Charter

Constitution of the Feminist Theory and Gender Studies Section of the International Studies Association

Article I: Name

This section shall be known as the section on Feminist Theory and Gender Studies of the International Studies Association.

Article II: Purposes

This section will provide a formal structure for scholars who apply feminist theory to International Relations. In addition, those whose interests focus on gender-related topics throughout the field of international studies, including women in development, cross-cultural comparative studies, and security issues are encouraged to participate. The section will provide mechanisms for discussion and exchange about the international dimension of the new scholarship on gender.

 Article III: Relationships

 The section on Feminist Theory and Gender Studies encourages cooperative interactions with caucuses and research groups in other organizations which share its interests or seek its assistance.

Article IV: Membership

 Any member of the ISA who shares the purposes of this section may become a member upon payment of dues. Members are entitled to attend annual meetings, nominate candidates for administrative responsibilities in the section, participate in the formation of consensus, vote, sponsor amendments to this charter, and receive the newsletter and any other publications produced by the section.

 Article V: Officers

 1) Program/Vice Chair, Program/Vice-Chair Elect, and Past Program/Vice Chair, and members of the Executive Committee. Each of these positions will be a one-year term, where the Chair-Elect becomes the Chair and then the Past Chair and the Program/Vice-Chair has a similar cycle.

 2)  The Executive Committee will consist of the Officers enumerated in Article VI, Clause 1, plus up  to six additional faculty members and at least two graduate student members.  The six additional faculty members are elected to two-year terms with three elected each year.  Student members are elected to one-year terms. Officers may be re-elected once.

 3) The chair will preside at the annual business meeting, coordinate Section activities, appoint the chair of the Nominating Committee, convene the Executive Committee as needed, and serve as the Section's spokesperson. The Program/Vice Chair will arrange panels for the annual meeting. One member of the Executive Committee will prepare the Section's newsletter while another will chair the Nominating Committee.

 Article VI: Nominations and Elections

1) A Nominating Committee of three members will be constituted each year. It will be chaired by the designated member of the Executive Committee who will, in turn, select two other members. The Committee will seek nominations and conduct elections.

2) The names of one or more nominees for each vacant position will be made known to the Section membership three months before the annual meeting.

3) Additional nominations sponsored by at least ten members and received by the chair of the Nominating Committee at least two months before the annual meeting will also appear on the ballot.

4) Every effort will be undertaken to ensure that the nominees represent different geographic areas and research perspectives within the Section. If possible, the nominees should include graduate students.

5) Private ballot elections will be held at the annual FTGS business meeting. Voting will be by plurality, with the top vote-getting candidates winning available seats. The chair of the nominating committee will count the ballots supervised by the outgoing section chair

Article VII: Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the section will be held at the annual meeting of the ISA. It shall select new members of the executive committee, propose and consider activities for the section, and decide on policy for the section.

Members are entitled at these meetings to receive reports on the activities of the section and the state of its finances, and to participate in the selection of members for administrative responsibilities and to represent the section in other organizations.

Article IX: Finances

The basic requirements of the section shall be met through member dues and contributions. Dues shall be set by the executive committee.

The section may solicit and receive outside funding, but may use the name of the ISA only with the agreement of its (ISA's) officers.

Members are encouraged to write proposals for outside funding for collaborative research, faculty development, or conference projects consonant with the interests of the section.

Article X: Amendments

Proposals to amend this charter may be submitted to the membership by the executive committee or may be proposed, in writing, by any member at an annual meeting. Amendments will be considered at the annual meeting. They will be adopted if approved by at least 2/3 of the members present at the annual meeting. Amendments shall be forwarded to ISA officers upon adoption.

The charter will be reviewed at the 2014 annual meeting and will be adopted upon a majority vote of those present.

The executive committee will be chosen via nominations from the floor. The members shall decide in advance which method of selection will be used.