CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS* CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I. NAME AND OBJECT. This Association shall be known as the AMERICAN BAR AssoCIATION. Its object shall be to advance the science of jurisprudence, promote the administration of justice and uniformity of legislation and of judicial decision throughout the Nation, uphold the honor of the profession of the law, and encourage cordial intercourse among the members of the American Bar. ARTICLE II. QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP. Any person who is a member in good standing of the Bar of any state shall be eligible to membership in this Association, on nomination in accordance with the provisions of Article III. ARTICLE III. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. SECTION 1. Nomination for Membership by Local Council.Nominations for membership, except as otherwise provided in Sections 2, 4 and 6 of this Article, shall be made by a majority of the Local Council of the state to the Bar of which the persons nominated belong, and must be transmitted in writing to the Chairman of the General Council, and approved by the General Council. SECTION 2. Nomination for Membership by General Council.--The General Council may also nominate members from states having no Local Council, and at the annual meeting of the Association may nominate members from any state of which a majority of the members of the Local Council are not then in attendance; but no such nomination shall be made or considered * Adopted July 25, 1928. by the General Council, unless supported by a statement in writing of at least three members of the Association from the same state with the person nominated, or in the absence of three such members, then by three members from a neighboring state or states, to the effect that the person nominated has the qualifications required by the Constitution and desires to become a member of the Association, and that his admission as a member is recommended by the signers of the statement. SECTION 3. Report of Nominations and Requisite Vote.-All nominations thus made shall be reported by the General Council to the Association for its action. The vote of the Association shall be taken viva voce, unless any member demands a vote by ballot upon any name thus reported, in which case the Association shall vote thereon by ballot. Five negative votes shall prevent an election. SECTION 4. Election of Members During Period Between Annual Meetings.-During the period between annual meetings, members may be elected by the Executive Committee upon the written nomination of a majority of the Local Council of any state. One negative vote in the Executive Committee shall prevent an election. SECTION 5. Life Membership.-Any person eligible for membership in the Association and nominated and elected as above provided, and any member of the Association heretofore elected may become a life member of the Association upon written notice to the Treasurer and payment of the sum of $100 for such life membership. Such payment when made shall be in full of all dues to the Association during the life of such member. A life member shall have all the privileges of an active member of the Association. All sums paid for life membership in the Association shall be invested by the Treasurer and the income therefrom shall be used for the general purposes of the Association, unless otherwise provided by further amendment hereof. SECTION 6. Honorary Membership.-Persons of distinction who are members of the legal profession of another country, but not members of the Bar of any state of the United States, may be elected by the Executive Committee to honorary membership in the Association without formal nomination or certification. Honorary members shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor during meetings, but shall not be entitled to vote, and they shall pay no dues. ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS. The following officers shall be elected at each annual meeting for the year ensuing: A President, but the same person shall not thereafter be eligible for election to that office; A Vice-President from each state; A Secretary; and A Treasurer. There may be one or more Assistant Secretaries, and an Executive Secretary, each of whom shall be elected by, and shall hold office at the pleasure of, the Executive Committee. The Executive Secretary need not be a member of the Association. ARTICLE V. GENERAL COUNCIL AND LOCAL COUNCILS. SECTION 1. General Council.-There shall be elected at each annual meeting for the year ensuing, a General Council consisting of one member from each state. Members of the General Council from the insular or other possessions of the United States shall be members of the Bench or Bar actually residing in such possessions. The General Council shall be a committee on nominations for office, except for nominations for a Vice-President from each state and the members of the Local Councils, and shall elect its Chairman annually, but the same person shall not be Chairman more than three successive years. The powers and duties of members of the General Council may not be delegated, and only members present in person may vote or act at meetings of the General Council. SECTION 2. Local Councils.-The Vice-President for each state and four other members from each state, to be annually elected by the members of the Association residing in each state |