Articles of ISCAR

April, 2003
July, 2005 (revised)
September, 2005 (approved)

November, 2014 (Articles 1 and 3 revised and approved)

November, 2017 (Article 22 revised and approved)

May, 2025 (Article 1 revised)

 

I. Name and Place of Residence of the Association

Article 1.

The Association is named the International Society for Cultural-historical Activity Research and is domiciled in Tampere, Finland but can also have offices elsewhere.

Article 2.

The Association year and the financial year of the Association coincides with the calendar year.

 

II. Purpose and Means of the Association

Article 3.

The purpose and object of the Association, renamed the International Society for Cultural-historical Activity Research in 2014, is to promote and develop (a) multidisciplinary theoretical and empirical research on societal, cultural and historical dimensions of human practices, such as presented previously at the Congresses of the International Society for Cultural Research and Activity Theory and the Conference for Sociocultural Research, and (b) the interchange of information related to this research among its members and with other Associations throughout the world.

Article 4.

The Association strives to reach the goals stated in Article 3 by:

1. organizing of conferences;
2. promotion of mutual scientific communication and research cooperation between members;
3. cooperation with other Associations and Institutions;
4. publication of a newsletter in paper or/and electronic formats;
5. publication of books;
6. publication of one or more affiliated scientific journals.

III. The Members of the Association

Article 5.

Members of the Association are confined to those individual persons who do research in the topics stated in Article 3. The Executive Committee decides on the conditions for the admission of members. Any problems concerning an individual’s qualification for membership are resolved by the Executive Committee.

Article 6.

The procedure for admission and removal of membership is established by the Standing Orders.

Article 7.

Membership expires with:

1. the member’s death;
2. resignation by the member;
3. resignation by the Association. This will take place when a member has stopped complying with the demands of membership, as described in these Articles, has not fulfilled obligations toward the Association, and when the Association can no longer be reasonably expected to continue the membership; or
4. removal from membership. This can only take place when a member acts contrary to the Articles, Standing Orders, or decision of the Association, or damages the Association in an unreasonable manner.

Article 8.

Resignation by the Association can only be executed by the Executive Committee.

Article 9.

Resignation of membership by the member or by the Association can only take place at the end of the Association year and with a term of notice of four weeks. However, membership can be terminated at once if either Association or member can no longer be expected to let the membership continue. A resignation not according to the previous sentence makes the membership stop at the earliest permitted date following the intended date of resignation. A member is not competent, by means of resigning, to exclude himself from any financial obligation to the Association.

 

IV. Contributions of the Members

Article 10.

Members must pay an annual contribution, which is determined by the Executive Committee.

 

V. Structure and Functioning of the Association

Article 11.

The Association has a Members’ Meeting, an Executive Committee, which includes a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer; Working Groups; and Committees. Standing Orders are specifying Working Groups and Committees.

Article 12.

All members are admitted to the Members’ Meeting. Guests may be invited by the Executive Committee. Suspended members and suspended members of the Executive Committee have no right of admission. The Members’ Meeting is convened by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee must inform the members, according to the procedures described in the Standing Orders at least one month before the meeting. The meeting’s agenda will be included in the notice.

Article 13.

Each member of the Association has one vote. A member may appoint another member as his/her representative comformably to the provisions of the Standing Orders.

Article 14.

A Members’ Meeting must be convened at each international congress organized by the Association. An extraordinary Members’ Meeting can be held if requested by 20 percent (20%) of members, from at least three different countries. Extraordinary meetings will be held according to the procedures described in the Standing Orders.

Article 15.

The following items will always appear on the agenda of the Members’ Meeting:

1. report of the Executive Committee on the activities of the Association;
2. financial report of the treasurer, including the independent audit;
3. advice of the accountants on the accounts of the treasurer;
4. budget estimate for the years up to and including the year of the next congress; and
5. announcement of the next Members’ Meeting.

Article 16.

If not stipulated otherwise in these Articles, all decisions in the Members’ Meeting are made according to the procedures described in the Standing Orders. However, an individual member may always request a recorded valid vote.

Article 17.

The Standing Orders regulate the order of the Members’ Meeting.

VI. The Executive Committee

Article 18.

The Executive Committee will be in charge of governing the Association. The Executive Committee can submit issues for decision at the Members’ Meeting. The Executive Committee will carry out the decisions of the Members’ Meeting and will conduct the Association’s business in the periods between the Members’ Meetings.

Article 19.

The Executive Committee will be competent to enter agreements, to buy, transfer or encumber immovable property, to enter agreements in which the Association stands surety or is co-debtor, makes out a case for a third party or stands security for a third party’s debt. Third parties can appeal and can be appealed against if this approval is lacking.

Article 20.

The Executive Committee consists of members elected by the members at the Member’s meeting. The members of the Executive Committee must be as representative as possible of the nations and regions from which members come, conformably to the provisions in the Standing Orders. Procedures for the election of and term of office for Executive Committee members are regulated by the Standing Orders.

Article 21.

The criteria for membership in the Executive Committee are regulated by the Standing Orders.

Article 22.

The Executive Committee elects, from among their members, the President and Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer conformably to the provisions in the Standing Orders. Each ISCAR Region appoints a Coordinator, who becomes a member of the Executive Committee, liases between the Committee and regional members, and coordinates regional activity in periods between ISCAR Congresses. The Coordinator is determined at a Regional Meeting at each ISCAR Congress, held prior to the Member’s Meeting. All Congress delegates are eligible to attend one Regional Meeting. This is normally based on their country of work (or residence for those not formally employed by a university). Delegates with multiple affiliations or residences may choose one region to belong to. Where nominations are contested, a private ballot will be conducted, chaired by a member not seeking election to the position. Candidates must be nominated by another member, or receive support of another member if they nominate themselves. Each candidate will be given opportunity to make brief comments, followed by questions from members, and concluding remarks by candidates. Ballots will be counted by the chair and an additional member not seeking election, and the result announced by the chair. In the event of the tie, consensus may be reached by alternative methods, or members of the region should ask the outgoing Executive Committee for help to organize a decision procedure. Efforts should be made to reach a decision prior to the Member’s Meeting.

Article 23.

The Association will be represented in all business matters by either:

1. the President;
2. the Executive Committee; or
3. one or more members of the Executive Committee appointed by the Executive Committee on occasions conformably to the provisions in the Standing Orders.

Article 24.

The Executive Committee may, from time to time, be assisted or advised by experts from outside the Association or by other committees on affairs relating to purposes of the Association as defined in Article 3.

Article 25.

It is the duty of the President to preside at all meetings and to perform such other duties as are incident to his or her office, or as may properly be required by simple majority of the Executive Committee. In the case of the death, incapacity, resignation, removal or suspension of the President, the Vice President will be named Acting President, and have all the rights and responsibilities of the President until a new President is elected conformably to the provisions in the Standing Orders.

Article 26.

The Secretary will keep records of all Members’ Meetings and Executive Committee meetings of the Association. It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary to bring to the attention of the Executive Committee and for members of the Association such matters as deemed necessary, to conduct the official correspondence of the Association; to issue official calls and notices of meetings. In the case of the death, incapacity, resignation, removal or suspension of the Secretary, an acting Secretary will be appointed by the President. During its next meeting the Executive Committee will appoint a new Secretary from its members.

Article 27.

It will be the responsibility of the Treasurer to sign such checks or other drafts upon funds of the Association as may be necessary; to execute, seal, and deliver any contracts, deeds, instruments or other documents that shall be required on behalf of the Association by the Articles or by vote of the Association; to have custody of all other property of the Association not otherwise expressly provided for by the Articles and to hold them subject to the order and the direction of the Association; to collect dues and other debts due to the Association by any person whatsoever. The Treasurer will, within a month, exhibit the books and accounts on the request of the Executive Committee, and in general perform all such duties as may be incident to the office or as properly may be required by vote of the members of the Executive Committee at any duly constituted meetings. In the case of the death, incapacity, resignation, removal or suspension of the Treasurer, an acting Treasurer will be appointed by the President. During its next meeting the Executive Committee will appoint a new Treasurer from its members.

Article 28.

Any member of the Executive Committee can be removed from office or suspended by the Executive Committee before the end of the elected period, conformably to the provisions in the Standing Orders.

Article 29.

Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at any time on the request of at least half of the members of the Executive Committee. A quorum at any meeting must consist of two thirds of the Executive Committee. Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of the members of the Executive Committee present at the meeting.

Article 30.

The Executive Committee may delegate all organizational work for scientific meetings, conferences, congresses, symposia and seminars, in whole or in part (and whether that committee acts alone or in co-operation with others) to one or more ad hoc committees, (notwithstanding Article 23 hereof) duly established for such purposes.

Article 31.

The Executive Committee may, for the promotion of co-operation with other associations in the field, appoint members to represent the Association in national or international committees of contact, deliberation or co-operation and invest these members with special powers, but subject always to the provision contained in Article 23 hereof.

Article 32.

The Executive Committee may delegate its duties (either wholly or partially) to one or more committees of members, and notwithstanding Article 23 hereof. The functioning of these committees is regulated by the Standing Orders.

 

VII. The Finances

Article 33.

The pecuniary resources of the Association consist of:

1. contributions of the members;
2. contributions of supporting institutions;
3. donations and legacies;
4. proceeds of publications;
5. subventions;
6. interest; and
7. other profits.

Article 34.

The administration of the pecuniary resources will be checked and reviewed by an independent accountant appointed by the Executive Committee, and the accounts will be reported at each Members’ Meeting.

 

VIII. Articles and Standing orders

Article 35.

Articles will be approved at the Members’ Meeting by at least two thirds of the recorded valid votes.

Article 36.

Modifications in these Articles may be proposed by:

1. the Executive Committee, or
2. a member, with the support of at least 10 percent (10%) of the members, as shown by their signature.

Article 37.

All proposals for changes in the Articles have to be communicated by the Executive Committee in writing to the members, at least one month before the Members’ Meeting.

Article 38.

Every decision to modify the Articles must be taken by at least two thirds of the recorded valid votes at a Members’ Meeting, subject to the provision that a modification will be null and void if less than 20 members vote for the modification. A modification of the Articles will not be valid until it is published on the Association’s website.

Article 39.

For the regulation of matters not determined by the Articles, and for other matters concerning the administration of the Association, the Standing Orders must be consulted.

Article 40.

The Standing Orders can not contain regulations that run contrary to these Articles.

Article 41.

The Standing Orders must be approved at the Members’ Meeting by at least two thirds of the recorded valid votes.

Article 42.

Modifications of the Standing Orders may be proposed by:

1. the Executive Committee, or
2. a member, with the support of at least 25 percent (25%) of the members, as shown by their signature.

Article 43.

Every decision to modify the Standing Orders must be taken by at least two thirds of the recorded valid votes at a Members’ Meeting, subject to the provision that the modification will be null and void if less than 20 of the voting members vote for the modification. A modification of the Standing Orders will not be valid until it is published on the Association’s website.

Article 44.

The Executive Committee may act in any situation that is not provided for in the Articles and Standing Orders. The Executive Committee may issue Executive Orders, as regulated in the Standing Orders.

 

IX. Dissolution of the Association

Article 45.

The Association may be dissolved by a decision of the Members’ Meeting.

Article 46.

Every decision to dissolve the Association must be taken by at least two thirds of the recorded valid votes, subject to the provision that the dissolution will be null and void if at least 20 members vote against the dissolution.

Article 47.

The credit balance after balancing falls to those who are members at the time of the decision to dissolve the Association. They all receive an equal share. In the decision to dissolve, however, another allocation of the credit balance can be given.