220 1.1. In the event that any change in the APA Bylaws is proposed, notice of such change shall be published in the APA Monitor on Psychology, with a link to the full text of such change on the APA website, at least one month before the ballot is sent and preferably long enough in advance to permit comment.
220 1.2 An explanatory statement will be included with each Bylaws amendment sent to the Membership for a vote. A maximum of three authors will be selected by the Council Leadership Team to prepare the explanatory statement. The names of the authors will not be identified on the statement but will be provided upon request after the vote by the membership on the Bylaw amendment. The Council Leadership Team will consult with authors about any recommended changes to the statement. The final decision about the content of the explanatory statement shall rest with the Election Committee. The President shall be the final arbiter of the content in the event a clear decision cannot be made by the Election Committee.
220-1.3 Guidelines for preparing pro and con statements that accompany ballots for proposed APA Bylaw amendments follow: (a) pro and con statements shall be written unless two thirds of the voting Council members consider such statements unnecessary; (b) except when instructed by Council to the contrary, each pro and con statement shall be limited to 200 words; (c) a maximum of three authors will be selected by the Council Leadership Team to prepare each statement. The names of the authors will not be identified on the statements but will be provided upon request after the vote by the membership on the Bylaw amendment; (d) the ballot will include the Council vote in favor of and opposed to the Bylaw amendment; (e) the pro statement shall be labeled “statement in favor of adopting this amendment” and the con statement shall be labeled “statement against adopting this amendment.”; f) the statements in favor of and against adopting the amendment will be alternated on the ballots sent to the Membership; g) the statements in favor of and against adopting the amendment may not include ad hominem or pejorative statements.
The Council Leadership Team will consult with authors about any recommended changes. The final decision about the content of the pro and con statements shall rest with the Election Committee. The President shall be the final arbiter of the content in the event a clear decision cannot be made by the Election Committee.
The preceding guidelines should not be construed as limiting the prerogative of the Policy and Planning Board to prepare pro and con statements on APA Bylaws amendments, in accordance with guideline (c) (identification of authors' statements).
Cross-Reference
See also Policy and Planning Board.