1.    ICL: The International Consortium on Landslides, hereinafter named “ICL” is an international non-governmental and non-profit making scientific organization. 

2.    The principal objectives are to: 
a)    promote landslide research for the benefit of society and the environment, and capacity building, including education, notably in developing countries; 
b)    integrate geosciences and technology within the appropriate cultural and social contexts in order to evaluate landslide risk in urban, rural and developing areas including cultural and natural heritage sites, as well as to contribute to the protection of the natural environment and sites of high societal value; 
c)    combine and coordinate international expertise in landslide risk assessment and mitigation studies, thereby resulting in an effective international organization which will act as a partner in various international and national projects; and 
d)    promote a global, multidisciplinary Programme on landslides.

3.    The International Consortium on Landslides (ICL) was created in 2002 as a result of several international initiatives by specialists in the field of landslides: 

•  the international newsletter “Landside News”, published since 1986 by the Japan Landslide Society in cooperation with UNESCO and other international organizations and experts;
• the 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan (DPRI/KU) concerning cooperation in research for landslide risk mitigation and protection of the cultural and natural heritage as a key contribution to environmental protection and sustainable development in the first quarter of the twenty-first century; and
• the 2001 Tokyo Declaration “Geoscientists tame landslides” in the UNESCO/IGCP Symposium on Landslide Risk Mitigation and Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage.

    The domicile of ICL is Kyoto, Japan, where the Secretariat is located. ICL is legally registered as a non-profit organization (No.1300-05-005237) according to the Japanese law in the Kyoto Prefectural Government. The official languages of the Consortium are English and Japanese.

4.    Members are those organizations that support the objectives of ICL intellectually, practically and financially. Membership is for a minimum period of two years. Members will come from one of four categories: 
a)    Intergovernmental organizations
b)    Non-governmental organizations
c)    Governmental organizations and public organizations
d)    Other organizations and entities.

5.    Relevant UN entities and Governmental entities may wish to delegate Observers as Special Supporting Organizations to the Steering Committee and the Board of Representatives.

6.    Associates are organizations and individuals who support the objectives of ICL and meet the appropriate financial obligations but do not qualify for Member status. 

7.    Supporters are other organizations and individuals who support the objectives of ICL and provide funds for its activities. 

8.    Full power for the management of the affairs of the Consortium is vested in the Board of Representatives, which will meet at least annually. The quorum and internal regulations are defined by the bylaws. 

9.    The Board of Representatives shall be composed of representatives of the Member organizations. Each Member organization shall designate one Representative and one Alternative Representative. 

10.    In the absence of a Member’s Representative from any meeting of the Board of Representatives, the alternative representative may attend the meeting and exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of the absent Representative. Alternatively, the Representative may delegate his rights, powers and privileges to another Member of ICL for that particular meeting, or authorize him/her to act and vote on his behalf. 

11.    The Board of Representatives shall: 
a)    determine general policy; 
b)    initiate scientific programmes and decide on future priorities for the activities of ICL;
c)    approve or change, if necessary, the budget and accounts;
d)    examine and decide on each application for Member, Associate or Supporter status;
e)    elect the Officers of ICL in accordance with the Bylaws;
f)    terminate the status of any Member, Associate or Supporter of ICL which has failed to fulfill any of its obligations or when the association is no longer considered appropriate, in accordance with the Bylaws
g)    change the Statutes and Bylaws;
h)    deal with other items which may be referred to it.

12.    Voting will be decided on a simple majority. Each Member shall have one vote. Normally the President of ICL will not vote but in the event of a tie, the President may have the casting vote. 

13.    The Steering Committee of the Board shall consist of: 
a)     the President, between 2 and 4 Vice Presidents, the Executive Director, the Treasurer and the immediate past president; 
b)     Co-opted Members from the board recommended by the President to act as Assistants to the President during his term of office; and 
c)     a limited number of “ex officio” observers from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Secretariat, the United Nation University (UNU), the International Council for Science (ICSU), the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Japan, and other organizations as may be considered appropriate. 

14.    The Steering Committee, which duly reflects the international character of the consortium, reports to the Board of Representatives. It oversees the operations of ICL and recommends the direction and priorities of ICL to the Board of Representatives. 

15.    The Steering Committee shall meet as often as necessary and at least annually. Its duties are to: 
a)    prepare the Agenda for the meetings of the Board of Representatives; 
b)    present to each annual meeting of the Board of Representatives a report of the scientific and administrative activities of ICL since the previous ordinary meeting of the Board of Representatives; 
c)    propose a draft budgetary outline for consideration by the meeting of the Board of Representatives and recommend the scale of annual membership fees to be paid by Members and Associates for the ensuing 3-year period; and 
d)    review the scientific activities of ICL and make appropriate recommendations to the meeting of the Board of Representatives. 

16.    The Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day operations of ICL. It consists of the Executive Director, the Treasurer and other secretarial members. The number of secretarial members may vary and will depend on the extent of the activities of ICL. 

17.    The Secretariat prepares for and reports to the meetings of the Steering Committee including: 
a)    preparation of an annual work plan for the scientific and administrative activities of ICL;
b)    preparation of an annual budget and financial report for ICL;
c)    preparation of an annual report of the scientific and administrative activities of ICL; and
d)    dissemination of the results of landslide studies undertaken by/through ICL.

18.    In order to report and disseminate the activities and achievements of ICL, a General Assembly shall be convened once every three years by inviting Members, Associates and Supporters of ICL, individual members within those organizations and all levels of co-operating organizations and individual researchers, engineers and administrators. The General Assembly will receive reports on ICL’s activities and provide a forum for open discussion and new initiatives from all participants. 

19.    Symposia and Field Workshops shall be organised annually or as appropriate at/or between the General Assemblies, in order to present the scientific and technological progress achieved through ICL activities and to disseminate new proposals and new scientific initiatives. 

20.    The Officers of ICL shall consist of the President and Vice Presidents, the Executive Director, the Treasurer and the Immediate Past President. They shall meet and communicate as often as is deemed necessary. 
a)    The President of ICL shall preside at all meetings of the General Assembly, the Board of Representatives and the Steering Committee and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as shall be assigned by the Board of Representatives. 
b)    The Vice Presidents shall assist the President and in his absence preside at meetings and exercise the powers of the President in his place. 
c)    The Executive Director, except as otherwise provided by the Board of Representatives, shall be the chief executive officer of the Consortium and execute contracts and agreements with external parties on behalf of ICL. The Executive Director, upon the approval of the Steering Committee, may appoint secretaries, working groups or committees to assist in carrying out the business of the Consortium. 
d)    The Treasurer, in accordance with the financial regulations to be developed, approved by the Board of Representatives and set out in the Bylaws, shall collect and receive and have charge and custody of the funds and securities of the Consortium. The accounts of the Consortium shall be prepared at the end of each calendar year and submitted by the Treasurer to the Board of Representatives after having been audited by two authorized auditors appointed by the Board of Representatives. 
e)    Election and Terms of Office 
The President and Vice Presidents shall be elected by the Board of Representatives, in accordance with the Bylaws, and hold office for a term of three years, beginning from January 1st of the year following the ordinary meeting of the Board of Representatives at which he or she has been elected. The President and Vice Presidents may be re-elected but may not hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.
The Executive Director and Treasurer shall each be recommended by the President and the Vice Presidents and approved by the Board of Representatives. They shall hold office for three calendar years beginning from January 1st of the year following the meeting of the Board of Representatives at which they have been approved. The Executive Director and the Treasurer may each be re-elected for no more than three consecutive terms.

21.    The funds of ICL are obtained from: 
    a)    membership fees from Members;
b)    contributions from Special Supporting Organizations;
c)    membership fees from Associates;
d)    funds from Supporters;
e)    other subventions, donations and financial support; and
f)    funds for research and investigation projects on landslide risk mitigation which are requested by third parties and accepted by ICL.

22.    Annual membership fees for Members, Associates and Supporters are decided by the Board of Representatives. 

23.    Notification of termination of Membership must be given to the Treasurer at least one year in advance. 

24.    Changes to the Statutes require approval by a quorum of the Board of Representatives with a minimum two-thirds majority of the votes cast. 

25.    Changes to the Bylaws require approval by a quorum of the Board of Representatives with a simple majority votes cast.

1.    This Bylaw will define the internal regulation for the management of the International Consortium on Landslides.

2.    Quorum and Internal Regulations of the Board of Representatives defined by Chapter VIII: Board of Representatives, Article 8 are:
1)    Quorum is defined as half of the members; and
2)    Decisions of the Board of Representatives are made by majority vote. When the votes are equally divided, the chairperson decides.

3.    Alternative representation defined by the Board of Representatives described in Chapter VIII: Board of Representatives, Article 10 is:
1)    If a representative of ICL will be absent and asks his alternative or another member to act and vote on his behalf, the president must be informed in writing before the meeting of the Board of Representatives.

4.    Election of Officers defined by XII: Officers, Article 20 are:
1)    President shall be elected by a quorum of the Board of Representatives with a simple majority of votes cast.
2)    Vice presidents shall be recommended by the nominating committee, the latter consists of five individuals who shall be approved by the Board of Representatives.

5.    Membership fees by Chapter XIV: Article 22 are:
1)    Membership fees for Members are 5,000 US$ for full membership;
2)    Membership fees for universities, academic societies, other less funded entities in developed countries are 3,000 US$;
3)    Membership fees for developing countries are 500US$, 1,000US$ or 2,000US$;
4)    Membership fees for Supporters are 500 US$ or more;
5)    The financial year of ICL starts on 1 January and ends on 31 December; and
6)    Membership fees for the current year must be paid one month before the ordinary BOR meeting.

Note: 
Conditions for Members and Supporters 
Members have the right to participate and vote in the Board of Representatives, which has full power for the management of the affairs of the consortium. Members will receive a minimum of two hard copies of the journal and one access right to the web version of the journal.
Supporters will receive information, news and reports on ICL and IPL.
The list of supporters appear in IPL web “http://www.iplhq.org/” as well as in each issue of the journal. They will receive one hard copy of the journal and access to the web version of the journal They may attend the Board of Representatives as observers, if invited.