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SBA
Constitution Election
Code Candidate
Petition & Questionnaire
Constitution
of the Student Bar Association
Article I: Establishment
Section 1: Name
The name of the
organization is The University of Texas Student Bar Association.
Section 2: Objectives
The objectives
of The University of Texas Student Bar Association are:
A. To direct the
efforts of the members in matters directly affecting the students of the School of Law
B. To encourage association
between its members and the faculty, the
administration, and the legal profession.
C. To instill in
its members an appreciation for fair and impartial administration of
justice.
Article II: Membership
All students
officially enrolled in The University of Texas School of Law are members
of the Student Bar Association.
Article III: The
Board of Governors
Section 1: Composition
A Board of
Governors shall serve as the governing body of the University of Texas Student Bar Association. The Board of Governors of the Association is
composed of the President, Vice President of Operations, Vice-President
of Programming, Secretary, Treasurer, three representatives from the
Senior class, three representatives from the Mid-law class, one
representative from each Freshlaw section, the Senate of College Councils
Representative, the American Bar Association/Law Student Division
representative, the Texas Bar Association representative, the Junior
Texas Bar Association Representative, and the Editor of The Writ.
Section 2: Voting
A. Quorum
A quorum is
established by the presence of a majority of the voting membership of the
Board of Governors. No official votes of the Board of Governors are
authorized unless a quorum exists.
B. Votes Required
All Actions taken
by the Board of Governors require a majority vote of the Board members
present unless otherwise provided. Each member of the Board of Governors
may cast one vote on each question considered by the Board.
Section 3: Meetings
A. Membership Participation
All Regular and
Special meetings held by the Board of Governors shall be open to any
member of the Association. Association members shall be allowed to
address the Board of Governors.
B. Regular Meetings
Regular meetings
must be held at least once every two weeks during the Fall and Spring
semesters. Regular meetings of the Board of Governors will be called and
posted by the President of the Student Bar Association with one week
notice.
C. Special Meetings
By a call of the
President, by the petition of a majority of the members of the Board of
Governors, or by petition of ten percent of the Student Bar Association
membership, a special meeting can be called with one days notice.
D. Notice
Notice is
sufficient when the time, place and date of the meeting are posted
outside the Student Bar Association office.
Section 4: Removal
A. Cause
Members of the
Board of Governors may be removed for the following offenses:
i. Failure to
attend designated required Association activities, without an excuse from
the President.
ii. Failure to
fulfill assigned duties.
iii. Failure to
attend two regular or special meetings of the Board of Governors in one
semester, without an excuse from the President.
a. Meetings
include regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Governors and SBA
social events (i.e. Ex Parte and Casino Night). “Bar Reviews” are explicitly excluded
from this requirement.
b. Twenty-four
hours notice is generally sufficient to qualify for an excused absence, but
the excused absence is offered at the President’s full discretion.
iv. Failure to
attend more than 2 assigned office hours in one semester, without an
excuse from the President.
a. Twenty-four
hours notice is generally sufficient to qualify for an excused absence,
but the excused absence is offered at the President’s full discretion.
b. Anyone
missing an office hour must alert his or her partner as to the absence
and make an effort to secure coverage from another SBA board member for
the hour.
B. Procedure
The President
shall issue one warning to any member of the Board of Governors for whom
cause of removal exists, after which the offensive member may be removed.
i. The member
may be brought before the Board of Governors.
ii. The Board
member shall be removed only by a two-thirds majority vote of the members
present
C. Presidential Removal
The President
shall be brought before the Board for removal upon the request of two
executive officers. The President shall only be removed thereafter by a
two-thirds majority vote of the members present.
D. Designated Required Activities
Required
Association activities shall be designated at a regular or special
meeting of the Board of Governors, and such activities shall be
designated by an executive officer.
Section 5: Vacancies
A. Officers
In the event of
a vacancy in the Office of President, the Vice-President of Operations
shall assume that office. In the event of a vacancy in the office of
either the Vice-President of Operations, Vice President of Programming,
Secretary, or Treasurer, the Board of Governors shall elect a member of
the Association to assume that position.
B. Representatives
In the event of
a vacancy in any other elective office of the Board of Governors, a
special election shall be called by the Board of Governors unless the
vacancy occurs five weeks before the next regular election. The Special
Election must be held within three weeks after the vacancy. In the event
a present office-holder
desires to run
for an office which is vacant, that person must first resign the office
presently held at least two weeks before the deadline for filing so that
both offices can be filled at the same election.
C. Permanently Vacant Offices
Any office that
is vacant because no one ran for such office in the Spring Election shall
be filled in the Fall Election. If no one runs such an office in the Fall
Election, the office may remain vacant for the year. The President, with
approval of a majority of the Board of Governors, may appoint someone to
such an office at any time following the Fall election.
Section 6: Interpretations
Interpretations
of the Constitution or of the By-laws of the University of Texas Student Bar Association shall be made by the Board of Governors, before
which any interested party may appear with counsel. Disputes are resolved
by a majority vote of the Board of Governors.
Section 7: Rules of Order
The Board of
Governors shall have the power to make its own rules of order.
Section 8: By-laws and Election Code
The Board of
Governors shall have the power to adopt By-laws and an Election Code to
govern matters not covered in this Constitution, but in case of
conflicts, the Constitution shall be controlling. Any changes or
amendments made to the Election Code become effective four weeks after
Board approval.
Article IV: Duties
Section 1: Officers
The officers of
the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice-President of
Operations, a Vice President of Programming, a Secretary, and a
Treasurer. These officers shall be nominated and elected as provided in
the Election Code of the Association.
Section 2: President
A. Duties
The President
shall preside at meetings of the Association and the Board of Governors,
appoint necessary committees, and perform the duties generally devolving of
the office. The President may excuse Board members from attendance and
performance of duties for just cause, at the President's discretion. The
President shall act as the official liaison of the Student Bar
Association to the University faculty, staff and administration.
B. Student-Faculty Committees
The President
shall submit nominees for the Student-Faculty committees. Nominees shall
appear before the Board for conformation by majority vote before the
names are submitted to the Dean. One student appointed to each committee
shall be designated chairperson of the student membership of that
committee by the President. The Chairperson shall have the duty to report
to the Board at least twice per semester on the activities of the
committee and shall submit a written report once each semester.
C. The Students’ Association Appellate Court
The President
shall appoint with the Dean of the Law School two (2) law students and one faculty member of the Law School to serve as the Appellate Court for the Students’
Association of the University of Texas. The Appellate Court is established by Article 6.3
of the Students’ Association’s Constitution.
D. Chief of Staff
The President
may appoint a Chief of Staff to aid the President in all official duties.
The Chief of Staff serves solely at the pleasure of the President and is
subject to appointment and dismissal without a vote of the Board of
Governors. The assistant to the
President shall be entitled to attend executive sessions of the officers
and to attend all Board of Governors meetings but may not vote
individually. The Chief of Staff,
however, may serve as the President's proxy.
Section 3: Vice President of Operations
A. Duties
The Vice
President of Operations shall, in the absence of the President, preside
over the meetings of the Association and the Board of Governors. The
Vice-President of Operations is also charged with student locker rentals,
upkeep, and records. In addition, the Vice President of Operations shall
chair the policy committee, composed of the President, Secretary, Senate
of College Councils
Representative,
Students’ Association Law School Representative, and members of the Board
of Governors. In addition, the Vice President of Operations shall solicit
applications for up to five appointed positions on the policy committee.
Applications shall be solicited during the time of regular fall elections
(Freshlaws are eligible) and applicants will be reviewed and selected by
the Board of
Governors.
Policy committee appointees will be non-voting members of the Board of
Governors.
B. Ombudsman
The
Vice-President shall also serve as the Law-Student Ombudsman to aid any
student who feels discriminated against or unfairly treated. The
Vice-President will investigate complaints, recommend solutions, report
to the Board of Governors on major of recurring problems, and suggest
necessary system changes.
Section 4: Vice President of Programming
The Vice
President of Programming shall manage all programs that do not arise out
of a policy concern. In addition, the Vice President of Programming shall
chair the programming committee, composed of the President, Treasurer,
American Bar Association Representative and Texas State Bar
Representatives as well as members of the Board of Governors.
Section 5: Secretary
A. Duties
The Secretary
shall keep a permanent record of the meetings of the Association and of
the Board of Governors, and shall perform the duties generally devolving
on the office including maintenance of all written reports and records of
the Board of Governors and its committees. The Secretary is also charged
with producing any administrative record or document that is requested by
a majority of the Board of Governors or ten percent of the members of the
Association by petition.
B. Committee Coordinator
The Secretary
will also serve as the Committee Coordinator who shall have the
responsibility for coordinating and overseeing the committee system. The
Secretary will report regularly to the Board of Governors on the status
of each committee.
Section 6: Treasurer
The Treasurer
shall keep a permanent record of all financial matters of the Association
and of the Board of Governors, and shall perform the duties generally
devolving on the office. The Treasurer is also charged with producing any
financial record or document that is requested by a majority of the Board
of Governors or ten percent 10%) of the members of the Association by
petition.
Section 7: ABA/LSD and TBA Representatives
The American Bar
Association, Texas Bar Association, and Junior Texas Bar Association
Representatives shall attend all appropriate conventions and meeting
where the University of Texas School of Law is expected to have
representation. The representatives will also serve as a liaison to law
students by encouraging membership and distributing information on Bar
services.
Section 8: Representatives
All members of
the Board of Governors are charged with responsibility representing the
constituency from which they were elected, and informing
that
constituency of Board Actions.
Section 8: Editor of the Writ
The Editor of
the Writ shall publish The Writ, a law school newsletter, biweekly during
the fall and spring terms. The Writ shall be used to disseminate
information to the Association members.
Section 9: Senate of College Councils Representative
The
representative of the Senate of College Councils shall attend the regular
meetings of the council and shall represent the law school at such
meeting. The representative shall make a report, as necessary, at regular
and special meetings of the Board of Governors.
Article V: Elections
Section 1: Dates and Provisions
A. Fall Election
The Fall
election shall be held within twenty (20) to thirty (30) days after the
first day of classes. First-year representatives will be elected in the Fall
Election.
B. Spring Election
The Spring
Election shall be held on the second Wednesday following Spring Break.
Officers, third and second year representatives, Bar Association
representatives, and the Editor of the Writ, shall be elected in the
Spring Election.
C. Voting
Every current
member of the Student Bar Association is eligible to vote in an election,
subject to the Election Code. Students graduating at the end of a
semester are not eligible to vote in that semester’s election, with the
exception of spring elections for permanent class officers.
Section 2: Qualifications for Office
A. General Qualifications
A candidate for
any office in the Board of Governors of the Student Bar Association shall
have:
i. An overall
grade average of at least 2.0; and
ii. Shall be
enrolled as a full time student while in office
iii. Freshlaws
are not subject to the 2.0 average requirement.
B. Calculation of Hours
Number of credit
hours does not include hours in progress unless otherwise provided. If a
candidate has completed a course but has not received a grade for the
course at the time of filing, it shall not be included in the grade
average.
C. Failure to Maintain Qualifications
If at any time
after election an office holder fails to maintain an overall 2.0 average
or shall fail to be a full time student, the office becomes vacant.
D. Class Representatives
A candidate for
class representative may only run as a member of his class. A candidate
for first year class representative may only run as a member of his section.
E. President
Any Association
member shall be eligible to run for President of the SBA who:
i. Is enrolled
as a full-time student in law school; and
ii. Who will
continue as a bona fide student in the law school for at least one year
following the election.
F. Other Officers
Any person shall
be eligible to run for Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the
SBA and for Texas State Bar Representative who:
i. Has completed
at least 10 hours of Law School credit at the time of the election; and
ii. Is enrolled
as a full time student in the law school; and
iii. Who will
continue as a bona fide student in the law school for at least one year
following the election.
Section 3: Terms of Office
All elected members
of the Board of Governors shall serve one year terms beginning and ending
three days after the election of that office. Outgoing Board members
shall be expected to train newly elected Board members.
Section 4: Inauguration
A. Time
All elected
members of the Board of Governors shall be sworn into office within two
weeks after their election.
B. Oath of Office
The President of
the SBA shall administer the oath of office to all newly elected Board
members and the oath shall be:
I solemnly
promise to uphold the Constitution of the University of Texas Student Bar Association and to perform the duties of my office to the best
of my ability.
Article VI: Amendments
Section 1: Amendments
Amendments to
this Constitution may be proposed by any member of the Association by
submission of a written proposal to the Board of Governors.
Section 2: Ratification
A proposed
amendment shall be adopted upon ratification by a two-thirds majority of
the membership of the Board of Governors.
Article VII: Student
Initiatives
Any student
petition or resolution with the signatures of at least 100 members of
the Association will be certified by the Board of Governors.
Certification requires the petition to be placed on the Association's
ballot in the next regular election.
Article VIII: Permanent
Class Officers and Their Duties
Section 1: Class Determination
Each student who
graduates from The University of Texas School of Law, shall be assigned a
class liaison with the School of Law. Students who graduate from U. T. Law School in May
or August shall be assigned to the class corresponding to that calendar
year. Students graduating in December shall be members of the Class
graduating the following May.
Section 2: Eligibility
Only those
students graduation in a particular class are eligible to run for
permanent class office of that particular class.
Section 3: Officers
The permanent
class officers shall consist of a Permanent Class President and four (4)
Class Agents. The time, place, and manner of their election shall be governed
by the Election Code of the Student Bar Association.
Section 4: President
It shall be the
duty of the Permanent Class President to act as liaison between the
graduation class and the School of Law for solicitation of gifts and other grants, organizing
class reunions and for other duties that may become necessary to the
office. The Permanent Class President shall keep a complete and current
roster of all members of the Class with addresses and shall furnish the
Class Agents with copies of the roster annually.
Section 5: Class Agents
Class Agents
shall solicit contributions for the Class Fund and assist the Permanent
Class President.
Article IX: Class
Fund Council
The University of Texas Law School Fund Council for each class shall consist of the
Permanent Class President, at least two (2) Class Agents, and the
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs of the Law School.
As
amended, October 8, 2008
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