CONSTITUTION OF THE EUROPEAN CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS

I. NAME AND STATUS

1. The name of the Chapter shall be "European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics"; it may also be known as "EACL", and hereinafter referred to as "the Chapter".

2. The Chapter is chartered by the Executive Committee of the Association for Computational Linguistics (hereinafter referred to as "the Association") on 18 June 1982 in accordance with Article IV, Section 3, item g of the Association Constitution as amended 17 June 1982.

3. The Chapter is a constituent of the Association and is subject to its Constitution and to all its rules and regulations unless expressly exempted.

II. REGISTERED OFFICE

The Chapter has no registered office at this time. If an office is required, a suitable proposal to amend these Articles will be accepted by the Board.

III. PURPOSES

In addition to those of the Association as expressed in its Constitution, the purposes of the Chapter are:

1. To encourage and facilitate membership in the Association by persons and institutions in Europe.

2. To provide a regional focus for members of the Association in Europe and a source of information on European activities for the Association Executive Committee.

3. To promote cooperation and information exchange among related scientific and professional societies within Europe.

4. To establish banking facilities in Europe which simplify financial transactions with the Association by its European members.

5. To establish distribution facilities for the dissemination of Association and Chapter publications and information materials.

IV. OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATION, AND ELECTIONS

1. The officers of the Chapter shall be a Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer. They shall be elected by the members of the Chapter for a two-year term of office. The Chair-elect will be an ex-officio member of the Chapter Board.

2. The administration of the Chapter shall be the responsibility of the Chapter Board, which consists of the officers, the Chair-elect, and four Chapter members. They shall be elected by the members of the Chapter for a two-year term of office. If vacancies occur, the Board shall appoint replacements, subject to approval by the Association Executive Committee, to serve until the next election.

3. The Chapter Treasurer, under the direct supervision of the Association Treasurer, is empowered to receive, deposit, and disburse funds on behalf of the Association and the Chapter in Europe and, with the Chapter Secretary, to make arrangements for handling the affairs of the Association and the Chapter in Europe. The Chapter Secretary and Treasurer shall provide reports on the activities and finances of the Chapter as directed by the Association Secretary and Treasurer.

4. Except for the Treasurer, no member of the Board may serve more than two terms in any single office, and no longer than six consecutive years on the Board.

5. The Board shall (a) determine the place and time of the Chapter meetings and appoint members to be responsible for organising its programs and for local arrangements; (b) select the editors of any publications prepared for the Chapter: (c) appoint members to various positions and form committees to assist in conducting the activities of the Chapter; (d) fix registration fees for Chapter meetings; (e) select a representative to attend the Association Executive Committee meetings, in cases where the Chapter Chairperson cannot attend. All actions taken by the Board are subject to review by the Association Executive Committee.

6. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of four members, who shall serve a four-year term of office, two elected every two years from among the outgoing Officers and Board. One of the members whose term is about to expire shall chair the Committee.

7. Elections shall be conducted biennially as follows: the Nominating Committee shall by the 1st of September preceding the end of a term of office nominate one person for each position to be filled. The Secretary shall send to the Chapter members notice of these nominations. Additional nominations, supported by at least three members, may be submitted until the 15th of October: evidence must be presented that the nominee will serve if elected. If no additional nominations are received, the Nominating Committee slate shall be declared to be elected. If there is more than one nominee for any position, the Secretary shall send ballots for that position to the Chapter members. A majority vote of the ballots received by the 15th of December will determine the results of such contests. Those elected shall take office on the 1st of January following.

V. MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership in the Chapter is automatic for any member of the Association who resides in Europe, and also until appropriate regional Chapters exist, the Middle East and Africa, and is available to Association members in other regions by application to the Chapter Secretary or Treasurer.

VI. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

1. Should the Chapter have funds administered independently from the Association, its financial year shall coincide with the financial year of the Association. The Administration will be under the obligation to keep such account of the financial position of the Chapter in accordance with the requirements arising therefrom, and to keep the books, records and other data carriers belonging to the accounts in such way that the rights and obligations of the Chapter can be learned at all times.

2. Should the Chapter have funds administered independently from the Association, the Chapter Treasurer will supply a current balance sheet and a statement of assets and liabilities to the Treasurer of the Association quarterly. In addition, once a year, these financial statements will be approved by the Board and signed by the Chairperson, and will form part of a report on the activities and operations of the Chapter.

3. The Secretary and Treasurer will be under the obligation to keep the books, records and other data carriers mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article for ten years. They will ensure that the data is available to the Association during that full period, and within a reasonable time.

VII. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the Constitution must be approved by a majority of the Chapter Board or proposed by not less than ten Chapter members; thereupon circulated to all members of the Chapter and ratified by a majority vote of those members whose ballots are received within two months of circulation. Amendments go into effect upon approval of the Association Executive Committee. Proposed amendments may not be presented at a Board meeting unless notice to the effect that a proposed amendment will be discussed was included in the announcement convening the Board meeting.

VIII. DISSOLUTION

1. If the Board is of the opinion that the Purpose of the Chapter cannot or can no longer be sufficiently realized, the Board may resolve to dissolve the Chapter; such a resolution concerning dissolution shall be passed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article.

2. The Association has the right to disband the Chapter.

3. In case of dissolution, the liquidation shall be effected by the Board members then in office.

4. Should the Chapter have any independently managed funds, any balance of the capital of the dissolved Chapter remaining after settlement of all debts shall be paid to the Association.

(Ratified by Chapter membership 19 June 2001, approved by Association Executive Committee 8 July 2001)