SASB Constitution
Article I - Name
Section 1. The name of the organisation shall be the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Article II - Objectives
Section 1. To represent the activities of all systematic and evolutionary biologists in Australia.
Section 2. To increase appreciation in the general community of the importance of systematics.
Section 3. To lobby government agencies and granting agencies for improved funding, training, etc.
Section 4. To foster the training of systematists.
Section 5. To hold meetings that deal with general scientific issues (e.g. biogeography, biodiversity, phylogenetics, molecular systematics, data-basing, evolutionary biology, etc.).
Article III - Membership
Section 1. Membership of the Society is open to all of those people who are interested in the objectives of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Article IV - Officers
Section 1. The elected officers shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two or more Councillors, as determined by the Council.
Section 2. The President shall be nominated from among the current members of the Council.
Section 3. The officers shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast.
Section 4. No member of the Council can simultaneously hold more than one position on the Council.
Section 5. The officers shall serve as the Council.
Section 6. The Council shall conduct the business of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Article V - Meetings
Section 1. There shall be a general meeting, open to all members, during each meeting of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Article VI - Amending the Constitution
Section 1. The Constitution, or any part thereof, may be amended, suspended or repealed by a three-quarters majority of those voting in a ballot, provided there is at least two weeks notice of the proposed change.
Section 2. Any member in good standing may propose, in writing, an amendment to the Constitution to the Council. Such a proposal, if approved by a majority of the Council, shall be submitted with a recommendation to the members under Section 1 of this Article. A proposed change to the Constitution not recommended by the Council must be submitted to members if it is resubmitted by ten or more members in good standing.
Article VII - Principal office
Section 1. The principal office for the transaction of the business of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists shall be determined by the Council.
Article VIII - Financial resources & reporting
Section 1. The financial resources of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists are derived from membership dues, contributions, subscriptions, sales, donations, gifts and bequests.
Section 2. Membership dues shall be determined by the provisions of Article 1 of the By-Laws.
Section 3. The first financial year of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists shall be the period ending on the next 30 June following incorporation, and thereafter a period of 12 months commencing on 1 July and ending on 30 June of each year.
Section 4. The Society of Australian Systematic Biologists shall keep and retain such accounting records as are necessary to correctly record and explain the financial transactions and financial position of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists in accordance with the South Australian Government’s Associations Incorporation Act (1985). Refer to regulation 8 of the Associations Regulations.
Article IX - Dissolution
Section 1. The dissolution of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists shall be decided by a three-quarters majority of those voting in a ballot, provided two weeks notice is given.
Section 2. Any assets shall be disposed of, subsequently, at the discretion of the Council.
Section 3. The Society of Australian Systematic Biologists may be wound up in the manner provided for in the South Australian Government’s Associations Incorporation Act (1985).
Article X – Powers and duties of the committee
Section 1. The affairs of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists shall be managed and controlled by a committee which, in addition to any powers and authorities conferred by these rules, may exercise all such powers and do all such things as are within the objects of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists, and are not by the South Australian Government’s Associations Incorporation Act (1985) or by these rules required to be done by the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists in general meeting.
Section 2. The committee has the management and control of the funds and other property of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Section 3. The committee shall have the authority to interpret the meaning of these rules and any other matter relating to the affairs of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists on which these rules are silent.
Section 4. The committee shall appoint a public officer as required by the South Australian Government’s Associations Incorporation Act (1985).
Section 5. The association shall have all the powers conferred by section 25 of the Act.
Society of Australian Systematic Biologists BY-LAWS
Article I - Membership
Section 1. Membership shall be open to all persons who make formal application, and who are willing to abide by and uphold the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Section 2. Institutions or Societies may not become members.
Section 3. Membership dues shall be established by recommendation of the Council at the General Meeting and shall be ratified by a majority vote of the members attending.
Section 4. All members in good standing have the right to vote.
Section 5. Any member in good standing is eligible to hold office.
Section 6. A member whose dues have not been paid within a reasonable period of time shall forfeit the privileges of membership. Such members may be reinstated upon payment of delinquent dues.
Section 7. The privileges of membership shall include the right to receive publications, to vote in accordance with the By-Laws, and to participate in all of the activities and functions of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Article II - Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast in a ballot by members in good standing. The votes shall be counted by the Secretary and one or more persons appointed by the Council, who are not Council members.
Section 2. The nominees for each office shall be nominated to the Secretary by any member in good standing. Prior to the election each nominee must declare their willingness to serve if elected, in writing to the Secretary.
Section 3. The officers shall serve for one year, or until their successors are elected.
Section 4. No officer, except the Secretary and Treasurer, shall serve in the same position for more than two consecutive terms.
Section 5. The President shall preside at the General Meetings and at meetings of the Council. The President shall exercise a casting vote if necessary.
Section 6. Fifty per cent of the Council represents a quorum.
Section 7. In the absence of the President at a meeting, the Vice-President shall assume their duties for that meeting, and shall become President in the event of death, resignation, disability or inability of the President. In the absence of both the President and the Vice-President at a meeting, a temporary chairperson shall be chosen to preside at the meeting by a majority of those members attending the meeting. The temporary chairperson shall exercise a casting vote if necessary.
Section 8. The Council shall appoint all committees as necessary. The President and Secretary shall be ex-officio members of all such committees. Unless otherwise stated in these By-Laws, each committee shall elect its own chairperson.
Section 9. The Secretary is responsible to the Council for the administration of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists, and shall keep minutes of all Council meetings and General Meetings, conduct official correspondence, and maintain a record of the affairs of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists. The Secretary shall also keep membership records and report to members on the conduct of the affairs of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists at each General Meeting.
Section 10. The Treasurer is responsible to the Council for the finances of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists, and shall keep financial records, accept dues and monies, issue and pay invoices, maintain a bank account, and report to members on the conduct of the financial affairs of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists at each General Meeting.
Section 11. Every year all accounts shall be subject to audit. The auditors shall not be members of the Council, and shall be appointed at the General Meeting.
Section 12. In the event of the death, resignation, disability or inability of any officer, except the President, the Council shall, at its discretion, make a temporary appointment until the date of the next election. Such an appointee shall be eligible for nomination at the next election.
Article III - General Meeting
Section 1. The date, time and place of the General Meeting shall be determined by the Council.
Section 2. The date, time and place of the conference of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists shall be determined by the Organising Committee of the conference with the agreement of the Council.
Section 3. The membership shall be informed of the date, time and place of the General Meeting at least three months prior to the meeting.
Section 4. A quorum at the General Meeting shall consist of the President or a representative, the Secretary or a representative, and ten members in good standing.
Section 5. There shall be a meeting of the Council during the course of the General Meeting or the conference of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists. Meetings may be called by the President at other times.
Article IV - Finance
Section 1. All funds accruing to the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists from membership dues, contributions, subscriptions, sales, donations, gifts or bequests are to be used at the discretion of the Council, for the administration of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists and to fulfil the objectives of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.
Section 2. Records pertaining to Society funds shall be open to inspection by any member at any time.
Article V - Amending the By-Laws
Section 1. By-Laws may be adopted, amended, suspended or repealed by a three-quarters majority of members voting in a ballot, provided there is at least two weeks notice of the proposed change.
Section 2. Any member in good standing may propose an amendment to the By-Laws, in writing, to the Council. Such a proposal, if approved by a majority of the Council, shall be submitted with a recommendation to the members under Section 1 of this Article. A proposed change to the By-Laws not recommended by the Council must be submitted to members if it is resubmitted by ten or more members in good standing.
Article VI - Parliamentary Authority
Section 1. If not contrary to the Constitution or By-Laws, procedures to be followed in business meetings of the Society shall be those established in "Robert's Rules of Order Revised", seventy-fifth or later editions.