University Senate Orientation

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University SenateOrientation

• 2011-2012
• http//www.und.edu/dept/registrar/senate/index.htm
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Sturgis 4th Edition
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Senate Responsibilities

• Assemble to transact important business (exercise
  the powers of the University Council)
• Consider current developments affecting the
  University
• Exchange ideas and experiences
• Work in community with those who share a common
  interest
• Exercise good judgment and vote wisely for the
  good of . . .

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Senator Duties

• First duty of each Senator is to vote for what
  the Senator believes is the best for the
  University as a whole
• Second duty is to vote for what is best for the
  particular college he or she represents
• Please remember to state your name when
  addressing the Senate

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Committees

• Perform the bulk of the work of the Senate
• Are delegated to perform specified tasks on
  behalf of the Senate
• Can formulate Reports, Proposals, and Motions . .
  .
• But, the final decision rests with the entire
  Senate

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Advantages of Using Committees

• Greater freedom of discussion
• More time available for discussion
• Informal procedure for discussion
• Better use of experts and consultants
• Delicate and troublesome questions may be
  addressed and settled without rancor
• Hearings (forums) can be held to give Senators
  opportunities to freely express their opinions
• Provide the means for faculty to self-govern

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Senate Responsibilities to the Committees

• Senators must do their homework
• Attend forums and voice an opinion
• Read the agenda and attachments
• Weigh the pros and cons of an issue
• Be prepared to vote
• Be prepared to make motions if needed
• (preferably in writing)
• Avoid micro-management, but provide general
  oversight and direction

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Committee Responsibilities to the Senate

• Report to the Senate
• Each committee will provide a short, written
  and/or oral report of its activities once each
  year or as required.
• Method and date is part of the committee
  description and included on the list of
  committees.

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Committees and Motions

• A committee report is presented by the chair or a
  designee
• Recommendations of the committee can be presented
  in the form of a motion
• The committee chair makes the motion and moves
  adoption
• A motion submitted by a committee DOES NOT
  require a second
• The motion from a committee is considered and
  acted upon as any other main motion

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A Few of the Standing Rules of the University
Senate

• Committee chairs who are not members of the
  Senate may present their committee reports
• Visitors speak only with the consent of the
  Senate
• Members should not speak for longer than 2
  consecutive minutes w/o Senate approval

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Speaking Protocol

• Raise your hand if you wish to be recognized to
  speak to a motion, an issue or to raise a
  question.
• When you are recognized, stand, state your name,
  and address the members of the senate.
• Use your classroom voice so we all can hear you!

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Motions

• Purpose to bring a proposal before the Senate
  for discussion and decision
• One subject at a time!
• only one main motion at a time

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Discussion or Amendmentsmust be GERMANE

• Meaning that they must be relevant to
• and
• have a direct bearing upon
• the subject of the pending motion

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Main Motions

• No motion may be ignored
• (unless it is out of order)
• Motions must be acted upon - approved
• - defeated
• - withdrawn
• - referred (back to a committee)
• - postponed (tabled)

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Main Motions

• may be amended
• Amended Motions
• may be amended

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Why amend a motion?

• In order to modify a motion so that it will
  better express the will of the Senate.

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Four Types of Amendments

• 1. Amendment by addition (insertion)
• I move to amend the motion by inserting the word
  three before the word delegates.
• The University Senate will send three delegates
  to the Staff Senate and Deans Council.

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Four Types of Amendments

• 2. Amendment by deletion (striking out)
• I move to amend the motion by striking out the
  words and Deans Council.
• The University Senate will send three delegates
  to the Staff Senate and Deans Council.

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Four Types of Amendments

• 3. Amendment by striking out and inserting.
• I move to amend the motion by striking out the
  word delegates and inserting in its place the
  word representatives.
• The University Senate will send three delegates
  representatives to the Staff Senate.

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Four Types of Amendments

• 4. Amendment by substitution
• I move to amend the motion by substituting for
  it the following motion The University Senate
  will send a letter to the Staff Senate
  expressing its interest in having representatives
  from the University Senate included as a part of
  the Staff Senate.
• The University Senate will send three
  representatives to the Staff Senate.

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Amendments may be Hostile

• May nullify or change completely the effect of
  the motion
• I move to amend the motion by striking out the
  word condemns and inserting in its place the
  word endorses
• The University Senate condemns endorses the
  delegations position.

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Voting

• Sometimes votes are recorded sometimes not.
• In general, votes taken during the Consent
  Calendar portion of the meeting are not recorded.
• Votes taken during the Business Calendar are
  recorded.

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Voting on Motions

• In reverse order
• 1. Amendments to Amendments
• 2. Amendments
• 3. Main Motion

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Tabling a MotionPostponing Temporarily

• To an undetermined time
• (presumably at the same
  meeting)
• Not debatable
• Requires a second
• Requires a majority vote
• (2/3 majority vote when it suppresses debate)
• Assembly can resume consideration at any time
  with a motion to do so

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Tabling a MotionPostponing To A Certain Time

• Not really tabling a motion
• Simply creating a new agenda item for a future
  meeting

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Calling the Question(Not the proper
approachaccording to Sturgis)

• Correct way is to move to
• close debate

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Motion to Close Debate(Calling the Question)

• Not Debatable
• Requires a second
• Requires a majority vote
• (2/3 majority vote when it suppresses debate)
• However, a lull in discussion can be taken by the
  chair as an indication to proceed to a vote

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Closing Debate

• If approved by a 2/3 majority, it . . .
• prevents further debate
• prevents further amendments
• prevents further motions
• except for postponing temporarily
• If this is the case, when consideration is
  resumed, the motion comes to an immediate vote.

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Friendly Amendments

• A member proposes an amendment to a motion that
  he/she feels would be acceptable to the maker of
  a motion
• Maker may accept the friendly amendment
• However, if the maker or another member objects,
• the friendly amendment would need a second,
  and would be voted upon as any other amendment

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Adjournment

• 530
• Unless someone moves to adjourn at an earlier
  time, or unless someone moves to adjourn at a
  specified later time.
• Courtesy dictates that if someone is talking at
  530, they are permitted to finish their
  comments, at which time the meeting is adjourned
  if no one immediately moves to extend the time.

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Adjournment

• If there is a lull in discussion or the agenda
• is completed, the Chair can simply
• declare the meeting adjourned
• or ask for a motion to do so.
• Anyone can move to adjourn
• Not debatable
• Requires a second
• Requires a majority vote