REGULATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF SOCIOLOGY 

2026

Article 1: Definition and Scope

1. The European Academy of Sociology (hereinafter called 'the EAS') is an international, non-governmental, non-profit making, charitable, unincorporated association of individual scholars, having as its objective the promotion of rigorous sociology.

Article 2: Objectives

1. The objectives of the Academy are:

(a) to promote and maintain rigour and excellence in European sociological scholarship, research and education;

(b) to further the integration of the social, behavioural and economic sciences.

(c) to provide independent advice on matters of sociological relevance or concern to legislatures, governments, universities, and to professional, industrial and commercial organisations in Europe.

Article 3: Fellowship

1. The EAS shall consist of Ordinary Fellows, Emeritus Fellows and Honorary Fellows. There shall be a President, Secretary, Treasurer and an Executive Council of the EAS (hereinafter called 'the Council’), elected from among the Ordinary Fellows (see Articles 7 and 8).

Article 4: Ordinary Fellows

1. Only European scholars (by professional affiliation or citizenship) who shall not have attained the age of 70 at the date of their election shall be eligible to be Fellows of the Academy.

2. Fellows shall be elected in accordance with Article 10 of these Regulations.

3. Fellows shall pay an annual membership fee, at a rate to be determined by the annual General Meeting (AGM) and contribute to the objectives of the Academy as stated in Article 2.

Article 5: Emeritus Fellows

1. A Fellow who has at the date of the AGM in any year attained the age of 70, will become an Emeritus Fellow.

2. Emeritus Fellows shall have all the privileges of Ordinary Fellows but shall not be required to pay membership fees, though they can still choose to.

Article 6: Honorary Fellows

1. A person who has made an exceptional contribution to the achievement of the objectives of the EAS may be elected an Honorary Fellow in accordance with Article 11 of these Regulations. Honorary Fellows cannot be self-nominated.

Article 7: The Officers

1. There shall be three officers elected from among the Fellows of the Academy in accordance with Article 10 of these Regulations: the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer. These Officers shall serve for three years from the date of election. A retiring President shall be eligible once only for re-election on the expiry of their period in office. A retiring Treasurer or Secretary shall be eligible for re-election at the expiry of their period in office.

2. Unless prevented by grave cause the President shall act as Chairperson at the AGM and at all meetings of the Council. The President shall also act as Chairperson at all other meetings of the Academy unless, with the authority of the Council, the President shall have delegated the function of Chairperson at any such meeting to another Fellow of the Academy.

3. The duties of the Treasurer shall include the maintenance and supervision of the accounts of the Academy and the receipt and expenditure of money on behalf of the Academy.

4. The duties of the Secretary shall include: keeping minutes of decisions made by the AGM, notifying the Fellows of meetings and actions, collecting nominations, preparing materials for the AGM, and ensuring that the website remains up to date.

5. In the event that one of the Officers shall for any reason become permanently incapable of fulfilling the duties of their office, they shall be resigned by a vote at the AGM.

6. The offices of the President, Secretary and Treasurer shall carry no stipend.

Article 8: The Council

1. The Council shall consist of the President, Secretary and Treasurer and three Fellows of the Academy elected in accordance with Article 10 of these Regulations.

2. Each Council member shall serve for three years and shall be eligible for re-election provided on the expiry of their period in office provided that no person shall serve as an elected member of the Council continuously for more than six years.

3. In the event that a member of the Council shall for any reason become permanently incapable of fulfilling the duties of office they shall be resigned by a vote by the Council members and the Council shall appoint another Fellow to be a member of the Council to serve until the expiry of the period of service of the incapacitated Fellow.

4. The Council shall meet at least once each year (which meeting shall be its general meeting for the year) to discuss ways of advancing the aims of the Academy and to propose actions to the Fellows at the AGM.

5. The Council shall have powers to recommend to the Fellows at the AGM amendments to all or any of these Regulations, including the power to introduce new articles and to revoke existing articles, and to make rules and standing orders for the conduct of its business, for the conduct of elections and for the procedure for the expulsion of Fellows. Such amendments shall be endorsed by the AGM.

Article 9: The Annual General Meeting

1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Academy.

2. An extraordinary general meeting of the Academy may be called by the Council and shall be so-called if the Council receives a written requisition for such a meeting signed by not less than ten percent of the total number of Fellows.

3. Not less than three months' notice of the place and date of any general meeting shall be given to all Fellows of the Academy. Notice of any motion intended to be raised by a Fellow shall be given to the President, so as to reach the President not less than one month before the date fixed for the meeting. The agenda for the meeting shall be dispatched to all members of the Academy so as to reach them not less than two weeks before that date.

4. The agenda for each Annual General Meeting shall include the following items:

(a) a report by the President of the activities of the Academy during the previous year;

(b) a report on behalf of the Council of its plans and proposals for future activities of the Academy;

(c) the presentation by the Treasurer of the accounts of the Academy and a motion for the approval and adoption thereof;

(d) the election of members of the Council and new Fellows;

(e) proposals, if any, for the amendment of these Regulations.

5. Unless otherwise provided by these Regulations, decisions at any general meeting shall be by simple majority of those Fellows present.

Article 10: Elections

1. All elections are to take place at the AGM. An AGM will be deemed to be quorate with 25% of the Fellows (Ordinary or Emeritus) present.

2. The Officers 

(a) The Officers shall be elected by ballot of the Fellows at the AGM. Any positions that will be vacant by the next AGM will be recorded and nominations invited. Any nominations will then be put to the Fellows at the AGM. and proceed to the election of any new Officers whose term has expired.

3. The Council 

(a) The members of the Council shall be elected by ballot of the Fellows in the AGM.

(b) It shall be open to any Fellow of the Academy at any time to propose to the Council the name of any other Fellow for election to the Council. 

(c) It shall be the duty of the Council to prepare a list of candidates for election to the Council at each AGM. 

(d) It is expected that nominees for Council will be able to demonstrate their past commitment to advancing the aims of the Academy and their future intentions and plans to do so.

4. The Ordinary and Honorary Fellows

(a) The Ordinary and Honorary Fellows shall be elected by ballot of Fellows present at the AGM. A candidate needs to receive more than two-thirds of the votes cast at the AGM to be elected. A maximum of three Fellows may be elected at any meeting. The Ordinary Fellows shall be limited to 75.

(b) Nominations for election of Ordinary or Honorary Fellows of the Academy may be made by any Ordinary or Emeritus Fellows in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Council. 

(c) All those nominated shall be aware of the requirements and commitments for Ordinary Fellows as stated in Article 4. It is also expected that nominees will be able to demonstrate their commitment to advancing the aims of the Academy.

Article 11: Expulsion of Fellows

1. Ordinary, Emeritus and Honorary Fellows of the Academy shall be deprived of their Fellowship if found guilty by the Council of a continuous or repeated course of conduct incompatible with the purposes and objectives of the Academy. If the person so deprived of membership holds at the time the office of President, Secretary or Treasurer or is a member of the Council, they shall immediately vacate their office.

2. If an Ordinary Fellow fails, despite reminders, to pay the annual membership fee for three consecutive years, the Fellows present at the AGM can decide with a majority vote that the Fellow loses the Fellowship status.

3. Fellows may also notify the Secretary of their intention to step down voluntarily if they are no longer committed to advancing the objectives of the Academy.

4. The Council shall prescribe rules for use when a charge of misconduct as aforesaid is preferred against a Fellow.

Article 12: Assets of the EAS

1. The assets of the EAS shall be employed exclusively in furthering the objectives of the Academy and for no other purpose provided that nothing in these Regulations shall prevent:

2. The Academy shall open and maintain a bank account or accounts in its name, and every withdrawal from any such account shall be authorised by the signatures of President or Treasurer.

3. The signatories to any bank account opened and maintained as aforesaid shall operate the same in accordance with the directions of the Council.

Article 13: Changes to the Regulations

1. Any amendments to the regulations must be endorsed by a two-thirds of the votes of the Fellows present at the AGM and subsequently be endorsed by two-thirds of the Fellows.