Approved by voting members Fall 1991
Amended by voting members Fall 1993
Amended by voting members Fall 1995
Amended by voting members Fall 1997
Amended by voting members Fall 2003
Amended by voting members Fall 2006
Amended by voting members Fall 2007
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE
PACIFIC SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I. NAME
The organization shall be known as the Pacific Sociological Association.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
A.II.Section 1. The purpose of the Association shall be to promote sociological research and the teaching of sociology in the Pacific Region of North America.
A.II.Section 2. The Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including making distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
A.II.Section 3. No part of the net earnings of the Association shall be used for the personal benefit of or be distributable to its members, Officers, including Members of Council, or other private persons except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in this article, including, without limitation, the publication of SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and THE PACIFIC SOCIOLOGIST. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall consist of propaganda dissemination or other attempts to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by (a) an Association exempt form Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), or by (b) an Association, contribution to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
A.II.Section 4. Upon dissolution of the Association, Council shall, after paying or making provision for payment of all liabilities of the Association, dispose of all assets of the Association exclusively for purposes of the Association in such manner or to such organization or organizations, organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall, at the time, qualify as an exempt organization or organizations, under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal revenue Law), as Council shall determine. Any of such assets, not so disposed of, shall be disposed of by any court of competent jurisdiction, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Any person committed to the purposes of this Association shall be eligible for membership. The forms of membership and the privileges and dues of members are set forth in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
A.IV.Section 1. Council shall be the governing body of the Association, except insofar as the Constitution and By-laws delegate governing functions to specific Officers or to committees.
A.IV. Section 2. Council shall consist of the Officers of the Association, which are a President, President-Elect, Past President, Vice President, Vice President-Elect, Past Vice President, Executive Director, six Members of Council elected at-large, one graduate student elected at large for a one-year term, and for one year following his or her term, the Past Executive Director.
A.IV.Section 3. The President shall preside at business sessions of the Annual Meeting, shall preside as chair of Council, and shall be responsible for implementation of policies set by Council. When Council is not in session, the President may make decisions and take actions on behalf of the Association in the absence of prior existing policy, provided that such decisions and actions are subject to ratification by Council at its next meeting. The President shall normally consult with Council prior to taking such actions.
A.IV.Section 3.a. The President, with assistance of the Vice President, shall be responsible for the program of the Annual Meeting with full discretion to select assistants in planning and administering the meeting.
A.IV.Section 3.b. In the event of death, resignation, prolonged absence, or inability to serve of an appointed or elected member of any committee, the President may appoint a member of the Association to complete the unexpired term.
A.IV.Section 3.c. The President and/or the Executive Director shall sign contracts on behalf of the Association with the approval of Council.
A.IV.Section 4. The President-Elect shall be elected for a term of one year, after which year, the President-Elect shall become President. In the event of death, resignation, absence, or inability to serve of the President-Elect, the Vice President-Elect shall become President-Elect; corresponding replacement shall occur for President, and Past President.
A.IV.Section 5. Immediately following his or her term as President, the President shall become Past President for one year. The Past President shall serve as chair, without vote, of the Nominations Committee and shall be responsible for expressing, in appropriate ways, the appreciation of the Association to home institutions of Annual Meeting participants and to home institutions of others who have served the Association in important ways during the preceding year.
A.IV.Section 6. No person who has served as President shall be eligible for re-election to the office of President-Elect. No person who has served as Vice President shall be eligible for re-election to the office of Vice President-Elect.
A.IV.Section 7. The Vice President-Elect shall be elected for a term of one year after which year the Vice President-Elect shall become Vice President for one year. The Vice President shall assist the President in planning the program for the Annual Meeting. The Past Vice President shall serve as chair, with outvote, of the Committee on Committees.
A.IV.Section 8. The Executive Director shall be the administrative officer of the Association. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the principal correspondence of the Association and shall record the transactions of the Association and of Council. The Executive Director shall receive and have custody of the funds of the Association, discharge its obligations and maintain its accounts. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget for the Association and the submission thereof for the approval of the Council. If needed and to assist with the discharge of the above obligations, the Executive Director, with the approval of Council, may appoint a Secretary and/or Treasurer. The Executive Director, with Council Approval, shall specify the specific duties and obligations of the appointed Secretary and/or Treasurer. The Secretary and/or Treasurer shall be appointed for a three-year term and shall be eligible for reappointment by Council for additional three-year terms. The Executive Director shall be a Member of Council, shall work closely with all committees of the Association, and shall perform such other duties as Council may assign.
The Executive Director shall be appointed by Council for a term of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment by Council for additional three-year terms. At the close of the Executive Director's term, he or she shall remain in office after the Annual Meeting until accounts of the Association have been audited and transferred to the new Executive Director. The retiring Executive Director shall serve on Council for one year beyond his or her term of office.
A.IV.Section 9. The six at-large Members of Council shall be elected by the entire voting membership of the Association, but each Division shall be represented by two of the six at-large Council members at all times. The term of office for the six at-large Council members shall be two years, with three retiring and three elected each year (one from each Division). The Graduate Student Council member shall be elected for a one-year term, with rotation between Divisions. The Graduate Student Member shall be elected to serve on the Council during the year in which the annual meeting is held in the Division in which his or her college or university is located.
A.IV.Section 10. As the governing body of the Association, Council shall be responsible for formulation of policy and general direction of the Association. Authority to interpret the Constitution and By-Laws resides in Council. When Council is not in session, the President may act on behalf of the Association as specified in Article IV, Section 3.
A.IV.Section 11. Council shall meet twice annually at the time of the Annual Meeting of the Association. At the first annual meeting of Council, incoming Officers shall be invited to attend as observers and may participate in discussion upon recognition by the chair, but shall not be voting members. At the second meeting of Council, retiring Officers shall be invited to attend as observers and may participate in discussion upon recognition by the chair, but shall not be voting members.
A.IV.Section 12. In the event of death, resignation, absence, or inability to serve of any Officer other than the President, President-Elect, or Past-President, Council may appoint a member of the Association to assume the duties of that office until the office can be filled at a regular election or until the Officer is able to re-assume duties of that office.
A.IV.Section 13. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution and By-laws, all Officers shall end their term of office at the close of the first meeting of Council at the Annual Meeting of the Association, and new Officers shall start their term of office at the same time.
A.IV.Section 14. Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, no person holding an elective office in the Association shall be eligible to stand for election to another elective office if the term of office for the second office overlaps with the term of the position for which that person has already been elected.
ARTICLE V. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
A.V.Section 1. The Association shall, as its resources permit, maintain a journal entitled SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and a newsletter, THE PACIFIC SOCIOLOGIST. The Association may issue additional publications consistent with purposes of the Association, in accordance with provisions in the By-laws.
A.V. Section 2. The editor of SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and the editor of the PACIFIC SOCIOLOGISTS shall be appointed by Council as follows: (a) the Publications Committee shall submit a list of nominees for Editor to Council; (b) Council may modify this list by adding or deleting names; (c) Council shall rank order names on the resulting list; and (d) the President shall negotiate with persons on the list, in rank order, until an Editor-elect has agreed to serve. The Editor-elect shall serve for a period of up to one year prior to assuming the position of Editor. The Editor shall serve for a term of three years and may be reappointed by Council for a second three-year term. No Editor shall serve more than two consecutive terms.
A.V. Section 3. The Editor shall provide Council and the Publications Committee with timely reports on all aspects of SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and the PACIFIC SOCIOLOGIST.
ARTICLE VI. PERMANENT COMMITTEES
A.VI.Section 1. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
There shall be a Publications Committee consisting of the Editor of SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and the Editor of the PACIFIC SOCIOLOGIST, who shall serve ex officio without a vote, and six members elected at-large by the entire voting membership of the Association for three-year terms, but each Division shall be represented by two of the six committee members at all times. The chair of the Publications Committee shall be appointed each year by the President from among elected members of the Committee. The Publications Committee shall take responsibility for formulation of policies for all publications of the Association. Such policies shall take effect upon ratification by Council.
A.VI.Section 1.a. The Publications Committee shall each year receive recommendations from the Editor of SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES for appointment of Associate Editors each to serve a three-year term of office. No one who has served a term of office as Associate Editor shall again be eligible for appointment to that office until after three calendar years have elapsed since termination of the prior appointment.
A.VI.Section 1.b. The Publications Committee shall ensure timely reports from the Editors to Council and to the Publications Committee on all aspects of operations and editorial policy, shall from time to time evaluate performance of the Editors and of Associate Editors, and shall make appropriate recommendations to Council.
A.VI.Section 1.c. The Publications Committee shall negotiate with publishers for production and distribution of such publications as Council may authorize. Contracts for such production and distribution shall be signed, on behalf of the Association, by the President and the Secretary Treasurer. The Contract Monitoring Committee shall ensure that the Publications Committee periodically reviews adequacy of all such contracts and makes recommendations to Council.
A.VI.Section 1.c. The Publications Committee shall recommend to Council candidates for the office of Editor-elect in a timely fashion in order to ensure a period of up to one year prior to assumption of office as Editor.
A.VI.Section 2. NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
There shall be a Nomination Committee consisting of the Past President, serving ex officio without a vote, and three members elected at-large by the entire voting membership of the Association for three-years terms. One elected member shall retire each year on a rotating basis so that a member from each successive geographical Division is elected each year. The Past President shall chair the Nomination Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or By-laws of the Association, the Nomination Committee shall nominate two candidates for each elective vacancy. While there shall be no geographical residency requirements for positions of President-Elect and Vice President-Elect, the Nominations Committee shall attempt to nominate candidates of scholarly distinction in such a manner that no region will be favored in the long run.
A.V. Section 3. COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES
There shall be a Committee on Committee consisting of nine members elected by the entire membership at large. Each year, three members, one elected from each Division, shall start and three will end their term of office. The Committee shall recommend appointments to each committee of the Association in such a manner that northern, central, and southern regions are represented. The Committee shall make its recommendations to Council. Council shall review, modify, and act on recommendations for committee appointments at its first meeting of the Annual Meeting of the Association.
A.VI.Section 4. STANDING COMMITTEES
The Association shall provide, through the By-laws, for establishment of such additional Standing Committees as may be required to conduct affairs of the Association.
A.VI.Section 5. AD HOC COMMITTEES
The President may, with approval of Council, appoint Ad Hoc Committees to serve during his or her term of office.
ARTICLE VII. ELECTIONS
A.VII. Section 1. All officers of the Association described in Article IV above and members of the Publications Committee, Nominations Committee, and Committee on Committees shall be elected at large by the entire membership of the association by mail, including electronic, ballot in accord with procedures described in the by-laws.
A.VII. Section 2. Each election ballot shall include an invitation to members to suggest themselves or other members for committee service. These names shall be forwarded to the President and to the Committee on Committees for consideration.
ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS
A.VIII.Section 1. The Association shall hold an Annual Meeting consisting of a program of papers and discussions and a business session. Place of meeting shall rotate annually form Southern Division to the Central and to the Northern Division and back to the Southern Division. In the event of emergency, the President, with approval of a majority of Council may dispense with the Annual Meeting or with the normal rotation among the Divisions.
A.VIII.Section 2. At the Business Meeting, a majority of the voting members present may (a) place items on the agenda of that Business Meeting and (b) pass courtesy resolutions. If at least fifty voting members are present, a majority may pass resolutions to be submitted for ratification by the voting members of the Association by mail, including electronic, ballot, provided such resolutions have been submitted in writing to the Executive Director no later than 9:00 a.m. of the scheduled day of the Business Meeting. Such resolutions shall be submitted for ratification within 45 days of the Business Meeting at which they were passed by the voting members present, and if approved by a majority of the voting members returning mail, including electronic, ballots, shall be considered to be an action of the Association.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
A.IX.Section 1. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of those returning ballots in a referendum submitted by mail, including electronic, to the voting members of the Association, provided votes in favor are not less than one-fourth of the total membership of the Association.
A.IX.Section 2. Amendments may be proposed by Council or by written petition to Council from fifteen members of the Association or by majority vote at an annual Business Meeting at which at least fifty voting members are present.
A.IX.Section 3. Proposed amendments must be discussed at an annual Business Meeting at least one month prior to mailing, including electronic, a referendum for membership approval.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I. AREA AND DIVISIONS
The Association shall serve the western region of the United States. The Northern Division shall include Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The Central Division shall include northern California (Fresno and north; Fresno's north latitude is 36_50', south latitude is 36_42'30"), Hawaii, Nevada (except Las Vegas), Utah, and Colorado. The Southern Division shall include Arizona, the area south of Fresno in California, New Mexico, as well as Las Vegas and the area south of it in Nevada and the Mexican states of Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua
ARTICLE II. DUES
Dues shall be paid annually and structured into at least two categories. The first category shall be for students and others who annually earn less; the second shall be for faculty and others who annually earn more. Council shall establish the amount for dues and the income criteria for each category. The amount for students and others who annually earn less, shall be significantly lower than for faculty and others who annually earn more.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
A.III.Section 1. Members in good standing shall be entitled to attend and participate in meetings of the Association upon payment of the registration fee, to vote in election, and to receive a copy of each issue of SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and THE PACIFIC SOCIOLOGIST. Good standing is defined as having paid dues for the current year.
A.III.Section 2. Members in good standing shall be eligible to be elected to office and to permanent committees, and to serve on standing committees of the Association with the following exceptions. Graduate student members shall be eligible to be elected to Council for a one-year term to fill a graduate student position on Council. Graduate student members shall also be eligible to be elected to permanent committees, but not to the other offices of the Association, and they shall be eligible to serve on standing committees of the Association, but not on the Awards Committee.
A.III.Section 3. A student member is a person whose principal occupation is that of student. No person shall be eligible for student membership for more than five years.
A.III.Section 4. Emeritus or emerita memberships recognized prior to the 1982 membership year shall continue, with full membership privileges and remission of dues. No emeritus or emerita memberships shall be awarded after the 1982 membership year.
A.III.Section 5. The membership year shall be from January 1 through December 31.
ARTICLE IV. STANDING COMMITTEES
A.IV.Section 1. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The Membership Committee shall assist the Officers of the Association in recruitment and maintenance of membership in the Association and shall advise the Officers in the interpretation of provisions in the Constitution and By-laws dealing with membership. The Membership Committee shall consist of six members of the association, appointed by Council upon recommendation by the Committee on Committees, from among whom the chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV.Section 2. ASSOCIATION AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Association Audit Committee shall audit the financial records of the Executive Director at the end of each fiscal year, and also whenever the Executive Director retires from office, and shall certify the accuracy of the records to the President. The Association Audit Committee shall normally consist of two members of the Association appointed by the President-Elect with the approval of the Council. The term of membership will be three years.
A.IV.Section 3. CONTRACT MONITORING COMMITTEE
The Contract Monitoring Committee shall advise the Council in regard to the negotiation, provision, renewal, and workability of all contracts. The Contract Monitoring Committee shall normally consist of two members of the Association appointed by the President-Elect with approval of the Council. The term of membership will be three years.
A.IV.Section 4. MEETING SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE
The Meeting Site Selection Committee, composed of the President as chair, the President-Elect, and the Executive Director shall organize and coordinate information about potential sites for the Annual meeting and report to Council in order to facilitate site selection decisions by Council.
A.IV.Section 5. AWARDS COMMITTEE
The Awards Committee shall administer procedures and arrangements for bestowal of all awards by the Association. The Awards Committee shall consist of six members of the association, appointed by Council upon recommendation by the Committee on Committees, from among whom the chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Council. Normally, the Awards Committee shall divide itself into subcommittees, such that each member, except the chair, shall serve as a Principal Judge for one of the Association's awards and as Secondary Judge for another. The Awards Committee chair shall be, ex officio, a third member of each subcommittee thus formed. Alternative subcommittee arrangements may also be made at the discretion of the chair as required by the nature of the workload in a given year. Each subcommittee will report its recommendations for awards to the committee of the whole for consideration and ratification. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office. The Committee on Committees shall consider qualifications for review of particular awards in making recommendations for service on the Awards Committee. The chair of the Committee shall be appointed from the membership at large by the President with the approval of Council.
The Awards Committee shall establish and maintain its own procedures, and criteria for the bestowal of each of the various awards, with occasional modifications as necessary, subject to the approval of Council. The Awards Committee may, at its discretion, elect to bypass bestowal of any award in any interval during which, in its judgment, there is a shortage of meritorious nominations for that award.
A.IV.Section 6. COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN SOCIOLOGY
The Committee on the Status of Women in Sociology shall monitor the participation of women in the discipline and in the affairs of the Association and shall report to the Council and to the membership of the Association its findings and recommendations for enhancing such participation. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom a chair shall be appointed by the President with approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV.Section 7. COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES IN SOCIOLOGY
The Committee on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Sociology shall monitor the participation of members of racial and ethnic minorities in the discipline and in the affairs of the Association and shall report to the Council and to the membership of the Association its findings and recommendations for enhancing such participation. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the chair shall be appointed by the President with approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV.Section 8. COMMITTEE ON TEACHING SOCIOLOGY
The Committee on Teaching shall concern itself with issues relating to the teaching of sociology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels including teaching theory and methods, curriculum program development, and other professional concerns related to teaching sociology. The Committee shall explore ways of improving the teaching of sociology through such efforts as organizing teaching workshops and regular paper and/or panel sessions at the annual meetings and/or through other appropriate means. The Committee shall help solicit nominations to be sent to the Awards Committee for the PSA excellence in teaching award and shall from time to time organize a reception and/or other gathering at the annual meetings in order to facilitate networking among members of the Association interested in the teaching of sociology. The Committee shall maintain effective liaison with the American Sociological Association's Section on Undergraduate Education, with the ASA's Teaching Resource Center, and with other professional organizations that focus on teaching. The Committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the chair shall be appointed by the President with approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office. Attention should be given to the effort to broadly represent the various types of teaching institutions in the PSA region.
A.IV.Section 9. COMMITTEE ON FREEDOM OF RESEARCH AND TEACHING
The Committee on Freedom of Research and Teaching shall be concerned with the maintenance of academic freedom among sociologists and with the development and maintenance of fair and equitable procedures and practices for employing, promoting, and terminating the employment of sociologists in the western region of the United States. This committee may investigate complaints referred to it by members, shall develop appropriate procedures for conducting such investigations, and shall report to Council results of all such investigations with recommendations for Council action. This Committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the chair shall be appointed by the President with approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV.Section 10. COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS
The Committee on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights shall monitor and report to Council its assessment of issues of civil liberties and civil rights pertaining to sociologists within the discipline, the Association, and the region. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association. Three members shall be appointed by Council upon recommendation by the Committee on Committees, from among whom the chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Council. Additionally, each of the following committees shall designate one of its own members to serve as liaison: Committee on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Sociology, Committee on the Status of Women in Sociology, the Committee on the Status of Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals. The term of office for the three appointed committee members shall be three years; each year one member starts and one member ends the term of office.
A.IV.Section 11. COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDERED PERSONS IN SOCIOLOGY
The Committee on the Status of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Persons in Sociology shall monitor the participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons in the discipline and in the affairs of the Association. The committee shall report to Council the status and concerns of homosexuals within the region. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV.Section 12. STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
The Student Affairs Committee shall concern itself with the participation of both undergraduate and graduate students in the Association and the discipline, such as planning activities for students at the annual meeting, including student paper sessions and roundtables and a student reception. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the Chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV.Section 13. COMMITTEE ON PRACTICE, APPLIED, AND CLINICAL SOCIOLOGY
The Committee on Practice, Applied, and Clinical Sociology shall concern itself with matters that relate to the application and practice of sociology, including its clinical applications, such as monitoring the participation of applied sociologists in the Association and planning activities associated with practice sociology at the annual meeting. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the Chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV. Section 14. ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE
The Endowment Committee shall be concerned with matters that relate to the PSA Endowment Fund, including planning activities designed to raise money for the fund, establishing procedures for use of the fund, and recommending to Council specific ways interest from the fund will be used. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the Chair will be appointed by the President with approval of Council. The term of office of each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
A.IV Section 15 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE COMMITTEE
The Social Conscience Committee shall be concerned with identifying a worthy community-based organization in the city in which the PSA holds its annual meeting, for the purpose of honoring the organization through the PSA program and/or with a monetary donation from the PSA. The Committee shall recommend to Council the amount of the donation. This committee shall consist of three members who live in the city (or adjacent to it) in which the annual PSA meeting is held. The President with approval of Council will appoint the Chair. The term of office of each committee member will be for one year.
A.IV Section 16 COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES
The Committee on Community Colleges shall concern itself with matters that relate to the participation of community college faculty in the Association and the discipline, such as planning activities for community college faculty at the annual meeting and monitoring their participation. This committee shall consist of six members of the Association, from among whom the Chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Council. The term of office for each committee member shall be three years; each year two members start, one from each Division, and two members end their term of office.
ARTICLES V. ELECTIONS
A.V.Section 1. All Members of Council and members of Permanent and Standing Committees elected by the membership at large shall be elected by a mail, including electronic, ballot under the following procedures:
(a) As soon as practical after the Annual Meeting, the Executive Director shall place in the hands of the Nominations Committee a list of those who have occupied all offices of the Association since its founding and a list of the paid up membership eligible to hold office.
(b) The Nominations Committee shall select two nominees for each elective position to be filled. Not later than October 15, they shall instruct the Executive Director to prepare a ballot listing these nominees and leaving one blank space under each position for additional write-in nominations by the membership.
(c) Ballots shall be sent out to the membership prior to November l, with instructions to vote for positions either by checking names of nominees listed or by writing in names of additional nominees. A date for returning ballots, no later than January 1, shall be noted on the instructions accompanying the ballots. The Chair of the Nominations Committee shall receive and count ballots.
(d) Election shall be final unless the name of a member eligible to hold an elective
position in the Association is written in for a particular position by at least one-tenth of those returning ballots. In the latter event, the member shall be considered nominated for that position, and a new ballot shall be sent out as expeditiously as possible for voting on all positions for which new nominees are thus presented.
(e) The Chair of the Nominations Committee shall notify the President and the Executive Director of election results. All ballots cast, together with copies of pertinent data and records of the Nominations Committee, shall be submitted to the President immediately after the report of the Committee has been completed and, if found accurate, shall be certified by him or her to the Association as true and accurate. The Executive Director shall hold originals of all such material for a period at least eighteen months.
A.V.Section 2. The Executive Director shall record the results of the mail, including electronic, ballot and all other voting by the Association and shall announce the newly elected Officers to the membership by a general mailing, including electronic, prior to the Annual Meeting.
A. V. Section 3. Each election ballot shall include an invitation to members to suggest themselves or other members for committee service, these names to be forwarded the to the Committee on Committees for future consideration.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
A.VI.Section 1. The exact time and place of the Annual Meeting shall be determined by Council at least one year in advance. In the event of unusual circumstances, the President may, with the approval of a majority of Council, change the time and place of the Annual Meeting.
A.VI.Section 2. The Annual Meeting shall be devoted principally to a program of papers and discussions, arranged at the discretion of the President.
A.VI.Section 3. A business session shall be conducted at each Annual Meeting. The purposes of the annual business session are to allow the officers to report to the membership and seek their advice, and to allow the membership to offer proposals and ask questions of the officers. In addition to other matters, the annual business sessions shall include a membership report and financial report by the Executive Director, report of the publication activities by the Editor, and a discussion of time and place and conduct of the next Annual Meeting.
A.VI.Section 4. Among Pacific region sociologists, only those who are members in good standing of the Pacific Sociological Association shall be eligible to present papers, organize or chair sessions, or otherwise participate as presenters in the Annual Meeting program. Foreign sociologists, not including Canadians, who are invited to participate in the Annual Meeting program by the Program Committee or a session organizer, and members of other disciplines similarly invited, may participate in the program without being Association members and without paying the registration fee. Sociologists from areas other than the Pacific region may participate in the program without membership in the Association, but will be assessed the registration fee.
ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Amendments to the By-laws shall be effected by a mail, including electronic, ballot submitted to the membership. A proposed amendment shall be considered approved by the membership if it is approved by a majority of those returning their ballots, provided that the favorable votes are not less than one-sixth of the members of the association. Amendments may be initiated by a majority of Council, by written petition of at least fifteen members of the Association, or by majority vote at the annual Business Meeting at which at least fifty voting members of the Association are present.
