DRAKE SECULAR LEGAL SOCIETY
DRAKE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the “Drake Secular Legal Society.” The organization will be affiliated with the Secular Student Alliance's Secular Legal Society (SLS) program. Either the Secular Student Alliance or the organization may end this affiliation at any time. The organization may end its affiliation with the Secular Student Alliance by a vote of the membership body. In the event that affiliation with the Secular Student Alliance ceases, the organization will revert to its original name (“Drake Secular Legal Society”) or another name chosen by the membership.
Section 2. The Drake Secular Legal Society has as its purpose: to promote awareness of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state (SOCAS) as well as the prevalence of violations thereof, to develop a network and foster support for Drake Law students who show no obeisance to supernatural hypotheses regarding the origins or present character of the known universe, and to provide a positive atmosphere for all Drake Law students thereby reducing the stigma which some associate with atheism, agnosticism, and freethought.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in this organization shall be open to all law students who are interested in exploring the constitutional principle of separation of church and state.
Section 2. An active member is defined as a member who has attended at least one organization meeting or participated in at least one organization activity within the calendar month prior to the current session. For example, a member who attended an organization meeting in September would be considered an active member in October, but would no longer be considered an active member in November. Voting membership is limited to active members.
Section 3. There shall be no annual dues required for membership in the organization. This policy may be revised with an affirmative vote by all members of the organization’s Executive Board. (See Article III, § 1.)
Section 4. The Drake Secular Legal Society shall adhere to the Drake University Policy of Non-Discrimination. The Secular Legal Society does not discriminate on the basis of religion, sex, race, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disabilities.
Section 5. Any member may be suspended or expelled from the organization for conduct obviously contrary to the Constitution of the organization or for conduct which impairs the rights of the members to enjoy the benefits of the organization. The offense must be in writing and submitted by an active member. Once the offense is submitted to the organization, a hearing will be held at the next regular meeting and the offending member may be suspended or expelled by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the active members present. Suspended or expelled members may exercise due process through the university’s grievance procedures.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. The elected officers of the organization shall be the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These officers form the organization’s Executive Board and shall perform the duties prescribed in this Constitution. Other officers may be added as necessary by unanimous decision of the organization’s current Executive Board.
Section 2. Powers and Duties of Officers:
Clause 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization. He/She shall be the official spokesperson of the organization, representing the policies, views and opinions of the organization in its relations with the campus and community at large. He/She notifies all members of the organization meetings. He/She shall be one of the officers who may sign the checks or drafts of the organization. In the event that affiliation with the Secular Student Alliance ends, He/She is responsible for implementing a change to the organization’s name. He/She has further powers and duties as may be reasonable construed as belonging to the chief executive of any organization, or as prescribed by the organization.
Clause 2. The Vice President shall assist the President in the execution of the aforementioned duties. He/She will also be the primary contact with the faculty advisor, Student Bar Association and other organizations. In the event of the absence or inability of the President to exercise his/her office, the Vice President shall become the acting president of the organization with all the rights, powers, and duties attendant to that office.
Clause 3. The Treasurer handles all financial affairs and budgeting of the organization. He/She shall be solely responsible for the receipt, care and disbursement of funds. The Treasurer will keep records of all financial transactions of the organization. All disbursements for more than $50 require approval by all members of the organization’s Executive Board.
Clause 4. The Secretary takes minutes at all meetings of the organization, files minutes and submits required copies to all organization members. He/She is responsible for all organization correspondence and maintains copies of all correspondence and other records of the organization. He/She shall keep a current listing of active membership. At the end of his/her term, the Secretary is responsible for passing on the entirety of the organization’s records his/her successor. If no successor is elected, the Secretary shall submit all organization records to the incoming President.
Section 3. Officer Qualifications:
Clause 1. Each officer must be a regularly enrolled student in good standing at Drake University Law School.
Clause 2. Each officer must commit to attend all meetings of the Drake Secular Legal Society while serving in the capacity as an officer.
Clause 3. Officers who are unable to attend a meeting of the Drake Secular Legal Society must submit written explanation of said absence in advance of the scheduled meeting which will be missed. The absence will be considered excused by plurality vote of all other executive officers.
Clause 4. In the event an elected officer is unable or unwilling to fulfill his/her term of office, there will be a "Special Election". Any eligible member, including those already holding office, can be nominated for a vacated officer position.
ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS
Section 1. The membership of this organization will meet at a day and time that shall be fixed by the elected officers with input from members and will be held at least once a month.
Section 2. The President shall send notice of the monthly meetings, via email, to every active and inactive member at their address on record. This email notification shall state the date, time, and location of the upcoming meeting.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by any elected officer of the organization, as necessary. The President shall send notice of the special meeting, via email, to every active and inactive member at their address on record, within 48 hours (2 working days) prior to the special meeting time. The email notice shall state the reason that such special meeting has been called. No other business save that specified in the email notice will be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at the special meeting.
ARTICLE V
ELECTIONS
Section 1. Officers are elected once an academic year. Nominations are made in March and elections are held in April at the end of each academic year for the following year’s term.
Section 2. At least one week’s notice will be provided for any meeting at which an election is held.
Section 3. Election to any position requires a majority vote from active members who are present at the election meeting in April. If no individual receives a majority of the votes, another vote will be taken and members offered a choice between the two individuals who received the greatest number of votes.
Section 3. There shall be no limit to the number of consecutive terms an officer may hold.
Section 4. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION
Section 1. This constitution may be altered, amended, repealed or added to only by an affirmative and unanimous vote by all elected officers. Any amendment unanimously approved by all elected officers becomes effective immediately unless otherwise stipulated.
Section 2. In the event of an amendment to this constitution, all active and inactive members will be notified by email at their address of record within 48 hours (2 working days).
Section 2. A copy of this constitution/bylaws and/or amendments to this constitution must be filed in the SBA office at Drake University Law School.
Approved by membership on 09/16/2013.