1.1 Name.  The body of lawyers licensed to practice before any court in the Chickasaw Nation shall be called the Chickasaw Bar Association, hereinafter referred to as Bar.

1.2 Purpose.  The general purpose of the Bar shall be the promotion of the objectives of the Chickasaw Court.  To that end, it shall be the purposes of this section:

1. To promote respect for the Courts and Court officials;
2. To promote lawyer support for the Courts;
3. To provide forums for speakers to address members on the practice of law before the Chickasaw Courts and to promote the respect for Indian Law and Indian legal systems;
4. To provide legal litigation, appellant and technology updates to the Bar;
5. To promote professionalism, ethics and camaraderie between members of the Bar and officials of the Courts;
6. To support other associations, task forces or organizations that provide training, services or benefits consistent with the goals of the Bar;
7. To maintain a relationship with groups and committees that provide service to members of the Bar.

2.1  Enrollment. Any person shall be authorized to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in any court of the Chickasaw Nation who has been admitted to the Bar of the Chickasaw Nation.  The Bar of the Chickasaw Nation shall be open to any person who is an attorney at law and is admitted to practice before a court and is a member in good standing of such Bar.

All persons authorized under this Section shall become members of the Chickasaw Bar Association and their names shall be added to the roll of attorneys for the Chickasaw Supreme court upon paying an annual fifty dollar ($50) membership fee, and such other additional fees as the Supreme Court may assess, to the Clerk of the court and taking and signing the following oath before the Clerk of the Court.

2.2 Membership.  Members so enrolled and whose duties are paid pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be allowed to practice before any Court of the Chickasaw Nation.

2.3 Dues.  Dues for membership in the Bar shall be in an amount set by the Supreme Court of the Chickasaw Nation, payable upon application for membership enrollment thereafter annually or as otherwise be required by the Supreme Court in advance each year.
3.1  Departments.  The Bar is authorized to establish, or to empower the Chairperson of the Bar to establish, such committees as deemed necessary and desirable to promote effectively the activities of the Bar.
 
4.1 Annual Meeting.   The Bar shall hold an annual meeting of members to be called by the Supreme Court.   The Bar may hold other meeting throughout the year.

4.2 Quorum.  The members of the Bar present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

4.3 Controlling Vote.  Action of the Bar shall be by majority vote of the members present.

4.4 Voting Eligibility.  Any member of the Bar whose good standing can be certified by Chickasaw Supreme Court records at the time of voting shall be eligible to vote.

4.5  Agenda.  Among the matters of business to be transacted at the annual meeting of the membership shall be the election of an officer.  The agenda shall consist of other matters as decided by the Chairperson.

4.6 Mail, Telefax and/or E-mail Voting.  The Chairperson may direct that a matter be submitted to the Bar for vote by mail, telefax and/or e-mail.  In that event binding action of the Bar shall be a majority of the votes received from members. Results of the mail, telefax, and/or e-mail vote shall be confirmed in the Minutes of the next meeting.
 
5.1 Officers.  The officers of the Bar shall be the Chairperson, the Chairperson—Elect and the Secretary.

5.2 Chairperson.  The Chairperson, or the Chairperson-Elect, in absence of the Chairperson, shall preside at all meeting of the Bar

5.3 Chairperson-Elect.  The Chairperson-Elect shall perform the duties of the Chairperson when the Chairperson is unable to act.

5.4 Secretary.  The Secretary shall keep records of all proceedings.
6.1 Chairperson.  The Chairperson-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of Chairperson and serve a term of one (1) year and may not again accede to that office, except after the expiration of two (2) years following service or to fulfill a vacancy by vote of the Bar.

6.2 Chairperson-Elect.  The Secretary shall automatically succeed to the office of Chairperson-Elect and serve a term of one (1) year in that office.

6.3 Eligibility for Office.  Any member of the Bar whose good standing can be certified by official Supreme Court records at the time of election shall be eligible for office.

6.4 Nomination for Voting. 

1. A three (3) person Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson at least thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the annual meeting.
2. In appointing the Nominating Committee, the Chairperson shall, to the extent possible, select persons from varying geographic locations who are familiar with the affairs of the Bar wan with the capability and availability of possible nominees.
3. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to consider suggestions for nominations of qualified persons to serve as officers of the Bar.
4. All elections shall be by voice vote unless elections by written ballot are otherwise ordered by resolution duly adopted by the Bar at the annual meeting at which the election is held.

6.5 Term of Office.  The term of office shall begin with the adjournment of the annual meeting following the election, and shall end following the annual meeting at which a successor has been duly elected.   If at the close of any term of office a successor has not been elected, then the term of office shall be extended until a successor shall have been elected.

6.6 Vacancy.  Any vacancy of an official position shall be filled at the annual meeting.
7.1 Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court may issue additions or modification of these By-laws by signed authority of two members published to the membersh