II. The Mande Studies Association is an independent professional society
established in the United States that is open to all Mande scholars, from
any nation, academic discipline and/or professional interest.

III. The specific aims of the organization are the following:
A. To promote scholarly research, both within and outside Africa, in all
areas and disciplines of the social sciences, natural sciences, and
humanities relevant to the Mande experience and environment.
B. To encourage international cooperation and facilitate the exchange of
ideas and meaningful dialogue among persons engaged in research on Mande
societies.
C. To encourage the publication and dissemination of scholarly and
artistic works as well as primary sources on Mande studies and related
topics.
D. To organize panels, symposia, and conferences on Mande Studies at
meetings of regional, national and international organizations.
E. To provide the general public with information on issues of historical,
cultural, and contemporary interest in Mande areas of Africa.

IV. Organization of the Mande Studies Association
Article I. Executive Council
Section 1. The business of the Association shall be managed by the
Officer of the Association.
Section 2. The Executive Council shall consist of the Officers of
the Association and members of the Advisory Board.
Section 3. Any Executive Council member may resign at any time,
provided such a resignation is made in writing. Any Executive Council
member may be removed by a vote of two-thirds majority of members of
record.

Article II. Officers
Section 1. Term Lengths.
(a) The President shall serve for a term of two years.
(b) The Vice President shall serve for a term of two years.
(c) The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a term of two years and
shall be elected on alternate years from the President and Vice-President
(d) A Member at Large shall serve a term of two years.
Officers must be members in good standing.
All officers may stand for re-election by the members if they so
choose.
The three-year term begins upon an officers election by the
members at the annual meeting.
Any officer who expects to be unable to fulfill his/her duties
adequately for a year or more shall resign with the option of standing for
re-election at another time.
Section 2. Officers Duties
(a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the members of
the Executive Council and at all business meetings of the Association.
She/He shall, in general, supervise and manage all the business and
affairs of the Association. She/He shall have authority and power, in the
name of the Association, to sign checks, drafts, notes, and orders for the
payment of money by the Association. The President and/or his designee
shall edit and distribute the Association Newsletter, and shall keep
current the official Membership List which names all members of record.
The President shall designate committees as she/he deems necessary
to carry out specific duties related to the activities of the
organization. Such committees and their appointed heads shall dissolve
immediately after their specific duties have been accomplished.
(b) The Vice President shall, in the absence or disability of the
President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President.
(c) The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve as Secretary of the
Association. She/He will record the minutes of both Executive Council and
regular business meetings and make the minutes available to the President
for distribution in the Newsletter. She/He shall perform any other duties
which are delegated by members of the Executive Council.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and other
valuable documents of the Association. She/He shall have authority and
power to endorse, on behalf of the Association, checks, notes, and other
obligations, and deposit same to the credit of the Association in such
bank or banks as the Executive Council may designate. She/He shall record
the income and expenditures of the Association and give a full written
report of all monies received and paid out at the annual business meeting
of the membership.
(d) The Member at Large shall serve on the Executive Council of
the Association and assist in the decision-making process of that body.

Article III. Vacancies Among Officers
Section 1. If the office of any officer becomes vacant, the
remaining officers, as the Executive Council, may appoint or elect any
qualified person to fill such a vacancy, who shall hold such office for
the unexpired term and until a successor is elected or appointed.
Section 2. An interim appointee named by the Executive Council may
stand for office at the end of the unexpired term and will begin a regular
term upon election at the annual meeting.

Article IV. Advisory Board
Section 1. There shall be an Advisory Board of five dues-paying
members for the purpose of supporting the Association in its scholarly
endeavors and suggesting research in areas of interest to the Association.
Members of the Advisory Board shall be approved by the membership in
attendance at the annual meeting and shall be persons acknowledged within
their respective fields as scholars and authorities. Every effort should
be made to select members representing gender and geographical balance,
and Members of the Advisory Board shall serve for a two-year period.
Members of the Advisory Board must attend the business meetings of the
Association at least biennially. Out-going presidents and vice-presidents
shall be honorary members of the Advisory Board.

Article V. Meetings
Section 1. A meeting of the members shall be held annually. At the
annual meeting, any vacant post on the Executive Committee will be filled.
Candidates for office shall submit brief statements for publication in the
last newsletter preceding the annual meeting. Members not in attendance
may vote by written proxy.
Section 2. Special meetings of the members, for any purpose, may
be called by the President of the Association or the Executive Council.
The notice for such special meetings shall state the purpose thereof.
Section 3. For the transaction of normal business and the election
of officers and approval of members of the Advisory Board, a simple
majority vote by members of record present shall suffice. For the removal
of a member of the Executive Council or to change the By-Laws at the
annual meeting, a vote by two-thirds of the dues-paying members of record
is required.

Article VI. Dues
Section 1. Membership Dues Categories
(a) Regular and institutional dues for membership in the society
shall be $10.
(b) Student dues shall be $5.
(c) Voluntary Sponsors of the Association shall pay dues of $25.

Article VII. Voting
Section 1. Each member of record shall be entitled to one vote on
each matter submitted to a vote of the members. Executive Council members
and officers shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting
of the members of record. Voting for officers shall take place by secret
ballot. Changes to the By-Laws require a two-thirds majority of members of
record, and this quorum is needed for a vote of such changes at the annual
meeting. Any other action to be taken by vote of the members shall be
authorized by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting by the members of
record.

Article VIII. Amendment and Repeal of By-Laws
Section 1. These by-laws may be amended, repealed, or adopted by
two-thirds of the dues-paying members, either by mail vote or by vote at
the annual meeting.

Since the revision and acceptance of the By-Laws, an amendment has been
proposed that can be voted on at the next meeting. It is proposed that
Section IV, Article II, Section 1. Term lengths, (c) Secretary-Treasurer
be amended to read: "The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a term of two
years and shall be elected on alternate years from the President and Vice
President."
This is to ensure that the Secretary-Treasurer, President and/or
Vice President are not all replaced at the same time, which was the
intention behind adopting a three-year term for the Secretary-Treasurer.