Statutes

§ 1 Name and Place of Registration

The International Society for Forensic Genetics is a registered society with place of registration in Mainz, Germany.

§ 2 Aims

(1) The society aims to promote scientific knowledge in the field of genetic markers as applied to forensic science. This is to be accomplished by scientific meetings of the society, formation of commissions, meetings of the working groups, and by scientific publications. (2) The society strives for cooperation with other scientific bodies. The society is especially available to assist public inquiries.

§ 3 Non-Profit Status

(1) The society's intentions are exclusively scientific and non-profit making according to the section "tax-privileged purpose" of the German Tax Code (Abgabenordnung). (2) The society does not pursue an economic purpose. The funds of the society may only be applied for appropriate statutory purposes. The members receive no financial contributions out of the funds of the society. (3) The members of the executive committee will be reimbursed for expenses connected to their board activities after an invoice has been submitted. No individual may benefit from expenses inappropriate to the purposes of the society, or receive excessive allowances.

§ 4 Membership

(1) Any academic graduate, or member of the technical support staff, dealing scientifically with genetic markers, can apply for full membership. (2) Legal entities (e. g. commercial companies) can be enrolled as supporting members, but they do not have voting rights. (3) Applications for membership must be made to the Executive Committee of the society and be accompanied by references from two full members. Admission to the society is subject to decision by the Executive Committee. (4) Membership is terminated by written notice of withdrawal, death or by disqualification. Notice of withdrawal is to be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing and will become effective at the end of each current calendar year. (5) The membership is considered terminated, if the annual membership fee according to § 9 has not been paid for a period of at least two years. (6) Scientists, whose contributions are of great importance for forensic genetics, and any other individuals who especially deserve acknowledgement by the society can be nominated as honorary members. This is subject to decision by the General Assembly. (7) The membership may not be used for advertising purposes. The Executive Committee can decide to terminate the membership if in spite of a warning this regulation is violated.

§ 5 Executive Committee

(1) The Executive Committee consists of the President, the Vice President, one Representative for all Working Parties, one Representative for Training and Education, one Operational Manager for ISFG Interests, the Secretary and the Treasurer. (2) The General Assembly elects the Executive Committee – with the exception of the Vice President - by secret ballot and by a simple majority of votes from the membership. The Treasurer and the Secretary are elected for four years consecutively, for alternating terms, the other members for the Executive Committee for two years. After a change in the presidency, the former President becomes the Vice President. If the President is re-elected, the Vice President will also stay in office. Only one re-election is permitted for the position of the President. (3) The newly elected Executive Committee takes over its official function on the first January following the election; until then the former Executive Committee remains in office. (4) The Executive Committee is still authorized to pass resolutions, even if one member should withdraw prematurely. The required by-election then takes place at the next General Assembly. (5) The Executive Committee may invite guests to the Board Meeting.

§ 6 Authorization for Representation

Two members of the Executive Committee represent the society in the sense of § 26 BGB (German Civil Code).

§ 7 General Assembly

(1)The General Assembly pays particular attention to the following:

• Receipt of the Executive Committee’s annual report and the annual financial report,
• Election of members of the Executive Committee,
• Relief of the members of the Executive Committee,
• Appointment of honorary members,
• Determination of the dates and locations of scientific meetings,
• Setting the membership fee,
• Resolutions on procedural motions, if necessary,
• Resolutions on alterations of the statutes and society regulations,
• Decisions on the dissolution of the society.

(2) The General Assembly passes resolutions with a simple majority as long as the statutes do not state anything differently. (3) As a rule, the General Assembly takes place during the society's scientific convention. The Executive Committee will send an invitation in text form and the planned agenda six weeks in advance. A topic, which does not appear on the agenda, cannot be introduced for a vote unless 3/4 of the members are in favour of the respective motion. (4) An extraordinary General Assembly can be convened by the Executive Committee. It must be convened if at least 1/4 of the members submit a justified request to the Executive Committee. (5) Upon the decision of the Executive Committee, or upon request of at least 100 regular members, or upon resolution of 2/3 of the members present at the General Assembly, a postal vote concerning business affairs may be carried out.

§ 8 Scientific Conferences

(1) A scientific conference is scheduled at least once every two years. (2) Each member may submit proposals concerning the program. The proposals must be received by the Executive Committee at least 4 months in advance. It is up to the Executive Committee to decide the scientific subjects of the presentations and to choose the speakers. (3) Every 2 years, on the occasion of the scientific congress, the International Society for Forensic Genetics can award the "Scientific Prize of the International Society for Forensic Genetics". The award of this prize is regulated by a separate statute.

§ 9 Membership Subscriptions, Auditor, Fiscal Year

(1) A yearly membership fee is raised, which becomes due at the beginning of the calendar year and the amount of which is determined by the General Assembly. Changes in the membership fees take effect at the beginning of the following calendar year. (2) Membership fees are waived for Honorary Members. For supporting members the annual fee is set to be tenfold the membership fee for full members according to § 9 section 1. (3) After the passing of every two fiscal years, the financial records of the society are checked by two auditors elected by the General Assembly. The auditors report to the General Assembly. (4) The fiscal year is identical with the calendar year.

§ 10 Working parties - Committees - Commissions

(1) Working parties promote the exchange of scientific experiences. (2) The General Assembly can decide on the formation of working parties, committees and commissions.

§ 11 Alterations of the Statutes

(1) An application for alteration of the statutes, duly signed by at least 1/5 of the members, and including a justification, must be submitted to the President using registered mail at least three months before the General Assembly. (2) The Executive Committee is also entitled to propose justified alterations of the statutes to the General Assembly, the subject of which must be made known to the members together with the invitation to the General Assembly. (3) Alterations of the statutes are concluded by the General Assembly in accordance with § 33 BGB (German Civil Code) with a 3/4 majority of the present members. An alteration of the aims of the society is only possible with the agreement of all members.

§ 12 Dissolution of the Society

(1) The dissolution of the society can only be considered after such an application has been brought before the Executive Committee within three months before the General Assembly by at least 2/3 of the members. For the decision to dissolve the society a 3/4 majority of the present members is required. (2) If the society is dissolved its property is transferred to the "Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft" (DFG; German Research Foundation), who must use it exclusively for non-profit purposes. The agreement of the local tax office must be obtained in advance. The ISFG statutes have been amended at the General Assembly in Washington, DC on September 1, 2022.