Bylaws

Black Law Librarians – Special Interest Section Bylaws

Approved by the BLL-SIS Board January 12, 2021; Adopted by the BLL-SIS membership February 16, 2021

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) shall be the Black Law Librarians-Special Interest Section. It may also be known as the BLL-SIS and shall be referred to in these bylaws as the Section.

ARTICLE II: OBJECT

SECTION 1.

The object of this Section shall be as follows:

  1. To provide a forum for the professional development, exchange of ideas and information on recruitment and social interests of Black law librarians;
  2. To represent its members’ interests and concerns within the AALL, and
  3. To work in cooperation with similar special interest groups in the organization.

SECTION 2.

The Section shall conduct its affairs in conformity with the Bylaws of the American Association of Law Libraries.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to any AALL member requesting affiliation with the Section as provided in the AALL Bylaws. Membership shall be renewable each year.

ARTICLE IV: antidiscrimination

Membership in the Section or participation in any activity of the Section, shall not be denied or abridged to any individual on account of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING

There shall be an annual business meeting of the Section, preferably held in connection with, or during the annual meeting of AALL. The format of the meeting may be by electronic means or in-person. The scheduling of the section’s annual business meeting during the annual meeting of AALL shall be cleared with AALL’s annual meeting program chair, or as otherwise provided in the AALL Bylaws. Meetings shall be open to all members of AALL, but no person may vote in any meeting who is not a Section member in good standing.

SECTION 2. QUORUM

Attendance at meetings may be by physical presence or by virtual attendance through electronic communication, when the Executive Committee has authorized the latter mode. A quorum for the transaction of business shall be fifteen (15) members in good standing. If less than a quorum is present at a meeting, it is the duty of the presiding officer to adjourn the meeting without conducting any official business.

SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS

At the discretion of the Executive Committee, special meetings can be called should the need arise. Such meetings can be physical or virtual and must meet the same quorum requirements as the Annual Business Meeting to conduct official business.

SECTION 4. VOTING

The affairs of the Section shall be conducted by the majority vote of members voting unless otherwise provided in these bylaws.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS and Executive Committee

SECTION 1. OFFICERS

The officers shall consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair‑Elect, Immediate Past-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for any approved or budgeted expenditures in the discharge of their duties.

SECTION 2. Executive Committee

There shall be a duly elected Executive Committee consisting of seven (7) members including the officers named above and two Members-at-Large.

SECTION 3. TERMS OF OFFICE

A new Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall be elected each year and shall serve a three-year term, the first year as Vice-Chair, the second year as Chair and the third year as Immediate Past-Chair.

The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve a two-year term and shall be elected every other year.

The Members-at-Large shall serve a staggered two-year term with election taking place every other year. The first Member-at-Large shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve until the next regular election.

SECTION 4. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The officers shall perform the duties usually pertaining to their offices and such other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Committee or the membership or with duties as specified in the current Black Law Librarian – Special Interest Section Procedures Handbook.

ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1.

There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of:

  1. the Chair,
  2. the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect,
  3. the Immediate Past-Chair,
  4. the Secretary,
  5. the Treasurer, and
  6. two (2) Executive Committee Members-At-Large

SECTION 2.

All officers and members of the Section’s Executive Committee shall serve until the adjournment of the annual Section Business Meeting.

SECTION 3.

The Executive Committee shall meet during each AALL Annual meeting and may also hold additional meetings by electronic means or in-person.

ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES AND GROUPS

There shall be such standing or special committees as the Executive Committee, or the membership, shall create. Other groups such as task forces and working committees may be established by the Executive Committee as necessary. Unless otherwise provided, committee chairs shall be designated by the Chair of the Section.

ARTICLE IX. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

SECTION 1. ELECTION

  1. The nominating committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each office.
  2. All candidates must be members in good standing. Voting will be by secret ballot. The Secretary and Nominating Committee will prepare the official ballot. Ballots should include the candidates’ names, titles, institutions, and statements explaining their interest in running for the office.
  3. All of the above procedures must be scheduled and executed so that elections are completed at least two (2) months prior to the date of the AALL annual meeting.
  4. The Secretary is charged with counting and tabulation of all votes cast.
  5. The candidate receiving the majority of votes shall be declared elected to the office. In the case of a tie vote, the winner shall be decided by a majority vote of members in attendance at the business meeting, both physically and virtual, held during the AALL Annual meeting. The vote at the business meeting will be by secret paper/virtual ballot. The Secretary will count the paper/virtual ballots at the business meeting and declare the winner. In the case of a tie vote at the business meeting, the winner shall be determined by lot conducted by the tellers. The Chair shall appoint at least one teller who with the Secretary shall be charged with counting and tabulating all votes cast.
  6. The Secretary shall notify all candidates of the results of the election. The results of the election will be made known to the members after all candidates have been informed of the results.

SECTION 2. Terms of office

  1. Terms of office shall begin at the end of the annual SIS meeting.
  2. If a position becomes vacant, the Chair shall:
    1. Appoint a previous Past-Chair to the vacant Immediate Past-Chair position. If the previous Past-Chair is unwilling or unable to continue to serve, the Chair should ask a previous Black Caucus (BCAALL) or BLL-SIS Board member;
    2. Appoint a prior BLL-SIS Board member to serve in a vacant Secretary, Treasurer or Member-at-Large position, until the next annual BLL-SIS business meeting held during the AALL annual meeting.
  3. In the case of the death or resignation of the Chair of the Section, the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall become Chair and shall serve until the end of the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect’s elected term.

ARTICLE X: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The Section shall conduct its affairs in conformity with the AALL Bylaws. The rules of order mandated by AALL bylaws shall govern all deliberations of the Section.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1.

Members shall submit proposed Bylaws amendments to the Bylaws Committee before the annual business meeting. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted to the AALL Bylaws & Resolutions Committee by the Secretary for approval before the membership votes on them at the business meeting. After receiving approval of proposed Bylaws amendments from the AALL Bylaws & Resolutions Committee, if time permits, the Bylaws Committee shall notify the membership of proposed amendments prior to the business meeting. Amendments must be approved by a two-thirds vote of Section members attending the business meeting.

SECTION 2.

Notice of proposed amendments shall be provided to the Section’s members, by electronic means at least 30 days in advance of the business meeting.