Bylaws Bylaws
Bylaws

Article I. NAME

The name of the association is International Chinese Sociological Association, herein abbreviated as ICSA and referred to as the association. ICSA is a global networked organization of sociologists who conduct social scientific research on Chinese societies, cultures, and populations in the world.

Article II. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

ICSA is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable and public purposes. The association does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit to the members thereof and is organized and operated exclusively for nonprofit purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c) (3). No substantial part of the activities of the association shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation.

Article III. PURPOSES

The primary purpose of the association is to promote social scientific research on Chinese societies, cultures, and populations in the world, in order to increase the existing knowledge base about these societies and populations. The results of the research shall be presented at the scientific meetings of ICSA and other scientific meetings, and published in scientific journals and books, which are generally available to the interested public on a nondiscriminatory basis. The association functions to promote scholarly exchanges and to facilitate a continuing dialogue among sociologists in the global community. To achieve this goal, the association publishes a newsletter periodically, organizes conferences, and carry out cooperative activities, including professional exchanges, joint research, information networks, and scholarly visits.

Article IV. OFFICERS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The officers of the association shall be a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The President shall be elected from the Board of Directors for a term of two years. The Secretary and Treasurer are appointed from the Board by the President, each for a term of two years.

The President shall be the principal executive officer of the association and shall preside at all meetings of members or of officers. The President shall appoint Secretary, Treasurer, chairperson and members of all ad hoc committees established by the Board, and will designate an ICSA Representative in the State of California who will be responsible for receiving all ICSA correspondence and distributing correspondence to appropriate officers. The President shall determine, with the advice and agreement of the Board of Directors, the time and place of the Board of Director meetings.

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of members and of the Board of Directors, edit and distribute the periodic newsletter, and in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him/her by the President or by the Board of Directors. The treasurer shall be responsible for the association’s records of accounts and the custody and disbursement of funds and present financial reports as requested by the Board.

The Board of Directors is the association’s policy-making body. The board shall consist of an odd number between seven (7) and eleven (11) members to be elected by ICSA regular members to serve for two years. In the event of vacancy, or of the ability of board members to serve his/her term, the Board may by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, elect a successor for the unexpired terms of his/her predecessor in office.

The Board of Directors shall have and exercise general management and control of ICSA affairs. The Board shall have the power to: a) appoint officers of ICSA as specified in these bylaws; b) plan conferences and activities; c) approve annual budgets; d) obtain periodic audits of ICSA finances; e) enter into contract or execute and deliver any instruments in the name and on behalf of ICSA; and f) determine and revise membership dues. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held once a year at a time and place, ideally right before and during the ASA annual meetings. Notice of Board meetings shall be given to each board member in writing.

The Board shall appoint a nominating/election committee consisting of three board members, with a chairperson. This committee shall prepare a list of nominees for election to the Board. Any ICSA member shall be eligible for candidacy of directorship. The names and biographical sketches of those candidates nominated by the nominating/election committee and a ballot shall be distributed to all members. Election shall be by plurality vote.

Article V. MEMBERSHIP

Persons who subscribe to the stated purposes of ICSA, who agree to abide by the bylaws of the association, and who has graduate training in sociology or any of the social sciences or the social aspects of law, health, and medicine, qualify for ICSA membership. Membership shall be divided into two categories: Regular and Student. Regular members shall be eligible to vote, hold office, and serve on the Board of Directors. Regular members shall pay annual dues of $30. Student members are full-time graduate students in sociology or the social sciences and pay the student membership dues of $10. Student members are not eligible to vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may appoint student liaisons.

Membership dues shall be paid annually to the association. Instead of annual payment of membership dues, a single payment for life (Life Membership) of $600 may be accepted. Once paid, the Life members shall not have to pay annual membership dues and shall have the same voting rights as Regular members. Benefits for dues-paying members include receiving two issues of ICSA’s newsletter a year, being entitled a discount registration fee for future ICSA conferences, rights to vote for ICSA officers and Board members, and receiving a periodically updated ICSA membership directory.

Article VI. MEETINGS OF MEMBERS AND CONFERENCE

Meetings of members shall be held once a year at a time and place designated by the Board of Directors for the purpose of discussing and transacting the association-related businesses that may come before the meeting. It has already become customary and convenient for member meetings to be held during the American Sociological Association annual meetings. The President or the Secretary shall record the meeting minutes and distribute them later in the newsletter.

ICSA sponsors and organizes an academic conference once a year or every other year as determined by the Board of Directors. The purpose of these conferences is to create a focused forum for a relatively small number of presented and discussed papers on a chosen theme. The ICSA president appoints board members to be the conference organizers. The conference organizers will choose a central theme and draft a Call for Papers, which will be announced to enlist active submissions from ICSA members. If necessary, the conference co-organizers will actively seek external funding for the conference, with the support and facilitation of the Board.

This page was updated July 1, 2019