The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate continued to debate the appointment process of the 2006 head elections commissioner last night, more than a month after members hoped to have the position filled.

USG President Galen Foulke nominated Jillian Crayton as head elections commissioner, but after about an hour of debate, the Senate chose not to confirm her.

The majority of the Senate members were reluctant to appoint Crayton because Foulke chose her without an open application process and because some senators complained about her professionalism.

The Senate then proposed legislation to create an internal committee consisting of five senators who would appoint the head elections commissioner.

"Last year's election campaign is something I never want to experience again," Senate Vice President Alex Ibrahim said. "Senate's job is to legislate the elections code, keep affairs within the Senate and elect five senators to decide the commissioners to run the system."

Eight amendments to legislation made last week by the Senate were brought before the USG Supreme Court on Monday, and the Senate was advised by the court to prepare for the rejection of at least two of the eight. One of the amendments expecting rejection includes a previously discussed elections board. The decision of the court will be publicly released early next week.

Last week's legislation proposed a board, consisting of the USG president, Senate president and Academic Assembly president, to appoint the head elections commissioner. Right now, the USG president nominates the position, forwarding it to Senate for approval.

Last night's legislation is another attempt to fix constitutional conflicts, Internal Affairs Chairman Brock Coleman said. It eliminates all votes other than those of the five Senate members on the committee.

After the court hearing, Ibrahim, Coleman and Pollock Halls Sen. Mike Tomaselli drafted the new legislation in response to the court's advice.

The new legislation, which has yet to be approved by Foulke, states that instead of requiring Senate's approval of the president's recommendation, five senators will have control of appointing a commissioner through an open application process. The legislation still needs to be approved by either Foulke or the court.

"Now it is a matter of the internal Senate. The process is more efficient this way because the committee can work by itself," Ibrahim said.

Senate President Andy Banducci said last year's head elections commissioner, appointed last January, complained of a lack of time to complete her job. USG had intended to have the head elections commissioner appointed before the winter break, but has yet to agree on an appointment process, he said.

"I think it's going to take a long time for all of us to agree," West Halls Sen. Leigh Silkunas said. "We need an elections commissioner as soon as possible."