MISSION STATEMENT

We, the Members of the Dickinson School of Law Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, (APALSA), in order that we shall not lose sight of our common ideals and goals and in order to recognize the ways in which these ideals and goals shall be reached, do set forth the following articles as the primary and supreme functions for the Dickinson School of Law Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.

ARTICLE I

1. Name
   This organization shall be known as the Penn State Dickinson School of Law Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, APALSA.  The student chapter at each campus may use the local nomenclature as follows: the Carlisle Student Chapter of APALSA at the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and the University Park Student Chapter of APALSA at Penn State Dickinson School of Law.
   
   When a student becomes a member of either the Carlisle or University Park Chapter, he/she is automatically recognized as a member of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law APALSA and is entitled to a variety of benefits that are offered at both campuses.
   
   
   1. Sponsoring Chapter Events
      APALSA members can reap great benefits from attending sponsoring chapter events.  Such attendance gives the members an opportunity to learn from and network with other members of APALSA. 
      
      The sponsoring chapter may originate at either campus and is the chapter that organizes an event.  The sponsoring chapter should appoint a member of its board to be a liaison with the other chapter and should actively communicate with each other and work together when appropriate. Distance and other factors may make it difficult for all members to participate in a sponsoring chapter event.  However, when possible, such attendance is encouraged. Members should be advised of all sponsoring chapter events through an e-mail list serve.
      
      The sponsoring chapter should consider holding events from time to time, taking into account the interests and educational time demands of the members. Such events may center on career opportunities or involve social events that allow for a more casual exchange between student members.  Sponsoring chapters should also look for opportunities to co-host specific activities and/or to work together with other student organizations on events
      
      It is recommended that student members be included in sponsoring chapter events, as appropriate, to provide an opportunity for the members to network and to actively involve in APALSA events.
      
      
   2. Public Service
      The sponsoring chapter may hold any number of service projects, in conjunction with local organizations, to provide public oriented services to the community. All members are invited to be involved in these public service opportunities.
      
      
   3. Finances
      A chapter may collect membership dues and may use the funds for events sponsored by its chapter. The sponsoring chapter may also receive funds from the SBA for a specific event that it is hosting. The sponsoring chapter may also collect a nominal charge from its members for events as appropriate.
      
      
2. Affiliation with Other Groups
   APALSA shall maintain membership and conformity with the ideals and goals of the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, hereinafter referred to as NAPALSA.  It shall pay appropriate membership dues and engage in NAPALSA activities whenever feasible.  In addition APALSA will be affiliated with MLSA, BLSA, and LLSA of the Dickinson School of Law.

ARTICLE II

1. Purpose of the Organization
   
   1. The purpose of this organization is to foster the academic, social, and professional growth of its members by sponsoring legal scholarship activities, social events, and community service.
      
   2. The organization is dedicated to advocating Asian American leadership in all areas of law by encouraging the sharing, networking, and cooperation between all ethnic groups, especially Asian and Pacific Islander American students.
      
   3. This organization shall adhere to the philosophy that diversity will always enlarge our understanding of the different values that need to be understood as we enter the global economy; that unity should be embraced so that we may assist the less fortunate members of our Asian community; and that leadership will take on many forms, and ultimately is a very individualistic decision based on no arbitrary set definition.
      
   4. This organization will continually promote professional and ethical conduct of our members and will at all times strengthen our own personal values despite what we may see or encounter.
      
   5. This organization will further the goals as set forth in the Constitution and the goals of the members.

ARTICLE III

1. Goals
   
   1. To provide support for its members.
      
   2. To promote minority faculty appointments and invitation of minority visiting professors.
      
   3. To promote minority student law school recruitment.
      
   4. To coordinate public service efforts to aid the Asian/Pacific American community.
      
   5. To collaborate with other organizations at the Dickinson School of Law

ARTICLE IV

1. Membership
   
   1. APALSA is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, activities, or employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation, and adheres to all current Pennsylvania State University equal opportunity policies.
      
   2. Criteria for Membership: Membership in APALSA is open to any duly registered student in good academic standing at the Pennsylvania State University . A student shall become a member upon payment of annual membership dues. The amount of said membership dues shall be determined at the start of each school year by the Executive Officers. Members are subject to the articles of the Constitution and any bylaws and University student conduct policies. Associate members will include all non-student members, who must be affiliated with PSU in some way. Questions about non-student member eligibility shall be directed to the President and shall be decided upon his or her discretion.
      
   3. Criteria for Voting: All paid student members of APALSA are allowed to vote on organizational matters raised by the officers of the organization. Associate members will be non-voting.
      
   4. Methods of and Grounds for Removal of Members: If misuse of APALSA privileges is discovered, or if the member or officer has grossly failed in his or her duties or responsibilities, the offending member(s) will lose their membership through a majority vote of the APALSA Officers after consultation with the faculty advisor. Any officer may be removed for just cause—not fulfilling the duties of the office, violating the Constitution, dismissal from the University, or conduct unbecoming of an official of APALSA—by a simple majority of the APALSA membership.

ARTICLE V

1. Executive Board
   
   1. Composition: The APALSA Executive Board shall be composed of the President, Vice President, or Co-Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer. This is subject to change if the existing club decides on such changes.
      
   2. Powers of Appointment: The APALSA Executive Board shall have the power to create such committees as it deems necessary to carry out the business of APALSA. A member selected by any APALSA officer and approved by consensus of the Executive Board shall chair such committees. Such committees shall be accountable to the Executive Board and the General Membership.
      
      1. The Executive Board shall have the power to appoint individual members of APALSA to represent APALSA and its interests when and where necessary. Such APALSA representatives shall be accountable to the Executive Board and the General Membership.

ARTICLE VI

1. Officers
   1. Eligibility: Only voting members shall be eligible to be officers.
      
   2. Qualification: No student will be prohibited from holding office due to any discriminatory factor such as race, religion, sex, class level, or length of membership. All voting members are eligible for elected positions.
      
   3. In selecting the candidate for the respective executive positions, care should be taken to see that the leader has the vision and enthusiasm needed to help the chapter succeed.  The individual should be willing to dedicate time and effort to the success of the student chapter.

ARTICLE VII

1. Duties and responsibilities of APALSA Officers or Executive Board Members
   
   1. President
      1. Must be a member of APALSA.
      2. Must be duly elected and shall assume office at the end of spring semester.
      3. Shall be the official representative and spokesperson of APALSA.
      4. Shall serve as the presiding officer over APALSA and officer meetings.
      5. Shall oversee elections.
      6. Shall be responsible for enforcing and upholding the APALSA Constitution.
      7. Shall maintain communications with the PSU administration, the APALSA members, the APALSA Alumni, and other friends of the University.
      8. Shall have the final authority to represent APALSA in a manner consistent with this Constitution.
      9. Shall propose social functions and activities, with advice and assistance from other officers and members. The President's authority shall be final in these matters, with any objections stated on the record by the Secretary.
      10. The chapter president may act as the liaison or may appoint another member to be the liaison to the chapter board at the respective campuses.
   2. Vice President
      1. Must be a member of APALSA.
      2. Must be duly elected and shall assume office at the end of the spring semester.
      3. Shall assume the duties of President of APALSA in the absence or incapacity of the President.
      4. Shall assume the duties of advertising and publicizing for APALSA meetings and events.
      5. Shall assist the President in the daily functions of APALSA.
   3. Secretary
      1. Must be a member of APALSA.
      2. Must be duly elected and shall assume office at the end of the spring semester.
      3. Shall maintain records of organization and the minutes of officer meetings.
      4. Shall conduct necessary correspondence on behalf of the President, or Vice President as necessary to facilitate the needs of APALSA.
      5. Shall maintain photocopies of all correspondences sent out, whether to other members, other officers, the University or to the public.
      6. Shall review all in-coming mail as often as necessary and keep officers and members informed of all events of interest to its members, including but not limited to conferences, job fairs, guest speaker events, clerkship notices. The Secretary shall, upon review of such information, post them accordingly on the APALSA bulletin board.
      7. Shall keep a copy of this Constitution and any amendments together with record of all by-laws and resolutions adopted by APALSA.
      8. Shall maintain an up-to-date list of all members of APALSA.
   4. Treasurer
      1. Must be a member of APALSA.
      2. Must be duly elected and shall assume office at the end of the spring semester.
      3. Shall manage and maintain the finances of APALSA by creating a log, file, or folder of APALSA's account, accessible for review by its officers.
      4. Shall prepare, in conjunction with the other APALSA officers, expenditure reports and review budget requests.
      5. Shall approve budget requests in conformity with law school use-of-funds policy and shall advise the President before the transfer of funds to any party.
      6. Shall collect all dues and assessments duly authorized by APALSA.
      7. Shall represent APALSA in matters relating to University Student Fee allocation.
   5. New Positions
      1. The president may create positions upon his or her discretion, in areas such as:
         1. Web Design
         2. Community Outreach and Service
         3. Moot Court Coordination
      2. The new position will be subject to “Section 4. Election of Officers.”

ARTICLE VIII

1. Election of Officers
   1. Nominations for Officer Positions
      1. Nominations will be taken and announced at least one week before the scheduled election.
      2. The President of APALSA shall oversee, collect, and confirm nominations.
      3. All voting and non-voting members of APALSA are eligible to nominate candidates for any elected position. A voting member may also nominate himself or herself for an elected position(s). If there is no nomination for a vacant position, the president and/or the executive board may nominate an individual based on their knowledge of the individual's abilities.
      4. Candidates must be in good academic standing according to University policy.
      5. Candidates must be admitted, enrolled, officially recognized (i.e. tuition paid) as a current Pennsylvania State University student.
      6. Nominations will be closed for two days before the announced election meeting.
      7. Nominated individuals may accept up to two different nominations.
   2. Election Meeting
      1. The election meeting will be announced at least one week before the scheduled election meeting.
      2. Officers shall be elected at the scheduled meeting in April of the spring semester.
      3. The President will oversee the election process.
      4. In the event that the President has accepted a nomination, another member of APALSA who has not accepted a nomination for any position will oversee the election process.
      5. Nominated individuals shall be given the opportunity to give oral and / or written brief synopses of their aspirations and qualifications for the position they are seeking before the election.
      6. Write-in candidates will be accepted on the first ballot, they will not receive the privilege to give an oral or written synopsis of their aspirations and ideas.
      7. Any officer may elect to publicly announce support for any candidate for any position.
   3. Voting Procedure
      1. There will be space for write-in candidates on the election ballot.
      2. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote (51%) of the total votes cast.
      3. If no person receives a majority of the vote, a run-off election will take place between the top two candidates until one candidate receives a majority of the votes. No write-in candidates will be accepted in the run-off election.
      4. If a tie occurs in a run-off election, in any position except the President the winner will be determined by a random method chosen by the overseer of the election.
      5. Upon accepting a position, the new officer forfeits all nominations to any other positions.
   4. Length of Term
      1. New officers shall assume their position at the end of the spring semester for the period of one year. During the summer, the new President may, upon his or her discretion, permit the previous President, or Vice President, to act on his or her behalf, subject to the bylaws of the Constitution. Subject to an agreement, the prior President or Vice President shall make no final decision on any matter without obtaining timely authorization from the newly elected president.

ARTICLE IX

1. Duties and Obligations of its Members
   1. Members shall abide by the bylaws of the Constitution and be informed of all issues concerning APALSA.  APALSA members will not discriminate any information in "closed door" meetings, held to be confidential in nature, to any individual.  Members shall abide by the rules of this Constitution and all ideals and goals of APALSA.  Members shall encourage the growth and academic support of its other members by providing assistance, whenever possible, to other members.  Any information regarding APALSA members, not publicly known, may not be made known to outside individuals, without the consent of that individual.  APALSA members will take great diligence in respecting the information that is shared among its members, and not to abuse the knowledge in any form.

ARTICLE X

1. Faculty Advisor
   1. A faculty member of The Dickinson School of Law will serve as the Faculty Advisor for the organization.  The organization may choose to have one on-campus advisor (i.e. a full time professor) and one off-campus advisor (i.e. an adjunct professor).  The faculty advisor(s) shall be chosen by a simple majority vote of the APALSA members.

ARTICLE XI

1. Amendments
   1. Any member of APALSA present during a regular meeting may propose amendments.  Proposed amendments will be circulated to the members one week before the vote.  Amendments to the Constitution are enacted upon approval by two-thirds of the members present.

ARTICLE XII

1. Bylaws
   1. APALSA may enact or amend its bylaws with two-thirds vote of voting members present at a regular meeting, if each member of APALSA has received the proposal one week before the vote for approval.  These bylaws will become valid upon approval by the members of APALSA.

ARTICLE XIII

1. Effective Date of Constitution
   1. This Constitution shall take effect following its approval by the members of APALSA.
      

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