Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the International Association of Law Libraries.
Article II. Duration
The period of duration of the Association is perpetual.
Article III. Incorporation
The Association shall be incorporated and its legal residence shall be in Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Article IV. Purpose
The purpose of the Association is to promote on a worldwide, cooperative and nonprofit basis the work of individuals, libraries, and other institutions and organizations concerned with all aspects of legal information and to facilitate the use of such information.
Article V. Members
Section 1. CLASSES OF MEMBERS. Membership shall be of the following classes: regular, associate, life and honorary.
Section 2. REGULAR MEMBERS. Any person or institution involved in the creation, distribution or use of legal information may become a personal or institutional member respectively upon the payment of membership dues. An institutional regular member will designate a person as its representative and notify the secretary of the Association of such person’s name.
Section 3. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. Any person or institution not directly involved in the creation, distribution or use of legal information may become an associate member subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and upon payment of membership dues.
Section 4. LIFE MEMBERS. Any person who has been a regular member of the Association for more than twelve years and who has retired may be elected life member of the Association by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. HONORARY MEMBERS. Any person may be elected honorary member of the Association by the Board of Directors for outstanding and distinguished service to the Association.
Section 6. MEMBERSHIP DUES. The Board of Directors shall determine membership dues to be paid by all categories of members, except life and honorary members who shall not be required to pay dues. The secretary shall send notice of any proposed change in the amount of dues to all members no later than 120 days before the start of the next fiscal year.
Article VI. Officers
The officers of the Association shall consist of the president, first vice-president, second vice-president, secretary and treasurer to be elected by the regular members of the Association. Each shall serve a term of three years or until his or her successor is elected. Terms are to commence at the conclusion of the annual course. In the event no such meeting is held, terms will commence on October 1. In the discretion of the Board of Directors, the offices of secretary and treasurer may be combined in the same person who thereafter shall be entitled to one vote in the Board of Directors. The officers shall perform the duties usually ascribed to their respective offices. In the event of the death or resignation of the president, the first vice-president shall assume the duties of the president for the remainder of his or her term or until his or her successor is elected. In the case of the death or resignation of the secretary or treasurer, the president may fill the office for the remainder of the term. Vacancies due to death or resignation among other officers or members of the Board of Directors shall be filled for the remainder of their respective terms by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Annual reports shall be prepared by the president, secretary, and treasurer and distributed to all classes of members of the Association. Reporting for the annual reports shall be based on the Association’s fiscal year.
Article VII. Board of Directors
Section 1. COMPOSITION. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers specified in Article VI, eight additional members, and the immediate past president. Five of the Board members shall be elected by the regular members of the Association, and three shall be appointed by the outgoing Board of Directors. There shall be two ex-officio members of the Board of Directors: the Editor of the Journal of Legal Information and the Director of Communications. Ex-officio members shall participate in all of the duties of the Board of Directors, but shall not be voting members. All members of the Board, regular and ex-officio, shall serve for terms of three years. Officers shall serve no more than two successive terms in the same office. Regular members of the Board of Directors, other than the ex-officio members, shall serve no more than two successive terms as regular members of the Board. The office of immediate past president shall be held for three years.
Section 2. POWERS. The Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Association between membership meetings, except those specifically reserved to the members in this constitution, but it shall keep members informed of the activities, and it may poll them on important questions if it so desires.
Section 3. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. By October 31 of the year preceding an election year, the president shall appoint a nominating committee which shall poll members for proposed candidates for the offices described in Articles VI and VII, with the exception of the ex officio members and the immediate past president. The nominating committee shall submit its slate of candidates to the secretary by February 1 of the year in which the election is to be held. The secretary shall provide notice of the proposed list of candidates to all members for at least 60 days. During this period names of regular members may also be submitted as candidates for any elected office by petition signed by ten or more regular members. Such nominations shall be submitted to the secretary by April 1. The secretary shall conduct the election by written ballot containing the names submitted as provided above. Such election shall be completed no later than July 1.
Article VIII. Committees
The President may appoint such additional committees as he or she believes appropriate, and designate the chair to serve during his or her presidency. Sub-committees may be established by a committee to assist it in its work. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
Article IX. Membership Meetings
Membership meetings shall be held annually in conjunction with the annual course, and may be called by the President from time to time as circumstances indicate. When a membership meeting is called, members should be given as much advance notice of the time, place, and agenda as is practicable. The Board of Directors shall provide for the preparation of a suitable program and those in attendance shall be given an opportunity to discuss questions of such interest or importance to the Association, and they may vote on such issues if they so desire.
Article X. Voting
The members of the Board of Directors, at meetings of the Directors, and the regular members at membership meetings, may vote on any issue. They may also vote by ballot by mail. Unless otherwise specifically provided by this constitution, any issue before regular members for mail ballot shall be determined by a simple majority of those voting on the issue involved. A quorum consisting of at least 20 percent of the regular members of the Association shall be required for any vote in a membership meeting. A simple majority of members of the Board of Directors shall be required for voting on any issue before the Board of Directors.
Article XI. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.
Article XII. Amendments
This constitution may be amended only by a vote of the regular members in which a majority of those voting are in favor of the proposed amendment. The Board of Directors or ten percent of the regular members in good standing may propose an amendment to the constitution. When an amendment is proposed by the regular members, a copy shall be submitted to the secretary in writing. The secretary shall, within 90 days, distribute the text of the proposed amendment to all of the regular members and provide them the opportunity to vote by written ballot for or against the proposed change.