Space Law Discussions

  • New SLIG Newsletter: Members' Corner!

    Dear SLIG members:

    We are pleased to announce that SLIG will commence publishing a newsletter this fall, which will be the first in a quarterly series. In particular, we would love to hear from you, our members, on your recent professional activities of interest to SLIG’s readership. Suggestions for member input are the following: recent scholarly or industry articles you have written, conferences at which you have spoken or will speak, new space law initiatives of which you are part, etc. etc. The information received will be displayed in a “Members’ Corner” section of the newsletter.

    Please send any input to Oonagh Sands (sandsoonagh@gmail.com), George Anthony Long (spacejurist@gmail.com) or Jessica Sweeney Noble (sweeney0115@gmail.com).

    We look forward to hearing about your professional endeavours!

    Best regards,

    Oonagh Sands & George Anthony Long (SLIG Co-Chairs)

  • By-laws

    It is my understanding that the by-laws are meant to establish the SLIG’s internal organizational structure and the procedures for managing SLIG’s business. With this understanding I submit the following comments:

    1. Article 3 addresses what constitutes a quorum for purposes of SLIG conducting an annual business meeting. It seems Article 3 should clarify whether a quorum is determined by the members physically present at the annual business meeting or if attendance will be possible by telephonic or electronic means. The Article should also specify what happens in event a quorum is not present for the regularly scheduled annual business meeting.

    2. Article 4 concerns the officers and committees. It is understood that the SLIG co-chairs have staggered terms with one co-chair being elected in even numbered years and the other co-chair being elected in odd number years. Although this is understood, Article 4 should expressly articulate this understanding.

    3. The second sentence of Article 5 uses the phrase “[u]nder normal circumstances.” This phrase can give rise to potential unnecessary issues such as what are “normal circumstances” and what are not normal circumstances. Removing the phrase makes the sentence clearer as it will read as follows: “Outgoing Space Law IG officers shall step down and newly elected officers will begin their terms at the end of the first Annual Meeting following an election.”

    4. Article 9 establishes the procedure for amending the by-laws. It requires submission of an amendment to the Vice Chair “at least 60 days prior to the Space Law IG Annual Meeting.” Since the date of SLIG’s Annual Business Meeting may not be set and communicated to the members more than 60 days in advance, it seems that the 60 day prior should be associated with the first day of the ASIL Annual Conference. That date is known well in advance and it provides the members with ample notice of the deadline for submitting proposed amendments to the Vice Chair. If this approach is taken then the relevant portion of Article 9's second sentence should read: “at least 60 days prior to the ASIL Annual Conference.”

    5. Article 2.3 and Article 5 each mentions “members in good standing,” but the phrase is not defined by the by-laws. It is surmised that to be a member in good standing, the member must have paid the applicable ASIL membership dues and the applicable SLIG dues, if any. The by-laws should clearly articulate the qualifications for being a member in good standing. Additionally, it seems that there should be a “cut-off” date for determining who are the members in good standing. This will allow SLIG to administratively determine prior to the annual business meeting who are the members in good standing for purposes of ascertaining the percentage necessary for a quorum and which members are eligible to vote. It seems that the “member in good standing” status should be determined 60 days before the annual ASLI Conference. Thus, if a member has not satisfied the criteria for being a member in good standing 60 days before the ASIL annual meeting, the person is not eligible to vote at that meeting. This 60 day period is consistent with Article 9's 60 day period for submitting amendments to the by-laws.

    6. Lastly, the by-laws should contain provisions setting forth the procedures for holding a special meeting or a meeting other than the annual business meeting.