.

ASEAN REGIONAL UNION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETIES

HOME                 ABOUT US                 MEMBERS                 GOVERNANCE                 EVENTS                 GALERIES                 CONTACT US

Article 1: Name, Registered Address

1.1.            The Union shall be referred to in any of the two following ways:

Asean Regional Union of Psychological Societies

Himpunan Masyarakat Psikologi Regional Asean

abbreviated ARUPS

1.2. The Union is registered in Jakarta, Indonesia

1.3. The Union is regulated according to the arrangements of Title III of the Law from June 27, 1921, concerning non-profit associations, foundations and international non-profit associations.

Article 2: Definitions

2.1. In the context of ARUPS, an association is a national organisation of psychologists or a national Union of associations of psychologists, from South East Asia, which exists to promote psychology and the professional status of psychologists.

2.2. A psychologist is a person who has graduated in psychology from a university or equivalent institute of higher education, having undertaken a course in psychology recognized by his/her association (see 2.1.), and who has fulfilled the criteria for professional status prescribed by that association.

2.3. In countries where there is legal recognition of psychologists, psychologists are those who are entitled, by law or through registration, to call themselves psychologists and to practise professionally as such.

Article 3: Aims of the Union

The Union strives for the following aims:

-        To promote psychology as a science and profession and to further the active exchange between them.

-        To promote the development of psychology in research, applications and practice and to further adequate dissemination of psychological knowledge.

-        To promote communication and co-operation between Member Associations in South East Asia, and to contribute to their development.

-        To further the establishment of ethical codes for psychologists, and to promote the application of psychology as a means of improving the well-being of those to whom psychologists offer services.

-        To further the development of psychology as a science and as a profession with particular reference to training, qualification and status.

-        To support the interests of psychology and its application in relation to any South East Asia or international organisations concerned with defining research or professional politics significant for psychology.

-        To support Member Associations in promoting the interests of psychology within their own countries.

-        To facilitate contacts with international bodies of psychology and related disciplines and to be an important source of advice to South East Asia institutions, government departments and to political, social and consumer organisations.

-        To promote the reputation of psychology and psychologists as well as the protection of their interests.

-        To promote for the benefit of the general public, improvements in quality of life and well-being by promoting inclusion in society and the prevention of mental illness and disorder.

-        To disseminate psychological knowledge and professional skills in the interest of the citizens of South East Asia, provide documentation and make available information and expertise of scientific and professional psychology to the public.

Article 4: Promotion of the aims of the Union

The aims of the Union shall be promoted especially by:

4.1. Arranging contacts between the Member Associations with various media.

4.2. Establishing relations with relevant national and international organisations and administrative bodies in South East Asia

4.3. Collating and disseminating information concerning professional matters for psychologists in South East Asia (training, research programs, ethics, professional organization)

4.4. Arranging regular conferences, seminars and meetings for psychologists in South East Asia

4.5. Developing future structures of sections or divisions of scientific and professional subject matter.

Article 5:  Admission of members (Rules and Conditions)

5.1. An association (as defined in article 2) is eligible for membership of the Union, if it meets each of the following criteria:

5.1.1. The statutes and rules of the association are in accord with the aims of the Union.

5.1.2. Only one association within any one country is eligible.

5.1.3. In countries where there is more than one association of psychologists, the Union will support the formation of a national Union or network which links the different organisations and which enables maximum representation of the community of psychologists in that country.

5.1.4. A Member Association may be replaced by another Member Association of the same country, provided that both are in agreement. In this case, a proposal is brought for decision by the General Assembly, according to Statutes 5.2 and 5.3

5.2. Application for membership has to be made in writing to the Union. The application must be accompanied by the articles of the association (statutes, rules of procedure, ethical code and the latest annual report) and details of numbers and categories of members. The Union will determine the result of the application. A written decision will be given to the applicant. The Union does not have to justify its decision.

5.3. The membership starts when the Union has received the first annual membership fee from the applicant.

Article 6: Termination of membership

6.1. Membership of the Union shall be terminated in the following conditions:

a. dissolution of a Member Association,

b. withdrawal of a Member Association from the Union,

c. expulsion from the Union.

6.2. Dissolution

When a Member Association is in the process of dissolving itself, it should notify the Union in writing as early as possible. In the absence of such notification the association will be liable for the annual fee for the current and the following year, when due.

6.3. Withdrawal

Withdrawal from the Union shall be notified in writing to the Union, not later than October 1, otherwise the association will be liable for the fees for the following year, when they become due.

6.4. Expulsion or cancellation of an affiliation

6.4.1. A Member Association can be expelled from the Union in the following cases:

a.) Actions taken that are deemed  to be in disagreement with, or in contravention of, the statutes or aims of the Union.

b.) Default in payments of the due annual fee, despite the dispatch of three separate reminders by the Union.

6.4.2. Termination of the membership of an association by way of expulsion, or cancellation of an affiliation, has to proceed along the following lines:

a. A written notification of the substantiated proposal of expulsion or cancellation from the Union to the association concerned, asking at the same time for a report on the relevant circumstances, to be received within 6 weeks.

b. A written notification from the Executive Council to the General Assembly, submitting the relevant documents. This notification has to be made at least six weeks before the meeting of the General Assembly, which will take the decision on expulsion or cancellation

c. The report from the association concerned with the relevant circumstances must be presented at the meeting of the General Assembly

d. The decision by the meeting of the General Assembly has to be passed by a 2/3 majority of the delegates present including entrusted votes.

e. A decision to expel a member or to cancel an affiliation will take effect as soon as the association concerned has been informed in writing by the Union.

f. The association concerned remains liable for payments on which it has defaulted.

Article 7: Obligations of the members

7.1. The Member Associations shall observe the statutes and rules of the Union, and shall promote its aims.

7.2. Member Associations shall inform the Union about any substantial changes to their statutes or Ethical Code.

7.3. The Member Associations shall pay the membership fees as prescribed in the Financial Regulations. The annual membership covers one financial year.

7.4. Member Associations, which have failed to pay all outstanding annual subscriptions by the date of the General Assembly, may attend the General Assembly and participate in discussions, but they shall lose the right to vote  until all outstanding debts have been paid. The General Assembly shall have the discretion to set aside this Statute if an association, which is behind with its payments, can demonstrate to the General Assembly that there is a good reason for the debts.

Article 8: Affiliates

8.1. National associations and associations drawing their members from more than one nation which are active in the field of professional psychology (scientific, applied, practitioner) can be appointed affiliates by the General Assembly as a result of a motion raised in accordance with 10.5.

8.1.1. However, no national association may become an affiliate member if an association from the same nation is a member under section 2.1.

8.1.2. No association may be appointed an affiliate whose aims are not in accord with the aims of the Union.

8.1.3. Those affiliates, which are South East Asian associations, may be appointed as South East Asian Affiliates by the General Assembly as a result of a motion raised in accordance with 10.5.

8.2. Affiliates have the status of observers in the General Assembly, and are to be invited accordingly. Consequently, they do not have any voting rights.      

8.3. The General Assembly can decide that affiliation is dependent upon payment of an admission fee and annual fees determined by the Union.

8.4. The General Assembly can cancel an affiliation using the procedure set out in 6.4.2.

Article 9: Constituent parts of the Union

The Union has the following organs:

9.1. The General Assembly has the final authority within the Union.

9.1.1. The General Assembly resolves all concerns of the Union.

9.2. The Presidents' Council consists of the Presidents or their deputies of all the Member Associations of the Union. It shall meet at least once a year.

9.2.1. The Presidents' Council advises and collaborates with the Executive Council in implementing the decisions of the General Assembly.

9.3. The Executive Board consists of the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer; the last two serve as Vice‑Presidents.  

9.3.1. The Executive Board has the responsibility for carrying out the day-to-day business of the Union in accordance with the decisions made by the General Assembly and the Executive Council.  

9.4. The Executive Council consists of the members of the Executive Board and four other members,  who must all be psychologists.

9.4.1. The Executive Council carries out the decisions of the General Assembly, and operates the Union between the meetings (plenary sessions) of the General Assembly.

9.4.2. The Executive Council is the legal representative of the Union in all civil and legal matters be it in the initiating or defending legal action. In a legal process, it can be represented by one of its members or a mandated representative.

Article 10: The General Assembly

10.1. The following persons may attend the General Assembly of the Union: delegates of Member Associations, members of the Executive Council and representatives of affiliates (including South East Asian Affiliates), members of Standing Committees and  Task Forces, the ARUPS Office Manager, and any other persons invited as guests by the Executive Council.

10.1.1. The General Assembly meets in biennial plenary sessions, unless an additional meeting is approved by the Executive Council or by the previous General Assembly (by a majority vote of the members of the Executive Council or by a majority of the delegates). Date and time of the General Assembly are decided by the Executive Council. The General Assembly is held at the place indicated in the invitation or at the seat of the Union.

10.2. Only delegates of Member Associations have voting rights in the General Assembly. They can, in addition, represent entrusted votes from their own Member Association. Member Associations which have up to 2500 members have 2 delegates. In cases where there are more than 2500 psychologists belonging to a Member Association, the number of delegates increases with one delegate for every 1000 members, up to a maximum of five delegates for any Member Association. Each Delegate of a Member Association has one vote in the General Assembly.

10.3. Member Associations have to nominate in writing to the Union the names of their delegates and delegates with entrusted votes (or potential substitutes) at least four weeks before a General Assembly.

10.3.1. Members of the Executive Council may serve as delegates and may vote in the General Assembly if they serve as delegates of their member associations.

10.3.2. Member Associations who are applying for membership of the Union should act in accordance with 10.3. and 5.3., so that, if the association is accepted as a member, the delegates have voting rights immediately.

10.4. A Member Association may decide to send a smaller number of delegates than its entitlement to the General Assembly and to entrust the votes of the remaining members to the delegates attending. In this case, the Member Association must notify the Union of the distribution of entrusted votes among its attending delegates at least four weeks before the date of the General Assembly. Each delegate attending can only possess one entrusted vote from his/her own association.

10.5. Announcement of a General Assembly has to be made at least four months before the General Assembly, and should contain preliminary information concerning the agenda and place and dates of the meeting. Each Member Association may place motions and items on the agenda, provided that these items are made known in writing to the Union not later than two months in advance of the General Assembly. Every motion has to be stated explicitly in writing with regard to any change of the statutes or budget, including fees. The final agenda of the General Assembly must be delivered to the Member Associations not later than six weeks before the opening date of the General Assembly.

10.6. Amendments to motions or items not included in the precirculated agenda of a regular General Assembly may only be discussed with the consent of more than one third of the delegates from the Member Associations present at that time. Decisions on such matters can only be made by way of resolutions.

10.7. The president shall announce an Extra-ordinary General Assembly, if desired by at least one third of the Member Associations, with at least two months' notice.

Article 11: Tasks of the General Assembly

11.1. The General Assembly decides on the statutes and any revision.

11.2. The General Assembly considers the biennial report of the Executive Council for approval.

11.3. The General Assembly concludes the nomination of applications for membership, expulsion from membership, as well as nomination and recall of affiliates.

11.4. The General Assembly considers the accounts of the Union and approves them. The accounts of the Union should be circulated in full to Member Associations with the final agenda, not later than six weeks before the opening date of the General Assembly (10.5).

11.5. The General Assembly fixes the fees in accordance with the financial regulations.

11.6. The General Assembly decides upon the activity plan and the budget for the next period.

11.7. The General Assembly elects a President, a Secretary General and a Treasurer and the other members of the Executive Council. The General Assembly can discharge any of them.

11.8. The General Assembly confirms the appointment of the auditors, upon the recommendation of the Executive Council.

11.9 The General Assembly can include any other item on the agenda.

11.10. The General Assembly can dissolve the Union.

11.11. The General Assembly may establish Task Forces and Standing Committees for areas of special interests.

11.12. The General Assembly decides on financial arrangements for Standing Committees, Task Forces and Working Groups and receives financial reports as well as a final report.

Article 12: Elections and procedures

12.1. The General Assembly appoints its Chair at the beginning of the session.

12.2. The quorum for the General Assembly is half + 1 of the Member Associations. Decisions of the General Assembly shall be made by simple majority vote. However, a 2/3 majority is required for votes according to articles on expulsion (6.4.2.d.) and dissolution (11.10.), as well as for votes to change any articles of the Statutes or Internal/Financial Regulations of the Union. Only delegates present in the meeting room, including the entrusted votes, can cast their votes.

12.3. Voting at the General Assembly (except for elections) shall be by show of voting cards unless a secret ballot is requested by a delegate. No postal ballots are allowed at the General Assembly.

12.3.1. In elections to the Executive Council, the system which will be used will be absolute majority, followed by a simple majority if needed. In an election for a single post, if one person gains more than 50% of the votes cast, she or he is elected. If no-one gains an absolute majority, the two names with most votes remain and the person who gains a simple majority on the second round is elected. In an election for more than one position, all delegates cast as many votes as there are positions. If one or more persons gain more than 50% of the votes they are elected. If all vacancies are not filled in the first round of voting, the person(s) with the largest number of votes on the second round will be elected. Abstentions, blank papers and spoiled votes are excluded and not counted. Votes on motions are by simple majority.

12.4. Elections are conducted by secret ballot.

12.5. The quorum for voting and elections at the General Assembly shall be the presence in the meeting room of delegates including their entrusted votes and representing 1/2 of the votes of delegates to the General Assembly.

12.6. Minutes of the sessions of the General Assembly should be prepared, approved by the Chair and sent to Member Associations and to delegates not later than eight weeks after the General Assembly.

Article 13: The Executive Board and the Executive Council

13.1 The Executive Board meets whenever the interest of the Union requires it or when 1 member asks for a meeting. The quorum is 2 of its members. Votes are by simple majority.

13.2. The members of the Executive Board and the Executive Council are elected for four years by the General Assembly following nomination by their association. The candidates should be nominated by their association in writing to the Union not later than eight weeks before a plenary session. Each nomination should be accompanied by the curriculum vitae of the nominee.

13.3. The Executive Council meets whenever the interest of the Union requires it or when 2 of its members ask for a meeting. The quorum is five of its members. Decisions are by simple majority. Each member has one vote. Where votes on a proposal are equally divided, the President, or if s/he is not present, the senior Vice President in office has the casting vote.

13.4. The Executive Council may invite any convenor of a Task Force or Standing Committee to attend any meeting of the Council as an observer.

13.5. Member Associations may nominate one representative to attend a meeting of the Executive Council as an observer.

13.6. The Executive Council shall meet at least once per year.

13.7. The elections of 3 members of the Executive Council shall preferably take place in a midcycle of two years as compared to the elections of the other members.

13.8. No member can serve on the Executive Council for more than eight years (irrespective of office).

13.9. Only one member of any member association may be elected to the Executive Council.

13.10. If one of its members resigns or retires mid‑term, the Executive Council may appoint a temporary member to fulfil that function until the next General Assembly.

Article 14: Tasks and meetings of the Executive Council and the Executive Board

14.1. The Executive Council has the following duties and powers:

a. To authorise expenditure according to the budget adopted by the General Assembly.

b. To present a report to each meeting of the General Assembly.

c. To present financial reports from the Standing Committees and Task Forces to the General Assembly.

d. In general, subject to the superior authority of the General Assembly, to make all decisions necessary for the operation of the Union and the realization of its aims, in the intervals between meetings of the General Assembly.

Article 15: Annual Accounts

The annual accounts of the International Non-Profit Association established according to article 53 of the law have to be presented annually to the Ministry of Justice.

Article 16: Language – Internal Regulations – Financial Regulations

16.1. The working language of the Union is English.

16.2. The Union has established Internal Regulations and Financial Regulations which deal with the issues not covered by the present Statutes. These documents are produced by the Executive Council and approved by the General Assembly according to article 12.

16.2.1. Every proposal to change the Internal Regulations or the Financial Regulations has to be sent to the registered address of the Union and submitted for the approval of the GA.

Article 17: Change of the Statutes, Dissolution.

17.1. Change of the statutes is subject to a majority vote according to article 12.2.

17.2. The General Assembly decides when a change in the Statutes comes into effect.

17.3. Proposals for a change of the statutes shall be announced in accordance with article 10.5. The Union ceases to exist if the membership goes below ten associations.

17.4. On the dissolution of the Union, any residual assets shall, at the discretion of the General Assembly be allocated to purposes consonant with the aims of the Union.

Jakarta, August 1, 2006

DR. Rahmat Ismail, psychologist

President, ASEAN Regional Union of Psychological Societies.

© Copyright 2010 ARUPS DOT ORG