Mission Statement

(see also ICON-S Global Homepage)

Mission of the German Chapter

The aim of the German Chapter is to pursue the mission of ICON•S within Germany.

I. The Chapter is established in order to:

1. Promote the values of ICON•S, and in particular, the commitment to an inter-disciplinary approach to public law that engages constitutional, administrative and international law scholars and practitioners so as to better understand global and transnational legal developments;

2. Advance and promote the fundamental constitutional values of democracy, equality, justice and human rights;

3. Work with ICON•S to promote knowledge of and membership in the organization globally;

4. Promote the capacity and engagement of junior scholars, and scholars from the Global South, within the work of ICON•S;

5. Complement and work cooperatively with existing national and regional organizations, but remain distinct from them;

6. Provide a unique forum for the discussion of the role and position of German constitutionalism in global and transnational legal developments.

II. The Chapter shall:

1. Be organized in a way that reflects ICON•S commitments to transparency, accountability and good governance, as well as equality and diversity;

2. Regularly disseminate notice of its events and activities via ICONnect, and communicate an annual summary of its activities to the ICON•S Executive Committee;

3. Be subject in its scope, governance and membership, to periodic reviews (approximately every 3 years) by the members of the ICON•S Executive Committee, with the possibility of being asked by the Executive Committee to dissolve, reconstitute or alter the scope and membership;

4. Promote joining ICON•S and paying the ICON-S annual membership fee;

5. Submit to ICON•S information on its activities, which will, where appropriate, be featured on the ICON•S website.

III. Governance of the Chapter

1. The Chapter will be governed by two co-chairs and - if appropriate - a secretary general and her/his deputy who will take decisions by agreement. The identity of the co-chairs, the secretary general and his/her deputy and the advisory board shall reflect the chapter's commitment to gender equality and diversity in governance. Only ICON•S members can be co-chairs or secretary general and deputy secretary general. Each year, the two co-chairs will communicate an annual summary of their activities to the ICON•S Executive Committee, to the advisory board, and to the members of the Chapter.

2. Co-chairs: Co-chairs will hold office for 3 years with one possible reelection. Every three years, the two co-chairs will be elected by majority vote of the members of the advisory board.

3. The Co-Chairs may be assisted by a Secretary General and her/his Deputy, depending on the Chapter's needs. Every three years, the Secretary General and his/her Deputy will be elected by majority vote of the members of the advisory board.

IV. Membership of the advisory board

1. Membership of the advisory board will be based on excellence in public law scholarship and the need for diversity in terms of gender, research interests and age.

2. The two co-chairs, in consultation with the existing members of the advisory board, the secretary general and her/his deputy (if applicable) will appoint new members of the advisory board for a term of three years.

3. At the end of their three year term, half of the members of the advisory board will stay on for another term of three years, to be determined by lottery. New Board members will be appointed in a manner that reflects the criteria in IV. 1. and according to the procedure in IV. 2.

4. A retiring co-chair will automatically become a member of the advisory board for a term of three years.

5. The number of members of the advisory board shall not exceed 15.

6. Working groups: The co-chairs may establish working groups of the Chapter to organize events and activities.

V. Rights and duties of advisory board members

All members of the advisory board have the following rights and duties:

1. Join ICON-S and pay the ICON-S annual membership fee.

2. Promote the mission and values of ICON-S.

3. Participate in the activities of the Chapter.

VI. Conference

The German Chapter will organize a conference every 1-2 years. For this purpose, it can work with existing national and regional organizations. The Chapter will also support other workshops, symposia and colloquia as considered appropriate by the co-chairs.

VII. Amendments

The Chapter rules can be amended by a majority vote among the two co-chairs, the secretary and her/his deputy (if applicable) and the advisory board.

Founding Members:

Christoph Möllers (Berlin), Michaela Hailbronner (Münster), Tim Wihl (Berlin)