STATUTES

 

The basic text of the statutes is the French one. The English text is nothing but a mere translation of the original French version, which remains the only legal one.

 

PREAMBLE

The International Academy for Genealogy was founded in Turin, Italy, on 22 September 1998, in order to join together competent specialists in genealogy representing the various cultural areas in the world.

The Academy is governed by the following rules :

 

Article 1 - Status

The International Academy for Genealogy  ̶  hereafter called the Academy  ̶  is a non-profit organisation subject to both the French law of 1 July 1901 and the French decree of 16 August 1901 ; it is a legal entity.

 

Article 2 - Goals

The Academy aims at centralizing and coordinating the studies and scientific research in the field of genealogy, with the largest possible international cooperation, and at circulating them. Its goal is to determine the place of genealogy in the modern structure of social sciences, to study its correlation with other scientific fields, to coordinate various works, to provide researchers with appropriate working tools, to organise congresses and colloquiums, to publish articles and larger studies focussed on genealogy, and to circulate all kinds of information related to this particular field of the social sciences.

 

Article 3 – Head office

The Academy has its international head office at 45 quai Carnot, F-92210 Saint-Cloud in France. It may be transported to any other place in the world, if the executive board makes that decision.

The sessions of the Academy may be held anywhere else.

 

Article 4 - Duration

The duration of the Academy is unlimited, except in case of dissolution (see below, article 14).

 

Article 5 - Members

1. The Academy is composed of specialists renowned for their skills or studies, and for their acknowledged interest in genealogy. They are divided into titular members and associate members.
2. The titular members are called "academicians" ; their number is limited to 100.
3. The number of associate members is unlimited.

 

Article 6 – Admission of members

1. The Academy selects its members according to their scientific competence and to their geographical distribution, which should be as large as possible.
2. Applicants can only be presented and promoted by a member of the executive board or an honorary member - applications made directly to the Academy by the applicants or their close acquaintance are not accepted.
3. The admission of applicants must be approved of by a majority of members of the executive board, with whom honorary members may vote whenever they are present or represented at the poll. The voting members decide whether the applicant will be admitted as an academician or an associate member.
4. The general meeting rules without having to unveil the grounds of each decision. In order to be admitted, applicants must obtain the votes of two thirds, at least, of the present or represented academicians.

 

Article 7 - Dismissal of members

1. Any member of the Academy may resign with a letter addressed to the chairman, who will impart this resignation at the next general meeting.
2. Any member who fails to pay annual fees for three consecutive years, with no regard for reminders, will be automatically considered as resigning.
3. The general meeting, upon a motion put by the executive board, may expel a member with an immediate effect and without having to unveil the grounds of this decision. The person concerned, though, or any representative, may be heard first at the general meeting.

 

Article 8 - General meeting – Organisation

The general meeting of the Academy is held at least once a year.
It is called together one month before by the executive board and presided over by the chairman or one of the vice-chairmen.
Only titular members, or academicians, may vote. They can be represented by another academician, to whom they have to give a written proxy. The representative may vote freely, with no binding mandate. Each academician has one vote. No academician may have more than five votes in addition to his or her own.
The general meeting always rules validly, regardless of the number of present or represented academicians. A minimum quorum of two thirds is still required, though, for any dissolution (see article 14).
All the decisions at the general meeting are taken by an absolute majority of the present or represented academicians. The elections require an absolute majority at the first round and a relative majority at the second round. If the poll ends in a tie, the chairman has a casting vote. Special majorities are still required, though, for the admission of members (article 6), the amendment of the statutes (article 8), and the dissolution (article 14). The academicians vote by show of hands, unless a secret ballot is requested by one of them.
Associate members may attend the general meeting and share in discussions, but they are not allowed to vote.

 

Article 9 - General meeting – Powers

The general meeting is the supreme entity of the Academy.
The general meeting hears and approves of the chairman’s report and the treasurer’s report about their activities during the year.
The general meeting elects for five years, from among the academicians, all the members of the executive board, who may be re-elected.
It chooses for five years, from among the members of the executive board, the chairman of the Academy, who may be re-elected.
It assesses the financial contribution of the academicians and associate members for the following year.
It adopts and amends the statutes with a majority of two thirds of the present or represented academicians.

 

Article 10 - Executive board – Organisation

The executive board of the Academy is composed of :
- A chairman, who cannot remain in office beyond the age of 75.
- One or two vice-chairmen ; in the latter case, there is a first vice-chairman ranking above the second vice-chairman.
- A treasurer.
- A secretary general.
- One or two members called "counsellors", who are responsible for special missions.
There cannot be in the executive board more than two members with the same nationality.
The members of the executive board are called together at least four weeks in advance by the chairman, a vice-chairman or, failing them, by the earliest member.
The executive board rules validly if at least half of its members are present or represented. No present member can have more than two proxies.
The decisions of the executive board are taken by an absolute majority at the first round and by a relative majority at the second one. If the poll ends in a tie, the chairman has a casting vote.

 

Article 11 - Executive board – Powers

The executive board carries out all the decisions taken at the general meeting. It runs and represents the Academy. It determines the general line, takes care of all the international relations of the institution and establishes the program of activities of the Academy.
It draws up the minutes of its sessions and of the general meeting ; the minutes shall be signed by the one who presided over the executive board session or the general meeting and by their drafter.
It looks after the international cooperation undertaken by the Academy and under its patronage, and takes care of the successful implementation of any commitments in this field.
It is responsible for everything that is not covered by the general meeting.

 

Article 12 - Representation

The Academy is committed by the double signature of the chairman, or a vice-chairman, and one member of the executive board.

 

Article 13 - Finance

1. – Annual fees, grants, donations and legacies contribute to the resources of the Academy, the members of which are only bound to pay their annual fees.
2. - The sale of books, publications or any other support under the patronage of the Academy, as well as payment for services rendered, are also involved in financing the Academy.
3. - The treasurer, on behalf of the executive board, runs the finances of the Academy and reports each year his financial activity at the general meeting.
4. - The expenses entailed by the work of the Academy are authorised by the chairman, with the advice of the treasurer, and are based on the budget discussed and agreed during the executive board sessions.

 

Article 14 - Dissolution

The dissolution of the Academy may only by decided at the general meeting, and voted by a majority of two thirds of the academicians. In case of dissolution, the assets of the Academy, its books and publications, will be offered to an institution with a similar purpose or to a large public library.

 

Article 15 - Rules of Procedure

The organisation of colloquiums and congresses, as well as the standards for the scientific activities of the Academy, will be determined in rules of procedure prepared by the executive board and submitted to the general meeting.