Constitution of TCGU

Statute I.  General Articles
1. This Union is formally called the “Chinese Geoscience Union in Taiwan.”
2. This Union is lawfully established as a nonprofit social organization whose main purpose is to promote Geoscience research and academic exchange.
3. This Union is takes the entire region administered by the ROC national government as its organizational region. This Union is established under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior, and its objective is to operate under the Ministry of Education and the National Science Council.
4. This Union office will be established on land belonging to the central government. With the permission of the concerned ministries, this Union can set up branch offices.
5. The mission of this Union includes the following:
  • Promote academic research and extension in Geoscience.
  • Publish and exchange reports of academic research results as well as introductions of Geoscience materials.
  • Liason with concerned domestic and foreign academic organizations and groups.
  • Receive paid commissions from private and public organizations to conduct research on Geoscience related problems.
  • Other matters concerned with Geoscience.
   
Statute II.  Union Membership
1. Anyone able to assist in the Union’s purpose, who is recommended by at least two Union members and is approved by the Executive Board, having paid Union dues, can be a 1) Common Member, 2) Preparatory Member, or 3) Group Member.
  • Common Member: At least 20 years of age, working in Geoscience or related field.
  • Preparatory Member: University or college student majoring in Geoscience or related field, or majoring in a different field but interested in Geoscience.
  • Group Member: Member of a team pursuing research or extension work in Geoscience.
2. As to members (or member representatives) who violate rules in the Union Constitution or don’t observe resolutions passed at Plenary Meetings, the Executive Board will settle the matter either by a warning or by suspending the member’s Union rights. In cases where serious harm is caused to the Union, a Plenary Meeting of Union members can vote to expel the offender.
3. Union member rights are specified as follows:
  • Right to speak at Union meetings and gatherings.
  • Right to elect, right to be elected, right of recall, and right to vote.
  • Right to receive preferential discounts on Union publications and on placing advertisements.
  • Right to receive advice and application assistance on matters brought up by this Union.

Group members should appoint two representatives to exercise their rights. Preparatory members do not enjoy the voting/election rights listed under item b.
4. Union member duties are specified as follows:
  • Abide by Union Constitution and resolutions.
  • Jointly advance development of Union affairs.
  • Pay dues; those who neglect to pay due may have their Union rights suspended temporarily.
   
Statute III.  Organization and Offices
1. The Plenary Meeting of this Union is the highest authority of the Union. When a Plenary Meeting is not in session, the Executive Board is the Union executive authority and the Supervisory Board is the Union auditing organization. When Union membership starts to exceed 300 members, representative areas will be set up and Meetings of member representatives will be arranged to exercise the authority that belongs to the full membership. Representatives can serve terms as to be specified by the Executive Committee, upon approval by the governing authority (Ministry of the Interior).
2. Member (representative member) authority at Plenary Meetings includes the following:
  • Ratify or revise the Constitution.
  • Elect or recall Executive and Supervisory Board members.
  • Set new membership dues, annual membership dues, and amount and style of Union operating budget.
  • Ratify annual work plan, report, budget, and final financial statement.
  • Confirm member (representative member) expulsions.
  • Ratify the disposition of Union property and assets.
  • Ratify the dissolution of the group.
  • Ratify other important matters concerning member rights and duties.
3. This Union establishes the Executive Board with 17 members, and 5 alternates; the Supervisory Board with 5 members, and 1 alternate. Any member (representative member) can vote for any other member (representative member) to serve on the Executive or Supervisory Board. The current Executive Board can issue a name list of nominees to serve on the next Executive and Supervisory Boards. In conducting the next Executive and Supervisory Board member elections, telecommunications technology should be employed, but they need not be employed continuously thereafter. The method of election is to be passed by the Executive Board and approved by the governing authority before being carried out.
4. There will be one Chairman of the Executive Board, to be elected from the Executive Board by the Board members. The Supervisory Board will have one Convener, to be elected from the Supervisory Board by the Board members.
5. Authority of the Executive Board includes the following:
  • Ratify the convention agenda of the Plenary Meetings of members (representative members).
  • Assess member qualifications.
  • Elect or recall Chairman of the Board.
  • Confirm resignation of Chairman of the Executive Board or Convener of the Supervisory Board.
  • Appoint or dismiss staff.
  • Set annual work plan, report, budget and final financial report.
  • Other executive matters.
6. Authority of the Chairman of the Executive Board includes the following:
  • Supervise internal Union matters; represent the Union to outside organizations, run the Plenary Meetings of Union members (representative members) , chair meetings of the Executive Board.
  • When the Chair is indisposed to carry out his duties, he may appoint another Board member to take his place; if he doesn’t appoint anyone, the other Board members may select one of themselves to serve in his place.
  • If the Chairmanship falls vacant, a supplementary election should be held within one month.
7. Authority of the Supervisory Board includes the following:
  • Carry out work of the Supervisory Board.
  • Audit the annual financial report.
  • Elect or recall Supervisory Board Convener.
  • Confirm resignation of Board members or Convener.
  • When the Convener post falls vacant, elect a new Convener within one month.
  • Other important matters of supervisory concern.
8. Executive and Supervisory Board membership terms are for three years; members can be reelected to serve a second term, at most. The terms of the Chairman of the Executive Board and the Convener of the Supervisory Board are for three years, and cannot be extended.
9. Membership on the Executive and Supervisory Boards is not for pay.
10. Members of the Executive and Supervisory Boards lose their positions under the following circumstances:
  • Loss of member (representative member) credentials.
  • By reason of resignation, as confirmed by Executive or Supervisory Board, respectively.
  • If recalled or otherwise removed from office.
  • If receive judgment of cessation of rights, in case the suspension exceeds one half of his or her term.
11. This Union will have one General Secretary to receive directives from the Executive Board concerning Union affairs to be carried out. Several other staff members, to be nominated by the Chairman of the Executive Board, will be appointed on approval by the Executive Board.
12. Nobody can serve on both the Executive and Supervisory Boards at the same time.
13. The Union should establish regulations for all sorts of committees, teams and other groups, to be enacted as specified (or revised) by the Executive Board and approved by the governing authority.
   
Statute IV.  Meetings
1. Member (member representative) Plenary Meetings include two kinds: periodic regular meetings and extraordinary meetings. In both cases, the Chairman of the Executive Board convenes the Meeting and should notify every member in writing at least 15 days prior to the meeting date. The periodic regular meetings are to be held once a year; the extraordinary meetings are to be convened under any of three conditions: 1) when deemed necessary by the Executive Board, 2) when moved by 1/5th of the members, or 3) when requested by the Supervisory Board.
2. Whenever a Union member is unable to attend a meeting in person, he can entrust another person to act as his representative; any member can appoint just one representative.
3. For motions to pass at Plenary Meetings, at least of 1/2 of the members (member representatives) must be present to have a quorum, and at least half of those present must support the motion. Motions of the following sorts will require a 2/3 majority to pass:
  • Ratification or revision of the Union Constitution.
  • Expulsion of a Union member (member representative).
  • Recall of the Chairman of the Executive Board or the Convener of the Supervisory Board.
  • Disciplinary action over improper appropriation or use of Union property or assets.
  • Dissolution of a group.
  • Other important matters concerning Union members’ rights and duties. After the Union is officially registered, revisions of the Constitution should have the support of 3/4 of the members (member representatives) present at a meeting, or the support of 3/4 of all Union members by written consent.
4. The Union Executive Board and Supervisory Board should hold meetings every 6 months. When necessary, they should hold extraordinary meetings, or hold Joint Meetings of the Executive and Supervisory Boards. Meetings of the Executive Board and joint meetings of the Executive and Supervisory Boards are to be called up by the Chairman of Executive Board; meetings of the Supervisory Board are to be called up by the Convener of the Supervisory Board; for resolutions to pass at these meetings, at least half of the Board members must be present to have a quorum, and at least half of those present must support the resolution.
5. Members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board should attend the meetings of their respective Board. They cannot entrust others to attend Board meetings in their place. If a member of the Executive or Supervisory Board misses two consecutive meetings without any good reason, this will be treated as a serious matter, i.e., as cause for resignation from the Board.
   
Statute V.  Union Revenues and Accounting
1. Sources of Union revenues:
  • New member fees: new members should pay a one time fee of NT$100; group members should pay a one time fee of NT$1,000.
  • Annual dues: common members pay NT$300; preparatory members pay NT$100; and group members pay NT$1,000 per year.
  • Professional service fees.
  • Member donations.
  • Income from commissions.
  • Reserve fund and interest.
  • Other income.
2. This Union’s fiscal year lasts from January 1 through December 31 each year.
3. This Union will edit its budget (decision) report soon before (after) the end of each year, to be checked within two months by the Executive Board and ratified by the regular Plenary Meeting of Union members (representative members) and reported to the governing authority (Ministry of the Interior) for approval. If, for some reason, a Plenary Meeting of all Union members (member representatives) cannot be called; if the budget report is passed by the Executive and Supervisory Boards, it can be submitted to the governing authority for approval and afterwards submitted to a Plenary Meeting for ratification. As to the final financial report, it should first be audited by the Supervisory Board; the audit results then should be reported at a Plenary Meeting of the Union members (representative members).
4. When this Union is dissolved, the remaining assets and property shall be disposed of by a self-governing body or an organizational body designated by the governing authority.
   
Statute VI.  Appendices
1. All items in this Constitution that haven’t been enacted are to be enacted according to the prescribed procedures.
2. The bylaws of this Union are to be determined and announced by the Executive Board.
3. This Constitution is to go into effect after being ratified by a Plenary Meeting of Union members (member representatives) and approved by the governing authority; the same holds for revisions to this Constitution.