Bylaws of the Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology
Division 24 of the American Psychological Association
Article I. Name and Purpose
1. The name of this division is the Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, a Division of the American Psychological Association.
2. The purpose of the Society is to explore the human science and philosophical aspects of psychological theories.
Article II. Membership
1. Membership in the Society of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology is open to persons who are interested in the philosophical bases of psychology as a science and profession. There are three classes of members: Fellows, Members, and Affiliates.
a. Fellows are members of the Society who have Fellowship status in the American Psychological Association.
b. Members are persons who hold membership status in the American Psychological Association and who demonstrate interest in theoretical and philosophical psychology.
c. There are four classes of affiliates: scholarly affiliates, professional affiliates, international affiliates, and student affiliates. Scholarly, professional, and international affiliates may establish and maintain affiliation with the Society upon payment of annual dues equal to those paid by Society members. Student affiliates are individuals who have been accepted by the APA for student affiliate status and who pay the reduced student affiliation dues established by the Executive Committee of the Society.
d. Society affiliates may not hold office or vote in the APA, but enjoy all other rights and privileges of Society membership consonant with the bylaws of the APA. Society affiliates are encouraged to participate in all Society activities.
3. Election to Society membership may take place at such times as permitted by APA policy. Persons meeting criteria for Member or Affiliate status are accepted into the appropriate membership category upon the approval of the Membership Committee. Upon recommendation of the Fellows Committee and the Executive Committee, individuals nominated for Fellow status are forwarded to APA for review.
4. The Membership Chair shall notify new Members of their election to the Society.
5. Any member of the Society may be expelled by a two‑thirds vote of the members present and voting at the annual business meeting. Once cause for expelling a member is raised, a special investigating committee of three Society members is appointed by the President. This committee reports to the Executive Committee which either dismisses the case or endorses expelling the member. If the Executive Committee endorses expelling the member, a secret ballot vote is taken at the annual business meeting.
6. On all matters calling for action by the membership of the Society each member shall have one vote. There is no voting by proxy.
Article III. Officers of the Executive Committee of the Society
1. The officers of the Executive Committee of the Society are the President, President‑Elect, Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Society’s Representative to the APA Council is also an officer of the Executive Committee, as provided for in Article IV of the bylaws of the American Psychological Association.
2. The President's term of office is one year, preceded by one year as President‑Elect and followed by one year as Past‑President. The Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Society’s Representative to the APA Council, all serve three year terms. In each of these cases, the terms of office are renewable.
3. The President presides at all meetings of the Society, serves as Chair of the Executive Committee, supervises the affairs of the Society, and performs any other duties incident to the office or assigned to him/her by a majority vote of the full Executive Committee.
4. The Treasurer manages the Society’s monies. The Treasurer collects any special dues or assessments that are voted in accordance with Article VIII of these bylaws, and makes disbursements of monies as authorized by the Executive Committee or as legally required of the Division.
5. The Secretary keeps the official records of the Executive Committee and the Society. He/she informs the Executive Committee of meetings, administers the nomination and election of members of the Executive Committee and coordinates with the President of the Society.
6. The Society’s representative to the APA Council discharges the responsibilities specified in Article III of the bylaws of the American Psychological Association and carries out other duties assigned by the President or Executive Committee.
7. In case of the death, incapacity, or resignation of the President, the President‑Elect shall act in his/her stead, performing all the duties incident to the office. In case of the death, incapacity, or resignation of any other officer, the Executive Committee will, by majority vote, elect a replacement to serve until the next annual business meeting of the Division.
Article IV. The full Executive Committee
1. In addition to the President, the President-Elect, the Past‑President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Society’s Representative to the APA Council, the Society’s Executive Committee also includes three members-at-large.
2. Members‑at‑large serve three year terms which are staggered so that only one member‑at‑large is elected each year.
3. The full Executive Committee advises the President on the supervision of the affairs of the Society, legislates policies proper to the interests of the Society, and performs the duties and abides by the limits specified in the Society’s bylaws. Actions of the Executive Committee are subject to approval by a majority vote of the members present and voting at the annual business meeting. Special mail and/or electronic ballots are available for these annual business meetings.
Article V. Nominations and Elections
1. The officers of the Society’s Executive Committee are elected by a majority of the members casting electronic ballots. Nominations and elections are conducted in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Psychological Association.
2. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall be composed of the immediate Past-President, President, and President-Elect. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall endeavor to provide at least twice as many nominees as there are persons to be elected for each office of the Executive Committee. In instances where the Committee has made reasonable effort to identify suitable nominees for an office, but determines there to be insufficient number, the Committee is empowered to place only one candidate for that office on the ballot.
3. The Secretary announces the results of elections in confidential letters to all candidates immediately after election results are known. Formal announcement of election results are made at the annual business meeting of the Society.
4. The Executive Committee officers and members at large assume office on the first day after the annual business meeting at which their elections are announced. They hold office until their successors are elected and assume office in their stead. If an officer or member‑at‑large of the Executive Committee fails to accept his/her election, his/her place shall be filled by action of the Executive Committee under Article 111, Section 6, of these bylaws.
Article VI. Meetings
1. The annual meeting of the Society takes place at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. Its convention program includes sessions of special interest to theoretical and philosophical psychology as well as the annual business meetings.
2. Other meetings may be called as appropriate and feasible by action of the Executive Committee.
3. A quorum consists of those members present and voting at the annual business meeting of the Society. At any other properly called and announced meeting of the Society, a quorum consists of not less than five per cent of the membership eligible to vote on Society business.
Article VII. Committees
1. The standing and special committees of the Society consist of committees specified in these bylaws or created by the President with the advice of the Executive Committee.
2. Committees serve for terms designated by the President with the advice of the Executive Committee. Their membership is determined by Presidential appointment, subject to the provisions of these bylaws, with the advice of the Executive Committee.
3. The Membership Committee is a standing committee of the Society. It consists of at least two members of the Society, one of whom must be a Fellow. This Committee receives applications for all classes of membership, examines the credentials of all applicants, and makes recommendations regarding each applicant, to the Executive Committee in accordance with Article II of these bylaws.
4. The Program Committee is a standing committee of the Society. It is responsible for arranging the program and annual meeting of the Society in accordance with Article VI, Section 1, of these bylaws.
5. The Elections Committee is a standing committee of the Society. It consists of the President, the President‑Elect, and the immediate Past‑President of the Society.
6. The Student Committee is a standing committee of the Society. It consists of two student co-chairs and at least four other students, all of whom are student affiliates of the Society. The co-chairs are appointed by the President for staggered two-year terms, and the co-chairs select the other student members of the committee, who will serve for staggered two year terms. Student members of the committee are appointed by the co-chairs to Society committees as student members, including the Membership Committee, the Program Committee, and other committees designated by the President.
Article VIII. Dues and Assessments
1. The minimum dues of this Society are the amount provided for in Article XVIII, Section 4, of the bylaws of the American Psychological Association.
2. Any changes in annual dues or the levying of any special assessments must be recommended by the Executive Committee and decided by a majority of those members casting ballots at either an annual meeting or by regular mail or electronic mail. All members of the Society must be notified in writing thirty days in advance of votes on changes in dues or on special assessments.
Article IX. Amendments
1. The Society may, by a vote of two‑thirds of those present and voting at an annual meeting or by a majority vote of the members on an electronic ballot, adopt amendments to these bylaws. These amendments must have been presented at the previous annual business meeting or announced by mail or electronic mail to all members. No vote may be taken on amendments until at least thirty days after notification by mail or electronic mail or a reading at the annual business meeting.
Article X. Enabling Action
1. The Society of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, duly authorized by the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association during its annual meeting in 1962, was formed, and these bylaws became effective, in December of 1962.
(December, 1962)
(Revised 1985)
(Editorial revisions: August, 1986)
(Revised 1991, 1995)
(Name amended by mail-in ballot of membership, December, 2004.)
(Revised February 2007)
(Revised February 2011)
(Revised, June 2013)