CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

Whereas, The advancement of phar­ma­ceu­ti­cal knowledge and the elevation of the professional character of apothecaries and druggists throughout the United States are objects that are dear to us in common with all well disposed phar­ma­ceu­tists; and, whereas, a large portion of those in whose hands the practice of pharmacy now exists, are not properly qualified for the responsible offices it involves, chiefly by reason of the many difficulties that impede the acquirement of a correct knowledge of their business;—

Therefore, We, the members of a Convention now met at Philadelphia, composed of apothecaries and druggists from different sections of the Union, and from all the Colleges and Societies therein existing, with the object of deliberating on the condition of our profession, do hereby resolve and constitute ourselves into a permanent asociation, to meet annually at such times and places as may hereafter be determined, for more effectually accomplishing the objects for which we are now assembled; and do now adopt the following CONSTITUTION:

SECTION 1.

This association shall be called “The American Phar­ma­ceu­ti­cal Association.”

SECTION 2. Of the Members.

Article I. All phar­ma­ceu­tists and druggists who shall have attained the age of twenty-one years, whose character, morally and professionally, is fair, and who, after duly considering the obligations of the Constitution and Code of Ethics of this Association are willing to subscribe to them, shall be eligible for membership.

Article II. The members shall consist of delegates from regularly constituted Colleges of Pharmacy, and Phar­ma­ceu­ti­cal Societies, who shall present properly authorized credentials, and of other reputable Phar­ma­ceu­tists feeling an interest in the objects of the Association, who may not be so delegated, the latter being required to present a certificate signed by a majority of the delegates from the places whence they come. If no such delegates are present at the Association, they may, on obtaining the certificates of any three members of the {376} Association, be admitted, provided they be introduced by the committee on credentials.

Article III. All persons who become members of this Association shall be considered as permanent members, but may be expelled for improper conduct by a vote of two thirds of the members present at any annual meeting.

Article IV. Every member in attendance at the annual meetings shall pay into the hands of the Treasurer the sum of two dollars as his yearly contribution.

Article V. Every local Phar­ma­ceu­ti­cal Association shall be entitled to five delegates.

SECTION III. Of the Officers.

The officers of this association shall be a President, three Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of three, which may include any of the members except the President, all of whom shall be elected annually.

Article I. The President shall preside at the meetings and preserve order. He shall nominate all committees, except a majority of the members present direct a resort to balloting or other means. He shall sign all certificates of membership, approve of all foreign correspondence, and countersign all orders on the Treasurer drawn by the Executive Committee. And he shall, at least three months previously to the annual meeting publish a call in all the phar­ma­ceu­ti­cal and in such medical and other Journals as he may select, stating therein the objects of the Association, and the conditions of membership.

Article II. In case of the temporary absence, or inability of the President, his duties shall devolve on one of the Vice Presidents.

Article III. The Recording Secretary shall keep fair and correct minutes of the proceedings of the Association. He shall keep a roll book of the members, and see that it is corrected annually, and he shall furnish to the Executive Committee a correct transcript of the minutes of the meeting for publication in the Transactions of the Association.

Article IV. The Corresponding Secretary shall attend to the official correspondence directed by the association with other bodies, or with its members, all of which correspondence shall be approved by the President. {377}

Article V. The Treasurer shall receive and take care of the funds of the Association; shall pay its money only on the order of the Executive Committee, countersigned by the President; and shall present a statement of his accounts annually that they may be audited.

Article VI. The Executive Committee shall take charge of the publication of the proceedings of the Association, including such papers on scientific subjects as it may direct to be published; attend to their distribution; pay the expenses incurred on behalf of the Association at its meetings or in the interim, and report a statement of their transactions to the next meeting.

SECTION IV. Of the Meetings.

Article I. The meetings shall be held annually, at such time and place as shall be determined at the adjournment of the previous meeting, observing that no two meetings shall be held consecutively at the same place.

Article II. The meetings shall be organized by the President of the previous year, or, in his absence, by either of the Vice Presidents in the order of their election, or, in their absence, by the Recording Secretary, who shall act pro tempore until the nomination and election of officers for the session.

Article III. Immediately after the temporary organization of the Association the roll shall be called, when a committee on credentials shall be appointed from the members present, to whom the certificates of delegates shall be submitted, and who shall examine the claims of all other applicants for membership before they are submitted to the Association.

SECTION V.

This Constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of three-fourths of the members present at any regular meeting, and notice to alter or amend the same shall be given at least one sitting before a vote thereupon.

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