To cooperate with the New York State Council for the Social Studies, and the National Council for the Social Studies.

Article II

Membership

Section 1

Any educator interested in the social studies may become a member of the Council upon payment of the regular annual dues.  A member is entitled to receive the Council’s publications, to vote, hold office, and otherwise participate in the Council’s Business.

Section 2

Student membership shall be open to all students preparing for the teaching of social studies. Students in social studies student teacher programs at area schools (SUNY Cortland, SUNY Oswego, Syracuse University, and LeMoyne College) will receive, upon request, a one year free membership during the school year that they student teach in the social studies.  Such members may receive any publications of the council electronically but may not vote or hold office.

Section 3

Honorary membership may be granted to members of long or distinguished standing upon their retirement from the teaching profession.  All honorary memberships shall be approved by the officers and Board of Directors of the Council.  They may receive the publications of the council but may not vote or hold office.

Article III

Officers

Section 1

The officers of the Council shall be a president, a 1st vice president-program, 2nd vice president-membership, a secretary, and a treasurer who shall be elected for terms of one year in length. Such officers may be re-elected for an unlimited number of terms.

Section 2

The duties of the President shall be to:

a)    preside over general membership and Board of Directors meetings,

b)    fill vacancies;

c)    appoint committee chairs except those prescribed by this constitution;

d)   give a state of the Council message at the last scheduled general membership meeting;

e)    take responsibility for all Council publications;

f)    generally direct the activities of the Council;

g)    appoint a Parliamentarian and Archivist.

Vacancies shall be filled by election at the Council meeting following their occurrence. Until such time they shall be filled by appointment by the president.

There shall be such other committees as the president may appoint, or be instructed to appoint, by resolution of the executive committee or council.

Section 3

The duties of the First Vice-President shall be to:

• preside over the general membership and Board of Directors meetings in the absence of the President;
  
• chair the program committee;
  
• succeed to the office President, in the event of a vacancy, for the remainder of the term.
  

Section 4

The duties of the Second Vice-President shall be to:

• preside over general membership and Board of Directors meetings in the absence of the President and First Vice-President;
  
• chair the membership committee;
  
• succeed to the office of First Vice-President, in the event of a vacancy, for the remainder of the term.
  

Section 5

The duties of the Secretary shall be to:

• record the minutes of all meetings of the Council and Board of Directors;
  
• transmit those minutes to each member of the Board of Directors before the next regularly scheduled meeting and to the Historian-Archivist of the Council;
  
• carry on appropriate correspondence as directed by the President or Board of Directors;
  
• give a report of previous meetings of the Council at regularly scheduled meetings
  

Section 6

The duties of the Treasurer shall be to:

• collect dues;
  
• keep accurate financial records of the Council
  
• submit a report of the financial condition of the Council at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors and general membership;
  
• pay all debts incurred from the Council treasury
  
• have the accounts closed and ledgers submitted for audit on or before the June meeting of officers and Board of Directors
  

Section 7

Other officers of this Council shall be a Parliamentarian, whose duty shall be to rule on questions of the constitution and by-laws, but will not be a voting member of the Board of Directors; and Historian-Archivist, whose duty it will be to collect and safeguard the records, past and present, but will not be a voting member of the Board of Directors and shall be appointed by the President.

Section 8

The nomination of officers shall be done by the Nominations Committee in accordance with Article IV, Section 4, of this Constitution.

Article IV

Committees

Section 1

The permanent committees of the Council will be Program, Membership, Nominations, Audit and Awards.

Section 2

The duties of the Program Committee shall consist of planning and organizing programs and establishing a meeting place for the Council.  All plans must be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.  The First Vice-President will chair this committee.

Section 3

The Membership Committee shall consist of the six representatives elected at-large to the Board of Directors and be chaired by the Second Vice-President.

The duties of the Membership Committee shall consist of recruiting and retaining membership, keeping accurate membership records; and, recommending honorary membership.  All plans must be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.

Section 4

The Nominations Committee shall consist of three members in good standing and shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.

This committee shall present a slate of officers and Board of Directors, based on geographic balance of the Council district, at the business meeting of the general membership.  That slate to be voted on and approved by a majority of members present and voting.

Nominations from the floor will be accepted.

Section 5

The Audit Committee shall consist of three members appointed by the President and shall be responsible for auditing the ledgers of the treasurer at least once a year.  A report of the audit is to be submitted to the Board of Directors, who shall then transmit the report to the general membership at the first regularly scheduled fall meeting.

Section 6

The Awards Committee shall be established according to a by-law establishing such a committee and criteria for the awards.

Article V

Board of Directors

Section 1

 The Board of Directors shall consist of all duly elected officers of the council andten representatives from the general membership elected for terms of one year (no term limits), and the immediate past president. A minimum of four of this group, officers and board members must come from elementary school programs.

Section 2

The Board of Directors shall direct the affairs of the Council as to meetings and programs, publications and general policy and shall propose by-laws.

Section 3

A quorum to conduct the business of the Council shall be seven members but any recommendations, resolutions, programs or policies must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the general membership present and voting.

Section 4

The six at-large members of the Board of Directors shall be the membership committee as prescribed by Article IV, Section 3 of this Constitution.

Article VI

Meetings

Section 1

There shall be a minimum of two general meetings a year at such time and place as designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 2

The late spring meeting of the Council will be the business meeting with election of officers and Board of Directors.

Section 3

The officers and Board of Directors shall meet at least two times a year as designated by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 4

The officers and Board of Directors may recommend dues to the general membership at the business meeting. To be voted on and approved by a majority of these present and voting.

Article VII

By-Laws

Section 1

This Council shall have the power to make any by-laws not in conflict with this constitution, at any business meeting of the Council. Proposed by-laws shall be presented at any general membership meeting in printed form and be voted upon at the next general meeting. The proposed by-laws shall become effective then given the approval of the majority of members present and voting.

Section 2

Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall be the parliamentary authority on all matters not covered by this constitution or by the by-laws.

Article VIII

Dissolution and Restriction

Section 1

Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the organization shall after necessary expenses thereof be distributed to the NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES.

Section 2

Non-Inurement

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of any member of the organization or any private individual except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the organization, and no member or private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the assets on dissolution of the organization.

Section 3

Restrictions

No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation except as otherwise provided by Internal Revenue Service section 501 h or participating in, or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. This restriction includes the publication or distribution of statements.

The organization shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws.

Article IX

Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present. Such vote shall take place at the annual meeting of the Council. The proposed amendments shall be presented in form to the membership at least ten days before the meeting.