STATUTES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Preamble

The International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) unites individual scholars and educators with national and professional organizations to promote an integrative study of the animal organism. The Society will promote co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation between the different specialized fields of zoology, involving both recent and extinct animal taxa. The Society will strive to attain a rational and ethically balanced relationship between humanity and nature.

Name and Domicile

Article 1. The name of the society shall be "The International Society of Zoological Sciences" (Hereinafter referred to as "ISZS"). The legal domicile of the Society shall be at the business address of the secretariat.

Language

Article 2. The official language of ISZS shall be English.

Objectives

Article 3. The objectives of ISZS shall be to function both as clearing house of zoological information and as a voluntary information base for official and non-governmental international organizations in the field of zoological conservation and sustainable management.

Article 4. The ISZS is a professional member of International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) and co-operates fully with the aims of the Union.

Article 5. The ISZS will establish a mechanism on promoting zoological science communication that is based on principles of openness, equity, transparency, non-discrimination while respecting country sovereignty and avoiding interfering with domestic policies.

Article 6. The Society shall be organized and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purpose.

Article 7. To attain these objectives, the society shall:

7.1 organize the International Congresses of Zoology (ICZ) as the pre-eminent forum for interaction among zoological scientists. International Congresses are held every 4 years. During each Congress, the ISZS will review achievements and problems in zoological research during the previous 4 years, recommend further development and trends of zoological research, and identify priority activities of the ISZS in the next 4 years.

7.2 operate a permanent net-site to serve as a medium for discussion, debate and the preparation of congresses. The site will also be a portal for zoological information and advice. The site will be operated over the interregnum between congresses by the Permanent Secretariat but will be directly linked to the host of the next International Congress.

7.3 co-ordinate with and host (as appropriate) the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). The Plenaries of the International Congresses of Zoology will function as an important forum for the wide participation of the zoologists in the activities of the ICZN.

Members

Article 8. Membership of the ISZS shall be as individuals or as organizations (the latter being Corporate Membership). Individual members are those engaged or interested in any aspect of zoological sciences. Corporate member is any international, regional, national, local professional organization involved in the field of zoology.

Article 9. All members, including the appointed representatives of Corporate Members shall have the right to:

9.1 participate in the international zoological congress and other activities of ISZS;
9.2 be informed about the budget and activities of ISZS;
9.3 make suggestions to ISZS;
9.4 exchange zoological information;
9.5 have voting rights at the Congress General Assemblies. Voting on special issues during the interregnum will be on-line.

Article 10. The members shall have the obligation:

10.1 to support and facilitate the objectives, activities and governance;
10.2 to pay the membership fee.

Organization

Article 11. The constituent bodies of the Society are:

a General Assembly;
an Executive Committee;
a Secretariat.

Article 12. The sovereign body of the ISZS is the General Assembly held at the conclusion of each International Congress of Zoology (ICZ). The responsibilities of this General Assembly are to:

12.1 provide for discussion of the general policies and programs of the Society;
12.2 amend the Articles;
12.3 consider matters of general interest to the members;
12.4 nominate and elect the new officers of the Executive Committee and appoint the President.

Article 13. The General Assembly will elect a Permanent Committee of 7 executive members including a President and a Vice-President for the Society and a Vice-President for the Congress.

13.1 Normally, the "incumbent" chair or Secretary General of the past Congress and the chair or Secretary General of the next congress will be members of this Committee. If necessary, the Secretary General of the past Congress and the Secretary General of the next Congress can be appointed to the Executive Committee if they are not available for election at a General Assembly.
13.2 Committees, who are appointed by the President after approval of the Executive Committee, shall work under the direction of the President and the Vice-President.
13.3 The Executive Committee shall not only implement policy and conduct the business of the society subject to approval by committee and General assembly but also ensure continuity of the ISZS during the interregnum between congresses.
    13.3.1 The Executive Committee will actively engage in the business of the ISZS by providing advice to the Secretariat and by contributing to Executive discussions on matters that arise.
    13.3.2 The Executive Committee will endeavor to always represent the Society in a non-sectarian manner. Statements made on behalf of the Society can only be issued under consensus by the Executive Committee.
    13.3.3 The Executive Committee should adhere to the legal framework of the host country where activities of the ISZS are conducted and also to international conventions relevant to the business of the ISZS.
    13.3.4 Without formal approval from all committee members and legal representative of ISZS, no people or member of ISZS is entitled to sign any agreement(s) or contract(s) on behalf of the ISZS which may bring ISZS into any legal, political or religious conflict(s).

Article 14. The ISZS will have a Permanent Secretariat which responsible for routine maintenance (including running the ISZS website, a Newsletter and an International Journal of Zoological Sciences - Integrative Zoology). The web master will serve as the Secretary of the Permanent Committee, without voting right. Location of the Permanent Secretariat will be determined by the General Assembly.

Article 15. Fellowship of the ISZS will be awarded on the recommendation of the Permanent ISZS Committee. The award will be made in recognition of outstanding service to the zoological community over a prolonged period. In order to encourage younger members, fellowship or awards may be granted to zoologists who have made substantial contributions to the Society over the previous 4 years.

Finance

Article 16. The funds of ISZS shall come from:

16.1 membership fees;
16.2 grants;
16.3 gifts and donations;
16.4 other sources approved by the Executive Committee.

Article 17. A separate bank account for the society shall be established. The financial liabilities of the Society shall be limited to its current funds. The Executive Committee shall determine the financial commitments. The Society should anticipate an audit before congresses.

Article 18. The income of ISZS shall not be used for the benefits of its officers, members or private individuals.

Amendment

Article 19. Alterations and additions to the Statutes shall be approved by the General Assembly. During the interregnum between congresses, the Executive Committee may add to or change the Statutes on the agreement of two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee; such additions and alterations must be ratified by the General Assembly at its next meeting.

Dissolution

Article 20. The society may be dissolved on the agreement of two-thirds of the members of the General Assembly. On dissolution the Executive Committee will be responsible for settling the accounts and for disposal of property of the society. The assets of ISZS shall be distributed to one or more organizations with objectives similar to those of ISZS.

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