HomeAbout ASCDivisionsMember DirectoryPublicationsEmploymentJoin/RenewContact Us


PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE ASC CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS


The ASC Constitution and By-Laws have not been systemically revised in over 15 years.  During that time, we have added several divisions, created a new journal, and established the position of Executive Director, among other changes.  Consequently, the Executive Board felt it was time to revise both governing documents.  This process began some months ago.  A committee was formed and charged with reviewing and updating the Constitution and the By-Laws.  In addition to their internal deliberations, the committee held an open forum in conjunction with last year's Atlanta meeting where comments and concerns from the membership were aired.  The committee presented the Executive Board with a proposed amended version of both documents in April.  The amended documents were reviewed by the Executive Board, some additional adjustments were made, and the Board subsequently voted to approve the revised Constitution and By-Laws (links to both documents appear below). Additions to both documents appear in capital letters.  Items to be removed are in brackets.

Many of the proposed changes are simple housecleaning and updating matters.  The revised documents now account for the presence of Criminology & Public Policy and the Executive Director for example.  There are, however a number of proposed substantive changes, as follows:

  1. There are currently five (5) voting members of the Executive Board who are appointed.  It is proposed that all voting members of the Executive Board be elected by the ASC membership at large.  As a result:
    1. The editors of Criminology, and Criminology & Public Policy, who are both appointed by the Board, would no longer be voting members of the Executive Board.
    2. The Executive Director, Treasurer, and Executive Secretary, who are all appointed by the Board, would no longer be voting members of the Executive Board.
  2. The office of Executive Secretary is to be eliminated and replaced by the office of Executive Director.
  3. The Treasurer and Executive Director will become ex-officio members of the Executive Board.
  4. There are currently six (6) Executive Counselors on the Executive Board.  It is proposed that the number of Executive Counselors be increased to nine (9).
  5. It is proposed that a number of provisions currently in the Constitution be moved to the By-Laws.  This will allow greater flexibility in responding to the dynamics of our organization since it is easier to change the By-Laws than amend the Constitution.

The ASC membership will be asked to vote on the new Constitution.  Ballots will be mailed out in late August.  If the ASC membership approves the revised Constitution, the Executive Board, which has already approved the revised By-Laws at the April 2008 Board Meeting, will vote on the revised By-Laws a second time at the November meeting (changes in By-Laws requires an affirmative vote of the Board at two consecutive Board Meetings).

If there are questions or concerns regarding provisions in either document, please contact either Bob Bursik or Chris Eskridge.

Proposed Revised Constitution (Word Document)
Proposed Revised Constitution (PDF Document)

Proposed Revised By-Laws (Word Document)
Proposed Revised By-Laws (PDF Document)