By-Laws of the Central European History Society

(Last modified January 2024)

1. The name of this organization is the Central European History Society; hereafter CEHS.
2. The purposes of the organization are: to express a common professional interest in central European history, to encourage scholarship and interest therein, to represent such scholarly interest in relation to other organizations, and to further collaboration with scholars and institutions abroad having similar interests.
   CEHS is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scholarly purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
   No part of the net earnings of CEHS shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to any private persons, except that CEHS shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth above. No substantial part of the activities of CEHS shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and CEHS shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
   Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, CEHS shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation or association exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation or association, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
   Upon dissolution, the Central European Historical Society (“CEHS”) shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of CEHS, dispose of all of the assets of CEHS exclusively for the purposes of CEHS in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, educational, scientific or literary purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code as CEHS shall determine, or to federal, state, or local governments to be used exclusively for public purposes. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Superior Court of Wake County, exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations, such as the court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes, or to such governments for such purposes.
3. Membership in the Society shall be open to all interested persons by subscription to the society’s journal, Central European History. The dues of CEHS shall consist of the cost of subscription to the journal Central European History.
4. The Executive Board shall normally comprise ten (10) voting members:
   • Four (4) elected officers, namely: a Vice-President Elect, a Vice-President, a President, and a Past President. An officer is first elected to the position of Vice-President Elect. After one year, the person rotates into the office of Vice-President for one year, followed by a year as President and, finally, a year as Past President. Each officer thus serves for a total of four (4) years.
   • One (1) appointed officer, the Executive Director, whom the Executive Board shall appoint for a four-year term. The Executive Board may reappoint (once) the Executive Director to an additional four-year term.
   • Three (3) At-Large Members, each elected to serve a three-year, staggered, term.
   • Two (2) Ex-officio members:
     • The Editor of the Society’s journal, Central European History. Should the Editorship be split between more than one editor, the Co-Editors shall all be members of the Executive Board, but they will share equally a single vote.
     • The Director of the German Historical Institute, Washington, D.C.
5. The selection/election of board members/officers are as follows:
   • New vice-president-elects and members of the executive board shall be elected by the CEHS membership (typically following the board meeting and business meeting at the AHA conference in January) from a slate of candidates nominated by the Executive Board in consultation with the membership.
   • At the announcement of the election of a new vice-president-elect (typically following the board meeting and business meeting at the AHA conference in January) the former vice president-elect, vice president, and president shall each advance to the next position, and the term of the former past president shall be expired.
   • A new executive director shall be selected by the Executive Board one year prior to the executive director leaving office.
6. The duties of board members and officers are as follows:
   • The vice president shall organize a “president’s panel” to be held at the American Historical Association conference the following year, when he/she serves as president.
   • The president shall chair the research grants committee and shall select the other two members of the research grants committee.
   • The past president shall appoint the members of the Rosenberg prize committees.
   • The executive director shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of CEHS, including, but not limited to: Keeping minutes at meetings, managing finances, updating the website, publicizing announcements/calls for proposals/calls for nominations, and liaising with the American Historical Association.
7. The Executive Board shall represent and act for CEHS in any matters relating to the purposes of this organization as stated in paragraph 2.
8. Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any meeting of CEHS by a majority vote of the members present, or voting via the internet, provided that previous notice has been given to all members not less than three weeks prior to the stated meeting.
9. Meetings of CEHS shall be held annually in connection with the scheduled meetings of the American Historical Association or at any other time, or times, as shall be determined by officers of the organization.