IAGP: About Us - Constitution

The IAGP's Constitution and By-Laws were last amended in July, 2006 and appear below. They are also available as a document for downloading. For further details, please click here.

ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the organization is the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes, IAGP, and is a registered association in Kreuzlingen, Kanton Thurgau, Switzerland according to Article 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Law

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of the association is to encourage internationally the development and study of group psychotherapy and group process as applied to:

Clinical practice,
Consultancy,
Education,
Scientific studies,
And socio-cultural settings.

The IAGP promotes professional cross fertilization of ideas and practices from different cultures, disciplines and methodologies.

The Association realizes its purpose without any financial interest.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

A.	Individual membership is available to professionals interested in the practice, teaching or research in group psychotherapy and group process whose applications have been approved by the Membership Committee.
B.	Student membership is available to interested individuals enrolled in qualified group psychotherapy and group process training programs.
C.	Organizational Affiliation is available to associations engaged in group psychotherapy and group process.
D.	Life membership is available to individual members who pay their dues by means of a lump sum determined by the Board of Directors.
E.	Membership in the organization is not to be considered as a credential, and membership can not be presented as evidence of competence.

ARTICLE IV - FELLOWSHIP

A.	The title of Distinguished Fellow shall be bestowed upon those members who have offered exceptionally outstanding service to IAGP and to the field of group psychotherapy and group process.
B.	The title of Fellow of the IAGP shall be bestowed upon members of the IAGP who have fulfilled criteria of meritorious service and leadership in IAGP and other related organizations.

ARTICLE V - DUES
The Board of Directors determines the dues and the procedures of Membership and Organizational Affiliation.

The Members shall only be liable for the Association's debts and liabilities to the amount of their dues and subscription fees. Accordingly, for debts of the association, the association's assets shall be the only funds liable.

The Board of Directors determines the dues and the procedures of membership and organizational affiliation.

In case the General Meeting should not have validly determined the dues of membership, they are herewith fixed at CHF 200.-- per Member.

Furthermore, the lump sum determined by the Board of Directors for life membership takes care of such dues once and for all.

Individual Membership or Organizational Affiliation is terminated for dues delinquency of one year and with notice to the Individual Member or Organizational Affiliate of the pending termination.

ARTICLE VI - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The tasks and purposes of the Association shall be fulfilled by the following entities:

- The Board of Directors

- The Officers

- The General Assembly

- The Internal Auditors

The Board of Directors is responsible for the affairs of the Association.

The Board shall consist of thirty one non-salaried members elected by the membership: the five officers forming the Executive Committee, the five chairpersons of sections, the chairperson of the Consultative Assembly of Organizational Affiliates and twenty general members. Previous Presidents are permanently invited to join the meetings of the Board as non voting participants.

Directors may claim expenses pre-approved by the board related to their official role and functions on behalf on IAGP.

Between meetings of the Board of Directors, the affairs of the association are conducted by the Executive Committee.

Any individual member of IAGP is eligible for election to the Board. Each term of office shall be for three years with maximum uninterrupted tenure in office of three terms in succession. After maximum tenure, a Board member will not be eligible for re-election to the Board until one term of three years has elapsed. Serving as a Board member does not count as Officer time in office. Serving as an Officer does not count as Board time in office. Meetings of the Board of Directors will be held at the time of the International Congresses and at such other times as chosen by the Board. A quorum shall consist of not less than 33% of the members of the Board of Directors.

During his/her three-year tenure, a director will be committed to attend, at minimum, one International Congress (not to include the Board meeting attached to the Congress where he/she has been elected) and a minimum of three other Board meetings during any term of administration, except when there are exceptional circumstances. Failure to do so, barring exceptional circumstances, will end his/her term in office. The actions of the Board shall be reported at each general assembly of the membership and annually by mail to each individual member and to each organizational member. Notice of the meeting of the Board of Directors must be given at least sixty days in advance of the meeting. In connection with International Congresses, the Board may designate such honorary officers as it deems appropriate. In addition to the periodic International Congresses, the Board may provide for special or regional meetings and may cooperate with other institutions or organizations for formation of meetings of interest to the membership.

ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS
The officers shall be the President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer who form the Executive Committee.

The members of the Executive Committee are non-salaried volunteers elected by the membership for a three-year term. They may claim expenses pre-approved by the board related to their official role and functions on behalf of IAGP.

The Officers shall cooperate with one another and fulfill their duties in accordance with these Bylaws.

Officers shall be elected by the membership by mail ballot, with the exception of the Immediate past President and they shall each serve for a three-year term. The Secretary and Treasurer may not serve more than two successive terms of office, after which one term of office must elapse before that Officer is eligible for nomination to the same office. Officers shall be nominated from the ranks of present and former Boards of Directors. The President Elect is to be consulted about the nomination of candidates for Secretary and of Treasurer.

Vacancies occurring will be filled by election by the Board of Directors to complete the balance of any unexpired term of office.

One person may not run simultaneously for election for more than one specific role in the Board (i.e. officer, chairperson of a Section, chairperson of the Consultative Assembly of Organizational Affiliates). But one person may run simultaneously for one of these roles and for a role of General Board Member.

A.	PRESIDENT The President shall be the Executive Officer of the Association and shall chair the Board of Directors.
B.	PRESIDENT-ELECT In the event of the disability of the President, the President-Elect shall become President upon the call of the Board of Directors.
C.	SECRETARY The Secretary shall maintain the records of the Association and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
D.	TREASURER The Treasurer shall have custody of all the funds of the Association and will maintain records as required by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall deposit Association funds in such banks as chosen by the Board of Directors. By resolution, the Board shall determine additional signatories and other conditions on disbursements of Association monies. The Treasurer shall maintain full and adequate records of all Transactions with records available for inspection by officers, directors and other inspectors and auditors as required by the law. The Treasurer may be required to give bond for faithful discharge of duties in such amount and with such securities as the Board of Directors may require and present, as specified in Article VIII, at the General Assembly a report approved by two auditors.
E.	RESTRICTIONS The President and the candidates for the roles of President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer shall represent, as much as possible, the diversity of the membership. The President is limited to one term of office and is not eligible for immediate re-election to a succeeding term as President. One term must elapse before he/she is again eligible for nomination for President.

ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS
The membership general assembly shall meet in conjunction with the International Congresses sponsored by the Association and at any specific meeting called by the Board of Directors. At the general assembly, there shall be a report from the President of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer, two auditors and committees. The general assembly may vote to implement changes and to ratify actions of the Board of Directors. A quorum for the conduct of business of a membership meeting shall require the presence of at least 10% of the individual and/or organizational members with the privilege of vote. No individual or organization may cast more than one vote. Notice of the meetings of the general assembly is to be given to voting members not less than sixty days prior to the meeting date. International Congresses shall be scheduled at three-year intervals if possible.

ARTICLE IX - VOTING
In general assembly meetings the privilege of vote shall be accorded to each individual member, recorded as such for more than one year and whose dues have been fully paid for a period of three years, and to the official representative of an affiliated organization whose organization membership dues are fully paid. In any instance where the Board of Directors chooses to defer to mail ballot, the same privilege shall apply. A simple majority vote is sufficient for the passage of an issue.

The officially designated representative of an affiliated organization may attend meetings of the Board of Directors but is not accorded the privilege of vote in such meetings.

ARTICLE X - COMMITTEES
The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, unless otherwise specified herein, appoints committees and chairpersons. If vacancies occur between meetings of the Board, they will be filled by appointment by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee, informing the Board of Directors within sixty days.

A.	EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE As it has been above underlined, this committee is a part of the Board of Directors. It consists of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer. The committee is responsible for conducting the affairs of the Association between meetings of the Board of Directors.
B.	NOMINATING COMMITTEE Shall be comprised of a Chairperson who is appointed by the President, two members who are appointed by the President, and two members who are elected by the membership at large, with attendance by the President-elect, who then consults and participates in the process. They will prepare a slate for Officers and Directors for review and approval by the Board by majority vote. The list of candidates will be presented by mail to all paid-up members of the organization at least 60 days prior to the election. The Nominating Committee will, to the extent possible, seek out a wide array of nominations representative of countries, regions, cultures and specialties in a balanced manner.
C.	CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE This committee shall consist of the Executive Committee and five or more members from the country where the next congress is to be held and any member designated to serve as the presiding official at the next congress. The Congress Committee will, if necessary, specify the title of the presiding official and provide such person with sufficient authority to convene the congress as may be required by national laws. The members form the country of the next congress, assisted by others, will constitute a local arrangements subcommittee to assist with planning the details of the congress.
D.	MEMBERSHIP AND RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE The committee shall consist of a chairperson, appointed by the President, and approved by the Executive and Board Members. Committee members are selected from Sections, organizational affiliates and the individual membership, the number to be at the discretion of the chair and to be representative of the major geographical regions. The committee shall submit to the Board of Directors any measures facilitating the development of the membership and implement them after approval. It shall review both individual and organizational membership applications and submit them to the Board of Directors for approval.
E.	SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS PROGRAM COMMITTEE The committee, appointed by the President in consultation with the Congress Organizing Committee, shall be responsible for planning the content of the next congress, including the scheduling of calls to program participants, special presenters, papers, workshops, panels, plenary sessions, membership meetings, director meetings and special events. They will work closely with the local arrangements subcommittee to coordinate the scheduling of activities.
F.	CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATES This consultative Assembly of Organizational Affiliates will consist of all Presidents or other official representatives of the said and duly paid-up Affiliate Organizations and will convene at each Congress, or more frequently if desired, to provide advisory regional representation in regard to policy and development. It will be chaired by a member of the Board of Directors who is elected specifically to this position by the membership and Co-Chaired by the President of the Association.
G.	SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE Must be appointed by the President-Elect with the consent of the President. The President-Elect is the Chairman of the Committee.
H.	THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
I.	THE FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE The Fellowship Committee will make decisions for appointment of Distinguished Fellows and Fellows of IAGP.
J.	AD HOC COMMITTEE Can be appointed for certain purposes by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee, informing the Board of Directors within sixty days.
K.	GOVERNANCE AND BY-LAWS COMMITTEE The committee will be charged with the study and review of all matters related to the structure of the organization embodied in the Constitution and By-laws. The Chairperson or a member of the committee may act as Parliamentarian to supervise rules of order of discussion and voting at Board meetings upon the call of the President or presiding member.

ARTICLE XI - SECTIONS
The Board may, at its discretion, establish temporary or continuing Sections based on specialized interest. Action to create a Section may be initiated by an application to the Board of twenty-five (25) paid-up members who subscribe to the following principles and conditions:

(a)	Any proposal for a new section has to bring evidences that it increases significantly the membership of IAGP.
(b)	Full conformity with the IAGP Constitution and By-laws. Sections must adopt an identical set of Operating Regulations and elect a Coordinating Committee. The Chairperson of every Section will be a Board member elected as such by the whole IAGP membership. Other board members, including officers, may not concurrently serve on a Section Coordinating Committee.
(c)	Each Section will be open to all paid-up individual IAGP members without imposition of special requirements or training qualifications. There will be only one class of membership. Affiliated organizations cannot be considered members of a Section.
(d)	The Section Coordinating Committees will submit to the IAGP Board an annual report of membership, budget and activities. Sections will utilize the IAGP FORUM for publication and not establish a separate publication without Board approval.
(e)	In case a Section does not fulfill the requirements, it is given a delay of one year to conform to IAGP by-laws. If it persists, the Board of Directors has to make a decision about disbanding this Section.
(f)	The viability of each Section is reconsidered by the Board of Directors every six (6) years. The Section Chairperson shall be accorded voting privileges on the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XII - AUDITORS
The General Assembly shall elect two Internal Auditors of the association who shall audit the society's profit and loss statement and balance sheet and submit a written support as to their findings to the General Meeting for approval.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENT
The constitution and by-laws may be amended at any general assembly meeting of the organization provided that the proper notice of the meeting and proposed amendments have been considered under the requirements in Articles VII and VIII.

ARTICLE XIV - LIQUIDATION
In the case of liquidation of the IAGP, the remaining assets will be transferred to a tax-exempt charitable organization dedicated to similar goals.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
Queries and comments about the above Constitution and By-Laws should be sent to