Preamble
The Students of Washington University School of Law hereby establish Law Students Against Trafficking (LSAT) in order to connect developing professionals from diverse fields who are passionate about anti-trafficking and spread awareness of the exploitation that is occurring domestically and abroad.
Article I. Name of the Organization
The name of this organization shall be Law Students Against Trafficking (LSAT).
Article II. Purpose of the Organization
The purpose of Law Students Against Trafficking shall be:
First, to connect developing professionals from diverse fields who are passionate about combating trafficking within their respective professions, including but not limited to:
- Hosting a variety of speakers who have experience supporting or advocating on behalf of people who have experienced trafficking;
- Connecting young professionals with experienced mentors
Second, to work with anti-trafficking organizations, both locally and nationally, toward the realization of common goals by:
- Hosting a variety of speakers who have experience supporting or advocating on behalf of people who have experienced trafficking;
- Partnering with organizations that lead anti-trafficking initiatives
- Fostering a sense of community responsibility and social justice
Third, to educate, inform, and work with the Washington University community concerning issues related to trafficking.
Article III. Definition of Membership
Clause 1. All Washington University students showing a genuine interest in the organization shall be considered a “general member” of LSAT without voting rights.
Clause 2. In addition, any Washington University students paying dues of a predetermined value shall be considered a “dues-paying member” of LSAT, with voting rights.
Clause 3. LSAT shall not exclude any individual from its general membership or its functions on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, or disability.
Clause 4. In the event there is a dispute regarding membership status, such dispute shall be resolved by a majority vote of the LSAT Executive Board.
Article V. General Membership
Section 1. Purpose of Organizational Meetings
Clause 1. Organizational Meetings shall generally be for the purpose of sharing individual reports, ongoing projects, and presenting issues for general discussion.
Clause 2. Executive Board members may elicit help on projects, as well as discussion and constructive criticism, from the general membership in attendance.
Clause 3. General announcements may also be made during Organizational Meetings.
Section 2. General Membership Voting Procedures
Clause 1. Only LSAT members as defined by Article III are entitled to vote.
Clause 2. “Referendum” – In order to be considered for a vote by the general membership, a motion/referendum on any subject matter requires either 1) a request by at least 10% of all SLATSA members for a general membership vote, or 2) a majority vote of the Executive Board requesting a general membership vote. Proof of a valid request by the membership shall be in the form of a written petition to the Executive Board, formatted to include the printed name, signature, phone number, and student identification number of each signing member.
Clause 3. The Executive Board will decide by a majority vote as to whether a motion/referendum will be governed by Clause 6 or Clause 7 of this Section 2.
Clause 4. In order to be considered for a vote by the general membership, notice of the issue to be decided shall be provided to the general membership for no less than three academic days prior to the vote.
Clause 5. A quorum shall be required in order for a general membership vote to determine official action by LSAT. A quorum shall be 30% of all LSAT members.
Clause 6. All official statements or positions adopted in the name of LSAT shall receive a ⅔ majority vote of the quorum for approval.
Clause 7. All other issues to be decided by the general membership under this section shall receive a majority vote of the quorum for approval.
Clause 8. The procedure for all general membership votes shall be by secret ballot through the use of either a ballot box or a digital form.
Clause 9. The period for returning ballots shall be no less than five academic days.
Article V. Executive Board
Section 1. The purpose of the Executive Board shall be to serve as the administrative body for the organization.
Section 2. The Executive Board is responsible for the administrative details required for the running of the association.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall consist of the following positions:
Clause 1. President. The responsibilities of the President shall include, but are not limited to, overseeing the activities of the Executive Board officers; facilitating communications among the general membership and the Executive Board; chairing Executive Board and general membership meetings; serving as the official representative of the association; serving as a liaison between former LSAT members and current LSAT members; serving as the official “face” representative for LSAT In all correspondences with the school and community organizations; and acting in collaboration with the Executive Board wherever needed.
Clause 2. Executive Vice-President. The responsibilities of the Executive Vice-President shall include, but are not limited to, providing assistance to the President; conducting all elections; assuming the duties of the President if the President is unable to fulfill those duties; overseeing the creation and running of LSAT committees, and acting in collaboration with the Executive Board wherever needed.
Clause 3. Vice-President of Finance. The responsibilities of the Vice President of Finance shall include, but are not limited to, maintaining the official membership list of LSAT, including general members and “dues-paying members”; maintaining the finances of LSAT; submitting, defending, and appealing the LSAT budget through the procedures prescribed by the University; and acting in collaboration with the Executive Board wherever needed.
Clause 4. Vice-President of Administration. The responsibilities of the Vice President of Administration shall include, but are not limited to, recording minutes of all Executive Board and Organizational Meetings; conducting all voting among the membership, when and if the need arises, according to Article IV; and acting in collaboration with the Executive Board whenever needed.
Clause 5. Vice-President of Operations. The responsibilities of the Vice-President of Operations shall include, but are not limited to, coordinating or assigning coordination tasks regarding logistics for events, meetings, and/or other projects attached to LSAT; and acting in collaboration with the Executive Board wherever needed.
Clause 6. Vice President of Trans-Disciplinary Affairs. The responsibilities of the Vice President of Trans-Disciplinary Affairs shall include, but are not limited to, conducting correspondence between schools; coordinating all trans-disciplinary events; ensuring that respective disciplines are granted equal weight in representation through tracking the subject matter of events; and acting in collaboration with the Executive Board wherever needed.
Section 5.
Clause 1. Each Executive Board member is entitled to one vote only.
Clause 2. In order to be considered for action by the Executive Board, a motion shall be raised and seconded by another Executive Board member.
Clause 3. Voting by a show of hands shall be the method of issue resolution upon a motion of the Executive Board seconded from the floor. Three votes shall be sufficient for approval of a motion unless otherwise specified in this Constitution.
Clause 4. No action may be taken by the Executive Board unless quorum is met. A quorum shall be four members of the Executive Board.
Article VII. Election of Executive Board Members
Section 1. Any individual who wishes to run for an Executive Board position shall be a “dues-paying member” of the association as defined by Article III at the time of nominations.
Section 2. Informal nominations shall be made notifying a current Executive Board member.
Section 3. All persons receiving at least one nomination shall be placed on the general election ballot pending the candidates’ approval.
Section 4. Voting shall be by a secret ballot at a designated organizational meeting and/or through anonymous digital submission.
Section 5. In order to be elected as a member of the Executive Board, a quorum shall be reached for the particular position, and a candidate shall receive a majority of the votes cast for that position. In the event that no person receives a majority of the votes, a run-off election shall be held between the candidates with the largest and the second largest number of votes.
Section 6. Elections for the Executive Board shall be held in the last month of classes, with new officers assuming their positions in the new school year.
Section 7. Elections for any positions not filled during the spring shall be held no later than the first month of classes in the fall.
Section 8. Executive Board positions without candidates after the fall election may be filled through a special election or may be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Article VIII. Recall
Section 1. All elected officers are subject to recall by the General Membership. Any elected officer who is recalled shall be removed from office.
Section 2. To bring any recall proposal to a vote of the General Membership by secret ballot, a recall proposal shall be signed by a majority of the members, formatted to include the printed name, signature, phone number, and student identification number of each signing member.
Section 3. The Vice-President of Administration, acting in capacity as a voting official, shall be responsible for confirming any recall proposal, scheduling a hearing and administering the voting procedure. An exception shall be made if the Vice-President of Administration is the elected officer named in a recall proposal. The Executive Vice-President shall assume the duties of the Vice-President of Administration in those proceedings.
Section 4. An official notification of a confirmed recall proposal shall be made to the elected officer and the General Membership no less than five academic days prior to the hearing. A hearing shall be held no less than three academic days before voting.
Section 5. Voting shall be by secret ballot through the use of a ballot box or digital submission. The period for voting shall be no less than five academic days.
Section 6. Recall will only be implemented by a two-thirds vote of quorum of the General Membership
Article IX. Amendment Process
Section 1. Amendment proposals to this Constitution shall be submitted to the Vice-President of Administration, and shall be signed by 10% of all LSAT members, formatted to include the printed name, signature, phone number, and student identification number of each signing member.
Section 2. An official notification of a proposed Amendment shall be made to the General Membership no less than five academic days prior to a hearing.
Section 3. A hearing on any properly submitted proposed Amendment shall be held no less than three academic days before voting.
Section 4. Voting shall be by secret ballot or through digital submission. The voting period shall be no less than five academic days.
Section 5. Amendments to this Constitution shall pass by a two-thirds vote of quorum of the General Membership.
Article X. Committees
Section 1. Any individual who wishes to be a committee chair or committee member shall be a “dues-paying member” of the association as defined by Article III..
Section 2. Committees and their members shall be appointed by a majority vote of general membership at a general body meeting of LSAT.
Section 3. Committees will have at least one representative from each school unless membership numbers render this impossible.
Section 4. The creation of a committee will only be brought to a vote before the general membership if the Executive Board reaches quorum and only where deemed necessary to help carry out the work of the organization.
Article X. Faculty/Staff Advisor
Section 1. A staff or faculty member from Washington University in St. Louis is eligible for the faculty advisor position.
Section 2. The faculty advisor will be elected by a quorum of the Executive Board.
Section 3. The elected advisor’s term will last indefinitely less by choice of the advisor or by motion as defined in Article VI section 5.
Section 4. The faculty advisor and the Executive Board agree to meet tri-annually.
Section 5. The faculty advisor may not vote in LSAT matters, hold office or unduly influence organization activities.
Article XI. Affiliations
Section 1. LSAT is a recognized student organization at Washington University in St. Louis, but is not a part of the University itself. As such, it will refer to itself as an organization at Washington University in all correspondences and not as a representative of the University.
Section 2. LSAT agrees to abide by all pertinent Washington University policies and regulations.
Section 3. When partnering with community organizations, LSAT agrees to abide by all community organizations policies and regulations in regards to confidentiality.