2. A body of the Association shall have the power to adopt, amend, or repeal Rules of Order for their respective operation. These modifications shall be done by a two-thirds vote, provided that previous notice had been given, and that the Senate has been given Notice. However, once the Senate has acted to adopt, repeal, or amend Rules of Order for another body of the Association, that body of the Association shall not be authorized to modify its Rules of Order in any manner inconsistent with the Senate action during the remainder of the current fiscal year.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, all votes by any body of the Association shall be by a majority of those members present and voting.
3. In those cases where a two-thirds vote is indicated, this shall be two-thirds of those members present and voting.
4. Unless otherwise stated in the Constitution or these By-Laws, all ex-officio members of a body established under the Constitution or these By-Laws shall be without vote in that body.
5. Previous Notice
b. However, for proposed legislation arising spontaneously out of the business transacted at a meeting of a body of the Association, which proposed legislation could not reasonably have been foreseen prior to that meeting, previous notice may consist of the announcement at that meeting of the proposed topic of legislation, provided that written notice meeting the above requirements is made available to all members of that body within twenty-four hours.
2. A body of the Association, or (in the case of an Office) the directors, or (in the case of a Project) the Managers shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Standing Rules for their respective operation. These modifications shall be done by a majority vote, provided that previous notice has been given to the Senate. However, once the Senate has acted to adopt, repeal, or amend Standing Rules for another body of the Association, that body of the Association shall not be authorized to modify its Standing Rules in any manner inconsistent with the Senate action during the remainder of the current fiscal year.
1 Senate
All legislative power of the Association not vested in the Association as a whole is
vested in the Senate of the Association (referred to in these By-Laws as ``the Senate'').
The Senate shall dissolve following adjournment of its last regularly scheduled meeting
in May. At this time the Senate Elect shall be constituted as the new Senate.
(1) Meetings of the Senate held during those portions of Spring, Autumn, and Winter
quarter after it has been constituted and before it is dissolved are held during the
regular session.
(2) Meetings of the Senate held during the Summer quarter and between quarters
after it has been constituted and before it is dissolved are held during a special
session.
All official records of the Senate are subject to the Freedom of Information provisions
of the Constitution. Records includes, but is not limited to, all minutes, reports,
background materials, letters, memoranda, or other documents (whether printed or
electronic) generated by the Senate, its committees, or its members acting in an official
capacity.
(1) The fifteen members of the Senate elected by the undergraduate district and the
fifteen members of the Senate elected by the graduate and professional school
districts shall be known as the elected members of the Senate.
(2) The membership of the Senate shall be defined to be the elected members and
the ex-officio members of the Senate.
The Secretary shall keep a master record of attendance at meetings of the Senate and of
its committees. Partial attendance of a meeting may be determined, at the discretion
of the appropriate chair, to constitute an absence. A record of attendance shall be
kept by each committee chair and reported to the Secretary of the Senate. Should a
committee chair fail to provide a report of attendance to the Secretary of the Senate
within seven (7) days of the meeting, then the Secretary shall record all committee
members as absent.
(1) Expulsion of Inactive Senators
a. If an elected Senator has four absences from meetings of the Senate and/or
meetings of his/her assigned Senate committee(s) during any three-month
period during a session of the Senate, the Secretary shall report the absences
at the next regular meeting of the Senate. Such reporting shall serve as
previous notice of a vote to expel the elected member from the Senate.
b. Once previous notice of the vote to expel an elected Senator has been given,
the Senator shall be informed within twenty-four hours via electronic mail
and by telephone of the Senate's planned expulsion vote.
c. A motion to expel the Senator shall be in order at the next regular meeting
of the Senate after previous notice has been given.
a. Leaves of absence may be granted to elected Senators who will be absent from
the Stanford campus or who otherwise cannot fulfill their duties as a Senator
due to other academic obligations.
b. A leave of absence may not exceed one quarter in duration.
c. A Senator must apply for a leave of absence to the Senate Chair, who shall
submit the matter to the Senate for approval.
d. During the leave of absence, the Senator may not attempt to exercise the
rights of an elected member of the Senate.
a. A seat in the Senate shall become vacant upon the death, resignation,
expulsion or disqualification of the elected Senator otherwise entitled to hold
such a seat.
b. A Senator shall be deemed to have resigned upon submission of a written
statement of resignation to the Senate Chair or Senate Secretary.
c. A Senator shall be deemed to be disqualified upon violating the qualifications
for Senate members as laid down in the Constitution or these By-Laws. The
disqualification shall take effect upon written notice by the the Senate Chair
or the Senate Secretary.
a. Representation of First-Year and Transfer Students
The Senate shall make a concerted effort to encourage participation in
its operations by first-year undergraduate, transfer, and first-year graduate
and professional school members of the Association. The Nominations
Commission shall, during the first five weeks of Autumn Quarter, select up to
six members of the Association to serve as ex-officio members of the Senate.
Three of these positions shall be reserved for first-year undergraduates and
transfer students, and three of these positions shall be reserved for first-year
graduate and professional school students.
b. Representation of Other Association Agencies
The Senate shall make a concerted effort to encourage participation in its
operations by members of the Frosh Council, Sophomore Class Presidents,
Junior Class Presidents, Senior Class Presidents, and Graduate Student
Council. During the first five weeks of Autumn Quarter, the Senate Chair
shall solicit each of these bodies to nominate an ex-officio Senate member.
c. Any member of the Association may petition to be appointed as an ex-officio
member of the Senate by submitting a written request to the Senate Chair.
Such requests must be acted upon by the Senate at its next regular meeting.
d. No part of this section shall be construed as restricting the Senate's ability
to select its ex-officio membership.
The officers of the Senate shall be the Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary, Parliamentarian,
and the chairs of the Committees of the Senate. Officers of the Senate shall be
empowered to select staff to assist them in their duties.
(1) An office in the Senate shall become vacant upon the death, resignation, expulsion
or disqualification of the individual entitled to hold the office.
(2) An officer shall be deemed to have resigned upon submission of a written statement
of resignation to the Vice President of the Association, Senate Chair, or Senate
Secretary.
(3) An officer shall be deemed to be removed upon passage of an order of removal by
the Senate, as specified herein. The removal shall take effect upon the receipt of
written notice from the Vice President of the Association, Senate Chair, or Senate
Secretary.
(4) An officer shall be deemed to be disqualified upon violating the qualifications
for Senate officers as laid down in the Constitution or these By-Laws. The
disqualification shall take effect upon written notice from the Vice President of
the Association, Senate Chair, or Senate Secretary.
Officers and staff of the Senate may be paid a salary, if so specified in the Senate budget.
a. Shall be held within 14 days of a vacancy in the office, or in the case of a
new Senate, at its first regular meeting as either the Senate Elect or as the
Senate.
b. Shall be presided by the Vice President Elect or his designee (in the case of the
Senate Elect) or the Vice President or his designee (in the case of the Senate)
of the Association. In case the position of Vice President Elect is vacant,
election of the Senate Chair shall be presided by the Elections Commissioner.
c. A candidate shall be elected upon receiving a majority of the votes cast on
any one of the first three ballots for this office. If no candidate has been
elected after these ballots, then a fourth and final ballot conducted under the
preferential balloting system shall be taken. All candidates shall be considered
in all of these ballots.
The term of the Senate Chair shall commence upon the dissolution of the previous
regular session of the Senate, or, if the previous regular session of the Senate has
dissolved, immediately. From the time of his/her election until taking office as
Chair, he/she shall serve as the Chair of the Senate Elect.
a. The Senate may remove the Chair at any time by majority vote.
b. Upon removal of the Chair, the Vice President of the Association, or in the
case of his or her absence, the Deputy Chair, or in the case of his or her
absence, the chair of the Administration and Rules Committee, shall preside
over the remainder of the meeting and arrange for the election of a new Chair
at the next meeting of the Senate.
c. In case of an expected absence of the Chair from campus for the Summer
quarter, the Deputy Chair shall act as Chair. In case both the Chair and
Deputy Chair are absent, the Senate may designate an acting Chair by
majority vote.
a. In the absence of the Vice President of the Association, to preside at all
meetings of the Senate and of the committee of the whole. In this role, the
Chair shall be responsible for the enforcement of the Constitution, these By-
Laws, the Rules of Order of the Senate, and standard parliamentary procedure
at these meetings. In this role, the Chair shall be restricted from voicing his
or her opinion on matters before the Senate.
b. To be responsible for enforcement of the Constitution, these By-Laws, and
the Standing Rules of the Senate in all administrative matters pertaining to
the operation of the Senate.
c. To serve as the Senate liaison between the Senate and the Executive Branch of
the Association and between the Senate and other elements of the University,
unless the Senate provides otherwise.
d. To appoint, remove, or replace Senators on any body containing a member of
the Senate, except as otherwise provided in these by-laws. The Senate shall
be notified at the first opportunity of these actions. At that time the Senate
may reject these actions. The Senate reserves the right to take these actions
itself.
a. The Senate may decide, by majority vote, to elect a Deputy Chair. In making
this decision, the Senate implicitly refuses the Senate Chair's appointment of
any Senator other than the Deputy Chair to serve as acting Chair in his or
her absence.
b. Shall be held at the meeting of the Senate-Elect or Senate immediately after
the Chair is elected.
c. Any Senator-Elect may declare himself/herself to be a candidate for this office
by notifying the Chair in writing any time after the Chair's election but no
less than forty-eight hours prior to the commencement of the meeting at which
the election will be held.
d. A candidate shall be elected upon receiving a majority of the votes cast on
any one of the first three ballots for this office. If no candidate has been
elected after these ballots, then a fourth and final ballot conducted under the
preferential balloting system shall be taken. All candidates shall be considered
in all of these ballots.
The term of the Deputy Senate Chair shall commence upon the dissolution of the
previous regular session of the Senate, or, if the previous regular session of the
Senate has dissolved, immediately. From the time of his/her election until taking
office as Deputy Chair, he/she shall serve as Deputy Chair of the Senate-Elect.
a. The Senate may remove the Deputy Chair at any time by majority vote.
b. Upon removal of the Deputy Chair, the Chair shall arrange for the election
of a new Deputy Chair at the next meeting of the Senate. In the interim,
the chair of the Administration and Rules committee shall serve as Acting
Deputy Chair until a new Deputy Chair has been elected.
c. In case of an expected absence of the Deputy Chair from campus for the
Summer quarter, or of the Deputy Chair acting as Chair, then the Senate
may designate an acting Deputy Chair by majority vote.
a. In the absence of the Vice President of the Association and of the Senate
Chair, to serve as Acting Chair and preside at all meetings of the Senate
and of the committee of the whole. In this role, the Deputy Chair shall
be responsible for the enforcement of the Constitution, these By-Laws, the
Rules of Order of the Senate, and standard parliamentary procedure at these
meetings. In this role, the Deputy Chair shall be restricted from voicing his
or her opinion on matters before the Senate.
b. Upon the request, absence, or disability of the Chair, to be responsible for
enforcement of the Constitution, these By-Laws, and the Standing Rules of
the Senate in all administrative matters pertaining to the operation of the
Senate.
c. Upon the request, absence, or disability of the Chair, to serve as the Senate
liaison between the Senate and the Executive Branch of the Association and
between the Senate and other elements of the University, unless the Senate
provides otherwise.
(1) Appointment and Term of Office
a. Availability of this position shall be advertised, and all members of the
Association shall be given an opportunity to apply for it.
b. Shall be nominated by the Senate Secretary's Selection Committee, which
shall consist of the Vice President (or Senate Chair, if so designated) who
shall chair the committee, one undergraduate Senator, one graduate Senator,
the Financial Manager, and the current Senate Secretary, who shall be an
ex-officio member of the committee.
c. Shall be nominated in the Winter quarter and confirmed by a two-thirds vote
of the Senate.
d. Shall serve during the following Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring
quarters, or until his/her successor has taken office.
e. May be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, given that at least 48
hours written notice of his/her removal shall be given to the individual in
question, and he/she shall be allowed to speak in his/her defense at the
Senate meeting at which the removal is to take place.
f. If a vacancy occurs due to the death, resignation, or removal of the Clerk, then
the Senate Secretary's Selection Committee shall nominate a replacement for
Senate approval, such an approval requiring a two-thirds vote.
a. Under the supervision of the Vice President and Senate Chair, preparing
agenda materials for the Senate and its committees.
b. Maintaining permanent records of all actions taken by the Senate (including
accurate copies of all action items approved by the Senate).
c. Keeping all records of the Senate and minutes of all meetings of the Senate
and its committees (as provided by the respective Chairs).
d. Maintaining attendance records of Senators at Senate and committee
meetings and reporting excessive absences to the Senate.
e. Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date copy of the Constitution, these By-
Laws, and the Senate Rules.
f. Carrying out Senate correspondence at the direction of the Vice President or
Senate Chair.
g. Carrying out such other routine tasks connected with the administration of
the Senate as may be directed by the Vice President or Senate Chair.
(1) Shall be appointed by the Vice President of the Association, in consultation with
the Senate Chair, subject to majority vote by the Senate.
(2) Shall advise the presiding officer and the Senate on questions relating to the
Constitution, these By-Laws, the Rules of Order, and Parliamentary Law.
(3) May be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, given that at least 48 hours
written notice of his/her removal shall be given to the individual in question, and
he/she shall be allowed to speak in his/her defense at the Senate meeting at which
the removal is to take place.
(1) Unless the Senate votes otherwise by a two-thirds vote, regular meetings shall be
held at times specified in the Standing Rules of the Senate. Consecutive regular
meetings within the same quarter shall not be separated by more than fifteen (15)
days nor fewer than six (6) days.
(2) Public notice of regular meetings shall be given in the Stanford Daily or in
electronic form at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Such notice shall include
the location, date, and time of the meeting, as well as any reason for its partial
or full closure, as required by the Constitution.
(1) Any call for a special meeting should specify a particular date and time. If no
such time is specified, the Senate Chair shall call the meeting to be held within
seventy-two hours of receiving the request.
(2) Notice must be given in the Stanford Daily, if it is being published, and in
electronic form at least twelve (12) hours of a special meeting of the Senate.
The Secretary of the Senate, the Senate Chair, and the Vice President of the
Association shall make a reasonable effort to contact every Senator.
(1) The Committees of the Senate shall consist of standing committees, special
legislative committees, special Chair's committees, and the Steering Committee.
(2) Any bill or resolution may be committed by the Chair to one or more
appropriate Committees of the Senate for consideration and the preparation of
recommendations before reaching the Senate floor.
(3) Except where specified in these by-laws, voting membership on Senate committees
shall be limited to elected Senators.
Every Committee of the Senate shall, by majority vote, have the power to admit
additional ex-officio members to its membership, but not to the Senate proper. Such
additional members shall not have a vote in the committees.
(1) Consecutive regular meetings of each committee within the same quarter shall
not be separated by more than fifteen (15) days nor fewer than six (6) days.
(2) The Chair of a Committee of the Senate may call special meetings of his/her
committee. Upon the written request of two members of the committee, the
Chair shall call a special meeting for the time requested or, if no time is specified,
within forty-eight hours of receiving the request.
(3) Complete records of all actions taken by a Committee of the Senate during
committee meetings, as well as the committee's attendance record, shall be given
to the Senate Secretary and reported to the Senate.
(4) Special joint meetings of two or more Committees of the Senate may be called
by the Chairs of the concerned committees, or upon the written request of two
members of each of the concerned committees. In the latter case, the Chairs of
the concerned committees shall call a joint meeting for the time requested by
the petitioning members or, if no time is specified, within forty-eight hours of
receiving the request.
(5) Public notice of regular meetings of a Committee of the Senate shall be given in
the Stanford Daily or in electronic form at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Such notice shall include the location, date, and time of the meeting, as well as
any reason for its partial or full closure, as required by the Constitution.
(6) Public notice of special meetings of a Committee of the Senate shall be given in
the Stanford Daily and in electronic form at least twelve (12) hours prior to the
meeting. The Secretary of the Senate and the Committee Chair shall make a
reasonable effort to contact every Committee member.
At its first meeting, the Senate Elect shall divide itself into Committees structurally
similar to the Committees of the Senate.
(1) Each member of the Senate Elect shall submit to the Chair of the Senate Elect a
list of committees he/she desires to serve upon.
(2) The Chair shall then make provisional committee assignments based upon these
preferences.
(3) One-third of the membership on all Senate committees must consist of
undergraduate Senators. One-third of the membership on all Senate committees
must consist of graduate and professional school Senators.
(4) The committee assignments shall take effect upon approval by the Senate Elect
at its next regular meeting.
(5) Members of the Senate Elect assigned to these committees shall be ex-officio
members of the corresponding Senate committees. Members of the Senate
committees shall be ex-officio members of the corresponding Senate Elect
committees.
(6) Each of these committees of the Senate Elect shall be chaired by the Chair of the
corresponding Senate committee, if one exists, until the committee has selected
another Chair.
E. Powers of Standing Committees
(1) Each Standing Committee shall be vested with the full power of the Senate for
the purpose of investigating any subject within its charge.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, these By-Laws, or Acts of the
Senate, all substantive actions of a Standing Committee shall take the form of
recommendations to the Senate.
F. Standing Committees of the Senate
The Senate shall have the following five Standing Committees: Academics, Research,
and Evaluation; Administration and Rules; Appropriations; Budget and Finance; and
Student Affairs,
(1) Academics, Research, and Evaluation
a. Shall review all matters pertaining to graduate and undergraduate education.
b. Shall review all matters pertaining to University, School and Departmental
policies and requirements.
c. Shall review all matters pertaining to University research policies and
activities.
d. Shall review all matters pertaining to the business and composition of the
Academic Council.
e. Shall participate in and facilitate discussion between student representatives
to the various University committees pertaining to graduate and
undergraduate education.
f. Shall act as an advocate for student interests and initiative in areas pertaining
to undergraduate and graduate education.
g. Shall review all matters pertaining to academic evaluation in undergraduate
and graduate education.
h. Shall review Academic support services pertaining to undergraduate and
graduate education including but not limited to the Center for Teaching
and Learning, the Undergraduate Advising Program, the Overseas Studies
Program, but not including Admissions, Financial Aid, and Residential
Education which fall under the Senate Committee on Student Affairs.
a. Shall review all proposed changes to the Constitution, these By-Laws, the
Rules of Order, or the Standing Rules.
b. Shall review the performance of all officers and bodies of the Association with
respect to these rules.
c. Shall review all matters relating to Association elections and advise the
Elections Commission regarding the same.
d. Shall have primary responsibility for reviewing proposals for new service
projects, service affiliates, or other agencies of the Association, except for
new business projects or business affiliates.
e. Shall review any matters that do not fall under the jurisdiction of any other
Standing Committee.
f. The Parliamentarian shall be an ex-officio member of this committee.
a. Shall review the general finances of, and formulate fiscal guidelines for, all
Association Boards and funds established under General Fees.
b. Shall formulate Funding Policies, and review proposed changes to existing
Policies.
c. Shall review all allocation recommendations made by Association Boards to
the Senate.
d. Shall review all requests for Special Fees by student organizations.
e. Shall review any proposed budget changes by student organizations receiving
Special Fees.
f. Shall review and approve the budgets of the Association Boards.
g. The Financial Manager and the Directors of the Program Board and the
Publications Board shall be ex-officio members of this committee.
a. Shall review the general finances of, and formulate general fiscal guidelines
for, the Association.
b. Shall formulate Financial Policies, and review proposed changes to existing
Policies.
c. Shall formulate the Association Operating budget.
d. Shall approve the budgets of, and review the performance of, the projects of
the Business sector.
e. Shall formulate guidelines for, and oversee the operations of, the Students'
Organizations Fund, and shall review all requests by student organizations
receiving funds from a General or Special Fee that they be permitted to
deposit their funds outside the Students' Organizations Fund.
f. Shall oversee the operations of the Financial Office, the projects of the
Business sector, and the finances of the Business Affiliates.
g. Shall review and approve the budgets of projects in the Service Sector and
have primary legislative oversight over the finances of the Service Projects
and Service Affiliates of the Association, except for the Association Boards.
h. Shall have primary responsibility for reviewing proposals for new business
projects or affiliates, and shall review proposals for new service projects
or affiliates or other new agencies of the Association with respect to their
financial implications.
i. Shall formulate personnel policies for the Financial Office and the projects of
the Business sector.
j. Shall review and formulate guidelines for University budget negotiations and
the recovery of indirect costs.
k. The Financial Manager shall be an ex-officio member of this committee.
a. Shall review all matters pertaining to general student activities.
b. Shall review all matters pertaining to student organizations.
c. Shall review all matters pertaining to the policies and administration of non-
academic student services provided by the University or students.
d. Shall review all matters pertaining to University residences.
e. Shall review all policies of Residential Education.
f. Shall be responsible for coordinating, with the President with the Association,
the Dorm Representatives Program.
g. Shall be responsible for meeting with the Student Affairs division of the
university administration at least once a quarter.
(1) Each Summer Standing Committee shall have the same powers as a regular
Standing Committee.
(2) Each Summer Standing Committee shall consist of at least four elected Senators
and shall choose its own chair. The President shall be an ex-officio member of
each Committee. The Financial Manager shall be an ex-officio member of the
Finance Committee.
(3) The two Summer Standing Committees shall be the Policy and Procedures
Committee and the Finance Committee.
a. The Policy and Procedures Committee shall have all the rights, duties, and
responsibilities of the Administration and Rules Committee, the Student
Affairs Committee, and the Academics, Research, and Evaluation Committee.
b. The Finance Committee shall have all the rights, duties, and responsibilities
of the Appropriations Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee.
(4) The Standing Committees shall be considered suspended, and the Summer
Standing Committees shall be considered constituted, on the last day of Spring
quarter. The Summer Standing Committees shall be considered dissolved, and
the Standing Committees reactivated, on the first day of Autumn quarter.
H. Special Legislative Committees of the Senate
The Senate shall have the power to create special legislative committees for specific
purposes, to vest in them all appropriate powers of the Senate, to determine their
composition, and to designate the chair of each special committee. All substantive
actions of a special legislative committee shall take the form of recommendations to
the Senate.
The Chair shall have the power to create special committees for specific purposes,
to vest in them all appropriate powers of the Chair, to determine their composition,
and to designate the chair of each special committee. All substantive actions of these
special committees shall take the form of recommendations to the Chair.
a. The Vice President of the Association, who shall preside over the Steering
Committee.
b. The Senate Chair, who shall preside over the Steering Committee in the
absence of the Vice President of the Association.
c. The chairs of the five standing committees.
a. Shall coordinate the activities of, and shall facilitate communication between
the Committees of the Senate.
b. Shall advise the Vice President and Senate Chair on the appointment of
Senators to, and removal of Senators from bodies containing members of
the Senate; on the order of business for Senate meetings; and on the
administration of the senate.
c. Shall have such other responsibilities as are provided by these Bylaws, the
Senate Rules of Order and Standing Rules, and acts of the Senate.
(3) At any time, after taking office, the President may choose to have the Executive
Committee adopt the role of the Steering Committee.
a. When Senate business is discussed, the Parliamentarian and Senate Secretary
shall serve as an ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
b. The President may at any time choose to split the roles of the Steering
Committee and the Executive Committee.
(1) Any Committee of the Senate may form sub-committees to investigate and report
to the parent committee on any topic within the parent committee's jurisdiction.
(2) Each sub-committee may admit ex-officio members by majority vote; all such
ex-officio members shall be without vote.
(3) Each parent committee shall designate the chair of the sub-committee, who shall
be a member of the parent committee.
A Selection Committee shall be defined as any committee of the Association
established by these By-Laws, with the exception of the Nominations Commission,
the purpose of which is to nominate for confirmation by the Senate a member or
members of the Association to an office or position established by these By-Laws.
a. A Selection Committee shall be required to advertise to the members of the
Association that the office or position for which it is constituted to nominate
a candidate is available, and that the Selection Committee is accepting
applications for that office or position.
b. A Selection Committee shall consider any applicant only for the office
or position for which he/she has applied, and shall not consider his/her
qualifications for any other office or position within the Association.
(1) The Nominations Commission shall consist of seven voting members.
(2) The President, the Vice President, and the Senate Chair or a member of the Senate
designated by the Chair shall serve as ex-officio members of the Commission.
(3) No member of the Commission may, during his/her term, apply for a position for
which the Commission is responsible for making a nomination.
(1) Members shall be nominated by the Nomination Commisson's Selection
Committee, which shall consist of the President of the Association (or the Vice
President if so designated) who shall chair the committee, four elected Senators
(including at least one from the Student Affairs committee and including at
least one graduate and one undergraduate), and the chair of the Nominations
Commission who shall serve as an ex-officio member of the committee.
(2) The Nomination Commission's Selection Committee shall submit its nominations
of candidates to serve on the Nomination Commission no later than the fourth
Senate meeting of Autumn Quarter. At that time, the Selection Committee shall
nominate one of the Commission members to serve as Chair of the Commission.
(3) Provided that they have been confirmed by the Senate by two-thirds vote, the
newly-appointed members of the Commission shall be known as voting members
and take office on the first day of Spring quarter, and shall serve a one-year term.
a. Shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.
b. Shall preside at meetings of the Commission, and shall vote only in cases
where it would be decisive.
c. Shall meet at least once every month with the President, the Vice Presient,
and the Senate Chair.
a. Shall serve for the term of the Commission, unless removed from office earlier.
b. Shall be chosen by the Chair of the Commission, and may be removed by the
Chair at any time.
c. Shall perform any administrative tasks requested by the Chair.
d. Shall preside at meetings of the Commission in the absence of the Chair, and
at those times shall vote only in cases where it would be decisive.
(3) Officers of the Commission may be paid a salary, if so specified in the Nominations
Commission budget.
(1) At or before the second Senate meeting of Winter quarter, the newly-appointed
Chair of the Commission shall present to the Senate for its approval a schedule of
the appointment processes for the term of the Commission. This schedule shall
specify, for each nomination, the dates on which notifications shall be mailed to
eligible guests at Commission interviews, the dates on which committee positions
shall be advertised, the dates on which applications shall be due, the dates by
which the Commission shall hold interviews, the dates by which the Commission's
nominations shall be available to the members of the Senate, and the dates on
which the term of appointed representatives shall commence. Subsequent changes
to this schedule shall be approved by the Senate before becoming effective.
(2) Complete records of all actions taken by the Commission shall be filed with the
Association Office in a timely manner and shall be available for public scrutiny in
accordance with ASSU freedom of information provisions in the Constitution.
(1) Any interviews of applicants for any position must be conducted by at least three
members of the Commission of which at least two must be voting members of the
Commission. Members of the Commission may be paid a wage, if so specified in
the Nominations Commission Budget, for the time spent in interviews.
(2) All nominations of individuals must be made during a meeting of the Commission
at which at least four of the Commission's voting members are present and no
guest members are present. No nominations shall be made without the affirmative
vote of three voting members of the Commission.
i. Only those persons specified by these by-laws shall be eligible to attend
interviews as guests of the Nominations Commission.
i. All eligible guests shall be notified of their eligibility and of the starting
date of interviews in writing at least two weeks before interviews begin.
ii. The schedule of interviews shall be made available to guests of the
Nominations Commission at least 24 hours before the starting date of
interviews.
i. To ask questions or provide other relevent factual information at the
interviews when so recognized by the members of the Nominations
Commission who are conducting the interview.
ii. To speak in the ensuing discussion when so recognized by the members
of the Nominations Commission who are conducting the interview.
iii. Guests shall not speak at other times during the interview process.
iv. The members of the Nominations Commission present may require that
any guest leave if that guest's presence is in any way hindering the
interview process.
v. All guests shall leave while the Nominations Commission deliberates and
votes on nominations.
(4) The Commission shall give priority to those individuals seeking nominations based
upon the following criteria:
a. Individuals demonstrating a willingness and ability to communicate to the
Association their actions in the position.
b. Individuals demonstrating a willingness and ability to seek out from the
Association information and opinion to guide them in the position.
c. Individuals demonstrating a willingness and ability to strongly advocate the
interests of the members of the Association.
d. Individuals presently serving in that position, provided that they have served
only one year.
(5) The Commission shall make its nominations based upon additional requirements
and criteria specified by the Senate.
(6) The Commission shall make its nominations based upon additional objective
requirements and objective criteria formally specified by the authority appointing
the committee. All new requirements and criteria for nominations must be noted
in the Commission's report to the Senate before interviewing commences.
(7) The Commission's nominations shall not be influenced by any informal suggestions
or recommendations (including from the target committee or members thereof),
except those made by members and guests of the Commission.
(8) No nomination shall be considered by the Senate unless it was made available in
writing to members of the Senate at least 48 hours before the commencement of
the Senate meeting at which it is to be considered.
A nomination of a member of the Association shall consist of his/her name,
class, major (if an undergraduate) or department/school (if a graduate), and a
description of his/her relevant prior experience. All nominations which were made
through the applicant pool for un-advertised positions, or through re-direction of
an applicant to a committee other than the one to which he/she originally applied,
shall be so indicated. All nominations shall specify the number of applications
received and the number of applicants interviewed.
(9) Though nominations must be available to the public, in conformance with the
Freedom of Information stipulations in the constitution, they shall not be in any
way deemed official prior to the Senate's approval of the nomination.
(10) Should the Commission determine that there are no qualified applicants for one
or more committee openings, or if the Commission's nominees are rejected by the
Senate, the Commission may decide to re-advertise the committee opening, or to
solicit applications from specific individuals or groups, subject to Senate approval.
F. Terms of the Representatives of the Association
(1) The terms of all student representatives shall commence on September 1, except
for those committees for which the Nominations Commission determines require
a different commencement date.
(2) All terms of representatives shall be for one year.
Any member of the Association may petition the Senate to examine any decision of
the Commission. Procedural violations shall be the sole grounds for such petitions.
The Senate must act upon all such petitions by rejecting the nomination either in its
original vote or after a valid motion to reconsider.
H. Interim Nominations Commission
(1) If the President, after polling the members of the Commission, determines that
a majority of its voting members shall not be in the Stanford area and shall not
be available for meetings during the time between quarters or during the Summer
quarter, and that the Commission may be required to meet to conduct business
during this time, then all the duties and responsibilities of the Commission shall
devolve onto the Interim Nominations Commission.
(2) The voting membership of the Interim Nominations Commission shall consist of
all the voting members of the Commission in the Stanford area and available
for meetings, and members of the Association equal in number to that required
to bring the voting membership of the Interim Nominations Commission to its
normal number. These members must meet the same qualifications as those of
the Commission, and shall be appointed by an Interim Nominations Commission
Selection Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, and Senate
Chair. The names of these appointees shall be reported to the Senate at the
earliest opportunity, at which time the Senate reserves the right to reject them.
(3) The ex-officio members of the Interim Nominations Commission shall be the same
as those of the Commission.
(4) The Chair of the Interim Nominations Commission shall be the Chair of the
Commission, unless that individual is either not in the Stanford area or is
not available to fulfill the duties of the Chair, in which case the Chair shall
be designated by the Interim Nominations Commission Selection Committee
from among the voting members of the Interim Nominations Commission, with
absolute preference being given to those who are also members of the Nominations
Commission. Such designation shall be reported to the Senate at the earliest
opportunity, at which time the Senate reserves the right to reject it and to
designate another voting member as Chair.
(5) The Interim Nominations Commission shall be considered dissolved, and the
Commission shall resume its duties and responsibilities, at the beginning of the
next regular academic quarter (Autumn, Winter, or Spring), or at a date specified
by the Senate, whichever is the sooner.
The Committee shall act for the Senate when the Senate is not in regular session and
when it is impossible to convene a special session of the Senate.
(1) All elected Senators shall be voting members.
(2) The ex-officio members of the Senate shall be ex-officio members of the
Committee.
(3) Seven voting members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.
(1) Shall be chaired by the Vice President, or, in his or her absence, the Senate Chair,
or, in his/her absence, the acting Chair, or, in his/her absence, a member of the
Interim Committee selected by the Committee.
(2) May constitute any committees it deems necessary for the conduct of its business.
(3) Meetings shall be called in the manner specified for the calling of meetings of the
Senate, with the Committee empowered to take all actions normally taken by the
Senate.
(4) Minutes of all meetings of, and copies of all legislation passed by, the Committee
shall be forwarded in a timely manner to all members of the Senate and to the
Senate Secretary.
The Committee shall have the full and complete powers of the Senate, with the
following exceptions and qualifications:
(1) All bills, resolutions, and orders shall require for approval a three-fourths vote of
those members present and voting.
(2) The Committee shall not modify these By-Laws, nor shall notice given at a
meeting of the Committee constitute adequate previous notice for legislation
requiring such notice to be introduced at a regular or special meeting of the
Senate.
(3) The Committee shall not call for any Association election.
(4) When the Interim Committee is acting as the ``Summer Senate'', the Committee
shall not appropriate more than $3000.00 from the Budgetary Reserves of the
Association.
(1) Dorm Representatives shall play an advisory role to the Senate and Executive
branch in representing student opinions on issues, services, and other matters
related to the ASSU.
(2) Dorm Representatives shall attend the meetings of the dorm complex and
communicate upcoming Senate actions, events, deadlines and general ASSU
information to the dorm residents.
(3) Dorm Representatives shall act on issues of concern to students in their
dormitories or houses.
B. Organization and Meetings of Dorm Representatives
(1) Each house on campus will elect one or more Dorm Representatives at their second
house meeting during Fall Quarter.
(2) All Dorm Representatives in each of the following dorm complexes shall meet once
every week:
a. Branner, Kimball, Manzanita, Toyon
f. Sterling Quad, Governor's Corner
C. Relationship to Other ASSU Branches
(1) The President or his designee and the Student Affairs committee of the Senate
shall be jointly responsible for overseeing the Dorm Representatives Program.
(2) Each dorm complex shall be assigned an elected Senator from the Student Affairs
committee who shall work with the corresponding Dorm Representatives to
address issues of concern to that dorm complex. The Student Affairs committee
representative shall also collect a summary of information presented by each dorm
representative and shall present that information at meetings of the Student
Affairs committee.
(3) Dorm representatives shall be encouraged to attend meetings of the Student
Affairs committee as well as to speak in Open Forum during Senate meetings
about issues brought to them by students.
(4) The operating expenses of the Dorm Representatives Program shall be paid for
out of the operating budget of the Student Affairs committee.
D. Off-Campus and Graduate Students
(1) The President and the Student Affairs committee shall host at least one meeting
per quarter to facilitate the input of off-campus students and students in the
graduate and professional schools into the ASSU.
(2) This meeting shall be publicized through The Stanford Daily and by other
appropriate means.
2. Special elections are those in which only a well defined subset of the Association is eligible to vote.
3. General and special elections shall be collectively known as Association elections (referred to in this Article as "elections").
2. The Spring quarter general election shall be held during the third week of Spring quarter. The Spring quarter general election shall be the only election during which Special Fee requests be considered.
3. Days between quarters shall not be counted for the purpose of meeting timing requirements as specified in the Constitution.
b. This information will be provided in the form of an information packet and available at one of two informational meetings.
2. The Senate may, by a two-thirds vote, call additional elections for recalling officers, filling vacancies in offices, and approving ballot measures.
2. Where the Constitution, these By-Laws, or the Special Charge of the Commission specify a deadline for an aspect of an election, the Elections Commission may impose an earlier deadline only with the approval of a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
2. Expenses shall include, but need not be limited to, general administrative, indirect cost recovery, salaries and wages of election officers, expenses of the Hearings Committee, general publicity, the Elections Handbook, polling, ballots, ballot counting, and a budget reserve.
3. Income shall include, but need not be limited to, an Association allowance, a University allowance, and funds in the Elections Surcharge account. All unexpected income shall be credited to the budget reserve.
4. The Commission may transfer funds from the budget reserve into any other expense category except Commission salaries, provided that prompt notice is given to the Senate of all such transfers.
5. The commission shall inform all graduate students by mail as to the dates of a general election, locations of polling places and hours of operation. The mailing must also include information on obtaining ASSU fee refunds.
2. No election officer may be hindered by any member or officer of the Association in any way in the performance of his/her duties.
3. Election officers shall be compensated in the amount and manner specified in the budget of the Elections Commission.
4. The Elections Commission shall operate under the oversight of the President in devising and implementing the procedures for carrying out elections and other purely administrative matters. However, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, these By-Laws, and the Special Charge of the Commission, the Commission shall exercise its independent judgment in determining the eligibility of candidates, slates, sponsors, Special Fee requests, and ballot measures; the validity of nominating petitions; the filing of charges against candidates, slates, and sponsors; and in making all other substantive decisions.
5. Interpretation of Elections Rules
b. The Elections Commission or Hearings Officer may request an interpretation or clarification by posing a specific question in a letter to the Senate Chair or President. The Senate Chair shall convene a meeting of the Administration and Rules Committee as soon as possible to answer the question, and shall make the answer available to all members of the Senate. The Senate may subsequently issue a substitute answer, which shall supersede the previous answer, but shall not be retroactive.
2. To ensure that petition forms, declaration of intent forms, guidelines for submitting Special Fee requests, and copies of the Campaign Practices Code are available to candidates, slates, and sponsors in a timely fashion.
3. To devise and implement the procedures for carrying out all elections, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, these By-Laws, and the Special Charge of the Commission.
4. To report to the Senate on the results of all elections, and to make recommendations as to the validation of the election and the certification of each of the results.
2. Appointment of the Elections Commissioners
b. By the beginning of the sixth week of Winter quarter the selection committee shall nominate an individual to serve as Associate Elections Commissioner. This nomination shall require confirmation by a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
c. Once confirmed by the Senate, the Associate Elections Commissioner shall undertake such duties as are assigned by the Elections Commissioner, in order to become familiar with the duties and responsibilities of the Elections Commissioner.
d. Following the certification of the Spring quarter general election by the Senate, the selection committee shall reconvene and evaluate the performance of the Associate Elections Commissioner. The committee shall then decide either to nominate the Associate Elections Commissioner as the Elections Commissioner, or to interview additional candidates before making a nomination. The final nomination shall be transmitted to the current Senate before it dissolves, where it shall require a two-thirds vote for approval.
e. On the Friday prior to commencement, the new Elections Commissioner shall take office, provided that his or her appointment has been confirmed by the Senate. The Elections Commissioner shall serve until a successor has taken office.
b. Shall be confirmed by the Senate in the Autumn Quarter by a two-thirds vote.
c. Shall assume office upon confirmation, and serve until his or her successor has been confirmed.
5. Any vacancies occurring on the Commission shall be filled by the Senate by a two-thirds vote.
6. Election Commissioner salary disbursement
b. One quarter shall be paid after the validation of the Spring quarter general election but before the end of Spring quarter for administering a well-run election.
c. One quarter shall be paid after the end of Spring quarter but before the end of the following Autumn quarter for participation in the selection and training of his/her successor.
b. One-third shall be paid after the validation of the Spring quarter general election but before the end of Spring quarter.
2. All members of the Commission shall receive proper notification of these meetings.
3. Minutes taken at these meetings shall be filed with the Association Office in a timely manner.
4. All actions taken by the Commission shall be taken only after approval by a majority of the Commission during a meeting of the Commission, unless otherwise specified in these By-Laws.
2. The Assistant Elections Commissioner in charge of Publicity shall oversee all publicity of the Commission, coordinate the publicity of all campaigners with the Commission and each other, oversee the preparation of the Elections Handbook and the ballots, be the Commission's liaison with all campus media, and oversee any logistical operations having to do with these activities.
3. The Assistant Elections Commissioner in charge of Operations shall devise the means and times of polling, oversee the counting of ballots, oversee off-campus campus campaign operations, and oversee any logistical operations having to do with these activities.
2. The Assistant Elections Commissioner in charge of Publicity shall advertise for, interview, hire, and train all staff of the Elections Handbook. The staff shall be responsible for the gathering of all information to be included in the Elections Handbook, as well as its typesetting, printing, and distribution.
3. The Elections Commissioner shall advertise for, interview, hire, train, and supervise the elections interns. They shall be responsible for such general administrative and operational duties as are assigned by the Commissioner.
b. Two members of the Association nominated by the Nominations Commission and confirmed by the Senate.
c. The Elections Commissioner shall act in an advisory capacity to the Hearings Committee upon the Committee's request.
To be the principal spokesperson for the Commission on all issues regarding By-Law interpretation, supplemental rulings, and campaign conduct investigations.
To insure the legality of all candidate affiliations listed on the ballot and rule on the appropriateness of any unusual affiliations.
To monitor the use of ASSU banner paper and markers by candidates to insure its use in limited quantities for legitimate campaign activities.
To determine the eligibility of candidates for elective office and the validity of candidate affiliations, of Special Fee requests, and of all ballot measures. This determination shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, these By-Laws, and the Special Charge of the Commission.
b. Shall be confirmed by the Senate in the Spring Quarter by a two-thirds vote.
c. Shall take office upon the certification of the Spring Quarter general election and shall serve until the certification of the Spring Quarter general election in the following academic year.
4. A vacancy shall be filled by the Senate by a two-thirds vote.
5. Hearings Officer salary disbursement
b. One quarter shall be paid after the validation of the Spring quarter general election but before the end of Spring quarter for assisting in the good policing of the election.
c. One quarter shall be paid after the end of the Spring quarter but before the end of the following Autumn quarter for participation in the selection and training of his/her successor.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or regulate the endorsement of a candidate by any person, organization, or voluntary student organization, including political parties.
3. Any student organization requesting a Special Fee shall designate a member of the Association to be referred to as the sponsor. Actions taken by any member of the student organization shall be considered actions of the sponsor where such actions were explicitly or implicitly authorized by that organization or its officers.
4. Any member(s) of the Association or student organization(s) wishing to campaign against a Special Fee request shall designate a member of the Association to be referred to as the sponsor.
5. Any member of the Association wishing to campaign for a General Fee issue, whether to increase or decrease a General Fee by one of the options for setting the amount of a General Fee, or to create, change the base amount of, or abolish a General Fee, will be referred to as the sponsor. A person may be the sponsor of only one option for setting the amount of a General Fee
6. Any member of the Association wishing to campaign against one of the options for a General Fee level may seek to be a sponsor of an alternate fee level option. Any member of the Association wishing to campaign against a proposal to create, change the base amount of, or abolish a General Fee will be referred to as the sponsor.
7. Any author of a ballot measure shall designate a member of the Association to be referred to as the sponsor.
8. Any member(s) of the Association or student organization(s) wishing to campaign against a ballot measure shall designate a member of the Association to be referred to as the sponsor.
9. No actions may be taken by any member of the Association on the behalf of any candidate, slate, or sponsor without his/her consent. Actions taken by any member of the Association with the consent of the candidate, slate, or sponsor shall be considered actions of that candidate, slate, or sponsor.
10. No candidate, slate, sponsor, or any officer of a student organization seeking a Special Fee, shall be an elections officer.
11. The original sponsor may be replaced by a substitute sponsor by action of the appropriate student organization, author of a ballot measure, or member(s) of the Association, provided that the Elections Commissioner shall consent to such replacement. The substitute sponsor shall sign a declaration of intent. The substitute sponsor shall continue to be bound by all actions taken by the original sponsor before his/her replacement.
b. They shall be eligible to seek election from any one district in which they qualify as a member.
c. Coterminal students shall be eligible to vote and seek election in the appropriate graduate district if they have received 150 units of academic credit by the close of the Autumn quarter prior to the election. Otherwise, they shall vote and seek election in the undergraduate district.
Undergraduate Departments - ten Senate seats to be filled at large.
b. School of Humanities and Sciences and School of Education -- three Senate seats to be filled at large.
c. School of Engineering and School of Earth Sciences -- four Senate seats to be filled at large.
d. Students in Graduate Special or non-departmental graduate degree programs shall be eligible to vote and seek election in the graduate district of their choice.
5. Each slate for the Presidency shall consist of two members of the Association. The slate shall specify a Chair upon submitting their declaration of intent.
6. Each slate for the Senior Class Presidents shall consist of four members of the Association who are also members of the Junior class.
b. Members of the Junior class who plan to attend a foreign study center during their senior year shall not be eligible for office.
c. All members of the Junior class shall be eligible to vote for Senior Class Presidents. The eligibility of members of the Association who desire to vote for Senior Class Presidents shall be subject to verification at the polls.
b. Members of the Sophomore Class who run for these positions must be enrolled and present at the Stanford campus for the full three quarters of their term in office.
c. All members of the Sophomore class shall be eligible to vote for the Junior Class Presidents. The eligibility of members of the Association who desire to vote for Junior Class presidents shall be subject to verification at the polls.
b. Members of the Freshman Class who run for these positions must be enrolled and present at the Stanford campus for the full three quarters of their term in office.
c. All members of the Freshman Class shall be eligible to vote for the Sophomore Class presidents. the eligibility of members of the Association who desire to vote for Sophomore Class Presidents shall be subject to verification at the polls.
b. Graduate students who shall be away from the university for at least one quarter during the following academic year shall be ineligible for office.
c. The Graduate Student Council shall be composed of two members from each Graduate Senate District.
d. Each graduate student is eligible to vote for two Graduate Student Council members from his/her respective district. The eligibility of graduate students who desire to vote for Graduate Student Council members shall be subject to verification at the polls.
b. Chartered Organizations: organizations which are intended to be (and actually are) primarily composed of student members, require no student to join, are recognized by the University and are either open to all students or open to only those students meeting certain criteria which are established and evaluated in an objective manner by the organization, but where the ultimate constitutional, budgetary, and policy-making authority are vested in a University office or committee or any body other than its student membership.
ii. In the event that the constitution, structure, finances, policies, or operations of such an organization is substantially modified, as defined by the Senate, so as to impair student control and/or prevent the Special Fee funds from being used for the purposes for which they were originally intended, the Senate may by a two-thirds vote pass a resolution halting the disbursement of Special Fee funds to that organization. Upon the approval of such a resolution, any and all Special Fee funds already disbursed to the organization shall revert to the Association and shall be placed in the Special Buffer Fund.
3. An agency of the Association requesting a Special Fee must be financially independent of the Association proper.
4. If a Special Fee request which has met all Elections Commission deadlines is left off the ballot, then the request may be funded from the Special Buffer Fund by a two-thirds majority of the Senate.
2. Any constitutional amendment must take the form of a bill and shall follow the form used by the Senate in the construction of bills.
3. All ballot measures must be divided by section. No section may be dependent upon another section of the ballot measure for its implementation.
2. In borderline cases, the Elections Commissioner in consultation with the Hearings Officer shall allow election issues to proceed towards placement on the ballot.
3. A meeting shall be held the week prior to the beginning of campaigning, or, in the case of the Spring quarter general election, the first week of Spring quarter, to orient all candidates, slates, and sponsors to election practices. The time and place of the meeting shall be announced to all individuals who have filed declarations of intent and shall be publicized by at least two display ads in the Stanford Daily or flyer distributions through the Ad Agency the week of the meeting.
4. Any candidate, slate, or sponsor may withdraw from the election by submitting to the Commission, at least twenty-four hours prior to the opening of the polls, a written declaration of withdrawal. A list of all withdrawals shall be prominently posted at each polling site.
2. The Commission shall approve a declaration of intent upon verification that all the requirements for placement on the ballot have been met.
3. A list of all candidates, slates, Special Fee requests, and ballot measures whose declarations of intent have been approved by the Commission shall be posted in the Commission office, and this information shall be made available to student publications in a timely manner.
4. No declarations of intent for the Spring quarter general election shall be accepted before the Monday four weeks prior to the beginning of Dead Week during Winter quarter.
5. No declarations of intent for the Spring quarter general elections shall be accepted later than 9:00 p.m. the day after the last day of the election.
6. The Commission shall, with the approval of the Senate, specify other deadlines for the filing of declarations of intent for all other elections.
7. No candidate or slate shall be elected to office, and no Special Fee request or ballot measure approved, unless the appropriate candidate, slate, or sponsor has filed an approved declaration of intent with the Commission.
b. The informational pages shall contain the name of the appropriate candidate, slate (and the names of its members), or sponsor (and the organization requesting the Special Fee or the title of the ballot measure); their mailing address; their telephone number; and any additional information specified by the Constitution, these By-Laws, or the Special Charge of the Commission.
c. Any missing informational pages shall invalidate a packet.
d. The signature pages shall consist of a series of signatures, associated with the appropriate printed name and student identification number of each petitioner.
e. The top of at least one side of each signature page of a packet shall state the name of the proposed candidate (and the district which they are a candidate from, if appropriate), slate (and its members), sponsor of and organization making a Special Fee request (and the amount requested), or sponsor and title of the ballot measure, whichever is appropriate.
f. At the bottom of the first page of each packet the appropriate candidate, slate members, or sponsor, along with any member of the Association responsible for circulating the petition, shall attest that "the signatures obtained in this packet were obtained in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Campaign Practices Code, and, to the best of my knowledge, all petitioners are members of the Association and have signed this petition only once."
b. The Commission shall examine any sample petition packets thus submitted for their compliance with all relevant provisions of the Constitution, these By-Laws, and the Special Charge of the Commission within forty-eight hours of their submission (seventy-two hours if over a weekend), and shall either approve such petition packets as to form or shall state what modifications would be necessary in order to receive such approval. Any such approval, or any statement of necessary modifications, shall be made in writing. Before making such a determination, the Elections Commission shall seek the advice of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the Financial Manager concerning all Special Fee budgets which have not previously been approved by the Senate for placement on the ballot.
c. Any petition packets which have been approved by the Commission as to form, or which were modified before their circulation so as to meet the requirements specified by the Commission and subsequently resubmitted and given final approval in writing by the Commission, shall be deemed to have met all relevant specifications of the Constitution, these By-Laws, and the Special Charge of the Commission. No such petition packet shall be invalidated for failure to meet these specifications, even if such failure is subsequently discovered.
d. The Commission shall retain on file a copy of all petitions submitted or resubmitted for approval, and of all statements of necessary modifications.
b. No petitions shall be circulated before the first day on which declarations of intent for the relevant election may be filed.
c. The member of the Association circulating a petition packet, or the sponsor, candidate, or slate for whom the petition is being circulated, may strike the name of any petitioner. No printed names or student identification numbers may be added or amended except if provided by the petitioner, provided that no such additions or amendments shall be made after the deadline for filing petitions.
d. Any member of the Association may withdraw their name from a petition before its verification by notifying the appropriate candidate, slate, or sponsor, and by notifying the Commission.
e. No petition packets shall be circulated in any University class; in lecture halls, or libraries (excluding lobby areas); in the public computer terminal areas of any building; or in the laboratory areas of any buildings (except with the consent of the occupants).
f. Petition packets may be circulated at public events on the Stanford campus, provided that the member(s) of the Association circulating the petitions are available to answer any questions, and that the process of collecting signatures does not disrupt the planned event.
g. No petition packets shall be circulated in any manner which impedes the normal operations of the University.
h. The Commission shall have the authority to impose additional regulations governing the circulation of petitions only in extraordinary circumstances.
i. Circulation of petitions in violation of these rules shall be grounds for the invalidation of such petitions. The Commission shall use its discretion in determining whether or not to invalidate a petition when an act constituting grounds for disqualification has occurred.
j. For any petition which is believed to have been circulated in violation of these rules, the Commission shall determine whether or not to invalidate that petition. Notice of any such invalidation(s) shall then be posted in a public location announced in advance by the Commission. The Commission shall also make a reasonable effort to notify any candidate, slate, or sponsor whose petition was invalidated of that fact in a timely manner.
ii. For special elections, this determination shall be made, and the required notice posted, by a deadline specified in the Special Charge of the Commission, or, failing that, in the Election Timetable to be presented by the Commission to the Senate.
b. Any candidate, slate, or sponsor wishing to appeal the invalidation of a petition shall file a written notice of appeal with the President no later than seventy-two hours after notice of the invalidation has been posted.
c. Once such an appeal has been filed, the Commission shall proceed with the verification of the contested petition, and shall take all actions required to protect the rights of the appealing candidate, slate or sponsor to appear in the Elections Handbook and on the ballot, pending resolution of the appeal. However, should the petitions be found invalid for reasons other than violation(s) of the rules governing petition circulation, the appeal shall be declared moot and no hearing need be held.
d. The President shall then notify the Chair of the Hearings Committee, who shall convene the Hearings Committee to hear the appeal. The relevant candidate, slate, or sponsor shall be given at least twenty-four hours advance notice of the time and place of the hearing.
e. At the hearing the appropriate candidate, slate, or sponsor may be in attendance. Otherwise all hearings shall be closed to the public, but an accurate transcript of all proceedings shall be kept by a secretary appointed for this purpose by the Hearings Committee.
f. At the hearing, the Elections Commissioner shall present the Commission's reasons for invalidating the petition, including the specific act(s) constituting violation(s) of the circulation rules alleged to have been committed and the reasons for believing they constitute grounds for invalidation.
g. At the hearing, the candidate, slate, or sponsor appealing may present whatever evidence desired to the Hearings Committee. All members of the Association shall cooperate with any reasonable request for information made by this candidate, slate, or sponsor.
h. Members of the Hearings Committee shall have the right to request any and all information they deem appropriate, including additional testimony, and all parties shall receive such information and have the right to challenge it.
i. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Hearings Committee shall meet and determine whether or not a violation of the Campaign Practices Code or of a ruling of the Hearings Officer which justifies invalidation of the petition has occurred. However, the Hearings Committee shall have the discretion to determine the applicability and enforceability of rulings of the Commission. Only the three voting members of the Committee shall be present at this meeting.
j. In making this determination, the Hearings Committee shall consider whether or not the alleged acts were in fact committed, whether or not they constitute a violation of the Campaign Practices Code or a ruling of the Hearings Officer, and whether or not they are sufficiently serious or affect a significant enough number of petition packets to justify invalidation.
k. Should the Hearings Committee determine that invalidation was not justified, then the appeal shall be granted and the appropriate candidate, slate, Special Fee request, or ballot measure shall appear in the Elections Handbook and on the ballot, provided that all other requirements for appearance on the ballot have been satisfied. If the invalidation is found to have been justified, then the appeal shall be rejected and appearance on the ballot shall not occur.
l. Should the Hearings Committee fail to conclude a hearing and make a determination as to whether to grant or reject an appeal in a timely fashion, responsibility for hearing the appeal shall devolve on the President. The President shall then be responsible for conducting a hearing and making a determination following the procedures outlined above.
ii. For special elections, responsibility for hearing the appeal shall devolve on the President if the Hearings Committee has not granted or rejected the appeal by a deadline specified in the Special Charge of the Commission, or failing that, in the Election Timetable presented by the Commission to the Senate.
ii. For special elections, the deadline for either the Hearings Committee or the President to accept or reject the appeal shall be specified in the Special Charge of the Commission, or, failing that, in the Election Timetable presented by the Commission to the Senate.
b. All petition packets that do not meet the specifications detailed in the Constitution, these By-Laws, and the Special Charge of the Commission shall first be declared invalid. All other petition packets shall be declared valid. The Commission shall have the authority to waive any defects in the form of a petition, if in their opinion the defects were not so serious as to prevent members of the Association from making an informed decision as to whether or not to sign that petition.
c. The number of signatures submitted in support of the petition shall be the total number of signatures submitted in each valid petition packet, less any signatures not clearly associated with a printed name and student identification number.
d. Petitions supported by fewer than the number of signatures required shall be declared invalid; otherwise the signatures shall be verified.
e. Petitions of candidates and slates supported by no more that twenty-five signatures shall have all of the signatures verified. Petitions of candidates and slates supported by more than twenty-five signatures shall have a random sample of twenty-five signatures verified. Petitions for Special Fee requests and ballot measures shall have a random sample of fifty signatures verified.
f. Verification of a signature shall consist of looking up both the associated printed name and student identification number in a list of registered students prepared by the Registrar. If the exact student identification number is in the list and the printed name reasonably matches the corresponding name in the list, or the exact printed name is in the list and the student identification number reasonably matches the corresponding number in the list, and if the individual in question is a member of the appropriate district or class, then that signature shall be considered valid. Otherwise, it shall be considered invalid. An "exact match" of a name shall consist of a last name, and either a first name or a middle name which exactly match those found in the printed list.
g. In determining whether names or numbers "reasonably match", those verifying shall, within the limits of the relevant rules, err on the side of accepting a signature that seems to have been made in good faith by someone entitled to sign the petition. In particular, poor but legible handwriting, different word orders, and use of informal names shall not necessarily prevent names from "reasonably matching", and differences in up to two digits do not necessarily prevent student identification numbers from "reasonably matching". If the Registrar is in the process of changing student identification number format, either format shall be considered valid.
h. If the fraction of valid signatures in the sample, multiplied by the total number of signatures supporting the petition, exceeds the number of signatures required for that petition, then the petition shall be declared valid; otherwise the petition shall be declared invalid.
i. The Commission shall prepare a written report stating, for each petition submitted, the number of signatures submitted, the number of signatures verified, the number found to be invalid, and whether or not the petition as a whole was valid or invalid. For the Spring quarter general election, this report shall be transmitted to the President and the Senate Chair no later than the last day of Dead Week during Winter quarter.
b. All reverification requests shall contain the name of the requesting party, his/her local address and phone number, and either a $50 bond (for candidates and slates) or a $250 bond (for sponsors), to be placed on deposit with the Students' Organizations Fund.
c. A request shall be considered filed upon receipt by the Elections Commissioner of the request and by the Students' Organizations Fund of the bond.
d. The Commission shall then verify each signature submitted in support of the petition.
e. If there are fewer valid signatures in support of the petition than required, then the petition shall be declared invalid and the bond credited to the budget reserve of the Commission; otherwise the petition shall be declared valid and the bond refunded.
f. If on the basis of the reverification a petition is declared valid, when it was initially declared invalid, or if a petition is declared invalid when it was initially declared valid, then the bond shall be refunded by the Students' Organizations Fund; otherwise the bond shall be forfeit, and shall be credited to the budget reserve of the Commission.
Article I: General
Article I: General
Section 1: Registered Students
Registered students of Stanford University shall be defined to include all students of Stanford University who possess a valid Certificate of Registration for the current quarter, provided that a student who possesses such a registration for three consecutive quarters and who intends to register again after a lapse of one quarter shall be deemed a registered student for the intervening quarter. Only students with a valid Certificate of Registration or Terminal Graduate Registration for the current quarter shall be eligible to vote. Post-doctoral scholars shall not be considered members of the Association.Section 2: Officers of the Association
A. Definition
The executive officers of the Association shall consist of the President, the Vice-President, the Chair of the Senate, the Chair of the Judicial Council, and the Financial Manager. The officers of the Association shall consist of the executive officers plus the members of the Senate and the members of the Judicial Council.B. Basic Qualification
Officers of the Association, other than the Financial Manager, must be registered students of Stanford University, or possess an approved Permit to Attend.Section 3: Calendar
A. Opening of the Quarter
The first day of the quarter shall be defined as the first day of registration. In counting days from the opening of the quarter, all days, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, shall be included.B. End of the Quarter
The last day of the quarter shall be defined as the last day on which final examinations shall be scheduled. In counting days from the end of the quarter, all days, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, shall be included.C. Maintenace of a Calendar
The Senate Chair shall maintain a calendar containing the various deadlines that must be met by the senate and its committees.Section 4: Non-Discrimination Statement
In undertaking any authority granted to it by the Constitution of the Associated Students of Stanford University or these By-Laws, the Presidency, the Senate, the Judicial Council, and all other agencies, boards, bureaus, projects, and committees of the Association, shall not discriminate against any individual or organization on account of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability.Section 5: Rules of Order
A. Definition
Rules of Order of the Presidency, Senate, Judicial Council, Boards, Bureaus, Commissions, Committees, or Task Forces of the Association (referred to in this section as a "body of the Association") shall be the written rules of procedure adopted by the applicable body relating to the orderly transaction of business in meetings and the duties of officers in that connection. These Rules of Order shall govern their respective bodies in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution or these By-Laws.B. Modification
1. The Senate shall have the power to adopt, amend, or repeal the Rules of Order for a body of the Association. These modifications shall be done by a two-thirds vote, provided that previous notice had been given.
C. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (the 1990 edition) as published by Scott, Foresman and Co. (Glenview, Ill., 1990) shall govern the deliberations of a body of the Association in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution, these By-Laws, or the Rules of Order of the applicable body.D. Voting
1. No item of business shall be transacted by a body of the Association unless pursuant to a vote of that body during a properly called meeting at which a quorum is present.
a. Unless otherwise specified in the Constitution or these By-Laws, previous or prior notice shall consist of written notice distributed during the immediately previous meeting of the appropriate body of the Association. Such notice must include enough information so as to clearly define the scope and degree of the proposed motion. Any modifications of the motion outside of this scope or degree shall invalidate the previous notice.
Section 6: Standing Rules
A. Definition
Standing Rules of the Senate, Presidency, Offices, Projects, Boards, Bureaus, Commissions, Committees, or Task Forces of the Association (referred to in this section as a "body of the Association") shall be the written rules of administration adopted by the applicable body relating to the orderly details of administration and the duties of officers in that connection. These Standing Rules shall govern their respective bodies in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution or these By-Laws.B. Modification
1. The Senate shall have the power to adopt, amend, or repeal Standing Rules for a body of the Association. These modifications shall be done by a majority vote, provided that previous notice had been given.
Article III: Executive Branch
Section 1: President and Vice President
A. Records
All official records of the President and Vice President are subject to the Freedom of Information provisions of the Constitution. Records includes, but is not limited to, all minutes, reports, background materials, letters, memoranda, or other documents (whether printed or electronic) generated by the President or the Vice President or committees or individuals overseen by the President acting in an official capacity.
B. Duties of the President and Vice-President
In addition to the duties described in the Constitution, the President shall:
The President may delegate any of these duties to the Vice President or to other members of the Association but ultimate responsibility lies with the President.
C. State of the Association Address
The President of the Association shall outline the current status of the Association and summarize its goals for the upcoming quarter in an address to the Senate to be given by the second Senate meeting of every quarter while the Senate is in session. Any changes in the operations or personnel of the Executive branch shall be announced at this time.
D. Association Annual Report
The President of the Association shall be responsible for presenting an annual report of the Association activities by the sixth week of Spring quarter. This report should contain descriptions and explanations of actions or programs sponsored by the Association, as well as a financial statement for the Association and its affiliates.
E. Committees
The President and the Vice President shall have the right to designate a representative to serve in their stead on all committees of which one of them is a member according to these By-Laws.
Section 2: Administrative Cabinet
The Administrative Cabinet shall be a cabinet composed of the President, the Vice President, the Chair of the Senate, the Financial Manager, the Directors of all the Service Projects of the Association, the Elections Commissioner, and the Chair of the Nominations Commission. It shall meet at least once a quarter under the leadership of the President to coordinate the administrative functioning of the Association.
Section 3: Vacancies
An executive office of the Association shall become vacant upon the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of the person otherwise entitled to hold such office.
A. Resignation
An executive officer shall be deemed to have resigned upon submission to the Senate Chair or Senate Secretary of a written statement of resignation.
B. Removal from Office
The President, Vice President, and the Financial Manager shall be removed from office only in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
C. Disqualification
An executive officer shall be disqualified from office upon failure to satisfy the qualifications provided by the Constitution and these By-Laws.Article IV: Elections
Section 1: General
A. Types of Elections
1. General elections are those in which all members of the Association are eligible to vote.
B. Times of Elections
1. Except as otherwise provided herein, all elections shall be held on two consecutive school days during an academic quarter, except that overseas campuses shall hold elections at times specified by the Commission.
a. The Elections Commission is responsible for providing complete information on how candidates can place themselves on the ballot.
C. Calling of Elections
1. Elections shall normally be held at the times and places, and in the manner specified, by the Constitution and these By-Laws. If an election is not validated, then the Senate may, by a two-thirds vote, call for an additional election to be held at the times and places specified in a Special Charge of the Commission.
D. Special Charge of the Commission
Shall be the resolution(s) approved by the Senate calling for additional elections, specifying additional specific duties of the Commission, clarifying and interpreting the Constitution and these By-Laws for their benefit, and/or approving their actions or requests prior to an election.E. Election Timetable
1. The Commission shall present to the Senate for its information a timetable specifying completion goals for all aspects of an election at least eight weeks before the Spring quarter general election, or one week after the Senate has called an election.
F. Election Surcharge
Each Fee levied by the Association shall be charged a uniform percentage surcharge on the amount authorized for collection by the Association. This surcharge shall be computed as seventy-five per cent of the budget of the Elections Commission for the previous fiscal year (adjusted by the expected rate of inflation) divided by the total amount of Fees authorized for collection. The monies collected from this surcharge shall be deposited in an account with the Students' Organizations Fund known as the Elections Surcharge account.G. Election Budget
1. All expenses incurred, and all income received, by the Commission shall be specified in the budget of the Commission.
Section 2: Election Officers
A. General
1. The elections Commission, (hereafter "the Commission") shall consist of an Elections Commissioner (hereafter "the Commish"), three Assistant Elections Commisioners (hereafter the "Commissioners), and the Hearings Officer. The Associate Elections Commissioner shall sesrve as an ex-officio member of the Commission.
a. The Senate shall not interpret or clarify any Constitutional or By-Laws provisions concerning elections, or supplement or amend the Charge to the Commission, unless requested to do so on an administrative matter by the Elections Commission or on a matter concerning campaign rules by the Hearings Officer or, if not in response to such a request, except by a two-thirds vote. The Elections Commission and Hearings Officer shall ignore any Senate actions not in accordance with this provision.
B. Charge of the Commission
1. To give proper notification to all the eligible voters of each election. This notification shall include, but need not be limited to, announcements of all elective offices, the times, places, and manner of voting, and the solicitation of Special Fee requests, ballot measures, and statements in opposition to them.
C. Composition of the Commission
1. The Elections Commission (hereafter "the Commission") shall consist of an Elections Commissioner and two Assistant Elections Commissioners (hereafter the "Commissioners"), and the Pollmaster, and the Hearings Officer. The Associate Elections Commissioner shall serve as ex-officio members of the Commission.
a. The Elections Officers' Selection Committee shall consist of the Presidents (who shall chair the committee), two Senators (one undergraduate and one graduate), the current Elections Commissioner, and the current Hearings Officer. A quorum of the committee shall consist of four members of the committee. All decisions of the committee, including the initial screening of the applicants, shall be by a quorum of the committee. No decision of the committee shall be valid unless approved by three members of the committee.
3. Appointment of the Assistant Elections Commissioners and the Pollmaster
a. Shall be nominated in the Autumn Quarter by the Elections Officers' Selection Committee.
4. If any member of the Commission has failed to discharge his/her duties responsibly and in a non-partisan manner, then the Senate, by a two-thirds vote, may remove the member in question from the Commission. At least forty-eight hours written notice shall be given to the member in question, and he/she shall be allowed to speak in his/her defense at the Senate meeting at which removal is to take place.
a. One half shall be paid before validation of the Spring quarter general election.
7. Associate Commissioner salary disbursement
a. Two-thirds shall be paid before validation of the Spring quarter general election.
D. Meetings of the Commission
1. Meetings may be called by the chair of the Commission or any two members of the Commission.
E. Duties of the Commissioners
1. The Elections Commissioner shall chair the Commission, be its principal spokesperson, prepare a general timetable of all Commission activities, and devise the budget of the Commission. However, on all issues regarding By-Law interpretation, and supplemental rulings, and campaign code violations, and campaign conduct investigations, the Hearings Officer shall be the sole spokesperson.
F. Staff of the Commission
1. The Assistant Elections Commissioner in charge of Operations shall advertise for, interview, hire, and train all technical staff. Technical staff shall be responsible for the technical implimentation of the election, including the design of the computer program, operation of the program during the election, and tabulation of the results after the election. The technical staff are responsible for ensuring the security of all computer-related aspects of the election.
G. Hearings Committee
1. Charge
To recommend to the Senate all disqualifications and other penalties against candidates, slates, Special Fee requests, ballot measures, and sponsors.
2. Composition
Shall assume office upon confirmation during Winter quarter and serve until their successors have been chosen.
a. A member of the Association familiar with election procedures nominated by the Nominations Commission and confirmed by the Senate, who shall chair the Committee.
3. TermH. Hearings Officer
1. Duties
To investigate any charges of campaign violations and to report all findings to the Elections Commissioner, Hearings Committee Chair, and Senate Chair.
2. Appointment
a. Shall be nominated in the Spring Quarter by the Elections Officers' Selection Committee, as specified in Article IV, Section 2 (C)(2)(a) of these By-Laws.
3. If a Hearings Officer has failed to discharge his/her duties responsibly and in a non-partisan manner, then the Senate, by a two-thirds vote, may remove the Hearings Officer. At least forty-eight hours written notice shall be given to the Hearings Officer, and he/she shall be allowed to speak in his/her defense at the Senate meeting at which removal is to take place.
a. One half shall be paid before validation of the Spring quarter general election.
Section 3: Election Issues
A. General
1. Any member of the Association seeking to be elected to the Senate or the Student Conduct Legislative Council shall be referred to as a candidate. Candidates may not form slates.
A slate shall be construed to mean a grouping of candidates to be voted for collectively on the ballot.
2. Any members of the Association seeking to be elected as the President and Vice-President or as Class Presidents shall be referred to as a slate.
B. Officers
1. Multiple Senate District Membership
Those students who have, at the time of the election, been admitted to degree programs administered by schools or departments in different districts shall have multiple Senate district membership.
a. They shall be eligible to vote in elections in any one district in which they qualify as a member.
2. Undergraduate Senate District
3. Graduate Senate Districts
a. Graduate School of Business, School of Law, and School of Medicine -- three Senate seats to be filled at large.
4. In the Spring quarter general election, candidates for Senate shall seek election in the district in which they will be enrolled during the following academic year. In special elections, candidates for Senate shall seek election in the district in which they will be enrolled during the majority of their term of office.
a. For the purpose of this election, an individual shall be a member of the Junior Class if he/she is a currently registered undergraduate student who has received no less than 90 units nor more than 130 units recognized by Stanford by the end of the previous Autumn quarter, or if he/she is an undergraduate in his/her third year of enrollment. Units earned prior to high school graduation may be excluded from the total at the option of the individual.
7. Each slate for the Junior Class Presidents shall consist of four members of the Association who are also members of the Sophomore Class.
a. For the purpose of this election, an individual shall be a member of the Sophomore Class if he/she is a currently registered undergraduate student who has received no less than 45 units not more than 90 units recognized by Stanford by the end of the previous Autumn quarter, or if he/she is an undergraduate in his/her second year of enrollment. Units earned prior to high school graduation may be excluded from the total at the option of the individual.
8. Each slate for the Sophomore Class Presidents shall consist of four members of the Association who are also members of the Freshman Class.
a. For the purpose of the election, an individual shall be a member of the Freshman Class if he/she is a currently registered undergraduate student who has received no more than 45 units recognized by Stanford by the end of the previous Autumn quarter, or if he/she is an undergraduate in his/her first year of enrollment. Units earned prior to high school graduation may be excluded from the total at the option of the individual.
9. The Graduate Student Council shall consist of members of the graduate student body.
a. For the purpose of the election, a student shall be considered a graduate student if he/she is currently registered as a graduate student.
C. Special Fee Requests
1. In order for its Special Fee request to be placed on the ballot, a student organization must qualify under one of the following provisions:
a. Voluntary Student Organizations: organizations which are intended to be (and actually are) primarily composed of student members, require no student to join, are recognized by the University and are either open to all students or open to only those students meeting certain criteria which are established and evaluated in an objective manner by the organization. In order to qualify under this provision, the ultimate constitutional, budgetary, and policy-making authority of the organization must be vested entirely in its student members.
2. An agency of the Association shall have its Special Fee request placed on the ballot only with the consent of the Senate. This consent shall only determine the organization's ability to seek a Special Fee, and shall be independent of, and in addition to, any action by the Senate actually placing the request on the ballot.
i. Such an organization shall have a Special Fee request placed on the ballot only with the express consent of the Senate. This consent shall take the form of a resolution certifying that, in the opinion of the Senate, the organization and its finances are in fact essentially under the control of students, and shall require for approval a two-thirds vote. At the time that this resolution is approved, the Senate may specify additional criteria under which the Special Fee request is placed on the ballot, which shall be as binding on the organization as is its detailed budget. Approval of this resolution shall only determine the organization's eligibility to receive a Special Fee, and shall be independent of, and in addition to, any action by the Senate actually placing the request on the ballot.
c. The Association and its agenciesD. General Fee Issues
General Fee issues consist of setting the amount of an existing Fee and of creating, changing, or abolishing a Fee.E. Ballot Measures
1. Any referendum must take the form of a bill or resolution and shall follow the form used by the Senate in the construction of bills and resolutions.
Article IV: Elections
Section 4: Placement of Issues on the Ballot
A. General
1. Placement on the ballot shall refer to the qualification for election of the appropriate candidate or slate, or for approval of the appropriate Special Fee request or ballot measure. Appearance on the ballot shall refer to actual mention on the physical election ballot of the appropriate candidate, slate, Special Fee request, or ballot measure.
B. Declaration of Intent
A declaration of intent shall be a signed statement certifying that a candidate, slate, or sponsor has fulfilled or intends to fulfill all appropriate requirements for placement on the ballot, and that they "have read or will read the Campaign Practices Code, and agree to abide by it and any rulings issued by the Elections Commission."
1. The filing of a declaration of intent shall normally be the first step in seeking placement on the ballot.
C. Petitions
1. Form
a. A petition shall be divided into packets. Each packet shall consist of a series of informational pages and signature pages. All informational pages and all signature pages shall be securely bound before the circulation of that petition packet.
2. Prior Approval
a. Candidates, slates, and sponsors shall have the option of submitting a sample petition packet to the Commission for their approval as to form.
3. Circulation
a. Only members of the Association may circulate a petition packet. The member of the Association circulating a packet must be easily and immediately available to answer questions from potential petitioners, and is responsible for ensuring that each petitioner signs the petition correctly and legibly.
4. Appeals
i. For the Spring quarter general election, this determination shall be made, and the required notice posted, no later than seven days after the final deadline for the submission of petitions.
k. No petition shall be invalidated by the Commission for violation of these rules unless an appropriate determination has been made, and the required notice posted, by the deadline specified.
a. Any candidate, slate, or sponsor whose petition has been invalidated by the Commission for violation(s) of the rules governing petition circulation may appeal such a decision to the Hearings Committee.
5. Verification
i. For the Spring quarter general election, responsibility for hearing the appeal shall devolve on the President if the Hearings Committee has not granted or rejected the appeal by 5:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of Spring quarter.
m. Should both the Hearings Committee and the President fail to either accept or reject an appeal on a timely basis, then the appropriate candidate, slate, Special Fee request, or ballot measure shall appear on the ballot, and in the Elections Handbook, provided that all other requirements for appearance on the ballot have been satisfied.
i. For the Spring quarter general election, the deadline for either the Hearings Committee or the President to accept or reject the appeal shall be noon on the second Tuesday of Spring quarter.
n. Any decision by a candidate, slate, or sponsor to expend funds on campaign expenses in anticipation of the granting of an appeal shall be at the risk of that candidate, slate, or sponsor.
a. The Commission shall verify all petitions as they are submitted, provided that an appropriate declaration of intent is on file.
6. Reverification
a. Any candidate, slate, or sponsor may request a reverification of a petition by filing a reverification request within seventy-two hours after the announcement by the Commission of the results of the initial verification of the petition.
7. All petitions shall be kept for three months, after which time they shall be destroyed. However, one or more sample copies of the information pages for each petition submitted for a Special Fee request or ballot measure shall be retained as a permanent record.D. Officers
1. Any member of the Association declaring intent to seek a Senate seat in the undergraduate district, and requesting to appear in the Elections Handbook and on the ballot, must submit to the Commission a petiti