Constitution

Article 1
Name The Charity shall be named The International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP).

Article 2
Objectives The objectives of the International Society shall be to research in the field of hypertension in pregnancy and to disseminate the useful results of such research and to advance education in the field of hypertension in pregnancy in particular by the provision of bursaries to encourage junior research fellows from under-developed countries to attend Society Meetings.

i. To raise funds and invite and receive contributions provided that no permanent trading activities are undertaken in raising funds for the said objectives.
ii. To do any other lawful thing necessary in furtherance of the above objectives.

Article 3
Membership Membership of the Society will be open to all who have manifested an interest in the study of hypertension and related aspects of pregnancy. Proposal to membership may be made by submission of the appropriate application to the Secretary/Treasurer of the Society. The Secretary/Treasurer shall review the application and is empowered to admit the applicant to membership. A list of all new members admitted shall be presented to the International Council and Biennial General meetings next following. If the decision is made to deny membership, this must be ratified by the President and the Vice President. An appeal against this decision may be made to the International Council meeting next following, when a final decision will be made on a majority vote. who after approval and payment of dues will become regular members with full voting rights at each congress.

The International Council may from time to time establish different classes of members as, for example, by educational background, professional training, current employment, or as supporting memberships including pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, etc. The Council may also classify these memberships, including rights to voting papers, and as full, associate and assistant corporate members. In each instance The Council will establish the rights of all these specific memberships.

Revocation of Membership: The Secretary/Treasurer shall have the discretion to assume the resignation of any member whose dues remain in arrears despite having received three reminders of his/her obligation. Membership shall also cease upon vote of termination of membership by the International Council. A member shall have the right to appeal to the Executive Committee against revocation of membership. The Secretary/Treasurer shall have authority to continue a member on the rolls of the Society upon a showing of special circumstances, and such discretionary action shall be reported to the Council at its biennial meeting.

Resignation: The resignation of any members in good standing will be accepted by the Secretary/Treasurer and Council.
Emeritus Status: A member will become emeritus upon reaching the age of 65 years. He/she will be excused from dues (except any portions related to Journal or Proceedings subscriptions) but will participate in all other privileges of membership. The International Council will have the option to consider on a case by case basis all those who wish to remain active members.

Article 4

Officers, International Council and Executive Committee The International Council will consist of Councillors from each country in which there are at least 6 active members. In addition, members at large may be proposed by the International Council and endorsed by the membership without limits of councillors per country. The International Council will elect the Executive Committee for the ensuing two years, which will comprise: The Officers, Officers Elect, immediate Past President and three additional Council Members.
The role of the International Council shall be to co-ordinate the views and opinions of the members in different countries and to present these views to the Executive Committee. The members of the International Council shall take such steps as may be necessary to determine the views of the general membership in the election of the Executive Committee.

Article 5
National Division Each nation or group of smaller nations which can form a division will be responsible for the activities of the Society in that country.

Article 6
Meetings There will be a General Meeting (Congress) held every two years. In alternate years local national meetings may be held. At the General Meeting at least one Business Meeting will be held to transact business of the Society and to elect officers.

Article 7
Publications The Society will be authorised to publish a scientific Journal, or Proceedings of regular or special meetings. The editor(s) and editorial board will be chosen by the International Council, or, should change be required between Council meetings, by the Executive Committee. A Journal Management Committee shall be appointed by the President, to consist of three Council Members. This Committee shall advise the Editor(s) and Editorial Board on general matters relative to the Journal, and shall be consulted in full before any policy changes relating to the Journal are introduced.

Article 8
Transactions of Business A meeting of the Executive Committee with the International Council to transact business will be held at least once during the General Meeting of the Society.
Further meetings of the Executive Committee may be held during the General Meeting and at other times when called by at least four members of that Committee.

Article 9
Miscellaneous provision The finances of the Society will be resident in the place in which the Secretary/Treasurer resides and will be subject to the tax laws of that country. Where the tax laws of that country so require, it shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to have the Society’s accounts professionally audited. Such audited accounts shall be presented to the Society at each Biennial General Meeting during that Secretary/Treasurer’s term of office. Where such tax laws do not apply, the President shall appoint an Audit Committee of three Council Members. The Secretary/Treasurer shall make available to them all material relevant to the financial affairs of the Society for inspection. The Audit Committee shall report their findings to the Council and Biennial General meeting next following. When the Secretary/Treasurership leaves the United Kingdom, formal notification will be made to the Charity Commissioners.
While the Secretary/Treasurership is resident within the United Kingdom, the signature of two past or present officers of the Society shall be required for all withdrawals.

Article 10
Changes in Constitution Alteration in principle to this Constitution shall receive the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a Biennial or a Special General Meeting. A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Society at least 90 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least 60 days notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the membership. Such proposals shall be considered by the International Council at its next meeting. Their decision to vote shall be communicated to the general membership of the Society at the next General Meeting. A sixty-seven per cent (67%) majority of those in attendance is required to have proposed changes accepted. Provided that no alterations to Article 2 (objects), Article 12 (dissolution) or this clause, shall take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained; and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Society to cease to be a charity in law.

Article 11
Dissolution Amendments of a technical nature may be proposed at an International Council Meeting and, if approved, be put to the Biennial General Meeting immediately following, for ratification. Such an amendment must receive the assent of sixty-seven per cent (67%) of those members present and voting.
Ten or one-third of the members whichever is the greater shall form a quorum at Committee Meetings.
Twenty or one-tenth of the members whichever is the greater shall form a quorum at Biennial General Meetings.

Article 12
Dissolution The Society may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days’ notice shall have been given [to the members]. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.

BY-LAWS
(i) ELECTION AND TENURE OF OFFICERS AND COUNCILLORS:
The President and the Vice President will be elected for one term. The President and Vice President will not be eligible for re-election for a period of at least 2 terms. A term is equal to a time period between two General Meetings. The Secretary/Treasurer will be elected for three terms and will not be eligible for re-election. Other members of the Executive Committee will be eligible for re-election but shall not serve in the same function for more than 1 consecutive term. Members of the International Council may serve without a limit of time.
Any member of the Executive Committee or International Council may be removed by a two-thirds vote of The Council if he/she has missed two consecutive congresses without an approved excuse.

(ii) DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES:
The President shall be the Chief Executive of the Society and will exercise general supervision over the business affairs. He/she will be Chairman of the Executive Committee and an “ad hoc” member of all other committees. The latter function may be delegated to other members of the Executive Committee.
If the President can no longer serve prior to completion of his term, the Vice-President will assume the President’s term.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep minutes of all meetings and be responsible for the records of the Society. He shall also take charge of and be responsible for all funds of the Society and will present a report biannually to the Executive Committee.
The Officers of the Society shall form the Trustees of the Society for purposes of registration as a Charity within the United Kingdom.
International Council. The International Council will determine by ballot the location of the International Congress. Applications must be submitted for ballot at least three years before the meeting.
Members of the International Council will meet at the International Meeting and discuss the general affairs of the Society and will be responsible for electing officers.
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will form a Scientific Committee and may from time to time establish working committees and define their powers, such as groups dealing with nomenclature, advising on special issues, and seeking relationships with other scientific bodies.
All acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be reported back to the Executive Committee as soon as possible.

The business of the Society shall be conducted by the Executive Committee.
Three members of the Executive Committee will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Upon the advice of the Executive Committee the President will designate a local Chairman within the designated country of the upcoming International Meeting. He will be empowered on approval by the Executive Committee to appoint a Committee whose duties will be to organise the meeting and to inform the President and the Executive Committee of their plans not less than one year prior to the date of the meeting. The local group will proceed with final arrangements. Immediate Past President. The immediate Past President shall be a member of the Executive Committee for one term. In addition all Past Presidents shall constitute a committee of honour and advice and their deliberations shall be presented to the International Council at their biennial business meeting.