THE SOCIETY FOR PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY (SPP) CONSTITUTION

(amended July 22, 2022)

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Society for Philosophy and Psychology.

Section 2: The purpose of the organization shall be to promote interaction among philosophers, psychologists, and scholars in related fields on issues of common concern. To accomplish this end, the Society shall engage in activities such as: sponsoring conventions and meetings; awarding of prizes for distinguished work in the field.

Section 3: Said Society is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue law.

Section 4: No part of the earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of or be distributed to its members or other persons, except that the corporation be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Sections 1 and 2 hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the Society shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the corporation shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Membership in the Society shall be open to anyone interested in joining.

Section 2: Anyone paying the annual dues is a member of the Society.

Section 3: Anyone who has paid lifetime dues at the rate set by the Executive Committee at the time of payment is a member of the Society.

Section 4: Annual membership in the Society shall run from the beginning of each annual meeting to just prior to the next meeting.

ARTICLE III: ANNUAL DUES

Section 1: Annual dues are recommended by the executive committee for the membership categories of faculty, students, postdocs, and individuals with limited income, and are approved by a simple majority of the membership.

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION

Section 1: The affairs of the Society shall be administered by a president, a president-elect, and a secretary-treasurer, with the advice and assistance of an executive committee.

Section 2: The Executive Committee

A. The executive committee shall consist of twelve elected members, plus the president, president-elect, secretary-treasurer, immediate past president, director of communications, liaison to the Australian SPP, and liaison to the Euro-SPP, ex officio and may include at most one special task chair, as described in section D. Philosophy and psychology should have approximately equal representation on the committee.

B. Members of the executive committee shall serve three-year overlapping terms. Thus every year four positions will be filled by election, except for the first year when twelve members will be elected.

C. The liaison to the Euro-SPP will be determined by the Executive Committee, and will serve to increase communication between the Society and the Euro-SPP. The liaison will serve a three-year term.

D. The liaison to the Australian SPP will be determined by the Executive Committee, and will serve to increase communication between the Society and the Australian SPP. The liaison will serve a three-year term.

E. The director of communications will be determined by the Executive Committee and will maintain the SPP website and social media outlets and will oversee other forms of communication on behalf of the society. The director of communications will serve a three-year term.

F. The SPP president, with the approval of the executive committee, may appoint a member of SPP to chair a committee for special tasks that serve SPP. The chair's appointment is for a maximum of three years.

ARTICLE V: ANNUAL MEETINGS

Section 1: The Society shall meet once a year at a site and time determined by the membership at a previous annual meeting, if possible. If this is not possible, the time and place will be decided by the executive committee.

Section 2: At each annual meeting the president shall appoint a program committee, which shall have the responsibility for the organization of the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE VI: SOCIETY BUSINESS & ELECTIONS

Section 1: A business meeting shall be held, in person or virtually, once a year. All members of the society are eligible to attend this meeting, and should be informed of its occurrence one week ahead of time. If possible, the business meeting should take place concurrently with the annual meeting. Business meetings should have a virtual component, circumstances permitting.

Section 2: Election of officers

A. A president-elect shall be elected at the annual business meeting for a term of one year as president-elect, to be followed by a term of one year as president.

B. The secretary-treasurer shall be elected at the annual business meeting for a term of three years.

C. Vacancies on the executive committee shall be filled by election at the annual business meeting.

D. A nominating committee appointed by the president shall prepare a slate of candidates for vacant offices before the annual business meeting. The slate is to be made public to society members two weeks before the annual business meeting. Additional nominations may be made up to one week before the time of the business meeting.

E. In selecting the slate of candidates for vacant offices, the nominating committee will give consideration to service to the society (e.g. participation on committees, reviewer, presentation at the annual meeting), and diversity (broadly defined to include gender, race, ethnicity, disability, institution type, career stage, or other dimensions).

F. Election shall be by majority vote of members of the Society attending the annual business meeting.

Section 3: All matters of policy shall be decided by a majority of the members voting at the annual business meeting, except that when policy matters arise that must be decided between annual business meetings, the decision shall be made by the executive committee.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1: This document is subject to amendment or revision by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting in an annual business meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY

Section 1: Upon the dissolution of the Society, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Society, dispose of all of the assets of the Society exclusively for the purposes of the Society in such manner or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law as the Executive Committee shall determine.