Proposed Amendments to the AVMA Constitution and Bylaws

n compliance with Constitution Article X and Bylaws Article XIII, the following amendments are submitted. Type that has a continuous line through it is proposed for deletion. Proposed new wording is underlined. The 2000 revision of the AVMA Constitution and Bylaws is in the 2001 AVMA Directory and Resource Manual, pages 26-38. Members are encouraged to review the AVMA Executive Board's actions and recommendations regarding proposed amendments in the June 1, 2001 JAVMA.

Amend Constitution Article IV—Officers, Section 2—Qualifications, to change the membership requirements for vice presidents. (Introduction).

Section 2—Qualification
   The president, and president-elect, and vice president must be active members of the Association for at least ten years immediately prior to their election. The vice president must be an active member of the Association for at least five years immediately prior to his or her election. All other officers must be active members of the Association immediately prior to their election.

Amend Constitution Article IV—Officers, Section 3—President, President-Elect and Vice President - Election Term, and Succession and Section 4—Death, Resignation, or Removal of the President, to synchronize the beginning of the officers' terms with the first Executive Board meeting of the new association year. (Introduction)

Section 3—President, President-Elect and Vice President - Election Term, and Succession.
   A vice president and a president-elect shall be elected at each annual session of the House of Delegates. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4 or 5, the terms of the president, president-elect, and vice president shall commence at the end of the annual convention following the annual session at which they are elected first regular meeting of the Executive Board following the close of the annual session of the House of Delegates at which they were elected or, begin immediately in the case of a president who succeeds automatically to such office, . and Positions shall terminate at the end of the following start of the first regular meeting of the Executive Board following the close of the annual convention session of the House of Delegates. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4 or 5, the president-elect shall immediately and automatically succeed to the office of and become president at the end of the term as president-elect.

Section 4—Death,, Resignation, or Removal of the President.- If the president dies, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office, the president-elect immediately and automatically shall succeed to the office of and become president and shall serve as president for the remainder of the president's term as set forth in Section 3; provided that, if the remainder of the president's term is less than six months and if such officer was elected president-elect at the immediately preceding annual session (rather than having succeeded automatically to such office pursuant to Section 5), such officer shall continue to serve as president until the end start of the first regular meeting of the Executive Board following the close of the second annual convention session following succession to the office of president. If the remainder of the president's term is six months or more or, regardless of the length of time of the remainder of the president's term, if the president-elect succeeds to such office pursuant to Section 5 (rather than having been elected thereto at the immediately preceding annual session), a president (in addition to a president-elect and vice president) shall be elected at the annual session following the time at which the president-elect succeeds to the office of president. If the president dies, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office and there is no president-elect then in office, the Executive Board shall elect a person to fill the office of president for the remainder of the president's term and a new president (in addition to a president-elect and a vice president) shall be elected at the annual session following the time the Executive Board elects such person to the office of president.

Amend Constitution Article IV—Officers, Section 4—Death, Resignation, or Removal of the President, to allow the president-elect who succeeds to the office of president to fill the unexpired term of the preceding president to continue through a full term as president. (Introduction)

Section 4—Death, Resignation, or Removal of the President
   If the president dies, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office, the president-elect immediately and automatically shall succeed to the office of and become president and shall serve as president for the remainder of the president's term as set forth in Section 3.; provided that, if the remainder of the president's term is less than six months and If such officer was elected president-elect at the immediately preceding annual session (rather than having succeeded automatically to such office pursuant to Section 5), such officer shall continue to serve as president until the end of the second annual convention following succession to the office of president. If the remainder of the president's term is six months or more or, regardless of the length of time of the remainder of the president's term, if If the president-elect succeeds to such office pursuant to Section 5 (rather than having been elected thereto at the immediately preceding annual session), a president (in addition to a president-elect and vice president) shall be elected at the annual session following the time at which the president-elect succeeds to the office of president. If the president dies, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office and there is no president-elect then in office, the Executive Board shall elect a person to fill the office of president for the remainder of the president's term and a new president (in addition to a president-elect and a vice president) shall be elected at the annual session following the time the Executive Board elects such person to the office of president.

Amend Constitution Article IV—Officers, Section 5—Death, Resignation, Removal, or Succession of the President-Elect, to indicate that if the office of president-elect is vacated, the vice president will assume the duties and responsibilities of the office of president-elect. (Introduction)

Section 5—Death, Resignation, Removal, or Succession of the President-Elect
   If the president-elect dies, resigns, becomes president pursuant to Section 4, or is otherwise removed from office, the vice president immediately and automatically shall succeed to the office of and become will assume the duties and responsibilities, but not the title, of the president-elect and shall serve as president-elect only for the remainder of the president-elect's term as set forth in Section 3. Such officer shall not automatically succeed to the office of president thereafter.

Amend Constitution Article VI—House of Delegates, Section 1—Duties, subsection (c), to remove AVMA councils from the list of entities that may submit a resolution to the House of Delegates for consideration. (Introduction)

Section 1—Duties
   c) Resolutions may be received from the AVMA Executive Board, AVMA Councils, organizations represented in the House of Delegates, the House Advisory Committee, or from individual members when accompanied by signatures of fifty active members of the Association. No resolution proposed for the consideration of the House of Delegates shall be considered at an annual session unless it shall have been delivered to the executive vice president no later than May 1 of the year of the annual session at which it is proposed for consideration. Resolutions so received will be mailed to the delegates no less than sixty days prior to the annual session. This provision shall not affect other articles of this Constitution and Bylaws as they pertain to amendments. Any notice of proposed matters published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association no less than sixty days prior to the annual session shall satisfy this provision. The provisions of this section governing the delivery and mailing or publishing of resolutions may be waived by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the delegates registered and voting at the session.

Amend Constitution Article IV—Officers, Section 3—President, President-Elect and Vice President - Election Term, and Succession and Section 4—Death, Resignation, or Removal of the President, to synchronize the beginning of the officers' terms with the first Executive Board meeting of the new association year. (Final Action)

Section 3—President, President-Elect and Vice President - Election Term, and Succession.- A vice president and a president-elect shall be elected at each annual session of the House of Delegates. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4 or 5, the terms of the president, president-elect, and vice president shall commence at the end of the annual convention following the annual session at which they are elected first regular meeting of the Executive Board following the close of the annual session of the House of Delegates at which they were elected or, in the case of a president who succeeds automatically to such office, and shall terminate at the end of the following annual convention session of the House of Delegates. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4 or 5, the president-elect shall immediately and automatically succeed to the office of and become president at the end of the term as president-elect.

Section 4—Death,, Resignation, or Removal of the President.- If the president dies, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office, the president-elect immediately and automatically shall succeed to the office of and become president and shall serve as president for the remainder of the president's term as set forth in Section 3; provided that, if the remainder of the president's term is less than six months and if such officer was elected president-elect at the immediately preceding annual session (rather than having succeeded automatically to such office pursuant to Section 5), such officer shall continue to serve as president until the end of the second annual convention session following succession to the office of president. If the remainder of the president's term is six months or more or, regardless of the length of time of the remainder of the president's term, if the president-elect succeeds to such office pursuant to Section 5 (rather than having been elected thereto at the immediately preceding annual session), a president (in addition to a president-elect and vice president) shall be elected at the annual session following the time at which the president-elect succeeds to the office of president. If the president dies, resigns, or is otherwise removed from office and there is no president-elect then in office, the Executive Board shall elect a person to fill the office of president for the remainder of the president's term and a new president (in addition to a president-elect and a vice president) shall be elected at the annual session following the time the Executive Board elects such person to the office of president.

Amend Bylaws Article I—Members, Section 3—Affiliate Members, to enable applicants who are permanent residents, but not citizens, of the United States and Canada to be approved for affiliate membership in the AVMA upon approval of the Executive Board.

Section 3—Affiliate Members
   Teachers of veterinary medicine or of the sciences allied to veterinary medicine, and persons engaged in veterinary research, who do not qualify for admission as active members and who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada, may become affiliate members of the Association upon approval by the Executive Board. Affiliate members shall have the same rights as active members, except that no affiliate member may hold office or vote on any matter.

Amend Bylaws Article I—Members, Section 6—Dues, subsections (a-c), to provide for a dues increase in 2002.

Section 6—Dues
   a) Dues for active members shall be payable for each calendar year on or before the first day of January and shall be $200.00 $225.00 per annum effective for the calendar year 1995 2002. Dues for associate and affiliate members shall be $175.00 $200.00 per annum.
   b) A graduating senior student who has been a member in good standing of the Student Chapter of AVMA of the school of graduation will, upon application for active AVMA membership, be granted exemption from the payment of dues until January 1 of the year following graduation, and will be granted reduced dues at $90.00 $100.00 per annum for a period of two years, starting January 1 of the year following graduation.
   A veterinarian who is within two years from graduation but who has not been a member in good standing of the Student Chapter of the AVMA will, upon application for active AVMA membership, be granted reduced dues, prorated from $90.00 $100.00 per annum, until December 31 of the year of application, and will be granted reduced dues at $90.00 $100.00 per annum for a period of one year, starting January 1 following the year of application.
   c) An active or associate member who is pursuing a full-time program of graduate study, internship, or residency at an accredited college or university, or is pursuing an internship or residency in an approved program recognized by a veterinary specialty board or the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians, will, following application and approval, and for current and future dues years, be granted reduced dues at $90.00 $100.00 per annum. For programs that begin on or before March 31, the reduction in dues will be effective in the year of admission into the program. For programs that begin on or after April 1, the reduction in dues will be effective on January 1 of the year following admission into the program. The chief advisor of the individual requesting reduced dues shall certify to AVMA that the individual is a full-time graduate student, intern, or resident. Reduction of dues under the provisions of this paragraph shall be limited to a total of not more than seven years for any individual.

Amend Bylaws Article I—Members, Section 6—Dues, subsection (c), to clarify which internships and residencies are recognized for consideration of dues reduction for members in these programs.

Section 6—Dues
   c) An active or associate member who is pursuing a full-time program of graduate study, postgraduate study, internship, or residency at an accredited college or university,; or is pursuing an internship listed by an allied organization in the House of Delegates; or a residency in an approved program recognized by a veterinary specialty board or the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians, approved by an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty board or college will, following application and approval, and for current and future dues years, be granted reduced dues at $90.00 per annum. For programs that begin on or before March 31, the reduction in dues will be effective in the year of admission into the program. For programs that begin on or after April 1, the reduction in dues will be effective on January 1 of the year following admission into the program. The chief advisor of the individual requesting reduced dues shall certify to the AVMA that the individual is enrolled in the a full-time program. graduate student, intern, or resident. Reduction of dues under the provisions of this paragraph shall be limited to a total of not more than seven years for any individual.

Amend Bylaws Article III—Executive Board, Section 9—Apportionment, to realign the Executive Board Districts in two phases between 2002 and 2006.

Section 9—Apportionment
   a) There shall be 11 Executive Board districts which until July 2002 shall be identified and constituted as follows:
DISTRICT I- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
DISTRICT II- Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
DISTRICT III- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
DISTRICT IV- Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
DISTRICT V- Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
DISTRICT VI- Iowa and Minnesota.
DISTRICT VII- Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
DISTRICT VIII- Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
DISTRICT IX- Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
DISTRICT X- Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
DISTRICT XI- Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
   b) Beginning at the close of the annual session in 2002, the 11 districts shall be identified and constituted as follows:
DISTRICT I- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
DISTRICT II- Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
DISTRICT III- Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
DISTRICT IV- Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico
DISTRICT V- Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
DISTRICT VI- Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
DISTRICT VII- Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
DISTRICT VIII- Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
DISTRICT IX- Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
DISTRICT X- Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
DISTRICT XI- Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
   c) After the close of the 2006 session of the House of Delegates, the 11 districts shall be identified and constituted as follows:
DISTRICT I- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
DISTRICT II- Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
DISTRICT III- Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
DISTRICT IV- Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico
DISTRICT V- Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
DISTRICT VI- Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
DISTRICT VII- Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
DISTRICT VIII- Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
DISTRICT IX- Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.
DISTRICT X- California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
DISTRICT XI- Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
   b) d) The active members of the Association residing in Cuba, South America, and the West Indies shall be entitled to vote when elections are held in District III IV; active members residing in Mexico, Central America, and the Canal Zone shall vote in District VIII; and active members residing in all other possessions, territories, and foreign countries shall vote in District XI.

Amend Bylaws Article V—Councils, Special Committees, and Trusts, Section 3—The Council on Education, subsection (b), to add an additional public representative on the council.

Section 3—The Council on Education
   b) The Council shall include three four additional voting members and one nonvoting (liaison) member as follows:

      i) Representatives of the public (two three individuals who are not veterinarians) to be appointed by the Council for a term of six years.
      ii) Canadian veterinarian to be appointed and funded by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association for a term of three years.
      iii) Veterinarian (nonvoting liaison) to be appointed and funded by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges for a term of three years.

Amend Bylaws Article V—Councils, Special Committees, and Trusts, Section 3—Council on Education, subsection (c), to refer to schools/colleges of veterinary medicine in the charge to the council.

Section 3—The Council on Education    c) The Council shall:

      i) Meet the needs of society by promoting active programs in veterinary medical education. In fulfilling this function, the Council will encourage and assist schools/colleges of veterinary medicine to meet the requirements for full accreditation.
      ii) Study and recommend methods of instruction and promote the continual improvement of veterinary medical education in all its facets.
      iii) Recommend essentials for accredited schools/colleges offering professional degrees in veterinary medicine. These essentials shall pertain to students, faculty, curriculum, physical facilities and equipment, research programs, continuing education, organization, finances, clinical resources, library and learning resources, and admissions.
      iv) Evaluate each school/college offering a professional degree in veterinary medicine according to the established standards, and assign a classification of accreditation to each such school/college.
      v) Publish a list annually of the schools/colleges of veterinary medicine showing the current accreditation status of each.
      vi) Provide consultation to proposed, and developing, and existing schools/ colleges of veterinary medicine.
      vii) Review and make recommendations to the Executive Board concerning the activities of committees concerned with veterinary specialties, veterinary technicians, graduates of foreign colleges of veterinary medicine, and licensing examinations.
      viii) Recommend curriculum changes that will enhance the veterinarian's ability to meet changing professional demands and societal needs.

Amend Bylaws Article V—Councils, Special Committees, and Trusts, Section 3—The Council on Education, subsection (c iii), to change the term "essentials" to "standards."

   c) The Council shall:

      iii) Recommend essentials standards for accredited colleges offering professional degrees in veterinary medicine. These essentials standards shall pertain to students, faculty, curriculum, physical facilities and equipment, research programs, continuing education, organization, finances, clinical resources, library and learning resources, and admissions.

Amend Bylaws Article V—Councils, Special Committees, and Trusts, Section 4—Council on Research, subsection (b), to revise the charge of the council.

Section 4—The Council on Research

      b) The Council shall:

          i) Serve as a coordinating and correlating body in matters pertaining to veterinary medical research. Recommend, coordinate, evaluate, monitor, and promote veterinary medical research.
          ii) Develop plans and projects for the purpose of encouraging scientific development in the veterinary profession. Emphasize to the veterinary profession the importance of AVMA's role in supporting veterinary research and the continuing need for basic and clinical research information to advance all segments of the profession.
          iii) Make recommendations for awards, research proposals, and priorities, as requested by the Executive Board.
          iii) Communicate with the veterinary profession, the biomedical research community, public agencies, and the general public to publicize and promote the role, significance, and relevance of veterinary biomedical research in improving animal and human health.
          iv) In collaboration with the editor-in-chief, determine broad policies concerning the American Journal of Veterinary Research, subject to approval of the Executive Board. Members of the Council and other reviewers designated by the Council will assist editor-in-chief in the evaluation of manuscripts submitted for publication.
          iv) Identify and recommend strategic alliances among groups within and outside of veterinary medicine to support and encourage research that advances animal and human health.
          v) Provide recommendations on research policies and priorities.
          vi) Recommend individuals for research awards.
          vii) Promote the communication and dissemination of research information through such vehicles as the American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR). The Council will collaborate with the AJVR Editor-in-Chief in determining broad journal policies. Council members will, along with other reviewers, also assist the Editor-in-Chief in the evaluation of manuscripts submitted to the AJVR for publication.

Amend Bylaws Article V—Councils, Special Committees, and Trusts, Section 6—Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, subsection (a), to restructure the membership of the council.

Section 6—The Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents
   a) The Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents shall consist of ten twelve active or honor roll members elected by the House of Delegates for terms of six years. Members shall represent the following areas of veterinary medical activity:

i)		Microbiology (two one members)
ii)		Immunology (one member)
ii)	iii)	Pharmacology (two one members)
iv)		Clinical pharmacology (one member)
iii)	v)	Private practice, Clinical practice, predominantly small animal (one member)
iv)	vi)	Private practice, Clinical practice, predominantly food animal (one member)
v)	vii)	Private practice, Clinical practice, predominantly equine (one member)
viii)		Epidemiology (one member)
ix)		Industry, exclusive (one member)
vi)	x)	At large (three members)

Amend Bylaws Article VI—House of Delegates, Section 1—Delegates, subsection (e), to indicate a change in the name of one of the allied groups represented in the House of Delegates.

Section 1—Delegates
   e) Allied organizations represented in the House of Delegates are as follows:
American Animal Hospital Association
American Association of Avian Pathologists
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
American Association of Equine Practitioners
American Association of Feline Practitioners
American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians
American Association of Industrial Veterinarians
American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners
American Association of Swine Practitioners Veterinarians
American Association of Veterinary Clinicians
American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners
Association of Avian Veterinarians
National Association of Federal Veterinarians
Society for Theriogenology

Amend Bylaws Article VI—House of Delegates, Section 2—Selection and Tenure, subsection (e), to indicate that the delegate representing the Student AVMA shall be the president of the Student AVMA and that the alternate delegate representing the Student AVMA shall be selected by the Student AVMA.

Section 2—Selection and Tenure
   e) The delegate and alternate delegate representing the Student AVMA shall be the president and president-elect of the Student AVMA, respectively. The delegate representing the Student AVMA shall be the president of the Student AVMA; the alternate delegate representing the Student AVMA shall be selected by the Student AVMA.

Amend Bylaws Article VI—House of Delegates, Section 7—Procedure, to indicate that the operational procedures and order of business for annual sessions of the House of Delegates will be set forth in a Manual of the House of Delegates.

Section 7—Procedure
   The operational procedures and order of business for annual sessions of the House of Delegates will be set forth in a Manual of the House of Delegates that will be proposed by the House Advisory Committee and approved by the House of Delegates.
   The following shall be the general order of business at all annual sessions of the House of Delegates:

a) Call to order.
b) Invocation.
c) Roll call.
d) Presentation of minutes.
e) Presentation of reports and resolutions previously distributed.
f) Report of House Advisory Committee (acting as Reference Committee on Rules and procedures).
g) Message from AVMA Auxiliary.
h) Address of President or President-Elect.
i) Report of Executive Board.
j) Report of Treasurer.
k) Unfinished business.
l) Balloting for councils, committees, etc.
m) Nomination and balloting for officers.
n) New business.
Reports of Reference Committees.
Other new business.
o) Tabulation and election of officers.
p) Adjournment.
At any session, the House, by a majority vote, may change the order of business.

Amend Bylaws Article VII—Committees of the House of Delegates, Section 2—House Reference Committees, subsection (a), to redefine the House Reference Committees.

Section 2—House Reference Committees
   a) Enumeration—The following House reference committees are hereby created:

   i) Committee on Reports of Officers Administration: to which the reports of the Executive Board and officers and the budget shall matters pertaining to the administration of the AVMA and its members will be referred.
   ii) Committee on Public Relations and Veterinary Service Matters: to which matters pertaining to public relations and veterinary service shall issues will be referred.
   iii) Committee on Veterinary Education and Research: to which all matters pertaining to education and research shall will be referred.
   iv) Committee on Internal Affairs Finance: to which all proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics, and other items related to internal affairs shall matters pertaining to finances will be referred.
   v) Committee on Legislation and Miscellaneous Legislative and Governmental Matters: to which all matters relating to state and national legislation and all miscellaneous matters shall pertaining to legislation and governmental issues will be referred.
   vi) Committee on Membership Services: to which matters are referred pertaining to but not limited to American Veterinary Medical Foundation, AVMA Group Health and Life Insurance Trust, AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust, and items pertaining to membership member services will be referred.
   vii) Committee on Public Services Scientific Activities: to which matters pertaining to public health, civil defense and military matters, and matters pertaining to state and federal regulatory programs shall scientific activities will be referred.
   viii) Such additional committees as the House of Delegates may decide are necessary for the conduct of its business.