About RSA

RSA welcomes scholars, teachers, and students of rhetoric in all of its manifestations. RSA’s purpose is to support and advance the work of people who study rhetoric in a variety of disciplinary contexts.

Our Purpose

The purposes of the Society shall be to gather from all relevant fields of study, and to disseminate among its members, current knowledge of rhetoric, broadly construed; to identify new areas within the subject of rhetoric in which research is especially needed, and to stimulate such research; to encourage experimentation in the teaching of rhetoric; to facilitate professional cooperation among its members; to organize meetings at which members may exchange findings and ideas; and to sponsor the publication of such materials dealing with rhetoric.

–Article II, RSA Constitution

History

From Kathleen Welch, adopting original constitution, 1993

To Rhetoric Society of America members:

The RSA Board of Directors has approved the constitution of the Society. We publish it here so that all the members will have access to our announced aim, statement of scholarly commitment, and procedures for the smooth working of the Society’s scholarly journal (Rhetoric Society Quarterly), elections, conferences, and so on. The Society, now in its twenty-sixth year, owes a great debt to George A. Yoos, who founded the journal, established its strong reputation in numerous disciplines, and brought his wisdom to the journal as well as to the Society. The constitution has been revised approximately six times by two committees that met at RSA, SCA, and CCCC meetings. Former RSA presidents Winifred Bryan Horner and Richard Leo Enos devoted an extensive amount of time in leading these committees and in applying the results of their long experience to this important document. I thank them for their contribution.

Click here to see historical RSA officer information

BYLAWS

Access the bylaws of the Rhetoric Society of America, revised in February 2023.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE RHETORIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Joining RSA puts you into direct contact — via this website, RSA conferences and institutes, and other RSA members-only resources — with a large and growing interdisciplinary group of scholars who share your interest in rhetoric. Members receive access to Rhetoric Society Quarterly, special rates on events, and are eligible to be nominated for RSA awards.