AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

GEORGIA CHAPTER

CONSTITUTION

 

Article I. Name and Purposes

Section 1. The name of this Chapter shall be the Georgia Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, hereinafter referred to as the Chapter.

Section 2. The purposes of this Chapter shall be to advance the objectives of the American Society for Public Administration, stated in the Society’s constitution as:

To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and results of experience among persons interested or engaged in the field of public administration.

To encourage the collection, compilation, and dissemination of information on matters relating to public administration.

To encourage the improvement of the public service.

To advance generally the science, processes, and art of public administration.

This Chapter is organized for the professional and educational purposes of: exclusively charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or may hereafter be amended ("Code"). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such purposes include the following: (a) advancing the science, processes, and art of public administration, and (b) advancing the equality of opportunity of all persons through public administration. In furtherance of its exclusively charitable and educational purposes, the Chapter shall have all general powers of an unincorporated association under the law of the State of Georgia as now in effect or as may hereafter be amended, together with the power to solicit and accept grants and contributions for such purposes.

Section 3. The Chapter shall serve that area embraced within the boundaries of the State of Georgia.

 

Article II. Membership

Section 1. Chapter membership shall be extended to persons in the Chapter area holding membership in the American Society for Public Administration, and to any individual eligible for membership therein.

Section 2. Chapter members shall have the right to vote for Chapter officers and Council and to participate in all Chapter activities.

 

Article III. Officers and Governing Body

Section 1. The officers of this Chapter shall be a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary-Treasurer. Their duties shall be those customarily performed by such officers. The Vice President shall be the President-elect.

Section 2. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 3. The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Chapter Council, which shall consist of the Chapter officers, the immediate Past President, and at least two additional at-large Council members. The number of at-large Council positions shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall also be empowered to create additional Council positions to represent colleges, universities, and professional sectors established by geography, functions, or special interests, and to appoint members to fill these positions. The Council shall supervise and control the affairs of the Chapter and its decisions shall follow the general policies of the Society. The President shall serve as presiding officer of the Council.

Section 4. The term of office of the President, Vice President, and Council members shall be one year. The term of office of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be two years. Officers and Council members shall serve until their successors are elected or appointed to take office. A vacancy in the office of President occurring after October 1 shall be filled by elevation of the Vice President to serve the remaining term, and the following term, as President. A vacancy in the office of President occurring no later than October 1 or a vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled through a special election conducted at a chapter meeting or by mail ballot. A vacancy in any other position shall be filled by an interim appointment of the Council. All interim appointees shall serve until the next regular election.

Section 5. The quorum of the Chapter Council shall consist of four members, including the President or Vice President.

Section 6. All persons composing the governing body shall be members of the American Society for Public Administration or shall become members within thirty days after election or appointment and shall be Chapter members in good standing.

 

Article IV. Nominations and Elections

Section 1. The Vice President and at-large Council members shall be elected at the Chapter’s annual organizational meeting for a term of office ending June 30 of the following year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected biennially for a term ending June 30 of the second year following election.

Section 2. Nominations for the office of President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer, and for at-large Council members, shall be made by a nominating committee of three regular members to be appointed by the President at least sixty days before the annual meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor by any regular member of the Chapter.

Section 3. A majority of the Chapter members voting shall decide all elections. In case of ties the President shall cast the deciding ballot.

 

Article V. Meetings

Section 1. This Chapter shall hold at least three general meetings during the July 1-June 30 Chapter year.

Section 2. The annual organizational meeting shall be held in May or June unless otherwise specified by the Council.

Section 3. Other meetings of the Chapter shall be held at times and places designated by the President or by the Council.

Section 4. Chapter members shall be given at least seven days’ notice in writing of the time, place, and the scheduled business to be considered at all regular meetings.

 

Article VI. Committees

Section 1. The Council may establish committees for various purposes. Committee chairmen and members shall be appointed by the President. All such committees shall terminate at the annual meeting upon the election of new officers and Council.

 

Article VII. Fees

Section 1. All members of this Chapter shall be assessed an annual membership fee to cover the necessary expenses of the Chapter. The Chapter Council shall determine the amount of such membership fee, the payment of which shall be a condition of membership in the Chapter.

Section 2. Other fees as deemed necessary for continuing and special projects may be assessed by the Chapter Council.

 

Article VIII. Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be made in the following manner:

Amendments may be proposed by the Chapter Council, such proposed amendments to be submitted to the membership in accordance with Article V, Section 4, of this Constitution, and such proposed amendments may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of regular members present and voting at a regularly called meeting.

Amendments may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of regular members present and voting at a regular meeting, such proposed amendments to be submitted to the membership in accordance with Article V, Section 4, of this Constitution, and such proposed amendments may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of regular members present and voting at the next succeeding regularly called meeting.

Section 2. Consistent with inclusion of this Chapter in the group federal income tax exemption ruling of the American Society for Public Administration (identified by the Internal Revenue Service as Group Exemption Number 3155), all amendments to the Chapter Constitution which may be made from time to time shall be submitted to the American Society for Public Administration for its approval.

 

Article IX. Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. No part of the net earnings of the Chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, any director or officer of the Chapter, or any other private person, except that the Chapter shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered to or for the Chapter and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth hereinabove.

Section 2. No substantial part of the activities of the Chapter shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise permitted by Section 501(h) of the Code), and the Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements concerning) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Chapter shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Code.

Section 3. In the event of dissolution or final liquidation of the Chapter, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities and obligations of the Chapter and for necessary expenses thereof, all of the remaining assets and property of the Chapter shall be distributed to the American Society for Public Administration provided it remains organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, and, if not, to an organization which does so qualify. In no event shall any of such assets or property be distributed to any director or officer or to any private individual.

Section 4. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall end in the month of June. The employer identification number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to this Chapter is 52-1204205.

 

Article X. Effectuation

This Constitution shall take effect upon approval of the American Society for Public Administration and upon favorable vote of the organizational meeting of the Chapter.

Adopted this 10th day of November 1965.

 

 

 

AMENDED: March 3, 2000

 

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