ASPA - Iowa Capital Chapter

Chapter Constitution

Constitution for the Iowa Capital Chapter

I. Name and Purpose

Section 1. The name of this Chapter shall be the Iowa Capital Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, hereinafter referred to as the “Chapter”.

Section 2. This Chapter is organized for the professional and educational purposes of: exclusively charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as may hereinafter be amended ("Code"). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such purposes include the following:

(a) Advancing the science, processes, and art of public administration.
(b) Advancing the equality of opportunity of all persons through public administration.

In furtherance of its exclusively charitable and educational purposes, the Chapter shall have all general powers of an unincorporated association under the law of the state of Iowa as now in effect or as may hereafter be amended, together with the power to solicit and accept grants and contributions for such purposes.

Section 3. The Chapter shall serve Central Iowa.


II. Membership

Section 1. Chapter membership shall be limited to persons holding membership in the American Society for Public Administration.

Section 2. Chapter members shall have the right to vote for Chapter officers and Council and to participate in all Chapter activities.


III. Officers and Council

Section 1. The officers of this Chapter shall be a President, Vice President, and a Secretary/Treasurer. Their duties shall be those customarily performed by such officers.

Section 2. The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Chapter Council (herein "Council"), which shall consist of the Chapter officers, the two most recent Past Presidents, and 6 Council members. The six council members shall be divided into two classes with staggered two-year terms so that 3 are elected each year for two years. The Council shall supervise and control the affairs of the Chapter and its actions shall follow the general policies of the Society. The President shall serve as presiding officer of the Council.

Section 3. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing and issuing an annual report of finances to all members of the Chapter.

Section 4. Officers and Council members shall serve until their successors are elected or appointed to take office. The President shall make interim appointments to fill any vacancies on the Council. Any vacancy in the office of President or Vice President shall be filled by an interim appointment of the Council from among its own membership. All interim appointees shall serve until the next regular election.

Section 5. All persons composing the governing body comprising the Council shall be members of the American Society for Public Administration or shall become members within thirty days after election or appointment and shall be Chapter members in good standing.


IV. Nominations and Elections

Section 1. The President, the Vice President, the Secretary/Treasurer, and 3 of 6 Council members shall be elected at the Chapter's annual organizational meeting for a term of office ending October 30. The President, the Vice President, and the Secretary/Treasurer shall serve one-year terms, and may be elected to successive terms.

Section 2. Nominations for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Council members shall be made by a nominating committee of three regular members to be appointed by the President at least sixty days before the annual organizational meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor by any regular member of the Chapter.

Section 3. A majority of the Chapter members voting shall decide all elections. In case of ties, the President shall cast the deciding ballot.


V. Meetings

Section 1. This Chapter shall hold at least four program activities during the designated Chapter year, including the annual business meeting.

Section 2. The annual meeting shall be held in October unless otherwise specified by the Council.

Section 3. Other meetings of the Chapter shall be held at times and places designated by the President or by the Council.

Section 4. Chapter members shall be given at least seven days notice in writing of the time, place, and the scheduled business to be considered at all regular meetings.


VI. Committees

Section 1. The Council may establish committees for various purposes. Committee chairs and members shall be appointed by the President. All such committees shall terminate at the annual organizational meeting upon the election of officers and Council.



VII. Sections

Section 1. The Council may establish Chapter Sections in conjunction with ASPA sections of the American Society for Public Administration or, whenever 10 Chapter members so request, the Council may establish Chapter Sections of special interest to the membership. The members of said sections shall elect a Chairperson, with approval of the Council.


VIII. Fees

Section 1. That portion of the national membership dues designated for rebate to the Chapter shall constitute the fee for Chapter membership.

Section 2. Other fees as deemed necessary for continuing and special projects may be assessed by the Council.


IX. Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be adopted in either of the two following manners:

(a) Amendments shall be proposed by the Council and submitted to the membership in accordance with article V, Section 4, of this Constitution, and adoption of such proposed amendments requires a favorable vote of two-thirds of the regular members present and voting at a regularly called meeting.; or

(b) Amendments shall be proposed by a two-thirds vote of regular members present and voting at a regular meeting, and shall be submitted to the membership in accordance with Article V, Section 4, of this Constitution. Adoption of such proposed amendments requires a favorable vote of two-thirds of regular members present and voting at the next succeeding regularly called meeting.

Section 2. Consistent with inclusion of this Chapter in the group federal income tax exemption ruling of the American Society for Public Administration (identified by the Internal Revenue Service as Group Exemption Number 3155), all amendments to the Chapter Constitution which may be made from time to time shall be submitted to the American Society for Public Administration for its approval.


X. Ratification

This Constitution shall be considered ratified upon approval of the American Society for Public Administration and upon favorable vote of two-thirds of the regular members present and voting at the organizational meeting of this Chapter on November 16, 2000.


XI. Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. No part of the net earnings of the Chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to any director or officer of the Chapter, or any other private person, except that the Chapter shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered to or for the Chapter and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth hereinabove.

Section 2. No substantial part of the activities of the Chapter shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise permitted by Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements concerning) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Chapter shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:

(a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 3. In the event of dissolution or final liquidation of the Chapter, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities and obligations of the Chapter and for necessary expenses thereof, all of the remaining assets and property of the Chapter shall be distributed to the American Society for Public Administration provided it remains organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, and if not, to an organization which does so qualify. In no event shall any of such assets or property be distributed to any director or officer or to any private individual.

Section 4. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall end in the month of September. The employer identification number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to this Chapter is: 52-1203995.

This Constitution shall take effect upon adoption by the Chapter. Adopted by the organizational meeting of November 16, 2000. Amended Fiscal Year (Article XI Section 4) November 16, 2001.