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ARTICLE I.
Name
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- The Section shall be known as the Biological Anthropology Section, a Section of the American Anthropological Association.
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ARTICLE II.
Purpose
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- Its purpose shall be to advance the study of biological anthropology and to encourage communication of the results of such study.
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ARTICLE III.
Powers |
- The Section shall be autonomous in all matters within its field that are not reserved by the Bylaws of the American Anthropological Association, inimical to the American Anthropological Association's interests, or prohibited by law.
- The Section is empowered to determine Section membership dues.
- The Section shall determine voting requirements on all Section matters.
- The Section may engage in publishing and other activities appropriate to its purposes.
- The Section shall adopt and maintain Rules of Procedure consistent with American Anthropological Association Bylaws. The Section shall file with the American Anthropological Association Secretary a copy of its current, Rules of Procedure and Table of Organization.
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ARTICLE IV.
Membership |
- Membership in the Section shall be open to any member in good standing of the American Anthropological Association who supports the above purposes subject to the payment of dues stipulated by the Executive Committee of the Section.
- A Member in good standing shall be eligible to hold elective or appointive office, participate in the scientific program, receive publications and have one vote in nominating and electing officers and the transaction of other business of the Section.
- For just cause, a Member may be deprived of membership by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee, subject to appeal to the Members at the Annual Meeting.
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ARTICLE V.
Dues |
- The Executive Committee shall set the annual dues of Members and may establish rates for special categories.
- Any Member in arrears in the payment of dues shall lose all membership privileges.
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ARTICLE VI.
Officers
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- The officers shall be a Chair, Chair-elect and Secretary-Treasurer.
- The Chair shall be the presiding officer of the Section and, should the Section be entitled to such representation, its first representative on the Board of Directors of the American Anthropological Association and its representative on the Executive Committee of the American Anthropological Association.
- The Chair-elect shall assume the duties of the Chair in the event of absence, death, resignation or incapacity of the Chair, and shall succeed to the office of Chair at the expiration of the term as Chair-elect.
- The Secretary-Treasurer shall have charge of the records of the Section and shall submit a draft budget for the approval of the Executive Committee not less than sixty (60) days before the Annual Meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve as editor of the Section's section in the Anthropology Newsletter, or shall with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoint a Contributing Editor.
- The terms of office of all officers shall be two years, commencing at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association.
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ARTICLE VII.
Executive Committee |
- There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers and three members elected at large from the membership of the section. One of the elected members must be a student at the time of the election.
- Subject to directives and limitations imposed by the Members of the Section, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to execute on behalf of the Section all powers and functions defined in these Bylaws.
- The Executive Committee shall meet at least once annually, at the time of the Annual Meeting and may meet additionally on the call of the Chair or a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
- The Executive Committee shall make all non-elective appointments and may make interim appointments to fill vacancies in any elective office until the next regularly scheduled election.
- The terms of office of the Executive Committee shall be two years, commencing at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association.
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ARTICLE VIII.
Annual Report |
- At the time of each Annual Meeting, the Executive Committee shall report its activities to the Members and to the Board of Directors of the American Anthropological Association. The report shall include the reports of the Secretary-Treasurer, editors of publications, committees, and other agents representing the Section.
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ARTICLE IX.
Meetings |
- The Section shall hold an Annual Business Meeting at the time of the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association.
- The place and date of the Annual Meeting shall be disclosed to the Members not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting.
- The Executive Committee shall appoint a Program Chair and a Program Chair-designate. The Program Chair shall organize the scientific program of the Section, normally for a period of two years, according to procedures established by the AAA and the Executive Committee. The Program Chair shall assemble a Program Committee that shall include the Chair-designate, who shall be appointed one year in advance of assuming the position of Program Chair and shall be trained for the job of Program Chair during the year prior to becoming Program Chair.
- Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee or upon written request of five (5) percent of the Members.
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ARTICLE X.
Quorum |
- Five (5) percent of the Members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Business Meeting.
- A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for transacting business.
- The business of the Section shall be transacted by majority vote unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE XI.
Nominations and Elections |
- Candidates for any elective office may be nominated by the Executive Committee, by a Nominations Committee, or by Members. All candidates shall be Members in good standing of the Section.
- A Nominations Committee of three (3) Members shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee.
- An announcement shall be placed in the Biological Anthropology Section column in the Anthropology Newsletter, at least by the issue appearing 60 days before the Annual Meeting, of the availability of any elected or appointed office. Nominations, including self-nominations, should be communicated by Members to the Secretary-Treasurer, including a brief justification of the suitability of the nomination.
- The Nominations Committee shall nominate two (2) persons for each vacant office. These nominations shall be made known to Members at least thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting.
- Five (5) per cent of the Members in good standing may nominate an additional candidate for any office, provided the nomination is received in writing by the Secretary at least thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting.
- The Secretary-Treasurer shall inform the prospective nominee of the probable extent of the burden of office, and explain the operation of the section as stipulated by these Rules of Procedure. A nomination becomes effective only upon filing with the Secretary-Treasurer a statement of willingness and ability to devote such time to the affairs of the Section as necessary to the effective execution of office.
- Upon election, the new member shall be provided a copy of these BAS Rules of Procedure and other materials as necessary for him/her to become familiar with the duties involved prior to assuming office.
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ARTICLE XII.
Balloting |
- A Member in good standing shall be entitled to cast one ballot in any election or referendum.
- Ballots shall be secret and enclosed in a signed envelope. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to examine the eligibility of any voter.
- Thirty (30) days shall be allowed for the return of ballots. Ballots must be received by the AAA central office not later than the stated return date to be counted.
- A service agency may be engaged to tally the votes and certify the results to the Executive Committee.
- The candidate receiving the most votes for a contested office shall be elected; the Executive Committee shall hold a run-off election within ninety (90) days to resolve all ties.
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ARTICLE XIII.
Referenda |
- A referendum may be conducted by mail ballot at any time upon initiation of the Executive Committee, or upon receipt by the Secretary-Treasurer of a petition signed by five (5) percent of the Members in good standing. A majority of votes received shall constitute a favorable vote.
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ARTICLE XIV.
Finances |
- The budget year of the Section shall be that of the American Anthropological Association.
- The Section shall submit an annual operating budget to the American Anthropological Association Executive Board, which, when approved, shall govern Section activities for the year.
- The estimated income from annual dues and from other sources shall constitute a working fund, available operating expenses.
- No financial obligation may shall be assumed by the Executive Committee or by any officer on behalf of the Section. The AAA is the sole financial agent.
- For the purposes of annual budgeting, estimated receipts from annual dues and other sources for the current year may be considered as available funds.
- The Section may establish a fund balance for a specific purpose(s) as approved by the AAA Executive Board to be administered by the AAA.
- The Secretary-Treasurer is empowered to authorize the disbursement of funds based on the annual budget approved by the Executive Committee, and up to $200 additional funds at his/her discretion.
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ARTICLE XV.
Amendments |
- These Rules of Procedure may be amended by the Members by mail ballot, provided that a proposed amendment is approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.
- Amendments may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by five (5) percent of the Members in good standing. The Executive Committee shall have the proposed amendment circulated to the Members and it shall allow thirty (30) days for the return of ballots.
- The amendments and provisions of these Bylaws shall be effective immediately upon adoption and shall supersede and nullify all previous amendments and provisions.
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