Constitution
The Constitution of
the Graduate Public Affairs Council
of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
at The University of Texas at Austin
Revised April 4, 2006
Preamble
Whereas the students of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs come from diverse backgrounds for the purpose of study of public affairs, and
Whereas students at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs have varied opinions and common concerns, and
Whereas students and their opinions and concerns are best served by a unified voice supported by a deliberative body,
We hereby establish the Graduate Public Affairs Council as the student government of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.
Article I: Purpose and Roles
Section One: Purpose
The mission of the Graduate Public Affairs Council (GPAC) is to serve the students of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs (LBJ) community. In order to achieve this purpose, GPAC shall facilitate student initiatives; foster discussion and decision-making; and represent, and engage in advocacy on behalf of, students and their concerns.
Section Two: Goals and Objectives
The goals of GPAC are:
A. To facilitate student initiatives, including but not limited to:
1. Coordinate, fund and support student organizations;
2. Organize School-wide functions;
3. Assist the Office of Student and Alumni Programs, hereafter known as OSAP, in the execution of their programs; and
4. Support other programs or events that promote the intellectual and professional development of students.
B. To foster discussion and decision-making. It shall:
1. Provide opportunities for the exchange of information between the representatives of students and the students themselves;
2. Operate a system of committees to address student concerns;
C. To represent and advocate for students with the faculty, the administration, The University, and the general public. It shall strive to:
1. Foster communication between the student body and others, including but not limited to the administration and faculty of the LBJ School and of its affiliated bodies;
2. Convey student concerns to the faculty, the administration, The University, and the general public; and
3. Maintain and improve the relationship between current students and alumni.
Article II: The Student Body
Any individual enrolled in the LBJ School and enrolled in one or more courses at The University, who is in good standing, as defined by OSAP, will be considered a member of the Student Body. The Student Body is divided into the two following categories. These categories are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive.
Section One: First Year Student
A first-year student shall be any student who has completed fewer than twenty credit hours toward a Master of Public Affairs degree at The University of Texas at Austin.
Section Two: Senior Student
A senior student shall be any student who is not a first-year student.
Article III: Structure
GPAC refers only to students elected or appointed to serve the Student Body as defined in Article One. Students of this status, and in good standing with The University as defined by OSAP, shall be referred to as GPAC Members.
Section One: Elected Members
An elected member is any member who serves in an elected position, even though they may be appointed to that position.
A. General Assembly
The General Assembly will be the legislative body of GPAC and is recognized as the final authority in expressing opinion on behalf of the Student Body. The General Assembly is comprised of elected student representatives who shall hold voting privileges at GPAC meetings. Each Elected Member shall hold one vote. Voting by proxy will be allowed under limited circumstances.
B. Executive
The executive is comprised of six students elected to the following offices: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Liaison and Adjunct Liaison. The Executive shall hold all of the rights and privileges of other Elected Members, with the exception that none of the Executive Members shall hold a vote. However, the presiding officer shall cast the tie-breaking vote if necessary.
No executive member shall serve in any other elected position that represents the student body, nor shall they hold the executive office of any student organization under GPAC, this will be known as dual representation. Exceptions to dual representation may be made for the Liaison and Adjunct Liaison Officers.
Section Two: Appointed Members
An appointed member is any member appointed temporarily at the discretion of the Executive to perform a specific task or duty. Appointed members shall not hold voting privileges.
Section Three: Committees
A. Standing Committees
Standing Committees shall be integral elements of the General Assembly. Each Standing Committee shall be responsible for a critical function of GPAC business.
B. Ad-Hoc Committees
Ad-Hoc Committee shall exist temporarily to address issues of immediate concern to GPAC or the Student Body. The Executive may establish Ad-Hoc Committees, and members will be appointed by the General Assembly. Other issues regarding the number, composition, and function of Ad-Hoc Committees shall be defined in the Bylaws of this Constitution.
Article IV: Roles and Responsibility
Section One: General Assembly
The General Assembly is responsible for the effective execution of the duties thereunto assigned.
Section Two: The Executive
A. President
1. Shall be a Senior student.
2. Shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of GPAC.
3. Shall chair all meetings of the Assembly.
4. Shall chair all meetings of the Executive.
5. Shall be the official spokesperson of GPAC and the Student Body.
B. Vice President
1. Shall be a First Year student.
2. Shall serve as the Chief Operating Officer of GPAC.
3. Shall organize and coordinate all GPAC fundraising activities.
4. In absence of the President, or when delegated by the President, shall assume the responsibilities detailed in Section One, Item A.
C. Secretary
1. Shall be a First Year student.
2. Shall serve as the Chief Information Officer of GPAC.
3. Shall be responsible for the organization of all information from and records of GPAC meetings.
D. Treasurer
1. Shall be a Senior student.
2. Shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer of GPAC.
3. Shall be responsible for maintaining the financial records of GPAC.
5. Shall be responsible for the oversight of GPAC expenditures.
E. Internal Liaison
1. Shall be a Senior student
2. Shall coordinate communications between the Executive Committee and all other committees.
3. Shall coordinate communications between GPAC and student organizations.
F. External Liaison
1. Shall be a first year student
2. Shall represent GPAC at meetings of the Senate of College Councils
3. Shall represent GPAC to the University outside of the LBJ School.
Article V. Student Organizations
Section One: GPAC Recognized Organizations
A recognized organization is a group of students who come together to address a shared set of interests that are relevant both to individual members and to the School as a whole. To qualify as a recognized organization by GPAC, a group must meet the following criteria:
- The group must be a UT Recognized Student Organization.
- The group must file its Mission Statement and a list of members with GPAC Secretary each year.
- The group must have membership open to the whole LBJ Community.
- The group must elect its own leadership; all officers and voting members must be students enrolled at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
- The group must represent a bona fide interest of students. This can be demonstrated by a total student membership of not less than five percent of the School's total enrollment.
Any group not meeting the criteria listed above may receive GPAC Recognition by an affirming vote of the Assembly.
Section Two: GPAC Representation
Student Organizations are required to select one representative to GPAC through whatever mechanism they so choose. However, to obtain this privilege, the organization must submit to the Secretary annually 1) a written statement designating its GPAC Representative; 2) the organization's mission; and 3) a membership roster. Organizations may also recall and replace their representative(s) in accordance with their charters.
No Student Organization Representative shall have a vote at General Assembly Meetings, and no GPAC member serving in an elected position may serve as an Organization Representative.
Section Three: GPAC and Organization Relationship
GPAC recognized organizations are not a part of The University or GPAC, and therefore, exist separately and operate independently of both groups. GPAC recognition and/or funding of the group is undertaken by GPAC and/or The University for the purpose of encouraging a diversity of student activities on campus. GPAC recognition and/or funding does not represent GPAC/University endorsement of any specific student group's views or GPAC/University control or sponsorship of the specific group.
Section Four: GPAC Funding
Any GPAC recognized organization shall be eligible for funding by GPAC.
Article VI: Finance
Section One: Allocation
The Executive Committee shall recommend, and forward to the General Assembly, GPAC budgetary allocations.
Section Two: Appropriations
Upon receipt of Executive Committee's recommendations, the General Assembly will vote on the total appropriation package. This vote will not authorize spending of appropriated dollars.
Section Three: Authorization
Specific funding requests will be considered by the General Assembly. The vote of the General Assembly will be the final and solitary authority for GPAC spending.
Section Four: Reporting
The Treasurer shall be responsible for reporting to the Assembly on the financial status of GPAC within the first six weeks of each long semester. Other issues regarding finance shall be defined in the Bylaws of this Constitution.
Article VII: Elections
GPAC is a democratic body. Elections for Senior Student Positions shall be held in the spring semester of each year. Elections for First Year Student Positions shall be held in the fall semester of each year. The Executive Committee-barring any members running for election-shall be responsible for carrying out all elections. Such elections will be open and fair, and the organization shall strive to maximize participation by the student body. Other issues regarding elections shall be defined in the Bylaws of this Constitution.
Article VIII: Impeachment and Expulsion
Section One: Impeachment and Expulsion of Membership
Any Elected GPAC Member may be impeached for misconduct. Following Impeachment, any Elected Member may be expelled.
Section Two: Impeachment Process
A motion for Impeachment of an Elected Member may be made by:
a) The presentation to GPAC of a petition signed by no less than 30% of enrolled students in a degree program at the LBJ School; or
b) Two-thirds of present GPAC Voting Members at a General Assembly meeting forwarding the Elected Member on to the Expulsion Process.
Once the motion of Impeachment has been made, that motion must be considered at the next GPAC General Assembly Meeting. No Elected Member may preside over his/her own Impeachment consideration.
Section Three: Expulsion Process
Upon Impeachment, the Expulsion process of an Elected Member begins.
A. Participants
The Judiciary Committee shall organize and oversee the Expulsion Process. The initiator of the student petition or the GPAC member making the original motion for Impeachment shall prosecute. The impeached GPAC member, or his/her designee, shall defend.
B. Hearing
The Judiciary Committee shall host a School-wide open hearing into the Impeachment no later than ten working days following Impeaching.
C. Vote
Final vote for Expulsion shall take place no later than one week after the Hearing. Expulsion will result from a 2/3 affirmative vote of the total Student Body.
Article IX: Democratic Initiatives
Section One: Referendum Activation
Any issue may be brought in writing before the student body for a referendum vote after approval by a two-thirds majority of present GPAC Voting Members at a General Assembly meeting or upon presentation to GPAC of a petition signed by at least twenty percent of the student body.
Section Two: Referendum Timing
A referendum must be held within two weeks after its presentation to or approval by GPAC or at the next scheduled election if that election is within one month of the presentation or approval.
Section Three: Referendum Passage
Passage of referendum items shall require a majority vote of the student body.
Article X: Bylaws
A two-thirds majority of present GPAC Elected Members at a General Assembly meeting is necessary for approval or amendment of Bylaws. In order to be considered, proposed changes to the Bylaws must be presented at the prior General Assembly meeting for a reading.
Article XI: Constitutional Amendments
Section One: Introduction of Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution may be introduced to the Student Body upon:
(a) presentation to the General Assembly of a petition to that effect signed by twenty percent of the student body, or
(b) approval by a two-thirds majority of present GPAC Elected Members at a General Assembly meeting.
Amendments that meet either requirement shall be considered in a referendum held within two weeks after its presentation to or approval by GPAC or at the next scheduled election if that election is within one month of the presentation or approval.
Section Two: Approval of Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution shall be adopted upon approval by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Student Body
Article XII: Ratification
This Constitution shall be ratified upon approval by a 2/3 affirmative vote o Elected Members present at a General Assembly Meeting, and a majority affirmative vote of voting students. This Constitution shall take effect immediately upon ratification and shall supercede all previous versions of Constitutions for GPAC. New offices created by this Constitution shall remain unfilled until the relevant election immediately following its ratification.