Article 1. Name

The name of this organization shall be Graduate Students United at the University of Chicago - United Electrical Workers (GSU-UE).

Article 2. Membership

Any graduate student worker at the University of Chicago who has signed a union membership card is a member of GSU-UE. 

Article 3. Governance

The general membership shall be the Union’s supreme decision-making body. At least once per academic quarter, a General Membership Meeting (GMM) shall be called to allow the membership to make decisions on the Union's priorities and direction.

Each GMM shall be open to all members. All members shall have the right to place agenda items, speak freely on the issues being considered, and vote at GMMs.

Article 4. Officers & Elections

All members shall be eligible to run for office.

Candidates may write a statement to be distributed on GSU mailing lists. 

Elections will be conducted electronically and ballots will be distributed to members. Elections with two or less candidates will be determined by a majority vote. Elections with more than two candidates will use a ranked-choice voting scheme. 

Elections will be administered by an elections committee, containing volunteers who are not running for office.

If an officer becomes unable to fulfill the duties of the office, a special election will be organized to fill the vacancy.

The Administrative Officers of the Union comprise: 

The Financial Secretary, who maintains the Union’s finances and budget.

The General Secretary, who maintains the Union’s records.

The Communications Secretary, who maintains the Union’s communications platforms.

The Administrative Officers collectively oversee the administration of the union, and are elected once per year in the Spring quarter, or when there is a vacancy, at a GMM (Section 3 notwithstanding). 

Article 5. Financial Procedures

Dues income is allocated according to the Union’s budget.

The Financial Secretary will monitor dues income and make new budget proposals as needed. Any budget proposal must be brought before a GMM where it may be approved, modified, or rejected.  

Ad-hoc expenses are subject to the following procedure:

Any expense up to $250 may be approved at the discretion of the Financial Secretary.

Any expense up to $2000 may be approved by a vote of the Administrative Officers.

Any greater expense must receive approval at a GMM.

The Administrative Officers oversee the administration of the Union’s Hardship Fund and Strike Fund.

The Financial Secretary is responsible for maintaining the budget, spending records, and providing a financial report at each GMM. 

Any member may review the Union’s budget and spending records.

Article 6. Amendment Procedure

These bylaws are amendable by a majority vote at a GMM. 

Any member may propose a change to these bylaws.

Any proposal to change these bylaws requires membership be given at least one week's notice.