Resources

NEPSA's Federal Tax ID is 010-46-5615; its MA Vendor ID# is 0000051358

Find information about, and find current and previous issues of, the New England Journal of Political Science here.

Membership, Governance and Operations

What are NEPSA’s purposes and functions?

Within the New England region, the Association seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge among persons interested in political science; to encourage research on political matters; to improve the teaching of political science; and to advance generally the practices and art of politics and governance. NEPSA is a volunteer organization operating without staff support or significant financial resources. Political scientists volunteer their time to serve on its Council, organize its annual meeting and perform related activities.

How does one become a Member?

Registering for the annual Spring meeting establishes membership in the Association and the registration fee paid for the annual meeting also constitutes membership dues. Members may vote for all officers and council members and participate in all Association activities. Membership is not restricted to New England; annual meeting participants typically come from across the country and Canada as well.

How is the Association Governed?

The Association is governed by its Executive Council consisting of the President, the President-Elect, the Vice-President, the Three most recent Past Presidents, and Eight other Council members. The President of the Association presides over the Association and the Council, and has overall responsibility for the annual Spring meeting that takes place as his/her term of office ends. There is a Secretary-Treasurer, appointed by the President with the approval of the Council, normally serving on a continuing basis as a non-voting Council member with responsibility for administering the financial affairs of the Association and reporting to the membership and to the Council on the state of finances, which are normally reviewed annually by at least one other designated member. The Council may invite a member of the governing bodies of the APSA or other appropriate academic organizations to sit in without a vote at an Executive Council meeting; may change prevailing arrangements if its proposed changes are submitted to the members at least two months prior to the annual meeting and approved by a majority at that meeting (changes may also be proposed by a majority at the annual meeting and adopted by a majority at the next succeeding annual meeting); and may designate honorary memberships in the Association.

How is the Council chosen?

The Vice-President, who is elected at the Association’s annual meeting, automatically succeeds to the office of President-Elect and then to the office of President, holding each position for a one-year non-renewable term. Four of the Eight other Council Members are also elected each year at the Association’s annual meeting to serve for two year terms (renewable only once consecutively). The President, with Council consent, makes interim appointments to fill any vacancies.

How are Officers and Council members selected for nomination?

The President designates and consults with past Presidents and other knowledgeable Association members to obtain recommendations for candidates for nomination. Insofar as possible, nominations strive to reflect a balanced recognition of achievement in the discipline and service to the Association, and to equitably represent the diversity of the Association in all pertinent respects including the different parts of the New England region and the major fields of the discipline. The nominations are presented at the annual meeting of the Association for vote of the membership; nominations may also be made from the floor.

How is the Program for each Annual Meeting determined?

The Call for Papers is sent out in the early Fall; NEPSA welcomes participation by faculty members and by graduate students in doctoral programs. A Program Chair is, or Co-Program Chairs are, appointed (or re-appointed) by the President to administer the overall program and its implementation at the annual meeting. Section Chairs are appointed by the President or, at the President’s discretion, by the Program Chair(s). Section Chairs typically have broad responsibility for shaping the panels within their section.

What communications media does the Association utilize?

The NEPSA website is currently hosted by Northeastern University and has been primarily updated by volunteers. The e-mail mailing list is composed of prior Annual Meeting attendees and has been augmented by the mailing list of APSA. The combined e-mail list is currently hosted by the Martin Institute of Stonehill College.