CSS Statutes

• CSS Statutes
  • Membership
  • Organs
  • The Council
  • Duties of the Council
  • The Executive Committee
  • Duties of the Executive Committee
  • Signing for the Society
  • Finance
  • Amendments

ARTICLE 1

1. The Complex Systems Society, informally CSS, is an association established in accordance with the laws of France.

2. Its seat is in Paris, France. Purpose and nature of activities

ARTICLE 2

1. The purpose of the Society is to promote the development of all aspects of complex systems science in the countries of Europe, in relation with the whole international scientific community

The Society will, in the European context, aim to promote complex systems research (pure and applied), assist and advise on problems of complex systems education, concern itself with the broader relations of complex systems to society, foster the interaction between complex systems scientists of different countries, establish a sense of identity amongst European complexity scientists, and represent the European complexity community at European and international level.

2. To achieve its aims the Society may prepare proposals and motions, make statements, organize courses and seminars, arrange negotiations and meetings, operate as a publisher, award grants and represent its membership, and more generally take all pertinent initiatives of a legal nature to promote the science of complex systems and its applications.

3. The society may, as occasion arises,

• (a) act directly,
• (b) cooperate with other bodies having similar aims,
• (c) set up committees to condiuct its work
• (d) set up subordinate bodies for special tasks.

Membership

ARTICLE 3

1. Members are indivuals who have applied to join the Society and were accepted. The procedures of acceptance are in the By-laws.

2. The Council may enter into reciprocity agreements with other organisations to provide joint benefits to their members.

3. The expulsion of a member shall be by a decision of the Council. The procedure shall be regulated by the By-laws.

4. Members pay registration and membership dues as determined by the Council. The dues may be different for different categories of members, according to the by-laws.

5. Members who fall behind in payment of fees shall, until such fees are paid, forfeit their right to vote and forfeit their right to stand for election to the Council. Members who do not pay their fees may have their membership withdrawn according to the By-laws.

6. Members take decisions by mail or web-based ballot when this is authorized by the Statutes. The procedure shall be regulated by the By-laws.

Organs

ARTICLE 4

1. The organ of the Society with decision-making powers is the Council. The number of members of the Council shall be determined by the By-laws.

The executive organ is the Executive Committee of the Society. The number of members of the Executive Committee shall be determined by the By-laws.

The President will be chair of the Council and of the Executive Committee. If the the President is unable to chair a meeting of the Council or the Executive Committee, either Vice-President may chair it.

The Council

ARTICLE 5

1. Council elections are held every year according to the Statutes and By-laws.

2. Council members shall be elected for a period of three years. A council member may be re-elected according to the By-laws.

3. The Council shall meet at least once every year.

4. The quorum of the Council shall be 50%, subject to the By-laws.

5. Each council member shall have one vote. Decisions will be by simple majority of votes cast, except where larger majorities are required by the Statutes or By-laws.

6. An extraordinary meeting of the Council may be convened at the request of the Executive Committee, or whenever this is requested in writing by not less than 10% of the council members.

7. The Executive Committee shall convene the Council by a letter to each Council member not later than three months before the meeting date. The letter will contain a provisional agenda. Council members may add items to the agenda within the next month.10% of members of the Council may add agenda items at any time up to the meeting.

Duties of the Council

ARTICLE 6

1. The Council is the supreme authority of the organization.

2. A Council meeting will specifically (a) decide on any changes to the the By-laws; (b) determine the registration and membership dues; (c) receive the auditors' reports; (d) confirm the financial statements and, according to a satisfactory auditor’s report, transfer liability from those concerned to the Society; (e) elect the President, the Vice-Presidents and the other members of the Executive Committee; (f) elect the auditors and their deputies; (g) deal with any other matters prepared by the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee

ARTICLE 7

1. The Executive Committee of the Society shall consist of (a) the President of the Society, (b) two Vice-presidents, (c) a Secretary, (d) a Treasurer, (e) n other Committee members, determined by the By-laws.

2. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by the Council members for a period of 3 years. Committee members may be re-elected provided that consecutive service shall not exceed 6 years. The President shall not serve as President for more than one period.

3. The Executive Committee is convened by the President or, in his absence, by a Vice-president.

4. A meeting of the Executive Committee must include the President or a Vice-President.

Duties of the Executive Committee

ARTICLE 8

1. The Executive Committee represents the Society and shall have general charge of all matters concerning the Society. In particular it shall: (a) administer the assets and property of the Society; (b) appoint subordinate committees entrusted with special tasks within the general framework of the Society; (c) prepare the matters to be discussed by the Council meeting and convene the meeting; (d) implement the resolutions adopted by the Council meeting. (e) appoint members of the Society to represent the Society (f) The Executive Committee shall manage the budget of the Society. (g) The Treasurer shall prepare the annual accounts of the Society for the approval of the auditors and the Council.

2. The Executive Committee shall appoint and dismiss the staff of the Society, define their duties and confirm their remuneration.

Signing for the Society

ARTICLE 9

1. The Society is signed for by its President (or a Vice-president), or a Vice-president together with another member of the Executive Committee.

Finance

ARTICLE 10

1. The resources of the Society shall consist of (a) the registration and membership dues paid by the members; (b) possible gifts, bequests and legacies; (c) subsidies or grants which may be awarded to it by public or private bodies; (d) any other resources which may derive from its own activities.

2. The fiscal year shall begin on 1st July each year. The accounts shall be submitted to the auditors by the end of August. The auditors' report shall be submitted to the Executive Committee by the end of September.

3. The Council shall appoint, for each financial year, one of its own members and an independent certified public accountant to audit the accounts of the Society. The auditors will present a report to the Council and this report will be published by the Society to its members. The auditors may at all times require that the books and all relevant documents be presented to them, and they may examine the cash and financial situation.

5. The auditors may be re-appointed.

Amendments

ARTICLE 11

1. Any proposal to amend the statutes or to dissolve or merge the Society shall be sent in writing to all members of the Society at least two months before the meeting of the council which shall decide upon such a proposal.

2. To be approved any such proposal must be passed by two-thirds of the votes cast in the Council.

3. In the event of the Society being dissolved or abolished, any assets remaining after discharge of all debts shall be transferred to a legal body having aims similar to those of the Society.

---