Bylaws and Resolutions

Our Governing Documents

The NLG Constitution was originally adopted in 1937 and has guided the organization’s growth ever since. It is updated by a membership vote at the annual convention. To view the document in its entirety, or to review our bylaws, please click the links below.

NLG CONSTITUTION (Updated December 2022)

NLG BYLAWS (Updated December 2022)

Our Positions

As a democratic organization, the work and focus of the Guild is decided by our members. Each year at the national convention, we hold plenaries in which members discuss and vote on programmatic priorities, often in the form of resolutions. To learn more about where the Guild stands on a number of issues, please take the time to browse through our past resolutions.

2022 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Resolution to include Buffalo in the Northeast Region

NLG Resolution Calling for a Reinvigorated Solidarity Campaign with the Cuban People

Challenging Empire: National Lawyers Guild Resolution in Support of Anti-Colonialism, Anti-Racism, and Indigenous Sovereignty

Emergency Resolution: In Support of Palestinian Liberation and Berkeley Law Students Confronting Repression

Resolution on Corporate Constitutional Rights

Legal Worker Amendment

Resolution to Revoke Delaware-New Jersey NLG Chapter Charter

Amendment to Article 8.1

Amendment to Article 8.2

Amendment to Article 8.3

Amendment to Article 8.4

Amendment to Article 8.5

Amendment to Bylaws Section 2 – Dissolution of Chapters

Amendment to Constitution Article 3.2 – Regions

Amendment to Update Constitution Article 7 – Referenda

Amendment to Article 5.2(a)

Amendment to Article 5.1

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 1.6 and 1.7 – Progressive Dues Schedules

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 1.7 – Dues Schedules

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 8.12 – Vote Timing

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 8.3 – Sending Proposed Resolutions and Amendments

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 15 – Convention Evaluation and Survey

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 2.2(c) – At-Large Membership

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 3.1(c) – Geographic Chapters

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 3.4 – Denial of Chapter Application

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 5.11 – Travel Expenses

2021 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Emergency Resolution on Movement Lawyering and Collective Defense

Chapter Charter Amendment

Amendment to Add TUPOCC to the EC

2020 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Resolution on Non-Collaboration with Grand Juries

Resolution Supporting the Abolition of Policing

Student National Vice-President Proposed Constitutional Amendments

2019 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Updated 2019 Resolution Supporting Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions

Resolution Supporting Reparations for Slavery and Racial Discrimination Against Africans and African Descendants, Including Compensation for Forced Labor, Stolen Land and Protracted Trauma, Pain and Suffering

Resolution Against Illegal Occupation of Hawaiian Islands

Resolution Opposing Selective Service and the Draft

Emergency Resolution: Opposing the Latest Attacks on Cuba’s Sovereignty

Emergency Resolution: On Academic Freedom

2018 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Composition of the National Executive Committee 

Proposed Amendment to the Preamble of the Constitution

Resolution to Endorse the Call to Prevent Nuclear War

Resolution Opposing the Criminalization of People’s Reproductive Lives

Resolution Condemning SESTA FOSTA

2017 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Emergency Resolution Opposing Any Attempt by the Justice Department to Investigate and Sue Universities Over Affirmative Action

2016 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Resolution to Boycott AirBnb

Resolution: Require Independent, Impartial Investigation and Prosecution of Police Killings and Reopen Michael Brown and Eric Garner Homicide Cases

Resolution: Driving Big Money Out of Elections

Resolution: Code of Conduct for NLG Events & Convention

Resolution Supporting Divestment from Fossil Fuels

Resolution Calling for Release of Federal Political Prisoners

Resolution Calling for Release of Pennsylvania Political Prisoners Mumia Abu-Jamal, Charles Sims Africa, Delbert Orr Africa, Edward Goodman Africa, Janet Holloway Africa, Janine Phillips Africa, Michael David Africa, Joseph “Joe-Joe” Bowen, Fred “Muhammad” Burton, and Russell “Maroon” Shoatz

Resolution Calling for Release of New York Political Prisoners Herman Bell, Robert Seth Hayes, Malik Shakur Latine, Jalil Muntaqim and David Gilbert

Resolution Calling for Release of California Political Prisoners Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald and Ruchell “Cinque” Magee

Resolution Calling for Full Normalization of U.S.-Cuba Relations

Emergency Resolution Opposing us Govt’s Re-institution of Trials for Travel to Cuba

Emergency Resolution on Haiti

Bylaws 7.5: Officer Job Descriptions (Vol 1 – President & Treasurer)

Bylaws Section 7.5: Officer Job Descriptions – (Vol 2: EVP & NVP)

Bylaws Section 7.5: Officer Job Descriptions (Vol 3: Legal Worker and Student VP)

Bylaws Section 7.5: Officer Job Descriptions (Vol 5: Committee/Caucus) 

Bylaw Amendment, Section 8: Voting Procedures

Bylaw Amendment, Section 13: Convention Evaluations and Survey

Bylaw Amendment, Section 11: Establishment of Standing NEC Committees

2015 Resolutions Passed

Resolution Supporting the Abolition of Prisons

Emergency Resolution on Relations with Cuba

2014 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Bylaw Amendment Section 8.4 (a-3): Changing the Governance, Duties and Rights of NLG Entities Requires Consultation

Cuban Five Resolution

Membership Committee Resolution

Puerto Rico Subcommittee Resolution

Resolution Condemning US Funding to Destabilize Progressive Governments in Latin America and Throughout the World

Emergency Resolution: NLG Urges US to Comply with Recommendations of Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

2013 Resolutions and Amendments Passed

Amendment to Add a Legal Worker Vice President to the National Officers that comprise the Executive Council

Emergency Resolution in Opposition to Rasmea Yousef Odeh’s Arrest by the Federal Government

2012 Resolutions Passed

Emergency Resolution in Opposition to the Scheduled Execution of John Ferguson

Mexico Emergency Resolution

Resolution on Puerto Rican Political Prisoners

2011 Resolutions Passed

Emergency Resolution in Support of Labor’s Call for Protests on December 3, 2011, to Save Social Security and other Workers Benefits

Emergency Resolution in Support of Occupy Wall Street

Emergency Resolution to Support Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike and California Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Condemning the Attacks on the Independent Trade Union Movement and Freedom of Association in Mexico

On NLG Solidarity with Puerto Rico

For NLG Participation in Local Publicizing and Reporting Under UN Human Rights Treaties

Endorsing National Hyatt Boycott

Clarifying Planned Giving and Bequest Allocations between the National Organization and Chapters

2010 Resolutions Passed

Affirming Commitment to Accessible Sites

Condemning Attacks on Mexico Labor Rights

On Commitment to Gulf Coast Region

On Solidarity with Puerto Rico

For Participation in UN Human Rights Program

Emergency Resolution on the Philippines Emergency Resolution Condemning the FBI Raids

Resolution & ByLaw changes re Union-made Products & Services

2003 Resolutions Passed

Calling for Impeachment of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Cabinet for Violations of International Law

Human Rights Abuses in the Basque Territory

Peaceful Resolution of Conflict on the Korean Peninsula

Affirming the Individual and Collective Palestinian Right of Return

Stop and Dismantle Israel’s Wall in Palestinian Territories

2002 Resolutions Passed

Establishing and Prioritizing a Guild National Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power and Reclaim Democracy

Establishing a National Campaign to Defend Democracy and Restore Civil Liberties

Repeal the USA PATRIOT Act

Establishing an Education Campaign Exposing Illegal Acts of Government

In Opposition to Unilateral Military Action by the United States Against Iraq and Other Nations

Endorsing and Supporting Immigrant Workers Union National Boycott Against Rhee Brothers Incorporated

Providing Support to the ILWU

Providing Material Commitment to the New Faces of the Legal Left

2001 Resolutions Passed

Resolution on the 2001 Crisis

2000 Resolutions Passed

Calling for the Enforcement of International Law in Israel/Palestine

International Committee Resolution on Submitting an Amicus Brief on the Cases Against the University of Michigan Challenging the Affirmative Action Plans at the Undergraduate School and the Law School

End the Arbitrary and Indefinite Detention of Non-U.S. Citizens Unlawfully Held in U.S. Prisons

Calling for Participation in the International Labor Rights Monitoring Project

Calling for the End of the U.S. Economic Blockage of Cuba

Against U.N. Interference in Cuba’s Internal Affairs (Track II)

Resolution of the Disability Rights Committee on Accessible Spaces

Calling for an End to Economic Sanctions and Bombing against Iraq

Law Student Resolution