OUTlaws at the University of Michigan Law School
Last Updated: Winter 2024
Preamble
OUTlaws offers the following Constitution in order to strengthen our law school student organization. As an organization for LGBTQ law students, our core mission is to empower queer1 students at the University of Michigan Law School.
With this Constitution we hereby reaffirm our mission of diversity and inclusivity. OUTlaws is not an organization for a select few. OUTlaws must ensure gender non–conforming individuals, people of color, transgender people, women, and others marginalized within LGBTQ spaces feel welcome within our community. We must ensure that our queer peers have equitable access to the resources OUTlaws has to offer. We acknowledge a history where queer transwomen of color, especially Black transwomen, sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement, that paved the way for our founding as an organization in 1981, and amounted to the successes we enjoy today. We look back to that history as we continue to advocate for queer students at the University of Michigan Law School.
OUTlaws is committed to a policy of inclusivity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, immigration status, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in its membership or activities.
Upon joining the organization, all members agree not to undermine the purpose or mission of OUTlaws. ARTICLE 0 — AFFILIATIONS
OUTlaws does not have any affiliations with any campus departments or other organizations at this time.
ARTICLE 1 — OBJECTIVES
In furtherance of the general purpose set forth in the PREAMBLE, OUTlaws will strive to achieve the following specific objectives but shall not be limited to these and may also strive to achieve such other objectives as the Executive Board or General Membership of OUTlaws will from time to time deem appropriate.
1.1 – To provide a forum for LGBTQ law students to meet and form a supportive community. 1.2 – To ensure that OUTlaws is a welcoming organization for all.
1 OUTlaws takes a broad view of who is a queer student within the Law School and who we aim to empower. See Cathy J. Cohen, Punks, Bulldaggers, and Welfare Queens: The Radical Potential of Queer Politics?, 3 GLQ: A J. OF LESBIAN AND GAY STUD. 437, 441 (1997) (“Recognizing the limits of current conceptions of queer identities and queer politics … examining the concept of ‘queer’ … we might construct a new political identity that is truly liberating, transformative, and inclusive of all those who stand on the outside of the dominant constructed norm of state-sanctioned white middle- and upper-class heterosexuality. Such a broadened understanding of queerness must be based on an intersectional analysis that recognizes how numerous systems of oppression interact to regulate and police the lives of most people.”).
1.3 – To increase the visibility and involvement of our queer students of color, trans* and nonbinary students, and disabled students.
1.4 – To actively engage prospective queer students and encourage enrollment in OUTlaws.
1.5 – To add the voices of LGBTQ law students to the dialogue of the law school and university communities.
1.6 – To collaborate with our allies.
1.7 – To keep our members informed of events and queer rights issues outside of the law school. 1.8 – To extend support for students who are questioning their identities.
1.9 – To support employment and pro bono objectives of our members.
ARTICLE 2 — MEMBERSHIP
2.1 – Membership in OUTlaws is open to any current University of Michigan Law School student interested in fulfilling the aforementioned objectives of OUTlaws.
2.2 – Those interested in becoming a member of OUTlaws may ask an Executive Board member to be added to the listserv, attend a General Body Meeting, or attend any OUTlaws event at any point during their law school career. We are an inclusive organization and impose no specific requirements to anyone trying to become a member.
2.2.1 – Members may be removed in extenuating circumstances. If the Executive Board determines that a member has abused group resources, or tarnished the reputation of the group, a three–fourths majority vote of the Executive Board will result in removal of the member.
2.2.1.1 – Any such person will be notified of their dismissal.
2.3 – Only members may vote in OUTlaws elections.
2.4 – Executive Board members may, by simple majority vote at a Board meeting, elect to impose annual or semester dues as a condition of membership.
ARTICLE 3 — THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
3.1. – The Executive Board will consist of the following positions to be elected by the General Membership: Two Co–Presidents; at least one of the following: Communications Chair; 1L Representative; Development Chair; Advocacy Chair; Social Chair; Treasurer; and an appointed Pro Bono Chair. Each member on the Executive Board is entitled to one vote during Board deliberations.
3.1.1 – The Executive Board may form or dissolve committees as it sees fit. Committee members are appointed by the Executive Board and not elected.
3.1.1.1 – The Gala Committee oversees the planning of an annual formal social event. The Gala Committee consists of the Gala Co-Chairs and the Social Chair. Gala Co–Chairs are appointed by the outgoing Gala Co–Chairs, Co–Presidents, and Social Chair in consultation with the Executive Board on a yearly basis or as need arises. Gala Co–Chairs form part of the Executive Board and are thus entitled to one Board vote per Co–Chair.
3.1.1.2 – Whether or not committee members that are not members of the Gala
Committee form part of the Executive Board and are thus entitled to a Board vote is determined by the Executive Board. Members on committees formed for short term projects or on a short term basis will not be entitled to a Board vote.
3.1.2 – The Executive Board, through a simple majority vote, may create a new electable Board position as it sees fit only if such position would best not be delegated to a committee. The inaugural occupant may be appointed, but all proceeding occupants must be elected by the General Membership consistent with 3.2 and Article 4.
3.1.3 – The Executive Board, through a simple majority vote, may abolish a Board position as it sees fit, but cannot do so without the consent of the current occupant unless the position is up for election or if elections are held and no one is elected or appointed.
3.2 – The OUTlaws Executive Board is a staggered board, terms are as follow, but may be adjusted:
3.2.1 – One of the Co–Presidents, the Treasurer, the Social Chair, and the Advocacy Chair are elected in April and begin their one–year terms with the next Executive Board following elections.
3.2.2 – The other Co–President, the Communications Chair, and the Development Chair, are elected in the first week of December of the fall semester or in January of the winter semester and begin a one–year term with the next Executive Board meeting following elections.
3.2.3 – The 1L Representatives, numbers of which are flexible, will be elected no later than the third week of the Fall Semester and begin their one–year terms with the first Executive Board meeting thereafter.
3.2.3.1 – 1L Representatives may run for open positions in either set of elections outlined in 3.2.1 and 3.2.2.
3.2.4 – If no candidates run for a position, the Executive Board may appoint a general member.
3.2.5 – The Pro Bono (Co)–Chair(s) will be appointed, as needed, by the outgoing Pro Bono (Co)–Chair(s) in consultation with the Executive Board and are not elected by general members.
3.2.6 – The Gala Co–Chairs are appointed by the outgoing Gala Co–Chairs and Co–Presidents in consultation with the Executive Board and are expected to have a year long commitment that can be longer if the need arises.
3.2.7 – After elections outlined in 3.2.1 and 3.2.2, the Executive Board will host a social gathering to celebrate the transition between new and outgoing Board members.
3.3 – The Co–Presidents are responsible for the overall vision and growth of OUTlaws. They establish the vision for the year, oversee endeavors, and are primarily responsible for keeping OUTlaws a welcoming
place for all and striving for greater diversity and inclusion within OUTlaws. The Co–Presidents’ duties include, but are not limited to:
3.3.1 – Serve as liaison to the other groups at the Law School and foster increased cooperation.
3.3.1.1 – Foster relationships with other affinity groups and ensure representation of students of color and of other intersecting identities in OUTlaws programming.
3.3.1.2 – Seek out opportunities to plan and hold events with a variety of student organizations.
3.3.1.3 – Communicate concerns from any other student groups to the Executive Board and the General Membership.
3.3.2 – Lead external public relations with, but not limited to, Big Law attorneys, public interest attorneys, government attorneys, judges, other attorneys, donors, alumni, academics, activists, and students at other law schools and universities.
3.3.2.1 – Maintain cordial and productive relationships with current and prospective employers, consistent with our values outlined in the PREAMBLE and Article 1.
3.3.2.2 – Ensure that such relations benefit gender non–conforming people, people of color, trans* people, and women in OUTlaws.
3.3.2.3 – Serve as a representative of the organization by responding to or delegating the response to all outside emails as necessary. (Note: This role is subject to the
responsibilities of the Development Chair to respond to Prospective students)
3.3.3 – Maintain cordial and productive relationships, consistent with our values outlined in the PREAMBLE and Article 1, with Faculty, Staff, and Administration at the Law School.
3.3.3.1 – Advocate for queer students before the Administration.
3.3.4 – Collaborate in partnership with members of the Executive Board or appointed committee members in the planning and logistics of large scale events including, but not limited to, an annual formal social event or Out in Big Law.
3.3.5 – Oversee the OUTlaws listserv and adding and deleting members as needed.
3.3.6 – Help ensure public interest students’ needs and concerns are being addressed.
3.3.7 – In collaboration with the Treasurer, ensure the long-term financial strength of the organization.
3.3.8 – Assert executive decision making authority during special or exceptional situations where urgent, immediate, or unilateral decisions are necessary and waiting for the full Executive Board to convene and decide would impede the organization's functions or compromise its interests.
3.4 – The Treasurer is responsible for the OUTlaws budget, its financing, and to ensure the long-term financial strength of the organization. The Treasurer's duties include, but are not limited to:
3.4.1 – Account for the financial affairs of the organization and maintain detailed records thereof. 3.4.2 – Pay bills of the organization when receipts for expenditures are turned in. 3.4.3 – Regularly consult with the Co–Presidents.
3.4.4 – Propose a budget for the following year to be adopted and submitted by the organization to the Law School Student Senate (LSSS).
3.4.5 – Attend, if necessary, any LSSS budget hearings.
3.4.6 – Should either, or both, of the Co–Presidents not be able to continue in their role, resign, or be dismissed, the Treasurer will assume the duties ascribed in 3.3 as Interim President, concurrently serving as Treasurer, and call for elections of the new Co–President(s) in a timely fashion, but no later than the elections for which the outgoing Co–President(s) would have transitioned out of their role.
3.5 – The Communications Chair is responsible for communications. The Communications Chair’s duties include, but are not limited to:
3.5.1 – Maintain the bulletin board.
3.5.2 – Maintain a yearly calendar of activities.
3.5.3 – Serve as Webmaster for the OUTlaws website. The Communications Chair is responsible for learning how to update the site and keeping the online calendar updated as events are planned.
3.5.4 – Maintain OUTlaws social media pages.
3.5.5 – Create and disseminate event flyers and emails.
3.6 – The 1L Representatives’ duties include, but are not limited to:
3.6.1 – Assist Executive Board members in carrying out their duties and serve on committees. 3.6.2 – Serve as a liaison between 1Ls and the OUTlaws Executive Board.
3.6.2.1 – Especially encourage 1Ls who are queer people of color, queer women, trans* people, and gender non–conforming to be involved with OUTlaws.
3.6.3 – Plan a social event early in their tenure such as a punch and cheese night. 3.6.4 – Consider running for other Executive Board positions.
3.7 – The Development Chair’s duties include, but are not limited to:
3.7.1 – Lead recruitment efforts for prospective and admitted students with the full support of the Executive Board.
3.7.1.1 – Organize OUTlaws participation at Phone–a–Thons and other admissions events.
3.7.1.2 – Organize OUTlaws Preview Weekends activities with the full assistance and support of the Executive Board.
3.7.1.3 – Ensure that recruitment efforts include resources and programming dedicated towards prospective and admitted applicants with underrepresented intersecting identities.
3.7.1.4 – Collaborate with other affinity groups with recruitment efforts.
3.7.2 – Facilitate professional development efforts for current members with the full support of the Executive Board.
3.7.2.1 – This includes, but is not limited to nor required, résumé workshops,
programming on 1L Summer Associate positions, programming on Early Interview Week, programming on public interest careers, and connecting 1Ls with
upperclassmen.
3.7.2.2 – Maintain a cordial and productive relationship with the Office of Career Planning.
3.7.3 – Organize the OUTlaws Mentorship program.
3.7.4 – Maintain the Alumni Database and ensure graduating 3Ls’ information is included. 3.8 – The Advocacy Chair’s duties include, but are not limited to:
3.8.1 – Identify issues affecting the Michigan Law LGBTQ community and take action to advocate for our needs within the law school and the wider community.
3.8.2 – Coordinate speaking events and advocacy work with Co-Presidents to solicit co– sponsorship of events with other affinity groups, student organizations, and community organizations.
3.8.3 – Provide programming for OUTlaws and the broader law school community about LGBTQ issues at the local, state, national, and global levels, and solicit participants for appropriately related activism and education.
3.8.4 – The Advocacy Chair’s work is necessarily intersectional. The Chair must support and elevate voices in the LGBTQ community that do not typically have a seat at the table. In order to ensure that these views are reflected, the Advocacy Chair is strongly encouraged to form a committee that is representative of the entire OUTlaws community and meets regularly to discuss issues and opportunities for advocacy.
3.9 – The Social Chair’s duties include, but are not limited to:
3.9.1 – Plan, organize, and advertise social events.
3.9.1.1 – Plan at least one event per semester that centers OUTlaws members of color.
3.9.1.2 – Plan at least one event per semester that centers OUTlaws members who are not cis-men.
3.9.2 – Maintain a calendar of all social events and update the Executive Board and General Membership as necessary.
3.9.3 – Help ensure that all social events are furthering the mission of diversity and inclusivity within OUTlaws.
3.9.4 – Plan, organize, and advertise an annual formal social event as part of the Gala Committee.
3.10 – The Pro Bono Chair’s Duties include, but are not limited to:
3.10.1 – Lead, organize, and implement pro bono activities that serve the LGBTQ community. This pro bono work is organized under the name “Outreach” and activities may include the following: annual Name Change Clinic, name change work for trans* and nonbinary clients, and research projects.
3.10.2 – Liaise with supervising attorney(s). Note that the activities listed above may reflect work that supervising attorneys bring, so activities may change depending on the supervising attorney, Pro Bono Chair interest, or OUTlaws general body feedback. Note that supervising attorney supervision may depend on attorney interest and job constraints.
3.10.3 – Recruit OUTlaws members and other Michigan Law students to participate in Outreach.
ARTICLE 4 — ELECTIONS
4.1 – All members are eligible to vote in elections consistent with Article 2.
4.2 – The membership shall be notified at least five days in advance of any election. 4.3 – Electronic voting is the preferred method for all elections.
4.4 – OUTlaws members may nominate themselves for elected offices. Other members may nominate candidates provided that that candidate is also an OUTlaws member.
4.4.1 – Candidates will be required to submit a written statement of interest for every position they are running for.
4.4.2 – In their written statement of interest for each position, candidates will be required to address their commitment and contribution to diversity in OUTlaws that mirrors that of the broader queer community.
4.5 – In the event of a tie between three or more candidates, the tied candidates proceed to a second round of elections before the General Membership. If the tie is between two candidates, the incumbent Executive Board, through a simple majority, will cast the deciding vote. Should the Executive Board vote also be a tie, the senior Co–President will cast the deciding vote.
4.6 – Elections shall be overseen by the Co-Presidents. If a Co-President is running for a position in the election, they shall not participate in oversight of the election. In that event, the remaining Co-President shall select another Executive Board Member to oversee the election. If both Co-Presidents are running, then they shall each select another Executive Board Member to oversee the election.
4.7 – Executive Board Members who are able to see the results of an election in real time may cast their vote before the voting period begins, but may not vote once the ballot is available to the General Membership. Executive Board Members who cannot see the results in real time may participate normally.
ARTICLE 5 — MEETINGS
5.1 – Executive Board Meetings
5.1.1 – The Executive Board will meet on a regular basis and no less than twice a month. A duly constituted meeting requires two days’ notice.
5.1.2 – Executive Board Procedures
5.1.2.1 – Unless otherwise stated, all measures brought before the Executive Board for a vote will be decided by a simple majority.
5.1.2.2 – The Executive Board, through a simple majority, must approve expenditures over $500.
5.1.2.2.1 – Any expenditures over $2000.00 must be approved by the General
Membership with the exception of expenditures made for events for which there is funding from outside the Law School or University.
5.1.3 – The Executive Board need not formally meet to vote on a measure unless it would intentionally prevent a member of the Executive Board from voting on such measure and doing so would undermine our core mission.
5.1.4 – In the case of a tie in votes during Board deliberations, both Co–Presidents and the Treasurer will convene, in some capacity, and through a simple majority cast one deciding vote.
5.2 – The entire membership will meet by a General Body Meeting on a needed basis, but not less than twice per semester.
ARTICLE 6 — RESIGNATION AND DISMISSAL
6.1 – Resignation and Excessive Absences
6.1.1 – Members and officials wishing to resign from elective or appointive positions must either submit a signed letter of resignation to the Co–Presidents or verbally resign in front of at least one Co–President stating their reason.
6.1.2 – Four unexcused absences by an Executive Board member from a duly scheduled meeting during the member's respective one–year term will operate as a resignation.
6.1.2.1 – An unexcused absence is defined as a failure to notify the Executive Board of the member's absence. Notification occurs when the Board member e–mails an
appropriate excuse to the Co–Presidents or notifies the entire Executive Board through email or other means prior to the meeting.
6.1.3 – If a member resigns, the co-president(s) shall, with the consultation of the board, appoint a new member(s) for the vacated position.
6.2 – Impeachment and Dismissal
6.2.1 – The impeachment process shall be initiated by an Executive Board member filing charges against another Board member. Such charges must be filed in writing with one of the Co– Presidents, or if such charges are against either Co–President, with the Treasurer.
6.2.1.1 – Any active member of OUTlaws may petition Executive Board members to file
impeachment charges against any Board member to initiate proceedings in accordance with 6.2.1.
6.2.2 – Committee members who are not on the Executive Board in accordance to 3.1.3.2 do not undergo Impeachment and Dismissal proceedings.
6.2.2.1 – Any OUTlaws member may petition any Executive Board member to terminate a person’s role on a committee.
6.2.2.2 – The petition will be presented at an Executive Board meeting where the person will be allowed to refute the petition. Through a simple majority vote, the Board will determine whether to drop the petition or terminate the charged person from their committee role.
6.2.3 – Impeachment and Dismissal Proceedings
6.2.3.1 – An “impeachable offense” is defined as egregious misbehavior inconsistent with OUTlaws as an organization, rather than as a disagreement among members.
6.2.3.2 – The Board member receiving the petition shall notify in writing the person against whom charges have been filed.
6.2.3.3 –The person against whom charges have been filed will have 72 hours to provide a written response of any explanation or defense. The 72 hours begins once the charged person is notified of this requirement.
6.2.3.3.1 – If the Board member against whom charges have been filed fails to respond within 72 hours in writing, the person will automatically be dismissed from their position without a hearing before the General Membership.
6.2.3.4 – All Board members eligible to vote will be provided with all information contained in the charges and a copy of the accused’s statement of explanation or defense.
6.2.3.5 – Board members will conduct a simple majority secret ballot vote on whether to impeach the person and initiate a hearing with the General Body to dismiss the person from their role. Ballots will be read and counted aloud by a member of the Executive Board who is neither the charged nor the accuser. This vote on impeachment is not a vote on the Board member’s guilt, but an assessment of whether the charges are sufficiently well founded and severe to warrant full dismissal proceedings.
6.2.3.6 – The Executive Board will determine the date of the hearing to be held before the General Membership for the purpose of determining whether to dismiss the charged Board member from their role. That hearing must be held more than seven but less than fourteen days after the Executive Board’s vote to impeach and move charges forward to the General Membership. The Board member who received the petition will chair that hearing.
6.2.3.7 – A valid hearing to dismiss must have at least 16 OUTlaws members present. The hearing must be open to the Law School and general public, but only OUTlaws who were members before the impeachment proceedings began may partake in the proceedings.
6.2.3.8 – The charged Board member will have the opportunity to speak at the hearing to dismiss. The General Membership will have the opportunity to question the charged Board member.
6.2.3.8.1 – If the charged Board member fails to attend their dismissal hearing,
they will be judged in absentia and a verdict directed towards them.
6.2.3.9 – At the close of the hearing, the eligible members in attendance will vote. Removal requires a vote of three–fourths of those members in attendance.
6.2.4 – Executive Board members may formally resign in accordance with 6.1.1 to bypass the impeachment process.
ARTICLE 7 — AMENDMENTS AND RATIFICATION
7.1 – This Constitution will be approved by the current 2019-2020 Executive Board in its entirety by two–thirds vote. In accordance with the provision found in Article 7 Section 2 and 6 of the 9/10/2018 Constitution, it will be ratified by the General Membership. The provisions of the Constitution will be effective immediately upon ratification.
7.2 – This Constitution may be amended by two–thirds vote by the Executive Board.
7.3 – Amendments may be proposed by any general member. That member must present their proposal to the Executive Board.
7.4 – No amendment may be adopted without the entire membership receiving a copy via email five days prior to the meeting at which the amendment will be voted upon by the Executive Board.
7.5 – A note on interpretation: while all writings are infused with meaning by their authors, the Framers of this Constitution request that any future interpretive efforts be supplemented with any contemporary understandings that will lead to enhanced social justice.
7.6 – The Executive Board must review this Constitution at least every four years. Ratified: 4/5/2024
ARTICLE 8: OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND FORMAL ENDORSEMENTS
8.1 – Any Executive Board Member may propose that the Executive Board issue an official statement or a formal endorsement. The Executive Board may approve such proposals through a two-thirds majority vote.
8.2 – Co-Presidents are responsible for drafting and issuing official statements and formal endorsements.
8.2.1 – Final language of official statements and formal endorsements relating to charged or controversial issues shall be circulated among the Executive Board and approved by a simple majority vote prior to issuance. Issues may be deemed charged or controversial at the discretion of Co-Presidents.
8.3 – For the purposes of official statements and formal endorsements, Outreach shall be treated as an entity independent from the Executive Board.
8.3.1 – Outreach may make official statements and formal endorsements without the approval of the Executive Board. Official statements and formal endorsements are subject to review and approval by the Co-Presidents.