SWGGUN Bylaws

Article I

Name and Objective

Section 1.
The name, of the organization shall be the Scientific Working Group for Firearms and Toolmarks, herein referred to as SWGGUN or the Board.

Section 2.
The purpose of the SWGGUN shall be:

1. To develop a series of consensus guidelines for the firearm and toolmark discipline.

2. To disseminate SWGGUN guidelines, studies, and other findings that may be of benefit to the forensic community.

Section 3.
The objectives of SWGGUN shall be:

1. to recommend and disseminate discipline guidelines for quality assurance and quality control,

2. to provide guidelines and not to mandate decisions of policy,

3. To discuss, share and exchange ideas regarding forensic analysis methods, protocols and research,

4. to bring together organizations and/or individuals actively pursuing relevant analysis methods for the purpose of exchanging and disseminating information,

5. to cooperate with other national and international organizations in developing relevant standards.

6. to monitor and disseminate research and technology related to the discipline.

 

Article II

Membership

Section 1.
Members shall be representative of the experience and knowledge in the discipline.

1. The SWG shall consist of 20 regular Board members and will include the current year President of the Association of Firearms and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE). If the AFTE president is not currently included on the Board he or she shall be invited to participate in all SWG activities as the 21st member and have full voting privileges during his or her tenure.

2. New members may be nominated by any SWGGUN Board member and require a 2/3 majority vote for confirmation.

3. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is a member of SWGGUN and may appoint up to two (2) representatives, who will serve in their official capacities representing the interests of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Section 2.
Termination of Membership

1. Membership may be terminated only if such termination is initiated by a Board member and must be confirmed by a minimum of 2/3 majority vote of the Board.

2. Resignation: An individual Board member may withdraw from SWG by giving written notice to the Chair of SWGGUN.

 

Article III

Officers and their Duties

Section 1.
The officers shall be the Chair of SWGGUN, the Secretary, and Chairs of any established Committees.

1. Terms of office. The Chair of SWGGUN shall be elected for a 2-year term, and a limit of two (2) two-year terms thereafter. The election requires a quorum of SWGGUN representatives and the candidate with the largest number of votes will be elected. The incumbent Chair of SWGGUN is permitted to vote in the election of a successor.

2. Vacancies. If at any time during a Chair's tenure, that person is temporarily unable to serve, the Chair of SWGGUN shall, at his or her discretion, designate any other Board member to serve as Chair of SWG during the period of absence. In the event of the Chair's resignation or an inability to serve for a period in excess of six (6) months, a successor will be elected. If the incumbent is unavailable at the time of this election, the Secretary or the designated FBI member shall assume the duties of the Chair of SWGGUN for the limited purpose of calling a meeting to elect a new Chair.

3. The Secretary shall be elected by the SWG and serve a 2-year term and be subject to re-election. The election requires a quorum of SWGGUN representatives and the candidate with the largest number of votes will be elected. The incumbent Secretary of SWGGUN is permitted to vote in the election of a successor.

Section 2.
The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

1. SWGGUN Chair. Shall preside over meetings and shall, to the extent consistent with his or her official duties, promote the objectives of SWGGUN and shall establish subcommittees as necessary.

2. SWGGUN Secretary. Shall record the minutes of all meetings and maintain written records and membership rolls. Shall provide official correspondence at the direction of the Chair and membership and shall communicate minutes to members.

 

Article IV

Meetings

Section 1.
SWGGUN shall have at least one (1) meeting per year.

Section 2.
The Chair may call for additional meetings at any time. Consideration will be given to the sponsor (FBI) for facilitation and funding approval.

Section 3.
To the extent possible, notice of the meetings will be communicated to each representative at least 60 days before the meeting date. Meeting dates should be posted on the SWG web site and, if possible, in Forensic Science Communications at least 30 days prior to a meeting date.

Section 4.
Meetings will consist of SWGGUN members. Invited visitors may attend meetings at the discretion of the Chair.

 

Article V

Committees

Section 1.
Committees shall be established on an ad hoc basis to address the business of the SWG and consist of at least two (2) Board members.

Section 2.
The Committee Chair shall be a Board member elected by the representatives appointed to the Committee; the candidate with the largest number of votes will be elected. The Committee Chair will be elected for the duration of the Committee business but not to exceed a two-year term and may be re-elected.

Section 3.
The Committee Chairs are encouraged to consult with representative(s) of other forensic laboratories and when necessary enlist the aid of members of the forensic community in the development of proposals to be brought before the Board.

1. Enlisted Committee members that are not members of the Board, but who are aiding in Committee business, shall be known as Advisory members.

2. Advisory members are encouraged to participate in drafting proposals for review by the Board, but do not have voting privileges during Board meetings.

3. Advisory members serve at the discretion of the Committee Chair.

Section 4.
Committees shall solicit input and receive commentary from non-members of the SWG:

1. when appropriate, draft documents shall be placed on the secure SWGGUN web site at least 60 days prior to the SWG meeting date where finalization of the document will occur, and/or

2. when appropriate, draft documents shall be presented in an open forum such as the annual AFTE training seminar, and/or

3. mailings, either electronic or hard copy, can be sent to recognized government crime laboratories routinely carrying out the particular discipline at least 60 days prior to the SWG meeting date, where finalization of the document will occur.

Section 5.
The Chair of SWGGUN may establish other committees as he or she deems appropriate to aid in the business of the SWG.

 

Article VI

Decision Making

Section 1.
Decisions regarding the adoption of Guidelines and on the overall method of operation of SWGGUN shall be made by the Board members.

 

Article VII

Voting

Section 1.
Sixty percent (60%) of the SWG members are required to constitute a quorum. A quorum of the members (or, in the case of Committee or special meetings, of the assigned or designated representatives) shall be required in order to call a meeting to order and to conduct business.

1. Each voting member shall have one vote.

2. Except as otherwise specified, all motions require a 2/3 majority vote of attending members for passage.

 

Article VIII

Amendments to the Bylaws

Section 1.
To the extent possible, proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted to the Chair of SWGGUN 45 days prior to a scheduled vote and the membership will receive proposed amendments from the Secretary at least 30 days prior to a vote.

Section 2.
Amendments to Bylaws shall require a 2/3 majority vote of the entire Board.

 

Article IX

Changes to Existing Guidelines

Section 1.
Procedure.

1. A. Changes to existing guidelines must be submitted to any Board member in writing and contain the following information:

1. Document title

2. Requestor's name

3. Laboratory

4. Laboratory address

5. Telephone number

6. Change from (Note the document section number)

7. Change to

8. Reason for change

2. The contacted Board member shall forward a copy of the request to all other Board members within 15 days of receipt.

3. The proposal may be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled SWGGUN meeting for consideration or scheduled for an electronic vote. If the request can not be immediately addressed, an ad hoc committee will be formed. The Board may provide recommendations for Committee Advisory members as needed.

4. Recommendations from the Committee will be provided to all SWG members at least 30 days before the date on which they will be voted on.

5. At those SWGGUN meetings where proposed changes have been received and await action, the Committee could meet on a day prior to the beginning of the general SWGGUN meeting to make final recommendations regarding the changes.

6. The recommendations of the Committee and the record of the request will be presented to the SWGGUN membership for final vote.

7. SWGGUN members will be provided an opportunity to discuss both the proposed changes and the Committee recommendations and to vote on the final acceptance of the proposed changes.

 

Article X

Communication

Section 1.
Official communications shall be conveyed only by the Chair or a designee.

Section 2.
SWGGUN shall have a method of communication by electronic means such as the Internet or email. Board members shall have a secure password protected site for private communications.

Section 3.
A link from the AFTE website to SWGGUN will be provided.

Section 4.
Guidelines and approved documents will be published in the Forensic Science Communications on-line journal and the public SWGGUN website.

Section 5.
Advisory members shall have access to draft guidelines and approved meeting minutes.

 

Article XI

Parliamentary Authority

Section 1.
The simplest mechanism governing meetings will be used.

Section 2.
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be referred to where deemed necessary.

 

SWGGUN Bylaws Revised: 5/31/02