Each class also appoints various positions throughout the year. Senators and representatives have two principle duties. First, they attend Senate meetings, held on a weekly basis, to hear the progress of the organization and pass legislation. Second, they sit on committees that work to positively change issues affecting the James Madison University community. Members of the Senate review bills on a weekly basis relating to issues affecting the entire university community.
Most BOPs relate to critical issues affecting the university.
In the past, the Student Senate has passed BOPs demanding that the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday be observed, assisting in creating the JMU alcohol policy, and revamping the freshman and majors advising systems. To introduce a BOP, a Senator must have 200 members of the student body sign that they agree the bill should be introduced. The bill then sits a week for senators to research it, and is then debated the following week on the Senate floor. SRs are for significant, but not critical issues affecting the student body and the Student Government Association. In the past, the Student Senate has looked at SRs regarding the Madison Center, the SGA Richmond General Assembly Lobbying Agendas, and internal SGA marketing issues.