Meet the Senate

SENate Leadership

The Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore serve as the primary leaders of the Student Senate, guiding its legislative priorities and ensuring effective governance. Together, they oversee Senate operations, facilitate Senate meetings, and support Senators in representing the interests of the student body.

Senate Meeting Date and Time: Tuesdays 6:00 PM

Senate President and Pro-Tempore Office Hours

M: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (Tampa/Virtual)
T: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Tampa/Virtual)
W: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm (Tampa/Virtual) 1:45 pm - 3:45 pm (Tampa/Virtual)
F: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (St. Pete/Virtual)

Senate Voting and Attendance

Senate Meeting Agendas

Senate Committees

The USF SG Senate is comprised of 4 committees and LegEx. All members of the senate are each placed on a committee. These committees have special focuses that each senator works to fulfill. To learn more about the committee's and the business that they are currently working on - please reach out to any of the students below. Please note that all meetings are subject to change.

POLICY COMMITTEE

Fall Meeting Date and Time: Fridays at 1:00 PM, Microsoft Teams Policy Channel

Purpose:

Produce, amend, and review Procedural and Statutory Bills before they go before the Senate in order to ensure efficiency, clarity, and legality.

Duties & Powers:

• Review and amend bills assigned to the Committee.
• Recommend updates or improvements to existing legislation.
• Draft new bills to strengthen Student Government law.
• Review amendments to Department and Funding Council Constitutions.
• Keep Statutes and Rules of Procedures up to date (reviewed at least twice per semester).

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ETHICS COMMITTEE

Fall Meeting Date and Time: Mondays at 3:30 PM, Microsoft Teams Ethics Channel

Ethics

Purpose: 

Provide Legislative Branch checks over Student Government departments and employees, and to provide oversight over A&S Fee funded entities and over the members of Student Government.

Duties & Powers: 

• Maintain the integrity of Student Government.
• Review and confirm Executive and Judicial nominees as outlined in Statutes.
• Investigate grievances involving Student Government members or A&S Funded Entities.
• Issue penalties or corrective actions for non-compliance (e.g. notifications, negative points, account freezes, or recommendations to Senate).

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PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE

Fall Meeting Date and Time: Wednesdays at 1:00 PM, Microsoft Teams Programming Channel

Programming

Purpose: 

Plan and execute programming events and in branch tasks for the Legislative Branch.

Duties & Powers: 

• Host at least two Senate Town Halls each semester (excluding summer).
• Plan one Legislative retreat each semester (excluding summer).
• Create and manage Legislative Branch merchandise.
• Organize Senate tabling to promote meetings and town halls.
• Collaborate with Executive Branch Marketing on events and designs.

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RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Fall Meeting Date and Time: Fridays at 2:00 PM, Microsoft Teams Relations Channel

Relations

Purpose: 

To further the influence of students in the legislative process by providing them with a means for direct communication with the Legislative Branch.

Duties & Powers: 

• Organize and moderate events where students can engage with Senators.
• Draft and review Resolutions and Memorials for Senate consideration.
• Create and review Surveys to gather student input in coordination with SGATO.
• Review and publish student petitions in coordination with SGATO.

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LEGEX COMMITTEE

Pro-Tempore
Chair | sg-protempore@usf.edu

Meeting Date and Time: TBD, Microsoft Teams LegEx Channel

LegEx

Purpose:

Serve as an executive body for the Legislative Branch and to perform the various duties required in running the Legislative Branch.

Duties & Powers: 

• Act as the highest committee in the Legislative Branch, with authority over all standing, campus, and ad-hoc committees.
• Meet at least once per month to make executive decisions for the Senate.
• Review Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of committees and councils.
• Review and decide on absence excusal requests and appeals.
• Step in when a Senate committee or council is unable to perform its duties.
• Recognize up to three Senators each month for exemplary service.
• Update and track positive and negative points for Senators and Campus Council members. 

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SENATORS

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For the current Senate Committees Meeting Agendas and Minutes please visit our BullsConnect account and click on LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, SENATE COMMITTEES.