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2009-2010 Bills & Resolutions

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Below are the 2009-2010 Bills & Resolutions. To download entire document, click "view."

Bills

Resolutions

Past Bills & Resolutions

More Info on Bills & Resolutions

How To Write a Bill or Resolution

  1. Most important, click HERE for a template to help you get started writing bills and resolutions.
  2. Identify something that you would like to improve for your constituents.
  3. RESEARCH! Make sure what you want to do is feasible and is not already a policy or procedure in your college or residential area.
  4. Talk to people that will be able to give you insight into what you would like to change. Don’t be afraid to contact administrators or officials.
  5. Title your bill/resolution.
  6. Insert your name, district, and email address into your bill/resolution.
  7. Insert the date of the presentation.
  8. State facts regarding existing conditions. You will begin each statement with “Whereas.” These statements should lead you to your bill/resolution’s proposition.
  9. The elements of your bill/resolution should be stated next. You should begin each proposition with “Be it Hereby Resolved.”
  10. Also, don't forget bill/resolutions are due by 5:00pm the Friday before the Senate meeting you wish to present your bill. Please email your document to Mary at sgastaff@utk.edu.

How To Present a Bill or Resolution

  1. The Senate Chair will call for you to present your bill.
  2. You will present your bill by briefly summarizing what you feel should be addressed and how you would like to improve the situation. Senators will also be able to ask Technical Questions after your presentation.
  3. You should be prepared to give STATISTICS and JUSTIFICATION for your idea to the rest of the voting body.
  4. The vote on the bill will be taken at the next general meeting. Technical questions and debate will take place at this meeting as well. The week between presentation and voting is designed in order for all voting members and the student body will have an opportunity to review the bill on-line and ask questions of the sponsor through email.
  5. At the meeting where your legislation comes up for discussion, the following steps will occur:
  • You will present your legislation.
  • The floor will open for technical questions (WHICH MUST BE ANSWERED WITH YES, NO, A STATISTIC, or a NUMERICAL VALUE.)
  • The floor will open for debate, which will follow a pro-con-pro format.
  • As debate nears a close, a senator should call for Previous Question.
  • At the end of debate, a vote will be taken with senators voting yes or no. Senators may also choose to abstain (which means that you vote neither yes nor no)

Important Voting Terms

  • Technical Questions - The opportunity for senators to ask questions regarding a bill that is being presented Technical Questions can only be answered with Yes, No, or a statistic or numerical value.
  • Debate - The opportunity to present your opinion regarding a bill being presented.
  • Previous Question - A call by a senator to end debate and/or technical questions. A call for Previous Question must be voted upon by the representative body and passed before a vote is taken.
  • Point of Information - A call by an individual to make a factual statement or ask a question of the body as a whole. This information should be neither debate nor a technical question.
  • Abstentions - A decision by a senator to vote neither yes nor no on a piece of legislation or activity on the floor. General Terms:
  • Table a Bill - A call by an individual to temporarily suspend consideration on an issue.
  • Yield the Floor - A call by a voting member of the body to let a non-voting member speak for him/her on his/her behalf.
  • Proxy - An individual who votes and speaks on behalf of an absent voting representative. Senators who cannot attend meetings for some reason are strongly encouraged to send a proxy from your residential or academic area.
  • Friendly Amendment - An addition or deletion intended to improve either your bill’s merit or feasibility. After the friendly amendment is proposed, the presenting senator may choose to either accept the amendment if they deem it qualified or reject it if they feel the amendment is not qualified. If the senator accepts the amendment, the change is made immediately and is not subject to vote. If the senator rejects the amendment, the individual proposing it may call for an unfriendly amendment. At this point, the Senate Chair will call for Technical Questions, Debate, and a Vote on the amendment. If passed, the amendment is added. If rejected, the amendment is not added. After the amendment is either added or rejected, the bill will then be subjected to Technical Questions, Debate, and a Vote as Normal.

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For More Info Contact:

Sarah Patterson
Senate Chair
315E University Center
865-974-2377
sgasenate@utk.edu