AP-LS Bylaws: Committees

 1.    The President, in appropriate consultation with officers of the Executive Committee, may designate and appoint one or more committees, each of which shall consist of two or more Members, Members-at-large, Fellows, Associates, Associates-at-large, or Affiliates. In addition, Ad hoc committees may be appointed by the President to address matters of relevance to the Society. The Committees of the Society shall consist of such standing committees as may be provided by the By-Laws and such special committees as may be established by the Executive Committee. However, no such committee shall have the authority of the Executive Committee in reference to amending, altering, or repealing the By-Laws; electing, appointing, or removing any officer of the Society; or amending or repealing any resolution of the Executive Committee; nor shall the appointment of any such committee and the delegation thereto of authority relieve the Executive Committee or any individual Executive Committee member of any responsibility imposed upon it by these By-Laws. In accordance with Article V, Section 7, of the By-Laws of the American Psychological Association, all committees shall be subject to a review by the Association's Board of Directors.

2.     Executive Committee:

a.       There shall be an Executive Committee of the Society, consisting of the President, the President-elect, the immediate past-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Divisional Representatives, three Council Members, the newsletter editor, the editor of the society's journal, the book series editor, the chair of the student section of the Society, and such other officers as may be elected in accordance with the provisions of this Article. The newsletter editor, the editor of the society's journal, and the book series editor are non-voting, ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. Any vacancy occurring in the Executive Committee shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining members, though less than a quorum of the Executive Committee, provided that the position is not filled by the immediate past-President, past-Secretary, or past-Treasurer of the Society. A Member elected to fill a vacancy on the Executive Committee shall be elected for the unexpired term of the predecessor in that office. All outgoing and incoming members of the Executive Committee shall be present at the annual meeting of the Executive Committee. With the consideration of new business, the President-elect shall assume the office of President and the incoming Executive Committee shall take office.

b.       The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Society, performing the duties and abiding by the limitations specified in these By-Laws. Actions of the Executive Committee affecting Society policy are subject to approval by majority vote of the membership voting. The voting for such matters shall be conducted at an annual meeting or by electronic or mail ballot, as decided by the Executive Committee.

c.        The Executive Committee shall meet at least annually. Other meetings may be held on the call of the President, by consensus of the Secretary and Treasurer, or by consensus of a simple majority of the Executive Committee. A quorum at any meeting shall consist of a majority of the entire membership of the Executive Committee. Decisions shall be made by a simple majority of Executive Committee members present at a meeting.

d.       Executive Committee members, other than the journal editor and book series editor, shall receive no salaries for their services to the Society. Executive Committee members will be reimbursed for travel to Society executive meetings according to the reimbursement policies then in effect, such policies to be determined by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee in light of overall financial resources and responsibilities of the Society.

3.     Fellowship Committee:

The Committee on Fellows shall consist of three Fellows of the Division appointed by the President. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Fellows to review all nominations for Fellowship, to collect and consider such supporting materials as are necessary, and to recommend nominees for Fellow status in the Division or Fellow in the Society in accordance with the By-Laws of the Division/Society and of the Association.

4.     Nomination and Awards Committee:

The Nomination and Awards Committee shall consist of the past-President as Chairperson, the current President, and three other non-Executive Committee members appointed by the President.

a.     The Nomination and Awards Committee shall nominate at least two persons for each office for which election is being held, taking care to assure broad representation in the administration of the Society. In addition, any Member, Member-at-large, or Fellow of the Society who gains the support of 25 of the membership of the Society on a petition for nomination shall be nominated for the office. Membership of the Society shall be reminded of this option in a timely manner, prior to the holding of elections. The Nomination and Awards Committee shall ascertain whether Members, Members-at-large, or Fellows so nominated meet requirements for office as specified in the By-Laws and are willing to serve if elected. The Committee shall also nominate, in consultation with the Publications and Communications Committee, candidates to assume editorial duties of Society publications as openings occur.

b.     The Nomination and Awards Committee shall present nominations for any awards offered by the Society to the Executive Committee, which will select recipients of these awards by a majority vote.

5.     Program Committee:

The President shall appoint two persons designated as Co-Chairs to serve on the Program Committee. This committee shall be responsible for planning the Society's program for the annual convention of the Association and the program for the annual meeting of the Society.

6.     Student Committee:

a.       This Committee shall work to further the participation of students in the activities of the Society, promote and support psycholegal research and practice efforts of students, enhance communication between students interested in the interface of psychology and law, and assist in the professional development of students in careers involving psychology and law.

b.       Officers of the Student Section of the Society shall be elected according to the provisions for such elections established in the Student Section Guidelines, such guidelines and any modifications thereto subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The Chair of the Student Section shall participate in the Executive Committee of the Society as an ex-officio, voting member.

c.        The Student Section shall be appropriated a budget to further its prescribed activities. The Student Section shall prepare an annual budget for review, revision, and approval by the Executive Committee at its annual meeting. The Section also shall submit, at the annual meeting, a formal written accounting of the past year's expenditures in light of the established budget for the previous year.

7.     There shall be a Publications and Communications Committee consisting of the editor of Law and Human Behavior (Chair), the editors of other journals of the Society, the editor of the Society newsletter, and the editor of the Society book series. This committee shall: be responsible for publication of the Society's newsletter, journal, and book series; advise the Nominations and Awards Committee on candidates to assume editorial duties of Society publications as openings occur; oversee such journals, newsletters, books, book series, pamphlets, and other materials as will inform the psychological and legal communities and the public about research and practice in the area of  law and psychology; and make recommendations to the Executive Committee to ensure that the membership receives all communication and information relevant to Society affairs to the maximum extent feasible.