THE RESEARCH COUNCIL ON
MATHEMATICS LEARNING
The Research Council on Mathematics Learning seeks to stimulate, generate, coordinate, and disseminate research efforts designed to understand and/or overcome factors which inhibit maximal mathematics learning.


HANDBOOK
Revised July 17, 1998

CONSTITUTION
RESEARCH COUNCIL ON
MATHEMATICS LEARNING

Adopted April 1976

Amended April, 1983
Name Amended 1999

ARTICLE 1. NAME

The name of this non-profit Association shall be Research Council on Mathematics Learning.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The Research Council on Mathematics Learning seeks to stimulate, generate, coordinate, and disseminate research efforts designed to understand and/or overcome factors which inhibit maximal mathematics learning.

ARTICLE Ill. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 Types of Membership
a.   Founding Membership
Recognition of founding membership shall be limited to individuals who presented papers at the first, second, or third National Conference of Remedial Mathematics at Kent State University.
b.   Regular Membership
Regular membership shall be open to all individuals who have interests as stated in Article 11, who submit completed application forms, and who are approved by the Executive Committee. Founding members are subject to the conditions of regular membership.
      c.   Student Membership
Student membership shall be open to individuals who are certified as students by a college or university instructor and who submit completed application forms.

Section 2 Privileges of Membership
a.   Regular Members
Regular members shall be accorded all rights and privileges normally provided members of research, scientific, educational, and professional Associations including the right to vote, hold office, receive publications and to participate in conferences.
b.   Student Members
Student members shall have the right and privilege of participating in conferences and shall receive selected Council publications. They shall not vote, hold office, nor initiate motions in meetings of the Council.

Section 3 Protection of Membership Rights
The Executive Committee may censure, expel, or suspend any member for cause following due process procedures provided by the By‑Laws of the Association.

ARTICLE IV. GENERAL ORGANIZATION

Section 1 Officers
There shall be the following elected officers of the association: President, President-Elect or Past-President, Vice President for Publications, Vice-President for Conferences, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2 President
     The President shall be the presiding officer of business meetings and conferences, shall hold non-votinq ex-officio membership on standing committees, shall call special meetings when necessary, shall coordinate activities of standing committees, and shall provide leadership for the attainment of the purposes of the association.
Section 3 President-Elect or Past-President
The President-Elect or Past-President, whichever exists during the current year, shall be the presiding officer in the absence of the President, shall aid the President in the executive responsibilities, and shall assume the office of the President should that office be vacated.
Section 4 Vice-President for Conferences
The Vice-President for Conferences shall be the presiding officer in the absence of the President, the Past President, and the President-Elect, shall assume responsibility for coordination of conferences, and shall compile an accurate account of all activities of the office.
Section 5 Vice‑President for Publications
The Vice-President for Publications shall be the presiding officer in the absence of the President, Past-President, President-Elect, and Vice-President for Conferences, shall assume responsibility for coordination of publications, and shall compile an accurate account of all activities of the office.
Section 6 Secretary
The Secretary shall maintain minutes of business meetings, shall assist the officers with official correspondence, and shall keep official records of the association and the Executive Committee.
Section 7 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall maintain accurate membership lists, shall collect dues and other monies owed to the association, shall maintain the association's non-profit status, shall transact financial business upon recommendation from the Executive Committee, and shall maintain accurate financial records.
Section 8 Committees
There shall be standing and special committees of the association as provided in the By-Laws of this association.
Section 9 Executive Committee
a.   Membership
The Executive Committee will consist of the following officers: President, Past-President or President-Elect, Vice-President for Conferences, Vice President for Publications, Secretary, and Treasurer.
b.   Duties
The Executive Committee shall stimulate and coordinate research by the members of the organization and shall be the policy-making body of the association whose duties shall be delineated in the By-Laws of the association.

ARTICLE V. ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

Section 1 Annual Meeting
An official annual business meeting shall be held at such time and place as determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 2 Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Association shall be called by the President at the direction of the Executive Committee under the provisions stipulated in the By‑Laws of this Association.

Section 3 Rules of Order
The business of the Association shall be conducted according to Roberts' Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except where otherwise specified in the By‑Laws of the Association.

Section 4 Quorum
A quorum for the annual and/or special meetings of this Association shall be the members present.

ARTICLE VI. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

The Executive Committee shall form an Ad Hoc Nominating Committee as provided for in the By‑Laws of this Association.

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION

This Constitution may be amended by the following procedures:
1. Any regular member(s) may propose amendments.
2. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Committee not less than sixty days prior to the annual business meeting.
3. The Executive Committee shall consider all proposed amendments and deliver their recommendations to the Regular Members at the annual meeting.
4.   Proposed amendments to this Constitution recommended by the Executive Committee for adoption will be acted upon by the Regular Members. Approval requires two-thirds majority of Regular Members voting by mail ballot.

ARTICLE VIll. ADOPTION

This Constitution shall become effective upon the approval of two‑thirds of those individuals eligible for founding membership.

BY‑LAWS
RESEARCH COUNCIL ON
MATHEMATICS LEARNING

Adopted April, 1976

Amended April, 1983

ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP

Section 1       Application for Membership
Application for membership shall be submitted in such a manner as the Executive Committee may prescribe. Upon approval of an application and the receipt of dues, the applicant shall become a member.

Section 2 Dues
An annual dues structure shall be established by the Executive Committee subject to review at the annual business meeting. The membership year for the annual dues shall be from conference to conference.

Section 3 Due Process Rights
The Executive Committee by a 2/3 vote may censure, expel or suspend any member for cause provided that notice of such proposed action and reasons therefore be mailed or otherwise given to said member by the President thirty days in advance. Provided further, that such member shall be given an opportunity within thirty days notice to answer such charges in writing directed to the Secretary for consideration by the Executive Committee, which hearing shall be held at such time, place, and in such manner as may be prescribed. An appeal from the decision of the Executive Committee may be taken at the next annual business meeting of the Council, where, by a majority of those Regular Members voting, such decisions may be sustained, reversed, or modified.

Section 4 Disqualification
Any member delinquent in the payment of dues for a period of three months shall be notified thereof by the Membership Coordinator and shall lose all rights of membership until current dues are paid.

Section 5 Resignation
Any member may submit to the Executive Committee notice of the desire to resign. Dues or portions thereof shall not be refunded.

ARTICLE II EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 Duties
The Executive Committee shall within the provision of the Constitution and/or the By‑Laws of the Council, perform the following functions:
            a. Review and take appropriate action on all committee activities and recommendations;
            b. Call business meetings;
            c. Report regularly to the Council;
            d. Take appropriate measures and perform all such duties as required to‑accomplish the objectives of the Research Council on Mathematics Learning;
            e.   Establish administrative policy and procedures for conducting the business affairs of the Research Council on Mathematics Learning;
            f.    Proceed in appropriate administrative areas not specifically covered by the Constitution, the By‑Laws, or the established Administrative Policies of the Council on Mathematics Learning.

Section 2 Quorum
A Quorum for conducting business at an Executive Committee meeting shall consist of four Executive Committee members.

Section 3 Rules of Order
The business of the Executive Committee shall be conducted according to ROBERTS' RULES OF ORDER, Newly Revised.

Section 4 Resignation and Removal of Electees and Appointees
      a.   Any member who has been elected or appointed may resign from his/her responsibilities by submitting a letter of resignation to the President.
      b. Any member who has been elected or appointed to serve the Council may be removed from such service by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee. If said member is also a member of the Executive Committee, said member will not be present when his/her case is discussed by the Executive Committee; the Executive Committee vote on said member will be transferred on this single issue to the most recent Past President whose term has expired. In the event of a resignation or removal, the President is responsible for insuring that activities of any vacated office are continued whether by activating procedures as may be specified in the Constitution and By‑Laws or by creating temporary procedures.

ARTICLE III COMMITTEES

Section 1       Standing Committees
a.  Conference Committee

This committee shall be composed of six elected Regular members, elected for three‑year terms in classes of two each year. They shall be responsible for planning and supervising the annual conference in cooperation with a representative from the host university appointed by the Executive Committee. The Vice‑President for Conferences is the Chairperson of this Committee. Included among its duties shall be responsibility for conventions, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc. It shall respond to all routine requests for consultive service addressed to the Research Council on Mathematics Learning. Additionally this committee is charged with the responsibility for finding ways to disseminate research in an appropriate style and manner.
b.  Publications Committee

This committee shall be composed of six elected Regular members, elected for three‑year terms in classes of two each year. The Vice President for Publications is the Chairperson of this Committee. This Committee will work cooperatively with the Sales Manager; Newsletter Editor, Production Editor, and others appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Vice‑President for Publications and approved by the Executive Committee to fulfill publications responsibilities. It shall be responsible for planning, editing, and distributing all official publications of the Council.

Section 2 Nominating Committee
This committee, when formed by the Executive Committee, shall make nominations for all elective offices, and standing committees, and will conduct the election. It shall consist of at least five Regular Members elected by the Executive Committee. All nominations by this committee must be in agreement with the Constitution and/or the By‑Laws of the Council.

Section 3 Ad Hoc Committee
Ad Hoc committees may be formed by the President or by action of the Executive Committee. The duration of such a committee shall be stipulated in the initial motion to form it, and it shall be dissolved at the conclusion of that period unless specifically acted upon by the Executive Committee.

Section 4 Quorum
A quorum of at least fifty percent of all committee members is required in order for any committee to conduct official business.

Section 5 Procedures
The procedures under which any committee operates shall be determined by that committee subject to review by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV. BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Section 1 Annual Conference
An annual conference will be held each year and will be hosted by a college or university. An institution desiring to host a conference will ordinarily make application to the conference committee at least two years prior to the conference. The conference committee will recommend a schedule of annual conferences to the Executive Committee for final approval. The annual business meeting of the Council will be held in conjunction with the annual conference.

Section 2 Special Meetings
Written notice of any special meeting must be mailed, including the agenda of business to be conducted as well as the time and place of such special meeting, to each Regular Member with at least thirty days advance notice.

Section 3 Collection and Disbursement
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all money and property due the Council and for payment of such money owed by the Council as authorized by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall establish and maintain a uniform system of handling accounts of all receipts and disbursements. Ordinarily business obligations may be discharged by the Treasurer as they become due. For other bills, vouchers, etc., the Treasurer will seek the approval of the Executive Committee in order to maintain fiscal responsibility.

Section 4 Expenses
All expenses of Council officers, and/or members for which reimbursement is requested, shall be submitted to the Treasurer who shall, if the expense has received budgetary approval and is also properly documented, pay the same. Those expenses which have not received budgetary approval shall be submitted to the Treasurer who then shall present the request for reimbursement to the Executive Committee. Copies of all such accounts and other fiscal transactions shall be kept by the Treasurer for the official files and be made available for audit.

Section 5 Audit
An audit of the financial transactions of the Council will be made by the auditor selected for that purpose through the Executive Committee at the following times: (a) annually, (b) whenever the office of Treasurer is vacated. The annual audit will be reported to the membership during the annual business meeting.

ARTICLE V. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION

Section 1 Nominations
Once the Nominating Committee has made its nominations, additional nominations shall be solicited. Additional nominations must be made in writing and be signed by a Regular member. Members so nominated must meet the criteria established by these By-Laws, and must indicate their willingness to serve if elected.

Section 2 Election Procedure
Elections will be conducted by secret mail ballot. Ballots will be distributed to Regular members about seventy-five days prior to the annual business meeting. Those ballots postmarked at least forty-five days prior to the annual business meeting will form the basis for election. The candidate(s) receiving the greatest number of votes will be declared elected except in the case of offices where, if necessary, a simple majority decision must be reached through a run-off election. Election results will be announced at the annual business meeting (or, in the event that a run-off election precludes such an announcement, in the Newsletter or other Council publication).

Section 3 Assumption of Office
Each elected officer and standing committee member of the Council shall assume office eighteen hours prior to the annual business meeting.

Section 4 Duration of Office
All officers who are elected shall serve for a period of two years unless otherwise stipulated within the By-Laws. The President-Elect shall serve for a period of one year, timed to coincide with the second year of the President's two-year term. The term of office for a President elected in a special election shall be two years from either the preceding or nearest annual meeting date, whichever is deemed most appropriate by the Executive Committee; such determination shall be made in advance of such a special election. All committee members who are elected shall serve for a period of two years unless otherwise stipulated within the By-Laws. In order to provide for continuity of leadership, the principle of staggered terms will be followed in the election of officers; where election due to vacancy threatens this principle, the Executive Committee may declare an office open for a one‑year term. The immediate Past-President of the Council will serve on the Executive Committee for one year following his/her term as President.

Section 5 Vacancies
In the event that any officer or standing committee member resigns or ceases to be a member of the Council, the Executive Committee shall declare a position vacant. If the vacancy occurs in the office of President, the President-Elect shall become the President; in the event there is no President-Elect, the Past-President shall serve as protemp until elected officers and committee members assume office prior to the next annual business meeting. If such vacancy occurs in any other elective office or standing committee, the Executive Committee shall fill such vacancy by appointment from the regular membership rolls. Such an appointment shall be effective only until the next annual business meeting, unless otherwise stipulated in these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS TO THESE BY-LAWS

These By-Laws may be amended by the following procedure:
1. Any Regular member(s) may propose amendments.
2. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee not less than sixty days prior to the annual business meeting.
3. The Executive Committee shall distribute in writing all proposed amendments together with its recommendations for approval or rejection to the Regular members not less than thirty days prior to the annual business meeting of the Council.
4. Proposed amendments to these By-Laws are approved, further amended, or disproved at the annual business meeting of the Council by means of simple majority of those Regular members present and voting.
5. The Executive Committee, by unanimous vote, may make editorial changes in these By-Laws which improve clarity, delete non-substantive errors, and eliminate ambiguities of interpretation. Such changes will become effective three months after they are reported in the Newsletter. If objections are made in writing to the President by three members of the Council, regarding the substantial nature of a specified change, such changes will be handled by following the procedures specified in Article VI, Sections 2, 3, and 4.

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