Article 1: Name
This organization shall be known as Graduate Political Science Students’ Association, the name
under which it is officially registered with York University Graduate Students Association (YUGSA). It will hereinafter be referred to as the GPSSA.

Article 2: Purpose
The purpose of the GPSSA is to advocate for graduate students in the Department of Politics, YUGSA, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS). The GPSSA works to organize socials, provide peer support, and promote academic collaboration. Its aim is to help make York University’s Department of Politics a world leading center of critical political scholarship and revolutionary ideas.

Article 3: Membership
The members of the GPSSA are all M.A. and Ph.D. students in the Department of Politics. Current enrollment in the Graduate Program in Political Science is sufficient for membership. No general membership dues will be collected from members, although members may be required to pay nominal fees for specific events.

Article 4: Meetings and Motions
GPSSA meetings will be held regularly during the academic year. All members are invited and encouraged to attend. The Liaison shall provide one week’s notice prior to a meeting. Normally, any voting will take place in the meeting, and members who are not in attendance forfeit their right to vote for said meeting. At the discretion of the Liaison or by majority vote at a meeting, a
motion may be put to an electronic ballot. Ballots will be submitted to and tabulated by the Liaison.

Article 5: Elections and Eligibility
Regular elections for GPSSA executive officers will be held in May every year. Only GPSSA members may stand for election. The Liaison shall serve as Elections Officer unless they are standing for reelection, in which case an impartial Elections Officer will be selected prior to the election pursuant to the Bylaws. The Elections Officer shall solicit nominations at least one week
prior to the election and all nominations will be submitted by email to the Elections Officer. After the nomination period, ballots will be distributed electronically, and members will have a period of not less than three days in which to cast their ballots. For each position, the person who receives the largest number of votes will be elected. Ballots will be submitted to and tabulated by
the Elections Officer.

Article 6: Elected Positions
6.1 Executive Committee
The GPSSA Executive Committee consists of four positions held by at least three persons: the Liaison, the Deputy Liaison, the Treasurer, and the Equity and Accessibility Officer. The Executive Committee and its individual members answer to the membership. All other officers and representatives answer and coordinate with the Executive Committee and the membership. Positions within the Executive Committee may, by approval of both officers and of the
membership, be exchanged.
Liaison:
The Liaison is responsible for organizing and overseeing regular meetings and elections, calling and overseeing special meetings and elections, maintaining the GPSSA’s registration with YUGSA, communicating with other officers, and liaising with Department staff, the Graduate Program Director, and the Chair of the Department of Politics.
Deputy Liaison:
The Deputy Liaison advises and supports the Liaison, stands in for the Liaison in the event that they are incapacitated or unavailable, and may perform other duties of the Liaison at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer is responsible for drafting the GPSSA’s budget, presenting it to the Executive Committee, the membership, and YUGSA, maintaining the ledger, and providing regular updates on the budget and ledger to the Executive Committee and membership. The Treasurer position may be held by the Deputy Liaison or Equity and Accessibility Officer.
Equity and Accessibility Officer:
The Equity and Accessibility Officer is responsible for advocating for appropriate considerations of equity and accessibility in GPSSA meetings and events as well as the Department and Graduate Program in Political Science. The Equity and Accessibility Officer is ex officio a member and the chair of the Equity and Accessibility Committee.

6.2 Council and Committee Representatives
Council and Committee Representatives are responsible for attending meetings of the councils or committees to which they are representatives, keeping the GPSSA membership and Executive Committee apprised of the activities of those councils, and casting votes in accordance with GPSSA policy. Whenever possible, representatives shall consult the membership at a meeting for
direction on any ongoing discussions or upcoming votes of the councils or committees to which they are representatives. When that is not possible, representatives shall consult the Executive Committee for interim direction. In the case of the Graduate Council Representatives, who do not have special voting rights beyond those of all Politics graduate students, they are additionally responsible for keeping the membership and Executive Committee apprised of the dates, times, and contents of upcoming votes.

Article 7: Dismissal and Replacement of Officers and Representatives

7.1 Dismissal of Officers or Representatives by the Membership
Any officer or representative may be dismissed, effective immediately, by a motion requiring a two-thirds majority in a meeting. A motion to initiate a recall election by electronic ballot may be passed by a simple majority. A recall election shall be held by the Liaison or, in the event that the Liaison is the officer subject to recall, by the Equity and Accessibility Officer. The responsible officer shall, within one week, notify the officer or representative subject to recall and initiate a balloting period of not less than three days. If passed by simple majority, the officer or representative concerned is dismissed.

7.2 Dismissal of Officers or Representatives for Non-Performance
At the discretion of the Executive Committee, an officer or representative who has missed and not submitted a written report to at least three monthly GPSSA meetings and/or meetings of the council or committee to which they are a representative may be deemed to have abandoned their position. An officer or representative found to be in violation of Bylaw 10.1 or otherwise in dereliction of duty may be dismissed by a motion passed at a meeting by a simple majority.

7.3 Replacement of Executive Officers Other than the Liaison
In the event that an executive officer other than the Liaison resigns, abandons their position, or is dismissed, the Liaison shall call and hold a special election for that position subject to the procedures outlined in Art. 5.

7.4 Replacement of the Liaison
In the event that the Liaison resigns, abandons their position, or is dismissed, the Deputy Liaison shall call a special election for that position subject to the procedures outlined in Art. 5.

7.5 Replacement of Council and Committee Representatives
In the event that a representative to a council or committee resigns or abandons their position, the Liaison shall either, at their discretion, appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term or call a special election subject to the procedures outlined in Art. 5.

Article 8: Finances
The GPSSA’s money will be primarily acquired through funds allocated to the GPSSA by YUGSA and the Department. It will be deposited in and disbursed from the GPSSA’s bank account and records thereof maintained in the ledger. The Treasurer shall submit an annual budget to the membership for approval by the November meeting and thereafter submit the approved budget to YUGSA by their established deadline.

Article 9: Amendments and Revisions
Amendments to this Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority and at least one month’s notice prior to an electronic balloting period of not less than three days. The amended Constitution must be submitted to YUGSA at the beginning of the following academic year.