Proposed Amendments to the Statutes of the ICLA (July 2025)

The following amendments to the Statutes of the ICLA are proposed by the Executive Council, and are subject to approval by the ICLA membership through the electronic vote that will take place between 10 and 30 July 2025.

The current Statutes can be found at: https://www.ailc-icla.org/statutes/

Proposed Amendment 1

The first paragraph of Article IV currently reads: 

“The Executive Council of the Association: The Executive Council of the Association is elected by the General Assembly, which is made up of the members of the Association in attendance and absent members who have voted by electronic ballot according to the procedure established by the Executive Council.”

To reflect the reality of electronic voting, it is proposed that the current phrasing is replaced with:

“The Executive Council of the Association: The Executive Council of the Association is elected by the Association’s members in good standing, by an electronic ballot according to the procedures established by the Executive Council.”

The question on the ballot paper will be: Do you approve this amendment to Article IV of the ICLA Statutes? [YES / NO / ABSTAIN]

Proposed Amendment 2

The last paragraph of Article VII currently reads:

“The chairs of all committees and the editor of the Association’s official journal are invited to attend meetings of the Council and to take part in its discussions. The chairs of the Standing Research Committees have the additional right to vote on all issues that come before the Council, except for their own reports, on the condition that the General Assembly has ratified their position as chair.”

So as not to hinder the full functioning of Standing Research Committees when their Chairs change between elections, it is proposed that the current wording is replaced by:

“The chairs of all committees and the editor of the Association’s official journal are invited to attend meetings of the Council and to take part in its discussions. The chairs of the Standing Research Committees have the additional right to vote on all issues that come before the Council, except for their own reports, on the condition that the Executive Council has ratified their position as chair.”

The question on the ballot paper will be:  Do you approve this amendment to Article VII of the ICLA Statutes? [YES / NO / ABSTAIN]

Proposed Amendment 3:

Article VIII currently reads:

“Amendments to the Statutes: Amendments to the Statutes may be proposed by the Council to the members of the Association up to two months prior to a General Assembly. The General Assembly has the sole authority to adopt or reject such amendments by a majority of votes cast.

In anticipation of a General Assembly, members of the Association may convey suggestions regarding Association procedures or amendments to the Statutes to the President or one of the Secretaries-General.”

As amendments to the Statutes are confirmed by electronic voting of the full membership, it is it is proposed that the current wording is replaced by:

“Amendments to the Statutes may be proposed by the Council to the members of the Association via an electronic vote, according to the procedure established by the Executive Council. The membership, which consists of members in good standing, has the sole authority to adopt or reject such amendments by a majority of votes cast.”

Do you approve this amendment to Article VIII of the ICLA Statutes?

[YES / NO / ABSTAIN]

Proposed Amendment 4: 

Article X currently reads:

“The Executive Council of the Association is elected by the General Assembly, which is made up of the members of the Association in attendance and absent members who have voted by electronic ballot according to the procedure established by the Executive Council.”

As this repeats verbatim the first paragraph of Article IV, it is proposed that this article be deleted. 

The question on the ballot paper will be:  Do you approve this amendment to [deletion of] Article X of the ICLA Statutes? [YES / NO / ABSTAIN]