Bylaws of The Society for Historical Archaeology
Amended 7 October 2003
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Each individual member shall be entitled to vote, hold office, receive entitled publications, and in all other ways enjoy the privileges of full membership. Adjunct members shall be entitled to the same privileges as individual members except publications. An adjunct member is defined as a spouse of any individual member who has elected to pay dues, as established by the board of directors, for membership privileges. Institutional members shall only receive entitled publications.
Section 2. The annual dues for membership shall be determined by the board of directors.
Section 3. Membership shall be for the calendar year.
ARTICLE II - MEETINGS
Section 1. The annual business meeting shall coincide with the annual meeting of the members which shall be held at a time and place to be fixed by the board of directors. Written notice of the time and place of such meeting shall be sent to each member of the society at least thirty (30) days in advance of the date fixed for such meeting.
Section 2. All meetings of the society shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, except where the bylaws of the society supersede them.
Section 3. Presentations at the annual meeting shall be consistent with the society's purpose of promoting scholarly research and with its ethical principles.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS
Section 1. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the society and as such preside over all meetings of the board of directors or members. The president shall make certain that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are implemented. The president shall have all other such powers not inconsistent herewith as shall from time to time be conferred by the board of directors.
Section 2. The president-elect, as acting president, shall perform the duties of the president in the event of the president's temporary inability to perform that office through absence or incapacity. The president shall notify the president-elect and secretary of the reason for, and duration of, this appointment as acting president. Should the president be unable to provide such notification, the president-elect will become acting president upon notification by the secretary following agreement by the board of directors. In the event of death, resignation, or impeachment of the president, the president-elect shall become president, filling the remainder of that term and the usual elected term.
Section 3. The board of directors shall have the authority to make interim appointments in the event of a vacancy and shall perform other duties as specified in the bylaws.
Section 4. The editor and newsletter editor shall be responsible for carrying out the publications program of the society, in accordance with the publication policy established by the board of directors. The editor shall edit Historical Archaeology and other publications of the society. The newsletter editor shall compile The Society for Historical Archaeology Newsletter. The editor and newsletter editor shall each have an advisory committee consisting of not less than three (3) members.
Section 5. The secretary shall attend to the ordinary correspondence of the society; keep minutes of the meetings of the board of directors, the annual business meeting, and such special meetings that from time-to-time may be held; and see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. The secretary shall archive the official papers of the society.
Section 6. The treasurer shall have custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the society; receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the society from any source whatsoever, and deposit such monies in the name of the society in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be designated in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. The treasurer shall submit a report of the financial condition of the society at its annual business meeting, and arrange for an annual review of the society's books by a certified public accountant. If required by the board of directors, the treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of the treasurer's duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the board of directors shall determine.
Section 7. The officers shall perform such other duties not inconsistent herewith as required by the board of directors.
Section 8. Resignation by any officer shall be accomplished through notifying the board of directors. No action by the board of directors is required.
Section 9. Impeachment and removal from office shall be accomplished through the board of directors. Any member of the board of directors may begin impeachment proceedings. If at least three-fourths (75%) of the members of the board of directors concur, that officer shall be removed from office and the vacancy filled as provided in the bylaws. Grounds for impeachment shall be malfeasance or nonfeasance of office, or violation of the society's ethical principles.
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The management and control of the property and affairs of the society shall be entrusted to the board of directors.
Section 2. Two (2) regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held, one at the time of the annual meeting of the society and another at midyear between the annual meetings of the membership.
Section 3. A special meeting of the board of directors may be called at any time by the president or upon written request of any three (3) directors. The secretary shall give at least thirty (30) days' written notice of the time, place, and purpose of such meeting.
Section 4. When a majority of the members of the board of directors shall consent in writing to any action submitted to all directors by the president, such action shall be valid corporate action.
Section 5. Two (2) directors shall be elected annually by a mail ballot to serve terms of three (3) years or until their respective successors shall be elected. If a director is elected as an officer or if a vacancy occurs for any other reason, the candidate on the most recent annual ballot receiving the next highest number of votes shall be asked to fill the unexpired term of that vacancy. If that candidate is unable or unwilling to serve, the board of directors shall appoint a person from the society's membership to fill the unexpired term. Should the president be unable to fulfill his/her term, the president-elect shall assume responsibility for that unexpired term. The board of directors shall appoint an interim president-elect from among the other officers to fill that unexpired term.
ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
Section 1. The standing committees of the society shall be the Budget Committee, Nomination and Elections Committee, Editorial Advisory Committee, Newsletter Editorial Advisory Committee, and Conference Committee. The committee chairs shall be appointed by the president; committee selection may be delegated by the president to the chairs of the committees. The president may establish other committees as needed.
Section 2. The Budget Committee shall annually recommend a budget for the society. The chair of the committee shall be the treasurer.
Section 3. The Nomination and Elections Committee shall offer a slate for each elective office. The two annual Directors' vacancies shall be filled by the two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes. All members in good standing of the society shall be notified of this slate by mail on or before 15 September, and shall be offered an opportunity to make additional nominations. Such additional nominations shall be supported by five (5) voting members. At least thirty (30) days after the initial notice of nominations has been mailed to all members, ballots shall be mailed to all members in good standing with indication of the date by which these ballots must be returned to be valid. This date shall be no more than thirty (30) days nor less than fifteen (15) days after the mailing of the ballots. All nominees shall be notified of the results of the election by 1 December.
Section 4. The Editorial Advisory Committee shall assist the editor. The chair of the committee shall be the editor.
Section 5. The Newsletter Editorial Advisory Committee shall assist the newsletter editor. The chair of the committee shall be the newsletter editor.
Section 6. The Conference Committee shall be responsible for the development and oversight of the society's annual meeting in accordance with policies established by the board of directors. The chair of the committee shall be the conference coordinator.
Section 7. Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these bylaws or with rules adopted by the board of directors, provided, however, that no committee may represent itself as speaking for the board or the society without authorization of the board of directors.
ARTICLE VI - FINANCES AND CONVEYANCING
Section 1. The fiscal year of the society shall correspond to the calendar year.
Section 2. The funds of the society shall be deposited in the name of the society in such bank or trust company as the board of directors shall designate and shall be drawn by checks, draft, or other orders for the payment of money signed by the treasurer or by such person or persons as shall be designated by the board of directors.
Section 3. All deeds, mortgages, releases, conveyances, contracts, or other instruments of the society authorized by the board of directors shall be executed on behalf of the society by the officer or officers of the society authorized by the board of directors. Said officer or officers shall be authorized to accept gifts of money or kind on behalf of the society and to deposit these with the funds of the society or hold them in trust pending instructions by the board of directors. Any provision herein notwithstanding, such transactions shall be subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Section 4. No financial obligations in excess of funds available in the treasury shall be assumed by the board of directors or by any officer on behalf of the society, provided that for this section, estimated receipts from annual dues and other accounts receivable for the current year may be considered as available funds.
ARTICLE VII - ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Section 1. All members of The Society for Historical Archaeology shall subscribe and adhere to the society's ethical principles as reviewed by the general membership and approved by the board of directors.
