THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SOCIETY
ARTICLE 1. NAME
This organization shall be called as the Association for the Study of Political Society (ASPOS).
ARTICLE 2. PUROPSE
Our political society (the term introduced by John Locke, 1698), i.e. the civil society, is being challenged by unprecedented problems caused by the rapid technological advancement, global warming, and globalization. As a result, we are now pressed to solve various problems on a global scale. To respond to this situation, we must shift our paradigms. In fact, we are forced to redirect our research orientations toward not only the natural sciences but also the social sciences. Having recognized this, we established the Association for the Study of Political Society (ASPOS) as a problem solving, typed interdisciplinary association that aims to develops new academic programs based upon analysis of the current states of affairs by utilizing views of the natural science while eliminating borders between political science, economics, jurisprudence, sociology and other disciplines. ASPOS also aims to reexamines the state of fusion among natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities, and the research activities of the entire liberal arts as well. We harmonize different ideas and search for a restoration of the humanities and social sciences in order to construct a new society and to search for effective programs.
ARTICLE 3. ACTIVITIES
In order to achieve the above objective, the Association shall engage in the activities stated below:
1. Holding study meetings, series of lecture, and symposiums.
2. Issuing official journals, edited volumes, and newsletters.
3. Cooperative activities with researchers and research institutions overseas.
4. Activities not listed above, which the Association approves.
ARTICLE 4. QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP
1.Any person sharing the spirits of the ARTCILE 2, the purpose of the Association, may become a member.
2.The Association member may be either an individual member or a corporate member.
ARTICLE 5. ACQUISICION OF MEMBERSHIP
In order to acquire membership, an applicant must submit his/her application form endorsed by two individual members of the Association to the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 6. MEMBERSHIP FEES
Individual members and corporate members pay membership fees in accordance with the Rule of Membership Fees.
ARTICLE 7. LOSS OF MEBERSHIP
A member loses his/her membership if:
1.An individual member or a corporate member submits his/her/its notice of withdrawal to the Association.
2.The Board of Directors decides to repeal membership due to nonpayment of membership fee.
3.The member defames the Association, behaves in an inappropriate manner, or the Executive Board decides to strike him/her off the membership list.
ARTICLE 8. OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall include:
1.President: 1
2.Vice Presidents: several
3.Directors: several
4.Secretary-General: 1
5.Deputy Secretary-General: 1
6.Auditors: 2
7.Managers: several
ARTICLE 9. THE DIRECTORS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. The Directors can organize the Board of Directors and conduct practical business affairs.
2. The Directors shall be elected by the General Assembly.
3. The Board of Directors may be convened with the attendance of a majority of its members.
4. The Board of Directors may invite the attendance of persons besides Directors and Inspectors when the need arises.
ARTICLE10. THE SELECTIONS OF DIRECTORS, AUDITORS, AND MANAGERS
1. Directors and Auditors will be appointed by the General Assembly in accordance with The ASPOS Rules of Selecting Directors and Auditors, which is separately created. However, experienced advisors cannot be appointed as either Directors, or Auditors.
2. The Board of Directors appoints Managers.
ARTILCE 11. THE TERM OF DIRECTORS, AUDITORS AND MANAGERS
1. The term of Directors, Auditors and Managers is two years. Their reappointment is possible.
2. The term of Directors, Auditors and Managers appointed to fill a position vacancy is the remainder of their immediate predecessor’s term.
ARTILCE 12. THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PREISIDENT
1. The President represents the Association and controls its business affairs.
2. The Vice Presidents shall assist the President, and one shall become the Acting President if the President should be unable to perform his/her duties due to specific reasons.
3. The President and the Vice Presidents are elected from the Board of Directors, and appointed at the General Assembly.
4. The term of the Presidency is two-year, and reappointment is prohibited.
ARTICLE 13. THE SERETARY-GENERAL AND THE DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
1. The Secretary-General shall be the chief administrative officer of the Association and responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Association.
2. The Secretary-General is appointed by the President, approved by the Board of Directors, and elected by the General Assembly. The term of the Executive Directorship is two-year.
3. The Secretary-General also serves as the Director.
4. The Board of Directors decides the site of the secretariat.
5. The Deputy Secretary-General assists the Executive Director.
6. The Deputy Secretary-General is appointed by the President, approved by the Board of Directors and elected by the General Assembly. The term of Deputy Secretary-General is two-years.
ARTICLE 14. THE STANDING COMMITTEES AND OTHER COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors shall establish various standing committees as stated below in order to handle specific business affairs, and may appoint the Chairs of Committees and Committee Members. The Chair of the Committee shall be the Director.
1. The Planning Committee (planning and managing of study meetings and other kind of meetings)
2. The Journal Committee (issuing official journals and edited volumes)
3. The Public Relations Committee (issuing of newsletters, and creating the official website and maintaining it.)
4. The International Exchange Committee (activities for liaison with researchers and research institutes overseas)
5. Other committees as their need arises.
ARTILCE 15. THE AUDITORS
Auditors inspect the status of accounts and the administrative operations of the Association.
ARTICLE 16. THE ADVISORS
1. The Association may appoint the Advisors and the Honorary Advisors.
2. The Advisors and the Honorary Advisors must not hold any position of Article 8.
3. The Board of Directors nominates the Advisors and the Honorary Advisors, and elects them.
ARTICLE 17. THE COUNCILORS
1. Councilors organize the Council and respond to President’s requests for advice.
2. The Councilors must not hold any position of Article 8.
3. The Board of Directors nominates the Councilors and elects them.
ARTICLE 18. THE REGIONAL BRANCHES
The Board of Directors may establish Regional Branches in accordance with The ASPOS Rules on Regional Branches, which is separately created.
ARTICLE 19. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1. The President shall convene the regular meeting of the General Assembly at least once a year.
2. The President shall convene an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly when deemed necessary.
3. The President shall immediately convene a meeting when requested by more than one fifth of the members of the Association indicating subject matters to be discussed.
ARTICLE 20. RIGHTS TO VOTE
1. All matters in the General Meeting shall be decided by a majority vote of the attending members of the Association.
2. If a member is unable to attend the General Meeting, he/she may appoint another member to vote as his/her proxy if advance notification of the proxy is submitted in writing. In this case, the members shall be considered present.
ARTICLE 21. PAYMENT OF EXPENDITURE
The expenditure of the Association shall be paid from the revenue consisting of membership fees, contributions, and other incomes.
ARTICLE 22. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the 1st of April and end on the 31st of March of the following year.
ARTICLE 23. APPROVAL OF BUDGET AND ACCOUNT SETTLEMENT
The Secretary-General shall report the settlement of revenues and expenditures of the Association, which is audited by the auditors, to the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 24. AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of the attending members of the Association.
THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION
1. This Rule shall come into force on March 2, 2010.
2. The terms of the Officers during the founding period of the Association are exceptional, and their terms began on March 2, 2010 and finish at the General Meeting in 2012.