CONSTITUTION
GRADUATE SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Enacted on October 17, 1997 by a vote of the general membership according to the Constitution of the then Graduate Sociology Association.

Section 1. PREAMBLE
The Graduate Students' Union (G.S.U.) represents the interests of University of Toronto (U. of T.) graduate students at the University level. Furthermore, the Graduate Sociology Students' Association (G.S.S.A.) exists as a formal component of the G.S.U. as mandated by the Constitution of the G.S.U. As a component of the G.S.U. the G.S.S.A., specifically, represents the U. of T. Sociology graduate students at the Department level and works towards the attainment of the aims listed below (see section 4).

The G.S.S.A. shall endeavour to function in an open and democratic fashion. It shall do so by following, as closely as possible, both the letter and spirit of the current document.

Section 2. NAME
The official name of this association shall be the Graduate Sociology Students' Association (University of Toronto), hereinafter referred to as the G.S.S.A.

Section 3. MEMBERSHIP
G.S.S.A. membership shall consist of all students registered in the School of Graduate Studies in the Department of Sociology.

Section 4. PURPOSE
The Purpose of the G.S.S.A. shall be to represent and further the interests of Sociology graduate students with respect to (in no particular order):

4.1. Academic and professional support.

4.2. Striving for more equitable relations with the Department and the University administrations.

4.3. Organizing and encouraging the participation of graduate students in the governance of the Department.

4.4. Relations with other student groups.

4.5. Participation in wider political action.

4.6. Social functions.

Section 5. EXECUTIVE
The Executive shall consist of nine voting members: President, Secretary/Treasurer (Vice-President), Social Coordinator, Member-at-Large, G.S.U. Representative, Union Steward, Faculty Liaison, Graduate Curriculum Committee Representative, Undergraduate Curriculum

Committee Representative. It shall be in practice possible to fill each and every Executive position with more than one individual. If this happens, each Executive position is still only entitled to one vote at Executive meetings.

5.1. President
It shall be the responsibility of the President to:

5.1.1. preside at meetings of the G.S.S.A. Executive;

5.1.2. preside at general meetings of the G.S.S.A.;

5.1.3. coordinate among G.S.S.A. Executive members in between meetings;

5.1.4. act as a primary liaison between the G.S.S.A. and its membership;

5.1.5. act as a primary liaison between the G.S.S.A. and the Department Faculty;

5.1.6. ensure that the membership is kept informed of all actions and decisions of the G.S.S.A. Executive;

5.1.7. represent the G.S.S.A. in its official correspondence and communication.

5.2. Secretary/Treasurer (Vice-President)
It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary/Treasurer to:

5.2.1. maintain sound financial records;

5.2.2. maintain a G.S.S.A. account at a financial institution;

5.2.3. prepare a financial report for presentation at every G.S.S.A. general meeting;

5.2.4. prepare an annual statement of income and expenditures for the incoming G.S.S.A. Executive;

5.2.5. act as a signing authority on the G.S.S.A.'s account;

5.2.6. record, distribute (within seven days), and maintain the minutes of G.S.S.A. Executive and general meetings;

5.2.7. present minutes of previous meetings at subsequent meetings for approval.

5.3. Social Coordinator
It shall be the responsibility of the Social Coordinator to:

5.3.1. plan and organize all social activities of the G.S.S.A. in conjunction with, if necessary, other members of the G.S.S.A. Executive and/or the general membership;

5.3.2. plan and organize at least five separate cultural, athletic and/or social activities in the course of his/her mandate, two of which shall occur, respectively, at the beginning of the fall and spring terms;

5.3.3. ensure that all activities stipulated in 5.3.2 are publicized at least seven days prior to the event by way of invitations, posters and any other means deemed appropriate.

5.4. G.S.U. Representative
It shall be the responsibility of the G.S.U. Representative to:

5.4.1. attend all monthly G.S.U. Council meetings;

5.4.2. collect Head Grant cheques twice yearly and forward to the Secretary/Treasurer (Vice-President) for immediate deposit;

5.4.3. provide a report of G.S.U. Council meetings to the Executive;

5.4.4. act as a liaison between the G.S.U. and the G.S.S.A.

5.5. Union Steward
It shall be the responsibility of the Union Steward to:

5.5.1. serve the interests of all members of the bargaining unit within the Sociology Department;

5.5.2. attend all Steward Council meetings;

5.5.3. provide information to the G.S.S.A. membership regarding pertinent union issues;

5.5.4. act as a liaison between the union and the G.S.S.A. membership.

5.6. Faculty Liaison
It shall be the responsibility of the Faculty Liaison to:

5.6.1. attend and participate in all Faculty meetings as a representative of the G.S.S.A.;

5.6.2. provide a summary of each Faculty meeting within seven days to the G.S.S.A. Executive.

5.7. Graduate Curriculum Committee Representative
It shall be the responsibility of the Graduate Curriculum Committee Representative to:

5.7.1. attend and participate, as a representative of the G.S.S.A., in all Graduate Curriculum Committee meetings as announced by the Department;

5.7.2. provide a summary of each Graduate Curriculum Committee meeting within seven days to the G.S.S.A. Executive.

5.8. Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Representative
It shall be the responsibility of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Representative to:

5.8.1. attend and participate, as a representative of the G.S.S.A., in all Undergraduate Curriculum Committee meetings as announced by the Department;

5.8.2. provide a summary of each Undergraduate Curriculum Committee meeting within seven days to the G.S.S.A. Executive.

5.9. Member-at-Large
This position will be filled by the G.S.S.A. President of the previous year's Executive. It shall be the responsibility of the Member-at-Large to:

5.9.1. inform and advise the current G.S.S.A. Executive regarding pertinent issues from the year previous;

5.9.2. facilitate continuity between the former and current G.S.S.A. Executives.

Section 6. MEETINGS

6.1. Executive Meetings

6.1.1. At least six Executive meetings shall be held during the course of the academic year.

6.1.2. Five members of the Executive shall constitute a quorum at such meetings.

6.2. General Meetings

6.2.1. At least two G.S.S.A. general meetings shall be held during the course of the academic year.

6.2.2. One of these meetings shall take place in September. It shall be called by the outgoing Executive for the purpose of electing a new Executive.

6.2.3. Ten members in attendance shall constitute a quorum at such meetings.

6.2.4. If quorum is not attained at a general meeting it shall be cancelled and a new date for a substitute meeting shall be set and announced. At this substitute meeting quorum shall be waived.

6.2.5. Announcements of general meetings must be posted at least seven days in advance with an indication of items to be discussed included therein.

6.2.6. At general meetings resolutions that are intended to be permanent G.S.S.A. rules, policies or statements may be passed. Both the current and future G.S.S.A. Executives and memberships must follow and adhere to the letter and spirit of such resolutions after they have been passed. These resolutions will be known as By-laws of the G.S.S.A. which may only be repealed or amended by means of another By-law. At least seven days prior to a general meeting where a By-law is to be voted on, the text of the proposed By-law must be posted. Any member of the G.S.S.A. can have a proposed By-law that he or she wants enacted put on the agenda of a general meeting by presenting the text of his or her proposed By-law to the Executive at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 7. REPLACING EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

7.1. Resignation
Should there arise a vacancy on the G.S.S.A. Executive, the members of the Executive must appoint a G.S.S.A. member to fill this position until the next general meeting where the position shall be filled by an election. This clause does not apply to the Member-at-Large position.

7.2. Impeachment
Motions of impeachment shall be entertained if petitioned for by a minimum of 15 members or 10% of the total membership (whichever is lower). The petition may be presented at either a general meeting or an Executive meeting. Consequently, the Executive shall, within 14 days, inform the membership that a vote on the impeachment motion shall take place at an emergency general meeting to be held within 14 days of the emergency general meeting announcement. Impeachment of an Executive member shall necessitate a two thirds majority of those voting either Yea or Nay. This vote may be held by way of a secret ballot.

Section 8. AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

Amending the Constitution or any parts therein shall be considered if petitioned for by 15 members or 10% of the total membership (whichever is lower). The petitioners must submit a written copy of the proposed amendment(s) to the Executive. The Executive shall, within 14 days, inform the general membership that a vote on the proposed amendment(s) shall take place at the following general meeting. Amendment of the Constitution shall necessitate a two thirds majority of those voting either Yea or Nay. This vote may be held by way of a secret ballot.