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Seattle University School of Law

Moot Court Board Bylaws

Article I. Composition of the Board
Section 1. Members of the Board
Section 2. Selection Process
Section 3. Continued Membership
Section 4. Election of Officers
Section 5. Appointed Offices

Article II. Duties of the Board
Section 1. Competitions
Section 2. Administration of In-House Competitions
Section 3. Administration of National Competition Teams
Section 4. Annual Review of Policies and Procedures

Article III. Internal Affairs of the Board
Section 1. Conduct and Professionalism
Section 2. Management
Section 3. Meetings
Section 4. Attendance Policy
Section 5. Notice
Section 6. Voting
Section 7. Minutes
Section 8. Removal of Board Members
Section 9. Conflicts of Interest
Section 10. Leave of Absence

Article IV. Responsibilities of the Board Officers
Section 1. Chair
Section 2. Vice-Chair
Section 3. National Competition Chair
Section 4. In-House Competition Chair
Section 5. Treasurer
Section 6. Executive Secretary (ex-officio)
Section 7. Executive Committee

Article V. Duties of All Board Members
Section 1. Required Duties

Article VI. Bylaw Amendments
Section 1. Review of the Bylaws
Section 2. Vote Required to Amend
Section 3. Stylistic Amendments
Section 4. Effect of Approved Amendments

Article VII. Order of the Barristers
Section 1. Qualifications
Section 2. Selection Process

Article VIII. Effective Date
Section 1. Effective Date

Preamble

The name of this organization shall be The Moot Court Board of the Seattle University School of Law, hereinafter "The Board." The Board shall be an honorary organization dedicated to the encouragement of excellence in oral advocacy and brief writing skills through the implementation and management of an effective law school appellate moot court and mock trial program.

Article I. Composition of the Board

Section 1. Members of the Board

The Board shall consist of no less than thirty five (35) and no more than forty five (45) members. The number of members for the following year will be determined by the Executive Committee. This number shall not include Board members selected during the regular spring selection process to replace outgoing members. Five (5) of the 35-45 member Board shall be elected to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, National Competition Chair, and In-House Competition Chair as described in Article IV of these Bylaws. The Board shall not consist of fewer than five (5) members per class.

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Section 2. Selection Process

  1. The Board shall select members twice per academic year, once in the fall by the end of the second week of October, and again in the spring by the end of the second week of April.

  2. Selection Criteria. Each applicant will be selected based on the number of points earned in the application process. Applicants will be assessed a maximum of thirty (30) points in each of two (2) categories: Essay and Interview. Additionally, applicants are eligible to earn up to fifteen (15) points for Moot Court Participation. Only applicants who score the minimum number of points in each of the categories will be considered for membership. Membership offers will be extended to those applicants with the highest total points. The Board does not discriminate for any reason including but not limited to age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, or marital status.

    1. Moot Court Participation: Applicants must complete a standard form outlining their past Moot Court participation. Applicants may gain one (1) point for each hour of participation as a bailiff, competitor, or a witness. The maximum points allowed for participation is 15 points, but an applicant must have participated in a competition as either a bailiff, competitor, or witness to be considered for Board membership. This participation requirement does not apply to first year (1L) law students applying in the fall. Applicants may receive participation points for all participation that occurs before 5pm on the last day of new member interviews.

    2. Essay: Applicants will prepare a description of past and present leadership/organizational experience. This essay may not exceed one (1) page, single-spaced, using 12-point font. All Board members anonymously grade each essay and will assign a score to that essay from 0 to 30 in five (5) point increments. The average of these scores will be the point score in the essay category. The applicants must score an average of at least 15 points to be considered for Board membership.

    3. Interview: Applicants who score the minimum required points in Article I, Sections B (1) and B (2), will be invited to an interview. At each interview, the Chair or Vice-Chair shall be present. The applicant interviews will be conducted and scored by members of the Board. Interviewers will score each applicant on a scale of 0 to30. The average of these scores will be the point score in the interview category. The applicants must score an average of at least 15 points to be considered for Board membership.

    4. Scoring: An applicant's final score will be determined by adding the applicant's total participation points, average essay score, and average interview score. The highest scoring applicants shall be chosen to fill vacant seats on the Board.

    5. Notification: The Board must notify the entire student body of Board membership openings and selection criteria.

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Section 3. Continued Membership

Board membership is for the duration of enrollment at Seattle University School of Law subject to Article III, Sections 3 and 7.

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Section 4. Election of Officers

The Board shall elect an Executive Committee no later than the end of the second week of March.

  1. Candidates: Each candidate for Chair, Vice-Chair, National Competition Chair, In-House Competition Chair, and Treasurer shall submit a written platform outlining the reasons for his or her candidacy by 5:00 p.m., one (1) week prior to the election. Candidates running for multiple positions must address his or her qualifications for each position in his or her platform. The platform shall be posted on the Board bulletin board and placed in each Board member's box. Each written platform may not exceed three (3) pages, and must inform the Board of the candidate's plans regarding employment, law school activities, and other responsibilities.

  2. Election Procedures:

    1. The election of the Chair shall be held first, followed by the election of the Vice-Chair, the National Competition Chair, the In-House Competition Chair, and the Treasurer, if time permits. If time does not permit, the election of the Vice-Chair, the National Competition Chair, the In-House Competition Chair, and the Treasurer, shall take place at a meeting no later than one (1) week following the election of the Chair.

    2. The vote shall be by secret ballot. The candidates shall need a simple majority of the quorum to win. If no candidate achieves a majority of the first ballot, a run-off election will be conducted between the top two vote recipients.

    3. The Chair-Elect, Vice-Chair-Elect, National Competition Chair-Elect, In-House Competition Chair-Elect, and Treasurer-Elect shall take office immediately after the last competition of spring semester. The new Executive Committee will supervise the spring banquet and will run the last general meeting of the year.

    4. A Member has the right to be present during and throughout an elections proceeding in which the Member is a candidate. However, the Member may waive this right and wait outside the meeting room during a short discussion period.

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Section 5. Appointed Offices

As needed, the Chair shall appoint a Board Secretary, Librarian, Office Manager, Travel Coordinator, and Technology Coordinator as soon as is practical, but in all instances, by the end of the first week of Fall Semester.

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Article II. Duties of the Board

Section 1. Competitions

The Board shall administer the following competitions in compliance with the policies and procedures established by the Executive Committee:

  1. In-House Competitions:

    1. Fall Semester Competitions:
      James E. Bond ABA Competition
      In-House Mock Trial Competition
      In-House Appellate Competition

    2. Spring Semester Competitions:
      Fredric C. Tausend Competition
      In-House Mock Trial Competition
      In-House Appellate Competition
      1L Mock Trial Competition

    3. Summer Competitions:
      Thomas Tang Competition

  2. Regional and National Competitions:

    1. Administration. The Board shall administer all regional appellate and mock trial competitions held at Seattle University, including, but not limited to, the Thomas Tang Regional Competition, the National Moot Court Competition, and the American Bar Association National Competition.

    2. Sending Teams to Regional Competitions. The Board may send the eligible winning team(s) of its in-house competitions to regional competitions. For each in-house competition, the Board may send at least one competition team on to a regional competition.

    3. Team member unavailable. If an otherwise eligible member of a regional or national team is unavailable to compete for any reason, then the remaining member shall choose a replacement from the next-highest qualifying team not moving on to a regional or national competition.

  3. Student Organization Competitions.

    1. APILSA.

      1. In-house Competition. The Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association competition, a.k.a "Thomas Tang," is a brief-only appellate competition administered each summer. To be eligible for Thomas Tang competition, teams must meet the usual requirements for in-house competition.

      2. Regional Competition. The Board may send top-placed teams to the regional and national appellate competition administered by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. The Executive Committee may choose not to send any team that does not participate in the Thomas Tang competition to the best of its abilities.

    2. BLSA.

      1. In-house Competition. The Black Law Student Association (hereinafter "BLSA") competition is a mock trial which takes place within the framework of the Fall Mock Trial. To be eligible for the BLSA competition, a team must 1) meet the usual requirements for in-house competition, 2) satisfy the requirements established by BLSA organization for participating in this competition, and 3) sign up for, and compete in, the Fall Mock Trial as a BLSA team.

      2. Regional Competition. The Board may send the top-placed BLSA team from the in-house competition to the regional and national mock trial administered by the National Black Law Student Association. The Executive Committee may choose not to send any BLSA team that does not participate in the Fall Mock Trial competition to the best of its abilities.

    3. Other student organizations. Other student organizations may apply to the Dean's Office for an annual competition. Absent such approval, other student organizations wishing to participate in regional competitions must do so pursuant to Art. II, Sect, 1(B)(ii).

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Section 2. Administration of In-House Competitions

  1. Policies and Procedures. The Executive Committee shall determine Policies and Procedures regarding the selection and administration of competitions. The purpose of the Policies and Procedures is to clarify the competitive process, to make the process uniform and fair, and to guide administrators and team members in their obligations and responsibilities.

  2. Competition Problem. In-House competition problems shall be determined as follows:

    1. The problem for the James E. Bond Competition shall be the previous year's spring Legal Writing II problem as determined by the Legal Writing Faculty.

    2. The problem for the Fredric C. Tausend Competition shall be the fall Legal Writing II problem as determined by the Legal Writing Faculty.

    3. Other In-House competition problems shall be determined by the individual In-House Administrators. The problem may be based on materials adapted from the current or previous National competitions, if the rules so provide, or it may be created with the help of the faculty advisor, administrators, or coach.

  3. Scoring. Scoring criteria shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Among similar competitions (Appellate, Trial, Admin, etc.), the scoring criteria shall be as uniform as possible.

  4. Judging of Oral Competitions. In-House competitions shall be scored by a panel of at least two judges consisting of persons who have graduated from law school. Third year (3L) law students may be used as competition judges for the Administrative Law 1L competition only.

  5. Appointment and Authority of In-House Administrators.

    1. In-House Administrator(s) shall be appointed by the Chair.

    2. Within the bounds of the current Competition Policies and Procedures, the In-House Administrator(s) shall have the authority to administer the competition. Any significant departures from the current Competition Policies and Procedures must have the prior approval of the Executive Committee.

  6. Special Procedures for James E. Bond and Fredric C. Tausend Competition. The Bond and Tausend competitions shall be coordinated with the Spring and Fall Legal Writing II classes, respectively, taught by the Legal Writing Department. Competition schedules, rules, and scoring shall be coordinated with the Legal Writing Department Chair, the In-House Competition Chair and the Tausend In-House Administrator(s).

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Section 3. Administration of National Competition Teams

  1. Selection Process. All National Competitors shall be determined by In-House Competitions administered by the Board, except for Student Organization Competitions.

  2. National Team Administrators. The Chair-Elect, in consultation with the outgoing National Competition Chair, shall appoint the National Team Administrators, by the end of the last week of Spring Semester.

  3. Policies and Procedures. The Executive Committee shall establish general policies, procedures, and budgets for National Teams. These policies and procedures may be included as a separate section of the Competition Policies and Procedures established in Article II, Section 2.

  4. Commitment and Removal of Regional/National Competitors.

    1. Regional/National Team(s) Meetings: Within five (5) school days following the announcement of the top scoring teams of an In-House Competition, the Regional/National Team Administrator for the corresponding Regional/National Competition shall hold a meeting. During the meeting, the duties and responsibilities of a Regional/National Team member, as well as the requirements of the Preparation Class, shall be discussed. At that time, the Regional/National Team member(s) shall be provided with a standardized letter of commitment.

    2. Regional/National Team(s) Letter(s) of Commitment: Within five (5) school days following the Regional/National Team(s) meeting, each member of the Regional/National Team must submit his or her signed letter of commitment to their respective Regional/National Team Administrator. Failure to do so will result in automatic removal from the team.

    3. Removal of Regional/National Team Members:

      1. At any time, a Regional/National Team member may be removed from the team for failure to fulfill his or her obligations. The coach or co-competitor shall bring the situation to the attention of the Executive Committee.

      2. The Executive Committee shall review the situation, and may request that the Regional/National Team member appear at the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting to present his or her case. Regardless of an appearance by the Team member, the Executive Committee may vote to either remove the Team member, to warn the Team member, or to find that the Team member has performed his or her obligations.

      3. Should the Executive Committee vote to remove the Team member from that Team, the Team member will not be eligible for academic credit as provided for in Article II, Section 3(E), below.

    4. Ability to Compete in More Than One Competition:

      1. Number of Competitions. No student may compete in more than one regional/national moot court or dispute resolution competition per semester without applying for an exception.

      2. Exceptions. Any student who qualifies for more than one regional/national moot court, or dispute resolution competition in a semester may apply to the Executive Committee for an exception. In evaluating the application, the Executive Committee will consider the following factors: the difficulty of the student's course load, limited outside commitments, and a minimum of three (3) weeks between competitions.

      3. Appeals. A student whose application for an exception has been denied, may appeal the Executive Committee's decision to the Faculty Advisor. In the event of an appeal, the Executive Committee shall submit in writing the specific reason(s) for rejecting the student's application. The Faculty Advisor shall be the final authority on whether a student is allowed to compete in more than one Regional/National competition.

  5. Academic Credit Awarded for Regional/National Competitions.

    1. Students who compete in Regional/National Competitions may receive academic credit for their participation. The granting of academic credits is contingent on enrollment in and completion of their respective preparation course, participation in the Regional/National Competition, and final approval of academic credit by the relevant faculty member or coach.

    2. The number of credits for a specific competition shall be determined by agreement between the Faculty Advisor and the National Competition Chair, pursuant to school policy. Their recommendation shall be submitted to the Academic Dean for approval. Re-submission to the Academic Dean is required if the Faculty Advisor and the National Competition Chair determine the basis for the prior approval has changed sufficiently to require review by the Academic Dean.

    3. Subject to approval by the Academic Dean, National Team members will be awarded one (1) academic credit for an oral advocacy component and one (1) academic credit for a brief writing component in a Regional/National Competition. Currently, the maximum credits allowed for competing as set by the faculty is no more than two credits and credits can only be taken for one particular competition.

    4. Regional/National Competitions in which Seattle University has participated will be assessed by the National Competition Chair and the Faculty Advisor every year. In the event that a change in competitions is warranted, the Executive Committee must grant approval of the change.

  6. Student Organization Competitions.

    1. Moot Court Board sponsorship and financial support of any Student Organization Competitions is subject to approval by the Executive Committee.

    2. Any additional individual students or student organizations who desire the sponsorship and financial support of the Board in order to compete in alternative Regional/National Moot Court Competitions, must contact the National Competition Chair for consideration.

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Section 4. Annual Review of Policies and Procedures

Annually, the Executive Committee shall review, approve, and publish the Competition Policies and Procedures, including those applicable to the Regional/National Competitions. The Executive Committee shall determine if any changes are necessary and whether the changes are of sufficient significance to require full Board approval prior to implementation.

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Article III. Internal Affairs of the Board

Section 1. Conduct and Professionalism

All Board Members shall maintain, at all times, professional, courteous, and respectful working relationships with Board members, faculty, students, and the legal community. While representing the Board, Board members must act in the best interest of the Board. The Board has the power to reprimand, suspend, or remove from the Board any member who, in its opinion, is guilty of unprofessional conduct, conduct injurious to the Board (including its reputation), or breach of these Bylaws subject to the procedures articulated in Section 8 of this Article.

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Section 2. Management

The members of the Board shall manage all business of the Board. All Board business shall remain confidential among the members of the Board. A violation of this confidentiality requirement shall be cause for removal from the Board under Section 7 of this Article.

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Section 3. Meetings

The Board shall hold regular meetings. Special meetings shall be scheduled by the Chair as necessary, or upon notice to the Chair by any two (2) Board members. After receiving such notice, the Chair shall schedule the special meeting at the next opportunity convenient to the Board.

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Section 4. Attendance Policy

  1. Mandatory Events. Mandatory events include Executive Committee meetings (for Executive Committee Members), general Board meetings (all members). Mandatory events are determined by the Vice-Chair and any questions concerning whether an event is mandatory (outside those listed above) should be referred to the Vice-Chair.

  2. Excused Absences from Mandatory Events.

    Excused absences do not invoke suspension or other administrative action, and include:

    1. Any obligation for which a Board member is being paid or receiving credit (48 hour prior notice required).

    2. Illness or emergency (notice must be given as soon as reasonably possible).

    3. Other compelling reasons at the discretion of the Vice Chair (notice must be given as soon as reasonably possible).

    School work and studying shall not be valid reasons for an excused absence. It is the responsibility of the Board member in question to receive an excused absence from the Vice-Chair.

    An excused Board member absent from any mandatory event shall sign the minutes of the event within one (1) week of the event to show he/she is apprised of Board business conducted at the missed event. Failure to do so will result in the excused absence becoming unexcused.

  3. Unexcused Absences from Mandatory Events.

    A Board member is allowed one (1) unexcused absence per semester for mandatory events without any repercussion or administrative action.

    A Board member who accrues two (2) unexcused absences per semester for mandatory events is suspended.

    An unexcused Board member absent from any mandatory event shall sign the minutes of the event within one (1) week to show he/she is apprised of Board business conducted at the missed event.

  4. Suspension, Reinstatement, and Removal.

    A Board member who accrues two (2) unexcused absences in a single semester is placed on suspension. Failure to perform committee obligations may also be grounds within the discretion of the Executive Committee for placing someone on suspension, provided one administrator or leader of the committee provides notice, written or otherwise, to the Executive Committee.

    The Executive Committee shall provide notice of suspension to the Board member in question. Suspended Board members lose the right to vote, and may also suffer additional penalties at the discretion of the Executive Committee. At any time, a suspended Board member may petition the Executive Committee for reinstatement as a fully enfranchised member. The Executive Committee may reinstate suspended members at its sole discretion.

    If a Board member is not reinstated by the Executive Committee or does not petition for reinstatement as a fully enfranchised member within two (2) weeks of a second unexcused absence, the Vice-Chair shall submit a complaint to begin the removal process identified in Section 8(b)(2) of this Article.

    Regardless of whether a Board member is on suspended or has been reinstated, any further unexcused absence from a mandatory event will reinitiate the removal process.

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Section 5. Notice

  1. Notice of Absence Policy.

    At the first general meeting of each semester, the Vice Chair shall inform the Moot Court Board of the absence and attendance policies stated in Section 4 of this Article. The Vice-Chair shall also email a copy of those policies to all members of the Board. If the Vice-Chair fails to provide such notice, the Executive Committee may choose whether Section 4 of this Article shall be enforceable that semester.

  2. Notice of Mandatory Events.

    All Board members are entitled to effective notice of mandatory events. For notice to be effective, the person calling the meeting must post the time and place of the mandatory event at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance, and must use a reliable form of communication. For purposes of this section, Chair is deemed to have called general Board Meetings. An agenda should be discussed or distributed at the beginning of each mandatory event.

    For committee-specific meetings and assignments, the administrator or leader of the committee shall provide notice within the guidelines listed above.

    Board members not given effective notice of a mandatory event are excused in the event of an absence. A Board member not given effective notice shall promptly bring this to the attention of the Vice-Chair. Final determination if notice was effective will be decided by the Executive Committee.

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Section 6. Voting

  1. Quorum: A simple majority (50% + 1) of members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting.

  2. Approval by Majority: A simple majority of a quorum is required to approve Board action unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws.

  3. Proxy.

    1. Voting by proxy will be permitted on matters of routine Board business. Any Board member who will be absent from a Board meeting may give his or her proxy to any other Board member.

    2. Proxy votes are valid and will be counted only when they meet the following requirements:

      1. Proxy votes shall be in writing.

      2. Proxy votes shall state the issue upon which the proxy vote is being cast.

      3. Proxy votes shall clearly indicate the vote to be cast, i.e. whether it is to be cast as an affirmation or rejection of the issues being voted upon.

      4. Proxy votes shall be signed by the Board member voting by proxy.

      5. The member voting by proxy must designate the Board member who holds his or her proxy vote.

    3. There shall be a presumption that a proxy vote is void if there is any vagueness in the intent of the submitted proxy vote.

    4. The Executive Committee shall, in its discretion, decide whether a proxy vote is invalid for failure to meet the requirements above. The Executive Committee shall state to the Board members present at the meeting that the proxy vote is invalid and the grounds for such determination.

    5. Proxy voting will not be permitted for voting on sensitive matters, which include but are not limited to removal or discipline of Board members. Sensitive matters will be determined by the Executive Committee or upon the written request to the Chair by any three (3) Board members.

    6. If proxy voting is suspended for a particular issue, the Chair will be responsible for providing notice to all Board members and implementing procedures to ensure an opportunity for absent Board members to vote.

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Section 7. Minutes

Minutes summarizing any action taken by the Board at a general or special meeting or by the Executive Committee at an Executive Committee meeting shall be recorded and compiled by the Executive Secretary. General or special meeting minutes shall be posted in the Boardroom and placed in the official record for initialing by absent Board members within twenty four (24) hours of the meeting.

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Section 8. Removal of Board Members

  1. Any member of the Board may be removed from office or from the Board for conduct that has an adverse impact on the Board or on a National or In-House Competition Team, or for failure to fulfill his/her duties, including but not limited to lack of participation on assigned committees or failure to complete assigned duties. Such conduct does not need to be intentional to be actionable by the Board.

  2. Removal Procedure.

    1. Member Seeking Removal: Any Board member seeking removal of another Board member shall file a written complaint with the Executive Committee.

    2. Faculty Seeking Removal: The Faculty Advisor or the Dean may recommend to the Board that a Board member be removed for cause.

    3. Removal Proceedings by the Executive Committee: The Board member under review shall be notified by a member of the Executive Committee of the complaint filed. The Executive Committee shall allow the member an opportunity to plea, will investigate the allegation, and, if necessary, report its findings to the Board in writing.

    4. Board Action: The Executive Committee shall present its findings and the Board member under review shall have the opportunity to respond publicly to the complaint filed against him or her. The Board member under review will be excused from the proceedings and the Board shall undertake a confidential discussion regarding the actions of the member under review. The Board will vote whether to remove the member under review by secret ballot. Removal shall be by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board members present. The Vice-Chair will tally the votes, privately inform the member under review of the member's status, and then announce the results to the Board prior to the close of the meeting. If the member is not removed, the member returns to full status.

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Section 9. Conflicts of Interest

Any Board member with a conflict of interest shall indicate that such conflict exists and shall disqualify himself or herself from voting or making decisions on issues that relate to that conflict. No Board member shall administer, judge, or assist in an In-House or National Competition in which he/she is competing.

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Section 10. Leave of Absence

  1. Requesting Leave of Absence. A member in good standing may request one semester-long leave of absence during his or her tenure on the Board. No member is entitled to a leave absence, but will only be granted one in the discretion of the Executive Committee. Members requesting a leave of absence must intend to return to full participation the semester following their leave unless they take the leave of absence in the semester immediately preceding graduation.

  2. Form of Request. Leave of absence requests must be made in writing to the executive Committee and explain the circumstances necessitating the request. Members must also appear personally before the Executive Committee to explain those circumstances, but the Executive Committee may waive this personal appearance.

  3. Granting the Leave of Absence.

    1. The Executive Board may in its discretion grant leaves of absence to any Board member who requests one, giving particular weight to

      1. the timeliness of the request

      2. the number of members who have requested a leave of absence that semester

      3. the personal circumstances of the requesting member.

    2. The Chair, upon assuming office, shall set a deadline for requesting leaves of absence for each semester. In setting this deadline, the Chair shall state whether it is required suggested and provide reasonable notice of the deadlines to the Board within two weeks of assuming office and two weeks before the deadlines.

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Article IV. Responsibilities of the Board Officers

Section 1. Chair

The Chair shall perform duties that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Remain informed about the activities of all Board committees;

  2. Call and conduct Executive Committee meetings and give at least seventy-two (72) hours of notice to the Executive Committee;

  3. Supervise all Executive Committee members;

  4. Appoint an Executive Secretary and other positions as needed;

  5. Act as official Board representative at all university and community functions involving the Board;

  6. Appoint ad hoc committees as needed;

  7. Call and conduct General meetings in the absence of the Vice-Chair;

  8. Create standing and temporary committees and other posts as necessary to conduct Board business;

  9. Assign Board members to committees in conformance to Board requirements;

  10. Distribute each semester's in-house competition schedule to all faculty not later than two weeks into the semester; and

  11. At the end of the academic year, assess the performance of the overall Moot Court program and write a final report, including results from in-house and regional competitions reported by National Competition Chair and In-House Competition Chair, distributed to the Executive Committee, the Faculty Advisor, and the Dean, and deposited in the Vice Chair's permanent records.

The Chair shall have the power to delegate responsibilities to the Vice-Chair, the Executive Committee, and other Board members. Other powers necessary to carry out the enumerated powers shall be derived impliedly from the office of Chair.

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Section 2. Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair shall perform official duties that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Remain informed about the activities of all Board committees;

  2. Call and conduct General Board meetings in loose accord with Robert's Rules of Order and give seventy two (72) hours of notice to the General Membership;

  3. Maintain the Board's permanent record;

  4. Receive all Board mail and ensure that all mailings go to the correct Board members; and;

  5. Take attendance at all Board meetings and notify the Executive Committee of Board members who are on suspension pursuant to Article III, Section 4.

The Vice Chair shall have the power to delegate responsibilities to the Executive Committee and other Board members. Other powers necessary to carry out the enumerated powers shall be derived impliedly from the office of Vice-Chair.

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Section 3. National Competition Chair

The National Competition Chair shall perform official duties that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Oversee all National Team program operations, including managing and training the National Team Administrators;

  2. Regularly report to the Executive Committee on the preparation and performance of the National Team program;

  3. Maintain a resource that includes updated information on all available National Competitions;

  4. Coordinate registration of National and Regional team for their competitions;

  5. Coordinate registration of National Teams for scholastic credit;

  6. Coordinate with all National Team Administrators to ensure each Team's compliance with all National Competition deadlines and requirements;

  7. At the end of the academic year, assess Seattle University's performance in, and the Board's administration of the school's performance in, National Competitions, including at least team member names and results, and report the findings to the Chair;

  8. Receive all incoming mail regarding National Competitions for distribution to the appropriate National Team Administrators;

  9. Maintain manuals and handbooks for training and supporting National Team Administrators;

  10. Provide a training for each National Team Administrators as needed; and

  11. Maintain a historical record of the performance and placement of all Seattle University National Competition Teams.

Other powers necessary to carry out the enumerated powers shall be derived impliedly from the office of National Competition Chair.

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Section 4. In-House Competition Chair

The In-House Competition Chair shall perform official duties that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Each Semester, submit a proposed In-House Competition Schedule to the Executive Committee-Elect for approval and distribution by the last week of Spring Semester;

  2. Oversee all in-house competitions, including working with Administrators to plan, prepare, execute, and follow-up for competitions;

  3. Regularly report to the Executive Committee on the preparation and performance of the In-house Competition program;

  4. Maintain manuals and handbooks for training and supporting In-house Competition Administrators;

  5. Provide a training for each In-House Administrator as needed;

  6. Attend any relevant meetings of the Legal Writing Department as a representative of the Board;

  7. Maintain a record of any and all correspondence with the Legal Writing Department;

  8. Maintain a record of all competitors, bailiffs, and winners of In-House Competitions; and

  9. At the end of the academic year, assess Seattle University's performance in, and the Board's administration of, in-house Competitions, including the names of winning team members, and report the findings to the Chair

Other powers necessary to carry out the enumerated powers shall be derived impliedly from the office of In-House Competition Chair.

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Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall perform official duties that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Propose the Budget for approval by the end of the first week of each semester;

  2. Maintain all financial records;

  3. Approve payment of all bills and requests for reimbursement;

  4. Prepare and deliver a full budget report to the Board each semester;

  5. Prepare and deliver budget reports to the Executive Committee monthly, and make changes to the Annual Budget as necessary and as approved by the Executive Committee; and;

  6. Evaluate discretionary budget request as they arise.

Other powers necessary to carry out the enumerated powers shall be derived impliedly from the office of Treasurer.

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Section 6. Executive Secretary (ex-officio)

  1. Maintain non-voting membership on the Executive Committee;

  2. Keep minutes of the Executive Committee meetings, and make such record available to the Board only at the discretion of the Chair;

  3. Keep minutes of the General Meetings;

  4. Post the minutes of each General Meeting in a conspicuous place in the Board room within twenty four (24) hours of each meeting.

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Section 7. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of five (5) members plus the Executive Secretary (who shall be an ex-officio member). The Executive Committee shall include the Chair, Vice-Chair, National Competition Chair, In-House Competition Chair and Treasurer. Executive Committee members shall preside over and conduct all Board meetings in the absence of both the Chair and Vice-Chair and perform official duties in addition to their duties of office, which include, but are not limited to, the following::

  1. Remain informed about the activities of all Board committees;

  2. Assist in the performance of Chair and Vice-Chair duties as needed;

  3. Meet in an official capacity at least once per month while school is in session;

  4. Interpret, implement and enforce the Bylaws;

  5. Provide a training to the New Members each semester;

  6. Provide a training to the Executive Committee-elect in the spring semester;

  7. Preside over and resolve all aspects of Board member discipline for violations of the Bylaws, dereliction of duty, or other misconduct, giving all Board members so accused timely notice and an opportunity to be heard before any formal action on the matter is undertaken. In discharging this duty, the Executive Committee may act on its own motion or on complaint from one or more Board members;

  8. Review and approve the Budget;

  9. Review and approve the In-House Competition Schedule in order for the Chair-Elect to distribute the Schedule;

Other powers necessary to carry out the enumerated powers shall be derived impliedly from the offices of the Executive Committee.

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Article V. Duties of All Board Members

Section 1. Required Duties

The duties of the Board members shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. The duties of the Board members shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

    1. Make the Board a priority and devote the time and energy necessary to succeed in the Board's mission. Board members are expected to make a commitment of active participation in Board activities while enrolled and attending classes at Seattle University School of Law. This includes signing a letter of commitment (including a statement that the member has read and understands the duties required under these Bylaws);

    2. Ensure that the Board is devoted to the further development of oral and written advocacy skills;

    3. Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the Board;

    4. Attend Board meetings;

    5. Serve on at least two (2) committees each semester; and

    6. Complete any and all assigned tasks within deadlines established on Board Member Participation Forms.

  2. Fulfillment of all of these duties listed above is necessary for the award of academic credit, if and when applicable.

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Article VI. Bylaw Amendments

Section 1. Review of the Bylaws

  1. Frequency:

    1. The Bylaws shall be reviewed at least every other year to determine if revision or updating is required.

  2. Process:

    1. All current Board members may submit suggested revisions to the Bylaws.

    2. A committee ("Bylaws Committee") shall be selected by the Chair to organize suggested revisions submitted by Board members, review the Bylaws, and propose any new amendments.

    3. The Bylaws Committee will select and submit amendments to propose to the general Board.

    4. The Bylaws Committee shall publish the proposed amendments to general Board members no less than five (5) calendar days before a vote. The Executive Committee may call general Board members to vote upon proposed amendments during a general meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose.

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Section 2. Vote Required to Amend

The Bylaws shall be amended only upon approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board members in attendance at the meeting when revisions are proposed. Voting by proxy is permitted for bylaw amendments.

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Section 3. Stylistic Amendments

Notwithstanding the voting requirement of Article VI, Section 2, the Bylaws Committee shall, upon unanimous approval of the Bylaws Committee, have the authority to make stylistic, non-substantive amendments to the Bylaws. Each stylistic amendment shall be made available for review to all Board members during a waiting period of not less than five (5) calendar days. During the waiting period, any member may object to the proposed stylistic amendment by submitting such objection in writing to the Chair. Such objection shall render the stylistic amendment null and subject to the voting requirements of Article VI, Section 2. However, in the absence of such objection, the stylistic amendments shall go into effect upon the expiration of the waiting period.

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Section 4. Effect of Approved Amendments

Any such approved Bylaw amendment shall be deemed to go into effect at the end of the school year and thereby fully incorporated into the Bylaws, unless otherwise stated in the amendment itself.

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Article VII. Order of Barristers

Section 1. Qualifications

Graduating students are eligible to apply for the Order of Barristers. On behalf of the Seattle University School of Law, the Board shall be responsible for facilitating the nomination of students for membership to the Order. Selection shall be based on criteria set forth in the Constitution of the National Order of Barristers. For more information, see the Order's Constitution at the University of Texas Moot Court Board website.

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Section 2. Selection Process

  1. A committee ("Order of the Barristers Committee") shall be selected by the Chair to facilitate the nominations through various necessary tasks including, but not limited to, publishing availability of applications, reviewing and scoring applications, and submitting student names to the Dean's office.

    1. The Order of Barristers Committee shall be subject to conflict policies including, but not limited to, Article III, Section 9 of the Bylaws. Further, applicants to the Order may not serve on the Order of Barristers Committee.

  2. The number of students that may be nominated by the Board shall be limited pursuant to the Constitution of the Order of Barristers..

  3. Nomination to the Order is subject to approval by the Dean of the Law School.

  4. The Board agrees to comply with the Order of Barristers Chapter requirement set out in the National Order of Barristers Constitution, which generally requires that the Chapter participate in either the National Moot Court Competition or the National Mock Trial Competition once every two (2) years.

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Article VIII. Effective Date

Section 1. Effective Date

This version of the bylaws, amended during the spring semester of 2010, shall go into full force and effect on May 15, 2010.

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