Constitution

Article I – Name and Purpose

• Section One: Name – The name of the organization shall be the Latino/a American Law Student Association (herein referred to as "LALSA") of Hofstra University School of Law.
• Section Two: Purpose – The Purpose of the Association is to articulate and to promote the needs and goals of Latino Law Students, locally and regionally; to foster and promote an attitude of professional competence; to focus upon the relationship of Latino Law Students to the American legal structure and Latin community; to enhance and create a well establish highway of communication among the community of Latino Attorneys and the law students.

Article II – Membership

• Section One: Eligibility – Membership shall be limited to students attending Hofstra University School of Law.
• Section Two: Prerequisites – The sole requirement imposed upon on eligible for membership, shall be his/her assertion and affirmation that he/she desires and intends to participate in arid support the activities and endeavors of the Association; and that he/she shares in the aforementioned goals.
• Section Three: Qualification – The qualification for membership is to be determined by the provisions of Article VI, Section Two.
• Section Four: Rights Of Membership
  
  • A. Only paid members shall have the right to run for a position in the Executive Board and to vote on any and all issues presented in the Association's general meetings. Absentee voting shall be allowed only in elections, and then only by signed ballot submitted to a member of the Elections committee in advance of the election.
    
  • B. Any member shall be eligible to be appointed or elected to any committee; however, officeholders, class representatives, committee chairpersons, members of the delegations and/or other official capacities where LALSA shall be represented to the outside community shall be limited to those members who do not currently hold any other similar office in any other student organization on campus.

Article III – Officers and Class Representatives

• Section One: Generally – the officers shall be duly elected by the majority vote of their class peers. Tile officers and class representatives shall compromise of the Executive Committee of the organization. The term of the office shall be for one year, and no person may hold more than one office in the Association at the same time.
• Section Two: President – The president of the Association shall have the general supervisory power over the activities of the Association. He/she shall also appoint committee chairpersons and such other agents as are deemed necessary to carry on the business of the Association. He/she shall also have the option of putting such election to the general body for a vote (simple majority is required). In addition, he/she shall preside at general meetings of the chapter.
• Section Three: Vice President – the Vice-President shall be responsible for the communication or information within the Association. He/she shall assure that the Executive is aware of the Activities of the Hofstra LALSA chapter; and also that the general body is informed of all Executive Committee decisions. The Vice President will assume the duties of the President upon the President's absence, illness, or removal from office. The Vice-President is designated to be the General Body's official representative at all sub-regional and regional activities. If for any reason he/she is unable to assume such responsibilities, he/she will delegate to attend in his/her place.
• Section Four: Secretary – The secretary of the Association shall be responsible for maintaining the records and correspondence of the Association. he/she shall be responsible for the maintenance and distribution of minutes and agenda for al meetings of the Executive Committee and the General body, the number of members in the association.
• Section Five: Treasurer – The treasurer of the Association shall be responsible for maintaining the financial records and the recording of all business transactions made on behalf of the Association. The Treasurer shall be responsible for opening and supervising an account made in the name of the Latino/a American Law Student Association, Hofstra School of Law Chapter. Whenever feasible, the Treasure shall deposit the Association's funds in a duly accredited bank or financial institution. No funds can be withdrawn from the association's account without the signatures of the Treasurer and the President of the Association. The Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing the monthly financial report to the Executive Committee, and a bimonthly report to the General Body. The Treasurer shall include monthly bank statements with his/her report.

Article IV – Committees

• Section One: The Executive Committee shall consist of four (4) duly elected officers; President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. This committee shall be responsible for the administration and initiation of all policy for the Association, subject to the approval of the majority f the General Body. All policy so forwarded and approved shall be the official position of the Association in all-relevant matters. The Executive Committee will be held directly responsible for preparing an agenda for all of the meetings of the General Body for any action taken or policy issued on behalf of the Association.
  
  The Executive Committee is also empowered to act on behalf of the chapter in any emergency situation requiring immediate action without consulting the General Body. This emergency power includes the disbursement of funds up to the amount of $300.00. Any such actions must be ratified to be valid, and the executive Committee will keep established policies and goals in mind when making such decisions.
• Section Two: The following may be the standing committees of the Association. These committees when convened shall account to the Executive Committee and to the General Body by written report.
  • A. Admissions – this committee shall monitor, assist, and advise the Admissions Office on the admission and selection of Latino and other non-white students seeking admissions into the law school. They should also attend to interviews provide by the school board in regards to minority faculty recruitment.
  • B. Academics – This committee shall monitor, assist, and advise the appropriate faculty in the are of academics, standards, particularly as they relate to and effect the Latinos, and nonwhite students. (i.e., opportunities for minority recruitment, introduction to law school, interviewing, as well as LALSA Buddy system).
  • C. Activities – this committee shall be responsible for the coordinating, planning, and implementation of any social affairs to which the LALSA chapter of Hofstra University School of Law will be a party of. (Cultural affairs, various networking workshops our annual banquet, and any other social gatherings).
  • D. Appropriations – this committee shall be responsible for the annual budget and it shall work under the supervision of the treasurer. It should also request any additional funding need throughout the year to the Student Bar Association. This committee shall establish and appoint such subcommittees as he/she may seem necessary, i.e. fundraising.
  • E. Elections – This committee shall be comprise of the third year students and shall be responsible for the coordination and supervision of the election of officers and class representative subject to the provisions of Article II, Section 4(A). The election shall be in the spring semester or last term of any academic year. The election of the first year representative shall be held in the fall term.
• Section Three: The general body shall have the power to form any additional committees it may deem necessary by majority vote.

Article V – General Body

• Section One: Generally – the General Body shall be composed of all members of the Association, and class Representatives as follows:
  One (1) Third year representative
  One (1) Second year representative
  Two (2) First year representatives- one from each section
  Two (2) MCC representatives
  
  The Body shall meet at least once a month, at which time the business of the Association shall be conducted and the decisions (Article IV, Section One) of the Executive Committee ratified. Notice shall be given at least seven days (7) prior to a meeting of the General Body, and shall state the nature of the business to be conducted at the meeting. Subject to the provisions of Article VIII, any topic not included in the notice of such meeting may be raised and resolve by those members present.
• Section Two: Special Meetings
  • A. Special meetings of the General Body may be called by an affirmative vote of two (2) of the four (4) Executive members, or
  • B. By a simple majority of the General Body.

Article VI – Dues

• Section One: Generally – the imposition and or amount of dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee, subject to the ratification of the membership at the first General meeting.
• Section Two: Privileges – The payment of dues shall be a prerequisite obligation of membership only if the Executive Committee so decides and the General Body duly ratifies its decision.

Article VII – Voting

Voting is subject to the provisions of Article, Section 4 (A).

Article VIII – Quorum

A quorum consists of a simple majority of the members of the Association. If for any reason a quorum is not had, those members present may discuss and decide the business subject to:
1. Ratification by a vote of a simple majority of the members; or
2. When a quorum is had by a ratification of a majority of that quorum.

Article IX – Disbursement of Funds

• Section One: The president shall submit to the second meeting of the General Body a proposed annual budget for approval and ratification by the majority of the membership.
• Section Two: Disbursements incident to the conduct of the Association's general business may be made by a simple majority of the membership, subject to the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
• Section Three: Major expenditures, i.e., those over one hundred dollars ($100.00) must be approved by the majority of the membership, subject to the exceptions of Article IV, Section One.

Article X – Removal of Officers and Class Representatives

Removal of any officer or any other member of the Executive Committee, during the year for cause shall be motion, debate, and a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the General Body shall be needed. In that event, new elections will be held to fill the vacancy in accordance with Article III, Section One.

Article XI – Amendments

This constitution may be added to or repealed at any meeting of the General Body at which a quorum is had, upon two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the members present, provided the proposed action is defined in the notice of such meeting.