Chapter 2

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT SENATE

Section 1. Graduate and Professional Student Senate

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), composed of an elected Senator and one or more Alternates from each graduate degree-offering unit of the University, is concerned with the welfare of graduate and professional students. GPSS becomes involved with issues which affect the progress of students and their access to graduate education. The Senate is divided into four Subgroups (research and action committees), each directed toward an area of interest to graduate and professional students. The Subgroups are: I--Facilities, budget and planning; II--Academic affairs; III--Student affairs; and IV--Women and minority affairs. The GPSS Executive Committee, which governs the GPSS between quarterly full Senate meetings, consists of three elected officers (President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer), the appointed Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee, the elected GPSS representative to the ASUW Board of Control, and the Chairs of the four subgroups.

Funds are derived from student fees and allocated to GPSS through the Services and Activities Fees Committee (SAFC). The GPSS provides money for departmental orientations, lounge furniture, student publications, colloquia, and special events. Participation in GPSS activities and attendance at Senate meetings are open to all graduate and professional students. The offices of the Graduate and Professional Senate are located in the Student Union Building.

Section 2. Constitution

ARTICLE I--NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of the organization shall be the Graduate and Professional Student Senate of the University of Washington, hereinafter referred to as the GPSS

ARTICLE II--PURPOSE

Section A. The Graduate and Professional Student Senate shall, in every way possible, attempt to improve all aspects of graduate and professional education at the University of Washington, and it shall consider any matter that directly influences or affects the graduate and professional student body in whole or part as a valid item for its interest and deliberation.

Section B. The GPSS shall act as the representative organization for the graduate and professional student body at the University of Washington.

ARTICLE III--MEMBERSHIP

Section A. The Members (senators and alternates) of the GPSS shall be elected representatives from each subdivision, hereinafter referred to as Academic Area, of the graduate and professional student body at the University of Washington meeting such criteria as shall be set forth in the Bylaws of the GPSS, hereinafter referred to as the Bylaws.

Clause 1. Each Academic Area shall have the right to elect one (1) Senator and any number of Alternates as representatives.

Clause 2. The representatives shall be currently registered graduate or professional students. They shall be elected at an annual election by currently registered graduate or professional students in the Academic Area that they will represent.

Clause 3. Each Academic Area shall have one vote at GPSS meetings, which may be cast by the Senator, an Alternate, or by proxy, as set forth in the Bylaws.

Section B. The GPSS shall make every effort to obtain representation from all Academic Areas.

ARTICLE IV--SENATE MEETINGS

Section A. At least one regular GPSS meeting shall be held in each academic quarter.

Section B. The President shall call special GPSS meetings when requested by the Executive Committee or by a written petition from one-third (1/3) of the voting members or as he/she deems necessary.

ARTICLE V--SUBGROUPS

Section A. The GPSS shall be divided into subgroups as set forth in the Bylaws.

Section B. Every Member shall belong to at least one (1) subgroup.

Section C. The Chair of each subgroup shall serve on the Executive Committee.

Section D. Subgroup Chairs shall be elected, certified and recalled using procedures set forth in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI--ADMINISTRATION

Section A. Officers

Clause 1. The officers of the GPSS shall be a President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer.

Clause 2. GPSS officers shall be elected annually from among those currently registered graduate and professional students who are present or former Senators or Alternates, or who obtain the signatures of at least ten (10) Members on a nomination petition.

Clause 3. During their terms in office, the GPSS officers must be registered graduate or professional students throughout the academic year.

Clause 4. The GPSS officers shall serve on the Executive Committee.

Clause 5. The GPSS officers shall not be Members while in office, but shall have all the rights of Members except the rights to chair a subgroup, sit on the Judicial Council, be a member of the Elections Committee, and vote at GPSS meetings.

Clause 6. The GPSS officers shall perform duties as are specified in the Bylaws.

Clause 7. An officer may be recalled by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting members.

Section B. Executive Committee

Clause 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, the Chair of each Subgroup, and such non-voting members as shall be specified in the Bylaws.

Clause 2. The Executive Committee shall serve as the liaison between the GPSS and any other groups which deal with issues of interest to the GPSS.

Clause 3. The Executive Committee shall perform such other duties as set forth in the Bylaws.

Section C. Other Administrative Positions

The GPSS may have such other administrative positions as specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII--COMMITTEES

The GPSS may have such Standing Committees and ad hoc Committees as specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII--JUDICIAL PROCESS

Section A. The GPSS shall maintain a Judicial Council.

Section B. Should a dispute arise concerning the interpretation of the Constitution, Bylaws, or concerning any procedure, committee, subgroup, officer, or voting member of the GPSS, the system of adjudication shall be as follows:

Clause 1. The dispute shall be directed to the Judicial Council which shall make a decision which shall be binding unless appealed to the entire Senate body.

Clause 2. The decision of the GPSS shall be final.

ARTICLE IX--BYLAWS

Bylaws conforming to this Constitution shall be adopted by a simple majority vote of the voting members.

ARTICLE X--AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION

Section A. Any Member may propose an amendment to this Constitution.

Clause 1. The proposed amendment shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer at least four (4) weeks before it can be considered.

Clause 2. The Secretary/Treasurer shall distribute copies of the proposed amendment to the GPSS within two (2) weeks of its receipt.

Section B. Any amendment to this Constitution shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting members.

Section C. Any amendment which receives the required two-thirds (2/3) majority shall become effective immediately after adjournment of the meeting at which it is adopted, unless the motion to amend specifies a time that the amendment shall take effect.

Revised to December 1, 1982