Article IV.Sec. IV-V
SECTION IV – Enforcement Procedures
a) The President of the Senate shall reserve the right to recommend qualifying students for vacant senate positions.
b) The President Pro-tempore shall have the legal binding authority to declare any senate position vacant, however subject to the review of the select committee.
c) The internal affairs committee shall compile rules for interviewing and admitting new members within two weeks before such members shall resume sitting in the formal session of the senate.
d) Absence Policy Enforcement Procedures.
1. If the Senate President or the corresponding Secretary is unable to contact a Senator in violation of the absence policy by phone or email within seven (7) calendar days after the first unexcused absence, then a registered letter shall be sent out to the senator informing him or her of his/her imminent removal.
2. If the above mentioned Senator does not respond within (7) calendar days, the proper authority shall declare the Senate seat vacant.
SECTION V. Sessions & Sittings of the Senate
a) For the purpose of senate by-laws, the senate session shall run in two consecutive semesters, the first beginning from the official beginning of the fall semester and the second at the beginning of the official spring semester on the school calendar.
b) Each session of the senate shall convene at regular intervals as determined by any such laws enshrined in these by-laws or the constitution.
c) These intervals shall be known as sittings, and they shall be every two weeks.
d) The senate can enter into five types of sittings.
1. Executive sitting: Called by the select committee, and shall have in attendance all voting members of the senate, the Senate President and the corresponding secretary. The senate can admit into this sitting, and
they shall be every two weeks.
2. Formal sitting: called at the request of the Senate President by the select committee, complying with the sections guiding the sitting of the senate.The select committee shall set its agenda and order sheet. It is open to all members of the student body
3. Emergency sitting: Called at the request of the President of the Student Government Association by the Senate President. The President of the Student Government Association shall set agenda.
4. Public Sitting: A public hearing conducted by committees, individual senators, ad hoc committees or the senate leadership. It is open to all members the public.
5. Censorship Sitting: A closed-door hearing for any member of the three branches of the association. To administer caution or prescribe sanction in order to exercise the oversight functions of the student senate. This sitting shall not act prejudicially.
e) For the normal conduct of senate business, senators or committees shall schedule meetings to carry out activities related to senatorial business. Prior to such meetings, a schedule needs to be deposited with the senate select committee.
f) Senators shall maintain office hours cumulative of one and a half hour weekly to attend to student needs. Reports for such office hours shall be submitted twice a semester, one on the Tuesday following mid-semester exams, and another second to the last Tuesday of the semester.
g) At the beginning of all sessions of the Senate, the presiding officer shall announce the purpose for calling the sitting, and items relating to the purpose may be considered and voted upon by the Senate. Sessions of the Senate shall be subject to the Senate By-Laws and shall be governed by the Robert’s Rule of order (revised).
