NCSS Governing Documents

1.2 NCSS Constitution (1921) As Amended (1940, 46, 55, 56, 60, 61, 65, 68, 71, 75, 77, 86, 92)

Article I. Name and Purposes

Section 1. This association shall be known as National Council for the Social Studies and is incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. The term "social studies" is used to include the social science disciplines and those areas of inquiry which relate to the role of the individual in a democratic society designed to protect his and her integrity and dignity and which are concerned with the understanding and solution of problems dealing with social issues and human relationships.

Section 2. The purpose of the association is to promote the social studies to the best advantages of all students in the classroom; to promote the full and active participation in the social studies profession of men and women from all levels of education, all ethnic groups, and all geographic areas, urban, rural, and suburban; to encourage research, experimentation, and investigation in social studies; to hold public discussions and programs; to sponsor the publication of desirable articles, reports, and surveys; and to integrate the efforts of all those who have similar purposes through the efforts and activities of its members and their cooperative activities with others interested in the advancement of education in the social studies.

Article II. Organization

Section 1. The elective officers of the National Council shall be chosen from the membership by a mail ballot according to a schedule and in a manner to be prescribed by the board of directors. They shall include a president, a president-elect, and a vice president. They shall assume office on July 1 following their election and shall hold their respective offices for the term of one year. There shall also be a secretary of the corporation and an executive director and treasurer appointed by the board of directors.

Section 2. The president shall have general charge of the affairs of the National Council and by virtue of the office shall chair the board of directors. It shall be the obligation of the president to promote in all suitable ways the best interests of the National Council.

Section 3. The president-elect and the vice president shall assume such duties as the president or board of directors shall specify. If a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the president-elect shall become president; if a vacancy occurs in the office of president-elect, then the vice president shall become president-elect.

Section 4. The secretary of the corporation shall maintain an office in the State of Illinois, shall receive legal notices sent to or served upon the National Council in its capacity as a corporation, and shall make the annual report to the secretary of state of Illinois as required by law.

Section 5. The executive director and treasurer shall be responsible for carrying out policies formulated by the board of directors, and as treasurer shall be the financial agent of the National Council for the Social Studies. The executive director shall make annual written reports to the board of directors. The executive directorâs salary, tenure, and specific responsibilities shall be determined by the board.

Section 6. The board of directors shall consist of the president, the president-elect, and the vice president; fifteen elected directors, five of whom shall be elected for a term of three years; and the immediate past president who shall serve a term of two years. The chairperson of the Steering Committee of the House of Delegates shall be an ex officio member of the board. The board shall have the power to appropriate funds from the treasury, to review the actions of officers and committees, to select the place for the annual meeting, and to exercise all powers not herein assigned to other officers or to the membership of the National Council. The board may determine nomination and election procedures subject to the provision for a mail ballot and providing that such procedures insure that board members each year shall be elected according to the following categories: (1) elementary/early childhood classroom teachers, K-6÷one to be elected; (2) Middle level/junior high classroom teacher÷one to be elected (3) secondary classroom teachers, middle, junior high or high school÷two to be elected; (4) college or university teachers÷one to be elected; (4) other related professionals including administrators, supervisors, developers, and publishers÷one to be elected. NCSS student members preparing to fill any of these professional roles shall be eligible for nomination and election in any of the categories above.

Section 7. A House of Delegates composed of representatives of all affiliated councils shall be established by the board of directors of the National Council for the Social Studies. This House of Delegates shall advise and consult with the officers and board of directors of the National Council for the Social Studies, and, in addition shall perform those functions as described in Section 5 of Article III.

Article III. Membership, Dues, Meetings and Publications

Section 1. Any person having a direct professional relationship with the NCSS may join as a comprehensive or regular member of the National Council and is eligible to vote for elective officers of the council, hold office, or be appointed to committees. Any college student having a professional relationship with the NCSS may join as a comprehensive, regular, or student member of the National Council and is eligible to vote for elective officers of the council, hold office, or be appointed to committees.

Section 2. The annual dues shall be determined by the board of directors. The payment of these dues entitles members to a yearâs subscription to the official periodical and to such other publications as the board of directors shall determine. It also entitles them to attend all public meetings, to vote for elective officers of the council, and to hold the offices to which they may be appointed or elected.

Section 3. The board of directors shall have the power to select or establish the official periodical for the National Council. Until otherwise ordered, Social Education shall be the official periodical of the National Council.

Section 4. The agenda for meetings of the board of directors shall be prepared cooperatively by the Steering Committee of the House of Delegates and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The NCSS president shall take the initiative in making the arrangements for the preparation of the agenda.

Section 5. The sessions of the House of Delegates held in connection with the major annual meeting shall constitute the annual business meeting of the House of Delegates. At such business meetings, any member of the NCSS in good standing shall have full right of debate, but only members of the House of Delegates shall have the right to vote. Meetings of the board of directors may be called by the president upon written notice through the office of the executive director. Other business meetings may be called by the president after due notice has been given to the membership.

Section 6. The date and place of the annual meeting shall be determined by the board of directors. The National Council may also cooperate with other professional organizations in the sponsorship of joint meetings providing that such cooperation is approved by the board of directors.

Article IV. Amendments: This Constitution may be amended by one of the following procedures:

I. Initiation. An amendment may be proposed by a petition to the board of directors. To be valid, a petition must contain at least 50 signatures of current NCSS members. The signatories must be drawn from at least 5 states with a minimum of 5 members from each state represented. The petition must be received by the president and the executive director at least 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates at which action is requested. Upon receiving the petition, the executive director will determine whether the petition is valid with regard to requisite signatures of current members. The president, acting for the board of directors, will then direct the Steering Committee of the House of Delegates to include the amendment on the agenda for the next meeting of the House of Delegates.

Approval by the House of Delegates. The first stage of amendment approval is conditional upon action by the House of Delegates. Approval of the amendment requires a two-thirds majority of the members of the House of Delegates voting during the annual business meeting of the House.

Approval by the Membership. If the House of Delegates approves the amendment, it is then submitted to the total NCSS membership through a mail ballot at the time of the annual election. To become effective, the amendment must be approved by a majority of NCSS members who vote on the amendment.

II. Initiation. An amendment may be proposed by a majority vote of the members of the House of Delegates voting at the annual business meeting of the House of Delegates.

Approval by the House of Delegates. An amendment must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the members of the House of Delegates voting during the annual business meeting following the meeting at which the amendment was proposed.

Approval by the Membership. If the House of Delegates approves the amendment, it is then submitted to the total NCSS membership through a mail ballot at the time of the annual election. To become effective, the amendment must be approved by a majority of NCSS members who vote on the amendment.

Article V. Dissolution

No part of the net earnings of the Council shall inure to the benefit of any member, officer, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered in connection with one or more of its purposes), and no member, officer, or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the assets of the Council, after payment of debts and obligations, shall be transferred to any successor social studies organizations as designated by the board of directors at the time of dissolution, provided these organizations are then exempt from federal income taxes as a charitable and/or educational organization. If no such organizations exist, the net assets shall be transferred to the United Way or the then similar organization, for its charitable uses and purposes.