February 25, 2012
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ARKANSAS POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I. NAME
The
organization shall be known as the Arkansas Political Science
Association.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
SECTION 1a.
The
purpose of the Association is to promote teaching and research
related to the discipline of Political Science in the state of
Arkansas through the hosting of an annual professional conference
involving scholars, educators, students, and other interested
individuals, and through the dissemination of political science and
related scholarship in the Association’s academic journal.
SECTION 1b. The Association is organized exclusively
for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes,
including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to
organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section
501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding
section of any future federal tax code.
SECTION 2. No substantial part of the activities of
the Association shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or
otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association
shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign
(including the publishing or distribution of statements) on behalf
of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of
these articles, the Association shall not carry on any other
activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation or
organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501 (c)
(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any
future Federal tax code) or (b) by a corporation of organization,
contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of
the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future
Federal tax code).
SECTION 4. Upon dissolution of the Association,
assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within
the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or
corresponding section of any future Federal tax code, or shall be
distributed to the Federal government, or to a state or local
government, for a public purpose.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1.
Regular membership is open to all persons interested in the
purposes of the Association.
SECTION 2. Student membership is open to all persons
interested in political science. Student members shall have all
privileges of full members except those of voting and holding
office.
ARTICLE IV. FINANCES
SECTION 1.
Annual dues shall be assessed by majority of those present at the
annual meeting of the Association. Annual dues shall remain in the
amount specified in the By-Laws until changed by a majority of the
regular members present and voting at the annual meeting of the
Association.
SECTION 2. No part of the net earnings of the
Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its
members, officers, 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 Section 501 (c) (3) purposes.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
SECTION 1.
Officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice President
(President-elect), Secretary-Treasurer, and four Board members to be
elected at-large. These officers shall comprise the Executive Board
of the Association. Additional officers may be created by the
Association at the recommendation of the member of the Association.
The immediate past president shall serve as an ex-officio member of
the Executive Board.
SECTION 2.
The President, the Vice-President (President-elect), and the
Secretary-Treasurer shall serve for a term of a year, beginning at
the conclusion of the Association's annual meeting and expiring at
the conclusion of the Association's annual meeting the following
year, and the four Board members shall serve for a two-year term,
two being elected each year.
SECTION 3.
The Executive Board shall determine the time, place, and agenda for
annual and special meetings, present a budget for the coming year at
the annual meeting and select the speaker for the annual meeting.
SECTION 4.
A quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of a majority of the
Board members.
SECTION 5.
The President shall preside at all business meetings of the
Association or its Executive Board and shall represent the
Association in all functions and activities.
SECTION 6.
The Vice President (President-elect) shall perform all duties of the
President in the event of absence or resignation of the President.
SECTION 7.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep records of all formal proceedings
of the Association or its Executive Board, of minutes and
correspondence and all income and disbursements. He shall notify
members of the time and place of the meetings and submit a financial
report to the annual meeting. He shall also issue such publications
as directed by the Association or the Constitution and By-Laws.
SECTION 8. No officer of the Association, in his or
her capacity as an officer of the Association, shall intervene on
behalf or, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS
SECTION 1.
The Vice President (President-elect), Secretary-Treasurer, and the
Board members shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee from
among the regular members. The Nominating Committee shall nominate
for the office of President the current Vice President
(President-elect). If the office of Vice President
(President-elect) is vacant, the Nominating Committee shall nominate
for the office of President from among the regular members.
Additional nominations may be made from the floor.
SECTION 2.
No two members of the Nominating Committee shall be from the same
institution.
SECTION 3.
The President and the Board members to be elected at-large shall
not be eligible for reelection to consecutive terms of office. The
Vice President shall be the President elect; and the
Secretary-Treasurer shall be eligible for reelection.
SECTION 4.
The election of officers shall be by secret ballot by a majority
vote of those members present and voting at the annual meeting of
the Association. The Regular members shall be notified of the list
nominated by the nominating committee at least 15 days prior to the
annual meeting.
SECTION 5.
In the event of any vacancies on the Executive Board or committees,
the President shall appoint a member of the Association to fill the
vacancy with the approval of the Executive Board, and the person so
appointed shall serve until the next election of new officers.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
SECTION 1.
The Association shall hold one annual meeting in the spring.
Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of
a majority of the Executive Board.
SECTION 2.
The call for any meeting of the Association, regular or special,
must be extended to all members at least 30 days before the meeting
is to take place.
SECTION 3.
The location of the annual meeting shall be determined by the
Executive Board.
SECTION 4.
A quorum of the annual meeting shall consist of 20 regular members
of the Association.
SECTION 5.
The annual meeting of the Association shall be conducted in
accordance with Robert's Rule of Order, latest edition, insofar as
they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution or
By-Laws.
SECTION 6. At each annual meeting, the Executive
Board shall recommend to the membership those committees which it
seems advisable to function during the coming year. Upon approval
of the committees by the membership, the President shall name the
members of the committees and designate their chairmen, subject to
the approval of the membership. The President shall recommend to
the Executive Board those committees which he seems advisable to
function during the coming year. The President shall name the
members of the committees and designate their chairman, subject to
the approval of the Executive Board. Temporary committees may be
created by the President, and their members and chairman designated,
subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VIII. BY-LAWS
SECTION 1.
Resolutions passed at annual or special meetings of the Association
may be designated as By-laws. By-laws may be proposed by a majority
of the Executive Board or on the petition of ten percent of the
regular members of the Association.
SECTION 2.
These by-laws shall be considered effective when adopted by a
majority vote of the members present and voting at the annual or
special meetings of the Association.
SECTION 3.
An
amendment to the by-laws may be made by a majority vote of the
regular members present and voting at the annual or special meetings
of the Association.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1.
Amendments to the Constitution of the Association may be proposed by
a majority of the Executive Board or ten percent of the regular
members of the Association by written petition submitted to the
membership at least 15 days prior to any meeting.
SECTION 2.
Proposed amendments may be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the
members present and voting at annual or special meetings of the
Association.
SECTION 3.
This Constitution shall be in effect immediately after its adoption
by a simple majority of those regular members at the annual meeting
of the Association.
