Constitution of
Department of Library and Information Studies Graduate Student Association
School of Informatics, University at Buffalo

PREAMBLE: The students of the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS), in recognition of the need for lucid communication and interaction between and among students and faculty, in order to further their professional and educational goals, and to improve student life in general, establish the following Constitution.

ARTICLE I: NAME
This organization shall be known as the DLIS Student Association.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
All matriculated and non-matriculated students who have been accepted by the DLIS Admissions Committee and who are currently enrolled in one or more courses are members of the DLIS Student Association. DLIS alumni who are currently enrolled in courses offered by DLIS shall be members of the DLIS Student Association also.

ARTICLE III: STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
A. The responsibilities of the Student Representatives shall be as follows:
     1. to attend regularly the DLIS Council meetings.
     2. to report regularly to the DLIS Student Association on the proceedings of those meetings.
     3. to serve on the standing committees of the DLIS Council.
     4. to conduct the regular business of the DLIS Student Association.

B. The number of Student Representatives to the DLIS Council and the number of Student Representatives on standing committees shall be determined by the Council.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
A. Graduate Student Association Senators and Alternates
     1. Within two weeks after general elections the Student Representatives shall choose from among themselves GSA Senators.
     2. The responsibilities of the Senators from DLIS shall be to attend the GSA meetings regularly and to report to the DLIS Student Association on the proceedings of the meetings.
     3. The remaining Student Representatives shall serve as Alternates whose responsibilities shall be to perform the duties of the GSA Senators in the Senators' absence.

B. President
     1. Within two weeks after general elections, the Student Representatives shall choose from among themselves a President of the DLIS Student Association.
     2. The responsibilities of the President shall be to serve as chairperson at the DLIS Student Association meetings and to sign GSA vouchers and other documents requiring the signature of the President of the DLIS Student Association.

C. Vice President
     1. Within two weeks after general elections, the Student Representatives shall choose from among themselves a Vice-President of the DLIS Student Association.
     2. The responsibilities of the Vice-President shall be to serve as chairperson at DLIS Student Association meetings in the absence of the President and to sign GSA vouchers and other documents requiring the signature of the President after the resignation or removal from office of the President.

D. Treasurer
     1. Within two weeks after general elections, the Student Representatives shall choose from among themselves a Treasurer of the DLIS Student Association.
     2. The responsibilities of the Treasurer shall be to sign all checks and vouchers within the Treasurer's jurisdiction and to submit the DLIS Student Association proposed budget to the appropriate body of GSA.

E. Secretary
     1. Within two weeks after general elections, the Student Representatives shall choose from among themselves a Secretary of the DLIS Student Association.
     2. The responsibility of the Secretary shall be to record the minutes of the DLIS Student Association meetings.

ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES
A. Budget Committee
     1. All currently elected Student Representatives are members of the Budget Committee.
     2. The Treasurer shall chair the Budget Committee.
     3. The responsibilities of the Budget Committee are to establish a proposed budget for the next academic year for submission to the GSA. Also the Committee is to prepare and disseminate a financial statement within the last three weeks of each semester to the members of the DLIS Student Association.

B. Election Committee
     1. All previously elected Student Representatives who are currently members of the DLIS Student Association and whose term of office has not expired are members of the Election Committee.
     2. The chairperson of the Election Committee shall be appointed by the Dean of DLIS.
     3. The responsibilities of the Election Committee are to enforce and insure compliance of the nominating and election procedures that have been established by this Constitution. Also the Committee is to establish additional election procedures as need for each election.

C. Ad-hoc Committees
     1. A majority vote of the Student Representatives shall appoint DLIS Student Association members to any ad-hoc committees.
     2. The committee members shall select a chairperson from among themselves.

ARTICLE VI: ELECTIONS
A. Nominations
     1. Any member of the DLIS Student Association may be nominated for Student Representative.
     2. In order to be placed on the ballot, the candidate must submit a petition for nomination to the chairperson of the Election committee. The petition must have the candidate's name and the signatures of at least twenty-five members of the DLIS Student Association.
     3. Petitions may be submitted at any time after the first day of classes of a new semester until the deadline established by the chairperson of the Election Committee.
     4. Members of the DLIS Student Association may endorse more than one petition.

B. Elections
     1. Elections shall be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the third full week of classes of each new semester, unless no elections are necessary.
     2. A special election will be held within three weeks of a vacancy among the Student Representatives caused by resignation, removal or some other reason, if there is no eligible candidate to be appointed to fill the vacancy.
     3. Elections will be by secret ballot in a manner determined by the Election Committee.
     4. Votes will be counted by the Election Committee.
     5. Those candidates with the highest plurality will be elected.
     6. In cases of tie votes, a run-off election shall be held within one week of the general election.

C. Term of Office
     1. The full term of office shall be one year from the date of election.
     2. Students may run for consecutive terms of office.
     3. Any Student Representative may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the DLIS Student Association. The resignation shall be effective upon acceptance by the President, who shall not unreasonably withhold approval of the resignation.
     4. Any Student Representative may be removed from office through the discipline procedures of Article VII.
     5. A vacancy among the Student Representatives shall be filled for the remainder of the term of office by appointment of a candidate who had run in the election but who had insufficient votes to be elected. The appointment will be made by the chairperson of the Election Committee. If there is no such candidate, a special election will be held as provided in section B.

ARTICLE VII: DISCIPLINE
A. Charges of dishonesty or working against the principles and purposes of the organization may be filed in a written statement signed by a majority of the members of the DLIS Student Association against a Student Representative.
B. The statement of charges must be submitted to and verified by the chairperson of the Election Committee.
C. After verification, the Student Representative shall be removed from office.

ARTICLE VIII: GENERAL MEETINGS
A. General meetings of the DLIS Student Association shall be held at least once every semester.
B. The President or a majority of the Student Representatives may call an emergency meeting at any time.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
A. Proposed amendments shall be presented to the President of the DLIS Student Association and must contain the signatures of twenty percent of the members of the DLIS Student Association.
B. The President shall then submit the proposed amendment to all members of the DLIS Student Association, in writing, at least one week prior to the referendum on the proposal.
C. The Student Representatives will be responsible for holding the referendum within three weeks of receiving the proposal.
D. The amendment becomes ratified by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of DLIS Student Association members.

ARTICLE X: RATIFICATION
This Constitution becomes ratified by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of DLIS Student Association members who cast ballots. One week prior to the ratification vote the proposed constitution must be submitted in writing to all members of the DLIS Student Association.