Revised Spring 2009, approved by the membership 2010

Article 1: Membership of the Society is open to persons of any nationality.

Article 2: The Society enables its members to exchange information about research and publications relevant to the history of the crusades and the Latin East, and seeks to promote such activities by organizing regularly scheduled conferences and by sponsoring various important projects initiated by members.

Article 3: The Society circulates a Bulletin containing information in the following categories: Recent publications; Recently completed theses; Papers read by members of the Society; Forthcoming publications; Work in progress; Theses in progress; Fieldwork planned or undertaken recently; News of interest to members (e.g. conferences and seminars); Members' queries; Short notices; Officers of the Society; and Accounts list of members and their addresses.

Article 4: The Society sponsors the publication of the journal Crusades, which includes scholarly correspondence and book reviews. The Bulletin is included within the pages of the journal and is also separately bound and distributed to members who do not subscribe for the journal.

Article 5: Subscription prices for the Bulletin and journal are fixed by the Officers of the Society each year when subscription letters are distributed. Students enjoy a special discount for subscriptions to the Bulletin, but there is a single subscription price for the journal. Members sharing one household receive a discount as joint members. Subscriptions are payable on or before 15 January each year.

Article 6: The Officers of the Society:
a) The Officers of the Society are the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Editor of the Bulletin, the Web Editor, and the Officer for Postgraduate Members. They are all to be elected in the manner described in article 7. These officers constitute the Executive Committee of the SSCLE, led by the President. No more than two of these officers shall reside in the same country. Their term of office is four years, and they are eligible for re-election.
b) In addition, the Executive Committee may, if need arises, appoint assistant officers, who, at the discretion of the President, may be invited to convene with the Executive Committee.

Article 7: Elections will be held every four years, in conjunction with the Society’s quadrennial meeting, in the following manner:
a) At least six months prior to the meeting the Executive Committee shall designate a nominations committee to solicit the names of candidates for the offices to be filled. The nominations committee will prepare a slate of candidates to stand for election by the membership.
b) At least two months before the quadrennial meeting the list of candidates will be circulated to the members in good standing (i.e. current in dues payments) by email or (if there is no email) by post.
c) Members can cast their ballot by email or by post in a sealed ballot addressed to the secretary. All ballots must be returned by a stated time, which will be at least two weeks in advance of the quadrennial meeting.
d) Ballots will be tabulated by the Secretary and (if any are appointed) the Assistant Secretary/Secretaries. A plurality of votes cast shall constitute election. The names of the successful candidates will be announced at the general session of the quadrennial meeting.
e) The term of new officers will commence no later than 1 January the following year.

Article 8: The officers may propose the names of one or more honorary vice-presidents to be elected for life by the membership of the Society.

Article 9: The Officers may from time to time propose the revision of by-laws or the adoption of new by-laws for the governance of the Society. Such revisions or new by-laws shall be submitted to the members in good standing for ratification by an email or postal ballot, and will become effective upon endorsement by the majority of the membership casting ballots.

Article 10: Amendments to this constitution may be proposed either by the officers or by petition of at least ten members of the Society. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the membership and to become effective must receive the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the members who cast their ballots.