Bylaws of Association

June 21st, 2008 amended and approved by the first members’ meeting of the first session 

September 4th, 2011 amended and approved by the first members’ meeting of the second session

September 6th, 2020 amended and approved by the first members’ meeting of the fifth session


 Taiwanese Society of Suicidology  Bylaw of Association

▪ Chapter One: General Provisions

   Bylaw 1: The name of the Association is the Taiwanese Society of Suicidology (TSOS) (hereafter referred to as the association).

   Bylaw 2: The association is a non-profit social organization established by law and dedicated to suicide prevention.

   Bylaw 3: The association is organized based on national administrative areas.

   Bylaw 4: The association shall be located in the area where the competent authorities are located and may establish branches with the approval of the competent authorities. 

    The rules of the branches shall be prepared by the Board of Directors and drawn up by the competent authorities.The locations of the Association and of the branches 

                   shall be reported to the competent authorities for approval in a letter when the locations are set up and changed.

   Bylaw 5: The missions of the association are as follows:

                   1. Promote education and research related to suicide prevention.

                   2. Organize academic and educational training on suicide prevention.

                   3. Publish educational and academic magazines and journals related to suicide prevention and treatment.

                   4. Participate in international suicide prevention and control organizations and international cooperation programs.

                   5. Accept the commission of relevant organizations to handle nationwide issues related to suicide prevention. 

                   6. Other work related to suicide prevention.

   Bylaw 6: The competent authority of the association shall be the Ministry of the Interior. The competent authority for the main tenet of the Society shall be the Ministry of  

   Health and Welfare. The Association’s tenets will be guided and supervised by its competent authority.


▪Chapter Two: Membership (Member Representative)

     Bylaw 7: Members of the association are divided into the following five categories: 

                   1. Individual members: 

                       Those who agree with the tenets of the association, are at least 20 years old, and are engaged in education and research related to suicide 

  prevention. The fields include the medical profession, psychology, health education, social work, epidemiology, statistical information, health   

 communication, etcetera.

                   2. Honorary Members:

                       Those who have made special contributions to the development of the Association or significant achievements in the field of suicide 

   prevention, and those who are nominated by the Board of Directors and approved by the General Assembly of Members (member  

   representatives).

                   3. Corporate Members: 

                       Organizations that agree with the tenets of the Association shall apply for membership by filling out an application form, and shall become 

corporate members after being approved by the board of directors and paying the membership fee. The corporate members shall nominate  

three representatives to exercise the rights of members (member representatives).

                   4. Sponsoring members and organizations: 

                      Organizations and individuals who agree with the purpose of the Society and who have made substantial contributions to the operation of the 

  Association.

                   5. Permanent members: 

                      Individual members who have paid the membership fee for ten years at once shall be permanent members and shall be exempt from paying the 

  membership fee again.

    To apply, please fill out the membership application form, receive approval from the board of directors, and pay the membership fee.

    Bylaw 8: Members (member representatives) have the right to vote, elect, be elected and dismissed. Each member (member representative) has one vote.

    Bylaw 9: Members (member representatives) are obliged to abide by the bylaws of the association, resolutions and pay dues of the Association, but sponsoring 

         members have no rights in the preceding bylaw.

   Bylaw 10: If a member (member representative) violates laws, regulations, or fails to abide by the resolutions of the member (member representative) assembly, they may be given a       warning  or suspension of authority by the resolution of the board of directors; those who endanger the group under serious circumstances will be removed by a resolution 

from the member (member representative) assembly. Those who fail to pay the membership fees will forfeit their membership (member representative) rights, and those 

who have not paid their membership fees for two consecutive years will automatically withdraw from membership. If members (member representatives) wish to regain   

 membership  or restore rights for resumption or reinstatement, they must pay off outstanding dues before reapplying unless they have justifiable reasons.

    Bylaw 11: A member (member representative) who has one of the following circumstances shall be excluded from the meeting:

1. Those who have lost their membership (member representative) qualifications.

2. Those who have been removed by the resolution of the member (member representatives) assembly.

    Bylaw 12: Members (member representatives) can declare their withdrawal from the association by stating their reasons in writing.


▪Chapter III Organization and Authority

    Bylaw 13: The association regards the member (member representatives) assembly as the highest authority. If the number of members exceeds 300, member representatives     will be elected according to the proportion of the district, after which a member representative meeting is held to 

exercise the powers of the member (member representative) meeting. The term of office of member representatives is three years. The number 

of members and the election method shall be drafted by the board of directors and reported to the competent authority for approval.

    Bylaw 14: The authority of the member (member representatives) assembly are as follows:

1. Formulation and modification of the bylaws of the association.

2. Electing and dismissing directors and supervisors.

3. Deciding on the amount and method of membership fees, annual membership fees, business expenses, and donations from members (member representatives).

4. Decide on annual work plans, reports, budgets, and final accounts.

5. Decide on the expulsion of members (member representatives).

6. Decide on the disposition of property.

7. Decide on the dissolution of the association.

8. Decide on other major matters related to the rights and obligations of members (member representatives).

    The scope of major matters in Subparagraph 8 of the preceding paragraph shall be determined by the board of directors.

    Bylaw 15: The association has fifteen directors and five supervisors, who are elected by members (member representatives), and respectively established 

 the board of directors and the board of supervisors. When electing directors and supervisors referred to in the preceding paragraph, five alternate directors and one alternate supervisor may be elected at the same time according to the counting of votes. If there is a vacancy for directors or supervisors, the elected members shall fill in the position in order. 

    Bylaw 16: Authorities of the board of directors are as follows:

1. The qualification to review and approve members (member representatives).

2. To elect and remove the executive director and chairman.

3. To discuss and resolve the resignation of directors, executive directors and the chairman.

4. To employ and dismiss staff.

5. To formulate annual work plans, reports, budgets, and final accounts.

6. Other matters to be executed.

    Bylaw 17: The council committee shall have five executive directors, who shall be elected among the directors. One of the executive directors shall then be elected by the 

directors as the chairman.

The chairman shall manage and supervise the affairs of the association internally, represent the association externally, and serve as the chairman of the member (member representative) assembly and the council committee.

If the chairman is unable to perform his/her duties due to certain circumstances, he/she shall designate one of the executive directors to act as his/her representative. If the chairman does not or cannot designate an executive director, a representative shall be chosen among the executive directors.

If there is a vacancy for the chairman and executive director, a by-election shall be held within a month.

    Bylaw 18: The duties of the board of supervisors are as follows:

1. To monitor the board of directors’ execution of work.

2. To review the annual final accounts.

3. To elect and remove the executive supervisor.

4. To discuss and resolve the resignation of supervisors and the executive supervisor.

5. Other matters to be supervised.

    Bylaw 19: The board of supervisors shall have one executive supervisor who shall be elected among the supervisors to supervise the daily affairs of the board of supervisors 

 and serve as the chairman of the board of supervisors.

                      If the executive supervisor is unable to perform his duties due to certain circumstances, he/she shall designate a supervisor to act as his 

  representative. If no designation is made or cannot be designated, the supervisors shall recommend one of them to act as his representative.

                      If there is a vacancy, the chairman of the board of supervisors (executive supervisor) a by-election will be held  within one month to fill the vacancy.

    Bylaw 20: The directors and supervisors are all unpaid. The term of office is three years, and they can be re-elected. The chairman can only be re-elected 

 once. The term of the office of directors and supervisors shall be calculated from the day when the first meeting of the current session of the board of directors 

 is held.

    Bylaw 21: Directors or supervisors shall be dismissed immediately if one of the following circumstances occurs:

 1. Loss of membership (member representative) qualifications.

 2. Resignation for reasons that have been approved by the board of directors or the board of supervisors.

 3. Being dismissed or removed.

 4. Being suspended and the suspension period exceeds half of the term of office.

    Bylaw 22: This association appoints one secretary general who will deal with all works under the command of the chairman. 

    While staff will be hired through the chairman’s nomination with the board's agreement and reported to the competent authority. 

Staff mentioned above are not allowed to be members of the board of directors or board of supervisors. All staff’s duties and authority will be determined 

by the council. 

    Bylaw 23: This association is allowed to set up all forms of committee, groups, or inter operational organization. Operation may start and changes may 

 only be made after the council assents. 

    Bylaw 24: The association can hire one honorable chairman, numerous honorable directors, and consultants whose’ term in office is the same as the board 

 of directors and supervisor. 


▪Chapter 4 Meetings

    Bylaw 25: The member (member representative) assembly convenes in both regular and  unscheduled sessions. Members will be given notice by the chairman who should 

give notice in written form 15 days preceding the convention if not under special occasions. Regular meetings will be held once a year, while unscheduled meetings      will only be called if the board of directors considers it necessary, if over ⅕ of the members    

request it to be called, or the meeting is requested by the board of supervisors. 

    Bylaw 26: If a member (member representative) will not be present during the meeting, they are allowed to ask for other members to represent them  via written notice. 

                     However, one member is only allowed to substitute for one other member.

    Bylaw 27: Resolutions of the association may pass if over half of members present agree. However the following events listed can only pass when agreed by ⅔ of

       the present members. 

1. Formulation and alterations of articles of association. 

2. Removing members of the council.

3. Removing members of the board of directors or board of supervisor.

4. Asset distribution

5. Dissolution of the association

6. Other events associated with the members’ rights, responsibilities, or other major issues. 

After legal registration, changes upon the bylaws of association should be passed by ¾ of the members present or ⅔ of all members in council in writing format. 

The assembly may be disbanded at any time if  ⅔ of all members agree.

    Bylaw 28: Both the board of directors and the board of supervisors will hold meetings every 3 months. Both may hold joint meetings across board or unscheduled meetings 

 at times necessary.

        Except for emergency meetings, a written notice shall be issued seven days in advance to schedule a meeting. The resolutions of the meeting shall be carried 

out with the consent of more than half of the directors and supervisors present. 

    Bylaw 29:  Board members must attend their respective board meetings. Members may not delegate others to act as their representative:  directors and supervisors shall 

be deemed to have resigned if they are absent from the council and the supervisory meetings two consecutive times without  any reason.

 

▪Chapter 5 Funds and Accounting

    Bylaw 30: The sources of the Society's funds are as follows.

    Bylaw 31: The fiscal year of the association shall be based on the calendar year, starting from January 1 to December 31 of each year.

    Bylaw 32: Two months prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, the council shall prepare an annual work plan, income and expenditure budget, and staff 

 salary statement, and submit them to the general meeting of members (representatives of members) for approval [if the general meeting of  

 members (representatives of members) cannot be held as scheduled for any reason, they shall first be submitted to the joint meeting of directors and supervisors for approval], and report them to the competent authorities for approval before the beginning of the fiscal year. Within two months after the end of the fiscal year, the board of directors shall prepare the annual work report, the final statement of income and expenditure, the cash statement, the balance sheet, the property catalog, the fund income and expenditure statement, and send them to the board of supervisors for examination. After an audit report is made, the papers shall be returned to the board of directors, submitted to the general meeting of members (representatives of members) for approval, and reported to the competent authorities for approval before the end of March [if the general meeting of members (representatives of members) cannot be convened as scheduled, they shall be reported to the competent authorities first].

    Bylaw 33:  After the dissolution of the association, the remaining property shall belong to the local self-governing body or any other institution designated  by the competent     authority.


▪Chapter 6 Supplementary Provisions

    Bylaw 34:  Laws and regulations shall govern matters not explicitly spelled out in these chapters.

    Bylaw 35: Chapters of Association are approved by the general assembly of members (member representatives) and implemented after being approved 

 by the competent authority.

    Bylaw 36:  A session of the first general meeting of the association approved this constitution on June 21, 2008. Submitted to the Ministry of the Interior on July 24, 2008 

 for approval for inspection of No. 0970123652.