Constitution

PREAMBLE

Conscious

Of the work the founding members and their active successors until today have invested in the last years and last four Conferences and

grateful

For their engagement and motivation in organizing the past activities and enabling the existing network of contacts and friendships and exchange of experiences and

endeavoring

to pave and secure the way for the future of an independent, cooperative, neutral international Asian community in the field of academic research and practical application, reports, papers, and exchange of ideas in conference, seminars, working groups etc. in Asia and elsewhere and the pursuit of the analysis of public opinion in various domains.,

continuing

the tradition of this Asian network, the well-established old procedures and accepting the need of new necessary changes. So in consequence at the Conference in Bangkok 2015 the following fundamental rules were proposed and confirmed:

§ 1. Name.

The name of the organization is: Asian Network for Public Opinion Research hereinafter called ANPOR.

§ 2. Activities of ANPOR

The aims and objectives of ANPOR as a non-profit organization are:

a) to promote in each country or region in Asia the right to conduct and publish scientific research or practical analysis on what the citizens at large and organized or unorganized groups think and how this thinking is influenced by various factors or influences decisions and opinions,

b) to promote the knowledge and application of scientific methods in this objective,

c) to assist and promote the development and publication of public opinion research in Asia,

d) to promote worldwide the publication of public opinion research on Asia,

e) to promote international cooperation and exchange among academic, commercial, or political researchers, journalists, and political actors, as well as between the representatives of the different scientific disciplines.

f) to engage in any kind of activity directly or indirectly supporting the above mentioned activities.

§ 3. Membership

Membership to ANPOR shall not be denied on the basis of race, gender identity and sexual orientation, color, religion, nationality, or political affiliation.

Dues shall be fixed by the Council. They shall be payable on or after January 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, upon notification by the Secretary-General and in a manner to be determined by the Council. Members whose dues are not paid by March 1 of each year shall be deemed not in good standing and not eligible to vote or to hold office. The Council is entitled to state exceptions, for example due to the political or economic situation in a country.

The members in good standing form the ANPOR General Assembly. The General Assembly may take place at ANPOR Conference or at other occasions or online upon the request of the President or Council. If consent or voting is needed by the General Assembly, the votes shall be counted by simple majority of the participating votes. They may also meet or vote online.

§ 4. Council

ANPOR shall have a Council as the main governing body.

The Council shall consist of the: 1) President, 2) Vice President, 3) SecretaryTreasurer, 4) Chairman of the Previous Local Conference Organizer, 5) Chairman of the Next Local Conference Organizer, 6) Publisher of AJPOR, 7) Editor-in-Chief of AJPOR, 8) Past-President, and 9) Secretary-General. The term of office of all council members is subject to the term of office of their post. Should a post of the council member be empty, the Council remains in function. Should a person hold more than one post in the Council, his or her votes shall be counted as one.

The Council shall conduct the business and care for the general interests of ANPOR in accordance with Article 2 of this constitution. It shall decide on any matter by majority vote of all its members with the exception of a tie, in which case the vote of the president shall not be counted. It shall meet at least once a year in connection with the annual conference or if necessary at other times.

The Council has the competency to decide on every matter brought before the Council, in so far as not contradicting with this constitution, without the approval of the General Assembly. A request for comments and recommendations on matter brought before the Council may be forward to the Advisory Board of ANPOR.

The Council may choose to have a referendum on some matters. Voting may take place in person or online or by any other means the Council deems appropriate. A simple majority of voting members is all that is required to pass most resolutions.

§ 5. President

The President chairs the Council in governing ANPOR. He or she is elected by the General Assembly. The term of Presidency shall be fixed to no more than three years. The current President must call for an election at least ninety days before the end of his or her term of office. The Secretary-General is responsible for organizing the election. Every member may nominate him or herself as well as nominate another member to the office of presidency.

Once the term of office of the President ends, he or she becomes Past President for a term of three years, supporting the work of ANPOR.

§ 6. Vice President

The Vice President supports the work of the President in the Council in governing ANPOR. The President appoints the Vice President. With approval, the Vice President may hold office until the end of the President’s term of office. Where necessary for ANPOR Activities, the President may nominate a second Vice President with the consent of the Council. The second Vice President shall also be included in the Council.

§ 7. Secretary-Treasurer

The Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for the financial affairs of ANPOR. The President appoints the Secretary-Treasurer to the General Assembly and, with approval, the Secretary-Treasurer may hold office until the end of the President’s term of office.

He or she shall submit to the Council an annual financial report, which includes a summary of ANPOR’s financial situation and an estimated budget for the coming year.

§ 8. Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is responsible for the day-to-day work of ANPOR and the hub for all administrative work and exchange of information. The President appoints the Secretary-General and, with approval, the Secretary-General may hold office until the end of the President’s term of office. Where necessary for ANPOR activities, the President may nominate a Deputy Secretary-General. The Deputy Secretary-General shall also be included in the Council.

He or she shall submit to the Council an annual report of ANPOR activities.

§ 9. Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is responsible when requested by the Council to give comments and recommendations on ANPOR activities. The Advisory Board shall consist of experts, who could excellently contribute to ANPOR’s activities prescribed in §2 of this constitution and/or representatives from each country within Asia. The President nominates the members of the Advisory Board to the Council and, with approval, the member of the Advisory Board may hold office until the end of the President’s term of office.

§ 10. The Central Secretariat

A Central Secretariat shall be established and shall be located in any country or city as the Council may determine. The location of the Central Secretariat is therefore independent of the country or place of incorporation of ANPOR. The Central Secretariat shall be responsible for the administration of the day-to-day affairs of ANPOR as the Council may determine and is guided by a Secretary-General.

§ 11. Treasury

The financial year of ANPOR shall coincide with the calendar year.

ANPOR welcomes contributions, donations, and any kind of support from external source, as long as the neutrality and independence of ANPOR is not in danger. Activities of ANPOR are subject to funds to be made available annually. The Council decides on the distribution of funds. The President shall decide the most suitable location to deposit ANPOR’s funds.

All officers of ANPOR serve in an honorary capacity and will receive no remuneration. Certain expenses relating to the work of the officers may be reimbursable upon the decision of the Council.

The expenditure of funds from ANPOR’s Treasury to meet routine expenses, such as clerical costs, stationery, postage, and other budget commitments up to two hundred US Dollars per year can be authorized by the Secretary-Treasurer. All other financial commitments must be authorized by the President and endorsed by a majority of the Council. Once authorized, the Secretary-Treasurer shall process the payment in due course.

§ 12. Conference

ANPOR shall host annual or biannual academic conference on a topic relating to the work of ANPOR. The Council calls for conference proposals and selects the most suitable candidate to host the ANPOR annual or biannual conference. The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee leads the team of ANPOR members and volunteers to host the conference.

§ 13. Scientific Journal

ANPOR shall publish quarterly a scientific journal on public opinion research to promote scholarly work for broad circulation and impact. This journal shall be named the Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research also known as AJPOR.

The Publisher of AJPOR is responsible for the publishing management of AJPOR. The Publisher of AJPOR shall continue to be the Center for Asian Public Opinion Research & Collaboration Initiative (CAPORCI) unless a petition by 20 members suggests a new publisher, in which case a vote will be held. At least 25% of ANPOR members must vote for it to be valid, and a majority of those voting must approve the new publisher.

The President appoints with the consent of the Council the Editor-in-Chief to and, with approval, the Editor-in-Chief may hold the term of office for three years.

§ 14. Language

The official language of ANPOR shall be English. The Council decides upon the working language or languages to be used at each international meeting.

§ 15. Constitutional Review

The General Assembly shall review this draft of the new ANPOR constitution after two years to analyze deficiencies. In the further proceedings, a review is needed every five years.

In between the timeframe of paragraph one, amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by actions of the Council, or petition of any twenty members. Amendments may be made by the vote of a majority of all members who participate in a referendum in person, post, or online within a timeframe set out by the Council, provided that at least twenty five percent of members participate in the referendum.

§ 16. Dissolution

ANPOR may be dissolved by a motion of the majority of the Council and three-quarter majority of the General Assembly, either in the framework of the Conference in person or online. The remaining assets and funds may be distributed and handed over to a charity organization or be given to a similar research unit at universities located in Asia.

§ 17. Validity and Enforcement

This Constitution shall take effect immediately upon its acceptance through a referendum by a simple majority of voting members on the rolls at the time of submission. It shall supersede all previous ANPOR constitutions, agreements, and regulations. The President and Vice President at the time of adoption of this Constitution, including those officers elected at the Bangkok Conference, shall continue in office until a new President is elected. All other office holders’ posts will end with the adoption of the new constitution.

A special Presidential election to elect the next ANPOR President shall be held in 2016 as soon as possible following the referendum of this constitution. Anyone who has paid 2015 or 2016 membership dues may vote. The new President shall take office immediately after the votes are counted. The nominations of ANPOR officers by the new President shall be effective immediately once announced by the new President.

May 10, 2016