CONSTITUTION of the ASIAN CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION

1. Name

The Asian Crystallographic Association (ASCA) is hereafter referred to as "the Association".

2. Objectives

(a) The objective of the Association is to contribute to, and to promote, the advancement of crystallography and allied subjects in Asia.

(b) To achieve the objective stated above, the Association shall, except in exceptional circumstances, hold a conference (AsCA Conference) every three years and publish a newsletter (AsCA Newsletter). The Association will also actively encourage any other activities that will promote crystallography and allied subjects in the region.

3. Membership

(a) Membership shall be open to those countries and regions (which are hereafter referred to as "countries") within the Asian region bounded by Japan, Korea, China, Pakistan, India, Australia and New Zealand and such other neighbouring countries as may be, from time to time, admitted by the Council.

(b) A member country shall choose, with the approval of the Council, one of the three categories of membership set out in Articles 4(a) and 5(a).

4. Council and Executive

(a) The Association shall be administered by a Council consisting of Councillors from each member country. The number of Councillors from a country and the voting power given to each Councillor shall be in accordance with the membership category, as follows,

Category I II III

Number of Councillors 1 1 2

Total number of votes 1 2 4

The Councillors representing each country shall be appointed by the National Crystallographic Society of that country, or if such an organization does not exist, by the National Committee affiliated with the lUCr. If neither of these bodies exists, the member shall be co-opted by the Executive from among the practising crystallographers in the country.

(b) The Council shall elect a President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer. The Executive Committee consists of those three members elected.

(c) Executive members shall hold office for one three-year term, after which elections shall be held. No member of the Executive shall serve more than three terms. The President shall serve for one three-year term and shall not be eligible for re-election as President.

(d) The Council and Executive shall meet at least once in every three years, preferably at the normal AsCA Meeting. A quorum for meetings of the Council shall consist of not less than one half of the current membership eligible to vote. All members of the Executive must be present at a meeting of the Executive Committee. Notice of meetings of either body shall be circulated to all Councillors at least six months in advance.

(e) If the Councillor for a particular country is unable to attend a meeting of the Council or Executive, an alternate may be appointed by the National Society or National Committee of that country.

5. Finances

The finances of the Association shall consist of the following.

(a) Membership dues in accordance with the category, as follows

Category I II III

Number of unit contributions 0 1 2

The unit contribution, stated in terms of a specific currency, and the category of the member country, shall be approved by the Council at the triennial meeting.

(b) Gifts received by the Association with the permission of the Executive Committee.

(c) In the event of dissolution of the Association, its funds shall be dispersed among the member countries in accordance with their accumulated number of unit contributions.

6. Changes to the constitution

Proposals for changes to the constitution shall be communicated in writing to the President at least six months prior to a Council meeting. A change to the constitution shall require a two thirds majority vote of all those eligible to vote at Council meetings. Voting may be recorded by mail or proxy,