Adopted Statutes and Bye-laws of IAHS (most recent amendment July 2023)
Statutes of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences
Definition
1. The International Association of Hydrological Sciences (forthwith the Association) is a constituent body of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). The Association is subject to those Articles of the Statutes and Bye-laws of the Union that apply to associations and also to these Statutes.
Objectives and Activities of The Association
2. The objectives of the Association are as follows:
2.1. To promote the study of Hydrology as an aspect of the earth sciences and of water resources;
- to study the hydrological cycle on the Earth and the waters of the continents; the surface and groundwaters, snow and ice, including their physical, chemical and biological processes, their relation to climate and to other physical and geographical factors as well as the interrelations between them;
- to study erosion and sedimentation and their relation to the hydrological cycle;
- to examine the hydrological aspects of the use and management of water resources, their change and their interactions with human activities;
- to provide a firm scientific basis for the optimal utilization of water resources systems, including the transfer of knowledge on planning, engineering, management and economic aspects of applied hydrology.
2.2. To provide for discussion, comparison, and publication of research results.
2.3. To initiate, facilitate, and coordinate research into, and investigation of, those hydrological problems which require international cooperation.
3. All hydrologists of the world are entitled to participate in the work of the Association.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are particularly encouraged.
4. The Association performs its activities in the framework of the International Science Council (ISC) and IUGG, in cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies and through direct contacts with other international organizations. Any country adhering to the IUGG also adheres to the Association.
Bodies of The Association
5. The Association shall comprise: the Plenary Session, The Plenary Administrative Session, the Bureau of the Association, the Scientific Commissions, the Panels and Working Groups, the Early Career Scientists Committee, the International Association of Hydrological Sciences Limited, and Individual Members. The Association shall maintain contact with the several adhering countries through their National Representatives or National Committees (often subcommittees or sections of the IUGG National Committees) and Regional Committees.
Scientific Commissions: Units of the Association having defined scientific responsibilities in specific hydrological fields or subjects. Divisions are corresponding units of the Scientific Commissions.
Panels and Working Groups: Ad hoc units to report on specific problems, either scientific or administrative.
National Committees: National Committees of IAHS are administrative bodies for maintaining contacts with the Association. They may include representatives to the Scientific Commissions of IAHS.
National Representatives: Each member country of IUGG shall appoint a National IAHS Representative who is responsible for maintaining contact with the Association, taking part in the work of the National Committee of IAHS, if one such is established.
Regional Committees: Regional Committees are administrative bodies which examine subjects of particular concern within specific regions.
Early Career Scientists Committee (ECSC): The ECSC consists of one member for IAHS and one member for each scientific commission. Its role is to foster the cooperation and work of Early Career Scientists.
The International Association of Hydrological Sciences Limited (IAHS Ltd.): This is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales having as part of its Articles of Association objects which are identical to those of this Association and coming within the framework of ISC and IUGG.
Individual Members: Even though membership of IAHS is by country, individuals may request to be registered for so-called individual membership. To qualify for such membership an individual must work in one or more fields of hydrology and endeavour to participate in IAHS activities. The individual members are not permitted to vote on administrative matters.
Plenary Session
6. A Plenary Session of the Association shall be convened in accordance with the Bye-laws of the Union. At least one Plenary Session of the Association shall be held during a General Assembly of the IUGG and during a Scientific Assembly of the Association. Each adhering country may be represented by one or more delegates to the Plenary Session.
6.1. The Plenary Session has final authority on questions of a scientific character.
6.2. The Plenary Session shall consider the state of hydrological sciences, the trends in their development, and questions relating to the organization of symposia on important programmes, taking into consideration the appropriate programmes of other international organizations.
6.3. Each participant present at the Plenary Session shall have one vote on scientific matters.
Plenary Administrative Session and Election of Officers
7. The final authority of the Association in all matters of administration and finance shall be vested in the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association.
7.1. The Plenary Administrative Session shall consist of the President, the President-Elect or immediate Past-President, the Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, the Editor(s), the President or other designee of each Scientific Commission in existence at the time, the Chair of IAHS Limited and one voting delegate from each adhering country, appointed by that country to vote in the Plenary Administrative Session.
A quorum shall consist of the President (or Vice-President acting as President), the Secretary General, or his/her deputy, and voting delegates from at least 10 countries.
7.2. Voting in the Plenary Administrative Session shall be by countries, each country having one vote, with the provision that it has voting rights in IUGG at that time. This voting may be in person, by mail or other electronic means but if the vote has been by mail or other electronic means then the country cannot vote in person at the Plenary Administrative Session again on the same matter. Only those officers of the Association and its Scientific Commissions who are also voting delegates of their countries may vote.
7.3. The Plenary Administrative Session shall elect the President-Elect of the Association, three Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General and the Officers of the Scientific Commissions.
All hydrologists of the world participating in the work of the Association are entitled to stand as candidates for these positions, with the exception of the candidate for the President-Elect of the Association who shall be a citizen or resident of a country adhering to the Union.
The election shall be held during the IUGG General Assembly and/or electronically before the start of the Plenary Administrative Session, in accordance with Articles 7.1 and 7.2, and the Bye-laws.
7.4. The period of office for all Association officers except the President, shall be the interval between elections at two successive IUGG General Assemblies. The President-Elect shall become President, and the President shall become immediate Past-President, two years after the elections at the IUGG General Assembly. If a Scientific Assembly is held during the second year after the elections, the President-Elect shall become President at the beginning of the Scientific Assembly. The term of immediate Past-President shall be from the time the new President takes office to the next election of a President-Elect.
The President and Vice-Presidents may not be elected to two successive terms of the same office. The Secretary General shall be eligible for re-election, but not for more than two additional terms.
The President-Elect shall assume the office of President if this office becomes vacant. If there is no President-Elect the Bureau shall appoint one of the Vice-Presidents to be President.
If the office of the Secretary General becomes vacant between IUGG General Assemblies, acting officers shall be appointed by the President to serve the remainder part of the term.
7.5. The Plenary Administrative Session has the power to form and discontinue Scientific Commissions. Their terms of reference shall be included in the Bye-laws of the Association.
The office of President-Elect, Vice-Presidents and the Secretary of each Scientific Commission shall be established under the same terms as outlined in Articles 7.3. The Presidents of the Scientific Commissions may not be re-elected to two successive terms of the same office. The Vice-Presidents and the Secretary shall be eligible for re-election but for not more than one additional term. The Scientific Commissions have the power to fill vacancies that may occur between elections.
7.6. The Plenary Administrative Session has the power to form and discontinue Regional Committees, which may be formed on the initiative of several National Committees or National Representatives. Their Officers shall be elected by those National Committees, or National Representatives. Regional Committees shall examine hydrological subjects of particular concern to a specific region, and may conduct regional meetings on such subjects.
Each Regional Committee may propose a set of regulations for its organization and governance for approval by the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association.
7.7. The Plenary Administrative Session may elect an Honorary President.
The Honorary President may participate as a non-voting member in any Association meeting, including those of the Bureau, and may be requested by the Bureau to undertake specific tasks in support of the Objectives of the Association.
7.8. In questions involving finance, voting in the Plenary Administrative Session shall be as in Article 7.2, except that upon the request of two voting delegates, the number of votes for each country shall be one greater than the number of its category of membership in the Union as defined in the Statutes of the Union.
7.9. An adhering country not represented at a Plenary Administrative Session may forward its vote on any pertinent item on the agenda, including elections of Association officers, by mail or other electronic means.
7.10. Voting by mail or other electronic means between Plenary Administrative Sessions of the Association can be authorized by the Bureau.
The Bureau and Appointment of Treasurer and Editor(s)
8. The Bureau of the Association shall consist of the President, the President-Elect or immediate Past-President, three Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, the Editor and Presidents of the Scientific Commissions in existence at the time, and the Chair of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences Limited. The immediate Past-President shall remain a Bureau member during the period between the end of his/her office and the election of a new President-Elect. The President shall convene the Bureau at least every other year to guide the affairs of the Association.
At any time there shall be in the Bureau either a President and President-Elect or a President and a Past-President.
8.1 The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Bureau, and shall be eligible for re-appointment without limit. The Editor(s) shall be appointed by the Bureau, and shall be eligible for re-appointment without limit.
Tasks of The President, Secretary General, Treasurer and Editor(s)
9. The President shall be the executive officer of the Association and shall direct its affairs in accordance with the decisions of the Plenary Session of the Association. The President shall be assisted by the Vice-Presidents.
10. The Secretary General, in consultation with the President, shall manage the business of the Association, conduct the correspondence, preserve the official documents and administrative records. The Bureau may authorize the Secretary General to employ administrative and secretarial personnel to assist him/her in the performance of his/her duties to the Association. The Secretary General shall also take any action necessary to ensure that the Objectives of the Association are fulfilled in a manner which complies with the relevant Law governing administration, taxation, Contract and Tort or their equivalent in any country where the Association is operational including the appointment of a person or corporation if required to protect and represent the Association in any such matters and he/she shall be indemnified by the Association in respect of the costs of any such action.
11. The Treasurer, or acting Treasurer, shall collect the funds of the Association and disburse them in accordance with the decisions of the Plenary Session of the Association and the Bureau. He/she shall make previews of the budget of the Association, maintain records of all financial transactions and submit annual reports thereon to the Bureau as required by the Statutes and Bye-laws of IUGG.
11.1. The funds of the Association shall be invested in accounts of the Association. They shall be at the disposal of the Treasurer and the Secretary General as may be deemed necessary and as specified in Article 11, but provisions shall be made to enable the President to transfer the funds or part of them to an acting Treasurer appointed according to Article 8.2.
12. The Editor(s) shall prepare for publication original papers, reviews and other material in the journals of the Association, in a form in accordance with the decisions of the Plenary Session and the Bureau.
Commissions
13. The following provisions shall govern Scientific Commissions that are created under Article 7.4.
13.1. The Scientific Commissions shall keep abreast of their fields of hydrology and determine the trends in research on the most urgent problems of hydrology that are of common interest to many countries. The Scientific Commissions shall study the questions voted by their Plenary Session.
13.2. The Scientific Commissions shall participate actively in the preparation of symposia on appropriate scientific problems.
13.3. The Scientific Commissions shall be styled "International Commission on ...".
13.4. The National Committee (or National Representative) for IAHS of each adhering country may designate one representative on each Scientific Commission and on each Regional Committee with which it desires to affiliate. Such representatives may vote on all administrative and scientific matters before the Scientific Commission or Regional Committee and may correspond directly with the Officers of a Commission or such Committee on all matters of concern to that Commission or such Committee. All participants present at a meeting of a Commission or such Committee may vote on scientific matters.
13.5. While the regulations for all scientific commissions should be as similar as possible, each Scientific Commission may propose a set of regulations for its organization and governance for approval by the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association.
13.6 The Scientific Commissions may establish Divisions and ad hoc working groups to report on specific problems.
Panels, Working Groups and Rapporteurs
14. The Plenary Session or the Bureau may create panels or working groups and appoint rapporteurs to undertake either:
14.1 ad hoc scientific programmes; or
14.2 activities of a pro tempore regional nature; or
14.3 specific administrative or organizational tasks.
The Chair and members of all such groups shall be appointed by the President, to whom they shall report. Such groups shall exist only during the term between two successive IUGG General Assemblies.
Early Career Scientists Committee (ECSC)
One member of the ECSC is appointed by the president of the association. This member shall be the chair of the ECSC. The other members, one for each Commission, are appointed by the presidents of the respective Commissions. The members of the ECSC serve for a term of two years, and reappointment is possible once.
IAHS Limited
15.1. The International Association of Hydrological Sciences Limited shall deal with those matters set out in its Articles of Association (a copy of which shall be held by the Secretary General) and is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Membership of the Limited Company is restricted to Individual Members of the Association. The Limited Company will manage the financial accounts, office, contracts and the publishing programme on behalf of the Association.
15.2. The International Association of Hydrological Sciences Limited shall have as its Board the Secretary General, the President and Treasurer of the Association and those persons appointed by the President. The Chair of the Limited Company will report to the President.
15.3. For the purpose of continuity of administration of the Limited Company, the President shall have absolute discretion regarding the appointment of the Chair and the Board in accordance with article 15.2.
Amendments of Statutes and Bye-Laws
16. Within the framework of these Statutes, the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association shall have the power to adopt or amend Bye-laws by a simple majority.
17. Proposals by adhering countries for a change of any Article of the Statutes must reach the Secretary General at least six months before the date of the meeting at which they are considered by the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association. The Secretary General shall notify all adhering countries of any proposed changes at least four months before the named date.
18. The Articles of these Statutes may be changed only by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast at a meeting of the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association by voting members who are present or who vote by mail or other electronic means, provided that the total number of favourable votes is not less than one-half the number of the members of the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association eligible to vote.
Bye-Laws
Commissions
1. The following Scientific Commissions have been established in accord with Articles 7.5 and 13 of the Statutes:
International Commission on Surface Water
International Commission on Groundwater
International Commission on Continental Erosion
International Commission on Snow and Ice Hydrology
International Commission on Water Quality
International Commission on Water Resources Systems
International Commission on Remote Sensing
International Commission on the Coupled Land-Atmosphere System
International Commission on Tracers
International Commission on Statistical Hydrology
International Commission on Human-Water Feedbacks
The Commissions shall follow the Regulations of the Scientific Commissions. Commission-specific modifications of these regulations are subject to approval by the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association and shall become part of the Bye-laws.
All Commissions will be concerned with natural processes, the interactions of these processes with human activities or with processes, technologies and applications.
Whenever Scientific Commissions are referred to in the Bye-laws, it implies "International Commissions".
2. The several Scientific Commissions shall prepare scientific reviews of the state of research in their respective fields of hydrology, noting achievements and trends, with particular emphasis on significant problems for attack. The reports should be submitted in English.
The report shall reach the Secretary General at least four months before the Plenary Session of the Association, for distribution among the officers of the Association including those of the several Scientific Commissions and among the National Committees, and for publication in the reports of the Plenary Session of the Association. The President of the Association shall introduce these reviews in his/her address to the Plenary Session of the Association, together with his/her recommendations as to the course of research.
3. The Scientific Commissions shall meet at the IUGG General Assemblies and Scientific Assemblies of the Association unless authorized otherwise by the Bureau. A Scientific Commission may also schedule other meetings under the regulations it adopts according to Statutes Article 13.
4. Each Scientific Commission shall show on its stationery or other formal documents its identification with the International Association of Hydrological Sciences.
Nominations and Voting For Office
5. The Bureau shall establish a Nomination Panel of not less than three members at least 10 months before an IUGG General Assembly to receive and consider suggestions and prepare nominations for the following Association officers: the President-Elect, the three Vice-Presidents and the Secretary General.
At least nine months before an IUGG General Assembly the Secretary General shall inform all National Committees via the National Representatives of the membership of the Nomination Panel, asking them to send their nominations to its Chair not later than six months before the General Assembly in order to be considered by the Panel. In addition, there should be an open call for nominations from any IAHS member. On the basis of available nominations from the National Committees via the National Representatives, the IAHS members, and the IAHS Bureau the Panel shall prepare a list of recommended candidates, seeking to promote equality, diversity and inclusion. The Panel may also choose to recommend all nominated candidates.
Each nomination for office must include a résumé of the candidate's qualifications relevant to the office for which the candidate is nominated. A signed statement of the candidate's willingness to stand for office must also be provided. The nomination shall not be considered without submission of the résumé and consent form. A person may be a candidate for more than one office except the candidate for President-Elect who may not be a candidate for any other office of the Association. No one may hold more than one office at the same time.
The list submitted for voting shall contain all nominated candidates and mention the recommendation of the Nomination Panel.
The voting on the list shall be in person by the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association, mail or other electronic means according to Articles 7.2 and 7.3 of the Statutes.
6. Each of the Scientific Commissions shall establish a Nomination Group of not less than three members at least 10 months before an IUGG General Assembly to prepare nominations of Commission officers. It can be the same Nomination Panel as for the Association Officers (Article 5). At least nine months before an IUGG General Assembly the Secretary General shall inform all National Committees via the National Representatives of the membership of these groups, asking them to send nominations to the Chair of the Nomination Panel not later than six months before the General Assembly. In addition, there should be an open call for nominations from any IAHS member. The Chair of the Panel shall furnish each Nomination Group with the names of candidates appropriate to each Scientific Commission. On the basis of available nominations from the National Committees via the National Representatives, IAHS members, and respective Scientific Commissions, each Nomination Group shall then prepare a list of candidates for Scientific Commission officers. The preparation of the list shall be done in consultation with the Panel Chair.
The nominations for Commission officers shall follow the same procedure as that for the Association officers (Article 5) except that the nominee for President-Elect may be a candidate for more than one office.
The voting on this list shall be by the Plenary Administrative Session of the Association, mail or other electronic means according to Articles 7.2 and 7.3 of the Statutes. The results shall be given to the Chair of the Nomination Panel who shall draw up a list of Scientific Commission Officers to be announced at a Plenary Session of the Association in Administrative Session.
6.1. The list of candidates for Association and Commission Officers shall normally contain more than one name for each office. The Chair of the Nomination Panel shall distribute the list to the National Committees at least three months before an IUGG General Assembly.
The list submitted for voting shall include both the candidates recommended by the Panel and the names of all the other nominees submitted.
6.2. Voting on the list of candidates for both Association and Scientific Commission officers shall be done by secret ballot.
To be elected, each candidate must obtain a simple majority of votes. For those offices not filled in the first round of voting, a second round shall be held on the two highest ranking candidates of the first round.
In the case of a draw in the second round, the President shall decide.
National Committees
7. The National Committees or the National Representatives shall disseminate information on the Association within their countries and shall solicit papers for symposia or for publication in the Hydrological Sciences Journal.
8. National Committees shall be invited to present their views on hydrological and water resources research and on matters relating to the management of the Association to the Bureau and the Plenary Sessions, as a contribution to the discussion on future activities of the Association.
9. Where the National Committee for IAHS has not appointed or designated a person or persons to cast its vote as specified by the Statutes in the Plenary Session or at a meeting of a Scientific Commission or other committee, the delegates present are invited to select one of their number for this purpose.
10. The Association should encourage the formation of National Committees for hydrology in all countries that adhere to the Union. Where such National Committees do not exist, de facto or de jure delegates who have attended General Assemblies and symposia of IAHS are invited to petition the National Committee for IUGG to form a national group for discussion of questions before IAHS or its Scientific Commissions or to designate delegations to a General Assembly.
11. National Committees shall designate a delegate to the Plenary Sessions of the Association and each of the Scientific Commissions. The names of such delegates should be given to the Secretary of the pertinent body at least one day in advance of any Administrative Session.
Agenda, Symposia and Publications
12. The Bureau of the Association shall organize the agenda for the Plenary Sessions of the Association.
13. Suggestions for the agenda of the Plenary Session of the Association must reach the Secretary General at least three months before the date of the meeting. However, a question which has not been placed on the agenda may be discussed if a proposal to that effect be approved by two-thirds of the votes of the delegates to the Plenary Session.
14. A Scientific Assembly may be held once during the four-year period between the General Assemblies of IUGG.
15. Symposia for which the Association has primary responsibility (referred to as IAHS symposia in this Bye-law) should meet the following conditions and be accepted by the Bureau:
(i) a subject having an important role in the development of hydrology;
(ii) proposed by a National Committee or by officers of the Association or of its Scientific Commissions;
(iii) a member country expressing readiness to serve as host and presenting evidence of adequate support.
15.1. IAHS symposia (with subject outline) should be announced by the Secretary General not later than 18 months before the date of the symposium.
15.2. IAHS symposia are organized jointly with a relevant organization of the host country and may be supported by or organized in collaboration with other international organizations. Preference shall be given to those symposia where there is evidence of adequate national support.
15.3. IAHS makes an umbrella contract with a professional Conference Organiser, who may be responsible for the administration of the IAHS symposia, the registration, the abstract handling and publication of (extended) abstracts in the Proceedings of IAHS (PIAHS).
15.4. The Association may support or take partial responsibility in symposia of other international organizations according to arrangements formulated through exchange of correspondence and approved by the Bureau.
16. The Editor(s) is/are authorized to arrange for the publication of (a) periodic Journal(s) to provide a line of communication with the world hydrological community.
General
17. The President may invite representatives of the UN specialized agencies or other observers, advisors or consultants to attend Plenary Sessions or meetings of the Bureau, with voice but without vote.
18. The Secretary General shall publish the current Statutes and Bye-laws of the Association.
19. The Secretary General keeps a list of hydrologists who are willing and qualified to participate actively in the work of the Association. These hydrologists are designated as Individual Members of IAHS.
The Secretary General will notify the Secretaries of the Scientific Commissions of the Individual Members interested in their respective Commission.
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