Division 22 Bylaws

(Amendments Ratified September 30, 2001 by a mail ballot of the membership.)

ARTICLE I. NAME

Section 1: Name

1. The name of this organization shall be the Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, a Division of the American Psychological Association, hereinafter referred to as the Division.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1: Purpose

1. The purpose of the Division of Rehabilitation Psychology is to bring together all members of the American Psychological Association (APA) and affiliates who are concerned with enhancing the lives of people with disabilities and chronic illness. Rehabilitation Psychology is the application of psychological knowledge and understanding in activities such as research, clinical practice, teaching, public education, and advocacy on behalf of individuals and disability related social policy. Rehabilitation psychologists consider psychological, biological, cognitive, social, environmental, political, and economic factors that affect the well-being of people with disabilities. The Division is mindful of the fact that limitations of functioning may not only be inherent in the disability itself, but are often attributable, in whole or part, to environmental and institutional barriers, and to negative social attitudes.

Section 2: Objectives The objectives of the Division are:

1. To bring together those who are concerned with rehabilitation, disability, and chronic illness so that they may better enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
2. To promote the exchange of knowledge and information among its members and the general public through publications, special interest groups, sections, educational programs, and other media, based on disability related research, teaching, and service.
3. To strengthen Rehabilitation Psychology as a distinctive professional entity.
4. To develop relationships and cooperation among organizations concerned with rehabilitation and prevention of disability.
5. To enhance public and legislative awareness of the role of psychological and social factors in the lives of persons with disabilities and chronic illness.
6. To promote standards of training and practice in Rehabilitation Psychology.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Qualifications

1. Any fellow, member or student-affiliate member, in good standing, of the American Psychological Association, who is interested in the purposes and objectives of the Division, shall be eligible for membership.
2. Professionals from related disciplines and psychologists who are not members of the APA with an interest in disability-related issues are eligible to become affiliate members of the Division. Affiliate members cannot vote or hold office in the Division.

Section 2: Classes, Rights, and Initiation of Active Status

1. The classes and rights of members in the Division, and the time of their initiation into active membership status, shall be in conformity with the provisions established by the American Psychological Association.

Section 3: Admission to Membership

1. Application for membership shall be made to the Membership Committee or the Division Administrative Office and the latter's recommendation shall be submitted for endorsement to the Executive Board or, by its designation, to the President of the Division.

Section 4: Fellows

1. Members of the Division may be nominated as Fellows in the American Psychological Association by the Executive Board. The Fellows Committee may act on behalf of the Executive Board to endorse Fellows applicants.

Section 5: Termination of Membership

1. Membership in the Division may be terminated for the following reasons:
1. Termination of membership in the American Psychological Association.
2. Non-payment of Divisional assessment and dues for a two-year period, in which case termination of membership shall be automatic.
2. Reinstatement — Members may be reinstated to membership upon payment of back dues and/or assessments, provided that payment shall be made within one year following termination of membership due to non-payment of dues. Members whose membership is terminated for other reasons or who fail to pay back dues within the one-year period must reapply to the Membership Committee and the application be submitted to the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE BOARD, COMMITTEES, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, AND SECTIONS

Section 1: Officers

1. The Officers of the Division shall be a President, President-elect, immediate Past-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall perform the usual duties of those positions as described in Keesey's Modern Parliamentary Procedures unless otherwise indicated by these Bylaws.
2. The President will preside, or delegate the authority to do so, at the business meetings of the Division.
3. The Treasurer is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the Division finances. At least annually, the Treasurer will recommend to the Board a budget for the Division.
4. The Secretary is responsible for recording the activities and business of the Division and reporting this information to the Board.

Section 2: Executive Board

1. Voting members of the Executive Board of the Division shall consist of all the current officers, the Divisional Representative(s) to the APA Council of Representatives, six Members-at-Large, a representative from each Section, and one student-affiliate member.
2. The editor of Rehabilitation Psychology, the Editor of the Division's newsletter and the chairs of Committees shall sit with the Executive Board as non-voting members.
3. The Executive Board will appoint, by majority vote, the Editor of the Division's newsletter. The Executive Board, by majority vote, will appoint two or more individuals to serve on an advisory board for the journal.
4. The Executive Board shall conduct and supervise all of the official business of the Division.
5. The Executive Board shall meet at least once a year.
6. In addition, the Executive Board shall conduct a mid-year conference by the end of March of each year, the manner of which to be determined by the Executive Board.
7. A quorum shall consist of six members.
8. In the event that there is less than a quorum present at a Board meeting, business conducted by those attending shall become official when the transactions are submitted to the absent Board members and approved by a quorum.
9. The Executive Board may, by two-thirds vote, remove any officer from office. The Board shall name a Member, as replacement to serve the duration of the term.

Section 3: Committees, Special Interest Groups and Sections

1. There shall be the following Standing Committees: Program; Membership; Nominations; Fellows; Social and Ethical Responsibility; Science; Education and Training; Continuing Education; Awards; Publications and Communications; Practice; Diversity; Disability Issues; International; and Professional Identity Committee. The chair of the Nominations Committee shall be the immediate Past-President. All other chairs of the Committees shall be appointed by the President.
2. Such Ad Hoc Committees as may be necessary shall be established and dissolved by the President. Chairs of Ad Hoc Committees are appointed by the President.
3. The functions of Committees shall be determined by the Executive Board and/or by the President and said functions shall be prepared in writing by the designated Chairperson and submitted for approval to the Executive Board prior to the Committee's formal operation.
4. Such Special Interest groups as may be decided shall be established or dissolved by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The chairs of Special Interest Groups are appointed by the president.
5. Sections may be formed by petition of 20 members and approval by the Executive Board. The purpose and bylaws of the sections must be approved by a majority of the petitioning members and submitted for approval by a majority vote of the Executive Board of the Division prior to the section's formal operation. The bylaws of the section shall also be consistent with American Psychological Association Bylaws. A section may have officers and a board elected by members of the section according to the section's bylaws. Each section shall have one voting representative on the Executive Board. Sections can be dissolved by a majority vote of the Executive Board of the Division.

ARTICLE V. NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, AND TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 1: Nominations

1. The immediate Past-President will serve as Chair of the Nominations Committee. The President shall appoint two other members of the Nominations Committee from among past or present members of the Executive Board.
2. The Committee shall prepare a slate of officers, Divisional Representative(s) to the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association, and Executive Board members at large for the succeeding year.
3. At least two nominees shall be presented for each office to be voted upon.
4. The membership shall be solicited for nominees for each office by January of each year. At least one call for nominations shall be made in the Division's newsletter before that date.
5. Each nominee shall prepare a position statement on selected issues as enumerated by the Nominations Committee and such statements shall be distributed to the membership prior to the APA deadline for receipt of ballots.
6. The student-affiliate member will be appointed to the Executive Board by the President in consultation with the American Psychological Association Graduate Students organization (APAGS).
7. The representative to the Executive Board from each section shall be selected in accordance with the bylaws of the section that the person represents.

Section 2: Elections

1. Only members in good standing may vote in elections.
2. The results of the elections shall be announced at the Annual Board and Business Meetings of the Division.
3. The Secretary and Treasurer shall each be elected for a term of three years.
4. Members-at-Large of the Executive Board shall be elected for terms of three years, with two members elected each year.
5. The person elected President-elect serves a three-year term on the Executive Board; one year as President-elect, one year as President, and one year as immediate Past-President. At the end of one year, the President-elect shall succeed the outgoing President, and the outgoing President shall succeed the outgoing immediate Past- President.
6. The Divisional Representative(s) to the APA Council of Representatives shall be elected for terms of three years in accordance with APA policy.
7. The term of the student-affiliate member appointed to the Executive Board will be for one year. The student-affiliate representative may be re-appointed for additional terms by succeeding Presidents.
8. The term of the Section representative shall be in accordance with the bylaws of the section represented.
9. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Board of a member-at-large, Divisional Representative, or officer position due to death, disability, or resignation, or, in the case of an officer, removal from office, the Board shall appoint a Member, as replacement, to act in the vacancy until the end of the three-year term for the vacated position. For the student-affiliate representative position, the President will appoint a new student-affiliate representative for the remainder of the one-year term. For a Section representative, the Section will appoint a new Section representative in accordance with the bylaws of the section represented.

ARTICLE VI. FINANCES

Section 1: Fiscal Year

1. The first fiscal year of the Division shall coincide with the fiscal year of the American Psychological Association.

Section 2: Dues and Assessments

1. The Executive Board shall determine the amount of dues and assessments to be paid by the membership.
2. In collecting dues and assessments, the Division may utilize the offices and facilities of the American Psychological Association.

Section 3: Disbursements

1. Unless authorized by the Executive Board or the President, no member, including the Treasurer, may obligate the Division to the payment of any funds.
2. All requests for payment of funds must be made through the Treasurer.

Section 4: Annual Budget

1. The Treasurer shall prepare a budget for consideration by the Executive Board. The Executive Board's duties will include review, amendment and approval of the annual budget. The President may alter the approved budget in conjunction with the Treasurer, who must agree to such changes. These changes in the budget cannot exceed the total amount of the entire budget approved by the Executive Board by more than an amount equal to two percent of the total budgeted expenses of the division, and a change in the amount allocated for any major budget category cannot exceed an amount equal to two percent of the total budgeted expenses of the division. Any budget increase of more than this amount must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Proposal of Amendments

1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any member in good standing by submitting such proposal to the Executive Board in writing through the Secretary.
2. Proposals for amendments shall be considered at the next regular meeting of the Executive Board.

Section 2: Ratification

1. Upon approval of a proposed amendment by the Executive Board, such proposal shall be submitted in writing to the entire membership of the Division not later than ninety days thereafter.
2. At least sixty days shall elapse between the submission of such a proposal to the membership and a vote on the proposal.
3. A two-thirds vote of those casting ballots shall be required for the adoption of an amendment.
4. Notification of the outcome of the voting on proposed amendments shall be made to the membership at the earliest opportunity.

ARTICLE VIII. RULES OF ORDER

Section 1: Keesey's Rules

1. Keesey's Modern Parliamentary Procedures shall govern all proceedings of the Division unless otherwise contradicted by the provisions of this these Bylaws.