Article X. Meeting Policy

Section A.

Meetings shall be open to the public, except when a closed session is called by the President.

Section B.  Initial Meeting of the newly elected Senators

  1. The newly elected Senators may conduct a formal meeting before the end of the school year to discuss and vote on issues which will go into effect at the start of their term. This meeting will be called by the newly elected president after a meeting with the current president.

Section C.

  1. The SJS shall use Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised to govern its meetings.

  2. Attendance Policy

    1. All meetings of the full SJS and all required meetings as listed in SJS By-Laws Article I are mandatory and subject to this policy.

    2. Other full SJS events may be made mandatory by a majority vote of the Executive Council if a minimum of two weeks’ notice is given to all SJS members. If two weeks’ notice is not possible a majority vote of the full SJS is required. The President still has the right to call Special Session meetings when the Senator deems necessary regardless of notice.

    1. Each Chair of a committee has the authority to make committee specific meetings/events mandatory if two weeks’ notice is given. If two weeks’ notice is not possible, a majority vote of the full committee is required.

    2. If a member is unable to attend a scheduled event or meeting, a “Request for Absence” form must be submitted at least ten days prior to the meeting or event. If two weeks’ notice is not given then a “Request for Absence” form must be submitted within 48 hours of the event or meeting being declared mandatory.

    3. The President will have the ultimate authority of approval for absence requests, but the Senator’s ruling may be overturned by a majority vote of the Executive Council. A request for review by the Executive Council must be made within 48 hours of receiving notification of the President’s decision.

    4. The President reserves the right to approve absences submitted less than ten days prior to the meeting or event for unpredictable circumstances.

    5. When leaving an event early or coming late to an event, a Senator must get the approval from the Senator in charge of that event. Failure to do this will result in ½ of an unexcused absence.

    6. All unapproved absences shall be noted to the Chair of that committee and then to the President of the SJS.

    7. The first unexcused absence shall be counted but not acted upon.

    8. The second unexcused absence shall require that member to write a written explanation to the Ethics Committee with the reasons for the absence.

    9. The third, and any subsequent, absence shall merit a meeting of the Ethics Committee if brought forth by any of those listed in Section D.