Constitution & Bylaws



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  • SICB Constitution
  • SICB Bylaws
  • Divisional Bylaws:


    SICB CONSTITUTION

    Article I: Name and Object

    Section 1. The name of this organization is the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB).

    Section 2. The Society promotes the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge and concepts in integrative and comparative biology, and it adopts and supports policies advancing innovative studies of organisms.

    Section 3. These objectives shall be advanced by the holding of regular meetings; by publication of a journal, Integrative and Comparative Biology; and by assisting in the organization and financing of such activities as divisional meetings, symposia, and international congresses. The Society shall promote its stated objectives either directly or through the support of such agencies as the National Research Council and the American Institute of Biological Sciences.

    Article II: Membership

    Section 1. The Society shall consist of full members, student members, postdoctoral members, emeritus members, honorary members, life members and family members.

    Section 2. Full Members: Any individual who has scientific training and is professionally engaged in the study or promotion of biology as a scientific discipline shall be eligible for Full Membership. Full Members shall receive announcements of meetings and all Society publications. Full Members may vote and hold office.

    Section 3. Graduate Student Members: Any student enrolled in a graduate program in the biological sciences shall be eligible for Graduate Student Membership. An individual may hold Graduate Student Membership for a maximum of six years. After six years, the Graduate Student Member who has completed a doctorate shall automatically be promoted to Full Membership. A Graduate Student Member may request a limited extension of Graduate Student Membership by written request to the Business Office. Graduate Student Members shall receive announcements of meetings and all Society publications. Graduate Student Members may vote but may not hold office. A Graduate Student Member may present one paper or poster at each meeting of the Society under sponsorship of a Full Member.

    Section 4. Student-in-Training (SIT) Members: Any undergraduate college or upper level high school student who has demonstrated a precocious and clear-cut understanding of science, which should lead to Full Membership at a later date, may hold this membership. Normally an individual may not hold SIT Membership for more than five years, after which he/she should be eligible for Graduate Student Membership. SIT Members shall receive announcements of meetings and all Society publications. They may neither vote nor hold office. A SIT Member may present one paper at each meeting of the Society under sponsorship of a Full Member.

    Section 5. Emeritus Members: Any individual SICB member who has belonged to the Society for at least 10 years and has reached the age of 65, or who has belonged to the Society for at least 25 years and has been granted retirement shall, after written application to the Secretary, be designated as an Emeritus Member. Emeritus Members shall receive announcements of meetings and may elect to receive the Journal. They may vote and hold office.

    Section 6. Postdoctoral Members: Any student who has earned a doctoral degree and is professionally engaged in the study or promotion of biology as a scientific discipline and is a postdoctoral fellow or associate shall be eligible for Postdoctoral Membership. Postdoctoral Members shall receive announcements of meetings and all Society publications. Postdoctoral Members may vote but may not hold office.

    Section 7. Family Members: SICB offers three types of family memberships: Full Family Membership, Postdoctoral Family Membership, and Graduate Student Family Membership. Family memberships allow two persons in one household to be members. Although both members are eligible to vote, only one subscription of the Journal per household is included in this membership category.

    Section 8. Life Members: Individuals qualified for Full Membership may elect to become Life Members upon payment of the appropriate dues as set by the Executive Committee. Such members would receive all the rights, privileges and benefits of traditional Full Membership, for life.

    Section 9. Honorary Members: Honorary Members are individuals distinguished for their research and/or for their contributions to the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Honorary Members are exempt from yearly dues, and receive the Journal. Potential Honorary Members may be nominated by divisions, the executive officers, and/or the Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall review the credentials of nominees, and make recommendations for approval/denial to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will vote on the recommendations. The President will notify a new Honorary Member of his or her election. Honorary Members may neither vote nor hold office.

    Article III: Administrative Organization

    Section 1. Officers: The executive officers of the Society shall be a President, Past President, President-Elect, Secretary, Secretary-Elect, Program Officer, Program Officer-Elect, Past Program Officer, Treasurer and Treasurer-Elect. The President-Elect shall be elected before one annual meeting and serve for a term, as hereinafter provided, and shall then successively and automatically become President for two years and then successively and automatically become Past President for two years. The term of the President-Elect shall be two years. The Secretary-Elect and Treasurer-Elect shall be elected triennially, and shall hold office for a term of one year, and then automatically succeed to their elected office for three years. The expiration date of the terms of these offices shall be arranged so that only one of these two officers need be elected in any one year. The Program Officer-Elect shall be elected to serve for one year and shall then successively and automatically become Program Officer for two years and then successively and automatically become Past Program Officer for one year.

    Section 2. Executive Committee: The management of the Society shall be vested in an Executive Committee consisting of the executive officers, three Members-at-Large from the Society general membership, the Chairs of the Divisions of the Society, the Editor of Integrative and Comparative Biology, the Chair of the Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Affairs Committee, and the Chair of the Educational Council. Of the three Members-at-Large, one shall be elected each year for a term of three years. The Executive Director of the Society shall serve as an ex officio member of the Executive Committee, but may not vote.

    Section 3. Business year: The business year of the Society shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31. The term of office of all elected officers and appointed representatives shall begin at the end of the second Executive Committee meeting at the Annual Meeting in the year the term is to begin and will end at the adjournment of the second Executive Committee meeting at the Annual Meeting in the year the term is to expire.

    Section 4. Elections: Elections of Society-wide Officers, Members-At-Large of the Executive Committee, and Divisional Officers shall be held by both paper and appropriately secure electronic ballots. The Secretary shall make certain that ballots are made available to the entire membership of the Society and allow one month for their return, the due date being stated on the ballot. The Secretary shall be responsible for overseeing the counting, tabulation, and recording of the votes and shall notify the candidates and the Executive Committee of the results of the election. The results of the election will be published in the Fall Newsletter of the Society prior to the Annual Meeting. In the event that the vote for any Society-wide candidate should result in a tie, the three Members-at-Large of the Executive Committee shall vote to resolve the tie.

    Section 5. Employment of Management Firm: The Society may engage the services of a professional management company. The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, has the authority to decide how the executive functions of the Society are to be managed.

    Section 6. Powers: The Corporation (aka the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology) shall have all such powers as are provided by law, its Articles of Incorporation, and this Constitution, including without limitation the power to hire and discharge employees and consultants, to acquire, to own, and to dispose of property, including contributions made to it, and the power to do any and all lawful acts necessary or desirable for carrying out the Corporation's purposes. The Corporation is not organized for profit and no part of its assets or income shall inure to the benefit of any private individual, partnership or corporation. The Corporation shall not engage in any activities that are inconsistent with its qualifications as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law). All powers and activities of this Corporation shall be exercised and managed directly by the Executive Committee of the Corporation. 

    Section 7. Indemnification: The Corporation shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by the laws of the District of Columbia, any Executive Committee member, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation against expenses actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding in which such individual is made a party by reason of being or having been such Executive Committee member, officer, employee, or agent, except that the Corporation shall not indemnify such individuals for willful misconduct. Such indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such Executive Committee member, officer, employee, or agent may be entitled under any agreement, vote of the Executive Committee, or otherwise. 

    Article IV: Meetings of the Society

    Section 1. The time and place of the meetings of the Society shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The Annual Meeting of the Society shall include the Annual Business Meeting. Notices of all meetings shall be made available by regular or electronic mail and sent to members of the Society at least one month before the date set for the meeting.

    Article V: Quorum

    Section 1. Fifty members shall constitute a quorum of the Society, and twelve a quorum of the Executive Committee.

    Article VI: Divisions of the Society

    Section 1. A Division of the Society may be organized in any specialized area of integrative and comparative biology by no fewer than twenty-five members of the Society, upon written request to, and approval by, the Executive Committee. Such Divisions shall have the right to elect their own Chairpersons and other officers.

    Section 2. A Division of the Society shall be entitled to formulate its own bylaws but such bylaws shall not conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.

    Section 3. In the absence of divisional bylaws that provide for the resolution of tied elections, tied elections of divisional officers shall be resolved by majority vote of the officers of the division, who are specified in each division's bylaws. In the event of a tie vote by the officers of the division, the division chair shall cast the deciding vote. All Divisions shall establish guidelines for filling offices should the office be vacated unexpectedly.

    Article VII: Amendments

    Section 1. Proposed amendments of the Constitution may be originated by the Executive Committee or by the members of the Society. Proposals from members shall be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing and shall bear the signatures of at least twenty-five members.

    Section 2. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members voting by ballot, provided a quorum of the Society membership votes (see Article V). Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be posted by the Society Secretary on the Web Page at least one month prior to voting. Ballots will be made available to the membership and one month will be allowed for voting. The ballot closing date shall be stated on the ballot.

    Section 3. Votes will be collected and tabulated and the Secretary will notify the Executive Committee of the results. The Secretary will also post the results on the Society's Web Page and in the appropriate fall or spring Newsletter.

    Section 4. Amendments shall become effective following their adoption as stated in Article VII Sections 1-3.

    Section 5. Articles of Incorporation: The Articles of the Constitution and Bylaws of this Society may be amended except that no such action shall be taken that would adversely affect the qualification of the Corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law).

    Article VIII: The SICB Journal: Integrative and Comparative Biology

    Section 1. The Executive Committee shall appoint the Editor of Integrative and Comparative Biology after consultation with the Editorial Board of the journal. The Editor of Integrative and Comparative Biology shall serve for a term of five years, with reappointment for one or two additional terms permissible, and shall serve as Chairperson of the Editorial Board.

    Section 2. The Editor shall have the authority to appoint one or more Associate Editors (to assist with day-to-day editorial duties) and Assistant Editors (to provide administrative and secretarial assistance), subject to approval by the Editorial Board. Remuneration of the Editor and Assistant Editors, and payment for standard and appropriate journal operating expenses, shall be determined by the Executive Committee and shall be included as items in the annual budget of the Society.

    Article IX: Termination

    Section 1. Duration: The Society shall continue as a corporation until a proposal for dissolution shall be passed by the Executive Committee. For purposes of notice and voting requirements, any such proposal shall be treated as an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation and shall comply with the provisions of Article VII.

    Section 2. Dissolution: Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, the Executive Committee shall, after making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the Corporation exclusively for purposes related to the purposes in Article III of the Constitution to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for educational or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law), as the Executive Committee shall determine.



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    SICB BYLAWS


    Article I: Dues

    Section 1. The annual dues and dues for special categories of membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

    Section 2. Life membership is available to members who pay annual dues in an amount to be determined by the Executive Committee.

    Article II: President

    Section 1. The President shall preside at all general scientific sessions and at the business meetings and shall assume overall concern for the affairs of the Society.

    Section 2. The President, or President-Elect, if instructed by the President, shall appoint the members of standing committees of the Society and of such temporary committees as may be desirable.

    Section 3. The President, together with the Executive Committee, shall define the duties and areas of responsibility of standing and temporary committees where these are not specifically designated by the Constitution and Bylaws.

    Section 4. Whenever the officers of a number of related societies shall confer on matters of mutual interest to these organizations, the President shall represent this Society or shall delegate representation to a member of the Executive Committee.

    Article III: President-Elect

    Section 1. The President-Elect shall preside at sessions designated by the President.

    Section 2. The President-Elect shall assume the duties of President in the latter's absence or inability to serve.

    Article IV: Past President

    Section 1. The Past President shall be invited to present a major address during the annual meeting.

    Section 2. The Past President shall preside over the Advisory Committee (Article XV, Section 1).

    Article V: Secretary

    Section 1. The Secretary shall have the responsibility of seeing that complete records of the Society are kept, and that minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee and of the annual business meeting of the Society are recorded. The Secretary shall have the responsibility for preparation of the list of officers and committees for publication in Integrative and Comparative Biology and for posting on the Society's Web Page.

    Section 2. The Secretary shall be responsible for all arrangements for meetings not specifically assigned to the Program Officer.

    Section 3. The Secretary, working with the Public Affairs Committee, shall be responsible for reporting to the press the important activities of the Society.

    Section 4. The Secretary shall serve ex officio on the Membership Committee.

    Section 5. The secretary shall be responsible for such activities as organization of the Society's newsletters and Society-wide elections.

    Section 6. The Secretary shall meet with all of the Divisional Secretaries at the Annual Meeting to coordinate Society and Divisional Newsletters and elections.

    Article VI: Secretary-Elect

    Section 1. The Secretary-Elect shall assist the Secretary in the duties specified in Article V.

    Section 2. The Secretary-Elect shall assume the duties of the Secretary in the latter's absence or inability to serve.

    Article VII: Program Officer

    Section 1. The Program Officer shall receive and arrange the titles and abstracts of papers submitted for the scientific programs at meetings of the Society.

    Section 2. The Program Officer shall, in consultation with the Divisional Program Officers, appoint Chairpersons to preside over scientific sessions.

    Section 3. The Program Officer shall oversee the arrangement for and supervise the publication of the programs and abstracts of meetings of the Society.

    Section 4. The Program Officer shall chair the Program Committee for the purposes of establishing and organizing the program for the annual meeting.

    Section 5. The Program Officer shall work with the Public Affairs Committee to broadly advertise the program of the annual meeting.

    Article VIII: Program Officer-Elect

    Section 1. The Program Officer-Elect shall assist the Program Officer in the duties specified in Article VII. In particular, the Program Officer-Elect will assemble the symposia to be presented the first year after assuming the position of Program Officer.

    Section 2. The Program Officer-Elect shall assume the duties of the Program Officer in the latter's absence or inability to serve.

    Article IX: Past Program Officer

    Section 1. The Past Program Officer shall assist the Program Officer in the duties specified in Article VII.

    Section 2. The Past Program Officer shall assume the duties of the Program Officer in the absence or inability to serve of the Program Officer and Program Officer-Elect.

    Article X: Archivist

    Section 1. The archivist shall be appointed by the President. The archivist shall serve for a term of five years.

    Section 2. The Archivist shall be responsible for the Society's Archives. The Archivist shall solicit from the officers and members of the Society materials deemed important for the development of the Archives. The Archivist shall be responsible for ensuring that these items are maintained in a manner suitable for their use by both the Society and by professionals interested in the past history of the Society.

    Section 3. The Archivist shall act as the link between the Society and the institution chosen to act as the repository for the Archives of the Society.

    Section 4. The Archivist shall make an annual report to the Executive Committee on the state of the Archives.

    Article XI: Treasurer

    Section 1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for monitoring the financial affairs of the Society. These duties will include ensuring the timely distribution of notices of dues to the membership, the solicitation of budget requests from Divisions and other cost centers of the Society, and preparation of the Annual Budget to cover the fiscal operation of the Society including all allocations of funds for the expenses of Officers, Standing Committees, Divisions and the Editorial Office of Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Section 2. The Treasurer shall submit the Annual Budget to the Executive Committee for review and approval at the Annual Meeting prior to the Society's annual business meeting.

    Section 3. The Treasurer shall present a statement of the current financial position of the Society at the annual business meeting of the Society.

    Section 4. The Treasurer, together with the Finance Committee, shall have oversight of the investment of any funds over and above the operating budget of the Society.

    Section 5. The Treasurer shall serve as Chair of the Finance Committee and as an Ex Officio member of the Development Committee and the Student Support Committee.

    Article XII: Treasurer-Elect

    Section 1. The Treasurer-Elect shall assist the Treasurer in the duties specified in Article XI.

    Section 2. The Treasurer-Elect shall assume the duties of the Treasurer in the latter's absence or inability to serve.

    Article XIII: Duties of the Executive Committee

    Section 1. The Executive Committee shall serve as the governing Board of the Society. The Executive Committee is responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the Society and shall review and establish policies and procedures of the Society in line with the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws.

    Section 2. The Executive Committee shall (a) set the time and place of meetings as proposed by the President; (b) advise the President on appointments; (c) approve the Annual Budget as submitted by the Treasurer, following its review and possible amendment; (d) appoint the Editor of Integrative and Comparative Biology, for a term of five years, and the Editor of such other publications as the Society may sponsor, for appropriate and specified terms.

    Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at the time of each Annual Meeting of the Society to conduct such business as may properly come before it and to receive the annual reports of standing and temporary committees of the Society.

    Section 4. The Executive Committee is empowered to establish a business relationship with individuals or organizations to perform the executive functions of the Society within the framework of the budget approved by the Executive Committee.

    Article XIV: Vacancies in Office

    Section 1. If for any reason the office of President should become vacant before the expiration of the normal term, the President-Elect shall immediately assume the duties of President.

    Section 2. If there is no officer-elect to assume the duties, a vacancy in the office of Secretary, Program Officer, Past Program Officer, or Treasurer shall be filled through appointment by the President for the remainder of the term.

    Section 3. If a member-at-large of the Executive Committee shall be unable to serve on the Executive Committee because of election to an office of the Society, resignation, or any other cause, a member-at-large shall be elected at the next annual election of the Society to serve the remainder of the term so vacated.

    Section 4. A member-at-large of the Executive Committee shall not be eligible for immediate re-election unless a term of less than three years shall have been served.

    Article XV: Standing Committees

    Section 1. Advisory Committee: The Advisory Committee shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, and the former Presidents. The Advisory Committee shall consider long-range plans and policies of the Society, make recommendations to the Executive Committee, perform such other functions as may be delegated to it by the Executive Committee, but be without power to commit the Society to action. The Past President shall preside.

    Section 2. Educational Council: The President, after consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint an Educational Council consisting of five members, and a sixth member who shall serve as Chair will be elected by the general membership of the Society. The Chair is a member of the Executive Committee. Selection of new members will be made by a recommendation of the Council to the President-Elect. Each member shall serve for a term of three years, and initial members will serve staggered terms so that two replacements are made each year. The Council will report to the Executive Committee through the Chair and will meet once a year at the Annual Meeting of the Society. The charge to the Educational Council will be to provide information to the SICB membership on educational issues in the life sciences, to facilitate the development of consortia to respond to opportunities for funding from granting agencies, and to respond to educational issues and questions brought up by members of the Society. The responsibilities of the Educational Council may include, but not be limited to, the following: educational development for graduate students; coordination of outreach activities; liaison with other professional groups with reference to educational issues; and response to proposals from members for particular projects. Ad hoc working groups will be established by the Educational Council to carry out these projects. The Educational Council will communicate with members through the SICB newsletters and Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Section 3. Membership Committee: The President shall appoint a Membership Committee of three members, each for a term of three years. The appointment of members of the Committee shall be ordered so that the term of one member shall expire each year. The senior member of the Committee shall serve as Chairperson and the Secretary shall be an ex officio member of the Committee. The Committee shall consider matters relating to the recruitment of new members and the procedures and policies of membership in the Society. The Committee shall review the credentials of nominees for honorary membership, and make recommendations for approval/denial to the Executive Committee.

    Section 4. Nominating Committee for Society-Wide Offices: The President shall appoint and charge a Nominating Committee consisting of the Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee whose term will next expire, and three members of the Society who are not members of the Executive Committee. Each member of the Nominating Committee shall be from a different Division of the Society and serve for a term of one year. The Nominating Committee shall meet at the Annual Meeting to evaluate potential candidates on the basis of scientific achievement, ability to discharge official duties, and record of service to the Society, and submit to the Secretary of the Society, a list consisting of no fewer than two candidates for each Society-wide office in time for publication of the list of nominees and their biographical sketches in the spring SICB Newsletter. The Nominating Committee must certify to the Secretary that each candidate has declared willingness to run for office and to serve, if elected. Any twenty-five members of the Society may make additional nominations for any office in writing to the Secretary.

    Section 5. Editorial Board: The Editorial Board of Integrative and Comparative Biology shall consist of one member from each Division, each of whom shall serve for a term of five years. Retiring members of the Editorial Board shall be replaced by new members appointed by the President upon nomination by the Editor and approval of the Executive Committee. The Editorial Board shall advise the Editor in matters relating to journal policy, with particular reference to determining editorial and business policies for the journal in all respects not otherwise specified by the Constitution and Bylaws.

    Section 6. Student/Postdoctoral Affairs Committee: The President shall appoint a Committee consisting of a Full Member as Chair and, after consultation with each Division, a student or postdoctoral member from each Division. The Committee shall host a program of special interest to Student and Postdoctoral Members at each annual meeting. The term of the Chair shall be three years and the Chair will sit on the Executive Committee; the terms of the Student and Postdoctoral Members shall be flexible, but no more than three years, depending upon academic status of the individuals.

    Section 7. Student Support Committee: The President shall appoint a Committee consisting of a Full Member as Chair and no fewer than five (5) committee members. The Chair may also appoint ad hoc members as needed. The committee shall be responsible for overseeing all SICB activities related to student support as directed by the Executive Committee. The term of the Chair shall be three (3) years; the terms of the committee members shall be staggered at two (2) year intervals. The Treasurer shall serve as an ex officio member.

    Section 8. Finance Committee: The Finance Committee shall consist of the President, the Treasurer and the Executive Director, with the Treasurer serving as chair. This committee has discretionary powers concerning the Contingency Fund as described in the Society's Policies. The committee also makes recommendations to the Executive Committee about such matters as hiring a professional financial advisor or advisory company.

    Section 9. Public Affairs Committee: The President shall appoint a Committee consisting of at least three members, each for a term of three years. The President shall appoint the chair of the Committee. The appointment of members of the Committee shall be ordered so that the term of one member shall expire each year. The Committee shall promote the programs and interests of the Society, consistent with the Society mission, to the public. The Committee shall also conduct programs and workshops for Society members in order to develop skills and provide information regarding public affairs. The Committee shall work with the Program Officer to broadly advertise the program of the Annual Meeting of the Society. The Committee shall work with the Secretary to report to the press important activities of the Society. The Program Officer and the Secretary shall be ex officio members of the Committee.

    Section 10. Program Committee: The Program Committee shall consist of the Program Officer, who shall chair the committee, the Program Officer-Elect or the Past Program Officer, the Divisional Program Officers, and other individuals appointed by the President. This Committee shall decide upon at least one Society-wide symposium to be held at the annual meeting. The Committee shall identify topics for the planned oral contribution sessions arranged on inter-divisional lines, which will be made known to the members in the call for papers.

    Section 11. Development Committee: The President shall appoint a Committee consisting of at least three members, each for a term of three years. The appointment of members of the Committee shall be ordered so that the term of one member shall expire each year. The senior member of the Committee shall serve as Chairperson and the Treasurer shall serve as an ex officio member. The Committee is broadly charged to assist the Executive Committee to develop and enhance resources for the Society to support its programs.

    Article XVI: Bylaws

    Section 1. Proposed amendments of the Bylaws may be originated by the Executive Committee or by the members of the Society. Proposals from members shall be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing and shall bear the signatures of at least twenty-five members.

    Section 2. The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members voting by ballot, provided a quorum of the Society membership votes (see Article V of the Constitution). Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be posted by the Society Secretary on the Web Page at least one month prior to voting. Ballots will be made available to the membership and one month will be allowed for voting. The ballot closing date shall be stated on the ballot.

    Section 3. Votes will be collected and tabulated and the Secretary will notify the Executive Committee of the results. The Secretary will also post the results on the Society's Web Page and in the appropriate fall or spring Newsletter.

    Section 4. Amendments shall become effective following their adoption as stated in Article XVI Sections 1-3.







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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR


    (Adopted 1958 and Amended December 1980, June 1987, January 1990, and March 1995)

    Article I. Name and Purpose

    Section 1. Name
    The official name of this division of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology shall be "The Division of Animal Behavior," hereafter called "Division."

    Section 2. Purpose
    The study of animal behavior is basic to theoretical and empirical biology. The purpose of this Division shall be to advance, coordinate and assist research and publication of this subject, and to act as a liaison between workers in the various scientific fields involved.

    Section 3. Organization
    Election and terms of officers of the Division of Animal Behavior and the naming and administration of standing committees will be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Article II. Membership

    Section 1.
    Any member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology may become a Member of the Division of Animal Behavior without payment of additional dues.

    Article III. Administrative Organization

    Section 1. Officers
    The officers of the Division shall be a Chair, Secretary, and Program Officer. The Chair, Secretary and Program Officer shall be elected for a term of three years, and, except for the Chair, shall be eligible for re-election. Elections for each of these three offices shall occur individually and in consecutive years.

    Section 2. Elections
    Election of officers shall be by mail ballot of the Division. The names of candidates for offices shall be published in advance of a mail ballot. All officers shall assume the duties of their office following the annual Division business meeting.

    Section 3. Nominations for Chair
    Nominations for the office of Chair will be solicited in consultation with the Animal Behavior Society. At least two candidates for the position should be named, although one write-in candidate is acceptable. Candidates for Chair must be members in good standing of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and of the Animal Behavior Society.

    Section 4. Nominations for Secretary and Program Officer
    Nominations for the offices of Secretary and of Program Officer shall be prepared by a Nominating Committee appointed by the Chair in consultation with the Division Executive Committee. At least two candidates for each office should be named, although one write-in candidate is acceptable, and all candidates must be members in good standing of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Section 5. Nominations by petition
    Candidates for elected offices may be nominated by petition. Candidates nominated by petition must be members in good standing of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, and those nominated for the office of Chair must also be members in good standing of the Animal Behavior Society.

    Section 6. Executive Committee
    In intervals between meetings, the management of the Division shall be vested in an Executive Committee consisting of the elected officers of the Division.

    Section 7. Newsletter
    Officers of the Division of Animal Behavior shall prepare materials regularly for SICB Newsletters.

    Section 8. Committees
    Special committees may be authorized by the Executive Committee and shall be appointed by the Chair for one year. The Executive Committee should review the need for such committees as appropriate.

    Section 9. Finances
    The necessary expenses of the Division shall be disbursed from the treasury of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, but in no year shall the total expenses of the Division exceed the amount specified by the SICB. The Division budget shall be prepared and committed by the Chair in consultation with the Executive Officer of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and the Division officers.

    Article IV. Duties of the Officers

    Section 1. Chair
    The Chair shall preside at the business meeting of the Division, shall be responsible for the program and meetings of the Division, and shall promote in every practical way the interests of the Division. The Chair shall represent the Division on the Executive Committees of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and of the Animal Behavior Society.

    Section 2. Secretary
    The Secretary shall keep the records of the Division, request and prepare materials for SICB Newsletters, and shall perform such other duties as may be necessary and/or assigned. The Secretary shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever that person is absent or unable to act.

    Section 3. Program Officer
    The Program Officer shall solicit and arrange programs for meetings of the Division and shall coordinate special programs with the Program Officer of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and of the Animal Behavior Society. The Program Officer shall substitute for the Chair in the event that both the Chair and Secretary are unable to act.

    Article V. Meetings of the Division

    Section 1. Business Meeting
    A business meeting of the Division of the Animal Behavior shall be held at least once a year in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Section 2. Special Meetings
    Division meetings may be held at other times and places on call of the Chair or when requested in writing by petition. Notice shall be sent to each member of the Division sixty (60) days in advance of any such meeting.

    Article VI. Quorum

    Section 1.
    Ten members shall constitute a quorum of the Division and two a quorum of the Executive Committee.

    Article VII. Best Student Paper Awards

    Section 1. Awards
    At each annual meeting of the Division of Animal Behavior there may be three student paper awards. There may be two Division of Animal Behavior Best Student Paper Awards presented, one for the student making the best oral presentation and one for the student making the best poster presentation. When two awards are presented, each will be $50 and a certificate. Additionally, there may be an Adrian M. Wenner Outstanding "Strong Inference" Award of $100 and a certificate presented for the best oral or poster paper based upon the strong inference approach in experimental design and execution.

    Section 2. Participation Rules
    The rules governing participating in the Best Student Paper Award Competition and the Adrian M. Wenner Award Competition shall be determined by the Division Executive Committee.

    Section 3. Selection Committee
    The rules governing the competitions shall specify that a selection committee be appointed each year consisting of at least three members of the Division of Animal Behavior and/or Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Article VIII. Amendments to the Bylaws

    Section 1.
    Proposed amendments to the Division Bylaws may be originated by the Executive Committee or by the members of the Division. Division Bylaws may be amended by at least two-thirds vote of the members of the Division present at any annual meeting of the Division or by at least two-thirds of the members responding to a mail ballot. Proposed amendments receiving at least two-thirds votes in the affirmative become effective 15 days after the ballots are counted.

    Article IX. Cooperation

    Section 1.
    The Division of Animal Behavior shall make every effort to coordinate its programs and activities with those of the Animal Behavior Society whenever such coordination and cooperation is in the best interests of the field of animal behavior, and therefore of both the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and the Animal Behavior Society.


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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY

    (Amended September 2006)


    Article I. Name

    The official name shall be "Division of Comparative Endocrinology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology."

    Article II. Organization

    This division shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Article III. Membership

    Membership in the Division is open to all classes of members of the SICB. It is acquired by registration with the SICB Secretary.

    Article IV. Purpose

    The purpose of this Division shall be to facilitate communication among all the endocrinologists, but particularly those interested in general and comparative aspects of hormone research.

    Article V. Officers

    Officers of the Division shall be a Chair, Chair-Elect, Program Officer, Program Officer-Elect, Secretary, and a Secretary-Elect. The term of office for the Chair, Chair-Elect, Program Officer and Secretary shall be for two (2) years. The term of office for the Program Officer-Elect and Secretary-Elect shall be for one (1) year.

    (a) Officers shall be elected by a simple majority by mail or electronic ballot.

    (b) The Chair, upon the completion of the second year in office, shall be succeeded by the Chair-Elect.

    (c) Balloting for a new Chair-Elect will be conducted in the second year of office of the incumbent Chair and Chair-Elect.

    These six offices shall constitute the Divisional Executive Committee and shall be responsible for the affairs of the Division. The term of office shall begin at the end of the second Executive Committee meeting at the Annual Meeting in the year the term is to begin and will end at the adjournment of the second Executive Committee meeting at the Annual Meeting in the year the term is to expire.

    Article VI. Chair

    The Chair shall serve for a term of two years, directing the affairs of the Division and presiding at its business meetings. He/she shall represent the Division on the Society Executive Committee. He/she shall appoint at any time those committees as may be required to assist him/her to conduct the affairs of the Division. At or before the Annual Meeting, he/she must appoint a nominating committee, consisting of a chair and two members, to present a slate of candidates to be elected for the office or offices to be filled for the following year. He/she shall appoint substitutes for officers that are unable to serve to the end of their term.

    Article VII. Chair-Elect

    The Chair-Elect shall serve for two (2) years and assume the duties of the Chair after the two-year term of office of the incumbent Chair has been completed, as well as when that person is unable to act. He/she shall assist the Chair in the conduct of the affairs of the Division whenever he/she is so requested by the Chair.

    Article VIII. Program Officer

    The Program Officer shall arrange programs for the meetings of the Division. He/she shall be elected for a term of two years. The Program Officer shall coordinate special programs with the Program Officers of the Society and of related societies and divisions, as desirable.

    Article IX. Program Officer-Elect

    The Program Officer-Elect shall assume the duties of the Program Officer whenever that person is unable to act. He/She shall serve for a term of one year after which he/she shall automatically assume the position of Program Officer.

    Article X. Secretary

    The Secretary shall keep the records of the Division and handle its business affairs in accord with the directives of the Chair. He/she shall maintain complete files of the Division's activities, summarize and present these at business meetings, prepare the Newsletter of the Division, and at the termination of his/her office transmit the files in good order to the successor. He/she shall be elected for a term of two (2) years.

    Article XI. Secretary-Elect

    The Secretary-Elect shall assume the duties of the Secretary whenever that person is unable to act. He/She shall serve for a term of one year after which he/she shall automatically assume the position of Secretary.

    Article XII. Continuity of Offices

    Program Officer and Secretary are to be elected in alternate years.

    Article XIII. Nominations

    The Nominating Committee shall prepare double nominations for each office to be filled and submit them to the Secretary prior to February 1 of each year.

    Article XIV. Finances

    Expenses of the Division shall be paid from the treasury of the SICB within limits of the amount allotted for this purpose in the annual budget of the Society, and from grants received for special projects. Grant applications to national foundations are to be prepared in consultation with the president of the SICB.

    All members of the Division of Comparative Endocrinology will be assessed an annual fee to be used to pay routine divisional financial obligations to affiliated societies, or for the support of regional or international meetings at which the DCE is recognized as an official component of the SICB. The fee will be double the annual dues set by the International Federation of Comparative Endocrine Societies (IFCES; currently $2/member/year) to allow for the establishment of a fund to provide support for regional and international comparative endocrinology meetings. Applications for support for regional and international meetings will be made to the chair of the DCE.

    Article XV. Meetings

    An annual national meeting of the Division will be held every year as part of the Annual Meeting of the Society. Regional conferences and symposia may be arranged by groups of members in collaboration with the divisional executive committee. A business meeting of the Division shall be held annually at the Annual Meeting of the Society. Notice of meetings and calls for papers shall be sent out with the appropriate announcements of the Society.

    Article XVI. Annual Report

    An annual report by the Secretary of the Division and official notices shall be included in the records of the SICB.

    Article XVII. Amendments

    These Bylaws may be changed or amended at any annual meeting by two-thirds vote of those present or by at least two-thirds of the members responding to a mail or electronic ballot, provided that notice has been given to all members sixty (60) days in advance.

    Article XVIII. Best Student Paper Awards

    Two awards will be given in the Best Student Paper competition at the Annual Meeting: one for the best oral presentation and one for the best poster presentation. The award for the best oral presentation will be named the Aubrey Gorbman Award. In addition to a certificate, the prize will carry with it an award of $100. Students who have not yet been awarded a Ph.D. are eligible for the prize, as are new Ph.D.'s who have received the degree no more than 12 months prior to the meeting and are presenting a paper on their graduate research. The work must be original and must have been carried out principally by the student presenting the paper.





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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY


    (As amended December 1983; December 28, 1986; December 1988; September 1990; December 1993; March 1995; December 1995; January 2002; January 2004)

    Article I. Organization

    The name of this division shall be the Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. It shall be governed in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.

    Article II. Membership

    Any member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology may register with the Executive Director of the Society as a member of the Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry, and may withdraw from the roll of the Division at any time on notice to the Executive Director.

    Article III. Purpose

    The purpose of the Division shall be to facilitate communication among comparative physiologists and biochemists.

    Article IV. Officers

    Officers of the Division shall be a Chair, a Chair-Elect, a Past Chair, a Program Officer and a Secretary. They shall be elected by a majority vote of the members conducted by a mail ballot prior to the annual meeting by a procedure consonant with the Bylaws of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. In the case when a divisional office is unexpectedly vacated, the current Nominating Committee will recommend to the Chair an interim officer who will be appointed to serve the remainder of the term. The Officers plus the graduate student representative shall constitute an Executive Committee responsible for divisional affairs. The business year of the Division shall run January 1 through December 31.

    Article V. Chair

    The Chair shall preside at business meetings of the Division, and shall represent the Division on the Executive Committee of the Society. Each year the Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three divisional members and such other committees or representatives to committees as may be desirable to promote affairs of the Division in the Society. All proposals submitted on behalf of the Division to granting agencies shall be signed by the Chair or be delegated by the Chair for approval by the Chair-elect. The Chair shall serve a term of two years and shall not be eligible for reelection within three years.

    Article VI. Chair-Elect

    The Chair-Elect shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever that person is unable to act, and shall succeed the Chair. Election shall be for a term of one year, beginning with the second year of the Chair term.

    Article VII. Past Chair

    The Past Chair shall assist the Chair and other members of the divisional Executive Committee in handling divisional affairs. The Past Chair assumes this position upon completion of a term as chair and shall serve for two years. The Past Chair shall serve as a member of the Nominating Committee.

    Article VIII. Program Officer

    The Program Officer shall arrange programs for meetings of the Division, which shall include coordination of joint or special programs with the Program Officer of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and with the program officers or secretaries of other divisions or societies when desirable. Election shall be for a term of two years. The Program Officer shall not be eligible for reelection within two years.

    Article IX. Secretary

    The Secretary shall keep divisional records, coordinate the production of the biannual Divisional newsletter, and conduct business affairs in consultation with the Executive Director, the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. The term of elective office shall be two years and alternate with the term of the Program Officer. The Secretary shall not be eligible for reelection within two years.

    Article X. Graduate Student Representative

    The Division Chair shall appoint a Graduate Student Representative for a term concurrent with the Division Chair. The Graduate Student Representative will contribute to the biannual Divisional newsletter and represent DCPB at the graduate student/postdoc lunch at the annual Society meeting. The Graduate Student Representative will serve on the Divisional Executive Committee as a non-voting member.

    Article XI. Finances

    Necessary expenditures of the Division shall be paid from the treasury of the Society within the limits set by the Executive Committee of the Society in the annual budget. The Chair shall authorize all disbursements, and coordinate financial procedures with the Executive Officer of the Society.

    Article XII. Meetings

    A business meeting of the Division shall be held annually, normally concurrent with meetings of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Notice of this and other meetings shall be sent at least sixty (60) days in advance to all members of the Division.

    Article XIII. Awards

    A. Best Student Paper Awards

    Two awards will be given in the Best Student Paper competition at the Annual Meeting, one for the best oral presentation and one for the best poster presentation. Each year the award will be titled in honor of a deceased distinguished comparative physiologist or biochemist. The name of the honored person will be selected by the DCPB Executive Committee. Each award will include a certificate and monetary prize. Undergraduate students and graduate students who have not yet been awarded the PhD are eligible for the award, as are new PhD's who have received the degree no more than 12 months prior to the meeting. The work must be original and must be carried out principally by the student presenting the paper or poster. A student who applies must be a member of the Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry. In any one year, a student can enter either the oral or poster competition. A student awarded either the top DCPB poster or talk prize is not eligible for future DCPB student presentation contests. The DCPB Chair will appoint a DCPB member to chair the student competition and, in consultation with that member, will select the other judges.

    B. Bartholomew Award

    An annual prize may be given to a young investigator for distinguished contributions to comparative physiology and biochemistry or to related fields of functional and integrative biology. The formal title for this award is "The George A. Bartholomew Award." Eligible candidates are those who have completed their doctorate within the past seven years. The Chair of the Division shall appoint an Award Committee consisting of at least three divisional members with diverse interests to serve as judges. The Chair of the Division will designate one of the members as the chair of the Award Committee. Committee members will normally serve for no more than three years, with at least one member being replaced each year. Candidates may apply directly or be nominated, but both types of candidates will be evaluated equivalently. Applicants shall submit to the Chair of the Award Committee a short description of their work, selected reprints, and curriculum vitae; and also request three letters of recommendation. Nominators must arrange for these same materials (except that only two additional letters of recommendation are required) to be submitted to the Committee. The Committee may recommend for approval one candidate to the Chair of the Division. Each year's winner will be invited to present a special address at the annual meeting. The Chair of the Division may authorize reimbursement of appropriate expenses incurred by the winner in attending the meeting. The Chair may also authorize a cash prize. The awardee will be presented with a certificate signed by all current Divisional officers.

    Article XIV. Publications

    The Division (DCPB) sponsors two research journals: a) Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (CBP); and b) Physiological and Biochemical Zoology (PBZ). The terms of the relationships between DCPB and these journals are:

    a) This section recognizes that the DCPB of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology is one of several societies that sponsor the journal Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (CBP).

    i) CBP will have up to nine Associate Editors, which will expand to 12 in the future, and 36 Editorial Board Members. The terms of service of the Associate Editors will be three years, non-renewable until at least three additional years have passed. The Editors, however, following a timely third year review of the performance of the Associate Editors carried out in consultation with the DCPB Executive, may renew the appointment of an Associate Editor if the Editors determine that this is in the best interests of CBP. Such a reappointment will be for only one additional three year term. The terms of service of the Editorial Board Members will be three years, non-renewable until at least three additional years have passed. The Editors, however, following timely third year reviews of the performance of an Editorial Board member carried out in consultation with the DCPB Executive, may renew the appointments of Editorial Board for one additional three year term if the Editors determine this is in the best interest of CBP. No individual will be appointed for more than two consecutive terms. In the event that either an Associate Editor or one or more of the Editorial Board members resigns or is otherwise unable to complete his/her term, the Editors will follow the regular nomination and appointment processes to find replacements. These replacements will then serve regular three-year terms.

    ii) In the appointment of the Associate Editors and the Editorial Board, the Editors will attempt to achieve a balance of international and regional representation. There will normally be two Associate Editors representing DCPB. These appointments are made by the Editors from a list of candidates nominated by the DCPB Executive. All candidates on these lists must be mutually acceptable to both sides. Associate Editors must be active members of DCPB. The DCPB will be represented by six (6) appointments to the Editorial Board.

    iii) One of the Associate Editors or his/her designated representative will present annual oral and written reports on the activities of the journal at the Business Meetings of DCPB.

    iv) The overall intent of this section is that all aspects of the relationship between DCPB and CBP will be carried out on the basis of full and open consultation, shared responsibility and collegiality.

    b) The Editor of PBZ is appointed by the Board of University Publications, University of Chicago (BUPUC) based on the recommendation of the DCPB Executive. The Editor shall serve for a term of five years, with reappointment for only one additional term permissible. The Editor may request the appointment of an associate editor(s). The appointment(s) of Associate Editor(s) will be made by the BUPUC with the approval of the DCPB Executive. The Editorial Board of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology shall be appointed by the Editor, following consultation with the DCPB Executive. Early in the fifth year, the DCPB Executive will review the performance of the Editor and recommend to BUPUC whether or not the Editor should be appointed to a second five-year term. In the event that the editor resigns early or is otherwise unable to complete his/her term, the BUPUC will consult with the DCPB Executive and appoint a mutually agreeable replacement, who will then serve a five-year term and be eligible for an additional term. The term of office of the Associate Editor(s) will be coterminous with that of the editor.

    The Associate Editor(s) shall serve for a term of five years, with reappointment for one additional term permissible; members of the Editorial Board shall serve for terms of three years, with reappointment for one additional term permissible. No individual will be appointed for more than two consecutive terms.

    The Editor or his/her designated representative will present annual oral and written reports on the activities of the journal at the Business Meetings of DCPB.

    The overall intent of this section, excluding the business aspects of journal operations that are the purview of BUPUC, and the day-to-day editorial matters that are the purview of the editorial staff, is that all aspects of the relationship between BUPUC, the editorial staff and DCPB will be carried out on the basis of equal authority, shared responsibility and collegiality.

    Article XV. Annual Report

    The Division shall report in writing to the Secretary, the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, in advance of the annual meeting of the Society. Its official notices and voted actions shall be included in the records of the Society.

    Article XVI. Amendments

    The Bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present provided that notice has been given to all members at least sixty (60) days in advance or by at least two-thirds vote of the members responding to a mail ballot. In either case, it is the responsibility of the divisional executive to assure that opportunities for discussion, either verbal or written, occur before a ballot is taken.



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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL & CELL BIOLOGY


    (Adopted at the Pennsylvania State University Meetings August 31-September 2, 1959)
    (As amended August 1975; December 1978; July 1979; December 1981; September 30, 1983; June 2005)

    Article I. Purpose

    The purpose of the Division of Developmental and Cell Biology shall be to advance, coordinate, and assist research and publication within this field, and to act as a liaison agency between workers in the various scientific fields involved.

    Article II. Name

    The official name of this division shall be "The Division of Developmental and Cell Biology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology."

    Article III. Organization

    The Division of Developmental and Cell Biology shall be a subdivision of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and shall be governed in all its operation by the Constitution and Bylaws of that Society.

    Article IV. Membership

    Any member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology who so desires may become a member without payment of additional dues. Notice in writing to the Secretary of the Division of Developmental and Cell Biology shall be only formality required.

    Article V. Officers

    The Officers of the Division shall be a Chair, a Past Chair, a Chair-Elect, a Program Officer, a Program Officer-Elect and a Secretary. All Officers except the Chair, Past Chair and Program Officer shall be elected by majority vote of all those members responding to a ballot submitted to the entire membership, as required by the bylaws of the Society at least sixty days before the expiration of the current officers terms. The post of Chair will be filled automatically every two years by elevation of the previous year's Chair-Elect. In addition, the office of Past Chair shall be occupied by the individual whose term of office as Chair has most recently ended. The post of Program Officer shall be filled automatically by the elevation of the Program Officer-Elect, who will be elected one year prior to the expiration of the Program Officers term. The post of Program Officer-Elect shall be limited to one year, the year prior to his/her elevation to the office of Program Officer. The terms of all officers shall be filled on the basis of the calendar year, beginning January 1.

    Article VI. Chair

    The Chair shall preside at the meetings of the Division and shall promote in every practical way the interests of the Division. He/She shall represent the Division in dealings with the Executive Committee of the Society. He/She shall appoint each year, a Nominating Committee of three members of the Division and designate one of them as Chair, and such other committees as may be desirable. The Chair of the Division shall serve for a term of two years.

    Article VII. Chair-Elect

    The Chair-Elect shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever that person is unable to act. He/She shall serve for a term of one year after which he/she shall automatically assume the position of Chair.

    Article VIII. Program Officer

    The Program Officer shall be responsible for the arrangement of programs at the meetings of the Division. He/She shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for reelection through the office of Program Officer-Elect. The Program Officer shall chair the Program Planning Committee, a standing committee composed of the members of the Divisional Committee plus the Program Officer-Elect as stipulated in Article IX.

    Article IX. Program Officer-Elect

    The Program Officer-Elect shall serve on the Program Planning Committee for the one year preceding his/her elevation to the post of Program Officer. The office will be filled only during this period.

    Article X. Secretary

    The Secretary shall keep the records of the Division and handle the business affairs and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her. He/She shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-election.

    Article XI. Finances

    The necessary expenses of the Division shall be paid from the treasury of the Society, but in no year shall the total expenses of the Division exceed the amount allotted for this purpose in the annual budget of the Society. No officer or member of the Division shall have authority to incur any expenses in the name of the Society, except as above specified.

    Article XII. Divisional Committee

    In intervals between meetings a Divisional Committee composed of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Past Chair, Program Officer, and Secretary of the Division may operate the Division.

    Article XIII. Meetings

    A business meeting of the Division shall be held at least once a year concurrently with the regular Annual Business Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, but if such a concurrent meeting is not feasible, then the Divisional Committee shall decide when and where the business meeting will be held. Divisional meetings may be held at other times and places on call of the Chair or when requested by ten members of the Division. Notice shall be sent to each member of the Division sixty days in advance of any meeting.


    Article XIV. Best Paper Awards

    An annual prize shall be awarded for the best paper presented by a student at the annual meeting. In addition to a certificate, the prize will carry with it an award of $100.00. Students who have not yet been awarded the Ph.D. are eligible for the prize, as are new Ph.D's who have received the degree no more than 12 months prior to the meeting and are presenting a paper on their graduate research. The work must be original and must have been carried out principally by the student presenting the paper. The prize can be awarded only once to any student. Prior to the Annual Meeting, students who have submitted abstracts will be given the option of competing or not competing for the prize. However, if, in the opinion of the judges, none of the papers presented at a given meeting are deserving of a prize, the prize may be omitted for that year. In the case of a tie, duplicate prizes may be awarded. The Chair of the Division shall appoint annually 3 full members of the Division to act as judges. All papers identified as competing for the prize must be attended by at least one judge, and preferably by all three. No member who has a student competing for a prize shall be eligible to serve as judge.

    Article XV. Annual Report

    The annual report of the Division and its official notices shall be included with the regular records and proceedings of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Article XVI. Amendments

    These Bylaws may be amended in response to a ballot by two-thirds vote of those ballots received, provided that notice has been given to all members sixty days in advance.

    Article XVII.

    The passage of regular business at the annual business meeting of the Division shall be by a majority vote of those in attendance. Regular business may also be carried out by a ballot with passage dependent upon a majority vote of those received in return.


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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION


    (As amended May 30, 1980; January 1, 1985; May 20, 1986; September, 1990; December 1995; January 2000)

    Article I. Name and Purpose

    Section 1. Name
    The official name of this division shall be "The Division of Ecology and Evolution."

    Section 2. Purpose
    The purpose of this Division shall be to advance, coordinate, and assist research and publication of knowledge regarding the ecological and evolutionary relations of organisms, and to act as a liaison agency between investigators in the several scientific disciplines involved.

    Section 3. Organization
    The Division of Ecology and Evolution shall be a subdivision of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and shall be governed in all its operations by the Constitution and Bylaws of that Society.

    Article II. Membership

    Section 1.
    Any member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology may become a member of the Division of Ecology and Evolution by notifying either the Division Secretary or the Society Secretary of his/her intent. No additional dues payment shall be required.

    Article III. Administrative Organization

    Section 1. Officers
    The officers of the Division shall be Chair, Past Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary and Program Officer. The Chair-Elect shall be elected biennially and shall then automatically become Chair for the two years following his/her tenure as Chair-Elect. The Secretary and Program Officer shall be elected triennially and hold office for three years, but not to commence in the same year; neither shall be eligible for reelection.

    Section 2. Executive Committee
    In intervals between meetings, management of the Division is vested in the Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the Division.

    Section 3. Procedures for Nominations
    The Nominating Committee shall consist of three persons. (1) Chair-Elect, (2) the most recent Past Chair, or if she/he is not available, the next most recent Past-Chair, and (3) an appointee of the Chair. Two candidates shall be presented for each office. The Nominating Committee must certify to the Secretary that each candidate has declared a willingness to run for office, and to serve if elected. The candidates shall be announced in the Spring Newsletter of the Division. Additional nominations for any office may be made in writing to the Secretary by ten members of the Division prior to 1 August.

    Section 4. Elections
    Election of officers shall be by e-mail and paper mail ballots. The Secretary shall make e-mail ballots available during the fall election on the SICB webpage and mail paper ballots to those members who request paper ballots. A brief biography of each candidate shall accompany the paper ballots and be available on the SICB webpage. The Secretary shall count, tabulate, record the votes received by 1 December and notify the candidates for office of the results. In the event that a vote results in a tie, the members of the Executive Committee shall vote to resolve the tie.

    Section 5. Newsletter
    Normally, a minimum of two Newsletters shall be distributed each year to inform the members of Division activities.

    Section 6. Committees
    Standing committees on Education, Membership and Policy shall consist of three members, each appointed for three-year terms, one new member being appointed to each committee annually by the Chair in consultation with the Executive Committee. The joint NSF Study and Advisory Committee, a standing committee, shall consist of two members of the Division appointed by the Chair to serve four-year staggered terms, plus two members from each of those other academic societies in ecology and evolutionary biology which elect to participate. Special committees, authorized by the Executive Committee, shall be appointed by the Chair for one year. The need for each special committee will be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee. Committee reports shall be presented at the annual meeting and printed (in full or in abstract) in the Newsletter.

    Section 7. Finances
    The necessary expenses of the Division shall be paid from the treasury of the Society, but in no year shall the total expenses of the Division exceed the amount allocated for this purpose in the annual budget of the Society. No officer or member of the Division shall have authority to incur any expenses in the name of the Society, except as above specified.

    Article IV. Duties of the Officers

    Section 1. Chair
    The Chair shall preside at the business meetings of the Division, shall be responsible for the programs and meetings of the Division, and shall promote in every way practical the interests of the Division. The Chair shall represent the Division on the Council of the Society.

    Section 2. Chair-Elect
    The Chair-Elect shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever that person is unable to act.

    Section 3. Secretary
    The Secretary shall keep the records of the section, prepare the newsletters, and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned for secretarial attention.

    Section 4. Program Officer
    The Program Officer shall arrange programs for meetings of the Division and shall coordinate special programs with Program Officers of the parent and related societies. The Past Program Officer shall serve one year as a member of the Executive Committee of the Division.

    Article V. Meetings of the Section

    Section 1. Business Meeting
    The business meeting of the Division shall be held at least once a year, ordinarily concurrent with the regular annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. If a concurrent meeting is not feasible, then the Executive Committee of the Division shall decide when and where the annual business meeting will be held.

    Section 2. Special Meetings
    Divisional meetings may be held at other times and places on call of the Chair or when requested by ten (10) members of the Division. Notice shall be sent to each member of the Division sixty (60) days in advance of any meeting.

    Article VI. Quorum

    Section 1.
    Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum of the Division and three a quorum of the Executive Committee.

    Article VII. Amendments to the Bylaws

    Section 1.
    Proposed amendments to the Bylaws may be originated by the Executive Committee or by the members of the Division. Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of those responding by e-mail or mail ballot provided that notice has been given to all members at least sixty (60) days in advance.

    Article VIII. Best Student Paper Awards

    A certificate and monetary prize will be awarded for a) the Best Contributed Paper, and b) the Best Poster presented by a student at the annual meeting. Students who have not yet taken the Ph.D. degree, as well as new Ph.D's who have received the degree not more than 12 months prior to the meeting, are eligible to compete for the awards. The work presented must be original and must be carried out principally by the student presenting the paper or poster. Students submitting abstracts of work to be presented at the Annual Meeting may apply to compete for the awards. A student who applies must be a member of the Division of Ecology and Evolution, and a prize can be awarded only once to any student. If, in the opinion of the judges, none of the papers or posters presented is deserving of an award, the awards may not be presented that year. In the case of a tie, duplicate awards may be presented. The Chair of the Division will appoint an awards committee who will act as judges. All papers identified as competing for the prize must be attended by at least two judges, and preferably by three judges. No member who has a student competing for a prize shall be eligible to vote or comment on their student.

    Criteria for judging papers and posters are modeled after those used in the judging for the 1989 best student paper competition. Each judge receives, in advance, an evaluation form which has the name of the student, the paper or poster number, and a copy of the abstract. The form is provided to aid the judge in evaluating the paper or poster for content and presentation. The content and presentation of the paper or poster will be judged upon:

    Content (60%)
    1. Originality of the research
    2. Efficacy of approach and methods used
    3. Freedom from statistical or analytical flaws
    4. Logical connection between conclusions and data
    5. Importance of research

    Presentation (40%)
    1. Clarity of the objectives
    2. How well the presenter helped the audience follow the various parts of the presentation and recognize the parts as integrating into a whole
    3. How well the presenter integrated the presentation into the fabric of science represented by the work and showed the importance of the contribution to the field
    4. Ability of the presenter to answer questions
    5. Quality of graphics
    6. Lack of annoying distractions from the research presented


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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY


    (Adopted at the Atlanta meeting, Jan 7, 2000; amended June 2005)


    Article I. Purpose

    The purpose of the Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology shall be to advance, coordinate, and assist research and publication within this discipline, and to act as a liaison agency between workers in the various scientific fields involved.

    Article II. Name

    The official name of this division shall be "The Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology."

    Article III. Organization

    The Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology shall be a subdivision of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and shall be governed in all its operation by the Constitution and Bylaws of that Society.

    Article IV. Membership

    Any member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology who so desires may become a member without payment of additional dues. Notice in writing to the Secretary of the Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology shall be the only formality required.

    Article V. Officers

    The Officers of the Division shall be a Chair, a Past Chair, a Chair-Elect, a Program Officer, a Program Officer-Elect a Secretary and a Secretary elect. All Officers except the Chair, Past Chair, Program Officer and secretary shall be elected by majority vote of all those members responding to a ballot submitted to the entire membership of the division, as required by the bylaws of the Society, at least sixty days before the expiration of the current officers' terms. The post of Chair will be filled automatically every two years by elevation of the previous year's Chair-Elect. In addition, the office of Past Chair shall be occupied by the individual whose term of office as Chair has most recently ended. The post of Program Officer shall be filled automatically by the elevation of the Program Officer-Elect, who will be elected one year prior to the expiration of the Program Officer's term. The post of Program Officer-Elect shall be limited to one year, the year prior to his/her elevation to the office of Program Officer. The post of Secretary shall be filled automatically by the elevation of the Secretary-Elect, who will be elected one year prior to the expiration of the Secretary's term. The post of Secretary-Elect shall be limited to one year, the year prior to his/her elevation to the office of Secretary. The terms of all officers shall be filled on the basis of the calendar year, beginning January 1. Graduate and postdoctoral representatives are appointed by the Chair.


    Article VI. Chair

    The Chair shall preside at the meetings of the Division and shall promote in every practical way the interests of the Division. He/She shall represent the Division in dealings with the Executive Committee of the Society. He/She shall appoint each year, a Nominating Committee of three members of the Division and designate one of them as Chair, and such other committees as may be desirable. The Chair of the Division shall serve for a term of two years.

    Article VII. Chair Elect

    The Chair-Elect shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever that person is unable to act. He/She shall serve for a term of one year after which he/she shall automatically assume the position of Chair.

    Article VIII. Program Officer

    The Program Officer shall be responsible for the arrangement of programs at the meetings of the Division. He/She shall serve for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-election through the office of Program Officer-Elect. The Program Officer shall chair the Program Planning Committee, a standing committee composed of the members of the Divisional Committee plus the Program Officer-Elect as stipulated in Article IX.

    Article IX. Program Officer-Elect

    The Program Officer-Elect shall serve on the Program Planning Committee for the one year preceding his/her elevation to the post of Program Officer

    Article X. Secretary

    The Secretary shall keep the records of the Division and handle the business affairs and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her. He/She shall serve for a term of two years and shall be eligible for re-election through the office of Secretary-Elect.

    Article Xa. Secretary-Elect

    The Secretary-Elect shall assume the duties of the Secretary whenever that person is unable to act. He/She shall serve for a term of one year after which he/she shall automatically assume the position of Secretary for a two-year term.

    Article XI. Finances

    The necessary expenses of the Division shall be paid from the treasury of the Society, but in no year shall the total expenses of the Division exceed the amount allotted for this purpose in the annual budget of the Society. No officer or member of the Division shall have authority to incur any expenses in the name of the Society, except as above specified

    Article XII. Divisional Committee

    In intervals between meetings a Divisional Committee composed of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Past Chair, Program Officer, and Secretary of the Division may operate the Division.

    Article XIII. Meetings

    A business meeting of the Division shall be held at least once a year concurrently with the regular Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, but if such a concurrent meeting is not feasible, then the Divisional Committee shall decide when and where the business meeting will be held. Divisional meetings may be held at other times and places on call of the Chair of when requested by ten members of the Division. Notice shall be sent to each member of the Division sixty days in advance of any meeting.

    Article XIV. Best Paper Awards

    An annual prize shall be awarded for the best paper presented by a student at the annual meeting. In addition to a certificate, the prize will carry with it an award of $100.00. Students who have not yet been awarded the Ph.D. are eligible for the prize, as are new Ph.Ds who have received the degree no more than 12 months prior to the meeting and are presenting a paper on their graduate research. The work must be original and must have been carried out principally by the student presenting the paper. The prize can be awarded only once to any student. Prior to the Annual Meeting, students who have submitted abstracts will be given the option of competing or not competing for the prize. However, if, in the opinion of the judges, none of the papers presented at a given meeting are deserving of a prize, the prize may be omitted for that year. In the case of a tie, duplicate prizes may be awarded. The Chair of the Division shall appoint annually 3 full members of the Division to act as judges. All papers identified as competing for the prize must be attended by at least one judge, and preferably by all three. No member who has a student competing for a prize shall be eligible to serve as judge.

    Article XV. Annual Report

    The annual report of the Division and its official notices shall be included with the regular records and proceedings of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.


    Article XVI. Amendments

    These Bylaws may be amended in response to a ballot by two-thirds vote of those ballots received, provided that notice has been given all members sixty days in advance.

    Article XVII.

    The passage of regular business at the annual business meeting of the Division shall be by a majority vote of those in attendance. Regular business may also be carried out by ballot with passage dependent upon a majority vote of those received in return.




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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY


    (Revised 1966, 1973, 1982, 1986, December 1993, December 1995, December 1996, January 2003)

    Article I. Name

    The name of the Division shall be "The Division of Invertebrate Zoology of The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology".

    Article II. Organization

    The Division of Invertebrate Zoology shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

    Article III. Membership

    Any member, Student Member, Emeritus Member or Corresponding Member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology may become a member of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology by registering with the Secretary of the Division and/or the Executive Director of the Society. A member may withdraw from the roll of the Division at any time by notifying the Secretary of the Division and/or the Executive Director of the Society.

    Article IV. Purpose

    The Division shall advance, coordinate and assist teaching and research in the field of Invertebrate Zoology and facilitate communication among invertebrate zoologists.

    Article V. Officers

    The Officers of the Division shall be: Chair, Past Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary and Program Officer. The Chair-Elect shall be elected triennially. The Chair-Elect should attend the annual meeting that follows her/his election. At the end of this annual meeting, the Chair-Elect shall automatically become Chair for three years. He/She shall serve as Past Chair during the succeeding two years. The Secretary and the Program Officer shall be elected triennially and shall hold office for three years. The expiration date of the terms of the Chair, Secretary and the Program Officer shall be arranged so that only one of them need be elected in any one year. The officers shall assume their duties at the next annual meeting following their election.

    The above officers, together with the retiring Secretary and retiring Program Officer (if any) shall constitute an Executive Committee and be responsible for the affairs of the Division.

    Article VI. Chair

    The Chair shall preside at the business meetings of the Division and the meetings of the Executive Committee. He/She shall represent the Division on the Executive Committee of the Society. Each year, he/she shall appoint a nominating committee of three members of the Division and other Committees as required to promote the affairs of the Division. He/She shall sign all proposals to federal granting agencies on behalf of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology.

    Article VII. Chair-Elect and Past Chair

    The Chair-Elect or Past Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever the latter cannot perform them.

    Article VIII. Secretary

    The Secretary shall keep the records of the Division and perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chair. The Secretary shall be responsible for at least two Division Newsletters per year. The Past Secretary shall serve for one year as a member of the Executive Committee of the Division.

    Article IX. Program Officer

    The Program Officer shall arrange all meetings of the Division. He/She shall coordinate special programs with the Program Officer of the Society and of related Societies when desirable. The Past Program Officer shall serve for one year as a member of the Executive Committee of the Division.

    Article X. Nominating Committee

    The Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three members who shall submit to the Secretary on March 1 a list containing not less than two candidates for each office to be filled. The Nominating Committee must certify to the Secretary that each candidate has declared a willingness to run for office and serve, if elected. The candidates shall be announced in the next Newsletter of the Division. Additional nominations for any office may be made in writing to the Secretary by any ten members of the Division not later than April 1.

    Article XI. Elections

    Elections of officers shall be held by mail. The Secretary shall mail ballots to the membership of the Division in May. A brief biographical sketch for each candidate shall accompany the ballots. The Secretary or SICB Executive Director shall count, tabulate, record the votes received by August 1, and notify the candidates for office of the results of the election. In the event that a vote results in a tie, the members of the Executive Committee shall vote by mail to resolve the tie.

    Article XII. Finances

    The expenses of the Division shall be paid from the treasury of the Society, within the limits allotted for that purpose. The Chair of the Division shall authorize all disbursements of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology funds, and coordinate financial procedures with the SICB Business Manager.

    Article XIII. Meetings

    The time of the subsequent annual business meetings of the Division shall be determined at each annual business meeting of the Division. Other meetings of the Division may be held at other times and places on call of the Executive Committee and 10 members of the Division. Notice of meetings shall be sent to each member of the Division at least 60 days in advance of any meeting.

    Article XIV. Annual Reports

    An Annual Report of the Division and its official notices shall be included in the reports of the Society.

    Article XV. Amendments

    These bylaws may be amended at any annual business meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present, provided that the text of the proposed amendments has been sent to all members of the Division at least 60 days in advance of the annual business meeting at which the amendment is to be considered.

    Article XVI. Graduate Student Presentation Awards

    Section 1.
    At each annual meeting of the SICB, the Division of Invertebrate Zoology may give awards for best papers and posters contributed by students. A first and second prize may be awarded in both papers and posters categories. Each award will be accompanied by a certificate of achievement. The student must be sole author or senior author of the paper/poster and, as such, have conceived of and executed a substantial share of the reported research. A student who applies to be considered must be a registered student or must have received a Ph. D. within 12 months immediately prior to the meeting. Additionally, the student must be a member of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology. Among those students competing for "Best Student Paper Award" and "Best Student Poster Award," one may be designated to receive the "Adrian M. Wenner Strong Inference Award" as specified in Section 2 below.

    Section 2.
    The selection of the paper or poster to receive the "Adrian M. Wenner Strong Inference Award" shall be on the basis of how well and explicitly it meets the standards of the strong inference or multiple working hypothesis approach, as described in any one of the following papers:

    Chamberline, T.C. 1890 (reprinted in 1965). The method of multiple working hypotheses. Science 148: 754-759.

    Platt, J.R. 1964. Strong Inference. Science 146: 347-353.

    Wenner, A.M. 1989. Concept-centered versus organism-centered biology. Integrative and Comparative Biology 29: 1179-1199.

    To be considered for the strong inference award, the paper or poster must explicitly apply the following steps:

    1. Clearly state an initial hypothesis.
    2. Explicitly designate alternate hypothesis(es).
    3. Devise crucial experiment(s) with alternative possible outcomes that will as nearly as possible exclude one or more of the alternative hypotheses.
    4. Execute the experiment cleanly.

    Section 3.
    A committee of three judges will be appointed by the Chair to organize the judging of papers and posters at each annual meeting.

    Article XVII.
    In the circumstance where an elected DIZ officer is unable to complete his or her term of office, the following provisions are made: If the office of Secretary or Program Officer is vacated early, the DIZ Chair, in consultation with the DIZ Executive Committee and the SICB President, will appoint someone to serve until elections can be held to fill the position. If the office of Division Chair is vacant, the DIZ Executive Committee, in consultation with the SICB President, will appoint someone to be the interim Chair until an election is held.


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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF NEUROBIOLOGY


    (Adopted January 1998, Amended January 2000)

    Article I. Name and Purpose

    Section 1. Name
    The official name of this division of SICB shall be "The Division of Neurobiology" hereafter called "Division."

    Section 2. Purpose
    The study of neurobiology is basic to theoretical and empirical biology. The purpose of this Division shall be to advance, coordinate and assist research and publication of this subject, and to act as a liaison between workers in the various scientific fields involved.

    Section 3. Organization
    Election and terms of officers of the Division and the naming and administration of standing committees will be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of SICB.

    Article II. Membership

    Section 1.
    Any member of SICB may become a member of the Division without payment of additional dues.

    Article III. Administrative Organization

    Section 1. Officers
    The officers of the Division shall be a Chair, Secretary and Program Officer. The Chair, Secretary and Program Officer shall be elected for a term of two years and shall be eligible for re-election, except that the Chair shall not serve more than two terms. Elections for each of these offices shall occur individually.

    Section 2. Elections
    Election of officers shall be by mail ballot of the Division. The names of candidates for offices shall be published in advance of a mail ballot. All officers shall assume the duties of their office following the annual Division business meeting.

    Section 3. Nominations for Chair
    Nominations for the office of Chair will be solicited by the Division officers on even calendar years. At least two candidates for the position shall be named. Candidates for Chair must be members in good standing of SICB.

    Section 4. Nominations for Secretary and Program Officer
    Nominations for the offices of Secretary and Program Officer shall be solicited on odd calendar years and a ballot prepared by a Nominating Committee appointed by the Chair in consultation with the Division Executive Committee. At least two candidates for each office shall be named, and all candidates must be members in good standing of SICB.

    Section 5. Nominations by Petition
    Candidates for elected offices may be nominated by petition. Candidates nominated by petition must be members in good standing of SICB. A petition for additional nominations for any office may be made in writing to the Secretary by 10 members of the Division prior to March 15.

    Section 6. Executive Committee
    In intervals between meetings, the management of the Division shall be vested in an Executive Committee consisting of the elected officers of the Division.

    Section 7. Newsletter
    Officers of the Division shall prepare materials regularly for the SICB Newsletter.

    Section 8. Committees
    Special committees may be authorized by the Executive Committee and shall be appointed by the Chair for one year. The Executive Committee should review the need for such committees as appropriate.

    Section 9. Finances
    The necessary expenses of the Division shall be disbursed from the treasury of the SICB, but in no year shall the total expenses of the Division exceed the amount specified by SICB. The Division budget shall be prepared and submitted by the Chair in consultation with the DNB Program Officer and the Executive Officer of the SICB.

    Article IV. Duties of the Officers

    Section 1. Chair
    The Chair shall preside at the business meeting of the Division, shall be responsible for the program and meetings of the Division, and shall promote in every practical way the interests of the Division. The Chair shall represent the Division on the Executive Committee of SICB.

    Section 2. Secretary
    The Secretary shall keep the records of the Division, request and prepare materials for SICB Newsletters, and shall perform such other duties as may be necessary and/or assigned. The Secretary shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever that person is absent or unable to act.

    Section 3. Program Officer
    The Program Officer shall solicit and arrange programs for meetings of the Division and shall coordinate special programs with the Program Officer of SICB. The Program Officer shall substitute for the Chair in the event that both the Chair and Secretary are unable to act.

    Article V. Meetings of the Division

    Section 1. Business Meeting
    A business meeting of the Division shall be held at least once a year in conjunction with the SICB Annual Meeting.

    Section 2. Special Meetings
    Division meetings may be held at other times and places on call of the Chair or when requested in writing by petition by 10 Division members in good standing. Notice shall be sent to each member of the Division sixty (60) days in advance of any such meeting.

    Article VI. Amendments to the Bylaws

    Section 1.
    Proposed amendments to the Division Bylaws may be originated by the Executive Committee or by the members of the Division. Division Bylaws may be amended by at least two-thirds vote of the members of the Division present at any Annual Meeting of the Division or by at least two-thirds votes of the members responding to a mail ballot. Proposed amendments receiving at least two-thirds votes in the affirmative become effective 15 days after the ballots are counted.

    Article VII. Cooperation

    Section 1.
    The Division shall make every effort to coordinate its programs and activities with those of the Society for Neuroscience whenever such coordination and cooperation is in the best interests of the field of neurobiology and therefore of both SICB and the Society for Neuroscience.


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    BYLAWS
    DIVISION OF SYSTEMATIC & EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY


    (Adopted 1967; Amended June 1991, December 1993, July 1997, and January 2005)

    Article I. Name and Purpose


    Section 1. Name

    The official name of this division of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology shall be "The Division of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology."


    Section 2. Purpose

    The study of systematic biology is basic to all comparative studies in biology. The purpose of the Division shall be to advance, encourage, and coordinate research and publication in systematic biology, and to act as a liaison between workers in various scientific fields interested in systematic or taxonomic applications of biology.


    Section 3. Organization

    The Division of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and the Bylaws of the Division.


    Article II. Membership

    Section 1.

    Any member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology may become a member of the Division of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology by registering with the Secretary of the Division or the Executive Director of the Society, without payment of additional dues.


    Article III. Administrative Organization

    Section 1. Officers

    The officers of the Division shall be a Chair, Past Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, Secretary-Elect, Program Officer, Program Officer-Elect, and Student/Postdoctoral Affairs Officer. The Chair-Elect shall be elected before one annual meeting and serve for a term of one year, and shall then successively and automatically become Chair for a term of two years and then successively and automatically become Past Chair for two years. The Secretary-Elect shall be elected triennially, and shall hold office for a term of one year, and then successively and automatically become Secretary for three years. The Program Officer-Elect shall be elected to serve for one year and shall then successively and automatically become Program Officer for three years. The Student/Postdoctoral Affairs Officer shall be elected by the Student and Postdoctoral members of the division, and serve for two years. Candidates must be Student or Postdoctoral members of the division at the time of election, and may not be re-elected. The Chair may be re-elected to serve another term following the two-year term as Past Chair; the Secretary and Program Officer may be re-elected to successive terms.


    Section 2. Elections

    Election of officers shall be by mail or appropriately secure electronic ballot of the Division. The names of candidates for offices shall be published by the Division at least thirty (30) daysin advance of the due date of the ballot. All officers shall assume the duties of their office at adjournment of the next annual Society business meeting. In the case when the Chair in unexpectedly vacated without a Chair-elect in place, the Past Chair, and if unavailable the Secretary, shall assume the office of Chair. In the case when the offices of Secretary or Program Officer are unexpectedly vacated without an officer-elect in place, the current Nominating Committee will recommend to the Chair an interim officer to be appointed to serve the remainder of the term.

    Section 3. Nominating Committee

    The Division Nominating Committee consists of three members named by the Chair and is chaired by an appointee of the Chair. All members of the Nominating Committee must be members in good standing of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.


    Section 4. Nominations

    Nominations for election to office shall be prepared by t