SOCIETY ON SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY

 

BYLAWS

 

(APPROVED BY SSIT BOG AdCom-September 11, 1982)

 

1.0       These Bylaws provide for the supervision and management of the Society affairs, in accordance with the Society Constitution.  Amendments shall be made as prescribed in the Constitution, Article VIII.IX . 

 

2.0            Membership:  the Constitution, Article III, provides for Members, Affiliates and Honorary Members of the Society.  Annual fees are prescribed in Bylaw 14.0 of this document

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2.1              Honorary Members:  Such membership, exempt of the payment of the annual fee, shall be based on the recommendation of the Society Awards Committee, the endorsement of the Ad Com and the approval of the Executive Director General Manager of IEEE.

 

2.2       Affiliates:  Affiliation may be based on membership in societies other than IEEE that have been recognized for affiliate purposes by specific action of the BOGAd Com. A list of approved societies will be maintained by the TAB Technical Activities Secretary of the IEEE. Further, affiliates may join in accordance with any other provision that may be incorporated in the IEEE Policies and ProceduresRules and Regulations. Affiliates have all the rights and privileges of Society Members and may serve in capacities that do not require IEEE membership as a prerequisite.

 

3.0            Administrative Committee:  The Constitution, Article V, designates the Board of Governors (BOG) Administrative Committee (Ad Com)as the governing and administrating body of the Society. This Bylaw describes the composition and procedures of the BOGAd Com. 

 

3.1              There shall be nine elected members at large for three year terms, three being elected each year.  There shall be eight divisional members appointed for two year terms by each of the IEEE Division Directors coincident with the Divisional Directors term.

 

3.2              Associate members: The Constitution, Article V, provides for Associate members of the BOGAd Com. appointed by the President with advice and consent of Ad Com, to perform special functions for the Ad Com. Associate Members may or may not be SSIT members and have no vote.

 

3.3              The BOG Ad Com may vote vacant the position of any elected or appointed BOG member of IEEE Liaison Divisional Representative who misses three consecutive meetings of the BOGAd Com.

 

3.4              Vacancies for elected member positions may be filled by appointment by the President, with the advice and consent of the BOG until the next election by the members. Vacancies for divisional representatives positions shall be filled by the IEEE Divisional Director corresponding to the vacant position.

 

3.5              The Constitution, Article VII provides for society meetings.  The President shall call an Annual Meeting of the BOGAd Com, normally for the month of December October, but in no case earlier than at the end of the two month interval following the mailing of ballots for election to BOGAd Com.

 

3.6              Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) shall govern conduct of BOG Ad Com meetings on all matters not otherwise specified in these Bylaws or the Constitution. 

 

4.0              Nomination and election of Members at Large:  The Nominations and Appointments Committee on or before May 1st of each year shall prepare a slate of names to fill forthcoming vacancies of the Ad Com.

 

4.1              One or more candidates for each vacancy shall be prepared by the Nominations and Appointments Committee.  Recommendations for such nominees shall be solicited by the Chairman of the Nominations and Appointments Committee from the members of the Ad Com and from the chairmen of all other organizational entities of the Society.  The Chairman of the Nominations and Appointments Committee shall cause to be published for the Society membership a call for nomination by petition in the March and June issues of Technology and Society Magazine.  Petitions must be received by the Chairman before July 15th.  A petition nominating a Society Member in good standing and supported by the identifiable signatures of at least 20 Society Members shall automatically place that member’s name on the slate.  The Chairman of Nominations and Appointments Committee shall ensure that all candidates are Society Members in good standing, and are willing to serve if elected.  The ballot should be mailed to the Society membership on or before August 15th, with a statement that only those ballots received at IEEE Headquarters by September 30th will be counted.  The results of the vote shall be transmitted to the SSIT President and Secretary prior to the date of the Annual meeting of Ad Com. 

 

4.2       SSIT President shall declare those candidates having a plurality of votes to be elected, subject to ratification by the BOG Ad Com at its Annual Meeting, and shall so inform the Nominations and Appointments Committee.  Ties shall be broken by the BOG Ad Com.  If the position vacancy cannot be filled in this manner, the BOG Ad Com may hold make contingent elections.  The Secretary shall expeditiously notify the Secretary of the IEEE TAB Technical Activities Board of the new BOG Ad Com Membership.

 

5.0              Officers:  The Constitution, Article V, provides for the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer (Secretary-Treasurer).

 

5.1              The Nominations and Appointment Committee shall submit nominations for President and Vice President at the Annual Meeting.  Nominations from the floor may be made.  The candidate for each office receiving the majority of votes legally cast shall be declared elected.  Ad Com members may appoint, in writing, duly delegated alternates to represent them at Ad Com meetings.  If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a run off election will be held by eliminating the candidate with the minimum vote.  Ties will be resolved by the Chairman.

 

5.2              The President shall appoint the Secretary and Treasurer  (or Secretary/Treasurer).

 

5.3              All officers shall continue to serve until their successors take office formally on the first day of the year.

 

5.4              The President shall supervise the affairs of the Society, shall designate in writing and have made known to all BOG Ad Com members the duties of all the officers and other members of the BOGAd Com, and shall speak for the Society on all matters not specifically delegated to others. 

 

5.5              Except as specified in V.14 of the Constitution, The the succession to act for the President in his absence or incapacitation shall be:  Vice President, Past President, followed by those Members at Large having most recently served in such positions, then followed by a Member at Large selected by vote of the BOG Ad Com at a meeting called in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

 

5.6              The Secretary and Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping the records of the BOG Ad Com in the areas commonly ascribable of each of their functions.  They shall prepare and distribute reports, notices, or such documents as may be required by the President and the BOGAd Com.

 

6.0              Society Business:  The President and other Officers shall conduct Society affairs subject to the Constitution, Articles I and VII, these Bylaws and the advice and consent of the BOG Ad Com. 

 

6.1              No BOG meeting shall be held for the purpose of transacting business unless each member shall have been notified at least 30 days prior to the  time and place of such meeting.

 

6.2              If less than a quorum are present at a duly called meeting, tentative actions may be taken.  Such actions will not become effective until ratified by a majority of BOGAd Com.

 

7.0              Publications Board Committee

 

7.1              The Publications Board Committee shall be responsible for establishing publication policies by which the needs of Society members will be satisfied.  It shall monitor and evaluate the Society publications and take action to achieve their optimum effectiveness. It shall prepare and recommend, for adoption by the BOGAd Com, procedures for the evaluation and acceptance of materials for publication.  It shall collect and publish such information about Society members as is considered significant.

 

7.2              The chair of the Publications Board is a voting member of the BOG and is appointed by the President for a one year term with the advice and consent of the BOG. The chair may serve up to three consecutive terms in this office.

 

7.3              The Society shall publish periodically the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine which shall be the regular publication of the Society sent to all Society members in consideration of a part of their payment of the annual Society membership fee and may not be deleted.  It shall be available to other members of IEEE and non-members at subscription fees to be determined by the BOG Ad Com in accordance with these Bylaws and IEEE Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies and Proceduresregulations. 

 

7.4              The Editor of the society Magazine shall be appointed by the President, with advice and consent of the BOGAdCom.  The length of term of appointment, eligibility for reappointment, and the amount of the honorarium for services, if any, shall be determined by the BOGAd Com.  Within the approved publication policies, the editor shall have the administrative authority for the acceptance of material to be published in the magazine. 

 

7.5              The Society may publish an IEEE Transaction on Social Implications of Technology.  The Transactions shall contain the technical papers reviewed and accepted by the Technology and Society Committee in accordance with procedures of the Society. 

 

7.6              The Editor of the Society Transactions shall be appointed by the President with advice and consent of the BOGAd Com.  The length of term of appointment, eligibility for reappointment and the amount of honorarium for services, if any, shall be determined by the BOGAd Com.  Within the approved publication policies, the Editor shall have the administrative authority for the acceptance of materials to be published in the Transactions.

 

8.0              Committees of the Society may be formed as provided in the Society Constitution, Article V.15.  Each of the following five Committees will be headed by a Chairman appointed by the President with advice and consent of the BOGAd Com to serve as Committee Chairman:

 

Publications Committee

Awards and Recognition Committee

Chapters Committee

Ethics Committee

Technology and Society Committee

Meetings Committee

 

In accordance with Article V of the Society Constitution, the Chairman of Publications Committee and the Chapter Coordinator are full voting members of Ad Com.  The other Committee Chairsmen, if not members of BOG AdCom in other capacities, shall be BOG Ad Com Associate Members without no vote.  

 

8.1              The function of each committee shall be to establish policy and coordinate the work of its constituent subcommittees, working groups and task forces as required.  The committee may consist of officers, members at large and liaison members from other  SSIT Committees, other IEEE organizationals units and affiliated societies as needed.

 

 

9.0              Awards and Recognition Committee

 

9.1              The Awards and Recognition Committee shall be responsible for the development and administration of awards sponsored by the Society.  These shall include awards for significant contributions to the society.

 

9.2              The Awards and Recognition Committee shall develop selection procedures and administer presentation policies for the IEEE Barus Award for Outstanding Service in the Public Interest.

 

10.0          Chapters Committee

 

10.1          The Chapters Committee shall be responsible for administration of Society policy between the Society and its Chapters.

 

4.1          The Chairman of the Chapters Committee is designated the Chapters Coordinator as provided for in the Society Constitution, Article V, and is a full voting member of the Ad Com.

 

10.2          Each chapter chairman shall become a member of the Chapters Committee for the term of office.

 

10.3          The Chapters Committee shall promote the organization and effective performance of Society Chapters in the Sections of the IEEE.

 

10.4          The Society Membership Subcommittee of the Chapters Committee shall promote membership in the Society.  It shall be responsible for designing and recommending activities and services to attract and benefit new members. 

 

11.0          Technology and Society Committee

 

11.1          The Technology and Society Committee shall be responsible for establishing policies which will stimulate among Society members the acquisition of new knowledge and technology and the interchange of ideas and experience, and for appraising the performance of the Technology and Society Subcommittees. 

 

11.2          Each Technology and Society Subcommittee shall be responsible for the evaluation and dissemination of information in its field of interest.  It shall be responsible for the solicitation, selection and grading of papers to be presented at sessions of Society meetings.   It shall be responsible for the initiation, preparation and formulation of position papers, technical and professional guides, and procedures for their issue in accordance with the IEEE Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures regulations.  It shall provide asssistance to Chapters formed within its respective scope.  Local program committees shall decide the number of sessions and the number of papers required.  It shall be responsible for the organization and supervision of the work of subcommittees as may be found necessary for the effective handling of the technology encompassed within its field of interest.

 

12.0          Meeting Committee

 

12.1          The Meetings Committee shall be responsible for the administration of meeting policy of the SSIT.  It shall prepare procedural manuals for arranging and conducting meetings.  As desirable, it shall cooperate with other units of IEEE organizational units and other technical societies to improve scheduling of meetings to avoid duplication of technical content.

 

12.2          The Meetings Committee is responsible for coordinating the SSIT participation in IEEE General Meetings and meetings of other societies., such as the International Convention.

 

12.3          The Meetings Committee shall be responsible for managing and operating the SSIT International Symposium on Technology and Society. General Meetings. 

 

4.1          The Meetings Committee shall make arrangements for special conferences sponsored by SSIT or its constituent administrative units.  It shall also coordinate SSIT participation in special conferences jointly sponsored with other units of the IEEE or other societies.

 

12.4          For all SSIT meetings, the appropriate committee shall submit budgets and plans to the Chairman of the Meetings Committee for approval in accordance with policies established by the BOGAd Com, and for transmission to the IEEE General Manager for approval in accordance with the IEEE Constitution, Bylaws and Policies and Procedures. Regulations.

 

13.0          Ethics Committee

 

13.1          The Ethics Committee shall be responsible for the recommending policies which will stimulate among Society members an understanding of the ethical responsibilities in the practice of engineering and its related technology.

 

13.2          Ethics Committee and its subcommittees shall be responsible for the evaluation and dissemination of information in its areas of interest.  It shall be responsible for the preparation and formulation of position papers, professional guides, and procedures for their issue in accordance with the IEEE Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures.

 

14.0          Committees of BOG Ad Com

 

14.1          The Standing Committees of BOG Ad Com are:

 

Constitution and Bylaws Committee

Nominations and Appointments Committee

Finance Committee

History Committee

Audit and Review  Committee

           

The President Ad Com will appoint a Chairman for each of the above committees with advice and consent of the BOG.  In accordance with Article V of the Constitution the above committee chairsmen if not members of the BOG Ad Com in other capacities shall be BOG Ad Com Associate Members without no vote.

 

14.2          Constitution and Bylaws Committee:  The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall consist of a Chairman and two other members.  It shall investigate all matters related to the recorded laws and regulations of the Society.  It shall be responsible for editing and coordinating the Constitution, Bylaws and Manuals, and calling to the attention of the BOG Ad Com any inconsistency between current practice and recorded legal requirements.  It shall examine proposals for the amendment of the Society

governinggoverning documents and recommends final drafts of amendments for adoption by the BOGAd Com. 

 

14.3          Nominations and Appointments Committee:  The Nominations and Appointments Committee shall consist of the Chairman and two four other members.  At least one member will not be a voting member of the BOG. No more than two shall be voting members of the Ad Com.  It shall study the requirements of offices to be filled and the qualifications of available personnel.  It shall present suitable candidates for election by the membership and BOG Ad Com as required by the Society Constitution and Bylaws.

 

14.4          Finance Committee:  The Finance Committee shall consist of the Treasurer as Chairman and two three other members.  It shall maintain a continuing audit of the financial position of the Society, assist the Treasurer in preparing the annual budget and advise the BOG Ad Com relative to financial affairs. 

 

14.5          History Committee:  The History Committee shall consist of a Chairman, the Society Secretary and one additional member.  It shall maintain a complete file of the minutes of Society BOG Ad Com and any other datae it considers of historical significance.  It shall be responsible to maintain liaison with IEEE Organizational Units Boards on the history of the societal aspects of electrotechnology.

 

14.6          Audit and Review Committee:  The Audit Committee shall consist of a Chairman and two additional members.  It shall audit the financial operations of the Society annually.  It shall issue an annual report review to the membership. 

 

15.0          Finances

 

15.1          The Society fiscal year shall begin January 1.

 

15.2          Corporate IEEE Headquarters shall act as bursar for the funds of the Society, collecting fees, keeping records of income and expenses, and serving as depository for the Society funds except as hereinafter provided.

 

15.3          Payments of Society expenses authorized by the budget shall be made on order of the Society Treasurer.

 

15.4          Duly appointed and authorized general committees for Society meetings may arrange for the deposit and disbursement of funds required for the conduct of a meeting, conference, symposium or convention in accordance with a budget approved by the Chairman of the Meetings Committee in accordance with policies established by the BOG Ad Com and also approved by the IEEE General Manager in accordance with the IEEE Constitution, Bylaws and Policies and Procedures requirements.  Funds shall be handled and insurance and bonding obtained in accordance with IEEE Policies and Proceduresregulations. 

 

15.5          The annual fee for membership in the Society shall be established by the BOGAdministrative committee except that fees for Students shall conform to the IEEE Bylaws and Policies and Procedures regulations. 

 

15.6          The annual fees for Affiliates shall be the annual fees required of Society members plus the affiliate surcharge set by the IEEE.

 

4.1          Annual fees for special categories of members shall be the fees established by the IEEE for all special membership in Groups and Societies.

 

15.7          The annual budget shall be prepared by the Treasurer and the Finance Committee and submitted for approval to the BOGAd Com.  When so approved, the budget shall be forwarded by the BOG Ad Com to the IEEE Technical Activities Board for recommendations to the IEEE Executive Committee in accordance with the IEEE Constitution, Bylaws and Policies and Procedures Regulations.