Jewish Law Student Association

ARTICLE I: Name & Purpose

Section 1 – Name:

The organization shall be known as the University of Georgia Jewish Law Students Association [hereinafter JLSA]

Section 2 – Purpose:

The purpose of this organization shall be to utilize the collective resources available to the organization, including members, alumni, and friends (person/organization who favors and/or supports the organization), for the creation and maintenance of a law school environment that is conducive to Jewish law students’ effective study of law by:

A.   Articulating and addressing the academic, financial, political, social and professional needs of its membership;

B.    Fostering and encouraging professional competence;

C.    Encouraging the increase in the number of Jewish students who apply to the law school and addressing the problem of attrition (should they exist);

D.   Informing members of all Jewish holidays;

E.    Organizing educational and informative events intended to share the Jewish religion and culture among its members;

F.    Promoting the interaction between the membership and other organizations within the law school and the university specifically, and the legal community and Jewish community generally; and

G.   Do all things necessary and appropriate to accomplish these purposes.

 

ARTICLE II: Membership (Rights & Duties)

Section 1 – Eligibility for Membership:

Every law student in attendance at the University of Georgia shall be deemed eligible for full or associate member in this organization.

Section 2 – Classification of Membership:

There are three classifications of membership within the JLSA, which are as follows:

A.   Honorary Membership shall be extended to any person nominated by JLSA’s membership, and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board, who is deemed to have contributed significantly to the goals of the organization, whether such contribution is financial or otherwise.

B.    Full Membership shall consist of all law students in attendance at the University who have demonstrated interest and signaled their desire to become a member for the academic year, entitling them to all rights and privileges of this chapter as defined herein.

C.    Associate Membership shall consist of all other students eligible for member in the chapter who did not fulfill the requirement of Art. II section 2(b) and who have in the past been Full members of the organization

Section 3 – Rights of Membership:

Only members who satisfy full membership requirement shall have the right to vote, chair committees, hold office or the right to represent the chapter in an official capacity.  Honorary and Associate members may participate in all activities of the organization except those restricted to Full members. 

Section 4 – Duties of Membership:

A.   In order to constitute Full membership as stated in Section 2(b) of this article, it is incumbent upon each person to submit a formal request to join the organization. The formal request may take the form of an annotated letter or be verbally acknowledged by an elected officer of the organization.

B.    In extraordinary circumstances, where a person has been unable to officially submit a formal request for member, the Executive Board, at its discretion, may grant a waiver of this requirement. 

 

ARTICLE III: Officers

Section 1 – Eligibility of Officers:

Persons eligible to hold an office must be a Full member of the organization for the entire academic year.

Section 2 – Elected Officers:

The elected officers of the organization shall be: the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Events Coordinator.

Section 3 – Appointed Officers:

The appointed officer of the organization shall be: the Assistant Treasurer. This officer shall be appointed by the Executive Board, not requiring consent of the general body.

Section 5 – Succession of Officers:

In the even that the President is unable to complete his/her term of office, the Vice President shall assume this office and carry forth the duties and title of President for the remainder of the term. A new Vice President shall be elected by recommendation of the President and by majority vote of the Full membership to serve out the term of office.

Should the offices of President and Vice President be vacated simultaneously, the organization’s Treasurer shall assume the office of President and the organization’s Events Coordinator shall assume the position of Vice President.  If more than 1/3 of the term of vacated offices is still effective, a new Treasurer and Events Coordinator shall be elected by majority vote of the Full member to serve out the term of office.

Should the offices of Treasurer an/or Events Coordinator be vacated (separately or simultaneously), the President shall have the power to appoint an individual to the office.  Such appointment shall last until the next organization meeting at which time the President’s appointee is automatically nominated while other nominations for the office are accepted from the floor.  The person who receives the simple majority vote from the Full member shall serve out the term of the office.

Section 6 – Officers’ Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities:

A.   President shall:

1. Be a member of the rising second-year;

2. Chair and conduct all meetings of the organization;

3. Appoint all special committees and chairpersons;

4. Serve as the official spokesperson for the organization;

5. Represent or appoint a proxy for the organization to all meetings, conferences, and seminars with other groups and organizations;

6. Serve as the primary face of the organizations

B.    Vice President shall

1. Be a member of the rising second/third-year class;

2. Perform any duties necessary for the effective workings of the organization;

3. Assist the President in his/her duties;

4. Assume duties and responsibilities of the President in his/her absence

C.    Treasurer shall:

1. Be a member of the rising second/third-year class;

2. Be responsible for the collection and disbursement of all funds;

3. Work closely with al finance – related committees and functions, to assure coordination of fund-raising activities with the organization’s financial status; and

4. Maintain his/her signature on bank records and all checks

D.   Events Coordinator shall:

1. Be a member of the rising second/third-year;

2. Organize events for JLSA’s members

3. Coordinate activities with other organizations.

Section 7 – The Executive Board:

1. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, and Events Coordinator

2. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the overall administration of the organization.

Section 8 – Temporary Appointments:

The president shall have the power to appoint individuals and/or create committees as s/he deems fit for the benefit of the organization. Such constructive appointments shall be absolved when the specified task has been performed.

 

ARTICLE IV: Meetings

Section 1 – Frequency of General Body Meetings:

There shall be at least one meeting of the general body each semester at a time specified at the beginning of each semester.  Additional meetings shall/may be called at the direction of the President or upon petition of at least ten (10) members of the organization.

Section 2 – Notification of Meetings:

Notices of all meetings shall be sent via email informing all members of when and where the meeting will take place.  Members shall be give reasonable notice of all called meetings.

Section 3 – Quorum:

A quorum shall consist of a simple majority. For the purpose of this document, a simple majority establishing quorum shall be defined as one more than half of the total membership.

Section 4 – Voting:

Any vote cast by a quorum present at any meeting in which business is conducted shall constitute a decision.

Section 5 – Persons Eligible to Vote:

All full members shall be eligible to vote in meetings of the organization.

 

ARTICLE V: Election of Officers

Section 1 – Term of Office:

All officers shall serve the equivalent of one calendar year. Elected officers hall represent the organization in an unofficial capacity from the moment of swearing-in until th ened of the spring semester exam period. During the interim period, past officers shall retain the duties of their offices.

Section 2 – Time Set for Elections:

Elections shall be held within the first three weeks of the school year.

Section 3 – Nominations and Elections:

A candidate’s election to office shall be affirmed by a simple majority vote. A simple majority vote as defined in Article VI, Section 1 of this Constitution.

Section 4 – Uncontested Candidacies:

All uncontested candidates win by default.

Section 5 – Removal of Officers:

An officer shall be removed by a ¾ majority vote by full members only. The President or next highest-ranking board member shall preside over the vote. In the interim period, a full member will fill the spot until the next election.

 

ARTICLE VI: Voting

Section 1 – Simple Majority Vote:

For the purpose of this document, a simple majority vote shall be defined as at least one more than half of the votes cast by persons legally entitled to vote, excluding blanks and abstentions, at a regular or properly called meeting at which quorum is present.

 

ARTICLE VII: Ratification and Amendments

Section 1 – Ratification:

These bylaws shall be effective immediately upon ratification by a two-thirds vote of all possessing full membership in JLSA.

Section 2 – Amendments:

This document may be amended by:

A.   Committee shall formulate amendments.

B.    Publication of the intention to amend the bylaws in a location conspicuous to membership

C.    Approval by a two-thirds vote of those possessing full membership at a subsequent meeting called for the express purpose of revising the organizations bylaws.

D.   All amendments to this document shall supersede all previous provisions which are modified or extinguished by the new addition and shall be incorporated unto the document under an amendment section.

E.    All amendments to this shall become effective upon ratification or at a time as specified by the amendment itself.

 

ARTILE VIII: Non-Discrimination

Section 1 – Non-Discrimination Clause:

Membership and all privileges, including voting and officer positions, must be extended to all students without regard to age, ethnicity, gender, disability, color, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. However Religious student organizations will not be denied registration solely because they limit membership or leadership positions to students who share the same religious beliefs.