Div. 55 bylaws

Section 1. The name of this Division shall be The American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy (ASAP), Division 55 of the American Psychological Association.

Section 2. The purpose of this Division shall be to advance the practice of psychopharmacotherapy as it relates to prescriptive authority of psychologists.

Section 1. There shall be four classes of members in the Division: Members, Fellows, Associates, and Affiliates.

Section 2. Members of the Division shall be persons who are. (a) members in good standing of the American Psychological Association, and (b) are licensed and trained to provide health care services to patients; and (c) have expressed an interest in the prescriptive authority and practice of treating individuals who can benefit from psychological leadership and knowledge in the selection and management of medications which enhance psychological or behavioral functioning and (d) Fellows will be members in good standing. Members nominated to become Fellows in the Division must provide evidence to the Fellows Committee of unusual and outstanding contributions to psychopharmacotherapeutic practice. Fellows of the Division must be Fellows of APA, or elected as APA Fellows according to the process set forth in APA's Bylaws and Association Rules.

Section 3. Associate Members shall be persons who are Associate members of APA who have expressed interest in participation in the work of the Division. Associate members are encouraged to apply for the status of Member of the Division as soon as they meet the requirement for APA Member status. Associate Members are nonvoting members of the Division and are not eligible to hold elected office. 

Section 4. Affiliate members shall include international affiliates, student affiliates (members of APAGS), and psychologists who are not members of the American Psychological Association.

Section 5. The method of election for Members of the Division shall be as follows: (a) The prospective Member shall apply in writing to the Membership Committee stating an interest in joining the Division. (b) Application for membership shall be reviewed by the Membership Committee for the Division, which may request additional information from the prospective member. When, in the opinion of the Membership Committee, there is adequate information concerning the prospective Member, the Membership Committee shall assign applicants to the class of membership for which they are qualified. (d) Election of new members shall occur at least once per year.

Section 6. New Members shall be immediately notified of their election by the Secretary.

Section 7. Any member expelled by the American Psychological Association is automatically expelled by Division 55.

Section 8. On all matters calling for action by the membership, each Member shall have one vote and no voting by proxy shall be allowed.

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the following voting members: President, President Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, three Members at Large, an Association of Psychology Graduate Students (APAGS) member, and any APA Council Representative elected by the Division membership. The Newsletter Editor and any person who may be serving as the Division Executive Officer shall also serve on the Board as nonvoting members. The Board shall supervise and direct the affairs of the Division. It shall be the policy making body of the Division and shall take such actions as are necessary to have such policy implemented.

Section 2. The Board shall meet as needed to conduct the affairs of the Division and shall meet at least once every two months, including at the time of the Annual American Psychological Association Convention. The President or any other three members of the Board may call a meeting. Board members shall be given adequate notice of all meetings, and except in cases of emergency such notice shall be given at least one month prior to the meeting. A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of the voting members. Newly elected members of the Board will be invited to attend all Board meetings following the APA Convention.

Section 3. The President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors will appoint committee chairs and members that are necessary to conduct the affairs of the Division.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall keep the Division membership informed of its decisions and actions.

Section 5. The Nominating Committee, composed of the current President, Secretary, and Past President shall create a slate of proposed officers and Board members consisting of at least two nominees for each position. The slate shall be approved by the Board of Directors. Officers and Board Members shall be elected by the voting members of the Division and shall assume their respective offices on January 1 of the year following the year in which they are elected.

Section 6. The President, President Elect, and Past President shall serve for terms of one year each. The President Elect shall succeed automatically to the Presidency upon the expiration of his or her term as President Elect. Upon expiration of the term of President the retiring President shall succeed automatically to the office of Past President.

Section 7. It shall be the duty of the President to preside as Chair at all Board and Executive Committee meetings and at all meetings of the membership of the Division; to exercise supervision over the affairs of the Division with the approval of the Board or Executive Committee; and to perform such duties as are appropriate to the office or as may be required by vote of the Board or Executive Committee.

Section 8. It shall be the duty of the President Elect to preside in the absence of the President and to carry out such other duties as may be required by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee.

Section 9. It shall be the duty of the Past President to carry out such duties as may be required by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee.

Section 10. The Secretary shall be elected during even years for a term of two years. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep records of all meetings. The Secretary shall also maintain Division Archives, issue calls and notices of meetings and perform such other duties as are incidental to the office as may be required by the Board or Executive Committee.

Section 11. The Treasurer shall be elected during odd years for a term of two years. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to supervise the finances and budget of the Division, to notify the membership of any assessments that may be voted by the Board and to oversee and review disbursements made by the Division and such other duties as are incidental to the office and as may be required by the Board or Executive Committee.

Section 12. The APAGS representative will be elected for a one-year term by the voting members and shall assume their respective offices on January 1 of the year following the year in which they are elected.

Section 13. The three Members at Large shall be elected for staggered three-year terms by the voting members and shall assume their respective offices on January 1 or the year following the year in which they are elected.

Section 14. It shall be the duty of the Newsletter Editor to collect, organize, edit and have published appropriate Division documents, communications, minutes and other information. The Newsletter Editor shall also perform such other duties as are incidental to the office and as may be required by the Board or Executive Committee.

Section 15. In the case of the death, incapacity, or resignation of any of the Officers, the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, will appoint a Board member to act in this position until the position is filled in the next Division election. In the case of the death, incapacity, or resignation of any other Board member, the Board of Directors may appoint a member of the Division to act in this position until the position is filled in the next Division election.

Section 16. There shall be regular reports of the President and the Officers to the Board, of the members of the Board to the Board, of the committee chairs to the Board, and of the Board to the membership. The Treasurer shall submit a written report of current financial status to the Board at least quarterly and shall submit those reports two weeks prior to the scheduled Board meeting.  The Treasurer shall submit the annual budget to the Board for review two weeks prior to the 3rd quarter meeting and will be present at that meeting to discuss with the Board. The Treasurer shall also submit the budget for any Midwinter Conference to the Board for approval two weeks prior to the summer Convention. The frequency of other officer reports should be determined reasonably.  For example, APA Council Representatives will give a report following each of the two Council meetings and Committe chairs will report at least annually.

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board of Directors composed of the Officers of the Division. This shall include the President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall supervise the day-to-day affairs of the Division and may act on behalf of the Board of Directors in periods between Board meetings. The Executive Committee shall promptly inform the Board of all actions taken by the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President or at the request of any other officer. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of a majority of the Members.

Section 1. Meetings of the Division will be held (a) annually at the general time and place of the annual convention of the APA, at the particular location and time decided by majority vote of the Board of Directors; or (b) when the Board of Directors, by majority vote, consider a meeting to be necessary or beneficial to all members of the Division; or (c) when the President is petitioned by five percent or more of voting Members of the Division to call a meeting. Notice of such meetings shall be sent to all Members at least thirty days in advance by the Secretary or Executive Officer. A quorum at a duly called meeting shall consist of those Division Members present.

Section 2. The current version of Keesey's rules of parliamentary procedure shall, except when modified by special rules of order adopted by the Board, govern the conduct of all meetings of the Board, Executive Committee and membership.

Section 1. Committees shall consist of such standing committees or special committees as are established from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may appoint such committees as necessary to carry out the work and policies of the Division.

Section 2. A permanent Budget Committee shall be established, to be composed of the President-Elect; the Treasurer, who shall serve as Chair; and at least one other member of the Board of Directors. The President will be an Ex Officio member of this Committee.

Section 3. By the time of final meeting of the Board of Directors for the calendar year, the President-Elect shall announce to the Board his/her roster of proposed committees for his/her Presidential year and his/her nominees for the committee chair and membership for each such committee. These nominees will be officially appointed at the first meeting of the new term.

Section 1. Chapters shall be organized on a geographical or interest area basis. They will consist of at least five Members who are also Members of Division 55.

Section 2. Chapters must have a set of bylaws which are consistent with the bylaws of the Division, and which are approved by the Board of Directors of the Division.

Section 3. Chapters may set their own dues which must be approved by the Division Board of Directors and which are collected by the Chapter.

Section 4. Chapters are responsible to keep records of revenue and expenses and report to the Treasurer of the Division in compliance with the policies and bylaws of the Division and policies and standards for accounting promulgated by the American Psychological Association.

Section 5. When a chapter ceases to have the minimum number of Division members, fails to comply with the bylaws and policies and procedures of the Division, or asks to be sunset, the Division Board of Directors may vote by majority to disband the Chapter.

Section 6. Any Chapter of Division 55 may send a nonvoting representative to the meetings of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors and may make presentations and be heard at the pleasure of the President.

Section 1. Dues will be collected in the same manner as other Divisions in APA and financial records will be maintained by the Division. The Division will insure that accurate financial records are maintained. Moneys collected for specific activities will be available for such activities, less reasonable administrative expenses. The Treasurer shall present an annual budget to the Board for review and approval by the Board.

Section 2. Assessments shall be established by the Board of Directors.