ANTONIN SCALIA LAW SCHOOL AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
We, the students of the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, for the purpose of supporting and encouraging academic excellence and professional growth among the students; to ensure the attainment and preservation of the rights of the individual law student to acquire a high quality legal education in a just and reasonable manner; to serve as the vehicle for interaction and communication between law students and the faculty, staff, senior bar, Law School alumni community, and the rest of George Mason University, do establish this Constitution for the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University Student Bar Association.
ARTICLE I NAME
The name of this association shall be the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University Student Bar Association (“SBA”).
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP
All students registered at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University (“Scalia Law”) (collectively “Student Body”) are automatically members of the SBA. Membership in the SBA automatically terminates whenever a student is separated from Scalia Law by reason of graduation, withdrawal, transfer or dismissal.
ARTICLE III BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Sec. 1 Membership
The Board of Governors shall be composed of the Executive Committee, the Class Representatives elected pursuant to this Article, and the Honor Committee Chair.
Sec. 2 Class Representatives
Each section of the First Year class (Day and Evening) shall elect three Class Representatives, and each section of each other class (Second Year Day, Second Year Evening, Third Year Day, Third Year Evening, and Fourth Year Evening) shall elect two Class Representatives. LLM students shall elect one class Representative. Second Year transfer students shall elect one Class Representative.
Sec. 3 Qualifications
Class Representatives must remain students in good academic standing throughout their term of office and have declared an intent to remain enrolled at Scalia Law for a minimum of two semesters when elected. The President, in consultation with the Director of Student Academic Affairs, shall determine questions of good academic standing according to the current Scalia Law Academic Regulations. No Member of the Board of Governors may miss more than 2 meetings in a year.
Sec. 4 Authority and Duties
Class Representatives provide channels of communication between members of their respective classes and the Board of Governors. Class Representatives may call and hold meetings of their respective classes.
Sec. 5 Vacancies
If a vacancy occurs among the Class Representatives, the vacancy will be filled according to procedures stated in the SBA By-laws.
Sec. 6 Removal
The Board of Governors may remove any Class Representative for cause by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Board of Governors who are eligible to vote.
Sec. 7 Meetings
The Board of Governors shall meet at least once a month during the academic year. Meetings during the consideration of regular business are open to the Student Body. The Board of Governors does not have to meet in any month in which final examinations are held.
Sec. 8 Powers and Responsibilities of the Board of Governors
The Board of Governors shall establish Bylaws to govern the conduct of the Executive Committee, the Board of Governors, SBA Committees, and SBA Organizations; appropriate SBA funds; establish SBA Committees; approve establishment of and oversee the conduct of SBA Fee-Funded Student Organizations; express the sense of the Student Body through resolution; and shall serve as the final adjudicatory forum for disputes arising under the SBA Constitution. Should a student matter or issue not be resolved, the Board of Governors shall direct the President to present the dispute on behalf of the Student Body for resolution with the Law School Administration.
Sec. 9 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair
The President shall appoint, with advice and consent of the Executive Committee, a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair at the conclusion of each spring election.
Sec. 10 Powers and Responsibilities of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Chair.
The DEI Chair shall advise the President and the Board of Governors on issues relating to the fostering of diversity, equity and inclusion in all matters pertaining to the mission and responsibilities of the Student Bar Association.
The DEI Chair shall chair the DEI Committee and appoint members to the DEI Committee by consultation with the President and Executive Committee.
The DEI Chair shall meet with diverse constituencies at least once per academic year.
The DEI Committee shall hold an open forum at least once per academic year.
Other conforming amendments shall be made to incorporate the DEI Chair into the Board of Governors of the Student Bar Association.
ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sec. l Membership
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following Officers: the President, the Vice President representing the Day Division, the Vice President representing the Evening Division, the Vice President of Events, the, the Secretary, the Budgets Treasurer, and the Deputy Treasurer.
Sec. 2 Meetings
Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called either by the President or three members of the Executive Committee. A majority of the positions on the committee that are filled shall constitute a quorum. The committee must meet at least once per semester before the budget meeting.
Sec. 3 Powers and Responsibilities
The Executive Committee shall provide executive direction for the SBA and interpret the SBA Constitution and Bylaws. Any interpretation made by the Executive Committee is subject to be overturned by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Board of Governors who are eligible to vote. All members of the Executive Committee shall each have one vote in any matter before the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V OFFICERS
Sec. 1 Powers and Responsibilities of the President
The President shall: direct and represent the SBA; prepare and submit the SBA’s budget request to the appropriate GMU officials; be an ex officio member of all Standing and Ad Hoc committees; promptly and orderly execute all resolutions; disburse or approve the disbursal of funds in accordance with an appropriation approved by the SBA Board of Governors; take the necessary and proper action to effectuate this Constitution; and serve as the official Student Body representative to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community.
Sec. 2 Powers and Responsibilities of the Division Vice Presidents
The Vice President of the Day division and Vice President of the Evening division shall be ex officio members of all Standing and Ad Hoc committees.
Sec. 3 Powers and Responsibilities of the Vice President of Events and the Deputy Events Coordinators
The Vice President of Events shall assist the President and organize SBA-sponsored academic and social events intended to benefit the students of Scalia Law. The Deputy Events Coordinator shall assist the Events Coordinator in carrying out these duties. The Deputy Events Coordinator must be an incoming first year student.
Sec. 4 Powers and Responsibilities of the Secretary
The Secretary shall provide the membership of the SBA with information about the proceeding and decisions of the SBA. The Secretary shall prepare and post a record of all Board of Governors and Executive Committee meetings, as well as prepare and post other pertinent information and announcements relevant to the Student Body at large; and assist the President in conducting all correspondence between the SBA and organizations or individuals.
Sec. 5 Powers and Responsibilities of the Budgets Treasurer and the Deputy Treasurer
The Budgets Treasurer shall review, compile and submit all budget requests to the SBA Board of Governors; assist the President in the preparation of the SBA budget; maintain and manage the financial accounts of the SBA; require and receive regular reports of expenditures and revenues from SBA fee-funded organizations and SBA committees; disburse or approve the disbursal of funds in accordance with an appropriation approved by the Board of Governors; report in writing within 30 days the financial status of the SBA at the request of the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee, or the President. The Deputy Treasurer shall assist the Budget Coordinator in carrying out these duties
Sec. 6 Succession
The line of succession to the Presidency shall be first the Vice President representing the Day Division, second the Vice President representing the Evening Division, third the Vice President of Events, fourth the Budget Treasurer, fifth the Deputy Treasurer.
Sec. 7 Qualifications
Executive Committee Officers must remain students in good academic standing throughout their term of office and have declared an intent to remain enrolled at Scalia Law for a minimum of two semesters when elected. The President, in consultation with the Director of Student Academic Affairs, shall determine questions of good academic standing according to the current Scalia Law Academic Regulations. Officers may not miss more than two meetings of the Board of Governors a year.
Sec. 8 Removal
The Board of Governors may remove Executive Committee Officers for cause by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Board of Governors eligible to vote.
Sec. 9 Vacancies
Any vacancy on the Executive Committee, with the exception of the President, shall be filled by appointment by the President. The President’s selection must be approved by a simple majority of the SBA Board of Governors.
ARTICLE VI HONOR CODE
Sec. 1 Power and Authority of Honor Committee Chair
The Honor Committee Chair shall: advise the Board of Governors on the applicability of the Honor Code to proposed SBA actions or other matters; and report at regular meetings of the Board of Governors activities of the Honor Committee. The Honor Committee Chair shall not be a voting member of the Board of Governors. The Honor Committee Chair shall preside over the SBA Board of Governors in procedures to remove the President of the SBA. The Honor Committee Chair shall serve as the Chair of the Honor Committee.
Sec. 2 Qualifications
The Honor Committee Chair shall be a member of the Student Body in good academic standing and shall have declared an intent when elected to remain enrolled at Scalia Law for the Fall and Spring semesters of the subsequent academic year.
Sec. 3 Vacancy
Should the Honor Committee Chair become vacant, the SBA President shall inform the Student Body of the vacancy and solicit a request for applications. A candidate shall:
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- Obtain the written endorsement of her application for the position from at least 10 members of the Student Body;
- Be qualified for the remainder of the previous Honor Committee Chair’s term according to Article IV, Section 3 (B); and
- Fulfill any other application requirements deemed necessary by the President of the SBA.
The SBA President shall present the applications of all qualified candidates to the SBA Board of Governors. A new Honor Committee Chair shall be elected by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of Board of Governors eligible to vote. At least 10 days shall pass between the President’s solicitation of applications and the meeting at which a new Honor Committee Chair is voted upon.
Sec. 4 Removal
The SBA Board of Governors may remove the Honor Committee Chair for neglect of duties or violation of the Honor Code by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Board of Governors eligible.
ARTICLE VII SBA COMMITTEES, STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES AND SBA ORGANIZATIONS
Sec. 1 SBA Committees
The SBA Board of Governors may establish committees as necessary.
Sec. 2 SBA Student Organizations
Student Organizations that the SBA chooses to fund, and that are not considered SBA committees, are SBA Student Organizations and must be officially recognized by George Mason University and the SBA. SBA Student Organizations must act in accordance with their own Constitutions and bylaws, as well as SBA procedures, bylaws, mandates, and resolutions.
Sec. 3 Law Student Representatives
Law Student Representatives on administrative, faculty, or university committees shall be appointed by the President, subject to the advice and consent of the SBA Board of Governors.
Sec. 4 Qualifications
Only members of the Student Body in good academic standing are eligible to chair any SBA committee, serve as a student representative, or be a member of an SBA organization. The President, in consultation with the Director of Student Academic Affairs, shall determine questions of good academic standing according to the current Scalia Law Academic Regulations.
Sec. 5 Removal
Law Student Representatives appointed by the SBA President to administrative, faculty, or university committees serve at the pleasure of the President. The SBA Board of Governors may for cause remove, by 2/3 of the members eligible to vote, any officer or member of an SBA Student Organization.
ARTICLE VIII ELECTIONS
Sec. 1 Voting for Officers
The members of the Student Body shall elect all members of the Executive Committee, and the Honor Committee Chair, except that the Vice President of the Day division and the Vice President of the Evening division shall be elected by students registered as Day students or Evening students respectively as of the date of the election. The Deputy Events Coordinator shall be elected by the incoming first year students. All Class Representatives shall be elected by the members of their respective classes.
Sec. 2 Results and Certification
After an election, those newly elected persons shall be responsible for learning the duties of their respective offices; however, those currently in office shall not relinquish their responsibilities until the day after the last day of the Spring semester. The outgoing officers retain the rights, powers and responsibilities of their respective offices through the last day of the spring semester.
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
Amendments may be proposed to this Constitution by a majority vote of the Board of Governors. A proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be ratified by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the student body voting. The President shall ensure that the student body receives proper notification of all proposed amendments 10 days prior to a ratification referendum.
ARTICLE X RATIFICATION
This Constitution and amendments thereto shall take effect immediately upon passage by the Student Body and certification by the Executive Committee.
PDF version of the Fall 2022 Constitution