2002-3
An Amendment to the Constitution in Efforts to Reform the Legislative Process
Purpose: To update the Constitution of LSM-USA in order to make the legislative process more accessible to members of LSM-USA and the Reference and Council Committee of the National Council of LSM-USA.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following amendments be made to Article IV:
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 Counsel 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:
(1) Resolutions
(2) Position papers
(3) Regional concerns
(4) Study/action projects
(1) Resolutions
A. Purpose
1. Outline particular issues by providing necessary background information and outlining specific actions for LSM-USA.
2. Commit all affiliated groups and individuals supportive of the resolution to follow through on specified action(s).
B. Passage by Assembly requires two-thirds majority of votes cast.
(2) Position Papers
A. Purpose
Define LSM-USA's particular position on an issue relevant to the life and misstion of the LSM-USA for advice and counsel to members and representatives of LSM-USA.
B. Passage by Assembly requires simple majority.
(3) Regional Concerns
A. Purpose
Inform Assembly of the commitment of a specific region or group to action on a particular issue.
B. No vote is required
(4) Study/Action Projects
A. Purpose
Explore different aspects of an issue or a problem with the intention of providing impetus for local group discussion.
B. Passage by Assembly requires simple majority.
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 Counsel 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.
Sponsored by: RC & EC of LSM-USA