Constitution

Adopted by the Annual General Meeting of PME on the 17th August, 1980.  Changed by the Annual General Meetings on the 24th of July, 1987, on 10th of August, 1992, on the 2nd of August, 1994, and on the 18th of July, 1997.

1. The Group has the name "International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education", abbreviated to PME.

2. The major goals of the Group are:
   1. to promote international contacts and exchange of scientific information in the psychology of mathematical education;
   2. to promote and stimulate interdisciplinary research in the aforesaid area with the cooperation of psychologists, mathematicians and mathematics teachers;
   3. to further a deeper insight into the psychological aspects of teaching and learning mathematics and the implications thereof.

3. Membership is open to persons involved in active research in furtherance of the Group's aims, or professionally interested in the results of such research.
    
4. Membership is on an annual basis and depends on payment of the subscription for the current year (January to December). The subscription is determined by the A.G.M. Subscription may be reduced or waived by the Committee in special cases.
    
5. The Committee has the right to refuse membership. Any such action must be reported to the next A.G.M. for confirmation or reversal.
    
6. All members have the right to attend and vote at the A.G.M.

7. The Group has the following organs:
   1. Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.).
   2. International Committee, including the President, other officers and other members.
   
    
8. The A.G.M. will be held each year, normally during the Annual Conference of the Group. The agenda will be sent to every member at least one month before the date of the meeting. The agenda will include information about vacancies for officers and committee.
    
9. At the A.G.M. the chair is taken by the President or the Vice-President. The A.G.M. approves resolutions by a simple
       majority of the votes cast. Elections are by secret ballot. The Secretary will prepare minutes of the A.G.M. which, after approval by the President, will be distributed to all members.

10. The International Committee is responsible for administering the affairs of the Group.
     
11. The International Committee consists of the President and sixteen other members elected as provided by rules 15 and 18. Every year, four of the sixteen committee places are refilled. Immediate re-election is not possible.
     
12. When an International Committee member retires before the end of the term of office, or becomes President, the A.G.M. will elect a new member for the remainder of that term of office.
     
13. Any member of the International Committee who is absent from the International Committee meetings for two years, excluding the year of election, shall be deemed to have resigned from the International Committee, and the position shall be declared vacant.
     
14. For special purposes the International Committee may invite further persons to assist in its work for periods of not more than one year.

15. The Group has four officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The President is elected for three years by the A.G.M. from among those who have been members of the International Committee at sometime, for at least one year. Immediate re-election is not possible.
     
16. The Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer are elected or reelected annually, by the International Committee, from among its membership for the succeeding year. Reelection for the office of Vice-President is possible for a second year only; re-election for the offices of Secretary and Treasurer is possible as long as they are members of the International Committee.

17. Not more than three members of the International Committee (including the President) may come from the same country. Rule 14 will be used to ensure representation of affiliated groups.

18. Nominations for election by the A.G.M. shall be made in writing to the Secretary not less than 24 hours before the time of the A.G.M. Nominations will be published by the Secretary on the Conference notice board. Nominations must contain the name of a proposer and seconder and the consent of the person nominated. Nominations for the office of President will be considered by the International Committee, who must make a recommendation of one or more persons. The A.G.M. elects the President from those who are recommended.

19. The A.G.M. may elect, as Honorary Members of the Group, persons who have made distinguished contributions to its work. Nominations may be made only by the International Committee, and must be published in the previously circulated agenda for the A.G.M.

20. Regional or national groups whose aims agree closely with those of the Group may be recognized as "affiliated to the PME".

21. The A.G.M. can change this constitution by the vote of at least two thirds of all members present. Change of constitution is only possible when the proposed change has been announced in the previously circulated agenda for the A.G.M.

The Group is an autonomous body, governed as provided for in this Constitution. It has been granted formal recognition as an official subgroup by the International Commission for Mathematical Instruction but this does not imply any financial or other commitment on the part of the Group.