Division of White-Collar and Corporate Crime Constitution and Mission Statement

Name of the Organization

The name of this division will be “The Division of White-Collar and Corporate Crime.” The Division is a constituent unit of the American Society of Criminology [hereinafter ASC] and will function in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws and policies of the ASC.

Mission Statement

The Division of White-Collar and Corporate Crime seeks to advance theory, knowledge and practice in the US and globally through rigorous qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation. The Division recognizes the fundamental importance of enforcement and prevention for reducing social harm, promoting social legitimacy, protecting civil liberties, and enhancing public safety. It is committed to advancing the science of white-collar and corporate criminology, interrogating the role of state power, testing innovation in the field, and promoting excellence in practice through transitional and transnational activities. These goals can be achieved by facilitating a dialogue and building partnerships among white-collar/corporate crime scholars, practitioners, policy makers, activists, community leaders, and students.

Purposes and Objectives to Achieve Our Mission

To advance the development of scholarly research in white-collar and corporate crime and its control through collegiality, mentorship, and active engagement with the ASC membership.
To support, facilitate and encourage interaction and dissemination of research among ASC members, practitioners, funding agencies, policy-making bodies, and other relevant groups.
To organize and promote ASC conference sessions and special events related to White-Collar and Corporate Crime research.
To advance the members of the Division through the establishment of awards within the division and collectively in nominating members for ASC awards and elected positions.

Membership

Membership in this Division will be open to all ASC members in good standing. A member in good standing is one who is current in their dues. Members who have paid Divisional dues will be considered eligible for voting at Divisional meetings, for the election of Divisional officers and to hold office. Membership is open to all students who are good standing members in the ASC and have a relevant focus in white-collar and corporate crime or a related field. Student members may not partake in elections for Officers within the division.

Executive Board

There will be an Executive Board comprised of the Division’s current officers, the immediate past Chair and three Executive Counselors. This Board will form policies for the Division, provide advice and decide the budget for the Division and suggest and approve committees and committee chairs. The Division Chair will convene the Executive Board.

Officers

A. Chair

The Chair will provide executive direction for the Division and will preside over Division meetings.
The Chair or their designee will serve as liaison with the ASC Annual Meeting Program to ensure the inclusion of panels relating to issues on white-collar and corporate crime in the program.
The Chair or their designee shall bring issues regarding white-collar and corporate crime research, as decided by the Division, to the attention of the ASC Executive Board and to appropriate ASC committees for their consideration.
The Chair will appoint all committees and committee chairs, with the approval of the Executive Board.
Once the term of the Chair ends and he or she is not elected for another term, the chair will serve for one year as part of the Executive Board to assist in the transition and continuity of the Board and Division.

B. Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair will preside over Division meetings in the absence of the Chair and shall be empowered to conduct all necessary business of the Division if the office of Chair is vacant or if the Chair is unable to serve.
The Vice-Chair will assist the Chair in matters of the Division.

C. Secretary/Treasurer

The Secretary/Treasurer will keep the records and minutes of the Division and will forward a copy to each member of the Executive Committee.
The Secretary/Treasurer will manage the membership list for the division, including the email/contact system for members.
The Secretary/Treasurer will remain in contact with the Treasurer of ASC who will maintain a separate account in the ASC treasury for the Division. The Secretary will inform Division membership of the Divisions balance, debts, credits, etc. at the Divisions Annual Membership Meeting. The Secretary will notify the Executive Board of any financial issues that arise between Annual Membership Meetings.
With the Chair’s approval, the Secretary/Treasurer will coordinate all purchases for the division, including, for example, awards, annual meeting supplies and receptions, etc.
The Secretary/Treasurer will maintain the website for the Division.

D. Executive Counselors:

There will be three Executive Counselors for the Division.
Executive Counselors will assist the Chair with executive decisions for the Division, and each will chair at least one committee of the Division

Elections

A. Term Length:

The Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, and Executive Counselors will serve a two-year term. Elections of Officers shall be staggered in the following manner: In an even year elections will be held for the Chair and the Secretary/Treasurer. In an odd year (or alternating year) elections will be held for the Vice-Chair and Executive Counselors.

B. Nominations:

The Executive Board will appoint a Nominations Committee consisting of two members in good standing of the Division. The Committee will receive names in nomination for each office to be filled the following year. Write-in options will also be allowed for all offices during the elections process.

C. Qualifications:

Nominees and elected officers must be members in good standing of the Division.

D. Term of Office:

The term of office for all officers (Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary-Treasurer) will be for two years. Elected officers may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in the same office. Upon completion of the second consecutive term of office, a person must wait for a period of at least one full term before running again for the same office.

The term for all Executive Counselors will be two years. Executive Counselors may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in the same office. Upon completion of the second consecutive term of office, a person must wait for a period of at least one full term before running again for the same office.

The term of office of each incoming officer will begin on the day of the annual membership meeting at the annual ASC Conference.

E. Procedure:

Names of those nominated will be placed on a secure, electronic ballot and sent to all members in good standing by the Secretary/Treasurer of the Division. One Executive Counselor who is not nominated for election will also serve as an election monitor, with access to the secure electronic ballot. If all executive counselors are nominated for office, a member of the division will be appointed by the Chair for this role.

Members will be alerted to the open ballot at least twice by email (or by mail to those members who do not receive email). Members shall have at least 30 days to cast their ballots.

F. Vacancies:

Vacancies which occur during the term of office for the Vice-Chair, Secretary or Executive Counselor of the Division, shall be filled until the next election by appointment of the Chair, with the approval of the Executive Board. Vacancies may be filled at any time, and shall be filled for the remainder of the term of office. In the event there is a vacancy for the officer position of Chair, the Vice-Chair will assume the role of Chair until the next election.

Amending the Constitution and Bylaws:

A. Amendments may be proposed by any member of the Division, but all such proposed amendments may only go forward under one of the following conditions:

The petitioner receives the written support (signatures) of one-fifth of the Division membership in good standing; or
The proposed amendment is introduced at the Division’s Annual Membership Meeting and receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of those present to refer the proposal to a Constitutional Revision Committee.

B. When one of the two above requirements is met, the Executive Board will create a Constitutional Revision Committee to review the Constitution and Bylaws, the proposed amendment, and to make appropriate recommendations.

C. An amendment will be approved after due notice of proposed amendments to the Constitution have been given to the members, and with two-thirds (2/3) vote of those members who cast a ballot. The Secretary/Treasurer will prepare an electronic ballot for the membership and the vote will be monitored by an executive counselor, in the same fashion described in Section VII(E) above.

D. Approved amendments shall take effect immediately following the next Annual Membership Meeting and are subject to the approval of the ASC Executive Board.