Representation in the MSS Assembly

The MSS Assembly is comprised of representatives from each accredited US medical school. In addition, there are two other avenues for MSS representation: national medical student organizations and medical specialty societies. Below are the rules that separately govern the representation of these two groups.

National Medical Student Organizations

B-7.3214 National Medical Student Organizations. National medical student organizations that have been granted representation in the Medical Student Section Business Meeting pursuant to the provisions of these Bylaws may select one voting member and one alternate member, both of whom must be medical student members of the American Medical Association. The members so selected shall be properly certified to the Governing Council of the Medical Student Section in accordance with rules established by the Governing Council.

B-7.32141 Criteria for Eligibility. National medical student organizations that meet the following criteria may be considered for representation in the AMA Medical Student Section Business Meeting: a. The organization must be national in scope. b. The organization must be composed solely of medical students enrolled in a Liaison Committee on Medical Education or American Osteopathic Association accredited program. c. Membership in the organization must be available to all medical students, without discrimination. d. The purposes and objectives of the organization must be consistent with the AMA's purposes and objectives. e. The organization's code of medical ethics must be consistent with the AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics.

B-7.32142 Procedure. The organization must submit a written application containing sufficient information to establish that the organization meets the criteria described in Section 7.32141. The application must also include the following: a. The organization's charter, constitution, bylaws and code of medical ethics. b. A list of the sources of the organization's financial support, other than the dues of its medical student members. c. A list or description of all of the organization's affiliations. d. Such additional information as may be requested. The Governing Council shall review the application. If it recommends that the organization be granted representation in the Medical Student Section Business Meeting, the recommendation shall be submitted to the AMA Board of Trustees for review. If approved by the AMA Board of Trustees, the organization may be represented in the Medical Student Section Business Meeting.

B-7.32143 Biennial Review Process. Each national medical student organization represented in the Medical Student Section Business Meeting must reconfirm biennially that it continues to meet the criteria for eligibility by submitting such information and documentation as may be required by the Governing Council.

B-7.32144 Rights and Responsibilities. National medical student organizations granted representation in the Medical Student Section Business Meeting shall have the following rights and responsibilities: a. Full voting rights in the Business Meeting, including the right to vote in any elections at the conclusion of a two year probationary period with regular attendance. b. Shall not be eligible for election to any office in the AMA Medical Student Section. c. To present its policies and opinions in the Business Meeting. d. It shall require its representatives to report on the actions of the AMA Medical Student Section. e. It shall cooperate in enhancing the AMA Medical Student Section membership.

B-7.32145 Discontinuance of Representation. The Governing Council may recommend discontinuance of the representation by a national medical student organization on the basis that the organization fails to meet the criteria in 7.32141, has failed to maintain its responsibilities in 7.32144, or has failed to attend the Business Meeting of the AMA Medical Student Section. The recommendation shall be submitted to the AMA Board of Trustees for review. If approved by the AMA Board of Trustees, the representation of the national medical student organization in the AMA Medical Student Section Business Meeting shall be discontinued.

Medical Specialty Societies

The following criteria have been developed for national medical specialty societies to qualify for representation in the AMA-MSS Assembly, persuant to the AMA Bylaws Section 7.3313. A national medical specialty society must:

• Have voting representation in the AMA House of Delegates;
• Allow for medical student membership; and
• Have established a mechanism that allows for the regular input of medical student views into the issues before the specialty society.

A specialty society that satisfies these criteria may be represented at the AMA-MSS Business Meeting by one voting delegate and one alternate. Additionally, the medical student representative(s) selected from the specialty society must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a medical student member of the AMA in good standing;
• Should be chosen in a fair and equitable manner allowing open representation and medical student input;
• Must be certified in writing by the President, or appropriate staff person, of the national medical specialty society they will be representing; and
• Must represent the interests of their particular specialty society's medical student constituency.

An application will be provided to interested medical specialty societies. The specialty society should submit the application form, and any other documents demonstrating compliance with these criteria, to the AMA-MSS Governing Council at least ninety days prior to the first Assembly meeting for which they seek to qualify. If approved by the Governing Council, the specialty society will be granted a seat in the AMA-MSS Assembly with voting privileges on items of business. The newly seated society will be placed on probationary status for a period of two years, during which consistent attendance at the four national meetings is expected. At the conclusion of this probation period, the specialty society delegate will attain full voting privileges including elections, and be eligible to run for office. The Governing Council will notify the specialty society of its status at the end of the probation period.

Each national medical specialty society represented in the AMA-MSS Assembly will be required to reconfirm periodically, i.e., approximately every two years, that it continues to meet the criteria for representation. Specialty societies will be notified by the Governing Council of the time of their review and will be asked to submit appropriate documentation. Failure to participate in the biennial review process or to meet the established criteria will be reported to the AMA-MSS Governing Council for action. The Governing Council may terminate the representation of a specialty society in the AMA-MSS for failure to verify fulfillment of the criteria or failure to meet these criteria, in which case the society can reapply for representation under the Bylaws provisions.

Official Observer

National student organizations may apply to the AMA-MSS Governing Council for official observer status in the MSS Assembly. Applicants and official observers must demonstrate compliance with guidelines for official observers adopted by the AMA-MSS Assembly, and the Governing Council shall make a recommendation to the AMA-MSS assembly concerning the application. The AMA-MSS Assembly will make the final determination on the conferring or continuation of official observer status.

Organizations with official observer status are invited to send one representative to observe the actions of the Assembly at all meetings of the MSS Assembly. Official observers have the right to speak and debate on the floor of the Assembly upon invitation from the Speaker. Official observers do not have the right to introduce business, introduce an amendment, make a motion, or vote.