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
Resolution on Corporate Constitutional Rights
Resolution to Revoke Delaware-New Jersey NLG Chapter Charter
Amendment to Bylaws Section 2 – Dissolution of Chapters
Amendment to Constitution Article 3.2 – Regions
Amendment to Update Constitution Article 7 – Referenda
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
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 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
2016 Resolutions and Amendments Passed
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 Full Normalization of U.S.-Cuba Relations
Emergency Resolution Opposing us Govt’s Re-institution of Trials for Travel to Cuba
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
Membership Committee Resolution
Puerto Rico Subcommittee Resolution
2013 Resolutions and Amendments Passed
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
Resolution on Puerto Rican Political Prisoners
2011 Resolutions Passed
Emergency Resolution in Support of Occupy Wall Street
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
2009 Resolutions Passed
Condemning the Attacks on the Mexican Electrical Workers
2008 Resolutions Passed
2007 Resolutions and Amendments Passed
Constitutional Amendment Regarding Chapter Affiliation
2006 Resolutions and Amendments Passed
Constitutional Amendment Regarding Nondiscrimination
2005 Resolutions Passed
Opposing Efforts to Amend the Alien Tort Claims Act
Supporting Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange
2004 Resolutions Passed
Supporting Unionized Employees of the NLG
2003 Resolutions Passed
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