CONSTITUTION OF THE WORLD HISTORY ASSOCIATION

First adopted in 1983

 

ARTICLE I: NAME(S)

The name of this association shall be the World History Association.

 

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The object of the association shall be the promotion of world history through the encouragement of research, publication, and teaching. The association shall promote activities that will increase awareness of world history through its annual meeting, along with any other activities that the President and Council deem appropriate to further this aim. As a result, the association will consistently and explicitly engage scholars, teachers, and students of world history with this evolving field of study and with each other.

 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the association shall be open to any person interested in world history upon the payment of one year’s dues or payment as part of Life Membership. Any member whose dues are in arrears shall be dropped from the membership list. Members who have been so dropped may be reinstated at any time by the payment in advance of one year’s dues. Only members in good standing shall have the right to vote or to hold office in the association.

 

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS AND TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 1

The elected officers shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Terms of office will begin on January 1, in the year after the election.

 

Section 2

The President shall serve for a two-year term and shall be succeeded by the Vice President who is the President-elect. The President shall serve one term only. The President may subsequently be elected to another term, but only after a gap in service of five years.

 

Section 3

The President shall be the chief administrative officer of the association. The President’s duties include:

• presiding at meetings of the Council and at the business meeting of the association;

• formulating policies and projects for presentation to the Council to fulfill the chartered obligations and purposes of the association;

• overseeing the continuing operations of the association;

• supervising the work of its committees;

• executing instructions of the Council;

• performing such other duties as the Council may direct.

 

Section 4

The Vice President shall be elected for a two-year term, shall be President-elect, and a member of the Council. If the office of President shall, through any cause, become vacant, the President-elect shall thereupon become President. The Vice President shall serve one term only. The Vice President may later be elected to another term, but only after a gap in service of five years.

 

Section 5

The Secretary shall be elected for a two-year term and be a member of the Council. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Council and all general meetings. The Secretary shall be limited to three terms of office, held either consecutively or with a break in service.

 

Section 6

The Treasurer shall be elected for two years and be a member of the Council. The Treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing the finances of the association and the disbursement of funds in consultation with the Council and the Executive Director. The Treasurer shall report on the Organization’s finances at the Annual Meeting and as requested by the Council, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Treasurer by the Council. The Treasurer shall be limited to three terms of office, held either consecutively or with a break in service.

 

Section 7

In case of the absence of any Officer, or for any other reason that the Council may deem sufficient, the Council may at any time and from time to time delegate all or any part of the powers or duties of any Officer to any other Officer or to any council member.

 

Section 8

At its discretion, the Council shall appoint an Executive Director and such staff as the finances and the work of the organization require. The Executive Director shall:

• conduct the routine affairs of the Association,

• maintain Association records and accounts,

• report to membership on the actions of Council,

• arrange for meetings of the Association, and

• conduct such other duties as assigned by Council and the annual business meeting.

The Council shall set the salary and terms of employment for the Executive Director.

 

ARTICLE V: COUNCIL

Section 1

There shall be a Council, constituted as follows:

1. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer

2. Elected members, nine in number, chosen by ballot in the manner provided in Article VII. These members shall be elected for a term of three years, three to be elected each year, except in the case of elections to complete unexpired terms. Elected members of the council, who are not one of the four named officers, are limited to two terms.

3. The immediate past President, who shall serve for a one-year term.

4. The editor of the ​Journal of World History, w​ho shall serve ex officio and without vote.

5. The Executive Director who shall serve ex officio and without vote.

 

Section 2

At least one member of the Council shall be a secondary school teacher, at least one member of the Council shall be a community college instructor, and at least one member of the Council shall be a faculty member from a four-year college or university. Nothing precludes more members of the Council from being in these categories.

 

Section 3

The Council shall conduct the business, manage the property, and care for the general interests of the association. The Council shall fix the amount of dues and the date upon which any change of dues becomes effective. It may appoint such committees as it deems necessary. The Council shall call an annual meeting of the association at a place and time it deems appropriate. It shall, if it chooses, arrange meetings and other venues for the dissemination and discussion of academic matters or to carry out association business other than at the time of and in addition to the annual meeting. It shall report to the membership on its deliberations and actions through the publications of the association, the association’s website, and at the business meeting.

 

Section 4

To transact necessary business in between meetings of the Council, there shall be an Executive Committee composed of the President, the Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Director shall serve ex officio and without vote. The Executive Committee in the conduct of its business shall be subject always to the general direction of the Council.

 

Section 5

For the general management of the financial affairs of the association, there shall be a Finance Committee composed of the President, Treasurer, and Executive Director ex-officio and without vote, and not more than three other voting members of the Council elected annually by the Council.

 

Section 6

The Council shall fill by majority vote any vacancy among the Officers, Council members, Finance Committee, or Nominating Committee that may arise in the middle of a term. This will be an interim appointment, until the next regularly scheduled election.

 

ARTICLE VI: BUSINESS MEETING 

Section 1

The Council shall call a business meeting, open to all members of the association in good standing, to convene at the time of the annual meeting.

 

Section 2

The business meeting shall receive reports of officers and committees and the Executive Director. It may consider resolutions and proposals concerning the affairs of the association, instruct officers and the Council, and exercise any powers not reserved to the Council and elected or appointed officers of the association.

 

ARTICLE VII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1

The Nominating Committee shall consist of six members, each of whom shall serve a term of three years. Two shall be elected each year by the Council on nomination by the President, with terms starting three months before the annual election.

 

Section 2

The Nominating Committee shall nominate every other year candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and for each position on the Council where a prospective vacancy shall exist.

 

Section 3

The annual ballot shall be sent to the full membership of the association at least two weeks before the annual election. No vote received after the due date specified on the ballot shall be valid. The votes shall be counted and checked in such manner as the Nominating Committee shall prescribe. The results of the election shall be announced to the membership electronically and in the publications of the association. In the case of a tie vote, an electronic re-vote shall be organized.

 

Section 4

In the case of officers, election shall be by plurality of the votes cast for each position. In the case of the Council, those receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected, keeping in mind the constitutional requirement that at least one Council member is a high school teacher, one a community college instructor, and one a faculty member from a four-year college or university.

 

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this constitution may be proposed (1) by the Council OR (2) by petition to the Council of 5% of the members in good standing. An amendment so proposed shall be reported to the membership at least six weeks in advance of the subsequent earliest annual business meeting for which such notice is possible, and shall be placed on the agenda of that meeting for discussion. Thereafter, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the membership of the association electronically, accompanied by summary statements of the pro and con arguments thereon, for approval or rejection by two-thirds of those voting.

 

ARTICLE IX: BYLAWS

The Council may adopt bylaws consistent with the provisions of the constitution, upon any matter of concern to the association.​ ​Changes or additions to bylaws may be proposed by Council or by petition to the Council of five percent of the members in good standing. Thereafter, the proposed changes shall be submitted to the membership of the association, accompanied by summary statements of the pro and con arguments thereon, for approval or rejection. They must be approved by a majority of those voting. Bylaws shall not contravene the provisions of this Constitution.

 

ARTICLE X: RESTRICTIONS AND DISSOLUTION

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

 

Upon the dissolution of the association, the Council shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities exclusively for the purposes of the association distribute any remaining funds to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

 

AMENDMENTS

 

AFFILIATE AMENDMENT

Adopted August 20, 2000

Interested associations may request affiliate status with the World History Association in conformity with such Bylaws and policies as the World History Association may establish. Such affiliate status becomes effective when approved by two-thirds vote of the Council. The World History Association assumes no financial or legal responsibility for the affiliates. Either the World History Association or the affiliate may terminate the affiliation at any time.