Bylaws of the American Psychological Association - Article VI: Divisions

  1. Divisions may be organized to represent major scientific and professional interests that lie within the Association.

  2. Any Member of the Association may apply for membership in one or more Divisions under the rules of eligibility and election established by the Division. Associate members or Members may remain Associate members or Members without divisional affiliation. A Division may include in its membership those who do not qualify for or do not desire membership in the Association. It may determine its own qualifications for its membership classes, provided that the designation Fellow shall be reserved for members of the Division who are Fellows of the Association.

  3. A Division shall be established whenever one percent or more of the Members of the Association petition for it and Council approves. A two-thirds vote of those present at the mid-winter meeting of Council is required for the establishment of a new Division. Council may create such Divisions provided that (a) they represent an active and functionally unitary interest of a group of Members, (b) their proposed objectives fall within the scope of those specified in Article I, (c) their membership is not restricted on any basis other than psychological interest and qualifications and (d) the establishment of any new Division is not inimical to the welfare of any other Division already established. Divisions, when formed from existing societies or organized as new societies, may use a society name.

  4. A Division may be dissolved by Council when (a) the number of members within the Division falls below .25% of the Members of the Association or (b) the Division votes to recommend dissolution.

  5. A Division remains autonomous in all matters within its field that are not reserved to the Association and Council by these Bylaws or Association Rules. Divisions may not establish or enforce standards for ethics, accreditation, certification, or credentialling of specialty recognition. Divisions must comply with all APA Bylaws, Association Rules and current policies.

  6. A Division shall have a President and a Secretary and such other officers as it may desire. The qualifications for its officers and the method of their election shall be determined by the Division. A Division may determine what persons among its membership shall have the right to vote in divisional matters.

  7. Each Division shall draw up and maintain its own Bylaws and rules of procedure within the framework of these Bylaws. Each Division may elect such officers, appoint such committees, develop such local chapters and/or sections, and adopt such rules of procedure for the conduct of its business as it may desire, except that its committee and governance structure is subject to review by the Board of Directors of the Association. Divisions shall oversee the activities of their sections and/or chapters and monitor for their compliance with the APA Bylaws, Associations Rules, and current policies. Each Division shall file with the Central Office a copy of its current Bylaws; rules of procedure; committee and governance structure; and chapter and section information, including their Bylaws and rules of procedure. Local chapters and sections of Divisions must comply with APA Bylaws, Association rules and current APA policy. Annually, each Division shall submit to the Board of Directors a report which covers the activities of the Division and its chapters and sections during the preceding year.

  8. A Division may administer special funds allocated to its use, but may delegate such administrative functions to the Central Office.

  9. A Division shall own or operate a journal only with the approval of Council. The managing and editing of such divisional journals shall be delegated, through the Publications and Communications Board, to the governance of that Division. The editor of each Division journal shall file a report with the Publications and Communications Board annually. The Publications and Communications Board shall advise the Divisions, Board of Directors and Council of Representatives regarding Divisional journals.

  10. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws or the Association Rules to the contrary, the Board of Directors may, at its discretion, recommend to Council, and Council may adopt, appropriate sanctions where divisions have failed to comply with Bylaws, Association Rules or policies of the Association. Council may also dissolve a Division for good and sufficient reason by a two-thirds vote of those present at an Annual Meeting. Before the imposition of sanctions or dissolution of a division, the reasons for sanctions or dissolution shall be stated in writing to the membership of the Division and the Division membership, through their Executive Committee, shall be given a full opportunity to respond.