Passed on March 24, 2006 at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Diego, CA, USA; amended March 18, 2011 at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Montreal, Canada

Article 1. Name

This organization shall be known as the Human Rights Section of the International Studies Association (HR-ISA).

Article II. Affiliation

HR-ISA is one of the sections of the International Studies Association and, as such, subscribes to its purposes and supports its activities.

Article III. Purpose

The purpose of HR-ISA is to encourage multidisciplinary scholarship and teaching in the area of human rights. This includes those in the disciplines of political science, law, history, philosophy, economics, sociology, anthropology, and other related fields. It will foster discussion and other interaction between members of the ISA as well as those outside of the ISA with view toward enhancing academic research, policy development and teaching in the broad and varied area of human rights and related issues.

Article IV. Relationships

HR-ISA will establish relationships, and engage in cooperative ventures, with a variety of related organizations around the world which support the purpose of HR-ISA, including academic and policy organizations, journals, publishers and other entities as appropriate.

Article V. Membership

HR-ISA membership is open to all ISA members, subject to payment of yearly section dues. HR-ISA members will be entitled to attend the annual business meeting, vote on amendments to this Charter and other motions at the business meeting, run for section office, and receive section communications, as well as other privileges that may be established by the Section or its Executive Committee.

Article VI. Officers

The elected officers shall consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and four Members-At-Large. The Chair shall serve for two years. S/he shall be elected one year before s/he takes office and will serve as Chair-Elect for that year. The outgoing Chair shall hold the position of Past Chair for one year to assist the new Chair. All other members shall serve two year terms. The Members-At-Large positions will be staggered, such that in one year two Members-At-Large will be elected and in the following year two other Members-At-Large will be elected. The Chair shall appoint one of the Members-At-Large as Treasurer. The Chair shall appoint a Program Chair for the Annual Meeting, who may be a member of the Executive Committee or be another member of the Section. The Chair shall appoint an Elections Officer. The Elections Officer will not be eligible to run for elected office during their tenure. Should the Chair resign or be unable to serve, the Vice-Chair will assume the duties of the Chair until a new Chair is chosen in the next election. Should the Vice-Chair resign or be unable to serve, the Secretary will assume the duties of the Vice-Chair until a new Vice-Chair is chosen in the next election. The Chair shall appoint Acting Officers for those positions that cannot be filled or become vacant until such positions can be filled in the next election. The Lead Editor of H-Human-Rights shall serve on the Executive Committee for the duration of their term as Editor.

Article VII. Structure

The Chair shall act as a liaison with the ISA and other organizations. The Vice-Chair shall be responsible for whatever duties the Chair and Vice-Chair deem appropriate. The Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at the annual business meeting, distributing information to members, and overseeing, by themselves or in conjunction with other members of the Executive Committee, the Section web page. The Members-At-Large shall assist the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary as necessary. The Program Chair shall be responsible for organizing Section panels for the Annual Meeting. The Elections Officer will conduct officer elections for the coming year.

Article VIII. Nominations and Elections

Elections shall be conducted by an Election Officer chosen by the Chair who is not a member of the Executive Committee. Any Section member may be nominated, or may nominate themselves, to the Election Officer. Such nominations should be submitted to the Election Officer by December 15. Elections shall be conducted by electronic ballot, which shall be distributed to the membership by January 15. The deadline for returning ballots shall be February 15 or one week before the start of the Annual Meeting (whichever is earlier in any given year). If not all positions are filled by the electronic election, vacant positions will be filled at the annual business meeting. All positions will be filled by simple plurality.

Article IX. Special Section Activities

Special Section activities will be determined by the Executive Committee of HR-ISA in consultation with the Section membership where appropriate. These initiatives will be publicized via the section e-mail list, the ISA newsletter, and other appropriate outlets.

Article X. Amendments

Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by the Chair or by petition of five members of HR-ISA. Amendments will be voted on at the annual business meeting and shall be ratified by a 2/3 majority of votes cast.