Constitution And By-Laws
Constitution


ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the National Council of State Sociological Associations

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
The chief objective of the organization shall be (a) to promote and. facilitate communications among established state associations, (b) to share common concerns and (c) to contribute to the effective development of state sociological associations.

An adjunct objective shall be to assist emerging state associations in the establishment of new state associations.

Additional objectives may evolve through the leadership of the Exeo~1tive Board, or may be suggested for consideration by any member either in writing or at the annual meeting of the National Council.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Any organized or organizing state sociological association shall be eligible for membership. Depending upon the idiosyncratic practice of each state, membership on the National Council will consist of the immediate past chief operating officer, the current chief operating officer, the chief officer-elect, and the secretary (or the equivalent officers) from each member state association.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
The Executive Board of the NCSSA shall consist of the immediate past president, the current president, and the president-elect, to be supplemented as other offices are deemed necessary.

ARTICLE V: ELECTIONS
Election of membership in the National Council adheres to the elective processes of the respective state association members, who my elect or appoint representatives to the National Council in the manner appropriate to their association.

The president-elect of the National Council shall be elected at the annual meeting of the NCSSA by vote of those present, either in person or by proxy.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
The NCSSA shall meet at least once each year, coincidentally with the meetings of the American sociological Association, and at other times as need arises.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution may be submitted and distributed far consideration by mail one month in advance of the annual meeting to be voted on by those present and may be passed by a simple majority.

By-Laws


ARTICLE I: NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Executive Board shall act as a nominating committee and secure the advance agreement of at least one willing candidate to run for president—elect. Additional nominations may be made from the floor providing the nominee is willing to serve.

No one state association shall have more than one of its NCSSA members serving in an elective office of NCSSA at the same time. Elections shall be by a simple majority voting by secret ballot. If not present when elected, the president—elect shall be informed of election to office by the president within one week of the annual meeting.

ARTICLE II: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Past President:

The immediate past president shall act in en advisory capacity to the president in carrying out the duties of that office, turning over all correspondence and records relevant to the office at the annual meeting.

President:

The president shall plan the agenda of the annual meeting, initiate and maintain contact with the state associations, disseminate information from individual states to others in the network, and alert the members to issues of common concern. In the event that controversial issues need to be raised, the president shall take care to invite opposing views to be presented. The president shall represent the National Council in contact with other groups such as regional sociological associations or the American Sociological Association.

President-Elect:

The president-elect shall assist the president in obtaining information needed to fulfill the duties of that office and shall act as special assistant to those states requesting assistance in organizing new associations. During the annual meeting, the president-elect shall act as secretary pro tern, taking minutes to be distributed to the state network in subsequent mailings. The president-elect shall act as a repository for a collection Of state constitutions.

Succession:

Changeover will normally occur at the annual meeting, at which time the current president would preside, the president-elect would report on new state associations, and election of a new president-elect would occur9 Immediately following that meeting, the president would become the immediate past president, the president-elect would begin the duties of president, and the newly elected president-elect would start fulfilling those duties. In the event that a duly elected officer cannot fulfill the duties, the remaining officers may exercise emergency power to appoint a replacement from among willing candidates.

ARTICLE III: STANDING COMMITTEES
Issues:

The past president shall act as chair of the Committee on Issues of special concern to state sociological associations, with the right to appoint members to that committee from among the states which belong. Reports on such issues should be made to the president, shared in the mailings to members, and reported at the annual meeting.

Developments:

The president shall act as chair of the standing Committee on Development of the National Council, arrange for the space and time for the annual meeting, produce the reports to the membership, and in general work to make the organization an effective service to all of the state associations. It shall be the prerogative of the president to appoint from the members such committee assistance as is deemed necessary to facilitate this goal.

The president-elect shall chair the Committee on Advancement to those states wishing to organize new sociological associations, providing information about how other states operate, how they are constituted and kinds of goals and program they have. Committee members may be appointed at the discretion of this officer in fulfillment of the duties required.
ARTICLE IV: BUDGET
Each regular member state is asked to contribute at least twenty dollars ($20) to assist in covering costs of mailings. A contributions of forty dollars ($40) will entitle the state member to the status of sustaining member.

ARTICLE V: VOTING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Each state is entitled to four votes. A state may, if some of their officers cannot attend the annual meeting, empower their representatives to exercise the right of proxy in behalf of absent officers. The right of proxy should be expressed in written form and handed to the National Council president before voting in elections or on issues.

ARTICLE VI: COMMUNICATIONS
Member states have the responsibility to send copies of their programs and Newsletters to the president of the National Council to be shared with other states, and to inform the Executive Board of changes in state association officers, providing their name, office, and address.

The president shall collect, edit, and disseminate periodic reports from the states and publish reports from the standing committees.

A minimum of two mailings each year shall be the responsibility of the president, in cooperation with the states and fellow officers of the National Council.