Revised 1/01

BYLAWS AND SOCIETY REGULATIONS:

The House of Delegates is the ruling body of this Society, and action taken by the House shall be binding.  The House of Delegates shall establish the Society Regulations.  The House of Delegates, in delegating powers, shall define those areas for which authority is granted.

MEMBERSHIP:
The voting members of the House of delegates shall be the President, President-elect and student of each District Society (or their alternates), delegates designated by each District Society, and the members of the Board of Directors of this Society.

Only professional and emeritus members of this Society and certified Student delegates shall be eligible to serve as voting members of the House.  Past Presidents of this Society, who are professional members, shall have the privilege of being seated in the House as non-voting members.  Each member of the House of Delegates shall have been duly certified by the Credentials Committee before taking his seat.

Each District society shall be entitled to its full quota of representation in the House of Delegates of this Society.

The official quota of voting members in the delegation of a District Society shall include the President and President-elect (or their alternates) and delegates due that District Society on the basis of professional and emeritus membership count and a student delegate from that District Society.  Each District Society shall be entitled to a delegation of at least four members which shall include its President and President-elect (or their alternates), a student delegate, and one delegate designated by that District Society.  Other members of that District Society, seated in the House, whether as voting or non-voting members, shall not be included in the official quota.

The maximum number of designated delegates shall be based on one delegate for each ten members or major fraction thereof, up to and including a total of fifty members; an additional delegate for every twenty members (or major fraction thereof), up to and including a total of two hundred and ten; an additional delegate shall be allowed for every forty members or major fraction thereof in excess of two hundred and ten members.

The Chair of the Membership Development Committee shall on the 30th day prior to the opening of the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates, close the official membership files and shall record the number of professional and emeritus members in each District Society as of that day.  Within one week the President of each District Society shall be notified by the membership Chair of the number of delegates to be designated by that Society.

Designated delegates shall serve from the opening of the House of Delegates at the annual meeting, for which they were selected, until the opening of the House of Delegates at the next annual meeting.

The President of the District Society shall send to the President of this Society the names and pertinent information of delegates and alternates selected by the District Society at least 15 days prior to the annual meeting.  He shall also indicate the Chair and Co-Chair and their alternates of each District Society delegation.

MEETINGS:
The House of Delegates shall hold no less than one meeting during any one Annual Meeting.  The order of business for the meeting shall include:
A. Adoption of Standing Rules of Order
B. Receiving reports from officers and committees.
C. Accepting nominations from the floor.
D. Accepting items of business for discussion, recommendations and considerations.
E. Voting for officers and other elected officials.
A quorum shall be 60% of the total number of voting members certified by the Credentials Committee for the Annual Meeting.

DUTIES:
1. Grant, revoke or reinstate a charter of a district society.
2. Determine the amount of the annual dues.
3. Determine the time and place of the annual meeting.
4. Approve location of the Registered Office of this Society.
5. Approve the budget.
6. Instruct the President to appoint an ad-hoc committee.
7. Adopt modifications to the Society Regulations after approval by the Board of Directors, by majority vote.
8. Adopt modifications to the Society Regulations, that were submitted to the House of Delegates in writing, by two-thirds vote.
9. Adopt amendments to the Bylaws by a two-thirds vote.

As a delegate to the ASCLS-PA House of Delegates you should:
1. Be cognizant of the attitudes and opinions of your constituency so that you may represent them to other members of the Society, but be willing to judge an issue on its merit after hearing all sides of the issue.
2. Remember to bring the following with you:
        A. ASCLS Membership Card: this is required for the credentializing process.
        B. A copy of the ASCLS-PA Bylaws and Societal regulations: many issues will be discussed in light of their activities not being in violation of the Bylaws.  Also, there are few sessions of the House where changes in the Bylaws or regulations are not adopted.  You must know what you have before you can decide if it needs changing.
        C. The issue of the Pennsylvania Newsletter (your reference point for discussion) and information on candidates for state office.
        D. Any material sent by the ASCLS-PA President which will be considered by the House of Delegates.
3. Be prepared to attend the entire meeting of the House of Delegates.
4. Get credentialized as soon as possible after arrival at the House of Delegates location.
5. Wear your name badge at all times.
6. Attend the Candidates Presentation session at the House of Delegates.
7. Vote in all elections.
8. Respond to requests from your delegation leader as quickly as possible, and be prepared to report the actions of the House of Delegates back to your constitutency.