Constitution
of the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law Chapter of the Student Veterans Association
Preamble
The mission of the Washington University in Saint Louis School of Law Student Veterans Association (LAWVETS) is to support veteran students, alumni, faculty, and staff who have either served or are serving in the United States military in their pursuit of higher education. Additionally, LAWVETS seeks to support military-affiliated students who, although not veterans themselves, have family members that are veterans or have a desire to work with military and veteran affiliated organizations. LAWVETS promotes a close community of student-veteran fellowship, maintains productive dialogue between the student veteran community and university administration, and raises awareness of veteran affairs through continued service and advocacy within the community.
Article I: Qualifications for Membership
§ 1. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, any student enrolled at least part-time at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (WU Law) is eligible to be a member of LAWVETS and serve as an Officer or Representative without regard to race, color, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, physical disability, or national origin.
§ 2. LAWVETS members must act in a manner that respects WU Law standards of academic and professional integrity, promotes the values of military service, and supports the organizational mission. Any misrepresentation of service (“stolen valor”) is completely unacceptable and could result in termination of membership.
§ 3. LAWVETS members must agree to uphold the principles of LAWVETS and to abide by the rules as set forth in this Constitution and as ordered through the legislative mechanism provided by this Constitution.
§ 4. Non-compliance with this Article shall constitute sufficient grounds for refusing eligibility to any individual to run in any election, or, upon consultation of an administrative and/or faculty advisor, for revoking the LAWVETS eligibility of any individual.
Article II: Election Procedures
§ 1. Only members of LAWVETS may vote in LAWVETS elections.
§ 2. During the spring semester, the Vice-President shall schedule and announce the date of elections for the offices of LAWVETS President and the accompanying Executive Board who shall preside over LAWVETS in the following year. The election shall be conducted within ten (10) calendar days of the announcement. Every member shall be permitted a single vote for the individual of their choice for President and Executive Board. The new President and Executive Board will take office at the next General Meeting after the election.
§ 3. Protests of election results or procedures may be made to the Vice-President in writing. The Vice-President shall have sole responsibility for tallying votes, scheduling run-off elections, and declaring winners. Decisions of the Vice-President shall be final. The Vice-President shall make a written report of any protest and its disposition and shall present said report at the next General Meeting. In the event that the Vice-Presidential election is protested, the President shall serve in the role of the Vice-President for the purposes of this Section.
Article III: The WUVETS Executive Board Officers
§ 1. The LAWVETS President must at all times meet the LAWVETS qualifications for membership outlined in Article I.
§ 2. In addition to the other powers and duties that may be required to fulfill the office, the LAWVETS President shall:
a. preside over an Executive Board, which shall consist of the following officers:
· President
· Vice-President
· Treasurer
· Secretary
· Director of Social Affairs and Community Service
§ 3. The LAWVETS Vice-President shall assist the LAWVETS President in the execution of all executive duties. The LAWVETS Vice-President shall also:
- Preside over any Executive Board, General or Special Meeting in the absence of the LAWVETS President or in any other circumstance in which the President is unable to perform the duties of the office;
- Assume the office and duties of LAWVETS President in the event of any vacancy in the Office of the President; and
- Have all other powers and responsibilities as delegated by the LAWVETS President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Executive Board present and voting (the Vice-President being excluded from the vote).
§ 4. The LAWVETS Treasurer shall supervise LAWVETS financial accounting and reporting requirements. The LAWVETS Treasurer shall:
- Be responsible for the timely completion of all budgetary requirements and shall be personally responsible for keeping a ledger of LAWVETS funds and accounts;
- Authorize by signature each expenditure of funds in accordance with any valid expenditure approved by the LAWVETS Representative Body;
- Act as the official liaison between LAWVETS and the administration on all matters pertaining to LAWVETS finances and budgets;
- Immediately report any misappropriation of funds to the faculty advisor to be dealt with through the WU Judicial Review process;
- Make financial statements available at a General meeting of the LAWVETS Representative Body;
- Have all other powers and responsibilities as delegated by the WUVETS President with the advice and consent of a majorityof the Executive Board present and voting (the Treasurer being excluded from the vote)
§ 5. The Secretary shall have charge of all meetings, both of the board and general membership, including making the agenda for and running the meeting, as well as take and disseminate minutes. The Secretary shall also file and maintain the Constitution, as well as all bylaws and records of meeting minutes.
§ 6. The Director of Social Affairs shall supervise the planning all WUVETS social functions and organize opportunities for LAWVETS members to provide community service.
§ 7. Election of Officers
a. The current sitting LAWVETS Executive Board shall determine the time to elect the Executive Board for the following academic year and promulgate the date ten (10) days before the election in accordance with Article III, § 2. Nominations for Executive Board are open after that promulgation and the names of candidates advertised to LAWVETS members via school e-mail starting one week before the election. Each member of the LAWVETS shall be entitled to one vote for the President and each Executive Board Officer position, provided that the LAWVETS member has been previously added to the LAWVETS distribution roster and have attended at least one Representative Body meeting in the past 12 months.
b. If at any time a vacancy shall occur on the Executive Board, the LAWVETS President may, with the advice of the Executive Board, appoint another member to fill the vacant office until the next General Meeting of the LAWVETS Representative Body. A retainer vote shall be taken at such time, and the appointed member shall be retained as a member of the Executive Board for the term of the original holder’s office, unless a majority votes not to retain said member.
c. With the consent of a majority of the Executive Board, the President may appoint such other members of LAWVETS as deemed necessary to serve on the Executive Board for that academic year. Executive Board appointees may be relieved from the Board at any time by the President, with a majority of the LAWVETS Representative Body voting in support.
d. Votes on removal of any executive board member must be proposed by another executive board member and called for and voted upon solely by members of the executive board.
e. Standards for removal from the Executive Board or membership include violation of any Washington University or Law School policies; unprofessional conduct; or failure to fulfill duties required of their leadership position. Removal must be made by unanimous decision of the board or through a quorum of the Representative Body.
f. A member of the Executive Board who has previously been removed for cause is not permitted to run for a position on the Executive Board in any subsequent election, although they may participate in all LAWVETS sponsored activities.
§ 8. Executive Board Responsibilities
a. The Officers of the Executive Board shall meet at the President’s discretion during the academic year. The Executive Board may choose to invite other LAWVETS members or members of the general public to attend their meetings, but only those Executive Board officers listed in § 1 above shall have the power to vote on any Executive Order or other issue.
b. Executive Board members may delegate unto LAWVETS members such tasks as may be deemed necessary, proper, and expedient pursuant to the powers and responsibilities listed herein, and the Executive Board may organize ad hoc committees to conduct specified tasks in pursuance of the powers and responsibilities listed herein or as approved by the Executive Board.
Article IV: Amendments
§ 1. Any member of the LAWVETS Representative Body may propose, in writing, an Amendment to this Constitution, and discussion of such Amendment shall be placed on the agenda for the General Meeting immediately following the meeting at which the Amendment is first proposed.
§ 2. Upon the written petition of twenty percent (20%) or more of the LAWVETS Representative Body, the LAWVETS Representative Body shall call a Convention for considering Amendments to this Constitution.
§ 3. The LAWVETS may empower a Constitution Committee to revise the Constitution.
§ 4. The LAWVETS President and the Executive Board shall review all proposed Amendments and shall make a recommendation to the LAWVETS Representative Body to approve, or not approve, any amendment.
§ 5. Any amendments to this Constitution proposed in accordance with §§ 1–3 of this Article shall become effective only when ratified by a majority of those students voting in a Special Election.
Article V: Ratification
This Constitution shall be ratified upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the LAWVETS Representative Body at an election called to consider its passage.