"In Search of Professionalism Through Cooperative Education."

 

Constitution
of the
Anne Arundel Community College
Paralegal Association

 

PREAMBLE

        We, the paralegal students of Anne Arundel Community College, in order to learn more of the national legal system; executive, legislative and primarily, the judicial branches of government, to develop a better rapport with the community and legal agencies, to further our own understanding and knowledge of the legal system, and in order to better serve our community and nation, do hereby establish the Constitution of the Anne Arundel Community College Paralegal Association.

 

ARTICLE I -- NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION

        This organization shall be known as the Anne Arundel Community College Paralegal Association.

 

 ARTICLE II -- PURPOSE

     This organization strives to:

     1.  Promote the development and maintenance of skill in the paralegal students;

     2.  Provide an opportunity to meet with paralegal students and paraprofessionals from the legal and surrounding community;

     3.  Support the development of and the continuing education of paralegal students, paraprofessionals and the community;

     4.  Provide an opportunity for social interaction among persons who share a common interest in and dedication to the paralegal profession;

     5.  Provide support and education to the paralegal students to increase awareness and knowledge of the paralegal program and profession;

     6.  Work with the Student Association on all matters pertaining to legal issues;

     7.  Encourage ethical standard among paralegal students.

 

 ARTICLE III -- MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. -- Regular Membership

                    Regular membership in this organization is available to any interested registered student of the College (e.g., who has paid a student activity fee upon registration). Regular members will not be assessed special fees for participation in organization activities unless such activities have been approved a priori by a majority of the membership.

Section 2. -- Adjunct Membership

            Adjunct membership is defined as persons who have not paid a student activity fee. Adjunct members may be assessed special fees for participation in certain organizational activities, if these activities are underwritten by the Student Association funds. The amount of such fees will be determined by the organization's executive officers, after consultation with its advisor and the Director of Student Activities.

Section 3. -- Associate Membership (alumni)

        This organization will recognize all former students who are graduates of the College, as Associate Members. Associate Members will not be eligible to hold any Executive Office nor shall they have the right to vote on issues brought before the Association.

 

 ARTICLE IV -- EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

        The Executive Officers of this organization shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Activities Coordinator. These officers shall comprise the organization's Executive Council.

 

 ARTICLE V -- EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Section 1. -- Duties
     A.  The President shall:

     1.  Carry out, in spirit and detail, the provisions of this Constitution;

     2.  Provide liaison on behalf of the organization to the Office of Student   Activities,

     3.  Preside at meetings of the Executive Council and the general membership.
     B.  The Vice-President shall:

     1.  Assist the President in the performance of his or her duties;

     2.  Assume the duties of the President in his or her absence;

     3.  Act as official representative and spokesperson for the organization at the Student Association Advisory Council.
     C.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall:

     1.  Act as recorder at all organizational and Executive Council meetings, and keeper of all organization files and records;

     2.  Be responsible for all organization correspondence;

     3.  Notify members of regular and special meetings and organization activities. This may be accomplished by flyers placed on bulletin boards; including the paralegal bulletin board, the student newspapers, and having the professors announce such activities prior to class time. No mailings will occur unless deemed necessary for seminars, speakers and the annual meeting;

     4.  Supervise all organization receipts and disbursements;

     5.  Be responsible for the preparation and presentation of all financial reports required by the Student Association as well as preparing the annual budget.

     6.  Act as official representative to and spokesperson for the organization at the Student Association Executive Committee;

     7.  Coordinate his or her efforts with those of the Student Association Treasurer.
     D.  The Activities Coordinator shall:

     1.  Be responsible for the planning, facilitating, and scheduling of all organization activities; including those occurring in conjunction with the regional paralegal associations, and those activities coordinated and arranged by the paralegal professors;

     2.  Work with the Secretary-Treasurer in the preparation and presentation of the annual budget;

     3.  Coordinate his or her efforts with the organization's advisor;

     4.  Provide liaison to the Director of Student Activities.

Section 2. -- Elections and Term of Office
     A.  Eligibility

     For the first election, a person who has been a regular student of Anne Arundel Community College Paralegal Program for at least two (2) semesters with a quality G.P.A. of at least 2.0 is eligible to seek an organization office. For all subsequent elections, any person who has been a regular member of this organization and college for a period of at least one (1) semester is eligible to seek an organization position;
     B.  Nominations

     Nomination of candidates for all organizational offices will be made at the first regular meeting. Elections will occur at the organization's second regular meeting of the general membership.
     C.  Term of Office

     The term of office of all organization offices is the academic year.
     D.  Vacancies

     1.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall assume the Presidency.

     2.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice-President, the Secretary-Treasurer, or Activities Coordinator, the office will be filled temporarily by an appointment of the President, with the approval of the Advisor. This individual appointed will serve as the Acting Vice-President, Acting Secretary-Treasurer, or Acting Activities Coordinator, respectively.

     3.  Shall the vacancy become permanent, the office will be filled by a simple majority vote of the Regular Membership at the meeting following the occurrence of the vacancy.

Section 3. -- Appointment of Assistants

        Offices of the Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer and Activity Coordinator shall have the right to appoint an Assistant from the general membership, to assist him/her with carrying out the duties of their respective office. These appointments shall take effect after approval by the Executive Council. The appointee shall reserve the right to resign the position at anytime.

 

 ARTICLE VI -- ADVISOR

Section 1. -- Selection

        This organization shall at all times have at least one Advisor, who shall be a full-time member of the College's professional staff. It is essential that this person be familiar with the Paralegal field.

Section 2. -- Duties

The Advisor shall:
     A.  Attend meetings of the Executive Council and general membership and provide assistance to and resources for the organization, as desired, requested, or as he/she deems appropriate;
     B.  Be responsible for organization and adherence to all applicable College policies, rules and regulations;
     C.  Coordinate his/her efforts with and provide continuous liaison to the Director of Student Activities.

       

 ARTICLE VIl -- MEETINGS/COMMITTEES

Section 1. -- Executive Council

        The Executive Council will meet regularly, once each quarter during the academic year, at a time and place determined by the members and the organization's advisor.  Special meetings may be held when necessary, at the call of the President or the Advisor.

Section 2. -- General Membership

     A.  General meetings of this organization shall occur as deemed necessary by the Executive Council, at a time and place determined by the Executive Council and the Advisor.
     B.  Meetings of the organization shall be informal; Rules of Order are not binding;
     C.  Decision will be made in every case by a simple majority vote, with the exception of proposed amendments to the Constitution.  (See ARTICLE VIl.)

Section 3. -- Committees
     A.  The Executive Council shall have the right to gather members of the General Membership to form a Committee.  These Committees shall be formed on an "as needed basis" to address issues brought before the Association.
     B.  These Committees, when deemed necessary, will be chaired by a member of the Executive Council.
     C.  The Committee will be responsible for addressing a specific issue and the Chairperson shall report back to the Executive Council with the Committees' findings.
     D.  The Committee shall be disband after approval by the Executive Council.

 

 ARTICLE VIll -- AMENDMENTS

        Amendments to this Constitution may be effected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the organization's regular membership.  All proposed Amendments must be tabled for one (1) month following their introduction.  Amendments must be ratified by the Student Association Executive Board.

 

 ARTICLE IX -- ADOPTION

        This Constitution shall be considered adopted when it has received a simple majority vote of approval from the general membership and has been approved by the Student Association Advisory Council as prescribed in ARTICLE Section 3 (c) of the Student Association Constitution.