Statutes of the German Association for the Study of English
Disclaimer: this is a translation of an original German legal text. In the event of any discrepancy, the German text shall prevail.
§ 1 Name and Seat
1. The name of the association is ‘Deutscher Anglistenverband’ (German Association for the Study of English).
2. The Association has its seat in Gießen (Germany) where it is to be entered in the Register of Association (Vereinsregister).
§ 2 Purpose of the Association
1. The ‘Anglistenverband’ exclusively and directly pursues charitable aims as specified in the paragraph ‘tax-privileged purposes’ of the German Tax Code. It is the purpose of the ‘Anglistenverband’ to promote academic and didactic activity in the subject of English Studies. The German ‘Anglistenverband’ pursues this goal by fostering academic exchange and relations within German and international English and American Studies, by representing the interests of that discipline and by organising academic conferences.
2. The Association is a charitable organisation; it does not primarily pursue its own financial purposes.
3. Any profits may only be used for purposes stipulated in these statutes. Members receive no payment from the Association’s funds.
4. No individual may benefit either from administrative payments not in accordance with the purpose of the Association or from disproportionately high reimbursements.
§ 3 Membership
1. Persons are eligible for membership when they
a) have a post-doctoral degree (Habilitation) in the subject English Studies (Anglistik,
Amerikanistik) or in one of its sub-subjects at an institution of higher education in
German-speaking countries.
b) hold a PhD in English Studies received from a university in a German-speaking country.
Associate membership with active voting rights can be granted to junior academics
from German-speaking countries who do not possess the required qualification yet.
Members of associations from non-German-speaking countries can become associate members without any active or passive voting rights, insofar as they have the qualifications required for membership.
2. The executive board decides on whether a written membership application of prospective members is accepted. In exceptional cases the executive board decides in consultation with the advisory board.
Membership is terminated by means of
a) notice of resignation in writing
b) expulsion
Termination of membership is to be possible at any time but shall not release members from membership fees for the current fiscal year. Expulsion can be pronounced by the executive board for special reasons, after a majority of members from both the executive board and the advisory board has agreed to the expulsion. Expelled members can file an appeal within 30 days after the reception of the notice of expulsion. The appeal is to be submitted to the subsequent general assembly for a final decision.
§ 3a Honorary Members
Honorary membership in the German ‘Anglistenverband’ can be bestowed for exceptional services rendered to the Association or for excellent services rendered to the field of English Studies. The decision about honorary membership lies with the general assembly; the right of nomination lies with the executive board.
§ 4 Bodies
The statutory bodies of the Association are:
1. the General Assembly
2. the Executive Board
3. the Advisory Board
§ 5 The General Assembly
1. The general assembly is made up of members of the Association in accordance with §3 sec. 1. The general assembly meeting must be held on an annual basis and is called by the executive board. The written invitation, including the agenda, must be submitted to the members at least 30 days prior to the first day of the general meeting.
2. The general assembly meeting makes decisions by majority of the members present. It is particularly responsible for:
a) the election of the Executive Board, the Advisory Board, and the auditor
b) the adoption of the annual budget
c) the ratification of the Executive Board’s acts based on financial and activity reports
d) expulsion of members if an appeal against the expulsion by the Executive Board has been made
3. Changes to the statutes or the dissolution of the Association require a two-thirds majority of all members present at the general assembly meeting.
4. Scheduled amendments to the statutes are to be mailed to the members together with the invitation.
5. If the first round of voting for the election of the Executive Board and the auditor does not produce a simple majority of the members present, then it suffices in the second round of voting to receive the most votes cast.
6. In order to become a member of the Advisory Board, you must receive the majority of votes cast by the members present. In this regard, every member has as many votes as there are Advisory Board members to be elected. Cumulative voting is not accepted.
7. Minutes have to be kept concerning the resolutions and decisions of the general assembly. The minutes have to be signed by two members of the Executive Board.
§ 6 Executive Board
1. The Executive Board consists of the president, the vice-president and the treasurer.
2. The Executive Board is elected by the general assembly for a period of three years by secret ballot. If individual members of the Executive Board leave, the Executive Board maintains its number by the election of additional members until the time of the next general assembly meeting.
3. The Executive Board is responsible for all transactions of the Association.
4. According to Article 26, Paragraph 2 BGB (German civil law code), the executive is the President.
§ 7 Advisory Board
1. The general assembly elects an advisory board of 6-8 members for the duration of 2 years (if possible the Advisory Board should reflect the various subjects of the discipline).
2. The Advisory Board supports the work of the Executive Board and advises it in all general questions. The Advisory Board meets at least once a year, as a general rule though twice a year. The Executive Board has to keep the Advisory Board informed about the work of the Association.
3. Together with the Executive Board, the Advisory Board decides on the expulsion of members, in case of doubt also on their acceptance.
§ 8 Auditing
The audit is conducted by an auditor who is elected by the general assembly and has to report on the results to the general assembly.
§ 9 Membership Fees
The amount of the membership fee is determined by the general assembly. The Executive Board is entitled to reduce or waive membership fees in special cases. Members resident in Germany are obliged to transfer their annual membership fees by direct debit.
§ 10 Dissolution ofthe Association
In the event of the dissolution of the Association or the lapsing of its present purpose, any remaining assets of the association will be transferred to the German Research Foundation (DFG) with its seat in Bonn-Bad Godesberg (Tax Office Bonn-Innenstadt, tax identification number 027/o45c). The German Research Foundation shall use the assets directly and exclusively for non-profit purposes.