BYLAWS
DIVISION OF INTEGRATIVE & COMPARATIVE ISSUES

(Adopted at the SICB Philadelphia Meeting, December 1983; Amended December 1984, December 1986, and December 1996)

The purpose of this division is to encourage and to advance research and teaching of the history and philosophy of science, and to provide liaison among all scientists interested in those subjects. It shall also be the duty of the division to encourage research about the origins and subsequent development of the Society and its divisions. The Division will act as an advisory board with respect to the Archives of the Society.

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

The Division of Integrative and Comparative Issues, being one of the divisions of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of that Society.

Any member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology may, without payment of additional dues, become a member of this division upon request to the Executive Director of the Society.

The officers of the Division shall be a Chair, Chair-Elect, Program Officer, Past Program Officer (if applicable) and Secretary. Election to the office shall be by plurality vote of a mailed ballot sent to the entire membership at least 45 days before the annual meeting. The outcome of the election will be announced at the annual meeting and in the first Newsletter following the annual meeting. The term of office for all officers shall commence at the end of the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology following their election.

The Chair shall promote the interests of the Division, preside at the Annual Business Meetings of the Division, represent the Division on the Executive Committee of the Society, appoint the Nominating Committee and, in accordance with Article XI, appoint other committees as may be desirable. The Chair shall serve two years without eligibility for re-election.

The Chair-Elect shall assist the Chair and act for the Chair when the latter is absent. The Chair-Elect shall serve for a period of two years and then be automatically advanced to the Chair. The term of the Chair-Elect shall be synchronous with the Chair. If called upon, the Chair-Elect shall assist the Program Officer with the organization of symposia. The Chair-Elect shall sign all proposals to federal granting agencies on behalf of the Division.

The Program Officer shall arrange for the programs of the Division. This person shall serve two years, asynchronous with the Chair-Elect, without eligibility for re-election. The Past-Program Officer shall serve for one year as a member of the Executive Committee of the Division.

The Secretary shall be editor of the Newsletter of the Division, and shall perform other duties as assigned by the Chair. This officer shall serve a term of two years, synchronous with the Program Officer, and shall be eligible for re-election.

The elected officers of the Division, the immediate past Chair and the past Program Officer shall comprise the Executive Committee of the Division. Members of the Executive Committee shall confer informally on all matters of policy and shall conduct the affairs of the Division. The Executive Committee shall act as an advisory board for all matters pertaining to the Society's Archives.

Each year the Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members. The Chair may appoint such other ad hoc committees as are desirable. Standing Committees may be established or discontinued by the concurrence of, and in such manner as may be determined by, the Executive Committee.

The expenses of the Division shall be paid from the treasury of the Society and in any year may not exceed the sum allotted to the Division. The Chair will authorize all disbursements and coordinate financial procedures with the SICB Executive Officer.

A formal business meeting of the Division shall be held at least once a year. Other business meetings may be held in conjunction with any general meeting of the Division if called either by the Chair or by 15 members of the Division. The place and time of general meetings shall be determined by the Executive Committee in accordance with policy ratified at a business meeting. Notice of meetings shall be sent to all members at least 45 days in advance.

An Annual Report of the Division and its official notices shall be included in the reports of the Society. This Report shall also include notice of changes or additions to the Society's Archives.

A monetary award and certificate shall be awarded to the graduate student presenting the best paper at the Division of Integrative and Comparative Issues Contributed Paper sessions at each annual meeting. A student who applies to be considered for the award must be a registered graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow at the time of submission of the Abstract and a member of the Division of Integrative and Comparative Issues. The research must be original and the presenter the sole author of the paper. A committee of three judges will be appointed by the Chair to organize the judging of papers at each annual meeting. If in the eyes of the judges no outstanding papers were presented, then the award need not be given.

These Bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting of the Division by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Division voting, provided that notice has been given to all members 45 days in advance, or by a two-thirds majority of votes returned one month from the date of postmark of ballots mailed to the membership.