Research Tilburg Law School

Constitution of Tilburg Law Review

The aim of the Tilburg Law Review is to provide an international academic forum for legal scholarly debate on international and European law. By reaching out to motivated audiences, the journal will be a platform for the development of legal scholarship and the dissemination of legal ideas and knowledge.

It thus encourages scholarly dialogue among researchers, academics and practitioners. The publications in the Tilburg Law Review promote legal analysis of current societal problems arising at the European and international levels and contribute to the search of socially sustainable solutions.

The Tilburg Law Review aspires to serve as a forum for student engagement with issues of international and European law and a meaningful extracurricular activity for those interested in research and in enriching their knowledge of international and European law. The TLR seeks to enhance the image of Tilburg University Law School as a top research-oriented law school with a global reputation.

Preliminary provisions (article I)
  1. The short name of this organization is Tilburg Law Review (TLR).
     
  2. This organization is established for an indefinite term.
     
  3. The purpose of the organization is:

    a. To publish the Tilburg Law Review: Journal of International and European Law. The journal shall be published in annual volumes with two issues per academic year.

    b. With a view to achieving the above-mentioned goal, the Tilburg Law Review may, as it sees fit and to the extent that its budget permits, organize or assist with the organization of various events related to international and European law, including symposia and guest lectures. The organization of symposia and other events shall be without prejudice to the responsibility of publishing the Tilburg Law Review biannually, and without prejudice to the obligations of TLR to third parties.
     
  4. TLR is an organization within the structure of the Tilburg University Faculty of Law.
Membership (article II)
  1. Eligible for TLR membership are all graduate students of Tilburg University Law School who are or intend to be enrolled at Tilburg University for more than one semester, subject to an election/selection procedure. Exceptionally motivated and well qualified undergraduate student applicants may be considered for non-executive membership.
     
  2. TLR shall have two kinds of members: executive board members (executives) and general body members (editors and officers).

    a. The Executive Board members shall include the Editor in Chief, the Executive Managing Editor, the Executive Production Editor, and the Public Relations Executive.

    b. The general body members shall be the Articles Editors and Senior Articles Editors, Student Contribution Editors, Production Editors, Symposia/Events Officers and Recruitment Officers.

    c. At the discretion of the Executive Editorial Board, Editors in their second year and beyond may be granted the title of Senior Editor.

    d. Additional officer functions may be created and delegated by the Executive Board following a decision of the Board at a Board meeting with a three quarters majority vote.
     
  3. General Body Members may be dismissed following a reasoned recommendation of their supervising Executive and a vote of three quarters majority of the Executive Board.
Governance (article III)
  1. TLR shall be governed by the TLR Executive Board, presided over by the Editor in Chief. Major decisions, as defined in Art III (8) shall require the consultation of the TLR Faculty Advisor.
     
  2. The Editor in Chief shall be responsible for supervising the entirety of the TLR activities and shall be the main representative of the TLR in its relations with Tilburg University and with third parties. The powers and responsibilities of the Editor in Chief shall be:

    a. To interpret and enforce this Constitution;

    b. To set the annual goals of the TLR with the guidance of the Faculty Advisor;

    c. To call meetings of the Executive Board, to set the Executive Board meeting agenda, and to preside over Executive Board and General Body meetings;

    d. To select, review and give final approval to all material published in the TLR Journal;

    e. To select, review and give final approval to all event and symposia proposals;

    f. To plan, supervise and coordinate the work of the TLR members;

    g. To assign tasks and create ad-hoc or standing committees. He/she shall also evaluate the work of TLR members as well as reprimanding members when necessary. The Editor in Chief may choose to withdraw or reassign tasks whenever doing so would be in the best interest of TLR;

    h. To seek to establish consensus and a productive work environment, and to resolve conflicts between members.
     
  3. The TLR Executive Managing Editor shall be responsible for all published content of the TLR journal, including symposia issues or special event issues. The Executive Managing Editor shall be in charge of the Articles Editors and Student Note Editors. The Executive Managing Editor shall have the power and responsibility to:

    a. Communicate with submitters and authors of published content;

    b. Select material for review, distribute assignments to the Editors and set deadlines for the completion of these assignments;

    c. Evaluate the work of the Editors, correct it and revise it, as necessary;

    d. Conduct final review of all published content prior to submitting it to the Editor in Chief for final publication approval;

    e. Supervise the editing and submission of student contributions.
     
  4. The TLR Executive Production Editor shall be responsible for all the non-content aspects of issuing the journal, as well as being in charge of the Production Officers. These responsibilities entail:

    a. Preparing the budget for each issue;

    b. Updating the budget of the TLR periodically and reporting to the Editor in Chief;

    c. Handling payments from subscribers and payments to the publisher;

    d. Communicating with the publisher(s);

    e. Resolving problems with subscribers;

    f. Communicating with the University on financial and logistical matters;

    g. Handling copyright issues;

    h. Overseeing the process of delivering issues to subscribers.
     
  5. The TLR Public Relations Executive shall work to promote the TLR to potential subscribers, submitters and members, and shall strive to ensure that the reputation of the TLR is consistent and reflects the quality of the TLR. The PR Executive shall be responsible for:

    a. Developing marketing strategies targeted specifically to the needs of TLR in order to attract the optimal number of subscribers and submitters;

    b. Maintaining databases of subscribers and submitters and reviewing and updating these databases periodically or at the request of the Editor-in-Chief;

    c. Identifying potential subscribers and submitters, and developing strategies for reaching out to them;

    d. Organizing a recruitment campaign for new TLR members at the end of each publishing year;

    e. Organizing events and symposia;

    f. Managing the application process for Executive Membership.
     
  6. In case of the withdrawal or the resignation of a member of the Executive Board, the remaining members of the Executive Board shall organize an application procedure as soon as possible to fill the vacancy. The general selection procedure will apply.
     
  7. Members of the Executive Board may be dismissed for a serious breach of duties by unanimous voting of the remaining executives following a consultation with the Faculty advisor. 
     
  8. The TLR shall have a Faculty Advisor appointed by the Tilburg University Law School. The Faculty Advisor must be consulted when decisions regarding the following are discussed: amendments to this Constitution, dismissal of Executive Board members, changes to the name, status, purpose or governance structure of the TLR, and in situations seriously jeopardizing the existence or normal functioning of the TLR. On all other occasions, the Faculty Advisor shall be informed of the activities of the TLR, may attend meetings of the Executive Board or the General Body, and may offer advice to the TLR Executive Board. The Advisor shall serve as a liaison between the TLR and the Tilburg University Law School.
Selection Procedure for TLR Members (Article IV)
  1. The selection procedure of each new Executive Board shall be carried out by the incumbent Executive Board and may be delegated to the Faculty of Law.
     
  2. The TLR Executive Board shall be selected via an application procedure. This procedure shall fall under the responsibilities of the Public Relations Executive.

    a. The call for applications includes the offices available within TLR in the coming year complete with the respective job descriptions and shall be widely publicized with all appropriate means available so as to reach the largest possible number of Tilburg University Law School graduate students, including incoming students.

    b. Each applicant (whether currently a member or not previously involved) will be asked to submit a short motivation letter, and a curriculum vitae including academic standing or grades.

    c. Application decisions will be made on the basis of the following four criteria: motivation, leadership and organizational experience, academic standing and, where applicable, prior experience with the TLR. The applications will be reviewed with regard to the specific qualifications required for the position applied to.

    d. Decisions on the applications shall be made by the Executive Board by majority vote.

    e. Members seeking re-election shall be excluded from the application review process.
     
  3. TLR Executive membership lasts one year. There is no limit on the number of years a student can be on the TLR review so long as the student is re-elected and maintains a student status at Tilburg University Law School.
     
  4.  TLR non-executive members shall be recruited and accepted on a rolling application basis throughout the editorial year. The application process for officers shall be organized and supervised by the TLR Executive Managing Editor.
     
  5. All members of the TLR are expected to act in the best interest of the TLR and to adhere to this Constitution and to the Tilburg University Code of Conduct.
Meetings (article V)
  1. Executive Board Meetings shall be called by the Editor-in-Chief. Meetings shall take place at least once per month during the school year.
     
  2. Non-executive members of the TLR may participate in Executive meetings with the permission or invitation of the Board, but without voting rights.
     
  3. The Executive Board shall schedule General Body Meetings during the academic year with the exception of official Tilburg University exam periods.
     
  4. Executive Board Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority vote with a quorum of at least three Executives present. In the case of a tie, the vote of the Editor-in-Chief shall count for two votes.
     
  5. Proxy voting will not be permitted.
     
  6. The TLR will hold at least two General Body meetings per academic year - once in the beginning and once in the end of the editorial year. At these meetings, the Executive Board Members will present the goals for the editorial year or give an overview of what has been accomplished, respectively. Decisions at General Body meetings will be taken by a simple majority of those present. Each member's vote will count for one vote. This provision is without prejudice to the provisions on amendment and ratification of this Constitution.
Concluding Provisions (article VI)
  1. TLR is a scholarly publication endeavoring to contribute to academic dialogue. All views expressed in the TLR print issue and the content on the TLR website belong to the authors of the material and are strictly separate from the views of TLR members, except where otherwise indicated.
     
  2. TLR is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity and non-discrimination.
     
  3. The working language of the TLR is English.
Amendment and Ratification Procedure (article VII)
  1. Any TLR member may propose amendments to this Constitution in writing to a member of the Executive Board. Such a proposal shall be considered at the subsequent General Body Meeting.
     
  2. The present Constitution may be amended at a General Body meeting with at least two thirds of all TLR members present. Amendments will be passed when not less than two thirds of all members present at the meeting approve the changes. Each member's vote will count for one.
     
  3. This Constitution shall be ratified at a General Body meeting with at least two thirds of all TLR members present following a two third majority vote of approval.
     
  4. The Constitution will be effective immediately after its ratification.

Last amended on the twelfth day of October, two thousand and ten (12.10.2010)