THE CONSTITUTION

(Amended May 1992, Amended December 2010)

Article I.  Name

  1. The name of this corporation shall be the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, hereinafter referred to as NCPA.  NCPA is incorporated under the laws of the State of North Carolina.

  2. The geographic boundaries of the State of North Carolina shall be the exclusive territorial limits of the NCPA.
    1. At the discretion of the Council, the state shall be divided into precincts which afford each member reasonable geographic access to precinct meetings as defined by the Bylaws. 

Article II.  Objectives and Stipulations

  1. The objectives of the NCPA are:
    1. to improve the treatment, rehabilitation, and care of the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, and the emotionally disturbed;
    2. to promote research, professional education in psychiatry and allied fields, and the prevention of psychiatric disabilities;
    3. to advance the standards of all psychiatric services and facilities;
    4. to foster the cooperation of all who are concerned with the medical, psychological, social, and legal aspects of mental health and illness;
    5. to make psychiatric knowledge available to other practitioners of medicine and to scientists in other fields of knowledge, and to the public;
    6. to promote the best interest of patients and those actually or potentially making use of mental health services; and
    7. to promote the common professional interests of and advocate for its members, to the extent consistent with Section 3 below.
  2. The NCPA shall remain a nonprofit scientific corporation as defined by state and federal tax regulations, consistent with the meaning of [Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended].

  3. No substantial part of the activities of the NCPA shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the association shall not participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign of any candidate for public office. 

Article III.  Members

There shall be the following categories of membership:  Distinguished Life Fellows; Life Fellows; Distinguished Fellows, Fellows, Life Members; General Members; Members-in-Training; Honorary Fellows; Inactive Fellows; and Inactive Members, as defined by the Bylaws.  

Article IV.  The Executive Council

There shall be an Executive Council as defined in the Bylaws.  This Executive Council will hereinafter be referred to as the Council. 

Article V.  Officers

The Officers of the NCPA shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. 

Article VI.  Committees

  1. There shall be the following Constitutional Committees:  Ethics, Membership, Nominating, Constitution and Bylaws, Budget, Tellers, and Fellowship with functions and procedures as defined in the Bylaws or by the Council.

  2. Other organizational components of the NCPA may be established as determined by the Council and members. 

Article VII.  Meetings

  1. General meetings of the NCPA shall be held at least once a year on the call of the President.  There will be a meeting in the fall hereinafter referred to as the Annual Meeting.

  2. Timely notice of the meetings will be given by the Secretary, who will by mail or circularization notify all members of the time, place, and general program of each meeting.

  3. Special meetings may be called by the President, the Council, or petition of twenty-five members.  One week notice must be given all members.

Article VIII.  Amendments

  1. Proposals to amend the Constitution may originate either
    1. by a petition signed by 30 or more voting members, or
    2. by resolution of the Council.
  2. Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be received by the Secretary at least 60 days before the annual meeting in the fall.

  3. A proposed amendment shall be presented at the annual meeting and thereafter disseminated to the entire membership not later than January of the following year.  The proposed amendment shall be voted on by the eligible membership of the NCPA by secret ballot.  Approval by two-thirds of those members voting shall be required for adoption of the proposed amendment.  If adopted, the amendment shall become effective upon certification by the Tellers Committee to the Council unless a later effective date is specified on the ballot.