Constitution

GSA Constitution:
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CONSTITUTION
GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY – BILLINGS

ARTICLE I
Name

The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Student Association of Montana State University – Billings hereinafter called the Association.

ARTICLE II
Purpose

The purpose of the Association is to promote the total graduate program of Montana State University – Billings, and thereby to enhance the academic, cultural, and the social well-being of the membership of the Association.

ARTICLE III
Membership

Membership in the Association shall be open to students currently enrolled in courses for graduate credit, either full or part-time at Montana State University – Billings, and to students who may not be enrolled in a given term who have been admitted to provisional graduate program status or to candidacy for a masters degree.

ARTICLE IV
Officers

Section 1 – Officers of the Association

The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and the Chairpersons of standing committees.

A.     The elected officers shall be the President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer who shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership at a meeting no later than midterm of Spring Semester.

B.     The appointed officers shall be the Chairpersons of the committees, and shall be appointed by the President, with the approval of a majority of the membership, voting at a regular meeting.

C.     The officers of the Association shall constitute the Executive Board, and shall carryout the business of the Association between the regular meetings.

Section 2 – Duties of the Officers

A.     The duties of the President shall be to preside over the meetings of the Association, and to act as the official representative of the Association at all times during tem of office.

B.     The duties of the Vice-President shall be to assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.

C.     The duties of the Secretary/Treasurer shall be to take minutes of all meetings, to conduct all correspondence of the Association, and to maintain records of Association’s appointments to committees.

D.     The duties of the chairpersons for committees shall be to carry out the responsibilities assigned to them by the President, and to report, when requested, to the membership at regular meetings.

E.     The fund controllers for all ASMSU-Billings funds awarded to the Association shall be two of the three officers, excluding any officer who is a member of the Student Senate.

ARTICLE V
Meetings

Section 1 – Frequency of Meetings

A.     There shall be at least two (2) regular meetings of the Association each term of the academic year, with the exception of the summer session.

B.     Special meetings shall be held whenever deemed necessary by the President, or any other elected Officer, and the Advisor(s).

Section 2 – Voting

A.     Each member of the Association shall be elected one vote, with the presiding officer voting in the case of tie.

B.     A quorum shall consist of at least one (1) elected officer and five (5) percent of the enrolled membership. This is never to be less than seven (7) members.

C.     The advisor(s) shall have full discussion privileges, but shall not have a vote.

D.     All issues shall be determined by a simple majority vote of a quorum unless otherwise specified by Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised Edition) or this constitution, or any by-laws made pursuant thereto. 

ARTICLE VI
Committees

Committees of the Association may be:

A.     Program Committee will develop, institute, and supervise programs which will further the purposes of the Association. This committee may have sub-committees, as deemed necessary by the Chairperson.

B.     Finance Committee will determine measures for obtaining financial support for the Association and its activities. This committee shall be responsible for submission of the annual budget to the Associated Students of Montana State University – Billings.

C.     Publicity and promotions Committee will determine means of encouraging active participation of the membership for the Association to a level necessary to fulfill its functions and of promoting Associational activities.

D.     Special or Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed by the President as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Association.  These committees shall serve until discharged by the President.

ARTICLE VII
Ratification

This Constitution shall replace all previous constitutions of this organization, upon ratification by a majority of a quorum of the membership.

ARTICLE VIII
Authority

This Constitution, the by-laws made pursuant thereto, and the rules made by the Association shall be the law of the Graduate Student association of Montana State University – Billings.

ARTICLE IX
Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast by a quorum of the members, providing that written publicity concerning proposed changes has been made available to the membership for (5) days prior to the date of voting.

ARTICLE X
Budget

No dues shall be assessed to the membership of the Association. Financial support shall be the responsibility of the Finance Committee.

HISTORY OF AMENDMENTS

• December 1981   Reorganization of Articles and Sub-titles
• October 1987      Amendment of Article III Membership and Article V (1) Frequency of Meetings
• November 1987   Amendment of Article VI Committees
• November 1987   New Article X Dues
• March 1996 Update Constitution
• January 2000      Update Constitution
• October 2003      Update Constitution