Constitution

ARTICLE II – Composition
The SPA-GSC executive board shall comprise six officers (See Article III), elected at large from among the SPA graduate community (as prescribed in Article VI). The SPA-GSC shall compromise the executive board members, one elected Student Representative from each of the SPA academic departments, and the four elected SPA-GSC Committee Chairs. All members of the SPA-GSC must be current graduate students in SPA.

ARTICLE III – Executive Board Officers

          1.   The executive board shall consist of a president, a vice president, a director of

                communications, a director of finances, a parliamentarian, and an Editor-in-Chief of

               The Public Purpose journal.

           2.    Duties required of all executive officers shall be as follows:

a. To attend required student activities 101 and Financial 101 trainings within the first

    month of classes

b. To attend all meetings and events of the SPA-GSC.

c. To ensure the cleanliness and functionality of the MA and PhD lounges.

           3. Duties of the president shall be as follows:

a. To act as the official representative of the SPA-GSC, its executive board, and of SPA

    graduate students to all campus constituencies.

b. To set the agenda for, and run, all SPA-GSC and executive board meetings.

c. To attend meetings of the AU Graduate Leadership Council (GLC), the Graduate Public

    Affairs Council of DC (GPAC), Dean’s Advisory Council, and other relevant bodies as

    necessary, or to designate a proxy from the SPA-GSC.

d. To maintain informal communication with said constituencies and SPA and University administration, where necessary.

e. To maintain contact with elected representatives, with the advice of the executive board,

    SPA graduate students to such SPA committees as may be constituted by the Dean, SPA

    Council, or other such bodies.

                 f. The president is charged with overseeing the execution of duties of

committees and their chairs.

         4. Duties of the vice president shall be as follows:

a. To serve as the substitute for the president in running and attending meetings when

    necessary.

b. To manage the relationship between SPA-GSC and The Public Purpose, as described in

    Article VIII.

c. Responsible for managing and coordinating events with GPAC and The Public Purpose, as

   described in Article VIII.

         5. Duties of the director of communications shall be as follows:

a. To record and disseminate the minutes of all SPA-GSC and executive board meetings.

b. To book rooms for SPA-GSC meetings.

c. To coordinate communications of the SPA-GSC such as events calendar, website, and

   email messages.

       6. Duties of the director of finances shall be as follows:

a. To prepare and submit to the SPA-GSC a budget for each semester.

b. To monitor the implementation of said budgets.

c. To manage any changes to the budgets needed throughout the academic year.

d. To keep the SPA-GSC informed of its financial status through regular updates.

         7. Duties of the parliamentarian shall be as follows:

a. To allow the majority to make decisions effectively and efficiently while protecting the

    rights of the minority and giving each member the right to voice their opinion.

b. To interpret and administer bylaws and mitigate internal disputes.

c. To assist in drafting bylaws.

d. To oversee all appointments and elections of the SPA-GSC and its executive board.

          8. Duties of the Editor-in-Chief of The Public Purpose shall be as follows:

a. See Article VIII.

ARTICLE IV – Student Representatives

             1. There shall be one student representative elected for each SPA academic

                 department by his or her peers.

              2. Duties of the student representatives shall be as follows:

a. To serve as a liaison between the SPA-GSC and their respective academic departments,

    representing their constituents’ interests at SPA-GSC meetings and communicating

    pertinent SPA-GSC information to their constituents.

b. To attend all departmental meetings if possible.

c. To attend all SPA-GSC meetings. If unable to attend, the SPA-GSC must be notified of the

   absence at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting, except in emergency situations.

d. To participate in as many SPA-GSC events as possible.

e. To host or encourage appropriate events and town hall meetings for his or her academic

   departments.

Article V – Committees

1. There shall be four committees of the SPA-GSC, with the following duties:

a. The Academic Affairs Committee:

i. To plan the SPA-GSC annual policy conference.

ii. To plan an additional academic opportunity in the fall semester for SPA graduate

   students.

b. The Community Service Committee:

i. To plan monthly community service opportunities for SPA graduate students.

ii. To assist in the planning of the SPA-GSC Annual Charity Gala

c. The Social Committee:

i. To plan monthly social opportunities for SPA graduate students.

ii. The social committee chair shall serve as a representative of the SPA-GSC to the Graduate

    Public Affairs Council of DC (GPAC).

iii. To assist in the planning of the SPA-GSC Annual Charity Gala

d. The Alumni Networking and Professional Development Committee:

i. To plan monthly networking and development opportunities for SPA graduate students.

2. Each committee shall be comprised of a chair and Executive board member, who is

    elected by their peers, applicants for chair who were not appointed chair, and any

    SPA graduate student who volunteers to serve on the committee.

3. The Executive Board has the authority to form additional committees to address SPA-GSC business.

a. The formation of a new committee shall be approved by the Executive Board by a three-fourths

    vote.

b. The approved new committee will be placed on a one semester ‘trial period’ during which time

    the Executive Board will determine if the committee will become a permanent standing

    committee.

4. A monthly budget report must be submitted to the Director of Finance for all programs.

ARTICLE VI – Elections

         1. All current SPA graduate students may vote in any SPA-GSC executive officer

              election.

          2. Election of SPA-GSC executive officers shall be as follows:

a. Only SPA graduate students who will continue to be enrolled in SPA for at least the fall semester following elections are eligible to declare candidacy.

b. Before beginning their term of office, successful candidates must vacate all other offices of AU clubs or organizations in which those candidates hold financial signatory power.

c. Newly elected executive officers may, at the discretion of current officers, begin to handle any new business that comes before the SPA-GSC.

d. Elections for executive officers for the following academic year shall take place in April.

e. The newly elected executive officers shall assume full executive powers after the spring semester graduation.

         3. Election of The Public Purpose Editor-in-Chief shall be as follows:

a. Elections will take place in April along with executive board elections.

         4. Elections of SPA-GSC student representatives shall be as follows:

a. Elections must take place by the end of the third week of September of each year.

b. The Executive Board will solicit applications for the positions of SPA-GSC student representatives during the second week of September of each year.

c. Any SPA graduate student who is enrolled in the academic department in which they are running is eligible to apply.

d. Only SPA graduate students who will continue to be enrolled in SPA for at least the remainder of the semester in which the election is held are eligible to apply.

e. In the event no person applies for a student representative office, the executive board shall devise appropriate procedures as they see fit.

           5. Elections of committee chairs shall be as follows:

a. Elections must take place by the end of the third week of September of each year.

b. The Executive Board will solicit applications for the positions of SPA-GSC committee chairs during the second week of September of each year.

c. Any SPA graduate student is eligible to apply.

d. Only SPA graduate students who will continue to be enrolled in SPA for at least the remainder of the semester in which the election is held are eligible to apply.

d. In the event no person applies candidacy for a student representative office, the executive board shall devise appropriate procedures as they see fit.

           6. In the event of a vacancy in the office of president:

a. The vice president has the option of assuming the presidency, and has seven days to make this decision upon notice of the presidential vacancy.

b. If the vice president decides not to assume the presidency, a special election will be held.

c. A new president must be elected not more than twenty days after the vice president declines to assume the presidency. All students eligible under Article VI to run for the office of president may run, including but not limited to current members of the SPA-GSC.

d. If no person declares candidacy for the presidency, the remaining members of the executive board shall devise appropriate procedures as they see fit.

          7. In the event of vacancy of any other executive office:

a. A special election will be held for that office. The new executive officer must be elected not more than twenty days after notice of the vacancy.

b. If no person declares candidacy, the executive board shall devise appropriate procedures as it sees fit.

          8. In the event of a student representative office vacancy, the process shall be as follows:

a. A special appointment process will be held for that office, which will be open to all graduate students in that department. The new representative must be interviewed and elected not more than twenty days after notice of the vacancy.

b. If no person applies, the executive board shall devise appropriate procedures as it sees fit.

          9. In the event of a committee chair vacancy, the process shall be as follows:

a. Committee members will have the opportunity to assume the chair. The new chair must be interviewed and appointed not more than twenty days after notice of the vacancy.

b. If no member assumes the chair, or if multiple members declare interest, a special appointment process will occur, which shall be open to all SPA graduate students.

c. If no person applies, the executive board shall devise appropriate procedures as it sees fit.

ARTICLE VII – Business Procedures

           1. A quorum consisting of two-thirds of the SPA-GSC is required for conducting all

               business.

a. In extenuating circumstances, quorum requirements may be suspended by a vote of two-thirds of all members present.

           2. Voting procedures shall be as follows:

a. For removal of officers, issuing of statements, amending the bylaws, or other serious measures, a three-fourths majority of the Executive Board is required to pass a motion.

b. For other measures, a simple majority of the Executive Board is required.

c. In the event that members of the Executive Board are not present at the time of a vote, business shall continue as the three-fourths majority for major votes and the simple majority for other measures shall be used by the Executive Board members present.

d. In the event of amending the bylaws, each unique change to the bylaws shall receive its own separate vote.

e. In the event of a tie, the executive board shall determine a method to break that tie.

f. In extenuating circumstances, voting can be permitted by the Executive Board through e-mail.

           3. Meetings of the SPA-GSC shall take place no less than once per month.

           4. Meetings of the executive board shall take place as the executive board deems

                necessary.

           5. In the event the SPA-GSC shall issue a statement, letter, resolution or other public document

              on an important SPA or AU issue, the process shall be as follows:

a. The executive board shall write a draft.

b. Student representatives shall have adequate time to offer suggestions and revisions.

c. Upon completion of Article VII: 5.b, the executive board shall vote to approve the document. The document shall be considered adopted upon a three-fourths vote of those members of the Executive Board present.

            6. Minutes of all SPA-GSC meetings shall be distributed to all SPA graduate students

                by the Director of Communications.

             7. Minutes of all SPA-GSC executive board meetings shall be distributed only to all

                members of the executive board.

             8. Any expense over $500 must be approved by a three-fourths vote of the Executive

                 Board.

ARTICLE VIII – The Public Purpose Journal
The Public Purpose is the official graduate student journal of the School of Public Affairs, and enjoys a special collaborative relationship with the SPA-GSC.

        1.  The SPA-GSC shall fund up to 50% of the costs of The Public Purpose over the

             course of the academic year. The Editor-in-Chief shall be responsible for finding

             additional funding.

        2. The Editor-in-Chief shall recruit and hire all journal staff.

        3. The president and vice president of the SPA-GSC shall:

a. Assist The Public Purpose Editor-in-Chief in the recruiting and hiring of journal staff in September of the academic year.

b. Ensure, with the The Public Purpose Editor-in-Chief, that The Public Purpose produces one high-quality issue of the journal each academic year.

c. Assist The Public Purpose Editor-in-Chief in finding additional funding.

d. Manage, in the event of vacancy of the Editor-in-Chief position, the process of selecting a new Editor-in-Chief.

        3. The Editor-in-Chief is required to attend the Student Activities financial training before

             spending the allotted budget.

ARTICLE IX – Removal of SPA-GSC Members

       1. Any executive officer, student representative or committee chair or member of the SPA-GSC is

           subject to removal from the SPA-GSC for the following considerations:

a. Failure to perform duties of office.

b. Failure to attend two consecutive meetings of the SPA-GSC or executive board, without prior permission.

c. Misappropriation of American University funds or property.

d. Conduct directly violating these bylaws.

e. Conduct unbecoming of a SPA-GSC member.

           2. Any member who fails to remain in “good academic standing” with the school is

               subject to automatic removal of office.

           3.   Any member of the SPA-GSC may call for a vote for removal of office of a

                 SPA-GSC member.

           4. If the motion passes, debate shall ensue according to rules outlined by the presiding

               officer of the meeting.  However, in no case shall the SPA-GSC member in question

               be denied the chance, if they wish, to make his or her case during such debate.

           5. Upon completion of debate, a vote for removal shall be held, with a three-fourths

               majority required for removal of the member.

           6. Upon the vacancy of the position, the SPA-GSC shall proceed filling the vacancy as

               described in Article VI.

ARTICLE X – Ratification

        1. These bylaws shall be considered ratified upon adoption by three-fourths of the

             SPA-GSC.

         2. If ratified, these bylaws shall take effect May 4, 2011.

a. The bylaws shall be ratified by May 1 of each year in accordance with the GLC Constitution.

          3. These bylaws may be amended at any time upon a three-fourths vote of the

              SPA-GSC executive board.