Official documents

Statutes of the AYLH

ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG LEGAL HISTORIANS /
VEREINIGUNG JUNGER RECHTSHISTORIKERINNEN

Article 1: Name, Seat and Status

This association is called the „Association of Young Legal Historians (AYLH) / Vereinigung Junger RechtshistorikerInnen (VJR)“. It is established under Artt. 60–79 of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) and based in Zürich (Switzerland).

The society’s correspondence and general assemblies (GA) shall be conducted through the medium of the English language

Article 2: Objectives

The society is established to organise the annual conference „European Forum of Young Legal Historians / Europäisches Forum Junger RechtshistorikerInnen“ (Forum), and to promote academic legal history in Europe and beyond.

The Forum shall provide a platform for young researchers for the presentation of their research results in the field of legal history. For this reason, the general themes should be as wide as possible. The Forum is aimed at all those who are interested in legal history; only professors holding a chair in legal history are, as a general rule, excluded from participation. Exceptional cases are decided by the organisational committee (OC).

The results of the conference are published in the series „Yearbook of Young Legal Historians / Jahrbuch Junge Rechtsgeschichte“.

The AYLH promotes scientific exchange between legal historians as well as the preservation and extension of legal history in Europe and beyond.

Article 3: Membership

Membership is open to individuals and organisations who wish to support the objectives of the society. The society aspires to achieve as wide a diversity of nationalities and cultures as possible.

Members pay an ordinary annual contribution of € 20,–. Members’ liability is limited to this amount. Members may purchase the volumes of the Yearbook at a reduced price if there is an agreement to this effect with the publishing house.

Membership commences with the payment of the annual contribution. Non-payment of the annual contribution will lead to the loss of membership. Members may leave the society through express statement. Other cases are decided by the GA (Art. 65 ZGB).

Article 4: Organs

The organs of the AYLH are:
1. The general assembly (GA);
2. The executive board;
3. The auditors.

Article 5: Powers of the GA

The GA is the supreme organ of the AYLH. Its powers include:

  • The exclusion of members
  • The amendment of these statutes
  • The power to decide all matters that are not assigned to other organs of the society
  • Supervision over the activities of the organs, and their revocation.

All members who are present are entitled to vote.

Article 6: Convocation and procedure of the GA

The ordinary GA is convened after every Forum. Extraordinary GA are convened by the executive board, or by one fifth of all members.

The GA is chaired by the executive board. Decisions can be made with regard to proposals that appear on the agenda. The agenda is sent to all members together with the invitation to the Forum. Members can submit proposals to the executive board in written form up to two weeks before the GA. Decisions with respect to proposals that have not been presented in this form may be taken on the approval of at least one third of the members present.

Votes are held by open ballot; they are held by secret ballot with the approval of at least one third of the members present. All members have equal voting rights. Decisions of the society are taken on a majority vote of the members present. In the case of equality of votes, the speaker of the executive board has a casting vote in matters not pertaining to elections or revocations. An equality of votes in election or revocation matters is resolved by means of drawing lots.

The minutes of the GA meetings are recorded. They are presented to the following GA for approval.

Article 7: The Executive Board

The executive board consists of the members of the organisational committees of the previous and of the subsequent years. The executive board is chaired by the organisational committee that prepares the following conference.

The treasurer collects and administers the annual contributions together with all other assets. He/she annually issues financial statements, consisting of a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement, based on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The treasurer is responsible for handing over all bank details and information to the subsequent organisational committee.

At least one member of the executive board is responsible for networking according to Art. 2 para. 4 of these statues.

Otherwise, the members of the executive boards assign their own responsibilities (Art. 69 ZGB).

Article 8: Accounting

The accounting year is the calendar year.
The resources consist primarily of the following:

  • Members’ annual contributions;
  • Voluntary contributions and benefits;
  • Legacies and treasures.

The annual financial statement is examined by two auditors who are elected by the GA. The auditors hold their office until a request for withdrawal or replacement is submitted. They present a written auditing report to the executive committee and to the GA.

Article 9: Liquidation of the society

Liquidation is performed according to Artt. 76–78 ZGB.
The society’s assets are liquidized in accordance with the provisions established for cooperatives (Art. 58 ZGB).