Constitution for the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration
I. Name and Purpose
Section 1. The name of this Chapter shall be the Connecticut
Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration,
hereinafter referred to as the Chapter.
Section 2. This Chapter is organized exclusively for
professional, educational and charitable purposes within the meaning
of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now
in effect or as may hereafter be amended ("Code"). Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, such purposes include the
following:
a. To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and results
of experience among persons interested or engaged in the field of
public administration;
b. to encourage the collection, compilation and
dissemination of information on matters relating to public
administration;
c. to encourage the improvement of public service; and,
d. to advance generally the science, processes and art
of public administration.
In furtherance of its exclusively professional, charitable and
educational purposes, the Chapter shall have all general powers of
an unincorporated association under the law of the State of
Connecticut 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 the State of Connecticut.
II. Membership
Section 1. Chapter membership shall be limited to persons
holding membership in the American Society for Public
Administration.
Section 2. Chapter members shall have the right to vote for
Chapter officers and Council members and to participate in all
Chapter activities.
Section 3. Chapter Members shall receive a copy of the
Chapter’s Constitution upon joining the Chapter.
III. Officers and Governing Body
Section 1. The officers of this Chapter shall be a:
President
Vice-President
Secretary/Treasurer
The President shall serve as presiding officer of the Council.
The Vice-President shall preside in the absence of the President.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall serve as the custodian of
Chapter Funds and provide quarterly financial reports.
Section 2. The governing body of the Chapter shall be the
Chapter Council, which shall consist of all officers, the two most
recent Past Presidents and a maximum of twelve Council members.
Any member of the National Council who is a member of the
Connecticut Chapter shall sit on the Connecticut Council in addition
to the twelve Council members with the right to vote but shall not
affect the quorum. The Council shall supervise and control the
affairs of the Chapter and its actions shall follow the general
policies of the Society.
Section 3. The quorum of the Chapter shall consist of a majority of
its members present including an officer.
Section 4. 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 members in good standing.
Section 5. Absence from two meetings within one year or four
meetings in one term may be grounds for removal from office or the
Council.
IV. Nominations and Elections
Section 1. The term of office for Officers shall be one year; for
Council members, three years. Annually, the Officers and four
(4) Council members shall be elected at the annual meeting.
Section 2. Officers and Council members shall serve until
their successors are selected. The President, with approval of
the Council, shall make interim appointments to fill any vacancy on
the Council. The Vice-President shall succeed the President in
the event of a vacancy in the office of President. Any vacancy
in the office of Vice-President shall be filled by an interim
appointment by the Council from among its membership, or from
members of the Chapter who have previously served on the Council, in
the event that the Council members decline appointment.
Section 3. Nominations of the Officers and Council members
shall be made by a nominating committee of three Chapter members to
be appointed by the President at least sixty (60) days before the
annual meeting. Nominations shall be submitted to membership by mail
at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.
Section 4. Names of consenting members may also be placed in
nomination for Officers by petitions signed by at least ten members
and for Council by at least five members and presented to the
nominating committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual
meeting.
Section 5. For any office for which there is no contest, the person
nominated by the nominating committee shall be declared elected.
Section 6. For any office for which there is a contest,
ballots will be distributed, completed and collected at the annual
meeting. The nominating committee shall count the ballots and
announce the results of the election during the annual meeting.
V. Administrative Assistant
The Administrative Assistant may be appointed by the President with
the advice and consent of the Council. He or she shall be generally
responsible for assisting the officers of the Chapter subject to the
policies established by the Council. Duties may include mailings and
arranging meeting locations. The administrative assistant may
receive a stipend established by the Council at the annual meeting.
He or she may attend Council meetings, may participate in Council
discussions, but shall not vote.
VI. Meetings
Section 1. The Chapter shall hold at least two meetings during the
July 1 - June 30 Chapter year, one of which shall be the Annual
Meeting.
Section 2. The annual meeting shall be held in May or June unless
otherwise specified by the Council and members shall be given at
least five days notice of the time, place, and, insofar as it is
possible to do so, the business to come before this meeting.
Section 3. Chapter members shall be given at least seven days notice
in writing of the time and agenda for all Chapter meetings.
VII. Committees
The Council may establish committees for various purposes. The
President shall appoint Committee chairpersons and members.
Committees shall terminate at the annual meeting.
VIII. Finances
Section 1. Members of this Chapter may be assessed an annual
membership fee. The Council shall determine the amount of such
fee by majority vote of members present at a scheduled meeting,
following notice distributed one month in advance of the meeting at
which fees are considered. The membership year shall be July 1 -
June 30.
Section 2. Other fees as deemed necessary for continuing and
special projects may be assessed by the Council following a notice
distributed one month in advance of the meeting at which fees are
considered.
Section 3. There shall be a Budget Committee chaired by the
Secretary/Treasurer which shall submit a proposed budget for the
approval by the Council at the annual meeting. Changes in the
budget may be made at any Council meeting. Under the direction
of the President, and in accordance with the budget, the Treasurer
is empowered to draft and sign checks. In the absence of the
Treasurer, the President shall have the power to draft and sign
checks.
Section 4. The President shall cause the financial records to
be audited at the close of each fiscal year by a qualified person
not currently serving on the Council or as Administrative Assistant.
A financial report shall be submitted annually to National ASPA and
to the Membership at the first meeting of the next fiscal year.
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 [i.e., "EIN" or
"TIN" - taxpayer identification number] assigned by the Internal
Revenue Service to this Chapter is: 52-1232639.
X. Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be made in the
following manner;
a. Amendments may be proposed by the Chapter Council and
such proposed amendments shall be submitted to the membership in
accordance with Article VI [VII], Section 3 of this Constitution,
and may be adopted by a majority vote of Chapter members [present
and] voting at a Chapter meeting
b. Amendments may be proposed by a majority vote of
Chapter members present and voting at a Chapter meeting, and such
proposed amendments shall be submitted to the membership in
accordance with Article VI [VII], Section 3 of this Constitution,
and may be adopted by a majority vote of Chapter members present and
voting at the next succeeding 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.
Adopted
December 14, 1966
Amended March 8,
1967
Amended September
23, 1976
Amended September
1978
Amended March 1998
Amended
February 2, 2000
Amended May 2, 2001