In accordance with APA’s Association Rules, 1) a maximum of three authors were selected by the Council Leadership Team to prepare each of the explanatory statements below, and 2) the names of the authors are not identified on the statements but will be provided upon request after the vote.
Proposed amendment to change eligibility for voting in the recording secretary and treasurer elections from the previous year’s Council to the current Council
The Council of Representatives voted 135 in favor of, and 23 against, approving the sending of the bylaws amendment to the membership for a vote.
Explanation of proposed bylaws change
Under the current APA bylaws, newly elected Council members whose terms begin in January of their first year are excluded from voting in the elections of new recording secretary and new treasurer. These elections are typically held after the Council's February meeting and before its August meeting. The proposed change to the bylaws would ensure that all Council members are eligible to vote in this election, including those in their first year on Council.
Full text of the bylaws amendment
Bracketed/strikethrough material to be deleted; underlined material to be added
Article VIII, Sections 7 and 8
7. The Recording Secretary shall be a Member of the Association, elected by [the immediately previous] Council following nomination by the Board of Directors, and shall serve for a term of three years, beginning on January 1 of the year following the individual’s election, and shall not succeed themself in this role. The Recording Secretary shall not be eligible to appear as a candidate on the Board member-at-large or Treasurer election ballots for at least one year after the individual’s term has expired. The Recording Secretary shall serve as secretary of Council and of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these Bylaws. It shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to keep the records of all meetings of Council and of the Board of Directors; to file and hold subject to call and to direct the publication of such records, reports, and proceedings as are authorized by these Bylaws and by vote of Council or the Board of Directors at any duly constituted meeting; and to perform all other secretarial duties for Council and the Board of Directors as are not delegated to the chief executive officer. In the event that the Treasurer shall not be able to complete a term for any reason, the Recording Secretary is authorized to perform the duties normally assigned to the Treasurer until the individual is replaced under procedures defined in the Association Rules.
8. The Treasurer shall be a Member of the Association, elected by [the immediately previous] Council following nominations by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall serve for a term of three years, beginning on January 1 of the year following the individual’s election and shall not succeed themself in the role more than once. The Treasurer shall not be eligible to appear as a candidate on the Board member-at-large or Recording Secretary election ballots for at least one year after the individual’s term has expired. The Treasurer shall deliver an audited report for each fiscal year to the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee and serve ex officio, without vote, on the Publications and Communications Board. In the event that the Recording Secretary shall not be able to complete a term for any reason, the Treasurer is authorized to perform the duties normally assigned to the Recording Secretary until the individual is replaced under procedures defined in the Association Rules.
Proposed amendment to change the threshold required to order a roll call vote from one-fourth to a majority of the Council members present at a meeting
The Council of Representatives voted 155 in favor of, and 4 against, approving the sending of the bylaws amendment to the membership for a vote.
Explanation of proposed bylaws change
Council often considers sensitive or confidential matters, some in executive session. Under the current bylaws, if one-fourth of representatives present request it, Council’s minutes must record how each representative voted on a motion. The same one-fourth threshold applies to requests for a brief summary of majority and minority positions on a Council action. This amendment to Article IV, Section 3, would raise both thresholds to a majority of representatives present.
The change responds to concerns that publicly identifying individual votes on sensitive issues may discourage candid discussion. It aims to balance psychological safety with accountability by requiring broader agreement before this information is recorded. Council would continue to publish its minutes and proceedings, and meetings (other than executive sessions) would remain open to APA members and the public as they are now. Individual votes and summaries of positions would still be recorded whenever a majority of representatives present requests them.
Full text of bylaws amendment
Bracketed/strikethrough material to be deleted; underlined material to be added
Article IV, Section 3
3. Council shall publish its minutes and proceedings. If [one-fourth] a majority of the Representatives present so request, the minutes shall include a record of those Representatives voting for and against a motion. If [one-fourth] a majority of the Representatives present so request, the Recording Secretary shall record in the minutes a brief description of majority and minority positions on any given Council action. Meetings of Council, except those specifically designated as executive sessions, shall be open to Members of the Association, but they may not speak or otherwise participate in the meeting unless specifically invited to do so by the President.