[285] in UA Senate
Re: 41 UAS 5.4 - ASA Bylaws
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Paul Baranay)
Mon Nov 9 19:07:05 2009
In-Reply-To: <a0c7d52e0911091337k5af55ecck7c7c8eb2695f37b4@mail.gmail.com>
From: Paul Baranay <pbaranay@MIT.EDU>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 19:06:40 -0500
To: Tim Jenks <trjenks@gmail.com>
Cc: Rachel Meyer <remeyer@mit.edu>, ua-senate@mit.edu
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Tim,
The answer to your question is, in short, yes. Changing the ASA Bylaws is
intentionally made to be difficult, and intentionally requires approval from
both the UA and the GSC. This is because the Bylaws are, for the ASA, the
highest and most fundamental document. They define the basics of what the
ASA is and does, and are not intended to change frequently. (
http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-bylaws.html)
To address matters that are somewhat more fluid, and may need to change more
often than the Bylaws, the ASA also has a set of Operating Guidelines. By
design, these can be changed somewhat more easily than the Bylaws, by a 2/3
vote of the ASA Executive Board; however, the UA and GSC both have an
opportunity to oppose a change to the Operating Guidelines, and force the
amendment to come before the Senate and the GSC for approval. (
http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-guidelines.html)
Finally, the ASA also has a limited number of policies, which can be enacted
as needed by the Executive Board, but are intended to be fairly limited in
scope. (http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-policies.html)
You can find much, much more about ASA document structure, policies, and
rules on the website: http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/index.html and the
associated subpages should be helpful. If anything still seems confusing
after reading those pages, please let me know. I'm constantly on the
lookout for ways to improve the ASA website, and I'd be eager to hear your
thoughts on how to make it better.
- Paul
(ASA Secretary)
On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 4:37 PM, Tim Jenks <trjenks@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'll preface my comments by saying that I'm not overly familiar with the
> innards of the ASA, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any points, but
> there are a few issues that I'd at least like more information on before
> voting on the bill.
>
> If the ASA ever needs to change its bylaws, wouldn't it have to ask Senate
> and the GSC to amend their bylaws too to get those changes made? This might
> happen only once in a blue moon, but it still seems unnecessary and
> excessive.
>
> Also, the other committees are just enumerated in the Senate Bylaws. There
> are no other bylaws, mission statements, guidelines on how the committee
> should be run within the Senate bylaws. It seems reasonable to me that the
> ASA bylaws should be kept in a different document, and the Senate bylaws
> should address just the Senate. But the problem arises because the ASA
> already operates under its current bylaws, and the GSC has already approved
> them, so any changes we made would have to be approved by the GSC too...
>
> --Tim Jenks
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 9:12 AM, Rachel Meyer <remeyer@mit.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hey, one more time...
>>
>> As I said in my earlier email: I just wanted to start some threads about
>> the
>> various pieces of legislation I wrote so we can try to get some questions
>> resolved before tonight. Sorry for not doing this sooner - I've been
>> sick.
>>
>> This bill is at: http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS41/5/4/.pdf
>>
>> Basically, I think it would be sorta nice if ASA technically existed and
>> was
>> recognized.
>>
>> The ASA Bylaws as posted on the ASA website
>> (http://mit.edu/asa/rules/pdf/ASA-Bylaws.pdf) and as they appear in the
>> GSC
>> Bylaws (http://gsc.mit.edu/index.php/about-gsc/const-bylaw) require that
>> the
>> bylaws are in both the UA and GSC Bylaws since ASA is a joint committee of
>> the
>> UA and GSC.
>>
>> Why in the Senate Bylaws?
>> (which are at:
>>
>> http://web.mit.edu/ua/docs/senate/govdocs/Senate%20Bylaws%20as%20of%20April%2027,%202009.pdf
>> )
>> This is where the committees are enumerated so it seemed like the
>> appropriate
>> place for any further bylaws on committees.
>>
>> Why hasn't this happened previously?
>> I don't have a particularly good or complete answer for this... I would
>> guess
>> that these bylaws may have been viewed as a separate document or as being
>> bylaws of the ASA and ASA being a committee of the UA they were already in
>> the
>> UA bylaws. Whatever the case may be, I think it would be highly
>> beneficial for
>> these bylaws to be explicitly in one of the 3 main UA governing documents
>> and
>> this seems like the most appropriate place.
>>
>>
>> Again, please ask any questions, discuss any concerns, etc.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Rachel
>>
>
>
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Tim,<br><br>The answer to your question is, in short, yes.=A0 Changing the =
ASA Bylaws is intentionally made to be difficult, and intentionally require=
s approval from both the UA and the GSC.=A0 This is because the Bylaws are,=
for the ASA, the highest and most fundamental document.=A0 They define the=
basics of what the ASA is and does, and are not intended to change frequen=
tly. (<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-bylaws.html">http://web.m=
it.edu/asa/rules/asa-bylaws.html</a>)<br>
<br>To address matters that are somewhat more fluid, and may need to change=
more often than the Bylaws, the ASA also has a set of Operating Guidelines=
.=A0 By design, these can be changed somewhat more easily than the Bylaws, =
by a 2/3 vote of the ASA Executive Board; however, the UA and GSC both have=
an opportunity to oppose a change to the Operating Guidelines, and force t=
he amendment to come before the Senate and the GSC for approval.=A0 (<a hre=
f=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-guidelines.html">http://web.mit.edu/a=
sa/rules/asa-guidelines.html</a>)<br>
<br>Finally, the ASA also has a limited number of policies, which can be en=
acted as needed by the Executive Board, but are intended to be fairly limit=
ed in scope. (<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-policies.html">ht=
tp://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-policies.html</a>)<br>
<br>You can find much, much more about ASA document structure, policies, an=
d rules on the website: <a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/index.html"=
>http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/index.html</a> and the associated subpages sh=
ould be helpful.=A0 If anything still seems confusing after reading those p=
ages, please let me know.=A0 I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to =
improve the ASA website, and I'd be eager to hear your thoughts on how =
to make it better.<br>
<br>- Paul<br>(ASA Secretary)<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">
On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 4:37 PM, Tim Jenks <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"=
mailto:trjenks@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">trjenks@gmail.com</a>></span=
> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px sol=
id rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I'll preface my comments by saying that I'm not overly familiar wit=
h the innards of the ASA, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any poin=
ts, but there are a few issues that I'd at least like more information =
on before voting on the bill.<br>
<br>If the ASA ever needs to change its bylaws, wouldn't it have to ask=
Senate and the GSC to amend their bylaws too to get those changes made?=A0=
This might happen only once in a blue moon, but it still seems unnecessary=
and excessive.<br>
<br>Also, the other committees are just enumerated in the Senate Bylaws.=A0=
There are no other bylaws, mission statements, guidelines on how the commi=
ttee should be run within the Senate bylaws.=A0 It seems reasonable to me t=
hat the ASA bylaws should be kept in a different document, and the Senate b=
ylaws should address just the Senate.=A0 But the problem arises because the=
ASA already operates under its current bylaws, and the GSC has already app=
roved them, so any changes we made would have to be approved by the GSC too=
...<br>
<font color=3D"#888888">
<br>--Tim Jenks</font><div><div></div><div><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quot=
e">
On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 9:12 AM, Rachel Meyer <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=
=3D"mailto:remeyer@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">remeyer@mit.edu</a>></span=
> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px sol=
id rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hey, one more time...<br>
<br>
As I said in my earlier email: =A0I just wanted to start some threads about=
the<br>
various pieces of legislation I wrote so we can try to get some questions<b=
r>
resolved before tonight. =A0Sorry for not doing this sooner - I've been=
sick.<br>
<br>
This bill is at: <a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS41/5/4/.pdf" ta=
rget=3D"_blank">http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS41/5/4/.pdf</a><br>
<br>
Basically, I think it would be sorta nice if ASA technically existed and wa=
s<br>
recognized.<br>
<br>
The ASA Bylaws as posted on the ASA website<br>
(<a href=3D"http://mit.edu/asa/rules/pdf/ASA-Bylaws.pdf" target=3D"_blank">=
http://mit.edu/asa/rules/pdf/ASA-Bylaws.pdf</a>) and as they appear in the =
GSC<br>
Bylaws (<a href=3D"http://gsc.mit.edu/index.php/about-gsc/const-bylaw" targ=
et=3D"_blank">http://gsc.mit.edu/index.php/about-gsc/const-bylaw</a>) requi=
re that the<br>
bylaws are in both the UA and GSC Bylaws since ASA is a joint committee of =
the<br>
UA and GSC.<br>
<br>
Why in the Senate Bylaws?<br>
(which are at:<br>
<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/ua/docs/senate/govdocs/Senate%20Bylaws%20as%2=
0of%20April%2027,%202009.pdf" target=3D"_blank">http://web.mit.edu/ua/docs/=
senate/govdocs/Senate%20Bylaws%20as%20of%20April%2027,%202009.pdf</a>)<br>
This is where the committees are enumerated so it seemed like the appropria=
te<br>
place for any further bylaws on committees.<br>
<br>
Why hasn't this happened previously?<br>
I don't have a particularly good or complete answer for this... I would=
guess<br>
that these bylaws may have been viewed as a separate document or as being<b=
r>
bylaws of the ASA and ASA being a committee of the UA they were already in =
the<br>
UA bylaws. =A0Whatever the case may be, I think it would be highly benefici=
al for<br>
these bylaws to be explicitly in one of the 3 main UA governing documents a=
nd<br>
this seems like the most appropriate place.<br>
<br>
<br>
Again, please ask any questions, discuss any concerns, etc.<br>
<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<font color=3D"#888888">Rachel<br>
</font></blockquote></div><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>
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