BY-LAWS of the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS LAW*
ARTICLE 1Seat and Administrative Offices
The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS LAW (IASL) shall have its seat in Athens. Its administrative offices shall be located concurrently in Athens and at the residence of its President.
ARTICLE 2Purpose
The purpose of the Association is the development of scholarship, research, and education about sports law, including the institution and legal aspects of the Olympic Games. The Associationâs agenda shall be pursued through:
a.the organization of an annual Congress on a general theme of sports law that can comprise more specific topics, taking into account the national, regional, and international dimensions of sports law;
b.Âthe organization of other meetings on subjects relating to sports law and the institutional and legal aspects of the Olympic Games, as well as programs of a broader scope on physical education and athletic competition in the light of international sports law and the Olympic Charter;
c.the production, or cooperation in the production, of scholarly publications relating to these purposes;
d.the maintenance of a databank on significant developments in international sports law and of the IASL web site (www.iasl.org);
e. the organization of resource materials and library collections concerning Sports Law and the Olympic Games;
f.the international collaboration with other natural or legal persons who espouse the same or similar purposes and the creation of sports law associations affiliated with the IASL; and
g. any other legal and proper means.
ARTICLE 3Membership Categories of the Association
The Associations membership shall consist of regular and honorary members.
a.Regular Members.Regular members include natural or juridical persons who are interested in research, teaching, and applications of sports law. Membership is granted upon an applications approval by the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Association after the payment of a registration fee of 20 EURO and the payment of annual dues, under Article 4.
b.Honorary Members.Natural or juridical persons who are donors or benefactors of the Association may become honorary members upon the recommendation of three regular members and the approval of the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 4Financial Obligations
a.Every regular member is obligated to pay annual dues as follows:
|
Membership category |
Dues (in euros) |
|
1. Individuals |
50 |
|
2. Governmental and non-governmental bodies governing sports |
280 |
|
3. International organizations of sports law or sports judges |
160 |
|
4. National non-governmental bodiesof sports law or sports judges |
120 |
|
5.Universities and other institutions |
65 |
b. Dues may be modified from time to time by the BoD.
ARTICLE 5Participation in and Resignation from Activities
Every member has a right to participate in the activities and functions of the Association. All regular members who have paid their dues and other obligations at least one month prior to a General Assembly have the right to vote and to be elected to the offices of the Association during the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 6Obligations of Members
a.Members are obliged to conform to the applicable laws, the aims of the Association, and IASL By-laws, decisions of the General Assembly, and decisions of the BoD.
b.Members are obligated to pay their annual dues.
c.Any member who has failed to pay annual dues, has violated the spirit and the aims of the Association, or has been criminally convicted and sentenced by a court of law will be withdrawn from membership.Â
ARTICLE 7Revenues of the Association
The revenues of the Association consist of: (a) application fees, (b) annual membership dues; (c) donations, bequests, grants, subsidies and other unrestricted contributions made by private or public persons; and (d) payments otherwise for publications and other services.
ARTICLE 8Accounting Year of the Association
The accounting period (fiscal year) of the Association shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE 9Organs of the Association
The Organs of the Association are a) the General Assembly, b) the Audit Committee, c) the Board of Directors, d) the Elections Committee and e) the Standing Committees.
ARTICLE 10The General Assembly
The General Assembly, consisting of all paid-up members, is the Associationâs supreme body. It decides all matters submitted to it and has the general authority to act on any matter regarding the achievement of the Associations purposes. In addition to this general authority, it has the exclusive authority for:
a.approving the budget and financial and other reports of the BoD;
b.Âselecting the host of each annual Congress;
c.electing the members of the BoD;
d.relieving members of the BoD of their responsibilities;
e.amending the by-laws;Â and
f.electing a three-member Audit Committee and a three-member, ad hoc Election Committee.
ARTICLE 11Work of the General Assembly
1. The General Assembly is convened regularly once a year at the time and place of the annual Congress during the last three months of each calendar year. The BoD may convene the General Assembly extraordinarily whenever the BoD so decides or upon a written request, including a proposed agenda, made by two-fifths of the paid-up, regular members.
2. The President of the BoD convenes the General Assembly by a written invitation issued no later than six months before each scheduled session. This invitation shall fix the place, the date, and time of the meeting, and the general matters to be discussed. The general agenda of the meeting must be completed no later than one month before the scheduled session of the General Assembly.
3. A quorum of the General Assembly shall consist of at least one-half of the paid-up, regular members plus one. The General Assembly shall make its decisions by an absolute majority of the members present, except when the by-laws stipulate differently.
4. The BoD shall refer to the General Assembly the following matters for its approval: (a) a report on the state of management as of the current accounting year; (b) a budget for the new accounting year; and (c) an annual report on the present and proposed future activities of the BoD and Association, including the time and place of forthcoming Congresses.
ARTICLE 12The Audit Committee
1. The Audit Committee, consisting of three members, audits the account books and the financial state of the Association and keeps minutes of its acts. The Audit Committee shall submit to the annual General Assembly a report about the Associationâs finances for approval.
2. The Audit Committee shall submit a report indicating in detail the revenues and expenditures of the previous year and a budget indicating the projected revenues and expenditures for the following year at least one month before the scheduled session of the General Assembly for approval at its scheduled session.
ARTICLE 13Standing Committees
1.The standing committees of the Association, each of whose members the General Assembly shall appoint for a term of three years, are these:
a. The Scientific Committee, consisting of six (6) members, each for a term of three years, shall work with the hosts of the annual Congresses that take place during the three-year term and provide advice on publications.
b.The Awards Committee, consisting of three (3) members, shall select the recipient of the Asimnitis Award for contributions to international law and such other awards as the BoD shall establish from time to time.
c.The Executive Committee, consisting of the President, the Vice Presidents, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer having the same term of office as the BoD.
2.Each General Assembly shall also appoint an ad hoc Election Committee, consisting of three (3) members, which shall supervise all subsequent triennial elections.
3.The BoD may establish other committees and set their terms, as may be necessary from time to time to carry out the work of the Association.
ARTICLE 14Board of Directors
1.The BoD sets the policies for the Association, supervises its administration, and serves as final interpreter of the by-laws.
2.Between scheduled sessions of the BoD, the Executive Committee shall handle pending and urgent issues as well as disciplinary matters. Its decisions shall be subject to approval by the BoD.
3.The BoD may appoint and assign responsibilities to an Administrative Assistant.
ARTICLE 15Composition, Election, Initial Meeting, Board of Directors term of office
1. The General Assembly elects the BoD in conformity with the provisions of the present by-laws. The BoD shall consist of fifteen (15) members, including the President; the First, Second, and Third Vice Presidents; the Secretary-General; the Treasurer; the Secretary; and eight (8) additional members, from who Honorary President and Honorary Vice-Presidents may be appointed.
2.The term of office for members of the BoD is three (3) years.
3.Paid-up members may be elected members of the BoD provided that two (2) years have elapsed since the date of their initial registration with the Association.
ARTICLE 16âElection of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee
1. Nominations for the BoD and Audit Committee, as submitted by interested members, shall be announced to the General Assembly. Voting shall be conducted by a common ballot in the General Assembly. Each ballot, provided by the Election Committee, shall include the names of all nominees for the BoD and the Audit Committee. Every paid-up regular member of the Association present in the General Assembly is entitled to vote by a ballot. No proxy votes are permitted.
2. After the voting, the Election Committee shall count the ballots and document the election. It shall also certify the election to the BoD and to the Audit Committee of those candidates who have obtained a majority of the votes.
ARTICLE 17Meetings of the Board of Directors
1. The BoD shall meet regularly every year immediately prior to the annual meeting of the General Assembly during the annual Congress. It may convene an extraordinary meeting on the initiative of its President or a written request by eight (8) of its members, in which case the President must convene the BoD within thirty (30) days from the date of the request. If the President does not do so, the First Vice President may convene the meeting.
2. At any meeting of the BoD, a quorum shall consist of eight (8) members present.
3. Decisions of the BoD are reached by an absolute majority of those present. In case of a tie, the deciding vote shall be cast by the President. Only members of the BoD present at the meeting are entitled to vote. In extraordinary circumstances, the BoD may make decisions by a majority vote through written communications.
4. In case of the death, resignation, or disqualification of a BoD member, that BoD member shall be replaced at the next annual meeting by an eligible member for the remainder of the term of the replaced BoD member.
5. If the regular members of the BoD are less than eight (8) and the number of the alternate members is not up to eight (8), then the General Assembly must be convened by the remaining members in order to vote for a new BoD.
ARTICLE 18âElection of Officers
1. The BoD shall convene to elect each officer by secret ballot, in the following order:Â the President, the Vice Presidents (in numerical order), the Secretary General, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.
2. Election of officers of the BoD shall require an absolute majority of BoD members present. In case a candidate for such office does not obtain the required number of votes, voting must be immediately repeated.
ARTICLE 19The President
The President shall represent the Association before any authority or courts. He or she shall convene, prepare an agenda for, and preside over all regular and extraordinary meetings of the General Assembly and the BoD. Together with the Secretary-General, the President shall sign the minutes of the meetings and correspondence and documents on behalf of the Association. The President shall supervise the by-laws of the Association and be responsible for the execution of the decisions of the General Assembly and the BoD.
ARTICLE 20The Vice Presidents
The Vice Presidents, in numerical order, shall replace the President in case of incapacitation or absence in order of their original designation. From time to time the BoD shall assign each Vice President a responsibility of leadership.
ARTICLE 21The Secretary-General
The Secretary-General shall inform members of the Association of the details of each Congress, record the minutes of the meetings of the BoD and the General Assembly, keep the seal of the Association, and, together with the President, sign correspondence and documents on behalf of the Association.
ARTICLE 22The Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for preparation of the minutes of all General Assembly and BoD meetings as well as publications issued by the Association.
ARTICLE 23The Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect the revenues of the Association, issue and sign receipts bearing the seal of the Association, and make payments pursuant to a payment order signed jointly by the President and the Treasurer and bearing the seal of the Association. The Treasurer shall keep the account books for the Association and any other necessary book.
ARTICLE 24The Seal and Official Languages of the Association
1. The Seal of the Association is round. The title of the Association, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS LAW,is written along its outer margin in English and Greek. The goddess Themis is portrayed in the middle of the seal.
2. The official languages of the Association are Greek, French, and English.
ARTICLE 25Amendment of the By-laws
The General Assembly shall approve the amendment of the by-laws by a majority of three-quarters of the members present at the General Assembly. A quorum shall consist of at least one-half of the paid-up, regular members.
ARTICLE 26Dissolution of the Association
Subject to all legal requirements, the Association may be dissolved by the General Assembly. A proposal to dissolve the Association requires a quorum of three-quarters of the paid-up members and approval by four-fifths of the members present. The General Assembly shall then decide on the manner by which the Associationâs property will be liquidated. This decision requires the approval by one half of the members present.
ARTICLE 27Regulation of Ambiguities in By-laws
The BoD shall resolve any ambiguity in the present by-laws by a majority vote.
ARTICLE 28Approval of By-laws
These by-laws, consisting of twenty-eight (28) articles, were discussed and approved by the General Assembly.
Athens, January 2011
*as amended in Ljubljana in 2006 and in Warsaw in 2009.
