In all instances, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Bylaws, Constitution, IEEE Policy Manual, and Regional Activities Board (RAB) Operations Manual shall prevail when there is a conflict between these documents and Council Bylaws.

ARTICLE I

Name

Sec. 1. This organization shall be known as the South Carolina Council of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

ARTICLE II

Organization and Scope

Sec. 1. It is the object of this Council to support the programs and activities of the Sections of South Carolina and further the aims and ideals of the Institute, to coordinate the activities of the sections within the Council, to promote state-wide meetings and activities for the benefit of its members, and provide representatives to the South Carolina Council of Engineering Societies.

Sec. 2. The territory served by this Council shall be the territory served by the Sections of South Carolina.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Sec. 1. The Central Savannah River Area, Columbia, Coastal South Carolina and Piedmont IEEE Sections comprise the Council of South Carolina Sections. Additional Sections may be organized and may become members of the Council upon the approval of the Executive Committee of the Council, the Region Executive Committee and the Regional Activities Board.

Sec. 2. If agreed to by the participating Sections, the Council may establish Chapters and Affinity Groups for administrative and financial management of them after formation.

Sec. 3. All Fellows, Senior Members, and Members of the IEEE who are members of the Sections within this Council shall be entitled to vote, and hold office. Associate members of the IEEE who are members of Sections within this Council shall be entitled to vote, but shall not have the right to hold office. Student members of the IEEE shall be entitled to attend meetings, but shall not have the right to vote or hold office.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Sec. 1. Officers of the Council shall be a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, all of whom shall hold office for two years. Their term of office shall be from January 1 to December 31 of the following year or until their successors take office. The chair position may not be filled by members of the same Section for consecutive terms. No officer may serve more than two consecutive years in the same office. An officer may be re-elected to a position previously held, provided at least one year has passed since he or she held that office.

Sec. 2. Any vacancy among the officers occurring during a term shall be filled by Council Executive Committee appointment.

ARTICLE V

Management

Sec. 1. There shall be a Council Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the Council, the Junior Immediate Past Chair, and the Chair of each Section in the Council. These constitute the voting members of the Council Executive Committee. Non-voting members, such as representatives of Subunits, chair of standing committees and others appointed by the Chair, may serve on this committee. The Executive Committee will constitute the governing body of the Council and shall direct the management of its affairs. The Chair of the Council shall be the Chair of the Council Executive Committee.

Sec. 2. The Chair shall appoint such standing committees as may be considered desirable, subject to the approval of the Council Executive Committee.

Sec. 3. The majority of the voting members of the Council Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Sec. 4. The terms of office of all standing committees unless otherwise specified by the Council Executive Committee shall coincide with those of the Council Officers.

Sec. 5. The Chair shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Council. The Chair shall be the Council's primary representative to Region 3.

Sec. 6. The Vice-Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair in his absence.

Sec. 7. The Secretary shall have the responsibility for sending out notices, preparing the agenda for, and recording the minutes of, all meetings of the Council and of the Council Executive Committee.

Sec. 8. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt, disposition, and recording of all monies in the name of the Council. He shall make only such disbursements as approved by the Council Executive Committee. He shall make such reports as may be required by IEEE Bylaws and/or by federal laws. An annual report shall be issued to each Council officer.

Sec. 9. The Program Chair shall be the Vice-Chair of the Council. The Program Chair shall be responsible for all program activities connected with a statewide meeting of the Council.

Sec. 10. Representatives to the S.C. Council of Engineering and Surveying Societies shall be the Jr. Immediate. Past Chair, the Chair, and the Vice-Chair of the S.C. Council of IEEE, under the condition that each is a legal resident of the state of S.C. If any of the office holders is not a legal resident of the state of S.C., a replacement shall be appointed by the Executive Committee of the S. C. Council of IEEE.

ARTICLE VI

Nominations and Elections

Sec. 1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of one (1) member from each Section in the Council and the Junior Past Council Chair. The section members of the Nominating Committee will be appointed by the Chair of the Council. Appointed members must be qualified to hold office. The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall be the Junior Immediate Past Council Chair.

Sec. 2. The Chair of the Council Executive Committee shall appoint an additional member to serve on the Nominating Committee and designate the chair of that committee whenever the Junior Past Chair position is vacant.

Sec. 3. The Nominating Committee shall propose at least one candidate for each office, and contact the prospective candidates for Council offices to verify their willingness and ability to accept the office, should they be elected. The nominations shall be made known to the membership at least 30 days prior to the election. Additional nominations may be made by petition signed by twelve voting members of the Council and submitted to the Council Secretary at least fifteen days prior to the date set for the election of officers. The election shall be held at the fall Council meeting of the year in which the Council Officers' two-year term of office ends.

Sec. 4. The officers shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast, provided a quorum, as set by Article VII, Sec. 3, is in attendance.

Sec. 5. If a special election is required, the Council Executive Committee will determine when and how the election will be held.

ARTICLE VII

Meetings

Sec. 1. It shall be the policy of the Council to hold a fall meeting and other meetings that are necessary and desirable to promote the welfare of the Council and its members.

Sec. 2. Meeting notices shall be published on the website and/or mailed to all members of the Council as directed by the Council Executive Committee at least two weeks in advance of the meeting date.

Sec. 3. The majority of the voting members of the Council Committee shall constitute a quorum. Also, at least half of the Sections of the Council must be represented.

ARTICLE VIII

Finances

Sec. 1. There shall be no Council dues.

Sec. 2. Expenses for social activities associated with a Council meeting may be supported by donations and registration fees for the members in attendance.

Sec. 3. The ordinary expenses of the Council shall be defrayed by funds allocated by each Section in the Council and shall be at a rate not to exceed $1.00 per Section member per year, excluding student grade members. At the discretion of the Council Executive Committee, the allocation from the Affiliated Sections may be waived or reduced for any specific year.

Sec. 4. Without prior authorization of the IEEE Executive Committee, Council funds can be used only for normal operations of the Council. Those activities which fall outside of normal operations include donations, establishment of scholarship funds, and investment of funds outside of the IEEE Investment Program. Additional information is available from IEEE Financial Services Staff.

Sec. 5. All unit bank accounts, including those of Chapters and Affinity Groups, will provide for the signature authority of the IEEE Staff Director, Financial Services.

Sec. 6. The fiscal year of the Council shall be 1 January – 31 December.

ARTICLE IX

General

Sec. 1. In order to provide for the proper handling of the Council's routine work and the management of its affairs, the Executive Committee may adopt, in connection with these Bylaws, such rules and procedures as may be found necessary, but no rule or procedure shall be adopted that will conflict with the Bylaws or with the Constitution an Bylaws of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

ARTICLE X

Amendments to Bylaws

Sec.1. These Bylaws may be amended by a vote of a two-thirds of the Council Executive Committee members and ratified by a majority of the Executive Committees of the Sections in the Council.

Sec. 2. For each Section's Executive Committee to ratify or reject the proposed amendment, a majority vote of the quorum, as set by the Section Bylaws for an Executive Committee meeting, will be necessary.

Sec. 3. Amended Bylaws shall become tentatively effective upon ratification by two-thirds vote of the constituent Sections, the Regional Committee, and the Regional Activities Board.