Policies and Procedures for the Council of Representatives

(As approved on November 22, 2014)

C1. Membership of Council:

C1.1 - The Council consists of General Councilors, International Councilors, the Presidential Line, the Treasurer and Councilors representing the Divisions, Forums and Sections as specified in Article V of the Constitution. In addition, the Chair of the Nominating Committee is a voting member of Council. The Chair of the Panel on Public Affairs, the CEO and the EIC are non-voting members of Council. The number of Councilors representing Divisions, Forums and Sections is specified in Section C4 below.

C2. Governance:

C2.1 - Election and Tenure of Speaker. At the annual Election Meeting, a Speaker-Elect is chosen from among the Councilors completing their 2nd year who are members of the Board of Directors. The Speaker-Elect serves one year and then serves as Speaker in the following year.

C2.2 - Steering Committee. The Council is led by a Steering Committee consisting of the Speaker, the Speaker-Elect, the President-Elect, the CEO (on a non-voting basis) and four (4) members elected from among the Councilors to staggered two-year terms. The Council members are elected at the end of their 2nd year on the Council.

C2.3 - Council Election Procedures. The Elections Meeting is held at a date determined by Council between the 15th of October and the 15th of December. Prior to the Elections Meeting of the Council, the Executive Office distributes a list of the names of all Counselors eligible for election as Speaker or as a member of the Board of Directors or the Steering Committee. The Executive Office also distributes the reports of the Nominating Committee and the Committee on Committees concerning nominations required by the Constitution and Bylaws for each position filled by Council election. These lists include a short vita of each candidate. Nominations by a Councilor from the floor for any elective position of Council are permitted if 1) seconded by a Councilor, and, if 2) the Councilor making the nomination has previously ascertained the willingness of the candidate to run and 3) has provided Council members with a vita of the candidate no later than the beginning of the Elections Meeting. The names of nominees, together with the source of each nomination, are distributed or posted in advance of each vote to every member of Council attending the Elections Meeting. The Speaker-Elect and Directors are elected first, then the members of the Steering Committee, then the other committee positions.

C2.4 - Remuneration. Members of the Society who are elected to office either in the Society or in any of the Units or who are appointed to committees either of the Society or of the Units serve as volunteers and receive no compensation or other remuneration other than reasonable reimbursement for travel expenses for attending governance meetings and other official functions. APS staff members elected to office or serving on committees receive compensation for their positions on the APS staff.

C3. Council Meetings:

C3.1 - The Speaker presides over the Council meetings and the agenda is set by the Steering Committee. At each Council meeting there are reports by the President, CEO and Editor in Chief. Reports from the Standing Committees of the Council or Council and Board should be submitted on a regular basis.

C3.2 - Time sensitive items of some urgency may be brought to the Council electronically for discussion and vote between scheduled meetings. In such cases, the following procedures should be used:
  1. Upon approval of the Speaker, a resolution may be sent to Council members for discussion and action.
  2. Members of the Council should be given 5 days for discussion before any vote is taken.
  3. If 10% or more of the Council members object to conducting a vote on the resolution electronically, the procedure will be suspended and the item placed on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.
  4. If the Speaker deems that the issues raised during the discussion period merit it, he or she may appoint a small group to revise the resolution in keeping with the discussion.
  5. The resolution, in its original or revised form, will then be sent to the members of the Council, who will have 3 working days to vote. The APS Executive Office will use all reasonable means to contact every Council member. For the electronic vote on the resolution to be valid, at least 60% of Council members must vote, and the majority of those voting must approve it.

C4. Divisions, Topical Groups, Forums and Sections:

C4.1 - Members of the Society may form groups with common scientific or geographic interests. Four such groups are currently recognized by the Society. A Division or Topical Group may be formed to advance and diffuse the knowledge of a specific subject or subfield of physics. A Division requires a wider membership than a Topical Group. A Forum may be formed to advance and diffuse knowledge regarding the interrelation of physics with matters not exclusively in physics. A Section may be formed to organize members in any geographical region.

C4.2 - Topical Groups. If at least two hundred (200) members wish to advance and diffuse the knowledge of a specific subject or subfield of physics, they may petition the Council to establish a Topical Group. The Council distributes to the Chair and the Secretary-Treasurer of each existing Division and Topical Group a statement of the areas of interest of the proposed Topical Group for review and comment. Following Council approval, the new Topical Group is officially initiated and considered active when at least 200 members have enrolled. This must occur within 18 months. To remain active, a Topical Group must increase its enrollment to at least 300 within three years of approval. If at any time after the initial three-year period membership drops below enrollment of 300, the Topical Group becomes inactive and can no longer allocate invited sessions at meetings or fellowship slots. If a Topical Group remains inactive for three years, it is automatically terminated.

C4.3 - Divisions. If the membership of a Topical Group exceeds 3% of the total membership of the Society for two consecutive calendar years, they may petition the Council to establish a Division. Following Council approval, the new Topical Group is officially initiated. A Division has one Councilor. If the membership of a Division falls below 2.1% for four consecutive years, it reverts to the status of a Topical Group.

C4.4 - Forums. If at least two hundred members (200) wish to advance and diffuse knowledge regarding the interrelation of physics with matters not exclusively in physics, they may petition the Council to establish a Forum. The Council distributes to the Chair and the Secretary-Treasurer of each existing Forum a statement of the areas of interest of the proposed Forum for review and comment. If the membership of a Forum exceeds 6% percent of the total membership of the Society for two consecutive years, it qualifies to have one Councilor. If the membership of a Forum falls below 4.2% for four consecutive years, it loses its Councilor. If the membership of a Forum falls below two hundred (200) for four consecutive years, it ceases to exist.

C4.5 - Sections. If at least two hundred (200) members residing or working in any geographical region wish to organize, they may petition the Council to establish a Section. If the membership of a Section falls below two hundred (200) for four consecutive years, it ceases to exist. There are two Councilors representing the Sections. Council establishes a rotation list of existing Sections. When a Section's turn in the rotation occurs, it elects a Councilor representing the Sections. After the entire original rotation is completed once, Council places any newly-formed Sections in the rotation list where it deems appropriate. If a Section ceases to exist, it is removed from the rotation list.

C4.6 - Membership in a Division, Topical Group, Forum or Section. Any members of the Society may join a Division, Topical Group, Forum or Section (“Unit”) by registering as a member of the Unit and by paying any applicable dues. The Executive Office provides an annual list of members to each Division, Topical Group, Forum or Section Secretary-Treasurer as well as to the Board and Council and makes available up-to-date lists upon request.

C4.7 - Officers of a Unit. The officers of each Unit are a Chair, a Chair-Elect, a Vice-Chair and a Secretary Treasurer, who are elected in accordance with the Bylaws of the Unit. The member elected as Vice-Chair serves in that office for one year, then for one year as Chair-Elect, and then for one year as Chair. There is an Executive Committee of each Unit consisting of the officers and such other members as may be elected by the Unit. If the Unit has a Councilor, the Councilor is also a member of the Executive Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer keeps the Council and the Executive Office informed of the activities and needs of the Unit.

C4.8 - Nomination and Election of Unit Officers, Executive Committee Members and Councilors. Nominations for the Unit Vice-Chair, Executive Committee Members and the Secretary-Treasurer are made by the Unit Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee of the Unit includes one member of the Unit appointed by the Executive Office. During the final year of the term of a Division or Forum Councilor, the Unit Nominating Committee also nominates at least two candidates for the open position. Similarly, during the final year of the term of a Section Councilor, the Nominating Committee of the next Section in the rotation also nominates at least two candidates for the open position. Nominations may also be made by a petition signed by at least five percent of the members of the Unit, provided that such a petition is presented to the Unit Chair at least eighty (80) days before the date for an election. The Secretary-Treasurer polls the Unit by mail or electronic ballot. Election is by plurality of those voting. If there is a tie, the Executive Committee decides the election, with the Chair voting only in the case of a tie among the other Executive Committee members. The Secretary-Treasurer communicates the results of the election to the Executive Office before 1 January of the year in which the newly elected persons assume office.

C4.9 - Establishment, Revision or Amendments of the Bylaws of any Unit. A Unit submits proposals for the establishment, revision or amendments of their Bylaws to the Council for its approval, subject to review by the Governance Committee. Unit Bylaws must be consistent with the Society Articles of Incorporation and Constitution and Bylaws, as determined by the Governance Committee, with approval of the Board.

C4.10 - Meetings. The times and places of the Meetings of a Unit require approval of the Executive Office.

C4.11 - Finances. Funds collected by the Society for Unit membership dues, funds appropriated by the Council in lieu of dues, and funds collected by the Units are kept by the Society in internal accounts in the name of each such Unit. The Society deducts from the accounts the itemized expenses incurred by the Society for services requested by these Units and for services rendered them as approved by Council. The Secretary-Treasurer or a designate of a Unit may authorize the disbursement of funds by the Society Financial Officer for expenses consistent with the general policies of that Unit. Financial records are kept on an annual basis consistent with the fiscal policies of the Society. Statements of receipts and disbursements for a Unit are submitted at least quarterly by the Society Financial Officer to the appropriate Secretary-Treasurers. Units may generate income from and incur expenses for activities, such as meetings, that are consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws and the fiscal policies of the Society. Petty cash accounts may be maintained by the Secretary-Treasurers of the Units with the authorization of the Financial Officer of the Society. Ultimate legal and fiscal responsibilities of Units reside in the APS Board.

C4.12 - Dissolution. Any Unit may be dissolved at the discretion of the Council.

C5. Membership:

C5.1 - Application for Membership. Application for membership in the Society is made to the Society either online or by written application. For new members, membership commences on the 1st of the month following receipt and processing of the application and dues, in accordance with the procedures set by the society. Each member of the Society who has paid dues in full may subscribe to the publications of the Society at member subscription rates, which are set by the Board.

C5.2 - Dues. Membership dues for all classes of members and for all Units are fixed by the Board.

C5.3 - Unpaid Dues. A member whose dues have not been paid by a date set by the Board will be sent a notice by the Executive Office. If no response is received within a reasonable time, the member's name will be removed from the membership list. A member who has been dropped for nonpayment of dues may be reinstated upon application to the Executive Office and payment of the current year's dues.

C5.4 - Senior Members. A member who has retired from gainful employment and who has been a member of the Society not less than ten years may upon request to the Executive Office be placed upon a Senior Member List. The privileges of Senior Members are determined by the Council.

C5.5 - Associate Members. Associate Membership is available to college and graduate students, to teachers in high schools and junior colleges, and to such other classes as the Council may determine. Certification that a person belongs to a class entitled to Associate Membership is required. The privileges of Associate Members are determined by the Council.

C5.6 - Maintenance of Membership. Membership in the Society is maintained by dues.

C6. Fellowship:

C6.1 - Nomination for Fellowship. For the election of a Member to Fellowship, a nomination form signed by two members of the Society and citing the principal contributions of the candidate to physics is sent to the Executive Office. Such contributions may consist of advances in knowledge through original research and publication or of significant and innovative contributions in the applications of physics to science and technology. They may also consist of significant contributions to the teaching of physics or service and participation in the activities of the Society.

C6.2 - Review of Qualifications for Candidates for Fellowship. The nominations are referred to either the Fellowship Committee of the Society or to the Fellowship Committee of the appropriate Division, Topical Group, or Forum for review.

C6.3 - Division, Topical Group, and Forum Fellowship Committees. Each Division, Topical Group, and Forum establishes a Fellowship Committee which reviews the qualifications of candidates for Fellowship and reports its recommendations to the Unit Executive Committees and to the Executive Office of the Society.

C6.4 - Appeal of a Rejection. If a nomination for advancement to Fellowship is rejected by a Unit, the sponsors of the candidate may appeal the decision directly to the Fellowship Committee of the Society by written request to the Executive Office.

C6.5 - Statute of Limitation for Nomination. A nominee for Fellowship who has not been approved after review by two consecutive Fellowship Committees is dropped from the list of nominees. The sponsors of the Member are notified that the Member will not be elected to Fellowship based on that nomination, but that the name of the Member may be resubmitted at a later time for nomination to Fellowship.

C7. Prizes and Awards:

C7.1 - Definitions. Prizes are awarded by the Society to recognize and reward outstanding research accomplishments and should carry a substantial minimum stipend. Awards may recognize a broader range of achievement (not excluding notable physics research) and may be restricted to a specific category or class of physicists. An Award should normally carry a more modest stipend than a Prize.

C7.2 - Approvals. The Council approves the criteria for all Prizes and Awards awarded by the Society. Individual recipients of Prizes and Awards are reviewed by the Committee on Prizes and Awards and approved by the Council.

C7.3 - Prize and Award Selection Committees. The Selection Committees to choose the recipients of Society Prizes are appointed by the President after consulting the Units most closely associated with the field of the prize. The Selection Committees to choose the recipients of Awards are appointed by the President upon recommendation from an appropriate Unit of the Society.

C8. Society-wide Elections:

C8.1 - Elected Positions. As stated in Article IX Section 1 of the Constitution, the membership at-large votes to elect General Councilors, International Councilors, the Chair Elect of the Nominating Committee, the Vice President and the Treasurer. The Members also vote for any other committee positions as determined by the Board for Committees of the Board or by the Council for Committees of the Council.

C8.2 - Qualifications. All candidates for these offices must have been members in good standing of the Society for at least the four years prior to nomination.

C8.3 - Request for Nominations. The Executive Office requests nominations for the open positions no later than the first of February each year. In addition, the Nominating Committee requests annually each Unit to suggest nominations for the various officers and committees of the Society. The Nominating Committee may also request self-nominations from interested members by announcements in a Society publication or by other means. The Chairperson of the Nominating Committee informs the Committee on Committees of relevant suggestions for committee membership received from these requests.

C8.4 - Nominating Procedures. Each year the Nominating Committee prepares a slate of nominations for the open positions by no later than the 31st of May. The Nominating Committee submits to the Executive Office the names of at least two candidates for each of the posts to be filled. Nominations may also be made by petition according to Article IX Section 2 of the Constitution. The election ballot will contain the names from the Nominating Committee and those of candidates nominated by petition.

C8.5 - Information. The Nominating Committee provides each candidate for elective office with a description of the duties of the office and an indication of the time required to fulfill the duties of office and requires a statement of willingness to serve. To aid in the nominating procedure, the Nominating Committee may request pertinent information from the candidates including a statement of goals.

C8.6 - Election Ballot. The election ballot contains the names of at least two candidates for each vacancy to be filled, clearly separated according to category: Vice President, Chair Elect of the Nominating Committee, General Councilor, International Councilor, and other positions as required by the Constitution and Bylaws. Copies of the election ballot are provided to all members of the Society by mail or electronically at least five weeks prior to the Elections Meeting of Council. No ballot will be counted unless unambiguously filled out by a qualified voter, cast electronically or sent in a sealed envelope bearing the voter's name, and received at a specified location not later than the specified deadline date. The positions in each category will be filled in order of rank, starting with the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in each category. In the event of a tie, the Council decides the election, with the President voting only in the case of a tie among the other Council members. The counting of the ballots is entrusted to Tellers appointed by the President. They will report the election results at the next meeting of Council. As soon as possible thereafter, the names of winning candidates will be announced in a publication of the Society.

C8.7 - Representation. Effort should be made to achieve a wide representation in nominations with respect to the distribution of the membership of the Society among the various fields of physics, among geographical areas, among academic, governmental, and industrial organizations, and by age, minority status, and sex.

C9. Society Meetings and Endorsed Conferences:

C9.1 - Guidelines. The Committee on Scientific Meetings proposes and the Council adopts guidelines and rules for the operation of all Meetings of the Society. The participation of Divisions, Topical Groups, Forums, and Sections in Meetings will be governed by these rules.

C9.2 - Unit Program Committees. The Chair of each Unit appoints a Program Committee for the Unit. The Program Committee works with the Executive Office in scheduling contributed papers within the areas of interest of the Unit and in arranging symposia and sessions of invited papers sponsored by the Unit for Meetings of the Society. Meetings of an individual Unit may be organized either in collaboration with the Executive Office or separately by the Unit concerned.

C9.3 - Endorsed Conferences. The Society or a Unit may endorse a conference devoted to the advancement and diffusion of knowledge in a sub-field of physics. Such a conference is known as an Endorsed Conference. Endorsed Conferences conform to the goals of the Society. They are distinct from Meetings of the Society and its Units. Endorsed Conferences may set limitations on attendance and on the presentation of papers. Details of the organization of an Endorsed Conference are submitted to the Executive Office that will ensure the proposed Conference does not conflict in substance and time with planned Meetings of the Society or other Units. Endorsement or co-endorsement by the Society includes suitable announcement of the Endorsed Conference in a Society publication. Publication by the Society of abstracts of technical papers from an Endorsed Conference may be requested by the organizers of the Endorsed Conference; if approved, the additional cost of such publication will be borne by the Endorsed Conference.

C9.4 - Commemorative and Memorial Sessions. A proposal to hold a commemorative or a memorial session at a Meeting of the Society or of a Unit must be approved by the Council.

C9.5 - Meeting Registration Fees. Unit Secretary-Treasurers, or others responsible for arrangements of Unit Meetings, in cooperation with the Executive Office, fix the registration fees for such Meetings. In general, non-members of the Society pay a surcharge to be set each year roughly equal to the APS membership dues paid by regular members.

C9.6 - Procedure for Submitting Contributed Papers. Any Member who wishes to present a contributed paper at a Meeting of the Society must provide a title and an abstract for publication. The abstract conforms to regulations approved by the Council. Notice of each Meeting at which sessions of contributed papers are to be scheduled specifies a place to which abstracts must be sent and a deadline date. The Meeting organizers are under no obligation to schedule any contributed paper that arrives after the close of business on the deadline date at the designated Society office.

C9.7 - Presentation. The first author of a contributed paper submitted for a Meeting of the Society is expected to present the paper in either an oral or a poster session. An individual may normally present only one technical contributed paper during the regular program of a Meeting. One additional contributed paper on a non-technical topic may also be presented during the regular program at a non-technical session where said session has been explicitly approved as an exempt session by the appropriate program committee and/or program committee chair upon the advice of the Executive Office of the APS. If an individual wishes to present any additional contributed papers, the individual must specify which paper(s) are to be presented in the regular program, and the rest will be assigned to the supplementary program. The program committee is empowered to schedule these supplementary papers as either oral or poster papers after making a reasonable effort to satisfy an expressed preference of the author(s). If poster presentation space is limited, the program committee may require some or all additional poster papers with the same first author to be presented in a space normally intended to accommodate one such paper.

C9.8 - Contributed Papers by Non-Members. A Member of the Society may submit contributed papers to a Meeting of the Society for which a non-member of the Society is listed as first author.

C9.9 - Time Allotment. Normally, the time allotted for the presentation of an oral contributed paper is ten minutes.

C10. Other Standing Committees of the Council:

C10.1 - Committee on Committees. The Committee on Committees is a Council committee, which is responsible for oversight of all Council committees including joint committees of Council and Board. The membership of the Committee on Committees consists of nine (9) Councilors elected by Council to staggered three-year terms, and the Chair of the Nominating Committee. The President-Elect appoints the Vice-Chair from among these nine members, who serves as Chair in the subsequent year of service. Nominees for membership on the Committee on Committees include all Councilors in their second year of service. Members serve for three years, which may include one year beyond their terms as Councilors. This committee looks to the functioning of Council committees and to policies pertaining thereto and makes recommendations thereon to the Council. It has the responsibility for nominating elected members of the standing committees. It also assists the President-Elect in determining the willingness of candidates to serve. This Committee meets at least once annually. The Committee on Committees submits to the Executive Office the names of candidates for each elected position no less than five weeks before the Elections Meeting of the Council. In general, the number of nominees for each elected position should exceed the number of available positions.

C10.2 - Committee on Careers and Professional Development. The membership of the Committee on Careers and Professional Development consists of nine (9) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among the members. The Committee is responsible for coordinating affairs within the Society concerned with career and professional development in physics and advising the Society on courses of action.

C10.3 - Committee on Education. The membership of the Committee on Education consists of the Chair, Past-Chair and Chair-Elect from the Forum on Education and nine (9) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among the members. The Committee is responsible for activities in the area of physics education designated to it by the Council. It reports periodically to the President and the Council on physics education. It may suggest and supervise studies and programs to improve the cooperation between the educational community and other parts of the physics community.

C10.4 - Committee on Fellowship. The membership of the Committee on Fellowship consists of the Vice-President and three (3) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The Vice-President serves as Chair. The Committee meets from time to time with the Division, Topical Group, and Forum representatives to discuss criteria for advancement to Fellowship and to ensure their equitable application. The Committee solicits nominations, reviews the recommendations of the Division, Topical Group, and Forum Fellowship Committees, and reviews the qualifications of all candidates for election to Fellowship. It also considers appeals of rejection of candidates for advancement to Fellowship. The Committee submits annually to the Executive Office a list of nominees recommended for such election. The number of recommended nominees in each year may not exceed one-half percent of the then current membership of the Society. Recommended nominees will be presented to Council at the Elections Meeting, and a majority vote of the Councilors present suffices for election.

C10.5 - Committee on Informing the Public. The membership of the Committee on Informing the Public consists of nine (9) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among the members. The committee provides oversight of the Society's public outreach and media relations activities while also seeking mechanisms to encourage or facilitate public outreach by APS members. Committee members also suggest future activities, approaches, and outreach opportunities, as well as possible external funding sources. The committee recommends to the Council the allocation of financial resources among membership and APS initiated activities at least once a year.

C10.6 - Committee on International Freedom of Scientists. The membership of the Committee on International Freedom of Scientists consists of nine (9) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among the members. This Committee is responsible for monitoring concerns regarding human rights for scientists throughout the world. It apprises the President, the Board and Council of problems encountered by scientists in the pursuit of their scientific interests or in effecting satisfactory communication with other scientists and may recommend to the President and Council appropriate courses of action designed to alleviate such problems.

C10.7 - Committee on International Scientific Affairs. The membership of the Committee on International Scientific Affairs (CISA) consists of nine persons. Six (6) members are selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms, while the Chair, Past-Chair and Chair Elect of the Forum on International Physics (FIP) serve as statutory members of CISA. The President-Elect appoints the Chair of CISA from among the members of the Committee. CISA monitors the international science scene and the balance between new APS initiatives and ongoing activities in this arena. Guided by the Purpose of the Society as stated in Article II of the APS Constitution and Bylaws, CISA encourages APS efforts to strengthen interaction among researchers and institutions in different regions of the world and to further extend worldwide access of physicists to scientific information and its exchange. To this end, CISA advises and assists the APS Director of International Scientific Affairs and the Council, and provides documentation and recommendations for action, consulting with other relevant committees as appropriate.

C10.8 - Committee on Membership. The membership of the Committee on Membership consists of the CEO or designate and nine (9) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among the nine members. The Committee suggests to Council means for improving the relationship between the Society and its members, for enhancing services, including APS publications that the Society provides to its members on payment of their membership dues, and for improving other activities in the area of membership as delegated to it by the Council.

C10.9 - Committee on Minorities in Physics. The membership of the Committee on Minorities in Physics consists of nine (9) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among the members. This Committee addresses the production, retention, and career development of minority physicists and gathers and maintains data on minorities in physics in support of these objectives. It may recommend and supervise studies and programs relevant to this charge. It reports annually to the Council.

C10.10 - Committee on Prizes and Awards. The membership of the Committee on Prizes and Awards consists of six (6) Councilors, selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms, which may include one year of service beyond their term as Councilor. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among these six members. The Committee reviews all proposals for new prizes and awards and makes recommendations to the Council. It reviews all existing Society prizes and awards at least once every five years to insure they are properly funded and that the subject area of each prize and award remains relevant. The Committee also ensures that prize and award selection committee members represent the broadest possible context of the prize or award subject area and considers any other administrative issues related to prizes and awards.

C10.11 - Committee on Scientific Meetings. The membership of the Committee on Scientific Meetings consists of the CEO or designate, the members of the Executive Office responsible for publishing and financial matters and six (6) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among these six members. The Committee on Scientific Meetings proposes and the Council adopts guidelines and rules for the organization and operation of all Scientific Meetings of the Society and its units, and provides oversight for the meetings-related publications, including the Bulletin of the American Physical Society. The participation of Divisions, Topical Groups, Forums and Sections in Meetings is governed by these rules. The Committee recommends procedures for Society sponsorship of other meetings.

C10.12 - Committee on Status of Women in Physics. The membership of the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics consists of nine (9) persons selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-Elect to staggered three-year terms. The President-Elect appoints the Chair from among the members. This Committee addresses the production, retention, and career development of women physicists and gathers and maintains data on women in physics in support of these objectives. It may recommend and supervise studies and programs relevant to this charge. It reports annually to Council.

C10.13 - George E. Valley Prize Committee. The membership of the George E. Valley Prize Committee consists of the current President of APS, the two immediate past Presidents of APS and the chair of the committee. The chair is elected each prize cycle by the Council from two candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee. The prize is given every other year and the Chair is elected in November preceding a prize year. If the current President or any of the past Presidents is not able to serve on the committee, the President of APS will select an appropriate designee. In addition, George C. Valley will participate as a non-voting member of the committee in the awarding of the first three prizes. The committee is responsible for selecting the prize winner.

C10.14 - Historic Sites Committee. The Historic Sites Committee consists of six (6) members selected by the Committee on Committees and appointed by the President-elect to staggered three-year terms. The Chair of the committee is appointed by the President-elect from among the members. The committee selects sites where individuals or institutions have made outstanding contributions to the physics enterprise. These sites will be included in the American Physical Society Register of Historic Sites. The committee approves the wording on the plaques that are presented for display at selected sites and works with representatives from the sites to arrange for suitable presentation ceremonies. A maximum of four sites can be selected by the committee in any calendar year. The Chair of the committee maintains the Ledger that is the official record of the Register of Historic Sites, and reports from time to time to the Council and the Board on the committee's activities.

C10.15 - Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize Committee. The membership of the Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize Committee consists of four (4) councilors elected by the Council from candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee. The councilors serve staggered four-year terms which extend beyond their term on Council. The Chair is the Councilor in his or her fourth year on the committee. The committee is responsible for selecting the prize winner.

C10.16 - Ad Hoc Members. The President may appoint ad hoc, non-voting members to any Council Committee upon the request of the Chair of that Committee.