THE BYLAWS OF THE
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION

D. Law Student Members.

1.                  Any law student in good standing in any law school in New York State or, if a resident of this State, in any law school outside of the State, and if not otherwise eligible for membership in this Association, may become a Law Student member by written application to the Executive Director, endorsed as to the applicant’s good standing as above prescribed on behalf of the applicant’s law school, and by payment of the annual dues of the current year, provided that the law school is an approved law school under the Rules of the Court of Appeals. A Law Student member shall cease to be such at the end of any calendar year in which, for any reason other than graduation or service in the Armed Forces of the United States or in any statutory substitute for such service, the law student ceases to be enrolled in good standing in an approved law school, provided that continuance of such membership because of service in the Armed Forces of the United States or in any statutory substitute for such service shall cease one year after the termination of such service if the Law Student member has not by that time again become a law student and met all qualifications for becoming a Law Student member. A Law Student member shall be exempt from dues while in service of the Armed Forces of the United States or in any statutory substitute for such service.

2.        A Law Student member shall have all the powers and privileges of an Active member of the Association, except those of voting and holding office.

3.        A Law Student member may become an Active or Associate member of the Association, as the case may be, without further application upon notice to the Association of admission to the bar of any state within nine months after graduation from law school (exclusive of time spent in the Armed Forces of the United States or in any statutory substitute for such service) accompanied by payment of the annual dues for the current year.

E. Sustaining Membership. The House of Delegates shall have the power to establish Sustaining memberships in the Association and to fix from time to time the amount of dues therefor. Sustaining membership shall be available to such members of any class as are willing, for the support of the general work of the Association, to pay such amount as annual dues in any year, in lieu of the dues prescribed pursuant to Section 2 of this Article. A member who elects to be a Sustaining member in any year shall not be obligated thereby to continue as such in any subsequent year. Sustaining members shall have the same rights and privileges as pertain to the class of which they are a member. Subject to the provisions of this Article, the House of Delegates shall have power to make appropriate regulations as to such Sustaining membership and the collection of sustaining dues therefrom

Section 2. Dues. The annual dues of all members shall be in such amounts as may be fixed and determined from time to time by the House of Delegates. All such dues shall be payable at the beginning of the fiscal year of the Association. The House of Delegates upon recommendation of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee shall have the power to prorate the annual dues for the current year of those who become members during the year; to suspend the accrual and payment of the dues of any member during the term of such member’s service with the Armed Forces of the United States; and to waive, in whole or in part, the dues of any member or former member of the Association that may be in arrears or may thereafter become payable, or both.

Section 3. Assessments. The House of Delegates shall have the power to levy assessments in such annual amount and for such number of years as it shall determine on all classes of members alike, or in different amounts or proportions for different classes of members. All such assessments shall become payable at such time during the year as the House of Delegates may determine upon at least thirty days notice to the members. The House of Delegates upon recommendation of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee shall have the power to prorate the assessment for the current year of those who become members during the year; to suspend the accrual and payment of the assessment of any member during the term of such member’s service with the Armed Forces of the United States; and to waive, in whole or in part, the assessment of any member or former member of the Association that may be in arrears or may thereafter become payable, or both.

Section 4. Restriction of Membership. No person who advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States, or of any state, territory or possession thereof, or of any political subdivision therein, by force or other illegal means, shall be a member of the Association.

Section 5. Termination of Membership.

A. If any member fails to pay yearly dues within one month after receipt of the second dues notice, it shall be the duty of the Treasurer to send a letter and notice that unless said dues are paid within one month thereafter the member shall cease to be a member of the Association and forfeit all rights in respect thereof.

B. If any member fails to pay any assessment within one month after receipt of the second notice of such assessment, it shall be the duty of the Treasurer to send a letter and notice that unless said assessment is paid within one month thereafter, the member shall cease to be a member of the Association and shall forfeit all rights in respect thereof.

C. The House of Delegates may suspend or expel any member for misconduct in the member’s relations to the Association, or to the profession, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Professional Discipline after a hearing held by that committee upon reasonable notice to such member to appear and present a defense. Any member shall automatically be removed from membership in the event of a final court order of disbarment or suspension of the member from the practice of law in New York State. Any member suspended or expelled from membership under terms of this paragraph may be reinstated as a member by vote of the House of Delegates, without any adjustment of dues.

D. Any member may resign from membership in the Association by submitting a resignation in writing to the Executive Director or Secretary of the Association, without any adjustment of dues.

E. All interest in the property of the Association of persons ceasing to be members by expulsion, resignation or otherwise shall thereupon vest absolutely in the Association.

Section 1. President.

A. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association.

B. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Association and, in the absence of the President-Elect, shall preside at meetings of the House of Delegates.

C. The President is authorized to represent this Association in any effort not inconsistent with these Bylaws to bring about closer cooperation between this Association and the American Bar Association and other bar associations, and for that purpose to appoint any committees that may be deemed desirable for such general purpose.

D. The President shall be an ex officio member of all standing committees and special committees without the power to vote unless already a member of such committee.

Section 2. President-Elect.

A. The President-Elect shall chair the House of Delegates.

B. The President-Elect shall assist the President in meeting with representatives of local bar associations and in overseeing the effective functioning of sections and committees. The President-Elect shall also perform such other duties as shall be assigned by the President or by the House of Delegates.

C. The President-Elect shall be an ex officio member of all standing committees and special committees without the power to vote unless already a member of such committee.

Section 3. Vice-Presidents.

A. There shall be one Vice-President from each judicial district with the exception of the First Judicial District which shall have two Vice-Presidents.

B. It shall be the duty of the Vice-Presidents to promote cooperation between this Association and the local associations in their respective judicial districts and with any federation embracing all or part of their districts; and by visitation or otherwise to stimulate activities therein in harmony with the current work of this Association. The elected members of the House of Delegates for each judicial district shall collaborate with the Vice-Presidents under their direction in promoting cooperation with such local associations or federations.

C. The Vice-Presidents of the Association shall be responsible for the maintenance of good relationships between the Association and the members of the bar residing or practicing in their respective judicial districts and shall represent the President within their respective districts during the President’s absence therefrom. Each such Vice-President shall visit the various local bar associations within the judicial district and federations of such bar associations on frequent appropriate occasions, shall arrange meetings for the President with representatives of such local bar associations within the Vice-President’s judicial district, and shall perform such other acts within the judicial district on behalf of the President as the President shall specifically require.

D. In the absence of the President and the President-Elect from a meeting of the Association, House of Delegates or Executive Committee, the Vice-President with seniority of membership shall preside at such meeting during such absence. In the absence of the President and the President-Elect and all Vice-Presidents, the senior member of the House of Delegates shall preside over meetings of the House; the senior member of the Executive Committee shall preside over meetings of the Committee and the senior member of the Association shall preside over meetings of the Association. For the purposes of this paragraph “senior member’’ shall mean the member with the greatest number of years of membership in the Association.

Section 4. Secretary. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:

A. Keep a record of the proceedings of the Association, and of such other matters as may be directed by the Association to be placed on its files or record;

B. Keep an accurate roll of officers and members;

C. Notify officers and members of committees of their election or appointment;

D. Issue notices of all meetings, with a brief note in case of special meetings of the object for which they are called;

E. Furnish the Treasurer with the names of persons who have become members;

F. Keep the seal of the Association;

G. Maintain a list of the Association’s standing committees, special committees and sections together with the statement of their powers and duties as such powers and duties may, from time to time, be amended by resolution of the House of Delegates or in such other manner as may be permitted herein;

H. Maintain such membership records and information as may be directed by the House of Delegates or the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to:

A. Collect, and under direction of the House of Delegates, disburse the funds of the Association;

B. Keep regular accounts in books of the Association, which accounts shall be open to inspection by any member of the Executive Committee;

C. Report, in writing, at each stated meeting of the Association, and to the House of Delegates as and when required by them, the financial condition of the Association. The Treasurer’s annual report for the fiscal year shall be presented at a stated meeting of the House of Delegates occurring within six months of the close of that fiscal year, and shall exhibit an audited statement of receipts and expenditures, of outstanding obligations and appropriations, and also an estimate of resources and expenditures for the ensuing year. The Treasurer’s accounts shall at all times be subject to examination and audit by the House of Delegates and by the Association, or by a special committee appointed for that purpose;

D. Make available, upon the written request of any member of the Association, a copy of the Treasurer’s annual report.

Section 6. Additional Officers. The House of Delegates may establish such offices as it shall from time to time determine, and may appoint the initial occupant of each such office. Successors shall be elected annually by the House of Delegates as set forth in Article XI. The terms of office of such officers and their powers and duties, which shall be consistent with the powers and duties of any elected officers they are to assist, shall be set forth in the appointing resolution.

Section 7. Death, Disability or Resignation. In the event of the death, resignation or total disability of the President, the President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of President for the unexpired term and the term next following. In the event of the death, resignation or total disability of the President-Elect, or in the event the President-Elect succeeds to the presidency as provided in this section, the President shall serve as Acting Chair of the House of Delegates until the vacancy in the office of President-Elect shall be filled by election of the House of Delegates following nomination of a candidate by the Nominating Committee. In advance of making such nomination, the Nominating Committee shall give appropriate notice of the vacancy and of the House of Delegates meeting at which the election is to be held. The Nominating Committee shall file its report of a nominee with the Secretary at least 30 days in advance of the House of Delegates meeting at which the election is to be held, and the report shall be open to inspection by any member of the Association. Any 50 members of the Association may also nominate candidates for President-Elect by filing a petition signed by such members with the Secretary not later than ten days before the meeting at which the election is to take place. Nominations not made by the Nominating Committee or the membership in the manner prescribed shall not be considered or voted upon. The determination of total disability of the President or President-Elect shall be made by the House of Delegates and its decision thereon shall be final. Except as provided in Article V, Section 3(I), a vacancy in any other office shall be filled by appointment of the House of Delegates.

J. Vacancies.

1.                  Any vacancy among the elected delegates shall be filled by majority vote of the elected delegates upon nomination by the Vice-Presidents and remaining elected delegates from the district in which the vacancy exists. Any vacancy among the section delegates or the bar association delegates shall be filled by the section or bar association or group of bar associations whose representative has created the vacancy.

2.                  In case of the death, resignation or total disability of the President-Elect of the Association, the House shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term by a vote of a majority of the members of the House present at a meeting. Notice that such an election will be held shall be mailed by the Secretary of the Association to each delegate not less than 14 days before the date fixed for the meeting.

3.                  A vacancy in the office of Vice-President shall be filled on an interim basis by the members of the Nominating Committee from that judicial district. In selecting an interim designee, the district members on the Nominating Committee shall actively solicit and consult with the delegates to the House of Delegates from that district. Such consultation shall be accomplished by a meeting of the delegates from the district, in person to the extent practicable, or by telephonic equipment if necessary. The interim designee so selected shall be subject to confirmation by majority vote of the House of Delegates at the next meeting to fill the remainder of the term.

4.                  Vacancies among the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, or member-at-large of the Executive Committee shall be filled on an interim basis by majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee at a meeting, subject to confirmation by majority vote of the House of Delegates at the next meeting to fill the remainder of the term.

K. Alternate Delegates.

1.                  Each section or bar association represented in the House of Delegates may designate an alternate to serve during the absence of any of its delegates at a meeting of the House, except that those bar associations entitled to six or more delegates may designate a total of two alternates. Such alternates shall be selected at the same time as the regularly designated delegates.

2.                  When substituting for a regularly designated delegate, an alternate shall assume all obligations and privileges of a regularly designated delegate. Notice of this substitution shall be given to the Secretary by the regular delegate who is unable to attend or by the Vice-President or any other House of Delegates member from the absentee’s district or any officer of a section. In the absence or unavailability of the Secretary, such notice shall be given to the President or the President-Elect. Notice shall be given at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting which the alternate will be attending, although this requirement may be waived by the President or President-Elect for good cause.

3.                  The alternate delegate’s service is limited to that meeting of the House for which notice of substitution has been given and is not considered a lapse in service for the regularly designated delegate.

4.                  A section or bar association may designate an individual as an alternate without limit as to the number of consecutive terms that may be served in that capacity, except that an individual completing four consecutive years as a regularly designated delegate shall not be eligible for designation as an alternate in the ensuing year. The alternate must be eligible to serve as a member of the House.

Section 4. Terms.

A. Past presidents shall serve as delegates for life. The President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer shall serve as delegates during their terms of office.

B. The term of office of all other delegates shall be one year unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

C. Except for past presidents, members of the Executive Committee, the delegates representing the New York State Bar Association in the American Bar Association House of Delegates, the American Bar Association State Delegate from New York and the New York State representative on the American Bar Association Board of Governors, delegates may serve no more than four consecutive terms in any combination of delegate capacities. Membership on the Executive Committee or service as an alternate delegate will not be included in the computation of this four year limitation. Service on the Executive Committee occurring without break between terms as a regularly designated delegate will be treated as a non-interruption of service as a delegate. In the instance of an alternate delegate, attendance during any term at two or more House of Delegates meetings for which notice of substitution has been given in accordance with Section 3(J) of this article shall constitute a year of service as a delegate.

D. The term of each member of the House of Delegates shall commence on June 1st unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

Section 5. Meetings.

A. Upon not less than 15 days’ written notice, the House of Delegates shall meet at such times and places as it shall fix, but not less than four times each year including one meeting to be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Association.

B. Forty members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

C. The President-Elect shall preside and serve as Chair of the House of Delegates.

D. Each member of the House of Delegates shall have one vote to be cast in person. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the House of Delegates may be taken without a meeting if all delegates consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action.

E. The House of Delegates, through its chair, shall at each stated annual meeting report a summary of its proceedings since its last annual report (except such matters as are required to be kept confidential by statute or by these Bylaws of the Association), together with any suggestions deemed suitable and appertaining to its powers, duties or business.

F. The Secretary shall promptly transmit to every member of the House of Delegates the minutes of every meeting of the House of Delegates.

Section 1. Standing Committees.

A. The standing committees of the Association shall be the Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Finance Committee and such other standing committees as may be created, from time to time, either by resolution of the Association or the House of Delegates. Such resolutions shall define the respective powers and duties of such committees.

B. Except as otherwise provided herein, the President annually shall appoint the members, designate the chair and fill vacancies.

C. Any standing committee, except the Executive Committee, Nominating Committee and the Finance Committee, may be abolished by resolution of the Association or the House of Delegates.

D. Each standing committee shall have the specific powers and duties set forth in these Bylaws or by resolution of the House of Delegates; and such general powers and duties as may be prescribed for committees generally.

E. When a standing committee is organized, it shall be the chair’s duty to submit to its members such matters for the consideration of the committee as any member may desire, or that the chair may deem germane to the objects for which the committee was appointed.

F. Each standing committee may report to the House of Delegates at any time and shall so report whenever requested to do so by the President or by the Chair of the House of Delegates or by vote of the House of Delegates. The Standing Committees of the Association are set forth in Appendix A.

Section 2. Special Committees.

A. Either the Association, at any meeting, or the House of Delegates, or the Executive Committee, or the President, from time to time, may create special committees and define their respective powers and duties. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution creating a special committee, the President annually shall fix the number of members of each special committee, appoint the members, designate the chair, and fill vacancies. Special committees shall be established for fixed periods of time, not to exceed three years, but may thereafter be specifically extended by the House of Delegates for a further period not exceeding three years for each such committee. The resolution by the House of Delegates or the Executive Committee, or announcement by the President creating any special committee may provide that the appointments thereto shall continue for the duration of the life of the committee or for any lesser period. Unless otherwise provided, however, special committees shall be deemed to have been established for a three-year term and appointments thereto to be for the duration of the term of the President in office when the committee was created.

B. Special committees may be abolished at any time by the Association or by the House of Delegates, if created by that body, or by the Executive Committee, if created by that body, or, if created by the President, by the person who holds that office.

C. Each special committee shall have the powers and duties set forth in the resolution or statement of the President creating it, and such other powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed by the Bylaws upon committees generally.

D. Each special committee may report at any time to the President, if created by the President, or to the House of Delegates, if created by that body, or to the Executive Committee, if created by that body, and shall do so at or before the expiration of the term for which it was created. It shall report whenever and to whomever requested to do so by the President or by the Executive Committee or by the Chair of the House of Delegates or by vote of the House of Delegates.

Section 3. General Provisions.

A. The resolution or announcement creating any committee shall not be entered upon the permanent records of the Association until approved as to form by the Executive Committee.

B. Except where otherwise specifically provided herein, the President may fill vacancies from time to time occurring in committee memberships and chairs.

C. Anything hereinbefore to the contrary notwithstanding, members of each committee shall continue to serve until the appointment or election of successor members of the committee.

D. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or by the resolution establishing it, five members will constitute a quorum of each committee.

E. Each committee will have power to adopt rules and regulations for its own governance and procedure; to declare a vacancy after three successive absences of a member; and to order and arrange for the convenient transaction of business and discharge of its duties by correspondence or through subcommittees, or otherwise. Rules and regulations adopted by a committee will be enforceable only by members of that committee and by no other person.

F. The chair of each committee will have power to call a meeting thereof on due notice (which may be by mail, telegraph or telephone); and the Secretary of the Association shall, by like notice, call a meeting on the request in writing of at least five members of the committee, or of the President of the Association.

G. Under direction of each committee, the secretary thereof will keep its records and minutes, and prepare and transmit the required reports.

H. Every committee shall meet and organize promptly after appointment and shall also meet at such times and places as may be designated by the chair, by the President of the Association or by the House of Delegates.

I. No committee or officer or member thereof shall have the power to make the Association liable for any debt except upon the express authorization of the House of Delegates.

J. Any committee, with the approval of the House of Delegates, may report to the Association at any time. On instructions of the House of Delegates, a report which has been made to that body or to the President shall be made to the Association at a regular or special meeting. The reports of all committees to the Association shall be in writing and, unless recommitted by a vote of the Association, shall be received of course without a motion for acceptance. All committee reports recommending or requiring any action or expression of opinion by the Association must be accompanied by an appropriate form of resolution.

K. Each committee is encouraged to establish and maintain liaison with committees of other bar associations or bar federations charged with observance and supervision of the same general topic and field of activity, for the exchange of information and opinions and, with the approval of the House of Delegates or the Executive Committee, to take action in collaboration with one or more such associations or federations.

L. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Bylaws, all committees are subject to the rules herein set forth with regard to supervision by the House of Delegates or the Executive Committee.

M. The President may appoint committee members who are not members of the Association to any committee, the membership of which is appointed by the President, with the exception of the Finance Committee.

Section 5. Issuance of Reports and Legislative Action.

A. Pending Proposals. Each standing committee, special committee, or section shall have power and authority, in its own name, publicly or otherwise, to support or oppose pending legislative action at the local, state or federal level. Any statement of support or in opposition to such legislation pending shall conspicuously disclose the fact that the position of the committee, special committee, or section, as the case may be, is not the position of the Association until approved and adopted by the House of Delegates.

B. Initiation of Legislative Action. Standing committees, special committees, and sections may publish reports and recommendations on matters within their jurisdiction. They may promote or initiate local, state or federal legislative action with the specific approval of the House of Delegates or the Executive Committee. Such action, however, is prohibited unless so approved and no action whatsoever shall be taken by any committee or section in the name of the Association without the express authority of the House of Delegates or the Executive Committee.

C. Issuance of reports regarding legislative action.

1.                  In commenting on pending legislation or seeking to initiate legislative action, as described hereinabove in subdivisions A and B, or in publishing reports on subjects within their jurisdiction on such legislation or legislative action, standing committees, special committees, or sections may not publicly espouse positions, issue statements or release reports which are inconsistent with policy adopted by the House of Delegates or the Executive Committee. With respect to positions adopted by the Executive Committee, however, same shall be binding for six months from the date of adoption unless acted upon sooner by the House of Delegates.

2.                  At least five business days in advance of the intended release date, which shall be stated in the transmittal document, any prospective position, statement or report by a standing committee, special committee, or section regarding pending or proposed legislation shall be submitted to the President solely for a determination as to whether the prospective position, statement or report is inconsistent with policy previously adopted by the House of Delegates or Executive Committee. The President may waive this notice requirement at the request of the standing committee, special committee, or section. Authorization to release the report shall be deemed to have been given unless the President notifies the standing committee, special committee, or section to the contrary prior to the intended release date. Any adverse determination by the President may be appealed to the Executive Committee.

Section 6. Meetings.

A. The Executive Committee shall meet on the call of the President at times and places to be fixed by the President, including a meeting immediately prior to or in conjunction with any meeting of the House of Delegates.

B. At each meeting of the Executive Committee, a majority of the total membership of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.

C. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Executive Committee may be taken without a meeting if all of the members of the Committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action.

Section 1. Nominating Committee.

A. 1. The Nominating Committee shall submit nominations of candidates for all offices required by Article XI to be filled by election at each Annual Meeting or at the meeting of the House of Delegates immediately following each Annual Meeting. Its report of such nominations shall be filed with the Secretary not later than 40 days before such meetings and shall be open to inspection by any member of the Association.

2.  Declaration of Candidacy. Individuals seeking the office of President-Elect shall file with the Secretary a declaration of candidacy for such office no later than September 1 of the year in which the Nominating Committee is to consider such candidacy. Any declaration not filed in accordance with this procedure shall not be considered by the Nominating Committee, except that by majority vote at any meeting at which nominations are to be considered, the Nominating Committee may waive this requirement.

3. In selecting nominees for Vice-President and elected delegate, the district members on the Nominating Committee shall actively solicit and consult with the delegates to the House of Delegates from their respective districts. Such consultation shall be accomplished by a meeting of the delegates from each respective district, in person to the extent practicable or  by telephonic equipment if necessary, to be held no later than 90 days before the Annual Meeting or the meeting of the House of Delegates immediately thereafter at which the offices of Vice-President and elected delegate are to be filled by election. The district members of the Nominating Committee from each district shall file a written report with the chair of the Nominating Committee at least ten days in advance of the meeting of the Nominating Committee at which the nominations are to be made summarizing the manner in which the solicitation and consultation were conducted.

4. In making the nominations for Vice-President and elected delegates, the Nominating Committee shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the district representatives from each respective district.

B. While serving on the Nominating Committee, a member shall not be eligible for nomination as President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President, or member-at-large of the Executive Committee. A member may remove such ineligibility by resigning from the Nominating Committee in advance of the first meeting in the Association year of the Nominating Committee on which such person is serving, except that by majority vote at any meeting at which nominations are to be considered, the Nominating Committee may waive this deadline and accept the resignation.

C. The House of Delegates at its second regular meeting after the Annual Meeting of the Association shall name a Nominating Committee consisting of:

1.                  Members from each judicial district designated on the following basis: Two members from each judicial district for up to the first 3,000 members of the New York State Bar Association in that district with the exception of the First Judicial District, which shall have three; and a further member for each additional 3,000 members, or major fraction thereof. One of the members so selected shall be a member of the House of Delegates at the time of selection and the others of whom must have been members of the House of Delegates within two years of the time of selection or who currently are, or within two years of the time of selection were, section officers or the chairs of an Association committee, to be selected by the Vice-Presidents and elected delegates from such judicial district. The Vice-Presidents and elected delegates from each district shall also select alternate members from that district who must have been members of the House of Delegates within two years of the time of selection or who currently are, or within two years of the time of selection were, a section officer or the chair of an Association committee, with the number of alternates to be determined as follows: each district shall be entitled to one alternate for its initial two members and a further alternate for each additional three members, or major fraction thereof. Service as an alternate delegate shall not constitute membership in the House of Delegates for purposes of this section. In selecting the district members and alternates, the Vice-Presidents and elected delegates shall actively solicit and consult with the delegates to the House of Delegates from their respective districts. Such consultation shall be accomplished by a meeting of the delegates from each respective district, in person to the extent practicable or by telephonic equipment if necessary, to be held no later than 30 days before the meeting of the House of Delegates at which the Nominating Committee is to be named. The Vice-Presidents from each district shall file a written report with the President of the Association at least 10 days in advance of the meeting of the House of Delegates at which the Nominating Committee is to be named summarizing the manner in which the solicitation and consultation process was conducted. The foregoing formula for the designation of district representatives shall take effect for the Nominating Committee to be selected in 1999. The number of representatives selected in that   year shall remain fixed for the ensuing four years, at which time the representative entitlements shall be recalculated pursuant to the foregoing formula, with this recalculation to be repeated thereafter at five-year intervals. For purposes of determining the number of representatives to which districts are entitled in those years when a calculation is to be made, December 31 of the year preceding the year of selection shall be the date as of which the number of members in districts shall be fixed.

2.                  Three members-at-large who shall be past Presidents at the time of their selection and will have completed their post presidency year on the Executive Committee by the time the next Nominating Committee convenes, and they shall serve in accordance with the following rotations:

1.                  The immediate past President once removed shall be a member-at-large of the Nominating Committee.

2.                  That same past President shall serve as chair of the Nominating Committee the following year.

3.                  That same past President shall then again serve as a member-at-large of the Nominating Committee the year following service as chair.

4.                  Following the three specified years, such past President may serve on the Nominating Committee only if otherwise elected or designated pursuant to these Bylaws, and subject to Bylaws limitations on consecutive terms of service.

3. The position of any member-at-large who is unable or unavailable to serve on the Nominating Committee for any meeting shall be filled by a past President, other than the immediate past President, designated in reverse order of past service. The foregoing provision notwithstanding, a vacancy in the position of chair shall be filled by an available past President who served most recently as chair.

D. A member of the Nominating Committee may not serve more than six consecutive terms either as a regularly designated member or alternate or in any combination of such two capacities.

E. Alternate members may attend all meetings of the Nominating Committee in a non-voting capacity. In the event a vacancy should arise in the position of a district member for any reason or should a district member be absent from a meeting of the Nominating Committee, an alternate member from that district shall be designated to assume the responsibilities of that position by the chair of the Nominating Committee. Alternates for districts entitled to more than one alternate shall be prioritized at the time of selection, and shall be designated to serve in that order by the chair. The district alternate so designated shall then fill the unexpired balance of the one-year term of the member being replaced.

F. The model rules of the Nominating Committee shall remain in effect until subsequently amended. Each successive Nominating Committee shall be authorized to modify or add rules as it deems appropriate to govern its operations for that year only, with the rules to revert to the model rules format at the conclusion of that year. Any proposed permanent change to the model rules shall be authorized by vote of the House of Delegates.

G. Not later than 20 days before the first scheduled meeting of the House of Delegates after the Annual Meeting of the Association, the Nominating Committee shall file with the Secretary a written report of its nominations of three members of the House of Delegates to serve as members-at-large of the Nominating Committee as well as the one member of the House to serve as an at-large alternate member of the Nominating Committee during the following year. Notice of such nominations shall be given by the Secretary to all members of the House of Delegates before the meeting.

Section 2. Nominations by Membership. Any 50 members of the Association with respect to any of the offices to be filled, or any 25 members residing in a judicial district with respect to the offices of Vice-President and elected delegate from that district, may also nominate candidates by filing a separate nomination for each candidate and office, signed by such members, with the Secretary not later than 25 days before the meeting at which the election is to take place.

Section 3. Reporting by Secretary. The Secretary shall report all nominations made by the Nominating Committee or by members to the members of the Association by means of any publication of the Association sent to all members. Nominations not made by the Nominating Committee or the membership in the manner prescribed shall not be considered or voted upon.

Section 4. Order of Business.

A. At annual and adjourned meetings of the Association, after the appropriate opening thereof, the order of business will be:

(1) Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting.

(2) Report of Nominating Committee. 

(3) Election of elected delegates to the House of Delegates.

(4) Report of Chair of House of Delegates.

(5) Report of Treasurer.

(6) Report of Secretary. 

(7) Report of President.

(8) Reports of Committees.

(9) Special orders.

(10) Miscellaneous business.

B. The President, or presiding officer, as a matter of discretion, is authorized: (1) to change the order of business at any meeting; (2) to limit the time of debate or discussion on any matter or business; and (3) to call for a vote on any matter by ballot. Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Association, its House of Delegates and its Executive Committee, except as otherwise provided herein.

Section 5. Rules of Order as to Resolutions. At meetings of the Association, precedence shall be given to resolutions proposed by any member, 20 days’ notice of which, in writing, shall previously have been filed with the Secretary, and resolutions reported by any committee. All other resolutions, except parliamentary motions, shall be referred, without debate, to the Committee on Resolutions.