By-Laws

      I.            Meetings: 

The Officers will plan the meetings of Students for Life at Saint Louis University.  The meetings are of two types: regular and electoral.  Any meeting at which an officer and/or advisor is to be elected, or any meeting at which the Constitution and/or By-Laws are to be amended is an electoral meeting.   All other meetings are regular. One officer, one advisor, and one-third of the active members are required for an electoral meeting.

 

  II.            Electoral Procedure:

A.     Nominations and Amendment Proposals: At the meeting before an electoral meeting, attendees may make officer nominations and/or propose amendments to the Constitution and/or By-Laws.  The support of at least two members is required for any nomination or proposed amendment which is to be recorded for the upcoming electoral meeting.  Officer nominees must be active members of Students for Life at Saint Louis University.  To be nominated, one must have attended at least a majority of the regular meetings.  If these requirements and conditions are met, the ranking officer in attendance records the nominations and/or proposed amendments for the upcoming electoral meeting.

B.     Voting Eligibility and Methods: Only active members in attendance are eligible to vote; any member in attendance may abstain from voting.  Voting at an electoral meeting to elect an officer or to pass a proposed amendment is by secret ballot unless otherwise agreed upon.  The method of voting to resolve other questions by consensus is left to the discretion of the ranking officer in attendance.

C.     Requirements for Election and Amendment Passage: In a race having more than one nominee, the nominee receiving the most votes is elected.  In the case of a tie, both nominees and/or the issues at hand will be discussed in an open forum, and a second vote will take place.

D.     Assumption of Duties and Amendment Enactment: Newly elected officers and advisor officially assume their duties the day after the ending of the elected school year; newly passed amendments become effective only after the conclusion of the electoral meeting during which they were elected or passed, and a transitional phase for newly elected officers and advisor will take place from the electoral meeting to the day after the ending of the elected school year.

 

III.            Appeal Procedures:

Members may appeal to the officers about any question or dispute, including those which might result in the dismissal of an officer by a majority vote of the active members according to the electoral By-Laws and those involving the interpretation of the Constitution and/or By-Laws.  The support of at least two active members is required for any appeal to be considered by the officers.  The decision of the officers in answer to the appeal is to be accepted as final and binding.

 

IV.            Veto Power of the President:

The President has the power to overrule any plan or proposal of the officers or members of Students for Life at Saint Louis University if, in the judgment of the President, the plan or proposal is unwise.  The decision of the President to exercise veto power is to be accepted as final and binding.

 

    V.            Duties of Members:

Members are to come to the meetings of Students for Life at Saint Louis University and, if active, participate in the programs and events of Students for Life at Saint Louis University to the best of their abilities, and to participate in the electoral and appeal procedures.

 

VI.            Attendance:

All members are considered active members as of the first meeting of the semester. Members entering after the first meeting will count attendance from that date.  After the third unexcused absence of an officer, the officer must explain himself/herself to the body, which then may choose to take action to dismiss the officer.

 

VII.            Officers and Advisors:

A.     Resignation of an Officer or Advisor: An officer or advisor may resign by announcing in person at a meeting his or her intention to resign and specifying the meeting which, at the conclusion of, his or her resignation becomes effective.

B.     Political Note: Students for Life at Saint Louis University will not become an affiliate of any partisan political organization, but does not prohibit co-sponsorship of activities with partisan groups that maintain a proper focus for the organization.

C.     Dismissal of an Officer: Upon an appeal for the dismissal of an officer, a 2/3 majority of the remaining officers, for a just reason, may dismiss an officer.  The dismissal becomes effective immediately.  During an interim between the dismissal of an officer and the election of a successor, the remaining officers assume the duties of the dismissed officer.  A hearing will be allowed for the officer in question to state his/her case.

 

VIII.            Duties of the Officers and Advisors:

                             A.            Term/Vacancies: The term for a Students for Life Officer is one year. In the case of the President not being able to perform his/her duties, the Vice President of External Affairs will assume the position of President. In any other Case of a vacancy the remaining officers will appoint a member to the position.

                             B.            President: The President is to plan and preside over all meetings; coordinate and preside over all programs of Students for Life at Saint Louis University; assign and delegate proper duties to the officers and members of the organization; participate in the electoral and appeal procedures; represent Students for Life at Saint Louis University before individuals, groups, and institutions, including the Student Government Association of Saint Louis University and outside organizations; and know the Constitution and By-Laws of Students for Life at Saint Louis University.

                             C.            Vice President of External Affairs: The VP of External affairs is to assist the President in programs of Students for Life at Saint Louis University and help represent the group before individuals, groups, and institutions. He or she shall temporarily assume the position of the President in the event of the President’s absence; monitor the Students for Life on-campus mailbox; report changes of the master contact list to the Secretary; and know the Constitution and By-Laws of Students for Life at Saint Louis University. The VP of External Affairs will oversee the Respect Life Week Chair, the Run for Their Lives Chair, and the Webmaster.

                             D.            Vice President of Internal Affairs: The VP of Internal Affairs is to be responsible for members. He or she will take attendance at each meeting and event; maintain up-to-date contact information for each member and officer, including class, phone, and e-mail; maintain an up-to-date semester calendar of Students for Life activities for members and the greater community; maintain an accurate inventory of the Students for Life storage closet; report changes of the master contact list to the Secretary; and know the Constitution and By-Laws of Students for Life at Saint Louis University. The VP of Internal Affairs will oversee the March for Life Chair.

                             E.            Treasurer: The Treasurer is to be responsible for the collection, disbursement, and accounting of all funds of Students for Life at Saint Louis University, including donations and sponsorships; coordinate and preside over all fundraising efforts; devise the annual budget coming from the Student Government Association; maintain an exact record of all funds, including receipts; issue purchase orders, repayments, and inter-departmental orders; and know the Constitution and By-Laws of Students for Life at Saint Louis University.

                             F.            Secretary: The Secretary is to assist the President and Vice Presidents in performing their duties; take accurate, detailed, and organized meeting minutes; and maintain the master list of Students for Life contacts. The Secretary will keep membership records; maintain a record of activities, correspondence, and other materials pertaining to Students for Life at Saint Louis University; be the primary officer in charge of email correspondence, including a weekly meeting reminder; maintain the member e-mail listserve; keep proper and organized files for all events; maintain proper documentation with SGA and the University; and know the Constitution and By-Laws of Students for Life at Saint Louis University. The Secretary will oversee the “Heartbeat” Chair.

                            G.            Advisor (appointed by the officers): The Advisor for Students for Life at Saint Louis University shall attend at least two (2) meetings per semester, provide insight, guidance, and support for the officers, handle and maintain Students for Life at Saint Louis University relations with the faculty and administration of Saint Louis University.

                            H.            Chair Positions (appointed by the officers):

                                                      1.            Respect Life Week: The Respect Life Week Chairperson is to coordinate the publicity campaign for Respect Life Week; coordinate all events and activities for the week; and create a schedule of events before the end of the spring semester of the previous year. The Respect Life Week Chair will communicate plans to the VP of External Affairs.

                                                      2.            March for Life: The March for Life Chairperson is to coordinate the publicity campaign for the March for Life; coordinate and organize registration; create a detailed itinerary approved by the Students for Life officers no less than one month before the event; and handle all correspondence for the March for Life, including organizing host families. The March for Life Chairperson will report to the VP of Internal Affairs.

                                                      3.            Run for Their Lives: The Run for Their Lives Chairperson is to coordinate the publicity campaign for the Run for Their Lives; coordinate fundraising efforts; and plan and organize race day. The Run for Their Lives Chair will report to the VP of External Affairs.

                                                      4.            Webmaster: The Webmaster is to maintain the Students for Life website. The Webmaster will report to the VP of Internal Affairs.

                                                      5.            “Heartbeat”: The “Heartbeat” Chairperson is to serve as editor of the “Heartbeat” newsletter. He or she will recruit writers; edit and approve all articles; organize the layout of articles within the newsletter; maintain the “Heartbeat” listserve; and send out the monthly newsletter to the listserve via e-mail. The “Heartbeat” Chairperson will report to the Secretary.

 

IX.            Committees

                             A.            Assistance Fund Committee: The Assistance Fund Committee is to include 3 members elected by the members of the organization and 3 members elected by the officers of Students for Life. The committee can include no more than 2 officers. Members of the committee will serve until graduation, resignation or a vote of no confidence from the committee. Vacancies in the committee will be filled by the same process of the resigning member. The majority for all voting decisions is 4 out of 6 members. The Assistance Fund Committee will meet at least once a month to plan and organize fundraising for the fund; coordinate the publicity campaign; facilitate communication with the University and outside community. The Assistance Fund Committee will represent Students for Life before individuals, groups, and institutions, including the Student Government Association of Saint Louis University and outside organizations regarding the formation of the fund. The Assistance Fund Committee will work with the President.