Chapter I General Principles

Article 1 The registered name of the society is 中国神经科学学会in Chinese and Chinese Neuroscience Society in English (hereinafter referred to as CNS). 

Article 2 CNS is a national academic non-profit social organization consisting of neuroscientists and institutions on a voluntary basis. 

Article 3 Adhering to the guiding principle of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of "Three Represents", the Scientific Outlook on Development, Xi Jinping Thought of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, CNS rallies neuroscientists around China to actively launch academic activities and popularize neuroscience technologies, thus making contributions to the result of scientific research, personnel training as well as the rapid achievement of the Four Modernizations 

CNS complies with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and national policies, laws and regulations, implements the core values of socialism, and abides by social morality. Following the principle of dialectical materialism, constantly taking the fact-based scientific approach, staying true to the principle of ‘letting all flowers bloom and hundreds of schools of thoughts contend’, fully developing academic democracy that allows the open-ended academic discussions, CNS call on neuroscientists to unite together, thus making contributions to national academic development and prosperity in neuroscience research.

Article 4 CNS continues to ensure the Party’s absolute leadership. In accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, CNS sets up a primary Party organization, thus providing necessary conditions for carrying out Party activities. 

Article 5 CNS is under the administrative guidance of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and under the supervision and management of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. 

Article 6 The domicile of CNS is Shanghai, China. 

Chapter II Service scope

Article 7 CNS holds various nationwide academic activities related to neuroscience, including:

1. Hold academic activities at all levels (national/provincial/municipal): conferences, symposiums, academic review, workshops, training programs and technical advisory services, etc. launched in cites, provinces and autonomous regions within China.
2. Edit and publish journals and books of neuroscience research in accordance with relevant regulations.
3. Provide continuing education to members of CNS and popularize knowledge and advanced technologies to the entire society;
4. Carry out international academic exchanges to follow the tracks of the world’s neuroscience development, thus improving international competitiveness.
5. Participate actively in offering suggestions and advices for major challenges of the national technology policies and economic development.

When services that are subject to the approval in accordance with laws, regulations and rules, then approval shall be gained first accordingly.

Chapter III Membership

Article 8 The membership of CNS are available for both individuals and corporations. Individual membership categorized into regular members, student members, honorary members and foreign members. Any foreign experts or scholars with academic achievements who are willing to conduct academic exchanges and cooperation with CNS can become foreign members after gaining the approval at the CNS Council Meeting or at CNS Executive Council Meeting and after being filed by CAST. Foreign members can get a discount in purchasing CNS’s academic journals and other related publications and in registering conferences organized by CNS. Nevertheless, the following articles now are inapplicable to foreign members.

Article 9 For applicants who want to gain CNS membership shall: 

1. Acknowledge and support CNS Charter;
2. Join CNS on a voluntary basis;
3. Exert certain academic influence on the field of neuroscience;
4. Professionals affiliated with R&D institutions, universities, and hospitals, etc. can apply for regular CNS membership but shall subject to following requirements:
1. Possess the academic titles such as research associates, lecturers, attending physicians, supervising technicians or above and had published research papers as main authors;
2. Obtained doctoral degree or master’s degree with more than 2 years of working experiences；
3. Gained outstanding achievements within the community;
4. Make earnest and active efforts as a contributor to the development of CNS.
5. Master’s degree candidates and doctoral degree candidates in neuroscience are qualified to apply for student members;
6. Former neuroscientists who had served as the council member of CNS for two terms or above but not the incumbent council members anymore are eligible to become the honorary members of CNS after the discussion and approval at the CNS council meeting or at the CNS executive council meeting;
7. Enterprises and public institutions that are established in accordance with the law, boasted of a certain number of neuroscientists and are willing to participate in CNS’s activities and support CNS’s development can be eligible for the applicant for corporate members；

Article 10 Procedures for becoming a CNS’s member

1. Submitting the application form;
2. Approved at the CNS Council Meeting or CNS Executive Council Meeting；
3. Obtaining an membership certificate issued by the organization authorized by the CNS Council or CNS Executive Council；

Article 11 Member Benefits

1. Participate in voting and stand for election;
2. Having the right to know, the right to oversee and the right to criticize and advise;
3. Having priority in participating in CNS’s academic conferences and related activities;
4. Having priority in getting access to CNS’s academic materials;
5. Joining CNS on a voluntary basis and being free to withdraw from CNS;

Article 12 Obligations of being a CNS member

1. Observing the CNS Charter and carrying out CNS resolutions;
2. Safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of CNS;
3. Completing assignments given by CNS;
4. Playing an active part in writing academic paper/treatise and being an active participant in activities related to popularization of science;
5. Paying membership fees at specified rates;
6. Giving feedback and advice on the improvement of CNS.

Article 13 For members having intention to withdraw from CNS, a written notice shall be provided and the membership certificate shall be returned. Members who do not fulfill their obligations in a year shall be suspended from their membership and shall be considered to withdraw from CNS automatically if their obligations are not fulfilled in two years.  

Article 14 After voting at CNS council meeting or at CNS executive council meeting, members who have violated CNS Charter, done anything that had harmed the interests of CNS or performed unlawful practices shall be deprived of their membership and be removed from the CNS’s posts. 

Chapter IV Election & Dismissal of Leaders and Organizations

Article 15 CNS follows the organizing principle of democratic centralism. The outcoming of leadership and critical decision-makings are under group discussion according to the principle of majority rules. The highest organ of CNS is the Member Congress. The ratio of the representative members and specially invited members are decided by the former CNS Executive Council. The Member Congress is authorized to:

1. Formulate and amend the Charter of CNS
2. Make decisions on working policies and tasks of CNS
3. Elect/dismiss members and supervisors of the CNS Council
4. Deliberate the working report and financial report of the CNS Council
5. Formulate and amend the standard of membership fees
6. Make decisions on termination affairs
7. Make decisions on other major issues

Article 16 The Member Congress will not be convened unless over 2/3 members are attended; decisions are valid only passed by over a half of the members attending the meetings.

Article 17 The Member Congress will be convened every four years. Any special occasions to advance or postpone the term shall be passed by the CNS Council, reviewed by the supervisor (CAST), and permitted by Ministry of Civil Affairs of China. The maximum of postponing the term transition shall be less than one year.  

Article 18 The CNS Council is the executive organization of the Member Congress to carry out daily work when the congress is not in session, and it is responsible for the congress. Members of the CNS Council shall be elected by ballot and lists of all candidates shall be fully deliberated and discussed by voters. The term of the CNS Council is four years consistent with the congress. The scale, principle of organization and procedure of setting up the CNS Council are as follows: 

1. The number of the council members shall not be over 1/3 of the overall members, and a ratio for choosing candidates from each region as fair as possible must be considered.
2. A council member must be a member of CNS with well-renowned academic reputation and high-level academic achievement, who is less than 65 years old during the term with full energy to support the work of CNS.
3. Procedures of setting up CNS Council:
1. The candidates of the council members for the next term are to be nominated by the current members and a list of all candidates for a formal election are made by the transitional leadership group.
2. According to the previous narrated ratio principle and with a full consideration of candidates’ representativity, major, and age, candidates with over half of the votes from the members of current CNS Executive Council are elected.
3. Elections shall be held by secret ballot at the Member Congress.
4. In special cases, if an additional member is necessary, the candidate must be nominated by CNS Executive Council and elected with over 4/5 votes from the CNS Council. The ratio of additional members shall be less than 10% of the total council members.

Article 19 The functional authorities of the CNS Council are as follows:

1. Execute resolutions made by the Member Congress
2. Elect and dismiss of the CNS Executive Council members, president/vice-president of the CNS Council, and appoint and resign of the secretary-general
3. Prepare and open the Member Congress
4. Make work and financial reports to the Member Congress
5. Make decisions on enrollment and expulsion of members
6. Make decisions on the establishment, alteration, termination of administrative offices, branch offices, representative offices, and entity offices
7. Make decisions on appointment of vice secretary-general, main leaders of offices
8. Make work arrangements of the CNS
9. Formulate internal management system
10. Deliberate the annual work report, work plan, financial budgeting, and financial settlement
11. Make decisions on motions submitted to the Member Congress
12. Make decisions on the list of honorary members
13. Make decisions on other major issues

Article 20 The CNS Council will not be convened unless over 2/3 members are attended, and decisions are valid only passed by over 2/3 of the council members.

Article 21 The Council shall convene at least one meeting every year. In special situation, it may be convened in the form of communication.

Article 22 The Society shall establish a Standing Council. The Standing Council shall be elected by the Council, the number of which shall not exceed 1/3 of the number of the Council, and the Standing Council shall be responsible to the Council for exercising its functional authorities under Items 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Article 19 when the Council is not in session. The Standing Council shall have the same term of office as the Council and shall be changed at the same time as the Council.

Article 23 The Standing Council shall not be convened until more than two-thirds of the managing directors are present, and its resolution shall not be effective until it is voted by more than two-thirds of the managing directors present at the meeting. 

Article 24 The Standing Council shall convene at least one meeting every half year. If the situation is special, it may be convened in the form of communication. 

Article 25 The chairman, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the Society shall meet the following requirements: 

1. Adhere to the Party’s line, principles, and policies, and with good political quality;
2. Has great influence in the field of neuroscience;
3. The maximum age of appointment for the chairman and the vice-chairman shall not exceed 70 years, and the maximum age of appointment for the secretary-general shall not exceed 62 years, and the secretary-general shall be full-time;
4. Be healthy and able to work normally;
5. Has not been subject to criminal punishment for deprivation of political rights;
6. Have full civil capacity.

Article 26 If the chairman, vice-chairman or secretary-general of the Society exceeds the maximum age of office, they shall be voted and adopted by the Society, and may not serve until they are reported to the business authority for examination and approved by the association registration administrative organ. 

Article 27 The chairman and vice-chairman of the Society shall hold a term of office of 4 years each, and shall not be re-elected for more than two times. If the term of office needs to be extended in special circumstances, it shall be voted and adopted by two-thirds or more of the member representatives at Member Congress, reported to the business authority for examination and approved by the association registration administrative organ before holding a post. The term of office of a secretary-general appointed or publicly recruited shall not be restricted. 

Article 28 The chairman of the Society is the legal representative of the Society. Under special circumstances, the vice-chairman or the secretary-general may serve as the legal representative after being recommended by the chairman and approved by the Society, reported to the business authority for examination and approval, and approved by the registration management organ. The secretary-general appointed or publicly recruited shall not serve as the legal representative of CNS.　　 
The legal representative signs relevant important documents on behalf of CNS.　 
The legal representative of the Society shall not concurrently serve as the legal representative of other associations. 

Article 29 The chairman of CNS shall exercise the following functional authorities:

1. Convene and preside over the meetings of CNS Council and the Standing Council;
2. Check the implementation of the resolutions of the Member Congress, CNS Council and the Standing Council.

Article 30 The secretary-general shall be appointed only after being nominated by the chairman of the CNS Council, approved by the CNS Council, reported to the business authority for examination and approval and approved by the association registration administrative organ.  

Article 31 The secretary-general of CNS shall exercise the following functional authorities: 

1. Take charge of the daily work of the administrative body and organize the implementation of the annual work plan;
2. Coordinate the work of CNS branches, representative agencies and entities;
3. Decide on the employment of full-time staff of the administrative body, representative agencies and entities;
4. Nominate the deputy secretary-general and the principal persons in charge of the administrative body, representative agencies and entities for examination and approval by the CNS Council and the Standing Council;
5. Deal with other daily work.

Article 32 Within the purpose and business scope stipulated in this Charter, CNS shall set up branches and representative agencies according to actual needs. As an integral part of the Association, the CNS branches and representative agencies do not have the legal person status, shall not formulate separate charter, and shall not issue any registration certificate in any form and shall carry out activities and recruit members within the scope authorized by CNS, and the legal liability shall be borne by the Society. CNS branches and representative bodies shall use the official full name of the Society to carry out their activities, and shall not exceed the business scope of CNS. 

Article 33 CNS does not set up regional branches, and does not set up branches or representative agencies under branches or representative agencies. 

Article 34 The names of CNS’s branches and representative bodies shall not be named with the names of various legal entities, and shall not include the words “China”, “Chinese”, “National” and “Nationwide”, and shall end with the words “Branch”, “Special Committee”, “Work Committee”, “Special Fund Management Committee”, “Representative Office”, “Office”, etc. 

Article 35 The person in charge of a branches or representative agencies shall not be over 70 years old, and shall not be re-elected for more than two times. 

Article 36 The financial of branches and representative agencies shall be incorporated into the statutory accounts of CNS for unified management. 

Article 37 In the annual work report of CNS, the relevant information of branches and representative agencies shall be submitted to the registration administration authority. At the same time, CNS should disclose the relevant information to the public in a timely manner and accept consciously social supervision. 

Article 38 The Board of Supervisors of CNS shall be established. The term of office of the supervisor shall be the same as that of the director, and the supervisor may be reappointed upon expiration. The Board of Supervisors shall consist of 3-9 members, including one chairman elected by the Board of Supervisors. The chairman and the vice chairman of the Board of Supervisors shall be under the age of 70, and shall be re-elected for no more than two terms. CNS accepts and supports the supervision and guidance of the appointed supervisors. 

Article 39 Election and dismissal of supervisors: 

1. Elected by the Member Congress;
2. The dismissal of supervisors shall be implemented in accordance with the procedures for selection.

Article 40 The principal, council member, managing director and financial management personnel of CNS shall not concurrently serve as supervisors. 

Article 41 The Board of Supervisors shall exercise the following functional authorities: 

1. Attend meetings of CNS Council and the Standing Council as non-voting attendees, and make inquiries or suggestions on resolutions;
2. Supervise the behaviors of CNS Council members, managing directors and persons in charge in performing the duties of the Society, and propose the removal of persons who seriously violate the Charter of CNS or the resolutions of the Member Congress;
3. Examine the financial reports of CNS, report the work of the Board of Supervisors to the Member Congress and make proposals;
4. Require the persons in charge, council members, managing directors and financial manager to correct the behaviors that damage CNS’s interests in a timely manner;
5. Report the problems existing in the work of the Society to the business authority, the industry management department, the registration management authority, and the tax and accounting authorities;
6. Decide other matters that shall be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors.

The Board of Supervisors shall hold at least one meeting within six months. A meeting of the Board of Supervisors can be convened only if more than two thirds of the supervisors attend the meeting, and its resolution shall be valid only if approved by more than one half of the attending supervisors. 

Article 42 The supervisors shall abide by relevant laws and regulations and the Charter of CNS, and perform their duties faithfully and diligently. 

Article 43 The Board of Supervisors shall investigate the activities of CNS, and may engage an accounting firm to assist in its work when necessary. The expenses necessary for the Board of Supervisors to exercise its functions and powers shall be borne by the Society. 

Chapter V Asset Management and Fair Use

Article 44 Sources of CNS’s funds:

1. Membership fees;
2. Donations;
3. Government funding;
4. Income from carrying out activities and providing services within the approved business scope;
5. Interests;
6. Other lawful earned income.

Article 45 CNS shall collect membership fees in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State. No fee will be charged for the activities such as evaluation and commendation. 　 

Article 46 CNS’s funds shall be used for the business scope and development of the undertakings specified herein, and shall not be distributed among the members. The investor does not retain or enjoy any property rights with respect to the property invested in the organization. 

Article 47 CNS shall establish a strict financial management system to ensure that the accounting information is legal, true, accurate and complete. 

Article 48 CNS shall recruit professionally qualified accountants, who shall not be a cashier. Accountants must conduct accounting and exercise accounting supervision. When the accountant dispatches the work or leaves the job, he/she must go through the handover procedures with the take-over personnel. 

Article 49 The assets management of CNS must follow the financial management system stipulated by the state, and accept the supervision of the Member Congress and the finance department. Where the source of the assets is state appropriation or social donation or financial aid, it shall be subject to the supervision of the auditing organ and the relevant information shall be made public in an appropriate manner. 

Article 50 The financial audit must be conducted before the change of office or the change of legal representative of the Society. Article 51 No unit or individual may encroach, privately divide or misappropriate the assets of the Society. Property and its fruits shall not be used for distribution. 

Article 52 The salaries, insurance and welfare benefits of the full-time staff of the Society shall be strictly implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State on public institutions. 

Chapter VI Procedures for Amendment of the Charter of CNS

Article 53 The amendments to the Charter of CNS shall be submitted to the Member Congress for deliberation after being voted and approved by the Society. 

Article 54 The Charter of CNS amended by the Society shall come into force 15 days after it is adopted by the Member Congress, reported to the business authority for examination and approval, and reported to the association registration administrative organ for approval. 

Chapter VII Termination Procedure and Disposal of Property after Termination

Article 55 If it is necessary to cancel the Society due to its completion of its purpose or its dissolution, or due to its separation or merger, the Council or the Standing Council shall propose a motion for termination. 

Article 56 The motion for termination of the Society shall be voted and approved by the Member Congress and reported to the business authority for examination and approval. 

Article 57 Before the termination of the Society, a liquidation organization shall be established under the guidance of the business authority and relevant authorities, and the liquidation of creditor’s rights and debts shall be liquidated. During the period of liquidation, activities other than liquidation shall not be carried out. 

Article 58 The Society shall be terminated immediately after the cancellation of registration formalities by the association registration authority. 

Article 59 The remaining property after the termination of the Society shall be used in the development of undertakings related to the purposes of the Society under the supervision of the business authority and the organization registration authority and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state. 

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Article 60 The Charter of CNS was passed by the First Session of the Seventh Session of the Member Congress on October 11, 2019 after the vote was held. 

Article 61 The Society reserves the right to interpret the Charter of CNS. 

Article 62 The Charter of CNS shall come into effect as of the date of approval by the association registration administrative organ.