Saturday, December 19, 2009

Fall 2009 Season Summary & Happy Holidays!

The Society has concluded its Fall 2009 season.  Below is the season House summary as well as some other highlights of the fall:

Affirmed: Marijuana should be legalized
Affirmed: Lobbyists are good for democracy
Rejected: The United States should only go to war by referendum
Rejected: Ubiquitous connectivity is destroying individualism
Affirmed: Hate crime laws are contrary to the spirit of equality

In addition to our House sessions, the Enosinian Society competed against the Philodemic Society of Georgetown University in the second annual Columbian Cup debate. A joint session of our societies in the Philodemic House in Georgetown affirmed Resolved: The death penalty should be abolished.  The debate was judged by alumni of the respective societies (with Ranking Member Aaron Connelly representing the Enosinian Society), and the Philodemic Society walked away with the Cup for the second year in a row.

In a major step toward expanding the Society and ensuring the uniformity and clarity of the Society's functions for members current and future, the Executive Board ratified a new Constitution, officially institutionalizing Enosinian traditions and protocol.  In addition to this, the Society joined social networking sites Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger in an effort to increase its web presence.  Finally, the Society continued to enhance its cooperation with various student organizations at The George Washington University, including the College Democrats and College Republicans, and the Liberty Society.

On behalf of The Enosinian Society, we the Executive Board would like to extend our warmest wishes to our members and the greater GW community in this holiday season.  Thanks for helping to make the Fall 2009 season a success!  Stay safe, warm, and content; we'll see you in the new year!

-The Executive Board-

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Amendment II




November 22, 2009

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution

In accordance with the procedure delineated in Article V, Section 2 of the Constitution of this Society, I, Eshawn Rawlley, President presiding, offer the following amendment to the Constitution, in which it shall appear as follows, for the consideration and approval of the Executive Board presiding:

Amendment II
Ratified December 12, 2009

Section 1: The words “a Learned Member” as they appear in Article II, Section 1, Clause ii shall be replaced with the words “an Associate Member.”

Section 2: The word “Learned” as it appears in Article III, Section 2, Clause iv shall be omitted.

Section 3: The word “Learned” as it appears in Article III, Section 3, Clause iv shall be omitted.


Signed,

Eshawn Rawlley
President

Alex Shoucair
Speaker of the House

Samuel Pursch
Treasurer

Solomon Steen
Secretary

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Society Collaborates With Various Student Organizations

Last night we were delighted to host members of the GWU Liberty Society in House for our fifth session of the Fall 2009 season to debate Resolved: Hate crime laws are contrary to the spirit of equality.

Kevin Duewel, Treasurer of the Liberty Society, delivered a paper speech on the proposition. He was accompanied by several members of his Society, including its President, Dennis Craig, and Communications Director, Chad Swarthout. As a Society we enjoy immensely working with fellow student organizations like the Liberty Society committed to the goals of fostering intellectual debate, honest dialogue, and deeper understanding on campus and in the community at large.  We hope to enjoy a broader working relationship with the Liberty Society in the future.

This past Monday, the Society was honored to host a debate on the future of U.S. energy policy between the College Democrats and College Republicans, which the President of the Society Eshawn Rawlley moderated. The debate was enjoyable and amicable but not without fierce, competitive rhetoric. The President dubbed the College Republicans the winner of the contest only by virtue of their invocation of The Simpsons to advance a point on the general safety of nuclear power technology.

Liberty Society, College Democrats, and College Republicans are just a few of many student organizations the Enosinian Society has and hopes to collaborate with this year and beyond.  For more information about the Liberty Society, e-mail Dennis Craig at dcraig@gwliberty.org. The following is a listing of their upcoming events:

Thursday, Nov. 19th (tonight): AU Students For Liberty will be hosting Congressman Bob Barr. We'll be leaving together at 6:30 PM outside of the Foggy Bottom metro stop. RSVP HERE

Friday, Nov. 20th: The DC Forum for Freedom presents Mr. Dan Griswold, the director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. and a nationally recognized authority on international trade and immigration. This is part of the DC Forum For Freedom's monthly Cato lecture series! Mr. Griswold's lecture is entitled "Mad about Trade: Why Main Street America Should Embrace Globalization." We'll be LEAVING from the Marvin Center on 21st & I St. at 2:45 PM SHARP. In order to attend this lecture, you MUST register. Registration is very easy and takes less than a minute. MAKE SURE you register. Register here. Under "Affiliation" type "GW Liberty Society".

RSVP on Facebook here

House Session V, Fall 2009 Summary

The resolution before the House on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, stating,

Resolved: Hate crime laws are contrary to the spirit of equality,

was affirmed, by way of floor vote, with seven yeas and three nays cast, a result affirmed by the Speaker of the House.

Proposition Speaker: Kevin Duewel, Visiting Speaker from the GWU Liberty Society
Opposition Speaker: Eshawn Rawlley, Ranking Member
Resolution: Affirmed
Tally: Seven over three

Signed,
Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House Presiding
Eshawn Rawlley, President Presiding
Solomon Steen, Secretary Presiding

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Criminalizing Hate

The Society will commence session Wednesday, November 18st at 8:00PM in the Honors Building 714 21st St. NW to debate,

Resolved: Hate crime laws are contrary to the spirit of equality

Proposition Speaker: Kevin Duewel, Visiting Speaker from the GWU Liberty Society
Opposition Speaker: Eshawn Rawlley, Ranking Member

Do hate crime laws render appropriately harsher punishments or do they go to far in policing thought? Join us with your opinions at the ready!

-The Executive Board

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Columbia Cup, Fall 2009 Summary

The resolution before the Philodemic Society, November 5, 2009, stating,

Resolved: The death penalty should be abolished

was affirmed, by vote of the two judges of Georgetown University and George Washington University, and concordant with a floor vote, with thirty-five yeas and eighteen nays cast, a result affirmed by the Speaker of the House. The Philodemic Society was awarded the Columbia Cup.

We would like to thank our friends at the Philodemic society, our members, friends, and alumni who came out to support the society, and our paper speakers.

Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House, Ranking Member
Sean Peerenboom, Visiting Speaker

Signed,
Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House Presiding
Eshawn Rawlley, President Presiding
Solomon Steen, Secretary Presiding

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

In Support of Enosinians!

The Enosinian Society will be squaring off against our esteemed District-dwelling cousins, the Philodemic Society of Georgetown University in the second annual Columbian Cup Debate tomorrow, November 5th at 8pm at Georgetown University. As per tradition, the hosting Society has offered the visiting society a number of resolutions from which to choose. The Executive Board of the Society has reviewed the offerings and has decided to debate,

Resolved: The death penalty should be abolished.

The Enosinian Society will be arguing on behalf of the opposition. Our paper speakers are,

Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House, Ranking Member
Sean Peerenboom, Visiting Speaker

The Executive Board is asking all Enosinians and George Washington University students to come out to Georgetown tomorrow night to support and defend Enosinians in rhetorical battle! Attendees are neither compelled to speak or support either side. Tomorrow's debate will adhere to the House rules set forth by the Philodemic Society. The winner of the debate will be decided by an independent panel of judges.

May the best society raise the Cup!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

House Session IV, Fall 2009 Summary

The resolution before the House on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, stating,


Resolved: Ubiquitous Connectivity is Destroying Individualism,

was rejected, by way of floor vote, with five yeas and eight nays cast, a result affirmed by the Speaker of the House.

Proposition Paper Speaker: Mr. Steven Glinert, Esteemed Member
Opposition Paper Speaker: Mr. Daniel Fogarty, Esteemed Member
Members present: Fifteen
Resolution: Rejected
Tally: Eight over five

Signed,
Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House Presiding
Eshawn Rawlley, President Presiding
Solomon Steen, Secretary Presiding

Monday, October 19, 2009

FutureShock/TextMeBack

The Enosinian Society will commence session Wednesday, October 21st at 8:00PM in the Honors Building 714 21st St. NW to debate,

Resolved: Ubiquitous connectivity is destroying individualism

Proposition Speaker: Steve Glinert, Esteemed Member
Opposition Speaker: Dan Fogarty, Esteemed Member

Technological innovations and the age of the internet have torn down barriers and tightened societies. But in this new digital information era, individuals have sacrificed a high degree of their privacy and have opened up their lives to the world for the sake of constant connectivity. Have Google, Facebook, and Twitter allowed society to come closer together, cross literal and figurative borders, and enhance our personal happiness? Or have these tools simply led to a gradual yet serious erosion of that which we claim to hold dear: our individualism? Join us Wednesday, October 21st at 8PM as the Enosinian Society debates whether ubiquitous connectivity is strengthening personal identity or destroying individualism.

See you there!

The Executive Board

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Amendment I




October 6, 2009

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution

In accordance with the procedure delineated in Article V, Section 2 of the Constitution of this Society, I, Eshawn Rawlley, President presiding, offer the following amendment to the Constitution, in which it shall appear as follows, for the consideration and approval of the Executive Board presiding:

Amendment I
Ratified October 7, 2009

The word “three” as it appears in Article IV, Section 1, Clause vii shall be replaced with the word “four.”


Signed,

Eshawn Rawlley
President

Alex Shoucair
Speaker of the House

Samuel Pursch
Treasurer

Solomon Steen
Secretary

House Session III, Fall 2009 Summary

The resolution before the House on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, stating,

Resolved: The United States should only go to war by referendum,

was rejected, by way of floor vote, with five yeas and eight nays cast, a result affirmed by the Speaker of the House.

Proposition Paper Speaker: Mr. Daniel Fogarty, Esteemed Member
Opposition Paper Speaker: Mr. Sean Robinson, Esteemed Member
Members present: Fifteen
Resolution: Rejected
Tally: Eight over five

Signed,
Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House Presiding
Eshawn Rawlley, President Presiding
Solomon Steen, Secretary Presiding

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

War By The People

The Enosinian Society will commence session tonight at 8:30PM in the Honors Building 714 21st St. NW to debate,

Resolved: The United States should only go to war by referendum

Proposition Speaker: Dan Fogarty, Visiting Speaker
Opposition Speaker: Sean Robinson, Visiting Speaker

The American Constitution gives Congress the sole right to declare war on another country. However, throughout American history presidents have often led the United States into armed conflict without explicit approval from the legislative branch. In fact, America has only made a formal declaration of war five times, indicating that Congress has often been left out of the process. Should the president make the decision to go to war? Or since Congress has proven an ineffectual check, perhaps the decision should be left to the American people? Join us Wednesday, October 7th as The Enosinian Society debates whether the authority of declaring war should belong to the people, or whether the president should have the authority, as commander-in-chief, to send America to war.

Eshawn Rawlley
President

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Constitution of The Enosinian Society

“Enosis”

Thought is deeper than all speech,
Feeling deeper than all thought;
Souls to souls can never teach
What unto themselves was taught.

We, like parted drops of rain
Swelling till they meet and run,
Shall be all absorbed again
Melting, flowing into one.


Since the year 1822 C.E., The Enosinian Society has marshaled under its banner young people of this prestigious University dedicated to the search for knowledge, wisdom, and truth through earnest, spirited, public discourse on the most important issues of the day. Whereas the traditions of the Enosinian Society, in their most dignified form, have for years enriched the lives of students of this University and the inhabitants of this fair capital city; whereas our University and our polity are in need, now more than ever, of channels for rigorous, interrogative debate on the principles which inform our worldviews and guide our actions; we the Executive Board of The Enosinian Society of The George Washington University do ordain and establish this Constitution with the aspiration of providing to and protecting for our members, present and future, a forum for exchange and edification, actuated, as our predecessors noted, by a “desire of improving ourselves in knowledge, eloquence and every accomplishment by which we may be the better prepared for any station in life.”

Signed on this day, September 30, 2009 C.E.,

Eshawn Rawlley, President Presiding

Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House Presiding

Samuel Pursch, Treasurer Presiding

Solomon Steen, Secretary Presiding

Comprising the Executive Board of The Enosinian Society in its 187th year of foundation.





Article I: Society Chronicle

Section 1: May the following particulars be submitted to history:

i. The official name of this Society is The Enosinian Society of The George Washington University.
ii. This Society was founded in 1822 and most recently restored in 2004
iii. The official motto of this Society is “Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci” (“He gets every vote who mixes the practical with the pleasurable”) attributed to the poet Horace.
iv. The modern location of the House of this Society is The Honors Building, located at 714 21st St. NW Washington, DC 20052

Section 2: This Society, as long as it may exist and thrive at The George Washington University in the city of Washington in the District of Columbia, shall respectfully abide by all the policies issued and enforced by the University.

Article II: Membership in Society

Section 1: The various appellations of members of this Society as well as the requirements of acquisition thereof are the following:

i. To become an Associate Member of the Society, a person must be recognized on the floor by Speaker of the House.
ii. To become an Esteemed Member of the Society, a Learned Member must deliver a paper address.
iii. To become a Ranking Member of the Society, one must be student of The George Washington University and be appointed to serve as a member of the Executive Board.
iv. To become an Honorary Member of the Society, one must be nominated and confirmed by the Executive Board.

Section 2: The Society shall discriminate no persons on the basis of race, gender, nationality, religion, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation.

Article III: The Executive Board

Section 1: All appointed to the Executive Board must pledge the following oath before assuming the duties of their office:

“I hereby affirm and uphold the Constitution of this Society, and resolve to faithfully and to the best of my abilities execute the duties of the office of which I am about to enter, and promise to pursue Knowledge, Wisdom, and Truth with humility, civility, and grace for the sake and benefit of this University, my Country, and all mankind.”

Section 2: The Offices of the Executive Board and duties thereof are the following, in order of Rank:

i. The President shall solely, in all instances unless specified otherwise, reserve the power to call, commence, and adjourn all meetings of the Executive Board, appoint persons to the Executive Board with the advice of the members of the Executive Board presiding and with the purpose of filling vacancies both present and impending, establish at his or her discretion adjunct committees with the express assignment of assisting the Executive Board by the direction of that body in the administration of the Society and comprised of members of the Executive Board presiding and/or other members of the Society, request of the Speaker of the House the commencement of each House session and make all motions to vote during each House session, affirm in conjunction with the Speaker of the House session summaries for publication, endorse or veto any action taken by the Speaker of the House including the suspension of any or all House rules, veto any action by the Sergeant of the House, and serve as the official ambassador of the Society with the privilege of signing all documents on behalf of the same.
ii. The Speaker of the House shall solely, unless in instances specified otherwise, reserve the power to commence, preside over, and adjourn each House session, yield and retain command of the floor and suspend any or all House rules, cast a vote on a resolution only in the event of an evenly divided result produced by the House, affirm the results of all floor votes on resolutions before the House, affirm in conjunction with the President session summaries for publication, and serve for the duration of one term only, with a term equal in length to a semester of study at The George Washington University.
iii. The Treasurer shall solely, unless in instances specified otherwise, reserve the power to manage the finances of the Society, complete the application of renewal of the Society charter of registration in the records of the Student Association, request all co-sponsorships, negotiate all business deals, and conduct all monetary transactions on behalf of the Society, and serve as the liaison between the Society and the Student Association of The George Washington University.
iv. The Secretary shall solely, unless in instances specified otherwise, reserve the power to hold and interpret the Constitution of the Society, tally in cooperation with the Sergeant of the House all floor votes and announce the results to the Speaker of the House during session, prepare each session summary which shall include the number in attendance, the names of paper speakers, as well as the results of any floor votes in a fair and legible style to present to the President and Speaker of the House for affirmation and publication to the record, enter the names of Associate, Learned, Esteemed, Honorary, and Ranking members of the Society to the record, and submit an other business papers, notes, correspondence, and bulletins related to and/or commissioned by the Society and/or the Executive Board or one of its members.
v. The Sergeant of the House shall solely, unless in instances specified otherwise, reserve the power to open and close the House, present the members of the Society to the House, schedule, announce, and publicize all sessions of the House, and admit and dismiss any person into the House during session.

Section 3: The Executive Board, acting as the whole of its members or in its fullest temporary capacity, is empowered to perform the following acts, with each officer representing one vote unless in instances specified otherwise:

i. Produce before the commencement of each season a schedule of House sessions and a corresponding card of resolutions that shall be presented before the House during each session.
ii. Issue a call for and brief paper speakers who will present opening and closing arguments for each resolution before the House.
iii. Nominate and confirm, by way of majority vote, with the Speaker of the House casting a second vote in the event of a tie, persons for induction into the Society as Honorary Members. Each member of the Executive Board may nominate one and only one person for consideration of honor per term; the Executive Board may hear and accept recommendations of persons for consideration of honor from non-Ranking Members.
iv. Revoke the earned status, by way of majority vote, with the Speaker of the House casting a second vote in the event of a tie, of any Associate, Learned, Esteemed, and Honorary member.
v. Instruct the Sergeant of the House to forbid the future entry into the House by any member who has demonstrated blatant and sustained contempt for House rules, conducted him or herself in a continuously disorderly manner, or who is otherwise deemed unfit for attendance in the House, by way of majority vote, with the Speaker of the House casting a second vote in the event of a tie.
vi. Review and overrule any act of the President not related to the procedural oversight of a meeting, including its call, commencement, and adjournment, by way of majority vote, with the Speaker of the House casting a second vote in the event of a tie; the President must abstain from voting on matters concerning the review of presidential acts.
vii. Exercise any powers necessary for the effective administration of the Society not explicitly reserved to the respective Offices of the Executive Board.

Section 4: The censure, impeachment, and/or dismissal of a member of the Executive Board shall adhere to the below due process, with each officer representing one vote in all cases not otherwise specified. A meeting of the Executive Board shall not be adjourned while a vote on a resolution of censure, impeachment, or dismissal is pending; the officer toward whom any one of the above resolutions is directed shall abstain from casting a vote on the same:

i. Stated grounds for the censure, impeachment, and/or dismissal of any member of the Executive Board must be made known by a member of that body. A member of the Executive Board is subject to censure, impeachment, and/or dismissal if his or her actions, behavior, speech, or demeanor is contradictory to the oath of his or her office sworn to and the spirit of the Society, and detrimental to the preservation of and adherence to the traditions and aspirations of the Society, with the interpretation of specific cases in which the applicability of such charges is appropriate reserved to the judgment of the members of the Executive Board.
ii. To censure a member of the Executive Board, a member of that body, during a meeting of the same, must motion to introduce a resolution of censure, which may only be directed at one member of the Executive Board at a time, on stated grounds congruent with the offenses enumerated in the Clause i of this Section.
iii. A member of the Executive Board, not being the same to introduce the resolution of censure, must second this motion.
iv. If the qualifications defined in Clause ii and Clause iii of this Section are met, the President must call a vote of the Executive Board on the resolution of censure. If the resolution of censure is directed toward the President, the Speaker of the House instead shall call a vote on the resolution.
v. If the resolution of censure clears the Executive Board, the officer to whom the resolution is directed is immediately issued a censure of disapproval by the Executive Board. If the vote on the resolution of censure is evenly divided, the Speaker of the House shall cast a second vote; if the resolution of censure is directed at the Speaker of the House, the President instead shall cast a second vote.
vi. To impeach a member of the Executive Board, a member of that body, during a meeting of the same, must motion to introduce a resolution of impeachment, which may only be directed at one member of the Executive Board at a time, on stated grounds congruent with the offenses enumerated in Clause i of this Section.
vii. A member of the Executive Board, not being the same to introduce the resolution of impeachment, must second this motion.
viii. If the qualifications defined in Clause vi and Clause vii of this Section are met, the President must call a vote of the Executive Board on the resolution of impeachment. If the resolution of impeachment is directed toward the President, the Speaker of the House instead shall call a vote on the resolution.
ix. If the resolution of impeachment clears the Executive Board, the officer to whom it is directed is immediately issued a writ of impeachment. If the vote on the resolution of impeachment is evenly divided, the Speaker of the House shall cast a second vote; if the resolution of impeachment is directed toward the Speaker of the House, the President instead shall cast a second vote.
x. An officer issued a writ of impeachment is afforded the right to defend his or her actions against the offenses alleged or offer an admission of guilt of the same to the members of the Executive Board.
xi. To dismiss a member of the Executive Board, he or she must be issued a writ of impeachment and afforded the appropriate rights subsequently activated congruent with Clause ix and Clause x of this Section. A member of the Executive Board must then motion to introduce a resolution of dismissal on stated grounds, directed at the member of the Executive Board presently impeached.
xii. A member of the Executive Board, not being the same to introduce the resolution of dismissal, must second this motion.
xiii. If the qualifications defined in Clause xi and Clause xii of this Section are met, the President must call a vote of the Executive Board on the resolution of dismissal. If the resolution of dismissal is directed toward the President, the Speaker of the House shall instead call a vote on the resolution.
xiv. If the resolution of dismissal clears the Executive Board, the officer to whom the resolution is directed is immediately and permanently dismissed from his or her office and duties thereof and is invalidated as a member of the Society. If the vote on the resolution of dismissal is evenly divided, the Speaker of the House will cast a second vote; if the resolution of dismissal is directed toward the Speaker of the House, the President instead shall cast a second vote.

Section 5: Should any officer of the Executive Board be removed or relieved from the duties of his or her office, the President shall appoint a successor to fill the vacancy. Should the President be removed or relieved from the duties of his or her office, or resign without appointing a successor, the Speaker of the House shall appoint a President.

Section 6: Should the need arise for a meeting of the Executive Board in conditions of emergency and in the confirmed and unavoidable absence of the President, the Speaker of the House shall with the express consent of the President retain the right to call such a meeting and all subsequent meetings as deemed necessary, and shall serve as Acting President for their duration in addition to fulfilling the duties of his or her office sworn to.

Section 7: No person shall hold the title of more than one office at a given time.

Article IV: Rules and Procedures of the House

Section 1: All of the below statutes must be affirmed by all present in the House prior to the recognition of speakers.

i. The consumption of food and beverage, with the exception of water, is prohibited on the floor.
ii. The use of profanity is prohibited on the floor.
iii. The use of electronic devices is prohibited on the floor.
iv. All who wish to take the floor must appeal, when prompted, for recognition by the Speaker of the House.
v. All speakers must argue on behalf of the proposition or the opposition.
vi. A speech on behalf of the proposition must be followed by a speech on behalf of the opposition, and vice versa.
vii. Opening speeches, floor speeches, and closing speeches may not exceed ten, three, and five minutes in length respectively; speakers may yield the floor at any time.
viii. All speeches must end promptly upon the sounding of the gavel by the Speaker of the House; all appeals for additional floor time or suspension of time limitations must be sustained by the Speaker of the House.
ix. Speakers may deliver one and only one floor speech during a House session.
x. Speakers may, but are not compelled to, recognize requests by floor members for points of information limited to the clarification of the content of a floor speech and which may not be used to advance an argument; points of information may not be requested of paper speakers during opening speeches.
xi. The Speaker of the House reserves the right to retain the floor at any time in the absence of a presidential veto.
xii. Resolutions shall be cleared or rejected by and only by a floor vote; the Speaker of the House may only cast a vote in the event of a tie.

Section 2: All House sessions should, but are not compelled to, emulate the following ceremony:

i. The Sergeant of the House shall open the House.
ii. The President shall request of the Speaker of the House the commencement of session.
iii. The Speaker of the House shall commence the session.
iv. The Speaker of the House shall recognize the opening arguments of the proposition paper speaker.
v. The Speaker of the House shall recognize the opening arguments of the opposition paper speaker.
vi. The Speaker of the House shall recognize any floor opinions.
vii. The Speaker of the House shall recognize the closing arguments of the opposition paper speaker.
viii. The Speaker of the House shall recognize the closing arguments of the proposition paper speaker.
iix. The President shall motion for a vote on the resolution before the floor.
ix. The Speaker of the House shall recognize this motion and call for a vote on the resolution before the floor.
x. Members of the floor may, but are not compelled to, cast a yea or nay vote by entering the House foyer through designated proposition and opposition entranceways. The Secretary shall note all yea votes while the Sergeant of the House shall note all nay votes; no vote by proxy shall be noted.
xi. After consultation with the Sergeant of the House, the Secretary shall announce the final vote tally to the Speaker of the House.
xii. The Speaker of the House shall announce and affirm the clearage or rejection of the resolution by the House.
xiii. The Speaker of the House shall announce the adjournment of the session to the President.
xiv. The Sergeant of the House shall close the House.
xv. The Secretary shall prepare a summary of the session and submit it to the record.

Section 3: In the absence of any member of the Executive Board, the next highest ranking member shall ascend to serve as acting officer of the unrepresented office, and so on.

Article V: Ratification of and Amendment to Constitution

Section 1: The ratification of this Constitution by the unanimous consent of the Executive Board of The Enosinian Society presiding shall be sufficient for the establishment of this document as the supreme law of the Society so ratifying the same.

Section 2: Any and all deletions, additions, or alterations of any kind to this Constitution once established must be approved by the unanimous consent of the Executive Board presiding, and shall be noted in this document as amendments listed in the order of their enactment and accompanied with the corresponding date of their adoption.

Article VI: Dissolution

Section 1: Should at any time this Society, as it has once and more times during its long history, become extinct for want of membership, leadership, capital, or any and all reasons which may solely or in conjunction result in the dissolution of our union, be it resolved the following responsibilities to be bequeathed to any who preside over such disbanding and any who may endeavor to preserve or restore this Society to its present form as delineated in this document:

i. The record of this Society, including, upon its ratification, this Constitution, shall be submitted to and preserved by the Melvin Gelman Library of The George Washington University in the city of Washington in the District of Columbia, and its affiliate branches.
ii. An oath of office (pursuant to Article III, Section 1 of this Constitution) must be rehearsed aloud by any person of the requisite mental fortitude and physical capacity in order to assume the duties of the office of the presidency in which all powers of appointment reside (pursuant Article III, Section 2, Clause i of this Constitution) so that he or she may reestablish the Executive Board (the composition of which shall be pursuant to Article III, Section 2 and subject to all statutes established in Article III of this Constitution) for the purposes of administering the Society.
iii. The Executive Board, acting as the whole of its members, must re-ordain and reestablish this Constitution in the dormant form of its discovery before resolving to alter this document in any way (in a manner pursuant to Article V, Section 2 of this Constitution).

Amendment I
Ratified October 7, 2009

The word “three” as it appears in Article IV, Section 1, Clause vii shall be replaced with the word “four.”

Amendment II
Ratified December 12, 2009

Section 1: The words “a Learned Member” as they appear in Article II, Section 1, Clause ii shall be replaced with the words “an Associate Member.”

Section 2: The word “Learned” as it appears in Article III, Section 2, Clause iv shall be omitted.

Section 3: The word “Learned” as it appears in Article III, Section 3, Clause iv shall be omitted.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Attention Freshmen! Enosinian Society Information Session

Hello Enosinians!

The Enosinian Society is well into its Fall 2009 season having hosted our second debate last Wednesday on the role of lobbyists in democracy. As part of our efforts to reach out to the new freshman class, we would like to cordially invite you all to our Information Session this Wednesday, September 30th at 8pm in the Honors Building. This brief session will be a great opportunity to learn about the history, composition, and purpose of our Society, as well as a chance to find out how you can get involved with the Society by becoming a member of our Debate Committee. Come out and see how you can get involved with GW's premier debate society and oldest student organization!


Eshawn Rawlley
President

Sunday, September 27, 2009

House Session II, Fall 2009 Summary

The resolution before the House on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, stating,

Resolved: Lobbyists are good for democracy,

was cleared, by way of floor vote, with six yeas and four nays cast, a result affirmed by the Speaker of the House.

Proposition Paper Speaker: Mr. Solomon Steen, Ranking Member
Opposition Paper Speaker: Mr. Samuel Pursch, Ranking Member
Members present: Twelve
Resolution: Cleared
Tally: Six over Four

Signed,
Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House Presiding
Eshawn Rawlley, President Presiding

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

K Street is Good for Main Street

The Enosinian Society will commence session tonight at 8:30PM in the Honors Building 714 21st St. NW to debate,

Resolved: Lobbyists are good for democracy

Proposition Speaker: Solomon Steen, Ranking Member
Opposition Speaker: Samuel Pursch, Ranking Member

Are lobbyists a pernicious plague on American democracy, introducing money, influence, and impropriety to public policy? Or are they steadfast representatives of minority interests vital to American economic power and underrepresented in Congress? We hope to see many of you there to take on this issue!

Eshawn Rawlley
President

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

House Session I, Fall 2009 Summary

The resolution before the House on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, stating,

Resolved: Marijuana should be legalized,

was cleared, by way of floor vote, with twelve yeas and eight nays cast, a result affirmed by the Speaker of the House.

Proposition Paper Speaker: Mr. Kevin Homiak, Esteemed Member
Opposition Paper Speaker: Mr. W. Hunter Patterson, Esteemed Member
Members present: Twenty one
Resolution: Cleared
Vote Tally: Twelve over Eight

Signed,
Alex Shoucair, Speaker of the House Presiding
Eshawn Rawlley, President Presiding

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Freshman Debate 2009 Tonight!

The Enosinian Society Fall of 2009 season begins tonight with the much anticipated Freshman Debate! At 8pm in the Honors Building, we will be ignoring the President of the United States talk about important things in order to discuss a much more pressing matter: the legalization of pot!

Tonight's resolution, Resolved: Marijuana should be legalized, is sure to being out many passionate opinions. As per the purpose of this blog, the Executive Board encourages all Society members (if you've attended a House session, you're a member!) to leave comments about this resolution on this post to continue the conversation outside the House!

Come out to debate tonight! Bring your opinions (just leave your weed at home!)

Eshawn Rawlley
President

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Fall 2009 Termcard Announced!

Greetings Enosinians! We hope the summer has been good to you! Surely by now your mind has melted away in the summer sun, ceding to mental malaise and intellectual inertia. Either that or Town Hall Fever's got you sick in the head!

Well if you're looking to break your head loose from its summer shackles and do some Cranium Curls and Ponder Pushups (sorry), consider Enosinian your brain-gym because we've got some great debates planned for this upcoming semester! Check it out:

September 9: Marijuana should be legalized
September 23: Lobbyists are good for democracy
October 7: America should only go to war by referendum
October 21: Ubiquitous connectivity is destroying individualism
November 5: COLUMBIAN CUP DEBATE vs. The Philodemic Society of Georgetown

November 18: Hate crime laws are contrary to the spirit of equality
December 2: [Resolution TBD by House vote. Details forthcoming]


Tune in here for more information regarding our upcoming debates, including the pre and post debates!

Get ready for some epic mental masturdebation!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Resolved:

The Enosinian Society is the most rewarding intellectual experience at GW!

Founded in 1822, The Enosinian Society is the oldest student organization on campus. The Society continues to provide a forum for intelligent, thoughtful, civil, and thrilling debate. Meeting fortnightly, we debate important contemporary issues and provacative age-old questions facing our world. Please join us in the fall for our Open House and Freshman Debate!

Topics of Past Debates:

Resolved: We need Wikipedia more than Britannica.
Resolved: Illegal downloading is good for music and musicians.
Resolved: The world should be free of nuclear weapons.