ARTICLE I. PREAMBLE

1. Research Committee 53 (RC 53) was formed as a body of the ISA in 1998 in accordance with Article Four of the Statutes of the ISA, by the decision of the Executive Committee of the ISA. It is based on four years of work in the framework of Working Group 03 established in 1994, and four years of work in the framework of Thematic Group 03, established at the XIIth World Congress of the ISA in Madrid in 1990

2. RC 53 shall report its activities to the Research Council of the ISA

3. For the realisation of its activities, RC 53 shall obtain funds of its own and spend them in accordance with Article Four, Paragraph 7 of the Statutes of ISA

ARTICLE II. AIMS AND SCOPE

1. The aim of RC 53 is to contribute to the development of sociological and interdisciplinary childhood research, uniting professional knowledge, scientific rigour, and dedication of its members to work on childhood issues on the national, regional, and international levels

2. Along with important social and political developments such as the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, in which children are receiving increasing recognition as subjects and actors, childhood should be given conceptual autonomy (e.g. with respect to adulthood and/or the family)

3. According to Article One of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is any person younger than 18 years

ARTICLE III. ACTIVITIES

1. For the achievement of the objectives stated in Article II of the present Statutes, RC 53 shall realise the following activities:
1.1. exchange of information among its members
1.2. international scientific communication
1.3. international research projects
1.4. organisational activities and implementation of a network in sociological childhood research

2. The exchange of information shall be realised by publication activities and a documentation system. A newsletter shall be published in order to inform members and other interested persons/institutions about the ongoing activities of RC 53

3. The international scientific communication on important issues of childhood sociology shall be carried out by means of scientific conferences, symposia, colloquia, electronic networks, and other forms of interpersonal communication, and by participation in the activities of the ISA. Electronic networks and channels of communication should be used in such a way that members who do not have access to such facilities are not excluded

4. Initiative planning and carrying out of regional and inter-regional projects shall aim at
4.1. the promotion of childhood sociology, in particular the development of theoretical paradigms in sociological childhood research
4.2. empirical research connected with key problems of children and childhood
4.3. applied research relating to childhood policies and social policies affecting children
4.4. development, evaluation, and improvement of research methodologies in sociological childhood research

5. The aims of the organisational activities shall be
5.1. the realisation of an effective interaction among the childhood researchers united in RC 53 on the national, regional, and international levels
5.2. the realisation of an effective connection between RC 53 and other Research Committees, Working Groups and Thematic Groups of the ISA
5.3. the realisation of an effective co-ordination between RC 53 and the governing bodies of the ISA
5.4. the realisation of an effective co-operation and co-ordination between institutions and organisations dealing with childhood research

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

1. Members of RC 53 may be individuals or institutions. Members shall be
1.1. scientists dealing with childhood sociology by teaching and/or by research work or related scientific activities
1.2. institutions dealing with childhood sociology and childhood research and corresponding national associations
1.3. other scientific international or regional-level institutions dealing with sociology of childhood and childhood research

2. Members shall either be regular members or affiliated members
2.1. Regular members shall be individuals or institutions in good standing within the ISA
2.2. Affiliated members shall be individuals or institutions interested in the activities of RC 53, who are not members of the ISA

3. All regular members of RC 53 shall be entitled to vote as individual members in the discussions about organisational matters at the General Meetings according to the principle "one member, one vote" that means that one institution also has one vote

4. All regular and affiliated members of RC 53 shall be entitled to
4.1. participate in the scientific activities of the Research Committee
4.2. receive the newsletter issued by RC 53 free of charge

5. All members of RC 53 shall be obliged to
5.1. uphold the present Statutes of RC 53 and to adhere to the stipulations of the present Statutes
5.2. conscientiously fulfil the tasks entrusted to them by the General Meeting or other bodies of RC 53
5.3. pay their fee for the respective period (i.e. 4 years). This fee shall be fixed by the Board of the Research Committee at each General Meeting for both individual members and organisations. The respective amounts to be paid shall be specified in the By-Laws to the present Statutes

6. The Board of RC 53 shall discuss the state of membership every two years and shall take the corresponding decisions

ARTICLE V. BODIES

1. For the effective fulfilment of its activities, RC 53 shall form the following bodies:
1.1. General Meeting
1.2. Board
1.3. Other assistant bodies

2. General Meeting of RC 53:
2.1. The General Meeting shall comprise all members who have the right to vote (i.e. all regular members of RC 53). Affiliated members shall be entitled to attend General Meetings, however, without having the right to vote
2.2. The General Meeting shall be held
- regularly during the World Congresses of the ISA
- at the proposal of one third of the members of the General Meeting
2.3. General Meetings shall be announced at least six months in advance
2.4.The General Meeting shall
- determine the directions of activities and shall accept the plan for the work of RC 53
- elect the Board of the Research Committee
- accept the report on the activities of the Board
2.5. The decisions of the General Meeting shall be taken by a simple majority (50% of the participating members plus one) by open vote

3. Board of RC 53:
3.1. The Board of RC 53 shall consist of nine members as follows:
- President
- Organisational Secretary/Treasurer
- Six Officers-at-Large
- Past President of the Research Committee

By appropriate selection of Officers-at-Large, the composition of the Board should reflect the regional variety of the Research Committee. Temporary vacancies in the Board between consecutive World Congresses of the ISA may be filled by appointment by the Research Committee's president. Each member of the Board shall be a regular member of RC 53

3.2. The Board of RC 53 shall
- elaborate the Plan of Activities of the Research Committee
- organise the implementation of the Plan of Activities
- discuss problems referring to the development of sociological childhood research in various regions
- promote scientific and organisational contacts with other Research Committees, Working Groups and Thematic Groups of the ISA
- if necessary, create assistant bodies for the realisation of the activities of the Research Committee
- establish contacts with the governing bodies of the ISA
- report its activities to the General Meeting
- report the activities of the Research Committee to the governing bodies of the ISA

3.3. The members of the Board shall be elected by the General Meeting of RC 53 for a period of four years. The President of the Research Committee may not be re-elected. Other members of the Board may be re-elected only once, for the position of the President one more time

3.4. A quorum of 50% plus one of all board members shall be required for taking decisions at meetings or by mail ballot. Decisions shall be taken with a simple majority (50% plus one of the participants/respondents)

4. The obligations of Board Members shall be specified in the By-Laws to the Statutes of RC 53

ARTICLE VI. NOMINATION PROCEDURE

1. To ensure participation of all regular members, nomination shall be done by mail. To this end, the Organisational Secretary shall prepare a form to be sent to all regular members at least twenty weeks before the election day together with a list of all regular members of RC 53

2. All regular members of RC 53 shall be entitled to nominate candidates for the Board. Nominated candidates shall be regular members of RC 53. They shall confirm their preparedness to accept the respective position on the Board in case they are elected and shall return the nomination form to the Organisational Secretary, together with a brief curriculum vitae

3. The Organisational Secretary shall prepare a ballot listing all nominated candidates along with the respective positions on the Board. In case of several nominations for the same position, the nominated candidates shall be listed on the ballot in descending order, starting with the candidate who received the highest number of nominations. The ballot shall be sent to all regular members of RC 53 by mail at least ten weeks before the election day

4. Regular members attending the General Meeting shall cast their vote in person, those unable to attend shall send their ballot to the President. All ballots received by the President at least two weeks before the election day shall be added to those cast at the General Meeting before the votes are counted.

ARTICLE VII. GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. These Statutes were adopted by the members of RC 53 on 15 February 2002

2. Amendments and additions to the Statutes and By-Laws shall be made by the General Meeting of RC 53 in accordance with the Statutes of the ISA

BY-LAW OF RESEARCH COMMITTEE 53 "SOCIOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD"

OBLIGATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS

1. The President of RC 53 shall
1.1. preside the General Meeting and the Meetings of the Board of RC 53
1.2. represent RC 53 as a delegate in the Research Council of the ISA and other organisations
1.3. conduct the activities of the Board of RC 53 in accordance with the decisions of the General Meeting
1.4. be responsible for the activities of the Board to the General Meeting of RC 53
1.5. be responsible for the whole activity of RC 53 to the governing bodies of the ISA

2. The Organisational Secretary/Treasurer shall
2.1. organise the General Meetings and the meetings of the Board of RC 53 in co-operation with the President
2.2. represent RC 53 as an alternate in the Research Council of ISA
2.3. assist the President in organising the work of the Board and observe the fulfilment of its decisions
2.4. collect the membership fees and other incomes
2.5. keep financial documentation
2.6. prepare the financial report to the Board to be accepted by the General Meeting
2.7. realise the financial relations between RC 53 and the ISA

3. The six Officers-at-Large shall
3.1. organise the work of the Board according to the objectives and the decisions of the General Meeting
3.2. provide material for the newsletter of RC 53
3.3. inform the scientific community about the activities of RC 53 and discuss the developments in childhood sociology in their respective regions with the Board

MEMBERSHIP FEE

In line with the decisions taken at the General Meeting held in Montreal. Canada on 29 July 1998, the membership fees are fixed as follows:

US $ 15 per year for members from "category A" countries' as defined by the ISA

US $ 5 per year for members from all other countries and student/unemployed members

In line with ISA practice, membership fees are collected for a period of four years, i.e. US $ 60 for members from "category A" countries, and US $ 20 for members from all other countries and student/unemployed members

' For a list of "category A" countries see currently valid ISA membership form