Preamble
The American Geophysical Union, which was established in 1919 by the National Research Council and for more than 50 years operated as an unincorporated affiliate of the National Academy of Sciences, is now a non-profit corporation chartered under the laws of the District of Columbia. The Union is dedicated to the furtherance of the geophysical sciences through the individual efforts of its members and in cooperation with other national and international scientific organizations.
- To promote the scientific study of Earth, Sun, and the solar system and all of their environments and components and to make the results of such studies available to the public.
- To advance the various geophysical sciences (1) through programs of the Union and its Sections; (2) by scientific discussion, publication, and dissemination of information; and (3) by sponsorship of scientific and technical symposia, colloquia, and meetings.
- To promote cooperation between and among scientific organizations worldwide whose objectives include the furtherance of knowledge in the geophysical sciences and related disciplines.
- To carry out education and other outreach activities to further the public's understanding of the geophysical sciences.
- To initiate and participate in geophysical research programs.
The membership of the American Geophysical Union shall be as follows:
- Member: A Member shall be an individual professionally engaged in or associated with geophysics.
- Fellow: A Fellow of the American Geophysical Union shall be a scientist who has attained acknowledged eminence in the geophysical sciences. Fellows shall be individual members selected in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws.
- Honorary Fellow: An individual who has provided services to the Union or made exceptional contributions to the fields of geophysics may be elected an Honorary Fellow by the Council of the American Geophysical Union.
- Associate: An individual who desires identification with the American Geophysical Union and wishes to support its objectives but does not meet the qualifications of Member(s) under section a. of this Article may become an Associate of the Union.
- Affiliate: A corporation, academic institution, or other organization interested in the geophysical sciences may become an Affiliate of the Union. The designated representative of the corporation, institution, or organization shall enjoy the privileges of a Member.
- All members except Honorary Fellows and others specifically exempted by the Bylaws shall pay dues at rates set by the Council.
- All individual members except Associates and others specifically exempted by the Bylaws are eligible to hold office and are entitled to vote, as provided in these Statutes or in the Bylaws, on the (a) election and removal of officers of the Union and of the Sections, (b) amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, and (c) amendments to these Statutes.
- All individual members except those specifically exempted by the Bylaws shall receive publications and other materials which, by decision of the Council, are sent to members who have paid dues for the current year. Any member, on request, shall be removed from the mailing list for any or all of these publications.
- All individual members are eligible to subscribe to Union journals and to purchase other Union publications at member rates established by the General Secretary.
The American Geophysical Union shall include Sections representing the full spectrum of active research in geophysics. These Sections shall be enumerated in the Bylaws of the Union. The function of the Sections within their respective fields shall be the promotion of the Purposes of the American Geophysical Union. Sections may be subdivided into divisions upon Council approval.
- Officers of the Union shall be the President, President-Elect, General Secretary, and International Secretary. These officers shall be members under Article 2, sections a, b, or c. Each shall serve in such capacity without honorarium or other compensation except for reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Union. The Council may also appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers who may or may not be members. The Council shall employ an Executive Director, who shall also be an officer of the Union as designated by the Council.
- Duties
- The President shall perform all duties ordinarily appertaining to the office, shall preside at the meetings of the Council and at the general meetings of the Union, and shall appoint members to committees in accordance with the Bylaws.
- The President-Elect shall in the event of the absence or disability of the President carry out the duties of the President. The President-Elect shall succeed the President at the end of the President's term of office.
- The General Secretary shall be responsible to the Council of the Union for the general administration of the Union's activities as determined by the Council. The General Secretary shall be responsible for keeping an accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Council, shall give or cause to be given all notices in accordance with the Statutes and the Bylaws or as required by law, and, in general, shall perform all duties customary to the office of a corporate Secretary. The General Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Union, and shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it; and, when so affixed, it may be attested by the General Secretary's signature.
- The General Secretary shall also be, and serve as, the Treasurer of the Union. In such capacity, the General Secretary shall have the custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the Union. The General Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept complete and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements of the Union, and shall deposit all monies and other valuable property of the Union in the name and to the credit of the Union in such banks or depositories as the Council may designate. Whenever required by the Council, the General Secretary shall render a statement of accounts. The General Secretary shall at all reasonable times exhibit the books and accounts to any member of the Union at its principal offices, and shall perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer, subject to the supervision of the Council, and such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned by the Council. The accounts of the Union shall be audited annually by a certified public accountant.
- Each Assistant Treasurer and each Assistant Secretary appointed by the Council shall perform such duties and have such powers as the Council may from time to time prescribe.
- The International Secretary shall be responsible for planning and organizing the participation of the American Geophysical Union in appropriate international activities, shall cooperate with the Sections in the international aspects of their programs, and shall chair the Committee on International Participation.
- The Executive Director shall perform with such staff as is necessary all duties assigned by the Council. The Executive Director shall be responsible to the Council under the direction of the General Secretary.
- The President-Elect, General Secretary and International Secretary shall be elected by mail ballot of the full voting membership in accordance with the election procedures contained in the Bylaws. No such election shall be held for the office of President.
- The term of office for the President, President-Elect, General Secretary, and International Secretary shall be two years and until their successors are elected. If the Executive Director is designated an officer by the Council, the term of office shall be two years. The term of office for these officers of the Union shall begin on July 1 immediately following their election.
- The President shall not be eligible for re-election as President-Elect for two years following the term as President. The General Secretary and International Secretary shall be eligible to serve up to four consecutive terms. The Executive Director as an officer shall be eligible for successive terms.
- If any office except that of President or President-Elect becomes vacant, the Council of the Union shall designate a successor to complete the term. If the office of President becomes vacant, the President-Elect shall complete the vacated term and thereafter serve the normal term as President, and the Council shall appoint one of its number to complete the President-Elect's term as a member of the Executive Committee. If the office of President-Elect becomes vacant for any other reason, the President shall, in accordance with the election procedures contained in the Bylaws, call for the election of a member to complete the term; the election of the new President-Elect shall be accomplished within six months of the effective date of the vacancy. If simultaneous vacancies should occur in the offices of President and President-Elect, the Acting President shall be the General Secretary or the International Secretary, in order; the Acting President shall then convene the Council to initiate procedures appropriate to fill the vacancies.
- The officers of each Section of the American Geophysical Union shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, and a Secretary or the Secretaries of the Section's divisions.
- The officers of the Sections shall be members under Article 2, sections a, b, or c, and be elected by mail ballot in accordance with the election procedures contained in the Bylaws.
- The officers of the Sections shall serve a 2-year term and until their successors are elected. These terms shall be coincident with the term of the Union officers. Each shall serve in such capacity without honorarium or other compensation except for reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Union.
- There shall be an Executive Committee of each Section of the Union that shall include at least the President, President-Elect, most recent past President, and the Secretary of the Section or one of the Secretaries of the Section's divisions.
- If any office becomes vacant, the Executive Committee of the Section shall designate a successor to complete the term.
- The President of each Section shall have the power to appoint an alternate with the right to attend and to vote at the meetings of the Council of the Union. In the absence of such a designated alternate, the Section Secretary shall automatically serve as the alternate for the Section President. A Section Secretary shall serve as the alternate for the Section President-Elect at meetings of the Council, so long as that Secretary is not serving as alternate for the Section President.
- Sections may, with the approval of the Council, subdivide and elect appropriate officers in each subdivision.
- The board of directors of the American Geophysical Union shall be known as the Council and shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the immediate past President, the General Secretary, the International Secretary, the President and President-Elect of each Section, and the Executive Director.
- The Council shall have full responsibility and authority for all affairs of the American Geophysical Union and shall be the representative of the Union in its external relations. The Council may delegate with power of decision and action any of its specific functions to the officers and to committees.
- The Executive Committee of the Council shall include the President, President-Elect, General Secretary, International Secretary, and the Executive Director. Except as limited by the Council, this committee shall, under a continuing resolution, have the authority of the Council to conduct the affairs of the Union between meetings of the Council.
- No individual shall exercise more than one vote, whether or not appointed or designated as an alternate, on either the Council or the Executive Committee. No individual shall simultaneously serve in more than one position on the Council.
- Annual Business Meeting: The American Geophysical Union and also each Section shall meet at least once annually to discuss their affairs.
- Scientific Meetings:
1) National Meetings. The Union and its Sections shall hold scientific meetings for the general membership at those times and places designated by the Council of the Union.
2) Specialty Meetings. The American Geophysical Union may sponsor or cosponsor scientific meetings dedicated to the pursuit of a specific geophysical subject; such sponsorship shall be subject to the approval of the Council of the Union. Specialty meetings may be called by the American Geophysical Union, any Section or group of Sections, or any Local or Regional Branch subject to the approval of the Council of the Union.
- Local or Regional Branches of the Union may be established on the approval of the Council of the Union. These Branches, whose members shall be members of the American Geophysical Union, shall be responsible to the Council of the Union, and shall duly report their activities through the General Secretary.
- Any local, regional, national, or international society that has objectives consistent with those of the American Geophysical Union may join with the Union as an Associated Society. Appropriate agreements of association shall be made by the Council of the Union and representatives of the other society. Associated Societies may agree to hold some of their meetings in conjunction with the national meetings of the Union and vice versa. The members of Associated Societies need not be members
of the Union, and Associated Societies need not have financial or other responsibilities to the Union.
- The American Geophysical Union in consonance with its Purposes and subject to the approval of the Council shall publish journals, books, periodicals, and other publications of geophysical interest.
- When a vacancy occurs the President, with the advice of a selection committee, shall appoint the editors of the principal journals of the Union. Editors shall be appointed for a fixed term and shall serve at the pleasure of the President.
- The General Secretary shall approve the sales prices and subscription rates for all publications of the Union.
- The Union may receive bequests, grants, contributions, and funds, and may make disbursements therefrom.
- The Union may enter into contracts to carry out any purpose consonant with its Charter, Statutes and Bylaws.
The American Geophysical Union is authorized to enact such Bylaws as may be necessary for the performance of its functions and duties.
- Any voting member may propose an amendment to the Statutes or the Articles of Incorporation. Such proposals shall be considered by the Committee on Statutes and Bylaws and presented to the Council of the Union with recommendations. Upon approval of the Council, proposed amendments to the Statutes shall be submitted to the membership for a mail vote. Upon approval of the Council, proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation shall be approved in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia.
- Any voting member may propose an amendment to the Bylaws. Such a proposal shall be considered by the Committee on Statutes and Bylaws and presented to the Council for approval. Approved amendments shall be published in an AGU publication of general circulation not more than 90 days after approval and not less than 30 days prior to action at a succeeding meeting of the Council. Vote by the Council at this succeeding meeting shall constitute final action on the amendment. An affirmative vote of not less than half the membership of the Council shall be required for approval. Action to amend a Bylaw must be completed within one year of its publication.
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Union shall indemnify any Council member or officer of the Union, any former Council member or officer, any person who may have served at the Union's request as a director or officer of another corporation, whether for profit or not for profit, and may, by resolution of the Council, indemnify any officer of any Section, or any employee or agent of the Union against any and all expenses and liabilities actually and necessarily incurred by that individual or imposed on the individual in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceeding, whether actual or threatened, civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, including appeals, to which the individual may be or is made a part by reason of being or having been such Council member, officer, employee or agent.
There shall be no indemnification in relation to matters as to which the individual shall be adjudged in such claim, action, suit or proceeding to be guilty of a criminal offense or liable to the Union for damages arising out of the individual's own gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of a duty to the Union.
In no case, however, shall the Union indemnify, reimburse, or insure any person for any taxes imposed on such individual under chapter 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as may hereafter be amended ("the Code"). Further, if at any time the Union is deemed to be a private foundation within the meaning of § 509 of the Code then, during such time, no payment shall be made under this Article if such payment would constitute an act of self-dealing or a taxable expenditure, as defined in § 4941 (d) or § 4945 (d), respectively, of the Code.
Bylaws
--As amended through December 2002
- The fiscal year of the American Geophysical Union shall conform to the calendar year.
- The following categories of Members and Fellows are exempt from dues: Members and Fellows who have remitted dues for life with a lump-sum payment established by the Council (although not obligated to do so, the Council may offer a life membership option at any time); Honorary Fellows; Members and Fellows, after retirement from active professional service, whose number of years in good standing with the Union (minimum of 10 years) and age total 90; disabled Members and Fellows, upon approval by the Council on a case-by-case basis, for the duration of their disability. Each Member and Fellow in any of these categories is entitled to the full rights and privileges of membership, including the rights to vote as provided in Statute Article 2, section g. and hold office, and is automatically eligible to receive all Union mailings and publications sent to the general membership and to subscribe to or purchase the Union's journals and other publications at members' rates. Associates and Affiliates are not eligible for dues exemption.
- Under special circumstances and upon request to the General Secretary any Member or Fellow may be transferred to an inactive list of the Union for a period not to exceed five years without further payment of dues and without the privileges of a member. Reinstatement may be made upon request and payment of current year's dues.
- Removal from the rolls, other than by resignation or nonpayment of dues, of any member described in Article 2 shall be made only upon a three-fourths vote of a quorum of the Council of the Union. Any member who fails to pay dues in the year for which they fall due may be removed from the rolls after the end of that year.
- Reinstatement of members who have been dropped from the rolls by action of the Council of the Union may be effected only after the filing of a signed application under the usual procedure for new members.
- Any Member who is a student at a degree-granting college or university may enjoy full rights and privileges of membership at reduced dues rates established by the Council. The Council may establish rules and guidelines pertaining to the eligibility of gainfully employed persons and part-time students for student rates. A certificate verifying that the applicant is a student must be signed by an officer or professor of the institution attended and submitted annually. There is no age limit, and Union Members who become students may be eligible for student rates.
- The American Geophysical Union shall include the following Sections: Atmospheric Sciences; Biogeosciences; Geodesy; Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism; Hydrology; Ocean Sciences; Planetary Sciences; Seismology; Space Physics and Aeronomy; Tectonophysics; and Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology. All members may designate the Sections with which they desire to be affiliated.
- The President may establish Focus Groups on emerging research areas in which interest is shared by two or more of the current Sections. Appointments of officers of Focus Groups shall be made by the President for a term coincident with that of the appointing President. Members may affiliate with these Focus Groups.
- Statutes and Bylaws adopted by a Section or Branch shall not conflict with the provisions of the Statutes and Bylaws of the Union.
- Matters pertaining solely to a Section shall be acted upon by the Section concerned. Matters extending beyond the purview of a single Section must be brought to the Council for action at the request of any Council member.
- Standing Committees shall be: Statutes and Bylaws; Nominations; Fellows; and International Participation. Appointments to these committees shall be made by the President. Unless otherwise specifically designated, no appointment shall extend beyond the term of office of the appointing President.
- The President shall establish one or more committees to provide advice on budget, finance, publications, meetings, education, and other areas of significance to the Union. Appointments. Appointments to these committees shall be made by the President. No appointment shall extend beyond the term of office of the appointing President without the consent of the President-elect.
- The Audit and Legal Affairs and other committees of the Council shall be designated by the Council; the powers and duties of these committees shall be established by the Council.
- The nominations and elections of the officers of the Union and the Sections shall be conducted as follows:
- At least four months before each general election, the Standing Committee for Nominations and the Presidents of the Sections shall submit a slate of at least two nominees for each elective position of the Union and the Sections, respectively, except that any incumbent General Secretary, International Secretary or Section Secretary may be unopposed if that incumbent has been opposed in all previous elections for this office. The Council shall approve the slate with option to add or
delete nominees as it deems appropriate in accordance with the Statutes and Bylaws. This slate of approved nominees shall appear in an AGU publication of general circulation at least 30 days before the general election.
- Petitions of nominations from the general membership shall be honored provided that (1) each petition is signed by at least 1% of the full voting members of the Union or the Section as the case may be, and (2) such Petitions are received by the General Secretary before the termination of the 30 days' notification period described in section a. above.
- Each member eligible to vote shall be allowed to vote in no more than three Sections.
- If more than two candidates are nominated, voters shall be required to rank candidates in order of their preference. In tallying such votes, if no candidate has a majority of the first-place votes, then the candidate with the fewest first-place votes will be eliminated and the second-place votes on those ballots distributed among the other candidates and this process repeated until one candidate has a clear majority.
- The Council shall adopt a procedure to resolve tied elections for Union or Section officers, notwithstanding Bylaw 9.
- Results of the general election shall be announced at the Annual Business Meeting.
- Any officer of the Union or member of the Council elected by the membership or any segment thereof may be removed from office by vote of the membership. A majority of those voting is required for removal. Such a vote shall be held only if approved by the Council after a request in the form of a petition submitted to the General Secretary which has been signed by at least 1% of the voting members of the Union on December 31 preceding submission of the petition. If the petition is not
approved by the Council by the close of its next regular or special meeting, it shall be without effect. If approved, the vote shall be held within 30 days of the approval. Votes held, if any, by the Council or by the membership, under this paragraph, shall be conducted under rules preserving their confidentially.
- An officer designated by the Council of the Union or the Executive Committee of any of its Sections to fill an incomplete term shall not hold any office without election after expiration of the incomplete term except to continue until a successor has been elected and qualified.
- Unless otherwise required by law or the Statutes or these Bylaws, voting on any matter requiring a vote of the membership shall be by mail, including electronic mail, to the extent permitted by law, and a majority of the votes cast shall determine the outcome. No mail ballot of the Union shall be closed until at least 30 days after date of issue.
- Business Meetings of the Union shall be called by the President at least 30 days in advance. One thousand members entitled to vote who are represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of members.
- Meetings of the Council of the Union shall be called by the President at least 15 days in advance, and a minimum of one-third of the total membership of the Council shall constitute a quorum.
- Meetings of the Council or Executive Committee may be held using conference telephone calls or by any means of communication through which all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear one another. If otherwise conducted in accord with these Bylaws, votes taken are fully effective. Quorum requirements are the same as for face-to-face meetings.
- The Council may appoint Union or Section representatives to other organizations upon mutual agreement when such representation may promote coordination and interest in geophysics. The Executive Committee of the Section concerned shall make tentative arrangements for inter-organization relationships and shall select the representatives for the Section. Arrangements and commitments must be ratified by the Council of the Union before they are binding on the Union.
- The Council of the Union may arrange for awards, medals, honoraria, or certificates of merit to geophysicists in recognition of meritorious work or service in the field of the whole Union or in the field of any of its several Sections; and for scholarships, fellowships, or grants-in-aid to assist worthy candidates in the advancement of geophysical science. Executive Committee approval of all awards, medals, honoraria, or certificates of merit to be granted in the name of the Union is
required.
- Recipients of AGU medals who are members are accorded Fellowship in the Union. Additional Fellows may be elected from the membership of the AGU by a committee of 11 Fellows appointed by the President. The number of Fellows elected in each annual class shall not exceed 0.1% of the total membership at the end of the year preceding installation of that class.
- The General Secretary is responsible to the Council for assuring that the funds of the Union are dispersed in accordance with the instructions of the Council expressed or implied by its acceptance of the annual budget and other special actions that it takes. The General Secretary may delegate authority to sign checks for these purposes to officers, to the Executive Director, and to such other members of the staff of the Union as may be required to carry out these instructions. If the
General Secretary is incapacitated or absent, the President shall assume the responsibilities of the General Secretary. All officers and staff authorized to sign checks shall furnish surety bonds in the same manner and in an amount set by the Council of the Union.
- The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Union in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Union may adopt.
- No loans shall be made by the Union to Council members or officers.
About AGU
AGU Leadership
