A. The organization must have a constitution which includes:
1. The stated purpose and goals of the organization, including how they are consistent and compatible with the mission and goals of the University and its Catholic, Jesuit character.
2. The rules and regulations governing all organizational procedures and duties of the organization’s officers.
3. The organization’s commitment of service to the University community and how its purposes and goals directly contribute to the educational mission of SCU.
4. A statement with respect to the organization’s affiliation, if any, with off-campus organizations.
B. The organization must also:
1. Have at least five active law student members from the University community without discriminating against race, religion, sex, color, handicap, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual preference, or political affiliation.
2. Have all members be law students at Santa Clara University.
3. Present a list of all active members to the vice president of the SBA (full time) before being received for registered status.
4. Prove that the organization does not duplicate an existing organization.
5. Have only law students as officers.
6. Register with the Law Student Life Office.
7. Submit an officer list, with current telephone numbers, every fall to the SBA vice president (full time) and the Law Student Life Office.
8. Have a purpose not inconsistent with the mission and educational goals of the University and its Catholic, Jesuit character.
9. Agree to institutional policies and procedures appropriate to the organization’s activities, both on and off campus.
10. Agree that the exercise of freedom of expression will be done in a peaceful, nondisruptive manner and with appropriate consideration of and respect for differing points of view.
11. Represent itself in ways that make clear that registration in no way implies that SCU necessarily endorses positions or points of view espoused privately or publicly by members of the organization.
C. All registered organizations are entitled to the following privileges:
1. Use of the University name in the manner designated by the institution.
2. Use of University facilities at a reduced rate or no charge.
3. The opportunity to sponsor fundraisers on campus.
4. The right to publicize events and distribute information on campus in accord with institutional policies. All printed ads must contain a notation or stamp stating: “The views expressed at this event do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Santa Clara University, the School of Law, or the Student Bar Association.”
5. Inclusion in a directory of student organizations.
6. The opportunity to sell tickets at the Benson Center information booth.
7. Use of a student organization mailbox.
8. The right to invite speakers on campus in accordance with the University speaker policy.
9. Advisement from the Office of Student Activities.
10. The right to request student activity funding from the SBA. (This will be in the form of ad hoc funding, as only organizations listed as “Active Status” shall receive an annual budget.)
D. Responsibilities of Registered Status
1. All organizations must fulfill criteria in Section A to be registered.
2. All organizations must submit a constitution as described above.
3. All organizations must submit registration information to the vice president of the SBA (full time) by the end of the third week of the semester prior to the semester in which the group wishes to have SBA funding.
4. It is strongly suggested that all organizations collect dues from all active members in the amount of at least one dollar per semester to promote financial security.
5. Responsibilities of all organizations regardless of status:
a. Operate on a non-profit basis.
b. Adhere to the organization’s approved constitution and bylaws.
c. Use the mailboxes as a communication link between the officers and the Board of Governors.
d. Attend any mandatory meetings called by SBA executive officers OR Law School Administrators.
E. Responsibilities of Active Status
1. All organizations must fulfill criteria in Section A to be active.
2. An organization achieves active status after one semester on registered status and upon approval by majority vote of the Board of Governors. The board votes to approve such organizations at the last board meeting before club budgets are due.
3. An organization on active status is eligible to request funding from the Board of Governors.
4. All activities funded by the SBA must be open to all law students.
5. All organizations are responsible for holding all activities for which they request funding or for notifying the Board of Governors if an event will not be held.
6. All club officers are responsible for all money allocated by the Board of Governors.
F. Procedures for Removal from Active Status
1. Any organization found by the Board of Governors to be violating this registration policy will be reviewed for removal from active status.
2. An organization may be removed from active status by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors.
3. Upon a majority vote of the Board of Governors an active organization may be compelled to appear and show cause as to why registered status should not be revoked.
4. Organizations removed from active status will be placed on registered status.
G. Procedures for Removal from Registered Status
1. Every organization is required to abide by the registration policy.
2. Failure to abide by this registration policy can lead to a revocation of an organization’s official registered status.
3. Upon a majority vote of the Board of Governors any officially registered organization may be compelled to appear and show cause as to why registered status should not be revoked.
4. Upon a two-thirds vote, the Board of Governors reserves the right to revoke any officially registered organization’s status, including any rights and privileges granted.
5. Any group which has been removed from registered status through the above-described procedure may reapply for registration after passage of one semester.
H. University Policy
The administration of the University reserves the right to review such decisions, offer guidance on them, and even intervene when necessary, if the educational values and mission of the University appear to be undermined. Since Santa Clara seeks to encourage the exercise of responsible freedom, however, student representatives should be allowed the greatest possible discretion in making these judgments.
Voting and quorum requirements shall be determined under the SBA Association Constitution.