The Statutes and By-Laws of the International Ornithological Committee were originally prepared by Donald S. Farner, President of the XVII International Ornithological Congress, and adopted at that congress, Berlin 1978, with revisions at the Christchurch 1990, Vienna 1994, and Durban 1998 congresses. They replaced the Règlement des Congrès Ornithologiques Internationaux adopted at the IX International Ornithological Congress, Rouen 1938 and all amendments passed thereafter.

STATUTES

Article I

Objectives and Purposes

The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) (1) promotes international collaboration and cooperation in ornithology and (2) as it deems desirable and useful, encourages international collaboration and cooperation between ornithology and other biological sciences.

To effect these objectives and purposes the IOC sponsors and promotes International Ornithological Congresses; establishes and sponsors commissions and committees as it deems appropriate and desirable; establishes or sponsors other international ornithological activities as it deems appropriate; and functions as the Section of Ornithology of the International Union of Biological Sciences.

Article II

Membership and Functions

1. Size. The size of the membership of the IOC is determined by the Committee, but may not exceed the number specified in the By-Laws (Art. I).

2. Representation. The membership shall be representative of the international distribution of ornithologists, and the number of members from each country shall be proportional to its ornithological activity.

3. Election. New members are elected by the IOC at a regular meeting at the International Ornithological Congress from a list of nominations prepared and presented by the Executive Committee (EC). Proposals for this list can be made by any member of the IOC; they should be in writing with adequate documentation, and submitted to the President and the Secretary at least six months prior to the next congress. Nominees for membership in the IOC must have attended at least one International Ornithological congress which may be the one at which they are elected. Election to the IOC requires a simple majority of the members present and voting.

4. Term. The term of membership is indefinite unless the member resigns voluntarily or is absent from regular meetings of the IOC at two consecutive congresses, which constitutes automatic resignation. Resigned members may be re-elected.

5. Meetings. The IOC meets at least twice during each International Ornithological Congress. The quorum for transaction of business at a regular meeting consists of the members present at the meeting. A member must be in attendance at a meeting in order to cast his vote.

6. Duties. The duties of the IOC are: (a) to select the site of the next congress; (b) to elect new members of the IOC; (c) to elect the President, Vice President, Secretary and any Honorary Officers of the next congress; (d) to elect members of the Executive Committee; and (e) to take actions appropriate and necessary to carry out its stated objectives and functions (Art. I).

7. Special meetings. The President, under extraordinary circumstances may call a special meeting of the IOC, and is obligated to do so on receipt of a petition signed by one-quarter of the members. The date set for a special meeting must permit reasonable time for consideration of the agenda and for travel arrangements. A quorum for a special meeting is one-third of the members of the IOC. Failure to attend a special meeting shall not count toward automatic resignation (Art. II:4).

8. Presiding officer. The President presides at the meetings of the IOC.

9. Communications. Actions of the IOC are communicated to the congress and published either in the proceedings of the congress or in some other publication, as approved by the Executive Committee.

Article III

Officers

A. The President.

1. Election. The President is elected by a simple majority of the members present and voting at a regular meeting of the IOC at an International Ornithological Congress and is not eligible for election to the same office in two successive congresses.

2. Term. The President holds office from the conclusion of the congress at which elected until the conclusion of the following congress.

3. Duties. The President of the IOC also serves as chair of its Executive Committee, as President of the International Ornithological Congress, and (or designates a representative) as Chair of the Section of Ornithology of the International Union of Biological Sciences. The President presides at meetings of the IOC, of its Executive Committee and of the International Ornithological Congress, and appoints committees and commissions (with the exception of the Executive Committee) of the IOC and of the congress. After consultation with the host organization of the congress, the President shall appoint the Secretary-General.

4. Membership in the IOC. Past Presidents are permanent members of the IOC. The immediate Past President is also a member of the Executive Committee.

B. The Vice President.

1. Election. The Vice President is elected, following the election of the President, by a simple majority vote of the members present and voting at a regular meeting of the IOC at an International Ornithological Congress and is not eligible for election to the same office in two successive congresses.

2. Term. The Vice President holds office from the conclusion of the congress at which elected until the conclusion of the following congress.

3. Duties. The Vice President of the IOC also serves as vice chairman of the Executive Committee.

4. Succession. The Vice President shall serve as president of the IOC in case of the inability of the President in office to continue until the completion of the normal term of the President in office.

C. The Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General is appointed by the President (Art. III:A,3) and serves until the end of the congress period as Secretary-General and Treasurer of that congress, having all local and financial responsibilities for the preparation and running of the congress, including publication of the congress proceedings. The Secretary-General may nominate, for Presidential appointment, persons to serve in definite capacities such as treasurer and editor or on various local committees for the congress. The Secretary-General serves ex-officio as a member of the Executive Committee until the end of the successive congress. Past Secretaries-General are permanent members of the IOC.

D. The Secretary.

1. Election. The Secretary is elected, following the election of the President and the Vice-President, by a simple majority of the members present and voting at a regular meeting of the IOC at an International Ornithological Congress, and is eligible for reelection.

2. Term. The Secretary holds office from the conclusion of the congress at which elected until the conclusion of the following congress.

3. Duties. The Secretary shall keep all records of the IOC and its Executive Committee, prepare the agenda of meetings of the IOC and Executive Committee, serve as parliamentarian at these meetings, record and distribute within two months following the congress the minutes of the IOC and the Executive Committee meetings, prepare the published communications of these meetings, deal with communications of the IOC and the Executive Committee as directed by the President, and assist the President and Secretary-General in preparation of the congress. The Secretary is responsible for communicating with and assisting ornithologists of potential host countries in the preparation of invitations for future congresses. The Secretary of the IOC serves as secretary of the Section on Ornithology of the International Union of Biological Sciences. The Secretary is a member of the Executive Committee.

4. Membership in the IOC. Past Secretaries are permanent members of the IOC.

E. Honorary Officers.

The IOC, or the President with the consent of the Executive Committee, may elect honorary officers, such as Patrons, Honorary Presidents and Honorary Vice Presidents, of the congress to recognize the contributions of ornithologists and other persons to the cause of international ornithology. Honorary Presidents and Vice Presidents are members ex-officio of the IOC.

Article IV

The Executive Committee

1. Membership.

a. The President (Art. III:A,3), Vice President (Art. III:B,3), the Secretary (Art. III:D,3), the Secretary-General ex-officio (Art. III:C), the immediate Past-President ex-officio (Art. III:A,4) and the immediate Past Secretary-General ex-officio (Art. III:C) of the IOC until the end of the following congress.

b. An even number of elected members as specified by the By-Laws (Art. III). No more than one of these members may be from a single country. These members shall be elected with proper attention to an adequate international distribution in the Executive Committee.

2. Election. Nomination and election of members of the Executive Committee shall follow election of the President, Vice President, Secretary and any Honorary Officers. Nomination shall be proposed by the existing Executive Committee. Any member of the IOC present at the meeting may make additional nominations. If seconded these are added to the nominations proposed by the Executive Committee. Election of members of the EC is by simple majority vote of members of the IOC present and voting. Elected members are eligible for re-election as an elected member of the Executive Committee for one additional term.

3. Term. The Executive Committee shall serve from the conclusion of the congress at which it is elected to the conclusion of the following congress.

4. Duties.

a. During the inter-congress period, the Executive Committee acts on the behalf of the IOC.

b. During the inter-congress period, the Executive Committee has general responsibility for the scientific policy of the IOC including the program of the Congress, as specified in the By-Laws (Art IV:4).

c. At meetings of the IOC at an International Ornithological Congress, the Executive Committee provides:

(1) Nominations for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Honorary Officers and for the elected members of the Executive Committee.

(2) A recommendation concerning the host country and organization for the ensuing congress after due consideration of all invitations;

(3) Nominations for new members of the IOC with due consideration of Art. II:2;

(4) Recommendations for re-election of members considered to have resigned because of absence from two consecutive meetings, as specified in Art II:4;

(5) Advice and counsel concerning any other matters deemed to be of interest within the purview or among the responsibilities of the IOC.

Article V

Amendment of the Statutes

1. Proposal of amendment. Proposals to amend the statutes require the signatures of at least five members of the IOC from at least three countries, and must be transmitted to the President and the Secretary at least twelve months before the next International Ornithological Congress. The Secretary will distribute the proposed amendments to all members of the IOC at least four months prior to the congress. At the meeting of the IOC at the congress the Executive Committee will present its recommendation on each proposed amendment.

2. Adoption. Adoption of an amendment by the IOC requires two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting. Adopted amendments become effective at the close of the congress.

Article VI

Enabling Clause

Adoption of these statutes requires a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the Existing IOC present and voting at a regular meeting of the International Ornithological Congress at which they are presented, having been distributed to the members prior to that meeting. Adoption of these statutes shall replace the Règlement des Congrès Ornithologiques Internationaux adopted in Rouen in 1938 and all amendments passed thereafter. If adopted, these statutes become effective immediately.

BY-LAWS

Article I

The size of the International Ornithological Committee (IOC)

The membership of the Committee shall not be more than 200. Members over 65 years of age, Past Presidents, Past Secretaries and Past Secretaries-General are not counted in this limit. Members of the IOC must be residents of the country that they represent. Senior Members are permanent members of the IOC and are not subjected to the requirements of Art. II.4 of the Statutes.

Article II

Meetings of the International Ornithological Committee

1. Sufficiently prior to the regular meeting of the IOC at an International Ornithological Congress, the Secretary shall distribute to all members an agenda of the meeting.

2. Members are requested to inform the President and the Secretary of their intention to attend the meeting and/or resign from the Committee.

3. An agenda and information on matters to be covered shall be sent to members with the notice of any special meeting called by the President.

Article III

Membership of the Executive Committee (EC)

In addition to the officers specified in Art. IV of the Statutes, the International Ornithological Committee elects ten members to the Executive Committee in accordance with Art. IV:1,b of the Statutes.

Article IV

The International Ornithological Congresses

1. The frequency of congresses. Congresses will be held at four-year intervals unless, for compelling reasons, the IOC, or the Executive Committee acting on its behalf, deems otherwise.

2. The site and time of congresses. After consultation with the Executive Committee and the host organization, and due consideration of the interests and convenience of the members, the site in the host country and time of the congress are fixed by the Secretary-General.

3. Membership of congresses. Membership in an International Ornithological Congress shall be open to all ornithologists and students of avian biology without distinction as to country of origin upon payment of the stated congress fee, if any. Membership and attendance at a Congress shall be in accordance with the general policies of the International Union of Biological Sciences. Any limitation on the number of active members of a congress may be made by the Secretary-General only after consultation with and agreement by the Executive Committee. Such limitation must be clearly stated in congress announcements. In the case of limitation in the number of active members, provision must be made for associate members which may not be limited in number. Members of the IOC may not be denied a place as an active member upon payment of the congress fee.

4. The scientific program of the congress. After consultation with the Executive Committee and the host organization the President appoints the Scientific Program Committee. This committee consists of three or more members from the host country and members from at least three other countries. The President, Secretary and Secretary-General are members ex-officio of the Scientific Program Committee. This committee is responsible to the Executive Committee for the scientific program of the congress.

5. The organization of the congress. The general organization of, and the arrangements for, the congress are the responsibilities of the Secretary-General.

6. The proceedings of the congress. The Secretary-General is responsible for the publications of the proceedings of the congress, and serves as editor of the proceedings or appoints an editor after obtaining concurrence from the President.

7. Finances of the congress. The Secretary-General is the treasurer and principal finance officer of the congress and as such is responsible for all financial matters of the congress. In consultation with the President, the Secretary General develops the budget and fixes congress fees. After all fiscal obligations have been absolved, any surplus funds, including any from the proceedings, are made available for inter-congress activities, including arrangements for the ensuing congress.

8. Hosting of future congresses. (a) Invitations from countries to host an International Ornithological Congress following the next scheduled congress should be sent to the President, Secretary and Secretary-General no later than six months before that congress. (b) On request, the Secretary-General and Secretary shall provide representatives of intending host countries with information required in their invitation document and with general guidelines for submitting such an invitation.

Article V

Amendment of the By-Laws

1. Proposal of amendment. Proposals to amend the By-Laws require the signature of at least three members from at least three countries and must be transmitted to the President and the Secretary at least twelve months in advance of the next International Ornithological Congress. At least four months prior to the congress, the Secretary shall distribute the proposed amendments to the members of the International Ornithological Committee. At the meeting of the IOC at the congress, the Executive Committee will present its recommendation on each proposed amendment.

2. Adoption. Adoption of the proposed amendments to the By-Laws by the IOC requires a simple majority vote of the members present and voting. Adopted amendments become effective at the close of the congress.

3. Conflict with the Statutes. No amendment of the By-Laws can have the effect of modification of the Statutes.

Article VI

Enabling Clause

Adoption of these By-Laws requires prior adoption of the proposed Statutes, and requires a simple majority vote of the members of the existing Committee present and voting at a regular meeting of the IOC at the congress at which they are presented, having been distributed to the members prior to that meeting. Adoption of these By-Laws shall replace any existing By-Laws and regulations (formal and informal) of the IOC and of the International Ornithological Congresses. If adopted these By-Laws become effective immediately.