Bylaws of the Academic Senate

Part I. - Membership, Authority and Organization

Title I. Membership and Authority of the Academic Senate

The following abbreviations are used in the Bylaws of the Academic Senate:

• Am = Amended
• CC = Conforming Change
• EC = Editorial Change
• En = Enacted
• Rp = Repealed

5. Membership and Authority

The membership, duties, powers, and privileges of the Academic Senate are defined by the Standing Orders of The Regents of the University of California. Relevant portions of these Standing Orders are contained in Appendix I , which is declared an integral part of these Bylaws. [See Legislative Ruling 4.84 ]

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Title II. Officers (Am 12 May 2004; Am 09, May 2007)

• 10. President and Vice President

  The President of the University is ex officio President of the Academic Senate and a member of the Assembly of each Division and Faculty. The Chair of the Assembly is ex officio Vice President of the Academic Senate. [See Bylaw 110 ]

• 15. Secretary/Parliamentarian

  The Academic Council shall appoint a Secretary/Parliamentarian of the Senate, subject to ratification by the Assembly, for a three-year term. The Secretary/Parliamentarian receives petitions of students or other materials for presentation to the Assembly, transmits them to the Assembly Chair who may refer them to an appropriate committee. (EC 18 Nov 68; Am 5 May 88; Am 12 May 2004)

• 16. Executive Director [En 09 May 2007]

  1. Upon recommendation of the Academic Council and in accordance with policies and procedures , the President of the Academic Senate (see Senate Bylaw 10 ) shall appoint an Executive Director of the Academic Senate and is responsible only for the terms and conditions of employment. With respect to duties, the Executive Director shall report to and shall receive general direction from the Chair of the Assembly, with guidance and input from the Academic Council as necessary.
  2. The Executive Director, as a non-Senate officer of the Academic Senate, among other duties, shall serve as chief of staff for the Academic Senate and as policy advisor to the officers of the Assembly.

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Title III. Organization of the Academic Senate

• 20. Functions of the Academic Senate

  The functions of the Academic Senate are exercised by the following agencies and their committees:

  1. The Assembly of the Academic Senate [see beginning with Bylaw 105 ]
  2. The Academic Council [see Bylaw 125 ] (En 12 May 2004)
  3. Standing and Special Committees of the Assembly [see beginning with Bylaw 128 ] (Am 12 May 2004)
  4. Divisions of the Academic Senate [see beginning with Bylaw 305 ] (Am 12 May 2004)
  5. Standing and Special Committees of the Divisions [see beginning with Bylaw 320 ] (Am 12 May 2004)
  6. Faculties of Divisions [see beginning with Bylaw 45 ] (Am 12 May 2004)

  The functions of these committees are such as are assigned by these Bylaws or by the agency to which they directly report. Except as may be specifically authorized in the legislation by which it is established, no agency or committee of the Academic Senate may redelegate any authority of the Academic Senate vested in it to a subcommittee or any other agency.(Am 13 May 97)

• 25. The Legislative Assemblies

  The legislative agencies of the Academic Senate are the Assembly, the Divisions, and assemblies of those Divisions whose Bylaws provide for a legislative assembly.

• 30. Commencement of Terms of Office

  1. Unless otherwise specified, in these Bylaws or in the relevant Divisional Bylaws, the term of office of each person elected to serve in a Senate agency shall begin on September first following election. The length of term shall be determined by the appropriate Senate agency. (Am 12 May 2004)
  2. Initial elections in a newly established legislative agency of the Senate shall occur as soon as possible, and each person elected shall assume office immediately. If at the time of the election the unexpired term of such office is less than four months, the incumbent shall remain in the office until the end of the following term.

• 32. Meetings of Senate Agencies (En 12 May 2004)

  Unless otherwise stated in the Systemwide or Divisional Bylaws, a meeting of any Senate agency may take place either in person or electronically. Except for mail or electronic votes of the full academic Senate or of a Division, which are governed by Senate Bylaws 95 and 340, all votes of senate agencies require the participation of a quorum of the voting members.

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Title IV. Committees

• 35. Membership of Committees

  1. Types of Membership. Committees may be composed of appointed, elected, or ex officio members, or any combination thereof.
  2. Terms of Service. Unless otherwise specified,in these Bylaws or the relevant Divisional Bylaws, members of Standing Committees shall serve two-year terms, where feasible staggered, beginning on September first following their appointment. (Am 28 May 2003; Am 12 May 2004)
  3. Voting and Other Rights
     1. The Vice Chair, if any, shall perform the duties of the Chair in case of temporary absence or disability of the Chair, and such other duties as the committee concerned may determine. (Am 15 Jun 70)
     2. Only members of the Academic Senate may vote in Senate agencies and their committees when those agencies or committees are taking final action on any matter for the Academic Senate, or giving advice to University officers or other non-Senate agencies in the name of the Senate. Persons other than Senate members may be given the right to vote on other questions, such as those that involve only recommendations to other Senate agencies, but only by explicit Bylaw provisions. [See Legislative Ruling 12.75 ]
     3. Except for the provision of Article C.2 of this Bylaw, ex officio members have the same powers as other members unless otherwise specified.

  4. Method of Appointment

     1. Unless otherwise specified, the appropriate Committee on Committees shall select the appointed members of each committee.
     2. Except as provided elsewhere in these Bylaws, the appropriate Committee on Committees shall appoint the Chair and Vice Chair, if any, of each committee.
     3. The Chair and Vice Chair, if any, of any Standing or Special Committee must be members of the Academic Senate.
     4. At the discretion of the appointing agency, a member of a committee temporarily not on duty may be replaced until that regular member returns.
     5. A systemwide Senate agency may by a two-thirds vote, revoke any appointment it has previously made. Prior to revoking an appointment, the agency shall give notice to the appointee, including reasons for the proposed revocation, and provide the appointee with an opportunity to respond. (En 12 May 2004) {See Legislative Ruling 3.06B}
  5. Tenure of Special Committees. A special committee shall serve only until the first meeting of the establishing agency in the ensuing fall term unless:
     1. A definite term is specified;
     2. Its authorization occurs after the first day March, in which case it shall continue for one year beyond the normal expiration date; (Am 12 May 2004)
     3. It is continued by action of the establishing agency. (Am 15 Jun 71)

• 40. Authority of Committees [See Legislative Ruling 8.95-B ]

  1. Any agency or committee listed in Bylaw 20 or 25 may report to any agency or committee therein listed, and may be asked by the Assembly, a Division, or a Faculty to describe its procedures and policies.
  2. Any committee may submit reports and recommendations to the Assembly on appropriate matters. Divisional committees, including Faculties, are responsible to and normally shall report to their respective Divisions. Universitywide Committees of the Senate shall report in writing to the Assembly, and not less than annually. (Am 28 May 2003)
  3. Each committee is responsible to the agency establishing it and must report its actions to that agency. When a committee makes recommendations or renders advice to the President or to a Chancellor, as provided in these Bylaws or relevant Divisional Bylaws, it shall report its recommendations to the establishing agency when this action is consistent with its charge and does not violate confidence. When a Special or Standing Committee of the Assembly formally advises the President it shall convey its advice through the Academic Council. (Am 28 May 2003; Am 12 May 2004)
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Title V. Faculties

• 45. Membership

  In accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw, the membership of each Faculty is defined by the bylaws of the Division to which it is responsible, or by the Bylaws of the Senate for those Faculties directly responsible to the Assembly. Membership in a Faculty is limited to the following Senate members:

  1. The President of the University;
  2. The Chancellor;
  3. The chief academic administrative officer of the school or college; (Am 12 May 2004)
  4. All members of the Academic Senate who are members of departments assigned to that school or college (Academic Senate members who have retired and transferred to emeritus/a status retain departmental membership.); (Am 4 May 89)
  5. Such other Senate members as are specified in Divisional Bylaws or these Bylaws.

  Only voting members of the Senate may vote in Faculties of which they are members.

• 50. Authority

  1. Source of Authority. The government of each college and school is vested in its Faculty, except as limited by the authority of the Divisional Graduate Council and the Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs. Each Faculty is directly responsible to the Division of which it is a committee. The Division or the Assembly may impose specific duties on a Faculty. (Am Feb 2015)
  2. Organization. Except as otherwise provided, each Faculty may organize, select its officers and committees, and adopt rules consistent with the Code of the Academic Senate (see Bylaw 80). Each Faculty may delegate portions of its authority to its committees or executive officers
  3. Officers and Executive Committee. Each Faculty shall elect the Chair of the Faculty and members of its Executive Committee. The chief academic administrative officer of the college or school shall be an ex officio member of the Executive Committee but may not serve as Chair of the Faculty or the Executive Committee. (EC Jun 77; Am 28 Feb 01; Am 12 May 2004)
  4. Reporting Authority. Each Faculty may present to the agency to which it is directly responsible recommendations and proposed modifications of legislation of that agency or the Senate.

• 51. Curricular Authority

  [Protected -- see Bylaw 116.E] No change in the curriculum of any college or school shall be made by any legislative agency of the Academic Senate until the proposed change has been submitted to the formal consideration of the Faculty concerned.

  Neither this Bylaw as a whole nor any part of it shall be added to, amended, or repealed except by action of the Assembly as specified in Bylaw 116.E , and ratified by two-thirds of the votes cast in a mail ballot of the voting members of the Academic Senate.

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Title VI. Rights and Authority of Senate Members

• 55. Departmental Voting Rights

  1. General Provisions
     1. According to the Standing Orders of the Regents, ". . . the several departments of the University, with the approval of the President, shall determine their own form of administrative organization . . ." No department shall be organized in a way that would deny to any of its non-emeritae/i faculty who are voting members of the Academic Senate, as specified in Standing Order 105.l(a), the right to vote on substantial departmental questions, excepting only certain personnel actions as detailed in Article B of this Bylaw. [See Legislative Ruling 5.67 ] (Am 4 May 95)
     2. In all matters other than those specified in paragraphs 1 to 5 of Article B of this Bylaw, the right to vote may be delegated to duly elected committees.
  2. Designation of Voting Rights
     1. All tenured faculty in a department have the right to vote on all new departmental appointments that confer membership in the Academic Senate. Prior to such a vote, all the non-emeritae/i departmental members of the Academic Senate must be afforded an opportunity to make their opinions known to the voters. (Am 4 May 95)
     2. Professors have the right to vote on all cases of promotion to the ranks of Professor, Professor-in-Residence, and Professor of Clinical (e.g. Medicine). Professors and Senior Lecturers with Security of Employment (SOE) have the right to vote on all cases of appointment or promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer (SOE). (Am 5 May 88)
     3. Professors and Associate Professors have the right to vote on all cases of promotion to the ranks of Associate Professor, Associate Professor-in-Residence, and Associate Professor of Clinical (e.g. Medicine). Professors, Associate Professors, Senior Lecturers (SOE) and Lecturers (SOE) have the right to vote on all cases of appointment to the rank of Lecturer (SOE). (Am 5 May 88)
     4. For voting purposes, all cases that involve the removal of the Acting modifier from the title of a member of the Academic Senate shall be treated as promotions to the rank in question.
     5. All cases of nonreappointments or terminations of Assistant Professors, Assistant Professors-in-Residence, and Assistant Professors of Clinical (e.g. Medicine), or Lecturers and Senior Lecturers, shall be voted upon by those faculty eligible to vote on promotions to the ranks of Associate Professor, Associate Professor-in-Residence, Associate Professor of Clinical (e.g. Medicine), or appointments to the titles Lecturer (SOE) and Senior Lecturer (SOE), respectively. (Am 5 May 88)
     6. All cases of advancement within any rank that confers membership in the Academic Senate shall be voted upon by those persons entitled to vote on promotion or nonreappointment to the rank in question under the provisions of Paragraphs 2 to 5 of this Article B. (En 4 May 1995)
     7. In none of the instances specified in Paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article B may the right to vote be delegated to a committee. The actual method of voting shall be determined by the eligible voters; subject, however, to the provision that no voter may be denied the option to require a secret ballot. In cases of advancement within rank, the eligible voters for each rank in question shall either follow the same procedures used for promotions and non-reappointment or may, by two thirds majority vote and subject to the approval of the divisional Committee on Academic Personnel or its equivalent, delegate the authority for such actions to a duly elected committee or other agency, or adopt some other method acceptable to the divisional Committee on Academic Personnel or its equivalent. Any such method or delegation of authority shall remain in effect for at least one calendar year (twelve months). Thereafter, upon the request of any faculty member entitled to a vote on the cases in question under the provisions of Paragraph 6 of this Article B, the eligible voters shall reconsider the question of how such cases shall be handled. (Am 4 May 1995)
     8. The tenured faculty members of a department shall establish the method by which personnel matters other than those listed in Paragraphs 1 to 6 of this Article B are determined. The method adopted must have the approval of the divisional Committee on Academic Personnel or its equivalent.
  3. Extension of Voting Privileges to non-Emeritae/i Faculty

     Voting privileges on personnel matters within any department may be extended to one or more of the classes of non-Emeritae/i Academic Senate members of that department, as a class, who are not otherwise entitled to vote under the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Article B of this Bylaw, upon at least a two-thirds majority vote by secret ballot of those faculty entitled to vote on the cases in question under the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Article B of this Bylaw. Any extensions of the voting privilege under this Article C must remain in effect for at least one calendar year (twelve months); thereafter, any faculty member entitled to a vote on the cases in question under the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Article B of this Bylaw may request reconsideration. Following a request for reconsideration, and prior to any subsequent vote on the cases in question, the Chair or other appropriate departmental officer shall put the question of renewal of privileges to a vote. An extension of voting privileges will be renewed only upon at least a two-thirds majority vote by secret ballot of those faculty entitled to vote on the cases in question under the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Article B of this Bylaw. (Am 4 May 95)[See Legislative Ruling 5.67 ]

  4. Rights and Privileges of Emeritae/i Faculty (En 4 May 95)
     1. Emeritae/i members of the Academic Senate retain membership in the departments to which they belonged at the time of their retirement. They do not have the right to vote on departmental matters, except as provided in this Article D.
     2. With the exception of personnel actions, Emeritae/i members of the department have the right to receive the same notice of meetings as other Academic Senate members. They have the right of access to materials relevant to those meetings, the privilege of the floor at those meetings, and the right to make their opinions known to the voting members.
     3. Emeritae/i, while recalled to service in a department from which they have retired, regain voting rights on all departmental matters, except personnel matters, during the period of such service. They may be accorded voting privileges on personnel matters only as a class consisting of all recalled Emeritae/i and only as specified in paragraph 4.c of this Article D.
     4. Additional privileges in a department from which they have retired may be extended, either to all Emeritae/i as a class of the whole, or to all Emeritae/i recalled to active service, during the period of such service, as follows.
        1. Voting privileges on all non-personnel matters may be extended to all Emeritae/i upon a majority vote by secret ballot of the total non-Emeritae/i Academic Senate membership of that department.
        2. The privilege of notice of meeting on personnel actions, access to materials, and/or privilege of the floor may be extended to Emeritae/i upon at least a two-thirds majority vote by secret ballot of those faculty entitled to vote on the cases in question under the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Article B of this Bylaw.
        3. Voting privileges on personnel matters may be extended to Emeritae/i upon at least a two-thirds majority vote by secret ballot of those faculty entitled to vote on the cases in question under the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 6 of Article B of this Bylaw.
           1. Any extensions of privilege to Emeritae/i under paragraph 4 of this Article D must remain in effect for at least one calendar year (twelve months); thereafter, any faculty member entitled to a vote on the question of an extension of privilege under the provisions of paragraph 4 of this Article D may request reconsideration. Following a request for reconsideration, and prior to any subsequent vote on the cases in question, the Chair or other appropriate departmental officer shall put the question of renewal of privileges to a vote. An extension of privilege will be renewed only under the procedures specified for the initial extension of voting privileges by paragraph 4 of this Article D.
              1. Other Units. In Divisions or schools or colleges where the term "department" is not used, this Bylaw refers to those units from which academic appointments and promotions are recommended to administrative officers. (Am 2 Dec 81)

• 60. Privilege of the Floor

  Any Senate member may attend and speak at any meeting of the Assembly and any meeting of any Division. [See Bylaw 315.E ]

• 65. Appeals

  Any ten members of the Academic Senate may appeal a curricular decision by a Universitywide Senate Committee empowered to act without subsequent Assembly approval. Except as provided in Senate Bylaw 206.C, such appeal must be filed in writing with the Academic Council within thirty calendar days after the decision. If the Council is unable to effect a settlement, it shall recommend appropriate action to the Assembly. Appeals from the decisions of a Divisional Committee shall be handled as provided in the Divisional Bylaws. (Am 23 May 96)

• 70. Challenges

  Any ten members of the Academic Senate may challenge any action of a Universitywide committee alleged to be contrary to the Code of the Academic Senate . Any ten members of a Division, or such greater number as the Divisional Bylaws may specify, may challenge the actions of a Divisional Committee. Such challenges shall be governed by the provisions of Senate Bylaw 206.B . No challenges can be made to findings on the merits of a particular case by a Committee on Privilege and Tenure or a Divisional Committee on Academic Personnel or its equivalent. (Am 23 May 96)

• 75. Petition for Reconsideration and Referendum
  [Protected -- see Bylaw 116.E ]

  1. Upon petition by twenty-five members of the Academic Senate, or by a Division, the Assembly shall reconsider any specific piece of legislation or decision. Such petitions must be submitted not later than twenty-one days [see Bylaw 120.B.2] after the minutes of the Assembly reporting such legislation or decision have been placed in the mail. The President of the Senate may request that the Assembly reconsider any specific piece of legislation or decision. (Am 5 Dec 78)
  2. The Secretary/Parliamentarian of the Academic Senate shall conduct a referendum by mail ballot of the entire Senate membership on any specific action of the Assembly if such a referendum is requested:
     1. by a Division, or
     2. following reconsideration and reaffirmation of an action upon petition under Bylaw 75.A, by a petition signed by fifty members of the Academic Senate. (Am 5 May 88)

     The results of such a mail ballot referendum shall be deemed conclusive. The Assembly may not reconsider such action for a period of two years unless authorized to do so by a subsequent referendum on the same subject. Such a second referendum may be initiated by a Division or by petition of fifty members of the Academic Senate. The same time interval shall apply for submitting requests or petitions for referenda as for requests or petitions for reconsideration. The Secretary/Parliamentarian shall circulate with the mail ballot a statement of the reasons for affirming the Assembly's action, to be furnished by the Chair of the Assembly, and a statement of the reasons for reversing the Assembly's action, to be furnished by the initiator of the petition or by the Chair of the Division requesting the referendum. (Am 5 May 88)

     A special meeting of a Division may be called for the purpose of considering a request for a referendum on an Assembly action, or for the purpose of discussing the subject matter of an announced referendum, upon written request of ten members of the Division to the Divisional Secretary.

  3. Neither this Bylaw as a whole nor any part of it shall be added to, amended, or repealed except by action of the Assembly as specified in Bylaw 116.E , and ratified by two-thirds of the votes cast in a mail ballot of the voting members of the Academic Senate.
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Title VII. Code of the Academic Senate

• 80. The Code of the Academic Senate comprises the Manual of the Academic Senate and the manuals of its Divisions.

  1. The Manual of the Academic Senate includes:
     1. The Bylaws of the Academic Senate;
     2. Regulations enacted by the Assembly;
     3. Bylaws of Faculties directly responsible to the Assembly;
     4. Appendix I, containing those Standing Orders of The Regents of primary concern to the Senate;
     5. Appendix II, containing those Legislative Rulings issued by the University Committee on Rules and Jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of Bylaw 206 ;
     6. Appendix III, containing all Assembly approved variances to Senate Regulations in accordance with the provisions of Bylaw 206;
     7. Appendix IV, containing University policy on faculty conduct and the administration of discipline;
     8. Appendix V, containing the legislative record of all Assembly legislative and non-legislative actions. (En 12 May 2004)
     9. Appendix VI, a glossary containing definitions of terms used in the Code of the Academic Senate. (En 12 May 2004)
     10. (Previously 8) Such other appendices as the Assembly may direct. (Am 12 May 2004)
  2. Divisional Manuals shall include:
     1. Bylaws of the Division;
     2. Regulations enacted by the Division;
     3. Those regulations enacted by the Assembly specified by the Division for inclusion in its Divisional Manual. (Each such Regulation must, immediately following its Divisional number, carry in parenthesis the designation "SR" prefixed to its Universitywide number); (EC 18 Nov 68)
     4. Appendices specified by the Division;
     5. Bylaws of Faculties and Councils directly responsible to the Division.
  3. Each Divisional Committee on Rules and Jurisdiction is responsible for preparation of its Divisional Manual, subject to the supervision of the University Committee on Rules and Jurisdiction. [See Bylaw 206 and Legislative Ruling 12.93-A-B ]
  4. Variances. Proposed Divisional Regulations that are at variance with Universitywide Regulations must be submitted to the Assembly of the Academic Senate for approval. [See Bylaw 116.F , 206.D ] The numbers of such Divisional Regulations shall carry the prefix "A".

• 85. Legislation

  The term "legislation" means only Bylaws and Regulations of Senate agencies. The phrase "modification of legislation" means enactment of new legislation and amendment or repeal of existing legislation.

• 88. Calendar Days

  Throughout these Bylaws, the term "calendar day" represents any day of the year. (En 12 May 2004)
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Title VIII. Memorials and Mail Ballots

• 90. Memorials (Am 13 May 97; Am 12 May 2004)

  1. Definitions
     1. The term "Memorial to the Regents" means a declaration or petition addressed to the President for transmission to The Regents, as provided for in Regents Bylaw 40.1.
     2. The term "Memorial to the President" means a declaration or petition to the President not intended for transmission to The Regents.
     3. Memorials are not legislation within the meaning of Bylaw 311.A .
  2. Memorials to the Regents on matters of Universitywide concern to be submitted to The Regents through the President may be initiated by the Assembly or by a Division. Written arguments in favor of and against a proposed Memorial to the Regents shall be submitted to the Assembly or the Division at least seven calendar days prior to the time that either body votes on the proposal.
  3. Memorials to the Regents that have been approved by the Assembly shall be voted upon in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article E of this Bylaw.
  4. Memorials to the Regents that have been approved by a Division shall be submitted within thirty calendar days to the Chair of the Assembly and the Chairs of all other Divisions.
     1. The Memorial shall be accompanied by the count of votes, a brief account of its history, an explanation of its provisions, and a succinct statement of the arguments for and against it specified in Article B of this Bylaw.
     2. Each Division shall have ninety calendar days from receipt of the Memorial to vote upon it. The time required to submit the proposal to a mail ballot, if such balloting is required, shall be included within ninety days.
     3. Upon receipt of the Memorial the Chair of the Division shall promptly submit it to a vote of the division. The Division may vote to approve, to disapprove, or to decline to act, but may not amend the proposal as submitted. The vote may proceed according to any method authorized by the Bylaws of the Division, including town meetings, representative assembly, or mail ballot. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Divisional Bylaws, the choice of the method of voting shall be determined by the Chair of the Division, in the light of the circumstances, and of advice from any duly constituted advisory bodies the Chair may consult. In no event shall the Chair submit the Memorial at a time that is too late for the division to comply with the ninety-day limitation set forth in paragraph 2 of this Article.
     4. The Chair of the division shall within seven calendar days forward to the Chair of the Assembly and to the Chairs of all other Division the results of the Divisional vote on the proposed Memorial.
     5. As soon as the ninety-day period set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Article has ended, or as soon as all Divisions have reported the results of their divisional votes, whichever comes first, the Chair of the Assembly shall notify all Divisions of the results. If at least three Divisions representing at least thirty-five percent of the membership of the Academic Senate have notified the Chair of the Assembly that the Memorial has been approved by their Divisions, the proposed Memorial shall be voted upon in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article E of this Bylaw.
     6. A Division that has voted upon a proposed Memorial in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 3 of the Article, may subsequently vote to reconsider its action, provided that any such reconsideration must be completed within the ninety calendar days specified in Paragraph 2 of this Article.
     7. If the number of approvals received within the time prescribed by Article D.2 of this Bylaw does not satisfy the requirement set forth in Article D.5 of this Bylaw, the proposed Memorial shall be deemed disapproved and no further action can be taken upon it.
  5. Memorials that have been approved in accordance with either Articles C or D of this Bylaw shall, within sixty calendar days of such approval, be submitted by the Secretary/Parliamentarian of the Senate to mail ballot of all voting member of the Senate.
     1. The ballot shall be accompanied by a brief account of its history, an explanation of its provisions, and a succinct statement of the arguments in its favor and against it. The materials shall be compiled by the Chair of the Assembly, who may rely in whole or in part upon the materials originally submitted by the initiating Division.
     2. The Chair of the Assembly may appoint an ad hoc committee of Senate members who support the proposed Memorial and an ad hoc committee of Senate members who oppose it to draft arguments for and against the proposal, respectively. Arguments drafted by such committees shall be based on the materials specified in Article B of this Bylaw. Each set of arguments shall consist of no more than 1,000 words. The Chair of the Assembly may direct each ad hoc committee to draft rebuttals to the arguments of its counterpart committee; such rebuttals shall consist of no more than 500 words. Arguments and rebuttals drafted by ad hoc committees shall be submitted to the Chair of the Assembly within 45 calendar days following approval of the proposed Memorial as provided in Article C or in Paragraph 5 of Article D of this Bylaw.
     3. The Chair of the Assembly, with the concurrence of the Academic Council, shall retain final authority to make judgments as to the appropriateness of arguments and rebuttals and to revise them accordingly. (Am 5 May 88)
  6. A Memorial that has received a majority of the valid ballots cast in the election described in Article E of this Bylaw shall be sent by the Chair of the Assembly to the President for submission to The Regents. A tabulation of the votes cast in this election shall accompany the Memorial. (Am 9 May 84)
  7. Either the Assembly or any division may submit Memorials not intended for transmission to the Regents directly to the President.

• 95. Mail Ballots and/or Electronic Ballots (Am 28 May 2003)

  1. At least fourteen calendar days before the deadline for completion of voting, the appropriate Secretary shall provide to each voter, either through the mail or electronically, either a ballot or instructions for voting electronically, accompanied by all relevant texts, such background information prepared by the Secretary as the Assembly or Division may direct, a brief summary of arguments pro and con, and a deadline for the return of the ballots or for electronic voting. (Am 28 May 2003; Am 12 May 2004)
     1. In the case of mail ballots, each voter shall receive a plain envelope in which to enclose a marked ballot, and a second envelope addressed to the appropriate Secretary to be used for the return of the sealed ballot. The envelope addressed to the Secretary shall have a space for the signature of the voter. Ballots lacking this validating signature shall be deemed void. (Am 5 May 88; Am 28 May 2003)
     2. For electronic voting, the appropriate Secretary shall utilize a system which verifies each voter’s identity and which maintains security. (En 28 May 2003)
  2. The appropriate Secretary shall deliver the ballots or the electronically received votes to the agency authorized to count the ballots and to certify the results to the appropriate legislative agency. (Am 28 May 2003)
  3. The appropriate Secretary, in certifying the results, shall give the tally of votes, including invalid ballots.
  4. Throughout these Bylaws the term "mail ballot" shall denote either a mail or electronic ballot. (Am 12 May 2004)