Bylaws

Scheduling and Conduct of Meetings

Special Meetings

Quorum (Revised 11/16/94, 04/28/99)

1. Seven (7) voting members of the A.S. Council's Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for all regular and special meetings of the Executive Committee. (Revised 05/13/98, 04/28/99, 4/17/02)
2. For initial quorum to be established at A.S. Council meetings, either of the following conditions must apply (Revised 04/28/99):
   1. A majority (more than 50% fifty percent) of the total filled voting seats of A.S. Council shall constitute quorum at regular meetings, provided that at least one Executive Officer is included among those present. (Revised 04/28/99)
   2. Two thirds (2/3) of the total filled voting seats of A.S. Council shall constitute a quorum for special meetings, provided that at least two Executive Officers are included among those present. (Revised 04/28/99)
   3. No official action can be taken by A.S. Council, or an A.S. Board or Committee without an initial quorum. All materials distributed at the initial meeting must be provided for all members present at the later meeting where the action is to be officially approved. (Revised 04/28/99)
   4. A.S. Council, Boards or Committees where a quorum is initially present, may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of members, provided any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the initial quorum for such a meeting. (Revised 04/28/99)

Voting

1. A majority vote, when the term is used without qualification, shall be defined as more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast by persons present and legally eligible to vote (excluding blank ballots or abstentions) at a regular or duly-noticed special meeting of the A.S. Council, provided that a quorum is present.
2. A two-thirds (2/3) vote, when the term is unqualified, shall be defined as at least two thirds of the votes cast by persons present and legally entitled to vote (excluding blank ballots or abstentions) at a regular or duly-noticed special meeting of the A.S. Council provided that quorum is present.
3. A roll call vote shall be required at the request of at least one-third (1/3) of the members of the A.S. Council present and voting (excluding abstentions). The results of all roll call votes, including the member's name and vote cast, shall be included in the minutes of the A.S. Council.

Meetings Open to Public

Closed Sessions

Removal of Voting Members (Revised 4/26/00)

1. Students elected or appointed to the A.S. Council shall have an affirmative duty to:
   1. Attend all A.S. Council meetings.
   2. Serve as a member of an A.S. Board, A.S. Standing or Ad Hoc Committee, Senate Committee or Authority. This requirement may be waived by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the A.S. Council. Members elected to the Executive Committee must sit on at least one (1) additional board or committee. (Revised 11/18/98)
   3. Attend the meetings of the college or organization from which the A.S. Council member is elected or appointed. A.S. Council members shall be ex officio members of the College Council, with each Council deciding on voting rights.
   4. Attend each semester, the regularly scheduled A.S. Council Retreat(s).
   5. Council members shall help in the planning of and/or volunteer during the annual A.S. Welcome Week. (Revised 11/16/94)
2. Students elected or appointed to the A.S. Council shall be required to accomplish the following by a time stipulated each semester by the Rules Committee: (Revised 11/16/94) (Revised 04/28/99)
   1. Council members shall attend at least one meeting of a College Council or non-college organization other than the one they represent on A.S. Council. (Revised 4/13/94) (Revised 4/26/00)
   2. The intent of this requirement is to expose all Council members to programming by culturally based organizations different from their own. Council members shall attend one cultural event, (defined as an event that showcases shared customs and behaviors of a particular group of society that is different from their own) planned, organized, sponsored or co-sponsored by any of the culturally-based student organizations under the authority of the Associated Students other than one the Council member currently belongs to. (Revised 11/29/95, 11/18/98) (Revised 4/26/00, 12/03/03)
   3. Participate in at least one hour of board and committee tabling and board and committee interviews during the first three weeks of each semester. This requirement must be fulfilled by 4:00 p.m. on the Friday of the third full week of each semester and documentation for this requirement shall be kept by the Government Affairs Office staff. Failure to fulfill this requirement shall be represented as one (1) unexcused absence. (Added 4/16/03, Revised 4/13/05)
   4. An A.S. Council Member Requirement Form of the event and/or meeting must be submitted to the A.S. Council President Pro Tempore by 4 p.m. Friday of the 12th week of each semester or it will be interpreted as an unexcused absence. (Revised 05/13/98) (Revised 4/26/00)
3. Students elected or appointed to the A.S. Council shall be required to do the following at the request of an Executive Officer: (Revised 11/16/94)
   1. Serve, at the request of the Vice President of University Affairs, as a student representative on either the University Senate, its committees or any other seat under the jurisdiction of the University Affairs Board. This requirement may be waived by the Vice President of University Affairs, or a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the A.S. Council. (Revised 11/16/94, 4/17/02)
   2. Serve at the request of the Executive Vice President, as an A.S. Council representative during the board selection process as specified in Article III, Section 1, Part 1.03(b) of the Standing Committee Code.
4. Three (3) unexcused absences out of ten (10) consecutive meetings, two (2) consecutive unexcused absences, or five (5) absences either excused or unexcused in a semester, while serving as a member of any A.S. board, committee or authority referred to in Section 58(a), except in the case of a Council member who has presented documentation that the absences are necessary to fulfill their responsibility as an Executive Officer or member of A.S. Council, may result in the removal of an A.S. Council member from his/her position on the Council. All apparent failures to perform the duties specified in this Section will be reviewed by the A.S. Rules Committee. (Revised 05/13/98, Revised 4/12/06)
5. Leaving early or arriving late to a meeting of the A.S. Council will be treated in the following manner: (Revised 05/13/98)
   1. One (1) unexcused incident of leaving a Council meeting before adjournment will be considered a half (1/2) absence.
   2. One (1) unexcused incident of arriving fifteen (15) or more minutes after the A.S. Council meeting has been called to order will be considered a half (1/2) absence.
   3. Acceptable excuses include, but are not limited to, the following: to attend his/her organization's regularly scheduled meeting, to attend his/her Wednesday evening class, or to perform a duty necessary to fulfill his/her obligations as an A.S. Council member. A.S. Council members shall be required to attend all A.S. Council meetings for a minimum of three (3) hours from the publicized meeting time or until the meeting is adjourned, whichever occurs first. (Revised 11/18/98)
6. Requests for excused absences will be reviewed in the following manner:
   1. Prior Engagements: Excuses must be submitted in writing to the President Pro Tempore at least one week prior to the planned absence, to be considered by the Rules Committee.
   2. Emergencies: In the event that a Council member must be absent from an A.S. Council meeting, a request for excused absence must be submitted to the President Pro Tempore no later than seven (7) days following the absence in order to be considered by the Rules Committee.
7. Excuses for the A.S. Retreat shall be reviewed in the following manner:
   1. Prior Engagements: The excuse must be submitted in writing to the President Pro Tempore prior to the Retreat RSVP deadline or the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
   2. The RSVP deadline for the A.S. Retreat shall not fall before the first meetingof the A.S. Council following the commencement of the semester.
   3. Emergencies: The excuse must be submitted in writing to the President Pro Tempore within seven (7) days after the Retreat or the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
   4. For attendance counting purposes, each day of the A.S. Retreat will be equivalent to a half (1/2) meeting
   Requests for excused absences shall be subject to review by the A.S. Rules Committee.
8. Option for Last Chance Participation Alternatives
   1. In the event an AS Council member's eligibility to maintain their seat is jeopardized due to verifiable and unavoidable academic scheduling conflicts as confirmed by the Rules Committee, these "last chance" participation alternatives may be used, subject to the final approval of the AS Council, as an alternative to the member vacating their seat. To receive consideration under these provisions, the AS Council member must initiate a written request to the Rules Committee explaining why he/she may be at risk for violation of the attendance requirements specified in the AS Bylaws, as well as include a suggested participation alternative that would meet or exceed the minimum attendance requirements.
   2. Criteria for Application of Last Chance Participation Alternatives
      1. If the Council member is required to be more than 15 minutes late arriving or leaving early to/from weekly AS Council meetings due to a verifiable course scheduling conflict, then the Council member must initiate a written request for a "last chance" participation alternative to the Rules Committee prior to the add/drop deadline for the specific semester in question.
      2. A Council member may initiate a written request for a "last chance" participation alternative in the event that any combination of excused or unexcused absences that exceed the total permissible, as provided for in Section 58 of the AS Bylaws.
      3. If a Council member cannot make ANY of their required Board/Committee meetings due to various class conflicts, then he/she must turn in a letter to the Rules Committee before the add/drop deadline for the specific semester.

   3. Priority Registration

      Council members receive priority registration for the purpose of avoiding schedule conflict problems. Eligibility for consideration for a "last chance" participation alternative for Council members will be carefully evaluated only in the event of extenuating circumstances only. Council members are expected to place a top priority on attending Council meetings and meetings of their assigned board or committee.
   4. Participation Alternatives - Council member proposals for Last Chance Participation Alternatives may include one or more of the following elements:

      1. Board/Committee Membership

         Council members may request appointment to another AS Board/Committee that does not conflict with their schedule and has vacant seats needing filled.

      2. Executive Officer Project Assistance

         The Council member may work in close collaboration with an Executive Officer on a specific project being worked on by the Executive Officer.

      3. Miscellaneous Alternatives

         The Council member may propose his/her own idea on projects or additional participation that is compatible with their schedule and contributes to the fulfillment of their duties and responsibilities as a member of the AS Council.
   5. All proposed projects in this regard must receive prior review and approval by the Rules Committee before the Council member can receive credit in lieu of meeting the specified attendance requirements. Council members would be ill-advised to assume they can miss Council meetings or otherwise fail to fulfill his/her Council member duties. This alternative should only be used to mitigate unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances that prevent the Council member from meeting their responsibilities outlined the AS Bylaws, with each case subject to evaluation and recommendation by the Rules Committee on a case by case basis.

All A.S. boards and committees will be required to submit minutes in a timely fashion to the Executive Director's Office, who will make them part of A.S. files.

Alternate Members