I.  NAME

Association for Computational Linguistics

II.  PURPOSES

The purposes of the Association are:

1. To promote research and development activities in the field of
computational linguistics.

2. To promote cooperation and information exchange among related
professional and technical societies.

3. To represent computational linguistics to foundations and government
agencies worldwide.

4. To provide information on computational linguistics to the general
public.

III. MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership is open to any person  with an interest in
computational linguistics.

2.  All members receive the regular publications of the Association.
All members may submit papers for presentation at meetings of the
Association.  All members may participate in the Annual Business
Meetings of the Association, may vote in Association elections, and
may hold office in the Association.

3. There are two main classes of membership: `regular' and `student.'
Student members are eligible for a reduced dues rate.  To qualify for
the student rate, a person must be taking a full-time program of
courses and not earning a regular income.  However, students who do
not qualify for the student rate, but who are enrolled at a university
in a degree program and taking some classes may still be eligible to
participate in student activities.  In addition, members who are
retired and no longer earning a regular income are also eligible for a
reduced `retired' dues rate.  Couples who have the same mailing
address may become `joint members' and pay less than twice the full
rate for their class; if they do not belong to the same class, they
pay at the rate appropriate for the higher class.  Joint members will
receive only one set of publications, but each will be eligible for
all other member benefits.

4. Dues for each calendar year are payable upon receipt of a dues
statement.  Members in arrears will be dropped from membership.

5. Distinguished scholars in the field may be elected Fellows of the
Association members at the Annual Business Meeting, upon
recommendation by the by the Nominating Committee to the Executive
Committee.  The number of living Fellows shall not exceed twenty-five;
no more than three may be selected in any year.

IV. BUSINESS MEETING

1. There shall be an Annual Business Meeting of the Association, with
notice mailed to the membership at least two months before the meeting
date.

V.  OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION, AND ELECTIONS

1. The Officers of the Association shall be: a President, a
Vice-President, and a Secretary-Treasurer.  The President and
Vice-President are elected by the members of the Association at the
Annual Business Meeting for a one-year term.  The Secretary-Treasurer
is elected by the members of the Association at the Annual Business
Meeting for a five-year term, and may not hold office for more than
two such terms. The Executive Committee may appoint an Associate
Secretary-Treasurer, to hold office for a period of up to two years;
this appointment may be renewed once,

2. The administration of the Association shall be the responsibility
of the Executive Committee, which consists of the Officers, the Editor
in chief of the Association's Journal; the immediately Past President;
the Chairs of the Association's Chapters; and four members elected
(two annually) for terms of two years by the members of the
Association at an Annual Business Meeting.  If vacancies occur, the
Executive Committee shall appoint replacements serving until the first
of January after the next Annual Business Meeting; elections will be
held to fill those vacancies at this next Meeting.  An Associate
Secretary-Treasurer may be made a non-voting member of the Executive
Committee.  The President of the Association shall chair the Executive
Committee for the one year of his or her tenure.  The
Secretary-Treasurer is empowered to deposit and disburse funds and to
enter into contracts as appropriate to conduct the business of the
Association. The President shall deliver a written Annual Report, and
the Secretary-Treasurer shall deliver a written Annual Financial and
Membership Report, to the Association by the end of each year.

3. There shall be an Annual Executive Committee Meeting.

4. The Executive Committee shall (a) determine the place and time of
the Association meetings and appoint members to be responsible for
organizing its programs and for local arrangements; (b) select or
approve the editors of any publication sponsored by the Association;
(c) appoint members to various positions and form committees to assist
in conducting the activities of the Association; (d) fix the annual
dues of the Association; (e) fix registration fees for meetings; (f)
agree subscription and advertising rates for the publications of the
Association; (f) be responsible for a review of the
Secretary-Treasurer's Financial and Membership Report before this
Report is presented to the Annual Business Meeting; (f) charter
Chapters of the association, revoke the charter of any such chapter if
it no longer serves the objectives of the Association, and appoint
inaugural officers and committees of such chapters; (i) institute
Special Interest Groups of the Association; (j) fix the times of the
Annual Business Meeting and Annual Executive Committee Meeting.

5. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of the three Past
Presidents preceding the present one, each serving for the three years
following their own Presidency. The member whose term is about to
expire shall chair the Committee. In case of a vacancy the Executive
shall appoint a member to serve for the appropriate period.

6. There shall be an Accounts Scrutiny Committee consisting of the
immediately Past President and an elected member of the Executive
Committee, the latter serving for one year, with the duty of
considering the Secretary-Treasurer's Annual Report and reviewing the
financial state of the Association, in preparation for the Annual
Executive Committee Meeting.

7. Elections shall be conducted as follows: the Nominating Committee
shall nominate one person for each position to be filled at an annual
election, and the Secretary-Treasurer shall, at least two months
before the Annual Business Meeting, mail to the membership notices of
these nominations.  The election will be held at the Annual Business
Meeting.  Additional nominations may be made from the floor, provided
that each such nomination is seconded by two members of the
Association to be valid, and provided that evidence is presented that
such a nominee will serve if elected.  If there is more than one
nominee for any position, voting for that position shall be by secret
ballot.  Any nominee receiving a majority of the votes of the members
present will be declared elected.  Those elected shall take office on
the first of January next following and serve until succeeded.

VI.  AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the Constitution must be approved by a majority of the
Executive Committee or proposed by not less than ten members, have
notice mailed to the membership at least two months before the Annual
Business Meeting, and be ratified by a majority vote of the members of
the Association attending the Annual Business Meeting.