ARTICLE 1. NATURE OF RC 52

RC 52 has been established in accordance with Article XI of the Statutes of the International Sociological Association (ISA).

Funds for RC 52 may be raised from membership fees : grants and gifts from organisations or individuals; conferences, publications; investment of the committee's own capital; or any other means as the Board may decide from time to time in accordance within the principles as set out in Article 2.

As a full RC of the ISA, RC 52 will develop in accordance with ISA statutes, rules and regulations and meet ISA requests for information about its activities and procedures.

ARTICLE 2. AIMS OF RC 52

To establish contacts and to encourage collaboration among scholars working in the field of sociology of professional/occupational groups throughout the world.

To encourage the international exchange of research findings in the sociology of professional/occupational groups.

To link theoretical and empirical research in the sociology of professional/occupational groups with related specialist fields or disciplines represented in other ISA Research Committees, Working and Thematic Groups.

ARTICLE 3. ACTIVITIES OF RC 52

The RC cannot itself engage in research activities.

The RC should :

• encourage research among its members and others and serve as a conduit for research ideas and collaboration internationally.
• organise sessions at meetings of the ISA.
• provide information on significant developments in the field through means such as regular newsletters, journals and other special conferences.
• support international seminars of theorical, methodological or substantive importance and international training seminars to add to the skills of research in the field.

ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to any individual who seeks membership through an interest in the sociology of professional/occupational groups and pays the membership fee ; also any group, organisation or institution may become members with the approval of the Board ; at the discretion of the Board, student members pay a lower fee.

According to the statutes of ISA each member of RC 52 is asked to become an individual member of ISA.

Associate membership: This covers a four year subscription paid only to RC 52, therefore not in good standing with ISA, and is intended primarily for student members and cases of real financial hardship.

All members in good standing (i.e. who have paid their dues) have the same voting rights, may nominate and be nominated as office bearers of the Board.

All members are entitled to receive the RC 52 Newsletter.

ARTICLE 5. GOVERNING BODY (BOARD)

The Board Composition :

President
Vice-President (President Elect)
Treasurer
6-8 members
Associate members (former President and chairpersons of sub-committees or research groups, and/or others co-opted by the Board).

Meetings :
The Board is to meet at least twice every four years at the ISA Congress and Interim Conference. A quorum of members of Board is required. The Board will draw up an Agenda for the Congress General Meeting.

In addition to at least two Board Meetings, Board members will communicate and if necessary make decisions by email.

ARTICLE 6. ELECTION PROCEDURES

The term of Board members is four years (from one Congress to the next).
Elections are conducted the via the Newsletter (see below).
All members of RC 52 (both full and associate members) are eligible to stand for the Board and to vote in the Board elections.
All Board members must, however, be full members (i.e. in good standing with ISA and RC 52) since this is an ISA requirement.

In the Newsletter the Board elections take place in two stages:

First stage:
A request is made via the Newsletter for names of candidates who wish to stand for election to the Board. Candidates may suggest themselves or be suggested by others with the candidate's prior agreement. A short statement is requested which should include name and contact details and could include information about research interests and links to RC 52's intellectual field, attendance at and presentations to professions networks, conferences and meetings, and what the candidate has already contributed or might be able to contribute to RC 52 if elected. The statement should be no more than 250 words, or a maximum of half an A4 page and should be single-spaced.

Second stage:
In the subsequent Newsletter there will appear a list of the candidates and their statements and voting slips for RC 52 members to elect the Board. The result will be announced via the Newsletter and the new Board will take over and hold its first meeting at the ISA Congress.

ARTICLE 7. RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES

The Board is entrusted with the direction of the activities of the RC and to nominate a representative (and one alternate) for the Research Council of the ISA.

President : general co-ordination; communication; newsletter
Treasurer : finance, subscriptions and membership data
Others : to be determined by the Board.

ARTICLE 8. RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Relations with other organisations may be established by the RC or by the Board as is deemed useful, or necessary in accordance with the aims and objectives of RC 52.

ARTICLE 9. CHANGES & AMENDMENTS TO STATUTES

Changes and amendments to the Statutes may be made at the Congress General Meeting. Changes and amendments must be adopted with a two/ thirds majority of the meeting.