Constitution

Article I - Name

Section 1
The name of this organization shall be Law Students for Choice at the University of Washington (LSFC).

Article II - Purpose

Section 1
It shall be the purpose of this organization to educate, organize and support pro-choice law students to ensure that a new generation of lawyers will be prepared to successfully defend and expand reproductive rights.

Article III -Membership

Section 1
The majority of the membership of this organization shall consist of regularly enrolled students at the University of Washington School of Law. Only those members who are currently registered University of Washington students have voting privileges.

Article IV - Board

Section 1
The Board is responsible for the overall policy and management of LSFC.

Section 2
The Board shall consist of seven (7) members, elected each April.

Section 3
Board members shall receive no compensation other than reasonable expenses incurred in conducting official business.

Article V - Elections

Section 1
All members shall be eligible to hold positions on the LSFC Board, and to vote in annual board elections.

Section 2
Each January, the Board shall designate a member to serve as election coordinator. This student must be a member who is not seeking election to the LFC Board, or supporting the candidacy of any other member of the Board.

Section 3
During the last first two weeks of March, declarations of candidacy will be accepted from any LSFC member to be included on the ballot. The LSFC website shall include space for statements from each declared candidate. The ballot shall also include space for write-in votes.

Section 4
LSFC Board elections shall occur at the annual membership meeting in April of each year. The President shall notify the members of the Annual meeting by e-mail no less than 14 days prior to the meeting.

Section 5
Officers shall be elected by a majority of 50% of those members voting plus at least one vote.

Section 6
Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by a majority vote of the current officers.

Article VI - Board Officers

Section 1
Voting members of the LSFC Board shall serve one-year terms, except as otherwise provide in this section. The annual term shall begin May 1 and end April 30 of the following year. The officers shall discharge the following duties:

The President shall convene regularly scheduled meetings, provide notification of the annual meetings as required under Article VI, § 4, and preside over the LSFC Board. In the absence of the President, the meeting shall be led by the next most senior officer, in the following order: Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Statewide Coalition Representative, Campus Coalition Coordinator and Membership Coordinator. The President shall be the liaison with the National Law Students for Choice.

The Vice-President will chair committees on special subjects as designated by the board, and assist the President as needed.

The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of all LSFC Board Actions, including meeting minutes and shall notify the membership of regular meetings as required under Article VII § 1.

The Treasurer shall oversee all financial matters, advising the Board in the preparation of the annual budget, and having ultimate responsibility for the board for any and all financial transactions. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for making financial information available to the board.

The Statewide Coalition Representative shall be responsible for pursuing and maintaining relations with Washington State pro-choice organizations.

The Campus Coalition Representative shall be responsible for pursuing and maintaining relations with other pro-choice student organizations at the University of Washington.

The Membership Coordinator shall maintain membership records and coordinate membership recruitment and education efforts.

Article VII - Meetings

Section 1
Meetings of this organization shall be held during the regular academic year as needed. The secretary shall be responsible for notifying members of the meetings via email and the LSFC website as provided in section 3 of this Article.

Section 2
A majority of the currently sitting LSFC Board members must be present in order to transact business.

Section 3
All LSFC meetings shall be announced at least 48 hours in advance, which shall include notification of all officers, LSFC members, and the law school student body. In the case of annual meetings and regular monthly meetings, the notice shall be provided at least fourteen days in advance of the meeting.

Article VIII - Committees

Section 1
The LSFC Board may create and delegate authority to committees as needed.

Article IX - Conflict Resolution

Section 1
In the event of a dispute concerning Board elections or any other LSFC business, the Board shall ask the director of the U.W. Law Mediation Clinic to appoint an impartial student mediator to rule on any complaints.

Article X - Amendments

Section 1
Section 1 This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds majority membership at any regular or special meeting.

Approved by the LSFC Board, May 20, 2004.
Amended September 27, 2004.
Amended April 10, 2006