Student Legal Society

UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO LEGAL SOCIETY 

BY-LAWS

2003-1 ELECTIONS

1. All elections under the authority of the Legal Society will be conducted in accordance with the following guidelines:

a. The Student Legal Society Council (Council) will appoint a Chief Returning Officer (CRO) within one month of the election of the Student Legal Society Executive (Executive). The CRO will be responsible for the oversight of all elections during the term of the Council. The CRO can only be removed from office by a vote of 2/3 of the Council. The CRO may appoint one or more Deputy Returning Officers (DRO) to assist with the conduct of elections.

b. All candidates running for election are permitted to actively campaign for one (1) week prior to the first voting day. “Actively campaign” consists of:

1. Hanging Posters: No more than ten (10) posters per candidates may be displayed on authorized Legal Society bulletin boards. There will be no posters displayed in classrooms. Posters may not exceed letter size (8 1/2 inches by 11 inches) paper. No use of libel or comments directed at other candidates will be permitted. All Campaign posters will be authorized by the CRO in advance of display.

2. Making Speeches: The organization of speeches will be the responsibility of the CRO in consultation with all candidates. No candidate will organize speeches without the approval of the CRO.

3. Enticements: All candidates are expected to entice votes only through legitimate campaigning. Any form of bribery will not be tolerated. No candidate shall entice any potential voter with any inappropriate material or pledge. Inappropriate material includes any material gift intended to entice a vote/votes, but does not include items with pure publicity value (e.g. tags and buttons). Inappropriate pledges include any promise or suggestion that is not reasonably within the ambit of the position of which the candidate is pursuing in the election. Any candidate found to be inappropriately enticing votes will be disqualified at the discretion of the CRO.

4. Online Campaigning: There will be no campaigning via the internet outside of the designated campaign period for any position in any election.

c. All candidates running for election will be subject to a $50 spending limit for their campaign. Candidates should be prepared to present documentation for their expenses if the CRO should reasonably believe the costs to exceed $50.

d. All candidates must remove any campaign posters by 5:00 p.m., the day before the first voting day.

e. Voting will be conducted on no fewer than two (2) consecutive days and the CRO will advise all Student Legal Society members of the time and place of operation of the voting station.

f. The CRO will be responsible for the operation of the polling station. Any designated DRO and/or elections committee member may assist.

1. Candidates must not loiter in the vicinity of the polling station, and should generally avoid the polling station for the duration of the voting period, with the sole exception of casting their own ballot.

g. The CRO will be responsible for counting all ballots. Any designated DRO may assist. At the discretion of the CRO, each candidate may have a representative present during the counting of ballots. The representative will not be the candidate him- or herself. The Representative will not count ballots but may be present to ensure fairness.

h. The CRO shall make all reasonable efforts to contact all candidates or, in the case of an absence, his or her designate before election results are published.

i. All candidates for election shall have access to their standings with respect to the position for which they have applied.

j. If five (5) or fewer votes separate a successful candidate from an unsuccessful candidate, application to the Scrutineer for a recount may be made. The Council will select the Scrutineer. Effort must be made to select an impartial person such as a Faculty member. The Scrutineer shall grant a recount and will oversee the recount in conjunction with the CRO.

k. Any candidate for a Student Legal Society position is not permitted to run on slate with any other candidate

1. The CRO may, at his or her discretion, conduct the election electronically. In which case all electoral rules shall apply except for subparagraph 1(f)(i) and paragraphs 1(g) and (j).

2. A candidate’s violation of any of the rules herein will warrant penalty at the sole discretion of the CRO. The CRO, at their discretion, may meet with all affected candidates to discuss any potential violation and any equitable penalty/remedy. Notwithstanding, the CRO has authority over any necessary penalty/remedy stemming from a rule violation.

a. If a candidate is disqualified from the election by the CRO, that candidate may, within 24 hours of disqualification, appeal to the Executive to be reinstated. The Executive may reinstate the candidate by unanimous finding that the CRO acted in a patently unreasonable manner in disqualifying the candidate. If such a finding is made, the CRO is deemed to have violated the sanctity and integrity of their position and will be removed from office after full completion of duties pertaining to the present elections.

3. Outside of any election period (i.e. Between the commencement of the nomination period to the conclusion of notifying candidates of results) the Council, in quorum, may, with 2/3 vote, move to remove the current CRO from the position. Upon such a vote, the CRO will have the opportunity to make submissions to the Council, in quorum, to address any concerns. The CRO may waive this opportunity and accept removal. After such submissions, if made, the Council, in quorum, will vote on the removal from office of the CRO and such motion will pass with 2/3 majority.

4. If, upon the closing of the nomination period, only one (1) candidate is nominated for a position on the Executive, that candidate will be placed upon the ballot with a second place on the ballot indicating “Re-open Nominations”. This will apply notwithstanding the number of positions so affected. The candidate(s) will be permitted to campaign during the campaign period for contested positions in order to present his or her platform to the Legal Society. If all five positions are uncontested, a campaign period will still be permitted. If more votes are cast to re-open nominations than for the candidate, the nomination will be opened for at least one week (7 calendar days) and a by-election for that position will be held. If, after a nomination is re-opened, and the period for subsequent nomination passes, and no additional candidates are nominated, the original candidate will be acclaimed without recourse to a subsequent vote.

5. Elections for the Executive shall be held within one (1) week of March 1 in each academic year. Elections for Second and Third Year Class Representatives, and Valedictorian shall be held within two (2) weeks subsequent to the Executive elections. Elections for First Year Class Representatives shall be held within three weeks of the start of the first week of Fall Term.

6. If no more than three (3) candidates are nominated for any Year Class Representatives, those candidates will be placed upon the ballot with an additional place on the ballot indicating “Re-open Nominations”. The candidates will be permitted to campaign during the normal campaign period in order to present their platforms to the Legal Society.

7. If, after nominations are closed, fewer than three (3) candidates are nominated for Year Class Representatives, a notice will be sent out to all Student Legal Society members informing them of the lack of sufficient representation. The nomination period will be re-opened for an additional week (seven calendar days). If, after the subsequent nomination period, fewer than three (3) candidates are nominated, that Year will be restricted to those candidates nominated. The candidates nominated will be acclaimed without balloting. If three (3) candidates are nominated after this extended nomination period, the candidates will be acclaimed without balloting. Where there is no balloting, candidates will be permitted to campaign to present their platform to the Student Legal Society, and have opportunity to make representations to both the CRO and the Council.

8. If, upon the closing of the nomination period, only one (1) candidate is nominated for a Executive position, that candidate will be placed upon the ballot with a second place on the ballot indicating “Re-open Nominations”. This will apply notwithstanding the number of positions so affected. The candidate(s) will be permitted to campaign during the campaign period for contested positions in order to present his or her platform to the Student Legal Society. If all five positions are uncontested, a campaign period will still be permitted. If more votes are cast to re-open nominations than for the candidate, the nomination will be opened for at least one week (7 calendar days) and a by-election for that position will be held. If, after a nomination is re-opened, and the period for subsequent nomination passes, and no additional candidates are nominated, the original candidate will be acclaimed without recourse to a subsequent vote.

9. The Valedictorian is selected by the graduating student body of UWO Faculty of Law to represent the graduating body at convocation. The rules governing the election of Class Valedictorian are as follows:

a. A student will become a candidate for Valedictorian upon nomination by ten (10) members of the current graduating class of UWO Faculty of Law and a nomination by at least one current Faculty member of the Faculty of Law.

b. There will be only one Valedictorian, who shall be a member of the graduating class.

c. There will be no active campaigning for the position of Valedictorian.

d. If no candidate secures 50%+1 of the vote, then a run-off election shall be held within 3 school days.

e. Paragraphs 1(e)-(i) apply.

10. The outgoing Council will conduct a ceremonial handover to the Council. The procedural handover and in briefing must be complete prior to the beginning of April exams.

11. The student body at large may post campaign materials for the option to re-open nomination of acclaimed candidates, so long as the materials have been deemed appropriate by the CRO before posting. The materials must clearly indicate the person or group originating the materials.

By-Law 2003-1. Passed: March 31, 2004. Last Amended: September 9, 2009.

2010-1 SELECTIONS

Spring Hiring Period 

(1) The following positions shall be selected in the Spring Hiring Period:

(a) Chairs of SLS Committees; 

(b) the members of SLS Committees; and 

3. The Spring Hiring Period is the responsibility of the incoming SLS Council unless otherwise stated. All actions must be performed by the incoming SLS Council and Committee Chairs and may not be delegated unless expressly provided for in this by-law.

Applications 

(1) The Application Period for the Spring Hiring Period shall: 

(a) include at least 5 school days; 

(b) begin within 7 calendar days of the close of Executive Elections; and 

(c) be open for at least 2 hours after the release of the results of the election for Second and Third Year Class Representatives.

(1) Adequate advertising of the open positions must be completed by the Executive. At minimum this shall include:

(a) a mass email to all first and second year students on the first day of the Application Period and the day before applications are due; 

(b) posters on the Legal Society Bulletin Board; 

(2) The tasks required by this section may be delegated to the Outgoing SLS Executive.

6. The application form shall be created at the discretion of the Executive except that only students that have paid their SLS Fee shall be eligible to run. Selection  

7. At the first meeting of the new Council, or electronically at another reasonable time, the following tasks shall be accomplished:

(1) The Vice-President, Student Affairs shall present a list of SLS Committees and make a resolution specifying which selection process should be followed for each SLS Committee. The President shall present a list of Faculty Committees and make a resolution specifying which selection process should be followed for each Faculty Committee. The only possible selection processes are:

(a) to follow the Selection Procedure to appoint the Chair and members; 

(b) to accept all applicants as members, but follow the Selection Procedure to appoint a Chair; 

(c) in cases where there is only one applicant for Chair, to accept that person as Chair and all applicants as members; or  (d) to reopen nominations. 

(2) A Spring Selection Committee shall be struck for each SLS and Faculty Committee. The Vice-President, Student Affairs shall determine the membership of each Spring Standing Committee and the SLS Council shall ratify the composition.

(3) If required, a replacement Spring Selection Committee member shall be appointed by the Executive. Selection Procedure  

(1) Once struck, a Selection Committee will have full responsibility for the selection of the Committee specified by the SLS Council.

(2) Whenever possible, all decisions of a Spring Selection Committee should be made by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, then a majority of Committee members has the ability to decide which applicants shall be appointed.

(1) Each Spring Selection Committee shall be composed of three members of the SLS Council and include at least one Executive.

(2) Each Spring Selection Committee shall have at least one member of each gender. If the Spring Selection Committee does not have a member of a specific gender, an Executive member (or a student selected by the Executive) shall participate in the interviews in a non-voting capacity.

(3) Spring Selection Committees for SLS Committees shall include the Vice-President, Student Affairs.

(4) Spring Selection Committees for Faculty Committees shall include the President.

Fall Hiring Period 

10.

(1) The Fall Hiring Period governs the selection of first-year members of Standing Committees.

(2) Every Standing Committee must reserve at least one position for a first-year student.

Applications 

11.

(1) The Application Period for the Fall Hiring Period shall:

(a) include at least 5 school days; 

(b) begin within 7 calendar days of the start of First Year Class Representative Elections; and 

12.

(1) Adequate advertising of the open positions must be completed by the Executive. At minimum this shall include:

(a) a mass email to all first-year students on the first day of the Application Period and the day before applications are due;

(b) posters on the Legal Society Bulletin Board;

13. Selection shall be at the discretion of the Chair of the SLS Committee at issue. 

Reopened Nominations

14. Committee members may be removed from office by their Chair. They may appeal this decision to the SLS Council.

15. Nominations that are reopened or that occur outside the Spring or Fall Hiring Periods shall follow a procedure determined and approved by the Executive. This procedure should follow the spirit of this by-law.

By-Law 2010-1.

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