Charter of the World International Studies Committee (WISC)

1. The World International Studies Committee (WISC) is open to membership by National International Studies Associations, Intra and International Regional International Studies Associations and International Studies Sections of recognized National or Regional Professional Associations from cognate fields. If a parent body is a member of WISC it would not then be appropriate, in normal circumstances, for a subsidiary body of that association to be a member of WISC.
2. The purposes of WISC are as follows:
   • The promotion and advancement of knowledge in the field throughout the world.
   • The representation of students of the subject regardless of school of thought, scholarly approach or opinion.
   • The holding of meetings, where appropriate, at global or regional level.
   • The facilitation of co-operative ventures in research, teaching and training at all levels.
   • The establishment, where appropriate, of publications to further the above objectives.
   • The facilitation of the exchange of information about international Conferences and other academic matters.
3. The constitutional form is that of a Committee of the Whole. A general meeting of all member associations will be held not less than once every eighteen months. A quorum is constituted by 50 % of the membership. Members of the Committee may meet informally without a quorum and can circulate notes of their meeting but in so doing they cannot in any way act in the name of the Committee. The officers of the Committee are an Executive Secretary and two Associate Executive Secretaries. Officers shall be appointed for a term of three years renewable for one consecutive occasion. Officers may serve again after a further period of three years. Where appropriate, the individuals serving as Executive Secretary and Associate Executive Secretary shall be drawn one each from Africa-Asia, The Americas and Europe.
4. Membership – All associations and sections that have participated regularly in meetings of the International Studies Co-ordinating Committee shall be eligible to become founding members of WISC. New members shall be admitted to WISC on the basis of the two-thirds majority of all members with their vote submitted in writing to the Executive Secretary. All members shall make available to the Executive Secretary a copy of their constitution. Applications for membership must be authorized by an appropriate person of body according to the constitution of the Association requesting membership.
5. Decision making in the Committee shall be made on the basis of a two-thirds majority of the members at present.
6. Finance – There are no membership fees. The Executive Secretary has the right to approach member associations for funding to be used for running the Committee and for particular approved projects. The Committee can accept income from the approved sale of publications, grants, fees, gifts, donations and the like. The source of such funding will be identified in an annual report circulated to all members of the Committee.
7. Secretariat – The Executive Secretary shall seek the support of his or her home institution and, where necessary, member associations.
8. Withdrawal – A member may withdraw by writing to the Executive Secretary who will then seek confirmation that this is the wish of the member association by writing to the appropriate authorities as designated by their constitution.
9. Expulsion – A member may be expelled by a vote in writing of all the members minus two.
10. Dissolution – the Committee may be dissolved by the approval in writing by two-thirds of the member associations.

Approved unanimously at the WISC meeting held on Tuesday 26 March 2002 at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel.