The Constitution of the Federal Bar Association Chicago-Kent Law Student Division

Adopted November 24, 2013

Article I: Name, Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Governance, and General Objectives

Section 1.  Name.  The name of this organization is “Federal Bar Association Chicago-Kent Law Student Division” (“Division”).

Section 2.  Mission Statement.  The mission of the Division is to support the interests and needs of Chicago-Kent law students aspiring to Federal practice, both public and private, as well as to strengthen student interest and knowledge of the Federal legal system.

Section 3.  Vision Statement.  The Division will be recognized as the premier Chicago-Kent student organization supporting the aspiring Federal practitioner and serve as the representative of the Federal legal profession among Chicago-Kent’s student body.

Section 4.  Governance.

(a) The Division is established under the express authorization of the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter (“local Chapter”) and subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal Bar Association (“Association”).

(b) In addition to this Constitution, the rules and regulations of the Association, the local Chapter, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, and the Chicago-Kent Student Bar Association are hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference insofar as they may be applicable to the business of the Division and shall prevail over this Constitution in the even of conflict herewith.

Section 5.  General Objectives.  The general objectives of the Division are as follows:

(a) To keep Chicago-Kent students informed of and connected to the affairs of the local Chapter and the Association;

(b) To educate Chicago-Kent students on the vast array and depth of Federal practice areas, whether solo or in partnership with the local Chapter, the Association, and fellow Chicago-Kent student organizations;

(c) To promote interaction and learning between Chicago-Kent law students, Federal judges, and Federal practitioners;

(d) To promote high standards of professional competence and ethical conduct in the Federal legal profession;

(e) To promote the sound administration of justice and the integrity, quality and independence of the Federal judiciary.

 Article II: Membership

Section 1.  Any law student in good standing attending Chicago-Kent College of Law is eligible for membership in the Division.

Section 2.  So as to maximize the relationships with the local Chapter and the Association, all members of the Division are encouraged to become members of the Association.

Section 3.  In compliance with the policy of Chicago-Kent College of Law, the Division shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap, age, sexual orientation, or marital status.  This nondiscrimination policy also covers membership selection, activities, policies, and practices of the Division.

Article III: Leadership

Section 1.  Elected Officers.  The officers set forth in this section shall be elected from the membership of this Division.

Section 2.  Executive Committee.

(a) The Executive Committee shall consist of the Elected Officers and the immediate past President of the Division, so long as such individual is still a student of Chicago-Kent College of Law.

(b) The Executive Committee shall also include, subject to a majority vote of the Elected Officers and the immediate past President of the Division, any chairs, supervisors, or directors of standing or special committees.

(c) The Executive Committee shall meet on the call of the President or any two of its members.  A quorum shall consist of a majority of recognized Executive Committee members.

(d) The Executive Committee may perform such Division business not requiring a vote of the membership, as shall be in the best interests of the Division.

Section 3.  Duties of Elected Officers.

(a) President.

(i) The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Division and shall perform such duties as may be required by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Division.

(ii) The President shall represent the Division at all non-Division meetings, functions, and events, including those of the local Chapter and the Association.

(iii) The President shall call to order and lead all meetings of the Division.

(iv) The President shall establish the strategic direction of the Division in consultation with the Executive Committee.

(v) The President shall appoint standing or special committees as necessary and appropriate to the Division business, including, but not limited to a Program Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Nominations and Elections Committee, Membership Committee, and Publicity and Public Relations Committee.

(b) Vice President.

(i) The Vice President shall be responsible for coordinating the preparation of Division meetings, functions, and events.

(ii) The Vice President shall closely advise the President on all matters pertaining to the Division.

(iii) The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the absence or inability of the President to discharge the duties pertaining to that office, and shall perform such duties as may be required by the President.

(c) Secretary.

(i) The Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence of the Division and keep the local Chapter and national Association notified as necessary.

(ii) The Secretary shall give notice of all meetings as may be required by Article IV hereto.

(iii) The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Division.

(iv) The Secretary shall keep a roster of the membership.

(v) The Secretary shall perform such other duties as properly pertain to this office.

(vi) The Secretary shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the absence or inability of the President and Vice President to discharge the duties pertaining to that office, and shall perform such duties as may be required by the President.

(d) Treasurer.

(i) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due to the Division and serve as the expert for all Division financial matters.

(ii) The Treasurer shall make disbursements therefrom only as authorized by two officers of the Division or a majority vote of the active members present at any Division meeting.

(iii) The Treasurer shall develop a budget for the Division in consultation with the President and shall keep the Executive Committee informed of the financial standing of the Division.

(iv) The Treasurer shall keep an itemized record of all monies received and disbursed by or to whom paid and for what purpose; shall submit to the Division membership, when requested and at the end of the fiscal year, a report in writing itemizing the receipts and disbursements for the year; shall keep all books, vouchers, and records available for audit; and shall perform such other duties as properly pertain to the office.

(v) The Treasurer shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the absence or inability of the President, Vice President, and Secretary to discharge the duties pertaining to that office, and shall perform such duties as may be required by the President.

Section 4.  General Elections and Terms.

(a) The orderly transfer of institutional knowledge being necessary for a well-run organization, the election of Officers shall take place annually during a meeting of the general membership in the month of March on a date set by the Executive Committee that will generate the most participation by the general membership.

(b) The Secretary shall take steps in a timely manner to publicize the elections to the general membership so as to attract the maximum number of thoughtful and motivated candidates and to promote civil debate among the general membership.

(c) The election of Officers shall be by secret ballot or by voice vote if there is no objection.

(d) For each position, the candidate with the most votes shall be the winner.

(e) In the event of a tie, a run-off election shall be held between the tied candidates.  The candidate with the most votes in the run-off election shall be the winner.  In the event of a tie in the run-off election, the Executive Committee shall select the winner among the tied candidates by majority vote.

(f) Any candidate who wishes to contest the results of any election must inform a member of the Executive Committee, which shall convene along with the Faculty Advisor.  The outcome of the challenge shall be determined by a majority vote of the Executive Committee and the Faculty Advisor, which may rule to uphold the results or overturn them.  If the results are overturned, a new election for the position in question shall take place at the earliest possible meeting of the general membership.

(g) Upon election, Elected Officers shall assume the duties of their respective offices on April 1.

Section 5.  Removal from Office.

(a) An Officer may be removed from office for delinquency in attendance, inefficiency, neglect of duty, violation of appropriate standards of conduct and ethics, violation of any provision of the Division’s Constitution or Bylaws, or for other causes detrimental to the Division, only upon three-fourths of members’ vote at a general membership meeting called for such purpose by the Executive Committee.

(b) In case the President is removed from office under the procedures of this section, the individual shall not be recognized as a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 6.  Vacancies of Office.

(a) In case of death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Vice President shall succeed to office.

(b) In cases of the death, resignation, or removal of any other officer, the vacancy shall be filled by special election by the general membership.  In case of such vacancy, the Secretary shall immediately take steps to publicize the special election to the general membership so as to attract the maximum number of thoughtful and motivated candidates and to promote civil debate among the general membership.

(c) The winner of the special election shall assume the duties of the office immediately for a term expiring the following April 1.

Article IV: General Membership Meetings

Section 1.  A well-informed general membership being necessary for a successful student organization, the President shall call at least one general membership meeting each semester.

Section 2.  A quorum shall consist of a majority of Executive Committee members.

Article V: Amendments

Section 1.  Initiation of Amendment.  A proposal to amend this Constitution may be initiated in any one of the following ways:

(a) Subject to quorum requirements of the Executive Committee, a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at a meeting of the Executive Committee.

(b) Subject to quorum requirements of a general membership meeting, a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at a meeting of the general membership.

Section 2.  Adoption of Amendment.  A successfully initiated proposal to amend this Constitution shall be adopted under the following procedure:

(a) The Secretary shall notify the general membership of the proposed amendment and the date and time upon which such amendment shall be considered.

(b) At such a general membership meeting, the proposed amendment shall be ratified only by two-thirds vote of those present and voting.

Article: VI: Bylaws

Section 1.  Purpose.  The Bylaws of the Division shall serve to facilitate the just and efficient operation of the Division to further the mission, principles, and other provisions set forth in this Constitution.

Section 2.  Annual Executive Committee Review.  Upon assumption of each new annual Executive Committee, the Officers shall review and propose any changes to the existing Bylaws.

Section 3.  Change to Bylaws.  The Executive Committee shall implement any procedure it sees fit for the initiation of any change to the Bylaws.  Adoption of such change shall be sufficient under any of the following procedures:

(a) Subject to quorum requirements of the Executive Committee, a simple majority vote of those present and voting at a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be sufficient to adopt any change to the Bylaws.

(b) Subject to quorum requirements of a general membership meeting, a simple majority vote of those present and voting at a meeting of the general membership shall be sufficient to adopt any change to the Bylaws.

Section 4.  Announcement of Changes.  Any change to the Bylaws shall be announced by the Secretary to the general membership.

Section 5.  Supremacy of the Constitution.  This Constitution shall prevail in the event of any conflict between a provision of the Constitution and the Bylaws.