BYLAWS

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY ON

MULTIPLE CRITERIA DECISION MAKING

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the organization is the International Society on Multiple Criteria Decision Making (hereafter MCDM). It is henceforth referred to as the Society.

ARTICLE II

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the Society shall be to develop, test, evaluate, and apply methodology for solving multiple criteria decision problems, to help managers and other people solve multiple criteria decision problems, to foster interaction and scientific research in the study of multiple criteria decision problems, and to cooperate with other organizations in the practice and study of management. This purpose is to be accomplished through the exchange of information between members and interested nonmembers by and through the development and encouragement of new techniques, methods, and software. This purpose is to be accomplished by organizing International Conferences, publishing proceedings of the same and publishing a Newsletter. In addition, the Society organizes or co-organizes Workshops, Summer Schools and other similar activities, whenever needed.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee consists of the President of the Society, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Vice-President of Finance, Newsletter Editor, Chairman of the Awards Committee, Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and eight other members. In addition, the Executive Committee includes two other ex officio members: the Chairmen of the last and next scheduled International Conferences of the Society. There may be three such members of the Executive Committee, if the Chairman of the subsequent International Conference has already been named. In addition, the Executive Committee may invite Past-Presidents to serve on the Committee.

Section 2. PRESIDENT

The President of the Society shall be the chief executive officer and shall have general responsibility for supervision, direction, and control of affairs of the Society. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Society and shall also have such other powers and duties as prescribed by the Executive Committee or Bylaws.

Section 3. PRESIDENT-ELECT

The President-Elect, in the absence or disability of the President, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and shall perform such other duties as the Executive Committee or Bylaws prescribe. He/she shall also be responsible for recommending and, upon approval of the Executive Committee, arranging for topics and speakers at International Conferences.

Section 4. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN

The International Conference Chairman shall be responsible for all the conference arrangements, and for information dissemination as directed by the Executive Committee. He/she shall be an ex officio member of the Executive Committee

Section 5. SECRETARY

The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Society. He/she shall conduct necessary correspondence with members of the Society and others. The Executive Committee will appoint the Secretary. The term of the Secretary will be 4 years, with a possibility for renewal.

Section 6. VICE-PRESIDENT OF FINANCE

The Vice-President of Finance shall receive all funds of the Society and be responsible for them. He/she shall record the dues status of each member of the Society and present reports of the financial condition of the Society, when required by the Executive Committee. He/she shall disburse the funds of the Society, as and when authorized by the Executive Committee.

Section 7. TENURE

Officers of the Society shall be elected to four-year terms, coinciding with International Conferences. The terms of office shall begin as soon as practicable after the election results are known. Officers may serve multiple terms. Terms of the eight members of the Executive Committee shall be staggered, so that half of the terms will overlap the other half by two years.

Section 8. FUNCTION

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for management of the affairs of the Society, and shall call and organize Business Meetings at International Conferences, and perform such other functions as may be prescribed in the Bylaws. It is responsible for suggesting changes to the Bylaws to the membership.

The Executive Committee can establish other Committees. The terms of the members of such committees should not be longer than four years, coinciding with the timing of International Conferences.

Section 9. AWARDS COMMITTEE

The Awards Committee is responsible for eliciting nominations, designating recipients, arranging for the manufacture of award plaques, and conducting the Awards Ceremony. The Chairman of the Awards Committee together with the President of the Society will present the Awards. The Executive Committee shall appoint the Chairman and six other members of the Awards Committee. In addition, the President of the Society and the Chairman of the International Conference, at which the awards will be given, are ex officio members of the Committee. The Executive Committee shall decide which of the following Awards will be given: the MCDM Gold Medal; the Edgeworth-Pareto Award; and the Cantor Award. All members of the Society are eligible to make nominations to the Awards Committee, in a manner the Committee shall specify. The Awards will be presented at International Conferences; Honorees are expected to give a lecture at the Conference at which they receive Awards.

Section 10. DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AWARD COMMITTEE

The MCDM Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee is responsible for soliciting the applications and designating the finalists and the recipient of the MCDM Doctoral Dissertation Award. The Executive Committee shall appoint the Chair of the MCDM Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee among the members of the Executive Committee for a two year term. The Chair shall propose and the Executive Committee shall appoint a maximum of four other members of the Committee and their term will be till the next International Conference. The MCDM Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee shall designate up to four finalists before each International Conference. The finalists shall have their registration fees for the Conference waived. The award recipient shall be decided by the Committee and the award presented at International Conferences. The amount of the award shall be decided by the Executive Committee and granted by the Society.

ARTICLE IV

ELECTIONS

Section 1. ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

At least six months prior to a Business Meeting of the Society, the President of the Society shall appoint an Elections Committee to nominate candidates for available offices. The list of candidates will be made available to all Society members at least one month before the Business Meeting. Additional candidates may be nominated by the members of the Society not later than the Business Meeting. The Elections Committee will be responsible for carrying out the election.

Section 2. VOTING

Elections shall be held not later than two months after the Business Meeting. The form of the ballot will be decided by the Executive Committee. Candidates receiving the most votes will be elected. Ties shall be resolved by procedures determined by the President. Results are to be announced promptly to the membership.

Section 3. VACANCIES

Vacancies in any elected position may be filled at the discretion of the Executive Committee until the next regular election.

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP

Any interested and professionally qualified person may become a member of the Society by applying to the Society and paying the dues of the Society. All members of the Society have equal rights, privileges and duties.

ARTICLE VI

DUES

The dues of the Society shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by a majority of voting members of the Society.

ARTICLE VII

MEETINGS

Section 1. NOTICE AND FREQUENCY

Meetings of the Society can be called at any time by the Executive Committee. Information about the time and place of such Meetings may be in electronic form, in the newsletter, or by mail to each member of the Society.

Business Meetings of the Society shall be held at least every two years, normally taking place during International Conferences of the Society.

Section 2. RULES OF ORDER

Roberts Rules of Order shall govern Business Meetings in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Section 1. PROCEDURE

Proposals for adoption of new Bylaws, or repeal, or amendment of these Bylaws shall be presented to the membership of the Society at a Business Meeting. On approval by a majority of the voting members of the Society present, the Secretary shall prepare and make available the proposed amendments within 30 days after the Business Meeting. A majority of the members of the Society voting shall be necessary for adoption of the changes to the Bylaws. The form of the ballot will be decided by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. RECORD OF CHANGES

Whenever an amendment or new Bylaw is adopted, or a Bylaw repealed, it shall be recorded in the Bylaws by the Secretary. The date of the enactment of said changes shall also be recorded.