International Confederation of Associations for Pluralism in Economics (ICAPE)
BYLAWS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE REFORM OF
ECONOMICS, INCORPORATED
These are the Bylaws of the INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE
REFORM OF ECONOMICS, Incorporated, a Tennessee Domestic Corporation designated
as a non profit, public benefit corporation under the Tennessee Nonprofit
Corporation Act and incorporated on the 7th day of November, 1994.
ARTICLE II -- DESIGNATING AGENCIES
1. ELIGIBILITY - A recognized learned society, learned journal, university or
college, department, institute, center, journal or association of economists or
other social scientists with a bonafide interest in the purposes of the
Corporation may become an entity entitled to designate Board member(s) by
meeting any applicable requirements as determined by the Board of the
Corporation as it is then constituted. All designating agencies shall be
assigned to a classification as defined in Section 2 of this Article. Only
organizations of the type described above and not individual persons may
designate Board members. Those organizations named in the organizing minutes of
the Corporation shall be designating agencies of the Corporation upon filing
their consent to membership with the Corporation, paying any applicable fees,
and designating a Board Member or Members as the case may be. Any other
organization of a type described above that agrees with the aims, purposes and
functions of the Corporation, and is willing to support it financially and
participate actively (including keeping the Corporation office informed of its
activities), and work cooperatively with other designating agencies, may
petition the Corporation to become a designating agency. However, such entities
shall only be permitted to become a designating agency upon a majority vote of
the Board of Directors of the Corporation as it is then constituted.
2. CLASSES OF DESIGNATING AGENCIES - The Corporation shall have two classes of
designating agencies. These classes shall be called constituent and affiliated
classes. These classifications shall be defined as follows: (a) Any organized
association or learned society of economists or other social scientists that
agrees with the aims, purposes and functions of the Corporation and that is
willing to support it financially, to work cooperatively with the Corporation
and to participate actively in Corporate functions shall be eligible to become
a constituent class member. (b) Learned journals, institutes, and departments
in institutions of higher education are eligible to become affiliated class
members of the Corporation.
3. CONSIDERATION - The Corporate Board may from time- to-time determine by
resolution what dues, assessments, fees, or other consideration will be
required by the Corporation as a condition of being a designating agency. All
such agencies shall be notified of said requirements and upon receipt of such notification
shall be deemed to have consented to such requirements. Fee schedules may be
determined on the basis of factors determined by the Board of Directors and
need not be equal for all classes of agencies or organizations within one
class. Any designating agency that does not agree to a change in dues,
assessments, fees, or other conditions has the opportunity to withdraw as a
designating agency without incurring any obligation to ICARE for payments of
the board's assessment.
4. OBSERVERS - An entity that is otherwise eligible to be a designating agency
but has not paid applicable fees may apply to the Board to permit it to appoint
a non-voting observer to meetings of the Board and other Corporate meetings.
Such non-voting observer shall not be entitled to participate in corporate
decisions, either in discussion or by vote. The Board shall decide whether or
not to permit the appointment of each such observer on the same basis and using
the same procedure as those used for the selection of a designating agency. 5.
DESIGNATING GROUP - The Executive-Secretary of the Corporation shall keep a
current and up-to-date agency roll including, but not limited to each
participating agency's name, class, if any, address and telephone number.
Designating Agencies may change their designated Board Member(s) by resolution
of their governing body and then giving notice of such action to the
Corporation's Executive-Secretary. Designating agencies may also request
permission to have non-voting observers attend meetings in addition to
designating Board members. 6. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS DESIGNATED - Constituent
class members may appoint from one to three directors to the Corporation
depending upon size and fee criterion as set from time to time by the Board.
Each affiliated class member shall appoint one Board member.
ARTICLE III -- DIRECTORS
1. DESIGNATION - The initial Board of Directors shall be appointed by the
Incorporators and shall serve until Board members are designated. The Board of
Directors shall thereafter be composed of those Directors designated by
Designating Agencies as described above. Additionally, the Chairperson and
Executive-Secretary shall be Directors by virtue of their office.
2. ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE - (a) Directors shall become directors and assume their
office at the time they are designated by the agency designating them. The
Chairperson and Executive-Secretary shall assume Directors positions when
appointed to office.
3. NUMBER - The Board shall consist of as many Directors as are constituted by
those persons designated in accordance with Section 1 of this Article.
4. TERM - (a) Each Director shall serve in office until the agency designating
him or her either removes him or her or ceases to be qualified as a designating
agency. (b) The chairman and general secretary are elected for a period of
three years. Reelection to a second term of three years is possible.
5. RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS - (a) A Director may resign at anytime by
delivering written notice to the Board of Directors, to the Chairperson, to the
Corporation, and to the designating agency. (b) A resignation is effective when
the notice is delivered to the Corporation unless the notice specifies a later
effective date. If a resignation is made effective at a later date, the
designating agency may fill the pending vacancy before the effective date if
such designation provides that the successor does not take office until the
effective date.
6. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS - (a) Each designating agency may remove the Director
it has designated with or without cause. Each Director shall serve at the
pleasure of his or her designating agency. (b) A Director serving solely by
virtue of office shall be removed at expiration of his or her service as a
corporate officer. (c) A Director may not otherwise be removed.
7. REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS - (a) The time and place of a regular
Directors' meeting shall be fixed by the Board. The Board shall have at least
one meeting annually. All other meetings of the Directors are special meetings.
(b) The Board of Directors may hold regular or special meetings in or out of
this state. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the
Chairperson, or any two (2) Directors. The Chairperson shall preside at board
meetings. (c) The Board may permit any or all Directors to participate in a
regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any
means of communication by which all Directors participating may simultaneously
hear each other during the meeting. A Director participating in a meeting by
this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
8. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING - (a) Unless the Charter or Bylaws provide otherwise,
action required or permitted to be taken at a Board of Directors' meeting may
be taken by agreement without a meeting. If all Directors consent to taking
such action without a meeting, the affirmative vote of the number of Directors
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting will
constitute an act of the Board. The action must be evidenced by one (1) or more
written consents describing the action taken, signed by each Director, and
included in the minutes filed with the Corporate records reflecting the action
taken. (b) Action taken under this section has the effect of a meeting vote and
may be described as such in any document.
9. NOTICE OF MEETINGS - (a) Regular meetings of the Board may be held with
annual notice. (b) Special meetings of the board must be preceded by at least
two (2) weeks' notice to each Director of the date, time and place, but need
not state the purpose of the meeting. (c) Notice of an adjourned meeting need
not be given if the time and place to which the meeting is adjourned are fixed
at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken and if the period of
adjournment does not exceed one (1) month in any one (1) adjournment.
10. WAIVER OF NOTICE - (a) A Director may waive any required notice before or
after the date and time stated in the notice. Except as provided in subsection
(b), the waiver must be in writing, signed by the Director entitled to the
notice, and filed with the minutes in the Corporate records. (b) A Director's
attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice of the
meeting unless the Director at the beginning of the meeting or promptly upon
arrival objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting
and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.
11. QUORUM AND VOTING - (a) Except as otherwise provided, a quorum of a Board
of Directors consists of a majority of the Directors in office immediately
before a meeting begins. When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, a
meeting may be later adjourned despite the absence of a quorum caused by the
subsequent withdrawal of any of those present. (b) If a quorum is present when
a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of Directors present is the
act of the Board, unless greater vote is otherwise required. (c) A Director who
is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors when Corporate action is
taken is deemed to have assented to the action taken unless; (1) The Director
objects at the beginning of the meeting or promptly upon arrival to holding it
or transacting business at the meeting and such objection is recorded in the
minutes; or, (2) The Director's dissent or abstention from the action taken is
entered in the minutes of the meeting; or (3) The Director delivers written
notice of dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before
its adjournment or to the Corporation immediately after adjournment of the
meeting. The right of dissent or abstention is not available to a Director who
votes in favor of the action taken.
12. COMMITTEES - (a) The Board of Directors may create one (1) or more
committees of the Board. A committee may consist of one (1) or more natural
persons. Members of committees of the Board of Directors may be members of the
Board of Directors, or other natural persons, and they shall serve at the
pleasure of the Board of Directors. (b) The rules herein which govern meetings,
action without meetings, notice and waiver of notice and quorum and voting
requirements of the Board apply to committees of the Board and their members as
well. (c) To the extent specified by the Board of Directors each committee of
the Board may exercise the Board's authority. (d) A committee may not, however:
(1) Authorize distributions of Corporate assets; (2) Approve or recommend to
members dissolution, merger, or the sale, pledge, or transfer of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets; (3) Elect, or appoint Directors
or fill vacancies on the Board or on any of its committees; or (4) Adopt,
amend, or repeal the charter or Bylaws. (e) The creation of, delegation of
authority to, or action by a committee does not necessarily constitute
compliance by a Director with the standards of conduct described hereafter.
13. GENERAL STANDARDS FOR DIRECTORS - (a) A Director shall discharge the duties
of a Director, including those duties as a member of a committee: (1) In good
faith; (2) With the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would
exercise under similar circumstances; and (3) In a manner the Director
reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation. (b) In the
discharge of duties, a Director is entitled to rely on information, opinions,
reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial
data, if prepared or presented by: (1) One (1) or more officers or employees of
the Corporation whom the Director reasonably believes to be reliable and
competent in the matters presented. (2) Legal counsel, public accountants, or
other persons as to matters the Director reasonably believes are within the
person's professional or expert competence; or (3) A Committee of the Board of
Directors of which the Director is not a member, as to matters within its
jurisdiction, if the Director reasonably believes the committee merits
confidence. (c) A Director is not acting in good faith if in possession of knowledge
concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise permitted by
subsection (b) unwarranted. (d) A Director is not liable for any action taken
as a Director or any failure to take action, if the duties of office were
performed in compliance with this Article, or if otherwise immune from suit
under provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated §48-58-601. (e) A Director shall
not be deemed to be a trustee with respect to the Corporation or with respect
to any property held or administered by the Corporation, including without
limitation property that may be subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or
transferor of such property.
14. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - A conflict of interest transaction is a transaction
with the Corporation in which a Director or officer of the Corporation has a
direct or indirect interest. A conflict of interest transaction is not voidable
as the basis for imposing liability on the Director or officer if the
transaction was fair at the time it was entered into or is approved as provided
in subsection (b) or (c). (b) A transaction in which a Director or officer of a
Corporation has a conflict of interest may be approved if: (1) The material
facts of the transaction and the Director's or officer's interest were
disclosed or known to the Board of Directors or a committee consisting entirely
of members of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors or such
committee authorized, approves, or ratifies the transaction; (2) The material
facts of the transaction and the Director's or officer's interest were
disclosed or known to the members of the Corporation and they authorize,
approve, or ratify the transaction. The material fact that each Director
represents the interests of the agency that designated him or her shall be deemed
to be known, approved, and ratified by all of the Directors of the Corporation,
and no conflict of interest shall be deemed to have occurred from a Director
acting consistent therewith; or (3) Approval is obtained from: (i) The State
Attorney General; or (ii) A court of record having equity jurisdiction in an
action in which the State Attorney General is joined as party. (c) For the
purposes of this section, a Director or officer of the Corporation has an
indirect interest in a transaction if, but not only if: (1) Another entity in
which the Director or officer has a material interest or in which the Director
or officer is a general partner is a party to the transaction; or (2) Another
entity of which the Director or officer is a Director, officer, or trustee is a
party to the transaction. (d) For purposes of subsection (b) a conflict of
interest transaction is authorized, approved, or ratified, if it receives the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors on the Board or on the
committee consisting entirely of members of the Board of Directors, who have no
direct or indirect interest in the transaction, but a transaction may not be
authorized, approved, or ratified under this section by a single Director. If a
majority of the Directors on the Board who have no direct or indirect interest
in the transaction vote to authorize, approve, or ratify the transaction, a
quorum is present for the purpose of taking action under this section. The
presence of, or vote cast by, a Director with a direct or indirect interest in
the transaction does not affect the validity of any action taken under
subdivision (b)(1) if the transaction is otherwise approved as provided in
subsection (b). (e) For purposes of subdivision (b)(2), a conflict of interest
transaction is authorized, approved, or ratified by the members if it receives
a majority of the votes entitled to be counted under this subsection. Votes
cast by or voted under the control of a Director who has a direct or indirect
interest in the transaction may not be counted in a vote of members to
determine whether to authorize, approve, or ratify a conflict of interest
transaction under subsection (b)(2). The vote of these members, however, is
counted in determining whether the transaction is approved as otherwise may be
provided by law. A majority of the voting power, whether or not present, that
is entitled to be counted in a vote on the transaction under this subsection
constitutes a quorum for the purpose of taking action under this section. (f)
An officer serving as a Director solely by virtue of his or her office shall be
deemed to have a conflict and may not vote on matters relating to the
appointment or removal of officers. (g) A resolution of the Board may impose
additional requirements on conflict of interest transactions.
15. LOANS TO OR GUARANTEES FOR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS - The Corporation may not
lend money to or guarantee the obligations of a Director or officer of the
Corporation. 16. LIABILITY FOR UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTIONS - (a) Unless a Director
complies with the applicable standards of conduct described in Section 14
herein, a Director who votes for or assents to a distribution made in violation
of law is personally liable to the Corporation for the amount of the
distribution that exceeds what could have been distributed without violating
said law. (b) A Director held liable for an unlawful distribution under
subsection (a) is entitled to contribution: (1) From every other Director who
voted for or assented to the distribution without complying with the applicable
standards of conduct described in Section 14 herein; and (2) From each person
who received an unlawful distribution for the amount of the distribution
whether or not the person receiving the distribution knew it was made in
violation of law.
ARTICLE IV -- OFFICERS
1. OFFICERS - The Corporation shall have a Chairperson and an
Executive-Secretary. The Board of Directors shall appoint these officers.
Officers need not be Board members at the time of appointment but shall become
Directors in the Corporation by virtue of holding office, if not otherwise a
Director.
2. DUTIES - The power and duties of the officers shall be as follows: (a) The
Chairperson shall act as chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall
supervise its affairs and activities; The Chairperson shall appoint, subject to
the approval of the Board of Directors, members and a chairperson to any
committees; The Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all committees;
The Chairperson may appoint other ad hoc committees and must appoint ad hoc
committees as requested by the Board of Directors. (b) The Executive-Secretary
shall keep or cause to be kept, in written form, a permanent record of the
minutes of all meetings. The Executive-Secretary shall be custodian of all
official records of the Corporation. The Executive-Secretary shall cause to be
published and be editor of a newsletter containing pertinent information,
proceedings, and items of interest at such times and in such form as directed
by the Board of Directors. The Executive-Secretary shall cause to be published
in the next newsletter the Minutes of all Board of Director Meetings. The
Executive-Secretary may sign documents as the principal officer of the
Corporation with the Chairperson's consent. The Executive-Secretary shall issue
or cause to be issued notices of dues payable and other accounts receivable and
be responsible for the collection thereof. The Executive-Secretary shall keep
or cause to be kept the financial records of the Corporation, shall disburse
funds at the order of the Board of Directors, and shall report at each
membership meeting on the financial condition of the Corporation. Funds of the
Corporation shall be deposited in and disbursements made from such bank or
banks as may be approved by the Board of Directors. No disbursements of over
$100.00 of the funds of the Corporation shall be made in any one (1) month,
unless same shall have been previously approved, authorized, and ordered by the
Board of Directors. Each officer shall additionally have the authority and
shall perform the duties prescribed by resolution of the Board or by direction
of an officer authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the duties and
authority of other officers.
3. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR OFFICERS - (a) An officer with discretionary
authority shall discharge his duties under that authority: (1) In good faith;
(2) With the care and ordinary prudence a person in a like position would
exercise under similar circumstances; and (3) In a manner reasonably believed
to be in the best interests of the Corporation. (b) In discharging duties, an
officer is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements,
including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or
presented by: (1) One (1) or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom
the officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters
presented; or (2) Legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to
matters the officer reasonably believes are within the person's professional or
expert competence. (c) An officer is not acting in good faith if the officer
has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise
permitted by subsection (b) unwarranted. (d) An officer is not liable for any action
taken as an officer or any failure to take any action if he performed the
duties of office in compliance with this section.
4. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS - (a) An officer may resign at any time
by delivering notice to the Corporation. A resignation is effective when the
notice is effective unless the notice specifies a later effective date. If a
resignation is made effective at a later date and the Corporation accepts the
later effective date, the Board of Directors may fill the pending vacancy
before the effective date if the Board provides that the successor does not
take office until the effective date. (b) The Board may remove any officer at
any time with or without cause and any committee person or committee
chairperson appointed by an officer may likewise be removed by such officer.
(c) The election of an officer will not itself create any contract rights.
ARTICLE V -- AMENDMENT OF CHARTER
1. AUTHORITY TO AMEND CHARTER - The Corporation may amend its charter at any
time to add or to change a provision that is required or permitted in the
charter or to delete a provision not required in the charter. Whether a
provision is required or permitted in the charter is determined as of the
effective date of the amendment. No member of the Corporation shall have vested
property right resulting from any provision in the Charter or Bylaws of the
Corporation, except the right to vote as provided by Charter or Bylaws in
effect at the time.
2. AMENDMENT BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS - The Corporation's Board of Directors may
adopt one (1) or more amendments to the Corporation's charter. The charter of
the Corporation may be amended upon receiving a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
Directors at a meeting with a quorum present. ARTICLE VI -- AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Directors of the Corporation may amend or repeal the Corporation's By-Laws.
Amendment to the By-Laws by the members shall require approval of 2/3rds of the
vote cast at a meeting with a quorum present.
ARTICLE VI -- DISSOLUTION
1. DISSOLUTION - (a) The Corporation may be voluntarily dissolved by the
written consent of its Directors in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated
48-57-104 or at a special meeting called in accordance with Tennessee Code
Annotated 48-57-102. (b) The Corporation's Board of Directors may propose
dissolution. Notice of any meeting of the Directors to approve such action
shall be in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated 48-64-101(b). (c) For a
proposal to dissolve to be adopted: (1) The Board of Directors shall recommend dissolution
at an initial meeting. Consideration of the proposed dissolution shall occur at
a later meeting of the Board. (2) The Board of Directors or may condition
consideration of the proposal for dissolution on any basis. (3) The Corporation
shall notify its Directors of the proposed Directors' meeting to consider
dissolution in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated 48-57-203. The notice
must also state that the purpose, or one (1) of the purposes, of the meeting is
to consider dissolving the Corporation and contain or be accompanied by a copy
or summary of the plan of dissolution. (4) The proposal to dissolve must be
approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast by Directors present or a
majority of the voting power, whichever is less, for dissolution to occur. (d)
The Board may dissolve the Corporation by written consent without a meeting. If
the Board seeks to have dissolution approved by written consent or written
ballot, the material soliciting the approval shall contain or be accompanied by
a copy or summary of the plan of dissolution. (e) The plan of dissolution shall
indicate to whom the assets owned or held by the Corporation will be
distributed after all creditors have been paid.
2. NOTICES TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - The Corporation shall give the State
Attorney General written notice that it intends to dissolve at or before the
time it delivers the Articles of dissolution to the Secretary of State. The
notice shall include a copy or summary of the plan of dissolution. (b) No
assets shall be transferred or conveyed as part of the dissolution process
until twenty (20) days after the written notice required by subsection (a) has
been given to the Attorney General, or until the Attorney General has consented
in writing to, or indicated in writing that he or she will take no action in
respect to the transfer or conveyance, whichever is earlier. (c) When all or
substantially all of the assets of the Corporation have been transferred or
conveyed following approval of dissolution, the Board shall deliver to the
State Attorney General a list showing those other than creditors to whom the
assets were transferred or conveyed. The list shall indicate the addresses of
each recipient other than creditors who received assets and the assets each
such recipient received.
3. ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION - (a) At any time after dissolution is
authorized, the Corporation may dissolve by delivering to the Secretary of
State for filing Articles of Dissolution setting forth: (1) The name of the
Corporation: (2) The date dissolution was authorized; (3) A statement that the
resolution was duly adopted by the members; (4) A copy of the resolution or the
written consent authorizing the dissolution; (5) If approval of dissolution by
some third person or persons other than the members, directors, or
incorporators was required, a statement that such approval was obtained; and
(6) A statement that the notice to the State Attorney General required by
Section 2 of this Article has been given. (b) Unless a delayed effective date
is specified in the Articles of Dissolution, a Corporation is dissolved when
the Articles of dissolution are filed with the Secretary of State. 4.
REVOCATION OF DISSOLUTION - The Corporation may revoke its dissolution at any
time prior to filing the Articles of Dissolution terminating the Corporate
existence with the Secretary of State.
ARTICLE VII -- MISCELLANEOUS
1. DISTRIBUTION - The Corporation shall not distribute its income or assets in
any manner prohibited by §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United
States or prohibited of a public benefit Corporation under the Nonprofit
Corporation Act of Tennessee.
2. FISCAL YEAR - The fiscal year of this organization shall be the calendar
year from January 1 to December 31.
3. ACCOUNTS - [The books and accounts need not be audited annually nor kept in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles but shall be kept in
an accurate and adequate manner as may be required of like Corporations by the
Internal Revenue Service of the United States.] The books and accounts will be
audited annually in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The books and accounts should be submitted annually to the board of ICARE for
its approval.
4. STANDING RULES - The Board of Directors may formulate Standing Rules and
Regulations to govern the activities of the Corporation and to supplement these
Bylaws providing that they are not inconsistent or in conflict with these
Bylaws. Rules shall be provided to all Directors, designating and participating
agencies and approved at the annual meeting by the Directors.
5. INDEPENDENT ACTION - The acts of the corporation are its own independent
acts and not the acts of any other person, agency or entity. The corporation
cannot be bound by acts of third parties without its consent. The corporation
cannot bind any other individual, entity or agency to any specific action,
statement, or view point without written consent of the other party effected.
6. DISSOLUTION - In the event of the dissolution of the corporation all of its
remaining assets shall be transferred to another entity recognized as exempt
under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, or
the State of Tennessee or local government, to be used exclusively for exempt purposes.
Adopted this the _____ day of ______________, 1994.
_________________________________ CHAIRMAN OF ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF
CORPORATION _________________________________ SECRETARY OF ORGANIZATIONAL
MEETING OF CORPORATION