the Union Government Operating Budget each semester.

Article XIV: Amendments

Section 1

Amendments to the By-Laws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the Senate.

Section 2

The Amendment shall be presented to the Senate in writing and read at the meeting prior to the voting.