BYLAWS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND FINANCE SOCIETY
ARTICLE I - NAME
This organization will be named the International Economics
and Finance Society.
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
1. The objectives of the Society will be:
a. to encourage research in international economics and
financial economics and to promote professional communication among researchers
in these fields;
b. to facilitate cooperation and participation in research
efforts among international economists and financial economists in the academic,
private and government sectors;
c. to maintain close relations with professional
organizations that share similar scholastic interests and concerns: the
American Economic Association, American Agricultural Economic Association,
Southern Economic Association, Western Economic Association, the Midwest
International Economics Group, the Southeast International Economics Group, the
Financial Management Association, American Finance Society, Western Finance
Association, and others; and
d. to sponsor programs and publications, to conduct other
activities appropriate for a nonprofit professional society, and to foster the
advancement of members.
2. These objectives may be furthered by professional means,
including, but not limited to:
a. professional meetings and conferences,
b. information services,
c. a membership directory,
d. discounts on journal subscriptions, and
e. professional publications.
3. The term "professional" used herein does not
imply an attempt at certification or determination of qualifying standards for
the practice of international or financial economics. The term is used to
denote the concerns of members of a learned society.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
1. Any professional economist willing to pursue the
objectives of the Society may apply for membership. Graduate students in
economics or related fields may apply for nonvoting junior membership.
2. Membership will be granted, subject to approval of the
Executive Committee, upon submission of a written application and payment of the
first year's dues, as determined by the Executive Committee.
3. Any institution sharing an interest in the objectives of
the Society may apply for institutional membership upon payment of the first
year's dues, as determined by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
1. There will be an annual meeting of the members at a time
and place determined by the Executive Committee (see Article VI). At the Annual
Meeting there will be a business session for the report of the Executive Committee,
consideration of changes in the Bylaws, and other items of business.
2. Special meetings of the members may be called at times
and places determined by the Executive Committee, or by written request of at
least 20 members.
3. All meetings will be called with at least thirty (30)
days written notice.
4. Twenty-five percent (25%) of all Society members will
constitute a quorum for business meeting of the members. Any decision or
approval of the meeting requires a majority vote, except for amendments of the
bylaws (see Article XVI). In the absence of quorum, recommendations of such a
meeting will be circulated for approval by mail ballot with a provision of
thirty (30) working days for response.
ARTICLE V - THE FOUNDING BOARD
1. Present members (i.e., members of the Society as of July
31, 1992) shall constitute the Founding Board. The Founding Board supervises
the process of establishing the Society.
2. Until the Society is formally organized, the Founding
Board will execute the functions of the Meeting of Members defined in Article
IV above.
3. Rules for convening meetings of the Founding Board will
be the same as for a meeting of the members of the Society.
ARTICLE VI: REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
1. Regional associations are those comprising membership from
one geographical area. This geographical region may be a single nation, or it
may be a collection of nations.
2. Regional associations will be formed when the membership
from a particular region judges itself numerous and active enough to support an
independent agenda of events and activities furthering the objectives of the
IEFS. Each regional association will have a president and a secretary-
treasurer, chosen by vote of the membership of that regional association.
3. The regional association will have as responsibilities
the induction of members in that region, communication with regional members,
and organization of regional conferences, workshops, educational activities,
and other activities that further the objectives of the IEFS.
4. Should the leadership of the regional association become
passive, the members can petition the Secretariat to be treated as "at
large" members. The Executive Secretary will then represent the primary
communication link with these members. This status can be reversed by a
majority vote of members of the regional association to reinstate the
activities of the regional association.
ARTICLE VII - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The members of the Secretariat of the IEFS will
constitute the Executive Committee, which will:
a. manage the affairs of the Society,
b. fill all vacancies in elected positions of the Executive Committee in case
of death or resignation until a successor is elected by the members,
c. call and organize meetings,
d. invest and administer funds of the Society, and
e. establish and appoint required committees.
ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at such
times and places as necessary to carry out the business of the Society.
2. A majority of the Executive Committee will constitute a
quorum.
3. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the
President, who chairs the meetings.
ARTICLE IX - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. The Secretariat of the IEFS includes the President, the
President-elect, the Past-President, the Executive Secretary, the Treasurer,
and the Editors-in-chief of any Society journals.
2. The responsibilities of the Secretariat can be separated
by officer.
a. The President is responsible for coordination of
activities of regional associations, especially those related to professional
meetings; supervision of planning for annual meeting of the IEFS; and chairing
the annual meeting of the IEFS. He is also the primary liaison of the Society
with other professional associations.
b. The President-elect will assume the responsibilities of
President in the subsequent term, and the President becomes the Past-President
until a new President-Elect takes office.
c. The Executive Secretary is responsible for
record-keeping on all members, including mailing lists and mass communications;
correspondence of the Society with its members and with other professional
societies; conduct of the routine of elections and other communication with
potential members; processing of membership applications and updating of
membership lists; and activity as "at-large" secretary for those IEFS
members not in regional associations.
d. The Treasurer is responsible for collection of dues from
new members; supervision of annual solicitations to amass dues; management of
the funds of the Society, including fiscal agency for expenses of regional
associations; maintenance of accurate accounting records and preparation of
annual reports of the Society's financial condition.
e. The Editors-in-chief for Society journals will be
responsible for editorial supervision of journals and choices of editorial
staff, including associate editors and referees.
f. Presidents of regional associations will be responsible
for contact with the Secretariat on issues of mutual concern, supervision of
planning for regional IEFS meetings and chairing the meetings of the regional
associations.
3. Each regional association will also have a Secretary-
Treasurer. This individual will be responsible for record- keeping for the
regional association, mailings of interest to members of the region, and
supervision of and accurate accounting for expenditures undertaken by the
regional association.
ARTICLE X - ELECTION AND TENURE OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
1. The President-elect will be elected by majority vote of
the membership. The term will be two years. Candidates will automatically
include the presidents of regional associations. This vote will take place by
letter ballot supervised by the Executive Secretary. The President-elect can
thus be simultaneously a member of the Secretariat and the president of a
regional association, and will discharge both responsibilities.
2. The President-elect automatically becomes the President
after two years. The term will be two years.
3. The term of office of Executive Secretary and Treasurer
shall be three years.
4. The term of Editors-in-chief will be determined in
conjunction with the publisher of the journal.
5. The Executive Committee will appoint a nominating
committee no less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the beginning of
the term for which an election is to be held.
6. The Nominating Committee will prepare the official
ballot containing names of candidates and any other persons nominated by three
percent (3%) or more of the membership.
7. Official ballots will be mailed to all members at least
thirty (30) days prior to the due date for return of ballots. Ballots must be
returned by a date specified by the President and in a sealed envelope bearing
the member's signature. Ballots will be counted by tellers appointed by the
President and the results announced to the members.
8. As noted in Article X, Paragraph 3, the term of office
for Executive Secretary and Treasurer shall be three years. There shall be a
term-limit of office of two consecutive mandates for any elected officer of the
society.
ARTICLE XI: FINANCIAL LINKS BETWEEN THE SECRETARIAT AND THE
REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
1. The activities of the officers of the regional
association pursuant to these responsibilities will be financed from the annual
dues paid by members of the regional association to the IEFS. The Treasurer of
IEFS will draw from these funds sufficient amounts to finance activities of the
Secretariat, and will hold the balance of these funds on account for the
regional associations. He will disburse them against claims by the officers of
the regional association up to the maximum represented by the percentage of
annual dues. Funds paid by members for subscription to IEFS journals will be
paid into the journal's accounts, and will not be held for use of the regional
associations.
2. The proceeds from any additional fund-raising activities
of the regional association will accrue completely to the regional association,
and can be held apart from the funds held by the Treasurer of the IEFS.
ARTICLE XII - COMMITTEES
Standing and ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the
President in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIII - FEES AND DUES
The categories of membership will be determined by the
Executive Committee. Each member will pay annual dues as determined by the
Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIV - SEVERANCE OF MEMBERSHIP
1. A member in good standing may resign by submitting a
written resignation to the President. A resigned member may resume membership
upon payment of current dues.
2. A member whose conduct has been prejudicial to the good
of the Society or inconsistent with its objectives and bylaws may be dropped
from membership and any office by two thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
The member must be notified at least twenty (20) days in advance of the meeting
as to the charges, and must be given the opportunity to answer charges in
person, in writing, or by an authorized representative.
ARTICLE XV - RULES OF ORDER
1. The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall
govern the parliamentary procedure of all meetings of the Society and its
Committees in all cases to which they are applicable, provided they are not
inconsistent with these bylaws.
2. In the event of any inconsistency of Robert's Rules of
Order and these bylaws, the procedures specified in the bylaws will prevail.
ARTICLE XVI - INTERPRETATION OF BYLAWS
All questions of interpretation of the bylaws will be
decided by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XVII - AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS
1. The bylaws may be adopted, annulled, or amended by the
affirmative vote of majority of the members voting by letter or at the Annual
Meeting.
2. No such action will be taken at the Annual Meeting
unless the change in the bylaws is proposed by the Executive Committee or by
written request of at least twenty (20) members. Notice of the proposed change
must be mailed by the President to each member at least thirty (30) days in
advance of the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE XVIII - FOUNDING THE SOCIETY
1. For the officers of 1993, the President,
President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer will be elected at
the same time. After 1993, only the last four positions will be elected.
2. For the election of officers in 1993, the Founding Board
will function as the Society as a whole and will undertake the role of the
Executive Committee defined in Article VI. The Founding Board will be dissolved
right after the Executive Committee is formed by the first election of the
Society.
ARTICLE XIX - EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BYLAWS
These bylaws shall become effective immediately after it is
adopted by at least two thirds of the Founding Board.
