Statutes of The Society of Earthquake Engineering of the Republic of China

CHAPTER ONE             General Provision

Article 1-    This Society is named “The Earthquake Engineering Society of the Republic of China” , duly established under the laws of the Republic of China, for the purpose of non-profit seeking.

Article 2-    The objects for which this Society is established are to conduct academic research on earthquake engineering and to promote the level of seismic resistant design.

Article 3-    This Society creates its head office at the place wherein the central government of the Republic of China is located, and may, if necessary, set up branch offices in various provinces or countries. The standards for setting up branch offices shall be prescribed separately.

Article 4-    the Authority in charge of this Society is the Ministry of Interior Affairs, and the Authorities in charge of businesses operated by this Society are in order the Ministry of Educational affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, the National Science Commission, and the Department of Construction under the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

CHARTER TWO            Functions

Article 5-    The functions of this Society shall be as follows:

1. to study, develop and expand the academy of earthquake engineering as well as the related science and technology.

2.   to collect books, periodicals, laws, regulations and other materials dealing with earthquake engineering for research and development (R&D);

3.   by accepting an entrustment commissioned by the public or private organizations, to study and answer questions arising in academy or in practice in respect of earthquake engineering, and also to render technical consultation services;

4.   to render comments on academy, law, regulations and education in respect of earthquake engineering for the governmental competent authorities to take into consideration and application;

5.   to contact and connect with domestic and/or foreign earthquake engineering groups for the exchange of materials technology;

6.   to publish and circulate magazines, brochure, gazette and a library of books or writings dealing with earthquake engineering, and

7.   to undertake other matters in connection with earthquake engineering.

CHAPTER THREE               Membership

Article 6-    Members of this Society are classified into four types: individual members, sponsoring members, group members and honorable members.

Article 7-    Any one, who has domiciled within the territory of the Republic of China, upholds the objects of this Society and is willing to perform obligations and duties imposed upon a member of this Society, may, through recommendation of two individual members, file application along with evidences of his academic background and experiences meeting requirements and shall become a member of this Society if he is finally approved by the examination of the Board of Directors of this Society and has paid the required membership fees.

Article 8-    Any one, who is engaged in the study of academy or technology, or work in connection with earthquake engineering and has one of the following academic backgrounds and experiences, may apply for becoming an individual member;

1.   who holds a related Ph.D. degree and is engaged in the work of earthquake engineering;

2.   who holds a related Master degree or passed the national examination for seniors or the equivalent  ranks for related sciences, and has worked for more than one year in the field of earthquake engineering;

3.   who passed the national examination for juniors or the equivalent ranks for related sciences, and has worked for more than three years in the field of earthquake engineering;

4.   who graduated from the related science department of a domestic or foreign university of college, and has worked for more than three years in the field of earthquake engineering;

5.   who graduated from the related science department of a domestic or foreign professional schools or the equivalent schools, and has worked for more than three years in the field of earthquake engineering; or

6.   who graduated from the related science department of an industrial high school, and has worked for more than five years in the field of earthquake engineering.

Article 9-    All organizations or departments dealing with earthquake engineering may, through the recommendation of two individual members, become a group member if they are finally approved by the Board of Directors of this Society. The approved group member is required to appoint a representative so as to exercise its member’s rights granted hereunder.

Article 10-  Any person, who has had special contribution to the undertakings or academic studies in respect of earthquake engineering, or to the activities of this Society, may, through the recommendation of five Directors and/or Supervisors with joint signatures by specifying his merits, become an honorable member if he is finally approved by the Board of Directors.

Article 11-  Any one, who upholds the object of this Society and contributes funds or uses other means to sponsor this Society, or joins in undertaking research or related activities with this Society, may become a sponsoring member if he is finally approved by the Board of Directors.

Article 12-  Where any member has committed immoral behavior, damage to the reputation of this Society or has failed to perform a member’s obligation or  duties imposed hereunder shall be subjected to warning or membership suspension resolved by the Board of Directors, or subjected to membership removal resolved by the Members’ Meeting as proposed by the Board of Directors, if his commitment is true and justified as result of investigation conducted by the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors as accused of by other members .

Article 13-  Members of this Society shall enjoy and exercise the following rights:

1.   for individual members: the right of speaking, electing, voting and being-elected.

2. for sponsoring, honorable and group members: the right of speaking.

3. for all members: The rights of attending various activities conducted by this Society.

Article 14-  Members of this Society shall perform the following obligations and duties:

1.   to observe the provisions of the Statutes of  and all resolutions reached by this Society:

2.   to assume offices appointed, or missions assigned, by this Society:

3.   to pay membership fees due and payable: and

4.   to assist in developing and promoting the business of this Society.

Article 15-  Any member who voluntarily intends to withdraw from this Society is required to file with this Society a written application by specifying reasons, and his voluntary withdrawal shall take effect upon the approval of the Board of Directors.

CHAPTER FOUR           Organizations and Duties

Article 16-  Within this Society, the Members’ Meeting is the organ having the supreme power, the Board of Directors is the organ having the executive power, and the Board of Supervisors is the organ having the supervising power.

Article 17-  This Society shall have twenty-three (23) Directors, seven (7) On-Waiting Directors, seven (7)Supervisors, and two (2) On-Waiting Supervisors, to be elected from among members by non-name ballot at a Members’ Meeting or by post voting, and both the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors shall be thus organized. Nine (9) Managing Directors shall be elected from among all Directors, and one (1) Executing Supervisor shall be elected from among all Supervisors. The said post voting can not be conducted consecutively, and no post voting shall be allowed until the proposed post voting has been approved by the Board of Directors and reported to the competent authority for record.

Article 18-  This Society shall have one (1) Chairman to be elected from Managing Directors by all Directors.

Article 19-  All Directors and Supervisors of this Society shall have no rewards.

Article 20-  The term of office for Directors and Supervisors shall be two (2) years but both are eligible twice for re-election, while Chairman is eligible only once for re-election.

Chairman is required to perform duties in the office as the business of this Society seems necessary, and in case of the Chairman’s inability to perform his duty, he may appoint one of Managing Directors to act on his behalf, and in the absence of such an appointment, Managing Directors shall elect one from among themselves to act on behalf of the Chairman. All Directors and Supervisors are required to appear at the meetings of their respective Board, and their failure to appear at meetings without causes shall be handled in accordance with pertinent laws, regulations and Statutes of this Society.

In case the Executing Supervisor shall be unable to perform his duty, he may appoint one of Supervisors to act on his behalf, and in the absence of such an appointment, Executing Supervisors shall elect one from among themselves to act on behalf of the Executing Supervisor.

When Chairman or any of Managing Directors or Executing Supervisors has vacated his office, to elect a new Chairman, Managing Director or Supervisor to fill the vacancy must be held within one month after vacancy occurs.

Article 21-  The office of a Director or Supervisor of this Society shall be removed in any of the following situations:

1.   If a voluntary withdrawal requested by a Director or a Supervisor with reasons beyond his control has been approved by the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors;

2.   If a Director or a Supervisor who had neglected or defaulted his duties has been ordered to be removed by the resolution of the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors;

3.   If a Director or a Supervisor has been recalled or dismissed; and

4.   If a Director or a Supervisor who failed to appear for two consecutive meetings of his Board has been deemed to have a voluntary withdrawal.

Article 22-  Some counsellors may be retained by the Board of Directors when it seems necessary.

Article 23-  Various committees under this Society may be set up to meet the needs of doing research, development, etc. The basic measures for setting up such committees shall be determined by the Board of Directors, and shall become effective upon the approval or ratification of the competent authority.

Article 24-  This Society shall have one secretary general to be nominated by the Chairman and then retained after both the Board of Directors and the competent authority have approved the nomination. This Society may set up various sections to deal with business as case may be. Each section shall have one chief to be nominated by the secretary general and then retained after the approval of the Chairman, and the chief’s removal from office shall take place in same manner. Each section may have certain staffers and officers. The operating rules for each section shall be approved by the Board of Directors and reported to the competent authority for ratification.

Article 25-  The functions of the Members’ Meeting shall be as follows:

1.   to elect and recall a Director or a Supervisor;

2.   to pass and approve reports and/or proposals submitted by the Board of Directors or the Board of Supervisors;

3.   to pass and amend the Statutes of Society ;

4.   to pass and approve annual operating projects, budget and final statement; and

5.   to determine other important matters.

Article 26-  The duties of the Board of Directors shall be as follows;

1.   to pass the applicant’s admission to this Society;

2.   to call and hold the Members’ Meeting and to execute resolutions thereof;

3.   to retain and fire staffers;

4.   to make out annual operating projects and prepare budget and final statement; and

5.   to carry out other matters within the authority of the Board of Directors.

Article 27-  The duties of the Board of Supervisors shall be as follows:

1.   to supervise and control the execution of matters resolved by the Members’ Meeting;

2.   to elect and recall the Executing Supervisors;

3.   to audit the annual budget and final statement;

4.   to supervise and control the financial operation and properties of this Society; and

5.   to carry out other matters within the authority of the Board of Supervisors.

CHAPTER FIVE             Meeting

Article 28-  Members’ Meeting is divided into regular meeting and special meeting, to be called by the Chairman upon the resolution of the Board of Directors, and to be reported to the competent authority for assigning officer to attend the meeting. Regular meeting shall be held once a year. Special meeting shall be held whenever necessary as deemed by the Board of Directors or upon the written request of the Board of Supervisors or at the request of more than one-fifth members.

Article 29-  Members’ meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. In case the Chairman can not appear at Members’ Meetings, Managing Directors shall recommend one from themselves to preside over the Members’ meetings.

Article 30-  Resolutions shall be made at the meeting with the concurrence of a majority of votes if attended by more than one half of the total members. However, any of the following matters must be resolved by the concurrence of more than two-thirds of the members attending at the meeting;

1.   to expel a member;

2.   to recall a Director or a Supervisor;

3.   to dispose of property;

4.   to dissolve this Society; and

5.   to determine other important matters relating to rights and obligations of members.

Article 31-  After the incorporation of this Society, any amendment to the Statutes of Society shall be made with the concurrence of more than three-quarters of members attending the meeting, or with the concurrence of more than two-thirds of all members.

Article 32-  The regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be convened every three months by the Chairman. Special meeting of the Board of Directors may be convened if the Chairmen holds necessary, or as proposed by more than two-thirds of all directors, or at the request of the Board of Supervisors. The above meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman. In case the Chairman can not appear at the meeting, managing directors shall recommend one from themselves to preside the meeting.

Article 33-  The resolutions of the Board of Directors shall be made with the concurrence of a majority over half of votes held by Directors presenting at the meeting.

Article 34-  The meeting of the Board of Supervisors shall be convened every three months by the executing supervisor. The resolutions of the Board of Supervisors shall be made with the concurrence of a majority over half of votes held by Supervisors presenting at the meeting.

Article 35-  Whenever it seems necessary, a united conference of the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors may be convened.

CHAPTER SIX               Operational Funds

Article 36-  The operational funds of this Society shall be derived from the following sources;

1.   admission fees and regular membership fees;

2.   subsidies;

3.   sponsorship or voluntary contributions;

4.   proceeds of funds;

5.   revenues from services; and

6.   other incomes.

Article 37-  The rate of admission fees and regular membership fees shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors.

Article 38-  The regular annual membership fee must be paid before the end of June of each year.

Article 39-  Any member who still failed to pay his regular membership fees beyond the time limit may be listed as a right-suspended member upon the approval of the Board of Director. A right-suspended member is barred from enjoying and exercising all rights granted under this Statutes, but still has his membership. A right-suspended member who applies for revival of his rights is required to pay off his fees unpaid in the current year and in the previous year. Any member who has failed to pay membership fees for two comecutive years shall be deemed to have a voluntary withdrawal from this Society.

Article 40-  In order to simplify the payment of regular annual membership fees, all members may pay a lump sum for several years. Measures for such lump sum payment shall be prescribed separately.

Article 41-  The fiscal year of this Society shall commence from January 1 of each year and end on December 31 of that year.

Article 42-Within two months prior to (or after) the close of each fiscal year, the Board of Directors shall prepare the budget (or final financial statement) to be audited by the Board of Supervisors and after auditing submit same to the members’ meeting for approval, and also report same to the competent authority for record. In case the members’ meeting can not be convened timely, the budget shall be first reported to the competent authority, and then ratified by the members’ meeting. However, the final financial statement must be first audited by the Board of Supervisors, and then the result of auditing together with the final statement shall be submitted and reported to the members’ meeting for approval.

CHAPTER SEVEN         Supplementary Provisions

Article 43-  All work rules for this Society shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Article 44-  In case of dissolution, all remaining assets of this Society shall not belong in any manner to any individual or private enterprise but belong to the local autonomous institutions of the place in which this Society situates, or to the organizations or groups appointed by the competent authority.

Article 45-  With regard to all maters not provided for in the Statutes of Society, the relevant laws and regulations shall govern, or the Statutes of Society shall be revised by the members’ meeting upon the proposals of the Board of Directors.

Article 46-  Statutes of Society  shall take effect after being approved by the members’ meeting and having been recorded with the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Any subsequent amendments to the Statutes of this Society shall be effected in the same manner.