Culture of Life Legal Society
The George Washington University Law School
ARTICLE I
Official Name
A. The name of this organization shall be the Culture of Life Legal Society of The George Washington University Law School. The organization may be officially referred to as The George Washington University Culture of Life Legal Society or C.L.L.S.
ARTICLE II
Objectives
A. To educate and inform the student body, faculty, and administration of The George Washington University Law School about the importance of maintaining/reconstructing a legal system that does not undermine the inviolability of life in all of its stages of development, from the fetus to the dying and the elderly. This objective shall be achieved by sponsoring activities in which the concerns of the C.L.L.S. may be represented.
B. To provide support and encouragement to those students who believe that one human being should never have the power of life and death over another innocent human being.
C. To provide a forum where like-minded students can develop pro-life ideas and arguments which have been, for all intents and purposes, excluded from Universities� marketplaces of ideas. In order to better implement this objective, a website shall be created. The website will focus on increasing the visibility of the C.L.L.S., and improving the accessibility to C.L.L.S. information and activities.
D. To further the educational experience of members by contacting similar student groups within and outside of our university system. The officers of the C.L.L.S. shall attempt to organize a yearly symposium bringing together medical school and law school pro-life groups in order to educate each other as to the status of the law and of medicine in pertinent areas.
E. To encourage the re-examination of legislative acts and judicial decisions prior to, and subsequent to Roe v. Wade, in order to understand the nature of the abortion movement, its architects, and the phenomenon of judicial abrogation of the legislative power of the Congress and the States. To this purpose, the president of the C.L.L.S. shall give an annual state of the union speech, detailing the year�s most influential events in the pro-life movement.
F. To encourage and promote open debate regarding abortion, euthanasia, embryonic research, eugenics, and all other medical interventions upon the human organism.
G. To provide much needed counter-points to the abortion and euthanasia philosophies prevalent amongst the faculty at The George Washington University Law School.
H. To abide by all legally established university and SBA policies.
ARTICLE III
Membership
A. Any currently enrolled student, faculty, or staff member at the George Washington University Law School is eligible for membership in the C.L.L.S. Furthermore, if three fourths of the officers and one half of the members agree, honorary memberships shall be awarded to alumni and prominent members of society whom are deemed meritorious of membership in the C.L.L.S.
B. A member shall not lose their good standing in the C.L.L.S. due to lack of participation, however, members are strongly encouraged to participate to the fullest extent.
ARTICLE IV
Elections of Officers
and Procedure for Amending the Constitution
A. The elected positions of the C.L.L.S. will be the offices of President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
B. Voting for the above offices will take place annually, during the spring semester, and will be conducted by secret ballot. Once the website is operational, the vote shall be conducted online. Security provisions will be accepted as long as they are reasonably secure, easy to implement, and cost effective.
i. All C.L.L.S. members are eligible to vote.
ii. Election to office shall be by a simple majority.
1. In case of a tie:
a. A majority of the regular members� votes shall decide the winner. In case of another tie:
i. A majority of the elected officials� votes shall decide the winner
iii. Elected officials will assume their responsibilities upon the start of the following semester.
iv. This Constitution shall be implemented upon the positive votes of three fourths of the C.L.L.S. members.
C. Amendments to the Constitution shall be made using the same voting procedure used above, with one exception:
i. Amendments must have the support of two thirds of the C.L.L.S. voting members.
a. Voting members refers to all C.L.L.S. members still enrolled or working at the George Washington University law school.
ii. A member who does not vote shall count as a vote against the amendment.
ARTICLE V
Finances
A. The C.L.L.S. will be financed by university funds and grants; SBA funds and grants; and individual and collective fundraising efforts by C.L.L.S. members. The C.L.L.S. will also be financed by any financial assistance offered by any supporters of the organization (i.e. donations from alumni, honorary members, and the public at large). Our financial records shall be open for review by the University or the Student Bar.
B. All funds shall be used towards achieving the goals listed in Article II.
a. Absolutely no funds shall be used for the procurement of refreshments or food for the meetings of the C.L.L.S.
b. Students shall pay for their own transportation to activities where the cost is reasonable to the student.
C. Every year, the treasurer shall present an accounting of expenditures and funding.