Skip to Navigation

Constitution

Constitution

Article I.
Name.
The name of this association shall be The Cultural Studies Association (U. S.), hereinafter CSA.

Article II.
Purpose.
The purpose of the association shall be to provide a forum for scholars of Cultural Studies in all its diverse manifestations to exchange their work and ideas across disciplinary lines and institutional locations, as elaborated in the following sections:
To hold annual meetings devoted to the furthering of the CSA's educational mission.
To publish materials necessary or valuable in achieving the CSA's educational purposes, including if and when it is feasible, a journal. To maintain a web-site and list-serve for the purpose of informing members of plans and projects appropriate to the CSA's educational mission. To operate and maintain the CSA exclusively for educational purposes so that from its operation none of its Members, Trustees, or Officers shall enjoy any pecuniary profits.

Article III. Membership.
Membership shall be open to scholars, students, and other persons interested in Cultural Studies. For the first five years, membership shall be automatic for anyone attending the conference and wishing to be considered a member. After five years, criteria for membership, including such things as dues, will be determined by the Executive Committee.

Article IV. Executive Committee
1) Composition. The Executive Committee (EC) shall comprise the President, the Vice-President and a maximum of nine Committee Members.

2) Powers. The Executive Committee shall administer the affairs and plan the annual conference of the CSA where it shall report on its actions at the Business Meeting where its activities are subject to review by the association membership.

3) Conduct of Business. In such meetings of the Executive Committee as are called by the President, a majority shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee and decisions shall be by a simple majority of voting committee members present. A tie vote shall be understood as a failure to pass the proposed measure. Votes may be conducted by mail or email.

4) Officers The officers of the CSA shall be the President, the Vice-President, and the Administrative Officer.

5) Duties of Officers. The President shall serve as chair of the Business Meeting of the annual conference. The Vice-President shall assist the President and fill in for him/her when necessary. The Administrative Officer shall keep minutes of meetings, maintain a membership list, keep financial records, report each year no later than July 1 to the EC on the financial state of the organization, and assist the EC in its work. The Administrative Officer is an non-voting participant in the EC.

6) Members. There shall be eleven Members of the Executive Committee including the President and the Vice-President.

7) Terms of Office. The officers shall serve for two years. The Vice-President shall automatically succeed to the Presidency. Members of the Executive Committee shall serve four-year terms. The Administrative Officer shall serve at the pleasure of the EC.

8) Advisory Board. All former officers of the Association and the current President as well as a selected list (approved by the EC) of scholars in related disciplines shall comprise the Advisory Board. The functions of the Advisory Board shall include assisting the EC when necessary, fund-raising, and other development activities that enhance the organization such as the creation of an Association journal.

Article V. Election of Officers and Executive Committee Members
1) Officers. The President and Vice-President shall be elected by majority of vote of the Executive Committee. The Vice-President shall automatically succeed the current President.

2) Executive Committee. Members will be elected by the members of the association.

3) Eligibility. Any member of the association is eligible to be elected to be a member of the Executive Committee.

4) Nominations. An ad hoc nominating committee comprised of three members of the EC shall nominate two candidates for each seat on the Executive Committee to be contested. The nominating committee is charged with finding candidates that reflect ethnic, racial, gender, and other cultural diversity, and that represent the range of disciplines in which cultural studies is practiced. Nominations may also be made for EC positions by any member in good standing of the Association.

5) Elections. The Executive Committee is empowered to set the dates of elections, deadlines for nominations, and the rules and procedures for elections.

Article VI. Committees.
The Executive Committee shall establish the following standing committees: Program Committee; Conference Committee; and Communications Committee. The EC is also empowered to create other ad hoc committees, such as a Nominating Committee, as shall prove necessary or useful to the association.

Article VII. Fiscal Matters.
The fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the 31st day of December, except that the first fiscal year shall begin on the date of incorporation.
At the Business Meeting of the annual conference, the Administrative Officer shall report on the financial status of the CSA.
Only the President of the EC and the Administrative Officer are authorized to sign checks in the name of the CSA.

Article VIII. Amendments.
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by written petition signed by at least twenty (20) Members in good standing. Such proposed amendments shall be presented and discussed at the Business meeting prior to being submitted to a ballot of the membership and shall become effective upon approval of two-thirds (2/3) of those voting.

Article IX. Restriction of Purpose.
The CSA is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to associations that qualify as exempt associations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Article X. Permitted Activities.
No part of the net earnings of the association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the association shall 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 the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the association shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an association, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Article XI. Dissolution Statement.
Upon dissolution of the CSA, assets shall be distributed to one or more tax-exempt non-profit associations with similar educational and literary goals within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

By-Laws

I. Meetings. The CSA shall normally meet once a year at times and in places determined by the Executive Committee.

II. Committees. The Program Committee shall be responsible for the program of the annual meeting in cooperation with the divisions of the association. The Conference Committee is responsible for making logistical and, if necessary, financial arrangements at the site where meetings of the association shall convene.
The Communications Committee shall be responsible for advertising, outreach, and contacting related academic associations for the purpose of advancing the goals of the CSA.
The Executive Committee shall appoint the committees and their chairs.

III. Divisions of the Association. The Executive Committee shall establish divisions to represent the different areas of inquiry of interest to the membership.
A division shall have the right to organize one or more sessions--as determined by the Executive Committee--at the annual meeting.
A new division shall be established when at least 25 members petition the Executive Committee to do so. The petitioners shall become members of that division.
Each division shall have the following officers: Chair, Past-Chair, and Vice-Chair. Initial Division Chairs and Vice-Chairs will be appointed by the Executive Committee. Subsequently, the Vice-Chair will be elected annually by the division, and succeed to Chair the following year, and Past-Chair the year after.
Division officers are responsible for arranging the division's session or sessions. The Chair is specifically responsible for providing information about these arrangements to the program committee in a timely manner.
The Executive Committee shall make rules regarding membership in the divisions including how many divisions a member may belong to and how many members a division must have to remain viable.
A division without sufficient membership or without a Chair for two years in a row will be dissolved by the Executive Committee.

IV. Publications. The CSA shall support such publications as shall be approved by the Executive Committee.

V. Elections. Elections of Members of the Executive Committee shall be conducted either at a regular meeting of the association or by mail, as the Executive Committee shall determine. The Administrative Officer or a member of the Association designated by the Executive Committee shall assume the responsibility of distributing and counting ballots. A majority of votes cast shall be necessary to win. Ties shall be decided by run-off elections.

VI. Conduct of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or By-Laws, meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.

VII. Dues. There are currently no association dues. Future dues shall be as decided by the Executive Council.

VIII. Amendments. The By-Laws of the CSA may be amended by a majority of those present and voting at a regular meeting, or by a majority of those returning ballots in a mail vote authorized by the Executive Committee.