Constitution

As accepted and confirmed by the General Assembly of the IAHR at its XIIth World Congress held in Stockholm on August 22nd 1970 and amended by the General Assembly at the XIIIth World Congress held in Lancaster on August 22nd 1975, at the XVIth World Congress held in Rome on September 3rd 1990, at the XVIIIth World Congress held in Durban on August 12th 2000, at the XIXth World Congress held in Tokyo on March 30th 2005, at the XXth World Congress held in Toronto on August 21, 2010 and at the XXIst World Congress held in Erfurt on August 29, 2015.

Article 1

The International Association for the History of Religions (abbreviated from its English title to IAHR), was founded in September 1950 on the occasion of the VIIth International History of Religions Congress. The IAHR is a nonprofit worldwide organization which has as its objective the promotion of the academic study of religions through the international collaboration of all scholars whose research has a bearing on the subject. The IAHR is not a forum for confessional, apologetical, or other similar concerns.

Article 2

The IAHR seeks to achieve this object:

    (a) by holding quinquennial congresses, IAHR sponsored special and regional conferences, and occasional symposia and colloquia;
    (b) by encouraging the publication of the Proceedings of such congresses, conferences and meetings;
    (c) by assisting the formation of national and regional associations of scholars of religions;
    (d) by encouraging and sponsoring publications of general interest to the academic study of religions: e.g. an international journal, bibliographical bulletins, monograph series
    (e) by taking all appropriate steps to encourage and further the cross-cultural, academic study of religions.

Article 3A

The IAHR is constituted by national and regional member societies and associations for the historical, social and comparative study of religions. These are such bodies as are now members and such as have been, upon application, recommended for membership by the Executive Committee, pending recommendation by the International Committee (see below), and admission by the General Assembly at a future quinquennial Congress. The primary location of the IAHR is the official address of the IAHR Treasurer.

Article 3B

To the IAHR may be affiliated:

    (a) International associations for the study of particular areas within the academic study of religions
    (b) Individual scholars for whom there is no appropriate national or regional society.

Provisional affiliation is effected by application to the Executive and International Committees and full affiliation by approval of the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Executive and International Committees.

Article 4

The work of the IAHR is carried out through (a) the General Assembly; (b) the International Committee; and (c) the Executive Committee.

    (a) The General Assembly of the Association meets at each quinquennial congress and is composed of all members of constituent societies and associations present at that congress. The General Assembly may take action only on matters referred to it from the International Committee, and it may refer any matter to the International or Executive Committees for consideration and support.

    (b) The International Committee is composed of:

      (i) Two representatives each of the constituent national and regional societies;
      (ii) The Executive Committee (see below);
      (iii)Up to four individual members co-opted by the International Committee on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

    (c) The Executive Committee is composed of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary General, a Deputy Sectretary General, a Treasurer, a Deputy Treasurer, a Publications Officer, and four further members. The officers in particular, and the members of the Executive Committee in general, shall be chosen in such a way as reasonably to reflect various parts of the world where the academic study of religions is pursued in its various disciplines.

A Nominating Committee, appointed by the Executive Committee, shall submit nominations for the next Executive Committee to the members of the International Committee by mail not more than twelve months and not less than nine months prior to each international congress. Members of the International Committee may propose alternative nominations not less than three months prior to each quinquennial congress.

The International Committee, at its meeting just preceding the General Assembly, shall elect the Executive Committee and shall report this to the General Assembly.

The members of the Executive Committee shall hold office for one quinquennial term each and be subject to re-election, but not more than two-thirds of the Committee shall be carried on from one term to the next. No one member shall serve in the same office for more than two terms and no one member shall serve for more than four terms in total. In the event of the death or resignation of any serving officer of the Association, a suitable replacement may be nominated after consultation among the remaining officials, and shall serve, subject to the written approval of a majority of members of the Executive Committee, until the next
quinquennial congress.

Article 5

The Executive Committee shall normally meet once a year. The Secretary General shall circulate the minutes of such meetings to all members of the Executive Committee. A meeting of the Executive Committee requires a minimum attendance of five of its members.

Article 6

The International Committee shall meet once on the occasion of each quinquennial congress between the meeting of the Executive Committee and that of the General Assembly, and once between consecutive quinquennial congresses. It reports to the General Assembly. A meeting of the International Committee requires a minimum attendance of ten members from a minimum of seven constituent national or regional societies or associations.

Article 7A

The resources of the IAHR consist of: annual contributions paid by the constituent societies, affiliated societies and individual members, the amount of which is assessed by the Executive Committee; and grants, donations and other sources of revenue. A report audited by an independent party will be submitted to the International Committee at every quinquennial congress.

Article 7B

One of the most important rights and privileges of constituent national and regional member societies and associations is the right to vote in the meetings of the International Committee and in the General Assembly. This voting right is dependent upon annual payment of the IAHR membership dues.

Article 8

The Constitution may be modified only by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the International Committee.