July 1994

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of the group shall be the Research Committee on Clinical Sociology. The Research Committee, founded in 1982, is part of the International Sociological Association.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

A. The aims of the Research Committee shall be:

1. To advance knowledge in all areas of clinical sociology throughout the world.
2. To provide a common meeting ground for clinical sociologists and others interested in clinical sociological knowledge.
3. To encourage international cooperation in clinical sociology research.
4. To promote training and educational opportunities to further the development of clinical sociology.
5. To develop bonds with other disciplines and other specializations in sociology.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

A. General:
Membership in the Research Committee shall be open to all sociologists, students of sociology, social scientists and allied professionals who share an interest in the purposes of the group.

B. Types of membership:
The Executive Board determines the various types of membership in accordance with the statutes of the International Sociological Association.

C. Voting rights:
Each member shall have one vote at meetings, elections and other proceedings of the organization.

D. Membership dues:
All dues, fees and subscription rates shall be established by the Executive Board. All rates must take into account the economic diversity of the membership of the Research Committee.

E. No member of the Research Committee shall use the fact of membership e.g., listing in the membership directory , as an indication of special competence of any kind.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

A. General:
The officers of the organization shall be a President, one or more Vice Presidents and a Secretary-Treasurer. The officers constitute the members of the Executive Committee of the Research Committee's Executive Board (see article V).

B. Duties of officers:
1. The president shall preside at all Executive Board and membership meetings of the organization, shall chair Executive Committee functions and shall perform all duties assigned to her/him by the Executive Board.

The President with the concurrence of the Executive Committee shall solicit and/or appoint Research Committee members to serve on various task forces and committees as deemed necessary to the functioning of the Research Committee.

The President or her/his representative shall be the Research Committee's representative at all meetings of the International Sociological Association's Research Council and the Assembly of Councils.

The President or her/his representative shall oversee the permanent records of the Research Committee.

The President or her/his representative shall oversee the development and distribution of the Research Committee's newsletter.

The President or her/his representative shall oversee the development of the program for the World Congress and for all other meetings of the Research Committee.

2. The Vice-President(s) shall assume the duties of the President in her/ his absence and aid the President as she/he determines. A Vice President or her/his representative will serve as the Alternate Delegate to the International Sociological Association Research Council and the Assembly of councils.

3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall oversee the funds of the Research Committee and their expenditures at the instruction of the Executive Board and make at least one report yearly on the financial condition of the Research Committee, she/he should take the minutes of the Executive Board and the general membership meetings and distribute these minutes to the Executive Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall aid the President as she/he determines.

C. Terms of office:
The president's term of office will be four years. The terms of other officers will be for two or four years, as decided by the Executive Board. Each person proposed for an office, including a returning officer, must be elected to that office.

D. Selection of officers:
The Executive Board selects the officers for the Research Committee from its own ranks with accordance to the guidelines in Article V. Vacancies shall be filled at the discretion of the Board.

ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE BOARD

A. General:
The Executive Board shall transact the general business of the Research Committee and establish the necessary policies to do so and shall have such powers and duties as are not otherwise provided for in these Statutes.

B. Duties of Executive Board members:
Duties include but are not limited to attendance at all meetings of the Executive Board and membership meetings of the Research Committee; demonstrated activity on behalf of the Research Committee which includes undertaking a major responsibility; demonstrated activity on behalf of clinical sociology and meeting all the requirements specified under duties of Regional Representatives.

C. Meetings:
The Executive Board shall meet at all of the major conferences of the Research Committee and at other times and places that it may decide. Whenever possible, the Executive Board shall try to reach decisions by consensus. When consensus cannot be achieved, a simple majority of those voting shall prevail. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

D. Selection of Executive Board members:
The Executive Committee of the Executive Board serves as a nominations committee for new board members. Research Committee members may suggest themselves or others as candidates or the Executive Committee may solicit nominees. There is no fixed limit as to the number of Executive Board members. Executive Board members shall be proposed as vacancies arise and as needs of the Research
Committee dictate. Eligibility for the Executive Board, besides current membership in the International Sociological Association and the Research Committee, includes demonstrated activity on behalf of the Research Committee and clinical sociology, and a willingness to attend Executive Board meetings and Research Committee functions. It also includes willingness to participate in the work of the Executive Board. Executive Board members are expected to represent the diversity of the membership in terms of geography, gender and area of specialization.

E. Election of Executive Board members:
The election of Executive Board members shall take place at least every four years. A slate of proposed
Executive Board members will be developed by the Executive Board for presentation to the membership. The membership will be given information about proposed Executive Board members. New Executive Board members are installed at the next Executive Board meeting following the election.

F. Terms of office of Executive Board members:
Executive Board membership shall be staggered so that continuity prevails. There is no maximum
number of terms that a member may serve on the Executive Board. Each Board member must have a specified term. If a Board member's term is coming to an end and the Board thinks the Board Member should be returned to the Board, the Board Member still must stand for election.

G. Termination of Executive Board membership:
There may be times when an elected Board Member has for an extended period of time not fulfilled
the duties of Board membership. The Executive Board has the obligation to establish rules and procedures for the termination of Board membership and has the right to terminate Board membership.

ARTICLE VI. REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Regional Representatives will be elected by the membership. Research Committee members may nominate themselves for these positions or be nominated by the Executive Committee. Regional Representatives will have specified terms as determined by the Executive Board. There is no fixed limit as to the number of Regional Representatives. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Regional Representative may serve. Regional Representatives will take an active part in their designated region:
-to bring new members to the Research Committee
-to disseminate information about Research Committee activities
-to identify researchers who could organize sessions and/or otherwise participate in the International Sociological Association conferences
-to identify issues of concern to the Research Committee
-to identify new issues and creative lines of inquiry for further research in clinical sociology.

ARTICLE VII MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

The Research Committee shall have a membership meeting in conjunction with each Research Committee conference. Notification of this meeting shall be made to all members in a timely manner.

ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these Statutes can be proposed by any member of the Research Committee. Such proposals shall be considered by the Executive Committee and submitted to the membership for approval if in the form of a petition signed by at least ten members of the Research Committee from at least three different countries or if they have the approval of the Executive Committee. A majority vote of the members is required to amend the Statutes.

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

In the event of dissolution, all the remaining assets and property of the Research Committee shall, after necessary expenses thereof are paid, be distributed to the International Sociological Association.