CONSTITUTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION AT UT LAW

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION AT UT LAW Preamble: The mission of Native American Law Students Association at UT Law ( NALSA ) is to promote knowledge of American Indian law and issues in the legal profession. In order to do this NALSA will host events to provide information to interested persons. NALSA will also strive to encourage American Indians to enter the legal profession. ARTICLE I: Name This organization shall be known as Native American Law Students Association at UT Law. ARTICLE II: Affiliation NALSA is a member chapter of the National Native American Law Students Association, Incorporated ( NNALSA ). ARTICLE III: Membership Section 1: Eligibility for Membership All law students currently attending the University of Tennessee on a full or part-time basis, and staff/faculty when appropriate are eligible for chapter membership regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. Section 2: Classification of Membership 1. Active membership of NALSA consists of students who have paid dues to NNALSA. Active membership may be conferred at any time by the payment of dues to NNALSA. 2. Inactive membership of NALSA shall consist of non-dues paying students currently attending the University of Tennessee or staff/faculty, after attending at least one general body meeting of NALSA. Section 3: Duties of Membership 1. Each chapter member shall strive for regular participation in the activities of NALSA. 3. Each chapter member shall strive for continuous commitment to the development of the Native legal community. Page 1 of 9

2 Section 4: Rights of Membership Only active members shall be entitled to all of the privileges of NALSA membership, including but not limited to the privileges of: voting, holding office, nominating a candidate for elected office, removing a member of the Executive Board, and ratifying and amending this Constitution. Section 5: Residual Rights All powers not specifically delegated by this Constitution shall be reserved to the chapter membership. ARTICLE IV: Officers Section 1: Eligibility of Officers. Persons eligible to hold office in NALSA must be active members and full time students in good academic standing, pursuant to the guidelines of the University of Tennessee. Section 2: Classification of Officers The NALSA officers shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Media Coordinator, and First Year Representative. Section 3: Executive Board The Executive Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Section 4: Term of Office The term of office for each office shall be one academic year. An academic year includes the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Section 5: Duties of Officers The officers shall perform the following duties and all other duties necessary for the efficient functioning of NALSA and the Executive Board. 1. President: The President is the representative and spokesperson of NALSA. The President has ultimate responsibility for all activities and funds of NALSA. The President will call at a minimum one Executive Board meeting and one General Body meeting a month during the fall and spring semesters. The President shall chair all meetings. The President will ensure that all of the University of Tennessee s requirements for continuing operation are Page 2 of 9

3 met. The President will also ensure that the requirements of NNALSA Bylaws Article II 4 are met Vice President: The Vice President shall have responsibility for all committees of NALSA. In the event of the incapacity, absence, or removal of the President, the Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President. The Vice President shall assist the President and other officers with any responsibilities as needed. 3. Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining records and correspondence of NALSA. The Secretary shall be responsible for the maintenance and distribution of minutes, agendas and announcements of meetings of the Executive Board and the chapter membership. The Secretary shall assist the President and other officers with any responsibilities as needed. 4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of all finances and overseeing and coordinating fund-raising activities of NALSA. The Treasurer will record all receipts of funding and deposit funding in the NALSA bank account within 7 days. The Treasurer shall be responsible for signing all checks issued by NALSA. The Treasurer shall also make monthly financial reports to the Executive Board and the chapter membership. The treasurer will prepare an annual financial report and submit the report to the Faculty Advisor. The Treasurer shall assist the President and officers with any responsibilities as needed. 5. Social Media Coordinator: The Social Media Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining social media accounts for NALSA. The Coordinator shall post news and updates on NALSA, NNALSA, and American Indian events at the discretion of the Executive Board. The Social Media Coordinator shall assist the President and other officers with any responsibilities as needed. 6. First Year Representative: The First Year Representative shall be the representative of the first year class and may attend executive board meetings. 1 Article II, Section 4 of the NNALSA bylaws is on page 9 of this Consitution. Page 3 of 9

4 ARTICLE V: Election of Officers Officer elections shall be held in the fall term of each academic year. If an officer position is left vacant for any reason the Election Committee shall hold a special election. If there are not enough candidates for each position the elected officers will share the duties of the vacant positions until they are filled. Section 1: Election Committee 1. The Election Committee shall be composed of the Executive Board. 2. The Election Committee shall supply all necessary details for election procedure. 3. The Election Committee shall promulgate any necessary rules pertaining to proxy and absentee voting. Section 2: Nominations 1. Candidates for all elected positions shall be self-nominated by submission of a written notice of candidacy to the Election Committee during a nomination period to be determined by the Election Committee. 2. A candidates meeting shall be held following the nomination prior to allow all candidates to make brief statements and answer questions before the chapter membership. The time of this meeting shall be determined by the Election Committee. 3. At the beginning of the candidates meeting, additional candidates may be verbally nominated by active members. This nomination period shall expire before the candidates statements are presented. ARTICLE VII: Governance Section 1: The Executive Board 1. Each Executive Board member shall have one vote. 2. The Executive Board shall have the power to implement all programs and administer all business matters concerning NALSA. 3. The Executive Board shall have the power to create committees as it deems necessary to carry out the objectives of NALSA. 4. The Executive Board shall declare an office vacant if an officer becomes unable to serve for any reason. Page 4 of 9

5 Section 2: Special Powers of the Executive Board 1. The Executive Board shall have the power to appoint the chairperson of all committees. 2. The Executive Board shall train the newly-elected Executive Board members immediately following the election. ARTICLE VIII: General Body Voting Procedure Section 1: Quorum Quorum shall consist of one-half of the active members of NALSA and shall be required for all votes. Section 2: Discussion Period There shall be a debate and discussion period, the length of which is to be determined by the presiding officer, on the date the vote is taken. Active members may move to call the question at any time during this period. Section 3: Constitutional Amendments Amendments to this Constitution shall be adopted pursuant to Article IX below. Section 4: Officer Elections Officers shall be elected pursuant to Article V above. Section 5: Other Matters All other matters to be voted on by the general NALSA body shall require a simple majority of present active members votes to pass. ARTICLE IX: Ratification, Amendments and By-Laws Section1: Ratification This Constitution shall be adopted by a simple majority vote of active members, where there is a quorum consisting of one-half of active members. Section 2: Amendments 1. This Constitution shall be amended pursuant to a motion receiving a two-thirds vote of active members present in a meeting with a quorum consisting of one-half of the active Page 5 of 9

6 membership. Such a motion shall be announced at least two (2) weeks prior to the said meeting in a manner reasonably calculated to notify the active membership. 2. There shall be a debate and discussion period, the length of which is to be determined by the presiding officer, on the date the vote is taken. Active members may move to call the question at any time during this period. Section 3: By-Laws This Constitution shall be supplemented with By-Laws. The By-laws shall be adopted by a simple majority vote in a regularly scheduled meeting where there is a quorum consisting of onehalf of active members and shall be changed in the same manner. ARTICLE X: Impeachment Section 1: Grounds for Impeachment An elected officer may be impeached for failure to fulfill his or her duties or for grave misconduct. Section 2: Initiation of Impeachment Procedure 1. The Executive Board may initiate an impeachment proceeding by a simple majority vote. 2. The active membership may initiate an impeachment proceeding by circulating a petition stating the reasons for impeachment, attaining signatures of one-fourth of the active membership and submitting the petition to the Executive Board. Section 3: Notice The officer to be impeached shall be given written and verbal notice of impeachment and the reasons therefore within a reasonable time prior to the specially convened meeting referred to in Section 4, Subsection 1. of this Article. Section 4: Impeachment Procedure. 1. The Executive Board shall call a specially convened meeting for the chapter membership to hear the impeachment charge and defense. 2. The highest elected official not involved in the impeachment proceeding shall chair the specially convened meeting. 3. In the event the Executive Board initiates an impeachment proceeding, an Executive Board member, voting for the initiation of such proceeding, shall have an opportunity to present the case for impeachment at the specially-convened meeting. Page 6 of 9

7 4. In the event the active membership initiates an impeachment proceeding, a petitioner for the impeachment shall have an opportunity to present the case for impeachment at the specially convened meeting. 5. Any officer being impeached shall have an opportunity to respond to the case for impeachment at the specially convened meeting. 6. A vote for removal shall be held if a quorum consisting of one-half of active members is present. 7. The officer shall be removed if two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor of impeachment. ARTICLE XI: Faculty Advisor Section 1: Selection of a Faculty Advisor 1. Any member of the Executive Board may nominate a fulltime faculty member of the college of law who is willing and able to serve as the faculty advisor. 2. The faculty member will become the faculty advisor upon a majority vote of the Executive Board. Section 2: Duties of the Faculty Advisor 1. To advise the Executive Board on the best course of action on any decision for which the Executive Board requests advice. 2. To ensure that NALSA abides by the laws and regulations of the University of Tennessee, the College of Law, the United States, and the state of Tennessee. 3. To serve as a tie breaker in any vote that the Executive Board requests. 4. To guide NALSA through any reactivation or reregistration after a period of inactivity. 5. To hold NALSA records and funds for one academic year of inactivity. 6. After one academic year of inactivity the Faculty Advisor will donate any NALSA funds to NNALSA. 7. The Faculty Advisor will review all budget and financial statements with the Executive Board. Page 7 of 9

8 Section 3: Removal of the Faculty Advisor Any member of the Executive Board may motion for the replacement of the Faculty Advisor as long as they have a willing replacement to nominate. If a majority of the Executive Board votes for removal the nominated faculty member becomes the Faculty Advisor. Article XII: Funding Section 1: Sources of Funding NALSA will not collect any membership dues. Funding shall come from fund-raising events, donations, and where possible the College of Law or University of Tennessee. If funds are available from other sources the Executive Board will vote on whether to pursue or accept them. Section 2: Holding of Funds NALSA funds shall be kept in a bank of the Executive Board s choosing and shall be under the control of the President and Treasurer. Section3: Expenditure of Funds The President and Treasurer by agreement may spend up to $100 of NALSA funds. The Executive Board must approve any amount over $100. Page 8 of 9

9 Attachment 1 BYLAWS OF THE NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, INC. (Approved by the Executive Board on April 5, 2015) Article II. Section 4. Chapters. (a) Members may form local chapters to further the purposes of the organization, subject to the application of these bylaws and the approval of the Executive Board. The action of any chapter shall not bind the Association unless sanctioned by the Association. Each chapter shall pay an annual fee of $50 to the Treasurer by November 15 of each year, and $60 thereafter. (b) Local chapters must also provide information to the Association throughout the school year, including: (1) The names, positions and law school addresses of their Board Members, and their Chapter members if available. This information shall be provided to each Chapter s area representative. (2) At least one article about the local Chapter s activities during the school year. They should be no longer than 500 words, and include no more than 2 color photos (c) Individual NALSA chapters are not required to elect chapter officers in accordance with the qualification requirements in these bylaws. Page 9 of 9