Article 1
Denomination
The Portuguese Political Science Association is a non-profit legal person.
Article 2
Objective
1 – The Association's objective is to contribute to the autonomy and development of Political Science.
2 – In order to achieve this, the Association will promote academic research as well as enable contacts between academic centres and researchers, both at national and international level.
Article 3
Length and Headquarters
The Association is created for an undetermined time and its headquarters located in Lisbon.
Article 4
Members
The Association is constituted by honorary members, permanent members, correspondent members and member members.
1 – 'Honorary members' shall be renowned national or foreign personalities that have either contributed significantly to the Association's objectives or have distinguished themselves as political scientists.
2 – 'Permanent members' shall be scholars that have dedicated themselves to the study of subjects within the Association's scientific scope and whose work justifies their admission.
3 – 'Correspondent members' shall be scholars who have revealed particular interest for Political Science.
4 – 'Associate members' shall be Political Science or International Relations students, or persons who are developing academic work in these areas or in related ones.
5 – The names included in the list annexed to the Association's statutes are of those considered 'founding members'.
Article 5
Loss of member or membership status
1 – The status of associate member or member will be revoked to anyone who:
a) Sends a letter to the Executive Committee stating his/her renounciation.
b) Fails to pay quotas for more than a year.
c) Severely disrespects the rules, objectives and principles of the Association.
2 – The loss of associate member or membership status in terms of point c) of article 5 number 1 can only be declared by the Executive Committee after the deliberation of the General Assembly and must be approved by three quarters of the members in attendance.
Article 6
The organs of the Association
The Association organs are the General Assembly, the Executive Committee and the Fiscal Supervisory Board.
Article 7.
Of the General Assembly
1 – The General Assembly is composed by all permanent members.
2 – The General Assembly must:
a) Elect biannually the President and the Board of the General Assembly, the Executive Committee and the Fiscal Supervisory Board from the Association permanent members.
b) Accept 'honorary members' recommended by the Executive Committee.
c) Assess and vote the general and financial reports of the outgoing Executive Committee.
d) Change the statutes.
e) Decide over the exclusion of members or associate members, if proposed by the Executive Committee or by a group of at least five members.
f) Extinguish the Association.
3 – The rules for General Assembly decisions are:
a) The Assembly can only make decisions on its first convocation if at least half of its members are present.
b) Decisions are taken by absolute majority of attending members' votes, except for the cases bellow.
c) Decisions regarding modification of Statutes demand the favorable vote of three quarters of the attending members.
d) Decisions regarding the extinguishment of the Association demand the favorable vote of three quarters of all members.
e) Decisions regarding the admission of 'honorary members' demand the favorable vote of three quarters of attending members.
f) Decisions regarding member exclusion will only be considered valid if they obtain the vote of three quarters of attending members.
4 – The General Assembly will be chaired by the General Assembly Board, which is formed by its President, Vice-President and Secretary.
5 – The General Assembly Board shall be elected simultaneously with the Executive Committee and Fiscal Supervisory Board.
6 – The General Assembly Chair's duties are:
a) Summon the General Assembly when there is a request by the Executive Committee or a group of at least ten members. The convocation must be made through a written document and mailed to each member at least fifteen days before the scheduled date. The document must contain the day, time and place of the meeting, as well as the agenda.
b) Run the General Assembly.
c) Organize the election of General Assembly's Board, the Executive Committee and the Fiscal Supervisory Board.
Article 8
Of the Executive Committee
1 – The Executive Committee's total number of members must be an odd number, comprising a maximum of eight: one President, which will have a casting vote; one Vice-President, one Secretary, one Treasurer and a maximum of four other members.
2 – The President of the Executive Committee is the President of the Association.
3 – The Executive Committee's term of office is for two years.
4 – The Executive Committee must:
a) Decide regarding the necessary means to fulfil the Association's goals and the time of its completion.
b) Propose the admission of 'honorary members' to the General Assembly.
c) Decide over the admission of 'permanent members' and 'correspondent members'.
d) Determine the dues for 'permanent members' and 'correspondent members'.
e) Request the convocation of a General Assembly and present the performance and financial reports before the election of a new Executive Committee.
f) Propose and declare the exclusion of members in terms of article 5, number 2 and article 7, number 3, point e).
Article 9
Of the Fiscal Supervisory Board
1 – The Fiscal Supervisory Board is composed by one President and two members.
2 – The Fiscal Advisory Board must accompany the Executive Committee's work and present to the General Assembly an opinion regarding the documents mentioned in article 8, number 4, point e).
Article 10
General Provisions
1 – The Association can create specialized sections and working groups, in Portugal and abroad, through an initiative from the General Assembly or the Executive Committee, which will define and approve the respective goals and rules.
2 – The Association can cooperate with institutions and official or private bodies in order to fulfill its programs and projects.
3 – The Association can become a member of international bodies that pursue similar scientific objectives.
Article 11
The property of the Association is composed by:
a) The income from membership fees.
b) Subsidies from national or foreign public or private entities.
c) The contributions, donations, legacies and inheritances made by members or non-members.
d) Income from activities organized by the Association.
e) Income from owned assets.
f) Other income or subsidies.