Our Organization & Structure
The ASUH Senate functions as a whole and in parts. We are divided into committees in order to pay closer attention to the different aspects of UH Mānoa, student related issues and ASUH operations. Simultaneously, we work together to advocate for and support our constituency as a whole through our means of resolution writing, mobilization, and funding.
Our Senate functions by meeting every week during the school year - in addition to Standing Committee meetings
taken place outside of our General Senate and Executive Committee Meetings.
Click here to visit our Meeting & Agendas page to see what's going on with our 111th Senate.
The ASUH Senate (or General Senate) is a representative body of all fulltime, classified, undergraduate students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The Senate is comprised of the ASUH Executive Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), Senators-At-Large (4), and 30 colleges senators whom represent each college at UHM. Each college has a number of senators that represent their school(s) based on the population size within each college. Senators-At-Large represent the student body as a whole. Each college senator is elected by their college, while the ASUH Executive Officers and Senators-At-Large are elected by all students.
The powers and duties of the senate shall be to be directly responsible for the general welfare of the ASUH, to promote participation by the students in campus affairs, to be the administrative and legislative body of the ASUH, transact all business for ASUH, have complete authority over all ASUH funds, and other assets, adopt the annual ASUH budget, make necessary appropriations from ASUH funds, conduct all ASUH elections, give recognition for outstanding services to the University community, make nominations for ASUH senate members, establish and conduct relations with the organized students of other colleges and universities, approve or reject all appointments made by the President of the ASUH, make all laws and establish standing committees necessary and proper for the conduct of student government, and to exercise the powers of any organ of ASUH which is unable to perform its duties. The terms of the ASUH Senate is one academic school year.
STANDING COMMITTEES
While the ASUH Senate works together to advocate for all constituents, and individually as senators to advocate for the students in each college, Senate members serve on two committees. Our committees work to address student concerns, implement solutions and ideas, facilitate funding opportunities, and maintain membership and operations. Here are our 8 standing committees.
Campus Life works to coordinate and extend ASUH programs to ASUH constituents that help foster a unified university community. They also work to provide programs, events, and services that create a welcoming campus atmosphere. Historically, they have had a hand in events such as our Angel Tree program, Blood bank donations, Homecoming, Mardi Gras celebration, Halloween events, and food drives.
EMAIL: asuhcl@hawaii.edu
The Elections committee is in charge of coordinating the ASUH General and Special Elections, as well as the voter registration drives. They work to revise Polling Marshal procedures, candidate packets and election rules as necessary.
As of Summer 2019, constituents may be appointed to serve on our Elections committee!
EMAIL: asuhelec@hawaii.edu
The External Affairs committee researches and prepares testimony concerning issues representing the ASUH Senate. They represent the official positions of ASUH in accordance with the above at official functions in the absence of the President, create and maintain an accurate image of ASUH, and maintain open communication with media outlets. Responsibility of this website falls under their jurisdiction under rule 59.
EMAIL: asuhea@hawaii.edu
The Finance committee deals with receiving, investigating and making recommendations on measures pertaining to the appropriation of ASUH funds and the financial affairs of ASUH. This committee is responsible for organizing and making recommendations for RIO funding.
EMAIL: asuhrio@hawaii.edu
The Internal Affairs committee recruits and delegates nominees to student representative positions. They review and revise the Constitution with the consent of the President (Article XII, Section A), the Rules of the Senate, and Elections rules. They also investigate all complaints leveled against Executive Officers or Senators in an objective and timely manner and maintains correspondence with the elected Presidential appointees to student representative positions.
EMAIL: asuhia@hawaii.edu
The Investments committee monitors and reports to the Senate on matters dealing with the investment portfolio, and recommends action to the Senate regarding the investments. They create and review recommendations for the long-term welfare of ASUH as an organization, incorporating monetary and organizational aspects. In the past, they have worked on managing ASUH stadium stock funds and have recently worked on changing investment managers.
EMAIL: asuhinv@hawaii.edu
The student affairs committee addresses non-academic student affairs issues on campus through resolutions, and works with the administration and other departments to bring resolutions to fruition. They receive, investigate and make recommendations on complaints, grievances, problems and proposals, which are related to the non-academic concerns of the University.
EMAIL: asuhsa@hawaii.edu
The UAA committee receives, investigates, and makes recommendations on complaints, grievances, problems, and proposals that are related to the academic concerns of the university. They also create resolutions to address undergraduate academic issues and are in charge of facilitating the ASUH scholarships and awards.
EMAIL: asuhuaa@hawaii.edu
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Any member of the ASUH Senate, except the President, may introduce measures - pieces of legislation - for approval by the Senate. There are three types of measures: Resolutions, Bills, and Revisions. The Legislative process formalizes decisions and stances made by the Senate.
Senate Resolutions
The responsibility of the Senate is to advocate for and represent the ASUH constituency (all full-time, classified undergraduates). The voice of the ASUH can be formally represented in the form of a Resolution. The Senate welcomes any inquiries, comments or testimony regarding any idea or concern. Reach out to a Senate member to introduce a Senate Resolution.
Senate Bills
The Senate can help fund university events, programs, services, and support through Senate Act funding. To request for Senate Act funding, contact an ASUH Senate member to draft a Senate Bill (a funding proposal). If approved, the bill will be codified into a Senate Act - a document that formally approves of said needed funding.
Senate Revisions
In addition to the ASUH Constitution and Bylaws, the ASUH is guided by Senate Rules in order to maintain the operations and organization of the ASUH Senate. ASUH senate members have the ability to introduce changes or additions to the Senate Rules, provided that the Senate approves of the rules with a two-thirds vote of approval.