Article 1: Name
The adherents of these statutes hereby found a society whose name is: International Society for Conversation Analysis (ISCA).

1. This corporation is organized exclusively for scientific and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding section of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

Article 2: Purpose

2. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, any of its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the exempt purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

3. Upon the winding up and dissolution of the corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article 3: Address
The official address of the ISCA is Department of Sociology, UCLA, 264 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1551.

Article 4: Goals
The goals of the ISCA are as follows:

1. to promote conversation analysis as an approach to the study of social interaction on a global level.

2. to cooperate with national and regional societies studying language and social interaction

3. to invite and support the institutionalization of conversation analysis as an academic field at universities, research and teaching institutions on all levels

4. to organize regular general conferences (every two or four years)

5. to organize and promote summer/winter schools and specialized meetings on conversation analysis and the broader study of social interaction

6. to support student and faculty training in conversation analysis

Article 5: Affiliations
The ISCA may decide to be affiliated with other international or national associations which support the study of conversation within their cultural context.

Article 6: Membership

1. All persons interested in conversation analysis may join the ISCA as individual members.

2. National associations for language and social interaction research as well as research centers and teaching institutions interested in social interaction may join the ISCA as collective members.

3. The annual dues payable by individual and collective members are set by the Executive Board.

4. All those individuals and collectives who have paid their dues are considered members of the ISCA. Members who do not pay their dues for more than two consecutive years can lose their membership status, based on a decision by the Executive Board.

5. All members are entitled to suggest future Executive Board members, future organization initiatives and Honorary members. Suggestions should be given not later than 8 weeks prior to the General Assembly. Honorary member nominations must be accompanied by a list of 10 supporting members.

Article 7: Financial Resources

1. The financial resources of the ISCA will include the following:

  • revenues from conference organization
  • annual dues paid by individual and collective members
  • extraordinary dues that can be set in order to finance specific projects
  • grants and money gifts
  • inheritances and donations

2. If its financial situation allows it, the ISCA establishes a fund to support and encourage student participation in its conferences, student fellowships and/or career development awards for faculty. The exact conditions (based on socio-economic and/or scientific criteria) for distributing these awards will be decided by the Executive Board or a subcommittee set up by the Executive Board.

Article 8: The General Assembly

1. The General Assembly takes place every 2-4 years, not earlier than six weeks after a formal invitation sent to all members of the ISCA.

2. The General Assembly is made up of the members of the ISCA who are physically present. The quorum is set by the Executive Board

3. The General Assembly is headed by the president of the ISCA. In the case of his/her absence, another member of the Executive Board can be co-opted by the Executive Board as head of the General Assembly.

4. The General Assembly usually meets at each of the general conventions of the ISCA. The agenda and related documents (e.g., lists of standing for vote) are made available to all members at the beginning of the congress.

5. At the General Assembly members of the ISCA should be informed of organization initiatives, nominees for vacant Executive Board posts, nominees for Honorary members, and future training and convention plans.

6. At the General Assembly members of the ISCA should have an opportunity to make recommendations, announcements or criticisms relevant to the organization.

7. Nominees for vacant Executive Board posts will have an opportunity to present themselves during the General Assembly.

Article 9: Voting

1. Voting for vacant Executive Board posts, amendments to by-laws, or approval of Honorary Member nominations will take place within 6 weeks of the General Assembly.

2. Each individual member and each collective is entitled to a single vote.

3. A majority vote will elect Executive Board members.

4. A majority vote will approve Honorary Member nominations.

5. A two-third vote of the ISCA membership is required to approve amendments to the ISCA by-laws or to dissolve the organization.

Article 10: The Executive Board
1. The Executive Board is the executive organ of the ISCA. Its achievements in the realization of the goals of the ISCA are evaluated at the end of its term of office by the Scientific Committee as organized by the Local Organizing Chair.

2. The Executive Board must focus on the global development and promotion of conversation analysis in the study of social interaction.

3. The Executive Board consists of the ISCA President, Vice-President, the immediate Past President, the Secretary, the Finance Officer, the Information Officer and the Local Organizing Committee Chair.

4. When relevant, the serving officers of the Executive Board shall solicit two nominations for officer posts being vacated.

5. The Executive Board should make every effort to secure a representation in nominees from a range of research interests and geographic home.

6. Nominees are contacted by the Board and if willing to serve the nominations are announced at the General Assembly.

7. Voting for vacant Executive Board posts is to be done within 6 weeks of the General Assembly and should be organized by the Executive Board.

8. The officers of the Executive Board are elected for a period of up to four years except for the Local Organizing Chair who is elected by the Local Organizing Committee and should serve until a new Local Organizing Chair is elected.

9. For any individual, the number of consecutive terms served on the Executive Board in a post other than Past President is limited to three. No individual can serve more than one term as President though that individual will automatically accrue to Past President regardless of the number of consecutive terms served on the board. The Past President term does not acount towards term limits.

10. Meetings of the Executive Board are called together and headed by the ISCA President. Between General Assemblies they take place as often as necessary. Upon written request of at least three of its officers a meeting of the Executive Board must be called together by the ISCA President.

11. The Executive Board, in cooperation with the Local Organizing Committee for the ISCA international conference, should appoint a Scientific Review Committee.

12. No Board member may vote upon a matter coming before that body in which he or she has a direct financial interest. Immediately upon becoming aware that such a conflict may exist, a Board member must disclose the existence of the potential conflict to the remaining Board members, withdraw from further deliberation on the issue, and refrain from voting on the matter. Any such disclosure and withdrawal shall be fully documented in the organization minutes.13. The Executive Board may appoint sub-committees to work on particular educational or administrative initiatives.

Article 11: The Scientific Review Committee

1. The local organizers of ISCA conventions should suggest for Executive Board approval, a scientific committee to serve as advisors and peer-reviewers of proposals and abstracts submitted for the convention.

2. The Scientific Committee is primarily responsible for advising on plans for the subsequent ISCA convention. In addition the Executive Board may seek the Scientific Committee’s advice about realizing the goals of ISCA.

3. The members of the Scientific Committee are also expected to promote contacts with their respective countries and areas of conversation analysis.

4. The members of the Scientific Committee can be reelected an unlimited number of times.

5. The Scientific Committee holds office from the time they are approved by the Executive Board until the close of the following ISCA convention.

6. The Local Organizing Chair or the ISCA President can convene a meeting of the Scientific Committee.

7. The Local Organizing Chair of ISCA should file a report after each convention with recommendations and complaints by the Scientific Review Committee based on the review process, the convention, the General Assembly. The report should indicate an assessment of ISCA.

Aritcle 12: ISCA Convention
1. An ISCA Convention should be held every 2-4 years.

2. The Executive Board should solicit proposals to host the convention 2-4 years prior to the next convention. Proposals should include nominations for the local organizing committee, convention facilities options, anticipated costs and possible grant support from the university or other external sources.

3. The Executive Board will determine the site on the basis of cost to members, accessibility, facilities, local organizing support and geographical variety (relative to past years).

4. The local organizing committee should elect a chair who will serve as a member of the Executive Board.

5. The Local Organizing Committee has full control over decisions on plenary speakers and convention organization but the Executive Board and the Local Organizing Committee should work together if there is a suggestion for an associated summer school.

Article 13: Information Access
1. The ISCA Executive Board will ensure that all organization information (by-laws, minutes, assessments, officers, current initiatives, associated training sessions etc.) is accessible to members.

Article 14: Honorary Members
1. Persons who have made an extraordinary contribution to conversation analysis through their scientific work, their organizational achievements or their financial support can be appointed Honorary Members of the ISCA.

2. Honorary Members of the ISCA are entitled to participate in the meetings of the Scientific Committee and Executive Board members and Local Organizing Committee Chairs should solicit their assessments of the organization. Honorary members at any level are not members of the Executive Board.

3. The number of living Honorary Members of the ISCA should not exceed 7.

4. Nominations for Honorary Members can be made by any individual member of ISCA together with the signatures of at least 10 additional members from at least 3 countries.

5. The General Assembly should vote to approve nominations for Honorary Members.

Article 15: Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of ISCA begins January 1 and ends December 31.

Article 16: Amendments
These statutes can be put into force or altered only with a two-thirds majority of the votes of the membership.

Article 17: Dissolution
The ISCA can only be dissolved with a two-thirds majority of the votes of the membership. In this case, the General Assembly will appoint one or more liquidators and any surplus will be dispersed in accordance with American law and law within the State of California governing nonprofit corporations.