Constitution of The Graduate and Professional Student Association of Washington State University 

(Effective August 15, 2020)

Article I: Name of the Organization

Section 1. The name of the organization will be the Graduate and Professional Student Association of Washington State University (WSU), hereafter referred to as the GPSA.

Article II: Purpose of the Organization

Section 1. The GPSA will work to maintain and improve the quality of graduate and professional education at WSU and to enrich the graduate and professional student experience academically, professionally, and socially.

Section 2. The GPSA will facilitate interdisciplinary communication and collaboration within the graduate and professional student community both at WSU and with other universities.

Section 3. The GPSA will advocate on behalf of the graduate and professional students of WSU at the university, local, state, and federal levels to promote the priorities and concerns of the graduate and professional student body.

Section 4. The GPSA will provide resources and opportunities for professional development to the graduate and professional students of WSU.

Section 5. The GPSA will promote the general welfare of the graduate and professional students of WSU by supporting students’ physical, economic, social, emotional, and psychological wellbeing.

Section 6. The GPSA will encourage service through programs that contribute to the mission of WSU and the appointment of Members to university committees.

Article III: Affiliation with Washington State University

Section 1. The GPSA will be organized as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) of WSU. As such, it will be subject to the rules and regulations governing such organizations as established by the Board of Regents.

Section 2. As the recognized representative body for graduate and professional students at WSU, the GPSA will coordinate and collaborate with the Graduate School and the Division of Student Affairs to fulfill its purpose in promoting the interests of the graduate and professional students of WSU.

Article IV: Membership

Section 1. All Washington State University students who are enrolled in the Graduate School or a Professional Program through the Pullman campus and who pay the Services and Activities fee will be members of the GPSA, hereafter referred to as Members.

Section 2. Members of the GPSA will have all of the rights and privileges enumerated in the Constitution and Bylaws, although that enumeration does not deny any other rights to which Members or the organization might be entitled.

  • A. Members have the right to participate in all activities and programs of the GPSA subject to the rules and regulations of those activities and programs.
  • B. Members have the right to vote in the general election for Senators, College Representatives, Executive Officers, and on any referendums.
  • C. Members have the right to representation in the Senate by a representative for their Academic Unit.
  • D. Members have the right to representation on the Executive Board by a representative for their College.
  • E. Members have the right to review all public documents, records, written materials, or otherwise recorded information of the GPSA.
  • F. Members have the right to petition for a referendum on any matter that could be brought or has been brought before the Senate.

Section 3. No act may be passed by the GPSA to restrict membership or abridge the rights of members on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender expression, political ideology, national origin, ethnicity, color, creed, disability, marital status, immigration status, or status as a veteran.

Article V: The Senate

Section 1. The Senate of the Graduate and Professional Student Association of Washington State University, hereafter referred to as the Senate, will be the deliberative assembly of the GPSA.

Section 2. The Senate will be composed of Senators, College Representatives, and Executive Officers, who are elected or appointed to represent Members of the GPSA, and any ex officio members.

  • A. The Senate will have sixty (60) Senators representing individual Academic Units. 
    • i. Senator positions will be allotted to Academic Units annually to ensure the proportional representation of Members within the Senate.
    • ii. Each Academic Unit will be allotted at least one (1) but not more than four (4) Senator positions.
  • B. The Senate will have one (1) College Representative from each college representing that college as a whole.
  • C. The Senate will have elected or appointed Executive Officers representing all of the Members of the GPSA.
    • i. There will be a President of the GPSA who will serve as the principal executive officer of the organization and be primarily responsible for representing the GPSA to external parties.
    • ii. There will be a Vice President of the GPSA who will be primarily responsible for the internal functions of the GPSA and responsible for the executive functions of the GPSA if the President is unable to perform their duties.
    • iii. There will be a Vice President of Legislative Affairs who will be responsible for reporting to the Senate on legislative issues that will affect Members and for lobbying activities carried out by the GPSA on behalf of the Members.

Section 3. The Senate will hold regular meetings during the academic year and as needed to conduct the business of the GPSA.

  • A. The voting members of the Senate will be the Senators, the College Representatives, and the Executive Officers.
  • B. Each voting member of the Senate will have one (1) vote on all matters brought before the Senate.
  • C. Senate meetings must be open to all Members of the GPSA.

Section 4. Elected or appointed representatives of the GPSA may be removed from office by their constituents with or without cause or by the Senate for cause.

  • A. An elected or appointed representative of the GPSA may be removed from office with or without cause by a ballot vote of the Members who would be eligible to vote for the position held by that representative in a general election.
    • i. A ballot vote to remove an elected or appointed representative may be initiated by a petition of at least one-fifth (1/5) of the Members who would be eligible to vote for the position held by that representative in a general election.
    • ii. A ballot vote to remove an elected or appointed representative may be initiated by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate.
    • iii. A ballot vote to remove an elected or appointed representative must be completed within thirty (30) days of the receipt of a valid petition or the Senate vote.
    • iv. Members eligible for a ballot vote to remove an elected or appointed representative must be given five (5) business days to submit their ballots.
  • B. An elected or appointed representative of the GPSA may be removed from office for cause by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Senate.
    • i. The vote to remove a representative for cause must occur at a regular Senate meeting.
    • ii. Prior notice of the vote to remove a representative from office must be given and must include an explanation of the cause for removal.

Section 5. All powers not delegated to other officers, boards, committees, or bodies of the GPSA by the Constitution or Bylaws of the GPSA are reserved for the Senate.

Article VI: The Executive Board

Section 1. The Executive Board of the Senate of the Graduate and Professional Student Association of Washington State University, hereafter referred to as the Executive Board, will manage the routine operations and affairs of the GPSA.

Section 2. The Members of the GPSA will be represented on the Executive Board by elected or appointed College Representatives and Executive Officers.

Section 3. The Executive Board will hold regular meetings during the academic year and as needed to conduct the business of the GPSA.

  • A. The voting members of the Executive Board will be the College Representatives and the Executive Officers.
  • B. Each Executive Officer and each College Representative will have one (1) vote on all matters brought before the Executive Board.
  • C. The advisor of the GPSA may serve as non-voting, ex officio member of the Executive Board.

Section 4. The Executive Board will have the authority to execute any powers or responsibilities delegated to it, although all such actions must be consistent with Constitution and Bylaws of the GPSA and are subject to review and reconsideration by the Senate.

Article VII: Amendments to the Constitution

Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution must be approved by a referendum to the entire membership of the GPSA during the general election of GPSA representatives.

  • A. The referendum for an amendment to the Constitution during a general election does not require prior notice to the members.
  • B. The full text of each proposed amendment to the Constitution must be included with the ballot during the general election in which the vote on that referendum will occur.
  • C. An explanation of the proposed amendment to the Constitution may be presented on the ballot along with the full text of the amendment.
  • D. An amendment to the Constitution during a general election will be approved if the votes in favor of the amendment constitute a majority of the votes cast on the referendum.

Section 2. Amendments to the Constitution of the GPSA must be put up for referendum by the Senate and/or the Members of the GPSA.

  • A. Amendments to the Constitution of the GPSA may be approved for referendum by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the Senate.
    • i. The vote to approve a proposed amendment to the Constitution for referendum must occur at a regular Senate meeting.
    • ii. Prior notice of a vote on an amendment to the Constitution in the Senate must be made at a regular meeting preceding the vote on that amendment and must include the full text of the amendment.
  • B. Amendments to the Constitution may be approved for referendum by a petition in support of the constitutional amendment signed by more than one-fifth (1/5) of the Members of the GPSA.
  • C. A proposed Constitutional amendment that has been approved for referendum by the Senate or by a petition of the Members must be put to a vote of the entire membership of the GPSA as a referendum during the next general election.

Section 3. Approved constitutional amendments will take effect at the beginning of the next session of the Senate (August 15th) following their ratification.