Bylaws

I. Objectives

The objectives of the Latin American Association of Analytic Philosophy (ALFAn) are to:

1. Foster the practice of analytic philosophy in Latin America.
2. Organize seminars, symposia and congresses; in particular, organize a biennial congress and school.
3. Encourage the development of an international network of contacts, especially promoting relations and exchange among philosophy professionals and students in Latin American countries.
4. Promote exchange between philosophers from Latin America and from other countries where research in analytic philosophy is carried out.
5. Promote and disseminate Latin American publications in analytic philosophy.
6. Collaborate with other philosophical associations in Latin America and the rest of the world to achieve these objectives.

ALFAn is open to all philosophers who share its objectives, in accordance with the membership categories set out in section II.

The Latin American Association of Analytic Philosophy is a non-profit society whose aims are to foster, disseminate and promote studies and research in analytic philosophy, and to build relationships with specialists, societies and institutions of higher education, national and international, with related interests. To that end, ALFAn supports and promotes:

1. the electronic publication of the ALFAn newsletter, which will circulate recent publications in Latin America or by Latin Americans in analytic philosophy, calls for graduate programs in analytic philosophy, academic events organized by members, and links to sites with related interests, among other things, and which will be open to anyone interested in fostering serious academic exchange;
2. the publication of other periodical and monographic works in collaboration with academic publishers; the organization of colloquia, seminars, meetings, congresses and international and national academic gatherings; and the promotion and conduct of research in analytic philosophy, establishing and carrying out the corresponding projects and contracts;
3. collaboration with other academic associations and organizations, as well as with institutions of higher education, study and research, and with other public and private bodies and institutions, in order to achieve the objectives above;
4. any other activities that contribute to the aims above.

II. Membership

ALFAn has three types of membership: ordinary, associate and institutional. In all cases, membership is granted upon written application to the Steering Committee, by decision of that Committee, and after payment of the membership fee.

Ordinary membership

Ordinary membership in ALFAn is open to all individuals who meet the following requirements:

1. hold an institutional affiliation and work in research, teaching or outreach in areas related to the association, and
2. hold a doctorate or equivalent qualifications.

Ordinary members have the right to vote and are eligible to serve on the Steering Committee.

Associate membership

Associate membership in ALFAn is open to all individuals who work on or are interested in the association’s objectives.

This membership does not grant voting rights or eligibility to serve on the Steering Committee, but in every other respect it offers the same rights as ordinary membership. As for obligations, its fee will always be lower than that of ordinary membership. Members may request a change of category once they meet the requirements of the other category.

Students belong to this category and are exempt from payment, except to take part in the biennial congresses.

Institutional membership

This membership is open to all institutions, associations or organizations that carry out research in areas related to those of the association. Admission as an institutional member is at the discretion of the Steering Committee. This membership does not grant voting rights or eligibility to serve on the Steering Committee. An institutional fee will be set that is higher than those of the other two membership types.

Conditions for continued membership

• Not being more than 6 years behind on membership payments.
• Not disrupting the proper functioning of the association or communication among its members.

III. Organization

ALFAn consists of a Steering Committee and its institutional and individual members.

The Steering Committee

Only ordinary members whose (primary) affiliation is with an institution based in a Latin American country may serve on the Steering Committee (SC), which will be composed as follows:

Position	Country requirement	Duties
President	Same country as the Treasurer	—
Treasurer	Same country as the President	Also serves as the association’s Secretary
Vice President	A Latin American country other than the President’s	—
Board members (at least four)	Each from a different country; no country may have more than one	Represent their community of affiliation

• Each position has a term of two years.
• If the President is absent, the full SC will decide who takes on the position.
• The SC has the authority to revoke the membership of anyone who does not meet the conditions for continued membership, or in duly justified exceptional cases.

Elections

Elections will be organized by an Electoral Committee appointed by the Steering Committee.

Ordinary members of ALFAn who are up to date with their fees may vote to elect the members of the Steering Committee by any of the following means:

• electronically;
• by direct, secret ballot at the polls; or
• by delivering their vote in a sealed envelope to the Electoral Committee on election day, during voting hours.

Electronic votes must be cast one week before the association’s congress, and in-person voting will take place on the first day of that congress.

Members who wish to stand for election must be up to date with their fees and register as candidates at least one month before the electronic vote. The Treasurer must notify all members who are behind on their fees two months before the electronic vote.

Every two years at the ALFAn congress, and only at that event, the association will review whether to adjust the membership criteria and the society’s constitution. This review will take place when a simple majority of all ordinary members has agreed to it.

The assembly

All ALFAn members may take part and speak in assemblies, but only ordinary members may vote.