Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law 
National Security and Law Society   

 
CONSTITUTION  
 

ARTICLE I.  Name and Purpose   

Section 1. The name of the organization shall be the National Security and Law Society, Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law Chapter (referred to herein as "NSLS").  

Section 2.   The purpose of NSLS shall be:   

(a) To foster interest in, and understanding of, the legal aspects and ramifications of national security by sponsoring speakers and programs concerning the many issues covered by this umbrella.  

      (b) To aid members in their pursuits of careers in these fields.    

(c) To contribute to the development of the law as it relates to national and international security. 
 

ARTICLE II.  Relationship with the International Office 

Section 1.   NSLS will be the representative of the NSLS International Office (referred to herein as "the International Office") to the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, and as such will be subject to the Constitution and By-Laws of the International Office in addition to this document. 

Section 2.   NSLS shall have one vote during the selection process for the International Executive Committee. The process for determining this vote will be determined by the Executive Committee and added to the By-Laws once decided. 

ARTICLE III.  Membership  

Section 1. Membership in NSLS shall be open to all Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law students and faculty.    

Section 2. Law School Members are considered in good standing, if they attend at least half of the general meetings in a given semester.    

Section 3. Limited absences from meetings shall not jeopardize a member's status as a member in good standing.    

Section 4. No qualified member shall be refused membership on the basis of race; ancestry; color; cultural or ethnic background; national or regional origin; gender; age; sexual orientation; physical disability; marital or parental status; socioeconomic class; economic status; religion or religious or denominational affiliation; or ideological, philosophical, or political beliefs or affiliations. 

ARTICLE IV.  Voting   

Section 1. Only members in good standing shall have the right to vote in NSLS.  

Section 2. Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution or relevant By-Laws:   

(a) Any member of NSLS may move for a vote in order to decide any matter at a general meeting, except as specified otherwise in this Constitution or relevant By-Laws.  If the motion is carried by one quarter of the members present at the meeting, the matter shall be determined by majority vote, except as specified otherwise in this Constitution or relevant By-Laws.    

(b) No vote may occur unless a quorum is present for the meeting at which the vote is taken.    

Section 3. Proxy ballots shall be recognized at either General or Executive Committee Meetings.  A proxy ballot is valid only if it is in writing and includes the name, phone number and signature of the voting member.   

ARTICLE V.  Meetings   

Section 1. The first meeting of the academic year shall be held within one month of the commencement of Fall classes.    

Section 2. The general membership of NSLS shall meet at least twice every semester. Meetings shall be called by the Executive Committee and members shall be given due notice of the time and place of such meetings.  Whenever possible due notice shall include publication of a public notice.    

Section 3. Meetings and functions of NSLS shall be open to the public except as the Executive Committee shall otherwise provide.    

Section 4. A quorum at general meetings of NSLS shall be one quarter of the membership qualified to vote.   
 
 
 
 

ARTICLE VI.  The Executive Committee and Sub-Committees  

Section 1. The Executive Committee ("ExComm") of NSLS shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, four Executive Representatives, and a Faculty Advisor.    

(a) The President shall preside over General Meetings and shall call and preside over Executive Committee Meetings.  He or she shall be responsible to NSLS for the faithful execution of the purposes and policies of NSLS. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer charged with appointment of officers to sub-committees, receiving reports from sub-committees, and delegating duties to other officers as necessary.       

(b) The Vice-President shall coordinate with the Chairperson of any sub-committees and report the activities to the President. If, for any reason, the President is unable to attend either a General Meeting or a meeting of the Executive Committee, the Vice-President shall preside over the meeting.    

(c) The Secretary shall prepare meeting agendas, take minutes, and coordinate the minutes of the committees. The Secretary shall be responsible for providing the Executive Committee with the minutes in a timely manner for publication on the NSLS school website.  

(d) The Treasurer shall have primary responsibility for collection, allocation, and disbursement of NSLS funds, including drawing up and submitting the NSLS budget to the Student Bar Association and filing accounting records with the International Office.    

(e) The four Executive Representatives shall be the primary liaisons between the Executive Committee and the general membership. They will be charged with working within the sub-committees to achieve NSLS objectives. They shall also share miscellaneous responsibilities and privileges not expressly reserved for the other officers by this Constitution or relevant By-Laws. 

(f) The Faculty Advisor shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee and shall not have a vote.  

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall function as the governing body of NSLS and shall be primarily responsible for the transaction of the business and functions of NSLS.    

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet as needed. The Executive Committee shall coordinate meeting agendas prior to each meeting.  Members of the Executive Committee shall be given due notice of the time, place and agenda of meetings, at least one week prior to such meetings.  The meetings shall be open unless the Executive Committee shall decide otherwise.    

Section 4. The general membership of NSLS shall have the right to take issue with any substantive decisions of the Executive Committee.  The general membership may overturn any decision of the Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote of those students present at a general meeting provided a quorum exists.    

Section 5. The Executive Committee may not take action on any issue before it unless a quorum is present.  A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of three-fifths of the members of the Committee.  All decisions shall be made by a majority vote of those members of the Executive Committee present, unless otherwise specified in this Constitution or in any relevant By-Laws.  

(a) A unanimous agreement between the two Members-at-Large shall serve to prevent any action being taken on an issue by the Executive Committee until it can be decided by a vote of the general membership as outlined in Section 4 above. 

Section 6. The Executive Committee shall form sub-committees as necessary. The President will be charged with appointing Chairpersons and other members for any sub-committee. The following sub-committees shall be considered permanent: 

1. Technology Sub-committee
   1. Shall be charged with updating and maintaining the chapter’s website on the school’s Student Organization page.
   2. Shall coordinate with Secretary to post minutes from meetings on webpage
   3. Shall coordinate with Secretary to maintain current email register of members
2. Public Relations and Guest Speaker Sub-committee
   1. Shall be responsible for posting signage and flyers advertising events as approved around school
   2. Shall be responsible for compiling a list of potential speakers
3. Event Management Sub-committee
   1. Shall be headed by two co-chairs
   2. Shall be responsible for scheduling room and dates on the school calendar
   3. Shall be responsible for supplying food and drink (as determined at Executive Committee meetings) for regular meetings and obtaining necessary supplies.
   4. Shall coordinate with the Treasurer to establish a yearly catering budget
4. Student Organization Liaison Sub-committee
   1. Shall be responsible for coordinating with other student organizations for cross-organizational activities such as meetings, fund raisers, and charity events

 

ARTICLE VII.  Selection of the Executive Committee   

Section 1. Any student member in good standing shall be eligible for election as an officer of NSLS.    

1. The Faculty Advisor shall not be elected by the general membership, but instead selected by the Executive Committee.  The nominee receiving a majority of available votes wins.  In the event that no nominee receives a majority of votes, a run-off ballot shall he held between the two nominees receiving the most votes. 

 

Section 2. New Executive Committee members shall assume their duties immediately upon their election.    

Section 3. Procedure for Election of Executive Committee Members:   

(a) A general membership meeting shall be held within two weeks of the election of the International Executive Committee of each year for the purpose of electing officers of NSLS.    

(b) All members interested in running for election must notify the Executive Committee prior to the Election Meeting.  Each Candidate for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall make a presentation at the beginning of the Election Meeting.

1. If a Candidate cannot attend the Election Meeting, he/she may request that a sitting officer of the Executive Committee read a presentation for him/her.  

(c) After all of the above Candidate presentations are complete, the voting shall commence.

      1. Non-contested seats may be elected by voice vote.

      2. Contested seats will be chosen by secret ballot.

  

(d) The Candidate for each office receiving a majority of available votes wins.  In the event that no Candidate receives a majority of votes, a run-off ballot shall he held between the two Candidates receiving the most votes.   

(e) After the election of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer is complete, each Member-at-Large Candidate shall make a presentation. 

1. Any Non-elected Candidates for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall have the opportunity to be a Candidate for Member-at-Large, but shall not make a second presentation.  

(c) After all of the Member-at-Large Candidate presentations are complete, the voting shall commence.  

ARTICLE VIII.  Removal of Executive Committee Members   

Section 1. Any member of the Executive Committee may voluntarily resign from the Committee by submitting a notice of resignation to the Committee.   

Section 2. Any member of the Executive Committee may be removed for cause.  Cause is limited to continued failure to perform duties as specified in this Constitution, misappropriation of funds, failure to maintain their status as a member in good standing, or failure to attend more than half of the Committee meetings for which they have received due notice.   

Section 3.  Removal 

(a) If a member in good standing feels that an Executive Committee member should be removed from office for cause, the member may initiate removal proceedings by filing a petition for removal signed by at least half of the members in good standing.    

(b) The original petition should be submitted to the Executive Committee and one copy to the Committee member to whom it pertains.    

(c) The Executive Committee shall then call a special meeting of the general membership within two weeks in order to address the issue.  In the event that a General Meeting has been scheduled, the removal proceedings may be included on the General Meeting agenda but the general membership must be given at least one week's notice that the petition for removal shall be discussed at the meeting.    

(d) The Committee member in question shall be allowed the opportunity to respond to the allegations of the petition in the presence of the general membership.    

5. After the Committee member has responded to the petition, a secret ballot shall be held.  If the motion is approved by a three fourths majority of those members in good standing, present, the Executive Committee member shall be immediately removed from office. 

  

Section 4. When a vacancy occurs on the Executive Committee, a special meeting of the general membership shall be called within two weeks in order to hold elections to fill the vacancy.  Members shall be given notice of the time and place of the meeting as well as the agenda at least one week in advance.  If a General Meeting is already scheduled within two weeks, elections may be held at that meeting provided that members are given notice of at least one week that such elections will occur.   

ARTICLE IX.  Amendments   

Section 1. Any NSLS member may propose amendments to this Constitution by submitting them to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee shall then submit such amendments to the members at a general or special meeting.  Notice shall be given to members at least one week in advance of any such meeting.    

Section 2.  Amendments to this Constitution must be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the membership present at a valid general meeting.   

ARTICLE X.  By-Laws   

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall establish and amend existing By-Laws to govern and coordinate all standing long-term projects of NSLS.  Projects for which By-Laws shall be adopted include any project which, when adopted as a project of NSLS, can reasonably be expected to continue beyond the present year.   

Section 2. Any NSLS member may propose the adoption of By-Laws for any proposed NSLS project, or may propose amendments to the By-Laws or any existing project.   

Section 3. By-Laws for any proposed NSLS project or amendments to the By-Laws of existing projects may be adopted by a majority of the Executive Committee at an Executive Committee meeting provided notice of the proposed By-Laws is given to the Executive Committee at least one week in advance of that meeting.   

ARTICLE XI.  Ratification   

This Constitution shall take effect after it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the persons present at its meeting of ratification.