OF

The State Medical Association of Texas.

[ADOPTED AT SAN ANTONIO, APRIL 29, 1903.]

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I.

NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION.

The name and title of this organization shall be the "STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS."

ARTICLE II.

PURPOSES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

The purposes of this Association shall be to federate and bring into one compact organization the entire medical profession of the State of Texas, and to unite with similar associations in other States to form the American Medical Association, with a view to the extension of medical knowledge, and to the advancement of medical science; to the elevation of the standard of medical education, and to the enactment and enforcement of just medical laws; to the promotion of friendly intercourse among physicians, and to the guarding and fostering of their material interests; and to the enlightenment and direction of public opinion in regard to the great problems of State medicine, so that the profession shall become more capable and honorable within itself, and more useful to the public in the prevention and cure of disease, and in prolonging and adding comfort to life.

ARTICLE III.

COMPONENT SOCIETIES.

Component Societies shall consist of those county medical societies which hold charters from this Association.

ARTICLE IV.

COMPOSITION OF THE ASSOCIATION.

SECTION 1. This Association shall consist of members, delegates and guests.

SEC. 2.

Members.-The members of this Association shall be the members

of the component county medical societies.

SEC. 3. Delegates.-Delegates shall be those members who are elected in accordance with this Constitution and By-Laws to represent their respective component societies in the House of Delegates of this Association.

SEC. 4. Guests.—Any distinguished physician not a resident of this State may become a guest during any annual session upon invitation of the officers of this Association, and shall be accorded the privilege of participating in all of the scientific work for that session.

ARTICLE V.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

The House of Delegates shall be the legislative and business body of the Association, and shall consist of (1) delegates elected by the component county societies, (2) the councilors, and (3) ex-officio, the president and secretary of the Association.

ARTICLE VI.

SECTIONS AND DISTRICT SOCIETIES.

The House of Delegates may provide for a division of the scientific work of the Association into appropriate sections, and for the organization of such councilor district societies as will promote the best interests of the profession, such societies to be composed exclusively of members of component county societies.

ARTICLE VII.

SESSIONS AND MEETINGS.

SECTION 1. The Association shall hold an annual session, during which there shall be held daily not less than two general meetings, which shall be open to all registered members, delegates and guests.

SEC. 2. The time and place for holding each annual session shall be fixed by the House of Delegates.

ARTICLE VIII.

OFFICERS.

SECTION 1. The officers of this Association shall be a president, three vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and fifteen councilors.

SEC. 2. The president and vice-presidents shall be elected for a term of one year. The secretary, treasurer and councilors shall be elected for terms of three years each, the councilors being divided into classes so that three shall be elected each year. All of these officers shall serve until their successors are elected and installed.

SEC. 3. The officers of this Association shall be elected by the House of Delegates on the morning of the last day of the annual session, but no delegate shall be eligible to any office named in the preceding section, except that of councilor, and no person shall be elected to any such office who is not in attendance on that annual session and who has not been a member of the Association for the past two years.

ARTICLE IX.

FUNDS AND EXPENSES.

Funds for meeting the expenses of the Association shall be arranged for by the House of Delegates by an equal per capita assessment upon each county society, to be fixed by the House of Delegates, by voluntary contribution, and from the profits of its publications. Funds may be appropriated by the House of Delegates to defray the expenses of the annual sessions, for publication, and for such other purposes as will promote the welfare of the Association and profession.

ARTICLE X.

REFERENDUM.

The general meeting of the Association may, by a two-thirds vote, order a general referendum upon any question pending before the House of Delegates, and the House of Delegates may, by a similar vote of its own members, or after a like vote of the general meeting, submit any such question to the membership of the Association for a final vote; and if the persons voting shall comprise a majority of all the members, a majority of such vote shall determine the question, and be binding upon the House of Delegates.

ARTICLE XI.

THE SEAL.

The Association shall have a common seal, with power to break, change or renew the same at pleasure.

ARTICLE XII.

AMENDMENTS.

The House of Delegates may amend any article of this Constitution by a two-thirds vote of the delegates registered at that annual session; provided, that such amendment shall have been presented in open meeting at the previous annual session, and that it shall have been sent officially to each component county society at least two months before the session at which final action is to be taken.

BY-LAWS.

CHAPTER I.

MEMBERSHIP.

SECTION 1. All members of component societies shall be privileged to attend all meetings and take part in all of the proceedings of the annual sessions, and shall be eligible to any office within the gift of the Association. SEC. 2. The name of a physician upon the properly certified roster of members, or list of delegates, of a component society which has paid its annual assessment, shall be prima facie evidence of his right to register at the annual session in the respective bodies of this Association.

SEC. 3. No person who is under sentence of suspension or expulsion from any component society of this Association, or whose name has been dropped from its roll of members, shall be entitled to any of the rights or benefits of this Association, nor shall he be permitted to take any part in any of its proceedings until such time as he has been relieved of such disability.

SEC. 4. Each member in attendance at the annual session shall enter his name on the registration book, indicating the component society of which he is a member. When his right to membership has been verified by reference to the roster of his society, he shall receive a badge which shall be evidence of his right to all the privileges of membership at that session. No member or delegate shall take part in any of the proceedings of an annual session until he has complied with the provisions of this section.

CHAPTER II.

ANNUAL AND SPECIAL SESSIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

SECTION 1. The Association shall hold an annual session at such time and place as has been fixed at the preceding annual session.

SEC. 2. Special sessions of either the Association or of the House of Delegates shall be called by the president at his discretion or upon petition of twenty delegates.

CHAPTER III.

GENERAL MEETINGS.

SECTION 1. The general meetings shall include all registered members, delegates and guests, who shall have equal rights to participate in the proceedings and discussions, and, except guests, to vote on pending questions. Each general meeting shall be presided over by the president, or in his absence or disability, or by his request, by one of the vice-presidents.