Constitution
THE GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
(Revised April 4, 2005 )
Article I: NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization shall be the GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, herein referred to as the GPSA.
Article II: PURPOSE
The purpose of the GPSA is to work for further improvement of the quality of graduate/professional education and graduate/professional student life at Washington State University . GPSA shall present the interests of the graduate/professional student body to the appropriate persons and organizations.
Section I: The authority of the GPSA. The GPSA is established under the authority of the Washington State University Board of Regents.
Section II: The Exercise of power by the GPSA. The authorities and powers of the GPSA shall be exercised by the GPSA Senate (Constitution, Article IV), the GPSA Executive Officers (Constitution, Article V, Section I through III), and GPSA Committees (Bylaws, Article V) in accordance with the GPSA Constitution and the GPSA Bylaws.
Section III: Limits to the Exercise of Authority by the GPSA. The authority to exercise the powers of the GPSA shall be subject to such legislation and conditions as the WSU Board of Regents may prescribe. Notwithstanding these limits, the GPSA shall operate in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and the United States of America .
Article III: GPSA MEMBERSHIP
All students enrolled in the Washington State University Graduate School or a Washington State University Professional School , shall be members of the GPSA (Bylaws, Article I).
Article IV: THE GPSA SENATE
There shall be a GPSA Senate whose responsibility will be to carry out the business of the GPSA in all respects.
Section I: Duties of the GPSA Senate. The GPSA Senate is the legislative arm of the GPSA and shall herein be referred to as the Senate.
Section II: Voting Members of the GPSA Senate. The voting members of the Senate shall consist of the GPSA Senators (Bylaws, Article IV, Section IV), the GPSA President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section I), the GPSA Vice President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section II) and the GPSA District Representatives (Bylaws, Article IV, Section III).
Section III: The GPSA Senators. GPSA Senators will be elected by and represent the members of their graduate or professional program to serve in the Senate.
A. Terms of Office for GPSA Senators. The terms of office for all GPSA Senators shall run from the date elected to May 15 of the following year.
B. Recall of GPSA Senators. GPSA Senators may be recalled by their constituents at any time during their term of office. Recall shall be initiated upon presentation to the GPSA President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section I) a recall petition by at least one-third (1/3) of the GPSA members in that department or program. Upon receipt of the petition and verification of the signatures, the GPSA President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section I) shall appoint a member of the GPSA Executive Committee (Bylaws, Article II, Section III) to the task of supervising a recall election to be held not less than ten (10) and not more than thirty (30) days following notification of the GPSA Senator. The GPSA Senator involved in the recall shall be notified in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to the recall election.
C. Representation and Election of GPSA Senators. The representation and election of members from departments or programs to serve as GPSA Senators shall be defined in the GPSA Bylaws (Bylaws, Article III, Section I).
Section IV: The Chair of the GPSA Senate. The Chair of the Senate shall be the GPSA Vice President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section II).
A. Voting by the Senate Chair. The Chair of the Senate shall vote in the Senate only in the case of a tie.
B. Absence of the GPSA Vice President from GPSA Senate Meeting. In the case of absence of the GPSA Vice President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section II) from a Senate meeting, the GPSA President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section II) shall assume the responsibilities and privileges of the GPSA Vice President's role as Chair of the Senate for the duration of the Senate meeting from which the GPSA Vice President (Bylaws, Article IV, Section II) is absent.
Article V: THE GPSA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
There shall be executive officers of the GPSA.
Section I: The GPSA President. There shall be a President of the GPSA.
A. Term of Office for GPSA President. The terms of office for the GPSA President shall run from May 16 of the year elected to May 15 of the following year.
B. Recall of the GPSA President. The GPSA President may be recalled by vote of the membership. Recall shall be initiated by the remaining members of the GPSA Executive Committee (Bylaws, Article V, Section III) upon receipt of a recall petition signed by twenty (20%) percent of the membership. Upon receipt of the petition and verification of the signatures, the remaining members of the GPSA Executive Committee (Bylaws, Article V, Section III) shall schedule a recall election to be held not less than ten (10) days and not more than thirty (30) days following notification of the GPSA President. The GPSA President shall be informed of the initiation to recall at least two (2) weeks prior to the recall election.
C. Eligibility, Election and Duties of the GPSA President. The eligibility, election and duties of the GPSA President shall be as defined in the GPSA Bylaws (Article IV, Section I, and Appendix II, Article I, Section III & IV).
Section II: The GPSA Vice President. There shall be a Vice President of the GPSA.
A. Term of Office for the GPSA Vice President. The term of office for the GPSA Vice President shall run from May 16 of the year elected to May 15 of the following year.
B. Recall of the GPSA Vice President. The GPSA Vice President may be recalled by vote of the membership. Recall shall be initiated by the remaining members of the GPSA Executive Committee (Bylaws, Article II, Section III) upon receipt of a recall petition signed by twenty (20%) percent of the membership. Upon receipt of the petition and verification of the signatures, the remaining members of the GPSA Executive Committee (Bylaws, Article II, Section III), shall schedule a recall election to be held not less than ten (10) days and not more than thirty (30) days following notification of the GPSA Vice President. The GPSA Vice President shall be informed of the initiation to recall at least two (2) weeks prior to the recall election.
C. Eligibility, Election and Duties of the GPSA Vice President. The eligibility, election and duties of the GPSA Vice President shall be as defined in the GPSA Bylaws (Article IV, Section II, and Appendix II, Article I).
Section III: The GPSA District Representatives. There shall be District Representatives of the GPSA.
A. Terms of Office for GPSA District Representatives. The terms of office for the GPSA District Representatives shall be the same as that for GPSA Senators (Constitution, Article IV, Section III, A).
B. Recall of GPSA District Representatives. GPSA District Representatives may be recalled by vote of the membership of their district. Recall shall be initiated by the GPSA President upon receipt of a recall petition signed by twenty (20%) percent of the GPSA membership from the district represented by the District Representative in question. Upon receipt of the petition and verification of the signatures, the GPSA President shall schedule a recall election to be held not less than ten (10) days and not more than thirty (30) days following notification of the District Representative concerned. The District Representative concerned shall be informed of the initiation to recall at least two (2) weeks prior to the recall election.
C. Eligibility, Election and Duties of the GPSA District Representatives. The eligibility, election and duties of GPSA District Representatives shall be as defined in the GPSA Bylaws (Article IV Section III and Appendix II, Article I).
Article VI: GPSA COMMITTEES
There shall be Committees of the GPSA.
Section I: The GPSA Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of the GPSA whose responsibility shall be the day-to-day operations of the GPSA and all other responsibilities assigned to it by the GPSA Constitution (Article VIII, Section I, A) and the GPSA Bylaws (Article IV, Section III).
A. Duties of the GPSA Executive Committee. The GPSA Executive Committee shall serve as the executive arm of the GPSA and shall herein be referred to as the Executive Committee.
B. Membership of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the GPSA President, the GPSA Vice President and the GPSA District Representatives.
C. Voting Privileges on the Executive Committee. Each member of the Executive Committee shall have one (1) vote in the Executive Committee.
D. The Chair of the Executive Committee. The Chair of the Executive Committee shall be the GPSA President.
1. Voting by the Executive Committee Chair. The Chair of the Executive Committee shall vote in the Executive Committee only in the case of a tie.
2. Absence of the GPSA President from a GPSA Executive Committee Meeting. In the case of absence of the GPSA President from an Executive Committee meeting, the GPSA Vice President shall assume the responsibilities and privileges of the GPSA President's role as Chair of the Executive Committee for the duration of the Executive Committee meeting from which the GPSA President is absent.
Section II: Other GPSA Committees. Other GPSA Committees shall be formed as indicated by the Senate or its designated representative(s) or the GPSA Bylaws (Article V).
Article VII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The business of the Senate, the Executive Committee or other GPSA Committees shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, except as otherwise provided in the GPSA Constitution (Article VIII, Section I) or the GPSA Bylaws (Article II). All questions shall be ruled on by the Senate Chair, the Executive Committee Chair or the Chair of other GPSA Committees subject to a vote by the Senate, the Executive Committee or the other members of a GPSA Committee.
Article VIII: THE GPSA CONSTITUTION
There shall be a Constitution of the GPSA which shall serve, in conjunction with the GPSA Bylaws as the governing documents of the GPSA and of its subsidiaries.
Section I: Adoption of the GPSA Constitution. This Constitution shall be adopted after it has been recommended for approval to the Senate by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee, approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate, and approved by the WSU Board of Regents.
A. Precedence of the GPSA Constitution. This Constitution shall supersede all previous Constitutions of the GPSA.
B. Retention of Senators and Officers. Officers and Senators elected prior to or concurrently with the adoption of this constitution shall continue to hold or assume their offices, but their respective powers and authorities will be governed by this Constitution.
Section II: Amendments to the GPSA Constitution. Amendments to this Constitution may be submitted to the Senate following: a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee or by a petition to the GPSA President signed by ten (10%) percent of the membership.
A. Voting Procedures for Constitutional Amendments. Two-thirds (2/3) of the Senate voting to support a constitutional amendment shall guarantee the submission of the amendment to the membership for ratification in an election to be held coincidentally with the GPSA General Election of GPSA Executive Officers.
B. Voting Margin for approval of Constitutional Amendments. A simple majority of the votes cast by the membership in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment in the GPSA General Elections shall constitute approval of the proposed constitutional amendment.
C. Adoption of Constitutional Amendments. An approved amendment to the constitution shall be subject to the approval of the WSU Board of Regents.
Article IX: THE GPSA BYLAWS
There shall be Bylaws of the GPSA which shall serve in conjunction with the GPSA Constitution, as the governing documents of the GPSA and all of its subsidiaries.
Section I: Adoption of the GPSA Bylaws. The GPSA Bylaws shall be adopted after they have been recommended for approval to the Senate by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee, approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate and approved by the WSU Board of Regents.
- Precedence of the GPSA Bylaws. These GPSA Bylaws shall supersede all previous GPSA Bylaws upon their adoption.
Section II: Amendments to the GPSA Bylaws. Proposed amendments to the GPSA Bylaws may be submitted to the Senate for approval by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee or by a petition to the GPSA President signed by ten (10%) percent of the membership.
A. Approval of Proposed Amendments to the GPSA Bylaws. A two-thirds (2/3) vote in favor of a proposed amendment to the GPSA Bylaws at a Senate meeting shall constitute approval of the proposed amendment.
B. Notification of the GPSA Senate of Proposals to Amend the GPSA Bylaws. Written notice of any proposed amendments to the GPSA Bylaws must be submitted to the members of the Senate prior to the Senate meeting at which the vote on the proposed amendment to the GPSA Bylaws will take place.
C. Notification of the Members of GPSA of Changes to the Bylaws. Written notice of approved changes to the GPSA Bylaws shall be submitted to the members of GPSA via electronic mail.
Article X: THE GPSA ADVISOR
There shall be an advisor to the GPSA.
Section I: Naming the GPSA Advisor. The Dean of the Washington State University Graduate School , or a Representative designated by the Dean of the WSU Graduate School , shall serve as the advisor to the GPSA and the Senate.
Article XI: THE GPSA SUPERVISOR
There shall be a supervisor of the GPSA.
Section I: Naming the GPSA Supervisor. The Dean of the Washington State University Graduate School , or a representative designated by the Dean of the Washington State University Graduate School , shall serve as the Supervisor of the GPSA.
A. Duties of the GPSA Supervisor. The GPSA Supervisor shall assist the GPSA or its subsidiaries for the purposes of processing documents related to the functioning of the GPSA, its Executive Officers and/or Senators or committees.
B. Right of Approval for the GPSA. The GPSA or its subsidiaries require the right of prior approval for the disbursement of GPSA funds by the GPSA Supervisor from any GPSA financial account.