bylaws

Constitutions and Bylaws

of the

International Institute for General Systems Studies

The Constitutions

Effective as of January 1, 1994

Article 1: The Name, Objective, and Purposes

The Name:

International Institute for General Systems Studies (IIGSS)

The Objective: Promote the research of foundation of general systems theory and its applications in all branches of knowledge. Increase the scholastic communication among researchers and educators with similar interests in order to exchange most recent ideas and developments in related areas. Gain international visibility of the advances of the research in general systems theory and applications, and show a united commitment to the arrival of the new era, when all branches of knowledge will be unified under the name of systems. Provide public relations benefits. Bring diverse international groups and individuals together as a unified group to contribute to multiple endeavors. Provide an umbrella for individual members or groups of members of the institute to gain access of different funding sources.
The Purpose: The IIGSS is organized exclusively for educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
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Article 2: Incorporation

The IIGSS has been incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania of the United States of America. Its non-profit organization status has been granted by the Internal Revenue Service of the USA. Therefore, the full name of the institute should be:

International Institute for General Systems Studies, Inc.

Article 3: Qualifications of Members

Individual Members:

The membership is open to all persons who are academically inclined and have the desire to contribute to a scientific field.

Group Members:

The membership of the IIGSS is also open to groups of scholars of various sizes, as long as these groups are academically inclined and have the desire to contribute to a scientific field.

Article 4: Officers and Their Elections

Officers: President, Vice-President, Director, Executive Director, Secretary.

Duties of the Officers:

The president shall:

· Preside over all meetings.

· Appoint all committees and officers as necessary.

· Recommend to the directors those measures deemed necessary to carry on the business of the institute.

The vice-president shall:

· Be an ex-officio member of all committees and report to the President and the Executive Committee on their actions.

· Perform the duties of the president when necessary.

The director shall:

· Take charge of matters of public relations.

· Handle all financial issues of the IIGSS.

· Prepare financial report to be read at each institute level meeting.

The executive director shall:

· Perform all day-to-day business of the IIGSS.

· Create more and new programs for the IIGSS activities.

· Supervise all financial transactions of the IIGSS proposed by the director.

· Perform the duties of the director when necessary

The secretary shall:

· Keep an accurate record of all business of the IIGSS.

· Keep a roll of all members.

· Make all necessary communications.

Elections of Officers:

· Candidates of officers of the IIGSS will be based on voluntary basis. Their selection and appointment will be based on a pool of volunteers for an open position. As soon as the need for such a position diminishes, the position will be automatically cancelled. All officers will be volunteers and no stipend will be paid to any of the officers of the Institute.

· Elections: The final appointment of any officer will be the sole decision of the President.

Article 5: Meetings of the IIGSS

The IIGSS will hold institute level meetings regularly and publish special issues of a journal of either the IIGSS or commercially available for the meetings soon after the meetings are held. All such meetings are open to the entire international scientific community, and keynote speakers do not have to be members of the IIGSS. These speakers must be identified as one of the most active scholars with important scientific contribution(s) in his or her chosen field.

Article 6: How to Amend the Constitution

This constitution can be amended first with suggestions from any member(s) of the IIGSS, and second with approval of the president after having widely consulted with advisors and other members of the IIGSS.

The Bylaws

Effective as of January 1, 1994

Article 1: Responsibilities of Group and Individual Members

All members, both individual and group, will need to report to and obtain approval of planned activities from the president of the IIGSS in order to carry the name IIGSS.

Article 2: Conditions Imposed on Group Memberships

Due to the reason of increased business risk of group members and increased responsibilities of the Institute, the following requirements will be imposed on each group member:

· Each branch, such as a national or regional branch, of the IIGSS must operate within the laws of the region of its location. The IIGSS is not responsible for any legal consequences of any of its branches.

· Each branch will need be financially self-contained without any financial resistance from the IIGSS.

Article 3: Rights, duties, resignation and expulsion procedures

1. Rights and Duties of Members: All scientific scholars will have the right to suggest for new programs and volunteer for offices. Each fee-paying member or sponsor has the right to initiate new ventures. However, all activities under the name of the IIGSS must be approved by the president in writing, due to the reason of legal matters involved.

Even though associates and fee-paying members may identify themselves as an associate or member of the IIGSS at appropriate places and opportunities. However, the relevant work or activities will still be their own and do not represent the position of the IIGSS.

Each subscription of individual members to publications of the IIGSS will be for personal use. Each subscription of group members to publications of the IIGSS can be displayed in public places of learning and shared by all members of the surrounding community.

2. Resignation and Expulsion Procedures: Any officer not responsible for his or her officer duties will be expelled from the relevant office by a three-fourth approval vote of the Executive Committee or by the president of the IIGSS. Any officer can resign from his or her office by submitting a resignation letter to the president. In such a case, an interim officer will be appointed by the President.

Article 4: Names and Duties of Committees

1. Committees: Executive Committee, Membership Committee, International Advisory Board, Editorial Board

2. Duties of Committees

· The Executive Committee shall keep the institute function normally and organize institute level activities, among other things.

· The Membership Committee shall actively recruit new sponsors and fee-paying members and maintain membership records.

· The International Advisory Board shall provide advice to the President and the Executive Committee and safeguard the institute in a healthy academic condition.

· The Editorial Board shall maintain all publications of the IIGSS at the highest level of scholastic quality.

Article 5: A Provision For Accepted Rules of Order and Parliamentary Manual

· Majority Rule

Article 6: Quorum: A Percentage of Members Necessary to Conduct Business

There is no minimum percentage of members necessary to conduct business of the institute, provided the related business activities can financially self supported.

Article 7: Provisions for Honorary Members and Honorary Officers

Only the president can grant the status of honorary members or honorary officers, based on situations involved.

Article 8: Finances

All financial transactions of the IIGSS must be signed on paper by the president, no matter where and from whom the idea of the transaction was originated.

No part of the net earnings of the IIGSS shall be incurred to the profit of, or be distributed to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the IIGSS shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensations for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article One of the Constitutions of the IIGSS. No substantial part of the activities of the IIGSS shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the IIGSS shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statement for) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the IIGSS shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 1 70 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Article 9: The Dissolution of the IIGSS

Upon the dissolution of the IIGSS, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the IIGSS is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization(s), as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article 10: A Method to Amend the Bylaws

This bylaws can be amended first with suggestions from any member(s) of the IIGSS or the international scientific community, and second with an approval of the president.