By-Laws

(Effective 16 September 2001)

Membership

1.1 New Members will be admitted to the Academy by a majority of the existing members voting in a mail ballot. Charter Members are considered members independently of the process of admission.

1.2 Any member who participates in the affairs of the Academy will be considered as an "Active Member". A member may choose at some later date to withdraw from active participation. He or she will then be reclassified in the category of "Past Member" according to procedures described below. Where such a retiring member has been particularly active in the cause of the Academy he or she may be awarded, by initiative of the Executive Committee, the status and title of Emeritus member.

1.3 Whenever an Active Member has not participated in two consecutive regular meetings without giving notice in advance, or has not responded to three communications from the Secretariat, that member will be invited to transfer to the category of Past Member. In the event of no response he or she will be deemed to have accepted such transfer. The member may be restored to the category of Active Member following a written request to the Executive Committee.

1.4 The current list of Emeritus, Active and Past Members will be maintained by the Secretary.

1.5 The number of Active Members will be limited to one hundred.

1.6 The number of members from any country, though to some extent flexible, will depend on the amount of the country’s nuclear energy related activities. The present member allocation (indicative only) is given in the following list:

  • Group A: (up to 8 members): Canada; France; Germany; Japan; Russia; UK; U.S.
  • Group B: (up to 6 members): Argentina; Belgium; Brazil; Bulgaria; Beijing, China; Cuba; Czech Republic; Finland; Hungary; India; Italy; Kazakhstan; Lithuania; Mexico; Netherlands; Pakistan; Philippines; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa; Republic of Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taipei, China; Ukraine.
  • Group C: (one member) Other countries interested in participating in INEA.

1.7 Candidates for admission must be presented by one Active Member of the INEA plus a member of the Executive Committee.

1.8 A member may resign by informing the Chairman or the Secretary in writing.

1.9 A member may be expelled only on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, and with the approval of a simple majority of the Membership.

Officers

2.1 The term of office of the Chairman shall be two years. The Chairman shall not normally be re-elected for a consecutive period of office.

2.2 The Vice-chairmen will be selected on the basis of excellence and interest, with due consideration to maintenance of the geographical balance essential to an International Academy. For this purpose, the following geographical regions are considered: North America, Latin America, Europe, Far East Asia and Pacific, and At Large Region. Vice-chairmen will also serve for a period of two years. However they may be re-elected up to a maximum of three consecutive terms.

2.3 The Secretary shall be elected for a period of two years, normally coincident with the period of office of the Chairman. The Secretary may be re-elected.

Meetings

3.1 Decisions at regular meetings shall be taken by simple majority of active members present including proxies, the Chairman having a casting vote in the event of a tied vote.

3.2 Proxies may be given only to another INEA Active Member.

3.3 The Annual General Meeting will embrace

  • results of elections
  • reports from the Chairman and from committees
  • resolutions on policies and programmes to be adopted
  • any other appropriate business.

3.4 Special meetings called under Article VI of the Charter will fulfil the following conditions:

  • At least one Vice-chairman will be present and will participate in the meeting.
  • Business shall be confined to items on an Agenda circulated in advance to the Executive Committee and to the general membership.
  • Any conclusions, which will be of an advisory nature, will be reported to the Chairman and to the Executive Committee.

Studies and Publications

4.1 In keeping with Article II of the Charter, the Executive Committee may undertake a study or preparation of a position paper on any issue of current interest to the Academy. Such studies or position papers may be proposed by the Policy Study Committee, the Public Relations Committee, by an Active Member of the INEA, or by officials of the International Nuclear Societies Council. The purpose and objective of such a study or position paper will be clearly stated by the proponent.

4.2 The policy Study Committee of INEA will analyse the proposals for studies and position papers and will recommend to the Executive Committee the corresponding subject, title and study group members who will conduct the work. Any proposed study or proposal to prepare a position paper must be approved by the Executive Committee with a qualified majority (2/3 of voting members). When the Executive Committee has approved a new subject for a study, relevant information will be circulated to all INEA members.

4.3 The study group identified in paragraph 4.2 will be headed by an INEA member, but need not always be composed solely of INEA members.

The group’s report may be submitted for publication in appropriate media, either technical or non-technical. It will be the responsibility of the members of INEA, if they wish so, to arrange for the publication of such studies in their area of influence.

4.4 The Draft Position Paper prepared by the study group shall be circulated for comments to all members of the INEA with no more than two months for comments. The study group shall produce, within two months, a second draft incorporating, so far as possible, all comments received from INEA members. This second draft shall be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval at its immediately following meeting, where further minor modifications may be made if appropriate.

4.5 Position Papers must receive the unanimous approval of all members of the Executive Committee. If approval is obtained by only a qualified majority (two-thirds vote of those present at a valid meeting of the Executive Committee) the paper will be designated as a Report to the INEA.

If no qualified majority favours approval, the subject will be cancelled. However, the Chairman retains the right to refer the paper back to the study group for a further Draft.