of Ethics Online Collection: None
Constitution and ByLaws of the Air Traffic Control Association
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1. NAME
The name of this Association is the Air Traffic Control Association, Inc. It is incorporated under the laws of the State of Virginia as a non stock membership corporation. Its principal office and place of business is in Arlington, Virginia. The Association's principal office and place of business may be changed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II. OBJECTS
In order to promote the advancement of aviation and air traffic control of the kind and quality required by International Air Commerce, the commerce of the United States, the Postal Service, the national defense and general welfare, the objects of the Association are and shall be:
1. To promote, maintain and enhance the stature and well being of the air traffic
control profession and the aviation community.
2. To develop and disseminate knowledge of the control of air traffic in all
its phases and application.
3. The intelligent and honorable cooperation with all persons, parties, and
agencies interested and concerned with the promotion and advancement of aviation
and in particular the field of air traffic control.
The Association shall be a nonprofit organization and none of its net income
or net worth shall inure to the benefit of its members. In event of dissolution,
any property belonging to the Association shall be donated to some organization
of suitable purpose and character, as determined by the Board; and in no
event shall any property be distributed to members of the Association.
ARTICLE III. ATCA AREAS
The geographic areas of the Air Traffic Control Association shall be:
Area 1 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont,
North Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
East - West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia,
Canada, Europe, Africa.
Area 2 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi,
South South Carolina, North Carolina, Caribbean, South America.
east
Area 3 Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota,
North South Dakota, Wisconsin.
Central
Area 4 Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri.
Central
Area 5 New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Central
South America.
Central
Area 6 Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon,
North Idaho, Alaska.
west
Area 7 California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Pacific Area, Asia.
Western
Pacific
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
1. The membership of the Association shall consist of Professional Members, Corporate Members, Associate Members, Retired Members, and Honorary Members.
2. Persons engaged in the development, operation, maintenance, and use of the
National Aviation System shall be eligible for membership as Professional
Members.
3. Corporations and other interested organizations shall be eligible for membership
as Corporate Members. Corporate Members may designate five employees who
shall have the rights and privileges of Professional Members.
4. As determined by the Committee on Admissions and Ethics, those eligible
as candidates for election to the grade of Associate Member (including international
candidates) shall be persons whose interests in the field of air traffic
control would make them desirable members of the Association but who do not
wish to have voting privileges.
5. Candidates for membership, except Honorary Members, shall be classified
and their applications approved or rejected by the Committee on Admissions.
A duly approved member does not qualify until payment of dues.
6. Any Professional Member who has been a member in good standing on retirement
shall continue to be eligible for membership as a Retired Member. Retired
Members shall have the rights and privileges of Professional Members.
7. The Board of Directors may elect persons of acknowledged preeminence in
aviation as Honorary Members. They shall be exempt from all dues.
8. A member maybe censured, suspended or expelled by the Board of Directors
if, after due notice to the member and consideration of the member's response,
the Board finds that such member has willfully violated the Code of Ethics
prescribed in the ByLaws.
9. The amounts and conditions of dues payments for all classes of membership
shall be established by the Board of Directors.
10. When a member's dues have been delinquent for a period of thirty days,
the President shall send a dues renewal notice which shall inform the member
that if dues remain unpaid for a period of thirty days after date of the
notice, the membership shall automatically terminate and the member's name
shall be removed from the list of members.
11. Any person or organization making a financial contribution to the Association
shall be considered a patron of the Air Traffic Control Association and carried
on the rolls as such on an annual basis.
ARTICLE V. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
1. Directors. The board of Directors shall be composed of one Director from
each ATCA area, the Directors AtLarge, and the Chairman, ChairmanElect,
and President. All shall be voting members. There shall be fifteen voting
members on the Board of Directors, including the Chairman, ChairmanElect,
and President, seven of which will come one from each ATCA Area, as defined
in Article 111, one member atlarge, and four (atlarge) from corporate
members. Directors shall be Professional, Designated Corporate or Retired
Members. The term of office of a Director shall be for two years, and shall
not exceed three consecutive elected terms in that office. An election shall
be held each year for the Board as follows: Directors AtLarge shall
be elected in oddnumbered years; the ChairmanElect and Area Directors
shall be elected in even numbered years. The permanent, official duty station
of the five Directors AtLarge shall be worldwide. Election will be held
every other year beginning in 1983, and the term of office shall begin one
week prior to the 1983 annual meeting. The permanent, official duty station
of the seven Area Directors representing the ATCA Areas must, at the time
of election, be within the area that each represents. Election will be held
every other year beginning in 1984, and the term of office shall begin one
week prior to the 1984 annual meeting. Upon the death, resignation or removal
from office of a Director, the Board by majority vote may elect a successor
from the area concerned where applicable, for the remainder of the term.
The period of such service shall not constitute an "elected term" within
the meaning of this section.
2. Chairman, ChairmanElect. The Chairman and ChairmanElect shall
be members of ATCA. The term of office of the Chairman and Chairman-Elect shall
be two years. At the end of this two-year term, the Chairman-Elect shall succeed
to the office of Chairman. Upon the death, resignation or removal from office
of the Chairman, the ChairmanElect shall become Chairman for the remainder
of the term, and for a further twoyear term. Upon the death, resignation
or removal of the ChairmanElect, the Board, by majority vote, may elect
a successor for the remainder of the term. Upon the simultaneous death, resignation
or removal from office of the Chairman and ChairmanElect, the Board, by
majority vote, may elect successors for the remainder of the term.
3. The appointment of the President shall include membership on the Board of
Directors. Upon the death, resignation or removal from office of the President,
the seat on the Board of Directors shall remain vacant until a new President
is appointed by the Board.
4. Secretary and Treasurer. At each Annual Meeting of the membership the Chairman,
with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a Secretary and
a Treasurer from the membership of the Board.
5. For the purposes of this Constitution, and in all official ATCA communications,
the term "Association Officers" shall mean only the Chairman and
ChairmanElect of the Association.
ARTICLE VI. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
1. On or before January 1 of each year the Chairman shall nominate and the
Board elect a National Nominating Committee composed of at least three members
but not more than five. The National Nominating Committee shall be responsible
for nominating candidates for the offices of ChairmanElect (evennumbered
years) and Directors AtLarge (odd-numbered years) and Area Directors
(evennumbered years). All nominees must meet the requirements of Article
V of the Constitution. The National Nominating Committee shall nominate two
or more candidates for each office, obtain the written consent of the nominees,
and report such nominations to the Secretary before March 1. This report
shall be sent promptly to all voting members of the Association in a manner
to be determined by the Board. Additional nominations made in writing by
not less than 50 members shall be included on the ballot by the Secretary
if postmarked on or before May 15 and if the nominee gives written consent.
2. The elected Officers and Directors specified in Article V shall be elected
from the nominees by mail ballot. Each member shall be elected from the nominees
by mail ballot. Each member shall be entitled to vote for ChairmanElect
and for Directors AtLarge, and for Director for the Area of the member's
permanent official duty station. At least 90 days prior to the date and commencement
of the next annual meeting, the Secretary shall send to each member of the
Association a ballot containing the nominations for all Officers and Directors
for whom the member is entitled to vote. This ballot may also contain proposed
amendments to the Constitution and ByLaws, and any other questions which
the Board of Directors or 5% of the members of the Association may designate.
3. The official ballots shall be cast by mail and to be counted must be postmarked
on or before a date, to be designated by the Secretary and specified on the
ballot, which is not more than 60 days before the commencement of the next
annual meeting. A plurality of all votes cast for any office shall be required
for election. In the event of a tie between the leading candidates, the retiring
Board of Directors shall elect one by ballot.
4. Any Officer or Director of the Association may be removed from office for
cause, by a threequarters vote of the entire Board of Directors.
5. Beginning in 1990, the terms of officers and Directors shall begin one week
after the conclusion of the Annual Directors Meeting next following their
election and shall end when their successors take off ice.
6. The Board may prescribe additional rules governing elections, not inconsistent
with the Constitution.
ARTICLE VII. VOTING PRIVILEGES
1. Professional, Designated Corporate, and Retried Members shall be eligible
to vote:
a. In the election of Officers and Directors;
b. On proposed amendments to the Constitution and ByLaws;
c. On such other matters as maybe authorized by the Board, and
d. On any question which 5% of the members may designate.
2. Honorary Members and Associate Members shall not be eligible to vote in
elections of Officers or Directors, or on proposed amendments to the Constitution
or ByLaws. They shall, however, be eligible to vote on any matter submitted
to a vote by the Annual Membership Meeting, and on such other matters as
may be authorized by the Board.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
No part of this Constitution shall be amended except by a vote taken in the following manner:
1. Any proposed amendment must be approved by the Board of Directors or by
5% of the members other than Honorary Members and Associate Members and,
accompanied by a proper ballot form, shall be mailed by the Secretary to
the last known address of all members of the Association eligible to vote
thereon.
2. The official ballots shall be cast by mail and, to be counted, must be postmarked
on or before a date to be designated by the Secretary and specified on the
ballot.
3. Upon approval of a proposed amendment by the Board of Directors, the Secretary
shall prepare, print, and mail the ballot specified in Section 1 above.
4. The adoption of the proposed amendment shall require the affirmative vote
of not less than twothirds of all valid votes received. The amendment
shall become effective when the voting results have been certified by the
Secretary. Any amendment shall promptly be published in full, together with
a statement of its effective date, to all members.
ARTICLE IX. ADVISORY SUBSIDIARY GROUPS
1. Local ATCA Advisory Groups and Chapters may be approved under Terms of Reference and Procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X. EFFECTIVE DATE
1. This amendment shall become effective when approved by the membership and
certified by the Secretary, except for the election of 1982 Directors as
provided in Article V.1 and Article VI. Directors to be elected in 1982 shall
be elected under the provisions of the Constitution as it existed prior to
the 1984 annual meeting. In 1983 the five Directors At-Large shall be elected
under the terms of this amendment and shall hold office for two years, until
one week prior to the 1985 Annual Meeting. In 1984, the seven Directors which
will come one from each ATCA Area as defined in Article III, shall be elected
under the terms of this amendment and shall hold office for two years, until
one week prior to the 1986 Annual Meeting. Thereafter, Directors will continue
to be elected five and seven in alternating years, as provided by this amendment.
2. Upon the coming into effect of this Constitution, at the commencement of
the 1972 Annual Meeting of the Membership, the prior Constitution of the
Association, as amended, then in force and effect, shall stand repealed and
annulled in its entirety.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE 1. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
1. There shall be an annual meeting of the membership which shall commence
between the 10th of September and the 10th of November of each year, at a
time and place which shall be designated by the Board of Directors. Other
meetings may be held at such times and places for such specified purposes
as may be designated by the Board. A notice of the time and place of the
annual meeting and other meetings shall be sent by the President to all members
of the Association at their last known mailing address at least sixty days
before the date of the Annual Meeting and at least thirty days before other
meetings. The notice to members of the time and place of a special meeting
shall also state the purpose of the meeting, and business not indicated in
the notice shall not be transacted.
2. A quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting shall be 2% of the
membership or 50 members, whichever is the lesser.
3. The Board of Directors may prescribe standing rules for meetings not inconsistent
with the Constitution and ByLaws. Any matter not governed by the Constitution,
ByLaws, or standing rules shall be governed by ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER
REVISED.
ARTICLE II. DUTIES OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHER OFFICERS
1. Chairman. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to preside at all meetings
of the Association and of the Board of Directors, to perform the duties and
exercise the powers delegated to him by the Constitution, the ByLaws,
or by resolutions of the Membership or Board of Directors, to represent the
Association before the public and to perform all other duties as ordinarily
pertain to the office. The Chairman shall be Chairman of the Executive Committee
and shall be a member ex officio of all other standing and special committees.
2. ChairmanElect. It shall be the duty of the ChairmanElect to perform
any duty or responsibility of the Chairman when requested by the Chairman,
or during the absence or disability of the Chairman and to perform any other
duty or responsibility conferred upon him by the Board of Directors or by the
Membership.
3. Board of Directors.
a. The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the Association, whose
decisions shall be final. It shall have general control over the officers
and committees, and may alter or annul any decision of any officer, employee,
or committee. It may declare any off ice vacant, for cause, as provided in
the Constitution. It shall constitute a Board of Appeal from the rulings
and actions of all officers, employees, and committees. It shall consider
and pass on all resolutions submitted by Members, and adopt a budget for
the ensuing fiscal year, at each Annual Meeting of the Membership.
b. The Board of Directors shall meet at the Annual Meeting. The Chairman may
convoke the Board in a special meeting whenever the affairs of the Association
require it, and shall convoke a special meeting within 20 days upon written
request of five Members of the Board. A quorum for the transaction of any
business at a meeting of the Board shall be nine Members of the Board, and
a minimum of twothirds vote of the Board Members present shall be required
for the resolution of any question, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution
and ByLaws.
c. Business of the Board may be transacted partly or wholly by mail vote on
specific questions and not by proxy. A minimum of a two thirds of the entire
Board shall be required for the resolution of any question by mail ballot,
except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or ByLaws. If three
or more Members of the Board request postponement at the time of the voting,
the matter at issue shall be submitted to a second vote within thirty days,
accompanied by a brief statement of the objections raised by the Board Members
who requested the postponement. No further postponement shall be permitted,
except at the request of at least nine Members of the Board.
d. In the exercise of its functions, in general charge of the affairs of the
Association, the Board shall avoid any action that would be inconsistent
with any provision of the Constitution or ByLaws.
4. President The Board of Directors shall have authority to appoint a President
and to fix the President's compensation. The President shall have responsibility
for operation of the headquarters office of the Association, under suitable
bond collect and disburse Association funds, appoint employees (including
the General Counsel) and fix their compensation, have custody of the books,
records, property and funds of the Association, issue all notices and perform
all other functions delegated to the President by the Constitution or ByLaws,
be responsible for the mailing of publications to the Membership, maintain
an accurate and current roster of Members, make such periodic reports of
the President's activities as may be required by the Chairman or by the Board
of Directors, and perform such other duties as may be delegated to the President
by the Chairman or by the Board of Directors. In all of the President's actions,
the President shall be subject to the direction of the Chairman and the Board
of Directors.
5. Secretary. The Secretary shall prepare and keep in permanent form the minutes
of all actions taken at meetings of the Membership and of the Board of Directors.
The Secretary shall perform all other duties as may be delegated to the Secretary
by the Constitution, ByLaws, or by the Chairman or the Board of Directors,
or the Membership, and such other duties as ordinarily pertain to the office.
6. Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to monitor the receipt
and expenditures of funds of the Association, to present an annual financial
report to the Membership at the Annual Meeting, and to prepare a proposed
budget for the next fiscal year for presentation to the Board of Directors
at the Annual Meeting.
7. General Counsel. The President shall have authority to appoint a General
Counsel and to fix the General Counsel's compensation. The General Counsel
shall act as the legal advisor, legal representative and legislative representative
of the Association. In all of the General Counsel's actions the General Counsel
shall be subject to the direction of the President.
ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES
1. The standing committees of the Association shall be: The Committee on Admissions and Ethics, The Publications Committee, The Air Traffic Control Committee, The Engineering and Development Committee, The Publicity and Public Relations Committee, The Finance Committee, The Committee on Internal Affairs, The Aviation Education Committee, The Awards Committee, The International Committee, and The Executive Committee. Special Committees may also be established for such purposes as may be designated by the Chairman and approved by the Board.
2. The Chairman shall nominate and the Board shall elect the members of the
committees of the Association. The Board may require the Chairman to nominate
additional candidates for any committee if any of the original nominees are
not acceptable to the Board.
3. The number of members of all committees shall be determined by the Board,
except as otherwise provided in these ByLaws.
4. The term of office of the members of all committees shall be determined
by the Board.
ARTICLE IV. PUBLICATIONS
1. The Association shall publish, as its official publications, The Journal of Air Traffic Control and The A TCA Bulletin. Additional publications may be authorized by the Board. 2. The President shall nominate the editors of the publications of the Association for election by the Board.
3. The Publications Committee shall make recommendations to the Board on the
policies and management of the Association's publications.
4. All members of the Association in good standing shall receive the official
publications of the Association. The distribution of other publications of
the Association shall be as directed by the Board.
ARTICLE V. CODE OF ETHICS
In order that the dignity and honor of the Air Traffic Control Profession may be upheld, that its sphere of usefulness and its benefits may be extended, and that members of this Association may be guided by the highest standards of integrity and fair dealing, whether as individuals or in association with others in the aviation industry, the Board of the Air Traffic Control Association has adopted the following Code of Ethics and Conduct for the guidance of the Association's membership:
1. Members will endeavor to keep abreast of scientific and technical developments
within the profession, and will constantly strive for improvement.
2. Members will endeavor to contribute new knowledge to the National Aviation
System by making known to the aviation world any significant work, improvements
or research accomplished.
3. Members will not engage in unfair competition with other members of their
profession.
4. Members will not take credit for research or technical work done by others;
and in publications or meetings, will attempt to give credit where it due.
5. Members will, to the best of their ability, render instructions, advice,
and other assistance to fellow members in the discharge of their professional
service.
6. Members will base their professional practice on safe and sound principles.
7. Members will refuse to engage in practices which are generally recognized
as being detrimental to the public welfare.
8. Members will make every effort to discourage sensationalism, exaggeration,
and unwarranted statements concerning the field of their profession, and
will refrain from making extravagant claims.
ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS
These ByLaws may be amended only upon recommendation of the Board, or by 5% of the members other than Honorary Members and Associate Members, and by a twothirds vote of the members present at a meeting of the Association, or by mail vote in the following manner:
1. Any proposed amendment must be approved by the Board or by 5% of the members
and, accompanied by a proper ballot form, shall be mailed by the Secretary
to the last known address of all members of the Association eligible to vote
thereon.
2. The official ballots shall be cast by mail and, to be counted, must be postmarked
on or before a date to be designated by the Secretary, and specified in the
ballot.
3. Upon approval of a proposed amendment, the Secretary shall prepare, print,
and mail the ballot specified in Section 1 above.
4. The adoption of a proposed amendment shall require the affirmative votes
of not less than twothirds of all valid votes received. An amendment
shall become effective when the voting results have been certified by the
Secretary. Any amendment shall promptly be published in full, together with
a statement of its effective date, to all members.
ARTICLE VII. EFFECTIVE DATE
1. This amendment shall become effective when approved by the membership and certified by the Secretary.
2. These ByLaws shall become effective at the commencement of the 1972
Annual Meeting of the Membership. At that time the prior ByLaws of the
Association, as amended, then in force and effect, shall stand repealed and
annulled in their entirety.
HISTORY
AMENDED AMENDED
Constitution and ByLaws adopted 29 October 1958 Washington, DC 13
September 1974 Washington, DC
31 March 1956 15 March 1960 Washington, DC 28 July 1976 Washington, DC
Washington, D.C. 14 October 1963 Washington, DC 7 May 1982 Arlington, VA
7 October 1964 Washington, DC 1 May 1984 Arlington, VA
New Constitution and ByLaws adopted 10 October 1966 Washington, DC 15 April 1985 Arlington, VA
and former Constitution and ByLaws repealed 28 March 1967 Washington, DC 16 December 1985 Arlington, VA
effective as of 9 October 1972 26 August 1969 Washington, DC 12 September 1988 Arlington, VA
Washington, D.C. 25 August 1970 Washington, DC 15 August 1990 Arlington, VA
21 September 1971 Washington, DC

