Oracle Online

But taking time to explain each deviation would defeat the purpose of the bylaw, said PAC chair Mike Mitchell, because the by-law was originally created to save time.

“The amendment was ill-conceived,” he said.

Pesko said the amendment would make the by-law “unnecessarily complicated.”

After brief debate, the amendment was defeated. The by-law was later passed with a vote of 21-1-2.

With the new by-law in effect, the freedom of “minor deviations” could lead to abuse, said Ramchandani.

Mitchell disagreed, saying HUSC has a good system of checks and balances in place, with the PAC chair acting as parliamentarian to prevent abuses in power.

The by-law requires the vice president to hold at least two informative Robert’s Rules seminars for HUSC members and any student interested in HUSC or the Rules.

This education allows general assembly members to object to any deviation they are opposed to.

“In the past, the chair freely deviated from the Rules and didn’t know they deviated, nor did the assembly know of the deviation,” Pesko said.

If an objection is raised, Ramchandani said, the process of a special rule of order must take place to supersede Robert’s Rules.

Because of the lack of definition of a “minor deviation,” Pesko and Mitchell after the meeting gave their thoughts on a more precise definition of the phrase.

“[A minor deviation is an] act that is technically against Robert’s Rules but allows [HUSC] to conduct business more efficiently,” Mitchell said.

Meeting structure, speaker lists and keeping order in meetings are examples of things that are not minor deviations, he said.

A minor deviation can be applied to anything noncontroversial, Pesko said. Changes in voting or giving the chair a vote, something Robert’s Rules only allows in ties, are not minor deviations, Pesko said.

At the end of the meeting, Pesko made his first minor deviation č a motion to adjourn č and asked the assembly for unanimous consent. With a flurry of coats and bags, the assembly vacated GLC 100E.