bylaws.htm

THE BYLAWS AND REVENUE SHARING PLAN OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST

(Download a copy, click here)

In accordance with the provisions of the previous Senate By-Laws the present revised document was presented to a meeting of the Graduate Student Senate on September 27, 1994 and then adopted at the Senate meeting on October 18, 1994.

1. By-Laws of the Senate may be adopted, amended or repealed by a three-fifths vote of those present at a regular or special meeting of the Senate, or by a majority vote of the graduate students present at a general meeting of graduate students, provided that in either case the proposed action(s) shall have been presented at a previous meeting of the same body.

2. Meetings of the Senate and General Meetings of graduate students shall be conducted in reference to parliamentary procedure as defined by Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised Edition).

3. (Representation and Elections)

I. Representation of graduate students to the Senate shall be as follows:

a. One senator for every fifty graduate students or fraction thereof in each
department, school or division offering a graduate degree, as recognized by
authoritative University sources. Constituencies may additionally elect one
alternate for each Senate seat to which they are entitled, who shall hold all of the
privileges normally held by the senator in that senator's absence.

b. The Senate recognizes the following additional constituencies for the purpose
of both representation and revenue sharing (see By-Law 10);

c. Upon vote of the Senate, other constituencies for representation and/or revenue sharing may be recognized for a period of one academic year. In October of the academic year following such a vote, the Senate shall evaluate each such constituency and shall vote whether to include this constituency permanently within section I(b) of this By-Law, for the purpose of either representation only, or of representation and revenue sharing.

d. Each representative is limited to representing only 1 (one) constituency.

II. Elections to seats on the Senate, and elections of alternates where applicable, shall be held independently in each constituency defined in Section I of this By-Law. The Committee on Elections must review the nomination and election procedures of each such constituency. The Committee on Elections shall also, where necessary, recommend to the Senate for approval, changes in the election procedures of any such recognized constituency.

III. The Committee on Elections shall be constituted by the Senate, by elections of
three senators. The duties of members of the Committee on Elections shall be assigned by the members of the Committee.

The Committee shall elect a Chairperson from among their number once in each semester, subject to formal ratification by the Senate. The Chairperson shall be responsible for calling and chairing meetings of the Committee.

One officer of the Executive Committee, as designated by the Executive Committee, shall be responsible for calling the first meeting of the academic year in conformity with Article VII (a) (iii) of the Constitution. The same officer shall serve in a nonvoting capacity on the Committee on Elections throughout that academic year, ex officio.
(The Committee on Elections shall also be responsible for elections of Senate officers, as required by Article V of the Constitution, and for recommending rules and policies concerning such elections.)

IV. In the event of a tie vote for an office in a general election, the following procedure shall be used to fill the position. Unless one of the candidates objects, a run-off election, will be held at the Senate meeting immediately following the election. If one candidate objects, and there is an additional scheduled Senate meeting the same semester, then the run-off election will be delayed until that additional meeting. Procedure for Run-Off:
All candidates involved in the tie shall be the only candidates in the run-off election. If they desire, each candidate may give a "reminder" speech limited to two minutes in length. All senators present at the meeting will be eligible to vote in the run-off election (identification cards will be checked and names checked off on the list of fee-paying graduate students.) The voting shall be by closed ballot.

V. Administration of all aspects of this By-Law shall be assigned to the Committee on
Elections of the Senate, except that questions concerning nondiscrimination and affirmative action shall in addition be referred to the Committee on Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action.

VI. Re-count Procedures- Candidates may contest the election up to 48 hours following the closing of the polls. Ballots will automatically be re-counted, in the event of a margin of twenty votes or less. Results of the election will not be officially made public until the recount grace period has passed, and during that time strict security measures will be maintained.

I. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the President as required for the conduct of necessary business. A quorum for all business shall be three members of the Committee. Meetings shall be open to all who wish to attend except during closed session.

II. The Committee shall be charged with the following tasks:
a. To fulfill those functions required of it under the Constitution and By-Laws.
b. To review motions submitted for inclusion on the agenda of a regular or special
meeting of the Senate. No such motion submitted may be omitted from the
agenda.
c. To organize and to execute efficient day-to-day functioning of the Senate
Office. Such duties may include but are not limited to purchase of necessary
materials, maintenance of files and archives, disbursement of wages and
issuance of Senate documents.
d. To maintain an accurate and current record of income and expenditure
of Senate funds, this record to be open to inspection by any graduate student during advertised office hours.
e. To act in full, on behalf of the Senate, in such areas and for such terms as the Senate may determine (e.g., Intercession, Summer Vacation).
f. To administer the Executive Emergency Fund. With the explicit approval of
three members of the Committee, the Treasurer or President may authorize
disbursements from this budget category. Such expenditures shall be reported
to the Senate at the next regular or special meeting.

III. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be strictly subject to review and amendment or repeal by a regular or special meeting of the Senate, or by a general meeting of graduate students.

I. The Finance Committee shall consist of eight voting members as follows:
a. The Treasurer of the Senate who shall act as Chairperson of the Finance
Committee.
b. The Vice President who will serve as Vice Chairperson of the Finance
Committee.
c. Six members, either senators or alternates, who shall be elected to seats on the
Committee at a regular or special meeting of the Senate in September of each
year, or whenever vacancies arise. Such elections must have been previously
included as agenda items for those meetings. Each term of office shall not
exceed nine months.

II. Committee meetings shall be called as required for the conduct of necessary business. A quorum for all business shall be' four members. Meetings shall be open to all those who wish to attend.

III. The Committee shall be charged with the following tasks:
a. To review requests to the Senate for funds submitted by any organization,
excluding only revenue sharing requests and emergency items for which the
Executive Emergency Fund is used.
b. To advise all petitioners for funds on the budgets they have submitted and their
supporting documentation, clarifying where possible problems in funding
requests.
c. In pursuance of (b), to recommend to the Senate for approval such regulations,
policies and documents as shall be considered necessary to the efficient conduct
of their charge.
d. ON REQUESTS FOR FUNDING WHICH EXCEED $300.00 AS
SUBMITTED:
To forward to the next regular meeting of the Senate with each request (abbreviated as necessary) a written committee report, including a summary of relevant committee debate, and details of a Committee vote recommending the level at which the request should be funded.
e. ON REQUESTS FOR FUNDING WHICH DO NOT EXCEED $300.00 AS SUBMITTED:
To approve, reject, or amend such requests in Committee and to forward details of such decisions in writing to the next regular meeting of the Senate. (Such approval/rejections of amendment shall not become operative until the day following the next regular meeting of the Senate. The motion shall appear on the agenda for that meeting as being "On the Table", and may be removed from' the table for discussion by the unseconded motion of any Senator or by the petitioner her/himself. If brought off the table, the motion may be approved, amended or repealed by the Senate.
NOTE: ALL PETITIONERS SHALL BE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROCEDURE.
f. To aid and advise the Treasurer in drawing up the Annual Budget Proposal for
consideration by the Senate.
g. To fulfill responsibilities under section V of the Revenue Sharing Plan.

IV. The Graduate Student Senate shall reserve the power to investigate evidence or
accusations of malfeasance or misconduct by groups funded by the GSS. This may result in the suspension of payments or assignments of money to said group until the accusations are investigated and their credence established. This investigation is to be carried out by an ad hoc committee convened for that purpose. If such accusations are found to be true no further funding will be forthcoming until such time as the Senate is satisfied that it will be well spent. The Senate also reserves the right to demand the return of misspent funds.

I. On receipt of a petition by ten senators or fifty graduate students representing at least three departments, the Executive Committee shall, within three days, issue a call for a general meeting of graduate students. Any matters mentioned, in the petition shall appear on the provisional agenda for the meeting, as also shall any motion for recall of a Senate officer.

II. The finalized agenda for each meeting shall include (a) those items mentioned in the
provisional agenda and (b) further items added by petition of ten graduate students
received at least five days before the general meeting.

III. Each graduate student paying the Graduate Student Senate Tax shall be entitled to one vote at a general meeting of graduate students. Proxy voting shall be strictly forbidden.

IV. The President shall preside over a general meeting. If however, the agenda includes a motion to recall the President, the Executive Officer shall preside.

I. The President shall not engage in paid employment outside the Senate unreasonably in excess of ten hours per week. For other officers, the limit shall be seventeen hours per week.

II. The President shall receive the resignations of other officers and all committee members. The President shall resign to the Vice-President.

III. The Executive Committee, upon the substantial failure of an officer to perform the duties assigned to that office, shall certify by majority vote the default of that officer under Article V(e) of the Constitution. Such default shall extend over a period of two weeks, and shall be waived in case of reasonable excuse. The Executive Committee shall communicate their decision to the officer concerned by certified mail at her/his last known address. At the next regular meeting of the Senate, provided that such meetings occur no less than four full class days from the time of the Executive Committee's communication, the Senate shall vote either to confirm or deny such default.

IV. Motions for recall of an officer by the Senate under Article V(i) of the Constitution, when not initiated by the Executive Committee must appear on the agendas of two regular meetings of the Senate.

V. If an officer is recalled, the Senate shall proceed immediately to elect an officer pro term to serve the remainder of that officer's term. (An officer pro term shall be entitled to the appropriate proportion of the salary allocated for the post. A recalled officer shall not receive any payment from the Senate subsequent to the date of the recall vote.)

VI. In the event of the extended absence or disability, or upon the resignation of the President, the Vice President shall assume the office of the President. The Senate shall then elect a new Vice President pursuant to Article V(f) of the Constitution. In event of a vacancy in any other office, the Senate shall then elect a replacement pursuant to Article V(f).

8. All motions presented to the Senate must be given to the Senate Recorder or to a Senate Officer in writing upon presentation. As a courtesy, motions shall also be made available to senators at the earliest possible opportunity, if it has not been possible to include them on the published agenda.

9. At all times the Senate shall seek to maximize the participation of Senators and graduate students in the decisions that affect their lives at all levels. All internal procedures shall be conducted in reference to principles and practices laid out in such documents as Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, whenever these documents are not in contravention of Robert's Rules of Order.

10.The Senate shall additionally treat the following documents as Senate By-Laws by attaching copies of them to the Constitution and By-Laws wherever made available, and by following strictly the provisions of By-Law 1 when amending or repealing them:
a. The Revenue Sharing Plan
b. The Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy





				(This copy of the Bylaws has been transcribed using temperamental software so we appreciate if you bring any mistakes in the text to our notice) THE BYLAWS AND REVENUE SHARING PLAN OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST (Download a copy, click here) In accordance with the provisions of the previous Senate By-Laws the present revised document was presented to a meeting of the Graduate Student Senate on September 27, 1994 and then adopted at the Senate meeting on October 18, 1994. 1. By-Laws of the Senate may be adopted, amended or repealed by a three-fifths vote of those present at a regular or special meeting of the Senate, or by a majority vote of the graduate students present at a general meeting of graduate students, provided that in either case the proposed action(s) shall have been presented at a previous meeting of the same body. 2. Meetings of the Senate and General Meetings of graduate students shall be conducted in reference to parliamentary procedure as defined by Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised Edition). 3. (Representation and Elections) I. Representation of graduate students to the Senate shall be as follows: a. One senator for every fifty graduate students or fraction thereof in each department, school or division offering a graduate degree, as recognized by authoritative University sources. Constituencies may additionally elect one alternate for each Senate seat to which they are entitled, who shall hold all of the privileges normally held by the senator in that senator's absence. b. The Senate recognizes the following additional constituencies for the purpose of both representation and revenue sharing (see By-Law 10); Prince House. This constituency shall be defined as those graduate students who reside full-time in Prince House Dormitory during each semester. Representation shall be assigned in section I(a). School of Education Clusters. The School of Education shall be considered 3 constituencies for the purpose of collection of revenue sharing funds, yet shall maintain full representational powers (as outlined in section I(a)). MBA and Ph.D. Programs in the School of Business Administration. These constituencies shall be defined as separate constituencies, replacing the entitlement of students in the school itself under section I(a).Representation shall be assigned in section I(a). [The Senate voted to recognize North Village/Lincoln Apartments & GSO constituencies on October 18, 1994. As required by Section 3.1 (c) of these By-laws, the Senate voted 31st October 1995 to include the new constituencies permanently in the By-laws.] North Village and Lincoln Apartments. These constituencies shall be defined as those graduate students who reside full-time in either North Village or Lincoln Apartments during each semester. The North Village and Lincoln Apartments constituencies shall each be considered 1 (one) constituency for the purpose of collection of revenue sharing funds, yet each shall maintain full representational powers as outlined in Section 3.1(a). Graduate Student Organizations (GSOs) These constituencies shall be defined as those graduate student organizations which have been certified by the Graduate Student Senate each year. GSOs shall not be considered constituencies for the purpose of revenue sharing funds, and each shall be limited to one representative. c. Upon vote of the Senate, other constituencies for representation and/or revenue sharing may be recognized for a period of one academic year. In October of the academic year following such a vote, the Senate shall evaluate each such constituency and shall vote whether to include this constituency permanently within section I(b) of this By-Law, for the purpose of either representation only, or of representation and revenue sharing. d. Each representative is limited to representing only 1 (one) constituency. II. Elections to seats on the Senate, and elections of alternates where applicable, shall be held independently in each constituency defined in Section I of this By-Law. The Committee on Elections must review the nomination and election procedures of each such constituency. The Committee on Elections shall also, where necessary, recommend to the Senate for approval, changes in the election procedures of any such recognized constituency. III. The Committee on Elections shall be constituted by the Senate, by elections of three senators. The duties of members of the Committee on Elections shall be assigned by the members of the Committee. The Committee shall elect a Chairperson from among their number once in each semester, subject to formal ratification by the Senate. The Chairperson shall be responsible for calling and chairing meetings of the Committee. One officer of the Executive Committee, as designated by the Executive Committee, shall be responsible for calling the first meeting of the academic year in conformity with Article VII (a) (iii) of the Constitution. The same officer shall serve in a nonvoting capacity on the Committee on Elections throughout that academic year, ex officio. (The Committee on Elections shall also be responsible for elections of Senate officers, as required by Article V of the Constitution, and for recommending rules and policies concerning such elections.) IV. In the event of a tie vote for an office in a general election, the following procedure shall be used to fill the position. Unless one of the candidates objects, a run-off election, will be held at the Senate meeting immediately following the election. If one candidate objects, and there is an additional scheduled Senate meeting the same semester, then the run-off election will be delayed until that additional meeting. Procedure for Run-Off: All candidates involved in the tie shall be the only candidates in the run-off election. If they desire, each candidate may give a "reminder" speech limited to two minutes in length. All senators present at the meeting will be eligible to vote in the run-off election (identification cards will be checked and names checked off on the list of fee-paying graduate students.) The voting shall be by closed ballot. V. Administration of all aspects of this By-Law shall be assigned to the Committee on Elections of the Senate, except that questions concerning nondiscrimination and affirmative action shall in addition be referred to the Committee on Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action. VI. Re-count Procedures- Candidates may contest the election up to 48 hours following the closing of the polls. Ballots will automatically be re-counted, in the event of a margin of twenty votes or less. Results of the election will not be officially made public until the recount grace period has passed, and during that time strict security measures will be maintained. 4. (Executive Committee) I. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the President as required for the conduct of necessary business. A quorum for all business shall be three members of the Committee. Meetings shall be open to all who wish to attend except during closed session. II. The Committee shall be charged with the following tasks: a. To fulfill those functions required of it under the Constitution and By-Laws. b. To review motions submitted for inclusion on the agenda of a regular or special meeting of the Senate. No such motion submitted may be omitted from the agenda. c. To organize and to execute efficient day-to-day functioning of the Senate Office. Such duties may include but are not limited to purchase of necessary materials, maintenance of files and archives, disbursement of wages and issuance of Senate documents. d. To maintain an accurate and current record of income and expenditure of Senate funds, this record to be open to inspection by any graduate student during advertised office hours. e. To act in full, on behalf of the Senate, in such areas and for such terms as the Senate may determine (e.g., Intercession, Summer Vacation). f. To administer the Executive Emergency Fund. With the explicit approval of three members of the Committee, the Treasurer or President may authorize disbursements from this budget category. Such expenditures shall be reported to the Senate at the next regular or special meeting. III. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be strictly subject to review and amendment or repeal by a regular or special meeting of the Senate, or by a general meeting of graduate students. 5. (Finance Committee) I. The Finance Committee shall consist of eight voting members as follows: a. The Treasurer of the Senate who shall act as Chairperson of the Finance Committee. b. The Vice President who will serve as Vice Chairperson of the Finance Committee. c. Six members, either senators or alternates, who shall be elected to seats on the Committee at a regular or special meeting of the Senate in September of each year, or whenever vacancies arise. Such elections must have been previously included as agenda items for those meetings. Each term of office shall not exceed nine months. II. Committee meetings shall be called as required for the conduct of necessary business. A quorum for all business shall be' four members. Meetings shall be open to all those who wish to attend. III. The Committee shall be charged with the following tasks: a. To review requests to the Senate for funds submitted by any organization, excluding only revenue sharing requests and emergency items for which the Executive Emergency Fund is used. b. To advise all petitioners for funds on the budgets they have submitted and their supporting documentation, clarifying where possible problems in funding requests. c. In pursuance of (b), to recommend to the Senate for approval such regulations, policies and documents as shall be considered necessary to the efficient conduct of their charge. d. ON REQUESTS FOR FUNDING WHICH EXCEED $300.00 AS SUBMITTED: To forward to the next regular meeting of the Senate with each request (abbreviated as necessary) a written committee report, including a summary of relevant committee debate, and details of a Committee vote recommending the level at which the request should be funded. e. ON REQUESTS FOR FUNDING WHICH DO NOT EXCEED $300.00 AS SUBMITTED: To approve, reject, or amend such requests in Committee and to forward details of such decisions in writing to the next regular meeting of the Senate. (Such approval/rejections of amendment shall not become operative until the day following the next regular meeting of the Senate. The motion shall appear on the agenda for that meeting as being "On the Table", and may be removed from' the table for discussion by the unseconded motion of any Senator or by the petitioner her/himself. If brought off the table, the motion may be approved, amended or repealed by the Senate. NOTE: ALL PETITIONERS SHALL BE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROCEDURE. f. To aid and advise the Treasurer in drawing up the Annual Budget Proposal for consideration by the Senate. g. To fulfill responsibilities under section V of the Revenue Sharing Plan. IV. The Graduate Student Senate shall reserve the power to investigate evidence or accusations of malfeasance or misconduct by groups funded by the GSS. This may result in the suspension of payments or assignments of money to said group until the accusations are investigated and their credence established. This investigation is to be carried out by an ad hoc committee convened for that purpose. If such accusations are found to be true no further funding will be forthcoming until such time as the Senate is satisfied that it will be well spent. The Senate also reserves the right to demand the return of misspent funds. 6. (General Meeting of Graduate Students) I. On receipt of a petition by ten senators or fifty graduate students representing at least three departments, the Executive Committee shall, within three days, issue a call for a general meeting of graduate students. Any matters mentioned, in the petition shall appear on the provisional agenda for the meeting, as also shall any motion for recall of a Senate officer. II. The finalized agenda for each meeting shall include (a) those items mentioned in the provisional agenda and (b) further items added by petition of ten graduate students received at least five days before the general meeting. III. Each graduate student paying the Graduate Student Senate Tax shall be entitled to one vote at a general meeting of graduate students. Proxy voting shall be strictly forbidden. IV. The President shall preside over a general meeting. If however, the agenda includes a motion to recall the President, the Executive Officer shall preside. 7. (Employment Terms and Recall of Officers) I. The President shall not engage in paid employment outside the Senate unreasonably in excess of ten hours per week. For other officers, the limit shall be seventeen hours per week. II. The President shall receive the resignations of other officers and all committee members. The President shall resign to the Vice-President. III. The Executive Committee, upon the substantial failure of an officer to perform the duties assigned to that office, shall certify by majority vote the default of that officer under Article V(e) of the Constitution. Such default shall extend over a period of two weeks, and shall be waived in case of reasonable excuse. The Executive Committee shall communicate their decision to the officer concerned by certified mail at her/his last known address. At the next regular meeting of the Senate, provided that such meetings occur no less than four full class days from the time of the Executive Committee's communication, the Senate shall vote either to confirm or deny such default. IV. Motions for recall of an officer by the Senate under Article V(i) of the Constitution, when not initiated by the Executive Committee must appear on the agendas of two regular meetings of the Senate. V. If an officer is recalled, the Senate shall proceed immediately to elect an officer pro term to serve the remainder of that officer's term. (An officer pro term shall be entitled to the appropriate proportion of the salary allocated for the post. A recalled officer shall not receive any payment from the Senate subsequent to the date of the recall vote.) VI. In the event of the extended absence or disability, or upon the resignation of the President, the Vice President shall assume the office of the President. The Senate shall then elect a new Vice President pursuant to Article V(f) of the Constitution. In event of a vacancy in any other office, the Senate shall then elect a replacement pursuant to Article V(f). 8. All motions presented to the Senate must be given to the Senate Recorder or to a Senate Officer in writing upon presentation. As a courtesy, motions shall also be made available to senators at the earliest possible opportunity, if it has not been possible to include them on the published agenda. 9. At all times the Senate shall seek to maximize the participation of Senators and graduate students in the decisions that affect their lives at all levels. All internal procedures shall be conducted in reference to principles and practices laid out in such documents as Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, whenever these documents are not in contravention of Robert's Rules of Order. 10.The Senate shall additionally treat the following documents as Senate By-Laws by attaching copies of them to the Constitution and By-Laws wherever made available, and by following strictly the provisions of By-Law 1 when amending or repealing them: a. The Revenue Sharing Plan b. The Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy


	© 2004 University of Massachusetts Amherst. Site Policies. This site is maintained by Graduate Student Senate.

THE BYLAWS AND REVENUE SHARING PLAN OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST (Download a copy, click here)

THE BYLAWS AND REVENUE SHARING PLAN OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST

(Download a copy, click here)