Bylaws as Adopted in the 2015 Election

 

ARTICLE 1: Name and Objectives

Section 1
The Philosophy of Science Association shall be an international professional society open to all qualified individuals.

Section 2
The objectives of the Association shall be the furthering of studies and free discussion from diverse standpoints in the field of philosophy of science. To accomplish this end, the Association shall engage in activities such as: the publishing of periodicals, essays and monographs in this field; sponsoring conventions and meetings; awarding of prizes for distinguished work in the field.

Section 3
The Association may maintain affiliation with other societies if the Governing Board determines that the affiliation would further the purposes of the Association.

Section 4
Said Association is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue law.

Section 5
No part of the earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of or be distributed to its members or other persons, except that the corporation be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Sections 1 and 2 hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the corporation shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
 

ARTICLE II. Membership and Dues

Section 1
There shall be three classes of membership: full membership, student membership, and retired membership.

Section 2
Full membership shall be open to anyone who is in sympathy with the objectives of the Association.

Section 3
Retired membership shall be open to anyone who is in sympathy with the objectives of the Association and retired.

Section 4
Student membership shall be open to anyone who is in sympathy with the objectives of the Association and actively pursuing a degree from an academic institution.

Section 5
All members shall have the same privileges of membership so long as their dues are not in arrears, but only full and retired members shall be eligible for office in the Association and eligible to vote upon matters pertaining to the Association.

Section 6
Annual dues for the several classes of membership shall be set by the Governing Board upon recommendation by the Executive Director. Dues for retired members shall be the same as student dues. It shall be the responsibility of the individual member to notify the Executive Director of eligibility for reduction of dues. The Governing Board shall be empowered to reduce or waive dues in extra-ordinary circumstances.

Section 7
Members whose dues are six months or more in arrears shall be dropped from the membership.

Section 8
A list of full members in good standing shall be published at least biennially.
 

ARTICLE III. Officers and Governing Board

Section 1
The Association shall elect a President. The individual elected shall be designated the President-elect and serve as Vice-President of the corporation for two years and then shall serve a two year term as President of the corporation. No individual shall serve more than one term as President. In the event that a President cannot serve out the full term, the President-elect shall assume the office immediately. Terms shall begin on January 1 and expire on December 31.

Section 2
There shall be a Governing Board consisting of the President, the President-elect, the most recent past President, eight other persons elected by the full and retired members of the Association, and the Executive Director, who shall serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Governing Board. The terms of office of the elected members of the Governing Board, excluding the President, President-Elect, and most recent past president, shall be four years each, so staggered that the terms of two of these members shall expire each year. There shall be no limit on the number of terms an individual may serve on the Governing Board, but an individual (excluding the Executive Director) may not serve two consecutive terms. Terms shall begin on January 1 and expire on December 31.

Section 3
The function of the Governing Board shall be to formulate and give effect to the major policies of the Association. A proposal before the Governing Board shall be considered adopted if approved by a majority of the Governing Board. A referendum of any action of the Governing Board shall be held at the time of the annual election if a demand for it is filed with the Executive Director by fifteen full members before November 1. The Governing Board shall be overruled only by an absolute majority of the full members.

Section 4
Authority for the receipt and disbursement of funds shall rest in the Governing Board. The Executive Director is authorized to receive and disburse funds under the direction of the Governing Board.

Section 5
The Governing Board shall appoint an Executive Director, who shall serve as Secretary, Treasurer, and Managing Officer of the corporation, to supervise the business affairs of the Association. The Executive Director shall maintain the central office of the Association, shall make annual financial reports to the Governing Board, shall oversee elections, oversee preparations for the biennial meeting, and oversee communications with the membership and allied organizations. The Executive Director shall be appointed for a four-year term, but serves at the pleasure of the Governing Board. There shall be no limit on the number of terms the Executive Director may serve.

Section 6
Vacancies in elective positions may be filled by appointment of the Governing Board.
 

ARTICLE IV. Elections and Meetings

Section 1
Elections and other business of the Association or of the Governing Board may be conducted by mail.

Section 2
The Governing Board shall be empowered to call business meetings of itself, or of the Association. At the discretion of those members of the Governing Board who are present, student members may be permitted to attend and to speak at business meetings of the Association, but voting is limited to full and retired members.

Section 3
The Governing Board shall be empowered to call professional meetings of the Association.

Section 4
Elections shall be held annually during May. Ballots shall be mailed to all full and retired members in May. Full and Retired members will be given a period of no less than two weeks to submit their votes. Those elected shall assume office on the January 1 immediately following the election.

Section 5
Biennially in odd numbered years the Governing Board shall nominate at least six individuals to stand for election to the Nominating Committee. In addition nominations may be made by any fifteen full members of the Association. All nominations must be filed with the Executive Director on or before September 15. Preferential ballots shall be used in the election for Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of three individuals. Terms shall begin on January 1 of even numbered years and expire on December 31 of odd numbered years.

Section 6
Nominations for President shall be made by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least three candidates for President. In addition, nominations may be made by any fifteen full members of the Association. All nominations must be filed with the Executive Director on or before September 15. Balloting for President shall utilize a preferential ballot.

Section 7
Nominations for Governing Board members other than the President, President-elect, and most recent past president shall be decided by the Nominating Committee. The number of candidates for Governing Board that the Nominating Committee must select shall equal twice the number of Governing Board members whose current terms are expiring. In addition, nominations may be made by any fifteen full members of the Association.

All nominations must be filed with the Executive Director on or before September 15. Elections for Governing Board members shall use a non-preferential ballot. Election to the Governing Board shall be by plurality of votes cast.
 

ARTICLE V. Publications

Section 1
The Governing Board is empowered to publish material relevant to the objectives of the Association that the Governing Board deems desirable and feasible to publish.

Section 2
Subscription rates to and prices of publications of the Association shall be determined by the Governing Board upon recommendation by the Executive Director.

Section 3
The Governing Board shall appoint an Editor-in-Chief for its journal, Philosophy of Science. The Editor-in-Chief shall be appointed for a five-year term. The President shall appoint the Program Chair for each biennial meeting, who also will serve as the Editor of the special issues of Philosophy of Science containing proceedings from the meeting, and who will be appointed for a four-year term. The Editor-in-Chief of Philosophy of Science shall serve at the pleasure of the Governing Board. The Program Chair shall serve at the pleasure of the President. The journal Editor-in-Chief and the Program Chair shall submit an annual report to the Executive Director for transmittal to the Governing Board.

Section 4
The Governing Board shall establish policies and guidelines governing the operation of the Association publications. The Governing Board shall determine whether an editorial board shall be appointed for each of the Association publications. The Associate Editors for Philosophy of Science shall be approved by the Governing Board upon nomination by the Editor-in-Chief; the Editorial Board shall be appointed by the Editor-in-Chief. Members of the Program Committee shall be selected by the Program Chair.

Section 5
When the editorship-in-chief of an Association publication is vacant, or when the current editor-in-chief does not wish to be considered for another term, the President shall appoint a search and selection committee. When the term of office of the editor-in-chief of a continuing Association publication is expiring and the editor-in-chief wishes to be considered for another term, the President shall appoint a review committee. In all cases the Executive Director shall serve as an ex-officio member of the committee. In all cases the committee shall report its findings to the Governing Board before an editor-in-chief is appointed or reappointed as in Section 3, Article V.
 

ARTICLE VI. Amendments to the Constitution

Section 1
Amendments to this document may be proposed by the Governing Board and shall appear on the annual election ballot with an indication that this is a Governing Board proposed amendment. Amendments may also be proposed by a full member. Any amendment proposed by a full member must be accompanied by the signatures of fifteen full members and must be filed with the Executive Director before October 1. Any amendment proposed by a member shall be circulated to the Governing Board prior to its appearance on the ballot in order to ascertain whether they wish to make a recommendation concerning its adoption to the membership.

Section 2
Proposed amendments shall be adopted if approved by two-thirds of the full members who vote on them at the annual election.
 

ARTICLE VII. Dissolution of the Association

Section 1
Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Governing Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all of the assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association in such manner or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law as the Governing Board shall determine.