The Sociological Association of Aotearoa (New Zealand) was established in February 1988 following the dissolution of the New Zealand Sociological Association.
The Association's constitution is available below:
SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND) CONSTITUTION (Including amendments)
NAME:
1. The name of the Association shall be the Sociological Association of Aotearoa (New Zealand ), hereinafter referred to as the Association.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
2. The aims and objectives of the Association shall be consistent with Te Tiriti O Waitangi and shall be as follows:
(a) To encourage the development and dissemination of sociological knowledge.
(b) To afford a recognised means of communication among members and to provide a forum for the expression and exchange of ideas.
(c) To encourage and assist the sociological examination of New Zealand society.
(d) To contribute to policy initiatives and investigations in New Zealand society.
MEMBERSHIP:
3. Membership of the Association shall be conferred on those persons who have paid an annual subscription and who concur with the aims and objectives of the Association and who are normally located in New Zealand. All applications shall be subject to the approval of the Executive.
FINANCES:
4. (a) Members shall pay an annual subscription to the Association as determined from time to time by a General Meeting and/or postal ballot of the Association.
(b) Income and property of the Association, however derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the aims and objectives of the Association as stated in Article 2 of this Constitution.
(c) All books and records of the Association shall be the responsibility of the Secretary-Treasurer, who shall also have the responsibility of keeping a true and accurate record of all financial transactions, within the Association and on behalf of the Association.
(d) Cheques drawn on the Association's account, and all other financial documents, shall bear the signature of the Secretary/Treasurer, together with that of one other member of the Executive Committee as co-signatory.
(e)The accounts of the Association shall be presented annually by the Treasurer at the Annual general Meeting. An independently audited statement of receipts and payments for the current or any year may be sought as and when the Executive deems it to be necessary and appropriate.
EXECUTIVE:
5. (a) From its membership, the Association shall elect an executive consisting of officers to act in the capacities of President, Secretary and Treasurer and up to 12 other members, with the power to co-opt further members as required, one of whom shall be a Student representative. The Student representative shall be nominated on a yearly basis by student members of the Association at the General Meeting. The Executive shall
(i) have the power to conduct the business of the Association between General Meetings.
(ii) have the power to fill any casual vacancy on the Executive by co-option, such co-opted members holding office until the next Annual General Meeting and exercising full voting rights.
(iii) have the power to call the General Meetings of the Association.
(iv) have the power to delegate the organisation of conferences and regional meetings as it and the membership think appropriate.
(b) The quorum for a meeting of the Executive shall be a majority of sitting members of the Executive, of whom at least two shall be Officers of the Association.
(c) Unless otherwise decided by the Executive, the President or Executive's nominee shall have the sole right to make public statements on behalf of the Association.
(d) Elections for each office of the Association (unless specifically otherwise provided) shall proceed as follows:
(i) Contenders for office must be nominated by a proposer and seconder, both being members of the Association. Nominations shall be called for when the relevant General Meeting is notified to members.
(ii) Where nominations received as aforesaid are sufficient only to fill the number required for that office, a ballot shall not be held in respect of that office, and the nominee shall at the next General Meeting be declared elected unopposed.
(iii) Where more nominations are received as foresaid than are required for any office, the Secretary shall ballot members at the AGM and a simple majority of ballot voices shall determine the successful contender for any office.
(iv) Members of the Executive shall be elected for a period of two years.
GENERAL MEETING:
6. A General Meeting of the Association shall be held at least every year. The time and place of the General Meeting shall be determined by the previous General Meeting which may, however, remit the final decision to the Executive. Special General Meetings may be called by the Executive at the request, in writing, of ten members of the Association. The quorum at General Meetings shall be twenty members.
7. At least twenty-eight (28) days' notice must be given for the holding of a General Meeting. The General Meeting shall have power to consider proposed constitutional amendments and may vote on such amendments, but if such amendments are passed, they must subsequently be circulated to all members within twenty-eight (28) days, for final decisions by postal or electronic ballot by a majority of those voting.
CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION:
8. This constitution shall be amended by a motion, incorporating the amendment, proposed and duly seconded at a General Meeting of the members of the Association and passed by a two-thirds of those present plus those members of the Association who return within 14 days a postal or electronic ballot on the proposed amendments sent out to all voting members of the Association not present at the meeting.
9. Any dispute as to the interpretation of all or any part of this Constitution shall be referred to and determined by the Association by simple majority in General Meeting.
10. The Association by simple majority in General Meeting may validate any act or omission of its Executive , any Branch or Section, the Association, or any member thereof, which otherwise may contravene the provisions of this Constitution or any other rule of practice or procedure.