Article I. NAME
The name of this organization is the Section on Government Statistics of the
American Statistical Association (hereafter called the Association).
Article II. SCOPE AND FUNCTIONS
The special interests of the Section on Government Statistics are to promote
the use of sound statistical theory and methods in the production of data at all
levels of government - be it Federal, State, local, or international; assist in
the broad dissemination of those data; and encourage good statistical practice
by all users. Areas of interest for the Section include all that involve the
production, dissemination, and application of governmental statistics. This
includes areas such as statistical policy issues, quality and usefulness of
governmental data products, special problems of State and local data,
comparability of data among different countries, and the role of professional
statisticians in the public sector. To support these special interests, the
Section on Government Statistics shall carry out the following functions,
together with such others as are appropriate:
- Assist in the development and advancement of knowledge in techniques and
practices that will contribute to excellence in the production and use of
government statistics.
- Promote a wider understanding of the attained levels of quality, continuity,
comparability, appropriateness, accessibility, relevance, and timeliness of
governmental statistical activities for large and small geographic areas.
- Encourage professional statistical review of statistical activities carried
out by governmental units.
- Disseminate information and provide training opportunities for individuals
involved in the production and use of government data and statistics.
Article III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall include all full members of the Association who are current
in the payment of Section dues. The membership for each member of the Section
shall coincide with that member’s membership year in the Association.
Article IV. OFFICERS
The elected officers of the Section shall consist of the Chair, the Chair-Elect,
the Past-Chair, the Program Chair, the Program Chair-Elect, the Secretary/Treasurer,
the Council of Sections Representative, and the Publications Officer.
The term of office of the Secretary/Treasurer and the Publications Officer shall
be two years. The terms of all other officers shall be one year. The term of the
Representative(s) to the Association’s Council of Sections shall be as prescribed
in the Charter of the Council of Sections. A Representative to the Council is
eligible for immediate re-election only if he or she was not previously elected
for a full term. No officer shall be eligible for immediate re-election to the same
office except the Secretary/Treasurer and the Publications Officer.
The Chair-Elect and Program Chair-Elect shall automatically succeed the Chair and
Program Chair, respectively, at the annual change of officers, which shall occur on
January 1.
Article V. VACANCIES IN OFFICE
If the office of Chair becomes vacant, the Chair-Elect shall become the Chair, the
term extending through the following year. The same principle of succession shall
apply if the office of Program Chair becomes vacant. Vacancies in other offices shall
be filled by appointment by the Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Article VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers and two Council of
Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) Representatives. After
serving as Past-Chair, the Past-Chair becomes the ASA representative on the Council
of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) for two years. Thus, the
two COPAFS Representatives each have tenure for two years, with overlapping terms.
The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of the Section. Actions taken by the
Committee during the past year, and plans for future activities, shall be presented
at the annual business meeting of the Section for discussion. The Chair, with the
approval of the Executive Committee, may designate committees or individuals to carry
out the functions of the Section, including a Newsletter Editor, an Amstat Online
Assistant Editor, Chairs of Award Committees, and other positions needed to
efficiently conduct the business of the Section.
Article VII. NOMINATION AND ELECTION
The Section’s Committee on Nominations shall include the immediate Past Chair who
shall serve as the committee Chair and two additional members appointed by the Section
Chair. No other member of the Executive Committee may be a member of this committee.
The Section’s Committee on Nominations shall submit, to the Secretary of the Association
and the Section Chair, at least two candidates for each position to be filled, in
accordance with the schedule established by the Association. In addition, any Section
member nominated by petition of 25 or more members of the Section shall also appear on
the annual ballot, provided that the petition is presented to the Secretary of the
Association in accordance with the nomination schedule. Balloting shall be carried out
as part of the Association’s annual ballot for electing Association and Section officers.
Article VIII MEETINGS
The annual meeting of the Section shall be held in connection with the annual meeting
of the Association and shall be announced in advance, preferably in the program for that
meeting. Between annual meetings, business may be conducted by mail, email, telephone,
facsimile transmission, or other electronic means.
Article IX. AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this charter may be proposed by the Executive Committee of the Section
or by petitions signed by at least 25 members of the Section and presented to the
Executive Committee. Amendments are subject to the approval of the Association’s Council
of Sections Governing Board. The proposal shall then be submitted to the members of the
Section for vote at the time of the annual election of officers. If approved by the
majority of the members voting, the amendment shall be effective immediately unless
provided otherwise by the amendment itself.
