Article 1
1) The Slovak Archaeological Society (hereinafter “the Society”), an affiliate of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, is a voluntary non-political professional association providing framework for joint cooperation of professionals or enthusiasts in the field of archaeology.
2) The Society operates under the auspices of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (the “SAV”).
3) The Society is a nation-wide organisation, active in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
4) The seat of the Society is at Akademická 2, Nitra.
5) The Society is an independent legal entity.
Article 2
Mission, objectives, tasks and forms of operation
The Society has the following mission:
1) To promote and enhance scientific work, research and public education in the field of archaeology, and to assist in preservation and protection of archaeological finds and archaeological sites.
2) To assist its members in their professional and scientific work and to protect their professional interests by:
a/ furthering the professional interests of its members in dealings with the public authorities and other institutions;
b/ monitoring archaeology-related job vacancies and providing assistance to job-seeking archaeologists.
c/ coordination of scientific and research programmes in Slovakia.
3) To uphold the ethical principles of scientific work.
Article 3
Types of activities
1) The Society organises scientific events (conferences, seminars, lectures, meetings of expert committees, discussions, etc.).
2) The Society conducts its own editing and publishing activities.
3) The Society grants its own awards for achievements in publishing, lecturing, exhibitions and research.
4) The Society cooperates with various domestic or foreign institutions and associations to support the development of archaeology.
5) The Society cooperates with other domestic or foreign archaeological associations.
Article 4
Membership
1) The Society consists of ordinary, honorary and collective members.
2) Membership is open to:
a/ archaeologists or other archaeology-related professionals (conservators-restorers, technical staff, etc.);
b/ members of public (if their admission is recommended by two ordinary members).
3) Honorary membership is granted to notable scientists or other candidates who made a special contribution to archaeology. Honorary membership is proposed by the Executive Board and awarded by the General Meeting.
4) Collective membership is available to organisations or associations (i.e. legal entities) represented by an appointed individual.
5) Ordinary and collective memberships take effect on the date of the membership application approval by the Executive Board.
Article 5
Rights and obligations of the members
Each member of the Society has the following rights:
1) To vote and to be elected into all the SAS governance bodies.
2) To be informed on the activities and events of the Society, to participate in such activities or events, and to propose or initiate others.
3) To seek assistance of the Society in career-related issues.
4) To have preferential opportunity to obtain periodicals or books published or otherwise provided by the Society.
5) To appeal to the General Meeting against the Executive Board decisions.
Each member of the Society has the following obligations:
1) To respect the SAS Constitution and decisions of the SAS bodies.
2) To abide by the applicable law and regulations related to the protection of archaeological heritage, and to respect the ethical principles in the scientific and research work.
3) To pay the membership fees. Ordinary members at the age of 70 are exempt from the payment obligation.
Article 6
Termination of membership
1) The Society membership is terminated after the death, resignation or expulsion of the member, or by withdrawal of honorary membership.
2) Ordinary or collective members may be expelled if
a/ the activities or behaviour of a member contradict with ethical principles or with obligations defined by the SAS Constitution;
b/ a member fails to pay membership dues in a period exceeding two years.
3) Decisions about expulsion of ordinary or collective members, or about withdrawal of honorary memberships are made by the General Meeting upon substantiated motion made by the Executive Board.
Article 7
Governance bodies
1) The Society has the following bodies with specific powers:
a/ the General Meeting,
b/ the Executive Board, and
c/ the Presidency of the Executive Board.
- Inspection of the Society’s economic and financial matters is performed by Auditors (who cannot hold any other elective offices in the Society).
Article 8
General Meeting
1) The General Meeting is the Society’s supreme body. Ordinary General Meetings are held annually. Extraordinary General Meetings can be called at the request of the Executive Board (or that of at least a third of the ordinary members), and must be held within a month after such a request. Each Society member has the right to attend the General Meeting.
2) The General Meeting has the following powers:
a/ to approve, modify and amend the Constitution of the Society;
b/ to make decisions on key financial or economic issues and to determine the amount of the membership fees;
c/ to approve the final reports of the Executive Board and Auditors at the end of their term;
d/ to use secret ballot to elect or to dismiss the President, the members of the Board, and the Auditors; in general, the number of candidates should be double the number of officials to be elected; the General Meeting may add other candidates to the proposed list of candidates;
e/ to resolve appeals against the Executive Board decisions;
f/ to grant honorary memberships based on proposals of the Board;
g/ to make decisions about dissolution of the Society.
3) To adopt decisions, a quorum of at least a half of the ordinary members is required at the General Meeting. If members fail to appear within the agreed time limit to form such a quorum, the General Meeting may waive this requirement by a vote of at least three fifths of the present participants.
- An absolute majority of votes is required for approval of a decision. In the event of equality of votes, the vote of the President shall prevail.
Article 9
The Executive Board
1) The Executive Board implements the General Meeting decisions and performs the Society management in the period between General Meetings.
2) The Board is elected for a term of four years, and consists of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and members.
3) A Society member may be elected to the Board for not more than two consecutive terms.
4) Board meetings are convened by the President as required. There must be, however, at least three meetings in a year. If a meeting is initiated by at least a third of the Board members, it must be held within two weeks.
5) The Board requires a quorum of at least a half of its members. In the event of equality of votes, the vote of the President shall prevail.
6) The Board has an obligation to discuss the proposals and initiatives of the members at its nearest meeting and to respond to them.
7) At the end of its term, the Board presents to the General Meeting a list of proposed candidates for the new Board.
Article 10
Presidency of the Executive Board
1) The Board is presided by executive officers who conduct the management of the Society in the period between the General Meetings.
2) The presidency of the Board consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and three Board members.
3) The activities of the Board are managed by the President who, as required, calls and chairs the Board meetings. In his absence, he is substituted by the Vice-President, or by the Secretary of the Society.
Article 11
Auditors
1) Financial and economic affairs of the Society (if the relevant operations are within the Board competence) are inspected by the Auditors.
2) The Auditors are elected from among the SAS members by the General Meeting for an office term identical to that of the Board.
3) The Auditors may attend the SAS Board meetings, acting in the advisory capacity.
4) The Auditors present reports on their activities to the Board and to the General Meeting.
Article 12
Local offices
1) In appropriate locations, a local branch of the Society may be established by the SAS members upon prior approval of the Board.
2) The local branches organisation and powers are specified by the Board.
Article 13
Committees and expert groups
1) The Society members may set up interest- and expertise-specific committees or groups.
2) The organisation and operations of the committees and expert groups are approved by the Board.
Article 14
Funding of operation, resources and assets management
1) For its operation, the Society may use the following sources of cash: membership fees, Society’s own income, funding from SAV or from other institutions, and donations. The Society has an obligation to present its annual financial report to the SAV bodies and to the General Meeting.
2) At the end of every year, the Board prepares an annual plan of activities and uses it as a base for drawing up a budget for the next year.
3) As the body responsible for assets of the Society, the Board assigns the asset management competences to the Treasurer.
Article 15
Representation of the Society
1) The following officers are authorised to act on behalf of the SAS by attaching their signatures and titles to the Society’s name: the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. Financial and economic transactions require signatures of at least two authorised officers.
2) The Board may grant its individual members a mandate to act on behalf of the Society within a defined scope and extent.
Article 16
Dissolution of the Society
1) The Society shall be dissolved, if three fifths of its members vote for its dissolution.
Article 17
Final provisions
The Constitution of the Society shall become valid and effective as of the date of its approval by the General Meeting.