Association of British Science Writers

1. Corporate Members

Corporate membership is open to science-based organisations (including professional societies and science-based industrial companies). Two representatives of each corporate member may attend each event of the Association. Corporate Members shall have no voting rights and shall pay a special subscription.

1. Nominations for membership of the Association shall be made in writing and seconded by two Ordinary Members of the Association and shall be forwarded to the Secretary with details of qualifications for membership. Applications shall be scrutinised by the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.

Executive Committee

1. The Officers of the Association shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and International Representative. They shall be elected annually from the Ordinary members of the Association, and shall take up office immediately after the Annual General Meeting at which they are elected. Neither the Chairman nor the Vice-Chairman may hold office for more than three consecutive years. The Executive Committee shall consist of these Officers and up to nine Ordinary Members each elected, or re-elected, for a period of two years. The Executive Committee may co-opt up to two additional members .
2. Elections shall take place by postal ballot of the Ordinary and Life Members. Nominations for posts will be open until five weeks before the date of the AGM, after which ballot papers will be distributed by post as quickly as possible. All ballot papers received at the Association's address by noon on the day of the Annual General Meeting will be scrutinised by two tellers. These tellers shall be appointed at the previous Annual General Meeting and shall not be eligible for election to any post. The result of the ballot will be announced during the Annual General Meeting.
3. The Executive Committee may appoint acting Officers in the event of any elected Officers ceasing to act for any reasons.
4. The Executive Committee shall meet at least eight times a year. There shall be a quorum of four. Voting shall be by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chairman shall have a second and casting vote.

President

1. The Executive Committee shall appoint a President of the Association who will hold office for a period of three years.

Annual General Meeting

1. The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in January of each year in London, or at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall determine. At least 3 weeks' notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given, in writing, to all members, together with the agenda.
2. Voting at the Annual General Meeting shall be by Ordinary and Life Members. Each member shall have one vote.
3. The subscription shall be determined annually by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has the power to waive subscriptions.
4. The Treasurer shall prepare for the Executive Committee and submit on the Committee's behalf to the Annual General Meeting a statement showing the financial state of the Association up to 31 December each year, by which date all subscriptions are to have been paid. This statement shall have been approved by the auditors elected under Rule 14 Subject to the discretion of the Executive Committee, the membership of any member who has not paid their annual subscription within one month of the due date will be held to have lapsed.
5. Two auditors shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting from members of the Association who are not members of the Executive Committee.

Special General Meeting

1. A Special General Meeting of the Association may be called by a quorum of the Executive Committee at three weeks' notice or within two months from the receipt by the Secretary of a written request from any six Ordinary Members. A statement of the general business of any Special General Meeting shall be sent to all members at least three weeks before the date of the meeting.

Professional Conduct

1. Members of the Association are expected to observe the highest professional standards. Wilful or frequent misrepresentation or inaccuracy, wilful breach of confidence, or behaviour in any way prejudicial to the professional interests of the membership of the Association shall be considered in breach of such observance. Every Ordinary and Associate Member shall be required to deposit a signed copy of the Constitution with the Secretary in acceptance of this condition of membership.
2. A member against whom a formal complaint of infringement of Rule 1.1 is laid shall be invited to meet the Executive Committee, which will meet with at least five members present. A copy of the written complaint shall be sent to the respondent at least three weeks before the hearing. An adequate record shall be kept of the hearing. The Executive Committee has the power to warn, suspend or expel the member complained against. A written statement of the reasons for any suspension or expulsion shall be made to members of the Association at or before the next Annual General Meeting of the Association.
3. A formal complaint must be in writing and duly signed by the complainant. If the complaint originates from within the Association, it shall be signed by not less than three members.

General

1. Unless otherwise determined all proceedings and decisions of the Association and its Committees shall be private and confidential. But Officers of the Association may make pronouncements on its behalf.
2. Alterations to the Constitution may only be made at an Annual General Meeting. Proposals to amend the Constitution must be supported by two Ordinary Members who must give at least three weeks' notice in writing to the Secretary. Alterations to the Rules of the Association must be agreed by at least 75% of those present and voting.