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Division 25 Bylaws

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Behavior Analysis. (2023, December 6). Division 25 bylaws. American Psychological Association. https://www.apadivisions.org/division-25/about/bylaws

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  1. The name of this organization shall be the Division for Behavior Analysis, a Division of the American Psychological Association.
  2. The purpose of this organization shall be:

    (a) to promote studies, both basic and applied, in behavior analysis,
    (b) to stimulate the exchange of information concerning such research,
    (c) to encourage the application of the results of such research to human affairs,
    (d) to promote the teaching of behavior analysis and its technological extensions, and
    (e) to cooperate with scientific, technological, and humanistic disciplines whose interests overlap with those of the Division.
  1. The Division shall consist of four classes of membership: Fellows, Members, Associates, and Affiliates, including Affiliate Members, and Student Affiliates.

    A. Fellows of the Division shall be persons who have been elected Fellows by the American Psychological Association and who, in addition, satisfy the requirements outlined in Article VII, Section 2, of these Bylaws.

    B. Members shall be persons who: (1) apply to join the Division, (2) are Members of the American Psychological Association, and (3) have an interest within the field of behavior analysis.

    C. Associates shall be persons who: (1) apply to join the Division as Associates, (2) are presently Associates of the American Psychological Association, and (3) have an interest within the field of behavior analysis. Associates are non-voting members of the Division and are not eligible to hold office.

    D. Affiliates shall be persons who: (1) are not Members of the American Psychological Association, (2) apply to join the Division as an Affiliate, and (3) who have an interest within the field of behavior analysis. Affiliates are non-voting members of the Division and are not eligible to hold office.

    (1) Affiliate Members shall be either (a) persons whose qualifications are at least equivalent to those required for Affiliate membership in the American Psychological Association or (b) persons who have strong qualifications and interests in behavior analysis (e.g., master’s level professionals, Board Certified Behavior Analysts).

    (2) Student Affiliates shall be persons who are undergraduate or graduate students.

  2. Any member may be expelled from the Division for cause by a two-thirds vote, taken by secret ballot, of the Division Executive Committee present and voting at the annual Executive Committee meeting. Such a vote shall be taken only upon recommendation by a special committee of three members to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Executive Committee to investigate the particular case. The committee's recommendation is to be submitted to the Executive Committee only after it has accumulated the relevant facts and has given the member an opportunity to answer the charges both in writing (by letter or email) and by appearing in person or by teleconference before the committee.
  3. On all matters calling for action by the membership of the Division, each member shall have one vote and no voting by proxy shall be allowed
  1. The Executive Committee of the Division shall be: a President, a Past-President or a President-Elect, a Secretary and a Treasurer, Representative(s) to the Council of Representatives as provided for in the Bylaws of the American Psychological Association, and three members-at-large. The Executive Committee shall be elected by the voting membership of the Division, except for the Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected by the Executive Committee, during the second year of the current Secretary and Treasurer's term(s).
  2. The term of office of the President shall be two years. The term of the President-Elect shall be one year. The term of the Past-President shall be one year. Each will serve for a total of four years. A former President may not stand for re­election until at least two years after completing the term as Past-President. The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve for terms of three years. The Secretary and Treasurer shall not serve more than two terms without at least three years intervening. The members­-at-­large of the Division Executive Committee shall serve for a term of three years, and shall not serve more than two consecutive terms without at least one year intervening after the consecutive terms. A system of staggered replacement shall be employed with one new member-at-large elected each year. The term of the Division Representative(s) to the Council will be three years. If there is more than one representative to be elected at any given election, the Elections Committee shall stagger the Representatives' terms so as to provide coordinated divisional input to the Council.
  3. Fellows and Members will not be eligible to hold more than one Division office concurrently, with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer positions, which can be held by two separate individuals or can be combined in to one Secretary/Treasurer position by the Executive Committee. If a Fellow or Member is elected to a second office, the Fellow or Member must resign from the position previously held, prior to the start of the term of the office newly elected to, as provided in Article V, Section 5, of these Bylaws. The position vacated shall be filled as provided in Section 10 of this Article.
  4. It shall be the duty of the President: to preside at all Division meetings, to chair the Executive Committee of the Division, to exercise supervision over the affairs of the Division with the approval of the Executive Committee, to appoint such chairpersons and members of committees as are provided for in Article VII of these Bylaws, to appoint the Editor of the Division Newsletter, to perform the duties of the President-Elect in case of the disability or incapacity of the President-Elect until the position is filled in accordance with Section 10 of this Article, and to perform such other duties as are incident to the office or as may properly be required by majority vote of the Executive Committee. In the absence or incapacity of the President, the President's duties shall be assumed by the Past-President or President-Elect.
  5. It shall be the duty of the Past-President or President-Elect to preside at any meeting in the absence of the President, and to chair the Committee on Bylaws. In case of the absence, disability, or resignation of the President, the Past-President or President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President with the same authority as the President, for the remainder of the President's term.
  6. It shall be the duty of the President-Elect (or President as stated in Article III section 4 of these Bylaws) to appoint the Junior Program Chair who will serve as the Senior Program Chair for the American Psychological Association meeting held during the two years that the President-Elect will preside as President over the Division. The appointments should be made with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee. The President-Elect shall be an ex-officio member of the Program Committee.
  7. It shall be the duty of the Secretary: to keep the records of all meetings of the Division, to issue calls and notices of meetings, and to perform such other duties as are specified elsewhere in these Bylaws. In the third year of the Secretary’s term, the Secretary shall instruct the newly elected Secretary in the responsibilities of the office.
  8. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer: to have custody of all funds and property of the Division, to collect any special dues that may be voted in accordance with Article VIII of these Bylaws, to make disbursements as authorized by majority vote of the Division Executive Committee, and to perform such other duties as are specified elsewhere in these Bylaws. The Treasurer shall propose to the Executive Committee a budget for the succeeding year, for approval by the Executive Committee. In the third year of the Treasurer's term, the Treasurer shall instruct the newly elected Treasurer in the responsibilities of the office.
  9. It shall be the duty of the Representative(s) to the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives: to perform the duties and accept the responsibilities specified in the Bylaws of the American Psychological Association. The Representative(s) shall (co-)chair the Committee on Division 25's Involvement in the American Psychological Association.
  10. In the case of a vacancy in the voting membership of the Executive Committee resulting from the death, incapacity, resignation, or any other cause, of any of these officers excepting the President and Past­-President, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall, by majority vote, except as provided in Section 4 above, elect a Fellow or Member of the Division to serve in the position until the vacancy can be filled at the next regular Division election. An officer so chosen for a partial term of office may serve a successive full term of office, if elected thereto, and if the partial term of office is less than half the full term; it will not be counted for positions that allow successive terms of office. Vacancies in the office of President or Past-President shall be handled as described above in Sections 4, 5, and 6.
  1. There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of the Executive Committee of the Division as listed in Article III, Section 1, of these Bylaws. These include: the President, the Past-President or the President-Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Division Representative(s) to the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives, and the three Members-at-Large. These persons are the voting members of the Executive Committee, with the exception of the person chairing the meeting, who may vote only to break a tie (see Article VI). In addition, the Division's Program Committee Junior and Senior Chairs, the Editor of the Division Newsletter, Membership Committee Chair, Elections Committee Chair, Student Committee Co-chairs, and Awards Committee Chair shall serve as non-voting members of the Board of Directors and advisers to the Executive Committee. In the event that they happen to be elected (voting) members of the Board of Directors, the term of elected office shall be as prescribed elsewhere in these Bylaws. When serving in the non-voting capacity, the duration of their participation in the Board of Directors shall not be limited by these Bylaws.
  2. The Board of Directors shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Division including actions of the Division Executive Committee with the exception of:

    (1) elections to Executive Committee as outlined in these Bylaws and

    (2) changes to the Bylaws. These two exceptions will be presented for approval to the membership.
  3. The President shall be Chair of the Executive Committee, and the Secretary­ of the Division shall be Secretary of the Executive Committee.
  4. The Executive Committee shall, by majority vote, establish rules regarding reimbursement of its members for expenses of attending Executive Committee meetings.
  5. Between meetings of the Executive Committee, the President may authorize unbudgeted expenditures up to $50 per committee or activity; or, up to $200 per committee or activity, with the consent of the Treasurer. Single expenditures over $200 must be authorized by a vote of the Executive Committee initiated by the Treasurer.
  1. The Elections Committee will solicit and attempt to identify at least two nominees for each vacant office. In the event that fewer than the required number of nominees are obtained as a result of the nomination ballots, the Elections Committee shall select additional nominees as necessary.
  2. The Elections Committee, through its Chair, shall transmit the results to the Secretary of the Division, and, as described below in Section 4, to the Elections Committee of the American Psychological Association for inclusion in the election ballot (in accordance with the Bylaws of the American Psychological Association).
  3. Additional nominees may be provided by a petition signed by at least 1% of the total number of both Members and Fellows.
  4. The President-Elect, President, Past-President, Members-at-Large, Division Representatives to the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives, Secretary, and Treasurer shall assume office on January 1 of the year following their election. The Executive Committee will hold office until their successors are elected and accept office in their stead.
  1. There shall be at least one meeting annually of the Division. It shall take place during the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, or at such other time and place as the membership shall have decided by majority vote at the preceding annual meeting. There may be additional meetings of the Division if the membership so decides at any annual meeting.
  2. There shall be at least one meeting annually of the Board of Directors. It shall take place during the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. There may be additional meetings of the Board of Directors if its membership decides so by majority vote.
  3. The purposes of divisional meetings shall be: the presentation of scientific research papers, the transaction of business, and the discussion of such other matters as may come before the Division.
  4. A quorum at the annual business meeting shall consist of a majority of Fellows and Members of the Division present.
  5. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the Executive Committee, as defined in Article IV, Section 1, of these Bylaws. Decisions by the Executive Committee will be determined by a simple majority vote of voting members present; the presiding officer may vote to break a tie.
  1. The committees of the Division shall consist of such standing committees as may be provided by these Bylaws and such special committees as may be established by majority vote of the members of the Division Executive Committee, in accordance with the Bylaws of the American Psychological Association. With the consent of the Executive Committee, a special committee may be established and its Chair appointed by the President, for a specific and limited purpose and for a specified term. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws or by action of the Executive Committee, Chairs of standing committees and special committees may select the members of their committees, subject to the approval of the President. When the Chair of a committee becomes vacant, the balance of the term shall be filled by the same procedure as that prescribed for regular appointment of committee Chairs. Any appointee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
  2. The Membership Committee shall consist of the Membership Committee Chair and the Membership Committee Chair may add others to the committee as deemed appropriate. The Chair of the Membership Committee shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Division Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to work with the Membership Division of the American Psychological Association to monitor membership and investigate innovative ways to increase retention of current members and increase membership in the Division.
  3. The Fellows Committee shall consist of three Fellows of Division. The Fellows Committee chair will be appointed by the Division President and the Division President will have the option of serving on the Fellows Committee. The Fellows Subcommittee members shall all be Fellows of this Division. The Fellows Committee shall examine the qualifications of Members to become Fellows of the Division and shall recommend to the Division Executive Committee those Members who have been elected Fellows by the American Psychological Association and who, in addition, satisfy the following requirements: (1) five years of experience in behavior analysis subsequent to a doctor's degree, (2) publication of significant contributions to behavior analysis, in addition to research carried out for the doctor's degree, and (3) active participation in research. The election of Fellows to the Division shall be upon nomination by a majority vote of the Fellows Committee made up of three Fellows in the Division.
  4. The Program Committee shall consist of a Junior and Senior Chair who shall be Fellows, Members, or Affiliate Members. The Program Committee Co-Chairs may add others to the committee as deemed appropriate. The Junior Chair will be appointed by the President-Elect, as provided in Article III, Section 6, of these Bylaws. The term of the Junior Chair will be one year and then they will serve as the Senior Chair for the following two years. An effort should be made to have one of the Co-Chairs represent the basic/translational analysis of behavior, and the other represent applied behavior analysis. The Junior Chair shall attend the American Psychological Association convention in the year prior to the two years for which that person will be Senior Chair. If neither of the Co-Chairs can attend the convention, then the President shall appoint a temporary substitute from the Board of Directors or other Fellows, Members, Associates, or Affiliates of the Division as needed. It shall be the duty of the Program Committee to make arrangements for the program of the annual meeting and any other meetings of the Division voted in accordance with the provision of Article VI of these Bylaws.
  5. The Elections Committee shall consist of the Election Committee Chair and the Elections Committee Chair may add others to the committee as deemed appropriate. The Chair of the Elections Committee shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Division Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Elections Committee to supervise and conduct the nomination and election process for the Division, in accordance with the procedures of the American Psychological Association, and as described in Article V of these Bylaws.
  6. The Awards Committee shall consist of the Awards Committee Chair and the Awards Committee Chair may add others to the committee as deemed appropriate. The Chair of the Awards Committee shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Division Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Awards Committee: to advertise the division’s annual awards, solicit and recruit nominations, administer the awards, and work with the Treasurer to ensure the appropriate monetary payments to be received by the winner’s at the annual meeting. The Awards Committee shall also work with the Division’s Program Committee to ensure the award winners are included as speakers in the annual convention program.
  7. The Committee on Division 25's Involvement in the American Psychological Association shall be (co­) chaired by the Division's Representative(s) to the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives, and will include other members of the division as deemed appropriate by the Chair. .It shall be the duty of the Committee on Division 25's Involvement in the American Psychological Association to make recommendations to the Executive Committee for Division programs and activities that will be likely to increase the Division's participation on, and involvement in, American Psychological Association Boards, Committees, and other related activities that touch on the interests of this Division.
  8. The Committee on Careers and Employment shall consist of a Fellow or Member of the Division, appointed by the President to serve as Chair, and the Committee Chair may add others to the committee as deemed appropriate. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Careers and Employment to examine employability and careers open to behavior analysts, and to take a proactive approach to the unique issues relevant to the experimental analysis of behavior and to applied behavior analysis, within the general context of the purposes of the Division.
  9. The Committee on Bylaws shall be chaired by the Past-President or President-Elect of the Division, and shall consist of that individual and two other Fellows or Members of the Division. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Bylaws to review the Division Bylaws and to recommend to the Executive Committee any needed changes.
  10. The Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) shall consist of the DEI Committee Chair(s) and the DEI Committee Chair may add others to the committee as deemed appropriate. The Chair(s) of the DEI Committee shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Division Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the DEI Committee to make recommendations to the Executive Committee for Division programs and activities that will positively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion across the division.
  11. The Committee on Student Affairs shall be co-chaired by a Member of the Division and a Student Affiliate of the Division and the Co-Chairs may add others to the committee as deemed appropriate. The Co-Chair of the Student Affairs Committee shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of a majority of the Division Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Student Affairs to make recommendations to the Executive Committee for Division programs and activities that will be likely to increase student affiliate participation on, and involvement in, this Division.
  1. Changes in annual dues and assessments of any special dues shall be recommended by majority vote of the Division’s Executive Committee and shall be decided by a majority vote of those Fellows and Members voting at an annual meeting, by mail, or an electronic (e.g., email, online survey) ballot of the members.
  1. Changes to the Bylaws, must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Fellows and Members voting by mail or an electronic (e.g., email, online survey) ballot.
Last updated: December 2023Date created: 2013