GS-11: Federal Government Association
While there are several organizations at New York University School of Law that address public interest issues, there is no organization that focuses exclusively on the federal government. GS-11 aims to give students the opportunity to learn about various legal careers within the government, and to offer a community for people interested in government work.
The government is engaged in a vast array of legal enterprises, and attempting to wade though the organizational flow charts of any federal organization can be rather daunting. Many students need guidance in navigating the legal waters of the government or are simply not aware that such a vast array of opportunities exists. Currently, the Public Interest Law Center tries to fill the federal government void on campus. PILC holds a small Department of Justice Panel each year, brings one government attorney to their Monday night speaker series, and invites government recruiters to the public interest career fair. However, due to finite resources and a need to serve the entire public interest community, PILC is unable to completely meet the needs of students wishing to seek government employment. PILC recognizes that this is a soft spot in their public interest coverage, and has expressed a great deal of interest in working with a government-focused student group to expand its offerings.
Federal government jobs often have strict deadlines, security clearance applications, and other requirements that make finding government work more challenging than the average job search. One of GS-11's goals will be to help students in the process of meeting application requirements for government employment, be they term-time internships, summer employment, or full-time work.
Constitution
ARTICLE 1. NAME
This organization shall be known as "GS-11: Federal Government Association."
ARTICLE 2. MISSION
Section 1. To help NYU School of Law students find meaningful careers in or connected with the federal government.
Section 2. To provide a community and networking opportunities for students interested in government work as an aspect of public interest work.
Section 3. To provide information about opportunities in various government agencies.
Section 4. To help students find contacts and meet application deadlines for summer and school year employment and internships.
Section 5. To support students wishing to travel to government-related events and conferences.
Section 6. To coordinate closely with organizations such as the Office of Career Services, the Public Interest Law Center, the Office of the Dean, and the Federal Bar Association in our efforts to help students find employment and internships.
ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. All registered J.D., J.S.D., or L.L.M. candidates at New York University School of Law may be members of GS-11.
ARTICLE 4. OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers Enumerated
1.1. The officers of the Student Bar Association shall be the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the President-Elect and the Chairs of the various committees.
Section 2. Qualifications for Officers
2.1. All candidates for any office shall be either first or second year students.
Section 3. Membership on the Executive Board
3.1. All officers shall be members of the Executive Board.
Section 4. Duties and Powers of Officers
4.1. President
4.1.1. The President shall be the chief executive officer of GS-11.
4.1.2. He or she shall be responsible for the prompt and orderly execution of all resolutions adopted by the Executive Board and or the GS-11 membership.
4.1.3. He or she shall preside over all duly constituted meetings of the organization.
4.1.4. He or she shall appoint with the advice and consent of the Executive Board all committee chairpersons for both standing and ad hoc internal committees of GS-11.
4.1.5. He or she shall serve as the official representative of GS-11 to the SBA or other organizations.
4.2. Vice President
4.2.1. He or she shall be responsible for the effective operation of committees.
4.2.2. He or she shall exercise the duties and powers of the President in his or her absence.
4.2.3. He or she shall assume the office of President whenever a vacancy arises.
4.2.4. He or she shall perform such other duties as the President and Executive Board may assign in the administration of GS-11.
4.3. Treasurer
4.3.1. He or she shall be the chief fiscal officer of GS-11.
4.3.2. He or she shall be in charge of all fiscal matters relating to the collection and disbursement of GS-11 funds and keep clear and comprehensive records of all these transactions.
4.3.3. He or she shall prepare financial statements and present them to the SBA whenever required.
4.3.4. He or she shall present the annual budget to the SBA.
4.3.5. He or she shall perform such other duties as the President and the Board of Governors may assign in the administration of the Student Bar Association.
4.4. Secretary
4.4.1. He or she shall be in charge of keeping all records except those relating to fiscal matters under the purview of the Treasurer. And he or she shall keep accurate and complete minutes of all meetings
4.4.2. He or she shall be in charge of the administration and the execution of GS-11 correspondence.
4.4.3. He or she shall perform such other duties as the President and Board may assign in the administration of GS-11.
4.4.4. He or she shall be in charge of public relations for GS-11.
4.5. President-Elect
4.5.1. The President-Elect shall work closely with the sitting president for the last three months of the academic year, and then assume the position of President when the remaining officers are elected.
Section 5. Tenure of Officers
5.1. Officers, with the exception of the President-Elect, shall hold office from immediately after the announcement of final results of their election or until their successors have qualified.
5.2. The President-Elect shall hold office for the last three months of the academic year, then will assume the position of President when the remaining officers are elected.
ARTICLE 5. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive and administrative powers and responsibilities of GS-11 shall be vested in the Executive Board.
Section 2. This body shall oversee the operation of all committees.
ARTICLE 6. ELECTIONS
Section 1. Election Coordinator
1.1. The Vice-President shall be Election Coordinator.
Section 2. Election Committee and Rules
2.1. The Election Coordinator shall appoint an Election Committee; for the spring election that committee shall be comprised of third year students. The Election Committee shall establish rules and regulations for the election procedures consonant with relevant sections of the Constitution and By-laws.
2.2. The President-Elect will be elected in a separate election, held in February.
Section 3. Nomination Procedure
3.1. Any member of GS-11 may be nominated for any position with a nomination and a second. Members may self-nominate.
Section 4. Voter Turnout Required
4.1. The winners of the elections for representatives shall be determined by plurality vote.
Section 5. Vacancies
5.1. If less than four (4) candidates from any class shall be elected, then the President shall, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, fill any vacant seats with the students from such class.
Section 6. Scheduling of Elections
6.1. All GS-11 elections, shall be held no later than the end of the first full week of school days in April on a day designated by the Election Committee, but in any event, nominations shall not be due and elections shall not be held on Passover and/or Good Friday.
ARTICLE 7. VACANCIES AND ABSENCES
Section 1. Temporary Absences
1.1. In the event of a temporary absence of any officer or member of the Executive Board, the President may appoint a temporary replacement with the advice and consent of the Board.
Section 2. Permanent Vacancies
2.1. In the event of a permanent vacancy in the Executive Board, a special election shall be conducted within fifteen (15) days of the occurrence of such vacancy.
ARTICLE 8. COMMITTEES
Section 1. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, the chairpersons of all internal committees.
Section 2. Members of the various committees shall be appointed by the respective chairpersons.
ARTICLE 9. MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order where inconsistent with the Constitution or By-laws of GS-11.
Section 2. Scheduling of meetings shall be in accordance with the By-laws.
ARTICLE 10. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Executive Board. Such amendments shall require their approval of two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire voting membership of GS-11.
ARTICLE 11. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
Section 1. GS-11 will comply with all NYU policies concerning non-discrimination.
Section 2. Under no circumstances will GS-11 invite, sponsor, or host on campus any member of an organization that discriminates on the basis of race, religion, nation of origin, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, age, or disability.
Mission
GS-11, or the Federal Government Association, is an organization committed to helping NYU School of Law students find meaningful careers in the federal government. Our goal is to provide a community and networking opportunities for students interested in government work as an aspect of public interest work; provide information about opportunities in different government agencies through a speaker series; help students find contacts and meet application deadlines for summer and school year employment and internships; support students wishing to travel to government-related events and conferences; work with the Federal Bar Association for purposes of networking and resources; and coordinate closely with PILC in our joint efforts to help students find employment.
Contact Us
Office of Student Affairs
law.studentlife@nyu.edu