constitution

(Last updated: 5 May 2025)

1. Aims

The Language Policy (LP) SIG is a Special Interest Group within the British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL), and it provides a forum to discuss, critically engage with, and research language policy and planning matters around the world. The SIG aims to:

• nurture a community of practitioners and scholars interested in the theory, methodology and practice of Language Policy processes

• create opportunities for dialogue between the research community, practitioners, policy makers and the wider public

• stimulate critical and socially responsible enquiries into national, European and international policy issues including but not limited to examining the linguistic aspects of the pursuit of social justice

• foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration amongst language policy scholars working within different paradigms by organising various colloquia and events

• further the creation of research tools and resources to enhance our analyses, understanding and critiques of policy texts, discourses and practices.

2. Activity

LP SIG holds at least two academic meetings every year, including one event at the BAAL Annual Meeting (SIG track or colloquium). Although one theme may be foregrounded, each meeting seeks to include some variation in its focus, and issues arising can be developed at a subsequent event. LP SIG maintains a website, an email discussion list, and a social media presence.

3. Membership

LP SIG welcomes all researchers with an interest in language policy, and will consider all those on its mailing list as LP SIG members. Members’ email addresses will be passed on to BAAL once per year, under the BAAL regulations for Special Interest Groups. SIG members are not required to be BAAL members, but LP SIG will encourage its members to consider BAAL membership.

All EC members must be members of BAAL, but we welcome non-members of BAAL to run for committee, if they commit to joining BAAL in the event that they are elected.

BAAL membership gives LP SIG members the right to vote at the LP SIG AGM. LP SIG membership is free of charge, but fees may apply to attend academic meetings.

4. Organisation

LP SIG is coordinated by an Executive Committee (EC) that consists of: Convenor (or two Co-convenors); Treasurer; Membership Secretary; Communications Secretary; Events Coordinator; Conferences Secretary; External Liaison Secretary; and up to two Ordinary Members. The names of the current position holders are as follows:

Co-convenor: Leanne Henderson

Co-convenor: Dave Sayers

Treasurer: Hao Zhang

Membership secretary: Diana Camps

Communications secretary: Abhi Sharma

Events secretary: Aziz Moummou

Conference secretary: (new post May 2025, awaiting first election)

External Liaison Secretary: (new post May 2025, awaiting first election)

Ordinary Member: (new post May 2025, awaiting first election)

Ordinary Member: (new post May 2025, awaiting first election)

5. Responsibilities in the Executive Committee

The EC is responsible for coordinating, facilitating and overseeing the activities of LP SIG (facilitating and publicising LP SIG events; liaising with the local organisers of seminars; maintaining financial accounts; servicing business meetings; updating membership list etc). It is also responsible for organising committee elections at least once every two years, while ensuring some continuity of committee membership. LP SIG is a SIG within BAAL: its activity must be broadly congruent with the BAAL Constitution, and regardful of BAAL Guidelines on the organisation of SIGs as stated in the SIG Handbook.

The EC must submit:

a) an Annual Report to the BAAL Secretary and the BAAL SIG Coordinator by August 15th every year

b) a full, accurate and auditable financial statement to the BAAL Treasurer by June 30th every year.

The EC should also ensure that all LP SIG activities are regularly publicised through the BAAL Newsletter, the BAAL Website, BAAL mail and the LP SIG website.

6. Election of the Executive Committee

EC members are elected by LP SIG’s membership by online ballot, which is to be scheduled shortly before the Annual General Meeting (AGM). EC posts are voted on every two years.

If an EC member steps down before the end of their tenure, the EC may decide collectively (by majority vote) to hold a separate exceptional election for that post. The new EC member can take up their post immediately, but their term will be kept in sync with the normal election cycle. For example, if someone is elected exceptionally in February, then the two years of their post will begin later that year at the time of the AGM.

EC members are eligible for re-election. Any SIG member may run against current EC members. After their second term of office (i.e. after four years), in the event that there is an opposing candidate, the incumbent EC member will not run. If at the same election there is a different position with no candidate, they may run for that position. They may also leave and rejoin the EC at some later election.

The quorum for an AGM election is eight.

Voting at General Meetings shall be by secret ballot. In the event of an equality of votes the (co-)convenor(s) may give a second or casting vote; the two (co-)convenor(s)’ decision on the result of any vote shall be final. Subscribers who are not BAAL members do not have a right to vote.

7. Dissolution

In the event of the LP SIG ceasing to operate, any funds held will be paid back to BAAL, unless the BAAL membership agrees at the BAAL AGM that it is unnecessary to do so.

8. Amending the LP SIG Constitution

The members grant the EC limited authority to update the names and positions of EC members stated in this constitution, following the result of EC elections among the SIG membership.

Any other changes to this constitution may be amended either by majority vote at any quorate Annual General Meeting, or by online majority vote among the membership at other times. In either case, written notice of the proposed amendments are given to the Convenor(s) in good time and then relayed to the membership at least fourteen days before the vote.