BYLAWS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND FINANCE SOCIETY
China
SPECIAL DECLARATION OF IEFS CHINA:
It is the special declare
that we, IEFS China, as the regional chapter of IEFS, will follow the nature
and framework of bylaws of IEFS and do our best to adopt the articles of bylaws
of IEFS as many as possible, while modifying some non-proper parts in the
original bylaws of IEFS and making them be suitable for IEFS China. We have
obtained the permission of IEFS for using and modifying bylaws of IEFS to form bylaws
of IEFS China.
ARTICLE I - NAME
This organization will be named the China Chapter of 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, Chinese Economists Society, Chinese Economic
Association in North America, China Economics Annual Conference, Chinese Society of International Trade,China
Association of International Trade, the Southeast
International Economics Group, the Financial Management Association, American
Finance Society, Western Finance Association, other IEFS regional chapters, and
other related academic associations; 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 December
15, 2008) 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 - 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 VII - 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 VIII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. The Secretariat of the IEFS China includes the
President, 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 China; and
chairing the annual meeting of the IEFS China. He is also the primary liaison
of the Society with other professional associations. Moreover, the president
will be responsible for contact with the Secretariat of IEFS on issues of
mutual concern, supervision of planning for IEFS China meetings and chairing
these meetings.
b. The President becomes the Past-President until a new
President elected 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
China 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. The IEFS China
could set up some regional associations if necessary. Presidents of regional
associations will be responsible for contact with the Secretariat of the IEFS
China on issues of mutual concern, supervision of planning for regional
meetings and chairing the meetings of the regional associations.
3. Each regional association of the IEFS China 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 IX - ELECTION AND TENURE OF MEMBERS OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The President will be elected by majority vote of the
membership. The term will be three years. This vote will take place by letter
ballot, or electronic way, supervised by the Executive Secretary. The President
for the next term can thus be simultaneously a member of the Secretariat, and
will discharge his responsibilities.
2. The President for the next term will be elected in the
second year of current President's term, and will automatically becomes the
President when current President's term is due. The term will be three years.
3. The term of office of Executive Secretary and Treasurer
shall be five 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 IX, Paragraph 3, the term of office
for Executive Secretary and Treasurer shall be five years. There shall be a
term-limit of office of two consecutive mandates for any elected officer of the
society.
ARTICLE X - COMMITTEES
Standing and ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the
President in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XI - FINANCIAL ISSUES BETWEEN IEFS AND IEFS CHINA, AND WITHIN IEFS CHINA
The financial link between IEFS and IEFS China and the membership
dues and related fees will be determined by the Executive Committee in the
future.
ARTICLE XII - 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 XIII - INTERPRETATION OF BYLAWS
All questions of interpretation of the bylaws will be
decided by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIV - 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 XV - FOUNDING THE SOCIETY
1. For the officers of 2009, the President, Vice Presidents,
Secretary, and Treasurer will be elected at the same time. After 2009, only the
positions which term will be due within two years will be elected.
2. For the election of officers in 2009, the Founding Board
will function as the Society as a whole. The Founding Board will be dissolved
right after the Executive Committee is formed by the first election of the
Society.
ARTICLE XVI - EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BYLAWS
These bylaws shall become effective immediately after it is
adopted by at least two thirds of the Founding Board.