(updated as of December 9, 2007)

COMPOSITION

Section 12.01. The House of Delegates shall consist of the duly elected Delegates, the Officers, the Directors, the District Director to The American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., the Delegate to The Medical Society of the State of New York, and the Immediate Past President of this Society.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., Alternate Director, Chairs of Standing Committees, all Past Presidents (except the Immediate Past President), and the Chair/Editor of the Editorial Board shall be members of the House of Delegates without vote unless duly elected Delegates. No member of The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., may hold two (2) voting offices in the House of Delegates. Should this situation arise, a member must immediately resign one voting office of their choice. [EXCEPTION: The District Director to The American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., and the Delegate to The Medical Society of the State of New York may hold a second voting office in the NYSSA House of Delegates; in these instances, the District Director of ASA and the MSSNY Delegate will be entitled to one (1) vote each in the NYSSA House of Delegates.]

PURPOSE

Section 12.02. The House of Delegates shall be the primarily legislative and governing body of this Society.

POWERS AND DUTIES

Section 12.03. The House of Delegates is charged and entrusted with the final authority in all matters, except where final authority is delegated elsewhere by these Bylaws, and the transaction of all business of this Society not otherwise specifically provided for in these Bylaws.

Section 12.03-1. Financial. It shall receive the recommendations of the Board of Directors concerning an annual budget prepared by the Treasurer, and after giving due consideration to these recommendations, it shall make annual appropriations for the expenditures of this Society. It may amend current appropriations at either an Annual or Special meeting. No expense may be incurred on behalf of the Society in excess of or outside of these appropriations.

The Treasurer shall have the authority to redistribute any funds within the constraints of the approved budget.

Section 12.03-2. Committee. It shall have the authority to appoint committees for special purposes, which may be composed of members of this Society who are not members of the House of Delegates. Such committees shall report to the House of Delegates, and may be present and participate in the debates on their reports.

DELEGATES

Section 12.04. Each Delegate or Alternate to the House of Delegates shall be entitled to only one (1) vote, and shall represent the District Society by or for which he or she was appointed and no other.

Section 12.04-1. Qualification. No person shall serve as a Delegate to the House of Delegates unless he or she is a voting member in good standing of the Society.

Section 12.04-2. Substitution. A Delegate or his or her Alternate, accepted and seated, shall serve without substitution throughout the Annual Session or other meetings of the House of Delegates unless a substitute is approved by the Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurer.

MEETINGS

Section 12.05. The House of Delegates shall meet during each Annual Session at the time established by the Board of Directors. It may recess from time to time as may be necessary to complete its business, provided that its hours shall conflict as little as possible with the general or section meeting.

Section 12.05-1. Presiding Officer. The Speaker shall serve as the presiding Officer of the House of Delegates.

Section 12.05-2. Quorum. Ten percent (10%) of the Delegates or their Alternates shall constitute a quorum of the House of Delegates.

Section 12.05-3. Votes. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all questions shall be determined by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of those voting.

The Speaker or Vice-Speaker may vote only when presiding and then only to break a tie vote.

Section 12.05-4. Order of Business. The official order of business for the House of Delegates, unless otherwise ordered by two thirds (2/3rds) vote of the Delegates present and voting, shall be:

1. Registration of Delegates and ex-officio members of the House of Delegates and visitors.
2. Call to Order by the President.
3. Report of the presence of a quorum by the Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurer.
4. Invocation.
5. Recognition of guests and presentation of awards.
6. Installation of the Speaker as Presiding Officer.
7. Approval of the minutes of the last session of the House of Delegates, as published.
8. Report of the President.
9. Report of the President Elect.
10. Remarks by the Speaker.
11. Introduction of reports in the order in which they are published in The Handbook For Delegates.
12. Unfinished Business.
13. New Business.
14. Announcement of time and place of Reference Committee Meetings.
15. Recess of First Session.
16. Registration of Delegates and ex-officio members of the House of Delegates and visitors.
17. Convening of the Second Session.
18. Report of the presence of a quorum by the Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurer.
19. Recognition of the President for introduction of guests.
20. Reports of the Reference Committees.
21. Election of Officers.
22. Return of Chair to the President.
23. Installation of the President Elect (Presentation of Plaque and Gavel).
24. Adjournment by the (outgoing) President.

Section 12.05-5. Reference Committees. Reference Committees of the House of Delegates shall be appointed no later than one (1) month prior to the Annual Session to analyze all business to be considered by the House of Delegates and to make appropriate recommendations from the floor at the Annual Session.

Section 12.05-6. Special Sessions. A Special Session may be called by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. Written notice of the time and place of a Special Session shall be mailed to each member of the House of Delegates at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting (See Section 11.06). Under extraordinary circumstances, a Special Session may be called by the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, upon seven (7) days notification of the members of the House of Delegates.

Section 12.05-7. Order of Business at a Special Session. At a Special Session of the House of Delegates, the order of business shall be determined by the President with approval of the Executive Committee. It shall be available to the members of the House of Delegates before the start of the meeting and may be altered by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the Delegates present and voting.

ELECTION PROCEDURE

Section 12.06. Election of Officers and Delegates by the House of Delegates shall be by secret ballot unless a single candidate is nominated to an office. A majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to elect. If on any ballot no nominee shall receive a majority, the name receiving the smallest number of votes shall be dropped, and the balloting shall proceed in that manner until a majority is obtained. Nominations for all Officers shall be made form the floor of the House of Delegates.

PUBLICATION

Section 12.07. A summary of the proceedings of the House of Delegates shall be published following each Annual Session. A copy shall be sent to each member of The House of Delegates, the Secretary of each District, the Wood Library-Museum, Inc., and The American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc.

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