The chancellor is appointed "for two years" or such further time "as the tacit consent of the university permits." Under this proviso the appointment is practically for life. The vice-chancellor is appointed from among the heads of houses, and the office is annual. In each case the appointment is in the hands of the senate, or legislative body of the university which consists of all resident masters of arts and of those non-resident _M.A.'s_ who have kept their names upon the university register.
The meetings of the senate take place in the Senate House and are called congregations. In these, degrees are conferred and "graces" are considered; a "grace" being the name for all acts of the senate, or motions proposed for its acceptance.
Resident members of the senate form the "electoral roll," and elect the council.[323] Lastly the executive body consists of the chancellor, the high steward,[324] the vice-chancellor, a commissary appointed by the chancellor, and the _sex viri_ who adjudicate on all matters affecting the senior members of the university, are elected "by grace of the senate," and hold their office for two years.
The university has sent two members to parliament since the first year of James I. The exercise of the parliamentary suffrage belongs to the whole senate and is the one exception to the rule which obliges every member to record his vote personally in the Senate House.[325] The total number of members of the senate is 7192; the total number of members of the university is 13,819, this latter including all bachelors of arts and undergraduates in residence, and all _B.A.'s_ whose names are on the books pending their proceeding to the degree of _M.A._
After the vice-chancellor no officers are so much in evidence as the proctors. Their duties are twofold: they conduct the congregations of the senate, and they maintain discipline among the undergraduates. There are 2 proctors elected annually, to whom are joined 2 pro-proctors, and 2 additional pro-proctors. The pro-proctors have not the standing of the proctors as university officials, but they exercise the same authority over the men.[326] Other executive officers are the public orator, who is "the voice of the senate"[327]; the university librarian, the registrary, the university marshal (appointed by the vice-chancellor) and the bedells.