This is the first in a series of articles intended to give students a behind-the-scenes look into the mysterious goings-on of the Student Bar Association.

To most GW Law students, the SBA Senate likely seems a touch arcane; while some may know that the Senate is the legislative branch of the SBA, not many know what actually goes on within this legislative body, and still fewer are aware of just how significantly the Senates' actions impact law school life.  The SBA website declares that Senators "originate legislation, approve the SBA budget, charter and fund student organizations, and work on special projects through their various committees... [and] work directly with faculty, staff, and other students to improve the student experience."  That sounds very lovely, but what does the Senate really do?

1.    The Senate has committees.

The SBA Senate has several committees which are intended to address specific problems.  There is a Senate Rules and Constitution Committee, a Finance Committee, an Academic Policy  Committee and a Technology Committee, just to name a few.  These committees make many of the important decisions that affect daily life at GW Law.  For example, the Finance Committee is responsible for allocating funds to about forty student groups each year.  Without such funds, these groups could not function.  There are those who claim law school is a "life-ruiner."  Perhaps it is not quite that bad all the time, but one cannot help but cringe at the thought of law school without at least the occasional social function.

2. The Senate is bound by the SBA Constitution.

Like any good legislative body, the Senate is bound by rules of procedure, which are contained in the SBA Constitution.  If you have the time and/or inclination, you can read the Constitution, which is available on the SBA website.  More power to you.

3. It's your Senate, you can go if you want to.

The Senate encourages its constituents to attend meetings.  "I understand that people feel that they are in the dark about what members of the SBA actually do," 3L Day Senator John Ruckman remarked.  "To that end, I encourage people to come to SBA Senate meetings or check out the minutes of the meetings. Extensive notes are taken on each meeting and then posted on the SBA website. This is all done in an effort to clue people in to what we are doing."  A quick perusal of last meeting's minutes reveals a wide range of topics addressed- everything from the deficit in textbooks to allocating funds for Law Students for Reproductive Justice to figuring out ways to make the Senate more transparent.  Meeting dates, locations, and times are listed on the SBA website.

4. Make requests, they like it.

SBA Senators want to make sure that students are enjoying their experiences at GW Law.  So, if something causes that experience to be not-so-pleasurable please, tell your Senator.  Just know that an effective method of contact may depend on your class year.  Senator Eric Malis said, "When I was a 1L Senator and had a section of 120 students for whom I was directly responsible, I took an active role communicating with them information affecting their lives at school.  After 1L year, students generally know how to gain access to basic information and do not have the same interest in receiving numerous emails and announcements, which allows me to focus my time working behind the scenes on academic policy issues with students and faculty.  Nevertheless, I remain a conduit for students who have questions about how to get something done at school and do not know where to turn."

5. They are really trying to make the whole process more transparent.

Finally, the current SBA administration has taken tremendous steps toward increasing the transparency of the legislative process and of the SBA in general.  According to their colleagues, SBA powerhouses John Sorrenti and Liz Westbrook have made communication between the Senate and the student body a top priority, so interaction will only increase throughout the year.