CONSTITUTION
OF THE
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
“HAITI RULE OF LAW” ASSOCIATION
We, the students of Seton Hall University School of Law hereby constitute the Seton Hall University School of Law “Haiti Rule of Law” Association, and believe that by organizing in this way we can best accomplish the following purposes:
The name of this organization shall be the Seton Hall University School of Law “Haiti Rule of Law” Association, hereafter referred to as the Association.
The ultimate power of the Association will reside in all matriculating members of the student body of Seton Hall University School of Law.
Membership in this student organization is limited to any current or former Seton Hall University School of Law student, faculty or staff who affirms and agrees to the stated purposes of the Association and is an active participant in any activities and/or meetings that the Association conducts. An active participant is defined as meeting all requirements listed in the subsequent sections. Agreement with the purpose is indicated by signing a copy of the constitution.
Section 1: General Membership. Shall be open to any current Seton Hall University School of Law student, faculty or staff who attends 75% of the regularly scheduled meetings in the current academic year and is a participant in all activities that the Association conducts. Non-compliance is permitted only upon approval from the President of the Association.
Section 2: Alumni Membership. Shall be open to any former member of the Association who maintains current contact information with the Association and has otherwise left the Association in good standing.
Non-discrimination clause. Consistent with all applicable federal and state laws and University policies, this organization and its subordinate bodies and officers shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, veteran's status, sex, national origin, or disability in its selection of members.
All general members will be considered voting members and have the right to elect their executive board. This will be done by popular vote as defined in this constitution.
The Executive Board shall be elected by a plurality vote of the current-voting members. A candidate for election to the Executive Board may be any student enrolled at Seton Hall University School of Law who is a member of this Association. No person shall seek the position of President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer unless he/she has been a member of this Association for two semesters prior to the semester when he/she would assume office.
An open forum will be held where every candidate for all offices will be given the opportunity to discuss their desire to represent the Association as a student representative.
The candidate with the highest number of votes for each office will be elected to that office. If there is only one nominee for an Executive Board office, that nominee shall assume that office. If a candidate becomes unable to serve before taking office, the candidate with the second highest votes will assume the office. In the event of a tie, the faculty advisor will decide the winner.
Each voting member on record shall receive one vote per office. A voting member may submit an absentee vote if unable to attend the election meeting. The Executive Board must receive such absentee ballots within 24 hours of the general election meeting. The Secretary shall be in charge of tabulating the votes and reporting the outcome of the election.
The Executive Board shall be elected annually by a closed majority vote of the members at an election meeting. The election meeting will be held at the end of the spring semester and the president shall determine the date.
The newly elected Executive Board shall take office at the end of the spring semester.
article v: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board of the Association shall be the President, Evening Vice President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Their duties shall be as follows:
A) The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and Presiding Officer of the Association. The President shall be the spokesperson and leader of the organization. The President shall preside over Executive Board meetings, and uphold and enforce the Constitution of this organization. The President must co-sign with the Treasurer all disbursements. The President shall have the authority to create committees as necessary.
B) The Vice President shall appoint and coordinate all committees related to the special events sponsored by the Association, assist the president in implementing all Association goals, recruit new members and take charge of special event projects as assigned by the president. The Vice President shall act as coordinator and liaison between the SBA, the student body, and members of the community. In absence of the President the Vice President shall be the Acting President.
C) The Evening Vice President shall share in the duties of the Vice President. The Evening Vice President shall act as coordinator and liaison between the SBA, the evening student body, and members of the community. In absence of the President and Vice President the Evening Vice President shall be the Acting President.
D) The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping a detailed and accurate record and minutes of all business conducted by the Executive Committee and proceedings, and conveying that information to the members of the Association. The Secretary will maintain lists of members’ names, and addresses. The Secretary shall address and receive all communications in the name of the Association. In absence of the President, Vice Preseding and Evening Vice President, the Secretary shall be the Acting President.
E) The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Association. It shall be the Treasurer’s responsibility to accurately account, in an official report at the beginning of each semester the monies available to the Association. The Treasurer shall be empowered to investigate any potential abuses of monetary funds, and is responsible for reporting any mismanagement to the members of the Executive Board. All disbursements shall be co-signed by the President. The financial condition of the organization must be supplied upon the request of the Executive Board.
Officers failing to fulfill the given responsibilities and duties may be removed by the active Association members.
The removal of an officer requires a 2/3 vote of a quorum following the notification of the officer in question. Such notification shall be provided in writing no less than seven days prior to the vote.
This organization shall hold at least two general membership meetings each semester.
Any member of the Executive Board who fails to attend, without substantial cause, two consecutive meetings of the Association shall be deemed to have resigned his or her position.
A quorum consisting of a majority of the total active membership is necessary for the transaction of any business of all meetings.
The President must convene a meeting within a reasonable amount of time if such a meeting is initiated upon a petition signed by one third of the active voting membership.
The members shall elect at the beginning of each school year the SBA Representative(s), in compliance with all requirements set for the by the SBA.
An advisor from the faculty, administration, or staff may be appointed to this organization by two-thirds of the voting members. The advisor shall be a member of the Executive Board but shall not have voting privileges within the organization.
The advisor(s) of the Association must be full-time members of the University faculty or administrative/professional staff. If a person is serving as an advisor who is not a member of the above classifications, a co-advisor must be chosen who is a member of these University classifications.
ARTICLE IX: BYLAWS
The Executive Board shall have the authority to establish new bylaws and/or alter existing bylaws. The Board has the authority to fix and/or alter the number of members on the Board of Directors provided that they do not establish or alter bylaws, which fix the qualifications, classifications, or term of office of any member of the current Board.
article xI: Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments to the Constitution of the Association may be proposed by any member of the Association, which has been seconded, by another member and must be submitted to the secretary in writing at a general membership meeting.
The entire voting membership shall be notified in writing at least five school days prior to a vote on a proposed amendment and at least one special meeting to discuss the proposed amendment, shall be held prior to taking action on the amendment.
Amendments must be approved by ballot by 2/3 majority of the voting membership. The vote must be conducted two weeks after the last special meeting to discuss the amendment is held.
Amendments to the Constitution when adopted shall be incorporated in the body of the text.
article xIi: DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of this organization, all accrued funds and assets shall revert to the SBA.