Article I: NAME
The name of this Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) shall be the Social Responsibilities SIS Special Interest Section (SR-SIS).
Article II: OBJECT
The object of the SR-SIS shall be to act as a stimulus to AALL and its members by focusing attention on, providing a forum for discussion of, exchanging information about, and proposing resolutions on critical social issues that affect library workers as members of the profession and as members of the human family. It shall conduct its affairs in conformity with the AALL Bylaws.
Article III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to any AALL member requesting affiliation with the SR-SIS, as provided in the AALL Bylaws. The SR-SIS welcomes and encourages diversity among its members.
Article IV: ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
Participation in any activity of the SR-SIS 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
There shall be an annual business meeting of the SR-SIS held (1) during the annual meeting of AALL or (2) virtually on a date determined and announced at least thirty (30) days in advance by the Executive Committee. Other meetings may be held at such times and places as the Executive Committee elects, or the SR-SIS membership directs.
The SR-SIS shall conduct its affairs in conformity with the Bylaws of the American Association of Law Libraries. The rules of order mandated by the AALL Bylaws shall govern all deliberations of the SR-SIS. A quorum shall consist of ten (10) SR-SIS members.
Article: VI: OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers.
The officers shall consist of a Chair, a Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, a Secretary/Treasurer, and a Member-at-Large. The Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall be elected annually by the SR-SIS. The Vice-Chair/Chair- Elect shall automatically become Chair after one year, and shall so serve during the second year following his or her election. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected in even-numbered years by the SR-SIS to serve a two-year term. The Member-at-Large shall be elected in odd-numbered years to serve a two-year term. The first Member-at-Large shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve until the next regular election during an odd-numbered year, at which time the position shall be filled by election.
Section 2. Duties of Officers.
The Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, and Secretary/Treasurer shall perform the duties usually pertaining to their respective offices, and such other duties as may be assigned by the SR-SIS Executive Committee, the membership, or provided for by SR-SIS procedures.
Section 3. Executive Committee.
There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers named above and the Immediate Past Chair.
Article VII: NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1. Nominating Committee.
The Immediate Past Chair of the SR-SIS shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee and shall appoint two others, none of whom shall be a candidate for office at the succeeding election, to serve until the next annual meeting.
Section 2. Election Procedures.
(a) The nominating committee shall nominate at least one (1) candidate for each office.
(b) All candidates must be members in good standing of the SR-SIS.
(c) Names of candidates, together with their written acceptances, shall be presented by the nominating committee to the Chair in sufficient time to enable the Chair to inform the members of the nominations. This may be done by announcement in a newsletter or distributed electronically to all members of the SR-SIS.
(d) Further nominations may be made upon written petition of five (5) members. Such petitions, with the written consent of the nominees, should be filed with the Secretary/Treasurer not less than three (3) weeks prior to the election.
(e) The Secretary/Treasurer shall prepare the official ballot comprised of the slate of nominees presented by the nominating committee and those nominated by petition. The ballot shall be distributed to each member of the SR-SIS. The candidate who receives the largest number of votes for an office shall be elected. The results of the election shall be reported electronically by the Chair to the membership as soon as possible.
(f) In case of a tie vote, a run-off election shall be held.
(g) If the Secretary/Treasurer is a candidate for office, the Executive Committee shall appoint another SR-SIS member to act in place of the Secretary/Treasurer for all duties required of the Secretary/Treasurer under this section (Article VII, Section 2).
(h) 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.
Section 3. Vacancies.
(a) The Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall automatically become Chair upon a vacancy in such office and shall continue in that office until the expiration of the term for which the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect was originally elected to serve as Chair.
(b) All vacancies by the Secretary/Treasurer or Member-at-Large shall be filled by the Executive Committee for an interim term until the next regular election of officers, at which time said vacancies shall be filled by election.
Article VIII: COMMITTEES
There shall be such standing or special committees as created by the Executive Committee, or by a majority vote of those present and voting at any SR-SIS annual business meeting. Other groups such as task forces and working committees may be established by the Executive Committee as necessary. Unless otherwise provided for by SR-SIS procedures, committee/task force chairs shall be designated by the SR-SIS Chair.
Article IX: AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
Section 1. Process.
These bylaws may be amended at the annual business meeting of the SR-SIS by a majority of the members present and voting, or by a majority of the votes cast by an electronic ballot conducted by the Secretary/Treasurer. Any amendment must be presented to the AALL Bylaws and Resolutions Committee for review before it is submitted to the SR-SIS membership for vote.
Section 2. Notice.
Notice of proposed amendments shall be mailed to the SR-SIS members, or be published in the SR-SIS newsletter, or be sent by electronic mail to the members’ electronic mail addresses of record with AALL, thirty (30) days in advance of the annual meeting, or thirty (30) days in advance of the distribution of the ballots for a vote conducted by electronic ballot. Members may request a paper copy of the proposed amendments upon request to the Secretary/Treasurer.
Last amended effective July 18, 2017