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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWSOF THECONNECTICUT PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY, APA
ARTICLE I – IDENTIFICATION Section 1. Name: The name of this organization shall be the Connecticut Psychiatric Society, a District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association. Section 2. Incorporation: The Society shall remain incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut as a non-profit scientific organization. Section 3. Dissolution: In the event of dissolution, all assets of this District Branch shall be forthwith distributed to the American Psychiatric Association solely for scientific and educational purposes. ARTICLE II - OBJECT The object of the Society shall be to foster the science and progress of psychiatry, in cooperation with and as a constituent part of the American Psychiatric Association, to serve as an influence toward the maintenance of high professional and administrative standards thereto related, and to assist the American Psychiatric Association in promoting its aims and objectives. ARTICLE III - TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION For the objects above stated, the territorial jurisdiction of this District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association shall be delimited by the geographical boundaries of Connecticut. ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP Requirements for membership in the Connecticut Psychiatric Society shall be the same as those for the American Psychiatric Association at the time of application. Section 1. Any physician who is, or who is eligible to be, a General Member, an Associate Member, or Member-in-Training and who resides or practices within the territorial jurisdiction of this Society shall be eligible for membership. Section 2. There shall be five classes of members: a) medical student, b) member-in-training, c) associate member, d) general member, e) honorary member. Section 3. All other categories of membership such as fellow, life member, life fellow, and inactive member shall be consistent with the APA By-Laws. Section 4. Honorary members shall be individuals who have rendered some signal service in the interest of psychiatry in the State of Connecticut. They shall be nominated by the Council and elected by the membership. ARTICLE V - ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP A Committee on Membership, consisting of four (4) members shall be appointed by the President and approved by Council. Each member of this Committee will serve a one-year term. Applications for membership, except Honorary or Affiliates, will be made in writing on forms approved by the Council and by the American Psychiatric Association. Procedures regarding endorsement and submission shall be determined in collaboration with the appropriate officials of the American Psychiatric Association. The Membership Committee shall inquire into the standing of each applicant and make a report and recommendation to the Council. Election shall be by affirmative vote of a majority of the members of Council present and voting, a quorum being present. Following the approval of this Society for the purpose of processing American Psychiatric Association membership applications, election to membership shall without further process confer membership of the appropriate grade in the American Psychiatric Association. The Secretary shall notify the appropriate officials of the Association of such election in accordance with the By-laws and/or rules and regulations adopted from time to time by the American Psychiatric Association. Applicants concerning whom no action is taken by the Council within six months, or who are rejected, may appeal according to the provisions of the Constitution of the American Psychiatric Association. Rejected applicants who wish to reapply for membership to this Society must wait at least one year before doing so. ARTICLE VI - DISMISSALS AND RESIGNATIONS Section 1. Any member who fails to pay his dues or other assessments for one full year, will be notified by the Treasurer of the Society that this arrearage will, on a specified date, be reported to the Treasurer of the American Psychiatric Association. The Treasurer of the American Psychiatric Association will advise the delinquent member of the provisions of this Section by registered mail, that the member will forfeit memberships if the arrearage is not paid in full by a specific date. If payment is not made by the specified date, the Secretary of the Association shall notify the member of his loss of membership in the Association and the Society. Loss of membership in either the Association or the Society shall entail loss of membership in the other. Thereafter, he may return to the Association only by being readmitted to the Connecticut Psychiatric Society in accordance with its regulations. This procedure may be waived for a good cause by action of the Council of the Society. Only members in good standing will be allowed to resign. Section 2. All members of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society shall be bound by the Ethical Code of the medical profession. A complaint concerning the behavior of a member of this Society shall be in writing, signed by the complainant, and transmitted to the Council for appropriate action. Section 3. Suspension, expulsion, or reprimand of a member by a county medical association may be construed as adequate reason for action by the Council. Section 4. Loss of membership in the Connecticut Psychiatric Society or in the American Psychiatric Association shall entail loss of membership in both. ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS Section 1. The officers of the Society shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary and a Treasurer. These officers, the immediate Past-President, the Representatives to the Assembly of District Branches, the Deputy Representative, a representative of the Members-in-Training, and five active members duly elected as Councilors shall constitute the Council. In addition, Chapter Presidents (or their designates) shall also become members of Council. Section 2. Only members shall be eligible for nomination and election to office except for Honorary members who are also members or Fellows of the American Psychiatric Association. Section 3. The President is the Executive Officer of the Society. He shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the Council and shall otherwise perform such duties as are customary for presiding officers. Section 4. The President-Elect, in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of the President. Section 5. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Society and of the Council; keep a list of the members; issue notices of all meetings; notify officers and members of committees of their election or appointment and certify all official records. Section 6. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds and collect all dues. He shall pay all expenses of the Society by and with the consent and approval of the membership. He shall make an annual report to the Society at the April meeting upon the official transactions of income and expenditures of the Society. He shall sign all checks of the Society. Section 7. The Representatives to the Assembly of District Branches of the American Psychiatric Association shall represent this Society in the Assembly and/or its subgroups at all official meetings of the American Psychiatric Association and report back to the Society. The Representatives shall each have one vote on the Council. Section 8. The five Councilors will be selected in the following procedure. One councilor will be nominated by the Nominating Committee of each Chapter of the Society, voted upon by that Chapter and will take office at the same time as the other officers of the Society. The fourth and fifth Councilors will be designated as Councilors-at-Large and will be nominated in the usual manner by the Nominating Committee of the Society as part of the slate of officers to be elected upon at the Annual Meeting. The Councilors-at-Large will serve for a period of two years. The other three Councilors will serve for a three-year term but to be staggered initially. At the time of the first election each such Councilor will serve the period of time designated on a lot drawing at the time of the Annual Meeting following the acceptance of this Constitution. Section 9. All officers shall enter upon their duties at the close of business of the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association next following their election, and, with the exception of the Representatives to the Assembly of District Branches and the Deputy, shall continue in office for one year, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Representatives to the Assembly of District Branches and the Deputy shall continue in office for three years, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Officers may be formally installed within thirty days prior to or subsequent to the close of business of the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association next following their election. ARTICLE VIII - ELECTION OF OFFICERS Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the three Presidents of the local chapters, the President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President of the CPS and a seventh person appointed by the President. The latter shall be a Past President of CPS and will serve as the Chairman of the Nominating Committee. He/she shall not be from the same chapter as the President-Elect. Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall meet before the January Council meeting and notify the Council of its nominations at the time of the January meeting. The Committee's nominations shall then be published and distributed to the membership with the added announcement that alternate nominations will be presented to the membership should there be 35 signatures of voting members endorsing such a nomination. Such alternate nominations must be received by the Secretary of the Society at the Executive Office at least 45 days prior to the Annual Meeting of CPS. Section 3. In the event of multiple nominations a mail ballot shall be distributed at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting with the results to be announced at the Annual Meeting. Section 4. When only a single slate of nominees is presented, a mail ballot shall not be required and election shall take place at the Annual Meeting. Section 5. Recall of officers: An action for recall of an officer of the Society may be initiated by a petition signed by at least 70 voting members of CPS or by a majority of the voting members of the Council. The petitioners shall set up the reasons for initiating the petition. When the petition has been signed, it shall be forwarded to the Secretary or the Executive Director for inclusion in the Council agenda and a copy shall be provided to the named officer. The petition shall take precedence over any other Council business at the next meeting of the Council. Ample time shall be provided for discussion and presentation of evidence. The vote on the petition may be called for by a majority vote of the Council. Action to recall shall require an affirmative vote of three-quarters of the voting members of the Council. Section 6. Board of Tellers: There shall be a Board of Tellers made up of three members to be named by the CPS President. ARTICLE IX - VACANCIES Section 1. In the event the office of President becomes vacant, the President-Elect will become Acting President for the remainder of the year and then will begin his/her term as President. Section 2. If the position of President-Elect becomes vacant, the President will request the Nominating Committee to meet at an early date for the purpose of selecting one or more candidates for President-Elect. As soon as practical, at a regular or special meeting of the membership, a new President-Elect will be chosen. The person so chosen will serve as President-Elect until the end of the year, when he/she will become President. Section 3. If the position of Representative to the Assembly of District Branches becomes vacant, the Council shall elect a member to serve as the Representative until the Annual Meeting, at which time an election will be held for the remainder of the term of the Representative. Section 4. In the event any other office becomes vacant before expiration of a term, the Council shall elect a member to serve for the unexpired position. ARTICLE X - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Section 1. The officers of the Society, the Immediate Past President, the representatives of the APA Assembly and the Councilors-at-Large shall constitute the Executive Committee. Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Society between Council meetings. It shall review and authorize requests for dues waivers and respond to other confidential matters affecting member status. It shall review correspondence and transmit matters needing more general circulation to the Council. It shall review the agenda of each Council meeting and may make recommendations for the Council's consideration. It shall serve as an advisory body to the President. When it is impractical or impossible for Council to convene, the Executive Committee shall be authorized to undertake any business within the jurisdiction of the Council. Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet preceding each Council meeting and at other times as may be designated by the President. ARTICLE XI - REPRESENTATIVES Section 1. The Society shall be represented at the meetings of the Assembly of District Branches of the American Psychiatric Association by the number of Representatives authorized by the APA on the basis of membership totals. Section 2. Representatives shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and selected by the membership and shall serve for a term of three years or until a successor is elected. The maximum number of consecutive terms to be served by any Representative is three full terms. Section 3. When appropriate, the Representatives shall be instructed by the Council and/or Society as to its wishes on various matters. It shall also be the responsibility of the Representatives to provide a report to the members of the Society after each Assembly regarding the major issues considered. ARTICLE XII - MEDICAL REVIEW ACTIVITIES Section 1. The Council shall be the Medical Review Committee of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society. The Council is authorized to conduct ethical and peer reviews designed to 1) evaluate and improve the quality of psychiatric care rendered by Society members; 2) reduce morbidity or mortality; and 3) to establish and enforce guidelines designed to keep within reasonable bounds the cost of health care. The Council may delegate the authority to investigate and make recommendations to Council on ethical and peer review matters to the Ethics Committee and Peer Review Committee, respectively. Any member of the Council, or of the Ethics and Peer Review Committees and any employee of the Society assisting in their medical review activities shall be a member of the Society's Medical Review Committee for purposes of P.A. 76 413 as it may, from time to time, be amended. ARTICLE XIII - CHAPTERS Section 1. Formation: When a group of not less than twenty members residing in a contiguous geographical locality within the State of Connecticut desire to create a Chapter of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society, they will proceed in the following manner: They will submit to the Secretary of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society a petition personally approved by the signed statement of the proposed Chapter members signifying their intention to conduct their Chapter organization and business in accordance with the By-Laws of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society and proposing the designation by which it would be known and requesting a specific geographic jurisdiction. The Council will consider the application and make a report and recommendation to the membership of the Society at a regular or special meeting. If approved by a majority vote of the members present and voting, the Chapter will be created, subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article. Section 2. Formation: (continued) Following the approval of the first Chapter, the balance of the state shall thereafter be organized into one or more Chapters in accordance with the procedure above. No Chapter shall be considered as created until the combined territorial jurisdiction of all approved Chapters shall include the place of residency or practice of seventy-five percent or more of the Connecticut members of the American Psychiatric Association. Section 3. Membership: Classification of membership and qualifications for membership shall be the same as for the Society. Persons applying for membership in the Society from within the territorial jurisdiction of a Chapter shall apply for membership through the Chapter and acceptance for membership by the Society will be automatically followed by membership in the Chapter. Section 4. Officers: The officers of the Chapter will consist of a President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, three Councilors, and the Immediate Past President. The President of the Chapter, or his/her designate, shall be a member of the Council of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society. Chapter officers shall be elected at an annual meeting to take place prior to the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association and will assume their new responsibilities each year at the close of business of that Annual Meeting in the same manner as the officers of the Society. Section 5. Committees: Chapters may form such committees as desired by the officers and the members. The Chapter shall have equal representation at all Society committees insofar as possible, the members of which shall be chosen from nominees provided by the Chapter President. Section 6. Meetings: All meetings of each Chapter shall be open to attendance by any member of the Society. Each Chapter shall have sufficient meetings to conduct necessary business and to further the goals of the Chapter and the Society. ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENTS Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted in writing and endorsed by at least ten percent of the members. The proposed amendment will then be referred to Council which will report its opinion at the next regular meeting. Council may also originate amendments by three-fourths of its members. Notice of the proposed amendment together with the recommendation of the Council will then be submitted to the members in writing at least two weeks prior to its consideration by the Society. An affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present at the stated meeting will be required for adoption of the amendment, a quorum being present. Section 2. The By-Laws or any one or more of them may be suspended by a majority vote of all the active members at any regular meeting, a quorum being present. ARTICLE XV - QUORUM A quorum of the Society shall be twenty (20) active members. A quorum of Council shall be a majority of that body. BY-LAWS ARTICLE I - MEETINGS Section 1. Three meetings of the Society shall be held annually unless otherwise determined by the Council. The annual business meeting shall be held in April insofar as is feasible. Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or upon petition signed by twenty members of the Society. Section 3. Members shall be notified of meetings by the Secretary not less than one week before the meeting. ARTICLE II - DUES Annual dues shall be designated on the recommendations by the Council and approved by the membership. Life Fellows, Life Members, Honorary Members, and those serving in the Armed Forces on active duty shall be exempt from payment of dues unless the member indicates otherwise. ARTICLE III - PROCEDURE The procedure of the Society shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order. ARTICLE IV - AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS By-Laws may be adopted or amended by a majority vote at any meeting of the membership provided written notice of proposed change has been given to the membership at least two weeks preceding the proposed action. |