SOCIETY FOR SOCIALIST STUDIES

CONSTITUTION

1. NAME

a) The name of the organization shall be the Society for Socialist Studies (in French Societe d'etudes socialistes).

2. PURPOSE

a) The purpose of the organization shall be to create, foster, and publish, academic and scholarly research and analysis in Canada, with particular emphasis on socialist, feminist, anti-racist and ecological points of view, regarding history, political science, sociology, and other academic subjects; to organize conferences, seminars and workshops, relating to same, and to publish and distribute material emanating from such conferences, seminars, and workshops; to publish educational material, including newsletters, pamphlets, magazines, and books, relating to same; and generally to dedicate itself to high quality research, and to the advancement of public education.

b) The organization shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the organization shall be used solely to promote its objectives. The substance of this paragraph shall not be repealed or amended.

3. MEMBERSHIP

a) Membership is open to any person underwriting the Society's purpose, upon payment of annual dues as they are determined by the General Assembly.

b) The right to hold office and to vote in matters concerning the Society for Socialist Studies shall be accorded to and may be exercised only by members herein above specified.

4. LOCAL CHAPTERS

a) Any number of members may form a local group. The group will be recognized as a Local Chapter if it includes a minimum of five members from a certain geographical area, subject to approval by the Executive.

b) The activities of Local Chapters shall be compatible with the purpose of the Society for Socialist Studies as described in 2a.

c) Subject to 4b, Local Chapters may choose an internal structure as may be considered appropriate for their activities.

d) The recognition of a Local Chapter may be withdrawn by the Executive for activities not conducive to the interests of the organization.

5. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

a) The General Assembly consists of members who have paid their dues for the current or immediately-past membership year (members in good standing).

b) The General Assembly is the highest and ultimate authority in all matters concerning the activities of the Society for Socialist Studies.

c) The General Assembly will meet in a Membership Meeting at each Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences in which the Society for Socialist Studies participates. The quorum consists of those members in good standing who are present. The Membership Meeting shall review the operations of the previous membership year, plan for the current year, hold elections where appropriate, and approves a budget for the current year.

d) The President may call a Special Membership Meeting on his/her own initiative, and shall do so on instructions from the Council. A Notice of Meeting and an agenda shall be circulated to all members in good standing at least one month In advance. The quorum consists of those members in good standing present.

6. EXECUTIVE

a) The day-to-day conduct of the organization is in the hands of the Executive consisting of the following officers President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The last two positions may be combined.

b) All officers shall be elected by the General Assembly at the Membership Meeting. A majority of votes cast is required for election.

c) All officers are elected for a one-year term.

d) Those elected at the Membership Meeting shall assume their respective offices at the conclusion of the Meeting.

7. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

a) The President presides at all meetings of the organization and its governing bodies S/he appoints special committees when deemed desirable. S/he provides overall direction and supervision to the organization and its officers.

b) In the event of the absence of the President, the chairing of meetings and the execution of pressing matters are in the hands of the Vice-President or, in his/her absence, a member of the Executive Council as appropriately elected by the respective body.

c) The Secretary shall record proceedings and resolutions of meetings of the organization and its governing bodies: receive and answer letters addressed to the organization, issue all notices of meetings, keep a register of the members, perform all duties pertaining to the office of Secretary.

d) The Treasurer shall report on the condition of the treasury when demanded; collect membership fees, donations and other incoming funds; keep the financial records; make payments on behalf of the organization. In conjunction with at least one other officer, prepare a budget for submission to the Annual Membership Meeting, authorize expenses not exceeding 120% of the respective budgeted amount; request Executive approval for expenses thereover.

e) All decisions by the Executive and its members may be appealed to the Council.

8. THE COUNCIL

a) The Council consists of the Executive and the representatives of the Local Chapters Each Local Chapter is entitled to one position on the Council plus one position for every fifty members in good standing.

b) The Council may meet in person, by mail or conference call. The quorum shall consist of one-third of the Chapter representatives.

c) The Council meets on the President's initiative or at the request of one-third of the Chapter representative.

d) The Council reviews the activities of the Executive, makes interim appointments, serves as appeal body for decisions by the Executive and the Officers.

e) All decisions by the Council may be appealed to a Membership Meeting.

9. COMMITTEES

a) The Annual Membership Meeting elects a Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences Congress Programme Committee.

b) The Annual Membership Meeting elects an Editorial Committee for the Journal.

c) The Annual Membership Meeting may establish ad-hoc committees and elect members of same.

10. AMENDMENTS

a) This constitution may be wholly or partly changed by a Membership Meeting as stated under 5c-5d. Acceptance requires a two-thirds majority of the final vote.

11. RULES OF ORDER

a) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, "Robert's Rules of Order" will be used for all meetings of the Membership meetings, the Council, the Executive, and all committees.

12. DISSOLUTION

a) It is the unalterable provision of this Constitution that members shall have no interest in the property and assets of the Society, and that, if the Society dissolves, any property and assets remaining after satisfaction of its debts and liabilities shall be transferred to (a) charitable organization(s) whose principal objective is similar to the purposes of the Society, as listed in 2a).

b) Upon dissolution of the Society, the books, records and minutes of the Society shall be stored with the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada and made freely available to researchers and other interested parties.

13. NUMBER, GENDER AND HEADINGS

a) Words importing the singular number include the plural, and vice versa, and words importing gender include all genders.

b) Headings are inserted for the purposes of convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Constitution.

Approved at the Annual Membership Meeting of 30 May 1981 and confirmed by mail-ballot in November 1981

Last amended June 2, 2006

Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences

Society for Socialist Studies AGM

York University, Toronto, Ont. Canada