Any and all students are welcome to attend all General Assemblies, Special Sessions, and Committee Meetings. Each of these meeting is open to the public and welcome all student participation. Students and organizations can even address the Senate in open forum. All event dates are available on our social media or at our website. Make sure to contact us with any questions or concerns that you may have. Can’t attend a Student Senate meeting? Feel free to watch us live from our Facebook page!

One of the most fundamental ways to get involved with the Student Senate is running for a seat. The Student Body elects their Student Senators during the Spring and Fall semesters. All seats open up for the Spring semester elections ran by the SGA Election Commission and any seats left vacant will be voted on in the Fall semester. Details on elections and regulations are regularly updated at the SGA Election commission website.

The Student Senate inevitably has vacancies throughout the year, as students graduate, join other branches, or resign from office. Students are encouraged to apply for Student Senator vacancies. Vacancies are announced after the fall elections and will be communicated at this website and on our social media. Questions regarding vacancies should be directed to the Speaker Pro-Tempore Robert Hargrove at protemp.tamusenate@gmail.com.

The Student Senate’s Operations Committee serves to assist the Speaker Pro-Tempore in coordinating Student Senate’s general assembly and special session meetings and in administering the Senate’s internal processes. Students can find out further information about serving on the Operations Committee by contacting Speaker Pro-Tempore, Robert Hargrove at protemp.tamusenate@gmail.com or Executive Director of Operations, Vinathi Golkonda at vinithi.golkonda@tamu.edu.

The Speaker of the Senate has the power to create liaison positions between the Student Senate and other student organizations and entities. Questions about possible liaison openings should be directed to Speaker of the Senate, Marcus Glass at senatespeaker@dsa.tamu.edu.

Senate legislative committees also have certain liaison positions. Questions regarding the availability of liaison positions on the Senate’s legislative committees should be directed to the committee’s chair. Contact information can be found on the “committees” page or the “officers” page.

The Student Senate’s rules and procedures allow students to draft bills, and resolutions to be sponsored by Student Senators. Students interested in drafting legislation should consult the legislation templates found on this website under “resources” and contact at least three of their Student Senators to sponsor the legislation Senators and their information can be found under the “senators” page. Sponsoring legislation is a discretionary decision for Student Senators. Students are strongly encouraged to clearly articulate their legislation in order to convince Senators of its merit. Sponsored legislation is due to the Speaker of the Senate by 7:00 P.M. Sunday before a general assembly meeting. Sponsored legislation may be submitted to the Speaker at senatespeaker@dsa.tamu.edu

Students can also ensure that their voices are heard in the Student Senate by contacting their Student Senators regarding pending legislation or other student issues on campus. Contact information for Student Senators can be found on the “senators” page. Students are encouraged to clearly articulate their requests for Senators to support or oppose pending legislation.

Students can also enact measures independent of the Student Senate through a referendum or initiative petition signed by 5,000 students of the student body. Information on filing a referendum or initiative petition can be found by visiting with one of the SGA Advisors in the Student Government Association Office in Koldus 126.

All 5,000 certified signatures on the referendum must be signed within 14 days of the referendum being filed. The Chief of the Judicial Court will certify the authenticity of all signatures and of the referendum. In the case, a referendum is called to amend the Student Government Associations official documents 7,500 certified signatures shall be required. For more please contact the SGA Advisors, the Speaker of the Senate, the Speaker Pro-Tempore, the Rules and Regulations Chair, or the Chief of the Judicial Court in the SGA offices in John J. Koldus, suite 126 in Student Activities.

Students can also hold their elected representatives accountable by utilizing their power to recall Student Senators who have failed to uphold the honor, dignity, or duties of their office. Information on filing a recall petition can be found by visiting with one of the SGA Advisors in the Student Government Association Office in Koldus 126.

Recall petitions require the signatures of at least 10% of a Student Senator’s caucus. After all signatures are certified by the Chief of the Judicial Court a recall vote of the Senator’s constituency will then be held to remove the Student Senator from office. For more please contact the SGA Advisors, the Speaker of the Senate, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Rules and Regulations Chair, or the Chief of the Judicial Court in the SGA offices in John J. Koldus, suite 126 in Student Activities.

Want to get involved in other areas of SGA? The Student Government Association has 15 committees, 4 commissions, and 2 other branches. Information of commissions and committees can be found at https://sga.tamu.edu.

Information on the executive branch can be found at https://exec.tamu.edu

Information on the judicial branch can be found at https://jcourt.tamu.edu