UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI COLLEGE OF LAW STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

SECTION 100:         CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

SECTION 200:         ELECTIONS

SECTION 300:         ABA/LSD REPRESENTATIVE

SECTION 400:         CABINET

SECTION 500:         ESTABLISHED STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 100: Chartered Student Organizations

110               List  of Student Organizations

110.1             The      following student organizations are tfaffefffE^fr members of the

-Executive   Council

140.1-       AmnestyHtoer^^

110.2            Black Law Students Association (BLSA)

110.3            Christian Legal Society (CLS)

110.4            Criminal Law Association (CLA)

110.5            Diversity   ]_£ t> A

110.6            Environmental Law S ociety

110.7            Federalist Society

110.8            Hispanic Law Society Association (HLSA)

110.9            Honor Council - Klo M

110.10          Immigration and Nationality Law Review {\S 0

110.11          International Law Society

110.12          Intellectual Property Society

110.13          University of Cincinnati Law Review

110.14          Law Women

110.15          Law Women Athletic Association

110.16          Legal Culture

110.17          University of Cincinnati Moot Court

110.18          National Lawyer's Guild

110.19          Phi Alpha Delta (PAD)

110.20          Public Interest

110.21          Student Court j^c^J.

110.22          Student Legal Education Commission (SLEC) fdO kl

110.23          Tenant Information Project (TIP)

110.24          Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

111      Each chartered student organization shall have one (1) voting

member on the Executive Council in accordance with Article III § 3 of the Student Bar Association Constitution.

120     Procedure to Secure a Charter

121 Any student organization seeking to be chartered by and seeking voting rights on the Executive Council shall submit to the President of the Student Bar Association:

121.1 A brief statement about the student organization, its purposes and goals, including how the organization serves the purposes of the, Student Bar Association as set forth in the Preamble to the Student Bar Association Constitution;

121.2   The constitution of the student organization;

121.3   The affirmative action/non-discrimination policy statement for the student organization;

121.4   The list of officers of the student organization and the procedure by which they are elected',

121.5   A list of ten (10) members of the student organization.

122   The Constitution and Rules Committee shall review the constitution and affirmativeraction/ non-discrimination policy statement of the student organization. The Committee shall then report its determination of the compliance or noncompliance with a applicable miles to the Executive Council. ±30—Votes of the Executive Council

131    A student organization shall be chartered by a majority vote of the voting members present at the Executive General Council meeting.

132   A chartered student organization shall lose its charter when:

132.1 It has no members

132.2 It serves none of the purposes of the Student Bar Association set forth in the Preamble;

132.3 It actively pursues a course of conduct contrary to the purposes of the Student Bar Association or to the University policy.

132.4 It fails to meet the SBA attendance policy as set forth in the Rules of
Procedure.                                                                                                                  Qew&fSL \

133   A two thirds (2/3) vote of the total voting members of the Executive Council shall be necessary to remove the organization as a chartered Student organization.

 

Section 200: Elections

210     Scope

211    The elected officers of this Association shall be elected by the members of the Association as herein specified in Article I and Article III, Section 2 of the SBA Constitution.

212   The class representatives to the Executive Council shall be elected by

members of their respective classes as herein specified in Article III, Section 2 of the SBA Constitution.

213   The representatives to the Executive Council from the chartered student organizations shall be chosen by those student organizations according to their own constitutions and in accordance with the Student Bar Association Constitution and Rules of Procedure, and these By-laws.

220     The Commissioner of Elections

221    The President of the Student Bar Association shall nominate a

Commissioner of Elections at a January meeting of the Executive Council and shall appoint the Commissioners with the advice and consent of the Executive Council by the first meeting in February.

222    The Commissioner shall continue in that position until a successor is nominated and appointed.

223    The Commissioner of Elections shall be a second year student.

224    The Commissioner of Elections shall form an election committee composed of the assistant, plus one student from each of the three classes. 224.1 No member of the Committee, Including the Commissioner and the assistant, shall be a member of the Executive Council or a candidate for any position on the ballot.

225    The election of Student Bar Association officers and class

representatives for the first- and second-year classes shall be held between March 1st and March 14th   .

225.1 The Commissioner of Elections shall announce the exact date of the elections at least fourteen days prior to election day.

226    The Commissioner of Elections shall consult with the Honor Council chair-person before the announcement of the elections.

227    The Commissioner of Elections shall supervise all elections that the Executive Committee deems necessary for the orderly operation of the Student Bar Association.

228    Any questions which arise which are not specifically explained in these By-laws

will be left to the discretion of the Commissioner of Elections to be answered in the spirit of these By-laws.

230     Petitions

231      The Commission shall invite nominations by petition from each member of the Association for an office or position for which the member is eligible.

232     To be valid, a petition must contain signatures of twenty-five of the total number eligible to vote for the office or position.

233      At least one day prior to the election, the Commissioner shall post the names of all candidates, along with one-page summary statements of the views and/or qualifications that the Commissioner has invited each candidate to submit.

234     The Commissioner shall set the deadline for the receipt of petitions and one-page statements at four (4) days before the scheduled elections.

240     Candidates' Forum

241      The Commissioner shall arrange for a designated time for the candidates to deliver a five (5) minute oral statement to the student body prior to elections. 241.1 Ample time should be allotted for the candidates to receive and answer questions from the students.

242     The Commissioner shall serve as the moderator of the program.

243      The Commissioner shall publicize the program to the student body.

244      Only qualified candidates whom have fully complied with the SBA election procedures and petitions shall participate in the forum. 344 —— Shall be one prior to elections

250     Ballots

25 1      The Commissioner shall print ballots for each office and representative position,

which contain die names of the candidates in alternate order. 252 ,j  The ballots shall not be printed with the candidates' names in alphabetical order

253      Each candidate shall have his or her name appear first on the ballot an equal number of times.

254      Candidates may be elected by write-in votes.

255      The candidate who receives the most votes (simple majority) will be deemed to be the winner of the election.

256"      The entire board of elections shall be present during the counting of the ballots as well as the chair of honor council.

257     If, at the deadline for the receipt of petitions and summary statements , no

candidate has qualified for an office or position, the Commissioner of Election shall post notice that the office or position is vacant, and any person seeking to be considered for the position shall notify the President of the Student Bar Association no later than five (5) days after the election.

260     Election Procedures

261      Elections shall be conducted during the hours of 11:00 and 1:00 p.m. on the day of elections.

262      Elections shall be conducted in a convenient area for all students.

263     No active campaigning shall be conducted on the floor in which the elections are being conducted on the day of elections.

264     All posters shall be displayed within twenty-four hours prior to the elections and must be taken down within twenty-four hours after the elections.

265      Unless declined in writing to the Commissioner of Elections within 24 hours after the election, a position is deemed to be accepted.

266     Posters and campaign materials may be distributed beginning anytime after the deadline for receipt of petitions and statements as decided by the Commissioner of Elections.

267     Any violation of these Elections Procedures shall result in any penalty the Board of Elections deems appropriate, including removal of the offending candidate from the ballot.

268     Vacant Offices

269       Such vacancies shall be filled in accordance with the Student Bar Association Constitution, Rides of Procedure, and these By-laws.

270    Terms of Office

271       The terms of the elected officers of the Student Bar Association shall run as noted in Article III, Section 5 of the SBA Constitution from the seventh (7th) day of April until their successors have been elected and installed.

272       Installation of new officers and members of the Executive Council shall take

place at the first meeting following the election as the first item of 'New Business.'

273       The terms of the representatives for the second-year class elected in the March

elections shall run for one year from the meeting following the election until their successors have been elected and installed.

274       The terms of the representatives for the third-year class elected in the March

election shall run from the meeting following the election until midnight of the day of the Hooding Ceremony the following year.

280    Instruction Session

281       Between the time of the election in March and the installation of officers, an instruction session will be convened by the President of the Student Bar Association and will include at least one experienced member of the Executive Committee whose position was filled by the election.

282      At the instruction session, each new member and officer shall be given a copy of:

282.1    The Student Bar Association Constitution;

282.2    The Student Bar Association Rules of Procedure;

282.3    The Student Bar Association By-laws;

282.4    A summary of the activity of the Executive Committee during the previous year written by the President of the Student Bar Association; and

282.5    A summary of the office or position written by the former member filling that office or position.

290    Summer Vacancies

291      In case of a vacancy in the office of Treasurer or Secretary during

the summer months (May 15^th through August 15^th), the President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, a replacement as noted in Article VII of the SB A Constitution, a. temporary Treasurer or a temporary Secretary who shall serve until an election can be held as provided in the Constitution.

Section 300: ABA/LSD Representative

Section 400: Cabinet

Section 500: Established Standing Committees

510     Established Standing Committees

511 The following Committees shall be established as standing committees of the Student Bar Association:

511.1     The Constitution and Rules Committee

511.2     The Budget Committee

520     The Constitution and Rules Committee

527      The Constitution and Rules Committee shall be lead by the Vice President of the

Student Bar Association and shall also consist of the Secretary of the SB A and

two class representatives of the SB A. 522      The Constitution and Rules Committee shall maintain complete copies of the

constitutions of all chartered student organizations under the jurisdiction of the

Executive Committee.

522     The Constitution and Rules Committee shall receive proposed changes in

constitutions of member organizations and recommend acceptance or rejection to the Executive Committee.

523     The Constitution and Rules Committee shall consider, investigate and

initiate recommendations on all proposed amendments to the Student Bar Association Constitution, Rules of Procedure, or By-laws.

524     The Constitution and Rules Committee shall recommend amendments as it or the Executive Committee deems necessary.

530     The Budget Committee

531      The Budget Committee shall work with the Treasurer in the preparation and review of the budget for the Student Bar Association as well as oversee budgetary and expense account decisions.

532     The Budget Committee shall consist of the following:

532.1 The chair-person, to be appointed in April by the incoming President of the Student Bar Association with the advice and consent of the Executive Council;

532.2 The Treasurer;

532.3 Three members of the law school student body, to be appointed by the

President of the Student Bar Association with the advice and consent    of the Executive Council. 533 Budgeting Procedure

533.1   Only organizations chartered by the Student Bar Association shall be eligible to request a budget allocation.

533.2   The fiscal year for the Student Bar Association and all chartered organizations shall begin on September 1 and end on August 31.

533.3   Each organizations shall have a treasurers transitional meeting prior to April 15th. The treasurer of each chartered organization receiving a budget from the Student Bar Association shall maintain a line item budget for the organization. It shall be the responsibility of each organization to oversee their own financial position and to remain within their proposed budget for the fiscal year.

533.4   As a prerequisite to receiving a budget for the following year from the Student Bar Association, each organization shall present to the Treasurer on or before May 1st of the current fiscal year:

533.4.1    A proposed budget for the following fiscal year;

533.4.2    A detailed accounting of the expenditures made

during the current fiscal year, regardless of the source from which such expenditures were funded, and a detailed account of any outstanding bills or expenses for the remainder of the current fiscal year;

533.4.2(a) Provided that Law Review and Moot Court shall only account for funds received from the Student Bar Association.

533.4.3   A detailed accounting of any funds received by the organization from sources other than the Student Bar Association during the current fiscal year and an estimate of the amount of such funds expected to be received in the following year.

533-4.3(a) This subsection shall not apply to Law Review and Moot Court.

533.4.4   Organizations shall fill out the attached budget form to receive funds from the SBA.

533.5 Any organization requesting a budget increase of ten percent (10%) or more form the current fiscal year shall present a written report detailing the specific programs or activities necessitating the increase to the Treasurer on or before May I of the current fiscal year.

533.6 The budget Committee shall prepare a proposed budget for student activities in the Law School based upon the guidelines set forth in § 534 of the By-laws prior to the first meeting of the Executive Council for the following academic year. The proposed budget shall be circulated no later than the second meeting. Any chartered

organization so desiring shall be given the opportunity to contest their proposed budget allocation at a special appeals meeting to be held by the Budget Committee one week after prior to the proposed budget is submitted to the Executive Council.

533.7 The Budget Committee shall present a final budget proposal

for approval by the Executive Council at the first meeting of the Council that follows the Budget Committee Appeals meeting. The final proposal and any amended proposals must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present.

533.8 Non-chartered student organizations may present proposals

for the funding of specific activities or programs to the Executive Council of the Student Bar Association during the academic year. Any such proposal shall be reduced to writing and reviewed by the Budget Committee prior to a final vote by the Executive Council. 533.8. 1 Funding for any such activities shall be allocated

exclusively from the Student Bar Association Contingency Fund.

533.9 Any chartered organization already allocated a budget for the current fiscal year must receive a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote o receive any additional allocation.

533.9.1   The Budget Committee shall review any request for an additional allocation prior to a final vote by the Executive Council. This rule can be waived only be a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote. 533. 10 Absent a showing of need, the Treasurer shall not accept any request for money from chartered organizations after April 30 of the current fiscal year.

5 33. 11 The chair-person of the Budget Committee shall maintain all reports required under § 533 of these By-laws on file in the Student Bar Association office for a period of three (3) years. 533-12 Failure to comply with §§ 533.3 through 533.5 of these By-laws will result in an organization being placed last in priority for the allocation of funds.

533-13  In the event that the Student Bar Association receives additional unbudgeted funds during the fiscal year, the Student Bar Association shall consider a supplemental budget in accordance with By-laws 533.6 and 533.7, except that the maximum time for the Budget Committee's proposal shall be two (2) meetings after the funds are received. 534 Guidelines For the Allocation of Funds

534.1 No funds shall be allocated by the Student Bar Association for any of the following:

534.1. 1 Any expenditure in violation of the rules promulgated by

the University of Cincinnati;

534.1.2 Any activities of an organization that discriminates on the basis of race, nationality, sex, religion, or sexual preference;

534.1.3 Individual memberships in any organization except in accordance with these By-laws;

534.1.4 [removed March 26, 2001 by unanimous vote]

534.2   The Budget Committee shall allocate between five (5) and ten (10) percent of the total funds available at the beginning of the fiscal year to a contingency fund. This fund shall be available for non-chartered student organization activities, awards and gifts, and any emergency needs of the Student Bar Association or chartered organizations. Any balance remaining in this fund on April 30 of the fiscal year shall revert to the Student Bar Association account.

534.2. 1 The exact percentage of the funds to be allocated shall be determined by the Budget Committee based on overall budgetary requests and expected activities by non-chartered organizations.

534.3   In preparing an overall budget, the funds shall be allocated in the following order of priority:

534.3.1                 Student Bar Association Contingency Fund;

534.3.2                 Student Bar Association;

534.3.3                 Chartered organizations in compliance with § 533;

534.3.4                 Chartered organizations not in compliance with §533.

534.4  In evaluating proposed budget requests in §§ 534.3.3 and 534-3.4 and

request of non-chartered student organizations, the following factors shall be considered (not necessarily listed in order of importance or weight):

534.4.1                 Educational value of the programs;

534.4.2                 Number of students in the organization;

534.4.3                 Number of students who will benefit from the programs;
534-4.4           Benefit of the programs to the law school and the
community as a whole;

534.4.5                 Past performance and use of allocated funds by the
Organization;

534.4.6                 Merits of the programs.

534.5   Upon the request of any member of the Executive Council made at the budget proposal meeting, the Budget Committee shall be prepared to explain why a group's proposed budget was reduced. If the representative of a chartered group whose budget has been reduced is not present at the budget proposal meeting, he or she shall be entitled to an explanation of the reduction in the group's budget only is the representative gives actual written notice to the Student Bar Association President, Treasurer, or Chairman of the Budget Committee 48 hours before the Budget Appeals Meeting.

534.6   Budget meetings are to be open meetings but not open forums.