CSGSA Constitution
From CSGSA Wiki
Contents |
Article I - General
1. The official name of this organization is the Computer Science Graduate Student Association. The official abbreviation is CSGSA.
2. The association will operate as a non-profit organization.
3. The association will abide by the applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota pertaining to student organizations.
4. The organization exists for the following reasons:
- a. To provide a support group for all Computer Science graduate students.
- b. To represent the interests of all Computer Science graduate students.
Article I - Membership
1. Membership is open to all computer science graduate students at the University of Minnesota.
2. All computer science graduate students are members of the association, unless they indicate to one of the officers that they do not wish to be a member.
Article III - Officers
1. The officers of this association consist of President, Vice President, and Secretary.
2. All officers must be currently enrolled, full-time computer science graduate students at the University of Minnesota. Exceptions to this requirement are permitted for graduate students upon receipt of a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies of the Computer Science department certifying that the student is actively pursuing a degree.
3. The duties of the officers are:
- a. President - Presides over all meetings of the association. Acts as official representative of the association at other meetings and events. Appoints representatives to Computer Science departmental committees. Appoints representatives to the Council of Graduate Students. Appoints officers to vacated positions.
- b. Vice President - Presides at meetings of the association in the absence of the President. Succeeds the President if the President is unable to complete the term of his/her office.
- c. Secretary - Records and produces minutes of all meetings. Handles the association's correspondence and publicity. Directs regular elections and any special elections.
Article IV - Elections
1. The process of electing officers for the following year begins on or before the 2nd Friday after the end of Spring Break. A special election may also be called for the purpose of ratifying amendments to this constitution and/or replacing current officers. A special election may be called by a 2/3 vote during a meeting of the CSGSA when at least 12 members are present.
2. The election of officers begins with the nomination period. Nominations are submitted to the CSGSA secretary via e-mail. The call for nominations will be widely publicized, indicating that all members of the CSGSA are eligible for office.
3. The election ballot will include a list of all persons who are nominated by at least one nomination, consent to running for office, and are eligible CSGSA members. It will also include a description of the purpose of the CSGSA (see Article I, Section 4), and instructions on where to find a copy of this Constitution. When amendments are being voted upon, the ballot will include the text of the proposed amendment.
4. The Secretary is responsible for managing elections.
5. Elections are carried out according to a written plan available to all members of the department. In order to change the plan, the Secretary submits the proposed plan in writing to a CSGSA meeting where a quorum prevails at least 7 days before the first steps of the plan would need to take place in order to use it for the first election when it is proposed to be used. If a two-thirds majority of CSGSA members present approve the plan, it takes force immediately. If not, the plan may be submitted to the members at large in an election using the old plan; if a simple majority of voting members approve it, it take force for subsequent elections.
6. Plans shall be fair (every member has equal opportunity to vote, and each member's vote counts equally), convenient (voting may not be an undue burden), and transparent (members of the department can, with reasonable confidence, independently verify that the the election was conducted according to plan and that the published result is correct).
7. In the event that the Vice President or Secretary step down or leave the organization, the President shall appoint replacements subject to the majority approval members in attendance at a CSGSA meeting where a quorum prevails.
8. In the event that the President should step down or leave the organization, a majority of the members at a CSGSA meeting where a quorum prevails can move to 1) allow the Vice President to become President (thus vacating the Vice Presidency) or 2) hold special elections for a new President.
Article V - Meetings
1. A regular meeting will be held biweekly during the academic year. A special meeting may be called by the President or by a petition of ten voting members.
2. A quorum must be present at a meeting in order to conduct official business of the association. A quorum consists of six members, including either the President or Vice President.
3. Decisions of the association will be enacted by a majority vote of the membership present.
Article VI - Financial Matters, Contests and Disbursements
1. The association will not provide monetary gain, incidentally or otherwise, to its officers under any circumstances.
2. The association will not provide monetary gain, incidentally or otherwise, to any of its members, except as prizes in contests or competitions that are sponsored by the association, that are open to all graduate students in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and that are announced via departmental email at least one week prior.
3. The maximum value of the monetary gain permitted by section 2 must be fixed prior to the contest or competition in question.
4. Unless otherwise specified by the membership at the time of dissolution of the organization, residual assets will be transferred to the University of Minnesota Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Article VII - By-laws
1. By-laws may be proposed by the membership and are adopted by a majority vote of those present at a meeting when a quorum is present.
Article VIII - Amendments
1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any member of the association. Proposals must be presented in writing to a regular meeting of the CSGSA.
2. Proposed amendments will be submitted to a vote of the members of the CSGSA. A majority vote in favor is required to place the amendment on the next election ballot. A majority of all ballots received in favor is required for adoption of amendments.
Accepted by graduate students per ballot on 2001-04-13.
