(Clause numbers)

Cl. 1

The name of the organization is: The RNA Society of Japan.

Cl. 2

The RNA Society of Japan is organized for the purpose of promoting research and education on RNA, and advancing RNA research in Japan.

Cl. 3

The RNA Society of Japan shall host academic meetings, publish newsletters and undertake other activities necessary for fulfilling the purpose prescribed above.

Cl. 4

The RNA Society of Japan has the power to establish subsidiary organizations as necessary in different locations.

Cl. 5

The RNA Society of Japan shall comprise of Full Members, Supporting Members and Honorary Members.
5.1. Full Members shall be individuals who are engaged in RNA research or are interested in the same, who agree with the goals of the RNA Society of Japan and who pay the designated membership fee.
5.2. Supporting Members shall be individuals or organizations who agree with the goals of the RNA Society of Japan and who pay at least one unit of the designated Supporting Member subscription.
5.3. Honorary Members shall be nominated by the Council from among the Full Members or the former Full Members of the RNA Society of Japan in recognition of their special contribution to the RNA Society of Japan or RNA study. They shall be approved by vote at the General Meeting of the RNA Society of Japan.

Cl. 6

Members of the RNA Society of Japan can participate in various activities organized by the RNA Society of Japan and receive publications issued by the RNA Society of Japan.

Cl. 7

Individuals or organizations who wish to be members shall apply following the procedures designated by the RNA Society of Japan By-Laws and be approved by the President. Full members shall pay a Joining Fee of 1,000 JPY.

Cl. 8

Membership fees shall be as follows. Honorary Members are exempt from membership fees.

Cl. 9

Members can withdraw from the RNA Society of Japan by notifying the President thereof. Members who fail to pay their membership fee or who are deemed to be unsuitable as members of the RNA Society of Japan for a specified reason by a resolution of the Council shall be removed from membership of the RNA Society of Japan by authority of the President.

Cl. 10

The Officers of the RNA Society of Japan shall be the President, a number of Council Officers and two Financial Auditors.
10.1. The President shall represent the RNA Society of Japan and exercise overall control over the activities of the RNA Society of Japan.
10.2. Council Officers shall meet in Council and discuss matters concerning the RNA Society of Japan.
10.3. The Financial Auditor shall audit the accounts of the RNA Society of Japan.

Cl. 11

Council Officers shall be nominated from among the Full Members and shall be elected by ballot of Full Members. The President shall be elected by mutual vote of the Council Officers. Financial Auditors shall be nominated from among Full Members excluding Council Officers and Secretaries. They shall be elected by vote of Council Officers. The terms of office of all Officers shall be two years.

Cl. 12

The President shall nominate a number of Secretaries to be approved by the Council. The Secretaries shall assist the President in his/her duties of running the RNA Society of Japan.

Cl. 13

In principle, the RNA Society of Japan shall hold a General Meeting once a year to discuss the activities of the RNA Society of Japan and to pass resolutions. The President shall convene the General Meeting.

Cl. 14

The fiscal year of the RNA Society of Japan shall run from April 1 to March 31 of the following year.

Cl. 15

The RNA Society of Japan By-Laws shall lay down detailed rules on the execution of these Articles. Any amendment to the By-Laws shall be made by resolution of the RNA Society of Japan.

Cl. 16

Amendments to these Articles and dissolution of the By-Laws shall only be carried by resolution of the General Meeting.

Cl. 17

These Articles shall be effective as of August 4, 1999.

Chapter 1: Membership

Cl. 1

Individuals who wish to become a Full Member of the Society shall complete the designated membership application form and submit it to the President together with the joining fee and the membership fee for the first year.

Cl. 2

Individuals who wish to be treated as Student Members shall also submit their student identification to the Secretariat of the Society.

Chapter 2: General Meeting

Cl. 3

The President shall draft the agenda of the General Meeting and propose the agenda after deliberation by the Council. The agenda shall include the activity report and financial report for the year ended, together with the activity plan and budget for the new year. If there is a proposal that is submitted to the Council with endorsement from more than 1/10 of the full membership, such a proposal must be on the agenda for the forthcoming General Meeting.

Cl. 4

In convening a General Meeting, the President shall give prior notification of the planned agenda to Full Members.

Cl. 5

The attendance of 100 or more Full Members shall constitute quorum of the General Meeting (including letters of proxy).

Cl. 6

A resolution can be passed by the General Meeting by a majority vote (including proxy votes) of all members attending.

Chapter 3: Election of Officers

Cl. 7

The election of Council Officers shall proceed as follows:
7.1. The President shall select three individuals from among the Full Members to serve as returning officers for the election. The Election Committee shall undertake administrative work relating to the election.
7.2. Voting shall be by secret online ballot with each member assigned to one vote of ten or less nominees.
7.3. No Council Officer shall be allowed to stand for four consecutive terms. The nomination of any member that infringes upon this restriction shall be notified in the Election Guidance Notes.
7.4. The ten nominees with the highest numbers of votes shall be elected. If there is a tie in the numbers of votes, the winner will be determined in accordance with the Election Guidance Notes.

Cl. 8

The election of the President-Elect shall proceed as follows:
8.1. The President shall summon new Council Officers. The new Council shall elect the President-Elect by mutual vote.
8.2. Voting shall be by single-entry secret ballot. The President-Elect shall be the winner of the majority vote.
8.3. If there is no majority, the top two runners shall be put to the vote again. The winner of the larger vote shall the President-Elect. If there is a tie, the President-Elect shall be chosen by a draw.
8.4. The President shall not be allowed to serve three consecutive terms of office.
8.5. The President shall concurrently serve as Council Officer.

Cl. 9

The Council shall elect two Financial Auditors by vote from among the Full Members excluding the President, Council Officers, and Secretaries. The Financial Auditors shall not be elected for two consecutive terms.

Chapter 4: The Council

Cl. 10

The Council shall be convened by the President. The President shall serve as the Chairman. Prior notification of the convening of the Council must be given to all its members.

Cl. 11

Council Officers shall elect a Vice Chairman by mutual vote. The Vice Chairman shall convene the Council and serve as Chairman should there be any circumstances preventing the President from acting as Chairman.

Cl. 12

The attendance of the majority of Council Officers shall constitute quorum of the Council.

Cl. 13

A resolution of the Council shall be passed by majority vote of the members attending.

Chapter 5: Secretaries and Officials

Cl. 14

The President, with approval of the Council, shall select and request Full Members to act as Secretaries and Officials. The term of office of a Secretary or Official shall be two years.
14.1. There shall be one General Affairs Secretary
14.2. There shall be one Finance Secretary
14.3. There shall be one Editorial Secretary
14.4. There shall be two Meetings Secretaries
14.5. There can be a few Officials serving for specific actions of the Society

Cl. 15

Meetings Secretaries cannot serve concurrently as Financial Auditors. Secretaries other than Meeting Secretaries cannot serve concurrently as Officers. If an Officer is designated as a Secretary and resigns as Officer, if that Officer has served less than one year, such period of service shall not be considered as one term with respect to the reappointment restriction for Officers.

Chapter 6: Secretariat

Cl. 16

The Secretariat of the Society shall be located at the following address:
c/o Laboratory for Translation Structural Biology
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research
#W215 West Research Building
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan

Cl. 17

The joining fee and the annual membership fees shall be paid using credit cards or the bank transfer.

Chapter 7: Logo

Cl. 18

The Logo of the Society is defied as in the attached paper. The Logo shall be appropriately displayed on the abstract books, booklets, posters, websites etc., of the Meetings organized, co-organized, co-sponsored or supported by the Society. The Regulations for the use of the Logo shall be separately prescribed.

Chapter 8: Amendment to the By-Laws

Cl. 19

Any amendment to these By-Laws shall be made by resolution of the Council.

Chapter 9: Supplementary Provisions

Cl. 20

These By-Laws shall be effective as of August 4, 1999. However, at the inauguration of the Corporation, the General meeting shall elect the Officers to serve the first term and approve the Secretaries. The terms of office of these initial appointees shall run until March 31, 2002.