CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

OF THE

Medical Association of Georgia.

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I.-NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION.

The name and title of this organization shall be the Medical Association of Georgia.

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 Georgia; to extend medical knowledge and advance medical science; to elevate the standard of medical education, and to secure the enactment and enforcement of just medical laws; to promote friendly intercourse among physicians; to guard and foster the material interests of its members and to protect them against imposition; and to enlighten and direct 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 and delegates.

SEC. 2. Members. The members of this Association shall be the members of the component county medical societies, to which only white physicians shall be eligible.

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.

ARTICLE V.-HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

The House of Delegates shall be the 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 this Association.

ARTICLE VI.-COUNCIL.

The Council shall consist of the Councilors, and the President and Secretary, er officio. Besides its duties mentioned in the by-laws, it shall constitute the Finance Committee of the House of Delegates. Five Councilors shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII.-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 societies.

ARTICLE VIII.-SESSIONS AND MEETINGS.

The annual meetings shall take place on the third Wednesday in April, and at such place as shall be designated by the Association.

ARTICLE IX.-OFFICERS.

SECTION I. The officers of this Association shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary-Treasurer and eleven Councilors, one from each congressional district.

SEC. 2. The officers, except the Secretary-Treasurer and Councilors, shall be elected annually. The terms of the Councilors shall be for three years, those first elected serving one, two and three years, as may be arranged, viz. : the Councilors for the first, second, third and fourth districts for three years; those for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth for two years; those for the ninth, tenth and eleventh for one year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a term of five years. All these officers shall serve until their successors are elected and installed.

SEC. 3. The officers of this Association shall be elected by the Association by ballot, and without nomination, at 3 o'clock on the last day of the annual session, 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. If there is no election on the first ballot, the three names receiving the highest number of ballots shall be voted on, the other names being dropped. If there is no election on second ballot, the two names receiving the highest number of ballots shall be voted on until election occurs. Delegates to the American Medical Association shall be elected at same time and in same manner.

ARTICLE X.-FUNDS AND EXPENSES.

Funds shall be raised by an equal per capita assessment on each component society. The amount of the assessment shall not exceed the sum of $3.00 per capita per annum. Funds may be appropriated by the House of Delegates to defray the expenses of the Association, for publications, and for such other purposes as will promote the welfare of the profession. All resolutions appropriating funds must be referred to the Finance Committee before action is taken thereon.

ARTICLE XI. RATIFICATION.

The House of Delegates shall submit all questions before it to the Association for ratification.

ARTICLE XII. THE SEAL.

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

ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENTS.

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Any amendment that may be offered to the constitution shall lie over until the next annual meeting; and for its adoption at such meeting shall require a two-thirds vote of all present and voting.

BY-LAWS.

CHAPTER I.-MEMBERSHIP.

SECTION 1. The name of a physician on the properly certified roster of members of a component society, which has paid its annual assessment, shall be prima facie evidence of membership in this Association.

SEC. 2. Any person who is under sentence of suspension or expulsion from a component society, or whose name has been dropped from its roll of members, shall not be entitled to any of the rights or benefits of this Association, nor shall he be permitted to take part in any of its proceedings until he has been relieved of such disability.

SEC. 3. 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 shall take part in any of the proceedings of an annual session until he has complied with the provisions of this section.

CHAPTER II-GENERAL MEETINGS.

SECTION I. All registered members may attend and participate in the proceedings and discussions of the General Meetings. The General Meetings shall be presided over by the President, or by one of the Vice-Presidents.

CHAPTER III.-HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

I.

SECTION 1. The House of Delegates shall meet at 2 p.m. on the day before that fixed as the first day of the