Chinese

Hong Kong Political Science Association

Constitution

1 Name of Association

The Association is known as the Hong Kong Political Science Association (hereafter called the Association).

2 Objectives

The Association is a non-profit organization. Its objectives are to promote the development and dissemination of political science and closely related disciplines (hereafter referred to simply as political science).

3 Membership

3.1 The Association has five classes of membership:

3.1.1    Regular members

Regular membership is open to scholars or professionals who have a postgraduate academic degree or advanced training in political science and are currently active in teaching and researching political science in Hong Kong.

3.1.2        Associate members

Associate membership is open to scholars or professionals who support the objectives of the Association but are not eligible for regular membership.

3.1.3    Student members

Student membership is open to students studying for a degree in political science.

3.1.4    3.1.4    Institutional members

Institutional membership is open to non-academic bodies that support the objectives of the Association.

3.1.5    Honorary members

With the approval of a two-thirds majority of Council members, honorary membership may be awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development of political science in Hong Kong.

3.2      Applications for membership shall be processed and approved by the Council.

3.3      Appeals on membership classification shall be decided by a simple majority vote in the General Assembly.

4 Governing bodies

4.1 The Association has three types of governing body:

4.1.1        General Assembly

4.1.1.1 The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the Association.

4.1.1.2 The General Assembly is composed of all regular members.

4.1.1.3 The General Assembly shall meet at least once a year.

4.1.1.4 The General Assembly is quorate when one quarter of regular members are in attendance.

4.1.1.5 Decisions in the General Assembly shall be taken by simple majority vote.

4.1.1.6 A meeting of the General Assembly shall normally be announced to all members at least two weeks in advance.

4.1.1.7 All members of the Association may attend meetings of the General Assembly. Voting rights are restricted to regular members.

4.1.1.8 An emergency meeting of the General Assembly may be convened by either the Council or one quarter of regular members.

4.1.1.9 The General Assembly shall elect seven Council members once every two years.

4.1.1.10 Minutes of the General Assembly shall be taken by the Secretary and made available to all members.

4.1.2        Council

4.1.2.1 The Council is the highest governing body of the Association when the General Assembly is in recess.

4.1.2.2 The Council is composed of seven members.

4.1.2.3 Only regular members of the Association are eligible for Council membership.

4.1.2.4 Candidates for Council membership must consent to stand for election and must be nominated by at least five regular members.

4.1.2.5 Council members shall serve for renewable two-year terms, up to a maximum of two consecutive terms.

4.1.2.6 The Council is responsible for conducting the election of succeeding Council members.

4.1.2.7  Between elections Council vacancies shall be filled by co-option.

4.1.2.8  The number of co-opted Council members shall not exceed three.

4.1.2.9  The Council is quorate when four members are in attendance.

4.1.2.10 Decisions in the Council shall be taken by simple majority vote.

4.1.2.11 Council members shall elect among themselves a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

4.1.2.12 Minutes of the Council shall be taken by the Secretary and made available to all members.

4.1.2.13 The Council shall appoint an Honorary Auditor and an Honorary Legal Adviser.

4.1.3    Standing committees

4.1.3.1 The Council shall be responsible for establishing and dissolving standing committees.

4.1.3.2 The Council may be required to establish or dissolve a standing committee by a simple majority in the General Assembly.

4.1.3.3 All members shall be eligible for standing committee membership.

4.1.3.4 Standing committees shall be allowed to co-opt non-voting members.

5 Fees

5.1 Membership fees shall be set by the Council.

6 Financial affairs

6.1 The financial affairs of the Association shall be audited by the Honorary Auditor.

6.2 The duly audited financial affairs of the Association shall be reported to the General Assembly by the Treasurer.

6.3 The financial affairs of the Association shall be approved by the General Assembly on an annual basis.

6.4 The Association shall incur debts only with the approval of a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.

7 Headquarters

The Association’s headquarters shall be determined by the Council.

8 Official languages

8.1 The Association’s official languages are English and Chinese.

8.2 The Association’s Constitution shall be made available in both English and Chinese.

8.3 With the exception of the Constitution, documents may be written and meetings conducted in either English or Chinese.

8.4 With the exception of the Constitution, the Association is not required to translate any document from one official language to the other.

8.5 The Association is not required to provide interpretation at meetings held in either of its official languages.

8.6 At the request of a regular member, motions put to the vote at a General Assembly shall be made available in written form in both official languages by the Council.

9 Amendments

9.1 Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed either by the Council or by petition of at least one tenth of regular members.

9.2 Proposed amendments shall be submitted in English and Chinese.

9.3 Proposed amendments shall be communicated in written form to all regular members at least two weeks prior to a vote.

9.4 An amendment can be passed only by a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.

10 Dissolution

10.1 The Association can be dissolved only by a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.

10.2 Distribution of any remaining assets shall be determined by the General Assembly that dissolves the Association.

English