Bylaws of the Latinx Law Librarians Caucus
of the American Association of Law Libraries
Article I: NAME
The name of this Caucus shall be the Latinx Law Librarians Caucus (Latinx Caucus).
Article II: PURPOSES
The purposes of the Latinx Caucus are:
- To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on issues of interest and concern to Latinx law librarians, and to represent them within AALL,
- To promote law librarianship and further the continuing education of Latinx law librarians, and to develop and increase our visibility within AALL,
- To foster cooperation among Latinx members in the profession, and
- To recruit and mentor Latinx to the profession.
Article III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to any member of AALL requesting affiliation with the Latinx Caucus.
Article IV: ANTIDISCRIMINATION
Neither membership, nor full participation in the activities of the Latinx Caucus shall be denied to any person on account of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity.
Article V: OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. Officers
The officers shall consist of a Caucus Chairperson, Vice Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 2. Terms of Office
The officers shall have the following terms of office:
The Chair-Elect shall serve a two year term, the first year as Chair, and the second year as Past Chair.
The Vice Chair/Chair-Elect shall serve a three-year term; the first year as Vice Chair, the second year as Caucus Chair, and the third year as Past Chair. A new Vice Chair/Chair-Elect shall be elected each year.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall serve a two-year term and shall be elected in odd numbered years.
Officers shall serve until the adjournment of the annual business meeting.
The Caucus chair will call for nominations for a member of the Caucus to serve as an advisory representative to the executive board. The advisory representative shall serve one year.
Section 3. Executive Board
There shall be an Executive Board consisting of 5 members including the officers named above, the immediate past Chair, and one advisory representative from the Caucus at-large.
Section 4. Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall automatically become Caucus Chair, and will continue in that office until the expiration of the term for which the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect was originally elected to serve.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, the immediate past Caucus Chair will automatically become Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, and will serve until the expiration of the pending term.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Secretary/Treasurer, the Chair shall appoint a replacement with the approval of the Executive Board.
In the event of a vacancy in the position of advisory representative to the executive board, the Chair shall appoint a replacement with the approval of the Executive Board.
Article VI: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominations Committee
There will be a nominations committee appointed by the Caucus Chair, consisting of three (3) members, none of whom shall be a member of the executive board, and none of whom shall be a candidate for office at the following election. Each member of the committee will serve a three-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Caucus Chair may designate any former member of the committee to fill the vacancy until the expiration of the term.
Section 2. Nominations
The nominations committee will nominate one candidate for each office. Names of candidates will be presented by the nominations committee to the Caucus Chairperson at least three months before the annual meeting to enable the chair to inform the members of the nominations. Notification of the members may be done by announcement via the listserv, website, and/or other communications methods later developed and must occur at least 45 days before the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made by communicating such nominations to the Chair in writing, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Voting
General elections must take place during the annual meeting of the Caucus. Election to an office will be by simple majority of members present.
Article VII: MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Meeting
A business meeting shall be held during the annual meeting of AALL. Meetings will be open to all members of the AALL, but only members of the Latinx Caucus may vote in any Caucus meeting.
Section 2. Quorum
A quorum will consist of the members present at the meeting OR at least 5 members.
Article VIII: COMMITTEES
There will be four standing committees: a Communications and Publicity Committee, a Membership and Mentoring Committee, a Nominations Committee, and a Programming Committee. There shall be such other standing or special committees as the Caucus Chairperson shall create. Unless otherwise provided, committee chairs shall be designated by the Chairperson of the Latinx Caucus.
Article IX: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The latest edition of Sturgis' Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure shall govern all procedures of this caucus not covered by these Bylaws.
Article X: AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting of the Caucus, by a simple majority vote of the members present. Notice of proposed amendments shall be published in the Caucus's newsletter or published on the Caucus's listserv and website at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting.