Speaker of the Senate

The Speaker of the Student Senate (or Speaker of the Senate), sometimes known as the Senate President, is the presiding officer of the Student Senate. The Speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The Speaker decides who may speak and has the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the Senate. The Speaker is a non-partisan position.

By convention, Speakers are normally addressed as Mister Speaker, if a man, or Madam Speaker, if a woman. Aside from duties relating to heading the Senate, the Speaker also performs administrative, ceremonial, and procedural functions, and represents his or her constituents. The Speaker is elected at the first meeting of a new Senate Session per Title III and the Student Body Constitution, or when a vacancy arises.

Power and responsibilities
The Speaker derives their power from Title III of statutes.

304.4 Powers and Duties of the Speaker of the Senate 


 * A. Assuming the Chair: The Speaker of the Senate shall take the Chair on every legislative day, at the time specified by the Senate Rules and Procedures or by special order of the Senate, with the exceptions granted by illness, the Senate Rules and Procedures, or Student Body Statutes. 


 * B. Appointment of Committees: The Speaker of the Senate shall appoint all standing committees; such appointments shall be announced during a scheduled Senate meeting prior to taking effect. Any committee appointment may be altered by a majority vote of the Senate. The Speaker of the Senate shall ensure no committee’s membership exceeds twelve (12) senators. 


 * C. Signing: The Speaker of the Senate or Senate President Pro Tempore shall sign all measures, writs, warrants and subpoenas of, or issued by order of, the Senate. 


 * D. Arranging for Meetings: The Speaker of the Senate shall be responsible for making all arrangements necessary for the meetings of the Senate including room reservations, and clerical procedures for Bills, Resolutions, Constitutional Amendments, and Special Acts. 


 * E. Vacating the Chair: If the Senate President Pro Tempore is unavailable or declines, the Speaker of the Senate shall have the right to name any Committee Chair to perform the "duties of the Chair," but the appointed Senator must always yield the Chair to the Speaker of the Senate or the Senate President Pro Tempore upon completion of the issue. The acting Chair must vacate the Chair to debate, and they may not regain the Chair while the legislation or issue is being debated. 


 * F. Announcing Senate Resignations: The Speaker of the Senate must announce all Senate resignations and removals within one (1) week of enactment. 


 * G. Term of Office: 


 * 1. The Speaker of the Senate shall serve a term in congruence with the Senate term that they are elected as a Senator. 


 * 2. The Speaker of the Senate shall assume the powers of the Chair immediately after their election. 


 * H. The Speaker of the Senate shall not: 


 * 1. Introduce legislation for which the Speaker shall participate in the debate as Chair.


 * 2. Sponsor legislation for which the Speaker shall participate as Chair.


 * 3. Receive student organizations from the Office of the Pro Tempore for 'the purpose of representation.


 * 4. Sit on any committee of the Senate.


 * I. Shall be responsible for preparing the Legislative Report that shall be published in the Fall and Spring. The report shall include all Bills, Resolutions, Special Acts, and Constitutional Amendments introduced by the Student Senate that semester.


 * J. Shall be able to appoint an Internal Legislative Assistant and an External Legislative Assistant, if provided for in the A&SF Budget. These appointments must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate, by ballot. The duties and responsibilities of the Internal Legislative Assistant and External Legislative Assistant shall be assigned by the Speaker of the Senate.


 * K. Shall certify that all Student Senators comply with the Student Body Statute’s requirement to meet with respective deans or associate deans. The Speaker of 'the Senate shall certify that each Senator stays in compliance with this requirement.


 * L. Shall plan and organize the Senate Retreat for the following Senate session in the Fall semester.


 * M. Shall certify that all Senators comply with the requirements to attend SGA Senate Retreats and Leadership Seminars.


 * N. The Speaker of the Senate may also be referred to as the Senate President.


 * O. Upon resignation or removal of the Speaker of the Senate, the acting Chair shall immediately call for the nomination of the Speaker of the Senate. All Senators shall be eligible for nomination. The election of the Speaker of the Senate shall occur immediately following nominations, unless the Senate moves, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, to postpone the election to the following Senate meeting.

The Speaker may be removed from office through a motion of no confidence. If a majority of the Senate agrees with the motion of no confidence, the Speaker is considered resigned from the position. Speaker Anthony King was subject to a motion of no confidence in the 45th Student Senate but remained in office.

List of Speakers of the Senate

 * Brian Peterson (2007– 08)
 * Patrick Stauffer (2009– 10)
 * Drew Pope (2010– 11)
 * Alan Hardman (2011)
 * Wes Jones (2011– 12)
 * Anthony King (2012– 13)
 * Jaclyn Graham (2013– 14)
 * Greg Theiss (2014)
 * Caitlyn Zona (2014–15)
 * Meghan Kircher (2015–present)