The Constitution of Pre-Legal Honor Society

ARTICLE I: NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization shall be Pre-Legal Honor Society. The organization will utilize the acronym PLHS in publicity materials and correspondence.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE STATEMENT

Pre-Legal Honor Society’s purpose is to orient undergraduate students with the legal profession and law school. We hope to achieve this through meetings in which we will hear speakers from the legal community, engage in community service projects, disseminate internship information, learn about law schools and engage in other pre-law activities. This document will hereby be recognized as the official constitution of the Pre-Legal Honor Society at the University of Florida. This Constitution will serve as binding guidelines on all present and future members of the University of Florida Pre-Legal Honor Society. Guidelines set forth in this document can only be changed or altered by constitutional amendment.

ARTICLE III: COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

Upon approval by the Center for Student Activities and Involvement, Pre-Legal Honor Society shall be a registered student organization at the University of Florida. Pre-Legal Honor Society shall comply with all local, state and federal laws, as well as all University of Florida regulations, policies, and procedures. Such compliance includes but is not limited to the University’s regulations related to Non-Discrimination, Hazing, Commercial Activity, and Student Leader Eligibility.

ARTICLE IV: NON-DISCRIMINATION

In compliance with the University of Florida Non-Discrimination Policy (Regulation 6C1-1.006), Pre-Legal Honor Society will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization is open to enrolled students at the University of Florida. Non-students, spouses, faculty, and staff may be associate members; however, they may not vote or hold office. All members and associate members are free to leave and disassociate without fear of retribution, retaliation, or harassment.

Requirements for first semester membership:
1. Enrolled at the University of Florida.
2. $35 member fee.
3. Faculty, staff and student spouses may also be members; however such members cannot vote or hold office.
Requirements for subsequent semester membership:
1. At least one prior semester in the society.
2. Enrolled at the University of Florida.
3. Attain at least a 3.2 GPA
4. Attendance to at least 4 scheduled meetings per semester, unless excused by the elected executive board.
5. Attendance to at least 2 scheduled community service projects (or their equivalent), 2 socials, 2 fundraisers, and 2 Prelaw Opportunities per semester, unless excused by the elected executive board.
6. $20 member fee to be paid each semester
7. Failure to meet and maintain any of the above six requirements will result in the loss of voting privileges and/or removal from the society

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS

The elected officers of Pre-Legal Honor Society shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

The president shall:

Preside over all general and executive meetings.
Enforce this Constitution.
Decide on all questions of order.
Appoint Directors, with the approval of the Executive Board.
Distribute the organization's funds in the best interest of the organization and its members.
Delegate miscellaneous duties as she or he sees fit.
Arrange meeting and activity space for the society.

The vice-president shall:
1. Coordinate and oversee all appointed Directors.
2. Be primarily responsible for coordinating non-business related activities during general meetings (e.g. speakers).
3. Perform all duties of the president in the event of his/her absence.
The secretary shall:
1. Record and keep all minutes of General and Executive Board meetings. She or he will then publish these minutes on the website.
2. Be primarily responsible for the organization's correspondence.
3. Be primarily responsible for the organization's food and drink arrangements at meetings and events.
4. Record and update the member list and sign-up sheet.
The treasurer shall:
1. Maintain all financial records of the organization.
2. Have the authority to distribute funds in the best interest of the organization.
3. Be primarily responsible for collecting and recording dues.
4. Be primarily responsible for maintaining a receipt book and ledger specifying any activity (e.g. reimbursements, deposits, etc.) affecting the organization's financial accounts.
5. Present the organization's current financial status (e.g. checking and savings account balances) at the first general meeting every month. A summary of the club's finances should then be posted on the organization's website. The summary should specify the previous month's deposits, withdrawals, reimbursements, and payments and balances.

Directors and chairs of Pre-Legal Honor Society include:
1. At least two Community Service Chairs, one Social Chair, one Fundraising Chair, two Advertising Chairs, one Historian, two Banquet Chairs, one Law Related Chair, two Law in the Swamp Chairs and Directors and one Webmaster. The maintenance and creation of chairs shall be voted upon and approved by a majority of the elected officers at the start of their term.
2. The Community Service Chairs are responsible for organizing at least two volunteer projects/events benefiting the local community each month during the school year. One of which cannot be a food, toy, or clothing drives or card making events.
3. The Social Chair(s) are responsible for organizing at least two social events each month during the school year, unless stated otherwise by elected officers. The only social events that can involve alcoholic beverages are those held at restaurants or businesses not associated with the organization.
4. The Advertising Chair(s) are responsible for organizing the club's tabling activities for at least two weeks of each semester. Flyers can be handed out during tabling or non-tabling times; the advertising chairs must create the flyers.
5. The fundraising chair(s) must organize at least two fundraising events each month during the school year, unless otherwise stated by elected officers.
6. The historian is responsible for creating the organization's newsletters, to be presented at each general body meeting. The historian can create or disband a newsletter committee however he or she sees fit. The Historian shall be responsible for an end of the year scrapbook.
7. The banquet chair(s) are responsible for setting up the date, time, place, menu, dress code, invitations, and decorations to the organization's semi-annual banquets.
8. The Webmaster is responsible for updating the organization's website on a weekly basis. The minutes from every meeting should be posted on the website at least 24 hours after every meeting.
9. The Law in the Swamp Chairs are responsible for organizing an annual event that is held in Spring semester. The event must bring legal professionals and pre-law students together. It shall be open to everyone. The Chairs are responsible for setting the venue, ticket price, ordering t-shirts, setting the menu, arranging the speakers, and advertising for the event.
10. The Law Related Chair is responsible for two law-related events per month, including but not limited to: court room sit-ins, law classroom sit-ins, shadowing opportunities, tours, and workshops.
11. Those chair and directorship positions not specified in the above subparts 2-10 shall receive direct orders regarding their duties from the elected officers.
12. Directors can be appointed and/or dismissed by a majority of the Executive Board at any time.
Officers shall assume their official duties at the close of the last general meeting of the academic year and shall serve for a term of one academic year and/or until there successors are elected.
Any officer of Pre-Legal Honor Society may be removed through the following process:
1. An officer may be removed by the Executive Board if she or he is absent at two consecutive general meetings, or two out of the previous four general meetings.
2. An officer may also be removed for failure to adequately perform their duties if both of the following requirements are met:
  1. Unanimous consent of the remaining Executive Board.
  2. 2/3 consent (via secret ballot) of all voting members present at the following general meeting.
3. In the event of the removal of an officer, a special provision may be granted to the remaining officers to appoint an interim replacement until an election may be held.

ARTICLE VII: ELECTIONS

Elections shall be held for the offices of President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Treasurer at a general meeting with time, date, and location to be determined by the present elected executive board. Date, time, and place must be announced at two general meetings prior to the election date and must not inconvenience a majority of the paid members.
Term of office shall consist of one year, with elections held towards the end of the spring semester.
If an elected office becomes vacant in the midst of its term, the following procedure shall be implemented:
1. The highest-ranking officer shall temporarily appoint a member to the position.
2. Normal nomination and election procedure will rule, as delineated below in parts D through I.
Nominations for all open seats shall be taken one general meeting prior to the election, as well as the day of the election. All nominations must be seconded in order to be placed on the ballot.
Any paid member of this organization shall have the right to run for an elected office, except as noted in Article V, and part A, subpart 3.
A candidate must win a majority of the votes cast at the election to be considered the winner.
Run-offs for specific seats shall be conducted if no candidate receives a majority. In the event of a tie, the highest-ranking officer not involved in the election shall cast the deciding vote.
The election shall be conducted by secret ballot, except for those nominations, which are uncontested. In these cases, oral affirmation by the members present shall be considered valid. Secret ballots will contain a record of points for each candidate consisting of...
1. Name of candidate
2. Number of semesters in organization
3. Past positions held
4. Current Position
5. The recorded amount of points for the current semester
The current Executive Board shall determine all other rules concerning election procedure.
Each candidate is entitled to present an oral speech to the voting members of the club, which may not exceed two minutes. Candidates can present handouts to club members, but cannot engage in power point presentations. The topic of the candidate's speech should surround his or her own attributes, characteristics, and goals, not that of other candidates.
Following a candidate's entitled speech, members of the organization will have one minute to ask the candidate questions.
A voting eligible member for elections and as well as other PLHS voting procedures consists of a member that has paid dues for the current semester.

ARTICLE VII: FACULTY ADVISOR

There shall be at least one faculty advisor, selected by the Executive Board, who shall serve as a resource person and provide advisory support for the Officers and members of the organization however, he or she may not vote in any Pre-Legal Honor Society matters. The length of the faculty advisor’s term shall be at the discretion of the Executive Board. He or she shall be informed of and have the authority to attend all of the society's official functions. If the faculty advisor can no longer fulfill his or her duties, the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement. The length of the replacement advisor’s term will also be at the discretion of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IX: FINANCES

A member will pay a $35 fee for her or his first semester. Each semester after the first, each active member will pay a $20 fee. If a returning member is not active, they will pay $25. Therefore, the maximum cost of dues is $35 per member and the minimum is $20.
All checks written on behalf of the organization, including reimbursements must be co-signed by both the President and Treasurer. The organization's Faculty Advisor must approve any exceptions.
The Executive Board reserves the right to oversee any financial transactions.

ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION

In the event this organization dissolves, all monies left in the treasury, after outstanding debts and claims have been paid, shall be donated to the Guardian ad Litem program.

ARTICLE XI: MEETINGS

General Meetings shall be held at least six times per semester, excluding summer terms, on a day and time decided upon by the Executive Board.
Executive Board Meetings
1. Executive Board meetings shall be held at the discretion of the President.
2. An Executive Board meeting may be held with or without Directors.
3. A quorum of at least half of the officers invited must be present in order to conduct new business

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

This constitution may be amended at any meeting of Pre-Legal Honor Society chairs, and Executive Board members by a two thirds vote of the members present and voting; provided that notice of the proposed amendment was given to the chairs and Executive Board members, a majority of the Executive board approved the amendment, and the proposed amendment shall be subject to approval of the Center for Student Activities and Involvement.