|
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE
WHEREAS WE, serving as Administrative Law Judges of the State of New York, desire to achieve the ends and fulfill the purposes of the National Association of Administrative Law Judges (NAALJ), and to affiliate ourselves with the NAALJ as a chapter thereof, this organization is hereby established. ARTICLE I - NAME AND OBJECTIVES Section 1. Name The name of this organization shall be the New York State Administrative Law Judges Association (NYSALJA), hereinafter referred to as the Association. Section 2. Objectives The objectives of the Association shall be: (A) To fulfill the purposes of the NAALJ, as set forth in the Constitution and Bylaw thereof, within the State of New York; (B) To confer and cooperate with other state chapters of the NAALJ in achieving the aims of the National Association; (C) To work for, promote, and advocate the highest professional standards of administrative adjudication within the State of New York; (D) To foster the improvement of administrative processes, procedures and tribunals within the State of New York; (E) To study, analyze and compare administrative law and practice in New York
State and other jurisdictions, for the purpose of better meeting these
objectives; (G) To engage in such other activities as may be deemed
necessary and proper to further the objectives of this Association, within
the limitations prescribed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the NAALJ and
all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, rules, codes, canons and
standards of professional behavior. Section 1. Eligibility (A) Active Membership. Persons employed or previously employed by governmental agencies of or in the State of New York, who conduct or previously conducted administrative hearings, write formal decisions based on administrative hearings or supervise or review such hearings or decisions are eligible for active membership. Active members shall also be active or associate members of NAALJ, as determined by NAALJ, by virtue of their membership in the Association. (B) Associate Membership. Persons endorsing the Association's objectives but not qualifying for active membership may become associate members and shall be entitled to annual and special reports and newsletters published by the Association. Associate members may attend meetings of the membership and the Executive Committee, but do not have the right to vote or hold office. Associate members shall, if approved by NAALJ, also be associate members of NAALJ by virtue of their membership in the Association. (C) Honorary Membership. Persons who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the
objectives of the Association may be elected honorary members upon majority
vote at a general membership meeting. Not more than two such persons may be
elected annually. Honorary members may attend meetings and speak thereat, but
may not make motions, vote or hold office. They shall be exempt from the
payment of dues. Membership in this Association shall be terminated for any of the following causes: (A) Failure to pay dues, as hereinafter provided in Article III, Section 3. (B) By two-thirds vote of the membership, upon
recommendation of the Executive Committee. Section 1. Annual Membership Dues The fiscal year of the Association shall be the 12-month period beginning July 1 of each year. Annual membership dues shall be paid to the Association in the amount fixed by the majority vote of the active membership. Section 2. Special Assessments Special assessments may be proposed by the Executive Committee and shall be submitted to the membership at large for approval by a majority of those voting. Section 3. Forfeiture of Rights Members of the Association whose annual dues are not paid within three months after the beginning of the fiscal year shall be declared delinquent. Upon 30 days' notice of delinquency, membership shall be terminated. Section 4. Reinstatement Membership terminated for failure to pay dues may be
reinstated at any time upon the payment of the delinquent dues. ARTICLE IV - GENERAL MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Government The Association shall be governed by majority vote of the active members voting. (A) General membership meetings shall be held annually, at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee. (B) Special meetings of the membership may be called by the president or by majority vote of the Executive Committee. (C) At least ten days' notice shall be given general membership of special meetings. (D) A quorum at any general or special meeting shall
consist of ten active members. ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Section 1. Composition The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the
Association, past presidents who remain members of the Association, and not
more than five other active members of the Association. The Executive
Committee shall be elected by majority vote at the annual membership meeting. Non-Officer Members of the Executive Committee shall each serve for a term
of two years. Two members shall be elected on even numbered years and three
members shall be elected on odd numbered years. Whenever any member of the Executive Committee vacates his or her office,
the remaining members shall, by majority vote, appoint a substitute for the
remainder of the term. The administration of the affairs of the Association shall be vested in
the Executive Committee, which shall carry out any and all authorized
recommendations and instructions emanating from the membership. The executive
committee shall, by majority vote, annually elect a nominating committee
comprised of three members. The Executive Committee shall meet quarterly, at times and
places to be specified by the president. Special meetings may be called by
the president or by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, at any time,
upon reasonable notice to all members of the Committee. A majority of the
Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. Section 1. General (A) The officers of this Association shall be the president, president-elect, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Officers must be active members of the Association in good standing. (B) Where no candidate for an office has received a majority of the first ballot in any election, a further election shall be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. (C) The president shall not serve two successive terms in such capacity. Section 2. Election (A) The officers, other than
President and President-Elect shall be elected each year by a majority vote
of the active members voting, and shall be installed to take office at the
conclusion of the meeting. These
officers shall hold office for one year. (B) The President and
President-Elect shall each hold office for a term of two years, running
concurrently with one another.
These officers shall be elected every second year by a majority vote
of the active members voting, and shall be installed to take office at the
conclusion of the meeting.
Election of President and President-Elect will be held in even-numbered
years. (C) In order to implement the
change from one-year to two-year terms for the President and President
-Elect, those serving in those positions during the 2006-2007 year shall have
their terms extended from one year to two years each, and shall continue in
those capacities through the 2007-2008 cycle, with the subsequent election
for those offices taking place in 2008. Section 3. Duties of the President (A) The president shall be the executive officer of the Association and
shall preside at all meetings of the Association. The president may call
meetings of the Executive Committee and all regular and special committees.
The president shall appoint all committees except the nominating committee. (C) The president shall render an annual report to the general membership and may submit such recommendations as he or she deems necessary. Section 4. Duties of the President-Elect (A) The President-Elect shall be the next succeeding President of the Association. (B) In the event the president is unable to perform the duties of the office, the president-elect shall preside and perform the duties of the president. (C) The president-elect shall also perform such duties as are assigned by the president or the Executive Committee, and shall act for the president at the president's request. Section 5. Duties of the Vice President (A) The Vice President shall serve as an active member of the Executive Committee. (B) In the event the president and president-elect are unable to perform the duties of the office of president, the vice president shall preside and perform the duties of the president. Section 6. Duties of the Secretary (A) The secretary shall keep minutes of meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee. (B) The secretary shall assist the Treasurer as necessary with regard to maintaining a current roster of members in good standing. (C) The secretary shall prepare and issue correspondence at the request of the president. Section 7. Duties of the Treasurer (A) The treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of dues for the Association. He shall establish a bank account or accounts in the name of the Association and shall be responsible for paying all bills and expenses of the Association. The treasurer shall submit to the president and to the Executive Committee regular statements of the condition of the treasury and shall be responsible for keeping the accounts and books of the Association. The treasurer shall account to the general membership annually, and shall render a statement of the financial condition of the Association at such other times as may be requested by the president or Executive Committee. (B) The treasurer shall remit to NAALJ such sum as may be required to maintain the Association's affiliate membership. (C) The treasurer shall maintain a current list of the members in good
standing and shall Section 8. Duties of the Immediate Past President The Immediate Past President shall serve as an active member of the Executive Committee and the chairperson of the Nominating Committee. Section 9. Joint Duties of the Officers (A) Checks on the account of the Association may be issued by the treasurer or by the president. (B) Upon direction of the president, the secretary shall strike from the membership roles any member whom the treasurer certifies to have been delinquent in dues for a period of more than one hundred twenty days. The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended at a general or special meeting
by a vote of two thirds of those present. ARTICLE VIII - STANDING COMMITTEES Section 1. Identity of Standing Committees (A) A temporary bylaws committee and a temporary nominating committee will serve to amend the bylaws of the Association and propose nominees for the 1999 - 2000 fiscal year. (B) Permanent standing committees of the Association shall be established subsequent to the annual membership meeting in the year 2000. Section 2. General Committee Functions (A) All committees shall be appointed by the president with the consent of the Executive Committee. (B) The standing committees shall report to the president and the Executive Committee and, on request, to the general membership. (C) The president and president elect shall be ex-officio members of all committees. (D) Committees shall meet upon the call of their respective chairpersons or upon the request of the president. (E) The various standing committees shall have such duties as may be assigned to them from time to time by the president or by the Executive Committee. Membership meetings and meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order Revised, except where the Bylaws contain conflicting provisions, in which case the Bylaws shall govern. These AMENDED BYLAWS were ADOPTED by the Association at a general membership meeting held on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 in New York, New York. |
||||||||||||||||||||
©2007 New York State Administrative Law Judges Association
Last Modified: January 27, 2007