Instead of a single decision-making body it has become an association of constituent societies, called “sections” and "interest groups."
In the process it has delegated to sections control over the portions of the annual meetings that fall within their respective areas of substantive interest.
Another consequence was that in 2004 a substantial group of more scientifically oriented panels that had been proposed for the annual meetings of the AAA was rejected for lack of an interested section.
The stated objective of the SASci is to advance the scientific study of human societies through scholarly meetings, publications, and related activities.
The SASci also advances the dissemination of anthropological knowledge within the scientific community, to other educators, and to the broader general public.