UMLS Outlaws Constitution

Preamble

We the Outlaws, in Happy Response to rapid growth and in Anticipation of continued expansion, in Order to form a more fabulous Student Organization, enhance and expand Justice within the Law School community and beyond, provide for the common defense against racism, sexism and homophobia, promote the general Welfare of queer students, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Outlaws of the University of Michigan Law School.

Article 1 - Objectives

1.1 - To add the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender law students to the dialogue of the law school and university communities;

1.2 - To embrace and learn from our straight allies;

1.3 - To increase the visibility and involvement of our LGBT students of color;

1.4 - To provide a forum for gay, bisexual, transgender, and lesbian students to meet and form a community;

1.5 - To reach out to other organizations not traditionally allied with Outlaws;

1.6 - To extend support for closeted law students;

1.7 - To keep our members informed of events and queer rights issues outside of the law school; and

1.8 - To change the world, one openly queer lawyer at a time.

Article 2 - Membership

2.1 - Membership in Outlaws is open to any individual interested in fulfilling the aforementioned objectives of Outlaws.

2.2 - Members may, at any General Meeting, register to vote with the Treasurer. Newly registered members may first vote at any subsequent meeting.

2.3 - Members may, by majority vote at a General Meeting, elect to impose annual or semester dues as a condition of membership.

2.4 - Membership will be extended to any present and past law students or members of the university community who identify with the goals of Outlaws.

2.5 - Honorary membership may be extended to any individual in appreciation of contributions to the organization by a majority vote of the membership.

ARTICLE 3 - THE INLAWS

3.1 - Statement of Support

Realizing that all LGBT persons come to terms with their sexual and/or gender identity in their own ways and on their own timelines, Outlaws respects the decisions made by our colleagues who remain in the closet.

Concurrently, Outlaws encourages Michigan Law Inlaws to explore coming out, either through discussion with a close friend or one of the Co-Chairs.

3.2 - Inlaws are encouraged to join the Outlaws listserv (only the moderator, sworn to secrecy, has access to the listserv member list).

3.3 - Inlaws are encouraged to vote in Outlaws elections. Interested persons who do not feel comfortable attending a General Meeting (such that they might be certified on the voter registry) may e-mail one of the Co-Chairs. During the April, September, and December elections (see Article 6), Inlaws may confidentially submit their votes to the Co-Chairs who will redact identifying information and forward the vote to the Election Committee.

3.4 - At the beginning of each semester, the Secretary will publicize on the bulletin board and through the listserv, the Outlaws' guarantees of confidentiality and provisions for Inlaw voting.

Article 4 - The Executive Board

4.1 - Composition of the Executive Board

The Executive Board will consist of nine positions to be elected by the general membership: The Co-Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary, 1L Representative, and the Chairpersons of the four Standing Committees.

4.2 - Terms of the Executive Board members

4.2.1 - One of the Co-Chairs, the Treasurer, and the Secretary are elected in the first week of April and begin their one-year terms with the last Executive Board meeting of the Winter Term.

4.2.2 - The other Co-Chair is elected in the first week of December and begins a one-year term with the last Executive Board meeting of the Fall Term.

4.2.3 - Chairpersons for each of the four Standing Committees listed in Article 5 will be elected no later than the third week of the Fall Semester. If no candidates run for the Chair of a Standing Committee, the Executive Board may appoint a general member as Chair. Chairpersons begin their one-year terms immediately upon election.

4.2.4 - The 1L Representative is elected no later than the third week of the Fall Semester and begins a one-year term immediately upon election.

4.3 - The Co-Chairs are responsible for the overall fabulousness and growth of the Outlaws. They establish the vision for the year and are responsible for keeping Outlaws a welcoming place for all. The Co-Chairs' duties include, but are not limited to:

4.3.1 - Serving as the spokespeople of Outlaws to the law school community and beyond;

4.3.2 - Establishing and maintaining relationships with the leaders of other Basement groups;

4.3.3 - Keeping inviolate any confidences made by Inlaws who desire secrecy;

4.3.4 - Signing any contracts that bind the Outlaws;

4.3.5 - Calling for and presiding over all meetings;

4.3.6 - Distributing the agenda before all meetings;

4.3.7 - Answering and recording all correspondence directed to the organization, and referring inquiries to the appropriate committee chairpersons.

4.4 - The Treasurer is responsible for the Outlaws budget and financing, and for monitoring the voter registry. The Treasurer's duties include, but are not limited to :

4.4.1 - Maintaining the list of registered voters;

4.4.2 - Moderating the Outlaws listserv, and adding and deleting members as need be. The moderator of the listserv shall keep the members confidential, even from the Co-Chairs;

4.4.3 - Accounting for the financial affairs of the organization;

4.4.4 - Paying bills of the organization when receipts for expenditures are turned in;

4.4.5 - Submitting periodic reports to the membership at November, February, and April;

4.4.6 - Proposing, by March 31, a budget for the following year to be adopted and submitted by the organization to the Law School Student Senate (LSSS);

4.4.7 - Attending, with one of the Co-Chairs, the LSSS budget hearings.

4.5 - The Secretary is responsible for communications, including meeting minutes, the bulletin board, and the website. The Secretary's duties include, but are not limited to:

4.5.1 - Recording minutes for all meetings and distributing the minutes to the general membership within two days of the meeting;

4.5.2 - Overseeing bulletin board responsibility as it rotates between the standing committees and keeping the bulletin board key;

4.5.3 - Maintaining a yearly calendar of activities;

4.5.4 - Serving as Webmaster for the Outlaws website. The Secretary is responsible for learning how to update the site and keeping the online calendar updated as events are planned.

4.6 - The New Students Representative's duties include, but are not limited to:

4.6.1 - Co-chairing the Social Committee and serving on any other committees of interest;

4.6.2 - Serving as a liaison between 1Ls, transfer students, LLMs, and the Outlaws Executive Board;

4.6.3 - Acting as Parliamentarian at Executive Board and General Meetings by deciding questions of parliamentary procedure and by ensuring that Outlaws functions under this Constitution.

4.7 - Duties of the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees include, but are not limited to:

4.7.1 - Informing the Executive Board of ongoing projects on at least a biweekly basis;

4.7.2 - Meeting with their respective committees at least monthly, or more frequently as needed;

4.7.3 - Reporting all expenditures to the Board and obtaining approval from the Executive Board before making expenditures over $100;

4.7.4 - Consulting with the Executive Board before setting dates for major events.

ARTICLE 5 - THE STANDING COMMITTEES

5.1 - Subcommittees may be formed as needed and must first be approved via majority vote of the Executive Board. The Chairperson of a Standing Committee also chairs all subcommittees of that Standing Committee. Other members of Standing Committees may co-chair subcommittees, but may not co-chair the Standing Committee.

5.2 - The Standing Committees, in addition to the duties listed below, will take monthly turns utilizing and decorating the Outlaws bulletin board. The Secretary establishes the yearly schedule, oversees the rotation, and keeps the bulletin board key.

5.3 - Alumni, Admissions and Faculty Recruiting Committee

5.3.1 - Composition: at minimum, one second-year student and one third-year student and one of the Co-Chairs;

5.3.2 - Contact admitted students and answer correspondence from prospective applicants;

5.3.3 - Organize Outlaws participation at Phone-a-Thons and other admissions events and update yearly the Outlaws information packet distributed;

5.3.4 - Organize, with the Social Committee, Outlaws' Preview Weekends activities;

5.3.5 - Create and maintain an alumni database;

5.3.6 - The Chairperson of this committee will send an e-mail newsletter each semester to alumni;

5.3.7 - A member of the committee shall attend all faculty recruitment interviews and report results to the general membership;

5.3.8 - Identify scholars and practitioners to nominate for faculty and administrative positions at the Law School on behalf of the organization, with approval of the general membership.

5.4 - Basement Group Relations and Special Events Committee

5.4.1 - Composition: open, but includes the Treasurer;

5.4.2 - Serve as liaisons to the other Basement groups at the law school, fostering increased cooperation and co-sponsorship of events;

5.4.3 - Schedule, with the Political Action and Speakers Committee and/or Social Committee, at least one joint event per year with each race-based student organization and WLSA;

5.4.4 - Communicate concerns from the Basement groups to the Executive Board and the general membership;

5.4.5 - Plan, organize, and oversee an annual banquet, symposium, and/or other large events, including fundraisers and other activities necessary for supporting a special event, recognizing that planning for such an event may take multiple years.

5.5 - Political Action and Speakers Committee

5.5.1 - Composition: open, but includes one of the Co-Chairs.

5.5.2 - Identify public education needs within the law school and develop relevant programming;

5.5.3 - Coordinate speaking events and solicit co-sponsorships from other organizations;

5.5.4 - Educate Outlaws and the broader law school community about LGBT issues at the local, state, national, and global levels, and solicit participants for appropriately related activism.

5.6 - Social Committee

5.6.1 - Composition: open, but this committee is co-chaired by the New Students Representative;

5.6.2 - Plan, organize, and advertise fabulous social events;

5.6.3 - Maintain a calendar of all social events and update the Executive Board and general membership as necessary;

5.6.4 - Schedule at least one event per year with supportive faculty and staff.

5.7 - Campus and Community Committee

5.7.1 Composition: open, but this position is assisted by the 1L Representative.

5.7.2 Plan, organize and collaborate with campus and community-wide GLBT groups, the University of Michigan Student Assembly, and the University of Michigan Office of LGBT Affairs.

5.7.3 Attend campus-wide and community meetings as necessary.

ARTICLE 6 - ELECTIONS

6.1 - The Election Committee

6.1.1 - The Election Committee is comprised of two or three members who are not running for office.

6.1.2 - Committee members should be formed three weeks before the election and may be appointed by the Co-Chairs or selected from volunteers.

6.1.3 - The Election Committee responsibilities include, but are not limited to: (1) publicizing the election date and the slate of nominated candidates, (2) choosing the polling place and the times to vote, (3) deciding on balloting procedures, including appropriate provisions for absentee voting, (4) overseeing ballot preparation, security and counting, (5) regulating campaign conduct and hearing and deciding election protests and appeals, (6) certifying election results and informing any candidate, so desiring, of the vote's tally, and (7) posting a list of winners the day following the election.

6.2 - Eligibility to Vote in Officer Elections

6.2.1 - Certified voters, defined in Article 2, are automatically eligible to vote in elections.

6.2.2 - Inlaws who are uncomfortable attending a General Meeting may contact a Co-Chair in accordance with Article 3. The Co-Chairs will redact identifying information and pass the votes on to the Election Committee to be included in the tally.

6.3 - Nominations

Outlaws members may nominate themselves for elected offices. Other members may nominate candidates provided that that candidate is also an Outlaws member.

ARTICLE 7 - MEETINGS

7.1 - Executive Board Meetings

7.1.1 - The Executive Board will meet on a regular basis and no less than twice a month. Special meetings shall be called upon the directive of one of the Co-Chairs or upon the directive of any three Executive Board members. A duly constituted meeting requires but two days notice.

7.1.2 - Action required prior to the next scheduled meeting may be taken without a meeting if a resolution of the action is signed in writing by the Co-Chairs after a majority of the Executive Board agrees either by voice vote via telephone or e-mail.

7.1.3 - The Executive Board must approve expenditures over $100. The General Membership must approve spending expenditures exceeding $500 dollars.

7.1.4 - Meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order.

7.1.5 - A quorum of the Executive Board will consist of fifty percent plus one member of the Executive Board membership. There will be no absentee voting at Executive Board meetings. Whenever a vote is taken, one of the Co-Chairs will count the votes and ensure that the motion, if approved, is accurately recorded.

7.2 - General Meetings

7.2.1 - The entire membership will meet on a regular basis, but not less than once per month. The regular scheduled meeting will be held during the first week of the month on the agreed day and time. A duly constituted General Meeting requires seven days posted notice.

7.2.2 - Special Meetings shall be called upon the directive of one of the Co-Chairs or upon the directive of any three Executive Board members. A duly constituted Special Meeting requires two days posted notice.
7.2.3 - To qualify to vote at General Meetings, a member, as defined in Article 2, must have attended at least one general membership meeting prior to the vote and signed the voter registry at that meeting. The Treasurer will maintain a list of all members qualified to vote.
7.2.4 - The General Membership must approve spending expenditures exceeding $500 dollars.

7.2.5 - Duly constituted General Meetings have no quorum requirement. Quorum at a duly constituted Special Meeting is twenty-five percent plus one of the registered voters.

7.3 - Co-Sponsorship of Events

7.3.1 The Executive Board, by majority vote, may co-sponsor an event with other Law School, University, or external organizations. Details of this vote, including the group seeking co-sponsorship, expense, and publicity, will be noted in the minutes. Approval of the General Membership is always required where co-sponsorship entails an expense above $500.

7.3.2 If, within 24 hours of distribution of the minutes, 20 percent of the registered voters notify the Secretary that they seek reconsideration of the co-sponsorship, the Secretary will announce a vote over e-mail. Voting will be open for 24 hours. All members of the Outlaws listserv may vote, even where they are not registered voters. Inlaws may vote via procedures outlined in § 3.3.

ARTICLE 8 – THE LAVENDER LAW CONFERENCE

8.1 - Statement of Vision

The annual Lavender Law Conference is an amazing opportunity to network with other LGBT attorneys. Unfortunately, funding constraints preclude sending all interested members of Outlaws. Recognizing that future budgets and bank balances cannot be anticipated, each fall an elected Lavender Law Committee will help the Executive Board determine the total funding available to send people to Lavender Law. With an eye towards maximum participation, the Lavender Law Committee will determine how many people can be funded and the priority by which funding is distributed.

8.2 - The Lavender Law Committee shall be made up of three elected members to be chosen during the Fall Semester elections (see § 4.2.3). Committee members will be ineligible to receive funding for Lavender Law attendance. Members of the Executive Board are eligible to concurrently serve on the Lavender Law Committee. After discharging its duties, the Lavender Law Committee disbands.

8.3 - After consultation with the Treasurer, the Lavender Law Committee will present a funding proposal to the Executive Board to be approved by majority vote of the Board. This funding decision, even if greater than $500, is not subject to the rule in § 7.2.4.

8.4 - The Lavender Law Committee will determine, within the approved funding limit, how many Outlaws members will receive funding to attend the Conference. In its discretion, the Committee may choose to fully fund and/or partially subsidize attendance. The Committee is encouraged to explore alternate housing and transportation methods that might enable greater numbers of Outlaws to attend.

8.5 - The Lavender Law Committee will determine recipients of Outlaws funding. The Committee may institute an application process for selection or, in making their decision, may use criteria including, but not limited to: members who have not yet attended the Conference, preferences for Executive Board members, or class year.

ARTICLE 9 - REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

9.1 - Resignation and Excessive Absences
9.1.1 - Members and officials wishing to resign from elective or appointive positions must submit a signed letter of resignation to the Co-Chairs stating the reason therein.
9.1.2 - Three unexcused absences by an Executive Board member from a duly scheduled meeting during the member's respective one-year term will operate as a resignation.
9.1.3 - An unexcused absence is defined as a failure to notify the Executive Board of the member's absence. Notification occurs when the Board member e-mails an appropriate excuse to the Executive Board prior to the meeting.

9.2 - Impeachment

9.2.1 - The impeachment process shall be initiated by an active member filing charges against an officer or committee chairperson. Such charges must be filed in writing with one of the Co-Chair, or if such charges are against a Co-Chair, with the Treasurer. The petition containing such charges shall be signed by at least twenty-five percent of the active membership (as determined by the current voter registry).

9.2.2 - Impeachment proceedings will be automatically initiated by the Treasurer against any Co-Chair who intentionally breaks the confidence of an Inlaw.

9.2.3 - The officer receiving the petition shall notify the person against whom charges have been filed. That officer will also determine the date of the hearing to be held before the general body for the purpose of determining whether to impeach the charged officer or committee chairperson. That hearing must be held more than seven but less than fourteen days after receipt of the charges. The officer who received the petition will chair that hearing.

9.2.4 - The charged officer or committee chairperson will have the opportunity to speak at the hearing. The general membership will have the opportunity to question the charged officer or committee chairperson.

9.2.5 - At the close of the hearing, the registered voters in attendance will vote. Two-thirds of the entire voter registry is required for removal. To review, two-thirds of all registered voters must attend the hearing and vote for impeachment before an Executive Board member is removed from office.

ARTICLE 10 - AMENDMENTS AND RATIFICATION

10.1 - This Constitution will be ratified in its entirety by a two-thirds secret ballot of the members present at the Ratification Meeting. The provisions of the Constitution will be effective immediately upon ratification.

10.2 - This Constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote by secret ballot of the general membership.

10.3 - Amendments may be proposed by any registered voter. That voter must present their proposal to the Executive Board at least one week before a General Meeting, but approval by the Board is not necessary.
10.4 - No amendment may be adopted without the entire membership receiving a copy via e-mail one week prior to the meeting at which the amendment will be voted upon.

10.5 - A note on interpretation: while all writings are infused with meaning by their authors, the Framers of this Constitution request that any future interpretive efforts ignore our present meanings and instead supply any contemporary understandings that will lead to enhanced social justice.