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VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES

CHAPTER THREE
BY-LAWS of the STUDENT SENATE
Enacted September 30, 2010
Most Recent Edition as of April 8, 2021

CONTENTS
PREAMBLE §3-1.36. Questions in Debate.
§3-1.37. Decorum of Senators.
ARTICLE I. STANDING RULES §3-1.38. Decorum of Visitors.
§3-1.39. Methods of Voting.
§3-1.1. Definitions. §3-1.40. Sunset Clauses.
§3-1.2. Title. §3-1.41. Motion to Discharge a Committee.
§3-1.3. Authority.
§3-1.4. Dress Code. ARTICLE II. OFFICERS
§3-1.5. Weekly Meetings.
§3-1.6. Meetings at the Call of the §3-2.1. Officers of the Senate.
Speaker. §3-2.2. Office of the Speaker.
§3-1.7. Meetings at the Call of the Senate. §3-2.3. Speaker of the Senate.
§3-1.8. Meetings by petition of Senators. §3-2.4. Senate Pro Tempore.
§3-1.9. Special Assembly §3-2.5 Parliamentarian.
§3-1.10. Eligibility. §3-2.6. Sergeant-at-Arms.
§3-1.11. Qualifications of Senators. §3-2.7. Legislative Clerk.
§3-1.12. Induction of Members. §3-2.8. Committee Chairs.
§3-1.13. Duration of a Term. §3-2.9. Occurrence of Elections.
§3-1.14. Attendance. §3-2.10. Nominations.
§3-1.15. Emergency Absences. §3-2.11. Order of Elections.
§3-1.16. Proxy. §3-2.12. Elections.
§3-1.17. Vacancies. §3-2.13. Tenure.
§3-1.18. Resignation. §3-2.14. Suspension of an Officer.
§3-1.19. Removal from Office. §3-2.15. Removal of an Officer.
§3-1.20. Purpose. §3-2.16. Line of Succession.
§3-1.21. Senate Retreat. §3-2.17. Appointment Availability.
§3-1.22. Quorum. §3-2.18. Training Program.
§3-1.23. Order of Business. §3-2.19. Recruitment Program.
§3-1.24. Time Limitation on Agenda Items §3-2.20. Stipends.
for General Assembly. §3-2.21. Cultural Unity Board.
§3-1.25. Minutes.
§3-1.26. Officer Reports. ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES
§3-1.27. Approval of New Student
Organizations. §3-3.1. Establishment of Committees.
§3-1.28. Confirmation of Designees §3-3.2. Rules of Order Governing
External to the Senate. Committees.
§3-1.29. Order of Precedence of Motions. §3-3.3. Committee Vice Chairs.
§3-1.30. Motion to Adjourn. §3-3.4. Legislative Disposition.
§3-1.31. Previous Question. §3-3.5. Dissolution into Committee of the
§3-1.32. Recognition of Senators. Whole Senate.
§3-1.33. Recognition of non-Senators. §3-3.6. Business in Order in Committee of
§3-1.34. Rounds of Debate. the Whole Senate.
§3-1.35. Period of Questions.
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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE

§3-3.7. Chair of the Committee of the §3-4.9. Initial Introduction.

Whole Senate. §3-4.10. Sponsorship of Legislation.
§3-3.8. Quorum of the Committee of the §3-4.11. Fast-Track of Legislation.
Whole Senate. §3-4.12. First Reading of Legislation.
§3-3.9. Debate in the Committee of the §3-4.13. Referral to Committee.
Whole Senate. §3-4.14. Second-Reading Rule.
§3-3.10. Types of Reports by the Committee §3-4.15. Placement on the Calendar for
of the Whole Senate. Second Reading.
§3-3.11. Reports by the Committee of the §3-4.16. Procedure for Second Reading.
Whole Senate. §3-4.17. Referendum
§3-3.12. Appointment of Special §3-4.18. Amending Legislation.
Committees. §3-4.19. Vetoed Legislation.
§3-3.13. Meetings and General Duties of §3-4.20. Printing of Legislation.
Special Committees. §3-4.21. Archiving of Legislation.
§3-3.14. Select Committees.
§3-3.15. Legislative Leadership Committee. ARTICLE V. AMENDMENTS
§3-3.16. Academic Affairs Committee.
§3-3.17. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion §3-5.1. Suspension of these By-Laws.
Committee. §3-5.2. Amendments to these By-Laws.
§3-3.18. Internal Affairs Committee.
§3-3.19. Organizational Ways and Means APPENDIX A. SAMPLE BILL
Committee.
§3-3.20. Publicity and Outreach APPENDIX B. SAMPLE FINANCE
Committee. BILL
§3-3.21. Student Affairs Committee.
§3-3.22. Membership of the Standing APPENDIX C. SAMPLE
Committees. RESOLUTION
§3-3.23. Committee Meetings.
APPENDIX D. SAMPLE PETITON

ARTICLE IV. LEGISLATION APPENDIX E. PROXY FORM

§3-4.1. Types of Legislation. APPENDIX F. AMENDMENT FORM
§3-4.2. Bills.
§3-4.3. Resolutions. APPENDIX G. VETO OVERRIDE
§3-4.4. Petitions.
FORM
§3-4.5. Docket.
§3-4.6. Numbering of Legislation.
§3-4.7. Mandates.
§3-4.8. Legislative Expiration.

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VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES

PREAMBLE

W e, the Student Senate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in order to advance
the edification of the University and Its Student Body, and to make known the ideals of the
Student Senate, do ordain and establish these By-Laws of the Student Senate of the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte.

ARTICLE I. STANDING RULES

§3-1.1. Definitions. meet. This definition shall also apply

Within these Bylaws, the following definitions
and conventions shall apply:
(a) For the purposes of these By-Laws,
"Student Senate" or "Senate" shall refer
to the Student Senate of the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte.
(b) A "Legislative Assembly" of the Student
Senate shall be all of the meetings of the
Senate that may occur during an
individual year.
(c) "General Assembly" shall be defined as
a regularly scheduled meeting of the
Student Senate during which the business
of the Senate is conducted.
(d) A “Special Assembly” of the Student
Senate shall be defined as a meeting not
regularly scheduled which, having been
called by a Petition signed by at least
three-fourths of all Senators, shall be held
for the sole purpose of considering the
removal of a Senator from the Senate for
disciplinary reasons.
(e) The "First Session" of a Legislative
Assembly shall be all of the meetings of
the Senate that may occur following the
seating of new Senators after a Spring
General Election and lasting until the
seating of new Senators after a Fall
General Election.
(f) The "Second Session" of a Legislative
Assembly shall be all of the meetings of
the Senate that may occur following the
seating of new Senators after a Fall
General Election and lasting until the
seating of new Senators after a Spring
General Election.
(g) A meeting of the Senate in "Committee"
shall refer to the meeting of the Senators
in their various Committees.
(h) A "class day" is a day in the academic
year on which classes are scheduled to
whenever a particular day of the week is
preceded in these By-Laws by the term
"class" (i.e., "class Monday").
(i) The "Presiding Officer" shall be any
Officer of the Senate who may chair a
General Assembly in accordance with
these By-Laws.
(j) The "Advisors to the Student Senate"
shall be the faculty or staff advisors to the
Student Senate.
(k) A "designee" or "Senator-designate"
shall be any member of the Student Body
who, having been duly nominated for a
particular Student Body Office, has been
brought before the Senate for confirmation
pursuant to these By-Laws.
(l) "Old business" shall be any business
having been brought before the Senate in a
previous General Assembly. This may
include, but shall not be limited to
legislation coming before the Senate for a
second reading or legislation tabled in
previous General Assemblies.
(m) "New business" shall be any business
brought before the Senate for the first
time.
(n) "Ballot" refers to a method of voting used
by the Senate, and shall be a written ballot
bearing the signature of the voting
Senator.
(o) For the purposes of these By-Laws, "ex-
officio" shall be used to describe any
member of the Senate who is not a
Senator. Ex-officio members of the Senate
may address the Senate when recognized
by the President, and shall not be allowed
to vote. Ex-officio members of the Senate
shall include the Student Body Treasurer,
and the Advisor to the Student Senate.
(p) The term "Accuser" refers to the author
of a Petition calling a Special Assembly.

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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
(q) The term "Accused" refers to a Senator
who is being brought before a Special
Assembly for consideration of removal
from the Senate.
(r) Names of Offices hereinafter refer to those
within the Student Senate unless otherwise
noted.
(s) The term “Senator” refers to the
individual who is currently representing a
recognized constituency by occupying the
Senate position that represents said
constituency. This term is divorced from
the term “Officer”, in that the term
“Officer” is not inherently tied to the term
“Senator”.
(t) “Quorum” means half of the Senators
duly chosen and sworn.
(u) The term “Officer” refers to the individual
who is currently employed in one of the
roles that is designated by the term
“Officer(s) of the Senate”, as described in
§3-2.1 This term is divorced from the term
“Senator”, in that the term “Senator” is not
inherently tied to the term “Officer”.
(v) The term “Referendum” refers to a
general vote by the electorate on a single
political question that has been referred to
them for a direct decision.
§3-1.2. Title.
This document shall be known as the Bylaws of
the Student Senate, which is organized for the
purpose stated in Article II Section 4 of the
Constitution of the Student Body of the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
§3-1.3. Authority.
(a) These Bylaws shall govern all powers,
responsibility, officers, and authority the
Senate is granted authority over by the
Constitution of the Student Body.
(b) Where these By-Laws are not specific, the
most recent edition of Roberts Rules of
Order shall govern the operations of the
Senate.
(c) When conflicts arise between these By-
Laws and the most recent edition of
Roberts Rules of Order, the By-Laws shall
take precedence.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
§3-1.4. Dress Code.
The attire for Senate shall be Business Casual.
Business Casual shall be defined by the
Sergeant-at-Arms at the first meeting of every
session. Student Government Polos shall
constitute as Business Casual tops. Upon any
session the Sergeant-at-Arms deems it
necessary, the attire for Senate shall be Business
Formal defined by the Sergeant-at-Arms prior to
that particular meeting. The Sergeant-at-Arms,
in accordance with the Office of the Speaker,
also has the discretion to declare the dress code
informal for a General assembly meeting. The
Legislative Clerk is tasked with taking
unambiguous and detailed notes in the minutes
describing the attire expressed by the Sergeant-
at-Arms for all the occasions that arise.
§3-1.5. Weekly Meetings.
(a) The Student Senate shall meet in
Committee every class Tuesday at 5:30
p.m.
(b) The Student Senate shall meet in General
Assembly every class Thursday at 5:30
p.m.
§3-1.6. Meetings at the Call of the
Office of the Speaker.
In addition to those meetings outlined in SGS
§3-1.5, the Speaker of the Senate shall retain the
right to call meetings as they deem appropriate,
given proper notice of 48 hours to the Senators.
§3-1.7. Meetings at the Call of the
Senate.
At any time, the Senate is in session, it shall be
in order as a privileged motion for any Senator
to move to schedule an additional meeting, for
the date and time they shall prescribe in the
motion. Such a motion shall be undebatable and
shall require the consent of a simple majority of
the Senate.
§3-1.8. Meetings by petition of
Senators.
At any time outside of a meeting, a petition to
call a meeting, prescribing the date and time of
the meeting and signed by at least one-half of all
qualified Senators, may be submitted to the
Office of the Speaker. Upon receipt of a valid
petition, the Office of the Speaker shall provide
notice of the additional meeting to all Senators

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
via electronic mail, provided that the petition is
submitted at least two days in advance of the
date and time of the meeting as indicated in the
petition.
§3-1.9. Special Assembly.
(a) In a Special Assembly, the Senate shall
proceed with its business in the following
order:
i. Call to Order
ii. Roll Call
iii. Opening Statement from the Accuser,
not to exceed five minutes
iv. Opening Statement from the
Accused, not to exceed five minutes
v. Period of Questions from the Senate,
not to exceed 10 minutes
vi. Closing Statement from the Accused,
not to exceed three minutes
vii. Closing Statement from the Accuser,
not to exceed three minutes
viii. Roll Call Vote on the question of
removing the Accused from the
Senate
ix. Adjournment
§3-1.10. Eligibility.
All duly registered students of the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte shall be eligible for
membership in the Student Senate.
§3-1.11. Qualifications of Senators.
(a) In addition to meeting the General
Qualifications for Student Government
Officials outlined in SGS §1-1.3 and the
Elections Act, a member of the Student
Body shall be considered a qualified
Senator-elect upon receipt by the Office of
the Speaker of certification of their
election to the Senate from the Attorney
General, or a qualified Senator-designate
upon approval by a two-thirds majority of
Senators present upon their favorable
recommendation by the Committee of
Internal Affairs.
(b) A Senator who has been removed from the
Senate for disciplinary reasons shall not be
eligible to serve in the Senate for one
academic year.
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§3-1.12. Induction of Members.
Each Senator-elect or Senator-designate shall be
inaugurated by the Office of the Speaker in
accordance with SGS §1-1.10 upon meeting all
the qualifications for such Office outlined in
Chapter One of the Student Government Statutes
and these By-Laws.
§3-1.13. Duration of a Term.
(a) Senators inaugurated in accordance with
SGS §1-1.10 shall serve for a term of one
academic year from the date of
inauguration, or until their successor is
inaugurated.
(b) A Senator who is confirmed to fill a
vacancy in the Student Senate shall serve
for the remainder of the unexpired term
congruent to the seat which they were
appointed to fill.
(c) A Senator who has changed the College
of their major at any point in their term
may remain in his or her current seat until
the term to which they were elected or
appointed is scheduled to expire. Upon
the next election cycle, should the
Senator choose to seek election again, the
Senator must run by the guidelines
outlined in these By-Laws and the
Elections Act.
§3-1.14. Attendance.
(a) A Senator may have four absences total
during a term in office. An absence in
either General Assembly, Committee, or
Legislative Leadership Committee
Meetings shall count toward a Senator's
total number of absences.
(b) A senator may use proxies for any
committee or General Assembly meeting.
If a Senator uses a proxy, the
Parliamentarian will mark the senator as
half absent for that meeting.
(c) The Parliamentarian shall call the roll to
establish the presence of a quorum as
defined in §3-1.22. Any Senator that is not
present 15 minutes after the start of their
respective Committee meeting and
General Assembly shall be considered
absent, unless excused pursuant to §3-
1.15. The Vice Chair of each respective
Committee shall be required to document
the attendance of Senators for Committee
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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
meetings. All absences shall be submitted
to the Parliamentarian.
(d) The Parliamentarian shall keep a public
record of the attendance of every Senator
for their term. Should action be warranted
against a Senator for exceeding the
allotted number of absences, the
Parliamentarian shall inform the Office of
the Speaker and the removal hearing
process shall proceed as described in §3-
1.19.
(e) If a Senator is not present for a Meeting
by Petition of Senators or a Special
Assembly, a half absence shall be counted
against them, unless the Senator meets the
requirements outlined in §3-1.15.
(f) Departure from a General Assembly or
Committee Meeting prior to the
adjournment without being granted a
Question of Privilege or being excused
pursuant to §3-1.15 will automatically
constitute a half absence. If the Senator
departs when less than half of the meeting
has elapsed, it shall be considered a full
absence.
(g) The Parliamentarian shall, within 24 hours
of the conclusion of each General
Assembly meeting, report the attendance
at such meeting for each roll call therein to
the Legislative Clerk, who shall cause the
same to be recorded in the minutes under
the appropriate section.
§3-1.15. Excused Absences.
(a) A Senator may submit an Excused
Absence request to the Parliamentarian
and the Speaker of the Senate along with
all supporting evidence to excuse an
Absence for a Committee or General
Assembly meeting. An Excused Absence
is for any scheduled or unscheduled
absence that is beyond a person's control.
(b) An Excused Absence request must be
submitted to the Parliamentarian and the
Speaker of the Senate no later than 48
hours after the absence.
(c) The Parliamentarian and the Speaker of
the Senate can excuse an Excused
Absence of a Senator under their
discretion. An Excused Absence shall be
restricted to extreme circumstances
beyond a person's control.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
(d) A Senator may have absences excused for
any of the following reasons.
(i) Illness or Medical Emergency: when
a Senator is not healthy enough to attend
a scheduled meeting by proof of a
doctor’s note.
(ii) Immediate Family Emergency: when
a Senator’s family is suffering any
Emergency.
(iii) General Emergency: when a
Senator has a sudden and unpreventable
incident such as but not limited to: a car
crash, medical emergency of others, or
other unpreventable situations which
may arise.
§3-1.16. Proxy.
(a) A Senator may appoint a currently
enrolled student to serve as a proxy for
General Assembly or Committee meetings
they are unable to attend. The proxy shall
not be a current Student Government
Official.
(b) The Senator shall submit a physical or
electronic Proxy Form as defined in
Appendix E to the Parliamentarian. If a
Proxy form is submitted and there are
contents left unfilled, or the Proxy Form is
filled out improperly, it is to the discretion
of the Parliamentarian to determine
whether the Proxy Form shall count for
the absence. The Senator has until the Call
of Order of the meeting the proxy is being
used to submit their proxy.
(c) If an officer of the Senate appoints a
proxy, the proxy shall not assume the
duties of the officer.
§3-1.17. Vacancies.
(a) Declaration of a Vacancy: Should a
vacancy exist after an election or upon
announcement of a Senator's ineligibility,
resignation, or revocation, the Chair of
Internal Affairs shall declare the seat
vacant and cause an announcement of
such vacancy.
(b) Filling a Vacancy: All students who
are interested in filling the vacant seat will
submit a vacancy application that shall be
made available on an online portal. The
Committee of Internal Affairs shall have
the sole discretion on deciding when to

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
accept and review vacancy applications.
To fill a vacancy, a student should fulfill
all following qualifications:
i. The student must meet all the
requirements enumerated in SGS §1-
1.3.
ii. The student must present a document
signed by 50 constituents for the
position they wish to fill. Section
suspended until 6/1/2021
iii. The candidate must attend and
observe a General Assembly meeting
subsequent to the candidate’s
application and with the approval of
the Internal Affairs Committee prior
to their confirmation.
iv. Should the student be a current
Student Government official, either
elected or appointed, they must resign
their current position prior to taking
the Oath of Office to become a
Senator, in compliance with SGS §1-
1.3.
v. If the candidate has previously served
as a proxy or Senator for any
Legislative Assembly of the Student
Senate at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte, they shall
bypass the process outlined in §3-1.7
(b)(iii).
(c) Process of Confirmation:
i. The Internal Affairs Committee will
interview the Senator-designate(s),
will recommend the most qualified
candidate(s) to be confirmed, and will
be required to attend a General
Assembly meeting prior to being sent
for consideration. The candidate will
be directed and accompanied by the
Vice Chair of Internal Affairs.
ii. The candidate, after recommendation
from the Internal Affairs Committee
and attending a General Assembly
meeting, will be sent to the General
Assembly for consideration.
iii. Upon a two-thirds vote by Senators
present, the Senator-designate(s) will
be confirmed and will subsequently be
administered the Oath of Office by the
Office of the Speaker. 
 date of the first senate retreat shall be required to
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§3-1.18. Resignation.
(a) A Senator may declare their resignation at
any time. All voluntary resignations must
be delivered in writing to the Office of the
Speaker.
§3-1.19. Removal from Office.
(a) Attendance Removal: When a Senator
has exceeded the total number of
absences, the Parliamentarian shall notify
the Office of the Speaker to submit a
formal complaint to the Judicial Branch,
who will schedule and conduct an
attendance hearing. Any Senator whose
membership is revoked from the Student
Senate because of excessive absences will
be ineligible to serve in the Student Senate
for a period of six academic months.
(b) Disciplinary Removal: Any Senator
alleged to have acted in a manner
inconsistent with the Oath of Office may
be removed from office upon a petition
signed by three-fourths of the Senate
alleging impropriety on the part of the
Senator and a Special Assembly as
outlined in section §3-1.9 of these bylaws.
A Senator shall not be removed except
after a vote of two-thirds of the Senators
present after the presentation of all the
evidence at the Special Assembly. An
appeal against a vote of removal may be
prosecuted to the Judicial Branch within
10 days of the respondent being notified
of their removal. Judicial may dismiss an
appeal if it is on its face frivolous or
spurious. The appellant shall have the
burden of proving that the decision was
incorrect by clear and convincing
evidence.
§3-1.20. Purpose.
The Senate shall be charged with the promotion
of the general welfare of the Student Body,
whether through the introduction, debate and
passage of legislation or through any of its
activities or endeavors.
§3-1.21. Senate Retreat.
A Senator who is elected or appointed before the
attend the retreat. Likewise, every senator,
including those elected or appointed after the
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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
first retreat shall be required to attend a second
mandatory retreat, meant to re-orient senators. If
a Senator misses a Senate Retreat for an
emergency pursuant to §3-1.15., and is excused
at the discretion of the Speaker of the Senate,
they shall still be able to be a Senator. All
unexcused absences from the Senate Retreat
shall result in an automatic resignation. Any
Senator that misses more than an hour of the
retreat shall be counted as absent. The Speaker
of the Senate shall have the power to excuse any
Senator that is not present for more than the
allotted time.
§3-1.22. Quorum.
(a) QUORUM—Except as otherwise provided
for herein, no business shall be transacted in
the Senate without the presence of at least
half of the Senators duly chosen and sworn.
However, in the absence of a quorum those
assembled may dissolve in the Committee of
the Whole until quorum is attained, recess
for such period as they think proper, or
adjourn the Senate. If no motion, whenever
a quorum is absent, carries, the Speaker
shall be empowered thereafter to dissolve
the Senate into the Committee of the Whole,
adjourn the Senate, or recess the Senate for
such time as they shall think proper.
(b) QUORUM CALL—Any Senator, during
any period of business in the Senate, may
note the absence of a quorum. Whenever a
Senator notes the absence of the quorum, the
Parliamentarian shall, regardless of any
other pending business, call the roll and
determine the presence or absence of a
quorum. However, if in the opinion of the
Parliamentarian, the Speaker Pro Tempore,
and the Speaker of the Senate the quorum
call is a dilatory tactic and there has recently
been another quorum call, then it shall be
unnecessary for the Parliamentarian to call
the roll and verify the presence or absence of
a quorum.
(c) STANDARD MAJORITY—Except when a
margin other than a majority of those
members present is provided for in these
bylaws or in Robert's Rules of Order Newly
Revised, every motion shall require the
approval of a majority of those Senators
present and voting to be adopted. A Senator
is considered present, but not voting
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
whenever they abstain or otherwise refuse to
vote.
§3-1.23. Order of Business.
The Senate shall proceed with its business in a
General Assembly as follows:
(a) Call to Order
(b) Roll Call
(c) Adoption of the Minutes
(d) Approval of the Agenda
(e) Messages to the Senate
(f) Comments from the Gallery
(g) Reports of the Officers of the Senate
(h) Confirmation of Senators-Designate
(i) Nomination and Election of Officers of
the Senate
(j) Old Business
(k) New Business
(l) Special Assembly
(m) Comments and Announcements
(n) Adjournment
§3-1.24. Time Limitation on Agenda
Items for General Assembly.
The Order of Business, specified as such in §3-
1.23, will be limited in time as follows.
(a) The agenda item “Messages to the
Senate”, as designated in §3-1.23(c),
shall be limited to twenty minutes per
speaker and to a total, for all speakers,
of sixty minutes. The time limit may be
extended with consent of two thirds of
the Senators present. A speaker’s
individual time may be extended by no
more than 10 minutes by consent of two
thirds of the Senators present. However,
in no event shall speaking time exceed
one hour and twenty minutes.
(a) The agenda item “Comments from the
Gallery”, as designated in §3-1.23(g),
shall be limited to three minutes per
speaker and to a total of ten minutes. A
majority vote of the General Assembly or
authorization from the Presiding Officer
can extend this time to a maximum of
thirty minutes, with no necessary time
limit per speaker. If no new time limit per
speaker is stipulated, each speaker will
continue to be limited to a total of three
minutes.
(b) Reports of the Officers of the Senate: The
agenda item “Reports of the Officers of

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
the Senate”, as designated in §3-1.23(h),
shall be limited to a total of three minutes
per speaker. A majority vote of the
General Assembly or authorization from
the Presiding Officer can extend this time
to a maximum of ten minutes per speaker.
(c) New Business: The agenda item “New
Business”, as designated in §3-1.23(l),
shall be limited in time to ten minutes of
questions per piece of legislation. A
majority vote of the General Assembly or
authorization from the Presiding Officer
can extend this time to a maximum of
twenty minutes per piece of legislation.
(d) Comments and Announcements: The
agenda item “Comments and
Announcements”, as designed in §3-
1.23(m), shall be limited to three minutes
per speaker and to a total of ten minutes.
A majority vote of the General Assembly
or authorization from the Presiding
Officer can extend this time to a
maximum of thirty minutes, with no
necessary time limit per speaker. If no
new time limit per speaker is stipulated,
each speaker will continue to be limited to
a total of three minutes.
§3-1.25. Minutes.
(a) The Legislative Clerk shall record the
Minutes of every General Assembly. In
their absence, the duty of recording the
minutes shall devolve in like manner as
the other duties of Legislative Clerk as
appointed by §3-2.16(f).
(b) At the appropriate time in a General
Assembly, the Presiding Officer shall
entertain a motion to approve the Minutes
from the previous General Assembly.
Such a motion must be seconded, and
shall carry upon a simple majority vote.
§3-1.26. Officer Reports.
At the appointed time, the Presiding Officer
shall recognize each Officer of the Senate to
give a report of his or activities and those of any
Committees they may have jurisdiction over.
§3-1.27. Approval of New Student
Organizations.
The Senate shall be charged with approving new
student organizations in accordance with the
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
9
Constitution of the Student Body and the
recommendation given by the Organizational
Ways and Means Committee. All potential
student organizations must comply with all
guidelines enumerated in the Act for
Registration prior to being placed on the agenda
for approval by the Senate.
§3-1.28. Confirmation of Designees
External to the Senate.
(a) Designees external to the Senate shall be
confirmed to Office by Senate Resolution.
(b) At the appropriate time during a General
Assembly, the Presiding Officer shall
recognize the appointing authority, who
shall introduce the designee to the Senate.
All designees shall be allowed to address
the Senate for a period of time not to
exceed two minutes, followed by a period
for questions for the designee from the
Senate not to exceed five minutes.
(c) The confirmation of designees may be
moved by any qualified Senator, and shall
be decided in a manner consistent with the
Constitution of the Student Body and the
Student Government Statutes.
§3-1.29. Order of Precedence of
Motions.
The order of precedence of motions shall be as
follows:
(a) To adjourn
(b) To recess
(c) Questions of Privilege
(d) To lay on the table
(e) The previous question
(f) To limit or extend debate
(g) To postpone to a time certain
(h) To amend
(i) To postpone indefinitely
(j) Main motions
§3-1.30. Motion to Adjourn.
All motions to adjourn shall be by roll call and
understood to adjourn the Senate to the next
regularly scheduled meeting.
§3-1.31. Previous Question.
The Previous Question shall require the consent
of the majority of the Senators present.
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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
§3-1.32. Recognition of Senators.
A Senator who seeks recognition shall, except as
otherwise provided for in these bylaws or
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, raise
their plaque and await recognition by the
Presiding Officer before further addressing the
Senate.
§3-1.33. Recognition of non-Senators.
The presiding officer may, with the consent of
the majority of the Senators present and voting,
recognize a member of the gallery for the
purposes of them giving their opinion with
respect to any issue under the consideration of
the Senate.
§3-1.34. Rounds of Debate.
Senators may use this time period to voice and
debate their respective points of view on a piece
of legislation presented to the Senate. The
Presiding Officer shall call on Senators to speak
in the order in which they request the floor.
Once the Presiding Officer has deemed debate to
be settled, they may call an end to debate.
§3-1.35. Period of Questions.
The Presiding Officer may recognize the Senator
introducing legislation or making motions for a
period of time they deem appropriate, following
the introduction of such legislation or the
statement of such motions, during which time
the Senator shall be entitled to yield to other
Senators for questions. It shall be out of order
for any Senator to use such time for debate.
§3-1.36. Questions in Debate.
Once debate has begun, a Senator speaking in
debate shall be entitled to yield the floor to other
Senators for questions. A Senator desiring to
ask a question of the speaking Senator may
interrupt them to request that the speaking
Senator yield.
§3-1.37. Decorum of Senators.
(a) The Presiding Officer and the Sergeant-at-
Arms shall have general discretion to
maintain decorum of the Senate Chamber
and shall maintain the proper decorum of
the General Assembly. All Senators shall
observe decency of speech, leave the
Senate Chamber to engage in
conversation, avoid disrespect of
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
personalities and avoid walking between
the speaking Senator and the Presiding
Officer.
(b) In the event that a meeting is held
virtually, Senators shall keep their
cameras on and be present in the video
during General Assembly meetings.
i. Failure to keep cameras on during
General Assembly shall result in a
half absence.
ii. This requirement may only be
excused by the Speaker or the
Parliamentarian.
iii. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall enforce
the provisions of this subsection. If
the Sergeant-at-Arms notices a
Senator in violation of this
subsection, they shall inform the
Parliamentarian. The Parliamentarian
shall send an email to the Senator and
Office of the Speaker after the
meeting and request that the Senator
in violation explain their violation of
the policy. If the Senator’s
explanation is unsatisfactory or they
do not respond within 48 hours, the
Parliamentarian shall note a half-
absence for the Senator.
(c) Section B and C shall be removed effective
June 1, 2021.
§3-1.38. Decorum of Visitors.
Visitors to the General Assembly shall be seated
in a designated gallery except at the discretion of
the Presiding Officer. Visitors shall refrain from
disrupting the business of the General Assembly.
The Presiding Officer, with the aid of the
Sergeant-at-Arms, may ask any visitor to leave
the meeting room at any time for disorderly
conduct.
§3-1.39. Methods of Voting.
The vote required for passage for all pieces of
legislation, excluding Confirmation of the
Student Justices and Constitutional
Amendments, shall be a simple majority. A
majority is defined as fifty percent plus one of
the Senators present, excluding abstentions.
Methods of voting shall include:
(a) Unanimous consent: In a case where there
seems to be no opposition, a Senator may
make a motion to be approved. The

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
Presiding Officer shall then ask for
objections. In the absence of an objection,
unanimous consent is granted; if an
objection is made, a formal vote is
required. In the case of an objection, the
objector shall be given a chance to state
their objection.
(b) Voice vote: A voice vote shall be the
normal method of voting, except on a
question requiring ballots. Senators shall
voice their vote by answering "Aye", “No”,
or "Abstain". Should a Senator feel the
outcome of a voice vote could not be
adequately determined, they may demand a
rising vote by saying "Division of the
Assembly" or simply "Division", so long as
they do not use the procedure as a dilatory
tactic when there clearly has been a full
vote and there can be no reasonable doubt
of the result.
(c) Vote by roll call: A recorded roll call vote
shall be held at the request of any Senator,
with the consent of one-fifth of the
Senators present, except on a question
requiring ballots. Before proceeding with
the roll call, after one has been ordered, the
Parliamentarian shall announce the
question and that the yeas and nays have
been ordered to be taken by roll call. A roll
call vote shall be mandatory for any vote to
remove a Senator pursuant to §3-1.9.
“Special Assembly.” During a roll call
vote, Senators shall respond by saying
“Aye”, “No”, or “Abstain,” responding to
the legislation in question. The votes shall
be recorded in the Minutes.
(d) Vote by ballot: A vote by ballot may be
called by any Senator before voting on
legislation. A majority vote is required to
proceed into a vote by ballot. If a ballot
vote is ordered, the Parliamentarian shall
announce that the yeas and nays have been
ordered to be taken by ballot vote and the
question that is being voted upon. Voting
by ballot shall last no more than 5 minutes,
but may, by unanimous consent, be
extended or closed early. The time shall be
kept by the Parliamentarian. The time taken
for voting by ballot shall be measured from
the time the question is announced.
Balloting, if possible, will be conducted
electronically. Senators will write on the
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
11
ballot “Aye” if they wish to approve
legislation, or “No” if they do not wish to
approve the legislation, or “Abstain.”
Senators must write their name on their
ballot for it to be valid. The votes of each
Senator must be recorded in the Minutes.
(e) Before each respective vote, excepting
unanimous consent, the Parliamentarian
shall announce the question. Following
each respective vote, the Presiding Officer
shall announce the results according to the
judgment given by the Parliamentarian.
Temporary Provisions:
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (1) of this section, if a Senator
pronounces division upon any question
during a virtual meeting, a rising vote shall
not be in order and a roll call vote, unless a
ballot vote is approved, shall be ordered.
Only the voting methods of unanimous
consent, roll call, ballot, and voice votes
shall be in order during a virtual meeting.
(b) The provisions of this subsection shall
expire on 9/1/2021, unless renewed or
extended.
§3-1.40. Sunset Clauses.
(a) The Student Senate shall have the power to
pass legislation, including amendments to
the Student Government Statutes, which,
by its own terms, expires at a specified
time. This section has paramountcy over
any other part of the Student Government
Statutes, except Chapter 1.
(b) The Parliamentarian shall maintain a
spreadsheet of all pieces of legislation
subject to a sunset clause and introduce,
within 2 weeks of the start of the new
Legislative Assembly, a bill to extend the
Sunset Clause.
§3-1.41. Motion to Discharge a
Committee.
After a committee has failed to take action on a
question referred to them after four weeks, it
shall be proper to, during a general assembly, for
any Senator to bring a motion to discharge a
committee of consideration of any question
previously referred to that committee. The
motion shall require a second, and shall be
successful if a majority of the Senators present
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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE

and voting agree to discharge the committee; of two-thirds of the Senators present and voting
provided, that if at least twelve hours notice is in order to prevail. The motion may not be used
not given prior to the motion to discharge the to discharge the Conference Committee from
Committee, the motion shall require the consent consideration of a question.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE


VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
ARTICLE II.
§3-2.1. Officers of the Senate.
(a) The Officers of the Senate shall be a
Speaker, a Speaker Pro Tempore, a
Parliamentarian, a Sergeant-at-Arms, a
Legislative Clerk, and the Chairs of the
Standing Committees.
(b) The Speaker of the Senate, Speaker Pro
Tempore, Parliamentarian, Sergeant-at-
Arms, Legislative Clerk, Chairs of the
Standing Committees and any other
Officers of the Senate shall be elected
from the membership of the Senate
annually by the procedures outlined by
these Bylaws.
(c) The Speaker of the Senate shall be a
veteran Senator who has served a
minimum of one full academic year in the
Senate while the body was in session. If
no Senator is able to fulfill this
requirement, it will not apply to the
Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore
positions for that specific election cycle.
(d) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall be a
veteran Senator who has served a
minimum of one full academic semester in
the Senate while the body was in session.
If no Senator is able to fulfill this
requirement, it will not apply to the
Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore
positions for that specific election cycle.
§3-2.2. Office of the Speaker.
a. The Office of the Speaker of the Senate shall
be vested with all administrative powers and
duties of the Senate. The Officer of the Speaker
shall be comprised of by the Speaker of the
Senate and by the Speaker pro tempore of the
Senate. The Speaker of the Senate shall serve as
senior member of the Office of the Speaker; the
Speaker pro tempore of the Senate shall serve as
the junior ranking member of the Office of the
Speaker and shall serve as assistance to the
Senate.
b. The Office of the Speaker shall have the
power and responsibility to:
i. delegate Senate business to the responsible
parties and be held accountable for such
decisions;
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
13
OFFICERS
ii. form committees, as deemed necessary, to
fulfill the needs of the Senate;
iii. conduct a Senate retreat in the fall and
spring semester with the goal of orienting
Senators to prepare for a successful year;
iv. certify all Bills and Resolutions passed
by the Senate, and forward all such
legislation to the President of the Student
Body for enactment or veto;
v. formally invite the Chancellor of the
University to a minimum of one General
Assembly meeting per semester;
vi. perform any other administrative duties
and functions that are necessary and proper;
vii. attend general meetings of the executive
branch minimally once every three weeks
viii. shall print out paper copies of all
approved legislation, sign, and give to the
Student Body President for a signature or
veto.
e. At no time shall the Speaker or Speaker pro
tempore serve as an Officer or permanent
member of any Standing Committee; rather, they
shall serve in an advisory role to all Standing
Committees unless the following circumstance.
i. If at any point a committee falls below
quorum for any reason, the Speaker of the
Senate and the Speaker Pro Tempore,
through administrative duties outlined in §3-
2.2-(vi), may sit in as an acting voting
member of a committee to help maintain
quorum.
§3-2.3. Speaker of the Senate.
The Speaker of the Senate shall be primarily
responsible for fulfilling and executing the
duties and powers of the Office of the Speaker.
Furthermore,
a. Shall be the Presiding Officer over
Senate meetings
b. Shall attend the Executive Branch
meetings once every three (3) weeks
c. Shall coordinate all the guest speakers
for Senate meetings
d. Shall invite the Chancellor to speak at
least once per semester at Senate
e. Shall plan the Senate Retreat in
coordination with the Speaker Pro
Tempore
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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
f. Shall be allowed to create committees in
accordance with §3-3.8.
g. Shall Chair the Legislative Leadership
Committee meetings that shall happen at
least once every three (3) weeks
h. Shall appoint Senators to committees
with the consultation of the Speaker Pro
Tempore
i. Shall perform an orientation or provide
a transitional informational session to
new and incoming Senators in
coordination with the Speaker Pro
Tempore
j. Shall be a voting member of the
Conference Committee
k. Shall be a voting member of the SGA
Board of Elections Oversight
Committee
l. Shall meet with the Speaker Pro
Tempore and Senate Advisor weekly
m. The Speaker of the Senate shall delegate
duties and powers of the Office of the
Speaker to the Speaker Pro Tempore, as
they personally deem fit.
§3-2.4. Speaker Pro Tempore.
The Speaker Pro Tempore shall-
a. Create numbering for submitted legislation
and set the agenda for the Senate in
accordance with Senate bylaws and
distribute it no later than 24 hours prior to
the general assembly meeting.
b. Assist the Presiding Officer with operating a
display of all Senate business during
General Assembly meetings.
c. Assist the Speaker of the Senate with
presiding over the meeting if necessary.
d. Attend the Executive Branch meetings once
every three (3) weeks
e. Plan the Senate Retreat in coordination with
the Speaker of the Senate
f. Book committee meeting rooms with
Reservations for weekly committee
meetings.
g. Draft all confirmation legislation
h. Send out approved legislation to mandates
each week
i. Be a Voting member of the Conference
Committee
j. Meet with the Speaker of the Senate and
Senate Advisor weekly
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
k. Assist the Speaker of the Senate upon their
request to conduct purchases and orders of
SGA materials
l. Assist the Speaker of the Senate and the
Legislative Branch with any further
administrative duties deemed necessary by
the Office of the Senate.
§3-2.5. Parliamentarian.
The Parliamentarian shall-
a. Determine the rules of procedure and the
interpretation of the Constitution of the
Student Body, the Student Government
Statutes, and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly
Revised. The Presiding Officer may overrule
the decision of the Parliamentarian on the
interpretation of the Constitution of the
Student Body, the Student Government
Statutes, or Robert’s Rules of Order Newly
Revised. An appeal may be prosecuted, in
like manner as may be had under Robert’s
Rules of Order Newly Revised, against the
decision of the Parliamentarian or the
Presiding Officer as to interpretation of the
Constitution of the Student Body, the
Student Government Statutes, or Robert’s
Rules of Order.
b. Provide advice to any Senator, upon the
request of such Senator, as to the meaning of
any part of the Student Government
Statutes, the Constitution of the Student
Body, or Robert’s Rules of Order Newly
Revised.
c. Record attendance consistent with these
bylaws.
d. Conduct all votes, consistent with these
bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order. The
Parliamentarian shall report, within 24 hours
of the conclusion of the General Assembly
meeting whereat the vote is made, the
particular results of all votes to the
Legislative Clerk for inclusion within the
minutes.
e. Be a permanent member of the Internal
Affairs Committee.
f. Meet with the Internal Affairs Chair at least
once every two weeks.
§3-2.6. Sergeant-at-Arms.
The Sergeant-at-Arms shall assist the Presiding
Officer in preserving order during General
Assembly and at the request of the Presiding

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
Officer shall explain expectations of order to
Senators and visitors. The Sergeant-at-Arms
shall also secure the doors during a period of
closed session. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall also
be responsible for escorting individuals and
organizations in and out of the Senate Chamber.
If the Senator is in violation of the Senate Dress
Code policy according to §3-1.4 or the policy
set out by §3-1.37(b). The Sergeant-at-Arms
upon their discretion, is to notify the
Parliamentarian that a Senator is in fact in
violation, and therefore will be marked as half
absent for the General Assembly Meeting.
During any virtual meeting, the Sergeant-at-
Arms shall monitor the meeting participants to
ensure that the cameras of Senators are turned
on, pursuant to §3-1.37(b). The Sergeant-at-
Arms shall further ensure that decorum is
maintained during any virtual meeting. If the
Sergeant-at-Arms notices a Senator in violation
of this policy, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall
immediately inform the Parliamentarian.
§3-2.7. Legislative Clerk.
The Legislative Clerk shall-
a. Record complete and accurate meeting in all
General Assembly and Legislative
Leadership Committee meetings.
b. Send out approved minutes and legislation
to the Webmaster to post to the website each
week.
c. Catalog approved meeting minutes in the
appropriate location in the SGA archives
and Senate folder.
d. Be responsible for delivering the
unapproved minutes from the last meeting of
the General Assembly to the Speaker Pro
Tempore no less than 36 hours before the
next General Assembly meeting for
inclusion in the Agenda and Docket for
ratification by the Senate. The Speaker Pro
Tempore shall include any such minutes for
ratification at the next regularly scheduled
meeting.
e. Upon the request of any person, make
available approved copies of the minutes
from the previous meetings.
f. Assist the Office of the Speaker in
maintaining the directory of the legislation
considered by the Senate and cause the same
to be published upon the SGA website.
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15
§3-2.8. Committee Chairs.
The Committee Chairs shall call their
Committee meetings to order, preside over those
meetings, meet with corresponding Secretaries
within the Executive Branch at least once a
month, procure copies of legislation referred to
their Committee, present the Committee's
disposition on each piece of legislation referred
to their Committee, report absences of
Committee members to the Parliamentarian to
the and submit an annual report of the
Committee's actions to the Office of the Speaker
at the last General Assembly of the academic
year.
§3-2.9. Occurrence of Elections.
(a) Nominations for all elective Offices of the
Senate shall be opened at the General
Assembly meeting two weeks prior to the
inauguration of new Student Government
Officials as prescribed in SGS §1-1.10(b).
(b) All elective Offices of the Senate shall be
opened for election one week following
the opening of nominations for such
Offices.
(c) Upon the vacation of an elective Office of
the Senate, a special election will be held
to fill the Office, with nominations opened
at the General Assembly following the
vacation, and elections occurring one
week following the opening of
nominations by ballot.
§3-2.10. Nominations.
The Presiding Officer shall call for nominations
for the Office to be elected. Any Senator may
nominate another Senator, and nominations may
be closed by a two-thirds vote of the Senators
present.
§3-2.11. Order of Elections.
In the event an elective Office of the Senate
receives multiple nominations, that candidate
elected first shall be withdrawn from
consideration from any other offices which they
may have been nominated for. The order of
elections for the Offices of the Senate are as
follows:
1. Speaker of the Senate
2. Speaker Pro Tempore
3. Academic Affairs Chair
4. Internal Affairs Chair
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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair
6. Organizational Ways and Means Chair
7. Publicity and Outreach Chair
8. Student Affairs Chair
9. Parliamentarian
10. Legislative Clerk
11. Sergeant-at-Arms.
§3-2.12. Elections.
Each nominee shall speak before the General
Assembly. A motion shall determine the length
of time for speeches; such a motion shall take
place for each Officer position. The Sergeant-at-
Arms shall keep the time. Nominees will speak
in alphabetical order within each Office should
an Office receive more than one nomination.
While addressing the Senate, nominees shall not
speak for the primary purpose of endorsing or
encouraging voting for another current nominee
of the same Office. Nominees who are not
addressing the Senate shall leave the room. Once
every nominee has concluded their respective
speeches for a particular Officer position, all
nominees shall leave the room while all other
Senators discuss and debate the qualifications of
the nominees. A motion shall determine the
length of time for this discussion. The Sergeant-
at-Arms shall keep the time once again.
Elections shall occur by ballot.
§3-2.13. Tenure.
Officers shall take office upon their election.
All Officers shall serve for one full year, or until
their successors have been elected.
§3-2.14. Suspension of an Officer.
If a Senator does not believe that an Officer is
performing the duties listed in these By-Laws,
the Senator may submit a petition to suspend the
pay of that Officer. The petition must be signed
by a majority of Senators and submitted to the
Office of the Speaker, the Parliamentarian, and
the Chair of the Internal Affairs Committee. The
petition must include the length of time of such
suspension, and the reasons for suspension.
§3-2.15. Removal of an Officer.
If a Senator does not believe that an Officer is
performing the duties listed in these By-Laws,
the Senator may submit a Petition to remove that
Officer from their position. The petition must be
signed by a majority of Senators and submitted
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
to the Office of the Speaker, the Parliamentarian,
and the Chair of the Internal Affairs Committee.
The Officer may be removed from their position
at the special assembly the petition is presented
with a two-thirds vote of the Senators present.
Pursuant to §3-1.1(u), an attendance removal is a
divorced process to that described in §3-1.16,
“Removal from Office”.
§3-2.16. Line of Succession.
(a) In the absence or incapacity of the
Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore shall
assume the duties of the Presiding Officer.
Should the Speaker Pro Tempore be
unable to assume these duties, the
Parliamentarian shall assume them.
Whenever the Parliamentarian is also
absent or incapacitated, the role of
presiding officer shall devolve, in this
respective order, on the Chair of Internal
Affairs, the Chair of Organizational Ways
and Means, the Chair of Student Affairs,
the Chair of Academic Affairs, the Chair
of Publicity and Outreach Committee, the
Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion, the Legislative Clerk, and then
to the Sergeant at Arms. If none of those
officers are able to execute the powers and
duties of the role of presiding officer, the
meeting shall dissolve into committee
meetings.
(b) In the absence or incapacity of the
Speaker Pro Tempore, the Parliamentarian
shall assume the duties of the Speaker Pro
Tempore. Should the Parliamentarian be
unable to assume these duties, the Chair of
the Internal Affairs shall assume them.
Should the Chair of the Internal Affairs
Committee be unable to fulfill the duties
of the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Vice
Chair of the Internal Affairs Committee
shall assume the duties of the Speaker Pro
Tempore.
(c) In the absence or incapacity of the
Committee Chair, the Vice-Chair of that
Committee shall assume the duties of the
Committee Chair. Should the Vice-Chair
be unable to assume these duties, any
member of that Committee shall assume
them.
(d) In the absence or incapacity of the
Parliamentarian, the Chair of Internal

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
Affairs shall assume the duties of the
Parliamentarian. Should the Chair of
Internal Affairs be unable to assume these
duties, the Vice-Chair of Internal Affairs
shall assume them. If the Vice-Chair is
unable to assume the duties and powers of
the Parliamentarian, then they shall
devolve on any Internal Affairs member.
(e) In the absence or incapacity of the
Sergeant at Arms, the presiding officer
shall appoint any Senator to exercise the
powers and duties of Sergeant at Arms for
that meeting.
(f) In the absence or during the incapacity of
the Legislative Clerk, the Office of
Legislative Clerk shall devolve, in this
respective order, on the Vice Chair of
Academic Affairs, Vice Chair of Student
Affairs, Vice Chair of Internal Affairs, the
Vice Chair of Publicity and Outreach, the
Vice Chair of Organizational Ways and
Means, and then to the Vice Chair of
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
§3-2.17. Appointment Availability.
(a) All officers shall make themselves
available through appointment for the
Student Body, Student Government
officials, and fellow Senators to come
and speak to them.
(b) The Legislative Leadership Committee
shall set the number of hours of
appointment availability to be kept by
each paid Officer by the last meeting in
April.
(c) All officers shall report their weekly
appointment availability, as well as their
contact information, to the Office of the
Speaker, who shall send it to the
Webmaster to be published on the
website. Any changes to these
appointments shall be communicated to
the Webmaster, to be updated on the
website.
§3-2.18. Training Program.
(a) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall establish,
with input from the Speaker of the Senate, a
formal training process for all new Senators,
which shall include:
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
17
a. Learning Parliamentary
Procedure;
b. Instruction in Drafting
Legislation;
c. Committee familiarization;
d. Understanding Viewpoint
Neutrality;
e. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion;
f. Such other topics as the Pro
Tempore shall think proper.
(b) The training program shall be established by
the Pro Tempore and administered through
each Committee’s Vice Chair.
(c) Upon completion of a training program,
each individual Senator shall submit their
completed syllabus to the Speaker Pro
Tempore for recordkeeping purposes.
(d) If the Vice Chair of the respective
Committee certifies that a Senator is
refusing to participate in the training
program, then the Vice Chair shall report the
same to the Parliamentarian and the Speaker
Pro Tempore. The Parliamentarian shall
thereafter cause the Senator so reported to
be accorded a half-absence.
§3-2.19. Recruitment Program.
(a) The Speaker Pro Tempore shall be
responsible for, in coordination with the
Chair of Internal Affairs and the Chair of
Publicity and Outreach, a recruitment
program to fill vacancies within the Student
Senate.
(b) Upon the declaration of a vacancy pursuant
to S.G.S. §3-1.17(a), the Chair of Publicity
and Outreach, under the supervision and
direction of the Speaker Pro Tempore, shall
advertise the vacancy in order to find
qualified candidates for the position(s).
§3-2.20. Stipends.
The followings positions within the
Legislative Branch shall receive an allotted
stipend granted out of the SGA budget.
a. Speaker of the Senate
b. Speaker Pro Tempore
c. Chair of Student Affairs
d. Chair of Internal Affairs
e. Chair of Academic Affairs
f. Chair of Publicity and Outreach
g. Chair of Organizational Ways and
Means
18
CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
h. Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
i. Parliamentarian
j. Sergeant-at-Arms
k. Legislative Clerk
§3-2.21. Cultural Unity Board.
(a) Purpose and General Structure: The goal
of the Cultural Unity Board (C.U.B.) is to
allow SGA to facilitate a board intent on
fostering inter-organizational conversations
and community around the various ethnic,
cultural, and faith-based groups on UNC
Charlotte's Campus. This committee shall
hold meetings at a minimum of once a
semester, and as frequent as once a month.
The date of said meeting shall be determined
and broadcasted at least two weeks prior to
the occurrence of the meeting. Meetings
may be called to order at the discretion of
the Director with the mandatory attendance
of the Chair of Student Affairs, the Chair of
D.E.I., and the Chair of OWAM. This
committee is open to all individuals and
organizations but is aimed at gathering
ethnic and cultural organizations in
particular. The goal is to open a centralized
conversation surrounding the topics of
culture and ethnicity but anyone is allowed
to attend.
(b) The committee shall consist of the following
members of the Student Senate:
i. The Chair of Student Affairs who shall
be the Director
ii. The Chair of D.E.I. who shall be the
Assistant Director
iii. The Chair of O.W.A.M. who shall be the
Secretary of Relations
iv. No more than six members of Senate that
shall be appointed at the discretion of the
Presiding Officer
(c) The C.U.B shall be led by the Director who
is assisted by an Assistant Director and a
Secretary of Relations. The Director of the
C.U.B. shall be the Chair of Student Affairs,
the Assistant Director shall be the Chair of
D.E.I., and the Secretary of Relations shall
be the Chair of OWAM. In the event the
Director is absent, the Assistant Director
will assume the responsibilities of the
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
Director, and the Secretary of Relations will
assume the role of the Assistant Director. In
the event that both the Director and
Assistant Director are absent, the Secretary
of Relations will assume the duties of the
Director. In the event that a position need be
filled in the absence of the Assistant
Director and/or Director of relations, the
acting Director may call upon the Vice
Chair of their respective committees to
perform the duties of the absent officers.
(d) The responsibilities and duties of the
Director are as follows:
i. To schedule and host committee
meetings at least once a month,
ii. To preside over meetings and maintain
order and speaking proceedings,
iii. To delegate duties and tasks to members
in order to fulfill the purpose of the
committee,
iv. To regulate membership (outside of
their fellow officers) as they deem
necessary for the success of the board,
v. To give a report of the meetings
proceedings to the Student Senate
during the next General Assembly
meeting from the day of the C.U.B.
meeting.
(e) The responsibilities and duties of the
Assistant Director are as follows:
i. To create and set the agenda for the
meeting with the consultation of the
Director,
ii. To help organizational leaders create
any relevant initiatives and legislation,
iii. To assist the Director with any
necessary and relevant tasks.
(f) The responsibilities and duties of the
Secretary of Relations are as follows:
i. To hold the meeting minutes of the
committee
ii. To be the official voice and point of
contact for organizations and any other
interested party who wishes to
communicate with the C.U.B.,
iii. To communicate with Niner Media and
any other student publications about the
events and topics discussed during the
meetings.

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
ARTICLE III.
SECTION 1. COMMITTEES GENERALLY
§3-3.1. Establishment of Committees.
(a) The Senate shall have the authority to
establish various Committees it considers
necessary to the general welfare of the
Student Body and essential to its successful
operation.
(b) The Senate shall be comprised of six
Standing Committees: the Academic Affairs
Committee; the Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion Committee; the Internal Affairs
Committee; the Organizational Ways and
Means Committee; the Publicity and
Outreach Committee; and the Student
Affairs Committee.
(c) The Senate shall be comprised of one Select
Committee, to wit, the Legislative
Leadership Committee.
§3-3.2. Rules of Order Governing
Committees.
(a) A quorum shall consist of a simple majority
of the members of the Committee.
(b) Rules of order for the various Committees
may be determined at the discretion of the
Chair of each Committee, and may not
conflict with the Constitution of the Student
Body, these Bylaws, or the most recent
edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
§3-3.3. Committee Vice Chairs.
Each Committee shall elect a Vice Chair no later
than the Committee's second meeting of the new
academic year. The Committee Vice Chair shall
be responsible for keeping the minutes of each
Committee meeting, assisting the Chair as
needed, and assuming the duties of the Chair if
the Chair were to be absent. The Committee
Vice Chairs shall, under the supervision and
direction of the Speaker Pro Tempore and the
Speaker, administer the training program
established pursuant to S.G.S. §3-2.18.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
19
COMMITTEES
§3-3.4. Legislative Disposition.
Committees shall give a report of all legislation
referred to them by the Presiding Officer. The
reports that the committee shall give shall be:
(a) Favorable
(b) Favorable with amendments
(c) Unfavorable
SECTION 2. COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE SENATE.
§3-3.5. Dissolution into Committee of
the Whole Senate.
It shall be in order as a privileged motion for any
Senator to move to dissolve the Senate into the
Committee of the Whole Senate, subject to the
approval of a simple majority of the Senators
present. In the absence of quorum, outlined in
SGS §3-1.22, the Presiding Officer shall be
empowered to declare the Senate dissolved into
the Committee of the Whole Senate.
§3-3.6. Business in Order in Committee
of the Whole Senate.
The Committee of the Whole Senate may
consider any main motion which is referred to it
by the Senate, or any piece of legislation on the
agenda for the present meeting.
§3-3.7. Chair of the Committee of the
Whole Senate.
(a) When considering a main motion, the
Speaker shall serve as Chair of the
Committee of the Whole Senate.
(b) When considering legislation, the Chair of
the Committee in which the piece of
legislation originated or which has been
referred to shall serve as Chair of the
Committee of the Whole Senate.
(c) If legislation under consideration originated
in General Assembly and has not been
referred to a Committee, the Speaker shall
serve as Chair of the Committee of the
Whole Senate.
20
CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
§3-3.8. Quorum of the Committee of
the Whole Senate.
A quorum of the Committee of the Whole
Senate shall consist of one-fifth of all Senators.
§3-3.9. Debate in the Committee of the
Whole Senate.
Debate in the Committee of the Whole Senate
shall operate in a similar manner as that of
Committee meetings, unless a Senator moves to
apply rules of debate with the consent of two-
thirds of the Committee. All rules concerning
the decorum of the Senate shall apply.
§3-3.10. Types of Reports by the
Committee of the Whole Senate.
It shall be in order for any Senator to move that
the Committee of the Whole Senate report the
pending question. Such a motion shall contain a
recommendation that the Senate vote
immediately or that it debate further. The report
shall advocate that the Senate vote in favor or
not in favor of the pending question. Such a
report shall be decided without further debate
and shall require the consent of a simple
majority of the Committee.
§3-3.11. Reports by the Committee of
the Whole Senate.
The Chair of the Committee of the Whole
Senate shall bring before the Senate, in the order
reported, all main motions or legislation reported
by the Committee and must be voted on by the
Senate.
SECTION 3. SPECIAL COMMITTEES
§3-3.12. Appointment of Special
Committees.
The formation of a Special Committee may
occur at the discretion of the Office of the
Speaker or by a formal resolution of any Senator
with the consent of a simple majority of the
Senators present. The Office of the Speaker shall
appoint the Chair and other members of the
Special Committee, unless the resolution
creating the Committee specifies some other
method of selection.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
§3-3.13. Meetings and General Duties of
Special Committees.
Special Committees shall meet at the discretion
of the Chair of such Committee, subject to any
conditions which may be stated in the
Committee's formation. A Special Committee
shall be responsible for the consideration of all
questions referred to it by the Senate, for the
preparation of legislation as directed by the
Senate in its formation or subsequent
instructions, and for the preparation of all
reports required by these By-Laws or as deemed
necessary at the discretion of its Chair.
SECTION 4. SELECT COMMITTEES
§3-3.14. Select Committees.
A select committee is a committee whose
membership is appointed by the Speaker, except
as otherwise provided for in these bylaws.
Membership on a select committee shall not
count towards the number of Standing
committees that a person may be a member of.
The quorum of a Select committee shall be half
of the membership thereof. The number of
members, except for the Legislative Leadership
Committee, that a Select Committee is to be
composed of shall not be less than 3 members.
Select Committees meet no less than once a
month and on such days and time as agreed upon
by the membership of the Committee. A Chair
of a Select Committees is a Committee Chairs
within the meaning of section 3-2.8 of these
Bylaws. A member of a select committee may
resign their membership on the select
committee.
§3-3.15. Legislative Leadership
Committee.
The Legislative Leadership Committee shall be
charged with promoting communication
between the Standing Committees, discussing
and recommending various actions or policies
necessary to the proper functioning of the Senate
and performing any duties of the Senate
introduced by the Office of the Speaker or the
President of the Student Body which may
require an immediate response.
(a) The Legislative Leadership Committee
Meetings shall be chaired by the Speaker of the
Senate and include the Speaker Pro Tempore of
the Senate, Chairs of the Select Committees,

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
Chairs of the Standing Committees, Sergeant at
Arms, Legislative Clerk and the Parliamentarian.
(b) The Student Body President or their designee
shall be an ex-officio member of the Legislative
Leadership Committee.
(c) The Legislative Leadership Committee is to
meet minimally once every month to discuss
Senate business.
(d) Members of the Legislative Leadership
Committee shall be notified of the time, and
place of meetings no less than seven days before
the scheduled meeting.
(e) If a Committee Chair is unable to attend the
Legislative Leadership Committee Meeting,
their Vice Chair may act as their representative
in their absence. In such a case that the Vice
Chair is unable to attend the Legislative
Leadership Committee Meeting in the Chair’s
absence, the Chair will be responsible for the
repercussions.
(f) In the absence of the Speaker of the Senate,
the Speaker Pro Tempore shall chair the
Legislative Leadership Committee Meeting. In
the absence of the Speaker and Speaker Pro
Tempore, the Parliamentarian shall chair the
meeting. If all three of the aforementioned
officers are unable to attend, the Legislative
Leadership Committee meeting shall not take
place.
(g) The Legislative Clerk shall record the
minutes of the Legislative Leadership
Committee meeting.
SECTION 5. STANDING COMMITTEES
§3-3.16. Academic Affairs Committee.
The Academic Affairs Committee shall be
responsible for policies regarding academic
reform, University academic policy, academic
calendar issues and library operations. The
Committee shall serve as a liaison between the
Senate and the Office of the Provost, the
Colleges of the University and the Faculty
Council.
§3-3.17. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Committee.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
shall oversee matters pertaining to the
advancement of equity and justice within the
University and the surrounding communities.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
21
shall work to establish a respectful and inclusive
work and learning environment within the
University. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Committee shall advocate for policies that
encourage values of diversity and inclusion,
justice, equal opportunity, discrimination
prevention, financial equity, ethical labor and
employment practices, and shall promote the
celebration of diverse cultures, ideologies, and
philosophies. The Committee shall serve as a
liaison between the Senate and the Office of
Identity, Equity, and Engagement, the Office of
Disability Services, the Office of International
Programs, as well as the Special Assistant to the
Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion.
§3-3.18. Internal Affairs Committee.
The Internal Affairs Committee shall oversee
matters pertaining to the Senate and the
Constitution of the Student Body. This may
include but shall not be limited to matters
relating to the conduct of Senators, the Bylaws
of the Student Senate and the Apportionment
Act.
§3-3.19. Organizational Ways and
Means Committee.
The Organizational Ways and Means Committee
shall oversee matters pertaining to: the Student
Activity Fees allotted to the Senate and to the
various student organizations, the maintenance
of Chapter 8 of these Bylaws (the Financial
Procedures Act), and the approval of new
student organizations.
§3-3.20. Publicity and Outreach
Committee.
The Publicity and Outreach Committee shall
oversee matters pertaining to the outreach of the
Senate to the Student Body, and may oversee
publicity matters pertaining to the Elections Act.
This shall include coordinating with the Board
of Elections to publicize Student Body Elections
in accordance with the Election Act, informing
the Student Body of pertinent changes in
University policy and the general direction of
the Student Government Association Website.
Publicity and Outreach is responsible for
maintaining community relations within and
beyond the UNC Charlotte community. The
Publicity and Outreach committee will facilitate
22
CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
opportunities for the legislative branch to fulfill
as far as outreach is concerned.
§3-3.21. Student Affairs Committee.
The Student Affairs Committee shall oversee
matters pertaining to the personal and social
well-being of the Student Body. This shall
include student problems and concerns, new
student programs and policy changes. The
Committee shall have at its discretion a Student
Body Survey, which shall be attached to the
ballots of a General Election, in the execution of
its duties.
§3-3.22. Membership of the Standing
Committees.
The Office of the Speaker shall appoint, with the
input from the newly elected Senators regarding
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
their interests and preferences, each Senator to
one of the seven Standing Committees, save the
Legislative Leadership Committee. Each Senator
shall be appointed to a Standing Committee
within ten days after election. A Senator may be
a member of two Standing Committees. In order
for a Senator to join an additional Committee
besides the original that they are appointed to,
they must have expressed written permission
from their original Committee’s Chair. A
Senator may only be a substitute member of a
Standing Committee when that Committee does
not meet quorum.
§3-3.23. Committee Meetings.
Standing Committees shall meet once weekly,
pursuant to SGS §3-1.4.

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
ARTICLE IV.
§3-4.1. Types of Legislation.
The Senate shall recognize three types of
legislation: Bills, Resolutions and Petitions.
§3-4.2. Bills.
All legislation creating or affecting a change in
the Student Government Statutes or other body
of law within the legislative powers of the
Senate, or providing for the budgeting and
appropriation of the Student Activity Fees
entrusted to the Senate, shall be presented in the
form of a Bill. The various forms of Bills shall
be as follows:
(a) Budget Bill: A Budget Bill either
sets or modifies the budget of the
Legislative Branch of the Student
Government Association. Budget Bills
shall be indicated as such on legislation by
a "BB". Budget Bills shall be passed by a
simple majority vote.
(b) Finance Bill: A Finance Bill authorizes or
instructs the expenditure of funds
previously budgeted by the Senate or
entrusted to the Senate. The various
student organizations shall be funded by
means of a Finance Bill, which shall not
require a second reading. Finance Bills
shall be indicated as such on legislation by
a "FB". Finance Bills shall be passed by a
simple majority vote.
(c) Organization Bill: An Organization Bill
allows for the approval of new student
organizations on the campus of the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
The Organizational Ways & Means
Committee shall bring this bill forward to
the Senate floor upon the new student
organization completing the necessary
steps with Student Organizations. An
Organization Bill shall be indicated as
such on legislation by a “OB”, and shall
not require a second reading.
(d) Senate Bill: A Senate Bill amends the
bylaws of the Senate or other bodies of
law under the discretionary authority of
the Senate. Senate Bills shall be indicated
as such on legislation by a "SB". Senate
Bills shall be passed by a simple majority
vote.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
23
LEGISLATION
(e) Government Bill: A Government Bill
amends the Constitution of the Student
Body or Chapter One of the Student
Government Statutes. Government Bills
shall be indicated as such on legislation by
a "GB". Government Bills shall be passed
by a simple majority vote.
(f) Confirmation Bill: A Confirmation Bill
confirms appointments from the Executive
and Judicial Branch to various positions
within the Student Government
Association. Confirmation Bills shall be
indicated as such on legislation by a “CB”.
Confirmation Bills shall be passed by a
simple majority vote, and shall not require
a second reading.
§3-4.3. Resolutions.
All legislation voicing the opinion of the Senate
on any topic not within the constitutional
jurisdiction of the Senate or exercising one or
more privileges of the Senate shall be presented
in the form of a Resolution. Resolutions shall be
indicated as such on legislation by a "SR".
§3-4.4. Petitions.
All legislation pertaining to the disciplinary
removal of a Senator or other legislative matters
that do not conform to the definition of a Bill or
Resolution shall be presented in the form of a
Petition, and shall not require a second reading.
Petitions shall be indicated as such on legislation
by a "SP".
§3-4.5. Docket.
The Docket of legislation shall be kept by the
Office of the Speaker and shall be ordered in the
order in which legislation is received. The
Docket may only be changed by a two-thirds
majority of the Senators present.
§3-4.6. Numbering of Legislation.
All legislation filed with the Pro Tempore shall
be numbered in the following format:
(BB/FB/SB/OB/CB/GB/SR/SP)(Legislati
ve Assembly #).(Session #)-(Docket #)
For example, "SB50.1-3" would indicate the
third piece of legislation, a Senate Bill, brought
before the First Session of the 50th Legislative
24
CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE
Assembly. The Office of the Speaker shall be
responsible for numbering legislation.
§3-4.7. Mandates.
Copies of all legislation passed by the Senate
shall be sent to the individuals or organizations
it concerns by the Office of the Speaker.
Legislation shall list the names and titles of all
such individuals or organizations. The
individuals and organizations listed below shall
automatically receive copies of all legislation
presented to or approved by the Senate.
Additional mandates may be added as deemed
appropriate by the author(s) of legislation or the
Senate:
(a) The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
(b) The Associate Vice Chancellor for
Student Affairs and Dean of Students
(c) Assistant Vice Chancellor & Director of
Student Engagement
(d) The Advisors to SGA
(e) The Press Secretary
(f) Niner Times
§3-4.8. Legislative Expiration.
Upon the adjournment of a Legislative
Assembly, all legislation not definitely disposed
of by the Senate is to be considered postponed
indefinitely and may only be considered in a
new Legislative Assembly by reintroduction.
§3-4.9. Initial Introduction.
A Senator may file legislation for introduction
by submitting an electronic copy to the Office of
the Speaker. The Office of the Speaker shall
establish a filing deadline for legislation that is
to be placed in the docket for a first reading at a
scheduled General Assembly that is deemed to
be effective and proper. The Office of the
Speaker shall distribute the legislation to be
heard at a General Assembly to all Senators no
later than 24 hours before such General
Assembly, pursuant to SGS §3-2.2. Legislation
not submitted according to the timeframe
outlined in these guidelines may be heard at later
General Assemblies, pursuant to SGS §3-4.5.
Once legislation has been distributed to be read
at a General Assembly for its second reading,
the sponsors of such legislation shall not make
revisions prior to the second reading.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
§3-4.10. Sponsorship of Legislation.
Any Senator(s) filing legislation with the Office
of the Speaker for first reading shall be
designated as the primary sponsor(s) of the
legislation filed. After the first reading of any
piece of legislation, any number of Senators may
join as secondary sponsors of the legislation
with the consent of the primary sponsor(s). The
Senate shall not amend the names of primary or
secondary sponsors without the consent of those
Senators whose names are to be amended.
§3-4.11. Fast-Track of Legislation.
A Senator may move that Resolutions receive
their first and second readings at the same
General Assembly. This procedure shall be
known as "fast-tracking" the Resolution, and
shall require the consent of two-thirds of the
Senators present. Budget and Government Bills
may not be fast-tracked. Senate Bills may be
fast-tracked by a three-fourths vote of the
Senators present.
§3-4.12. First Reading of Legislation.
At the appointed time, the Office of the Speaker
shall add all legislation submitted to the agenda
from the committees for the first reading to be
read before the Senate. During the First Reading
of legislation, Senate will conduct business in
the format of a Period of Questions.
§3-4.13. Referral to Committee.
After legislation has been read and before the
end of the meeting, the Presiding Officer shall
refer all legislation read for the first time and not
fast-tracked to the Committee they deem
appropriate according to these bylaws.
§3-4.14. Second-Reading Rule.
All legislation shall be read before the Senate
twice, and such readings shall occur at two
different General Assemblies except as provided
elsewhere in these bylaws. During the Second
Reading of legislation, Senate will conduct
business in the format of a Period of Debate.
§3-4.15. Placement on the Calendar for
Second Reading.
Legislation shall be placed on the calendar for
second reading at the discretion of the Office of
the Speaker once it has been properly revisited

VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES
in the Committee or discharged pursuant to
S.G.S. §3-1.41.
§3-4.16. Procedure for Second Reading.
(a) At the time a piece of legislation is
presented for Second Reading, the
Primary or Secondary Sponsor(s) shall
read the legislation by short title only,
unless any Senator should ask for a full
reading with the consent of one-fifth of
those Senators present.
(b) Following the Second Reading of
legislation, the Primary Sponsor of the
legislation shall yield to the floor to the
Presiding Officer to facilitate the Period of
Debate. Once the Period of Debate is
concluded, the Presiding Officer shall
entertain any motion towards or against
the adoption of the legislation.
§3-4.17. Referendum.
Any Senator can introduce a Senate Resolution
calling for a referendum of the student body.
Such Resolution will pass with a simple
majority vote of Senators present. Any Senate
Resolution calling for a referendum must
include the full referendum question, and the
dates of such election. Upon passage, the
Student Government Association shall conduct
the election of the referendum in coordination
with the Office of the Speaker.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
25
§3-4.18. Amendment of Legislation.
All motions to amend legislation during second
reading shall be written through the template
found in Appendix F or orally stated through a
motion, and shall be recorded by the Legislative
Clerk at the time of their introduction. Any
written motion for amendment shall be
submitted to the Legislative Clerk and the
Speaker Pro Tempore for consideration during
second reading. Amendments to legislation
shall be in order during periods of debate, and
shall be considered enacted if approved by
majority of the Senators present and voting or as
a friendly amendment by the Primary
Sponsor(s).
§3-4.19. Vetoed Legislation.
The Senate may override a presidential veto by a
three-fifths majority affirmative vote within 14
class days of the notification veto.
§3-4.20. Printing of Legislation.
Within one class day of the adoption of a Bill or
Resolution, the Office of the Speaker shall
obtain a copy of the Bill or Resolution to be
printed, and shall submit the printed and signed
copy of the Bill or Resolution to the Student
Body President for their signature.
§3-4.21. Archiving of Legislation.
All legislation passed by the Senate and
approved or vetoed by the Student Body
President shall be processed and kept for
archival purposes by the Legislative Clerk.
26
CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE

ARTICLE V. AMENDMENTS

§3-5.1. Suspension of these Bylaws. §3-5.2. Amendments to these Bylaws.

The Senate may, by the consent of a two-thirds
majority of the Senators present, suspend these
bylaws. No provision of these bylaws may be
suspended which specifies otherwise, or derives
its authority from any other portion of the
Constitution of the Student Body or Student
Government Statutes, or federal, state, or local
law. Furthermore, no clause mandating advance
notice, including dates and times for meetings or
submission of documents, may be suspended,
unless suspended prior to the advance notice
deadline.
(a) These bylaws may be amended by a
simple majority vote of the Senators
present. Amendments shall be presented
to the Senate in the form of a Senate Bill,
pursuant to SGS §3-4.2(c).
(b) All amendments made to these bylaws
shall not take effect until the close of the
Session in which they were enacted,
unless the approved legislation is enacted
immediately through the suspension of the
bylaws.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

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VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES

APPENDIX A. SAMPLE BILL

(#)st/th Legislative Assembly, (#)st/nd Session

(BB/SB/OB/CB/GB)(Leg. Ass. #).(Session #)-(Docket #)

AN ACT

Short Title: (TEXT)

Primary Sponsor: (NAME)
Secondary Sponsor(s): (NAME)
First Reading: (DATE)
Referred To: (COMMITTEE)
Committee Report: (FAVORABLE/UNFAVORABLE)
Passage: (DATE)
Enacted: (DATE)

Whereas, text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text; and,
Whereas, text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text; and,
Whereas, text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text.

Therefore, be it enacted by the Student Senate of the University of North Carolina at

Charlotte:

SECTION I: (Enacted Clause)

Mandates:

I, (Name), hereby certify that this legislation was considered and adopted by the Student Senate
of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in accordance with the Constitution of the
Student Body and the By-Laws of the Student Senate on this (day) day of (month), (year).

Speaker of the Student Senate

I, (Name), hereby signify my approval of this legislation as adopted by the Student Senate of the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, this (day) day of (month), (year).

Student Body President

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

 19
VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES

APPENDIX B. SAMPLE FINANCE BILL

(#)st/th Legislative Assembly, (#)st/nd Session

FB(Leg. Ass. #).(Session #)-(Docket #)

EVENT GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING PROCEDURES

Short Title: Event Grant and Other Funding Procedures (EGOFP)

Primary Sponsor: (NAME)
Secondary Sponsor(s): (NAME
Passage: (DATE)

The Student Senate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte approves the following
expenditures:

SECTION I: Monies totaling in the amounts listed below and further enumerated in the
attached spreadsheet shall be dispersed to various student organizations:

OPERATIONAL GRANTS: (AMOUNT)

ON-CAMPUS EVENT GRANTS: (AMOUNT)
OFF-CAMPUS EVENT GRANTS: (AMOUNT)
TRAVEL GRANTS: (AMOUNT)
TOTAL: (AMOUNT)

Mandates:

I, (Name), hereby certify that this legislation was considered and adopted by the Student Senate
of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in accordance with the Constitution of the
Student Body and the By-Laws of the Student Senate on this (day) day of (month), (year).

Speaker of the Student Senate

I, (Name), hereby signify my approval of this legislation as adopted by the Student Senate of the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, this (day) day of (month), (year).

Student Body President

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE

APPENDIX C. SAMPLE RESOLUTION

(#)st/th Legislative Assembly, (#)st/nd Session

SR(Leg. Ass. #).(Session #)-(Docket #)

A RESOLUTION

Short Title: (TEXT)

Primary Sponsor: (NAME)
Secondary Sponsor(s): (NAME)
First Reading: (DATE)
Referred To: (COMMITTEE)
Committee Report: (FAVORABLE/UNFAVORABLE)
Passage: (DATE)
Enacted: (DATE)

Whereas, text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text; and,
Whereas, text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text; and,
Whereas, text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text
text text text.

Therefore, be it resolved by the Student Senate of the University of North Carolina at

Charlotte:

SECTION I: (Resolved Clause)

Mandates:

I, (Name), hereby certify that this legislation was considered and adopted by the Student Senate
of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in accordance with the Constitution of the
Student Body and the By-Laws of the Student Senate on this (day) day of (month), (year).

(Name)
Speaker of the Student Senate

I, (Name), hereby signify my approval of this legislation as adopted by the Student Senate of the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, this (day) day of (month), (year).

(Name)
Student Body President

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE

APPENDIX D. SAMPLE PETITION

(#)st/th Legislative Assembly, (#)st/nd Session

SP(Leg. Ass. #).(Session #)-(Docket #)

A PETITION

Short Title: (TEXT)

Primary Sponsor: (NAME)
First Reading: (DATE)
Enacted: (DATE)

The Student Senate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte adopts the following
Petition:

We, the Members of the Student Senate, hereby (text).

Mandates:

SIGNATORIES:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

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VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES

I hereby certify that this Petition was considered by the Student Senate of the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte in accordance with the Constitution of the Student Body and the By-Laws
of the Student Senate on this (day) day of (month), (year).

Office of the Speaker of the Senate

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE

APPENDIX E. SENATE PROXY FORM

SENATE PROXY FORM

I, , hereby signify that the following individual meets

the requirements set forth in the By-Laws of the Student Senate to serve as my proxy, and has
full authority to act on my behalf on the following date:

NAME OF PROXY SIGNATURE OF SENATOR

SIGNATURE OF PROXY DATE PROXY USED (MM/DD/YYYY)

PROXY'S UNC CHARLOTTE 800 # DATE (MM/DD/YYYY)

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

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VOLUME II. THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT STATUTES

APPENDIX F. AMENDMENT FORM

THE STUDENT SENATE
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

AMENDMENT FORM

Name: Date: / /

Leg. #: Short Title:

I hereby move to amend lines through to read as follows:

Signed:

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY: Passed: Y N Initials:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

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CHAPTER THREE. BY-LAWS OF THE STUDENT SENATE

APPENDIX G. VETO OVERRIDE FORM

THE STUDENT SENATE
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

VETO OVERRIDE FORM

Docket Number Senate Vote

Short Title For
Primary Sponsor Against
Secondary Sponsor Abstain

I, , hereby certify that the veto of ___________ was considered and

overridden by the Student Senate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in
accordance with the Constitution of the Student Body and the By-Laws of the Student
Senate on this ______ day of ______, ________.

Speaker Pro Tempore of the Student Senate

Speaker of the Student Senate

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE