I. Name and Purpose of Section
The name of this Section is the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association. The purpose of the Section is to promote interest in teaching and research in the areas of law and the judicial process. The Section also seeks to encourage communication between persons interested in law and the judicial process within the Association and with related disciplines.

II. Governance of the Section

1. The Section will be governed by a Chairperson, a Chairperson-elect, a Secretary-Treasurer, and five members of the Executive Committee.
   
2. The duties of these officers is as follows:
   

   Chairperson: Chair an Annual Section Meeting during the Annual Meeting of the APSA; organize Section meetings or panels as requested by the Executive Committee, by regional associations, or related disciplines; chair or select a chair for a nominating committee for Section officers; and take other actions requested by the Executive Committee or that are in the interest of the Section.

   Chairperson-elect: Assume the office of Chairperson at the next annual Section meeting; serve as a member of the Executive Committee; chair the meeting of the Section or Executive Committee in the absence of the Chairperson; assume the office of Chairperson in the event of a vacancy.

   Secretary-Treasurer: Maintain a record of actions of the Executive Committee and the annual meeting; maintain the financial records of the Section; communicate relevant information to the Section membership; and conduct mail ballots when necessary.

   Executive Committee: Except when the office of Chairperson is filled as described above, it shall fill all vacancies in any office including its own membership until the next election; audit the annual report of the Secretary-Treasurer; propose amendments to these byllaws or receive petitions for changes in the bylaws; make decisions and recommendations for any other business of the Section; and interpret these bylaws.

3. The election of officers should proceed as follows:
   

   1. In March the Section Chairperson should organize a nominating committee consisting of at least five members of the Section representing the diverse interests of the Section.

   2. Following its appointment, the nominating committee should solicit the members of the Section for nominations for Section offices. The nominating committee shall nominate a slate of officers that (a) is taken from the names received particularly those persons receiving several mentions, and (b) represents the diverse interests of the Section. The slate shall be listed in the summer issue of the Section Newsletter and/or PS or otherwise distributed to the Section members so that the nominees are known prior to the Annual Section Meeting.

   3. Five members of the Section may nominate candidates for any office (except chairperson) at the Annual Section Meeting, or by petition sent to the Chairperson prior to the meeting.

   4. For offices for which no nominations are received or made at the Annual Section Meeting, the nominating committee's slate shall be submitted for election at the Section Meeting. The new officers shall assume office at the conclusion of the meeting. Offices which are contested shall be filled by mail ballot sent to all members of the Section. The winner shall be determined by a majority vote of all members participating in the election. In cases where no individual receives a majority of votes, a run-off election between candidates receiving the two greater number of votes will be held. The winner shall assume office upon election.

   5. The membership of the Section should be informed of the election outcomes in next Section Newsletter.

   6. Questions or conflicts regarding any election should be settled by the Executive Committee.

4. The terms of office for Section officers are as follows:
   

   Chairperson: one year

   Chairperson-elect: one year

   Secretary-Treasurer: three years

   Executive Committee: two years

Terms shall expire at the conclusion of the APSA Annual Meeting, except that when an office is contested, the incumbent shall continue in office until his/her successor is elected.

III. Membership in the Section

1. All regular, student, family, retired, and life members of the American Political
   
2. Associate membership in the Section is available to all non-political scientists who share an interest in law and the judicial process. Associate members may receive all benefits and services of regular members except that they may not participate in the election of officers or serve as officers.
   
3. Membership in the Section is established by payment of annual Section dues to the APSA, or, for associate members, to the Secretary-Treasurer.
   
4. The dues for members and associate members will be set by the Executive Committee at the level necessary to cover expenses for elections and other services provided by the Section.

IV. Amendments to the Bylaws
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Committee, by a majority vote of the participants at the Annual Section Meeting, or by a petition containing the names of 25 percent of the members of the Section submitted to the Chairperson 30 days prior to the Annual Section Meeting. Amendments should be voted upon by mail ballot. Amendments to the bylaws become effective immediately after approval by two-thirds of the members returning their mail ballots.

V. Implementation of Those Bylaws
This Section will be official upon receipt of 100 signatures of interested members of the APSA and approval of the APSA Executive Council.

After receipt of at least 100 signatures of interested members, the convenor of the Law, Courts, and Judicial Behavior Subfield Group should organize a representative committee for the organization and conducting of elections for officers at the next Annual APSA Meeting or by April 1st which ever comes first. The officials should assume their official duties when elections are completed

At the first Annual Section Meeting, Executive Committee members should draw lots to determine which two members will serve one year terms and the remaining three, two years terms.