Article IX: Administration

Section 1.

Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association, its Board, House of Delegates, committees, and units, in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation, the Constitution, these Bylaws, or any special rules of order that the Association, the Executive Committee, the Board, the House of Delegates, or such units may adopt for their own governance. Rules in the nature of rules of order contained in the Constitution and these Bylaws may not be suspended unless the rule provides for its own suspension.

Section 2.

Definitions

1. “Cause” for discipline, including expulsion from membership or removal from office, shall include, but is not limited to: violation of the Association’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, or adopted policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Code of Ethics, and conduct tending to injure the Association’s good name, disturb its well-being, or hamper its work.
2. “Member in good standing” shall mean a member who has neither voluntarily resigned from membership nor been expelled or suspended from membership.
3. “Past Chair” shall mean a member in good standing who served to the end of a term as Chair after election or succession. “Immediate Past Chair” shall mean the Past Chair, if any, who served immediately before the commencement of the current full annual officers’ term, and who agrees to serve in the roles assigned by these Bylaws to the Immediate Past Chair.
4. The Association shall have the following units: geographic chapters, student chapters, councils, and members-at-large regions, which shall consist of all members, except for members of certified geographic and student chapters. The qualifications, limitations, and requirements of such units shall be as stated in the Constitution and these Bylaws. Unless otherwise qualified, the term “chapter” in these Bylaws refers only to geographic chapters
5. “Task Force” shall mean an action-oriented group, which may consist of Association members and non-members. Only the Chair may establish a task force, appoint its members, determine its duration, monitor its progress, and terminate its function, and each task force shall be responsible solely to the Chair. The charge of a task force may include addressing specific goals, completing a specific task, or considering a particular issue. Functions of a task force may include the following:
   1. gathering information and making recommendations;
   2. studying an issue and preparing a report;
   3. carrying out a specific project or activity for the Chair;
   4. conducting programs at conferences;
   5. establishing subunits.

Section 3.

Disqualification for Interest
A member of the Board of Directors or of a committee shall be disqualified from participation concerning or voting on any item of business as to which the member has a direct personal or pecuniary interest not common to the other members of the Board or committee, respectively, in accordance with the Conflict of Interest Policy adopted by the Board.