Chicago-Kent College of Law Health Law Society Constitution & Bylaws

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Health Law Society of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, pledge to the betterment of the legal education and to the attainment of professional and ethical standards commensurate with the dignity of the Law, hereby establish this Constitution to enable the HLS to fulfill this pledge in an orderly and expedient manner while promoting the welfare of the student body. 

ARTICLE I NAME 

The name of the organization shall be the “Chicago-Kent College of Law Health Law Society” 

ARTICLE II OBJECTIVES 

The objectives of the Chicago-Kent College of Law (“Chicago-Kent”) Health Law Society (“HLS”) are to (1) raise awareness of health related legal issues; (2) to generate student interest in health law; (3) to facilitate an ongoing dialogue regarding health law and related legal issues; and (4) to embrace the educational opportunities of law students interested in health law. 

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP 

To be a member in good standing a person is required to be a law student, to fill out an application form, to pay annual dues in full no matter what time of the year the student joins, and to attend two meetings a year (one a semester unless excused by one of the executive committee members). All members shall be voting members. 

ARTICLE IV GOVERNING BODY 

The governing body of the organization, the Executive Committee, shall be composed of the officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor. No person shall be eligible unless he or she is a member is good standing. The duties of these positions are as follows: 

  1. President The President shall have the responsibility for supervision of all activities of the Chicago-Kent Health Law Society. It shall be the duty of the President to: 
  2. Preside at meetings of the Chicago-Kent HLS; b. Call special meetings whenever necessary; 
  3. Serve as Chair of the Executive Committee; d. Appoint chairpersons and members of all committees not otherwise provided for subject to provisions of the bylaws; e. Furnish the Secretary with a copy of all correspondence made on behalf of the Chicago-Kent HLS; f. Sign all official documents and have the authority to countersign all checks; g. Set and publish a written agenda prior to any regular meeting; h. Be an ex-officio member of all the committees and decide all questions of procedure and order not provided for in the HLS’s constitution and bylaws; i. Not be required to vote at meetings of the HLS except in case of a tie vote; j. Take any other action necessary and proper to performance of the organization following the bylaws. 
  4. Vice President The Vice President shall have the responsibility for assisting the President. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to: 
  5. Perform the duties of the President in the President’s absence; b. Succeed the office of President for the remaining portion of any unexpired term created by the vacation of that office for any reason; c. Monitor the operation, organization, and performance of all committees and subcommittees of the Chicago-Kent HLS and collect reports from all committee chairs; d. Serve as a member of the Executive Committee; e. Furnish the Secretary with a copy of all correspondence on behalf of the HLS; f. Have the authority to countersign all checks. 
  6. Secretary It shall be the duty of the Secretary to: 
  7. Record, publish as necessary, and keep the minutes of the meetings of the meetings of the Chicago-Kent HLS; b. Maintain a current record of pertinent membership data such as names and addresses; c. Serve as a member of the Executive Committee; d. Maintain a record of all business transactions and correspondence of the HLS; e. Secretary’s records shall at all times be open for inspection by any member of the HLS; f. Within five (5) days after retiring from office, deliver to his/her successor all papers and property belonging to the HLS; g. Have the authority to countersign all checks. 
  8. Treasurer It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to: 
  9. Prepare the budget for the HLS on a fiscal year basis; b. Collect all monies due to the Chicago-Kent HLS; 
  10. Deposit all money received and provide for safekeeping of such monies; d. Keep a correct and faithful account of all receipts and expenditures; e. Prepare all checks and keep all books belonging to this office which shall be subject to inspection by any member of the HLS; f. Sign all checks and ensure that there is an officer’s signature on all checks; g. Disperse funds when authorized to do so; h. Give a financial report at each membership meeting; i. Serve as a member of the Executive Committee; j. Furnish the Secretary with a copy of all correspondence made on behalf of the HLS; k. Within five (5) days after retiring from office, deliver to the successor all monies, papers, and other property belonging to the HLS. 
  11. 1L Representative It shall be the duty of the 1L Representative to: 
  12. Promote Health Law Society events to the other 1Ls; b. Perform or supervise tasks as may from time to time be agreed upon by the HLS. c. Assist in the planning of Health Law Society events. 
  13. Duties of the Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the administration and management of the affairs of the HLS. It shall execute all measures and proceedings necessary to advance the purposes of the HLS. It shall keep a record of proceedings and submit a report to members when appropriate. The Executive Committee shall act for the HLS when, in the opinion of the President, the urgency of the situation makes it impractical to call a meeting of the entire HLS. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to expend up to two hundred dollars ($200) without the HLS member voting. The HLS may by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, have the power to terminate any action taken by the Executive Committee. 
  14. Updates to the Health Law Society – 2015 a. The same person will not occupy the role of President and Treasurer concurrently, as required by 

SBA Bylaws, Art. XI, § 2, (a)(ii). b. If any members find they are unsatisfied with the results of Elections, they are able to challenge the results of the Health Law Society’s elections to the Student Bar Association, as required by SBA Bylaws, Art. XI, § 2, (c); Art. X, §2, (e). 

ARTICLE V COMMITTEES 

Committees may be established on an ad hoc basis as the HLS feels they are needed. The length of these committees is to be determined by the President. 

ARTICLE VI ELECTION AND TERMS FOR OFFICERS AND CHAIRPERSON 

Officers will be elected by members of the HLS. Ad Hoc Committee Chairpersons will be appointed by the President. 

  1. Election Officers and Chairpersons will be elected at a member meeting by the end of the second week in April. At least fourteen (14) days before the election date, the Executive committee along with the members will submit a proposed slate of Officers to the HLS. 

All voting will be conducted by secret ballot and immediately following the tabulation and certification of the vote by the Executive committee the candidates will take office. A candidate is elected by receiving a simple majority of total votes cast. If a majority vote is not obtained, a run-off election with the two candidates receiving the most votes, will be held. 

  1. Term of Office Terms of office for Officers and Chairpersons will be for one (1) academic year commencing May 1 of the current academic year and concluding May 1 of the following academic year. During the time from the elections until assuming office, incoming Officers and Chairpersons may prepare for the upcoming year and make binding appointments. 
  2. Vacancy If a vacancy occurs in any office other than the office of the President, the vacancy shall be filled by nomination by the President subject to the approval by a majority of members who attend a meeting following the nomination. 

If a vacancy for the office of the President occurs, the vacancy shall be filled by the Vice President. 

  1. Removal Any elected Office and Chairpersons may be removed from office by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members in good standing present at a special meeting called for such purpose, at which a quorum is present. 

Replacement of Ad Hoc Committees Chairpersons may be done by the President on an as-needed basis. 

ARTICLE VII MEETINGS 

Meetings will be held at least once a semester. Special meetings may be held as called by the President or the Vice-President and the HLS. Members of the HLS shall be given notice of a meeting no less than three days prior to the meeting. 

Meetings shall be presided over by the highest-ranking member of the governing body present. If no member of the governing body is present than a faculty advisor or a designated student member may preside over a meeting. Decisions shall be determined by majority vote of members present at a meeting. 

One more than half (1/2) of the members present shall constitute a quorum. 

ARTICLE VIII FISCAL MATTERS

1. Dues 

Annual dues shall be determined by the members of the HLS and may vary from time to time. Any new member joining during the membership year is expected to pay full membership, not pro-rata. 

  1. Expenditures The Treasurer will present a budget at a fall semester meeting to be approved by a majority of attending members. 

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT

1. Amendments The constitution and bylaws may be amended, from time to time, by a resolution in writing presented and announced at a meeting of the HLS. At the following meeting, the same proposed amendments must be read and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those attending such a meeting. 

Last Revised: August 2020