Statutes

DRAFT OF THE RC10 REVISED STATUTES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISA REQUIREMENTS (SEE THE TABLE OF REQUIREMENTS BELOW THIS DRAFT)
TO BE DISCUSSED AN APPROVED BY MEMBERS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER ISA YOKOHAMA CONGRESS ON THE DISCUSSION PART OF THIS PAGE

|| Research Committee on

Participation, Organizational Democracy

and Self-Management RC10
||

Statutes
Revised, New Delhi, August 1986

Editorial corrections Oct. 17, 1989

Revised May 15, 1990

Revised summer, 1995

Revised September 2002
Revised July 2013

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
1.The Committee was established by the International Sociological Association in 1978 in accordance with Article XI of the ISA Statutes with a view to opening up a broader range of opportunities for the participation of individual members of the Association in research and other activities in the field of "Participation and Self-Management". In October 2000 the Board decided, after carrying out a members' ballot, to change the name of the Committee and to include in it the words "Organizational Democracy". To this end the Committee shall undertake the following measures:
a. To secure and develop personal and associational/professional contacts between scientists and to unite the professional qualities, social consciousness and experience of its members for work on problems of "Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management" throughout the world;
b. To encourage the international dissemination and exchange of information on significant developments and to promote the development of scientific activities in the field of "Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management" throughout the world;
c. To facilitate and promote international meetings, communication and research projects in the field of "Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management" at all national, regional and international levels;
d. To promote participation in the Committee and the use of its facilities by members from underrepresented countries.
e. The Committee raises its own funds (membership fees, subsidies, workshops etc.) and administers them in accordance with Article XI of the ISA Statutes.
MEMBERSHIP
2. The Committee shall consist of President and Vice-President, a Secretary, the Treasurer, the other members of the Board and members. The members should be individuals or associations active in research and/or teaching in the field of "Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management".
All the decisions made by the Committee as a whole, except those concerning the by-laws, are accepted by simple majority. In the years of the elections the Board collects together all proposals for amending the by-laws and a proposal amendment is adopted if it is approved by 2/3 of the voting members.
Each candidate for membership has to be approved by the Board. Unsuccessful candidates have the right to appeal to the Committee as a whole. The Board has a right to request recommendations.
There are two types of membership in RC10: regular members and affiliated members.
Regular members shall be individuals or institutions in good standing within the ISA who have paid both their dues to ISA membership, and their dues to RC10 membership.
Individuals or institutions interested in the activities of RC10, who are not members of the ISA and who have not paid their ISA membership dues, and who only have paid their dues for RC10 membership, will be RC10 affiliated members.
To be a regular RC10 member in good standing dues for ISA membership will be paid directly to the ISA; dues for RC10 membership will be paid either to the Treasurer of the RC or to the ISA. To be an affiliated RC10 member in good standing dues for RC10 membership will be paid directly to RC10 Treasurer, or to the RC10 through the ISA.Dues will be used for the administrative costs of the RC. The amount is decided at the General Meeting. In case a candidate is not able to pay his or her RC10 membership fees and his or her qualifications - according to the Board - are appropriate, then he or she can apply to the RC10 Board to have their RC10 membership fees waived, and if the request is approved, be defined as a regular or affiliated (depending on whether or not they have paid ISA membership dues) member of the Committee in "good standing".
All regular and affiliated members of RC10 in good standing have the same voting rights and eligibility to hold office, to participate in the scientific activities of the Research Committee, to receive free of charge the newsletter. The members are obliged to observe the Statutes, to carry out conscientiously the tasks entrusted to them by the General Meeting or other competent bodies of RC10. Non-payment of dues will lead to loss of membership six months after the final period paid for, unless special arrangements are made.
THE BOARD
3. The Board of the Committee is formed by the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and a maximum of 5 members, all elected by the regular members of the Committee, and by affiliated members. The term of office is 4 years. The elected members of the Board may be reelected successively only once, with the exception of the members of the Executive Board who may be reelected for a third term. The associate members are former Presidents of the Committee and the Chairs of the Research Groups.
Membership of the Board is restricted to individuals who maintain their status of regular RC10 members in good standing throughout the four years of the Board’s mandate. Affiliated RC10 members cannot be members of the Board.
At its first meeting the Board nominates the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The board is entrusted with the direction of all the activities of the Committee, unless regulated by the By-Laws of the Statutes of ISA. The Board nominates the representative and one alternate to the Research Council of the ISA. In case of equal votes within the Board, the president will have the deciding vote.
A report on the funds of the committee must be made every second year and sent to the members. In the year of the election, the Board collects proposals of using funds and makes public the criteria for accepting them.
4. The candidates for the Board will be suggested by all members (regular or affiliated) of the Committee. Each member (regular or affiliated) may propose up to 10 candidates for the Board. When proposing candidate(s) to the Board, a member shall send to the nominated individual(s) a nomination form. If accepting the nomination, the nominated candidates shall confirm to RC10 Secretary their preparedness to accept the position for which they have been nominated in case they are elected andto remain a regular member in good standing of RC10 and of ISA for the duration of their mandate, and shall return the nomination form to the RC10 Secretary together with a brief Curriculum Vitae. The Secretarywill list the candidates along with the respective positions on the Board and send the ballot list to the individual regular and affiliated members for voting by email at least ten weeks before the election date. Each individual RC10 member shall vote for maximum 10 candidates.. Regular and affiliated members shall send their ballot by email to the Secretary no later than two weeks prior to the beginning of the World Congress. Ballots received by email after that date will not be counted.
Elected are the 10 candidates with the highest number of votes. In case for a tie for the 10th seat a draw is made by the nominating committee. Those candidates not elected are alternates. Their place is determined according to the number of votes received. Election must be completed every fourth year. The election of officers will be conducted in a manner maximizing membership voting.


Mailed ballots will be sent to the entire membership by the Executive Secretary at the beginning of the year of the World Congress.
Newly elected officers will be announced through the ISA bulletin, the RC newsletter and at the meetings of the RC.
The executive board of the RC will form or designate a nominating committee for the next slate of officers.
In case a Board member resigns or becomes inactive during the term of their4-year mandate, or does not maintain their ISA and RC10 membership in good standing throughout the 4-year mandate, she or he will be replaced by the alternate with the highest number of votes. These temporary vacancies in the Board between consecutive ISA World Congresses may be filled by appointment by the RC10 President, in accordance with ISA Statute 4.5.
5. The President, as chief executive of RC 10, will preside at the meetings of the Committee and its Board.

The President will be responsible for seeing that the session of RC 10 at the ISA meetings are organized. The President will initiate and carry out policies in conformity with RC 10's purpose as specified by the Board and the membership.
If President is failing to carry out their presidential responsibilities and/or has allowed their ISA and /or RC10 membership to lapse, the Secretary and the Treasurer are required to inform the Board and to serve a six-month period of grace notice to the President. Should the irregularity not be resolved, the matter will be referred to the ISA Secretariat. One of the Board members, identified by the Board, will assume the responsibilities of the President in the case of death, incapacitation, resignation, or other inability of the incumbent to carry out the presidential responsibilities.
The Secretary is responsible for communicating RC 10 activities and plans to the members twice a year through the newsletter. These include the time and place, as well as organizers of seminars and workshops and of ISA sessions, sponsored by RC 10.
The secretary shall announce to the membership the time and place of the general business meetings. A general business meeting of members shall be held in conjunction with the ISA meeting. There will be at least one general business meeting of the available regular and affiliated members in good standing of RC10 for every 4-year World Congress cycle. Announcement of the general business meeting will be made to the members at least three months in advance, together with a tentative agenda of business.
The treasurer shall prepare a membership list to be used for election purposes. The Vice-President will assist the President in carrying out the functions listed above. He or she may also be assigned special duties by the president.
MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
6. It is strongly recommended to the Board to arrange a meeting of the Committee at least once a year. The meetings should be devoted to specific theoretical and methodological themes even if general sessions are held in addition. The theme and call for papers must be approved on behalf of the Committee by the Board, which should make public the criteria of selection. The board must actively help members from underrepresented countries to participate and to suggest themes for meetings.
RESEARCH AND REGIONAL STUDY GROUPS
7. The Committee may organize (up to 4) special research groups, and one or more regional study groups. The Chair of the group must be elected by the members. The Chair is responsible for making an annual report to the Board and a report to the Committee at each World Congress. Research groups and regional study groups, which become inactive, will be dissolved by the Committee.
MID-TERM CONFERENCE
The Board shall identify the themes and topics for at least one mid-term conference to be held between World Congresses and take responsibility for the organization of this conference. As an alternative to organizing a mid-term conference, the Board may organize several sessions at the meetings of another association, or co-sponsor a meeting with another association, or have several sessions in conjunction with several differentassociations (preferably not all in the same part of the world if at all possible).
NAMING THE DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE TO THE RESEARCH COUNCIL MEETINGS OF THE ISA
The Board shall identify RC10 delegate to the ISA Research Council and the alternate delegate to the Research Council. The delegate and the alternate will be informed in writing by the President at least six months prior to the World Congress.
AMENDMENT OF STATUTES
8. A proposal to amend the Statutes of RC10 may be made by any RC10 Board member, or by any five regular members in good standing of RC10. The proposal must be received by the Board at least one year prior to the World Congress. The proposal will be circulated among all RC10 regular and affiliated members, together with an explanation for a rationale for theproposed change, at least six months prior to the Congress. The Board may propose amendments to the proposed Statutes change (i.e. further edits or elaborations on the proposed change) that are circulated to regular and affiliated RC10 members at least two months prior to the World Congress.The proposed amendments will be put on the agenda of RC10 general meeting during the World Congress. The Statutes of the RC may be amended by a two-third vote of the voting membership through mail ballot of the RC.

Table of ISA requirements: The ISA requires that the statutes of all ISA Research Committees contain the following elements:

Requirement Comments Suggested models (actual numbering will vary)
1 A distinction between two types of individual membership of a Research Committee:
(a) ‘Regular members in good standing’, defined as financial members of both the relevant Research Committee and the ISA
(b) ‘Affiliated members’, defined as financial members of the relevant Research Committee only.
Provision may also be made for institutional members. 		Needs elaboration (incl re associations; also, later, ref to ‘associate members’); Membership
2. Members shall either be regular members or affiliated members

2.1. Regular members shall be individuals or institutions in good standing within the ISA

2.2. Affiliated members shall be individuals or institutions interested in the activities of RC xx, who are not members of the ISA
3. All regular and affiliated members of RC xx shall be entitled to vote as individual members in the discussions about organisational matters at the General Meetings according to the principle "one member, one vote" that means that one institution also has one vote
4. All regular and affiliated members of RC xx shall be entitled to

4.1. participate in the scientific activities of the Research Committee

4.2. receive the newsletter issued by RC xx free of charge
5. All regular and affiliated members of RC xx shall be obliged to

5.1. uphold the present Statutes of RC xx and to adhere to the stipulations of the present Statutes

5.2. conscientiously fulfil the tasks entrusted to them by the General Meeting or other bodies of RC xx

5.3. pay their fee for the respective period (i.e. 4 years). This fee shall be fixed by the Board of the Research Committee at each General Meeting for both individual members and organisations. The respective amounts to be paid shall be specified in the By-Laws to the present Statutes.
2 Provision for a Steering Board consisting of: a President, a Secretary, and at least three other Board members, with a clear identification of the role bearing the responsibilities of treasurer, which should be either a joint position with secretary or a separate designated position. OK - but
Gender neutral language please (‘chair’ or ‘chairperson’, not ‘chairman’) in points 3, 7		 2. The Secretary/Treasurer shall

2.1. organise the General Meetings and the meetings of the Board of RC xx in co-operation with the President

…

2.3. assist the President in organising the work of the Board and observe the fulfilment of its decisions

2.4. collect the membership fees and other incomes

2.5. keep financial documentation

2.6. prepare the financial report to the Board to be accepted by the General Meeting

2.7. realise the financial relations between RC xx and the ISA
3 Identification of democratic election procedures, as approved by the ISA Research Council, for all the positions on the Board, containing provisions for making nominations open to all the RC’s regular members in good standing, and for voting by all the RC’s regular members in good standing. Needs review
Apparently allows vote by formerly active members (associate members) who not now members in good standing of RC. This is problematic, if not unacceptable.
Procedure described in points 3 & 4 make it unclear how differential max no of terms of office for board members & Executive Board (to be defined; is perhaps the officers) can be applied. Better to have separate elections
Position on board of ‘associate members’ unclear (voting? Non voting?) and in any case problematic if not member in good standing of RC
Statement about election of officers is vague
Good that include provision for alternates		 Nomination Procedure
1. To ensure participation of all regular and affiliated members, nomination shall be done by mail. To this end, the Secretary shall prepare a form to be sent to all regular and affiliated members at least twenty weeks before the election day together with a list of all regular members of RC xx
2. All regular and affiliated members of RC xx shall be entitled to nominate candidates for the Board. Nominated candidates shall be regular members of RC xx. They shall confirm their preparedness to accept the respective position on the Board in case they are elected and to remain a regular member in good standing for the duration of their mandate, and shall return the nomination form to the Secretary, together with a brief curriculum vitae
3. The Secretary shall prepare a ballot listing all nominated candidates along with the respective positions on the Board. In case of several nominations for the same position, the nominated candidates shall be listed in alphabetical order. The ballot shall be sent to all regular and affiliated members of RC xx by mail at least ten weeks before the election day.
4. Regular and affiliated members shall shall send their ballot by mail or email to the designated electoral officer(s) . Ballots received later than two weeks before the beginning of the World Congress shall not be counted.
[Note: The ISA Secretariat is available to help manage and oversee any RC’s election procedure on request.]
4 Restriction of membership of its Board, throughout the four years of the Board’s mandate, to the RC’s regular members in good standing. Absent? (c) Each member of the Board must at all times be:
(i) a member in good standing of the ISA in accordance with the ISA Statutes, and
(ii) a member in good standing of RCxx.
5 A mechanism for replacing inactive board members, ones who resign or ones who do not maintain their ISA and RC/WG/TG memberships throughout the mandate. Incomplete – but presumably alternates would successively fill vacancies (b) Temporary vacancies in the Board between consecutive ISA World Congresses may be filled by appointment by the President, in accordance with ISA Statute 4.5.
…
(d) The places of any Board member not in good standing with either the ISA or RCxx may be declared temporarily vacant by the President, at the President’s discretion, and the vacancy filled according to paragraph (b).
6 A mechanism for replacing a president who is not carrying out their presidential responsibilities. Incomplete/absent? Should the President fail to carry out their presidential responsibilities or allow their membership to lapse, the Secretary/Treasurer is required to inform the Board and to serve a six-month period of grace notice on the President. Should the irregularity not be resolved by the end of this period, the Secretary/Treasurer is required to inform the Board and to refer the matter to the ISA Secretariat.
Or:
One of the Board members, identified by the Board, will assume the responsibilities of the President of the Board in the case of the death, incapacitation, resignation, or other inability of the incumbent to carry out the responsibilities of the office of the President.
7 Identification of membership fees. OK
8 A requirement for the Secretary/Treasurer to report the RC’s financial affairs to members at least at every World Congress. OK
9 Identification of the procedure for revisions of the statutes/bylaws, including: amount of notice to be given to the membership, how changes can be voted for, number (or %) of votes required for a change to be adopted. Current version to sketchy, needs elaboration. ARTICLE SIX: AMENDMENTS TO STATUTES AND BY LAWS
6.1 Any proposal for amendments to the Statutes or By Laws may be made by any member of the Board, or by any five members in good standing of RCxx.
6.2 Such a proposal must be received by the Board at least one year before the World Congress.
6.3 The proposal will be circulated among all RCxx members, together with an explanation of its rationale, at least six months before the next World Congress. The Board will be entitled to propose amendments, to be circulated at least two months before the World Congress.
6.4 The proposed amendments will be put to the General Meeting, and adopted if approved by a two-thirds majority.
10 A requirement that the Board provide a newsletter to the membership at least twice annually. Yes, under sec’t responsibilities – would be good to have a general clause re this (xxx) The Board shall provide a newsletter or equivalent to the membership at least twice annually.
11 Provision for at least one business meeting of the available regular members in good standing for every 4-year World Congress cycle. Yes, under sec’t responsibilities – would be good to have a general clause re this Business Meeting
A Business Meeting Assembly is held at least every four years, preferably at the ISA World Congress. The meeting is chaired by the President or by one Vice-President of the RC xx. Votes can only be cast by regular and affiliated RC xx members in good standing who are present at the Meeting. The duties of the Assembly are:
- to evaluate and approve the four-year-report
- to discharge the outgoing Board of its responsibilities. including the financial statement
- to discuss and carry motions on any other point that may arise
Decisions in a Business Meeting Assembly are taken by simple majority.
12 Provision for a mid-term conference to be held between World Congresses.[1] Absent? Currently permissive only – that insufficient (e) The Board shall
- identify the themes and topics for at least one mid-term conference and take responsibility for the organization of those sessions;
13 Provision for naming the delegate and alternate to the Research Council meetings. Absent? The Board shall identify (i) the Research Committee’s delegate to the ISA Research Council and other organizations and (ii) the alternate delegate to the Research Council.
Should the RC wish to allow for the possibility of co-presidents, co-secretary/treasurers or co-editors of the newsletter – the following phrasing is suggested: Pairs of candidates may also be nominated for the position of President, Secretary/Treasurer, or Editor of the Newsletter, to function as Co-President, Co-Secretary/Treasurers or Co-Editors of the Newsletter.

[1] A single session at the meetings of another association does not really fulfill this obligation. Several sessions at the meeting of another association, co-sponsoring a meeting with another association or having several sessions in conjunction with several different associations, preferably not all in the same part of the world, are acceptable alternatives to a free standing conference.

RC 10 STATUTES


Revised, New Delhi, August 1986
Editorial corrections Oct. 17, 1989
Revised May 15, 1990
Revised summer, 1995
Revised September 2002

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

MEMBERSHIP
THE BOARD
MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
RESEARCH AND REGIONAL STUDY GROUPS

AMENDMENT OF STATUTES

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES


1. The Committee was established by the International Sociological Association in 1978 in accordance with Article XI of the ISA Statutes with a view to opening up a broader range of opportunities for the participation of individual members of the Association in research and other activities in the field of “Participation and Self-Management”. In October 2000 the Board decided, after carrying out a members’ ballot, to change the name of the Committee and to include in it the words “Organizational Democracy”. To this end the Committee shall undertake the following measures:

a. To secure and develop personal and associational/professional contacts between scientists and to unite the professional qualities, social consciousness and experience of its members for work on problems of “Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management” throughout the world;
b. To encourage the international dissemination and exchange of information on significant developments and to promote the development of scientific activities in the field of “Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management” throughout the world;
c. To facilitate and promote international meetings, communication and research projects in the field of “Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management” at all national, regional and international levels;
d. To promote participation in the Committee and the use of its facilities by members from underrepresented countries.
e. The Committee raises its own funds (membership fees, subsidies, workshops etc.) and administers them in accordance with Article XI of the ISA Statutes.

MEMBERSHIP


2. The Committee shall consist of President and Vice-President, a Secretary, the Treasurer, the other members of the Board and members. The members should be individuals or associations active in research and/or teaching in the field of “Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management”.

All the decisions made by the Committee as a whole, except those concerning the by-laws, are accepted by simple majority. In the years of the elections the Board collects together all proposals for amending the by-laws and a proposal amendment is adopted if it is approved by 2/3 of the voting members.

Each candidate for membership has to be approved by the Board. Unsuccessful candidates have the right to appeal to the Committee as a whole. The Board has a right to request recommendations.

To be a member in good standing dues will be paid directly to the Treasurer of the RC or to the ISA. Such dues will be used for the administrative costs of the RC. The amount is decided at the General Meeting. In case a candidate is not able to pay his or her fees and his or her qualifications – according to the Board – are appropriate, then he or she can be defined as a member of the Committee in “good standing”.

All members in good standing have the same voting rights and eligibility to hold office, to participate in the scientific activities, to receive free of charge the newsletter. The members are obliged to observe the Statutes, to carry out conscientiously the tasks entrusted to them by the General Meeting or other competent bodies of RC10. Non-payment of dues will lead to loss of membership six months after the final period paid for, unless special arrangements are made.

THE BOARD


3. The Board of the Committee is formed by the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and a maximum of 5 members, all elected by the Committee, and by associate members. The term of office is 4 years. The elected members of the Board may be reelected successively only once, with the exception of the members of the Executive Board who may be reelected for a third term. The associate members are former Presidents of the Committee and the Chairmen of the Research Groups.

At its first meeting the Board nominates the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The board is entrusted with the direction of all the activities of the Committee, unless regulated by the By-Laws of the Statutes of ISA. The Board nominates the representative and one alternate to the Research Council of the ISA. In case of equal votes within the Board, the president will have the deciding vote.

A report on the funds of the committee must be made every second year and sent to the members. In the year of the election, the Board collects proposals of using funds and makes public the criteria for accepting them.

4. The candidates for the Board will be suggested by all members of the Committee. Each member may propose up to 10 candidates for the Board. The Board will list the candidates and send the list to the individual members for voting. Each individual member shall vote for maximum 10 candidates. The Board must also make sure that the candidates agree and that they are members in good standing of the International Sociological Association. Elected are the 10 candidates with the highest number of votes. In case for a tie for the 10th seat a draw is made by the nominating committee. Those candidates not elected are alternates. Their place is determined according to the number of votes received. Election must be completed every fourth year. The election of officers will be conducted in a manner maximizing membership voting.

Mailed ballots will be sent to the entire membership by the Executive Secretary at the beginning of the year of the World Congress.

Newly elected officers will be announced through the ISA bulletin, the RC newsletter and at the meetings of the RC.

The executive board of the RC will form or designate a nominating committee for the next slate of officers.

5. The President, as chief executive of RC 10, will preside at the meetings of the Committee and its Board.

The President will be responsible for seeing that the session of RC 10 at the ISA meetings are organized. The President will initiate and carry out policies in conformity with RC 10’s purpose as specified by the Board and the membership.

The Secretary is responsible for communicating RC 10 activities and plans to the members twice a year through the newsletter. These include the time and place, as well as organizers of seminars and workshops and of ISA sessions, sponsored by RC 10.

The secretary shall announce to the membership the time and place of the general meetings. A general meeting of members shall be held in conjunction with the ISA meeting. Announcement of the general meeting will be made to the members at least three months in advance, together with a tentative agenda of business.

The treasurer shall prepare a membership list to be used for election purposes. The Vice-President will assist the President in carrying out the functions listed above. He or she may also be assigned special duties by the president.

MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE


6. It is strongly recommended to the Board to arrange a meeting of the Committee at least once a year. The meetings should be devoted to specific theoretical and methodological themes even if general sessions are held in addition. The theme and call for papers must be approved on behalf of the Committee by the Board, which should make public the criteria of selection. The board must actively help members from underrepresented countries to participate and to suggest themes for meetings.

RESEARCH AND REGIONAL STUDY GROUPS


7. The Committee may organize (up to 4) special research groups, and one or more regional study groups. The Chairman of the group must be elected by the members. The Chairmen is responsible for making an annual report to the Board and a report to the Committee at each World Congress. Research groups and regional study groups, which become inactive, will be dissolved by the Committee.

AMENDMENT OF STATUTES


8. The Statutes of the RC may be amended by a two-third vote of the voting membership through mail ballot of the RC.




In the discussion part of this page we can initiate eventual changes to our present statute and conduct a virtual dialogue preparing them for deliberation.

Last modified: Monday, 18 June 2018, 12:44 PM