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RESOLUTION as adopted 1983
Be it resolved that the following Guidelines for Legislation be adopted as article number XII of the Bylaws of the LSM-USA constitution. <This resolution was adopted in 1983 and amended as shown below in 1984.>
During the business sessions 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.
Reference-and Counsel Committee will set an early submission date. All submissions received prior to deadline will be assured consideration at Assembly. Others will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis as time permits.
There are four types of legislation:(1) Resolutions
(2) Position Papers
(3) Regional Concerns
(4) Study-Action Projects
1) Resolutions
A. Purpose1. Address particular issues by providing necessary background information and outlining specific actions for LSM-USA and individuals supportive of the resolution to take.B. Format includes
2. Commit all affiliated groups and individuals supportive of the resolution to follow through on specified action(s).1. Background sectionC. Sponsors will be responsible to lead several half-hour discussion/question groups.
2. Resolved/Proposed action section
3. Sponsor's names and address(es)
4. Short summary
D. Passage by Assembly requires a 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 mission of LSM-USA for advise and counsel to members and
representatives to LSM-USA.
B. Format1. Background sectionC. Passage requires simple majority of votes cast.
2. Position
3. Suggestions for action if applicable
4. Sponsor's name(s) and addresses
3) Regional Concerns
A. Purpose1. Inform Assembly of the commitment of a specific region or group to action on a particular issue.B. Format -- Same as Resolutions
2. Does not commit Assembly to any actions.
C. 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. Format: Left to discretion of sponsor (guidelines are available from national office)
C. Simple majority vote of votes cast.
SUMMARY
This resolution addresses the need for set guidelines for legislation to be in the LSM-USA constitution so that the types and format of legislation are consistent from year to year.
ANENDMENT TO GUIDELINES FOR LEGISLATION
RESOLUTION as adopted 1984
Article IV of the Constitution of the Lutheran Student Movement-USA be amended to state: "Authors shall properly footnote all facts in the legislation they propose to the Lutheran Student Movement-USA."
Guidelines for Legislation
RESOLUTION as adopted 2002
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following amendments be made to Article IV (of the LSM-USA Contitution):
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 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.
(1) Resolutions
(2) Position papers
(3) Regional concerns
(4) Study/action projects
2. Commit all affiliated groups and individuals supportive of the resolution to follow through on specified action(s).
(2) Position Papers
(3) Regional Concerns
(4) Study/Action Projects
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.
Called by the grace of God and nurtured in a community built around the Word and Sacrament, we, the Lutheran Student Movement - USA, join together to serve God and Minister in Christ's name.
Through this ministry and in the Lutheran tradition of reform, we explore social and spiritual concerns and accept the challenge to unite with all the people of God.