Cardozo NLG By-Laws
Cardozo School of Law Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
I. Name
The name of this organization will be Cardozo NLG.
II. Purpose
Cardozo NLG pursues basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. We seek to unite the lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers of America in an organization which will function as an effective political and social force in the service of the people, to the end that human rights will be regarded as more sacred than property interests.
We aim to bring together all those who regard adjustments to new conditions as more important than the veneration of precedent; who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, farmers, and minority groups upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.
III. Membership
Membership in Cardozo NLG is open to all current members of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law community. There will be no exclusion from membership based on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
IV. Meetings
Each semester, the Executive Board will organize at least two general meetings open to the entire membership of Cardozo NLG.
V. Leadership
1. Officers
Cardozo NLG will be governed by an Executive Board of five members. The Executive Board will make all general decisions concerning Cardozo NLG, including organizing meetings, coordinating events, and creating and maintaining a budget.
Because Cardozo Student Bar Association rules so require, one Board member will assume the designation of “President.”. The Board will select the member who will be designated “President” at the first meeting of the Board after the fall elections. Where needed, the Executive Board member acting in that capacity will only have the authority to communicate with the Cardozo Student Bar Association and announce decisions of the Executive Board. The “President” will not have independent authority to make any general decision concerning Cardozo NLG, and any decision the “President” announces must be a consensus decision approved by the Executive Board.
Because Cardozo Student Bar Association rules so require, one Board member will assume the designation of “Treasurer.” The Board will select the member that will be designated “Treasurer” at the first meeting of the Board after the fall elections. The Executive Board member acting in that capacity will only have the authority to validate expenditures approved by the Executive Board and to communicate with the Cardozo SBA Budget Committee, which includes attending the Budget Committees meetings. The “Treasurer” will not have independent authority to make any general decision concerning Cardozo NLG or Cardozo NLG expenditures, and any decision the “Treasurer” announces must be a consensus decision approved by the Executive Board.
Officers will meet at least once a month. Whenever possible, policy decisions will be made by consensus of the Executive Board. When consensus cannot be reached, the officers will conduct a voice vote, and the winning position will be determined by a simple majority.
New positions may be created as
the Board deems necessary. Any member may submit a proposal for a new
position to the Executive Board, who will vote on the proposal within
thirty days. If a simple majority of the Executive Board accepts the
proposal, the position will be created.
2. Elections, Vacancies, and
Removal from Office
All members who are current students are eligible to hold office and can nominate and vote in the elections. Elections will be held each year during the fall semester at a general meeting and will be run by ballots. In the case of a tie, there will be a run-off election. Positions will last one year.
Should a vacancy open on the Executive Board for any reason, the general membership will within a reasonable amount of time elect a replacement officer by the same procedure as the fall elections.
An officer may be removed from office by proposal of any member, followed by a group-wide vote with 2/3 majority voting for removal. At least 2/3 of the current membership must be present for the vote.
VI. Amendments and Grievances
Any member who wishes to propose an amendment to these By-Laws, or is grieved by a decision of the Executive Board, may submit an amendment or complaint to the Executive Board. The Board will present all submitted amendment(s) and/or grievance(s) to the general membership at the next scheduled general meeting for discussion and revision. Following the meeting, the amendment(s) and/or grievance(s) will be emailed twice to the entire membership for a vote. A 2/3 majority vote of the received responses, with each member’s vote counted once, will amend the By-Laws or overrule the decision of the Executive Board, as applicable.