Bylaws

Membership within the AfSC is by country and organisation. Countries that adhere to the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) and are situated within the region defined in Article I are Titular Members. Countries involved in seismology or geosciences within the region defined in Article I but not yet IUGG members may apply to be Affiliate Members of the AfSC. Applications are subject to the approval of the executive Executive Committee. African geoscientific organisations can also apply for Affiliate membership. Titular Members and Affiliate Members form part of the AfSC Council (see Article IV). Titular Members are nominated by their country’s national committee of the IUGG, while Affiliate Members are nominated by an institution or research organisation in their country.

African scientists participating in AfSC activities and scientific assemblies are “individual AfSC members”. Any member who has attended the General Assemblies or participated in other AfSC activities in the past ten years is considered an active individual member.

Titular and Affiliate Members may vote on behalf of their country or organisation on any matter. Individual members may vote only on scientific issues, such as the place and time of a General Assembly or a workshop, but not on administrative matters, such as financial issues, changes to the statutes, or voting for the president. All individual members present at any AfSC General Assembly may vote on the appointment of members of the Executive Committee.

All members are responsible for the dissemination of AfSC information and announcements on a national basis. In the case of absence from a General Assembly, a Titular or Affiliate Member may appoint a proxy and delegate their duties to a compatriot present at the General Assembly or a member of the Executive Committee.

The General Assembly is the period from the Opening Plenary meeting to the Closing Plenary meeting. Scientific sessions and administrative meetings are scheduled during the General Assembly. Anyone interested is invited to take part in the General Assembly.

The AfSC Council decides on the location of the next General Assembly. If the Council reaches no decision, the choice of a place and date is left to the Executive Committee. Letters of convocation for a General Assembly shall be sent to all members of the Council at least three months before the chosen date. An extraordinary General Assembly must be called by the Executive Committee if requested by the President or at least one-third (1/3) of all Council Members.

The ruling body of the AfSC is the Council, consisting of the Members and the Executive Committee.

The Council meets at least once during every General Assembly for elections. Before the Closing Plenary meeting, the Council shall decide on 1. Date and place for the next General Assembly, based on invitations received; and 2. Other matters referred to the Council. All decisions are announced at the Closing Plenary.

The administrative body of the AfSC is the Executive Committee, consisting of:

1. a) Members elected by the Council at each General Assembly: the President, the first and second Vice-Presidents, the Secretary-General, and one additional Executive Committee member.

2. b) Members by right: the immediate Past-President, and a representative of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (IASPEI), delegated by the IASPEI.

The President, the Vice-Presidents, the immediate Past-President, and the Secretary-General shall preferably be from different country affiliations.

The President is eligible only for one administrative period (normally two years). The President shall chair the Executive Committee and the Council and act on behalf of the AfSC by the policies and procedures adopted by the General Assembly and the Executive Committee.

Vice-Presidents are eligible only for one administrative period. Vice-Presidents shall ensure the smooth progress of the activities related to the next General Assembly’s organisation and assume the President’s duties when the President is unavailable.

The Secretary-General shall conduct correspondence, preserve the administrative archives, assist the President and the Vice-Presidents on matters related to the AfSC, and implement or monitor the implementation of the decisions of the Executive Committee.

No person may hold the office of the Secretary-General for more than four consecutive administrative periods.

The immediate Past-President is a member by right of the Executive Committee for one administrative period. The immediate Past-President shall be responsible for improving and expanding the international activities and impact of the AfSC, including its collaboration with other scientific organisations.

The functions of the Executive Committee include:

• To realise the goals and objectives of the AfSC as specified in Article I and act according to the AfSC Bylaws,
• To implement the decisions and policies established by the Council,
• To nominate AfSC representatives in other scientific organisations when needed,
• To enhance the transparency of all AfSC activities, including, not yet limited to, reporting of its activities,
• To prepare the administrative agenda of the next General Assembly and coordinate the scientific programme,
• To prepare new proposals for modification of the Bylaws or internal regulations to be submitted to the Council for approval.

The Executive Committee meets at least once every two years and during the General Assembly. The Executive Committee meeting requires at least half (1/2) of the voting members to be present. A majority vote shall take the decisions. In case of a tied vote, the President’s vote is decisive.

The administrative period is normally two years and comprises the time interval between the Closing Plenary meetings of two consecutive General Assemblies.

The Council elects the Executive Committee and confirms the Members.

The President appoints a chairperson and two tellers to carry out the elections.

A person cannot have more than one vote because of their different offices. Voting by proxy is allowed. The election of the President, the Vice-Presidents, and other members of the Executive Committee are carried out successively. In general, voting is by secret ballot. In cases of foreseen unanimity, voting may be executed by a show of hands.

A simple majority will make all decisions by the Council of the eligible votes. In case of a tied vote, the President’s vote is decisive. For issues other than the election of the Executive Committee, voting by secret ballot is performed only if requested by at least one member.

The members of the Council may cast their vote in writing, by mail or by e-mail.

During the interval between the General Assemblies, with the decision of the Executive Committee, when necessary, mail balloting may be conducted to obtain a Council decision. In such cases, the approval requires two-thirds (2/3) of all eligible votes.

Drafts of proposed amendments must be made available to all Titular and Affiliate Members of the Council before the General Assembly. They must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the Titular and Affiliate Members of the Council with voting power. Suppose a quorum of two-thirds (2/3) of the Titular and Affiliate members of the Council is not obtained. In that case, the same amendments may be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible votes held by the members present during the next General Assembly.

The By-laws may be translated into any language. The English text is the guide for the interpretation of the By-laws. In case of ambiguity, the statutes of the IASPEI will serve as a reference.

The By-laws were approved by the IASPEI Council at its General Assembly in Montreal in July 2019.