ARTICLE I
Name and Location

Section 1
The name of this organization shall be American Council of Engineering Companies of SC, hereafter referred to as Organization, ACEC-SC, or Corporation.

Section 2
The headquarters of this Organization shall be located in the State of South Carolina as determined by the Board of Directors, herein referred to as Board.  

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ARTICLE II
Purpose and Objectives

Section 1
The basic purpose of ACEC-SC is to provide a single state organization for consulting engineers in private practice by replacing, supplanting, or effecting the merger of or affiliation with all organizations of consulting engineers operating in the State of South Carolina; to take advantage of affiliation with other professional organizations whose aims and objectives are consistent with the aims and objectives of this Corporation, and through the medium of this Corporation, to foster the objectives hereafter set forth.

Section 2
The specific objectives of ACEC-SC are:

A. To foster and safeguard ethical standards of engineering and to aid in the advancement of the science of engineering through educational and research activities.

B. To insure that ethical professional standards for independent consulting engineers are maintained.

C. To promote the professional and economic welfare of its members.

D. To act as a clearinghouse and information center on all matters of mutual interest to its members.

E. To advance the value of the consulting engineer to the public, disseminate public information regarding the work of the consulting engineer, and to protect the public interest in engineering matters.

F. To promote harmony, cooperation, and mutual understanding among consulting engineers engaged in private practice by:

(1) Providing a forum for interchange of professional and business information among consulting engineers and consulting engineering firms.

(2) Improving employment conditions for the benefit of the entire profession.

(3) Identifying areas where programs need to be pursued as a unified body for the mutual benefit of consulting engineers.

(4) Improving working relations with contractors and their associations, architects and their associations, and other similar groups.

(5) Improving working relations with engineers in industry, construction, government and education through their associations and societies.

D. To have affiliate members to gain harmony, cooperation, and mutual understanding between Consulting Engineers and representatives from construction, industry and manufacturers’ suppliers.

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ARTICLE III
Type of Corporation and Powers

Section 1
ACEC-SC shall be exclusively a not-for-profit business being within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as may be amended from time to time and the statutes of the State of South Carolina.

A. No part of the Corporation’s net income shall inure to the benefit of any individual or class member and the Corporation shall not have or issue shares of stock or pay dividends.

B. In the event of dissolution of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, all assets of the Corporation then remaining shall be distributed by the Board in such proportions as they shall determine, to one or more state-wide organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501 (a) and 591 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or to the Federal, or State Government for a stated purpose.

Section 2
ACEC-SC shall have all powers inherent under applicable Federal and State statutes, but shall not have the power to borrow or loan moneys. The duration of ACEC-SC shall be perpetual.

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ARTICLE IV
Government of ACEC-SC

Section 1
The affairs of this Organization shall be governed by a Board of Directors of not less than nine members elected in accordance with the By-Laws. The Board shall elect from within its membership a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer (herein defined as Officers), at the Board meeting immediately following the Annual Board Election Membership meeting to be installed at the end of the Annual Meeting. The position of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one person.

Section 2
Officers and Directors shall assume the duties as stated in the By-Laws.

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ARTICLE V
VOTING POWER OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

Section 1
Voting power shall be vested in the Member class only. Each member shall have voting rights and the total of all members, as entered into the records of the Corporation, shall equal to the total voting power of this corporation.

Section 2
Voting shall take place at a membership meeting unless otherwise set forth. If a voting quorum is not in attendance, a mail ballot shall be used for voting, if all requirements as set forth are met, except that a budget previously approved by the Board of Directors may be adopted by majority vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting.

Section 3
Mail ballot shall be marked, "Ballot to be returned by (insert date of return)", which marking shall allow a period of not less than fifteen days nor more than thirty days from the date of mailing. Within thirty days after the date of return, the President shall advise the membership of the results of the ballot. Letter ballot shall become effective on the date of return. A mail voting quorum shall be a majority of the total voting power of the Corporation.

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