This organization shall be known as the Horticulture Graduate Student Association, hereafter referred to as H.G.S.A.

The objectives of this organization shall be to:

1. H.G.S.A. membership is open to graduate students majoring in Horticulture in the University Of Georgia Department Of Horticulture. Voting rights shall be extended only to members.
2. Membership shall not be denied to any person because of age, race, sex, religion, handicap, sexual orientation or national origin.

Section 1. The elected officers of H.G.S.A. shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer, and an International Graduate Student Representative. 

Section 2. The executive board shall consist of all officers, chairpersons of standing and special committees, and the Graduate Advisor who is a non-voting member.

Section 3. If any elective position becomes vacant, the voting membership shall choose a member to fill the vacancy for the unexpired part of the term of office within one month after the position has become vacant.  A simple majority vote will determine the next replacement officer.  An officer may be removed from office before end of term with a unanimous vote stating such.

Section 4. In case the President resigns, the Vice-President shall automatically assume the President’s position until the vacancy is filled according to Section 3.

Section 5. A member who is unable to be present at a meeting where a vote will be held must submit their vote at least 24 hours before the vote to the President in order for the vote to be counted.

Section 6. All nominees must be known to the membership at least 10 days before the date of the election. A final call for nominees will be made at the time of the casting of votes. A voice vote or secret ballot will be used at the discretion of the out-going President with approval from the membership.  A simple majority of the vote is necessary to elect new officers. Elections are held at the end of each scholastic year.

The annual election of officers of the association shall be held during the last two weeks of spring semester. The officers’ positions shall be filled and following the meeting the newly elected officers shall assume their duties.

Section 1. This constitution may be amended at any meeting by two-thirds vote of the voting membership, provided notice of the desire to amend was given at least 7 days prior to the date of the meeting.  All amendments shall be submitted in writing to the President.  All amendments must be endorsed by at least two-thirds of the active membership of the Association.  The President must bring the amendment up for vote within 60 days after he/she receives it.

Section 2. All amendments to this constitution or by-laws shall be subject to the approval of the Student Government.

Section 3. Any article of this constitution or part thereof that is in direct violation of the Student Government constitution or by-laws shall be null and void and declared unconstitutional by the President of Student Government. Any differences of opinion shall be brought before the Legislature, whose decision shall be final.
 

No member will be required to pay dues; however, members attending certain functions of the Association may be asked for a contribution to offset the expense of said activity. Any member unable to pay such a fee may not be prevented from attending such an activity if due cause for nonpayment is submitted to the Executive Board prior to the date of the activity.

Section 1. Regular meeting of the Association shall be held during the fall and spring semesters and at the option of the Executive Board during the summer. The President shall determine the time of the meetings and shall have the right to cancel any meeting, provided at least 3 days notice is given.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board or by the request of 50% of the membership.

Section 3. The presence of at least one-fourth (25%) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 1. All officers shall be registered students at the University of Georgia.

Section 2. Duties of the officers:

Section 3. Additional duties as they arise may be delegated to the officers by the membership.

Section 1. The Executive Board shall attend to the affairs of the organization during the interim between meetings of the Association, but its actions may not conflict with those taken by the
Association.

Section 2. All chairpersons of special committees shall be members of the Executive Board until the end of the academic term in which their appointment expires.

Section 3. 60% attendance of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in an Executive Board meeting.

Section 1. The membership shall determine the standing committees according to the goals of the organization.  All standing committees shall be elected by the membership.

Section 2. All special committees shall be appointed by the President.

Section 3. The President shall be ex-officio, a member of all committees except the nomination committee.

The rules governing the proceedings of the Association shall be those in the Constitution and By-Laws. All meetings shall be informal but orderly. The President shall determine the organization and conduct of the Association in keeping with the goals of this Association as one of academic endeavor.

Amendment of the By-Laws shall conform to those governing amendment of the Constitution.