Drafted by Y. G. Lithman and T. Skutnabb-Kangas, ammended by H. Adam.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Research Committee is:

- to encourage research on ethnic, race and minority relations
- to evaluate policies and explore strategies aimed at eradicating racial discrimination and unequal treatment based on ethnicity
- to provide a forum for discussion and dissemination of research in these fields

II. ACTIVITIES

The Research Committee engages in the following activities:

- it organizes sessions at the ISA congresses
- it organizes and sponsors seminars on topics related to its research areas, and also
- such other activities as decided by the board or the president in consultation with the board on issues of importance.

III. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Research Committee is open to all members of National Sociological Associations as well as other scholars who have demonstrated substantial research interest in relevant fields.

Members are expected to subscribe to the Research Committee's "Statement on Apartheid", disassociating themselves from apartheid in South Africa and other systems of structural inequality based on ethnicity, and to demonstrate in their scholarship, where relevant, this perspective.

Membership is gained upon acceptance of an application for membership and payment of a fee. In cases where for currency or other reasons the payment of the fee is deemed inappropriate, the secretary may waive the whole or part of the fee for individuals or for scholars from certain countries.

The fee and waiver policy is decided by the board. Members are usually billed for the period to the next ISA congress.

Non-payment of fee will lead to loss of membership one year after the period paid for.

IV. THE BOARD AND ITS OFFICERS

The activities of the Research Committee is governed by the board. The term of the board is from one ISA congress to the next.

The board has eight elected members. Its officers are the president, the vice-president, and the secretary.

The president is vested with all powers of decision making between board meetings and is responsible for over-seeing all activities of the Research Committee. The president is also responsible for organizing the sessions of the Research Committee at the ISA congress.

The vice president assists the president with those matters the president delegates.

The secretary is responsible for over-seeing election procedures, fee collection and finance matters, as well as membership registers, and assisting the president with organizing the congress sessions.

The board may appoint such other officers as it deems necessary.

V. ELECTIONS

The election of the members of the board takes place in the months preceeding the ISA Congress, when the following steps are taken:

a) The secretary writes to all members in good standing and asks for nominations to the board, encouraging a fair regional and gender balance of candidates.

b) The secretary writes to those nominated and secures their approval/non- approval to stand as candidates - only members of good standing may stand as candidates.

c) The secretary includes all nominated who have consented to stand as candidates on a ballot which is distributed to all members in good standing. Sufficient time, normally two months, is allowed to return the ballots. The return envelope must bear the sender's name in order to have his or her ballot validated. These voting instructions are communicated by the secretary together with a reminder to members to ensure an appropriate international and gender balance on the board.

d) The ballots are opened and counted before the business meeting by two members of the research committee not themselves candidates.

e) The results of the ballot are announced at the business meeting. In case of a tie, a lot will determine the result.

f) The ballot will make a distinction between the office of president on the one hand and other members of the board on the other. A person may be nominated for president, other member of the board, or both. To stand for president does not exclude the option to stand simultaneously for other member of the board. If a person has stood for both president and other member of the board, and is elected as president, his/her votes for other member of the board are discarded.

g) The board selects among its members the vice president. The secretary and other officers need not be elected board members.

h) In addition to the elected members of the board, the past president is a member of the board as long as the incumbent remains.

j) In addition to its other members, the board may co-opt others to membership of the board in order to secure regional and other representation.

VI. NATIONAL SUBGROUPS

Upon acceptance by the board, national subgroups of the Research Committee may be organized. When such subgroups are established the Board may make an agreement with the national subgroup regarding financial and membership arrangements. Usually, the Committee will allow the national subgroups a share of the membership dues, provided the subgroup will take the responsibility of distributing relevant information from the Committee to its members. The board should be notified of major meetings, seminars, etc. organized by the subgroups. The subgroups should provide a short statement on activities to the Committee board meetings.

VII. ACCOUNTABILITY

To the business meetings of the Committee in conjunction with the ISA congress, the secretary shall provide a statement of activities and a financial report.

VIII. AMENDING THE BY-LAWS

These by-laws may be amended at Research Committee business meetings. If the business meeting decides to change the by-laws, the decision shall be put to the membership. If the ballots concur with the decision at the business meeting, the by-laws have been amended.