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Lutheran Student Movement in the |
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Constitution ARTICLE IV - THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
ARTICLE VI - THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE ARTICLE VII - THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Bylaws ARTICLE V - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE |
(Skip Down to Bylaws) We, Christian students following in the Lutheran tradition, recognizing our identity in the Christian faith as confessed by the Lutheran churches, and living in creative and dynamic relationship with those churches, frame this Constitution to inform and empower a faithful witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in the academic community. It is our purpose to enable and facilitate that witness and service to which God calls local communities of faith in the world of higher education. We acknowledge that all have sinned and fall short of the grace of God and therefore, we welcome all individuals as we are all saved solely by the grace of God and in need of God's forgiveness. The name of this organization shall be Lutheran Student Movement in the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as LSM-USA. The purposes of LSM-USA shall be:
The membership of LSM-USA shall consist of such groups and individuals as subscribe to the purposes stated above and qualify for membership according to the Bylaws. ARTICLE IV - THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY The powers of LSM-USA shall be vested in the Legislative Assembly, which shall meet in conjunction with the annual conference, and the manner of election or appointment of whose members are specified in the Bylaws. During the business session of the Assembly, LSM-USA will vote on positions and actions for LSM-USA to take. The legislation adopted is an active response to our growing understanding of what it means to be God’s people in today’s world. The legislation serves to express our needs, concerns and actions to the church bodies and to our fellow students here and abroad. The deadline for legislation that will be guaranteed consideration at the annual assembly will be a post-mark date of October 31st prior to the assembly. The deadline for legislation that will be considered as time allows will be a post-mark date of December 1st prior to the assembly. Any legislation received after this date will not be given consideration. The deadline for all revisions to legislation by the author will be December 1st. The Reference and Council Committee can allow additional revisions after this date at its discretion. Under special circumstances, due to time constraints, (e.g. meetings and conferences held after the December 1st deadline), legislation which is a direct result of these special circumstances will be accepted for consideration at the annual assembly. These special circumstances will be determined by the Reference and Counsel Committee and the appointed Parliamentarian. All legislation received by the December 1st deadline will be included in the pre-assembly packet and will be posted on the LSM-USA web-site. All legislation that is received after the October 31st deadline and before the December 1st deadline and included in the pre-assembly packet will be marked indicating that it is not guaranteed consideration.There are four types of legislation:
Authors shall properly footnote all facts in the legislation that they propose to LSM-USA. Authors will be permitted to lead a group session discussing their legislation upon request to the National Council by December 1st. The format of the aforementioned types of legislation will reside in the Bylaws and be maintained by the Reference and Council Committee. Templates for each type of legislation will be provided and maintained on the LSM-USA web-site by the Internet Committee and be made available via hardcopy by the National Office upon request. A grammarian appointed by the National Council will remove all minor grammatical errors from legislation once the legislation is approved at the assembly. All changes will be made in conjunction with author approval.
Between meetings of the Legislative Assembly, the affairs of LSM-USA shall be managed by the Council, whose members will be elected according to the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE A. Between meetings of the Council, the affairs of LSM-USA shall be managed by the Executive Committee. B. The Executive Committee shall include the following officers, the manner of election or appointment of whose members are specified in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VII - THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Council shall plan, promote, and effect an annual conference designed to assist LSM-USA in the achievement of its stated purposes. The annual conference shall be open to all members of LSM-USA. Notice of the annual conference shall be given in writing to all members at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual conference A. LSM-USA may be dissolved only as follows: At the meeting of the Council held in conjunction with the annual conference, dissolution shall be proposed and ratified by vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Council. At the next annual conference, the proposal must be ratified by vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Legislative Assembly. B. In the event of dissolution of all of its regions, all funds, records, and property of LSM-USA shall revert to the care of the Department for Campus Ministry in the Division for Education of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
This Constitution may be amended by vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Legislative Assembly, provided that notice of each proposed amendment shall have been given in writing to all members of LSM-USA at least ninety (90) days prior to the Legislative Assembly.
Return to Documents & Legislation Page Lutheran Student Movement in the A. Voting members of LSM-USA shall include any group which is comprised essentially of individuals who are recognized to be enrolled in one or more of the instructional programs of any institution of post-secondary education in the United States, and which declare affiliation with LSM-USA in writing at the annual conference prior to the opening of the Legislative Assembly. This affiliation shall be maintained for one year until the following Legislative Assembly. B. Associate members of LSM-USA may include those individuals who are not students, but who find an identity in the Christian faith as confessed by the Lutheran churches. C. Honorary members of LSM-USA shall include those individuals who, in the judgment of the Legislative Assembly, have made a significant contribution toward the realization of the purposes of LSM-USA. ARTICLE II - VOTING PROCEDURES A. Each member group shall be granted one vote at the Legislative Assembly. B. The right of voice at the Legislative Assembly shall be granted to all members of LSM-USA. C. The Elections and Credentials Committee shall determine membership at the Legislative Assembly. A. The regions of LSM-USA shall be as follows:
B. Regional boundaries may be adjusted by majority vote of the Legislative Assembly. A. Voting members of the council shall include members of the Executive Committee and one representative from each region of LSM-USA. B. Regional representatives to the Council shall be elected according to the practice of each region no later than the conclusion of the annual conference. Each region shall select an alternate representative who shall serve in the absence of the regional representative or in the event of a vacancy in the office of regional representative. C. Non-voting members of the Council shall include advisors, staff of LSM-USA, and any persons whom the Council of the Legislative Assembly shall so designate. D. All members of the Council shall assume office at the conclusion of the annual conference. E. The Council shall meet at the immediate conclusion of the annual conference, at least once between meetings of the Legislative Assembly, and at least once in conjunction with the annual conference. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the President or at the request of one-third (1/3) of the voting members of the Council. With the exception of those meetings held in conjunction with or at the immediate conclusion of the annual conference, notice of all meetings shall be given in writing to all members of the Council at least thirty (30) days prior to each meeting. ARTICLE V - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE A. The Executive Committee shall be elected in a secret ballot from among voting members of LSM-USA who are in attendance at the annual conference, by vote of a majority of the Legislative Assembly. B. No officer shall serve more than two terms on the Executive Committee. C. In the absence of the President or in the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the duties and office shall be assumed by the Secretary. D. In the absence of any member of the Executive Committee or in the event of a vacancy in any office of the Executive Committee, the duties and office shall be assumed by another member of the Executive Committee, or by a member of the Council upon election by vote of a majority of the Council. A. The Council shall select at least one advisor from among Lutheran campus ministry personnel in the United States. B. Additional advisors shall include the Director and the Assistant Director for Campus Ministry in the Division for Education, ELCA, and any other persons whom the Council may designate. It is expected that groups and individuals who are members of LSM-USA will make financial contributions to the best of their ability in support of the programs of LSM-USA. A. A quorum for the transaction of business, etc., at meetings of the Council or the Executive Committee shall be a majority of the voting members of those respective bodies. B. A quorum for the transaction of business, etc., at the Legislative Assembly shall be a majority of the voting members of LSM-USA who are in attendance at the annual conference. The appointment and instruction of committees shall be the province of either the Council or the Legislative Assembly. ARTICLE X - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY In all matters not covered by its Constitution and Bylaws, LSM-USA shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order as most recently revised. These Bylaws may be amended by vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Legislative Assembly, provided that notice of each proposed amendment shall have been given in writing to all members of LSM-USA at least ninety (90) days prior to the Legislative Assembly. Exceptions are noted above. ARTICLE XII - DEFINITION OF "STUDENT" A student is any person who is attending an institution of higher learning or fulfills one of the following requirements:
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