Articles 5-6: Committees

Proposed amendments to articles 5-6 include reconfigurations of the basic purposes of some of the standing committees of the SMRP as well as the elimination of the Membership Committee. Please comment below or email smrphilosophy@gmail.com.

ARTICLE V: Standing Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees: Powers and Duties. There shall be the following standing committees having jurisdiction as defined by the title of the committee and the powers and duties specified herein:

a. The Program Committee. The Program Committee shall plan concurrent sessions with the annual meetings of the American Philosophical Association, conferences and meetings in association with other societies, and independent conferences and scholarly meetings.

b. The Communications Committee. The Communications Committee shall oversee the Society’s website and plan any publications of the Society. The Communications Committee, with the approval of the Executive Committee when remuneration is involved, may enlist the services of specialized scholars or other experts for a specific project.

c. The Finance Committee. The secretary-treasurer shall be an ex officio member of the Finance Committee and shall propose an annual budget for the Society, and, in addition, budgets for conferences, scholarly meetings and publications. The Finance Committee shall review all proposed budgets and present its recommendations regarding them to the Executive Committee.

d. The Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall recommend candidates for the vice president and members at large of the Executive Committee. The list of recommended candidates shall be sent to the members of the Society with the notice of the annual membership meeting.

Section 2. Size, Membership, Term, Appointment. All standing committees shall consist of a chairperson, who shall be a member of the Executive Committee, and two members who shall be drawn from the active membership of the Society, except for the Nominating Committee which shall consist of a chairperson, who shall be the immediate past president of the Society, the president, the vice president and the secretary-treasurer. The chairperson and members of all standing committees shall serve for two years concurrent with the term of the president of the Society. The chairperson of each standing committee, except the Nominating Committee, shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee, and the members of the standing committees shall be appointed by the relevant chairperson in consultation with the president.

Section 3. Removal. The president may, with the approval of the Executive Committee, remove a standing committee member or chairperson.

Section 4. Vacancies. In case of any vacancy in any standing committee, a successor to fill the unexpired portion of the term may be appointed by the president.

Section 5. Procedure at Standing Committee Meetings. Each standing committee may fix its own time and place of meeting and regulate its procedures, consistent with the Constitution and By Laws, and subject to review by the Executive Committee. Each standing committee shall keep such records of the attendance and proceedings at its meetings as its chairperson deems appropriate.

Section 6. Reports. The chairperson of each standing committee shall submit an annual report to the Executive Committee in writing summarizing its activities and proceedings since its last previous annual report, and making any suggestions, proposals and recommendations deemed appropriate as to its powers, duties or activities. Each committee shall also make such interim reports as the president or the Executive Committee may from time to time direct.

Section 7. General Powers of Standing Committees. Each standing committee shall, within the scope of its jurisdiction, the Constitution and By Laws, and the Certificate of Incorporation, have the general power to consider all such matters and to publish reports, conclusions and recommendations with respect thereto and to take such other actions in the name of the Society as the committee may find advisable. All activities of standing committees will be subject to supervision and review by the Executive Committee and major committee actions will require the prior approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 8. Action by Standing Committees. Any action required or permitted to be taken by a Standing Committee may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Standing Committee consent in writing or electronically to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. The resolution and the written consents thereto by the members of the Standing Committee shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Standing Committee.

ARTICLE VI: Special Committees

The Executive Committee may from time to time constitute special committees and define their powers, and may at any time abolish any special committee. The president shall fix the number of members of each special committee where such number has not been fixed by the Executive Committee and, unless the Executive Committee otherwise directs, shall appoint the members and chairperson of each special committee, for such term or without term as he/she may deem advisable, and may remove the members or chairperson of each special committee as he/she deems advisable, and may fill any vacancies in any special committee. Unless the Executive Committee otherwise directs, all special committees shall have the powers specified in Article V Section 7 of this Constitution and By Laws.