Bylaws

Article 1: Name

The name of this Caucus shall be the Law Repositories Caucus.


Article 2: Purpose

The Law Repositories Caucus is a platform neutral group that supports law repositories by providing a community for sharing information and resources. The Caucus provides leadership and guidance on repository issues by looking both in and outside of the law library community to disseminate repository innovation and promote the future of repository work. It also provides professional development opportunities for the law repository community.

Article 3: Membership

Section 1: Membership shall be open to any member of AALL requesting affiliation with the Caucus.

Section 2: Platform Neutrality

Neither membership, nor full participation in the activities of the Law Repositories Caucus shall be dependent upon the use of a particular repository platform.

 

Article 4: Officers and Executive Committee

Section 1: Officers

The officers consist of a Chair, Chair-Elect/Vice-Chair, Secretary, and a Member at Large.

Section 2: Terms of Office

The officers shall have the following terms of office:

  1. The Chair (sometimes referred to as the Caucus Chair) serves a 3 year term. The first year he/she shall serve as Chair-Elect/Vice Chair; the second year as Chair; the third year as Past Chair.
  2. A new Chair-Elect/Vice Chair shall be elected each year.
  3. The Secretary shall serve a two year term, and be elected on even numbered years.
  4. The Member at Large is elected on a yearly basis and serves a one year term.
  5. Officers serve from August 1st to July 31st.


Section 3: Executive Committee

There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of 5 members: Chair, Chair Elect/Vice-Chair, Secretary, Member at Large, and Past Chair.

Section 4: Vacancies

  1. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair the following will apply:
    1. If there is more than 6 months left in term, a special election shall be held with candidate(s) being selected by the Nominating Committee.
    2. If there are fewer than 6 months left in the term, the Chair-Elect/Vice-Chair shall automatically become Caucus Chair, and will continue in that office until the expiration of the term for which the Chair-Elect/Vice Chair was originally elected to serve.
  2. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair-Elect/Vice Chair, the immediate past Caucus Chair will assume the responsibilities of the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, and serve for the remainder of the one-year term.
    • In this event, the Nominating Committee will solicit candidates for the position of Chair and Vice Chair/Chair-Elect will serve the usual term.
  3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Secretary or Member at Large, the Chair shall appoint a replacement with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 5: Duties of Officers

The duties of the officers, include but are not limited to, those listed below. Please see the Law Repository Caucus Handbook for more detailed duty descriptions.

  1. The Chair shall perform the following duties:
    1. Coordinate all business of the Caucus.
    2. Act as a liaison to AALL.
    3. Appoint committee chairs.
    4. Prepare an annual report of caucus activities.
  2. The Chair-Elect/Vice Chair shall perform the following duties:
    1. Assist the Chair in fulfilling his/her duties.
    2. Perform duties of the Chair if he/she is unable.
  3. The Secretary shall perform the following duties:
    1. Maintain records of the caucus to include taking and reporting the minutes from business meetings.
  4. The Member-at-Large shall perform the following duties:
    1. Serve on the Executive Committee.


Article 5: Nominations and Elections

Section 1: Nominations Committee
A Nominations Committee will be created every year for the purpose of soliciting nominations for all relevant Executive Board openings. The Nominations Committee will consist of at least three Caucus members, none of whom shall be a member of the current Executive Committee or a candidate for office in the resulting election.  The Caucus Chair will appoint a Nominations Committee Chair and the Nominations Chair is responsible for selecting the other members. Solicitation of volunteers from the caucus membership is encouraged.

Section 2: Nominations
The Nominations Committee will select at least one candidate for each position and confirm election participation. Names of the candidates will be presented to the Caucus Chair by March 1st. The Caucus Chair will present the slate of candidates for approval to the Executive Committee within one (1) week of receiving it from the Nominations Committee.  After approval the Caucus Chair will announce the approved slate of candidates to the Caucus membership via the listserv, website, and/or other communications methods later developed. The candidate slate must be presented to the membership by the Caucus Chair 30 days prior to the beginning of the election. Additional nominations may be made by communicating such nominations in writing, including email, within 10 business days of the nomination announcement to the caucus membership.  All ballot changes will be announced to the Caucus membership on the 11th business day after the original ballot was presented.

Section 3: Voting

General elections shall take place electronically beginning no later than June 1st. Voting will remain open for 14 days.  Election to any office will be by simple majority vote.


Article 6: Meetings

Section 1: Types of meetings

  1. Official Caucus meetings may occur via the phone, online, in person, or other communications methods later developed.
  2. An annual business meeting for all caucus members will occur each summer to allow for the transition of officers. This meeting may occur at the AALL Annual Meeting, but can be held via other means in July or August.


Section 2: Quorum

A quorum will consist of a minimum of 5 members present at any meeting.


Article 7: Committees

  1. The Caucus has two separate standing committees: Bylaws and Nominations.
  2. Other committees can be created as needed in service to Caucus members, but must be approved by the Caucus Executive Committee. Unless otherwise noted, Committee Chairs shall be designated by the Caucus Chair.
  3. Committee Chairs shall solicit volunteers for their committees.


Article 8: Amendments

  1. Bylaw amendments and officer elections happen simultaneously via electronic voting prior to annual meeting (see details of Article 5: Nominations and Elections).  
  2. Notice of proposed amendments shall be shared with the Caucus membership via the listserv, website, and/or other communications methods later developed, at least thirty (30) days in advance of electronic voting.
  3. Amendments to bylaws will be by simple majority vote.

Bylaws History

Approved by the membership: June 14, 2016

Amended and approved by the membership on November 18, 2019 to specify the procedures in the event the Vice Chair resigns and to acknowledge that the duties of officers are expanded in the Caucus’ Handbook.