Articles of the IVG

Article 1: Aims and objectives

The purpose of the International Association for Germanic Studies, abbreviated to IVG, is to promote Germanic Studies through international cooperation. Germanic Studies is understood here to mean Old Germanic, German, Yiddish linguistics and literary studies. The IVG also promotes Scandinavian and Dutch studies if desired.
The main tasks of the IVG are the support of research, teaching and education, the promotion of personal relations within the framework of the subject areas it represents, the maintenance of contact with existing professional and national associations, in particular the organization of international congresses.

Article 2: Membership

Membership of the IVG is open to anyone who has proven themselves in the field of Germanic studies through academic work (e.g. doctorate) and, in particular, anyone who has an academic teaching position.
Admission is granted upon application to the President. The Presidium decides on admission, in cases of doubt the committee. Resignation must be formally notified one year before it becomes legally valid.
The General Assembly may expel a member:
a) if it fails to meet the obligations it has assumed,
b) if it no longer meets the requirements for membership as defined in the Articles of Association.

Article 3: Organization
The organs of the IVG are

The General Assembly
The Committee
The President
Honorary President

Article 4: The General Assembly

The General Assembly is the supreme body of the IVG. It decides on all matters. It elects the President, the Vice-Presidents and the Committee.
The General Assembly meets at least once during each International Congress. It comprises all members present.
On the last day of the meeting, the General Assembly elects two auditors and two substitutes, who present a financial report to the next General Assembly and, if necessary, request the discharge of the Treasurer.
Every member has the right to submit motions to the General Assembly. Such motions shall be duly submitted in writing to the Presidium of the IVG at least two months before the Congress. In exceptional cases, a motion can also be submitted at the General Assembly without a committee vote; in this case, a two-thirds majority of those present is required for it to be dealt with.
Resolutions passed in the General Assembly must be confirmed by a written vote of all members if the Presidium or the Committee or at least one third of those present so request.

Article 5: The Committee

The Committee shall be composed of 20 members elected by the General Assembly, 10 of whom shall be replaced after each term of office. A maximum of two (with representatives of Yiddish Studies, Dutch Studies and Scandinavian Studies a maximum of four) committee members may be elected from each country, whereby the country of membership is determined by the academic field of activity or permanent residence. The Executive Board participates in the meetings of the committee with voting rights. Where possible, Yiddish Studies should be represented on the committee. The President convenes the committee and chairs it.
In the event of a tie, the President shall have the casting vote in all committees over which he/she presides. This rule applies accordingly to all committees and commissions.
The Committee represents the General Assembly between Congresses and as such has the task of:
a) advising the Presidium,
b) deciding on all important matters of principle,
c) deciding on cases for which no agreement can be reached in the Presidium,
d) maintaining constant contact with the members.
The Committee elects a Finance Commission consisting of 3 members and one member of the Commission as Treasurer of the IVG. The Finance Commission advises the Presidium on all financial matters.
The Treasurer participates in the meetings of the Presidium and has the right to vote on all matters with financial consequences.
The Treasurer and Finance Commission are responsible for the finances of the IVG and for the collection of membership fees.
The member entrusted with the office of Treasurer keeps the President informed about the state of the finances.
The Committee appoints two commissions at least one year before each Congress:
a) A working commission to discuss the past and future work and tasks of the IVG as well as possible amendments to the Statutes.
b) A Congress Commission to prepare the elections and possibly discuss the next Congress venue.The Congress Commission accepts election proposals for the Presidium and Committee from the Presidium, the Committee or individual members. The Presidium has the right to be represented in both commissions. Each commission shall be chaired by an elected member. At the last Plenary Session of a World Congress, the Chairpersons of the Commissions shall report and submit proposals for resolutions to the Plenary Assembly.
The Committee shall meet at each International Congress. It shall be quorate if more than half of the members are present.
In the meantime, it shall be regularly informed and consulted by the Presidium. If, in the meantime, decisions are required in accordance with Article 5, points 3 and 7, and no Committee meeting can be convened for this purpose at which more than half of the members are present, the Presidium shall be authorized to bring about majority decisions by means of a written survey of all Committee members.
In the event of the premature resignation of a member of the Presidium or the Committee, the Committee shall arrange a successor.

Article 6: The Presidium and the Honorary Presidium

The Presidium consists of the President and two Vice-Presidents. The members of the Presidium are elected by the General Assembly by secret ballot.
The three members of the Presidium should be of different nationalities. The members of the Executive Committee are not eligible for re-election.
The term of office of the Presidium extends from Congress to Congress.
The retired Presidents shall form the Honorary Presidium.

Article 7: Activities of the Presidium and the Honorary Presidium

When taking office, the Presidium shall determine which of its members shall head the IVG Secretariat. Where the secretariat is, there is the seat of the IVG.
The person in charge of the secretariat may employ a member of staff for the term of office. The costs required for the secretariat shall be covered from the IVG's funds, provided no other funds are available.
At the General Assembly, the Presidium shall present the annual report for the period of its term of office up to the beginning of the Congress.
The financial year runs from October 1 of one year to September 30 of the following year.
The resigned Presidium shall issue a report on the Congress it has conducted through the current Honorary President.
The Presidium shall appoint an Editorial Committee for the publication of the Congress files by the current Honorary President while he/she is still in office. The financing of the publication of the Congress Acts is secured before the Congress in cooperation between the President, the Editorial Committee and the Finance Commission.
The list of active members of the IVG with details of the respective university will be provided by the President before the Congress and will be published on the IVG website (a list of names without addresses).
The Presidium is responsible for promoting the international interests of the members and recruiting new members with the help of the Committee. In countries or areas not represented on the Committee, the Presidium may appoint honorary representatives for its term of office.
With the approval of the Committee, the Presidium may, on its own initiative or at the suggestion of members, initiate and supervise scientific undertakings within the IVG professional circle, provided that the necessary resources are made available from international and national funds.

Article 8: Organization of the Congress

The preparation of the international congresses is in the hands of the Presidium and the Committee. They share with a regional congress committee of the host country the solution of the practical task.
As a rule, congresses should take place every 5 years in accordance with the UNESCO Statutes.
The scientific topics for the congresses are determined by the Presidium in cooperation with the Committee. The subject areas represented in the IVG shall be taken into account in an appropriate manner.

Article 9: Contributions

The amount of the contributions shall be based on the extent of the general administrative costs and on the amount of the contributions of comparable organizations. It shall be determined by the Presidium and the Finance Commission.

Article 10: Amendments to the Articles of Association
Amendments to the Articles of Association require a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly. The motion must be included as a regular item on the agenda.

Article 11: Dissolution
The dissolution of the IVG can only be decided by written vote among all members. The written vote among all members must be approved by at least two thirds of the members present at a Congress.
If more than two thirds of the registered members vote in favor of dissolution, this must be legally valid.

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^{Adopted at the first International Congress for Germanic Linguistics and Literature in Rome in final reading on September 9, 1955.
Amendments adopted by the Plenary Assembly at the VIth International Congress of the IVG in Basel in final reading on August 25, 1980.
Amendments adopted by the Plenary Assembly at the VIIth International Congress of the IVG in Göttingen in final reading on August 30, 1985.
Amendments adopted by the General Assembly at the VIIIth International Congress of the IVG in Tokyo in final reading on August 31, 1990.
New wording of the IVG Statutes adopted by the General Assembly at the IXth International Congress of the IVG in Vancouver in final reading on August 18, 1995.
Amendments adopted by the General Assembly at the Xth International Congress of the IVG in Vienna in final reading on September 15, 2000.
Amendments adopted by the Plenary Assembly at the XIIIth International Congress of the IVG in Shanghai in final reading on August 30, 2015.}