Chair of Legislative Affairs

AUTHORITY:
This Code is established under the authority of Article VIII, Section 3 of the Associated Students Constitution.

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Code is to establish the office of the A.S. Chair of Legislative Affairs and to outline and define the duties and responsibilities of the A.S. Chair of Legislative Affairs

DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS:
This Code shall be effective when approved by a majority vote of the Associated Students Senate.

AMENDMENTS:
This Code may be amended by a majority of the total voting membership of the Senate.

I. APPOINTMENT AND TENURE

A. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall serve as a member of the AS President's Cabinet.

B. The tenure of office for the Chair of Legislative Affairs shall be one year, to be concurrent with the term of the President who appoints him/her. Should the office be vacated during the school year, the new appointee's tenure of office shall end when the term of the AS President who appointed him/her ends.

C. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall be immediately responsible for the discharge of their duties to the Associated Students President.

D. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall be a student in good standing as defined in Article VIII, Section 2 of the AS ByLaws.

II. DUTIES OF THE CHAIR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

A. Campus and Local Responsibilities

1. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall be a non-voting, ex-officio member of the External Affairs Committee.

2. The Chair of Legislative Affairs is responsible for assisting in higher education advocacy efforts on the campus, local, state, and nationwide levels. Advocacy efforts include, but are not limited to:

i. Advocacy and engagement events such as phone banking efforts and mailgram campaigns

ii. Arranging visits with local, state, and federal legislators and their staff

iii. Conducting studies, interviews, surveys, and research necessary to advance the positions of the various student organizations at CSUN and the CSU.

3. The Chair of Legislative Affairs organizes and creates student awareness of regular, midterm, and special elections utilizing, but not limited to, the following methods:

i. Collaborating with A.S. Productions to host Big Politics

ii. Organizing voter registration drives

iii. Creating a CSUN Voter Guide to assist students in the voting process

iv. Shall serve as a sitting member of “We the People” committee to plan election-related and informative activities and events

4. The Chair of Legislative Affairs is responsible for researching pending legislation that will affect the CSUN student population.

i. Research shall be presented as a report by the Chair of Legislative Affairs to the A.S. President and Vice President at weekly cabinet meetings.

5. The Chair of Legislative Affairs works in collaboration with the Northridge East Neighborhood Council to further legislative advocacy efforts.

i. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall be appointed to the Northridge East Neighborhood Council by the A.S. President to serve as the CSUN Student Board Member.

ii. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall complete all necessary training required to effectively represent CSUN at the Northridge East Neighborhood Council.

6. The Chair of Legislative Affairs works in collaboration with the CSUN Government and Community Relations Department to further legislative advocacy efforts.

B. Statewide Responsibilities

1. The Chair of Legislative Affairs is responsible for representing CSUN at California State Student Association (CSSA) monthly plenaries and special meetings as appointed by the A.S. President.

i. The Chair of Legislative Affairs is responsible for carrying out the necessary preparation to adequately represent the best interests of CSUN and CSU students.

ii. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall act as a legislative advisor to the A.S. President and A.S. Vice President at monthly plenaries and special meetings.

2. The Chair of Legislative Affairs organizes the CSUN delegation to attend CSUnity.

3. The Chair of Legislative Affairs organizes the CSUN delegation to attend the California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS) in Sacramento.

4. The Chair of Legislative Affairs will work across all segments of higher education including the California State University, University of California, and Community Colleges for greater legislative advocacy efforts.

5. The Chair of Legislative Affairs is responsible for raising student awareness about the CSU Board of Trustees and the issues being discussed on the board.

i. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall include a briefing of what was discussed and decided at the CSU Board of Trustees as needed.

6. The Chair of Legislative Affairs is responsible in recruiting CSUN students to apply for the CSU Student Trustee position on the CSU Board of Trustees.

C. The Chair of Legislative Affairs will establish and maintain working relationships with city, county, special district, state, and federal elected and appointed officials.

D. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall be the Chair of Lobby Corps.

1. The Chair of Legislative Affairs will recruit, train, and supervise up to 20 CSUN students (undergraduate or graduate) to serve as members of the A.S. Lobby Corps.

2. The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall determine a regular Lobby Corps. meeting schedule for the Fall and Spring semesters.

E. The A.S. Lobby Corps shall be responsible for:

1. Providing hand-on support for events or political actions as directed by the Chair of Legislative Affairs.

2. Meeting once a week during the Fall and Spring semesters.

i. Absence Policy

i. Excused absences

a. Excused absences are determined at the discretion of the Chair.

b. Lobby Corps. members are responsible for providing the Chair with advance notice of excused absence.

ii. All Lobby Corps. members are allotted 3 unexcused absences per semester.

3. Accomplish legislative advocacy efforts including but not limited to:

i. Hosting advocacy and engagement events such as phone banking efforts and mailgram campaigns

ii. Signature gathering.

iii. Tabling and information distribution.

iv. Attending or viewing live stream broadcasts of the CSU Board of Trustees open sessions as directed by the Chair.

v. Attend or view live stream broadcasts of the California State Student Association (CSSA) plenaries and/or special meetings as directed by the Chair.

vi. Accompany the Chair in legislative office visits to discuss bills and their progress, share student testimonies, and lobby legislators to support our goals.

REGULATION
The Chair of Legislative Affairs shall, in the execution of his/her responsibilities, conform to and abide by the policies of:

• The United States Constitution
• The State of California
• California State University, Northridge
• Associated Students
  

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY:
All meetings called by the Chair of Legislative Affairs shall be conducted according to parliamentary law as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

ENABLING CAUSE:
This Code shall supersede all Codes on the AS Chair of Legislative Affairs passed prior to August 11, 2014.

Approved on: December 7, 2020 (17-0-1)
Amended on: March 1, 2021 (16-0-0)