Constitution

  1. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Society for the Study of the History of Analytical Philosophy (SSHAP).

  1. Purposes

The Society for Study of the History of Analytical Philosophy (SSHAP) is an international organization aimed at promoting discussion in all areas of scholarship concerning the development of analytical philosophy, including but not limited to logic, philosophy of language, the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, the philosophy of science, ethics, the theory of value and epistemology. It welcomes scholars interested in the many ways in which the disciplines were influenced by thinkers such as, for instance, Bolzano, Brentano and his school, Husserl, Frege, Russell, Moore, Wittgenstein, the Vienna Circle, Tarski and the Polish school, Ryle, Austin, Quine, Davidson and Grice; it also seeks to promote serious work engaging with lesser know figures and trends.

The purposes the Society shall be served by the holding of regular meetings at which symposia, papers, and discussions that follow the purpose of SSHAP are presented.

  1. Membership

SSHAP membership shall be limited to (i) individuals whose training in philosophy has been advanced and systematic and who are qualified to teach at colleges and universities, independently of their nationality or country of residence; (ii) individuals whose achievements in philosophy are sufficient to warrant their affiliation with the Society; (iii) students who are engaged in the study of philosophy at accredited colleges or universities

Application for membership shall be made in writing (by email), submitting name, address, and correct amount of dues. The Officers may refuse an application, in which case the President must notify the applicant within 30 days, stating why the application was rejected. Membership terminates when a member fails to pay dues, resigns, or dies.

  1. Membership Dues

Dues shall be set by the officers, and are to be paid annually.

  1. Meetings of the Society

The Society shall organize scholarly meetings at least once every year. Meetings of the Society may be organized and sponsored by third party upon an invitation by the Society’s President. Each scholarly meeting shall include an appropriate philosophical program.

One General Assembly shall take place every year. Notice of the dates of the General Assembly shall be sent by the president to all standing members at least 30 days prior to the scheduled date of the Assembly. All individual members are allowed to vote at the meetings.

  1. Quorum

A quorum for the General Assembly consists of those eligible to vote who attend the meeting. 

  1. Board of Officers

The governing body of the Society shall be the Board of Officers. The Society shall have an Executive Committee composed of President, a Past President for a term of one year, an Incoming President for a term of one year, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. In addition to an Executive Committee, the society shall have a Steering Committee composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of six officers. Officers other than the President and Past President shall be nominated by a nominating committee composed of the President and the Secretary, who will in turn solicit input from the membership. The Officers of the Board shall be elected by a majority of the members present and voting at the Society’s Annual Meeting. An Officer’s term of office lasts two years, from July to July, except Past and Incoming President, who serve for one year. Officers may hold the same office for no more than two consecutive terms. Upon the expiration of their respective terms, the President will assume the office of Past President, and the Incoming President the office of President.

  1. Meetings of the Board of Officers

The Executive Committee shall meet once a year. The Board of Officers shall meet at least once a year. The President shall provide at least 30 days’ written notice of each Board meeting to the officers, stating the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

  1. Quorum for Board Meetings

Two thirds of the elected officers shall constitute a quorum.

  1. Actions of the Board Outside Board Meetings

If Board action is necessary when the Board is not holding a meeting, the President may call for a vote of the Board by electronic mail, preceded, if necessary, by discussion via the same medium. In such cases, the votes of a majority of the officers of the Board shall constitute acts of the Board. The votes shall be recorded and announced to the Board by the Executive Director or the Chair of the Board.

  1. Liability

 An officer of the Board, representative or member shall not be personally liable for monetary damages unless the officer or other authorized representative performed actions that constitute willful misconduct, or recklessness. An officer of the Board who performed actions that constitute willful misconduct or recklessness may be (i) asked to indemnify the Society or any individual affected by the misconduct upon decision of the Board, (ii) reported to the relevant legal authorities upon decision of the Board.

  1. Funds of the Society

 Funds of the Society shall be derived from membership dues, charitable contributions, and any other sources of funds consistent with the purposes of the Society. The Treasurer of the Society shall maintain accurate records of the receipts, deposits, and disbursements of the Funds of the Society. The authority for receipt, deposit, and the disbursement of funds shall be the Board acting in accordance with the following provisions. Funds designated for special purpose shall be disbursed only for those purposes.

  1. Amendments

Amendments or additions to the Constitution may be proposed only by the Board, or by a petition bearing the signatures of at least 5 members. Proposals for amending or adding to the Constitution must be announced to the Regular Members at least one month in advance of the General Assembly at which it is discussed. Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be presented, for discussion or amendment only. After discussion, the proposed amendment must be submitted to vote. Passage of a proposed amendment requires a majority of the votes cast.

*The constitution was adopted unanimously at the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Society on 17 June 2016, at the 5th Annual Meeting of SSHAP in Denver, Colorado. Amended at the 9th Annual Meeting in Boston on 18 June 2019.