(Ratified at Annual Business Meeting, September 2, 2011)
(Amended by virtual vote of the membership, October 8, 2021)
Canadian Politics Section Bylaws
I. Membership
The Canadian Politics Section (hereafter CPS) of the American Political Science Association is dedicated to the study of Canadian Politics. Membership in the CPS is open to all persons who have an interest in Canadian Politics and who inform the President or Secretary of the CPS of their desire to join.
II. Objectives
The objectives of the Canadian Politics Section are to:
* promote interest in Canadian Politics
* exchange ideas and information related to Canadian Politics
* encourage the cumulation of knowledge about Canadian Politics
III. The Executive
The Executive includes the elected positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and six at-large members of the Council in addition to the three immediate past presidents as ex officio members. The Executive must all be members of the Canadian Politics Section.
A. President
1. The President provides overall leadership for the Canadian Politics Section by coordinating its activities and ensuring that policies and programs adopted by the Council and the Annual Business Meeting are implemented.
2. The President calls meetings of the Council and chairs those meetings. The President provides leadership for the Council’s activities at formal meetings and through electronic deliberations on the Internet or conference calls. The President also presides at the Annual Business Meeting.
3. With the approval of the Council, the President appoints members of the Nominating Committee and any other committees that the Council may create.
4. The President is elected at the Annual Business Meeting to serve a two-year term.
B. Vice-President
1. The Vice-President immediately succeeds to the office of President if the office becomes vacant before the expiration of the term.
2. The Vice-President presides over meetings of the Council and the Annual Business Meeting when the President is unable to do so. The Vice-President provides other assistance to the President, as the President may request.
3. The Vice-President is elected at the Annual Business Meeting to serve a two-year term.
C. Secretary
1. The Secretary maintains the membership roster of the Canadian Politics Section, keeps minutes of Council meetings and of the Annual Business Meeting, and communicates relevant information to CPS members, including the names of candidates for elective office.
2. The Secretary is editor of the CPS newsletter, which is published on a schedule that the Council determines, and webmaster of the CPS website.
3. The Secretary is elected at the Annual Business Meeting to serve a two-year term.
D. Treasurer.
1. The Treasurer is the custodian of funds belonging to the CPS. The Treasurer is responsible for making expenditures to meet financial obligations of the CPS, in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Council. The Treasurer provides a written report to the Annual Business Meeting on the state of CPS finances.
2. The Treasurer is elected at the Annual Business Meeting to serve a two-year term.
IV. Policy-Making Groups
Two groups are charged with determining policy for the CPS: the Annual Business Meeting and the Council.
A. Annual Business Meeting
1. The Annual Business Meeting is the highest policy-making body of the CPS. This meeting is held at the American Political Science Association annual meeting. The Business Meeting requires a quorum, defined as either (a) four members of the Executive or (b) two members of the Executive and fifteen members of the CPS, to be in order.
2. The Annual Business Meeting elects officers of the CPS and at-large Council members. It also makes such policy decisions as it deems appropriate.
3. All members of the CPS are eligible to vote at the Annual Business Meeting. Decisions of the meeting are made by simple majority vote of CPS members present and voting.
B. Council
1. The Council is authorized to decide policy for the CPS and to otherwise act on behalf of the CPS between the Annual Business Meetings. The Council approves committee appointments made by the President and fills vacancies that occur in elective positions except for the President. The Council establishes policies and procedures governing the custody and expenditure of funds belonging to the CPS.
2. Decisions of the Council are made by simple majority vote.
3. At-large Council members are elected at the Annual Business Meeting to serve two-year terms. One at-large member will serve as the Program Chair for the annual meeting of the APSA for one year and remain on the Council as a regular at-large member for the second year.
V. Election Procedures
A. Selection of Candidates for Positions
Candidates for elective positions in the CPS are proposed by the Nominating Committee and also may be proposed by individual members at the Annual Business Meeting.
1. Nominating Committee
a. The Nominating Committee is responsible for proposing a candidate for each elective position that is to be filled at the Annual Business Meeting. Before making its nominations the Nominating Committee shall solicit suggestions for nominees from the CPS membership. The Nominating Committee shall take into account the diverse interests represented within the CPS and shall seek to make nominations to leadership positions that are representative of those interests in addition to striving for geographical balance in Canada and the United States.
b. The Nominating Committee is comprised of three members of the CPS. Each year, no later than June 1, the President appoints the Nominating Committee with the approval of the Council. The President designates one of the committee members to serve as chair of the Nominating Committee.
c. By July 1 the Nominating Committee informs the CPS membership as to its nominees for the respective elective positions.
2. Other Candidates
a. Any CPS member may propose additional candidates for elective positions to be filled at the Annual Business Meeting by submitting nominations to the President or Secretary by August1.
b. By August 15 the Secretary shall notify the membership of the CPS of the names of any additional candidates together with a restatement of the list of nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee.
B. Terms of Office
The terms of office for officers and at-large Council members are two years and begin immediately following the Annual Business Meeting at which the election occurred. Officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and three at-large Council members shall be elected in even-numbered years. Three other at-large Council members shall be elected in odd-numbered years.
C. Voting
Voting in contested elections for CPS officers and at-large Council members shall be by secret ballot, and the winner is determined by simple majority vote. If no candidate receives a simple majority, the winner is determined by a runoff election between the two candidates receiving the largest number of votes. When multiple seats on the Council are being filled at the same time, each voter casts a ballot with multiple votes for candidates equal to the number of seats to be filled on the Council. In uncontested elections for CPS officers or the Council, election can be by acclamation.
VI. Amendments to Bylaws
Amendments to the bylaws contained herein may be proposed by the Council or by petition of 15 members of the CPS. Amendments proposed by the Council shall be sent to the CPS membership by July
1. Amendments proposed by petition must be submitted to the President by August 1 of the year in which they are to be considered.
To the adopted, the proposed amendments must be approved by simple majority vote of the Annual Business Meeting.
VII. Procedures for Implementing Bylaws
These bylaws became effective upon approval by simple majority vote by e-ballot prior to the 2008 Annual Meeting of the APSA.