Section I. Nature,
Mission and Objectives of the Union
Article 1.
The International Union of Psychological Science is an organization
comprised of National Members, as defined in Article 9.
Article 2.
The Union has a legal venue in Montréal, Canada.
Article 3.
The Union adheres to the International Council for Science (ICSU) and
recognizes it as providing a coordinating and representative body for the
international organization of science.
Article 4.
The Union adheres to the International Social Science Council (ISSC) and
recognizes it as providing a coordinating and representative body for the
international organization of the social sciences.
Article 5.
The mission of the Union is the development, representation and
advancement of psychology as a basic and applied science nationally,
regionally, and internationally.
Article 6.
The objectives of the Union shall be as follows:
(a) To enhance and promote the development of the
science and profession of psychology.
(b) To exchange ideas and scientific information
between psychologists of different countries.
(c) To organize the International Congresses of
Psychology and other meetings on subjects of general or special interest
in psychology.
(d) To contribute to psychological knowledge
through publishing activities.
(e) To foster the exchange of publications and
other communications among different countries.
(f) To foster excellence in standards for
education, training, research and the applications of psychology.
(g) To enable the development of psychological
scientists and national associations through capacity building
activities.
(h) To foster international exchange, especially
among students and young researchers.
(i) To collaborate with other international,
regional, and national organizations in matters of mutual interest.
Article 7.
The Union may receive subsidies or donations from governments and from
private or other sources for its general functioning or for the
accomplishment of any special tasks that are in accordance with the
objectives set out in these Statutes.
Article 8.
(i) No limit shall be set to the duration of the Union. Its dissolution
shall only be decided by a two-thirds vote of the Assembly, whether at a
meeting or by mail ballot.
(ii) In the event of the dissolution of the Union,
any remaining assets shall be transferred to the International Psychology
Development Fund, or should the Fund no longer exist, to an international
organization of psychology whose objectives are compatible with the aim of
the Union.
Section II. Membership of the Union
Article 9.
(i) The Union shall consist of National Members, not more than one member
organization coming from any one country. Such a National Member shall be
a national society of scientific psychology, regularly established, or a
federation or association of such societies, or, alternatively, a national
academy of science, national research council, or similar organization.
(ii) The term ‘country’ shall be understood to
include dominions, protectorates, and non-autonomous territories in which
independent scientific activity in psychology has been developed.
Federated states shall be considered single countries.
Article 10.
(i) Members of the Union shall be admitted by the Assembly according to
procedures specified in Article 16.
(ii) With the consent of the Assembly, the National
Member for a country may change from one organization to another.
(iii) Membership shall take effect upon payment of
the first year annual dues.
(iv) A National Member is in good standing when its
annual dues receivable in December 31 of the most recent full calendar
year are paid-up.
(v) National Members shall be entitled to send
Delegates to the Assembly. The number of Delegates shall be determined as
specified in the Rules of Procedure.
(vi) Only the Delegates of National Members in good
standing shall be entitled to vote at meetings of the Assembly.
Article 11.
(i) Each National Member of the Union shall pay annual dues in accordance
with the Category to which the Member belongs. The Categories and dues
unit shall be defined in the Rules of Procedure.
(ii) Considering the size of its membership and
other factors that may be deemed pertinent by the National Member and the
Union, each National Member proposes the category to which it should
belong, for deliberation and approval by the Executive Committee.
(iii) The Executive Committee may authorize that a
National Member be temporarily placed in a non-voting Observer status
(Category O). These Members shall pay no annual dues, do not vote on
issues, and have an observer status at meetings of the Assembly. They
shall be otherwise Members of the Union, and shall be provided with
regular services to Members. This shall be an exceptional form of
membership accorded in the expectation that such Members shall eventually
become regular dues-paying Members within three years.
(iv) The Assembly can change by a two-thirds vote
the value of a dues unit.
Article 12.
(i) The membership of any National Member in the Union may be terminated
either:
(a) by resignation subject to a one year notice,
or
(b) by non-payment of three annual dues, whether
in successive years or not, providing that the Member concerned has been
given annual notices of dues receivable, and a final notice that
termination of its membership is to be considered by the Assembly, or
(c) by a vote of exclusion adopted by not less
than a two-thirds vote of the Assembly, after particulars have been
presented and an opportunity given for a hearing.
(ii) A National Member whose membership has
terminated shall forfeit all claim to any funds in the treasury of the
Union or any other assets of the Union.
Section III. Affiliation
Article 13.
The following kinds of international organizations of
scientific psychology may be given the title of ‘Affiliated Organization’
by a vote of the Assembly:
(a) worldwide or regional international
organizations whose members are individuals, and
(b) regional international organizations whose
members are national associations.
Each organization accepted as an Affiliated
Organization shall be invited to send an observer with no voting rights to
meetings of the Assembly.
Article 14.
The Union may become affiliated with international scientific
organizations whose objectives are in accordance with Article 6 of the
Statutes.
Section IV. Administration of the Union
Article 15.
(i) Ultimate authority for the Union shall be vested in the Assembly,
which consists of Delegates of the National Members and of elected
Executive Committee members, each representative having equal power in
discussion and voting. The Assembly shall meet biennially, normally at the
occasion of an international congress.
(ii) In the event that a Delegate from a National
Member to the Assembly becomes a member of the Executive Committee, that
National Member shall be entitled to an additional Delegate to the
Assembly.
(iii) At least three months’ notice shall be given
of the time, place and business to be transacted at a meeting of the
Assembly. New items of business may be placed on the agenda by a
two-thirds vote at the time of the meeting.
Article 16.
The duties and powers of the Assembly shall be:
(a) To elect in accordance with the Rules of
Procedure, a President and a Vice-President for a term beginning at the
close of an International Congress of Psychology and continuing to the
close of the next International Congress of Psychology. The President
and the Vice-President shall not be eligible for immediate re-election
to the same office. They must be elected by an absolute majority of the
Delegates to the Assembly present and voting.
(b) To ratify in accordance with the Rules of
Procedure, the appointment of a Secretary-General, a Treasurer, and a
Deputy Secretary-General.
(c) To elect in accordance with the Rules of
Procedure, ten regular members of the Executive Committee.
(d) To elect, exclude and revise categories of
National Members as provided in Articles 10 and 11.
(e) To receive the reports of the auditors.
(f) To receive the Treasurer’s report on current
finances and a forecast of finances for the next two years.
(g) To determine the time and place of the next
meeting of the Assembly, subject to change by the Executive Committee in
case of necessity.
(h) To decide all matters relating to these
Statutes. Alterations or amendments to these Statutes shall require a
two-thirds vote, subject to Article 17.
(i) To establish Rules of Procedure.
Article 17.
(i) Quorum for the Assembly shall be achieved when at least one-half plus
one of the National Members entitled to vote are present.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by the Statutes or
Rules of Procedure, questions coming before the Assembly shall normally be
decided by a simple majority of those delegates present and entitled to
vote.
(iii) When the Assembly is not in session, or if
quorum at a meeting is not reached, the President may arrange for voting
by mail ballot. Approval of an issue voted upon by mail ballot shall not
be valid unless at least one-half plus one of the possible votes are
received.
(iv) Mail ballots may be conducted by post, fax, or
email, or another recognized form of written communication.
Article 18.
(i) For administering the affairs of the Union there shall be an Executive
Committee.
(ii) The Executive Committee shall be composed of
ten regular members elected by the Assembly and the six Officers.
(iii) The Officers of the Union are the President,
Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, Deputy Secretary-General,
and Past President.
(iv) Of the ten regular members, at least eight
shall be chosen from the Assembly, not more than one from any one country.
These shall be elected in accordance with the Rules of Procedure at a
meeting of the Assembly held at the time of an International Congress of
Psychology, and shall serve until the close of the next International
Congress of Psychology.
(v) No elected member of the Executive Committee
except the President, Vice-President and Past President may serve on the
Executive Committee for more than eight consecutive years.
(vi) All elected members of the Executive Committee
shall be voting members of the Assembly.
(vii) The President of the Union shall be Chair of
the Executive Committee. The President, the Vice-President, and the Past
President shall be members of the Executive Committee.
(viii) The Executive Committee shall meet annually.
(ix) The Executive Committee shall have the power in
exceptional circumstances to remove from office or from the Executive
Committee any member whose conduct is judged to be unacceptable. The
President or Vice President appoints a three person committee to
investigate the situation and to provide a report to the Executive
Committee with their recommendations within no more than 30 days. Any
decision must be supported by a two thirds vote of the Executive
Committee.
Article 19.
The duties and powers of the Executive Committee shall be:
(a) To recommend to the Assembly at the time of an
International Congress of Psychology, in accordance with the Rules of
Procedure, not necessarily from among the delegates to the Assembly, a
Secretary-General, a Treasurer, and a Deputy Secretary-General. These
shall be voting members of the Executive Committee and ex officio
non-voting members of the Assembly. They shall serve from their
appointment until the close of the next International Congress of
Psychology.
(b) To approve the annual budget.
(c) To monitor the progress on the organization of
International Congresses of Psychology and other activities conducted
under the auspices of the Union.
(d) To call a special meeting of the Assembly in
an emergency, and to alter the time and place of a regular meeting as
provided for in Article 16 (g).
(e) To present a report to each meeting of the
Assembly.
(f) To appoint members of the Standing Committees
and to establish and appoint members to committees and work groups.
(g) To appoint annually the auditors and to review
the reports of the auditors.
(h) In general, subject to the superior authority
of the Assembly, to make all decisions necessary for the operation of
the Union and the realization of its aims, in the intervals between
meetings of the Assembly.
(i) To delegate to an Officer or the Officers to
act on its behalf.
Article 20.
There shall be a Standing Committee on Capacity Building, A Standing
Committee on Publications and Communications, and a Standing Committee on
Strategic Planning.
Article 21.
The duties and powers of the President shall be:
(a) To preside at all meetings of the Assembly,
Executive Committee and Officers. If the President is unable to do so,
the Vice-President shall preside. If both are absent, the Assembly shall
choose its own presiding officer.
(b) To coordinate strategic planning and
implementation of strategic priorities
(c) To appoint chairs of committees and work
groups in consultation with the Secretary- General
(d) To represent the Union generally and as
required by the Executive Committee and Officers
(e) To perform the customary duties of her or his
office.
Article 22.
The duties and powers of the Secretary-General shall be:
(a) To authorize particular expenditures in
accordance with the adopted budget and general instructions from the
Executive committee.
(b) With the approval of the President of the
Union, to call meetings of the Executive Committee or to arrange for a
vote of its members by mail ballot.
(c) To prepare the agenda for meetings of the
Assembly and of the Executive Committee in consultation with the
President.
(d) To oversee the Union’s archives.
(e) To collaborate with the President on strategic
planning and implementation of strategic priorities
(f) To serve as the Union’s authorized signatory
for contracts and legal documents
(g) In general, to perform the customary duties of
his or her office, and to represent the Union as required by the
Executive Committee or Officers.
Article 23.
The duties and powers of the Deputy Secretary-General shall be:
(a) To arrange the preparation and circulation of
minutes of meetings of the Assembly and of the Executive Committee.
(b) To manage the Union’s website and the
Newsletter, and perform related tasks
(c) To assist the President and Secretary-General
in strategic planning and implementation
(d) To represent the Union as requested by the
Secretary-General
(e) To deputize for the Secretary-General when
necessary.
Article 24.
The duties and powers of the Treasurer shall be:
(a) To keep the accounts of the Union.
(b) To bank all dues, subsidies and donations.
(c) To present a budget and statement of accounts
annually to the Executive Committee, and to each meeting of the
Assembly.
(d) To make payments on the authority of the
Secretary-General in accordance with the budget.
(e) To collect dues annually from the National
Members.
(f) To collaborate with the auditors in the
conduct of the annual audit.
Article 25.
In the extraordinary event that an International Congress of Psychology is
cancelled or postponed or if a quorum is not attained at the Assembly, the
Officers and other members of the Executive Committee shall continue to
serve until the next Assembly at which time elections shall be held and
appointments made. Those elected and appointed in this manner shall serve
until the close of the next International Congress of Psychology.
Section I. Organization of International Congresses of Psychology
1. The interval between two International
Congresses of Psychology shall normally be four years unless the Assembly
decides otherwise.
2. International Congresses of Psychology shall
be held under the auspices of the Union, which shall delegate the detailed
organization of each Congress to the National Member in whose country it
is held, in accordance with the following procedure:
(a) The President of an International Congress
of Psychology shall be a psychologist who, except under special
circumstances, is a resident of the country in which the Congress is
held. The choice of President shall be made after consultations between
representatives of the National Member and the President, Vice-President
and Secretary-General of the Union.
(b) In advance of each International Congress of
Psychology, all National Members shall be consulted on topics for the
scientific program. The choice among the topics suggested shall be made
by the Scientific Program Committee of the Congress.
(c) The President of the Union, in consultation
with the Executive Committee, shall appoint a delegate to have advisory
and liaison functions to an International Congress of Psychology; the
delegate appointed by the Union should participate in the planning of
the Congress and be an ex officio member of the Executive Committee (or
equivalent) and the Scientific Program Committee of the Congress.
(d) The Union may aid in the preliminary financing
of each International Congress of Psychology by advancing a loan of
funds where necessary to a maximum of USD10,000. Such funds are to be
repaid when the financial accounts of the Congress have been finally
audited to the extent there is a surplus (of Congress revenues over
Congress expenditures). Any surplus determined by the audit must be
reported to the Treasurer of the Union.
(e) There shall be a written contract between the
Union and the National Member, or the organization established by the
National Member to organize the Congress. Normally, this contract shall
be signed by the respective parties within 12 months of the decision by
the Assembly to award a Congress to a National Member. The contract
shall include specification of how any surplus will be shared between
the parties.
Section II. Categories and dues
1. There shall be twelve dues paying categories
plus non dues paying Category O, as follows:
Category A. The annual dues are based on one (1)
unit and the Member is entitled to one (1) delegate to the Assembly.
Category B. The annual dues are based on three (3)
units and the Member is entitled to one (1) delegate to the Assembly.
Category C. The annual dues are based on five (5)
units and the Member is entitled to one (1) delegate to the Assembly.
Category D. The annual dues are based on ten (10)
units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the Assembly.
Category E. The annual dues are based on fifteen
(15) units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the
Assembly.
Category F. The annual dues are based on twenty (20)
units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the Assembly.
Category G. The annual dues are based on thirty (30)
units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the Assembly.
Category H. The annual dues are based on forty (40)
units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the Assembly.
Category I. The annual dues are based on fifty
(50) units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the
Assembly.
Category K. The annual dues are based on sixty (60)
units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the Assembly.
Category L. The annual dues are based on eighty
(80) units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the
Assembly.
Category M. The annual dues are based on one hundred
(100) units and the Member is entitled to two (2) delegates to the
Assembly.
Category O (Observer) as specified in Article 9 (iii) of the
Statutes.
2. Dues
(i) The annual dues payable in respect of each unit shall be US$145,
effective 1 January 2005, and be US$155, effective January 1, 2006 except
for National Members in Category A whose annual subscription shall be
US$125. Any change to the unit value shall require a two-thirds vote of
the Assembly.
(ii) One year preceding each Assembly, the Treasurer
shall prepare a budget based, in part, on the value of the units of
contributions expected from the National Members. After consideration of
this budget, the Executive Committee shall make a recommendation regarding
the value of a unit. The Secretary-General shall send this recommendation
to the delegates of the National Members who will be called upon to vote
on this recommendation at the Assembly.
(iii) The annual dues payment shall be receivable on
the first of January of the year to which it applies.
(iv) The Executive Committee can may, in special
cases, make different arrangements regarding the dues of a National
Member. Such arrangements are normally valid for one year only; any
extended prolongation would call for a revision of the Category status of
that National Member.
Section III. Nominations and Elections
1. At a meeting between two International Congresses
of Psychology the Assembly shall set up an Elections Committee. It shall
consist of the Past President (ex officio) as Chair and two persons
elected by the Assembly at that meeting. No member of the Elections
Committee can be a candidate in the election under the purview of this
Committee.
2. At least 9 months in advance of an International
Congress of Psychology, the Secretary-General shall request nominations
for President, Vice-President, and Executive Committee members from
National Members holding voting rights in the Assembly. Each nomination
must be accompanied by a one-page curriculum vitae of the person nominated
and by a signed statement expressing that person’s agreement to be
nominated and to serve if elected. Nominations shall be submitted to the
Chair of the Elections Committee by a deadline to be set by the
Secretary-General and no less than seven months in advance of an
International Congress of Psychology.
3. The Elections Committee shall collate all
nominations received. Upon unanimous decision, it may request additional
information on a nomination.
4. At least 5 months in advance of an International
Congress of Psychology, the Elections Committee shall send a first report
to National Members. This report shall include full documentation on all
nominations received in good order. A National Member may request the
Elections Committee to provide further information on a nomination.
5. The Assembly may not receive additional
nominations at the time of its first session during an International
Congress of Psychology, except when there are fewer than two nominations
for a particular position. In that case, the Elections Committee shall
present an up-dated second report to the Assembly at the beginning of its
second session during that International Congress of Psychology.
6. Election of the President, Vice-President and
Executive Committee members shall be in accordance with the following
procedures:
(a) All elections shall be conducted by secret
ballot; each Delegate entitled to vote in the Assembly has as many votes
as positions to be filled in a ballot.
(b) Should additional nominations be required, these
shall be from Delegates in the Assembly and must be nominated by an
Assembly Delegate and seconded by at least one further Assembly Delegate
at the first session of the Assembly during an International Congress of
Psychology. In order to be valid, each nomination must include a
curriculum vitae and the written agreement by the person nominated in
accordance with Rule III.2 above.
(c) If additional nominations are required,
following completion of these nominations, the Elections Committee shall
present a final report at the second Assembly session.
(d) Subject to paragraph (h), election of the
President and Vice-President shall take place immediately after the report
of the Elections Committee.
(e) The President shall be elected by an absolute
majority and may require multiple ballots minus the lowest standing
candidate.
(f) After the election of the President the
Vice-President shall be elected. Duly nominated candidates who are not
elected for President are automatically added to the list of candidates
for Vice President should they consent.
(g) Election of eight members of the Executive
Committee from the Assembly shall take place immediately after election of
the President and Vice-President. Duly nominated candidates who are not
elected for Vice-President are automatically added to the list of
candidates for the Executive Committee should they consent. If in the
election of these eight members of the Executive Committee two or more
candidates from the same country receive an absolute majority of votes,
only the candidate with the highest number of votes shall be elected.
(h) Two additional members of the Executive
Committee, for a total of ten members, shall be elected in a separate
ballot after election of eight members described in paragraph (e). These
members shall enable greater representativeness of the Executive Committee
according to geography, gender or such other criterion as the Assembly may
specify prior to receiving nominations for these positions. Following a
brief recess, nominations for these two positions shall be made by the
joint proposal of at least four other members of the Assembly present and
voting at its second session. Candidates for these two additional members
of the Executive Committee may be drawn from outside the Assembly.
(i) The eight members elected under (g) shall be
elected in no more than two ballots. In the first ballot a member is
elected by absolute majority of votes. If a second ballot is necessary in
order to obtain sufficient members, the second ballot will consist of no
more than twice as many candidates as the number of positions to be filled
in the second ballot. For this second ballot the remaining list of
candidates is reduced to this number by striking out any candidate coming
from a country already represented among those elected in the first
ballot; if necessary, the number of candidates for the second ballot is
reduced further by striking out those who received the lowest number of
votes in the first ballot. In this second ballot those with the highest
number of votes shall be elected. The two members elected under (h) shall
be elected by the highest number of votes.
In the event of a tie vote for the second remaining
position to be elected under (h), only the candidates who are tied shall
be submitted to the Assembly for an additional ballot. Should there still
be a tie, only those candidates now tied shall be submitted to the
Assembly for a second additional ballot. Should that ballot result in a
tie, the President shall determine the outcome by the toss of a coin.
(j) No speeches favoring any candidate shall be made
although factual information of a biographical nature may be presented
when deemed desirable by the President and when Assembly members ask for
it. Each candidate for President and Vice-President shall be provided the
opportunity to make a brief statement to the Assembly immediately
following the Election Committee’s final report at the second Assembly
session. The President shall ensure that no statement exceeds three
minutes.
Section IV: Nomination and Ratification of
Secretary-General, Treasurer, and Deputy Secretary-General
1. At least nine months in advance of an
International Congress of Psychology, the President shall request
nominations for Secretary-General, Treasurer, and Deputy
Secretary-General, from National Members holding voting rights in the
Assembly and from members of the Executive Committee. Each nomination
must be accompanied by a one-page curriculum vitae of the person nominated
and by a signed statement expressing that person’s agreement to be
nominated and to serve if elected. Nominations shall be submitted to the
President no less than one month in advance of an International Congress
of Psychology.
2. The Outgoing Executive Committee meeting prior to
the Assembly shall receive the nominations and make a single
recommendation for each Office.
3. At the first/second session of an Assembly at the
time of an International Congress of Psychology, the Outgoing Executive
Committee shall submit the recommendation for each office to the Assembly
for a ratification vote.
4. Ratification shall require an affirmative vote
from a majority of the ballots cast for each recommendation.
5. If the recommendation for a particular office
does not receive an affirmative vote, the Outgoing Executive Committee
shall meet between the two Assembly sessions and make a further
recommendation for ratification at the second session of the Assembly.
Section V. Assembly Business
1. The Assembly during an International Congress of
Psychology shall normally meet for at least two sessions on two separate
days. .
2. The Assembly meeting between International
Congresses of Psychology shall normally meet for a single session. The
President may determine that a second session is required and the notice
of the meeting sent to all National Members required by Article 15 of the
Statutes shall so specify.
3. A motion for termination of the membership of any
society or association in the Union shall be made the first order of
business. The vote on such a motion shall take effect immediately.
Section VI. Strategic Plan
1. The Union shall function on the basis of a
Strategic Plan and the process of strategic planning shall be a
fundamental principle for the Union’s governance and management.
2. At each Assembly, the Executive Committee shall
submit a progress report on the Strategic Plan as well as any proposed
revisions. The Assembly shall consider the report and any proposals.
3. At the first meeting of the Executive Committee
at the start of a new quadrennium, the President shall propose
appointments of Executive Committee members to committees, work groups and
other duties to enable implementation of the strategic plan. The President
may also propose participation of non-members of Executive Committee to
committees and work groups. The terms of reference of standing committees,
other committees, and work groups shall be adopted by the EC, consistent
with the mission and objectives of the Union, and strategic priorities.
4. At the first meeting of the Executive Committee
at the start of a new quadrennium, the President shall propose from among
the members of the Executive Committee persons who will be responsible for
coordinating the Advanced Research Training Seminars.
5. At the first meeting of the Executive Committee
at the start of a new quadrennium, the President together with the
Secretary-General shall propose to the Executive Committee a coordinator
for each research program or special activity to be conducted under Union
auspices. If the coordinator is not an Executive Committee member, an
Executive Committee liaison for the research program or special activity
shall also be proposed.