WSBA Constitution

The Constitution

of the

Washburn Student Bar Association

Preamble.

Empowered by the students at Washburn University School of Law, the Washburn Student Bar Association shall create opportunities for academic excellence, civic duty, and cultural exchange. Understanding the special position it holds among the university community, the Washburn Student Bar Association shall serve as the liaison between the students and faculty concerning policies that affect the academic, cultural, and social welfare of Washburn University School of Law.

Article I. Name.

Section 1. The name of the organization shall be the Washburn Student Bar Association.

Section 2. The Washburn Student Bar Association adopts and utilizes the acronym “WSBA,” written in any manner, as an official moniker.

Article II. Membership.

Membership in the Washburn Student Bar Association shall be conferred upon any person matriculating as a student at Washburn University School of Law, including part-time students, visiting students, L.L.M. students, and M.S.L. students. Membership in the organization is automatic, and all members shall equally enjoy the privileges of membership.

Article III. Governing Body.

Section 1. The Washburn Student Bar Association shall be governed by the Governing Body comprised of student members elected or appointed, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and this organization’s Bylaws.

Section 2. Minimum Elective Positions. The Governing Body shall at all times consist of a minimum of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, American Bar Association (ABA) Representative, Events Director, Communications Director, two representatives from each class year, and three at-large representatives, cumulatively a minimum of sixteen (16) positions. Additional representatives may be added to the Governing Body for good cause, in accordance with this organization’s Bylaws.

Section 3. Terms of Office. The terms of office for each elected member of the Governing Body shall reasonably consist of one academic year, which shall commence no later than thirty (30) days after the member was elected by the student body and shall cease no later than thirty (30) days after a member has been elected to replace the preceding member, except as provided in the subsections below.

• a. The terms of office for members who are elected to Treasurer, Secretary, American Bar Association (ABA) Representative, and Communications Director shall commence no later than thirty (30) days after the general election of the subsequent semester, providing the incoming Treasurer, Secretary, ABA Representative, and Communications Director a semester to train and shadow their predecessor and assume at least one-fourth of the duties of the position.

• b. The terms of office for members who are elected to Events Director shall commence no later than thirty (30) days after the final event of the subsequent semester, providing the incoming Events Director a semester to train and shadow their predecessor and assume at least one-fourth of the duties of the position.

Section 4. Minimum Duties of the Governing Body. Members of the Governing Body shall act responsibly and in good faith when managing and expending the funds of the organization. Members of the Governing Body shall comply with Washburn University School of Law policies, rules, and regulations and maintain a status of good standing with the School of Law. Members of the Governing Body shall uphold the Pillars of Professionalism. The duties specific to elective positions, as set forth in Section 2 of this Article, shall be provided in this organization’s Bylaws.

Section 5. Enduring Financial Responsibilities. The Washburn Student Bar Association shall be financially responsible for:

• a. The development, publication, and distribution of the Washburn School of Law Student Directory, provided freely to the student body and administrators on an annual basis;

• b. The per diem, travel, and lodging expenses to send the American Bar Association (ABA) Representative and President to the annual ABA Student Conference as representatives of the organization, school, and student body;

• c. The properties owned, possessed, and managed by the organization, including digital properties;

• d. The WSBA Public Interest Summer Living Stipend, a grant given to qualified students to pursue summer unpaid internships, externships, or employment in qualified public interest legal fields.

Article IV. Elections.

Section 1. Any qualified member is eligible to be a candidate for any Governing Body position.

Section 2. All elective positions, as described in Article III, Section 2, shall be elected by a vote before the whole student body, except for elective positions that are class specific. Class specific representatives shall be elected by a vote before their respective class year.

Section 3. General Elections shall be held twice a year with one (1) General Election taking place during the fall semester and one (1) General Election taking place during the spring semester, subject to this organization’s Bylaws.

Section 4. Special Elections shall be held in accordance with all this organization’s Bylaws.

Article V. Vacancies and Appointments.

Section 1. Vacancies shall be filled by a qualified member, subject to this organization’s Bylaws.

Section 2. Appointments to and within the Governing Body shall be made by the President with the advice and consent of the Governing Body, subject to this organization’s Bylaws.

Article VI. Impeachment and Recall.

Section 1. Impeachment. Any member of the Governing Body may be subjected to Impeachment Proceedings and impeached from their position by a showing of misconduct, malfeasance, or dereliction of duties, subject to this organization’s Bylaws.

Section 2. Recall. Any member of the Governing Body may be recalled from their elective position by the student body. A recall election of a Governing Body member may be initiated by a written and signed request of at least one-fourth, or twenty-five percent, of the student body.

Article VII. Committees.

The Washburn Student Bar Association may, in its absolute discretion, form or dissolve committees and subcommittees by a simple majority vote of the Governing Body, subject to this organization’s Bylaws.

Article VIII. Meetings.

Section 1. Regularly Scheduled Meetings. The Governing Body shall hold regularly scheduled meetings at a time and place chosen by the President, with the advice and consent of the Governing Body.

Section 2. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the Governing Body may be called:

• a. By the President at a time and place chosen by the President, or

• b. By the Governing Body at a time and place chosen by the Governing Body, subject to an affirmative majority vote of the Governing Body, or

• c. By the student body at a time and place chosen by the Governing Body, subject to a written and signed request of at least ten percent of the student body.

Section 3. Notice of Meetings. Notice of meetings, regularly scheduled and special, shall be advertised by official Washburn Student Bar Association communication and by conspicuous posting in the student body common space, subject to the Kansas Open Meetings Act, as amended, and this organization’s Bylaws. Notice of meetings shall be provided to the student body no later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting time, except for special meetings which shall be no later than twelve (12) hours prior to the meeting time.

Section 4. Meeting Procedures. The Washburn Student Bar Association shall operate and facilitate meetings using the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, notwithstanding additional procedures adopted by the Governing Body. The President, or their designee, shall chair all meetings of the Governing Body.

Section 5. Meeting Minutes. The Washburn Student Bar Association shall maintain, keep, and secure meeting minutes of the organization. All meeting minutes shall be made available to the student body through all reasonable avenues, including but not limited to electronic mail, electronic posting, and physical retention.

Section 6. Quorum. A quorum is necessary for the Governing Body to conduct business. A quorum shall be established at a majority of the Governing Body.

Article IX. Legislative Devices

Section 1. These legislative devices, pursuant to this Article, are subject to this Constitution. The devices described in the following Sections of this Article are in order of descending authority and supremacy. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Constitution, the Governing Body may act through any legislative device set forth in this Article to accomplish its goals in the interest of the student body.

Section 2. Bylaws. The Washburn Student Bar Association may, in its absolute discretion, adopt Bylaws from time to time to accomplish the objectives and purpose of the organization. Bylaws may be adopted by the Governing Body by an affirmative two-thirds majority vote.

Section 3. Legislation and Acts. The Washburn Student Bar Association may, in its absolute discretion, adopt legislation, acts, and resolutions from time to time to accomplish the objectives and purposes of the organization. Legislation, acts, and resolutions may be adopted by the Governing Body by an affirmative majority vote.

Section 4. Rules and Regulations. The Washburn Student Bar Association may, in its absolute discretion, adopt rules and regulations from time to time to accomplish the objectives and purposes of the organization. Rules and regulations may be adopted by the Governing Body by an affirmative majority vote.

Section 5. Policies and Procedures. The Washburn Student Bar Association may, in its absolute discretion, adopt policies and procedures from time to time to accomplish the objectives and purposes of the organization. Policies and procedures may be adopted by the Governing Body by an affirmative majority vote.

Article X. Student Organizations.

Student organizations that receive funding from the Washburn Student Bar Association shall be subject to the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures adopted by the Governing Body.

Article XI. Open Student Government.

As an elected, political, and representative body, a student government that is open, accessible, transparent, and accountable to the student body, administrators, and the public is imperative. The Washburn Student Bar Association, as a recipient of publicly funded support, subjects itself to the Kansas Open Records Act and Kansas Open Meetings Act, as amended. At all meetings of this organization, the student body may provide public comment, subject to this organization’s Bylaws, Rules, Regulations, Policies, and Procedures.

Article XII. Adoption, Supremacy, and Amendment Provisions.

Section 1. Adoption. This document shall constitute and represent the Constitution of the Washburn Student Bar Association. This Constitution shall take effect immediately upon the approval and consent of the student body by an affirmative vote of a three-fourths majority.

Section 2. Where this Constitution is silent, ambiguous, or in direct and obvious conflict, the Governing Body may interpret and act, but not supersede, the provision that is silent, ambiguous, or in direct and obvious conflict, in accordance with procedures set forth in this organization’s Bylaws.

Section 3. Supremacy Clause. This Constitution shall be supreme to this organization’s Bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. This Constitution shall be supreme to all student organizations subject thereto. This Constitution shall be supreme to any preceding Constitution adopted by the student body.

Section 4. Amendments. This Constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the Governing Body and student body. The procedures by which to amend this constitution shall be provided in this organization’s Bylaws, if necessary.

Click here for a PDF copy of the WSBA Constitution.

Adopted October 1, 2022