Bylaws

BYLAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR ASSESSMENT IN COUNSELING

(adopted April 1986)

Article I - Name, Affiliation, Purpose, Plan

Section 1. NAME. The name of this organization shall be the Association for Assessment in Counseling, hereinafter referred to as AACE.

Section 2. AFFILIATION. AACE is a division of the American Counseling Association, hereinafter referred to as ACA, and shall be subject to the provisions of its Bylaws which apply to a division and to individual members.

Section 3. PURPOSE. The purpose of AACE, a division of the American Counseling Association, shall be to provide leadership, advice, and counsel on matters related to measurement and evaluation in counseling and development. In this context, AACE shall:

Provide a forum for the discussion of ethical, social, and technical issues related to measurement and evaluation.
Improve the standards of professional service in the field of measurement and evaluation by:

Identifying problems and concerns relating to the use of tests and other evaluative devices.
Stimulating research and developmental activities relating to those issues.
Publicizing examples of outstanding practice in the use of tests and measures.
Disseminating the results of research relating to the development of new devices and techniques in measurement and evaluation with practical significance for the field.

Promote better communication between the producers of measurement and evaluation devices and consumers.
Promote greater technical competency in the use and interpretation of measurement and evaluation devices.

Section 4. STRATEGIC PLAN. AACE shall have a Strategic Plan that guides the energies of its members and leaders and the allocation of AACE's financial resources.

Article II -- Membership

Section 1. QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP. Membership in ACA shall be a condition of membership in AACE. In addition, members shall qualify in the following ways:

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS. Persons may become a Professional Member if they hold a master's degree or higher in counseling or a closely related field from a college or university accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The completion of at least two courses in measurement or in closely related subjects, such as statistics or research design. Proof of academic credentials may be requested.
REGULAR MEMBERS. Persons meeting the following requirements may apply for Regular Member status in AACE. Evidence of an interest in the field of counseling, with at least one year of professional experience in one or more of the areas of specialization listed below, or in other areas deemed to be relevant by the Membership Committee is needed.

planning, administering, and conducting test programs;
providing scoring services;
interpreting and using test results;
developing and distributing evaluation instruments;
teaching college level courses in evaluation and measurement;
conducting research concerned with counseling aspects of evaluation and measurement.

STUDENT MEMBERS. Students engaged in full-time graduate study in the fields of measurement and evaluation or counseling may be admitted as Student Members, upon application and endorsement by their respective faculty adviser. Student Members shall be entitled to vote and hold office in AACE. Student membership shall not exceed a period of three (3) years.
RETIRED MEMBER. AACE members who are retired may request a retired membership status. The requirements for retired member status shall be the same as those for ACA retired members. Membership fees for retired members shall cover the cost of the journal, newsletters, and any other operating costs, rounded up to the nearest dollar.

Section 2. ANNUAL DUES. Annual dues of AACE shall be established by the AACE council, subject to the approval of the majority of voting members at a regular AACE business meeting.

Section 3. ASSESSMENTS. The AACE council may, from time to time, recommend that an assessment be levied upon members of AACE. A recommendation for such an assessment, together with a statement of the purpose of such an assessment, shall be distributed to all members at least 30 days prior to the next AACE business meeting, at which time such a recommendation shall be considered to be adopted if approved by a majority vote of those attending the business meeting subsequent to the
distribution of the recommendation.

Section 4. NON-PAYMENT OF DUES. Members shall become inactive by non-payment of dues in accordance with the Bylaws of ACA.

Article III -- The Executive Council

Section 1. COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. The Executive Council of AACE, hereinafter referred to as the AACE Council, shall consist of the President, President-Elect, immediate Past-President, Secretary, Treasurer, three Members at Large, the representative to the ACA Board of Directors; all executive council members shall be voting members of AACE.

Section 2. FUNCTIONS OF THE AACE COUNCIL. The AACE Council shall serve the following functions:

Make all necessary policy decisions on behalf of AACE during the interim between business meetings of AACE.
Formulate general policies concerning the objectives and purposes of AACE and recommend such action as seems necessary to implement these policies to the voting members of AACE for adoption.
Select the name of one nominee for ACA President-Elect for presentation to the ACA committee on Nominations and Election.
Prepare a Slate of Nominees for AACE representatives to the ACA Board of Directors.
Have the final responsibility for all meetings of AACE at the national level.
Coordinate the relationships of AACE with its state divisions, with other divisions of ACA, and with other organizations.
Consider all proposed amendments to these Bylaws.

Section 3. MEETINGS OF THE AACE COUNCIL.

The AACE Council shall meet at least once each year. A meeting of the AACE Council shall be held at the time and place of each National Convention of ACA.
At least one-half of the members of the AACE Council shall constitute a quorum throughout any meeting of the AACE Council at which official business is transacted.

Section 4. TERMS OF OFFICE.

The President-Elect shall be elected for a one-year term, and shall then succeed to the Presidency for a one-year term, and then to the Past-Presidency for a one-year term.
The Secretary shall be elected for a two-year term.
The Treasurer shall serve for a two-year term.
One Member at Large shall be elected each year to serve for a three-year term.
The representative to the ACA Board of Directors or other governance bodies shall be elected to serve for a three year term as recommended by ACA.
The number of Division Representatives to the ACA legislative or policy making governance body specific by ACA shall be elected for terms prescribed by ACA.
In the event of a vacancy in any office but that of President or President-Elect, the AACE Council shall, by majority vote, elect a successor to serve until the next annual election. If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the President-elect shall complete the unexpired term and shall then serve a full term in his or her own right. If a vacancy occurs in the office of President-elect, the Past-President shall perform the duties of the President-elect until the next election. If an officer-elect-elect resigns or otherwise is unable to serve, then the candidate with the highest votes on the same slate shall assume the next office.
Officers may be re-elected, except that any person who has been elected to the office of President-elect may not again be a candidate for that office within five years of his or her previous candidacy.
The start of the term of office of elected officers of AACE shall coincide with that of ACA's elected officers.

Section 5. PRESIDENT. The duties of the President shall be:

To exert leadership in the achievement of the purposes of AACE.
To preside at business meetings of AACE, of the AACE Council and of the Executive Committee.
To appoint chairpersons of temporary committees of AACE, which are established under the office of President, except as otherwise specified in these Bylaws.
To serve ex officio on all committees of AACE.
To submit such reports and other information as may be requested or required by ACA.
To perform such other duties as directed by the Executive Council.

Section 6. PRESIDENT-ELECT. The duties of the President-elect shall be:

To perform the duties of the President in the event of the resignation, absence, incapacity, or death of the President.
To serve as a member of the AACE Council and of the Executive Committee.
To serve as co-chair of the Membership Committee.
To perform such other duties as directed by the Executive Council.

Section 7. PAST PRESIDENT. The duties of the immediate Past President shall be:

To serve as a member of the AACE Council and of the Executive Committee.
To serve as Chairperson of the AACE Committee on Nominations and Elections.
To perform the duties of the President-elect in the event of the resignation, absence, incapacity, or death of the President-elect
To perform such other duties as directed by the Executive Council.

Section 8. SECRETARY. The duties of the Secretary shall be:

To serve as a member of the AACE Council and of the Executive Committee.
To keep records of the proceedings of the meetings of AACE, the AACE Council and the Executive Committee.
To notify ACA of amendments to these bylaws adopted by the membership.
To notify AACE candidates as to the election results, when requested by the President.
At the direction of the President, to transmit within 30 days to the AACE Newsletter editor, the names of AACE officers following their election or appointment, so that the AACE membership may be so informed.
To solicit such written reports of standing and temporary committees for the Council and the AACE business meeting as called for in Article VII, Section 4.
To perform the customary functions and duties of the AACE Council.
To perform such other duties as directed by the Executive Council.

Section 9. TREASURER. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

To serve as a member of the AACE Council and of the Executive Committee.
To review and approve requests for disbursement which have been authorized by the AACE Council or the Executive Committee.
To review periodic financial audit statements from ACA, with specific reference to the finances of AACE.
To present reports of the financial status of AACE to the AACE Council, the Executive Committee, and the AACE membership at each meeting of these bodies.
To present a proposed budget to the AACE Council.
To present the AACE budget to the ACA Governing Board.
To perform such other duties as directed by the Executive Council.

Section 10. MEMBERS-AT-LARGE. The duties of the three Members-at-Large shall be:

To serve as members of the AACE Council.
To participate at the request of the President in AACE activities related to the functions of the AACE Council, which are extrinsic to the duties of other officers of AACE.
To perform such other duties as directed by the Executive Council.

Section 11. AACE ELECTED AACE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ACA GOVERNANCE BODY.

To serve as a member of the AACE Council.
To represent AACE on the ACA Board of Directors, or other stipulated executive governance body with duties and responsibilities specified by the ACA and by the Executive Council of AACE.
To perform such other duties as directed by the Executive Council.

Article IV -- Officers

Section 1. OFFICERS. The officers of AACE shall be composed of the President, President-elect, immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They shall also be referred to as the Executive Committee. (See Article VII, Section 1 of (2)).

Article V -- Fiscal Year and Dues

Section 1. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of AACE shall coincide with the fiscal year of ACA.

Article VI -- Representation

Section 1. REPRESENTATION IN ACA. AACE shall provide delegates to the ACA elected governance bodies in accordance with the provisions in the ACA Bylaws and these Bylaws. Other representatives of AACE on ACA Committees shall be recommended by the President with the approval or authorization of the AACE Council unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

Section 2. REPRESENTATION OUTSIDE ACA. AACE shall seek actively to cooperate with other groups having similar purposes, within the provisions of the ACA Bylaws. Such representatives shall be appointed by the President with approval of the AACE Council.

Article VII -- Committees

Section 1. COMMITTEES OF AACE. There shall be Standing Committees and Temporary Committees to further the work of AACE.

Standing Committees

EXECUTIVE. There shall be an Executive Committee of the AACE Council, composed of the President, President-elect, immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer, which shall perform the functions of the AACE Council between meetings of the Council.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS. There shall be a Standing Committee on Nominations and Elections, the composition of which shall consist of the three most recent Past Presidents available to serve.
OTHER STANDING COMMITTEES. There shall be such other Standing Committees as may from time to time be established by the AACE Council to deal with matters of a continuous or recurring character related to the accomplishment of the general purposes of AACE.
NUMBER OF MEMBERS. Unless specified in these Bylaws, each Standing Committee shall be composed of at least three voting members of AACE, including the chairperson.
TENURE. Member of the Standing Committees, except the Executive Committee, will normally serve the three-year terms on a rotating basis and they may be reappointed. Members of the Executive Committee will serve for their respective terms of office.
DISCONTINUANCE. Standing Committees, except the Executive Committee and Committee on Nominations and Elections, may be discontinued by the AACE Council.

Temporary Committees. The AACE Council or the President may establish Temporary Committees to deal with matters of an immediate or non-recurring character related to specific purposes of AACE.

NUMBER OF MEMBERS. The number of members of each Temporary Committee shall be determined at the time the committee is established, by the Board or President establishing the Temporary Committee.
TENURE. The term of service for members of each Temporary Committee shall expire with the term of the President, but may be renewed.
DISCONTINUANCE. Temporary committees shall be discontinued at the time which shall be specified when each committee is established, unless action to the contrary shall have been taken by the AACE Council prior to such termination date.

Section 2. DESIGNATION OF COMMITTEES. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all other committees shall be designated as Standing Committees or Temporary Committees at the time they are established, such designation to be determined by the AACE Council on the basis of the criteria set forth in Section 1, a(3-6), and Section 1, b. of this Article.

Section 3. METHOD OF APPOINTMENT. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the chairperson of each committee shall be designated by the President, unless a specific chairperson designation is made by the AACE Council. The appointment of other committee members shall be made by the President or by the Committee Chairperson with the approval of the President from among the voting members of AACE.

Section 4. MEETINGS. Meetings of committees shall be called by the chairperson and the chairperson of each committee shall submit a written report of the committee's activities and recommendations to the AACE Council, and to the AACE membership at the time of the business meeting.

Article VIII -- Nominations and Elections

Section 1. PROCEDURES. The procedures set forth shall be used by the Committee on Nominations and Elections in filling the elective offices of AACE specified in Article III, Section 1.

The Committee shall canvass by mail or newsletter announcement the voting members of AACE for nominations to the elective offices of AACE and stipulated representatives to ACA governance bodies.
Except as here specified, all Regular Members and Emeritus Members shall be eligible to be nominated for any office in AACE. Any person who has been elected to the Office of President-elect may not again be a candidate for that office within five years of his or her previous candidacy.
Guided by the nominations, the Committee shall prepare a slate containing not fewer than two names for each AACE office to be filled.
The Committee shall select the nominees to appear on the aforementioned slates on the basis of qualifications for the office, number of nominating votes received from the AACE membership geographical location, field of interest, and the consent of the nominee.

Article IX -- Meetings

Section 1. PROGRAM MEETINGS. The major program meetings of AACE shall be held in conjunction with the ACA convention.

Section 2. BUSINESS MEETINGS.

A business meeting of AACE shall be held at the time and place of the ACA Convention.
The voting members present at a scheduled business meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of AACE.

Article X -- State or Regional Divisions

Section 1. CHARTERS. Procedures for the issuance, amending, and revocation of AACE State or Regional Division charters shall be as prescribed in rules of procedures established by the AACE Council.

Article XI -- Amendments

Section 1. AMENDMENTS WITH PREVIOUS NOTICE. Procedures for the amendment of these Bylaws, with previous notice, shall be as follows:

Amendments may be proposed by the AACE Council or by the Bylaws Committee, or by a petition signed by 25 voting members of AACE and sent to the secretary of AACE at least 120 days, or such shorter period as the AACE Council may prescribe, in advance of an AACE business meeting. Copies of all proposed amendments other than those initiated by the Bylaws Committee shall be submitted by the Secretary to the Bylaws Committee for study and recommendation.
Proposed amendments, together with such comments or recommendations as may have been formulated by the AACE Council, the AACE Bylaws Committee, or the petitioners, if any, shall be distributed by the Secretary in writing via direct communication or via an official AACE publication, to the voting members of AACE at least 30 days prior to the next AACE business meeting, at which time such proposals shall be discussed and voted upon.
Proposed amendments shall be considered to have been adopted if approved by a majority of votes cast at the next AACE business meeting following their distribution to the voting members of AACE.

Section 2. AMENDMENTS WITHOUT PREVIOUS NOTICE. These Bylaws may be amended without previous notice by 90 percent of the votes cast at the AACE business meeting, provided a quorum of the AACE Council is present.

Article XII -- Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER. newly revised, 1971 edition (by Henry Martin Robert), as from time to time amended, shall govern the proceedings of AACE.

Article XIII -- Nondiscrimination

Section 1. This association shall not discriminate against any individual on the basis of ethnic group, color, creed, sex, affectional or sexual orientation and/or handicapping condition.