The Council of National Associations is composed of:

• One national delegate for each of the countries from which one or more sociological societies have been admitted to regular collective membership.
  
• One national delegate from each of the other countries or groups of countries from which at least one organization or institution has been temporarily admitted to regular collective membership.
  
• If, for any one country, no national societies have been admitted to regular collective membership, but several organizations or institutions have been admitted in affiliated collective membership, those members in good standing are asked to set up a national liaison committee to designate a joint delegate to the Council of National Associations by majority vote of the recognized affiliated collective members.

The Council of National Associations formulates proposals for the basic policies of the ISA to be presented to and approved by the Assembly of Councils, takes final decision about the admission of regular collective members and elects eight members to the Executive Committee.

Members of the Council of National Associations and of the Research Council compose the Asembly of Councils.
The Assembly meets at each World Congress.
It determines general policies of the Association, fix membership fees, hear appeals against decisions taken by the ISA Executive Committee, the Council of National Associations or the Research Council upon petition of ten members in good standing.
The Assembly elects the President and four Vice- Presidents.