Bylaws
1. Name and Purpose of Section
The Science, Technology and Environmental Politics (STEP) section of the American Political Science Association is dedicated to the promotion of research and teaching on the political dimensions of issues in science, technology and environmental policy. STEP highly values the relationship between Section members and the Section governance and members are strongly encouraged to participate in an appropriate manner to help provide direction for STEP-related activities.
2. Section Governance
The STEP section of APSA will be administrated by a chair, a secretary-treasurer, a program chair, a newsletter editor and an executive council composed of a minimum three persons.
a. The Chair shall organize and direct such programs as are approved at the annual meeting as well as communicate relevant information to the section membership. The Chair shall consult the Executive Council and may delegate activities to the members of the council, if necessary. This position is establised as a three-year term.
b. The Secretary-Treasurer will maintain a record of the annual section meeting, maintain the financial records of the section, prepare an annual report for presentation to the American Political Science Association, and take other actions requested by the Executive Council or that are in the interest of the section. The usual term for the position of Secretary-Treasurer will be three years.
c. The Program Chair shall be responsible for organizing the Section's panels for the annual meetings of the Association. The usual term for the position of Program Chair will be one year.
d. The STEP Forward Newsletter Editor is responsible for the publication of the Section Newsletter. The Editor will appoint and oversee a small staff to assist him or her, if required, for this purpose. The Editor shall work in cooperation with the institution hosting the Newsletter and its staff and serve a three-year term.
e. The Executive Council makes general thematic and administrative policy for the Section and approves the budget and plans for the financial needs of the Section. The Council also performs advisory duties to the Chair and can be called upon to mediate contestations, if they arise. The Council shall, when conditions present themselves, faithfully represent the majority interests of the Section members and earnestly attempt to realize their proposals. When a position is vacant or vacated, the Executive Council shall make appointments to fill such vacancies until the next election. Positions on the Executive Council are normally held for three years.
f. The election of officers should proceed as follows:
i. Before the end of April, the Section Chair shall organize a Nominating Committee consisting of at least five members representative of the Section’s diverse interests.
ii. Following its appointment, the Nominating Committee shall solicit the members of the Section for officer nominations. The Nominating Committee shall nominate a list of potential officers that (a) is taken from the names received, particularly those persons receiving several mentions; and (b) represents the diverse interests of the Section. The Section's Nominating Committee may petition for any office as well. The slate shall be listed in the summer issue of the STEP Forward Newsletter and/or otherwise distributed over the STEP listserv to the Section members so that the nominees are known prior to the Annual Section Meeting.
iii. The Nominating Committee's slate shall be submitted for election at the Section Meeting. The new officers shall assume office at the conclusion of the meeting. The winner shall be determined by a majority vote of all members participating in the election. In cases where no individual receives a majority of votes, a run-off election will be held between the two candidates receiving the greatest and next-greatest number of votes. The winner shall assume office upon election.
iv. Members of the Section should be informed of the election outcomes at the conclusion of the meeting.
v. Questions or conflicts, including contested election outcomes, should be settled by the Executive Council in consultation with the Section chair.
g. The single offices shall be filled by no more than one person. In any instance where the officers of the Section make a collective decision, each office will have only one vote except for circumstances where one individual holds several offices. In such case, that individual will receive a total of one vote. Terms shall expire at the conclusion of the APSA Annual Meeting. When an election outcome is contested, the incumbent shall continue in office until his/her successor is elected.
3. Section Membership
a. All regular, student, family, retired, and life members of the American Political Science Association are available for Section membership. Those sharing interest in the issues of Science, Technology and Environmental Politics, including its various intersections, are especially welcome to join. Members receive all benefits and services including the ability to participate in the election of officers or to serve as officers.
b. Membership in the Section is established by payment of annual Section dues to the APSA, or, for associate members, to the Secretary-Treasurer.
c. Members dues will be set by the Executive Council at the level necessary to cover expenses for elections and other services provided by the Section.
4. Bylaw Amendments
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed to the Executive Council by a majority vote of the participants at the Annual Section Meeting, or by a petition containing the names of 25 percent of the Section members submitted to the Section Chair 30 days prior to the Annual Section Meeting. Amendments should be voted upon by means deemed appropriate by the Executive Council, including electronic or mail ballot. Amendments to these bylaws become effective immediately after a vote in which two-thirds of the members indicate their approval of the proposed amendment.
5. New Bylaw Implementation
The proposed amendment shall become official at the close of balloting if approved by two-thirds of the votes.
6. Awards
The STEP section shall provide the following awards annually. Nominations for the awards may be made by any officer or member of the Section, and all Section members shall receive notification of all new award nominations. A panel of three judges selected by the Chair and Executive Council shall be responsible for choosing an awardee from competing nominations. Each prize shall be awarded to only one recipient per year.
a. The Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize is given for the best book on environmental politics and policy published in the past three years. The typical deadline for submitting nominations is April 1.
b. The Don K. Price Award is given for the best book on science, technology, and politics published in the past three years. The typical deadline for submitting nominations is April 1.
c. The Virginia M. Walsh Dissertation Award is given for the best dissertation in science, technology and environmental politics finished in the last two years. The typical deadline for submitting nominations is April 1.
d. The Best Paper Award is given for the best paper presented on science, technology, and politics at the previous year's APSA Annual Meeting. Nominations are received from chairs and discussants at APSA convention panels. The typical deadline for submitting nominations is April 1.