MGCA BYLAWS
Effective March 10, 2015

ARTICLE I
Name and Mission

Section 1. Name.
The name of the Association shall be the Military and Government Counseling Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association, MGCA, or the Military and Government Counseling Association. The Association is organized as a division of the American Counseling Association.

Section 2. Mission.
The mission of MGCA is to encourage and deliver meaningful guidance, counseling, and educational programs to all members of the Armed Services, Veterans, their family members, and civilian employees of Local, State and Federal Governmental Agencies. Encourage development of professional monographs and convention/conference presentations by any of these agencies. Develop and promote the highest standards of professional conduct among counselors and educators working with Armed Services personnel and Veterans. Establish, promote, and maintain improved communication with the nonmilitary community; and conduct and foster programs to enhance individual human development and increase recognition of humanistic values and goals within State and Federal Agencies.

ARTICLE II
Membership

Section 1. Classes of Membership.
a)	Membership in this association, with voting rights, shall be available only to individuals who are supportive of both the ACA mission and the MGCA mission.
b)	There shall be five classes of voting membership: Professional, Regular, Student, New Professional, and Retired.
c)	Professional members shall include individuals who hold a master’s degree or higher in counseling or a closely related field from a college or university that was accredited when the degree was awarded by one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Professional members must present proof of academic credentials upon request. An exception of these requirements is as follows: All persons who were members of the Association on June 20, 1992 were declared Professional members of ACA regardless of their educational backgrounds and are eligible to maintain their Professional Membership status as long as their membership is continuous, unless removed for cause.
d)	Regular members shall include individuals whose interest and activities are consistent with those of the Association, but who are not qualified for Professional membership. Regular members are those who have earned at least a bachelor's degree in any of the above fields from an accredited college or university, plus a minimum of five (5) years’ work experience related to the above fields which may include:
1)	personnel assessment, professional development evaluation, research, and other aspects of such work in government agencies and/or other organizations; or
2)	assessment, testing, program evaluation, research, and writing directly related to any of the above; and/or
3)	counselor-in-training in any of the above; and/or
4)	Administration/supervision in any of the above.
e)	 New Professional members shall include individuals who have graduated from a regionally accredited college or university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation within the past twelve months. This membership status is good for two years. New professionals are entitled to reduced ACA and MGCA dues. They are entitled to all the privileges of individual membership.
f)	 Student members shall include individuals who are enrolled at least half-time in a regionally accredited college or university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Student members are entitled to reduced ACA and MGCA dues. They are entitled to all the privileges of individual membership.
g)	 Retired members shall include individuals who are former active Professional or Regular members who have been members for five or more consecutive years, who have retired. Retired members are eligible for reduced ACA and MGCA dues in accordance with current ACA policies and procedures. They are entitled to all the privileges of individual membership.
h)	 All members shall inform ACA Member Services and the MGCA Membership Chair of any changes in contact information or status.
i)	 Members must abide by the ACA Code of Ethics.

Section 2. Dues. Annual Association dues for members shall be established by action of the MGCA Board of Directors and shall become effective concurrently with ACA dues.

Section 3. Severance of Membership.
a)	A member may be dropped from membership for any conduct that tends to injure MGCA or to affect adversely its reputation, or that is contrary to or destructive of its mission according to the MGCA Bylaws and the ACA Code of Ethics.
b)	A member shall be dropped from membership for the nonpayment of dues.

ARTICLE III
Meetings and Actions of the Membership

Section 1. Notice of Membership Meetings and Actions.
The Association shall hold national meetings at a time and place fixed by the MGCA Board of Directors which shall give written notice thereof to the membership no less than six months prior to the time so fixed. The Association may hold other meetings at a time and place fixed by the MGCA Board of Directors which shall give reasonable notice to the membership. Meeting notice may be provided by newsletter, website, or email.

Section 2. Meetings.
a)	Annual meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in conjunction with the ACA Annual Convention or at a time designated by the Executive Committee. The annual meeting shall be for the purpose of hearing summary reports from officers and committees, conducting the business of the association, and presenting programs of benefit to the members. Members present at the annual meeting shall constitute a quorum. Resolutions may be presented and voted on at the annual meeting provided each resolution has been received, in writing, by the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting. Resolutions of an emergency nature may be approved for presentation at the annual meeting if a majority of the members present approves hearing the resolution. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present is required for adoption of any resolutions.
b)	Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once a year prior to the Annual Meeting. Additionally, the Board of Directors will meet quarterly on the third Thursday of the first month of each quarter. Other meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or the Executive Committee. A majority of the voting membership of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
c) Special meetings. Special meetings of the association may be called by direction of the Board of Directors, which shall give at least forty-five (45) days written notice to the membership. Special meetings shall transact only such business as is stated in the call to the meeting.
d) If so arranged by the President, meetings of the Board of Directors may be conducted where members are voting by means of a conference telephone call or other telecommunication device that allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and to have their views heard. Such participation in a meeting shall be deemed presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2. Manner of Acting and Decision-Making
a)	A majority of the votes cast on a matter where a quorum is present shall be necessary for the adoption thereof unless a greater proportion is required by law or these Bylaws. If so arranged by the President with respect to any matters that may be voted on by voting members, including the election of the Governing Board or officers, such members may vote by electronic ballot.
b)	If so arranged by the President, voting members may participate in a meeting where members are voting by means of a conference telephone or other telecommunication device that allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and to have their views heard. Such participation in a meeting shall be deemed presence in person at such meeting.

ARTICLE IV
National Divisions of the Association
As MGCA is a national division of ACA, this article is not used.

ARTICLE V
Affiliates and Other Groups
Should the Board of Directors decide to establish affiliates or other groups, these bylaws may be amended to add language to address such.

ARTICLE VII
Branch Divisions of the Association

Section 1. Organization of Branch Divisions.
a)	The Association may include one or more Branch Divisions, each of which shall consist of at least ten members (or the number required for division status in the Branch) in good standing in MGCA, and each of whom are residents of such geopolitical subdivision. For the purposes of these Bylaws, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, Foreign Countries, and such other geopolitical subdivisions, when chartered by the MGCA Board of Directors and the Branch, shall be considered to be Branch Divisions.
b)	No Branch Division shall be organized or operated except in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of ACA, MGCA, and the Branch where the Branch Division is formed.
c)	The purposes of a Branch shall be in accordance with those of ACA, MGCA, and the Branch where the Branch is formed.

Section 2. Formation of Branch Divisions.
The MGCA Board of Directors shall have the power to charter Branch Divisions, but only one Branch may be chartered in any State in the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two-thirds of the votes cast by members of the MGCA Board of Directors who are present at a meeting where there is a quorum shall be necessary to grant a charter to a new Branch.

Section 3. Autonomy of Branches.
a)		A Branch Division of the Association shall be free to conduct its affairs at the Branch level but shall do so only in compliance with the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of ACA, MGCA, and the Branch. The Branch Division shall establish such policies and procedures for Branch Division operation necessary to ensure responsible fiscal operation.
b)  All elected officers of a Branch Division shall be members of ACA, MGCA, and the Branch.
d) A Branch Division may adopt its own name, but in all instances shall identify itself as “A Branch of the Military and Government Counseling Association” and of its Branch.

Section 4. Proposed Amendments to Basic Documents.
Proposed amendments to the Bylaws of any Branch Division shall be reported in writing to the MGCA President no later than fourteen weeks prior to the MGCA Board of Directors meeting at which the change may be considered.  The proposed amendments must also be reported to the Branch and follow the procedures of the Branch. The MGCA President shall transmit the written proposed amendments to the MGCA Bylaws and Policies Committee which will transmit to the MGCA Board of Directors such proposed amendments with or without a recommendation regarding each proposed change at least six weeks before the next regularly scheduled meeting of the MGCA Board of Directors. Any such proposed amendment cannot take effect until approved by the MGCA Board of Directors.

Section 5. Reports.
Each Branch Division shall transmit to the MGCA President the names of its directors and officers promptly following their election or appointment. Each Branch Division shall transmit a written annual report to the MGCA President who shall distribute the report to the MGCA Board of Directors. Reports may also be required by the Branch Bylaws.

Section 6. Involuntary Revocation of a Charter.
The MGCA Board of Directors or the Branch shall have the power to revoke the charter of a Branch Division when it is deemed in the best interests of MGCA or the Branch to do so.
a)	Before final action may be taken with respect to the revocation of the charter of a Branch Division, a notice of intent to revoke must first be passed by a majority of the members of the MGCA Board of Directors present and voting and the Branch in question advised in writing of the reasons for the proposed action. The Branch Division shall have until the next national meeting of the Association (but in no case less than nine months) to affect remedial measures or otherwise bring itself into compliance with the Bylaws of the Association.
b)	Two-thirds of the votes cast by the members of the MGCA Board of Directors who are present at a meeting where there is a quorum shall be necessary to revoke the charter of a Branch Division.

Section 7. Voluntary Withdrawal of a Branch Division.
An organization’s status as a Branch Division of MGCA may be voluntarily withdrawn only in compliance with MGCA Bylaws, policies, and procedures adopted by the MGCA Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII
Business Affairs of the Association

Section 1. Severable or Transferable Interest.
No member shall have any severable or transferable interest in the property of the Association.

Section 2. Control and Management.
All property of the Association shall be subject to the control and management of the MGCA Board of Directors. Any accumulation or disposal of real property, except upon dissolution of the Association, must be approved in advance by the MGCA Board of Directors.

Section 3. Disposal Upon Dissolution.
a.	On dissolution or final liquidation, the MGCA Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the lawful debts and liabilities of the Association, distribute all the assets of the Association to ACA Foundation. The ACA Foundation shall establish a scholarship fund in the name of MGCA until all of the funds are expended. No assets of the Association shall be distributed to any of the MGCA members. Association records shall be turned in to the ACA Executive Director to be placed in the ACA archives.

Section 4. Appropriation of Association Funds.
a)	No appropriations of Association funds shall be made except pursuant to the authority of the MGCA Board of Directors.
b)	The MGCA Board of Directors shall adopt an annual budget.

Section 5. Association Year.
The fiscal year and the governance year of the Association shall be July 1–June 30.

Section 6. Reports.
Members of the MGVA Board of Directors shall be sent quarterly income and expense reports from the Treasurer showing the financial state of the Association. Members of the MGCA Board of Directors shall also be sent the auditors’ report each year.

Section 7. Limitations on Activities.
MGCA is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of sections 170(c)(2)(B), 501(c)(3), 2055(a)(2), and 2522(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. No part of the net earnings of MGCA shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to the members of its Board of Directors, officers, members of its committees, other private individuals, or organizations organized and operated for a profit (except that MGCA shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes as hereinabove stated). No substantial part of the activities of MGCA shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and MGCA shall be empowered to make the election authorized under section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code. MGCA shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, MGCA shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on -
a)	by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of such Code, and/or
b)	by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under sections 170(c)(2), 2055(a)(2), or 2522(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 8. Internal Revenue Code.
References herein to sections of the Internal Revenue Code are to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as those provisions are now enacted or to corresponding provisions of any future United States internal revenue law.

ARTICLE IX
Officers of the Association

Section 1. Officers and Terms of Office.
a)	The elected officers of the Association shall be the President, the President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, Secretary, Governing Council Representative, Graduate Student Representative, and six (6) of the Directors. The elected officials of the association form the Executive Committee. Additionally, there shall be six (6) appointed directors.
b)	All officers of the Association shall be elected at large from among members of the Association and shall MGCA and ACA members in good standing.
c)	 The term of office of any elected or appointed officers of MGCA shall begin on July 1.
d)	 The President, the President-Elect, Immediate Past President, and Graduate Student Representative shall be for a period of one (l) year or until a successor takes office.
e)	 The term of treasurer and secretary shall be for a period of two years or until a successor takes office.
f)	 The term for the Governing Council Representative shall be for a period of three years or until a successor takes office.
g)	 The term for elected directors shall be for a period of two years or until a successor takes office.
h)	 A term of office for appointed Directors shall be two years starting in the association fiscal year of the appointing President.
i)	 An appointed secretary, treasurer, or governing council representative may serve out the remaining term of the elected officer but must stand for election during the next association fiscal year to serve succeeding terms.
j)	 Vacancies in office shall be filled as provided for in these by-laws. In the event of resignation, continued absence, illness, removal from office, or death of any officer or director, the Executive Committee shall, by majority vote, elect a successor to serve until the next annual election.

Section 2. Duties of Officers.
a)	The President shall preside at all meetings of MGCA and shall be Chairperson of and preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and shall be Chairperson of and preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. The President shall be an ex officio member without vote on all committees with the exception of the Nominations and Election Committee. The President shall perform the duties customary to that office and such additional duties as directed by the Board of Directors or as listed in the MGCA Policies and Procedures Manual.
b)	The President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President as determined by the Board of Directors. The President-Elect shall assume the Presidency of MGCA upon the death or resignation of the President. The President-Elect shall serve as a member of the Financial Affairs Committee and shall assume such additional duties as directed by the Board of Directors or as listed in the MGCA Policies and Procedures Manual. If the President-Elect becomes incapacitated, the term is to be completed by the candidate with the next highest vote on the same slate of candidates.
c)	The immediate Past President shall serve as Chairperson of the Nominations and Election Committee, shall serve as a member of the Publications Committee and shall assume such additional duties as directed by the Board of Directors or as listed in the MGCA Policies and Procedures Manual.
d)	The Treasurer shall represent the Association in assuring the receipt and expenditures of funds in accordance with the directives established by the Board of Directors, and shall be under such bond as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall perform the duties customary to the office and such additional duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors or as listed in the MGCA Policies and Procedures Manual.
e)	The duties of other Association officers not listed in this section are listed in the MGCA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Section 3. Nominations and Election of Officers.
The Nominating Committee shall conduct the nominations for elected officials in accordance with policies and procedures established by the association Board of Directors and ACA guidelines.
a)	Any member may nominate a candidate for office or Director.
b)	Nominations must be in writing and be accompanied by a statement of the qualifications of the nominee plus a written statement of acceptance by the nominee
c)	Nominees must be members in good standing of ACA and MGCA.
d)	Nominees for President Elect shall have served at least one term in any of the following positions: Secretary, Treasurer, or Director.
e)	 Nominees for Treasurer must agree to keep association funds in U.S. and not foreign banks as well as agree to an independent audit, if needed.

Section 4. Compensation and Expenses of Officers. None of the elected officers of the Association shall receive any compensation for their services as such to the Association, with the exception that the MGCA Board of Directors can approve expenses for the President, President-Elect, and Past President when acting for the good of the Association.

Section 5. Removal or Replacement of Officers
a.	Removal from Office. Any elected official may be removed from office for cause by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The cause must be substantiated and documented. The executive committee official bringing the ‘show cause’ case before the Executive Committee and the official being accused cannot vote on the removal.
b.	Continued absence. Non-participation in executive committee proceedings between scheduled Board of Director’s meetings and not responding at all to proceedings of the Executive Committee are examples of continued absence. Failure to respond to attempts to contact the elected official by e-mail, US Postal Service, telephone calls, or other messaging services without response or contact over a period of thirty (30) calendar days confirms continued absence.

ARTICLE X
Board of Directors

Section 1. Composition.
The Board of Directors shall be composed as follows:
a)	 The Officers, the immediate Past President, the elected and the appointed Directors shall constitute the Board of Directors of the association.
b)	 There shall be twelve (12) Directors, each serving a two (2) year term of office.
c)	Three (3) Directors shall be elected each year and three (3) appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
d)	 Directors will normally be appointed as Standing Committee Chairs or to serve as special advisors to the President.
e)	 In considering appointments to the Board of Directors, the President will consider full representation of the various Armed Services and professional specialties included in the association's membership.

Section 2. Powers and Functions of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall:
a)	Have general supervision of the association in the interim between Annual Meetings.
b)	Implement the program of the association under the direction of the President and the President-Elect.
c)	Establish policies to govern the affairs of the Association.

Section 3. Meetings of the Board of Directors.
a)	The Board of Directors shall meet at least once per year in conjunction with the ACA conference. 
b)	The President of the Association shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and, in the President’s absence, the President-Elect shall preside.
c)	A majority of the voting members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
d)	Additional meetings may be held as set forth in these bylaws.

Section 4. Executive Committee
a)	 The elected officers and the immediate Past President shall constitute the Executive Committee of the association.
b) The Executive Committee
1)	shall act for the association in case of an emergency between meetings of the Board of Directors; and
2)	advise the President and approve appointments of standing and special committee chairs and any other appointments authorized by the bylaws.
3)	Maintain liaison with ACA Ethics Committee to implement the requirements stated in the bylaws and other directives of ACA.
4)	Report to the membership on ACA requirements and standards for ethical conduct and on procedures for handling reported violations.

Section 5. Manner of Acting and Decision-Making
a)	A majority of votes cast on a matter where a quorum is present shall be necessary for the adoption thereof unless a greater proportion is required by law or these Bylaws.
b)	Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or a committee may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other telecommunications device or arrangement that allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and to be able to have their views heard. Such participation in a meeting shall be deemed presence in person at such meeting.
c)	The Board of Directors shall be empowered to conduct and participate in meetings by electronic communications in which the words are transmitted to all participants.

ARTICLE XI
Publications

Section 1. Publications Policy.
The Board of Directors, acting on the recommendations of the Publications Committee, shall determine and direct the basic publications policy and program of the Association. All editor and reviewers of Association publications and other media of the Association work on a volunteer basis.

Section 2. Official Journal.
The Journal of Military and Government Counseling shall be the official journal of the Association and shall be distributed without additional charge to all members in good standing of the Association.

Section 3. Copyright.
The Association shall own the copyright for the original and any renewal term for any writing that is published by the Association. The author of any such writing shall have the right to make a non-profit or non-commercial use of the work provided that there be affixed to each copy the copyright notice used by the Association when the writing was first published. The author shall have the right to make or authorize the profit or commercial use of any such writing only after first obtaining the written consent of the Association.

Section 4. Newletter.
The MGCA E-Report shall be the official newsletter of the Association and shall be distributed without additional charge to all members in good standing of the Association.

ARTICLE XII
Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees and Special Committees.
The standing committees and special committees of ACA shall be those committees recommended to and approved by the Board of Directors. Special Committees must be approved annually by the Board of Directors for a specific time limit, an assigned task, or temporary purpose. All committees shall be listed in the Policies and Procedures Manual along with operational guidelines, oversight, purpose, lifespan, and procedures for review. Committee members and Chairs are appointed by the President-elect subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Elimination of Standing Committees.
Standing Committees shall be reviewed every five years, and shall renew and continue automatically unless eliminated by the vote of the Governing Council during a review.

ARTICLE XIII
Indemnification

Section 1. Provision
MGCA shall indemnify each member of its Board of Directors, as described in Article X, and each of its officers, as described in Article IX, and each member of its committees, as described in Article XII for the defense of civil or criminal actions or proceedings as hereinafter provided and, notwithstanding any provision in these Bylaws, in a manner and to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Section 2. Implementation
MGCA shall indemnify each of its Board of Directors and officers and committee members, as aforesaid, from and against any and all judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and necessarily incurred or imposed as a result of such action or proceedings, or any appeal therein, imposed upon or asserted against him or her by reason of being or having been such a Board of Director member or officer or committee member and acting within the scope of his or her official duties, but only when the determination shall have been made judicially or in the manner hereinafter provided that he or she acted in good faith or for the purpose which he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of MGCA and, in the case of a criminal action or proceeding, in addition had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. This indemnification shall be made only if MGCA shall be advised by its Board of Directors acting (1) by quorum consisting of Board of Director members who are not parties to such action or proceedings upon a finding that, or (2) if a quorum under (1) is not obtainable with due diligence, upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that, the Board of Directors member or officer or committee member has met the foregoing applicable standard of conduct. If the foregoing determination is to be made by the Board of Directors, it may rely, as to all questions of law, on the advice of independent legal counsel.

Section 3. Inclusion
Every reference herein to a member of the Board of Directors or officer or committee member of MGCA shall include every Board of Directors member and officer and committee member thereof or former Board of Directors member and officer and committee member thereof. This indemnification shall apply to all the judgments, fines, amounts in settlement, and reasonable expenses described above whenever arising allowable as above-stated. The right of indemnification herein provided shall be in addition to any and all rights  to which any Board of Director member or officer or committee member of MGCA might otherwise be entitled and the provisions hereby shall neither impair nor adversely affect such rights.

ARTICLE XIV
Nondiscrimination
There shall be no discrimination against any individual on the basis of ethnic group, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and/or disability.

ARTICLE XV
Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation

Section 1. Amendments to Bylaws.
a) Except as provided in Section 2 below, amendments to the Bylaws may be acted upon at the annual business meeting of the Association if presented in writing (through email blast to all members, the newsletter, and the website) to all members of the Association at least thirty days before the meeting at which the proposed change is to be considered. Such an amendment may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Any amendments to such proposed amendments or any amendment not presented in writing to all members of the Association thirty days in advance of the meeting may be adopted by at least a four-fifths vote of the members present.
b) If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, action upon a proposed amendment is desired before the next meeting, it may be taken through an email or electronic ballot and presentation of the amendment in writing (through email blast to all members, the newsletter, and the website)  to all members of the Association. If two-thirds of the members returning ballots within the succeeding thirty days vote affirmatively, the amendment shall be adopted.
c) These Bylaws shall take effect immediately following its adoption and shall supersede any previous Bylaws and all provisions and amendments thereof.
d) Amendments so adopted must be submitted to ACA for approval at least thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the next association year. Amendments adopted shall become effective at the beginning of the next association year, after approval by ACA.

Section 2. Policies and Procedures.
Supplementary policies and implementation guidelines for these Bylaws are found in the Policies and Procedures Manual.

Section 3. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation.
a)	The MGCA Articles of Incorporation may be amended by having a majority of the Board of Directors present at a meeting where there is a quorum adopt a resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and direct that the amendment be submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members.
b)	Written or printed notice setting forth the proposed amendment or summary of the changes to be effected thereby shall be given to each member entitled to vote at such meeting within 10-50 days of such meeting. If the meeting be an annual meeting, the proposed amendment or such summary shall be included in the notice of such annual meeting. To be adopted, the amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by those voting members present at an annual or special meeting of the membership, including by the procedures set forth herein at Article III, Section 2.
c)	Upon the issuance of the certificate of amendment by the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the amendment shall become effective and the articles of incorporation shall be deemed to be amended accordingly.

ARTICLE XVI
Rules of Order

Section 1. Parliamentary Authority
The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, (edited by Henry M. Robert III and William J. Evans, and published by Perseus-HarperCollins) shall govern the proceedings of all bodies of the Association except where otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

Section 2. Parliamentarian
Should the President appoint a Parliamentarian, the Parliamentarian shall, without vote, advise the President and the Board of Directors regarding parliamentary law and parliamentary procedure.

HISTORY OF THE ACEG BYLAWS ACTIONS

Bylaws originally adopted, Dec, 1978 in Dallas, Texas under the name of Military Educators and Counselors Association.

Amended by 2/3 vote, Apr 4, 1981, in St Louis, Missouri, to add:
(1)	Government Relations and Publication Committees and to specify the duties of these committees; and
(2)	To add Article X, Business Affairs of the Association.

Amended by 2/3 vote, Mar 18, 1982, in Detroit, Michigan. The following changes were
adopted:
(1)	A date of June 30, 1985 was established as a deadline for achieving Division status with the American Personnel and Guidance Association. (APGA)
(2)	The office of secretary/treasurer was deleted, the offices of Secretary and Treasurer established and their duties specified.
(3)	Added requirement for officers to submit an annual report of publication in the Newsletter.

Amended by general consent, Mar 1984, in Houston, Texas, to reflect change in name of APGA to American Association for Counseling and Development.

Amended by unanimous vote, Apr 2, 1985, in New York, NY, to reflect acceptance as an Organizational Affiliate of AACD.

Amended by 2/3 vote, Apr 20, 1986, in Lost Angeles, CA. Changes in terms of office and procedures for handling expenditures were adopted.  

Amended by 2/3 vote, Apr 22, 1987, in New Orleans, LA. The following changes were adopted:
(1)	In Article V, the title was changed from Elected Officers to Elected Officials
(2)	A Vice President and six (6) Directors were added to the elected officials;
(3)	Duties of the Vice President were added;
(4)	Structure of the Board of Directors was more clearly defined;
(5)	Awards and Long Range Planning Committees were added and duties outlined.

Amended by 2/3 vote, Mar 15, 1989, in Boston, MA, to delete the office of Vice President and require that candidates for President Elect have served as officer or Director of the association.

Amended by 2/3 vote, Apr 21, 1991, in Reno NV, to adopt membership classifications in accordance with AACD requirements.

Amended by 2/3 vote, Mar 15,1993, in Atlanta, GA to reflect change from AACD to American Counseling Association; to clarify membership categories; to add procedures for handling vacancies in the office of President Elect, and to bring other sections into line with ACA requirements.

Amended with 2/3 vote on Apr 24, 1994 in Minneapolis, MN to change the name of the organization the Association of Counselors and Educators in Government.

Amended with 2/3 vote on Apr 19, 1996 in Pittsburgh, PA, to form an internal audit committee.

Amended with 2/3 vote Mar 28, 1998, in Indianapolis, IN, to bring the categories of membership into line with guidelines from ACA; and to form an official audit committee and outline duties of such committee.

Amended with 2/3 vote Mar 17, 2001, in San Antonio, TX, to bring changed to the Executive Committee responsibilities and align the Standing Committees to better serve the organization.

Amended by unanimous vote on Apr 1, 2006, in Montreal, Canada, to add the governing council representative as an elected officer of the association, clarify terms of office, expand on treasurer fiduciary responsibilities, and disposition of funds in the event of association dissolution.

Amended by unanimous vote on Mar 27, 2008, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to establish a process to fill vacancies and to establish a process to replace elected officials removed for cause or continued absence.

Amended by unanimous vote on Mar 10, 2015 in Orlando, FL to change the name of the organization the Military and Government Counseling Association and to update the bylaws to better align with the current ACA Bylaws.