International Society for Ethics and Information Technology
Article 1. Name and Objectives
Section 1. The name of this society shall be the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology. The acronym will be INSEIT, pronounced “insight.”
Section 2. The Society will be devoted to promoting and facilitating scholarship, education, discussion and debate, and other activities (deemed valuable by its members) on the ethical issues in and surrounding information technology. The Society will be distinctively devoted to normative issues and will address ethical issues in and surrounding: The design and development of IT; The use and deployment of IT; Distribution of IT; Impacts and implications of IT; and The social and political institutions arising around IT.
Section 3. The Society will be a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization.
Article 2. Membership and Dues
Section 1. The membership of the Society shall be open to all of those individuals interested in ethics and information technology.
Section 2. There will be four types of members: Founding Members, Regular Members, Student Members, Honorary Members, and Gratis Members.
Founding Members are those individuals whom have been involved in the founding of the Society and are listed at the end of this document. No special privileges will be given to these members.
Regular members are all members who have paid dues within the last twelve months.
Student members are members who are enrolled in programs at an accredited university and have paid dues within the last twelve months.
Honorary members are members who are been elected by the membership of the Society to lifetime membership in honor of their contribution to the field.
Gratis membership will be granted to individuals who have petitioned the Society for a waiver of membership fees and have received approval from a majority of the Executive Committee of the Society.
Section 3. Annual dues for the Society will be determined by the Executive Committee and announced to the membership. The Executive Committee will have the prerogative to revoke membership for those individuals who do not pay their annual dues for one year.
Section 4. Members who wish to resign from the society must submit their resignations in writing to the Executive Committee. Membership dues will not be refunded under any circumstances.
Section 5. Only members of the Society may vote in elections and hold office.
Article 3. Officers of the Society
Section 1. The officers of the Society shall be the President, the Executive Director, and five Members of the Board. With the approval of a majority of the elected members of the Board, the President shall appoint an Executive Director for a term of five years, serving at the pleasure of the Board. The President, Executive Director, and five Members of the Board will constitute the Executive Committee of the Society.
Section 2. After the first election when officers shall be elected to varying terms of office, all officers shall be elected to three-year terms and no officer shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. [See Amendment Below]
Section 3. The Executive Director will coordinate the activities of the Society. The Executive Director will be responsible for membership and communication. The Treasurer shall be responsible for managing the budget and expenses of the Society and for making an annual report on the society's financial status to the membership.
Section 4. The Executive Committee shall appoint a director or co-directors for each of the Society’s conferences. At least one director shall be at the institution hosting the conference.
Article 4. Elections and Meetings
Section 1. The President and Members of the Board will be elected by the members of the Society through a mail ballot so as to protect confidentiality. Nominations will be sought through a polling of the members. Nominations may be submitted electronically or by regular mail.
Section 2. The term of office of the President and Members of the Board shall begin on October 1, though formal recognition of new officers may take place at a regular meeting of the Society.
Section 3. The Society shall meet at least once every two years and may meet in conjunction with the Computer Ethics Philosophical Enquiry (CEPE) conference or some other conference deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee. Information on meetings of the Society and a preliminary agenda will be announced to the membership at least three months in advance by the President.
Section 4. For the purpose of conducting any business, a quorum of members will be needed and that quorum shall consist of those active members who are present at a regular or duly called meeting. Only members who have paid their dues will be allowed to vote at said meeting.
Section 5. The Executive Committee shall appoint standing or ad hoc committees as it sees fit.
Article 5. Rules of Order
Section 1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the society.
Article 6. Amendments to the Bylaws
Section 1. These Bylaws can be amended only by a majority vote of the active members who are voting. Any proposed changes to the Bylaws must be announced to the membership at least six weeks before the vote. Every member must be sent an appropriate ballot to his/her last known address in time to vote on the proposed changes.
Section 2. Proposed amendments may be submitted in writing to the President prior to a regular meeting.
Amendment [Passed in 2002 Election]
Beginning in 2003 newly elected officers will serve for four rather than three years. The change will allow for biannual rather than annual elections, and implies that the Board only changes every two years rather than every year. This proposal will not extend the terms of sitting officers, nor of those who will be elected in 2002.