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About the office of the president
Being elected to the office of the President of the American Chemical Society is the highest honor that the members of the organization can bestow upon one of their associates. Since ACS was founded in 1876, many highly educated and respected members of the Society have occupied the office of the President. It is a central position that starts before the individual actually serves as President and continues after their term is over. Presidential candidates are elected to the office one year before their terms begin, during this period they serve as the President-Elect.
The President-Elect serves as a member of the Board of Directors and of its Executive Committee. The President-Elect may also be called upon as a member of one or more Society Committees or Standing Committees of the Board. If the President of the Society is unable to serve, the President-Elect will act as presiding officer of the Council. Similarly, the Constitution states that the President-Elect shall succeed to the office of President if a vacancy occurs during the President's term of office. The President-Elect is ex-officio a voting member of the Committee on Committees and of the Council Policy Committee. The office also appoints the necessary canvassing and award committees for most awards administered by the ACS.
After the President-Elect serves his or her one-year term, he or she then becomes President on for one year, commencing January 1. The President still is ex-officio a voting member of the Council Policy Committee, a member of the Board of Directors and of its Executive Board, and now serves ex-officio as a member of the C&EN Publishing Board. The President of the Society is the President of the Council and its presiding officer, as well as the Chair of the Council Policy Committee. In the event of the President's absence, the Vice-Chair elected by the committee will preside as the Chair. The President appoints or shares in the appointment of Society Committees and all other committees except those that are elected (Council Policy Committee; Committee on Nominations and Elections; Committee on Committees) and those that report only to the Board. For other committees, the President will be furnished with (a) the name of each committee member, (b) pertinent data on each, such as section membership, age, and length of service, (c) an analysis of total committee membership so that concentration in any one section or region can be avoided, (d) recommendations prepared by the elected Committee on Committees, (e) confidential comments (if proffered) from committee chairs concerning the service rendered by individual committee members, and recommendations for changes, and (f) lists of individuals qualified for committee service as developed by staff and the Committee on Committees.
The President has the authority to call a special meeting of the Council or of the Board of Directors, to appoint officers of probationary technical divisions, to close any session at any meeting of the Society to nonmembers, to act in connection with the proposed expulsion of a member from the Society, and to serve pro tem as Chairman of the Board of Directors if its elected Chair cannot function.
When the year as President is completed, he or she serves as Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President remains a Director and a member of the Council Policy Committee for one more year. Once a member of the Society becomes President, he or she is ex-officio a Councilor for life. If a Councilor is unable to attend a Council meeting, he or she may send a representative to report to the Council.
The President-Elect serves as a member of the Board of Directors and of its Executive Committee. The President-Elect may also be called upon as a member of one or more Society Committees or Standing Committees of the Board. If the President of the Society is unable to serve, the President-Elect will act as presiding officer of the Council. Similarly, the Constitution states that the President-Elect shall succeed to the office of President if a vacancy occurs during the President's term of office. The President-Elect is ex-officio a voting member of the Committee on Committees and of the Council Policy Committee. The office also appoints the necessary canvassing and award committees for most awards administered by the ACS.
After the President-Elect serves his or her one-year term, he or she then becomes President on for one year, commencing January 1. The President still is ex-officio a voting member of the Council Policy Committee, a member of the Board of Directors and of its Executive Board, and now serves ex-officio as a member of the C&EN Publishing Board. The President of the Society is the President of the Council and its presiding officer, as well as the Chair of the Council Policy Committee. In the event of the President's absence, the Vice-Chair elected by the committee will preside as the Chair. The President appoints or shares in the appointment of Society Committees and all other committees except those that are elected (Council Policy Committee; Committee on Nominations and Elections; Committee on Committees) and those that report only to the Board. For other committees, the President will be furnished with (a) the name of each committee member, (b) pertinent data on each, such as section membership, age, and length of service, (c) an analysis of total committee membership so that concentration in any one section or region can be avoided, (d) recommendations prepared by the elected Committee on Committees, (e) confidential comments (if proffered) from committee chairs concerning the service rendered by individual committee members, and recommendations for changes, and (f) lists of individuals qualified for committee service as developed by staff and the Committee on Committees.
The President has the authority to call a special meeting of the Council or of the Board of Directors, to appoint officers of probationary technical divisions, to close any session at any meeting of the Society to nonmembers, to act in connection with the proposed expulsion of a member from the Society, and to serve pro tem as Chairman of the Board of Directors if its elected Chair cannot function.
When the year as President is completed, he or she serves as Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President remains a Director and a member of the Council Policy Committee for one more year. Once a member of the Society becomes President, he or she is ex-officio a Councilor for life. If a Councilor is unable to attend a Council meeting, he or she may send a representative to report to the Council.