THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF GEOMORPHOLOGISTS
NAME
The Association shall be known as the INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF GEOMORPHOLOGISTS or, in languages other than English by a
direct translation. The official abbreviation will be the IAG. The
working languages of the IAG shall be English and French.
STYLE
There are two founding principles to govern the style
of the conduct of the affairs of the Association:
- the IAG shall be a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit,
scientific institution at all times free of racial, gender or national
prejudice;
- the IAG shall be maintained in as informal a style as possible in
keeping with the relaxed international and individual friendships
established at the First International Conference on Geomorphology,
Manchester 1985.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the IAG shall be:
- to develop geomorphology through international co-operation;
- to promote the study and development of geomorphology in all
aspects;
- to foster the dissemination of knowledge of geomorphology.
ACTIVITIES
The IAG will accomplish these objectives by:
- holding an International Conference on Geomorphology at least
every four years;
- holding Executive Committee and open meetings at the time of the
International Conference and, if required, at suitable times and
locations between conferences;
- encouraging the establishment of both regional and specialty
groups, the organisation of meetings, research and field programs and
publications on geomorphology;
- co-operating with national and international organisations whose
aims are complementary to those of the IAG;
- exchanging information through its National Scientific Members,
newsletters, publications or other suitable mechanisms;
- encouraging the participation of geomorphologists in the work of
relevant international organisations on the basis of equal
opportunities.
AFFILIATIONS
The IAG recognises the International Council
for Science (ICSU) as being the co-ordinating and representative body
for the international organisation of science and is affiliated to it
through the International Geographical Union (IGU) and the International
Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the IAG shall normally be by
countries.
Normally membership of the association, which carries
full voting rights, shall be through National Scientific Members. There
shall be only one National Scientific Member per country. Countries
wishing to join the IAG must submit to the Secretary documentation
showing the existence of a bona fide National Scientific Member, its
mailing address and the names of its officers.
In countries where no
National Scientific Member exists an individual may take part in all
activities of the IAG but will not have voting rights.
NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS
A National Scientific Member
shall be a Scientific Academy, Research Council, Scientific Institution
or association of such institutions. Institutions effectively
representing the range of scientific activities in a definite territory
may be accepted as National Scientific Members provided they can be
listed under a name that will avoid any misunderstanding about the
territory represented. Each National Scientific Member shall have only
one vote.
A National Scientific Member shall at all times keep the
Secretary of the IAG informed about its address, the names of its
officers and its voting representative.
National Scientific Members
may adhere to the IAG in one of the categories, determined by the number
of geomorphologists and the economic state of its nation and specified
in the bylaws. Each National Scientific Member shall pay a subscription
proper to its category. Continuous record of payment of membership fees
is necessary to acquire full voting rights.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The IAG shall be served by an Executive
Committee consisting of the elected and co-opted members.
The elected
members are:
- a President;
- three Vice-Presidents;
- a Secretary;
- a Treasurer;
- a Publications Officer.
Nominees for presidency shall have
served as elected members of the Executive Committee in the term
immediately preceding their nomination.
Elected members shall serve a
maximum of four years in any post. All elected members are to be from
different countries. The Executive Committee may co-opt members at
anytime necessary to maintain the aims of the IAG.
COUNCIL
The Executive Committee shall be responsible to the
Council of the IAG. The Council shall consist of the voting
representative of each National Scientific Member (or their authorised
deputies) plus the members of the IAG Executive Committee. The Council
shall be presided over by the President of the IAG or, in case of the
President's incapacity to attend, by one of the Vice-Presidents
designated by the Executive Committee. In the event of an equal decision
of votes, the President or acting President shall cast the deciding
vote.
The Council shall meet every four years during the
International Conference on Geomorphology. An extraordinary session can
be called during an IAG Regional Conference or if requested by a
majority of the National Scientific Members. The Council may make
decisions by postal communication on questions put to it through the
Secretary with the approval of the President.
The Council may set up
standing and ad hoc committees and working parties with whatever names,
powers and terms of reference it may decide.
The Council shall
determine, with the advice of the Secretary, the annual subscription fee
to the Association. The Council shall approve the budget and authorise
disbursement of funds.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
At each International Conference on
Geomorphology (ICG) two General Assemblies shall be held. General
Assembly is open to all those who have registered to the ICG. The
purpose of General Assembly is to further communication between the
Executive Committee and individual geomorphologists.
HONORARY FELLOWSHIPS
The IAG may confer Honorary Fellowship
upon individuals who have served the Association or the discipline of
geomorphology with particular distinction. Honorary Fellowship shall be
regarded as the highest honour that the IAG can bestow.
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP
Sustaining membership shall be
available upon invitation, to individuals and institutions sympathetic
to the purposes of the IAG and willing to be identified without vote
with its programmes, specific or general.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GEOMORPHOLOGY
An International
Conference on Geomorphology shall be held every fourth year in a country
to be decided upon by the Council. The organisation and financial
arrangements of an International Conference are the responsibility of
the National Scientific Member of the host country. The only rule for
the International Conference is that it shall be organised in such a way
that a relaxed and informal 'geomorphological' style be adopted
consistent with maximum productivity.
ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION
This constitution shall come into
force in one of two ways, either at the close of the session at which it
receives the approval of at least two-thirds of the Council present or
by a postal vote approved by two-thirds of those returning ballots,
provided that half of the members take part in the voting.
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
Amendments to the Constitution
may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by a National Scientific
Member. Such amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary
early enough to have the proposal submitted to all National Scientific
Members at least one year prior to the Council Meetings at which the
amendment is to be placed on the Agenda.
Adoption of an amendment to
the Constitution will require an affirmative vote of at least two thirds
of the Council present or by postal vote approved by two thirds of those
returning ballots, provided that half of the members take part in the
voting.
BYLAWS
1. COUNCIL
- A quorum for a Council meeting shall be a simple majority (more
than 50 %) of the National Scientific Members.
- Any member country that will not be present for a vote may submit
its views and vote in advance by mail. In this case that member
country will be regarded as being present for the purposes of the
quorum for the vote.
- Voting shall be by secret ballot, for the election of Executive
members, for the place for the next International Conference on
Geomorphology, or for other matters specified at the time by the
President.
- National Scientific Members wishing to have items placed on the
agenda should submit them not less than six months prior to a Council
meeting. Three months before the meeting the Secretary will send the
complete Agenda to each National scientific member. The Agenda for the
quadrennial ordinary meeting of Council shall generally include the
following items:
- Minutes of the previous meeting: matters arising;
- Acceptance of new National Scientific Members;
- Business raised by President;
- Business raised by National Scientific Members;
- Business from other sources;
- Financial statement for preceding period and draft budget for
ensuing period;
- International Conference;
- Election of President;
- Election of three Vice-Presidents;
- Election of Secretary;
- Election of Treasurer;
- Election of Publications Officer;
- Review of activities and reports of committees, working groups
etc.;
- Items submitted after preparation of agenda, subject to
agreement of President;
- Any other business.
2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- At least one year before the expiry of office of the Executive
Committee, the Secretary shall notify the National Scientific Members
that an election is to take place and invite them to submit names for
the required positions not later than three months before the
election. Evidence must be provided to show that each would be willing
to serve if elected. The election, preceded by the presentation of
candidates by National Delegates (or people acting on their behalf),
will be carried out according to the agreed voting procedures of the
IAG.
- In the event of an elected member not being able to fulfil his/her
duties, or if a majority of the elected members of Executive Committee
felt that it was in the interest of the IAG that an individual should
cease to hold a particular post, elected members of the Executive
Committee should have the authority to reallocate responsibilities
among the elected members.
- The elected members of the Executive Committee may co-opt up to
six members. Co-opted members may have the same rights and duties of
elected members.
- Executive Committee can approve provisionally National Scientific
Members and this decision is left for approval of the Council whether
by postal vote or at the Council meeting.
3. PRESIDENT
The President of the IAG:
- represents the IAG;
- convenes and presides over the Executive Committee, the Council
Meeting and the General Assembly, or any other formal meeting of the
IAG;
- takes care of the enforcement of the IAG resolutions.
The
President shall assume office during the final General Assembly of the
International Conference on Geomorphology and will remain in office
until the final General Assembly of the next International Conference
(four years).
In case of the President's resignation or interruption
of the appointment, the Presidency shall be undertaken by one of the
three Vice-Presidents.
4. VICE PRESIDENTS
- represent the IAG on behalf of the President if he/she is
temporarily unable to do so;
- are specifically responsible for the following tasks: financial
policy, strategic plans, coordination of IAG research including
working groups, and training, which are to be allocated among the
elected Vice-Presidents under the direction of the President.
- Upon the decision of the Executive Committee one of the
Vice-Presidents may take over presidential duties if the President is
unable to perform his/her duties.
- Each of the three Vice-Presidents will be eligible to become
Acting President during one-third (16 months) of the four year term,
in the circumstance that the President is temporarily unable to
perform his/her duties. The order of eligibility will be determined by
the President at the beginning of her/his term.
- Responsibility for financial policy, strategic planning and
coordinating training and IAG research, including that of Working
Groups shall be allocated among the Vice-Presidents by the President.
- In the circumstances of resignation or other interruption, of the
appointment of the President, the Vice-President currently eligible to
serve as Acting President shall become President for the remainder of
the term. That individual will remain eligible to be elected President
for a full term.
5. SECRETARY
The Secretary shall be responsible under the
general direction of the President, for the conduct of all
correspondence and current business of the Association, for the
preparation and distribution of the Agenda of the Council meetings and
for the preparation and maintenance of minutes.
6. TREASURER
The Treasurer shall send to each National
Scientific Member an annual account of the dues owing, and shall ensure
that all contributions and dues paid to the Association are placed in a
separate account and that a record is kept. The Treasurer is responsible
for keeping the accounts of the Association, for the preparation of the
annual budget of receipts and expenditures, for payments on behalf of
the Association up to the limit of the approved budget, and shall
acknowledge all money received. The Treasurer shall prepare a summary of
the accounts for each meeting of the Council and shall give any
explanations required of expenses incurred.
7. PUBLICATION OFFICER
The Publication Officer oversees all
editorial activities of the Association, including preparation and
circulation of the IAG Newsletter.
8. CONFERENCES
- Offers to act as host for an International Conference on
Geomorphology shall be received by the Secretary at least three months
in advance of the preceding International Conference.
- The inviting country must provide assurance that no individual
will be denied attendance on grounds of nationality, race, gender,
creed or political views. If an invitation is received from more
than one National Scientific Member the final selection shall be
made by secret ballot of voting members.
- Arrangements for the International Conference on Geomorphology
shall be the responsibility of the Organising Committee of the host
country, in consultation with the President and Secretary.
- At each International Conference on Geomorphology all votes are to
take place at the Council meeting at the end of the Conference.
- Every four years, half way between the International Conference on
Geomorphology, the Regional Conference will be held. Offers to act as
host for the Regional Conference shall be received at the meeting of
the Council preceding an inter-conference period and selection shall
be made by voting. If the offer arrives at a later date, the decision
is made by the Executive Committee.
- National Scientific Members, or their affiliates, or Working
Groups, are encouraged to organise technical meetings and conferences.
These may be designated as co-sponsored by the International
Association of Geomorphologists if approved by the Executive
Committee.
- At each International Conference on Geomorphology a sum,
established by the Executive Committee in consultation with the local
Organising Committee, is to be included in the registration fee and
transferred to the Treasurer within six months after the conclusion of
the Conference. For the Regional Conference, if there is any revenue
generated, it shall be shared between the IAG and the local National
Scientific Member.
9. WORKING GROUPS
- The Council shall establish Working Groups to facilitate research
on focused geomorphological issues, regions or areas.
- Working Groups can be proposed by any individual geomorphologist
or group of geomorphologists. Proposals shall include the objective of
the Group and an outline of the plan to reach the objective.
- The Council will determine the number of Working Groups to be
supported and will vote on proposals at the quadrennial Council
meeting.
- Each Working Group can normally be supported for no more than four
years.
- IAG will provide financial support, at levels approved by the
Council, to facilitate the operation and reporting of the Working
Groups.
- Each Working Group will provide the Secretary with an annual
progress report and at the conclusion of its four-year term will
convene a symposium at the International Conference on Geomorphology.
10. LEVELS OF AFFILIATION
The categories of membership are
to be determined from time to time by the Council.
