NATIONAL BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
1225 11th Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001-4217
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I –NAME
The name of this association is the National Black Law Students Association, Incorporated
(“NBLSA”).
ARTICLE II -PURPOSE
Section I
The mission of the National Black Law Students Association is to increase the number of
culturally responsible Black and minority attorneys who excel academically, succeed
professionally and positively impact the community.
Section II
The purpose of NBLSA is to utilize the collective resources of the member
chapters to:
a. Articulate and promote the educational, professional, political, and social needs and
goals of Black law students;
b. Foster and encourage professional competence;
c. Improve the relationship between Black law students, Black attorneys, and the
American legal structure;
d. Instill in the Black attorney and law student a greater awareness and commitment to the
needs of the Black community;
e. Influence the legal community by bringing about meaningful legal and political change
that addresses the needs and concerns of the Black community;
f. Adopt and implement policies of economic independence;
g. Encourage Black law students to pursue careers in the judiciary; and
h. Do all things necessary and appropriate to accomplish these purposes.
ARTICLE III-MEMBERSHIP
Section I
General membership may consist of matriculated law students at an American member law
school or at an “at large” chapter that is not conjoined with an American member law school,
but that is recognized by NBLSA to be entitled to all rights and privileges of NBLSA defined
herein. Individuals seeking general membership must communicate their interest and rationale
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with the National Director of Membership in writing. Thereafter, the National Executive
Board will vote on whether that individual will become a general member. Individuals of the
general membership are committed to the purpose of NBLSA as stated in Article II of this
Constitution.
Section II
Members will be recognized at the local, regional, and national chapter levels. If an individual
is a member of a local chapter, he/she will be recognized by the region as described in
subsection B and also as a member at the national level. Local chapter membership must
consist of both regional membership and national membership. Local chapters are not
permitted to offer membership independent of regional membership or national membership.
A.
Chapter Membership: Chapter membership shall consist of: (1) any
American law school whose petition is approved by the National Executive Board
for admittance, or (2) any law student in the same locale whose petition is approved
by the National Executive Board for admittance.
1.
Active Membership: Active membership in NBLSA consists of all member
chapters that have:
a. Fulfilled its financial obligations for that fiscal year; and
b. Submitted the necessary paperwork to determine the number of
affiliated members in its chapter. Upon meeting its financial
obligations, and submitting the necessary paperwork, a chapter is
entitled to all privileges of NBLSA defined herein.
2.
Inactive Membership: Inactive membership consists of any chapter that
does not fulfill the requirement of Article III, Section 2(A) (1) of this
Constitution.
B.
Regional Membership: Regional membership shall consist of six geographical
areas to be designated as follows: Western, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast,
South West, and Southern. Regional membership will be recognized where a
petition of a proposed region, consisting of any chapter, group of chapters, or
any law student in the same locale, is approved for admittance by the National
Executive Board.
1.
The Western Region shall be composed of the following states: Alaska,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
Utah and Washington.
2.
The Mid-Atlantic Region shall be composed of the following states:
Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey (southern), Pennsylvania, Virginia, and
West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
3.
The Midwest Region shall be composed of the following states: Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Kansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
4.
The Northeast Region shall be composed of the following states:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey
(northern), New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
5.
The South West Region shall be composed of the following states:
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
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6.
The Southern Region shall be composed of the following states and
territories: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico.
C.
Associate Membership: Associate membership in NBLSA is limited to law
graduates and designated members of associate organizations. Associate
organizations are those organizations listed in Article 2, Section 2(A) (7) of the
Bylaws, and other organizations that promote the Black lawyer and law student, as
determined by the National Executive Board.
D.
Honorary Membership: Honorary membership may be extended to any person
nominated by the general membership and approved by a simple majority vote of
the National Executive Board.
E.
Pre-Law Student Division: The composition of NBLSA is to include a Pre-law
student division as a sub-section entitled the Pre-Law Student Division (“PreLaw”). The purpose of the Pre-Law Student Division is to serve as a liaison
between prospective law students and active NBLSA members in good standing.
Section III
Nondiscrimination Clause: NBLSA will not discriminate against an individual or group
on the basis of sex, race, religion, ethnic group, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,
disability, national origin, or country of abode.
Section IV
Rights of Membership: Only general members of Active chapters shall have the right to serve
as a delegate, the right to hold national office, the right to hold regional office, the right to
compete in all NBLSA sponsored competitions, and shall generally be entitled to all the rights
and privileges of NBLSA as defined herein.
A. Associate members may participate in all activities of NBLSA, except those
enumerated in this section, and may further participate as non-voting members in those
activities.
B. Honorary members may enjoy the same rights as Associate members.
C. Pre-law members may enjoy the same rights as associate and honorary members. A
Pre-Law member may only run for a position described in the Pre-Law Division
Bylaws.
Section V
Duties of Membership: Regular participation in the activities of NBLSA is incumbent upon
each member chapter.
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ARTICLE IV-ORGANIZATION
Section I
For tax purposes, each local chapter shall be a separate legal entity from NBLSA. No chapter
shall be deemed to be an agency or instrumentality of NBLSA or another chapter, nor shall
NBLSA be deemed to be an agency or instrumentality of any local chapter.
Section II
Regional chapters of NBLSA will be organized as described in Article III, Section 2(B)
of this Constitution.
ARTICLE V – ADMINISTRATION
Section I
Persons eligible to hold an office on the National Executive Board of NBLSA must be a
member of an active chapter of NBLSA.
Section II
There will be a National Executive Board of NBLSA that will consist of the following:
a. National Chair
b. National Vice-Chair
c. National Secretary
d. National Treasurer
e. National Director of the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition
f. National Director of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition
g. National Director of Community Service
h. National Director of Programming
i. National Attorney General
j. Regional Chairs
k. Appointed Officers
Section III
These officers must perform duties prescribed by the National Bylaws and by the
parliamentary authority adopted by NBLSA.
Section IV
The National Executive Board will:
a. Have general power to administer any and all programs, business projects, and
matters pertaining to or concerning NBLSA,
b. Determine all questions of policy and procedure, and must administer the affairs of
NBLSA
i.
Under the Constitution and Bylaws of NBLSA,
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c. Be subject to the orders of the membership; none of its acts can conflict with decisions
made by the vote of the general assembly or the goals and objectives of NBLSA,
d. Make recommendations,
e. Have the power to create staff positions and committees as necessary to carry out the
business of NBLSA,
f. Make decisions at a duly called meeting at which there is quorum,
g. Have the power to discipline any officer pursuant to Article XII of this
Constitution,
h. Set the date, location, and agenda of the National Convention, and
i. Coordinate all nationally mandated activities at all levels of NBLSA.
Section V
Board Approval: Board approval is defined as an affirmative, simple majority vote by the
National Executive Board.
Section VI
Should the office of the National Chair become vacant, the National Vice-Chair will fill the
unexpired term. Should any National office other than the National Chair become vacant, the
unexpired term will be filled by appointment by the National Chair, subject to approval by the
National Executive Board.
This same procedure shall be used on the Regional Boards as well.
Section VII
Election of Officers:
A.
B.
National Officers: The National Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Director
of the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, Director of the Thurgood
Marshall Mock Trial Competition, Director of Community Service, Director of
Programming, and Attorney General must be elected by a majority of the voting
delegates at the National Convention. The National Elections Committee will
coordinate such election.
Regional Chairs: One Regional Chair must be elected for each Region as
described in Article III, Section 2(B) of this Constitution. Election must be by a
vote of a Region’s respective membership, and must be coordinated by a Regional
Elections Committee.
Section VIII
Appointments to National Offices:
The National Executive Board will appoint a National Elections Committee to compile and
disseminate documents and procedures to members seeking office. The National Elections
Committee is charged with coordinating the election at the National Convention.
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Section IX
Terms of Office: The elected officers of NBLSA will hold office for a term of one (1) year to
begin on April 1st and end on March 31st of the following year.
ARTICLE VI-MEETINGS
Section I
National Executive Board Meetings:
A. In addition to the National Convention, The National Executive Board must conduct a
minimum of three (3) annual business meetings.
B. Officers are required to attend, or send a representative to, every Board meeting.
Officers who do not attend and do not send a representative must show good cause for
their absence. Good cause will be determined by a simple majority vote of the National
Executive Board.
C. Minutes of the meetings of the National Executive Board must be made available to all
Regions and local chapters on a monthly basis.
National Convention: The National Executive Board shall convene a meeting each spring,
which shall be known as the National Black Law Students Association National Convention
(“National Convention”). The National Convention should avoid convening during the specified
time allocated for the Spring Multi-State Professional Responsibility Exam.
ARTICLE VII- COMMITTEES
Section I
A. The Standing Committees of NBLSA will be the:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
National Constitution and Bylaws Committee
National Convention Committee
National Membership Committee
National Elections Committee
National Grievance Committee
National International Relations Committee
National Education Committee
National Finance Committee
National Magazine Committee
National Pre-Law Students Division Committee
National Community Service Committee
National Alumni Affairs Committee.
B. The National Chair, upon approval by The National Executive Board, can create any
other committee necessary for the carrying on of NBLSA’s objectives.
C. The National Executive Board may delegate such appointive powers as necessary to
facilitate both the organization and the operation of a committee.
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D. Standing committees of NBLSA will also consist of Regional Representatives from the
Regional Executive Boards. Regional Board members with substantially similar titles and or
job responsibilities will serve on national committees with their national counterpart. The
National Executive Board member will chair these standing committees. Regional Chairs may
appoint another officer to attend National committee meetings in the place of the titled person.
ARTICLE VIII – REGIONS
Section I
Each Region must have an executive board consisting of a Regional Chair, Vice-Chair,
Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, Director of
Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition, Director of Community Service, Director of
Programming, Attorney General, and Sub-Regional Directors.
Section II
Regional executive boards will serve as liaisons between its chapters and the National Executive
Board and must carry out the objectives of NBLSA.
Section III
Regional officers and their duties will be defined in accordance with the rules and regulations
of NBLSA as defined in the National Constitution and Bylaws. The duties of Regional officers
shall be parallel to their National counterparts.
Regions may choose to organize Regional committees as needed. When a regional committee is
formed, it shall be defined in accordance with the rules and regulations of NBLSA as defined in
the National Constitution and Bylaws. The duties of any Regional committee that is formed shall
be parallel to those of its National counterpart.
ARTICLE IX – FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Section I
To constitute active membership, as stated in Article III, Section 2(A)(i) of this Constitution,
each chapter must remit payment of dues to the National Treasurer no later than the first of
November of each year. The amount of the dues required of each chapter, and the rules
governing payment, are to be determined by Article IX, Section II below.
Section II
Dues: All local chapters must pay dues pursuant to Article IX, Section I of this Constitution.
The National Executive Board will:
A. Determine the amount of National dues,
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B. Set a uniform Regional dues structure applicable to every Region,
C. Remit a check to every Region for the portion of the dues that Nationals has
collected, and
D. Submit a list of new chapters that have paid their dues on a weekly basis.
Section III
Registration Fee: Each chapter in attendance at the National Convention must register and remit
registration fees for each chapter delegate attending the National Convention. The amount of the
registration fee and the rules governing payment are to be submitted by the National Convention
Coordinator and proposed to the National Executive Board for approval.
Section IV
Charter Fee: There must be a charter fee paid to NBLSA at the time of the charter
application. The National Executive Board may waive this requirement in cases of extremely
extenuating circumstances.
The procedure for chartering chapters is as follows:
a. Upon request, the National Executive Board must send a copy of the NBLSA
Constitution and Bylaws, along with a charter application, to the prospective
chapter.
b. Upon receipt of a completed and signed charter application, the application
must be approved pursuant to Article III, Section II(B) of this Constitution.
c. Upon approval, the National Executive Board, through an approved
representative, will issue a Certificate of Charter.
Section V
Competitions Entry Fee: The National Treasurer may remit up to fifty percent (50%) of
the competitions entry fees collected from each Region for the costs of administration of
the regional competitions
Section VI
Final Report: A final full disclosure of all funds received and disbursed within any given fiscal
year, including those received and disbursed at the National Convention, must be disseminated
by The National Executive Board to all chapters prior to the first regularly scheduled Board
meeting of the newly elected officers.
Section VII
Financial Report: The National Executive Board must make a financial report of money in the
National Treasury to the General Assembly at the National Convention. The financial records of
NBLSA must be submitted annually to a certified public accountant for audit immediately after
the first regularly scheduled Board meeting. This inspection report shall be completed within the
first sixty (60) days of the new fiscal year.
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ARTICLE X- FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of NBLSA is to extend from April 1st of the present year to March 31st of the
following year.
ARTICLE XI-VOTING
Section I
Each chapter should be represented at the Regional and National Conventions in accordance
with the number of members in the chapter. Under no circumstances will a chapter’s number of
votes be less than one (1) or more than five (5). A chapter’s votes are determined as follows:
a. Chapters with ten (10) members or less will have one (1) vote;
b. Chapters with more than ten (10), but less than twenty-five (25) members will have
c. Chapters with twenty-five (25), but less than fifty (50) members will have three (3)
votes;
d. Chapters with fifty (50), but less than seventy-five (75) members will have four (4)
votes; and
e. Chapters with seventy-five (75) or more members will have five (5) votes.
Section II
Proxy: Each chapter giving its proxy must comply with the following provisions:
a. The chapter must be in good financial standing with NBLSA.
b. The chapter’s voting delegates must be registered for the National Convention in
accordance with Article IX, Section 3 of this Constitution.
c. The chapter must present a written proxy to be certified by the National Director of
Membership.
ARTICLE XII – DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
Section I
NBLSA is empowered to make and enforce its own rules and to require that its members and
officers refrain from conduct injurious to NBLSA or its purposes. The National Executive
Board will have the power to discipline or otherwise censure its members, officers, staff
persons and committee members. Enforcement of any disciplinary action is pursuant to Article
V, Section 4(g) of this Constitution.
Section II
National Executive Board Removal:
A. A National Executive Board member may be expelled, suspended, or otherwise
removed from office after due process in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws
by an affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds (2/3) of the National Executive
Board. The Presiding officer at the meeting will require a secret ballot vote for any
proposed adverse action.
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B. Notice of expulsion, suspension, or removal will be given to the National Executive
Board member in writing. Any officer initiating such an action or the object of such an
action must make a presentation verbally or in writing on his or her behalf and/or to
select an advocate and witnesses.
C. Any officer may resign at any time. Resignation must be in writing and given to the
National Chair. The National Executive Board must send a written confirmation of the
resignation to the resigning officer.
D. All disciplinary measures resulting in adverse action must be reported by the National
Executive Board to the General Assembly at the National Convention; such
disciplinary measures are subject to review by the General Assembly.
Section III
Regional/Local Board Removal:
Prior to taking action under Article XII, Section 1, a members’ local board should consult their
local by-laws, and if the local by-laws are silent, The National Executive Board should hold a
meeting allowing the body to discuss and vote on the actions regarding the member. Minutes
should be taken at this meeting.
When action is taken under this Article, the member has the right to appeal to the next board in
the hierarchy. If the member appeals to the National Executive Board, the decision of the
National Executive Board is final. Consideration of an appeal should include a review of the
minutes from the initial action and an attempt to converse with the member and a
representative from The National Executive Board that took the action.
ARTICLE XIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
NBLSA is empowered to establish its rules of order through the adoption of some form of
parliamentary authority. A National Parliamentarian, appointed by the National Chair and
approved by the National Executive Board, will:
A. Be responsible for carrying out the parliamentary authority, and
B. Serve as a resource on parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE XIV –PROJECTS
Section I
The following projects are mandatory:
a. The Annual National Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition
b. The Annual National Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition
c. The Annual National Nelson Mandela International Negotiations Competition
d. The Annual National Convention
e. The Sandy Brown Memorial Scholarship
f. The Robert Pulliam Scholarship
g. The Nelson Mandela Scholarship
h. The Annual National Convention Community Service Project
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Section II
The Following projects are non-mandatory:
a. Adopt-a-school program;
b. The National Election Protection Project;
c. A Dean’s Roundtable; and
d. The NBLSA Death Penalty Moratorium Project
Section III
The National Executive Board may appoint a Chair to carry out the goals of the NBLSA
Moratorium Project. The Association, through the National Executive Board, shall promote a
moratorium on the death penalty by fostering the NBLSA Death Penalty Moratorium Project.
The NBLSA Moratorium Project shall consist of:
a. Assisting the American Bar Association Death Penalty Moratorium
Implementation Project ("ABA");
b. Encouraging and assisting associations, organizations, or movements to educate
the public or advance the moratorium movement in their jurisdictions;
c. Encouraging state government leaders to establish moratoriums and/or undertake
detailed examinations of capital punishment laws and processes in their jurisdictions;
d. Calling upon each jurisdiction that imposes capital punishment to implement a
moratorium until the jurisdiction enacts policies and procedures that are consistent
with the ABA policies which intend to (1) ensure that death penalty cases are
administered fairly and impartially, in accordance with due process, and (2) minimize
the risk that innocent persons may be executed; and
e. Striving to eliminate discrimination in capital sentencing on the basis of race of either the
victim or the defendant.
ARTICLE XV-BYLAWS
Section I
The Bylaws of NBLSA must be approved by:
a. Simple majority vote of the delegates attending the Plenary Sessions at the
Annual National Convention; or
b. In extenuating circumstances, a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the National Executive
Board, subject to review by the active membership of NBLSA. The National
Executive Board must publicize the need to make the change and create an
amendment to the Bylaws prior to acting; results of The National Executive
Board’s actions must be publicized.
Section II
The National Executive Board has the authority to make grammatical, non-substantive changes
to the NBLSA Constitution and Bylaws.
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ARTICLE XVI – SUPREMACY CLAUSE
Section I
Any provision of the NBLSA Constitution and Bylaws, any action of the National Executive
Board collectively or individually, and any measure adopted by the General
Assembly at the National Convention will supersede any governing document, rule, policy,
practice, or procedure passed by any Region (or chapter) of NBLSA.
ARTICLE XVII – AMENDMENTS
Section I
The Constitution of NBLSA must be adopted by a simple majority vote of the General
Assembly at the National Convention.
Section II
Amendments to the Constitution and/or Bylaws may be proposed by:
a. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the National Executive Board; or
b. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the National Constitution and Bylaws Committee; or
c. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates at a Regional Convention.
Section III
Proposed amendments must be submitted in written form to the National Constitution and
Bylaws Committee who will then present the proposed amendments to the National Executive
Board for review. The proposal must be clearly stated and justified.
Section IV
Constitutional amendments are passed at the Annual National Convention Plenary Session(s)
upon receiving a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the General Assembly.
Any provision of the NBLSA Constitution and Bylaws, any action of the National Executive
Board collectively or individually, and any measure adopted by the National Convention
Assembly will supersede any governing document, rule, policy, practice, or procedure passed
by any Region of NBLSA.
ARTICLE XVIII – RATIFICATION
Unless an alternative date is specified therein, the Constitution and Bylaws, and any passed
amendments of NBLSA become effective immediately upon ratification. Ratification will
occur upon two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the delegates present or by proxy at the Annual
National Convention of NBLSA.
Amended March 2016
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