Constitution

Constitution of the “Graduate Law Students’ Association”

1. Name

The official name of this recognized campus group is the “Graduate Law Students’ Association” The acronym or abbreviation of this group is: “GLSA”


2. Definitions

  • “The University” shall mean the University of Toronto

  • “The Faculty” shall mean the Faculty of Law of the University of Toronto

  • “The Student Body” or “The Students” shall mean all the students currently enrolled in Graduate Programmes at the Faculty of Law.

  • “The Executive Committee” or “The Executive” shall mean the Executive Committee of the GLSA constituted under clause 5.

3. Purpose and Objectives

The purpose, objectives, mission and/or mandate of the GLSA are:

(1) To represent the Student Body in dealings with (a) the Faculty, (b) the School of Graduate Studies, (c) other organizations operated by the graduate and undergraduate students of the University.

(2) To co-ordinate and enable the activities of graduate students.

(3) To encourage and improve co-operation and understanding within the Student Body and between the Student Body, the Faculty and the JD students of the Faculty.

(4) To organize and finance social and educational events involving the Student Body.

(5) To seek representation for the Student Body on all decision-making committees and councils of the Faculty and to represent the student body at such committees and councils and in the Graduate Student Union.

(6) Generally, to improve the working conditions and welfare of the Students.

(7) Nothing contained in this Constitution in any way limits the right of a Student to represent himself/herself in respect to any matter where he/she would have had such a right or privilege prior to the adoption of this Constitution.


4. Membership

Every full-time student registered in a graduate law degree (SJD, LLM, MSL, or GPLLM) is presumed to be a full and equal Member of the GLSA, but such membership may be suspended or revoked for disciplinary reasons, or for failure to pay required fees approved by the Membership.

The Membership may, by resolution, confer honorary membership on such persons as they consider deserving of membership. An honorary member shall be a full and equal member of the GLSA. Such membership may be revoked.

GLSA members are permitted to run, nominate, and vote in elections and constitutional amendments.


5. Executive List and Duties

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of ten (10) elected officers. These include a President, Vice-President, director of communications, Treasurer, Graduate Students Union Representative, LLM Representative, SJD Representative, GPLLM Representative, and two social affairs officers.


A. The President shall:

  • Oversee the operations, management and success of the group

  • Be the spokesperson for the group

  • Hold signing officer authority along with the Treasurer for financial purposes

  • Preside over board meetings as well as general meetings

  • Ensure transition of office to the future Executives

  • Represent the GLSA in the Law Faculty Council meetings

  • Be responsible for the successful transition between the outgoing and incoming Executive Committees.


B. The Vice-President shall:

  • Assume duties of the President in his/her absence

  • Liaise between the GLSA and the Students’ Law Society and the graduate student representatives in the faculty committee

  • Ensure that all the activities of the GLSA meet regulations and policies of the University of Toronto


C. The Director of Communication shall:

  • Make a list of all registered members

  • Maintain the web sites and member contact list

  • Record notes and motions for meetings

  • Notify all members of meetings

  • Handle official correspondence of the organization

D. The Treasurer shall:

  • Record all financial transactions of the group

  • Hold signing officer authority along with the President for financial purposes

  • Maintain a budget of income and expenses along with receipts

  • Advise members on the financial position of the group

  • Prepare an annual budget for the group as well as budgets for specific events

  • Apply for relevant and appropriate sources of funding

E. The Graduate Students Union Representative shall:

  • Represent the GLSA in the Graduate Student Union, and fulfill any related duties

F. The LLM Representative shall:

  • Liaise between the Faculty, the GLSA and the LLM and MSL students

  • Receive concerns and suggestions regarding the academic and social welfare of the LLM and MSL students, and take any appropriate actions in response to such concerns and suggestions, in consultation with the Executive Committee.

  • Represent the GLSA in the Law Faculty Council meetings


G. The SJD Representative shall:

  • Liaise between the Faculty, the GLSA and the SJD students

  • Receive concerns and suggestions regarding the academic and social welfare of the SJD students, and take any appropriate actions in response to such concerns and suggestions, in consultation with the Executive Committee.

  • Represent the GLSA in the Law Faculty Council meetings


H. The GPLLM Representative shall:

  • Liaise between the Faculty, the GLSA and the GPLLM students

  • Receive concerns and suggestions regarding the academic and social welfare of the GPLLM students, and take any appropriate actions in response to such concerns and suggestions, in consultation with the Executive Committee.


I. The Social Affairs Officers shall:

  • Initiate, coordinate, and execute social activities for the welfare of the graduate students. This does not limit any other GLSA Executive member from taking such actions.

  • Assume any other role or responsibility in accordance with the needs of the GLSA


A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be at least three Members of that Committee.

      • The Executive Committee shall manage the day-to-day affairs of the GLSA.

      • The Executive Committee shall have the authority to negotiate agreements on behalf of the GLSA.

      • Only members of the GLSA who will be in residence in Toronto for the duration of the fall and winter term are eligible to be Executive Committee members.

      • The Executive Committee may appoint Directors or Coordinators from the Executive Committee for any committees it wishes to form, such as a social committee or a publicity committee. However, such positions do not hold executive decision-making authority and the Executive shall not be required to form any such committees.

Termination of Executive Committee Members or GLSA Members:

  • Any member of the GLSA who commits an act negatively affecting the interests of the GLSA and its members, including non-disclosure of a significant or continuing conflict of interest, may be given notice of removal.

  • The member up for removal shall have the right to defend his/her actions.

  • A two-thirds majority vote of the current members present in favour of removal is required.

  • The member will be removed from the GLSA’s membership and will lose any privileges associated with being a member of the GLSA.

  • Executive members are subject to the same termination process and, as determined by the vote, may lose their executive position along with their membership to the group.

6. Elections
 The Executive Committee shall strike the Elections Committee and appoint one Chief Returning Officer (“CRO”) to conduct and hold elections in the first month of each academic year. All members of the Elections Committee shall be non-biased in the results of the election and shall be required to disclose any and all conflicts of interest in the election.

The CRO shall accept nominations only from GLSA members that are also registered U of T members for candidacy of executive positions from the general membership before the first month of each academic year. Members may nominate themselves.

The CRO shall select the election date, and it will be announced to GLSA members a minimum of one week prior to election date.

All GLSA members shall be eligible to vote in the election.

After the election is over, the CRO shall count the ballots. The candidate with the most votes shall be elected to the position.


Votes may not be by proxy.

7. Finances

The Treasurer shall keep records of all income and expenses. The Treasurer shall present the group’s financial health at the annual general meetings. The Executive Committee will vote on expenditures of over $300.00 by majority vote at an Executive meeting. The group’s executive or members may not engage in activities that are essentially commercial in nature. This is not intended to preclude the collection of membership fees to cover the expenses of the group, or of charges for specific activities, programs or events, or to prohibit groups from engaging in legitimate fundraising. However, the group will not have as a major activity a function that makes it an on-campus part of a commercial organization, will not provide services and goods at a profit when that profit is used for purposes other than those of the organization, and will not pay salaries to some or all of its officers.


8. Meetings

A) General Meetings (GMs):

There shall be a general meeting at least twice per year, i.e. once per academic term.

The Executive Committee will announce the dates for the general meetings two (2) weeks prior to holding the meetings. These meetings are intended to go over the group’s annual activity plan, financial health and propose or vote on constitutional amendments, if any. Motions will require a 2/3 majority of registered members in attendance for a vote to be cast. The motion with a majority votes will be passed.

The quorum for the General Meetings shall be seven members.

B) Executive Meetings:

The executive committee shall meet regularly as required at a date and time are to be set by an executive. The quorum of Executive meetings shall be three members of the Executive Committee.


9. Amendments

Any GLSA member may propose and vote on amendments to this constitution. The Executive Committee will administer the process of having amendments discussed at general meetings.

Constitutional amendments shall require a 2/3 majority to be passed at a General Meeting by registered GLSA members in attendance.

The Executive Committee shall formally adopt the new constitution and submit the revised constitution to the respective University offices (i.e. The Office of Student Life, The University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union, etc) within two (2) weeks of its approval by general members.

10. By-laws and Resolutions:

(1) The Membership may enact such by-laws or pass resolutions as it considers necessary to carry out the objects of the Association.

(2) By-laws and resolutions are binding on the Executive Committee unless otherwise specified.

11. Entry into force

This constitution will be in force starting September 1, 2016.