BRITISH POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION
BRITISH POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION
The Original UK Dedicated Polygraph Association
BRITISH POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION
A NAME YOU CAN TRUST
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www.britishpolygraphassociation.org
Truth Conquers All
Vincit Omnia Veritas
B.P.A
Constitution
Article I
Name

The name of this organization shall be the British Polygraph Association.

Article II
Goal

The goal of the British Polygraph Association is to provide the British public with a valid and reliable means to verify the truth of the matter asserted by:
  1. Serving the cause of truth with integrity, objectivity and with fairness to all persons.
  2. Encouraging and supporting research, training and education to benefit members of all of the Associations as well as those who support its purpose and by providing a forum for the presentation and exchange of information derived from such research, training and education.
  3. Establishing and enforcing standards for admission to membership and continued membership in the Association.
  4. Governing the conduct of members of the British Polygraph Association by requiring strict adherence to a Code of Ethics and a set of Standards of Practice.
Article IIl
Genral Provisions
  1. This document shall be known as the Constitution of the British Polygraph Association.
  2. All persons who, at the time this Constitution is adopted, hold offices under any previous Constitution, which offices are continued by this Constitution, shall continue to hold the same offices according to the former tenure thereof for a period of 2 years from the 1st January 2007. The Founding Members will be deemed to operate this constitution until such time when the membership has been established to form the said Board of Directors. Hereafter the Board is interpreted as the Founding Members.
  3. No action or proceeding commenced before this constitution takes effect, and no right accrued, is affected by the provisions of this Constitution, but all provisions thereafter taken herein shall conform to the provisions of this Constitution.
  4. Unless the context otherwise requires, the General Provisions hereinafter set forth shall govern the construction of this Constitution and By-Laws established by the Board of Directors at a time to be decided when membership dictates.
  5. Writing shall include any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required by this Constitution or the By-Laws of this Association, it shall be made in writing in the English language. The mailing of any notice, report or record by first class mail shall be sufficient compliance with any requirement of this Constitution or except as established by Board policy.
  6. Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this Constitution, such reference shall apply to all amendments and additions thereto now or hereafter made.
  7. The present tense includes the past and future tense; and the future, the present. The singular includes the plural and the plural the singular. The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter. "Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.
  8. "Accredited school" shall mean any school of polygraphy or forensic psychophysiology as accredited by the American Polygraph Association.
  9. "Association" shall mean the British Polygraph Association or any successor thereto.
  10. "Board" shall mean the Founding Members of the Association, in accordance with item 4:
  11. "By Laws" shall mean any set of rules or other writings established by the Founding Members and [Board of Directors when established] for the purpose of the administration of the affairs of the Association. The Board of Directors shall establish and maintain By-Laws. The By-Laws shall include, but are not limited to, a Code of Ethics and a set of Standards of Practice.
  12. "Founding Member" shall mean any natural person elected to hold office under the provisions of this Constitution.
  13. "Elective Year" shall mean the period between meetings of the General Membership held for the purpose of electing Directors & Officers of this Association, as item 4
  14. "Meeting" shall mean any meeting of the General Membership of this Association, any meeting of the Founding Members of this Association or any meeting of any committee authorized by this Constitution or convened at the direction of the combined Founding Members.
  15. "Member" shall mean any natural person, partnership or division as defined and or limited by the Constitution or By-Laws of this Association.
  16. "Person" shall mean a human being as opposed to a partnership or division.
  17. "Polygraph" may mean "forensic psychophysiology" when used in detection of deception.
  18. BPA "Year" shall mean the calendar year beginning on January 1 at 0001 hours and ending on December 31 at 2400 hours of any year. The affairs of this Association shall operate on the basis of a calendar year. A fiscal year may be utilized for financial accounting.
  19. U - In the event this Constitution, or any part thereof, or any additions or amendments made subsequently thereto, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, be found in conflict with any law,  such conflict shall be resolved in favour of the law; provided, that if the provisions of law be less than the requirements of this Constitution, such conflict shall be resolved in favour of this Constitution.
Article IV
Membership
  1. Membership in the British Polygraph Association is a privilege not a right.
  2. There shall be Three (3) classes of membership: (A) Founding Member (as per article 3), (B) Member (C) International Member
  3. Changes or additions to classes of membership or qualifications, rights and privileges of each class of membership shall be recommended only after the initial 2 year founding membership. Thereafter, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Board of Directors as will be set forth in the By-Laws of the Association on its inception on 1-1-2009. These changes must be approved by a majority vote of all voting members present at any meeting of the General Membership.
  4. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article, membership in the Association may be suspended or terminated by the Founding members for:
  5. Any act contrary to the provisions of the Code of Ethics and or the Standards of Practice.
  6. Conduct which brings, or may tend to bring, discredit to the Association or the polygraph profession.
  7. Any act to discredit fellow polygraphists by means of verbal, electronic or otherwise deemed behaviour not in keeping with the aims and nature of the polygraph profession. Any act of a public nature to bring dis-repute to the Polygraph Profession or Polygraph examiners per se'.
  8. Failure of any member to meet his, her or its financial obligations to the Association when due and payable. (fees are not applicable until  1st January 2007)
  9. In lieu of suspension or termination of membership, the Founding Members may censure any member, publicly or privately, or impose such other discipline as deemed appropriate, for any violation of Section 5,6,7 of this Article.
  10. The Founding members shall act upon the findings and recommendations of the Grievance Committee at the next scheduled meeting of the authorised members.
  11. Application for membership will be dependent on the applicant meeting the above criteria and subject to references and qualifications.
  12. All applications must be submitted to the secretary on the appropriate applications form.
  13. Applications not fully completed will be returned not processed.
  14. All fully completed applications will be reviewed by the founding members at the next quarterly meeting. Applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application. There is no right of appeal.
  15. Founding members reserve the right to accept or reject applications based on the applicant meeting the criteria outlined within this article.
Article V
  1. The founding members shall convene within forty-eight (48) hours prior to every meeting of the General Membership of the Association and, at such other times and places as may be necessary. A special meeting may be called at anytime by any of the founding members or through petition of the majority of the founding members. No vote shall be taken by the founding members in the absence of a quorum.
  2. The founding members are responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Association and is authorized to take any action necessary to protect the best interests of the Association.
Article Vl
Meetings, Elections, Voting and Dues
  1. The Founding members of the Association shall meet once each quarter calendar year for the purpose of  acting upon any business brought before it. The General Membership may elect to meet at any other time for any other purpose in writing to the Founding Members, given that the subject matter is not of a frivolous nature and the Founding members can avail themselves at short notice during business hours. The Founding Members shall establish the date, time and place of the annual General Membership Meeting. To be arranged within the first years of the inception of the British Polygraph Association.
  2. Any Member shall be entitled to speak on the floor at any meeting of the General Membership.
  3. Dues, and the amount thereof, may be established by a majority vote of the Founding Members. Dues shall be levied against all members in equal amount.
Article VIl
Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees
  1. The Founding Members may establish Ad-Hoc committees for the purpose of administering the goals and objectives of the Association and may appoint any Voting Member to act as Chairperson of any such committee. Ad-Hoc committees shall dissolve upon the completion of their stated purpose, dissolution by the Founding Members.
  2. Policies and Procedures established by the Founding Members in administrating the Association shall be documented as historical record by the Secretary and retained at the National Postal Office.
Article VIIl
By-Laws
  1. By-Laws to be established as an ongoing function on a 'need be basis' by the founding members.
Article IX
Amendments
  1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of all founding Members, as designated:
  2. No amendment or replacement shall be voted upon unless a copy of the proposed amendment or revision has been mailed or otherwise provided to all founding Members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be voted upon or the deadline set in the mail ballot.
  3. Amendments may be proposed by any member to the Founding Members and shall be submitted to the General Membership either on order by the Founding Members or by petition signed by five (5) members in good standing of the British Polygraph Association.
  4. Amendments shall take effect immediately upon approval unless otherwise stated in the amendment.
Article X
Ratification

This Constitution shall take effect and supersede, subject to the provisions of Article III of this Constitution, any other Constitution then in effect, immediately upon approval.

The effective date of this Constitution is AUGUST 29th 2006.

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