© 2005 BCLS Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
ARTICLE I: NAME, PURPOSE, AND MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Name. The name of the organization shall be the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association of Boston College Law School ("APALSA").
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of APALSA is:
a. To provide personal, academic, and professional support for the members of APALSA; to aid Boston College Law School in creating and promoting a healthy and prosperous environment for the study of law and the personal development of its Law Students.
b. To articulate and promote the needs and goals of Asian American students in Boston College Law School; to foster and encourage an attitude of professional excellence; to focus upon the relationship of Asian American Law Students to their respective communities and to the Legal System of the United States of America.
c. To aid, support, and assist in the recruitment of prospective Asian American students and to assist in their admission to Boston College Law School.
Section 3. Eligibility and Membership.
a. Eligibility. All Boston College Law Students who are interested in Asian issues, issues deriving from legal practice with Asia, and/or the advancement of the Asian communities are eligible for membership in APALSA.
b. Membership. All Law Students who qualify under this section and who have demonstrated an interest in APALSA shall be included in the General Membership and enjoy the powers, privileges, and responsibilities provided in Article V of these By-Laws.
ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. Composition. The APALSA Executive Board shall be composed of five (5) officers: the President, Vice President - External, Vice President - Internal, Secretary, and Treasurer (pursuant to Amendments II and IV).
Section 2. Powers of Appointment.
a. The Executive Board shall have the power to create such committees as it deems necessary to carry out the business of the APALSA. Such committees shall be chaired by a person selected by any APALSA Officer and approved by general consensus of the Executive Board. Such committees shall be accountable to the Executive Board and the General Membership.
b. The Executive Board shall have the power to appoint individual members of APALSA to represent APALSA and APALSA's interests when and where necessary. Such APALSA representatives shall be accountable to the Executive Board and the General Membership.
Appointments by the APALSA Executive Board (As of April 2000)
• Community Service Chairperson. Eliminated Pursuant to Amendment II, April 5, 2000.
• OneL Chairperson. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of OneL Chairperson. The OneL Chairperson shall be responsible for the provision of academic and social support programs for APALSA's first-year student members, reflecting and representing the interests and purposes of APALSA.
• Diversity Month Chairperson. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of Diversity Month Chairperson. The Diversity Month Chairperson shall be responsible for the creation and coordination of events in conjunction with Boston College's annual Diversity Month. Such events shall reflect and represent the interests and purposes of APALSA. Repealed.
• Alumni Liaison. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of Alumni Liaison. The Alumni Liaison of APALSA shall have the powers and responsibilities of creating and maintaining a professional informational network between present APALSA members and APALSA members that have graduated from Boston College Law School. The Alumni Liaison shall have the powers and responsibilities of forming a working committee to create and maintain this professional informational network. The Alumni Liaison shall make regular reports to the Executive Board and General Membership concerning this network.
• Community Chair. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of Community Chair. The Community Chair of APALSA shall have the powers and responsibilities of planning and delivering social activities to promote community among its members. The Community Chair of APALSA shall also have the powers and responsibilities of planning and delivering community service events to promote an Asian and Pacific American community beyond the Boston College Law School, including but not limited to the annual VITA program.
Section 3. Powers of Administration. The Executive Board shall have the power to administer any and all programs, business, projects, and matters pertaining to or concerning APALSA. The Executive Board shall be accountable to the General Membership in the exercise of these powers.
Section 4. Decision Making Powers. Each member of the Executive Board shall
have the power to make immediate decisions pertaining to the business of APALSA, subject to final approval of the remainder of the Board. The Executive Board shall be accountable to the General Membership in the exercise of these powers.
Section 5. Structure.
a. Any decision of the Executive Board shall be made only at a meeting, called by a member of the Executive Board, at which a quorum is present, which quorum shall consist of a majority of Officers.
b. In any meeting of the Executive Board in which there is a quorum participating, the vote of the majority of those participating shall be sufficient to decide those issues which cannot be resolved by consensus. In the event of a tied vote, the vote of the presiding officer shall be discounted to create a majority vote.
ARTICLE III: OFFICERS
Section 1. General. During their terms in office, the Officers of APALSA shall be students who are candidates for degrees at Boston College Law School. Officers shall consist of a President, Vice President - External, Vice President - Internal, Secretary, and Treasurer. The regular term of office shall be one (1) year, and no person may hold more than one office at the same time, nor may one office be occupied by more than one person.
Section 2. The President. The President of APALSA shall have general supervisory power over the activities and business of APALSA. The President shall chair the meetings of the Executive Board and the meetings of the General Membership. The President shall have the powers and responsibilities to represent APALSA when and where the need arises and in doing so shall promote the goals, needs, and interests of the members of APALSA.
Section 3. The Vice Presidents
Section 3(a). The Vice President - External ("VP External"). The VP External shall have the powers and responsibilities of ensuring the smooth and efficient external operation of APALSA. The VP External shall have the responsibility and powers to invite speakers of interest to the Boston College Law School, and assist members in their career opportunity search using the resources provided to APALSA by employers. The VP External shall have the powers and responsibilities of the President in the President's absence.
Section 3(b). The Vice President - Internal ("VP Internal"). The VP Internal shall have the powers and responsibilities of ensuring the smooth and efficient internal operation of APALSA. The VP Internal shall have responsibility and powers to provide academic support programs for APALSA which include, but are not limited to, APALSA's mentor/mentee program. The VP Internal shall have the powers and responsibilities of the President in the President's and VP External's absence.
Section 4. The Secretary. The Secretary of APALSA shall be responsible for the communication of information within APALSA. The Secretary shall have the powers and responsibilities of assuring that all APALSA members are aware of all the business and activities of APALSA. The Secretary shall be responsible for the maintenance and distribution of minutes for all meetings of the Executive Board and of the General Membership. The Secretary shall, whenever appropriate or whenever requested by the Executive Board, produce a newsletter detailing the business and activities of APALSA and distribute that newsletter to the General Membership and all others specified by the Executive Board.
Section 5. The Treasurer. The Treasurer of APALSA shall have custody and control of the financial assets of APALSA and shall see that they are deposited in a financial institution approved by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall assure that entries are regularly made in the financial records and keep full and accurate account of all monies received and disbursed by APALSA. The Treasurer shall make regular financial reports to the Executive Board and the General Membership.
Section 6. Repealed.
Section 7. The Alumni Liaison. Repealed.
Section 8. Election of Officers, Performance of Duties, and Removal from Office
a. The President, VP Internal, VP External, Secretary, and Treasurer, for any given year, shall be chosen in an election held during the Spring term of the previous school year.
b. In case any officer shall become temporarily unable to serve the Executive Board shall collectively assume the powers and responsibilities of the absent officer.
c. In case any officer shall become permanently unable to serve, a special election shall be held for the purpose of choosing a person to serve during the remainder of the unexpired term.
d. Removal from Office.
(i) In case any elected officer shall fail to perform adequately their duties and responsibilities, the President (or VP External if the President's performance is the matter in question) shall conduct a special election to remove the officer from their position with a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote at a meeting in which a quorum is present, and a subsequent election shall be held for the purpose of choosing a person to serve during the remainder of the unexpired term. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of all members.
(ii) In case any appointed officer shall fail to perform adequately their duties and responsibilities, the President shall conduct a special election among the executive board to remove the officer from their position with a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote.
ARTICLE IV: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be added to, amended, or repealed at any meeting of the General Membership at which a quorum is present, which quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of all members, upon a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of those present, provided the proposed action is defined in the notice of such meeting. Such notice shall be given at the previous meeting.
Section 2. Any member shall be able to propose amendments to these By-Laws.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER
Amendment I. Due to the termination of the Law School's Core Admissions Process, the APALSA office of Admissions Chairperson is hereby eliminated and Art. III, Sec. 6 of the APALSA Charter is hereby repealed. Art. III, Sec. 1, Art. III, Sec. 8(a), and Art. II, Sec. 5 shall be amended to reflect the elimination of the Admissions Chairperson office.
Amendment I adopted April 5, 2000.
Amendment II. Sec. 1 The APALSA Executive Board Representative position of Community Service Chairperson is hereby eliminated and reconstituted as the Community Service Officer.
Sec. 2. The Community Service Officer shall be responsible for maintenance, promotion, and creation of community service projects for the General Membership of APALSA to participate. Such projects shall reflect and represent the interests and purposes of APALSA.
Sec. 3. The composition of the Executive Board under Art. II, Sec. 1 and Art III, Sec. 1, shall include the Community Service Officer.
Sec. 4. Art. III, Sec. 8(a), (b), and (c) shall apply to the Community Service Officer.
Amendment II adopted April 5, 2000.
Amendment III. ARTICLE II, SECTION 2(b) APPOINTMENTS
BY THE APALSA EXECUTIVE BOARD (As of April 2000)
(1) Community Service Chairperson. Eliminated Pursuant to Amendment II, April 5, 2000.
(2) OneL Chairperson. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of OneL Chairperson. The OneL Chairperson shall be responsible for the provision of academic and social support programs for APALSA's first-year student members, reflecting and representing the interests and purposes of APALSA.
(3) Diversity Month Chairperson. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of Diversity Month Chairperson. The Diversity Month Chairperson shall be responsible for the creation and coordination of events in conjunction with Boston College's annual Diversity Month. Such events shall reflect and represent the interests and purposes of APALSA.
Amendment III adopted _.
Amendment IV.
Sec. 1. Article II Section 1 Composition. The APALSA Executive Board shall consist of five (5) officers, eliminating the Executive office positions of Vice President, Alumni Liaison and Community Service Chair; and creating the new Executive officer positions of Vice President - External and Vice President - Internal.
Sec. 2. Article II Section 5 Structure. An Executive Board quorum shall consist of a majority of Officers.
Sec. 3. Article III Section 1. The Vice President, Alumni Liaison, and Community Service Officer are eliminated and the positions of Vice President - External and Vice President - Internal are created.
Sec. 4. Article III Section 3. The Vice President position is hereby eliminated.
Sec. 3(a). The Vice President - External ("VP External"). The VP External shall have the powers and responsibilities of ensuring the smooth and efficient external operation of APALSA. The VP External shall have the responsibility and powers to invite speakers of interest to the Boston College Law School, and assist members in their career opportunity search using the resources provided to APALSA by employers. The VP External shall have the powers and responsibilities of the President in the President's absence.
Sec. 3(b). The Vice President - Internal ("VP Internal") shall have responsibility and powers to provide academic support programs for APALSA which include, but are not limited to, APALSA's mentor/mentee program. The VP Internal shall have the powers and responsibilities of the President in the President's and VP External's absence.
Sec. 5. Article III Section 7 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 6. Article III Section 8(a). The Vice President and Alumni Liaison positions are eliminated and Vice President - External and Vice President - Internal are inserted, to be determined by election.
Sec. 7. Article III Section 8(d). Removal from Office.
• In case any elected officer shall fail to perform adequately their duties and responsibilities, the President (or VP External if the President's performance is in question) shall conduct a special election to remove the officer from their position with a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote at a meeting in which a quorum is present, and a subsequent election shall be held for the purpose of choosing a person to serve during the remainder of the unexpired term. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of all members.
• In case any appointed officer shall fail to perform adequately their duties and responsibilities, the President shall conduct a special election among the executive board to remove the officer from their position with a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote.
Sec. 8. Article IV Sections 1 and 2. The phrase "dues-paying" is eliminated.
Sec. 9. Amendment III - Article II, Section 2(b)(2). The phrase "Under the supervision of the Vice President" is hereby eliminated.
Sec. 10. Amendment III - Article II, Section 2(b)(3) is hereby repealed.
Sec. 11. Amendment III - Article II, Section 2(b)
(4) Alumni Liaison. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of Alumni Liaison. The Alumni Liaison of APALSA shall have the powers and responsibilities of creating and maintaining a professional informational network between present APALSA members and APALSA members that have graduated from Boston College Law School. The Alumni Liaison shall have the powers and responsibilities of forming a working committee to create and maintain this professional informational network. The Alumni Liaison shall make regular reports to the Executive Board and General Membership concerning this network.
(5) Community Chair. Pursuant to Art. II, Sec. 2(b) of the APALSA Charter, the Executive Board creates and promulgates the Executive Board Representative position of Community Chair. The Community Chair of APALSA shall have the powers and responsibilities of planning and delivering social activities to promote community among its members. The Community Chair of APALSA shall also have the powers and responsibilities of planning and delivering community service events to promote an Asian and Pacific American community beyond the Boston College Law School, including but not limited to the annual VITA program.
Sec. 12. Amendment IV shall become effective as of March 23, 2005.
Amendment IV adopted March 23, 2005.