GSC Constitution and Bylaws

Table of Contents:

  1. Constitution
    1. Name
    2. Purpose
    3. Membership and Voting Privileges
    4. Executive Officers
    5. Meetings
    6. Amendments
  2. Bylaws
    1. Duties of Executive Officers
    2. Voting
    3. Elections
    4. Use of Funds

Constitution

  1. Name

    The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Student Council of Dartmouth College, heretofore known as the Graduate Student Council (GSC).

  2. Purpose

    The GSC shall:
    1. Serve as a forum for the discussion of matters pertaining to the welfare of graduate students at Dartmouth.
    2. Serve as a liaison between the graduate student body and the College.
    3. Contribute to the recognition and integration of graduate students at the College.
    4. Select graduate students to serve on College committees for which graduate representation is necessary.
    5. Foster unity among graduate students at Dartmouth by sponsoring social activities and other events.

  3. Membership and Voting Privileges

    1. GSC membership shall be comprised of departmental representatives and the executive board. Each graduate department or program at Dartmouth shall elect a minimum of one graduate student representative to the GSC. In the case of departments with 26 or more students, departments may choose to elect more representatives according to the scheme detailed below, with the exception of Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer (professional) School of Engineering and Tuck School of Business. DMS, Thayer (professional) and Tuck shall have a maximum of 1 non-voting representative.

      Number of Students in Department Maximum Representatives
      1 - 251
      26 - 502
      51 - 753
      75+4

      In determining the number of departmental representatives, the population of a department or program shall be comprised of candidates of all post-graduate degrees in that department or program.
    2. Any full-time or part-time graduate or professional student at Dartmouth may participate in GSC meetings or activities, as membership is not a requirement for participation.
    3. Voting privileges shall be extended to all members of the GSC, as described in Section I.

  4. Executive Officers

    The executive officers of the GSC shall consist of President or Co-Presidents, Vice President, Finance Chair, Records Chair, and Social Committee Co-Chairs. The North Park Activities Coordinator may serve as an executive officer at her/his discretion. No other persons shall be considered executive officers.

  5. Meetings

    1. The GSC shall meet no less than once per month during each of the fall, winter, and spring terms, and no less than once during the summer term, and as often as necessary to fulfill the Purpose stated in Article II.
    2. The GSC shall meet at a consistent day and time each term to be designated by the President or Co-Presidents and approved by the membership.
    3. The executive officers shall meet no less than once per month during each of the fall, winter and spring terms, separate from the GSC meetings discussed in Section I, and as often as necessary to fulfill the Purpose state in Article II.

  6. Amendments

    1. Proposals for amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws must be presented in writing to the President or Co-Presidents. Proposals will be presented and discussed at the next GSC meeting following their submission.
    2. Amendments to the Constitution shall require a three-fourths vote of a quorum of the GSC to be adopted.
    3. Amendments to the Bylaws shall require a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the GSC to be adopted.

Bylaws

  1. Duties of Executive Officers

    1. The President or Co-Presidents shall:
      1. Convene GSC meetings as necessary
      2. Organize and advertise GSC meetings, or appoint members to do so
      3. Preside at all GSC meetings
      4. Represent the GSC in an official capacity at the College, regional, or national level, or appoint members to do so
      5. Perform any other functions necessary and proper for the welfare of the GSC not expressly prohibited or otherwise delegated by the provisions of the Constitution or Bylaws
    2. The Vice President shall:
      1. Serve as a liaison between the College administration and GSC, in conjunction with the President.
      2. Report administrative decisions and developments impacting graduate student life to the GSC.
      3. Serve as GSC parliamentarian, assuring proper interpretation and implementation of the Constitution and Bylaws.
    3. The Finance Chair shall:
      1. Maintain financial records for all transactions utilizing GSC funds.
      2. Submit and propose a yearly budget to the GSC for membership approval.
      3. Collect and present all requests for funding from outside groups or individuals to the GSC or executive officers for approval.
      4. Assist the President in the execution of his/her duties.
    4. The Records Chair shall:
      1. Record and distribute GSC meeting minutes.
      2. Record and distribute executive officer meeting minutes.
      3. Assist the President in the execution of his/her duties.
    5. The Social Committee Co-Chairs shall:
      1. Propose, organize, and oversee the execution of social events for graduate students during each of the fall, winter, spring and summer terms.
      2. Procure and spend GSC funds for the execution of such events, in accordance with the wishes of the GSC.

  2. Voting

    1. All GSC members, as defined in Article III of the Constitution, shall be entitled to cast one vote on any proposal or in any election. Members must be present at the meeting at which a vote is conducted; proxy voting shall not be allowed.
    2. All proposals, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution or Bylaws, shall require a simple majority of votes cast to be approved.
    3. A quorum shall be defined as one-half of the minimum GSC membership plus one. Minimum GSC membership is defined as 1 representative from each department, for a total of 18. Therefore, quorum would be 10: half of 18, plus one.

  3. Elections

    1. All executive officers shall be elected at the last meeting of the spring term, or as positions become open, and shall take office immediately upon election.
    2. Any part-time or full-time graduate student at Dartmouth shall be eligible to be a GSC officer or committee representative, requiring a plurality of votes cast. No student may hold more than one office or serve as representative to more than one College committee, unless no other eligible person is willing to serve.
    3. A quorum shall be required for any meeting at which an election takes place. The outcome of an election shall be determined by majority vote of the members present.
    4. If an executive position becomes vacant, an election to fill the position may be held at the next General meeting of the GSC (General).
    5. All candidates for executive officer positions or committee representatives shall be allowed to make a speech on their own behalf. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
    6. All candidates for executive officer positions or committee representatives shall be allowed to make a speech on their own behalf. Voting shall be by secret ballot.

  4. Use of Funds

    1. The GSC must approve a yearly budget.
    2. All funds must be approved by one of the following:
      1. Items or requests specifically approved in annual budget.
      2. Submit funding requests to the Finance Chair.
    3. The GSC will not approve requests for funding retroactively.

The constitution and bylaws were originally drafted and adopted on October 17, 1998.

They were further amended on November 8, 2004, September 13, 2005 and February 13, 2006.


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