Report of the President

President Ira Katznelson welcomed the council and reported on the vibrancy and diversity of cultures in the profession that he had encountered in travels to regional and national association. He noted with pleasure as well the Association's responsiveness in supporting political science departments damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Report of the Executive Director

Michael Brintnall reported that the affairs of the Association and operation of the National Office are well. In addition to ongoing projects, he noted plans for a new Department Chairs Conference.

Items for Approval/Review on Consent Agenda

The minutes from the August 31, 2005, Council Meeting were approved.

The minutes from the September 1, 2005, Business Meeting were approved.

The Council took note of actions taken between meetings by the Council and Administrative Committee, and items on the consent agenda, including the small research grant recipients, international departmental memberships, and letters of thanks from political science departments supported by the APSA Katrina Relief fund.

Report of the Treasurer

Council acknowledged the decision by the Building Advisory Group not to purchase the building for sale adjacent to the APSA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Council acknowledged the decision by the Trust and Development board to adopt an open policy on investment.

Council welcomed the new Trust and Development format and asked for a report with 5-year trend data.

Council concluded that it would not be appropriate for the Council to accede to the request by AAUP for a donation to their capital campaign.

The FY07 Budget was unanimously approved.

Report of the Audit Committee

Council acknowledged the acceptance of the FY05 Audit Report by the Audit Committee.

Council agreed that the by-laws should be revised to give the Audit Committee the right to retain auditors, within the specified budget.

Council approved the renewal of the auditing firm's contract, as an interim action pending modification of the by-laws to assign this role to the Audit Committee.

Governance

Council noted the report of the Nominating Committee.

Council approved the proposal of the Administrative Committee to create an ad hoc Council committee on membership. Don Green and Jim Gibson will serve on the committee.

Journals and Publication Issues

Council was updated on the status of the search for a new editor of APSR. President will present a candidate at the next Council Meeting.

Conferences

2007 Program Committee was approved.

Council was notified that planning for the 2007 TLC is underway.

Public Presence

Council unanimously approved members for the Task Force on Religion and Democracy in the U.S.

Council received with enthusiasm the president-elect's report on interdisciplinarity initiatives and plans for his presidential year.

APSA Committees and Programs

Joan Tronto, chair of the Annual Meeting Review Committee, reported her committee has begun its investigations and will issue a full report in the spring of 2007. They have already met once and are working on plans to conduct a survey of APSA members.

Council approved the appointment of an ad hoc committee to work with the Departmental Services program to enhance involvement in APSA of faculty located in B.A. and M.A. political science departments.

Council was told to anticipate an Africa project proposal at the Annual Meeting in August.

Council approved two new section journals; Religion and Democracy and Political Behavior.

Council received an interim report from Dianne Pinderhughes on the Minority Program Review.

Council noted the report, Higher Education: Civic Mission & Civic Effects, jointly organized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and CIRCLE, on which the APSA Civic Education Committee participated.

Council noted the APSA Task Force Report on Internationalizing the Undergraduate Curriculum, and asked that the APSA Teaching and Learning Committee carry forward with this work.

Council voted 13-2 in favor of endorsing the statement of ACE on Academic Rights and Responsibilities. The APSA Committee on Professional Ethics and Freedoms was asked to investigate whether there are additional issues related to academic rights and freedoms for attention related to the political science classroom.