IDEA Constitution
International Drama/Theater and Education Association
Name and seat 1-2
Aim and purposes 3-4
Membership 5-13
Structure 14
General Council 15-27
Executive Committee 28
The President 35
The Vice-President 36
The Secretary 37
The Treasurer 38
The Director of Publications and Information 39
The Congress Director 40
The Project Director 41
About EC and its action 42-45
General Meeting Committee 46-49
The Accountancy Committee 50-53
Finance 54-56
Official languages 57
Duration and dissolution 58-59
Alterations 60
Legislation 61-62
PREAMBLE
In affirmation of the Universal Right of all human beings to a balanced and comprehensive education, including an education in and through the arts, especially through theatre/drama, we hereby come together to create an international theatre/drama association.
NAME AND SEAT
Article 1The organisation shall be named:
English: International Drama/Theatre and Education Association
French : Association Internationale Théâtre et Éducation
Spanish: Associación Internacional Teatro y Educación
Hereafter to be known as IDEA
Article 2
The seat of IDEA will be in Portugal, in Porto, Rua Mouzinho de Silveiro No. 257
AIMS AND PURPOSES
Article 3The aims of IDEA will be:
1. to provide a forum for international communication about the relationship between drama/theatre and education;
2. to promote and advocate drama/theatre as part of a full human education, within and across national borders;
3. to assist in the development of the theory and practice of the relationship between drama/theatre and education.
Article 4
In pursuance of these aims, IDEA will:
1. represent and speak for drama/theatre and education in an international context;
2. liaise with other organisations both national and international, working in all fields relevant to education, especially education through the arts;
3. organize international congresses for drama/theatre and education, based on significant international themes;
4. initiate and foster research and development of drama/theatre and education;
5. produce international publications and facilitate the circulation of information relevant to drama/theatre and education;
6. encourage the exchange of drama/theatre practitioners between member associations.
MEMBERSHIP
Article 5IDEA is an association of national associations working in drama/theatre and education, also open to regional and international associations and to other institutes, bodies, networks, organisation and individuals working in drama/theatre and education in accordance with Articles 6 and 7.
Article 6
1. As ordinary members any national association as mentioned in Article 5 will be eligible and shall be accepted by the Executive Committee (EC) or General Council Meeting (GCM) provided that:
a. it accepts the aims and agree to abide by the Constitution of IDEA
b. it practices internal democracy in the general management and administration of its affairs; and
c. it pledges to fulfil the obligations deriving from membership.
2. In the absence of a national association in any one country, national bodies, networks or other national organisations working in drama/theatre and education can be accepted by the EC or GMC as ordinary members in accordance with the provisions in Paragraph 1 of this Article
3. In the absence of a national association, body, network or other organisation in any one country, regional associations, bodies, networks or other organisations of that country working in drama/theatre and education can be accepted by the EC or GMC as ordinary members in accordance with the provision mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article
4. If there is more than one organization as mentioned in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article in any one country, they all may apply for admission to IDEA as ordinary members and be accepted by the EC or GMC
Article 7
Other than those members mentioned in Article 6, natural as well as legal persons, national or international, can be accepted as extraordinary (associate) members by the EC or GMC, if they accept the aims and agree to abide by the Constitution of IDEA
Article 8
1. IDEA opposes discrimination on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability.
2. No members will be admitted to membership which discriminates on the basis of any of these.
Article 9
Each ordinary member may vote in accordance with the Articles 19 and 20. Associate members may not vote.
Article 10
The membership shall terminate:
1. because of death of an associate member- natural person;
2. because of the member's resignation by means of a registered letter to the Executive Committee;
3. because of termination by the Executive Committee (EC) or General Council Meeting (GMC) in accordance with Article 13.
4. if the member has not paid its fee for two years or has not negotiated with the EC as outlined in Article 55.
Article 11
From the date of admission to IDEA members accept the following obligations:
1. If they are member associations, to inform their members about and to promote the interest of their members in the work of IDEA.
2. For all members to inform the Secretary about all actions taken in pursuance of the IDEA aims;
3. For all members to send to the secretary any information which might be of interest.
Article 12
Members shall pay such annual fees as shall be determined periodically by the General Council.
Article 13
The Executive Committee (EC) or General Council Meeting (GMC) can expel a member from IDEA.
1. if a member no longer complies with the requirements of the membership;
2. if the member acts against the aims and/or the Constitution of IDEA.
3. if the member does not fulfil all of its financial obligations as a member of IDEA.
STRUCTURE
Article 14
1. The structure of IDEA will consist of:
a. the General Council;
b. the Executive Committee;
c. the General Meeting Committee;
d. the Accountancy Committee.
The competence, the way of convocating the Association and the way of functioning of the General Council will be as prescribed in Article 179 and subsequents of the Portuguese Civil Code.
GENERAL COUNCIL
Article 151. The General Council shall be the supreme authority of IDEA and is constituted by all associations. It shall consist of one duly appointed delegate of each ordinary member.
2. At the beginning of each meeting of the General Council the voting-proportion will be determined. The voting-proportion is the number of votes that is given in that meeting to each country. The voting-proportion is the lowest number that can be divided by all the possible numbers of present ordinary members per country.
3. If in any country more than one association, body, network or other organisation is a member of IDEA, in the terms of Paragraph 4 of Article 6, they may all be represented in the General Council, but together they shall have the numbers of votes that is equal to the voting-proportion that will be fixed for each country.
Article 16
It shall be binding upon the ordinary meeting of the General Council to:
1. elect the members of the Executive Committee, the General Meeting Committee and the Accountancy Committee;
2. determine the principles of action for IDEA and empower the Executive Committee accordingly;
3. consider the activities report of the President, and the financial report of the Treasurer, as audited and presented by the Accountancy Committee;
4. determine the host countries for the international congresses;
5. determine the host countries for the IDEA-Secretariat;
6. vote on budget;
7. fix the amount of members fees.
Article 17
Key-issues concerning the policy and future of IDEA shall be dealt with only at meetings of the General Council during the international congress, whereby all the members present at the congress have the right to participate.
Article 18
The General Council shall also have the authority to amend the Constitution and to take final decisions concerning the affiliation or disaffiliation of ordinary and associate members.
Article 19
The delegates of each country have the number of votes that is equal to the vote-proportion as determined by Article 15. Voting will be exercised by one delegate to the General Council. This delegate will be appointed by each country by internal decision-making processes appropriate to each country.
Article 20
If the delegates of any country cannot designate one of them as the voting delegate, all the delegates of that country will have a part of the voting-proportion related to the number of represented national associations.
Article 21
1. Each member association must provide the name of its delegate to the General Council, who must be a member of that member association, to the Executive Committee in writing preferably two weeks before each meeting of the General Council, except in emergency situations.
2. The Delegate nominated by each member association (as in 21.1.) shall exercise the voting rights of the member association on the General Council (unless subject to 21.3,4 below).
3. Where a member association elects or mandates a new delegate to the General Council, who must be a member of that member association, the Executive Committee must be provided with that information in writing by the member association.
4.If a member association is unable to send its delegate to a General Council meeting that member association may empower another delegate of a member association to exercise a proxy vote on its behalf.
5. A member association wishing to exercise a proxy vote must inform the Executive Committee in writing of the name of the delegate, (subject to 21.4) who shall exercise that right.
6. The delegate cannot have more than one proxy vote (in addition to his/her own votes) from another member in the GCM.”
Article 22
1. During an international congress of IDEA all persons present have the right to attend a meeting of the General Council and may speak with the approval of the President, but shall have no right to vote thereat.
2. Any member of a member association and the associate members shall have the right to attend meetings of the General Council and may speak with the approval of the President.
3. All sessions of the General Council are open to the public except for such items of an agenda in which protection of person-related data requires the exclusion of the public.
Article 23
1. The General Council shall always meet in IDEA congresses and at least once between them.
2. The Executive Committee or General Council decides the time and place for GC meeting(s) between congresses.”
Article 24
Proposals for resolutions shall be sent to the members of the General Council, at least one month before the next meeting of the General Council, or later with the permission of the General Council.
Article 25
Between meetings of the General Council, decisions will be made by means of a postal referendum or teleconference of the members associations' delegates to the General Council.
Article 26
Special meetings of the General Council for decision making between meetings of the General Council may be called by the President or Secretary after deliberation with the President, and shall be called also on written request of at least ten per cent (10%) of the member associations' delegates to the General Council.
Article 27
1. Each decision of the General Council shall be made by reaching agreement, or otherwise with a simple majority of votes. The quorum shall be one half of the total number entitled to vote.
2. Any member of the General Council has the right to call for a vote, in which case a vote shall be taken. In such cases a simple majority of those voting (except with regard to constitutional amendments) shall decide the issue.
3. An incomplete General Council of Executive Committee shall remain valid, excluding the cases mentioned in Articles 58 and 59.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Article 28The executive Committee is elected by the General Council and shall be entrusted with the conduct of current affairs of IDEA.
Article 29
1. The Executive Committee shall consist of at least seven members and always be an odd number of members, elected by the General Council in the meeting, held at each congress. All Executive members serve for the period until the elections of the General Council during the following international congress.
2. The members of the Executive Committee may be re-elected only once.
Article 30
1. The candidates for the Executive Committee may be nominated by the ordinary or associate members.
2. Each individual nominated for the Executive Committee must agree to nomination and must be a member of an ordinary or an associate member of IDEA.
Article 31
The members of the Executive Committee preferably should represent different continents and countries. They are elected as individuals and not as representatives of countries or associations.”
Article 32
1. The Executive Committee shall comprise the following Executive Officers.
the President
the Vice-President
the Secretary
the Treasurer
the Director of Publications and Information
the Congress Director
the Director of Projects
2. The General Council can also elect up to two other Executive Officers for the performance of specific duties preserving the odd numbers of members.
Article 33
In addition to articles 29 and 32 the Executive Committee has the right to appoint members for working committees or to perform other duties to help them in their work in IDEA.
Article 34
1. The General Council of IDEA may appoint one or more officials who shall be entrusted with the performance of duties delegated by the Secretary mentioned in Article 37 and assigned to him or her/them by the General Council.
2. The official(s) of the General Council shall be represented legally by the President of the Executive Committee.
Article 35
The President shall:
1. be the spokesperson for IDEA internationally;
2. assume responsibility for official correspondence with other associations, agencies, organisations and governments in consultations with the Secretary;
3. report to the ordinary meeting of the General Council about the work of IDEA and its members in relation to the aims of IDEA;
4. ensure that all necessary meetings are called and agendas prepared;
5. set a closing date for the reception of business items for the ordinary meeting of the General Council and for possible postal ballots;
6. chair the meetings of the Executive Committee;
7. conduct teleconference meetings or postal referenda as required;
8. have powers to act in emergency situations on behalf of IDEA without consent of the Executive Committee or General Council; but has to seek approval for such actions as soon as possible from the Executive Committee or General Council.
Article 36
The Vice-President shall:
1. chair the meetings of the Executive Committee in the absence of the President;
2. assist the President by preparing submissions for assistance and support from other organisations in pursuance of the aims of IDEA;
3. co-ordinate projects authorised by the General Council of IDEA for any particular period;
4. assume the functions of the President in the event of the President's inability to perform his or her duties.
Article 37
The Secretary shall:
1. ensure that proper records of proceedings are kept up-to-date and circulated as appropriate;
2. have charge of the official correspondence of IDEA except in matters where it may be necessary for the President, as chief officer of IDEA, to assume this responsibility;
3. co-operate with the President to compile the agenda of the General Council and Executive Committee meeting;
4. inform the members about the activities of the Executive Committee and about relevant activities of member associations;
5. co-ordinate translations of written material to be distributed to members by a newsletter or otherwise;
6. maintain records of the correspondence of IDEA;
7. maintain lists of contact persons of each member association as nominated by each association;
8. liaise with Executive and other Committees of IDEA in order to distribute appropriate material to members by a newsletter or otherwise.
Article 38
The Treasurer shall:
1. keep the books of IDEA's accounts and provide the Executive with accurate and up-to-date reports of IDEA's financial position;
2. prepare and present to the EC and GC a budget for each calendar year, which shall include the determination of the member fees;”
3. inform each member association on the fee levels, collect all fees, and send reminders if necessary;
4. arrange for annual auditing of IDEA's books by the Accountancy Committee;
5. co-ordinate fund raising activities of IDEA.
Article 39
The Director of Publications and Information shall:
1. in accordance with secretary establish a Publications Committee which shall co-ordinate, edit and publish material of interest and importance for IDEA members by a newsletter or otherwise;
2. devise responsible ways of publicising the aims of IDEA through the media and distributing news of the activities of IDEA as widely as possible;
3. appoint a committee that shall edit an international research journal, whose members shall be agreed by the General Council;
4. maintain a file of IDEA publications;
5. establish periodic surveys amongst members to evaluate IDEA publications in relation to the aims of the association.
Article 40
The Congress Director shall:
1. co-ordinate an international congress for drama/theatre and education to be held preferably every two years but at least every four years.
The congress will
a) either alternate between the northern and southern hemispheres
b) and/or be held from congress to congress in different continents;
2. liaise with members to propose to the General Council the possible host countries for the next congress
3. liaise with members to choose a suitable congress theme. The final decision on the theme shall rest with the Congress Director;
4. convene a Congress Committee to assist with congress planning and organisation. These members shall be agreed by the Executive Committee;
5. submit a budget to the Treasurer of IDEA one year before the congress is to be held and an audited account one year after the congress has been held.
6. convene an International Congress Committee (ICC) to work as an advisory board and to collaborate with members in preparing the congress. The members of ICC shall be accepted by the EC.
Article 41
The Project Director shall:
1. ensure and/or monitor the smooth implementation of IDEA projects initiated by the General Council;
2. propose to the General Council projects that will further the aims of IDEA. Between General Council meetings the Project Director, in close co-ordination with the President and the Executive Committee, may initiate projects for IDEA within the priorities and lines of action set up by the General Council;
3. co-ordinate with the members regarding projects that may be adopted by IDEA;
4. liaise with partner organisations of IDEA regarding collaboration on projects;
5. inform the members of IDEA about the status and outcome of projects.
Article 42
Any vacancy occurring amongst the Executive Officers of IDEA will be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee and ratified at the next meeting of the General Council. In the case of the death or resignation of the President, the Vice-President will be President.
Article 43
In its first meeting - after new elections - the Executive Committee arranges its own appropriate ways for communication and decision making.
Article 44
1. Each member of the Executive Committee has one vote. Any decisions of the Executive Committee shall be taken with a simple majority of the maximum number of votes. If the votes are equally divided, the President's vote will have the casting vote.
2. An incomplete Executive Committee shall remain competent, not withstanding its obligations to have additional members elected.
Article 45
On request of the national member association(s) of any country and in accordance with the aims of IDEA, the Executive Committee can by declarations or otherwise support the national association(s) in promoting and advocating drama/theatre as part of the national educational system and the development of theory and practice of the relationship between drama/theatre and education in a specific country.
GENERAL MEETING COMMITTEE
Article 46The General Meeting Committee, as elected by the General Council, shall be entrusted with the preparation and guidance of the meetings of the General Council.
Article 47
1. The General Meeting Committee shall consist of three members elected by the General Council. All General Meeting Committee members shall serve for a period until the next elections.
2. The General Meeting Committee shall comprise the following Officers:
the President
the Vice-President
the Secretary
3. The members of the General Meeting Committee may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms.
Article 48
1. The candidates for the General Meeting Committee may be nominated by the ordinary or associate members.
2. Each individual nominated for the General Meeting Committee must agree to nomination and must be a member of an ordinary or an associate member of IDEA.
Article 49
The members of the General Meeting Committee preferably should be residents of different countries. They are elected as individuals and not as representatives of their countries or associations.
THE ACCOUNTANCY COMMITTEE
Article 50The Accountancy Committee as elected by the General Council shall be entrusted with the annual auditing of IDEA's books and with reporting it to the General Council.
Article 51
1. The Accountancy Committee shall consist of three members elected by the General Council. All Accountancy Committee members shall serve for a period until the next elections.
2. The Accountancy Committee shall comprise the following Officers:
the President
the Vice-President
the Secretary
3. The members of the Accountancy Committee may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms.
Article 52
1. The candidates for the Accountancy Committee may be nominated by the ordinary or associate members.
2. Each individual nominated for the Accountancy Committee must agree to nomination and must be a member of an ordinary or an associate member of IDEA.
Article 53
The members of the Accountancy Committee preferably should be residents of different countries. They are elected as individuals and not as representatives of their countries or associations.
FINANCE
Article 54The General Council shall:
1. determine periodically the level of the annual fee that will be charged to all members;
2. determine each year the budget and the account;
3. determine the acceptance and use of donations;
Article 55
If a member association is unable to fulfil its financial obligations, owing to extraordinary circumstances, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to grant a delay, a temporary payment on a lower rate basis or, in extreme cases, a temporary exemption from the payment of such fees.
Article 56
A member association shall receive the right to host the IDEA congress with such provisions as the General Council Meeting will deem fit to attach to it.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
Article 57
1. The official languages for all business meetings, publications, etc. of IDEA shall be English, French and Spanish.
2. The official languages of the congresses shall be English, French, Spanish and the native language of the country or region hosting the congress.
3. In the event of questions or doubt as to the interpretation of the provisions of the present Constitution, the English text shall be considered as original and authentic.
DURATION AND DISSOLUTION
Article 58IDEA is established for an unlimited duration of time.
Article 59
1. In the event of it being necessary or expedient to dissolve IDEA, the General Council shall have the power and complete autonomy to realize its assets in any manner it may consider expedient and to take all necessary steps to pay or settle any liabilities there may be. Any assets remaining after meeting all debts, liabilities and expenses shall be made over to any body or bodies which exist for the promotion of similar aims to those of IDEA.
2. A decision to dissolve IDEA shall be taken by the General Council with a two-third majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which at least half of the members entitled to vote shall be present.
ALTERATIONS
Article 601. Alterations to the terms of the Constitution may be made by resolution of a two-thirds majority of the General Council and endorsed by at least 75% of the total number of votes at the General Council meeting or by postal ballot, as appropriate. The membership must be allowed a month to consider any proposed changes to the Constitution.
2. If the required quorum (as mentioned in Article 27.1) is not present, the resolution mentioned in Paragraph 60.1 may be adopted at the next meeting, irrespective of the number of members entitled to vote being present; the resolution must be adopted with the majority of two-thirds of the vote cast.
LEGISLATION
Article 61This Constitution is submitted to the laws of the country in which the seat of IDEA shall be.
Article 62
In case of doubt about the interpretation of this Constitution definite decision will be made by the Court of the country of the seat of IDEA.
Revised 2006