Constitution and Bylaws of the American Occupational Therapy Association Political Action Committee
ARTICLE I
Name and Definition
The name of this Committee is the American Occupational Therapy Association Political Action Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee or AOTPAC. It is a voluntary, nonprofit, unincorporated Committee of individual occupational therapists and others and is not affiliated with any political party. The Committee is an independent, autonomous organization and is not a branch or subsidiary of any national or other political action committee, or of any national, state, or district occupational therapy association.
ARTICLE II
Purposes
The purposes of the Committee are:
(1) To influence or attempt to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any Federal public office.
(2) To influence or attempt to influence the selection, nomination, election or appointment of any occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, or occupational therapy student member of The American Occupational Therapy Association to any state or local office.
(3) To encourage the candidacy and election of qualified candidates for public office, particularly occupational therapists, registered, certified occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students who are members of AOTA, regardless of party affiliation, in order to promote decision-making responsive to public need for health care and services, especially as pertaining to occupational therapy services.
(4) To raise funds to fulfill the above purposes.
(5) To assist occupational therapists, registered, certified occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students who are members of AOTA, and others in organizing themselves for more effective political action and in carrying out their civic responsibilities.
(6) To encourage occupational therapists, registered, certified occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students who are members of AOTA, and others to understand the nature and actions of their government, the important political issues, and the records of office holders and candidates for elective office.
(7) To promote and strive for the improvement of government by encouraging and stimulating occupational therapists, registered, certified occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students who are members of AOTA, and others to take a more active and effective part in governmental affairs.
(8) To do any and all things necessary or desirable for the attainment of the purposes stated above.
ARTICLE III
Membership and Contributions
Section 1 - Members
Eligible individuals to become members are occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students who are members of AOTA; members of their family; and other individuals interested in the profession. Any eligible person contributing funds to the AOTPAC will automatically become an active member of the AOTPAC for the duration of the fiscal period as established by law or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is authorized to establish additional categories of membership.
Section 2 - Contributions
Contributions to AOTPAC shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and such funds shall be disbursed at its discretion.
ARTICLE IV
Board of Directors
Section 1 - Duties
The Board of Directors shall have general supervision and control over the affairs and funds of the Committee and shall establish and carry out all policies and activities of the committee. The members shall serve without compensation.
Section 2 - Composition
The Board of Directors shall consist of five voting members, a treasurer, assistant treasurer, and AOTA Liaison to AOTPAC. Specific board designations, rotation schedule, and criteria for eligibility shall be identified in the Standard Operating Procedures.
Section 3 - Selection and Terms
The members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the American Occupational Therapy Association for a three-year term. Each term shall begin January 1. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms, with the exception of the Chair who can serve up to 9 years. Should a member resign before the end of their term, a vacancy will occur and remain through December 31 of the year vacated. A new appointment will be made with a new term of office to begin the January 1 following appointment and extend for a full three (3)-year term. Once a member is appointed they will always begin a full three-year term beginning on January 1 of the year following their appointment. The term of a member elected chair shall include the provisions of Article V, Section 1. If it is determined that the duties and responsibilities of a Director are not being fulfilled, such Director may be dismissed by the Board of Directors of the American Occupational Therapy Association (majority vote) and a replacement appointed to serve a new term beginning January 1 of the year following the appointment. All voting members of the AOTPAC Board of Directors shall be members of AOTA.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 1 - Designations, Elections, Terms
The general officers of the Committee shall be a Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer. In the year preceding the expiration of the Chair position, a Chair-Elect will be elected among the existing board members to serve for one year prior to accepting the full Chair position. The Chair or Chair-elect shall be elected by the Board of Directors from among the members of the Board participating in a meeting held prior to the expiration of the term of office for the current Chair. The term of office for Chair shall be three (3) years. A person shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms as Chair or nine (9) consecutive years on the Board, if the person serves two consecutive terms as chair. The Secretary shall be elected by the existing members of the Board of Directors at their annual meeting. The term of office for Secretary shall be one (1) year. A person shall not serve more than three (3) consecutive terms as secretary.
The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall serve at its pleasure.
Section 2 - The Chair and Chair-Elect
The Chair shall be the chief executive officer of the Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. He/she shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. He/she shall appoint all chairs and committee members subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
The Chair-Elect shall serve in this position for the time remaining in the current year to be trained by the existing Chair. The Chair-Elect will assume the position of Chair and assume all duties at the end of the term of the existing Chair.
Section 3 - The Secretary
The Secretary shall perform such duties as are customarily performed by the secretary of a committee or as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors. In the absence of a Chair he/she shall convene and preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors to enable the Board of Directors to elect a Chair. Between meetings of the Board of Directors, should the Chair fail to act for any reason, the Secretary shall automatically become acting Chair until the next meeting of the Board.
Section 4 - The Treasurer
The Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer shall perform such duties as are customarily performed by the Treasurer of a committee or as shall be prescribed by the AOTPAC Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the Committee. He/she shall keep full and accurate accounts, shall present financial statements, and shall prepare, sign, and file all reports to governmental authorities required by law or directed to be filed by the AOTPAC Board of Directors. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall give bond in such sum as may be fixed by the AOTPAC Board of Directors, the premium on such bond to be paid by the Committee. Should the Treasurer fail to act for any reason, the Assistant Treasurer shall automatically become acting Treasurer until the next meeting of the AOTPAC Board.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Section 1 - Meetings
The meeting(s) of the Board of Directors shall be held at such a time as may be determined by the Board. The schedule shall be outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures. Meetings shall take any form as designated by the Board.
Section 2 - Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the Chair on his/her own initiative or upon the written request of a majority of the members of the Board. Meetings shall take any form as designated by the Board.
Section 3 - Quorum
(A) A majority of Board members shall constitute a quorum. A simple majority of those present shall carry any motion except as provided in Article X.
(B) A majority of Candidate Review Committee members shall constitute a quorum to conduct the business of the committee. A simple majority of the participating members of the Candidate Review Committee shall carry any motion.
ARTICLE VII
Committees
Section 1 - General
The AOTPAC shall establish such committees as the Board of Directors determines are necessary and desirable for carrying out its purposes and objectives. The Chair and members of such committees shall be appointed by the Chair subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 2 - Candidate Review Committee
There is a Candidate Review Committee of the Board of Directors. The Committee shall consist of three members appointed by the chair of the Board of Directors subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The duties of the Committee shall be set forth in the Standard Operating Procedures.
ARTICLE VIII
Books, Records, and Finances
Section 1 - Books and Records
The Committee shall keep correct and complete books and records of account. The Committee's books of account shall be audited at least once a year. The auditor shall be named by the Chair with the approval of the AOTPAC Board of Directors.
Section 2 - Deposits
The funds of the Committee shall be deposited to the credit of the Committee in such banks or other depositories as the AOTPAC Board of Directors may select.
ARTICLE IX
In the event of the dissolution of the AOTPAC Committee, the residual funds, if any, shall be transferred to the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Inc.
ARTICLE X
Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws
This Constitution and Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and a new Constitution and Bylaws may be adopted by two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, provided that at least thirty-days (30) written notice is given of the intention to alter, amend, repeal, or adopt a new Constitution and Bylaws at such meetings.
ARTICLE XI
Section 1 - National Advisory Council
The Board of Directors may establish a National Advisory Council to the Board of Directors of AOTPAC. The members of the Council shall be selected in a manner determined by the Board of Directors.
Amendments Adopted 4/98 by AOTPAC Board of Directors
Approved by AOTA Executive Board 5/98
Amendments Adopted 5/2003 by AOTPAC Board of Directors
Amendments Adopted 5/2005 by AOTPAC Board of Directors