Article I – Name and Objects
Section 1
The name of this organisation shall be «The European Society for Cardio-Vascular and Endovascular Surgery” (hereinafter called “The Society”).
Section 2
The objects of this Society shall be:
a) to promote the investigation and study of the art, science and therapy of cardiac and vascular disease, to co-ordinate this knowledge and to disseminate it;
b) to facilitate the exchange of ideas in the field of cardiac and vascular diseases through scientific meetings and by personal contact between cardiac and vascular specialists.
Article II – Membership
Section 1
There shall be seven classes of members: Active, Senior, Honorary, Associate, Junior, Industrial and “New Members”.
Application for membership shall usually be directly to the SecretaryGeneral through the Organizing Secretariat. Admission to membership of the Society shall be in accordance with the procedure set forth in the By-Laws.
Section 2
All members of the Society except Senior and Honorary members shall pay dues and assessments.
Section 3
All members, to remain in good standing, must abide by the rules and regulations as set forth in the Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 4
Any member who has complied with all the requirements of the Constitution and By-Laws during his membership may resign by written notification to the Secretary-General.
Article III – Officers
Section 1
The Officers of The Society shall be the President, the President-Elect, the last two Past-Presidents, the Vice-Presidents, the Secretary-General, the Associate Secretary-General, the Treasurer and/or Executive Accountant, the Councillors and the Historian.
Section 2
These Officers, except the Executive Accountant, shall be Active, Senior or Honorary members of The Society. They shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of The Society in accordance with the procedure set forth in the By-Laws.
Section 3
The term of office of the President shall be two years, without eligibility for re-election.
Section 4
There shall be two Vice-Presidents. The term of office of a Vice-President shall be limited to four years.
A Vice-President shall not be eligible for re-election.
Section 5
The Secretary- General, the Associate SecretaryGeneral and the Treasurer and/or Executive Accountant shall hold office for five years. The Secretary-General, the Associate SecretaryGeneral and the Treasurer and/or Executive Accountant shall be eligible for re-election for a further period of five years.
Section 6
The term of office of the Councillors shall be of 2 years. One vascular and one cardiac Councillor shall be nominated every two years. They are once re-eligible.
Section 7
The Historian shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
Article IV – Standing Committees
Section 1
The Standing Committees shall be the Executive Committee, the Cardiac and Vascular Programme Committees, the Nominating Committee, the Junior Committee and the Advisory Board.
Section 2
Vacancies in the Standing Committees, and any special committees as may be created, shall be filled as prescribed in the By-Laws.
Article V – Meetings
Section 1
The Society shall hold an Annual Scientific Meeting.
Section 2
The host country of the Annual Scientific Meeting of The Society shall be determined by the General Assembly, at least two years in advance.
Section 3
There shall be an Annual General Assembly of The Society during the Annual Scientific Meeting, open to all members (except Industrial members), at which the business of the Society shall be conducted.
Section 4
The official language of the meetings of The Society shall be English.
Article VI – Amendments
Section 1
Proposal to amend the Articles, or portions thereof, of the Constitution and/or By-Laws may be made in writing, signed by at least twenty Active members and presented to the SecretaryGeneral at least three months before the Annual General Assembly of The Society. Such proposal may also be made by the Executive Committee.
Section 2
The Secretary-General shall send, by (electronic) mail, any proposals of amendments at least thirty days before the Annual General Assembly, to all Active, Senior and Honorary Members, who shall be specifically advised that such amendments will be voted upon at the next General Assembly.
Section 3
Adoption of proposed amendments shall be by a majority vote of the Active, Senior and Honorary Members present and voting at the Annual General Assembly.