Regulation

REGULATIONS OF THE COORDINATION GROUP ON
"SURVEY SAMPLING METHODOLOGY"

REGULATIONS OF THE PERMANENT WORKING GROUP ON
"SURVEY SAMPLING METHODOLOGY"

1. Name and aims.

The Permanent Working Group on "Survey Sampling Methodologies" was founded within the context of the Italian Statistical Society (SIS), to contribute to the promotion and coordination of applied and methodological research on survey sampling in the fields of economics, of social and demographic sciences, of official statistics and in the studies on biological and environmental phenomena.
The members of the Working Group undertake to cooperate with the SIS and its Coordinating Groups both at the scientific and organizing levels; the member activities cannot coincide with the SIS Meetings or with the meetings of the SIS Coordinating Groups; the members also undertake to contribute and organize SIS activities. The Working Group organize a meeting every two years with the aim of clarify and discuss the applied and methodological developments obtained on survey sampling.

2. Bodies

The Working Group is constituted by the following bodies:
the Member Assembly;
the Operating Committee;
the Coordinator.
The elective bodies continue in office for a mandate of two years, which can be renewed only once.
In case of impediment or resignation of one or more members of an elective body, they will be substituted by the non elected members who have obtained the greatest number of votes and, in case of parity, by the oldest members. If substitutes are lacking, the body keeps on working without replacements, if at least one half of its members stay on.

2.1. The Member Assembly.

The Member Assembly is convoked by the Coordinator at least once every two years, usually during the biennial meeting of the Working Group, specifying the items on the agenda, especially the election of the expiring bodies
The Member Assembly is valid in presence, even by delegation, of at least one fifth of its members. Each delegating member is considered to be present at the sitting in every respect.
The Member Assembly decrees by a simple majority of votes, carried out by a show of hands; the elections are performed by secret ballot together with any other voting for which the secret ballot was requested by at least one fifth of those present.
The Member Assembly elects the Coordinator and the members of the Operating Committee.
Each voter has at disposal 3 votes, one for the Coordinator and two for the Operating Committee.
The Member Assembly gives directions to the Operating Committee about the activities to perform during the subsequent mandate and it passes the amendments to the Regulations suggested by the Operating Committee.

2.2. The Operating Committee.

The Operating Committee is constituted by 5 members of the Working Group, Coordinator included. The Operating Committee is convoked periodically by the Coordinator, at least once every year. On the basis of the directions given by the Member Assembly, the Operating Committee takes all the resolutions regarding the activities of the Working Group and suggests amendments to the Regulations.
The meetings of the Operating Committee are valid when at least 3 members are present, Coordinator included. The Operating Committee decrees by a simple majority of votes, by means of open ballots; in case of parity the Coordinator's vote is prevailing. Voting is performed by secret ballot when requested by at least one member of the Committee.

2.3. The Coordinator.

The Coordinator of the Working Group is a member of SIS and acts for the Working Group in every respect, especially in the relations with SIS and his Coordinating Groups; the Coordinator may also be invited to join the meetings of the SIS Leading Board.
The Coordinator chairs the meetings of the Operating Committee and of the Member Assembly and convokes both the bodies.
In case of temporary obstacles, the Coordinator may designate a substitute among the members of the Operating Committee.

3. Adherences and renouncements.

Persons and organizations which are members of SIS may send in an application for the Working groups; in these cases applications are automatically accepted.
Any persons or organizations which are not members of SIS may send in an application for the Working groups. The Operating Committee gives a grounded opinion on these applications which are subsequently checked by the SIS Leading Board. In the case of acceptance, the Board may establish an annual fee as a refund of the expenses met by the Society for the activities of the Working Group.
The status of member of the Working Group is lost in the following situations:
for the member of SIS, in case of spontaneous resignation ( expressed in writing via a letter addressed to the Coordinator);
for the non members of SIS, in case of spontaneous resignation or in case of a reiterated non-payment of the possible annual fee.

4. Termination of the Working Group.

The Working Group ceases to exist if:
the Member Assembly decrees its spontaneous dissolution.
it is constituted by less than 20 members of the SIS;
it is dissolved by the SIS Member Assembly, on the basis of a grounded proposal of the SIS Leading Board, in consequence of serious transgressions of this Regulations, of the SIS statute, or in consequence of activities damaging SIS image and reputation.