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Bylaws

Contents

  1. Name and Purpose
  2. Membership
  3. Officers, Duties, and Terms of Office
  4. Committees
  5. Activities
  6. Rules of Procedure
  7. Amendments
  8. Dissolution

Article I – Name And Purpose

  1. The name of this organization shall be the Association for Psychological Science.
  2. The purpose of this organization shall be:
    To promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, and the improvement of human welfare.

Article II – Membership

  1. The Association shall consist of three categories of members: Fellows, Members, and Affiliates.
  2. Members of the Association shall be persons who are interested in the advancement of scientific psychology. Members and Fellows shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of the Association without restriction.
  3. The minimum standard for election to membership shall be:
    1. receipt of a doctoral degree based in part on evidence of proficiency in psychological research from a program primarily psychological in content and conferred by a graduate school that is regionally accredited or that has achieved accreditation within five years of the year the doctoral degree was granted, or one of equivalent standing outside of the U.S. or
    2. evidence of sustained and significant contributions to scientific psychology, and
    3. such other qualifications as may be deemed appropriate by the Membership Committee.
  4. The minimum standards for Fellow status shall be a distinguished contribution to scientifically oriented psychology.
  5. Affiliates shall consist of the following: student, individuals in related disciplines who do not meet the requirements for membership described in 2.3a and organizational. Requirements for affiliates shall be an interest in the advancement of scientifically oriented psychology and such other requirements as may be set by the Membership Committee. Affiliate members shall not vote.
  6. Dues for members and the several classes of affiliates are set by the Board of Directors of the Association and are paid to the Association annually.
  7. All Members, Fellows, and Affiliates shall be treated without discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical disability. This does not preclude the Association from carrying out activities or programs that have as the goal the amelioration of conditions that may restrict members from full participation in the Association or its activities.

Article III – Officers, Duties, And Terms Of Office

  1. The elected officers of the Association shall consist of a President-elect, President and Past President and six Members-at-Large of the Board of Directors. Each shall perform the usual duties of the respective office and specific duties provided elsewhere in these Bylaws or as assigned by the Board of Directors. Elections for officers shall normally be held every year. The President shall serve a three-year term as President-elect, President and Past President. The Members-at-Large shall serve three-year terms, two to be elected every year. The officers may not hold any other offices on the Board of Directors. Committees, including special committees, shall include a member of the Board either as a committee member or as chair.
  2. Candidates for President and Members-at-Large shall be Fellows or Members of the Association. Officers shall be elected by preferential mail ballot to Members and Fellows.
  3. The Board of Directors shall elect one of the Members-at-Large to serve as an advocate for social responsibility issues that involve the Board or Association.
  4. The Board of Directors shall annually appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer who need not be Members-at-Large and who shall serve as ex officio members of the Board without voting privileges unless they are Members-at-Large of the Board of Directors. The Secretary is eligible for reappointment up to three years and the Treasurer is eligible for reappointment up to six years.
  5. In the case of the President’s prolonged absence, incapacity, death, or resignation, the President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President. In the case of the resignation, death, or prolonged absence of a Member-at-Large, the Board may replace that Member by appointing another person to serve during the remainder of his or her term.

Article IV – Committees

  1. The Committees of the Association shall consist of such standing Committees as may be provided by these Bylaws and such special Committees as may be established by the Board of Directors.
  2. The President, President-elect, Past President and Members-at-Large shall constitute the voting members of the Board of Directors.
  3. The Board of Directors shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association, performing the duties and abiding by the limitations specified in these Bylaws. Actions of the Board of Directors affecting Association policy are subject to approval by a majority vote of the members voting at the annual meeting, or by special mail ballots as decided upon by the Board of Directors. In the case of actions taken at the annual meeting a special mail ballot to review such actions may be requested by 5% of the members. A request to review shall be sent to the President within thirty days following the annual meeting. The ballot shall be circulated to the membership.
  4. The standing Committees shall consist of the following: Awards, Convention, Elections, Finance, Membership, and Publications. The members of each Committee and, with the exception of the Finance Committee, the Committee chair shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. Members’ terms shall be staggered, with an equal number of new members being appointed each year.
  5. Members of the Membership Committee shall serve three-year terms. The Chair is appointed for a one-year term but the appointment may be renewed at the option of the President. It shall be the responsibility of this Committee to help develop recruitment and retention strategies for membership in all classes (Members and Affiliates). The Committee shall appoint a subcommittee that evaluates applications for Fellow status and makes recommendations to the full Committee.
  6. Members of the Publications Committee shall serve three-year terms. The Chair is appointed for a one-year term but the appointment may be renewed at the option of the President for a maximum of three years. The Publications Committee shall oversee the publications of the Association, make recommendations to the Board of Directors on publication policies, subscription rates, annual budgets, and other matters relevant to the over-all program, and subject to the approval of the Board, appoint the Editors of the Association’s publications. Members of the Publications Committee may not simultaneously serve as an Editor or Co-Editor.
  7. Members of the Finance Committee shall serve for a term of three years. The Treasurer shall serve as the chair of the Committee. The duties of the Committee include reviewing the proposed annual budget and financial reports prepared by the Treasurer and advising the Board of Directors on the management of its assets.
  8. The Awards Committee shall be composed of Fellows of the Association selected to represent the diversity of scientifically oriented psychology. Members shall serve for a term of three years. The Committee shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors each year of individuals to be given any special Fellow awards or other awards created by the Association.
  9. Members of the Convention Committee shall serve for a term of three years. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to plan and to oversee the conduct of the annual meeting at a time and place specified by the Board of Directors. The Committee may appoint subcommittees or individuals outside of its own membership to assist in local arrangements, and preparing the program.
  10. Members of the Election Committee shall serve for a term of three years. The Committee shall secure nominations for President-elect and Members-at-Large from the members, and shall prepare slates of nominees such that diversity and balance among the members of the Board of Directors shall be maintained. The Committee shall ascertain whether the nominees are qualified and willing to serve if elected and shall be responsible for making a preferential count of the election ballots and reporting the results to the Board of Directors.

Article V – Activities

  1. An annual meeting of the Association shall be held for the transaction of business and presentations regarding scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, and the advancement of human welfare.
  2. The Association may establish or acquire newsletters, journals, or other publications.
  3. The Association may undertake the tasks of specifying accreditation, education, and training criteria in scientifically oriented psychology; and promoting public education and encouraging legislative initiatives consistent with the purposes of the Association.
  4. The Board of Directors may provide for the formation and dissolution of Divisions, interest groups, regional chapters, and other units within the Association.

Article VI – Rules of Procedure

  1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association might adopt.

Article VII – Amendments

  1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members who reply to a mail ballot sent to the total membership. Bylaws amendments may be initiated by the Board of Directors or by petition of 5% of the total membership.
  2. Periodically, but at intervals no greater than every five years, the Board of Directors shall appoint a special committee to review the then-current Bylaws and the operation and structure of the Association and to make recommendations about them to the Board.

Article VIII – Dissolution

  1. In the event of the dissolution or termination of the Association, all of the assets and title to and possession of the property of the Association shall pass to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or if AAAS no longer exists, to a similar scientific society selected by the Board of Directors.