GEO CONSTITUTION
(As Amended 17 March 1978; 31 October 1978; 17 November 1981; 27 November 1985)
I.    The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Employees’ Organization.
II.    The objectives of this organization shall include but are not limited to:
A.    Organizing:  To promote the organization of graduate academic employees.
B.    Collective Bargaining: To promote the welfare of the membership and to provide a voice in the determination of the terms and conditions of employment.
C.    Education:  To improve the standard of instruction, to encourage teacher and student experimentation in course content, curriculum and methodology, toward achievement of quality education.
D.    Research:  To provide research services and activities designed to assist and support objectives of the organization.
E.    Social Progress:  To cooperate with other segments of our society and with other labor organizations in particular for the achievement of common goals.
III. General Principles and Guarantees
A.    Rights to Membership:  No person otherwise eligible for membership in this Organization (as provided herein) shall be denied membership for any reason.
B.    Democratic Elections:  Members shall have the right to fair and democratic elections, at all levels of the Organization.  This includes due notice of nominations and elections, equal opportunity for competing candidates, and proper election procedures which shall be constitutionally specified.
C.    Right to Hold Office:  Members shall have an equal right to run for and hold office, subject only to constitutionally specified qualifications, uniformly applied.
D.    Accounting of Funds:  Members shall have the right to a full and clear accounting of Organization funds at all levels.  Such accounting shall include, but not be limited to, periodic reports to the membership by appropriate fiscal officers and annual audits of all financial records by independent auditors not otherwise connected with the Organization upon petition of twenty (20) percent of the membership or in order to satisfy the requirements of law or when required by labor federations with which the Organization may be affiliated.
E.    Participation in Decisions:  Members shall have the right to full participation through discussion and vote, in the decision-making processes of the Organization, and to information required for the full exercise of this right.
IV. Membership
A.    Full Membership:  Every graduate student with an academic appointment at the University of Michigan shall be eligible for membership in the Organization, except those holding the rank of assistant professor or higher and administrators.
B.    Associate Membership:  Graduate students not holding academic appointments may become associate members.
C.    Good Standing:  A member in good standing is one who pays all dues approved by the Organization.
D.    Membership Powers:  All powers of this Organization shall be vested in the membership.  Except as otherwise provided herein, all decisions involving the Organization or activities shall be taken at membership meetings where each member in good standing shall have one vote.
V. Meetings, Referendums, and Elections
A.    Regular Meetings:  Regular meetings shall be scheduled and called by the Steering Committee at least twice each academic semester.  No fewer than ten days notice shall be given for the calling of regular meetings.  Notices shall be posted outside the Union Office and on the Organization’s University-wide bulletin boards (i.e.: those bulletin boards provided by the University and designated for use by the Union through the collective bargaining agreement).  If the Steering Committee deems it necessary, the agenda shall be duly posted outside the Union’s office and on the Organization’s University-wide bulletin boards no later than seven days before the meeting. Any member may have any matter placed on the agenda if the Steering Committee shall have opted for an agenda.  All such topics for consideration must be submitted to the Secretary at least eight days before the meeting.  At any meeting, a member shall have the right to make a motion on any topic being considered by the meeting.
B.    Special Meetings:  Special membership meetings shall be called at the discretion of the Steering Committee or by petition of five (5) percent of the membership. No fewer than three days notice shall be given of special meetings.  Announcements of such meetings shall be duly posted outside the Union Office and on the Organization’s University-wide bulletin boards and in other prominent places.  If the Steering Committee deems it necessary, the agenda shall be duly posted outside the Union Office and on the Organization’s University-wide bulletin boards the day before the meeting. If this is done, any topic which a member wishes the Organization to consider must be on the published agenda and therefore must be submitted to the Secretary at least two (2) days before the meeting.
C.    Membership meetings shall have the power to direct the Steering Committee to determine and execute Organizational policy except that requiring concerted membership activity: non-performance of duties, ratification of contract,matters of union affiliation, and strike votes.
D.    A quorum for the transaction of business at any membership meeting shall consist of not fewer than five (5) percent of the Organization’s current membership.
E.    All membership meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the revised Robert’s Rules of Order, as amended by the membership.
F.    The membership can determine that any motion related to a topic on the agenda be voted on by paper ballot by submitting a petition requesting such a procedure bearing the signatures of at least twenty (20) percent of the membership to the Secretary at least one day before the meeting at which the topic is scheduled for consideration.
G.    In those cases defined by articles V.C. and V.F., in which action by a membership meeting is deemed inappropriate, membership action shall be determined by a secret ballot referendum.  On all issues including strikes and contracts an affirmative vote of a majority of the full members voting and in good standing shall be required.
H.    When required, as defined by articles V.C. and V.F., the Secretary shall prepare and distribute ballots within ten (10) days. The Secretary shall endeavor to distribute ballots through the U.S. Mail to all eligible members.  When required, the Secretary shall post notification of such elections and referendums outside the Union office and on the Organization’s University-wide bulletin boards within five (5) days.  The Secretary shall collect and tally the ballots within a time period designated by the Steering Committee.
VI. Officers
A.    The officers of the Organization shall be a ten-member Steering Committee who shall be elected by the membership at a membership meeting.
B.    Election of Officers:
l.  The election committee shall conduct the election of Steering Committee members.  The election committee shall be composed of the incumbent Steering Committee not up for re-election.
2.  All full members in good-standing shall be eligible to run for office.  All associate members in good standing who have previously been full members in good standing shall also be eligible to run for office.  All members in good standing shall be eligible to vote.
3.  The term of office for members of the Steering Committee shall be one year.  One half of the Committee shall be elected at the first regular membership meeting of the Fall term and the other half at the first membership meeting of the following Winter term. Vacancies shall be filled as they occur by the membership at the next membership meeting.  Officers elected to fill a vacancy shall complete the term of office filled.
4.  The membership meeting at which election of Steering Committee members occurs may choose to proceed by secret ballot or by voice vote. In the event of a secret ballot vote, the election committee shall tally all ballots prior to the adjournment of the membership meeting.
5.  All nominees shall present a speech and shall be subject to questioning by the membership. The membership meeting shall determine the duration of these speeches.
6.  Any challenges to the regularity of the election shall be heard by the election committee who shall report its findings to the membership at a special membership meeting to be called within two weeks of the challenge.  The membership meeting shall determine the validity of the challenge and certify the election.
C.    Officers shall take office as soon as their election has been certified by the election committee or, in the event of a challenge, by the membership as directed in Article VI.B.6.
D.    Any officer of the Organization may be recalled upon petition of twenty (20) percent of the membership.  An election shall be held within fourteen days of receipt of the petition. The recalled member shall be eligible to run for election.  The standing Steering Committee, excluding members up for recall, shall determine the validity of the signatures appearing on any recall petition.
E.    The Steering Committee shall designate one member of the Steering Committee to fill each of the following positions:  President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary.
VII.  Duties of Officer.
A.    Steering Committee
1.  The Steering Committee shall consist of ten members as specified in Article VI.
2.  The Steering Committee shall implement policy directives of the membership and oversee the operation of committees.
3.  The Steering Committee authorizes expenditures in administrative matters.
4.  The Steering Committee shall make recommendations for consideration and action.  For the purpose of performing this duty the Steering Committee shall have authority to gather information by consulting in the name of the Organization, with whatever persons or bodies are deemed appropriate, but shall in no way bind or commit the Organization in the course of such a consultation.
5.  The Steering Committee shall meet before every membership meeting to discuss and prepare an agenda.  The Steering Committee shall meet at such other times as the President or a majority of the Committee deem appropriate.  The Secretary, upon notice from the President or a majority of the Steering Committee, shall issue a Steering Committee meeting call and shall, to the extent possible, notify each Steering Committee member of the time and place of the meeting.  A majority of the members of the Steering Committee  shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  All meetings of the Steering Committee are open to all members of the Organization, but may be closed by a majority vote of Steering Committee members.
B.    The President
l.  The President shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the Organization and shall conduct the affairs of the Organization in accordance with this constitution and in accordance with policy decisions of the membership.  He/she shall report regularly to the Steering Committee and the membership on his/her actions. He/she shall sign all checks, authorizations for expenditures, contracts, and other official documents of this Organization, but with the approval of the Steering Committee may designate a deputy to sign such documents.
C.    The Treasurer
l.  The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Organization.  He/she shall receive and receipt for all monies of the Organization.  He/she shall maintain properly and have custody over all the accounts of the Organization.  He/she shall, in the name of the Organization, deposit, in an open account in a financial institution(s) in which deposits are federally insured,  all monies designated for the Strike and Legal Defense Fund.  He/she shall prepare checks for the payment of all liabilities of the Organization which are for purposes authorized or required by the constitution or authorized by the membership and none other.  He/she shall countersign all checks so prepared.
2.  The Treasurer shall make a report to the membership at least once each semester and shall be subject to questioning about such report at the first regular membership meeting following such report, and shall provide an annual written report.
D.    The Secretary
l.  The Secretary shall be the chief recording officer of the Organization.  He/she shall oversee the records of the membership, associate and full, in good standing and not.
2.  The Secretary shall serve as the secretary at all membership meetings.  In such capacity he/she shall be responsible for:
a. Issuing a regular membership meeting call, in the name of the Steering Committee, no fewer than ten days prior to such a meeting.
b.Issuing a special membership meeting call, at the request of the Steering Committee or upon petition of five (5) percent of the         membership, no fewer than three days prior to such a meeting.
c.Publicizing and preparing agendas for such meetings in accordance with the provisions of Article V.
d.Maintaining an accurate record of the proceedings of membership meetings and providing for the publication and distribution of a         summary.
3.  The Secretary shall serve as secretary of the Steering Committee, and shall keep accurately the minutes of each meeting of the Steering Committee.
E.    The Vice-President
l.  The Vice-President shall have immediate supervisory responsibilities for the organizing activities of the Organization.
2.  The Vice-President shall maintain contact with other organizations engaged in activities similar to or related to those of the Organization, including affiliates, and shall make periodic reports on such contacts to the Steering Committee.
3.  The Vice-President shall perform other such duties as may be directed by the President or the Steering Committee.
4.  The Vice-President shall replace the President in her/his absence.
5.  The Vice-President shall be chairperson of the Steward’s Council and the grievance  committee.
VIII.  Committees
A.    Committees, both standing and special, shall be created by action of the general membership at a membership meeting or by the Steering Committee.
B.    Committees shall be restricted to implementing Organization policy as determined by the membership.  They shall be under the administrative supervision of the Steering Committee and finally accountable to the membership.
IX. Departmental Stewards
A.    Full members of the Organization in each department shall elect department stewards. One steward shall be elected for every twenty-five (25) full members or any fraction thereof in a department, but each department shall elect at least one steward.   In the event that an elected official of the Union shall become unable to fulfill his/her duties, a special election shall be held.  Newly-elected stewards shall notify the vice-president of their election.
B.    Stewards shall serve as union representatives at the departmental level.  Steward’s main responsibility is to be available to members having grievances, questions or information relevant to the organization operations.  Members may chose to directly contact the grievance committee.
C.    The elected Stewards shall meet periodically as a Steward’s Council to advise the Steering Committee and membership of relevant developments in the departments.  Ten (10) percent of the Steward’s Council shall constitute a quorum.
D.    Special meetings of the Steward’s Council may be called by the Steering Committee or by petition of ten or more stewards.
E.    Meetings of the Council will be scheduled by the Steering Committee so that this body may be consulted before the agenda for a regular membership meeting is drawn up.
F.    The Steward’s Council shall constitute the grievance committee.
G.    The stewards may elect a secretary.
X. Dues
A.    Dues shall be determined by a majority vote on a paper ballot of the membership.
B.    After the financial obligations to the Organization’s  affiliates has been met, no more than  twenty-five (25) percent of all dues and fees received shall be placed in the Strike and Legal Defense Fund.
XI. Amendment
Any member or members seeking to amend the constitution shall present in writing a copy of the proposed amendment to the Secretary.  The Secretary shall notify the Steering Committee immediately of such proposed amendment and its consideration shall be placed on the agenda for the next membership meeting.  A copy of the proposed amendment shall be published and distributed prior to the meeting.  If a majority of those members attending and voting at the membership meeting vote in favor of the proposed amendment, or if twenty (20) percent of the membership petition for the proposed amendment, the proposed amendment shall be voted upon by the membership in a paper balloting prepared and supervised by the Secretary within ten days of the membership meeting passing the proposed amendment or receipt of the petition requesting the proposed amendment.  A positive vote of two-thirds (2/3)  of those voting, provided that fifty (50) percent of the membership votes, shall be required to pass the proposed amendment.  Upon such passage, the Secretary shall amend the constitution as required.