By-Laws
in addition to Statutes,
enacted by the Assembly for
governance of the Association
TITLE I-AIMS and MEANS
Article 1. The aims of the International Association
for Science and Cultural Diversity are:
(1) to promote the History of
Science by establishing and extending the scholarly bases
for the study of Science and Cultural Diversity;
(2) to foster historical study
of the relationship between the sciences, technology, medicine,
and the cultures in which they arose throughout the world
from ancient times to the present;
(3) to encourage international
cooperation and maintain close working relationships among
specialists of different disciplines;
(4) to facilitate research documentation
in the History of Science and Cultural Diversity for scholars
in all countries through exchange of information and by enlarging
the material means necessary for this objective.
Article 2. In order to
attain those aims, the International Association for Science
and Cultural Diversity will:
( 1) establish itself in the
greatest possible number of countries and recruit the greatest
possible number of qualified members therein;
(2) create committees and working
groups charged with conducting studies focussed on particular
aspects of the History of Science and Cultural Diversity;
(3) seek financial means which
may become available to assist the work of these groups;
(4) organise colloquia, seminars,
and other meetings in order to make possible the direct cooperation
of its members;
(5) establish and maintain at
the disposition of its members indispensable information,
documents, and scientific exchanges;
(6) publish reports and results
of works of the Association and give them the widest possible
disseminations;
(7) cooperate with other national
and international scientific organizations which pursue similar
goals concerned with History of Science and Cultural Diversity.
TITLE II- MEMBERS
Article 3. Forms of memberships:
( 1) Ordinary Members are individuals
who are active in their own names. They are expected to contribute
advice to their colleagues and to the Association, publish
their research findings, participate in meetings of the Association,
and support the Association by payment of annual dues.
(2) Honorary Members are those
individuals who have rendered exceptional services to the
Association for SCD. Such persons may be recommended by two
or more active Ordinary Members. Evaluation and nomination
may. be made by the Council. Election as Honorary Member is
by vote of the quadrenniel Assembly.
(3) Benefactor Member is a scientific
or cultural institution, corporation, or university which
supports the aims of the Association. Recommendations may
be submitted by two or more active Ordinary Members. Evaluation
and nomination may be made by the Council. Election as Benefactor
Member is by vote of the quadrenniel Assembly
Article 4. Annual dues
of Ordinary Members will be recommended by the Executive Committee
and determined from time to time by the Assembly. Dues of Benefactor
Members will be assessed at then times those of Ordinary Members.
Honorary Members are not be required to pay dues. Honorary Members
and those who pay their annual dues are considered to be "active
members."
Article 5. Active Ordinary
Members may participate in meetings of the Assembly in person
or by proxy. Officers and Assessors participate also in meetings
of Council or Executive Committee, to which they have been elected,
either in person or by proxy.
( 1) A Proxy may be in writing
(by post of fax) or by e-mail and must be received and registered
by the Secretary-general on the day prior to the Chair's call
for vote on a motion or for an election.
(2) If challenged, the registration
of a Proxy may be appealed to Council and authorized by vote
of the Council prior to the Chair's call for a vote.
Article 6. Loss of Membership.
The membership of Ordinary Members or Benefactor Members may
be terminated by resignation, non-participation. non-payment
of dues, or by action of the Executive committee for cause.
If termination
seems unfair, the active Member may explain the circumstances
and request reinstatement to the Executive Committee. If reinstatement
is not granted I the active Member may appeal to Council.
TITLE III. OFFICERS
and ASSESSORS
Article 7. Officers of
the International Association will be President, First Vice-president,
Second Vice-president, Secretary-general, Assistant- secretary,
Treasurer, two or more Assessors.
Article 8. Election of
Officers.
(1) Except for the office of
President the Officers and Assessors of the Association are
elected by active Ordinary Members, voting in the quadrenniel
Assembly.
(2) Those eligible for nomination
and election as Officer or Assessor must be active Ordinary
Members of the Association when nominated, as determined by
Council.
(3) Each Officer and Assessor
is elected by the Assembly for a term of four years, beginning
with the conclusion of the quadrenniel Assembly.
(4) Anyone may be re-elected
to the same office for a second term only once; for this purpose,
a partial term filled because of vacancy is counted as a full
term. No person may hold the same office for more than eight
consecutive years.
(5) Following service in one
office, anyone may be eligible for election to a different
office.
(6) Anyone elected to office
who becomes inactive during the term has vacated the office,
as determined by Council.
Article 9. President.
The President is responsible for all matters of policy, as determined
by the Assembly of the Association or by the General Assembly
of the Division of History of Science/IUHPS.
(1) He will represent the Association
on occasions appropriate for the programme and activities
on History of Science and Cultural Diversity.
(2) The President will preside
and conduct the business of the Assembly, Council, and Executive
Committee of the Association. In his absence, business will
be conducted by the First Vice-president or next senior officer
of the Association.
(3) As policy and business of
the Association require, he will advise the Secretary-general
throughout each year. He will consult the Executive Committee
and council about policies and current affairs of the association
at least once year.
(4) In the event the President
becomes unable to exercise the functions of office, the First
Vice-president succeeds to the office after obtaining consent
of the Division of History of Science/lUHPS.
Article 10. Secretary-general.
The Secretary-general is responsible for the current affairs
of the Association during the interval between Assemblies in
accord with policies determined by the Assembly and the President.
The Secretary-general will
(1) maintan close relations
with programme committees and working groups of the Association
and encourage their activities in History of Science and Cultural
Diversity;
(2) keep the annual and quadrenniel
budgets of the Association in balance;
(3) report to the President
on all important matters as they occur, report to the Executive
Committee and to Council about important affairs of the Association
at least once a year, and communicate with Members on appropriate
occasions;
(4) organise meetings of the
Assembly, Council, and Executive Committee;
(5) register each Proxy to a
meeting of Assembly, Council, or Executive Committee, at least
one day prior to the call for a vote, and refer the challenge
or appeal of a Proxy to Council for decision.
Article 11. If the President is unavailable for a meeting
of DHS/IUHPS in person, the Association for Science and
Cultural Diversity will be represented by the Secretary-general
in person. If neither is available, another Officer or Assessor
may be designated by the President for this purpose.
Article 12. Treasurer.
The Treasurer is responsible for financial accounts of the Association.
Those accounts shall be comprehensive of all revenues and expenditures
of the Association, its committees, working groups, meetings,
and professional contracts.
( 1) Receipts of the Association consist of dues of its members
and all other grants, donations, or subventions to the Association
by individuals, private organizations; or public institutions
with which the Association is involved nationally or internationally,
Receipts may also include the positive balance resulting from
contracted professional work.
(2) Expenditures of the Association
consist of the expenses incurred by the President, Secretary-general,
and Treasurer required for business of the Association and
approved by the Executive Committee, including communications
and publications; meetings of its own Assembly, Council, and
Executive Committee; travel to those meetings and to meetings
of the Division of History of Science/IUHPS.
(3) Such other expense deemed
necessary by an executive officer may be allowed in each case
on condition that
(a) specific prior approval
has been given by the Executive Committee, and
(b) it is subsequently ratified
by Council.
(4) In any case wherein an expenditure
has been incurred by an officer or by any member and reimbursed
by the Association, all such reimbursed funds shall be returned
to the Association
(a) if it did not receive specific prior approval by the
Executive Committee, and
(b) if it is not subsequently ratified by Council.
(5) The Association will not reimburse the negative balance
of an Association committee or working group or financial
1055 from contracted professional work, unless specific prior
approval has been given by act of Council.
Article 13. The Treasurer
will report annually to the Executive Commit- teethe state of
the budget for the Association, its committees, working groups,
meetings, and professional contracts.
(1) AII financial accounts of
the Association will be reviewed annually by Council and each
quadrennium by the Assembly, or reviewed at any time by decision
of the Council or of the Assembly.
(2) At the conclusion of each
four-year period, in consultation with the Executive Committee
and the Council, the Treasurer will report to the Assembly
on the budget which it had voted.
(3) An audited financial report
will be prepared in accordance with commonly accepted accounting
practices and presented to each quadrenniel Assembly. Approval
of the audited financial report by the Assembly discharges
the Treasurer of responsibility for receipts and expenditures
reported in the budget of the past quadrennium.
(4) In consultation with the
Executive Committee and the Council, the Treasurer will propose
and ask for approval by the Assembly of a new budget for the
subsequent four-year period,
Article 14. If the Treasurer
becomes unable to exercise the functions of office, the President
will nominate someone to replace him temporarily until the next
Assembly. Such succession to a vacant office may occur
only by consent the council.
Article 15. The Association
may enter into contracts with other organizations, universities,
or corporations to perform work or provide consultation in matters
of its professional competence, provided that such contracts
( 1) are recommended by the
Executive Committee,
(2) approved by act of Council,
and
(3) subsequently reviewed and
ratified by the Assembly.
If the Assembly does not ratify
it, a contractual agreement will be concluded expeditiously
and, with recommendation of the Executive Committee and by
act of Council, as beneficially to the Association as possible.
TITLE IV: ORGANISATION
Article 16. Assembly.
The Assembly of active members
is responsible for policies, programmes, budget, elections,
and other business of the Association for Science and Cultural
Diversity.
Article 17. The Assembly
will meet at call of the President ordinarily once every four
years in conjunction with the Division of History of Science/IUHPS
and the International Congress of History of Science organized
by that Division. There may also be extraordinary assemblies
called by the President, by a majority of Executive Committee
members, or by majority of Council members, or by ten per cent
( 10%) of the number of active Ordinary Members. An Assembly,
either ordinary or extraordinary, will occur
(1) on the date and in the place
determined by the Executive Committee of the Association;
and
(2) by notice to every member
from the Secretary-general no later than three months before
that date and preferably earlier.
Article 18. The Assembly
will receive and hear Minutes of the previous quadrenniel meeting
and of any extraordinary meeting; such Minutes may be approved
or corrected, as deemed appropriate. It will receive . Reports
from the executive officers:
(1) the President, on the policies
of the Association;
(2) the Secretary-general, on
activities of the Association;
(3) the Treasurer, on financial
accounts during the past quadrennium and accounts of any other
financial activities of the Association.
Article 19. The Assembly
will receive and review reports of their activities from the
Executive Committee, the Council, and each committee or working
group formed under its authority. It will hear and decide appeals
from decisions of the Executive Committee and from decisions
of the Council, except those for which decision of Council is
final.
Article 20. The Assembly
will hear and dispose of all old and new business according
to its own agenda. It will evaluate the work of its committees
and working groups and, on recommendation of Council, it will
determine whatever is required for the programme of the Association.
Article 21. Upon recommendation
of the Treasurer and advice by Council, the Assembly will prepare
a new budget for the next quadrennium of activities of the Association.
Article 22. Decisions of
the Assembly shall be taken by vote of active Ordinary Members
present in person or by proxy. For motions and elec- tions,
a quorum is a simple majority of those present, except for change
of Statutes, change of By-laws, or Dissolution, as defined in
Statutes of the Association.
Article 23. Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee of the Association is composed of the
President, Secretary-general, Treasurer, and the immediate past-Secretary-general
ex officio.
Article 24. During the
interval between Assemblies of the Association, the Executive
Committee will act in behalf of the Assembly to fulfil the policies
and programmes of the Association. It is responsible to Council
and to the Assembly. Thus, it will
( 1) receive and review reports
from committees and working groups, and offer recommendations
to the chairs concerning their activities;
(2) nominate to the quadrenniel
Assembly active Ordinary Members as chairs of programme committees
and working groups.
(3) refer business and recommend
actions to the Council and to the Assembly.
(4) in consultation with the
Treasurer, review the budget annually and make recommendations
to Council or to the Assembly.
Article 25. The Executive
Committee will meet immediately following the Assembly at which
it was elected, and it will meet again in preparation for the
next Assembly. It should also meet once in each intervening
year, insofar as the budget of the Association permits.
(1) Meetings of the Executive
Committee are by call of either the President or the General-secretary.
A quorum consists of three members present in person or by
proxy; decisions may be taken by a majority of those present.
(2) Decisions and activities
of the Executive Committee will be submitted annually to Council
and each quadrennium to the Assembly for review, approval,
or modification.
Article 26. Council.
The Council of the Association consists of the Officers and
two or more Assessors elected by the quadrenniel Assembly, and
the past-Secretary-general ex officio. Nomination and election
of active Ordinary Members as Assessors is intended to maintain
a balance of geographical regions and of professional disciplines
on Council.
Article 27. The Council
is responsible for
(1) programme and budget of
the Association during the interval .between meetings of the
Assembly; therefore it will receive annual re- ports from
the Secretary-general and the Treasurer;
(2) the status of members of
the Association, including nomination of Honorary Members
and Benefactor Members; for these purposes, Council will receive
recommendations by the First Vice-president.
(3) Continued functions of all
offices, recognizing that vacancy may occur by absence, negligence,
resignation, or death. In case of a vacancy is determined
by Council, the First Vice-president will nominate an active
Ordinary Member of the Association to complete the term of
office; Council will decide whether to accept such nomination.
Article 28. The Council
will.
(1) review the Treasurer's quadrenniel
report on the current budget and the proposed next quadrenniel
budget, and it will make recommendations to the Assembly;
(2) review expenses of Executive
Officers annually or as appropriate
(3) name auditors of the financial
accounts of the Association for each quadrennium, receive
and review the auditors report, and recommend to the Assembly
whether it should be accepted;
(4) recommend to the Assembly
whether the Treasurer should be discharged of responsibility
for receipts and expenditures in the audited financial report
for the closing quadrenniel budget.
Article 29. Council decision
is final and may not be appealed concerning
(1) the status membership for
any individual or benefactor;
(2) the status. of a Proxy for
any meeting of Assembly, Council, or Executive Committee.
Article 30. The Council
is responsible for maintaining the Statutes and By-Laws of the
Association. By simple majority vote, it may recommend to the
Assembly a change in the By-Laws. By two-thirds majority vote,
it may recommend to the Assembly a change in the Statutes or
Dissolution of the Association.
TITLE V. LOCATION
Article 31. The headquarters
of the Association will be the seat of the Secretary-general,
unless otherwise determined from time to time by decision of
the Executive Committe
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