ByLaws
The bylaws were most recently amended by the Alliance Council on March 8th, 2012 and approved by the SBA Board on March 19th, 2012.
BYLAWS for THE GONZAGA STUDENT ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
Table of Contents:
Article I: Name
Article II: Members
Article III: Mission and Purposes
Article IV: Appointment of Alliance Council Members
Article V: Alliance Council Duties
Article VI: Subcommittees
Article VII: Financial Matters
Article VIII: Bylaw Amendments
Article I: Name
This standing executive committee of the Gonzaga Student Bar Association (SBA) shall be called The GONZAGA STUDENT ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE (“ALLIANCE”).
Article II: Members
There shall be three classes of members for the ALLIANCE:
1) ALLIANCE COUNCILORS act as the voting members of the ALLIANCE, with all the rights and responsibilities outlined in the SBA bylaws and the bylaws of this committee.
2) ALLIANCE SUPPORTING MEMBERS are students who help organize ALLIANCE events, but are not COUNCIL MEMBERS. SUPPORTING MEMBERS do not vote on the ALLIANCE COUNCIL, but may otherwise participate fully in the ALLIANCE, including in COUNCIL MEETINGS and on SUBCOMMITTEES.
3) ALLIANCE STUDENT GROUPS AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: student organizations and academic programs that choose to identify as “ALLIANCE MEMBERS” and therefore commit to the overall purpose and mission of the ALLIANCE.
a. ALLIANCE STUDENT GROUPS AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS have no outlined duties. They promote the ALLIANCE mission on their own accord and at the pleasure of their governing bodies.
Article III: Mission and Purposes
Mission:
The Gonzaga Student Alliance for Social Justice works to ensure that every Gonzaga Law student is familiar with, appreciates, and has an opportunity to participate in the work that is being done on behalf of low-income and under-represented clients by students, faculty, and community legal providers. The Alliance strives to connect public interest oriented students with each other and with the legal aid and legal services community, encouraging innovative and sustainable relationships between them. The Alliance also works to ensure that all students understand the importance of public interest law, so that they might continue Gonzaga’s Jesuit mission for social justice throughout their legal careers.
Purposes:
I. To represent GU students to the public interest and public service legal community by serving on related committees, boards, and projects, and by serving as a permanent GU entity responsible for mainlining relations with the public interest legal community.
II. To maintain a current listing of public interest and public service efforts, events, and programs occurring at GU, by GU student clubs and organizations, by academic programs, and by GU faculty.
III. To promote communication and collaboration between the above persons and groups by encouraging co-hosted events and assisting in event scheduling to avoid overlapping efforts by persons and groups who have shared interests.
IV. To maintain a current listing of public interest and public service individuals and entities in the community.
V. To promote communication and collaboration between GU student clubs and organizations, academic programs, and GU faculty with the above public service entities.
a. GU Justice Workshop. To host an annual workshop and reception in cooperation with career services, inviting representatives from student organizations and programs and community legal providers to discuss new and innovative ways for law students and providers to work together, enhancing GU’s contribution to the legal aid and public service community while also encouraging learning opportunities for GU law students.
b. To reach out to organizations who are not represented at the above workshop by meeting with those organizations who are willing, and discussing new and innovative ways for law students and providers to work together, enhancing GU’s contribution to the legal aid and public service community while also encouraging learning opportunities for GU law students.
VI. To promote social justice as a viable and important component in legal education by:
a. providing new students (1Ls) with opportunities to learn from other student mentors (2Ls and 3Ls) about their experiences in public interest and public service law, and
b. presenting the ALLIANCE mission to new students during 1L orientation.
Article IV: Appointment of Alliance Council Members
1. CHAIR
a. In accordance with the SBA bylaws on executive committees, a CHAIR will be appointed by the SBA President. The SBA President will take into consideration recommendations made by the standing ALLIANCE COUNCIL, but may appoint any student as the ALLIANCE CHAIR.
b. The ALLIANCE COUNCIL will submit at least one agreed recommendation for CHAIR to the newly elected SBA President on or before April 15th. The SBA President will make the appointment of ALLIANCE CHAIR on or before April 30th of each calendar year.
2. ASSISTANT CHAIR
a. The ASSISTANT CHAIR is the individual who was the ALLIANCE CHAIR the previous year. If this individual is no longer a student at the law school, then the SBA President may appoint any student as ASSISTANT CHAIR or leave the position vacant. The SBA President should make this decision recognizing the purpose of the ASSISTANT CHAIR position is to provide continuity and institutional knowledge within the ALLIANCE.
3. SBA COUNCILOR(S)
a. In accordance with SBA bylaws on executive committees, the SBA President shall also appoint one or two of the SBA Board of Directors as members of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
4. ACCESS TO JUSTICE COUNCILOR
a. The ACCESS TO JUSTICE COUNCILOR shall be appointed by the Center for Law in Public Service (CLIPS), on or before April 30th.
5. THOMAS MORE COUNCILORS
a. Two THOMAS MORE COUNCILORS shall be elected by the Thomas More Program each spring, on or before April 30th.
6. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILOR
a. The PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILOR will be chosen through an election process approved by the ALLIANCE COUNCIL. The PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILOR shall be elected by the COUNCIL on or before April 30th.
7. CLINIC COUNCILORS
a. The CLINIC COUNCILORS shall be chosen under the direction of a clinic professor at the beginning of fall and spring semester. The CLINIC COUNCILORS will maintain this position for one year, and will continue to represent and report ALLIANCE business to the appropriate clinic professor regardless of their current enrollment in the clinic. The CLINIC COUNCILOR appointed in Fall Semester is the FALL-TO-SPRING CLINIC COUNCILOR, and the CLINIC COUNCILOR appointed in Spring Semester is the SPRING-TO-FALL CLINIC COUNCILOR.
8. 1L COUNCILOR
a. The 1L COUNCILOR will be chosen through an election process approved by the ALLIANCE COUNCIL. The 1L COUNCILOR shall be elected by the COUNCIL on or before October 15th.
9. 2L COUNCILOR
a. The 2L COUNCILOR will be chosen through an election process approved by the ALLIANCE COUNCIL. The 2L COUNCILOR shall be elected by the COUNCIL on or before April 30th.
10. 3L COUNCILOR
a. The 3L COUNCILOR will be chosen through an election process approved by the ALLIANCE COUNCIL. The 3L COUNCILOR shall be elected by the COUNCIL on or before April 30th.
11. Any delay or failure to appoint an ALLIANCE COUNCILOR shall not affect the overall purpose or powers of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL, and shall be remedied by the CHAIR at the earliest opportunity by reasonable means.
12. ALLIANCE COUNCILORS are encouraged to maintain involvement with the ALLIANCE, as COUNCILORS or SUPPORTING MEMBERS, from year to year. ALLIANCE COUNCILORS may choose to continue in their positions if they maintain the qualification for the position. For example, an SBA COUNCILOR could continue on the ALLIANCE in the following year if the SBA COUNCILOR continued to be on the SBA Board of Directors.
13. An ALLIANCE COUNCILOR, or SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER, may be removed from the COUNCIL or SUBCOMMITTEE by a 2/3 approval of the COUNCIL. Removal of a COUNCILOR or SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER must be for-cause, provide reasonable notice to all involved, an opportunity for the COUNCILOR or SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER to be heard, and otherwise comply with reasonable due process standards.
Article V: Alliance Council Duties
1. ALLIANCE CHAIR
a. The ALLIANCE CHAIR shall preside over meetings of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
b. The ALLIANCE CHAIR shall oversee and assist COUNCIL MEMBERS in their purposes and other actions performed in the interest of the ALLIANCE mission.
c. The ALLIANCE CHAIR shall create and maintain financial records and accountings as outlined in Article VII of this record.
d. The ALLIANCE CHAIR shall actively maintain and update a communication system for the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
2. ASSISTANT CHAIR
a. The ASSISTANT CHAIR shall assist the ALLIANCE COUNCIL in maintaining continuity and institutional knowledge from previous years.
3. SBA COUNCIL MEMBER(S)
a. The SBA COUNCILOR shall ensure the SBA’s purposes and intentions are considered within the actions of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
b. The SBA COUNCILOR shall also ensure that budget requests meet the requirements set out in Article VII of these ALLIANCE bylaws before they are presented to the SBA Board of Directors for approval under the governing guidelines and bylaws of the SBA.
c. The SBA COUNCILOR will assist generally in the purpose and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL and shall promote collaboration and communication between GU student organizations. The SBA COUNCILOR’S primary objective is to promote cooperation and solidarity between Gonzaga student groups and organizations. This requires knowledge of student organizations, their purposes, and their activities.
d. The SBA COUNCILOR shall work with the Center for Law in Public Service to maintain a current record of GU student organizations and academic programs that are public interest oriented or serve underprivileged or underrepresented persons in any capacity.
e. The SBA COUNCILOR is also responsible for keeping the Alliance Council informed and in compliance with the SBA’s bylaws and mission.
4. ACCESS TO JUSTICE (ATJ) COUNCILOR
a. The ATJ COUNCILOR will assist generally in the purposes and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL and will represent Gonzaga Law on the Law School Relations (LSR) Committee, hosted by the Access to Justice Council and the Washington Alliance for Equal Justice. The ATJ COUNCILOR will attend LSR Committee meetings, keep records, and communicate the intentions of the LSR Committee to the ALLIANCE COUNCIL. The ATJ COUNCILOR will appoint a law student delegate to the LSR Committee if the ATJ COUNCILOR is not able to represent.
b. The ATJ COUNCILOR will coordinate with the Center for Law in Public Service to assist in arrangements for GU students to attend the annual ATJ statewide conference (June).
c. The ATJ COUNCILOR will assist the TM COUNCILORS and the Center for Law in Public Service with maintaining a current record of public interest and public service legal providers.
5. THOMAS MORE (TM) COUNCILORS
a. Both TM COUNCILORS will assist generally in the purposes and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL and shall initiate and maintain communications with public interest and public service legal providers.
b. Both TM COUNCILORS will maintain a current record of legal providers. The TM COUNCILORS are responsible for reaching out to public interest providers on behalf of Gonzaga students, to cultivate public interest opportunities for students and alumni.
c. At least one TM COUNCILOR will sit on the Regional Planning Committee and will ensure that students are represented on other appropriate community councils and boards. If no TM COUNCILOR is available to attend a Regional Planning Committee meeting, a TM COUNCILOR will appoint a law student delegate to attend.
d. One or both TM COUNCILORS will lead in the planning and organizing of the Annual GU Justice Workshop with community legal providers and interested students.
6. CLINIC COUNCILORS
a. The CLINIC COUNCILORS will assist generally in the purpose and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
b. The SPRING-TO-FALL CLINIC COUNCILOR will organize Public Interest Week activities, through coordination with the Center for Professional Development, the Clinic, and other groups or departments.
c. The FALL-TO-SPRING CLINIC COUNCILOR will coordinate with the Center for Law in Public Service to assist with travel arrangements, including budget requests when necessary, for the GU Law School community to attend the Annual Goldmark Luncheon in Seattle (February).
7. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILOR
a. The PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILOR will assist generally in the purposes and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
b. The PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILOR will organize a Public Interest Legal Community Reception and Networking event (January or February).
8. 1L REPRESENTATIVE COUNCILOR
a. The IL COUNCILOR will assist generally in the purposes and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL. The 1L Councilor should, in particular, look for opportunities to inform 1L students about the Alliance as well as contributing ideas for the Alliance that may benefit 1Ls who are interested in public interest and public service.
b. The 1L COUNCILOR shall record and keep minutes of ALLIANCE meetings.
c. The 1L COUNCILOR shall be a member of the PBJ (Public Service Brown-Bag and Justice Forum) SUBCOMMITTEE. The 1L COUNCILOR shall recruit one additional 1L for the PBJ SUBCOMMITTEE.
9. 2L COUNCILOR
a. The 2L COUNCILOR will assist generally in the purpose and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
b. The 2L COUNCILOR will organize the ALLIANCE’S participation in the fall Club Fair.
10. 3L COUNCILOR
a. The 3L COUNCILOR will assist generally in the purpose and mission of the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
b. The 3L COUNCILOR will organize the All-School Community Service Day (April).
Article VI: Subcommittees
1. Any COUNCILOR, under the agreement of 2/3 or more of the ALLIANCE COUNCILORS, may create a SUBCOMMITTEE for any reason related to the purposes and mission of the ALLIANCE. SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS have no authority to vote for or against ALLIANCE COUNCIL decisions.
Article VII: Financial Matters
1. The ALLIANCE CHAIR is responsible for establishing and maintaining accounting records for the ALLIANCE.
2. All ALLIANCE COUNCILORS shall adhere to the mission and purposes outlined in the ALLIANCE bylaws, especially those promoting collaboration between student organizations, academic programs, and community legal providers; therefore funding for some events should occur collaboratively between participating entities, without financial support from the ALLIANCE COUNCIL.
3. All ALLIANCE COUNCILORS shall communicate and cooperate with the Center for Law in Public Service and with Center for Professional Development in order promote financial contributions to ALLIANCE events by those entities when appropriate.
4. Authority to submit budget requests to the SBA resides in the ALLIANCE CHAIR, the ASSISTANT CHAIR, the SBA COUNCILOR(S), the ATJ COUNCILOR, and the PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILOR. No budget request shall be submitted by any less than two of the authorized COUNCIL MEMBERS.
5. Budget requests may be submitted to the SBA only if the entire ALLIANCE COUNCIL has been provided with the details of the budget request at least 72 hours in advance of the SBA meeting at which the budget request will be presented and no ALLIANCE COUNCILOR objects to the budget request.
Objections to a budget request may be made if a COUNCILOR believes the request does not further the mission of the ALLIANCE.
6. Budget requests which meet the requirements set out in this section shall be submitted to the SBA according to the rules and regulations set out in the SBA Budget Request Guidelines and the SBA bylaws governing standing executive committees.
7. All ALLIANCE COUNCILORS are authorized to make funds requests to the SBA as if requesting funds for a student club. A Councilor submitting a funds request must
(a) receive approval from the ALLIANCE CHAIR for the request prior to submitting the request to the SBA, and
(b) notify the entire ALLIANCE COUNCIL, and not receive an objection, through the process described in section 5 above.
Article VIII: Bylaw Amendments
1. These Bylaws may be amended with 2/3 approval of the ALLIANCE COUNCILORS and, if amending any part other than Section V: Council Duties, a majority approval by the SBA.
2. If organizations or events referenced in the Bylaws change their names or meeting times, the Bylaws may be modified to reflect that change without requiring approval of the COUNCIL or SBA.