The ASI Vice President serves as chair of the Senate, and the Senator Pro-Tempore, elected by the Senators, serves as Vice Chair. All regularly scheduled Senate meetings are open to the public unless noted otherwise. The Senate is also the body that approves the ASI Budget every Spring Quarter. As required, agendas are posted at least seven days before the meetings. In order to operate more effectively, the ASI Senate created seven councils representing the seven academic colleges and three at-large councils representing student groups other than specific academic colleges.
Every chartered club falls under a council.
For example, the Civil Engineering Club is represented in the Engineering Council and the Chinese Students Association is represented in the Multi-Cultural Council. Each council is allotted money on an annual basis by the ASI Senate. Each of the Senators plays a crucial role in determining whether or not the concerns of the students are heard at the decision-making level the ASI Senate. Students who wish to receive additional information regarding their councils should contact the ASI Attorney General. The ASI Senate requires all councils to submit their agendas seven days prior to the meetings.