Organizational Rules

Organizational Rules for the International Council for Central and East European Studies (ICCEES)

1. Name and Composition
   The International Council for Central and East European Studies hereafter referred to as the International Council, consists of the representatives of pertinent national organizations.
2. Purpose
   The purposes of the International Council shall be to promote Central and East European studies and to stimulate international exchange of information and international cooperation among scholars specializing in those studies. In particular, the International Council will:

    

   1. establish contacts and foster cooperation between specialists in Central and East European studies among themselves and with other scholars, and with other pertinent international organizations.
   2. organize a World Congress, as a rule, at an interval of five years.
3. Representation
   The admission of new members shall be decided by the International Council, on the proposal of the Executive Committee. The admission shall be governed by the following principles.

    

   1. Member organizations shall appoint one representative to the International Council. The Executive Committee shall have the right to propose the appointment of an additional national representative.
   2. Academic institutions and scholarly organizations from countries where a national organization embracing the scholarly community in the field of Central and East European Studies does not exist may apply for associate member status. The application shall be decided on the basis of the scholarly qualifications and activities and the representativeness of the applicants.
   3. An associate member may be represented by a non-voting participant at meetings of the International Council.
   4. On the joint proposal of all associate members from one country, and with the agreement of the Executive Committee, the International Council may admit one representative from the country concerned as a full member of the International Council.
   5. Disputes concerning membership and representation will be submitted to the Executive Committee. Failing resolution, the International Council shall decide.
   6. Terms of appointment to the International Council shall normally be for at least five years.
   7. An outgoing president of the International Council may, upon the end of his or her term, be offered a lifetime non-voting membership of the International Council. The names and addresses of all life members of the International Council shall be included in the list of the representatives of the national associations.
4. Meetings of the International Council
   The International Council will meet at each World Congress and, at the call of the President, at least once in each intervening period. A properly called meeting of the International Council shall be considered lawfully constituted if at least six representatives of national organizations are present.
5. Voting
   Decisions in the International Council and in the Executive Committee shall be taken by simple majority vote, unless otherwise provided in these Rules.
6. Officers
   The International Council shall elect the following officers, who will maintain liaison with the host of the next World Congress on behalf of the International Council, coordinate the work of special subcommittees, and exercise all other functions as may be assigned to them by these rules or the International Council.

    

   1. A President who shall preside over meetings of the International Council and its Executive Committee.
   2. A first and second Vice-President, who, in that order, shall replace the President on a permanent or pro tempore basis as shall be necessary to conduct meetings and other business.
   3. A Secretary who shall make and keep records of Council business including finances.

   The officers shall communicate with the International Council and the Executive Committee by all appropriate means.

7. Executive Committee
   The International Council shall have an Executive Committee consisting of the Council officers and up to six other Council members, to be elected by the International Council. Terms of appointment to the Executive Committee shall be for five years. Individual members can be elected for a second term. The International Council will strive to achieve gender equality for the Executive Committee. The Director of the International Information Center for Central and East European Studies shall be a member of the Executive Committee ex-officio. The official representative of the national organization which will host the next World Congress shall be one of the members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for preparing agendas for meetings of the International Council and for calling otherwise pertinent matters to the attention of the International Council. The Executive Committee shall meet, at the call of the President, and at least once before each meeting of the International Council.
8. Contingencies
   The Executive Committee or individual council officers shall take measures required by contingencies not covered by this document. Such measures will be subject to approval by the International Council. The approval may be given by mail.
9. Information Center
   An Information Center, known as the “International Information Center for Central and East European Studies” shall be established to carry on the work of international communication and cooperation. The International Council shall receive offers through the national organizations for location of the Center. Such location shall be determined for minimum periods of five years except when otherwise specified by the Executive Committee. The Director of the Center shall be assisted by an Advisory Board appointed by the President of the International Council.
10. Sub-Committees
    In pursuit of its various functions the International Council or its Executive Committee may, from time to time, appoint such sub-committees as appear necessary and appropriate. Sub-Committees will report to the International Council through the Executive Committee.
11. Annual Contribution
    National member organizations shall make an annual contribution to the International Council for each member (based for example on the amount of US $1.00 per member or an equivalent sum) on a scale to be determined by the International Council from time to time.
12. Amendments to this Document
    The International Council may amend these rules by majority vote. Such a vote may be taken by mail.

Cambridge, 15 April 2018