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Bylaws

Contents

  1. Name and Purpose
  2. Membership
  3. Officers, Duties, and Terms of Office
  4. Committees
  5. Activities
  6. Rules of Procedure
  7. Amendments
  8. Dissolution

Article I – Name And Purpose

  1. The name of this organization will be the Association for Psychological Science.
  2. The purpose of this organization will be to promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, and the improvement of human welfare.

Article II – Membership

  1. The Association will consist of three categories of members: Fellows, Members, and Affiliates.
  2. Members of the Association will be persons who contribute to and are interested in the advancement of scientific psychology. The minimum standard for membership as a Member will be:
    1. receipt of a doctoral degree based in part on evidence of proficiency in psychological research from a program primarily psychological in content and conferred by a graduate school that is regionally accredited or that has achieved accreditation within five years of the year the doctoral degree was granted, or one of equivalent standing.
    1. such other qualifications as may be deemed appropriate by the Membership Committee.
  3. The minimum standards for members who are confirmed as Fellow will be those that qualify as a Member and provide distinguished contributions to scientifically oriented psychology and/or to APS.
  4. Affiliates will consist of the following: students and individuals in psychology or related disciplines who do not meet the requirements as a Member or Fellow, as described in sections 2 and 3. Requirements for Affiliates will be in the best interest of advancing scientifically oriented psychology and any other requirements set by the Membership Committee.
  5. Members and Fellows will be entitled to the right to vote on such matters as provided by the Association. Affiliate members cannot vote.
  6. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) may revise the membership classes or establish other such classes and criteria of membership as it deems appropriate, including assigning voting rights, imposing application requirements, fees and dues, and establishing the manner of suspension, termination, or reinstatement of membership.
  7. Dues for members, Fellows, and the several classes of affiliates are set by the Board of Directors of the Association and are paid to the Association.
  8. All Members, Fellows, and Affiliates will be treated without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, or mental or physical disability or other protected class.

Article III – Officers, Duties, And Terms Of Office

  1. The Board of Directors will have general supervision of the affairs of the Association, performing the duties and abiding by the policies specified in these Bylaws. The Board will be responsible for appointing members to committees. The Board of Directors shall consist of the seven Members-at-Large, the President-Elect, President, Past President, the Treasurer, Strategic Initiatives Liaison. The Chief Executive Officer and the Chair of the Student Caucus are non-voting, ex-officio members of the Board.
  2. The officers of the Association will consist of the President-Elect, President, and Past President (“Presidential Team”), the Treasurer and Strategic Initiatives Liaison. Each officer will perform the usual duties of the respective office and any additional duties specified elsewhere in these Bylaws or as assigned by the Board of Directors. Appointment for officers will normally be held every year by the Board. The President-Elect shall succeed to President, then Past President and shall each serve a term of one year. The Members-at-Large will serve four-year terms, equally staggered to the greatest extent practical. This cycle for Members-at-Large assumes staggered elections to ensure continuity in leadership, while accommodating the presidential rotation and special roles.
  3. Candidates for Members-at-Large, the Presidential Team, Treasurer and Strategic Initiatives Liaison will be Fellows or Members of the Association. A history of membership in and contributions to the Association is expected. The Board of Directors will appoint the President-Elect (and any member of the Presidential Team as may be necessary) from among the eligible Board Members. The members of the Presidential Team must have served at least one year as Member-at-Large on the Board in advance of their appointment. The President-Elect (and President if appointed) must be appointed during their term on the board (within their 4-year term). Individuals appointed as President-Elect do not require re-appointment to serve in the presidential line past their 4th year. Treasurer and Strategic Initiatives Liaison participate and vote in Board meetings but are not eligible for appointment to the Presidential Team.
  4. The Board should consist of at least 12 members; should the number fall below this (e.g., due to the timing of presidency during or beyond the original 4-year term), additional members may be elected (for Members-at-Large) or appointed (members of the Presidential Team, as necessary, Treasurer or Liaison). Members-at-Large may serve on the Board for more than one term, but there must be a minimum of one year between terms. The Treasurer shall be appointed annually and may serve 4 consecutive terms, and the Strategic Initiatives Liaison shall be appointed annually and may serve up to 4 terms.
  5. The President-Elect will be elected by the Board of Directors through an anonymous ballot and by a simple majority. The Members-at-Large will be elected by ballot by Members and Fellows.
  6. In the case of the President’s prolonged absence, incapacity, death, or resignation, the President-Elect will assume the duties of the President. In the case of the resignation, death, or prolonged absence of a Member-at-Large or the President-Elect, the Board may replace that Member by appointing another person to serve during the remainder of their term.
  7. The President, President-Elect, Past President, Members-at-Large, Treasurer, and Strategic Liaison will constitute the voting members of the Board of Directors. A graduate student liaison to the Board, selected by the APS Student Caucus, will serve as a non-voting member. The CEO will serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Board. Any official action by the Board must be approved by a majority vote of a quorum, which is defined as a majority of the eligible voting members in attendance (including those attending via video conferencing, phone, or other technological equivalence).
  8. The Chief Executive Officer will be the principal administrative leader of the organization with responsibility for administering and transacting the business of the Association in collaboration with the Presidential Team. In partnership with the Board of Directors, the CEO will also be charged with developing and implementing initiatives to further the strategic goals of the Association and to engage in networking, science advocacy, and communications representing the Association and its membership. The CEO will have charge of the organization’s office(s) and will attend to the business of the publications and programs of the Association. The CEO will be appointed by the Board of Directors and report to the President. The CEO will serve at the discretion of the Board, which may delegate authority for the annual review and compensation to the Presidential Team. The Board will set forth a process for and conduct an annual review of the CEO. The CEO will be responsible for hiring, managing, and, when necessary, terminating all staff members, with the authority to delegate these responsibilities as deemed appropriate for the efficient operation of the Association.

Article IV – Committees

  1. The Committees of the Association will consist of standing Committees as provided by the Bylaws and special Committees that are established by the Board of Directors. Committees, including special committees, should include a member of the Board either as a committee member or as chair or co-chair. It is desirable that each Board Member serve as chair or co-chair of a committee, as needed.
  2. The Executive Committee (EC), with the agenda set by the President, is comprised of the 3 Presidents (Presidential Team) and the CEO and is responsible for providing leadership to the Board of Directors. The EC will also act on urgent issues between Board of Directors meetings. The EC is responsible for thoroughly discussing the ramifications of these issues and bringing recommendations to the Board. The EC may meet prior to each Board of Directors meeting to review the agenda and prepare special recommendations for the Board’s consideration.
  3. The standing Committees will include the Executive, Awards, Convention, Elections, Finance, Membership, and Publications Committees. The members of each Committee and the Committee chairs, with the exception of the Finance Committee (see description below), will be appointed by the Board of Directors. Members will serve a 4-year term, with terms staggered, with at least one new member appointed each year. Chairs are appointed for a 1-year term, which may be renewed at the option of the President and the Board. The Committees will make recommendations to the Board of Directors.
  4. The Awards Committee, composed primarily of Fellows, will annually recommend to the Board of Directors recipients of awards created by the Association.
  5. The Convention Committee will plan and oversee the conduct of the annual meeting and/or other scientific convenings the organization may offer. The Committee may appoint subcommittees or individuals outside of its own membership to assist in local arrangements and preparing the program.
  6. The Election Committee will secure nominations for Members-at-Large and prepare a slate of nominees to maintain global, disciplinary, career stage, and sector balance among the members of the Board of Directors and various committees. The Committee will determine whether nominees are qualified and willing to serve, oversee the construction and administration of ballots, and report the results to the Board of Directors.
  7. The Finance Committee will review financial reports prepared by Association staff and auditors. The Finance Committee will be chaired by the Treasurer     and includes the President and President-Elect. The Treasurer will work with staff to develop an annual budget that advances the strategic goals of the organization. The Budget will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and ultimately adopted by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
  8. The Membership Committee will develop recruitment and retention strategies for membership in all classes. The Committee will evaluate applications and make recommendations for Fellow status. The committee will provide an annual report on current members, new members, and retention.
  9. The Publications Committee will oversee the publications of the Association, make recommendations to the Board of Directors on publication policies, annual budgets, and create committees for searches for Editors of the Association’s publications. The Committee will handle inquiries regarding related ethical issues in accordance with APS policy. Members of the Publications Committee may not simultaneously serve as an Editor or Co-Editor.

Article V – Ethical Standards

All Members, Fellows, and Affiliates of the Association for Psychological Science are expected to act in and uphold the highest ethical standards in their scholarly and professional activities. The Board of Directors will address ethical misconduct by considering the admission, retention, and expulsion of members, consistent with the purposes of the Association and the other provisions of these bylaws and with the Articles of Incorporation, and shall be equally enforced for all Members, Fellows, and Affiliates.

Article VI – Activities

  1. An annual meeting of the Association will be held to share and promote scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, and the advancement of human welfare, and the transaction of Association business.
  2. The Association may establish or acquire newsletters, journals, or other sources of dissemination for the purpose of advancing psychological science.
  3. The Association may undertake the tasks of specifying accreditation, education, and training criteria in scientifically oriented psychology and promoting public education and encouraging legislative initiatives consistent with the purposes of the Association.
  4. The Association may undertake other meetings, activities, programs, or services not outlined in these Bylaws if these advance the mission of the organization and enhance the ability of the organization to better serve its members and psychological science into the future.
  5. The Board of Directors may provide for the formation and dissolution of interest groups, regional chapters, and other units within the Association and will, when appropriate, affiliate with other organizations and their activities.

Article VII – Rules of Procedure

  1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) will serve as a guideline for the Association in all cases to which they apply and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association might adopt.

Article VII – Amendments

  1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members who reply to a ballot sent to the membership. Bylaws amendments may be initiated by the Board of Directors.
  2. Periodically, the Board of Directors will review the then-current Bylaws and the operation and structure of the Association and make recommendations about them to the Board.

Article VIII – Dissolution

  1. In the event of the dissolution or termination of the Association, all of the assets and title to and possession of the property of the Association will pass to one or more scientific societies or other organizations selected by the Board of Directors.

Approved by the Board of Directors, October 9, 2025, and by a vote of the membership October 31, 2025.