GSG Constitution
Preamble
The needs of graduate students are separate from those of undergraduates, and whereas there is no other mechanism on the campus of the 美高梅官网 to be the voice of the collective graduate students, be it therefore enacted that we, the graduate students, do hereby establish this constitution of the Graduate Student Government.
Article I : Objectives
Section 1.聽To promote the academic (research and educational) goals of graduate students at the 美高梅官网.
Section 2.聽To establish effective communication among graduate students, other student groups, and the academic and administrative units of the University.
Section 3.聽To be the administrative and financial advisor to all member groups affiliated with the GSG.
Section 4.聽The GSG shall not endorse political issues which do not directly concern the welfare of graduate students at the 美高梅官网 and shall not, therefore, be considered a political organization.聽聽
ARTICLE II : CONSTITUENCY
Section 1.聽The GSG represents all 美高梅官网 graduate students.
Section 2.聽Graduate students are herein defined as 美高梅官网 students enrolled in any graduate program offered by the University, either full- or part-time.聽聽
ARTICLE III : MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.聽Graduate students may form Representative Member Groups, herein defined as academic groups (by graduate program or college), who apply for membership to the GSG and meet the criteria of the Constitution and its Bylaws. GSA Member Groups shall consist of at least ten graduate students from a degree-granting program, department or college at the 美高梅官网. Every graduate degree-granting academic program can be represented by only one GSG Member Group.
Section 2.聽GSG Member Groups shall elect a representative to the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) and may elect an alternate for their representative.
Section 3.聽Member Groups must have "active status" to receive the full benefits of GSG. "Active status" entails regular representation at GSG meetings and completion of registration requirements.
Section 4.聽The Executive Board shall make the final determination on whether new groups fulfill the criteria to form a GSA Representative Member Group.聽聽
ARTICLE IV : GRADUATE STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Section 1.聽The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) shall be the policy-making body for the GSG, and shall abide by all University, State, and Federal laws.
Section 2.聽All graduate students at the 美高梅官网 have a right to attend meetings.
Section 3.聽GSG meetings (the GSA) shall consist of Representative(s) from each Member Group (GSA members), as well as the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, and the Campus Ambassador of GSG, and GSGcommittee chairs. Voting privileges are reserved for designated GSA representatives.
Section 4.聽Each Representative shall have one (1) vote. Alternates may attend GSA meetings, but may vote on any business conducted by the GSA only in the absence of the Representative for the respective Member Group. An Alternate serving in the place of the respective Representative has full rights, duties, and privileges accorded each member of the GSA.
Section 5.聽All Representatives and Alternates shall serve a term of one year. Re-election will be in accordance with Member Groups' Constitutions.聽聽
ARTICLE V : OFFICERS
Section 1.聽The GSG shall have 4 officers elected by the GSA. The officers are a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer and a Campus Ambassador elected by the GSA.
Section 2.聽Officers must be matriculating graduate students, registered in an approved / official graduate program and be in good academic standing with their respective colleges during term of office.
Section 3.聽The elected GSG officers shall preside over all GSA meetings.
Section 4.聽The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Campus Ambassador shall serve on the Executive Board.
Section 5.聽The term of office for all GSG officers shall be one (1) year, commencing with beginning of summer semester through the end of the following academic year鈥檚 summer break. Officers may be elected up to three terms, with maximum five years service in the GSG executive board. Officers may serve at most one additional term if a three-quarters majority of the GSA so approves.
Section 6.聽Officers are paid over a twelve (12) month period that includes summer duties. If an officer is unable to perform duties during any semester, he/she will not get compensation for that semester.聽聽
ARTICLE VI : MEETINGS
Section 1.聽Meetings of the GSA shall be held monthly during the autumn and spring semesters. The GSG officers will schedule meetings. In September, all GSA representatives shall be notified, in writing, of the date, time, and location of all regular meetings scheduled for the year.
Section 2.聽Special meetings of the GSA may be called when deemed necessary by the Executive Board. GSA members must be given at least forty-eight (48) hours notice prior to the meeting.
Section 3.聽All graduate students have speaking privileges at GSA meetings. All speakers must be recognized by the presiding officer at the meeting. Presiding officer has the right to limit discussion to designated GSA representatives.
Section 4.聽In the event of a disturbance of the GSA meeting, the Presiding Officer is empowered to clear the meeting of non-voting members and/or to adjourn the meeting.
Section 5.聽All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert鈥檚 Rules of Order, except as stated in the聽GSG Bylaws, Section 6.聽聽
ARTICLE VII : BYLAWS
Section 1.聽This Constitution and the聽GSG Bylaws聽shall be the rules of the GSA and the GSG.
Section 2.聽The聽Bylaws聽may be amended by a majority of the GSA voting membership present. (There must be a GSA quorum.)
Section 3.聽Proposals to amend the Bylaws can be presented by any official representative of a Member Group or by a GSG officer.聽聽
ARTICLE VIII : GSG GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE
Section 1.聽The GSG Grant Review Committee (GRC) is composed of the GSG Executive Board and two (2) GSA Representatives, with the Vice-President presiding.
Section 2.聽The two (2) GSG Representatives are selected from a pool of applicants. Selection is based upon previous GSG experience or other relevant experience. Efforts should be made to add Member Group / College variety to the committee.
Section 3.聽The GRC will meet and assess submitted grant proposals. The GSG-GRC will make a decision and notify the submitting group in writing within ten calendar days from the deadline for receiving the grant.
Section 4.聽GRC selects grants based upon rules set forth on the GSG Grant Application form, and by rules established by the GRC at the beginning of the academic year.
Section 5.聽If two or more members of the committee are from the same department, they vote as a single vote on grants related to their department.
Section 6.聽If a committee member is directly involved in the project submitted to assessment by the GSG-GRC, they shall abstain from voting.聽聽
ARTICLE IX : UNIVERSITY ADVISOR
Section 1.聽The GSG shall have a University Advisor who shall be a full-time member of the University faculty or administration.
Section 2.聽The University Advisor shall be selected by the Executive Board and approved by the GSA by a majority vote.
Section 3.聽Any change made in the University Advisor takes place at the beginning of the next academic year.聽聽
ARTICLE X : GSG GRADUATE GROUP OF THE YEAR
Section 1.聽The GSG Executive Board will select from the Member Groups nominated for the GSG Graduate Group of the Year Award.
Section 2.聽The GSG officers will award a certificate to the selected GSG Member Group and add the Group's name to the GSG Graduate Group of the Year Plaque located in the GSG office.聽聽
ARTICLE XI : AMENDMENTS
Section 1.聽A motion to amend this Constitution may be made by petition of one half (陆) of the GSA voting Representatives.
Section 2.聽A motion to amend shall be voted on within five (5) weeks after said motion has been made. A motion to amend this Constitution can only be tabled once.
Section 3.聽Amendments to this Constitution shall be declared ratified and adopted following a three-fourths (75%) affirmative vote by all voting Representatives present. (There must be a GSA quorum.)聽聽
ARTICLE XII : RATIFICATION
Section 1.聽This Constitution shall be ratified and adopted following a three-fourths (戮) affirmative vote by all voting GSA Representatives present. (There must be a GSA quorum. See section 6c of GSG Bylaws for definition of quorum.)
Section 2.聽This Constitution shall be effective upon ratification.
Section 3.聽The officers at the time of ratification shall remain in their respective positions until the next regularly scheduled election of officers.