Constitution for the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration
I. Name and PurposeSection 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
