How does a unit propose a new bylaw or revisions to bylaws?
Bylaws, including Appendices, School Bylaws, and Department Bylaws, are part of the legislation of the Academic Senate. The steps below serve as a guide to the steps. See also this guide to submitting a legislation proposal, which includes examples of how to present proposed revisions and this very detailed guide to creating or revising department bylaws.
Step 1: Creating the proposal
Legislative proposals involving bylaws typically originate from the affected unit, but may come from any agency or committee of the Academic Senate such as Senate committees, College or School FECs, Departments, or IDPs. The proposal should include:
- A statement of the purpose and rationale for the proposed changes.
- A side by side presentation of the proposed changes. The left column should show the current text and the right column the proposed strikeouts and/or revisions. See the example in the guide.
- A clean copy of the proposed final, revised text
Step 2 (OPTIONAL): Pre-Review
Before the required vote, the proposing unit may choose to submit the proposed bylaw revisions to the Committee on Rules and Jurisdiction for a preliminary review.
Step 3: Faculty Vote
The agency affected by the proposed bylaw revisions should vote on the proposal first (before it goes to Legislative Assembly). Quorum rules apply to assessing if the proposal passed by the required 2/3 majority.
- For department bylaws, all Senate faculty of all ranks, including joint and split appointees and recalled Emeriti should have the opportunity to vote. The exception is for personnel extensions. [IMPORTANT. See this detailed Guide to Revising Department Bylaws.]
- For School or College bylaws, the FEC typically votes to put forward proposed revisions, but any school bylaws must also be put to the whole faculty for a vote.
- Other Academic Senate committees proposing revisions should also vote.
Step 4: Submit the proposed bylaw revisions to Committee on Rules & Jurisdiction
The bylaw revision proposal should include:
- A statement of the purpose and rationale for the proposed changes.
- A side by side presentation of the proposed changes. The left column should show the current text and the right column the proposed strikeouts and/or revisions. See the example in this guide.
- A clean copy of the proposed final, revised text.
- A report of the faculty vote outcome and date.
Step 5: Committee on Rules & Jurisdiction Review
Once CR&J determines the proposed bylaw revisions conform to the Academic Senate Manual, CR&J will notify:
- The Academic Senate Chair (for placement on the Legislative Assembly agenda)
- The proposing unit. [with a copy of the letter to the Academic Senate Chair.]
Step 6: Legislative Assembly Approval
All Senate members are notified of final review of legislation by the published Legislative Assembly agenda and of the final approval by way of the Legislative Assembly Notification of Actions, which are distributed no later than 15 instructional days following any meeting of the Legislative Assembly. See Bylaw 140(B).
The bylaws go into effect 10 instructional days after the Notification of Actions is published and are posted on the Web site. See Bylaw 155 (B)(2).
