Statute 1: The name of the Society shall be "The International Society for Plant Pathology" (ISPP). Herein after, it shall be referred to as the ISPP. Its domicile is Wageningen, The Netherlands. 

Statute 2: The Secretariat of the ISPP shall be the home country of the Secretary-General.

Statute 3: The object of the ISPP shall be to advance education and to promote the development of plant pathology for public benefit throughout the world.

Statute 4: The ISPP shall be affiliated with the International Union of Biological Sciences and the International Union of Microbiological Societies.

Statute 5: To achieve its objectives, the ISPP shall:

a) sponsor a series of International Congresses of Plant Pathology, hereinafter referred to as "The Congresses", and other international meetings on plant pathology and closely related subjects;
b) establish committees to consider and report on special fields or problems in plant pathology; and
c) use other means as approved by the Council.

Statute 6: The ISPP shall be based on:

a) Individual Members;
b) Honorary Members;
c) Associated Societies;
d) Nominating Bodies
e) Supporting Organizations; and
f) Affiliated Organizations.

Statute 7: Individual Members are those interested in plant pathology but without membership in an Associated Society. All members of Associated Societies are also members of the ISPP.

Statute 8: Honorary Members are those individuals who have been elected by the Council because of their outstanding contributions to plant pathology, the aims of the ISPP, or both. They shall not exceed 10 in number at any one time.

Statute 9: Associated Societies are those national or regional societies for plant pathology, or organizations with plant pathology as one of their primary interests and which have been recognized by the Council and as having paid their annual fees.

Statute 10: Nominating Bodies are those National Academies of Sciences, or similar bodies for science, in countries not represented by national or regional societies for plant pathology, that have been recognized by the Council for the purpose of appointing Councilors. Nominating bodies shall be recognized by the Council only if they are permitted to nominate Councilors by laws of the countries to which they belong.

Statute 11: Supporting Organizations are those, other than Associated Societies, Nominating Bodies or Affiliated Organizations, that support the ISPP.

Statute 12: Affiliated Organizations are those interested in specific aspects of plant pathology as well as those with related objectives, but not directly involved in plant pathology. Affiliation shall be determined by the Council on the basis of common objectives. Affiliated Organizations may not be required to pay an annual fee.

Statute 13: Individual Members, Associated Societies, Nominating Bodies and Supporting Organizations shall enjoy the rights and privileges accorded to them by the ISPP as long as their annual fees are paid. The rights and privileges will be withheld from December 31 of the year in which the fee is not paid. Honorary Members will not pay fees from the date of their election to Honorary Membership. Affiliated Organizations will not pay fees, but will enjoy the rights and privileges accorded to them by the ISPP.

Statute 14: The Constitution Bodies of the ISPP are:

a) a General Assembly;
b) the Council;
c) an Executive Committee;
d) a Secretariat;
e) Committees appointed by the Council.

These bodies shall be constituted in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

Statute 15: The General Assembly shall be convened at each Congress with the following functions:

a) to provide for discussion of the general policies and programs of the ISPP;
b) to consider matters of general interest to the members; and
c) to provide for the installation of new officers and the presentation of honors and awards.

Statute 16: The Council shall determine general policy and respond to recommendations of the Executive Committee in the organization and management of the ISPP.

Statute 17: The Executive Committee shall implement policy and conduct the business of the ISPP subject to approval by the Council. It shall consist of the President, the Immediate Past-President, two Vice-Presidents, the Secretary-General and the Treasurer.

Statute 18: Committees, appointed by the President after approval of the Executive Committee and the Council, shall work under the direction of the President and the Secretary-General.

Statute 19: The funds of the ISPP shall come from:

a) fees of Individual Members, Associated societies, Nominating Bodies and Supporting Organizations;
b) proceeds from the sale of publications;
c) gifts, legacies and grants; and
d) other sources.

Statute 20: The financial liabilities of the ISPP shall be limited to its current funds.

Statute 21: The financial commitments that require only the signature of the Treasurer and those that also require the signature of the President shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

Statute 22: The President and the Secretary-General shall represent the ISPP in legal matters according to the laws of the country in which the Secretariat is based. They may represent the ISPP in other matters as approved by the Council.

Statute 23: The President and the Secretary-General may commit the ISPP by their joint signatures in executing decisions of the Council. In special circumstances the Council may authorize another member of the Executive Committee to act in place of the President or the Secretary-General.

Statute 24: The administrative and financial year of the ISPP shall be the calendar year.

Statute 25: The Procedures of voting are defined in the Rules of Procedure.

Statute 26: Alterations and additions to the Statutes and Rules of Procedure shall be approved by two-thirds of the members of the Council. 

Statute 27: The ISPP may be dissolved on the agreement of two-thirds of the Members of the Council. On dissolution the Executive Committee, acting for the Council, will be responsible for settling the accounts and for disposing of any remaining property provided that such property shall not be distributed among the members of the ISPP but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the ISPP as the Council may determine and if and in so far as effect can not be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.

Statute 28: General prohibitions, notwithstanding any provision of the Statutes or Rules of Procedure that might be susceptible to a contrary construction, are:

a) the ISPP shall be organized and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes;
b) no part of the net earnings of the ISPP shall or may under any circumstances incur to the benefit of or be distributable to its officers, members or private individuals;
c) no substantial part of the activities of the ISPP shall consist of carrying out propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation;
d) the ISPP shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office; or for the political expediency of any organization or cause;
e) the ISPP shall not be organized or operated for profit;
f) the ISPP shall not in respect of any officer, member of the Council, or substantial contributor to the ISPP:

1) lend any part of its income or corpus, without receipt of adequate security and a reasonable rate of interest, to;
2) pay any compensation, in excess of reasonable allowance for salaries or other compensation for personal services actually rendered to;
3) make any part of its services available on a preferential basis, to;
4) make any purchase of securities or any other property, for more than adequate consideration in money or money’s worth from, to;
5) sell any securities or other property for less than adequate consideration in money or money’s worth or;
6) engage in any other transaction which results in substantial diversions of its income or corpus.

The prohibitions contained in this Statute 28 do not mean to imply that the ISPP may make such loans, payments, sales, or purchases to anyone else, unless such authority be given or implied by other provisions of the Statutes or Rules of Procedure.

RULES OF PROCEDURE

Rule 1: The General Assembly shall be composed of:

a) members of the Council;
b) individual members;
c) honorary members;
d) members of Associated Societies and members of Nominating Bodies who are plant pathologists.

Rule 2: The General Assembly shall, in accordance with Rule 15 of the Statutes, be convened to receive:

a) reports on the work of the ISPP submitted by its officers, committee chairs and the Council;
b) audited accounts of the ISPP submitted by the Treasurer with the approval of the Council;
c) reports of additions or alterations to the Statutes or to Rules of Procedure implemented by the Council in the period between Congresses, and of any proposals submitted in accordance with Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure;
d) the report of the Nominating Committee on the election of officers.

Rule 3: The General Assembly shall meet at least once during each Congress. The President of the ISPP shall normally preside at each meeting. If the President cannot do so, a member of the Executive Committee or a member of the Council nominated by the Council shall preside.

Rule 4: Proposals relating to the Statutes or to the Rules of Procedure, other than those proposed by the Executive Committee, must be sent to the Secretary-General at least 6 months before the next Congress. They will be considered only if signed by a total of at least 20 individuals and honorary members, or by three or more accredited representatives of Associated Societies or Nominating Bodies recognized by the Council.

Rule 5: The Council shall consist, inter alia, of members appointed by Associated Societies and by Nominating Bodies. Associated Societies and Nominating Bodies with a membership of 30 to 100 plant pathologists may appoint one member of the Council (Councilor); those with 101 to 500 plant pathologists may appoint two Councilors for every 1-500 plant pathologists above the first 500, one additional Councilor may be appointed. Associated Societies or Nominating Bodies representing fewer than 30 plant pathologists may, with the approval of the Council, join with other Associated Societies or Nominating Bodies to appoint one Councilor if their combined memberships are 30 to 100, and two Councilors if their combined memberships exceed 100. Individual members shall be represented on the Council by not more than five Councilors appointed in ways approved by the Council. Nine months before a Congress, Associated Societies and Nominating Bodies will be asked to submit to the Council the name(s) of their appointee(s) for the next Council. Present or past members of the Council may be recommended for reappointment. The term of office of Councilors and Officers shall be from the end of one Congress to the end of the next. The officers of the ISPP shall be members of the Council and shall constitute the Executive Committee. Officers shall be nominated by the Council, and two candidates for each office shall be selected by a Nomination Committee appointed by the Executive Committee. Candidates for officers shall represent as many different countries as is practical and will take office at the end of a Congress. The procedure for election of officers shall be as follows:

a) Two years before the Congress, the Executive Committee will appoint a Nomination Committee comprising the Past-President (chair) and five ISPP Councilors chosen on a geographical basis.
b) The Nomination Committee will invite each Associated Society and Nominating Body of ISPP through their Councilor or Councilors to propose a nominee for the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary-General and Treasurer and to provide evidence of each nominee’s willingness to serve if elected.
c) The Nomination Committee will consider the nominees for each office, and being cognizant for the need of geographical diversity, will select two names for each office and transmit such names for ratification by the Executive Committee.
d) The Secretary-General will send a ballot with two candidates for each office to each of the Councilors at least six months before the Congress and request their vote within three months. The ballots will be counted by the Secretary-General. The candidates with a simple majority will be elected. In the case of a tie, the President may cast the decisive vote. Evidence of each Councilor’s vote will be kept on file until after the Congress.
e) The President will invite each newly elected officer to serve. If the elected officer is unable to serve, then the alternate candidate will be asked to serve.

Rule 6: The function of the Council relating to Rule 16 of the Statutes shall be:

a) to direct the Executive Committee in matters of policy and management;
b) to determine the place and date of the next Congress;
c) to elect Honorary Members of the ISPP;
d) to recognize societies, bodies and organizations in accordance with Articles 6-13;
e) to determine procedures for representation of individual members on the Council;
f) to elect the Officers;
g) to establish committees and to approve the appointment of their officers; and
h) to review and approve, or when deemed necessary, to amend reports prepared by the Executive Committee before they are presented to the General Assembly.

Rule 7: Only members of the Council or their designated alternates may vote. Each member of the Council shall have one vote in the event of an equality of votes in a ballot or otherwise, the President of the ISPP shall have a second and deciding vote.

Rule 8: The Council may admit non-members to its meetings.

Rule 9: The Executive Committee shall be formed according to Rule 17 of the Statutes. One of the Vice-Presidents shall be from the country in which the next Congress will be held. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once during each Congress and at least once between Congresses. Four members shall form a quorum at each meeting. The Executive Committee may admit others to its meetings.

Rule 10: The Executive Committee, in accordance with Rule 17 of the Statutes, shall inter alia:

a) implement the decisions and resolutions of the Council and conduct the business of the ISPP according to general directions from the Council. Thus, it is responsible to the Council for the activities of the ISPP and for the expenditure of available funds;
b) take the necessary steps to initiate and assist in the organization of the Congresses;
c) submit to the Council annual reports on the activities and finances of the ISPP, and prepare a budget for the following year;
d) establish or provide for the continuation or dissolution of committees of the Council;
e) prepare the agenda for meetings of the Council and the General Assembly and submit to the Council matters for consideration and action.

Rule 11: The Secretariat shall comprise the Secretary-General and a small administrative staff appointed by the Secretary-General according to instructions from the Council. The Secretariat shall work under the direction of the Executive Committee. In accordance with Rule 21 of the Statutes, the Treasurer is responsible for the finances of the ISPP. The Treasurer expends the ISPP funds under the direction of the Executive Committee.

Rule 12: Committees of the Council shall be appointed for the term of office of the Council; they shall be considered for reappointment by the next Council. A Committee shall inter alia:

a) organize meetings on special subjects;
b) propose for approval by the Council the establishment and membership of groups to study and report on special problems;
c) encourage and arrange for international cooperation between plant pathologists;
d) further the aims of the ISPP in other ways approved by the Council; and
e) submit a summary report of Committee activities to the Secretary-General at the time of each Congress.

Rule 13: Congresses shall be held at least once every six years. The venue for each Congress shall be selected by vote of the Council at least five years in advance. The procedure for selection shall be as follows:

a) Two years before the Congress, the Secretary-General will request bids from all Associated Societies to be considered as a venue for the following Congress (about seven years in advance). Copies of all bids must be sent to all members of the Council by the bidding organization by at least nine months before the Congress.
b) The Secretary-General will send a ballot, with all of the qualified bids represented, to each of the Councilors at least six months before the Congress and request their vote for one of the venues within two months. The ballots will be counted by the Secretary-General. In the case where there are only two qualified bids on the ballot, a simple majority will determine the selection. In cases where more than two venues are on the ballot, the venue with at least two-thirds majority will be selected.
c) If one venue doesn’t have two-thirds majority, then the Secretary-General will send out another ballot to each of the Councilors and request that they vote between the two venues having the most votes, and will request their votes be returned within two months. The selection between the two finalist venues will be determined by a simple majority vote.
d) In the case of a tie, the President shall cast the decisive vote.
e) Evidence of each Councilors vote will be kept on file until after the Congress at which the venue of the following Congress is announced.

Rule 14 : Congresses shall be open to all persons after payment of Congress fees.

Rule 15: Each Congress shall be organized by a Congress Committee appointed by the Associated Society(ies) and or Nominating Body(ies) sponsoring the Congress. The Congress Committee shall consist of a Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and at least six other persons, or be composed in other ways approved by the Council. One Vice-President of the ISPP shall be a member of the Congress Committee with special responsibility for liaison between the Congress Committee and the Council. The members of the Congress Committee shall be appointed, if possible, within one year after the end of the preceding Congress and shall serve until completion of their duties in connection with the Congress for which they are responsible.

Rule 16: The general plan of the Congress shall be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval and shall be sent to the Council members and Committee Chairs for their information.

Rule 17: The Congress Committee appointed by the Associated Society(ies) hosting the Congress, not the ISPP, shall be financially responsible for the Congress that it organizes.

Rule 18: Voting at meetings of the ISPP shall be by show of hands unless the members present decide that a ballot should be taken.

Rule 19: Resolutions before meetings of constituent bodies of the ISPP, and those placed before the Council by correspondence, shall be passed by a simple majority vote except those relating to the Statutes, Rules of Procedure, or dissolution of the ISPP when a two-thirds majority of members entitled and able to vote shall be required. In the event of the equality of votes, the Chair shall have a second deciding vote.

Rule 20: Fees charged by the ISPP shall be determined by the Council upon recommendation of the Executive Committee.

Rule 21: Members, Associated Societies, Nominating Bodies, Supporting and Affiliated Organizations shall be informed of the activities of the ISPP and related matters in its official publication "International Newsletter on Plant Pathology" and in other ways deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee with the approval of the Council. The ISPP may also issue other publications, the distribution and costs of which shall be decided by the Executive Committee subject to approval by the Council.

Rule 22:Business of the ISPP may be conducted by correspondence. Accepted by the Council: December, 1975.

• Revisions considered by the Council; August 1978 (Third International Congress). Approved by the Council (on mail ballot): April, 1979.
• Revisions considered to amend Statutes (Articles 28 and 29) by mail ballot; September, 1984. Approved by the Council (mail ballot): February, 1985.
• Revisions of Rule 5 (Rules of Procedure) approved by mail ballot of the Council: June 1991. (Source: Dr. Thor Kommedahl, 7 August, 1991).
• Revisions to Statutes Articles 3, 26, and 27 approved by the Council August 13, 1998.
• Revisions to Statutes Articles 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 26, 28,and 29, and Rules of Procedure Articles 5, 9, 10, 13, and 17 approved by the Council via "ListServ" internet January 1, 2002.