Constitution of the Columbia School Linguistic Society

CONSTITUTION OF THE COLUMBIA SCHOOL LINGUISTIC SOCIETY

ARTICLE I. NAME OF THE SOCIETY
This Society shall be called the COLUMBIA SCHOOL LINGUISTIC SOCIETY.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY

  1.  The purpose of the Society is to advance, promote and disseminate linguistic research within the framework of the theoretical lines first established in the teachings and writings of William Diver.

  2. The Society will further this goal by sponsoring such activities as seminars, conferences, institutes, publications, a resource center, and general scholarly interchange, and by other appropriate means.


ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership in the Society is for individuals and is open to all scholars interested in the work of the Society and who support its goals.

  2. Membership is for a period of one calendar year, beginning in January.

  3. Charter Memberships in the Society were offered during the first year of the Society's existence. The executors of the academic estate of William Diver were named ex-officio members of the Society. Ongoing membership categories are as follows:

    1. Sponsor of the Society

    2. Regular Professional Membership.

    3. Associate Membership (for students and others subject to special financial considerations). 

  4. Dues for each of these categories will be set by the Executive Committee of the Society.


ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  1. The work of the Society shall be overseen by a five-member Executive Committee, elected by the Society's membership. The Executive Committee will serve for a period of three years and be renewed by a general election to take place in the month of March at the end of the third year of service.

  2. The Executive Committee shall establish various other committees as it sees fit to promote the goals of the Society and shall name the Chair of each committee.



ARTICLE V. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY

  1. All officers of the Society shall be members of the Executive Committee and will be chosen by the Executive Committee at its first meeting after each general election.

  2. The Officers of the Society shall be five in number:

    1. President

    2. Vice President for Finances

    3. Vice President for Minutes and Records

    4. Vice President for Communications

    5. Vice President for Activities and Membership

  3. The President of the Society will convene and chair meetings of the Executive Committee. Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be made by majority vote. The President may break tie votes. The Executive Committee may provide for the filling of vacancies on the Executive Committee until the next general election.


ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS

  1. All paid-up members of the Society are eligible to vote in the Society's elections.

  2. The Executive Committee shall name an Electoral Committee to oversee and conduct each general election. Each Electoral Committee shall serve for one election. The Electoral Committee shall consist of three members of the Society who are not current members of the Executive Committee and who are not candidates in the election for which they serve.

  3. The Electoral Committee shall receive nominations for election to the Executive Committee and publish the slate of candidates, which shall consist of no more than ten candidates for the five seats on the Executive Committee. If the number of those nominated exceeds ten, the Electoral Committee shall determine a procedure for selecting the ten candidates. All candidates must be paid-up members of the Society in good standing.

  4. The Electoral Committee shall promulgate deadlines for nominations and for the receipt of marked ballots, and certify the election results. The new Executive Committee shall take office upon certification of the election results.



ARTICLE VII. PUBLICATIONS

  1. At appropriate times, the Executive Committee shall establish publications of the Society. Publications of the Society will be overseen by the Executive Committee, who will name an Editor and an Editorial Board, to serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee.



ARTICLE VIII. CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY

  1. This Constitution shall be ratified and amended as necessary by a unanimous vote of the Executive Committee of the Society; however, Article II Section A of this Constitution may not be amended or deleted.

  2. [Amendment ratified 02/24/2006]. The procedure for amending this Constitution shall be as follows. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Society, the text of a proposed amendment shall be presented, debated, and voted on. Upon a majority vote of the Executive Committee in favor, the proposed amendment shall be disseminated to the membership by the Vice President for Communications. The membership shall be invited to submit comments and suggestions to the Executive Committee through the President or the Vice President for Communications for a period of no less than 60 days. After the completion of this comment period, the Executive Committee shall meet again to consider the comments and suggestions it has received. Any substantive change to the proposed amendment shall require a repetition of the above procedure. Final adoption of the proposed amendment shall be by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee.


ARTICLE IX. NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS

  1. This Society is organized exclusively for scholarly and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the Society 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) of the Internal Revenue Code.


Alan Huffman
Joseph Davis
Radmila Gorup
Ricardo Otheguy
Wallis Hoch Reid 
Ratified January 30, 1998