Council Policy Manual: H. Organization of APA

The APA Policy Manual is a collection of policy actions taken by the APA Council of Representatives. This edition includes actions taken after 1960 and up to but not including August 2001. The texts included in the Manual are the texts of the actual motions passed by Council.

• I. Council - Breakout Groups
  
• II. Council - Debriefing Off-Going Members
  
• III. Council - Guidelines for Council Resolutions
  
• IV. Council - Reports From Officers and Directorates
  
• V. Council - Seating, Expense Reimbursement, Liaison Observers
  
• VI. Council - Smoking Prohibition
  
• VII. Indemnification of Officers, Governance Members and Staff
  
• VIII. Periodic Evaluation of Committees by Boards

I. COUNCIL - BREAKOUT GROUPS

1. February 1992

Council reviewed several proposals for reinstating the Council break-out groups and voted to adopt the following substitute motion proposed by the Board of Directors:

"At the discretion of the President, in consultation with the Board of Directors, break-out groups may be scheduled but should not be made routine procedure."

II. COUNCIL - DEBRIEFING OFF-GOING MEMBERS

1. 1990

Council voted to instruct the Committee on Structure and Function of Council to schedule a debriefing meeting of all Council members whose terms are expiring and to hold such a session at each February meeting.

III. COUNCIL - GUIDELINES FOR COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS

1. August 2000

Council voted to approve the following revised Guidelines for Council Resolutions:

IV. COUNCIL - REPORTS FROM OFFICERS AND DIRECTORATES

1. 1970

Council approved a recommendation from the Board of Directors that the reports given annually by the Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Executive Officer be in written form.

2. August 1993

On the recommendation of the Board of Directors and the Committee on Structure and Function of Council, Council voted to have each APA directorate provide a written report twice annually of its major issues and activities for inclusion as discussion items in the Council of Representatives agendas and to have the executive directors of the directorates present at Council meetings to answer any questions Council members may have about the reports.

V. COUNCIL-SEATING, EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT, LIAISON OBSERVERS

1. August 1994

On the recommendation of the Board of Directors, Council approved a motion instructing staff whenever possible to make available at all future Council meetings seating and work tables of no less than three linear feet (one meter) per person.

2. February 1996

The current method of selecting and seating regular Council members will remain unchanged; and

The APA will provide expense reimbursement for all traditionally elected and seated council members as at present, and on the same basis for one liaison/observer from any division or state not directly represented on Council (as a division, state or coalition representative);

The APA President be encouraged to give liaison/observers the same opportunity to speak on the floor of Council as regularly seated members;

This proposal will remain in force for a maximum of two years from August 1995. During this period the Committee on Structure and Function of council will evaluate the effects of the participation of the liaison/observers.

VI. COUNCIL - SMOKING PROHIBITION

1. 1985

On the recommendation of the Committee on Structure and Function of Council, Council voted to prohibit smoking in the Council meeting room when Council is in session.

VII. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, GOVERNANCE MEMBERS AND STAFF

1. February 1994

In executive session, Council approved the following motion:

The Council of Representatives affirms the June 2-4, 1989, action of the Board of Directors regarding indemnification of APA officers, governance members and staff while conducting APA business, which provides as follows:

In executive session, the Council of Representatives reaffirmed APA's ongoing policy to indemnify all APA officers, governance members and staff from litigation and/or associated judgments and costs provided that: (1) the actions on APA's behalf are undertaken in good faith; (2) the actions on APA's behalf do not involve acts of gross negligence or malice; and (3) the persons involved act within the scope of their authority.

VIII. PERIODIC EVALUATION OF COMMITTEES BY BOARDS

1. August 1991

Council voted to adopt as APA policy the following resolution on boards and committees:

"That all APA boards established criteria and procedures for periodic evaluation (at least once every five years) of their committees to determine if their usefulness is sufficient to warrant their continued existence."

Council Policy Manual: Table of Contents | Introduction | A. Elections | B. Awards | C. Membership | D. Human Resources | E. Ethics | F. Board of Directors | G. Divisions and State and Provincial Associations | H. Organization of APA | I. Publications and Communcations | J. Convention Affairs | K. Educational Affairs | L. Professional Affairs | M. Scientific Affairs | N. Public Interest - Part 1 | N. Public Interest - Part 2 | N. Public Interest - Part 3 | N. Public Interest - Part 4 | N. Public Interest - Part 5 | O. Ethnic Minority Affairs | P. International Affairs | Q. Central Office | R. Financial Affairs