Notice By the Governance Commission
Pursuant to Section 16.1 of the Association’s Constitution, the Commission on Governance has begun its decennial review of the House of Delegates, the Board of Governors and the Nominating Committee. With respect to each body the review shall include an examination of its size and a consideration of its composition to ensure appropriate representation of constituencies. The review of the Board of Governors and Nominating Committee shall include a consideration of whether at-large representation of women and minorities should be continued, and a review of the issue of districting for the Board of Governors in terms of Association membership.
In anticipation of submitting final recommendations to the House of Delegates for consideration at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Chicago, the Commission welcomes comments as it relates to the governing structure of the Association.
Please be advised that the Commission will conduct its first open hearing on Saturday, February 7, 2004, from 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., in conjunction with the 2004 Midyear Meeting in San Antonio, TX. This hearing is open to Association members and meeting participants. If you are interested in participating in the hearing or if you would like to submit written comments for the Commission’s consideration, please contact Alpha M. Brady, Director, ABA Division for Policy Administration, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, phone: 312/988-5155, fax: 312/988-5153, e-mail: bradya@staff. abanet.org. Additional hearings will likely be held during the 2004 Annual Meeting in Atlanta and perhaps during the 2005 Midyear Meeting in Salt Lake City. William H. Neukom, Chair Commission on Governance
Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
The Constitution and Bylaws of the American Bar Association may be amended only at the ABA Annual Meeting upon action of the House of Delegates. The next Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates will be August 9-10, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. Proposals to amend either the Constitution or Bylaws may be submitted by any ABA member. It is preferable that proposals be submitted in the form of a memorandum that details the purpose and effect of the proposal.
In order to be considered at the 2004 Annual Meeting, a proposed amendment must be received by the Division for Policy Administration at the American Bar Center on or before Friday, March 12, 2004. This deadline is essential in order to allow time for proposed amendments to be considered by the Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws.
Exact language will be drafted by the Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws and submitted to the sponsors for approval. This procedure will ensure that all amendments that are approved conform to style required by the rules.
Articles 12 and 13 of the Constitution require that notice of proposed amendments must be given to all ABA members at least 30 days in advance of the meeting at which the amendments are to be considered. Therefore, proposed amendments will be published in the July 2004 issue of the ABA Journal. The proponent or his or her designee must be in attendance to present the amendment for debate by the House of Delegates at the meeting at which the proposal will be considered.
Copies of Article 12, concerning amendment of the Bylaws, and Article 13, concerning amendment of the Constitution, will be provided to any member upon request to the Division for Policy Administration at the American Bar Center, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611.
Ellen F. Rosenblum
ABA Secretary
Notice by the Secretary
At the 2004 Midyear Meeting, the Nominating Committee will announce nominations for district and at-large positions on the ABA Board of Governors for terms beginning at the conclusion of the 2004 Annual Meeting and ending at the conclusion of the 2007 Annual Meeting. Pursuant to § 2.1 of the Association’s Constitution, the Committee will nominate individuals from the following states to represent the districts noted: Illinois (District 7); Florida (District 8); Nebraska (District 10); Oklahoma (District 11); Alaska (District 13); and Maryland (District 18).
The Nominating Committee will also nominate members from the Section of State and Local Government Law and the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities to serve as Section Members-at-Large on the Board.
In addition, one member-at-large who is a woman shall be nominated pursuant to § 26.1(d) of the Association’s Constitution. The nominations will be made notwithstanding the fact that women members may be nominated for the district and at-large positions on the Board of Governors.
Petitions
To be eligible for nomination as a member of the Board of Governors by the Nominating Committee, a person must file a petition signed by 25 Association members. Nominating petitions must be filed with the Secretary at Association headquarters not later than Friday, January 9, 2004. Nominees for district representative must be accredited to the state for which the nomination is being made and 25 Association members from the states within that district must sign the petition. While it is desirable that more than the required minimum of 25 names of members of the Association appear on the nominating petitions, only 25 names of signers of any petition will be included in the material provided to the Nominating Committee. Only signatures of members of the Association will be counted. Each nominating petition must be accompanied by a typewritten list of names and addresses of the signers in the order in which they appear on the petition.
A 100-word biographical sketch of the nominee also must accompany the petition. Forms for this purpose will be provided. The biographical sketch and a list of 25 signers from the nominating petitions will be sent to the members of the Nominating Committee prior to their meeting in February.
Nominating petitions may be obtained from the Secretary at the headquarters office of the American Bar Association, 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Secretary
Ellen F. Rosenblum
Notice by the Secretary
At the 1996 Annual Meeting, the House of Delegates approved an amendment to the Constitution to provide that at least 40 days notice shall be given to Association members of the time and place of the meeting of the Nominating Committee at which nominations for officers and members of the Board of Governors will be considered. Accordingly, notice is hereby given that the Nominating Committee will meet in conjunction with the 2004 Midyear Meeting in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday, February 8, 2004, beginning with the business session at 9:00 a.m.
Immediately following the business session, the Nominating Committee will hear from candidates seeking nomination at the 2005 Midyear Meeting. This portion of the meeting is open to Association members. Following the candidate’s forum, the Nominating Committee will vote on nominations for officers and members of the Board of Governors of the Association for terms beginning at the close of the 2004 Annual Meeting.
If you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please contact Carri L. Kerber at 312/988-5161 or [email protected].
Ellen F. Rosenblum
Secretary
CLE Programs in FEBRUARY
For more information, contact the ABA Service Center at 800-285-2221 or service @abanet.org, or visit www.abanet.org/cle.
