Constitution of the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature

1.1. The organisation bears the official title: "International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literautre" (MAPRYAL).

1.2. The Association is an international, public, non-governmental, non-commercial organisation which brings together teachers and other specialists in Russian language, literature and culture, extends its activities over the territory of the Russian Federation and of foreign countries and for this purpose supports the establishment and activities of national associations in these countries.

1.3. The Association holds the UNESCO status of "Non-governmental organisation, cooperating with UNESCO".

1.4. Russian is the Association's official and working language.

1.5. The Association's house journals are "Russian Abroad", the editorial board of which is ratified by the General Assembly, and "The MAPRYAL Herald".

Article 2. Aims and Tasks

2.1. The Association encourages the study of Russian in various countries of the world as an important means of inter-cultural communication and international cooperation.

2.2. The Association develops professional links and cooperation between teachers and other specialists engaged in problems of Russian language, literature and culture.

2.3. The Association cooperates in the establishment of contacts between individuals who are studying Russian language and literature. 2. 0. 4 The Association assists where possible in finding employment for teachers of Russian language and literature within the framework of international exchange.

Article 3. Working Procedures

3.1. Exchange of experience relating to academic research in the fields of Russian philology, area studies, the methodology of teaching Russian literature, Russian and other languages, also the design of international research projects.

3.2. Exchange of information and experience in the design and application of the most effective teaching methods, also in the use of technical resources.

3.3. The organisation of symposia, conferences, congresses and other events under the aegis of MAPRYAL, also participation in the professional gatherings of other international organisations.

3.4. Cooperation in the production and issue of academic publications and methodological aids for the teaching of Russian language and literature and for teaching methodology.

3.5. The publication and dissemination of reference materials and periodicals.

3.6. Cooperation with international linguistic, literary and other professional organisations, state institutions and public bodies on matters of mutual interest.

3.7. Assistance in the organisation of the exchange of teachers, the staff of learned bodies specialising in Russian studies, and individuals studying Russian language and literature (students, school-pupils etc.).

3.8. Fulfilment of assignments in the accreditation of teaching methods and materials, research projects etc.

3.9. The supply of information about MAPRYAL's activities to members of the Association.

Article 4. Membership 

4.1. The Association has three categories of membership: collective, individual and honorary.

4.2. The following are eligible for collective membership of the Association:

a) national associations of teachers of Russian language and literature, sections representing Slavonic studies, Russian language and literature within national linguistic and literary associations, other public organisations and national committees representing the professional interests of teachers and other specialists in Russian language and literature;

b) departments of Slavonic studies, Russian language and literature in universities and other higher teaching establishments, learned institutes and centres involved in the study of Russian language, literature and culture, public bodies that cooperate in the dissemination and teaching of Russian language and literature;

c) schools, colleges, technical colleges, lycees, professional colleges where Russian is taught;

d) Russian-language departments or sections in learned bodies, teaching establishments, radio and television organisations, publishing houses and firms that produce methodological and teaching aids for Russian language and literature, as well as institutions and organisations competent in matters relating to the teaching and study of Russian language and literature.

4.3. Individual teachers and other specialists in Russian language and literature are eligible for individual membership, preferably in countries that do not have collective members or national associations.

Article 5. Rights and Obligations

Members of MAPRYAL are entitled

5.1. To participate in all MAPRYAL activities (conferences, symposia, congresses and other events).

5.2. To elect and be elected to the Association's administrative bodies.

5.3. To receive information about the Association's activities.

5.4. To receive from the Association expert objective evaluation of creative initiatives, projects etc., and also support in the implementation of ideas and developments.

5.5. To receive from the Association appropriate consultations and assistance in enhancing professional qualifications.

5.6. To receive from the Association the journals "Russian Abroad" and "The MAPRYAL Herald", on the strength of the membership subscription

Members of the Association are obliged:

5.7. To take active participation in the work of MAPRYAL and create conditions for effective work by national associations.

5.8. To pay their annual membership fee as stipulated.

Article 6. Administrative Bodies

6.1. The Association's administrative bodies are the General Assembly, the Presidium, the Secretariat and the Council of Trustees.

The General Assembly

6.2. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Association and comprises the national delegations of collective members. It examines and ratifies the Association's programme of activities and its budget, elects the President, one of the Vice-Presidents, the General Secretary, the Treasurer, and members of the Presidium; it determines the level of membership fees and the national currency or currencies in which they are paid, takes decisions on reciprocal relations with international organisations and resolves other questions relating to the Association's activities.

6.3. The General Assembly's decisions on the election of President, Vice-President, General Secretary and Treasurer are taken by a simple majority in a secret ballot. All other decisions of the General Assembly are passed in an open ballot with a simple majority, except where the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority.

6.4. Only collective members have a deciding vote at the Association's General Assembly:

a) the number of deciding votes at the General Assembly of a country represented by a national organisation is determined by its number of members:

- from 10 to 200 members: one vote;

- from 201 upwards: one vote for every subsequent two hundred members;

b) the number of deciding votes at the General Assembly allocated to a country represented by a number of national organisations is determined by the number of members of each of these organisations, on the principle outlined in point 6. 4 "a". No country is entitled to more than five deciding votes

c) individual members participate in meetings of the General Assembly with a consultative vote;

d) individual members may be elected to the Association's administrative bodies, in which case they are entitled to a deciding vote within these bodies.

6.5. The General Assembly establishes councils, co-ordinating centres and other bodies for the purpose of exchanging information, devising unitary recommendations etc.

6.6. Meetings of the General Assembly are conducted by a working presidium elected by participants in the Assembly. The General Assembly determines its own working procedures.

The Presidium

6.7. The Presidium is the executive organ of the Association and is responsible for implementing tasks set by the Association. It is elected by the General Assembly for a period of four years. The Presidium comprises the President, two Vice-Presidents, the General Secretary, his/her Plenipotentiary Deputy, appointed by joint decision of the President and General Secretary, and the Association's Treasurer. The other Vice-President is appointed by the Presidium on the basis of a recommendation submitted by the national association of the country organising the current MAPRYAL Congress. This person is also the President of the Congress. The number of members in the Presidium is determined by the General Assembly. The composition of the Presidium undergoes a turnover of not less than one third of its personnel, to ensure the representation and interests of various regions and countries. In electing members to the Presidium preference is given to the representatives of national bodies and sections representing teachers of Russian language and literature in national linguistic and literary associations and of other national organisations that include teachers of Russian language and literature.

6.8. The President of the Association also functions as Chairman of the Presidium, and Association Vice-Presidents as Deputy Chairmen.

6.9. The Presidium meets on an annual basis. Its decisions, as a rule, are taken in an open ballot and by a simple majority. In the case of a tied ballot the Chairman has a casting vote.

The Head of the MAPRYAL Secretariat is the Secretary of the Presidium. He/she attends meeting and is entitled to a consultative vote.

The Secretariat

6.10. The Secretariat is the Association's working administrative body. It is headed by the General Secretary and is subordinate to the Presidium. Its tasks include support for and coordination of events provided for in the Association's programme, the maintenance of a card index of MAPRYAL members, a record of incoming financial revenues and of expenditure, and correspondence.

6.11. The financial maintenance of the MAPRYAL Secretariat is implemented principally by sponsorship from state and public organisations. An increase of up to 50% of the salaries of Secretariat staff is allowable, in addition to their basic pay, from the profit deriving from membership subscriptions and other finance accruing to the Association. Any decision on salary increase is taken by the President and General Secretary and ratified by the Presidium.

The Council of Trustees

6.12. The Council of Trustees pursues its activities in accordance with the Resolution on the Council of Trustees.

6.13. Membership of the Council of Trustees comprises prominent figures in public life, business, finance, jurisprudence, auditing, administration and economics.

6.14. The Council is responsible for approving the organisation's annual audit and for appraising the effectiveness of the Association's administration, and also cooperates in the financing of individual events organised by MAPRYAL.

6.15. The President, General Secretary and Treasurer participate in the work of the Council of Trustees.

Article 7. The Steering Committee

7.1. The Association's Steering Committee comprises the President, who is also the Chairman of the Presidium, the Vice-Presidents, who are also Deputy Chairmen of the Presidium, the General Secretary, the Plenipotentiary Deputy General Secretary and the Treasurer.

7.2. The Steering Committee's mandate is for four years. Its members are eligible for re-election for a further term.

7.3. If the representative of a particular country leaves the Presidium during his/her term of office the national association of that country is entitled to delegate its representative to the Presidium with the right to cast a deciding vote.

7.4. Members of the Steering Committee carry out their duties without remuneration

Article 8. Finance

8.1. The Association's budget comprises annual membership subscriptions from collective and individual members, voluntary donations, subsidies from national and international organisations, and from private individuals.

8.2. The level of the membership fee is determined (and may be altered) in accordance with MAPRYAL's Standing Orders, which are ratified by the General Assembly.

8.3. Annual subscriptions are due no later than 30 November of the current financial year.

8.4. The Presidium of the Association, given appropriate documentary evidence of temporary financial difficulties, can exempt collective and individual members from the membership fee for a period of up to two years, with subsequent clearance of arrears.

8.5. Members of the Association who are, without satisfactory cause, more than two years in arrears with their membership subscription, may be deprived of Association membership.

8.6. At the start of each session of the General Assembly the Presidium appoints a Budget Commission comprising three delegates who are not members of the administrative bodies.

Article 9. Legal Status and Juridical Address of the Association.

9.1. The Association has the status of a corporation. In accordance with the tasks it is obliged to fulfil and on the basis of appropriate legislation the Association is entitled to open accounts in Russian roubles and foreign currency and participate in public organisations whose activities accord to MAPRYAL's aims.

9.2. The Association may cease its activities through reorganisation or liquidation, and also in circumstances provided for by the law of the country in which the Secretariat/the Association's juridical registration is located. Any decision on reorganisation or liquidation is taken by the General Assembly of MAPRYAL by a two-thirds majority of delegates present. Any funds which remain after the suspension of the Association's activities are expended on aims stipulated in the Constitution.

Article 10. Changes to the Constitution

10.1. The existing Constitution can be changed by a two-thirds majority decision of the General Assembly.

10.2. Proposals for any change to the Constitution should be submitted to the Association's Secretariat.