The legislative branch of the Student Government Association is the Student Senate. The body is made up of a cross-section of students responsible for drafting legislation that supports the needs and desires of the student body.

Election of Senators

SGA senators are elected by their peers in elections each semester. Held at the beginning of the semester, fall elections determine class senator positions (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, and Graduate) as well as on-campus residency senators. Spring elections are held at the end of the spring semester and determine college senator positions (Business, Education, Fine Arts, Forestry, Liberal and Applied Arts, and Science and Mathematics) as well as off-campus residency senators.

Senate Make-Up

Composition of the Senate is based on enrollment. Each classification and college is allotted a Senate seat for every six-hundred students in their respective constituency. Each residency classification (on-campus and off-campus) is alloted one Senate seat for every two-thousand students in their respective constituency. Enrollment figures are updated at the beginning of each semester based records recieved from the registrar's office.

Senate Officers

The Speaker of the Senate is a member of the Senate elected by his/her fellow senators to lead the body. The Sergeant-at-Arms is selected by the Speaker of the Senate and confirmed by the Senate body to enforce the rules of the Senate and assist in the day-to-day function of the body. These two members of the Senate constitute the officers of the legislative branch of the Student Government Association.

Senate Committees

The Senate has six standing legislative committees each charged with a unique function:

• The Academic Affairs Committee is charged with handling legislation and research over issues involving academics at the university or the relationship between students and faculty.
• The Student Affairs Committee is charged with handling legislation and research over issues involving non-academic issues such as campus-life, housing, dining, recreation, student wellness, etc.
• The Public Relations Committee is charged with handling all aspects of publicity and communication for the Student Government Association. This includes on-campus publicity and communication between the organization and the student body as well as with the greater Nacogdoches community, the state and local government, and other academic institutions.
• The Events Planning Committee is charged with the coordination and organization and successful execution of all Student Government sponsored events or initiatives. All campus outreach projects are handled by the Events Planning Committee.
• The Administrative Affairs Committee is charged with overseeing the maintenance of the Student Government Association governing documents as well as any rule or procedural modifications that may be deemed neccesary via legislation.
• The Internal Affairs Committee is charged with the enforcement of all Senate rules, executive oversight and advisory, as well as the coordination and execution of all regular Senate business. The Internal Affairs Committee is chaired by the Speaker of Senate and is comprised of the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Committee Chairs of each of the other five standing legislative committees.