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American University Student Government2010-2011 RES. 11-12-009A Resolution to Amend the Bules of Debate andDecorum in Order to Create a Means ofCollaboration through Co-Active Besolution

IN THE SEVENTH UNDERGRADUATE SENATE13 NOVEMBER 2011

Mr. SLATKO for the School of International ServiceCo'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 CampusAt-Large, Mr. ZONIS for the Class of 2Ot3, Mr. KELLY, Mr. STANLEY for theClass of 2O15, Ms. CIPRIANO for the School of Communication

Wereas, both the American University Student Government Undergraduate Senate (UGS) andthe Resident Hall Association General Assembly (RHA-GA) are representative bodiespromoting the best interest of the undergraduate student body, and;Whereas, the Executive Boards of both the American University Student Government and theResidence 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 throughprocesses 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 ResidenceHall 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 to mosteffectively display and pursue a cohesive student voice, and;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 rightsin the Undergraduate Senate during proceedings related to the consideration of co-active resolutions. This includes full speaking rights in committee and on the floorduring periods of presentation, questioning, and debate during the aforementionedproceedings. 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

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

Only members of the Senate may propose legislation; the only exception is that theResidence Hall Association may legislate and pass a co-active resolution, which maythen 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 uponassuming office by legislative order. If the original sponsor of the legislation wishes torecognize additional sponsors after its first reading, a motion to amend will be madeon the floor requiring a majority.Be it further resolved that Article II, Section 4, Subsection i of the Undergraduate Senate Rulesof Debate and Decorum shall be stricken and replaced with the following:

All bills, confirmations, directives, referenda, and co-active resolutions are consideredrecord votes that require a roll call vote. The Clerk will call the roll, recordingmember's votes and maintain records thereof. By default, all resolutions will be votedon by voice vote. If, due to a Member's request or in the opinion of the Chair, anyvote is unclear, a call for division will be made such that members will then rise and becounted. By default, the election of the Speaker and committee Chairs will be voted onby secret ballot to be overseen by the Clerk or Parliamentarian. Members enjoy theright to move to vote by any method they wish.Be itfurther resolved that Article III, Section 1, Subsection i of the Undergraduate Senate Rulesof 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 waivefirst reading is successful by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. Co-active resolutions will be seentwice before the Senate, and first reading cannot be waived. Directives, referenda, andresolutions shall have only one reading before the body.Be it further resolved that the Article III, Section 1, Subsection iii shall be added to theUndergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum and shall read as follows:

The Committee on Rules and Privileges is the only appropriate committee for theconsideration of a co-active resolution, regardless of the subject or topic of thelegislation.

Be it further resolved that the following Article IV shall be inserted between the current ArticleIII and Article IV of the Undergraduate Senate Rules of Debate and Decorum and shall readas follows:IV. Means for the Consideration of Co-Active Resolutions

1. Origin in the SenateIttgs. iL-12-t){}t}l

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i. The Speaker of the Senate must first pass a Legislative Order that recognizes theResidence Hall Association's bylaws as being sufficiently aligned with the bylawsstructuring co-active resolutions in the Senate.ii. A co-active resolution may be brought before the Senate by any member of thebody for consideration, and must indicate itself as a co-active resolution in title.iii. Any such legislation, upon first consideration, will require two readings. Thefirst reading must be within the Committee on Rules and Privileges and cannot bewaived.iv. A co-active resolution may rescind former legislation of the UndergraduateSenate if the co-active resolution originates in the Senate and explicitly states theaction 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 UniversityStudent Government to action if the co-active resolution originates in the Senate andexplicitly states the action in the original language, or if it is amended by the Senateto the same end.vi. All other processes and procedures that determine the passage of a Bill and itsfirst consideration on the floor of the Senate are also applicable to the passage of aco-active resolution, including required vote thresholds and amendment procedures.vii. Upon the passage of a co-active resolution on the floor of the UndergraduateSenate, it is provided to the Vice President of Advocacy of the Residence HallAssociation within twenty-four Q4) hours.viii. If a co-active resolution originates within the Undergraduate Senate, thePresident of the Student Government may only sign the resolution if the exact samelanguage is agreed upon and passed as legislation by both the Residence HallAssociation General Assembly and the Undergraduate Senate.2. Origin in the Residence Hall Associationi. The Speaker of the Senate must first pass a Legislative Order that recognizes theResidence Hall Association's bylaws as being sufficiently aligned with the bylawsstructuring co-active resolutions in the Senate.ii. A co-active resolution that is passed by the Residence Hall Association GeneralAssembly may then be brought to the Undergraduate Senate with the sponsorshipofat least one (1) Senator.iii. After receipt of the co-active resolution from the Residence Hall Association, theSpeaker has forty-eight (48) hours to notify the Senate for sponsorship. Any Senatorcan then assume sponsorship on a first-come, Iirst-serve basis.iv. The Senate sponsorship of any such legislation is responsible for the co-activeresolutionn and Residence Hall Association members shall be received by the Senateas members of the public; this does not include the Residence Hall Association -Student Government Liaison, who shall have full speaking rights during period ofdebate concerning a co-active resolution.v. If the co-active resolution passes in the Committee on Rules and Privileges and onthe floor of the Senate, it must be provided to the President of the StudentGovernment and the President of the Residence Hall Association for signatureswithin twenty-four Q$ hours. If no signature or veto is provided by either Presidentwith-in five (5) days of the presentation of the co-active resolution, it is consideredapproved.

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vi. If the co-active resolution is amended in either the Committee on Rules andPrivileges or on the floor of the Undergraduate Senate, the co-active resolution mustfollow the procedures of re-consideration outlined in Article IV, Section 3 of theRules of Debate and Decorum.vii. If a co-active resolution originates within the Residence Hall AssociationGeneral Assembly, the President of the Student Government may only sign theresolution if the exact same language is agreed upon and passed as Iegislation byboth the Residence Hall Association General Assembly and the UndergraduateSenate.3. Procedures for Re-Considerationi. If a co-active resolution is approved by the Undergraduate Senate and thenamended in the Residence Hall Association General Assembly, it may return toUndergraduate Senate as long as it is sponsored by at least one (1) Senator. ThisSenator is not necessarily the same Senator who sponsored the co-active resolutionupon first consideration. Upon re-consideration, the first reading of a co-activeresolution may be waived.ii. All other processes and procedures that determine the passage of a Bill and itsconsideration on the floor of the Senate are also applicable to the passage and re-consideration of a co-active resolution, including required vote thresholds andamendment procedures.iii. After receipt of the amended co-active resolution from the Residence HallAssociation, the Speaker has forfy-eight (48) hours to notiff the Senate of re-submission. At this time, the original (if the co-active resolution originates in theSenate) or primary (the Senator who assumes sponsorship during firstconsideration) sponsor of the co-active resolution assumes sponsorship. Thissponsorship 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 theCommittee on Rules and Privileges or on the floor of the Undergraduate Senate, theco-active resolution must follow the procedures of re-consideration outlined inArticle IV, Section 3 of the Rules of Debate and Decorum.v. If a co-active resolution is initially approved by the Residence Hall AssociationGeneral Assembly and received with sponsorship in the Undergraduate Senate, andthen amended in the Committee on Rules and Privileges or on the floor of theUndergraduate 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.vi. The procedures for re-consideration may be re-applied to the re-consideration ofa co-active resolution indefinitely. A co-active resolution may fail in accordance withestablished 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 HaIIAssociation. Additionally, if the co-active resolution has no sponsorship in theUndergraduate Senate two (2) weeks after the passage of the co-active resolution inthe Residence Hall Association General Assembly, it shall fail.vii. A co-active resolution shall also fail if either the President of the StudentGovernment or the President of the Residence Hall Association vetoes the Bill. ThePresident of the Student Government has the power of veto in regards to a co-activeresolution, and only the Senate may override that veto. Additionally, while the

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Senate recognizes the Residence Hall Association President's right to veto a co-active resolution, only the Residence Hall Association General Assembly shall havethe power to override an executive veto of the Residence Hall Association President,and only the Residence Hall Association General Assembly retains the power tocreate and maintain such a veto mechanism within their own bylaws.viii. Upon re-consideration, the President of the Student Government may only signa co-active resolution if the exact same language is agreed upon and passed aslegislation by both the Residence Hall Association General Assembly and theUndergraduate Senate.

4. Other Legislation in Relation to Co-Active Resolutionsi. The passage or failure of a co-active resolution does not inhibit the UndergraduateSenate's legislative capabilities in the matter under consideration. TheUndergraduate Senate shall retain its right to pass legislation on the matter if theco-active resolution fails or passes; additionally, a co-active resolution may bepassed retroactively to reflect the joint recognition of the issue by both legislativebodies.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 theco-active resolution void.

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

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

xJjd, 'Hina M. GirClerk of the Undergraduate SenateBrett T.lrf,anasioSpeaker of the Undergraduate Senate

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