Constitution & By-Laws

The Constitution and By-Laws define how the IMA is governed and operates. You can download them as a pdf, but they are summarized on this page. The Constitution and By-Laws can only be modified by a Business Meeting.

The IMA is governed by the Business Meetings, which are held at least every two years. The member societies send delegates to the Business Meetings. The delegates receive and review reports from the IMA Commissions, Working Groups and Council, including a full financial report, and can implement new policies. The delegates at the Business Meeting elect the Council members, including the officers and the Presidents of IMA.

The Council of the IMA manages the operations of IMA and is governed by the policies set by the Business Meeting. In this way, the national societies who are members of the IMA control the work of IMA through the national delegates that they send to the Business Meeting.

Deadlines for IMA Business

As a guide for national societies and national representatives, this is a summary of the deadlines for various items of IMA business. For full details please consult the Constitution and by-laws.

Dues Payment: Before December 31 (yearly). 

Proposals to the Secretary for the agenda of Business Meetings: eight weeks before a Business Meeting. 

Submission of final agenda for Business Meetings: four weeks before a Business Meeting. 

Proposals to the Secretary for amendments to the Constitution: eight weeks before a Business Meeting. 

Submission of final proposals for amendments to the Constitution: four weeks before a Business Meeting. 

Nominations by Council for elections: four weeks before a Business Meeting. 

Nominations by Delegates for elections: at least 30 hours before the election. 

Proposals for chair, vice-chair, secretary of Commissions and Working Groups: at least 30 hours before the election. 

Biennial activity reports of Commissions and Working Groups: four weeks before a Business Meeting 

Post-meeting reports of Commissions and Working Groups: within twelve weeks after the Business Meeting 

Minutes of the Business Meeting: within twelve weeks after the Business Meeting