Rules and Bye-Laws

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Rules

Article 1 - Under the law of July the first, 1901 and the decree of August the 16th, 1901, the signatories of the present statutes have formed an Association named “The European Association for Research on Adolescence.”

Article 2 - The aims of this Association are:

  1. to promote, encourage and sustain the development in Europe and beyond of high quality, fundamental and applied psychological research on all aspects of adolescence.
  2. to bring together European researchers who are engaged in any aspect of psychological research in adolescence, whatever the domain of this research and to promote scientific collaboration between such researchers.
  3. to promote communication between researchers in adolescence in Europe via workshops and/or conferences and an Association Newsletter and by creating common European data- bases and lists of European publications.
  4. to promote professional training of young European researchers who are interested in the psychology of adolescence.
  5. to give advice to national and European authorities on the psychology of adolescence; to promote the development of a European research policy and an associated programme concerning adolescents and their problems.

In order to realise its objectives, the Association will undertake informative or collaborative relations with other regional, national or international organisations who share, at least in part, the same aims.

Article 3 - The Association is based in Paris. It may be transferred to another situation by decision of the Executive Council.

Article 4 - The Association consists of:

  1. Full members. Such members are researchers with a doctoral degree awarded by a University and who have carried out research in the field of adolescent psychology. Researchers who have not obtained their doctorate, but who are in full employment as researchers or applied psychologists in the area of Adolescence are also eligible for full
    membership. In both cases, their contribution to the study of adolescence will be demonstrated through publications, or contributions to international conferences. Would be applicants for full membership have to be nominated by two full members of the Association.
  2. Student members. Student members are young researchers who are at pre-doctorate level and who are engaged in research on adolescent psychology. Candidates for student membership must be nominated by two full members. Membership is not restricted to Europeans.
  3. Honorary life-time members. Due to contributions of extraordinary value to the Association, scholars can be honored by an honorary life-time membership. This status is not restricted to (former) members or European scholars and does not require the payment of membership fees. Candidates are suggested by the Executive Council.

Article 5 - Applications for membership of the Association will be considered by members of the Executive Committee on each occasion that they meet. The Executive Committee has the right to accept new members who fulfil the criteria set out in Articles 4a and 4b. The names and addresses of such new members will be provided to members in the next edition of the Newsletter of the Association to appear after their acceptance or at the General Assembly, whichever comes first. Any objection to the acceptance of a new member must be made in writing, stating reasons for the objection, within a four-week period of the publication of the names in the Newsletter or at the General Assembly.

Article 6 - Membership of the Association ceases through:

  1. Resignation.
  2. Demise.
  3. Exclusion decided by the Executive Council for non-payment of membership fees or for ethical reasons (evidence of moral or professional misconduct); before such a decision is made, the person concerned must be invited, by registered letter, to present him or herself before the Executive Committee in order to explain his/her behaviour. The decision to exclude a member must be approved by the General Assembly of the Association.

Article 7 - All members of the Association are required to pay a membership fee which, according to the decision of the Executive Council, may be charged annually or biannually. The annual contributions for members and for student members are decided by the Executive Council. Should the Executive Council decide to change the level of contributions previously approved by the General Assembly, this decision must be submitted for approval to the General Assembly. The Executive Council may decide to reduce or to waive the membership fee for particular categories of member.

Article 8 - The resources of the Association comprise:

  • The total amount of membership fees paid.
  • Grants provided by Community, National, Regional or Municipal institutions.
  • Funds provided by individual and legal entities.

Article 9 - The Association is governed by an Executive Council of 12 members elected for four years by the General Assembly. Additional ad hoc members may be appointed by decision of the Executive Council. In principle, the composition of the Executive Council should reflect the regional, geographical and linguistic differences which characterise Europe.

Article 10 - The President of the Association.

The Association has a President who holds office for a period of two years. The President is elected by the General Assembly as President-Elect and serves as a member of the Executive Council in that capacity for a period of two years before taking on the Presidency. The President presides over all meetings of the Association. In the event that the President is unable to fulfil the duties associated with the position, the President-Elect assumes temporary responsibility for such duties.

Article 11 - The General Assembly.

The ordinary General Assembly consists of all of the members of the Association. It elects the Executive Council and two assessors who are responsible for checking financial payments made on behalf of the Association. It meets at least once in every two years. Members of the Association are summoned by the Secretary of the Executive Committee at least one month in advance of the date decided for the General Assembly. The agenda is provided together with this summons.

Article 12 - Bye-Laws.

The Executive Council is responsible for preparing a set of Bye-Laws and this must be presented to the General Assembly for approval. These Bye-Laws provide regulations for matters which are not covered by the Statutes but which concern the internal management of the Association.

Article 13 - Dissolution.

The Association can be dissolved if there is agreement by at least two third of the members present at the General Assembly. In this event, one or several liquidators are appointed by the Assembly and the assets, if there are any, are cancelled according to article 9 of the law of the first of July 1901 and the decree of August 16, 1901.

Bye-Laws

1 - The Executive Council comprises 12 members elected for four years by the General Assembly. Members are re-eligible on one occasion. Those who have completed two consecutive terms cannot be re-elected until after a period of two years from the date on which the second term is completed. In the event of a vacancy in its membership, the Council may, if it deems it necessary, appoint a provisional replacement; the replacement should be confirmed at the next General Assembly. The expiry date for the term of office of members chosen in this way is the same as the date on which the term of office of the member who was replaced would have expired.

2 - The Executive Council meets at least once in every two years, by summons of the President, or at the request of a quarter of its members. Decisions are taken by majority vote, where votes are equally divided, the President has a casting vote. Any member of the Executive Council who, without reasonable explanation, fails to attend two consecutive meetings will be considered to have resigned.

3 - The Executive Committee consists of four to six members of the Executive Council and includes a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary and a Treasurer. If necessary, the office of secretary and that of treasurer can be combined.

The President and President-Elect are elected by the General Assembly. The President-Elect automatically becomes President after a two-year period and for a period of two years. The other members of the Executive Committee are elected by ballot by the members of the Executive Council. The Executive Council is free to decide which form of ballot is most suitable for this purpose. All members of the Executive Committee are elected for a period of four years. They are eligible for re-election

4 - The Executive Committee meets at least once per year, by summons of the President or by half of its members. A member of the Executive Council who, without reasonable explanation, fails to attend two consecutive meetings will be considered to have resigned.

5 - One or more members of the Executive Committee is responsible for publications made by or on behalf of the Association.

6 - Membership fees are payable on a biannual basis. The current fee is € 137 for full members and € 15 for student members (€ 87 for student members including the Journal of Adolescence). On retirement from their employment, full members will no longer be required to pay membership fees.

7 - The President, assisted by the members of the Council, presides over the Assembly. The President reports on the activities of the Association and presents the report to the Assembly for its approval. The Treasurer provides a financial report and the two financial assessors submit the balance sheet for the approval of the Assembly. The Executive Council submits a budget and details of contributions for the approval of the Assembly. After discussion of various points on the agenda has been completed, the Assembly proceeds to the replacement of the departing members of the Council. The voting procedure will be decided by the Executive Council. The General Assembly only handles issues which are listed in the agenda. A quorum comprises 10% of the members of the Association. All members have an equal vote. Decisions are taken on the basis of a simple majority vote.

8 - If required, or at the request of one-fifth of the members of the Association, the Chair can summon an Extraordinary General Assembly in accordance with the provisions set out in article 9 of the Statutes.

9 - The Bye-Laws may be amended by decision of a majority of the Executive Council or at the request of at least 10% of the members of the Association. Any such amendment must be approved by the General Assembly.

July 1998