BLACK LAW STUDENTS ALLIANCE

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the "Black Law Students’ Alliance of the University of Michigan Law School" (hereinafter referred to as "BLSA").

Article II: Affiliation

BLSA shall be affiliated with the National Black Law Students Association (hereinafter referred to as "NBLSA").

Article III: Purposes

It shall be the purposes of BLSA:
a) To articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students at the University of Michigan Law School;

b) To foster professional competence among Black law students at the University of Michigan Law School;

c) To examine and cultivate a greater awareness of the relationship of Black law students and Black attorneys to the American legal system;

d) To influence the legal community to bring about meaningful change in and through the legal system to meet the needs of the Black community;

e) To facilitate successful matriculation through the law school process;

f) To create and maintain active relationships between BLSA and the larger law school and university communities;

g) To provide an environment which cultivates camaraderie among Black law students.

Article IV: Membership

Section 1: Types of Membership

General membership in BLSA may consist of all matriculated students at the University of Michigan Law School, who are committed to the purpose of this organization as stated in Article III of this constitution.

Active membership in BLSA shall be bestowed upon all dues-paying general members of BLSA.

Associate membership in BLSA shall be extended to all faculty and staff of the University of Michigan Law School.

The general, active and associate members of BLSA shall constitute the general body of BLSA.

General membership in BLSA may consist of all matriculated students at the University of Michigan Law School, who are committed to the purpose of this organization as stated in Article III of this constitution.

Active membership in BLSA shall be bestowed upon all dues-paying general members of BLSA.

Associate membership in BLSA shall be extended to all faculty and staff of the University of Michigan Law School.

The general, active and associate members of BLSA shall constitute the general body of BLSA.

Section 2: Rights and Responsibilities of Members

General and associate members of BLSA are entitled to participate in all activities sponsored by BLSA, provided that where nonmembers are charged an entrance fee to a BLSA activity, general and associate members shall also be charged the entrance fee. General and associate members of BLSA shall not vote on BLSA business or in BLSA elections, and shall not hold any office in BLSA.

Active members of BLSA are entitled to participate in all activities sponsored by BLSA, are entitled to hold office in BLSA, and are entitled to vote on BLSA business and in BLSA elections.

All BLSA members are expected to regularly attend general body meetings of BLSA and support activities engaged in by BLSA.

Article V: Officers

The Administrative Officers of BLSA shall be the:
a) Chairperson

b) Vice-Chairperson

c) Secretary

d) Treasurer

e) Parliamentarian

The Administrative Officers of BLSA shall be elected annually for a term of one year to commence at the Butch Carpenter Scholarship Banquet. The Liaisons and Chairpersons of the Standing Committees also shall be elected annually for a term of one year to commence at the Butch Carpenter Scholarship Banquet.

The Executive Board of BLSA shall be composed of the BLSA Administrative Officers.

Article VI: Meetings

The general body of BLSA shall meet at the discretion of the executive board, but shall meet at least once every month during the school year. Special meetings shall be called upon the directive of the Chairperson, or upon the directive of any three Executive Board members or ten active members.

The Executive Board of BLSA shall meet at the discretion of the officers, but shall meet at least once every two weeks of the school year. Special meetings shall be called upon the directive of the Vice-Chairperson or upon the directive of any three Executive Board members.

Article VII: Quorum and Voting

A quorum shall consist of one-third plus one of the active members of BLSA. A simple majority vote of the quorum shall approve proposed BLSA activities or events presented to the general body. They will be presented at the discretion of the Chair, Vice-Chair and the chairperson of the committee sponsoring the event.

Article VIII: Impeachment

Any officer, liaison or standing committee chairperson of BLSA may be impeached by BLSA for failure to properly execute his or her duties as enumerated in the Constitution and/or By-Laws of BLSA, or for failure to follow a directive given by the general body or the executive board.

Article IX: Amendments

This Constitution may be amended at any regular general body meeting of BLSA upon a two-thirds vote of the quorum present, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the general body.

Article X: Adoption and Rescission

This Constitution shall be adopted or rescinded by BLSA upon a two-thirds vote of all active members.

BLACK LAW STUDENTS’ ALLIANCE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Membership and Dues

1.1: General members of BLSA shall be required to pay membership dues in order to achieve active member status in BLSA. The amount and schedule of payment of dues shall be determined by the treasurer subject to approval from the executive board.

Section 2: Duties of Administrative Officers

2.1: The duties of the Chairperson shall include, but shall not be limited to: chairing all regular and special general body meetings; channeling issues to appropriate committees for consideration; serving as an ex-officio member of each committee; serving as a spokesperson for BLSA.

2.2: The duties of the Vice-Chairperson shall include, but shall not be limited to: chairing all regular and special executive board meetings; fulfilling the responsibilities of the Chairperson in those instances where the Chairperson is unable to serve; assuming the office of Chairperson in the event that the Chairperson either resigns or is impeached; serving as an ex-officio member of each committee; managing all affairs of the BLSA office, including the outline file and the BLSA board located in the basement hallway.

2.3: The duties of the Secretary shall include, but shall not be limited to: compiling a list of all general members of BLSA; taking minutes at all regular and special meetings of the executive board and general body; filing minutes from all executive board and general body meetings in the BLSA office; assisting the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson with other administrative duties; managing all phone communications and mail distribution; distributing a copy of the BLSA constitution to all members.

2.4: The duties of the Treasurer shall include, but shall not be limited to: collecting and disbursing all BLSA funds; maintaining an accurate record of active (dues-paying) members; submitting an annual budget request to the Dean of Students and the Law School Student Senate; creating a written budget detailing the allocation of BLSA funds among the general body, administrative officers, liaisons and standing committees; maintaining an accurate record of BLSA revenues and expenditures; give a financial report at every executive board meeting and periodically at general body meetings; serving as an ex-officio member of the fundraising committee.

2.5: The duties of the Parliamentarian shall include, but shall not be limited to: maintaining order during executive board and general body meetings; ensuring that parliamentary procedure is followed at all executive board and general body meetings; deciding questions of parliamentary procedure at executive board and general body meetings; ensure BLSA functions under the constitution. The parliamentarian shall be a first-year student.

Section 3: Liaisons

3.1: It shall be the purpose of the Admissions Liaison to work to increase Black student enrollment at the University of Michigan Law School. As such, the duties of the liaison shall include, but shall not be limited to: establishing a constructive relationship with the Dean of Admissions and the faculty Admissions Committee with regard to the recruitment and retention of Black students to the law school; recruiting Black students at the placement fairs, placement conferences and schools; updating an admissions booklet designed to address the needs and concerns of Black applicants to the law school; organizing activities at the law school’s prospective law student weekends; maintaining a relationship with the Black Undergraduate Law Association (BULA).

3.2: It shall be the purpose of the Faculty Hiring Liaison to increase the number of Black professors at the law school. As such, the duties of the liaison shall include, but shall not be limited to: coordinating the evaluation and interviewing of prospective University of Michigan law professors with the Law School Student Senate’s and faculty’s Faculty Hiring Committees; recruiting Black law professors to teach at the law school; maintaining an active role in basement group minority hiring efforts; attending faculty hiring functions; fostering relationships between BLSA and Black and other minority law professors.

3.3: It shall be the purpose of the National/Regional BLSA Liaison to maintain communication with the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA), and other national organizations. As such, the duties of the liaison shall include, but shall not be limited to: corresponding with the NBLSA; posting all correspondence received from the NBLSA; organizing delegation to NBLSA conventions; organizing delegations to the conventions of other national organizations; coordinating member involvement in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition.

3.4: It shall be the purpose of the Placement Liaison to facilitate the job placement of BLSA members. As such, the duties of the liaison shall include, but shall not be limited to: coordinating job fair participation; organizing placement-related workshops; posting all placement related correspondence in the BLSA office.

3.5: It shall be the purpose of the Political Action Liaison to assist in developing the political voice of BLSA. As such, the duties of the liaison shall include, but shall not be limited to: informing and educating members on political events in the law school and surrounding community pertinent to Black law students; promoting and coordinating member activism and involvement in political events; organizing political action events on behalf of BLSA.

3.7: Each liaison shall form a committee as necessary.

Section 4: Standing Committees

4.1: Ad hoc committees shall be formed upon a majority vote of the quorum present at any general body meeting of BLSA. At such time, the general body shall also elect a chairperson to the committee. The executive board shall determine the duration of the committee’s existence, determine the purpose of the committee and determine the term of the chairperson’s office.

4.2: It shall be the purpose of the Butch Carpenter Committee to sustain funding of the Butch Carpenter Scholarship. As such, the duties of the committee shall include, but shall not be limited to: coordinating the scholarship application process; organizing and hosting the annual Butch Carpenter banquet; organizing an annual alumni pledge campaign; acting as liaison between the law school’s Black alumni and BLSA.

4.3: It shall be the responsibility of the Fundraising Committee to raise funds for BLSA activities. As such, the duties of the committee shall include, but shall not be limited to: soliciting funds from alumni, university resources, businesses and law firms.

4.4: It shall be the purpose of the Media Committee to publicize BLSA activities. As such, the duties of the committee shall include, but shall not be limited to: posting announcements of BLSA activities in the law school and greater university community; pendaflexing BLSA members and, when appropriate, law school students about BLSA activities; transmitting press releases to appropriate media about BLSA activities; maintaining a detailed history of the academic year.

4.5: It shall be the purpose of the Social Committee to foster a spirit of congeniality and camaraderie among BLSA members. As such, the duties of the committee shall include, but shall not be limited to: organizing and implementing social and recreational events recommended by BLSA; hosting receptions for individuals brought to the law school by BLSA; cultivating relationships between BLSA and other basement groups.

4.6: Committees shall meet at the discretion of their respective chairpersons.

Section 5: Budget

5.0: Administrative officers, committees and liaisons shall propose an operating budget to the BLSA treasurer and chair prior to the first executive board meeting of the academic year. The budget approved by the treasurer and chair shall be presented to the BLSA general body for approval by a quorum. Upon authorization of that budget, committees and liaisons shall plan and implement activities at their discretion. The treasurer shall disburse money allocated to a committee or liaison upon the request of that committee or liaison, provided that the committee or liaison intends to spend that money on an activity presented to the general body in the committee’s or liaison’s original budget proposal.

5.1: Money not allocated to the administrative officers, committees or liaisons shall remain in the BLSA general fund. BLSA general funds shall be spent upon a majority vote of the executive board.

Section 6: Executive Board

6.1: The Executive Board shall be composed of the BLSA administrative officers.

6.2: All Executive Board members are expected to adhere to the directives of the executive board and the general body.

6.3: The Executive Board of BLSA shall have general supervision of BLSA in the absence of the general body.

6.4: Executive Board meetings shall be open to the general body.

Section 7: Order of Business

7.1: BLSA general body meetings shall include, but shall not be limited to: reports from all committees to the general body, reports from the Executive Board to the general body, voting on all new business.

7.2: BLSA general body meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order--- Newly Revised.

Section 8: Elections

8.1: The annual election of BLSA officers and committee chairpersons shall take place in March.

8.2: At the appropriate time, the executive board or general body shall create an Elections Committee. That committee shall be composed of any two or three active members not seeking elected office.

8.3: It shall be the purpose of the Elections Committee to oversee the annual election of BLSA officers and committee chairpersons. As such, the duties of the Elections Committee shall include, but shall not be limited to: determining the elections calendar; regulating the nomination of candidates; organizing a forum for the presentation of candidate platforms; planning the election; tabulating cast ballots; notifying the general body of the election results.

8.4: The Elections Committee shall arrange for a forum, either at a regular general body meeting or otherwise, at which nominations shall be made and nominees shall accept or decline their nominations for office. Only active members may accept nominations for office. An active member can only accept a nomination for one office.

8.5: The election shall be by secret ballot. Only active members shall be allowed to vote, except that active members not expected to return during the academic year following the election shall not be allowed to vote.

8.6: Write-in candidates shall be allowed, provided that the write-in candidates are active members.

8.7: A candidate shall be elected to office if that candidate receives a greater number of eligible votes than any other candidate for that office. In the event that a candidate runs unopposed, 50 percent plus one of the ballots cast shall be required to elect that candidate to office.

8.8: In the event of a tie, there shall be a run-off election between the two candidates for that office that received the highest number of votes.

8.9: In the event that no candidate is elected to an office, that office shall remain vacant until the first general body meeting of the subsequent school year, at which time the position shall be filled, if possible, by general body vote.

Section 9: Impeachment

9.1: The impeachment process shall be initiated by an active member filing charges against an officer, liaison or committee chairperson. Such charges must be filed in writing with the Chairperson, or if such charges are against the Chairperson, with the Vice-Chairperson. The petition containing such charges shall be signed by at least twenty-five percent of the active members.

9.2: The officer receiving the petition shall notify the officer, liaison or committee chairperson against whom such charges have been filed. The officer receiving the petitions hall also determine the date of a hearing to be held before the general body for the purpose of determining whether to impeach the charged officer, liaison or committee chairperson. Such hearing shall be called not less than seven days after receipt of the charges, and not more than fourteen days after receipt of the charges. The officer receiving the petition shall chair that hearing.

9.3: The charged officer, liaison or committee chairperson shall have the opportunity to speak at the hearing. The general body shall have the opportunity to question the charged officer, liaison or committee chairperson.

9.4: At the close of the hearing, the active members shall vote on the issue of impeachment. A two-thirds vote of all active members shall be required to impeach an officer, liaison or committee chairperson.

Section 10: Resignation

10.1: An executive board member shall tender resignation in writing to the chair of BLSA. The chair shall promptly notify the general body of the resignation.

10.2: The BLSA chair shall make a temporary appointment to fill the vacant position. The position will be permanently filled at an election held at the next general body meeting.

Section 11: Amendment

11.1: The By-Laws shall be amended by the majority vote of the quorum present at any regular general body meeting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing.

Section 12: Adoption and Rescission

12.1: These By-Laws shall be adopted or rescinded by a two-thirds vote of the quorum present at any regular general body meeting.