Constitution and Bylaws
5 November 2007
The IEEE Broadcast Technology Society is organized and operated according
to the following rules, which were approved by the Members and the IEEE.
IEEE Broadcast Technology Society Constitution
IEEE Broadcast Technology Society Bylaws
IEEE Broadcast Technology Society
Constitution
Article I - Name and Object
Section 1. This organization shall be known as the IEEE Broadcast
Technology Society.
Section 2. The Society's purpose shall be scientific and educational
in character. The Society shall strive for the advancement of the theory
and practice of electrical and electronic engineering and of the allied
arts and sciences and for the maintenance of high scientific and technical
standards among its members, all in consonance with the Constitution
and Bylaws of the IEEE and with special attention to such aims within
the field of interest of the Society, as hereinafter defined.
Section 3. The Society shall aid in promoting close cooperation
and exchange of technical information among its members and affiliates,
and to this end shall hold meetings for the presentation and discussion
or original contributions, shall publish Transactions reporting advances
within the scope of the Society, establish standards, and through its
committees, shall study and otherwise provide for the needs of its members
and affiliates.
Article II - Field of Interest
Section 1. The field of interest of the Society shall encompass
devices, equipment, techniques and systems related to broadcast technology,
including the production, distribution, transmission, and propagation
aspects.
Section 2. The field of interest of the Society may be enlarged,
reduced, or otherwise revised as the needs of the occasion indicate.
Such revisions shall be processes as an amendment to this Constitution.
Article III - Membership
Section 1. Membership in the Society shall be available to all
members of the IEEE in any grade, including students, having an interest
in the technology of broadcasting.
Section 2. Affiliates may participate in the activities of the
Society as provided by the IEEE Bylaws and subject to the applicable
IEEE rules and regulations and to any additional limitations imposed
by the Society Bylaws.
Section 3. Upon adoption of this Constitution, all current members
and affiliates of the Broadcasting Group shall be recognized as the
Charter Members of the Broadcast Technology Society. All current members
of the Broadcasting Group Administrative Committee shall be recognized
as Charter Members of the Broadcast Technology Society Administrative
Committee.
Article IV - Financial Support
Section 1. The Society shall collect from each member and affiliate
an assessment or fee in accordance with IEEE Bylaws and applicable rules
and regulations. The fees shall be prescribed in accordance with the
Society Bylaws.
Section 2. The Society may make registration charges at its meetings,
symposia, conferences, and conventions. The registration fee for non-members
of the IEEE must be higher than for members.
Section 3. The Society may raise revenues by other means such
as, but not limited to, advertising, shows, requests for contributions,
and charges for sending out notices to non-Society members, provided
such means are consistent with applicable IEEE rules and regulations.
Any new revenue means not explicitly covered by IEEE rules and regulations
must be approved by the General Manager of the IEEE before being adopted
by the Society.
Article V - Administration
Section 1. The affairs of the Society will be administered by
an Administrative Committee drawn from the membership of the Society.
Section 2. Within-term vacancies in the office of President or
Vice President of the Administrative Committee shall be filled by election
for the unexpired term by the Administrative Committee.
Section 3. Within-term vacancies occurring on the Administrative
Committee shall be filled by appointments for the unexpired terms by
the remainder of the Committee.
Section 4. The Administrative Committee (AdCom) may utilize the services
of IEEE Headquarters as bursar for all or part of Society funds as provided
by the IEEE Bylaws and rules and regulations.
Section 5. The President shall be an ex officio member of all
committees of the Society. As a member of the IEEE Technical Activities
Board he shall, when notified of a meeting of said Board, ensure representation
of the Society at such meeting by himself, or by an alternate. If an
alternate cannot be found, the President shall present the views of
the Society by a letter of proxy.
Section 6. The work of the Society shall be conducted through
the Administrative Committee, and through standing and ad hoc committees
as provided herein and in the Bylaws.
Article VI - Nomination and Election of Administrative
Committee Members
Section 1. Nominating procedures shall be as prescribed in the
Bylaws and shall include provision for nomination by petition of Society
members. Nominations by petition shall be included on the ballot and
shall be so identified.
Section 2. Election of the members of the Administrative Committee
shall be as prescribed in the Bylaws.
Article VII - Meetings
Section 1. The Society may hold meetings, conferences, symposia,
or conventions either alone or in cooperation with Sections, Regions,
National Convention Committees of the Institute or other technical organizations,
but the approval of IEEE Headquarters must be obtained in advance.
Section 2. Meetings, conferences, or conventions of the Society
shall be open on an equal basis to all members of the IEEE.
Section 3. The quorum for the Administrative Committee shall
be set forth in the Bylaws.
Section 4. A majority of the votes cast by those members of the Administrative Committee attending a meeting shall be necessary for the conduct of its business except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. A majority of the votes of the members present and entitled to vote, at the time of vote, provided a quorum is present, shall be the act of the Administrative Committee or any committee thereof.
Section 5. Vote of the Presiding officer. The presiding officer of the Broadcast Technology Society shall have no vote, except if the vote is by secret ballot or unless the Chair’s vote can change the outcome of the vote.
Section 6. Business of the Administrative Committee may be handled by correspondence, or any other form of communication when, in the opinion of the President, matters requiring prompt action can be adequately handled in that manner. A majority vote of the full committee is required to take action in such a case. Telephone actions are to be promptly confirmed in writing by the President.
The Administrative Committee or any committee thereof may meet and act upon the vote of its members by any means of telecommunication. The normal voting requirements shall apply when action is taken by means of telecommunications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time.
Section 7. The Administrative Committee shall meet, as required to conduct business, and in accordance with the Bylaws.
The Administrative Committee or any committee thereof may take action without a meeting if applicable (e.g. email voting). An affirmative vote of a majority of all the voting members of the Administrative Committee or any committee thereof shall be required to approve the action. The results of the vote shall be confirmed promptly in writing or by electronic transmission. The writings and/or electronic transmissions shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Administrative Committee or any committee thereof. “Electronic transmission” means any form of electronic communication, such as e-mail, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient.
Individuals holding more than one position on the Administrative Committee or any committee thereof, shall be limited to one vote on each matter being considered by the Administrative Committee or committee.
Proxy voting is not allowed
Article VIII - Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated by
petition submitted by one percent of the members of the Society or by
a majority or the members of the Administrative Committee, such petition
being submitted to the Secretary of the IEEE Technical Activities Board
(TAB), and to the Executive Committee of the IEEE for approval. After
such approval, the proposed amendments shall be publicized in the Society
Transactions or Newsletters, or by direct mailing to all Society members,
with notice that it goes into effect unless five percent of the Society
members, including students, object within 30 days. If such objections
are received, a copy of the proposed amendment shall be mailed with
a ballot to all members of the Society at least 30 days before the date
appointed for return of the ballots, and the ballots shall carry a statement
of the time limit for their return to the IEEE Office. When a mail vote
of the entire Society membership is made necessary, approval of the
amendment by at least two-thirds of the ballots returned shall be necessary
for its enactment, provided, however, that if the number of ballots
returned is less than ten percent of the membership of the Society,
the amendment shall be deemed to be approved.
Section 2. Suitable bylaws and amendments thereto, may be adopted
by a two-thirds vote of the Administrative Committee in meeting assembled,
provided that notice of the proposed bylaw, or amendment, has been sent
to each member of the Administrative Committee at least a week prior
to such meeting, or a bylaw, or amendment, may be adopted by a two-thirds
mail vote of the members of the Administrative Committee, provided a
30-day period is allowed for such responses. In either event, the proposed
bylaw, or amendment, shall be published in the Society Transactions
or Newsletters, or by direct mailing to all Society members. No bylaw,
or amendment, shall take effect until it has been mailed to the Secretary
of TAB of the IEEE, and he has obtained approval of the General Manager.
Article IX - Publications
Section 1. Publications undertaken by the Society shall be subject
to IEEE policies and to any further guidance or controls prescribed
by the Administrative Committee or its duly appointed committees. The
Society shall be responsible for the financial aspects of its publication
program.
Section 2. The President of the Society, with the advice and
consent of the Administrative Committee, shall appoint such editors
as may be required to implement the publication program.
IEEE Broadcast Technology Society
Bylaws
1. Membership
There shall be two grades of IEEE Broadcast Technology Society (hereinafter
Society) membership: student members and members. Student members of
the IEEE may become student members of the Society upon payment of the
annual student membership fee in effect at the time Society membership
is requested. Members of the IEEE in other grades may become members
of the Society upon payment of the annual Society membership fee in
effect at the time Society membership is requested. Special categories
of membership and the appropriate annual Society membership fees shall
be as specified in IEEE Bylaws.
2. Affiliates
Non-members of the IEEE who are members of certain other
organizations accredited by the IEEE, as provided in IEEE rules and
regulations, may become affiliates of the IEEE and members of the Society
upon payment of the annual Society membership fee in effect at the time
Society membership is requested. Affiliates shall have the same rights
and privileges in the Society as IEEE members, and shall be eligible
to serve and hold office on any board or committee, with the exception
of the offices of President and Vice President of the Society.
3. Member Fees
The annual Society membership fees shall be reviewed each
year as part of the Society budget cycle and adjusted to meet Society
fiscal needs. The Society Administrative Committee must approve any
proposed change in the annual Society membership fees.
4. Affiliate Fees
Affiliates shall pay the same annual Society membership
fee as Society members. This fee is in addition to the affiliate surcharge
specified in IEEE rules and regulations.
5. Fiscal Year
The administrative and fiscal year for the Society begins
on January 1st and ends on December 31st.
6. Administrative Committee
6.1 The Society Administrative Committee shall consist of 15
elected voting members-at-large, five of whom shall be elected for three-year
terms each year from the Society membership in good standing: plus the
Society President, Society Vice President, Society Secretary, and Society
Treasurer; the immediate past Society President and predecessor; all
standing or ad hoc Society technical, advisory, or coordinating committee
chairpersons; Society liaison representatives; and Society publication
editors, as ex-officio members (unless already elected members-at-large).
6.2 Society Administrative Committee members-at-large may be reelected
to one full term after serving one full term. Only two consecutive terms
are permitted, but eligibility for reelection is restored after a one-year
lapse in service.
6.3 All Society Administrative Committee members,
including ex-officio members, shall have voting privileges.
6.4 At its last meeting of even-numbered years,
the Society Administrative Committee shall elect a Society President
and Society Vice President from a list of eligible candidates consisting
of current Society Administrative Committee members-at-large, past Society
Administrative Committee members-at-large, and past Society officers.
The elected Society President and Society Vice President will serve
a two-year term, beginning January 1 of the year following their election.
The Society President and Society Vice President are permitted to serve
two consecutive two-year terms, and may be reelected after a two-year
lapse in service.
6.5 By January 1 of the year following an election,
from all Society members in good standing, the Society President shall
appoint a Society Secretary, a Society Treasurer, and all Society standing
or ad hoc committee chairpersons and members, each of whom are appointed
for the current term of the Society President who appointed them. There
are no term limits for those serving as Society Secretary, Society Treasurer,
Society committee chairperson or Society committee member.
6.6 If an elected member-at-large fails to attend
four consecutive meetings of the Society Administrative Committee, the
Society Administrative Committee may vote to remove that member-at-large
from the Society Administrative Committee, and, in accordance with the
Society Constitution, may appoint a successor to serve for the remainder
of the term of the removed member-at-large.
6.7 Society officers, Society Administrative Committee
members, and Society committee members must be members of the Society
in good standing.
6.8 Quorum. A majority of the voting members of the Administrative Committee or any committee thereof shall constitute a quorum. (Ref: IEEE Bylaw I-300.5)
6.9 The Society Administrative Committee shall
meet at least two, and no more than four, times per year, at times and
locations to be determined by the Society President and announced at
least 30 days in advance of the meeting.
6.10 The Society Administrative Committee authorizes
the creation of the Executive Committee of the Society Administrative
Committee, which consists of the current Society officers and the immediate
past Society President, and directs the Executive Committee to conduct
day-to-day Society business affairs which do not require full Society
Administrative Committee review and approval.
7. Nominations and Appointments (N&A) Committee
7.1 (Ref: IEEE Bylaw I-308.1)
The Chair of the N&A Committee shall be either the past President or the immediate past President of the Administrative Committee. In the event of the incapacity or conflict of interest of the Chair, the most recent Past Chair of the N&A Committee available shall be the Chair of the N&A Committee. With extenuating circumstances, a different individual may be appointed to this position.
7.2 N&A Chairs shall not be eligible to be elected to the Administrative Committee during their term of service.
7.3 At least two-thirds of the voting members of the N&A Committee shall be elected or appointed by the Administrative Committee.
7.4 A member of an N&A Committee may be nominated and run for a position for which such member’s respective N&A Committee is responsible for making nominations only on the following conditions: (i) the nomination is not made by a member of the same N&A Committee and (ii) the member resigns from the N&A Committee prior to its first meeting of the year in which the nomination shall be made.
8. Nomination and Election of Society Administrative
Committee
The Society Administrative Committee shall establish its
own procedures for filling vacancies within its ranks.
9. Petition signature requirements (Ref: IEEE Bylaw I-308.16 and IEEE Policy 13.8.3)
9.1 For each elective office of the Society, individual voting members eligible to vote in such election may nominate candidates either by a written petition or by majority vote at a nomination meeting of the organizational unit, provided such nominations are made at least 28 days before the date of election. The number of signatures required on a petition shall be determined in accordance with IEEE Bylaws as follows. For all positions where the electorate is less than 30,000 voting members, signatures shall be required from 2% of the eligible voters. For all positions where the electorate is more than 30,000 voting members, 600 signatures of eligible voters plus 1% of the difference between the number of eligible voters and 30,000 shall be required
9.2 Members shall be notified of all duly made nominations prior to the election. Prior to submission of a nomination petition, the petitioner shall have determined that the nominee named in the petition is willing to serve, if elected; evidence of such willingness to serve shall be submitted with the petition.
9.3 Signatures can be submitted electronically through the official IEEE society annual election website, or by signing and mailing a paper petition. The name of each member signing the paper petition shall be clearly printed or typed. For identification purposes of signatures on paper petitions, membership numbers or addresses as listed in the official IEEE membership records shall be included. Only signatures submitted electronically through the IEEE society annual elections website or original signatures on paper petitions shall be accepted. Facsimiles, or other copies of the original signature, shall not be accepted. Only original signatures can be accepted on a paper petition. Electronic signatures can only be submitted via the IEEE society annual elections website. Faxes or other types of electronic signatures are not allowed).
9.4 The number of signatures required on a petition shall depend on the number of eligible society voters, as listed in the official IEEE membership records at the end of the year preceding the election
10. Technical, Advisory, and Coordinating Committees
Standing and or ad hoc Society committees may be established
by the Society Administrative Committee as deemed relevant to the Society's
special fields of interest.
11. Publications
The Society, through its Society Administrative Committee,
may publish IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, newsletters, and other publications
related to the fields of interest of the Society.
12. Chapters
Chapters are Society sub-groups organized on a geographical
basis. This subject is addressed fully in the IEEE Society Section of
the Technical Activities Manual and in the Section Manual.
13. Awards and Fellow Nominations
13.1 The Society Awards Committee is responsible
for studying the requirements for IEEE awards and for IEEE Fellow nominations.
The Society Awards Committee will solicit recommendations from the Society
administrative, technical, advisory, and coordinating committees, Society
Chapters, and from Society membership through Society publications.
The Awards Committee will prepare recommendation and initiate appropriate
actions in support of awards to Society members, and will maintain contact
with the IEEE Awards Committee and IEEE Fellows Committee on behalf
of the Society.
13.2 The Society Awards Committee shall arrange
for suitable awards for excellence of technical content or presentation
of contributions published in Transactions on Broadcasting or presented
at a Society conference.
14. Disbursements
Disbursements from Society funds credited to the Society
after enactment of these Bylaws shall be on the authority of the Society
Treasurer as directed by the Society Administrative Committee and in
accordance with an approved budget and established procedures and policies
of the IEEE. The Society Administrative Committee may authorize the
Society Treasurer to disburse funds to defray legitimate expenses incurred
by the Society Administrative Committee, the Society Executive Committee,
and the Society technical, advisory and coordinating committees.
