By-Laws

Article I – Membership

Section 1. Membership in the Central States Law Schools Association (CSLSA) is open to any law school located in the central portion of the United States that is fully or provisionally approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association or successor accrediting body.

Section 2. Annual dues shall be $200 per year per member school and shall be due and payable by November 1 of each year.

Law schools seeking to apply for admission shall submit a request to the Treasurer for membership.

Law schools meeting the requirements of Article I, Section 1 shall be presumed eligible to become a member. Schools outside of the regional area designated as “central portion” shall be admitted upon a three-quarters vote of the officers.

A proposal to change the amount of the annual dues may be approved by vote of a majority of the officers and shall then be placed on the agenda for action at the annual business meeting. Approval by a simple majority of the in-person participants at the annual business meeting is required to establish the new dues amount, which will then go into effect for the next fiscal year.

Section 3. Full-time faculty members from Member schools shall have the right to run for office and to participate in meetings and other business of the CSLSA.

Section 4. The fiscal year of the organization shall be the calendar year.

Article II – Meetings

An annual meeting shall be held at such time and place as determined by the officers. A business meeting shall be held at the annual meeting. Other meetings may be held at the discretion of the officers.

Article III – Quorum

Those individuals present at any business meeting shall constitute quorum for purposes of that meeting.

Article IV – Voting Procedures

Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters requiring a vote shall become effective when approved by a simply majority of those voting, whether in a ballot conducted by U.S. mail, in electronic form, or at a meeting.

Article V – Elections

Nominations for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer may be made by any faculty member from any member school in writing in advance of the annual meeting or orally during the business meeting at the annual meeting. Self-nominations are permissible. Elections shall occur during the annual business meeting. No two persons from the same member school shall serve as Vice President in consecutive terms.

Article VI – Special Elections

In the event that any of the offices becomes vacant, a special election shall be held to fill the term of that office pursuant to any reasonable procedures to be agreed upon by the remaining officers.

Article VII – Officers

Section 1. Duties of the President. The President shall:

(a) Perform the functions and exercise the powers customarily performed and exercised by a chief executive officer of an association;

(b) Conduct routine business of the CSLSA between annual meetings and refer major business decisions to the officers as a whole;

(c) Appoint committees as needed to carry out the business of the association;

(d) Call special meetings or elections whenever necessary;

(e) Decide all questions of order at meetings;

(f) Organize and host the annual meeting; and

(g) Perform such other duties as the office demands.

Section 2. Duties of the Vice-President. The Vice-President shall:

(a) Assume the duties of the President whenever the President is not present;

(b) Assist the President in the President’s duties;

(c) Perform such other duties as the office demands.

Section 3. Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall:

(a) Ensure compliance of CSLSA with these by-laws;

(b) Make all necessary filings with any governmental entities;

(c) Record and issue minutes of the meetings of the CSLSA;

(d) Serve as custodian of all non-financial records of CSLSA;

(e) Receive nominations for elections; notify members of the list of candidates and assist in the conduct of such elections;

(f) Update the CSLSA website on at least a yearly basis;

(g) At the expiration of the term, deliver to a successor all relevant books, papers or electronic documents of the CSLSA that are in his or her possession;

(h) In the absence of the President and Vice-President, assume the duties of the President;

(i) Perform such other duties as the office demands.

Section 4. Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:

(a) Receive all money belonging to the CSLSA and give receipt thereof when necessary; deposit all money so received in the name of the CSLSA in such bank or banks as the officers so direct;

(b) Prepare and mail all bills for dues and other charges and supervise the collection thereof;

(c) Be authorized to disburse funds of the CSLSA approved by the officers;

(d) Be responsible for membership records;

(e) Present a statement of CSLSA’s financial condition at the annual meeting;

(f) At the expiration of the term, deliver to a successor all money and property , including all relevant books, papers or electronic documents of the CSLSA, that are in his or her possession;

(g) In the absence of the President, Vice-President and Secretary, assume the duties of the President;

(h) Perform such other duties as the office demands.

Article VIII – Amendments

Any proposed amendments to these by-laws shall be sent in writing to the Secretary at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting. Voting on proposed amendments shall take place during the business meeting at the annual meeting.

Adopted by participants at the Annual Meeting, October 27, 2007; amended by participants at the Annual Meeting, October 11, 2014.

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