House Rules
Updated 09/21/06

Section 1. Oath of Office:

A. All Executives and Senators shall be duly sworn in, by the Dean of Students or his/her designee at the first regularly scheduled Senate meeting, with the following oath: I, , do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President/Vice-President/Business Manager/Senator of the Associated Students of the University of Montana, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the rights and privileges of the students of the University of Montana, and will responsibly undertake all duties necessary to secure these ends.

Section 2. Senate Meetings:

A. Unless the ASUM Constitution or Bylaws dictate otherwise, Senate meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised. The Senate may amend its own rules of parliamentary law by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, and those rules shall become part of the House Rules.

B. In the absence of both the President and the Vice President, the Business Manager shall chair Senate meetings. In the absence of all officers, the Senate shall select a temporary chair from its membership, approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate.

C. All proposed resolutions and motions introduced during "New Business" shall be placed under "Unfinished Business" for the following Senate meeting. Discussion and voting may take place only under "Unfinished Business" unless the Senate suspends the rules by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.

D. Resolutions or motions to support or oppose increses in University of Montana or ASUM student fees shall be held under "Unfinished Business" until the Senate meeting two weeks after its introduction.

E. All approved actions of University Center Board, SPA, and Board on Budget and Finance may be forwarded to the next ASUM Senate meeting as a seconded motion, a seconded motion meaning that a resolution need not be submitted under New Business and after one week be debated under "Unfinished Business."

F. All Senate resolutions introduced as "New Business" must be placed in typewritten form in the Vice President's box before 5 p.m. on the Friday preceding the meeting at which they are to be debated under "Unfinished Business." Resolutions not in compliance with this rule shall be automatically withdrawn.

G. All resolutions introduced under "New Business" shall be referred by the Vice President, acting as committee whip, to the appropriate committee or board. Prior to debate before the full Senate, the committee or board shall give its recommendation either for or against approval, or may elect not to forward a resolution to the Senate.

H. The Vice President shall post, in the ASUM office, a list of all resolutions submitted for consideration at the next ASUM Senate meeting, by 5:00 p.m. of the Monday preceding the meeting. The list shall state the ASUM standing committee to which each resolution has been referred.

I. Quorum shall be defined as two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of Executives and Senators currently holding office. No business may be conducted in the absence of a quorum. This rule may not be suspended.

J. No Executive or Senator may do homework, use a personal phone or leave the Senate meeting prior to adjournment without returning or the consent of the Chair. Violations that occur after one warning will result in an unexcused absence.

K. The final vote on all resolutions voted on by the ASUM Senate requires a roll call vote unless approved by unanimous consent.

Section 3. Impeachment and Removal:

A. Any officer or member of the Senate may be impeached for:

1. breach of duties as stated in the Constitution or Bylaws;

2. failing to attend three regularly scheduled Senate meetings (and/or ASUM committee meetings), per year, without an excuse approved by the chair (Vice President);

3. missing final budgeting without being excused by the Chair;

4. committing any misdemeanor or felony upon conviction in open court;

5. committing any larceny against the University, ASUM, or any subsidiary thereof.

B. A Senator or Officer may introduce a motion of impeachment at any meeting, but impeachment may not be completed at the same meeting. At least one week must elapse between the introduction of the original motion of impeachment and the vote on that action. This rule may not be suspended.

C. No member of the Senate may vote upon their own impeachment.

D. If a motion of impeachment is brought against the chair of the Senate, the President shall preside over the impeachment.

E. Any officer or member of the Senate that may be impeached shall be impeached by a two-thirds (2/3) majority and removed by a majority vote (50% plus one) of 12% of the ASUM membership, as outlined in the Constitution. If a Senator has three unexcused absences from Senate meetings or if a Senator misses final budgeting without being excused by the Chair, then he or she may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate.

ARTICLE II
APPENDIX

Section 1. These House Rules shall supersede and make null all previous House Rules.

Section 2. The Constitution and Bylaws shall supersede these House Rules.

Section 3. In the event that these House Rules or any ASUM operation or procedure conflicts with Montana or U.S. law, they shall be deemed null and void. In the event that ASUM policy or procedure does not clearly specify what action should be taken in a given situation, Montana law may be substituted or used as a guide.

Section 4. These House Rules shall go into effect immediately upon their approval by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate.

Section 5. House Rules are suspendable by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate.

ARTICLE III
DEFINITIONS

"Accountant" means the ASUM Accountant.

"ASUM" means the Associated Students of the University of Montana.

"Business Manager" means the ASUM Business Manager.

"Bylaws" means the ASUM Bylaws.

"Constitution" means the ASUM Constitution.

"Fiscal Policy" means the ASUM Fiscal policy.

"Member" means any activity fee-paying student at the University of Montana.

"Personnel Policy" means the ASUM Personnel Policy.

"President" means the ASUM President.

"Senate" means the ASUM Senate, including the three ASUM Executives.

"Senator" means an ASUM Senator.

"Student" means anyone currently enrolled at the University of Montana.

"Two-thirds (2/3) majority vote" and "two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate" means two or more votes in the affirmative for every one vote in the negative. Thus, when the Bylaws or House Rules require that a motion or resolution needs a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote or a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senate, that motion shall be deemed to have passed if and only if that motion or resolution receives 2 or more votes in the affirmative for every one vote in the negative.

"Vice President" means the ASUM Vice President.