Bylaws

Bylaws of the Customs and International Trade Bar Association

(As amended May 22, 2024)

ARTICLE I.
Membership

Section 1. There shall be five classes of Members of the Association: Active; Honorary; Foreign Lawyer; Retired; and Student.

Section 2. Any lawyer who is (1) admitted to practice before the United States Court of International Trade, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the highest court of any State or the District of Columbia, or any federal court, and (2) is a member in good standing before one of said Courts, shall be eligible to be an Active Member. Active Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Association.

Section 3. The Board of Directors may by unanimous vote elect Honorary Members of the Association. Honorary Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Association except those of holding office, voting and membership on standing committees.

Section 4. Any attorney, barrister, solicitor or advocate who is qualified to practice law in a foreign country shall be eligible to be Foreign Lawyer Member. Foreign Lawyer Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Association except those of holding office and voting.

Section 5. Any former Active Member of the Association who is retired from the practice of law (whether fully retired or retired other than on an occasional basis) shall be eligible to be Retired Member. Retired Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Association except those of holding office and voting.

Section 6. Any full-time student at an accredited law school shall be eligible to be a Student Member. Student Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Association except those of holding office and voting. A Student Member shall cease being a member of the Association six (6) months following graduation unless he or she shall apply to be an Active or Foreign Lawyer Member.

Section 7. Applications for membership in the Association shall be made on forms of the Association available online at www.citba.org.

Section 8. Any questions regarding an applicant’s credentials or eligibility for a membership category shall be decided by the Board of Directors.
 

ARTICLE II.
Board of Directors

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, the immediate Past President of the Association and the chair of each of the standing committees. The Board may also include one or more “at large” members who are not chairs of any standing committees.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority, in the interval between meetings of the Association, to do all acts and to perform all functions which the Association itself might do or perform, except those expressly reserved to the Association by these By-Laws or by law. The Board of Directors shall keep a record of its proceedings and shall render a report at the Annual and Semi-Annual Meetings of the Association and shall report at any meeting of the Association any business which requires the action of the Association.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall hold at least four regular meetings per year to be called at the discretion of the President, upon reasonable notice.

Section 4. The President shall call a special meeting of the Board of Directors, at the written request of three (3) directors, such meeting to be held no later than twenty (20) days after receipt of such written request. At such special meetings, the Board of Directors may transact only such business as may have been contained in the notice of the meeting. Written notice of such special meeting shall be given by the Secretary to each Director at least ten (10) days before the meeting. Notice of such special meeting shall contain a brief summary of the special business for which such meeting has been called. 

Section 5. At any meeting of the Board, fifty percent (50%) of the full Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of decisions to be taken by majority vote.

Section 6. The Board of Directors may take any action permitted at a regular or special meeting by Written Consent in Lieu of Meeting.
 

ARTICLE III.
Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2. The Officers and other Directors shall be elected for a term of one year at the Annual Meeting of the Association by a majority vote of the Members present at the meeting or voting by proxy under procedures established by the Board. The Officers and other Directors as elected shall take office on June 1 following the Annual Meeting. If at any time there be more than two (2) nominees for the same office and none receives a majority vote upon the first ballot, the ensuing ballot shall be limited to the two (2) nominees receiving the greatest number of votes on the first ballot.

Section 3. No President of the Association who has served two consecutive terms in office may be a candidate for reelection to a third consecutive term.

Section 4. If a vacancy occurs during an elected term of any Officer (other than the President) or the chair of any standing committee, the President may, with approval of a majority of the remaining Board of Directors, make an interim appointment. If a vacancy occurs in the Office of the President, the Vice-President shall serve as President, and the Treasurer shall serve as Vice-President and Treasurer, during the remainder of the elected term.

ARTICLE IV.
Duties of Offices

Section 1. President and Vice-President. The President, or, in his or her absence, the Vice-President, shall preside at the meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the President and Vice-President, a director, to be chosen by a majority vote of those present and voting at such meeting, shall preside. The President and Vice-President shall perform such other duties as the Association or the Board of Directors may from time to time assign to them.

Section 2. Secretary. The Secretary of the Association shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors, shall conduct such correspondence and keep such records of the Association as may be assigned to him or her.The Secretary shall circulate the minutes of the regular or special Board meetings for approval by the Board.

Section 3. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect the dues and keep the accounts of the Association, and shall act as custodian of its funds, except as otherwise directed by the Association or the Board of Directors. He or she shall make a report at each regular meeting of the Board and each Annual Meeting of the Association. The Treasurer shall make such disbursements as may be authorized by the Board of Directors and perform such other duties as the Association or the Board of Directors may from time to time assign.

ARTICLE V.
Standing and Other Committees

Section 1. The standing committees of the Association shall be as follows:
·      Continuing Legal Education and Professional Responsibility Committee
·      Customs Committee
·      Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
·      Environment, Labor, and Human Rights Committee
·      External Relations Committee
·      Meetings and Special Events Committee
·      Membership Committee
·      National Security and Sanctions Committee
·      Nominations Committee
·      Publications Committee
·      Technology Committee
·      Trade Remedies and Disputes Committee
·      Trial and Appellate Practice Committee
·      Young Lawyers Committee

Section 2. The standing committees may be led by a single chair or co-chairs, who shall invite Association Members that have expressed an interest in joining their committees to participate.

Section 3. Each standing committee shall have power to adopt regulations for its governance and course of proceeding not inconsistent with these By-Laws or with law, and subject to revision by the Association. Where the work of any standing committee involves matters that are appropriately considered by one or more additional standing committees, the standing committees in question shall keep each other informed and, to the extent possible, shall coordinate any recommendations made. Where the activity of any standing committee involves the review of information about an individual, the information reviewed and the deliberations based on such information shall be kept confidential unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Special, sub- or ad hoc committees of the Association may be appointed by the President upon the resolution of the Association at any meeting of the Association, or upon resolution of the Board of Directors at any meeting of said Board. Special committees shall report to the Board of Directors unless otherwise directed by the Association.
 

ARTICLE VI.
Continuing Legal Education and Professional Responsibility Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to foster and promote the continuing legal education of the Members of the Association and to that end to arrange for and conduct meetings for lectures, discussions and courses of study. Plans for any meetings that involve the provision of official Continuing Legal Education credit shall be coordinated with the Meetings and Special Events Committee and subject to approval of the Board of Directors, as it may deem proper in connection herewith.

Section 2. This Committee shall keep itself and the Association’s Bar informed with respect to all matters concerning the professional responsibility of its members and to all matters lending to the elevation of the standard professional honor and conduct to the end that the public interest may be served.

Section 3. This Committee will also oversee and administer the Andrew P. Vance Writing Competition as part of its responsibilities, including coordinating with the relevant law school with which we have partnered for the Competition, grading students’ papers, and issuing the awards to the students whose papers win first and second place in the competition. 

ARTICLE VII.
Customs Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to monitor and obtain information respecting the policies, procedures and practices of federal agencies, as well as proposed legislation and regulations, affecting the administration of the Customs and tariff laws and regulations. These administrative agencies shall include but not be limited to: United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States International Trade Commission, the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative. The Committee shall also monitor and obtain information respecting Customs and Tariff matters under the auspices of international organizations (including but not limited to the World Customs Organization), in international agreements or in pending international negotiations. This Committee shall also identify pending regulatory changes or administrative functions in which presentation of the views of the Association might be warranted.

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken.

ARTICLE VIII.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to foster community and to promote involvement in the Association among attorneys of underrepresented groups. The Committee will do so by organizing substantive panel discussions and hosting networking and outreach events that are geared toward increasing membership and opportunities for attorneys of underrepresented groups in the practice of customs and international trade law.

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken. Section 3. The Committee chairs should include members of underrepresented groups.

Section 3. The Committee chairs should include members of underrepresented groups.

ARTICLE IX.
Environment, Labor, and Human Rights Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to monitor and obtain information respecting the policies, procedures and practices of federal agencies, as well as proposed legislation and regulations, concerning the treatment of environmental, labor, and human rights issues in international trade and Customs matters. The Committee shall also monitor and obtain information respecting the foregoing matters under the auspices of international organizations (including but not limited to the World Trade Organization), in international agreements, or in pending international negotiations. The Committee shall coordinate with the Customs Committee and the Trade Remedies and Disputes Committee as appropriate.

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken

ARTICLE X.
External Relations Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to keep abreast of developments pertaining to matters of interest to the Association which are engaged in by other bar associations; to make known to such other associations the existence of the Association; and, subject to approval of the Board of Directors, to assist or otherwise cooperate with such other associations, by participation in their activities or otherwise, in matters of interest to the Association, and to report such activities to the Board of Directors.

Section 2. This Committee shall identify and liaise with trade associations (other than bar associations) and law school associations to make known to such other associations the existence of the Association; and, subject to approval of the Board of Directors, to assist or otherwise cooperate with such other associations, by participation in their activities or otherwise, in matters of interest to the Association, and to report such activities to the Board of Directors.

Section 3. This Committee shall support the President in preparation of official communications with federal courts, including the Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as well as agency officials
 

ARTICLE XI.
Meetings and Special Events Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to arrange a suitable place for the meetings to be held by the Association pursuant to Article XXI herein, and to report to the Board its selection for approval by the Board. Programs, if any (other than the business portions of such meetings) are to be arranged by this Committee, in coordination with external service providers, subject to approval by the Board. This Committee shall communicate requirements for planning meetings and special events to other standing committees. 

Section 2. It shall be the duty of this Committee to notify the Association membership of any special events of in

ARTICLE XII.
Membership Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to ascertain the existence of the prescribed qualifications of candidates for membership in the various categories identified in Article I, to promote an understanding of the Association to lawyers practicing in the customs or international trade area, to identify membership services of interest to the members and otherwise to assist in membership retention and development.

Section 2. This Committee shall provide an update on membership applications to the Board of Directors during monthly meetings, and make recommendations as necessary
 

ARTICLE XIII.
National Security and Sanctions Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to monitor and obtain information respecting the policies, procedures and practices of federal agencies affecting the administration of U.S. export controls, foreign investment, and embargoes/trade and financial sanctions. These administrative agencies and regulatory bodies shall include, but not be limited to, the U.S. Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of State – Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the U.S. Department of Treasury – Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The Committee shall also follow proposed legislation and regulations affecting U.S. export control and embargo/trade and financial sanction requirements.

Section 2. This Committee shall coordinate with the Trade Remedies and Disputes Committee on issues of national security trade measures, including but not limited to Section 232 and IEEPA.

Section 3. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken

ARTICLE XIV.
Nominations Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to inquire into the qualifications of nominees and prospective nominees for Judgeships in the United States Court of International Trade and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and to report its findings to the Board of Directors for transmittal to the appropriate bodies. The Committee may invite and shall consider all communications respecting such nominees.

Section 2. This Committee shall also obtain information respecting nominees to other federal government positions of interest to the Association, in coordination with the Customs Committee and the Trade Remedies and Disputes Committee. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such nominations, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken.
 

ARTICLE XV.
Publications Committee

It shall be the duty of this Committee to oversee the distribution, circulation and marketing of Association brochures, circulars, newsletters and other publications which the Association may publish from time to time. This Committee will prepare and edit the Association Newsletter, at a minimum on a quarterly basis. This Committee will coordinate with any other committee that may be involved with preparing or contributing to any Association publications

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken.

ARTICLE XVI.
Technology and Communications Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duties of this Committee to monitor and obtain information respecting all aspects of the use of technology which have an effect on the practice of customs and international trade law and to analyze and oversee the dissemination of that information to the members of the Association, to establish and maintain the Association’s communications through the internet or other technological or electronic means, as directed by the Board of Directors, to coordinate and oversee the assembly of documents or other information of interest to the Association and to disseminate such documents and information to members of the Association through the internet or by other technological or electronic means.

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports on such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken.

ARTICLE XVII.
Trade Remedies and Disputes Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to monitor and obtain information respecting the policies, procedures and practices of federal agencies, as well as proposed legislation and regulations, affecting the administration of the U.S. trade remedy laws and regulations, with special emphasis on antidumping, countervailing duty, Section 201 safeguard, and other unfair trade remedies, and international dispute resolution in trade matters. These administrative agencies shall include, but not be limited to, the United States International Trade Commission, the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, and the United States Customs and Border Protection. The Committee shall also monitor and obtain information respecting the foregoing matters under the auspices of international organizations (including but not limited to the World Trade Organization), in international agreements, or in pending international negotiations. This Committee shall also identify pending regulatory changes or administrative functions in which presentation of the views of the Association might be warranted.

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken

ARTICLE XVIII.
Trial and Appellate Practice Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to monitor and obtain information respecting the policies, procedures and practices of all federal courts affecting the administration of the trade and tariffs laws. These courts shall include, but not be limited to, the United States Court of International Trade and the United States Court of Appeals for the Court the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. This Committee shall also identify pending judicial or dispute settlement proceedings in which presentations of the views of the Association or participation of the Association as amicus curiae might be warranted.

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken

ARTICLE XIX.
Young Lawyers Committee

Section 1. It shall be the duty of this Committee to foster community and to promote involvement in the Association among younger attorneys and law students. The Committee will do so by organizing events and providing networking opportunities that are geared toward early and mid-career professionals, as well as by promoting outreach to younger attorneys and law students.

Section 2. This Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors, from time to time, reports upon such matters, together with recommendations for such action, as, in its judgment, should be taken.

Section 3. The Committee chair(s) should have practiced less than 8 years at the time of the chairs’ election or appointment to the position.
 

ARTICLE XX.
Dues

Section 1. The annual dues for the various membership categories identified in Article I shall be established by the Board of Directors, from time to time

Section 2. The annual dues shall be due and payable upon initial acceptance of application for membership. Dues will be due annually on the first day of the anniversary month of last payment.

Section 3. Failure to pay the annual dues, or any special assessment, within ninety (90) days after they become due, will result in a lapse in membership, but membership will be reinstated as soon as the renewal dues are received. 
 

ARTICLE XXI.
Meetings

Section 1. An Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held in April or May. A Semi-Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held in October or November. The Secretary shall provide written notice of the Annual Meeting and of the Semi-Annual Meeting, not more than forty-five (45) days or less than twenty-one (21) days before the date of such meeting. The written notice of an Annual Meeting at which Officers and Directors will be elected shall contain a list of the nominees to be voted on at the meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings of the Association may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of fifteen (15) Active Members of the Association specifying the purpose of such call. At such Special Meetings, the only business to be transacted shall be that specified in the call thereof, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to specify the nature of such business in the notice of the meeting, which shall be given by the Secretary to all members by mailing such notice at least ten (10) days before the meeting.

ARTICLE XXII.
Quorum

Section 1. At any meeting of the Association, the presence of twenty-five (25) of the Active Members in person, virtually, or by proxy under procedures established by the Board of Directors shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting all business, except as otherwise provided by these By-Laws.

Section 2. The presence of thirty (30) of the Active Members in person, virtually, or by proxy under procedures established by the Board of Directors shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the election of Officers and Directors or the amendment of the By-Laws.
 

ARTICLE XXIII.
Amendments

Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended at the Annual or Semi-Annual Meeting of the Association by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Active Members present at such meeting or voting by proxy under procedures established by the Board of Directors, provided that not less than thirty (30) Active Members attend the meeting in person or vote by proxy. Notice of any proposed amendments shall be given to the Board of Directors not less than thirty (30) days before they are acted upon by the Association and to the Members by the Secretary in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2. Unless otherwise provided, Amendments to the By-Laws shall take effect immediately
 

ARTICLE XXIV.
Written Notice and Meetings

Section 1. Any reference to “written request” or “written notice” in these By-Laws may be provided by electronic means, such as e-mail.

Section 2. Any reference a “meeting” or “attendance” at a meeting in these By-Laws includes meetings and attendance through virtual means such as by telephone or videoconference.