[300] in UA Senate
Re: 41 UAS 5.4 - ASA Bylaws
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Daniel Hawkins)
Sun Nov 15 14:52:39 2009
Reply-To: hwkns@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: <68a0d55b0911150608v414cc01btb397280b82c941cc@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:52:12 -0500
From: Daniel Hawkins <hwkns@MIT.EDU>
To: Rachel Meyer <remeyer@mit.edu>
Cc: ua-senate@mit.edu
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Isn't it a majority to bring it off the table and 2/3 to pass?
-hwkns
On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 9:08 AM, Rachel Meyer <remeyer@mit.edu> wrote:
> Hey everyone,
> I just wanted to bring this thread up again to see if anyone has any
> additional questions after the last meeting. As you can see from the
> agenda, I plan on trying to bring this off the table and it needs a
> 2/3rds vote to come off the table and a 2/3rds vote to pass.
> -Rachel
>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM, Paul Baranay <pbaranay@mit.edu> wrote:
> > 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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Isn't it a majority to bring it off the table and 2/3 to pass?<br><br>-=
hwkns<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 9:08 AM, Ra=
chel Meyer <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:remeyer@mit.edu">remeyer=
@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, =
204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Hey everyone,<br>
I just wanted to bring this thread up again to see if anyone has any<br>
additional questions after the last meeting. =A0As you can see from the<br>
agenda, I plan on trying to bring this off the table and it needs a<br>
2/3rds vote to come off the table and a 2/3rds vote to pass.<br>
<font color=3D"#888888">-Rachel<br>
</font><div><div></div><div class=3D"h5"><br>
On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM, Paul Baranay <<a href=3D"mailto:pbaranay=
@mit.edu">pbaranay@mit.edu</a>> wrote:<br>
> Tim,<br>
><br>
> The answer to your question is, in short, yes.=A0 Changing the ASA Byl=
aws is<br>
> intentionally made to be difficult, and intentionally requires approva=
l from<br>
> both the UA and the GSC.=A0 This is because the Bylaws are, for the AS=
A, the<br>
> highest and most fundamental document.=A0 They define the basics of wh=
at the<br>
> ASA is and does, and are not intended to change frequently.<br>
> (<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-bylaws.html" target=3D"_b=
lank">http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-bylaws.html</a>)<br>
><br>
> To address matters that are somewhat more fluid, and may need to chang=
e more<br>
> often than the Bylaws, the ASA also has a set of Operating Guidelines.=
=A0 By<br>
> design, these can be changed somewhat more easily than the Bylaws, by =
a 2/3<br>
> vote of the ASA Executive Board; however, the UA and GSC both have an<=
br>
> opportunity to oppose a change to the Operating Guidelines, and force =
the<br>
> amendment to come before the Senate and the GSC for approval.<br>
> (<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-guidelines.html" target=
=3D"_blank">http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-guidelines.html</a>)<br>
><br>
> Finally, the ASA also has a limited number of policies, which can be e=
nacted<br>
> as needed by the Executive Board, but are intended to be fairly limite=
d in<br>
> scope. (<a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-policies.html" tar=
get=3D"_blank">http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/asa-policies.html</a>)<br>
><br>
> You can find much, much more about ASA document structure, policies, a=
nd<br>
> rules on the website: <a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/index.ht=
ml" target=3D"_blank">http://web.mit.edu/asa/rules/index.html</a> and the<b=
r>
> associated subpages should be helpful.=A0 If anything still seems conf=
using<br>
> after reading those pages, please let me know.=A0 I'm constantly o=
n the<br>
> lookout for ways to improve the ASA website, and I'd be eager to h=
ear your<br>
> thoughts on how to make it better.<br>
><br>
> - Paul<br>
> (ASA Secretary)<br>
><br>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 4:37 PM, Tim Jenks <<a href=3D"mailto:trjenk=
s@gmail.com">trjenks@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>><br>
>> I'll preface my comments by saying that I'm not overly fam=
iliar with the<br>
>> innards of the ASA, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any p=
oints, but<br>
>> there are a few issues that I'd at least like more information=
on before<br>
>> voting on the bill.<br>
>><br>
>> If the ASA ever needs to change its bylaws, wouldn't it have t=
o ask Senate<br>
>> and the GSC to amend their bylaws too to get those changes made?=
=A0 This might<br>
>> happen only once in a blue moon, but it still seems unnecessary an=
d<br>
>> excessive.<br>
>><br>
>> Also, the other committees are just enumerated in the Senate Bylaw=
s.<br>
>> There are no other bylaws, mission statements, guidelines on how t=
he<br>
>> committee should be run within the Senate bylaws.=A0 It seems reas=
onable to me<br>
>> that the ASA bylaws should be kept in a different document, and th=
e Senate<br>
>> bylaws should address just the Senate.=A0 But the problem arises b=
ecause the<br>
>> ASA already operates under its current bylaws, and the GSC has alr=
eady<br>
>> approved them, so any changes we made would have to be approved by=
the GSC<br>
>> too...<br>
>><br>
>> --Tim Jenks<br>
>><br>
>> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 9:12 AM, Rachel Meyer <<a href=3D"mailto=
:remeyer@mit.edu">remeyer@mit.edu</a>> wrote:<br>
>>><br>
>>> Hey, one more time...<br>
>>><br>
>>> As I said in my earlier email: =A0I just wanted to start some =
threads about<br>
>>> the<br>
>>> various pieces of legislation I wrote so we can try to get som=
e questions<br>
>>> resolved before tonight. =A0Sorry for not doing this sooner - =
I've been<br>
>>> sick.<br>
>>><br>
>>> This bill is at: <a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/ua/senate/UAS41=
/5/4/.pdf" target=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 e=
xisted and<br>
>>> was<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" targe=
t=3D"_blank">http://mit.edu/asa/rules/pdf/ASA-Bylaws.pdf</a>) and as they a=
ppear in the<br>
>>> GSC<br>
>>> Bylaws (<a href=3D"http://gsc.mit.edu/index.php/about-gsc/cons=
t-bylaw" target=3D"_blank">http://gsc.mit.edu/index.php/about-gsc/const-byl=
aw</a>) require that<br>
>>> the<br>
>>> bylaws are in both the UA and GSC Bylaws since ASA is a joint =
committee<br>
>>> of the<br>
>>> UA and GSC.<br>
>>><br>
>>> Why in the Senate Bylaws?<br>
>>> (which are at:<br>
>>><br>
>>> <a href=3D"http://web.mit.edu/ua/docs/senate/govdocs/Senate%20=
Bylaws%20as%20of%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<br>
>>> appropriate<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 th=
is... I would<br>
>>> guess<br>
>>> that these bylaws may have been viewed as a separate document =
or as being<br>
>>> bylaws of the ASA and ASA being a committee of the UA they wer=
e already<br>
>>> in the<br>
>>> UA bylaws. =A0Whatever the case may be, I think it would be hi=
ghly<br>
>>> beneficial for<br>
>>> these bylaws to be explicitly in one of the 3 main UA governin=
g documents<br>
>>> and<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>
>>> Rachel<br>
>><br>
><br>
><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>
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