The Governor's Program for Gifted Children

GPGC 2024 | JUNE 9 – JULY 20

Government

The GPGC Government plays a major role in the GPGC Community. It codifies the rules and gives them legal status. It has the power to tax, to try law violators and set penalties, and to license and set fees for various agencies and activities. It can pass resolutions related to policy, but these have the status of recommendations until accepted by the administration.

The current version of the GPGC Constitution serves as the basis for all laws governing the members of the GPGC Community. This document sets forth the framework for the Government, which is elected by the student body at the start of each summer session. Every serving member of the Government is paid a weekly wage, which comes directly from taxes levied by the Government. The Constitution provides for three branches of government, as outlined below:

The Executive Branch

The Executive is made up of the president, vice-president, secretary, who are elected, and other positions appointed by the president, and in some cases, the Director of the GPGC.

The Legislature

The GPGC Constitution provides for a bicameral legislature consisting of a House of Representatives composed of students, and a Senate composed of students as well as members of the staff and faculty.

The Judiciary

The Constitution currently provides for two courts: The Student Court and The Appellate Court. The former is staffed with three student justices, one of whom serves as chief justice, while the latter is staffed with five justices as follows: two faculty members, two students, and the director who serves as chief justice in perpetuity.

 

GPGC gave me a sense of community,


a place where being smart was acceptable, where bullying was not the norm, and where creativity was welcomed.


– Cashman P., Alumnus