CONSTITUTION

 

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE HUNGARIAN
ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

Shortened translation of the original Hungarian Constitution

 Chapter 1.:
General rules (legal status, seat, year of foundation)
The name of the organization is: Magyar Mérnökakadémia  in English : Hungarian Academy of Engineering (HAE). Short name of the organization is: MMA.

HAE functions as a nation-wide social organization in accordance with currently valid laws for associations (At present: act V. of 2013. Association Law)

The HAE is independent of the political parties, it does not accept any support from them nor delegate, or support any member of the parliament.

The seat of the HAE is in Budapest, its address is: H-1111 Budapest, Műegyetem rakpart 3. (BME „D”ép.1/108),  Postal address: H-1507 Budapest, Pf. 149.

The year of foundation is 1990.

Chapter 2.:
Objects and purposes of the HAE
HAE - as a full member of the Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) - aims to foster international integration of creative engineering activities by establishing the constitutional framework and functioning conditions of an independent national engineering academy in Hungary in such a way, which enables the organized cooperation with engineering academies of other countries, with the core of the Hungarian Government and local authorities, with Hungarian Scientific Associations, with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, with institutions of higher education and with research institutions.
Its further aims are to advance and promote the development of techniques and technology, and to support the activities of outstanding creative persons and working groups acting in the different fields of engineering and the closely connected natural sciences; to spread innovative engineering knowledge with special regard to inter- and multidisciplinary results in each field of engineering practice in order to promote economic and social welfare.
Further aims of HAE are to serve Hungary and the nation in all fields connected to the development of techniques and technologies, being the basic instrument for social welfare; to act as a forum for collecting and exchanging information in the fields mentioned, to express its opinion, to advise the Government, the Executive Branch of the Government, the Parliament and other bodies when appropriate.
In order to fulfil the above mentioned aims, HAE organises programs, competitions, study tours and publishes various publications. To cover the expense of these activities, and to broadly support the culture of engineering and natural sciences, the HAE will establish a foundation.
HAE is independent of the political parties, it does not accept any support from them nor delegate, or support any member of the parliament.

Chapter 3.:
Members
Any natural person of Hungarian nationality is permitted to be an ordinary member of HAE. Further criteria for being nominated for membership are:
- candidates must have a certificate which proves university level qualification in Engineering or in Natural Sciences (M.Eng. or M.Sc.),
- candidates must be fluent in the use of at least one foreign language,
- candidates must have produced work with an acknowledged result in at least one of the following fields:
reached creative theoretical and/or practical engineering activities which significantly contributed to the engineering sciences, made noteworthy contributions to the field of engineering education or continuing education, are important contributions to engineering theory in a general sense,
reached new technical and/or technological results with social importance or significant practical results achieved through previously known results or contributions to the development of engineering publications or education.
Two written recommendations are necessary for the nomination of a new member. One recommendation may come from a legal entity, which is not a member of HAE. Acceptance of new members is decided by the Presidency - supposed the quorum - by secret ballot, based on the proposal/presentation of the president of the nominating committee. A candidate is accepted by a minimum of 51 % support of the presidency. Nominees may be interviewed by the Presidency. Nominees not accepted by the Presidency may complain to the General Assembly. A nomination which is refused may be resubmitted in subsequent years. In accepting new members HAE attempts to admit representatives from all fields of engineering.
The number of members is limited up to 300 people at any one time, members with foreign citizenship are not included.
Termination of membership occurs by exclusion, by deletion or by death.
A member can be excluded if:
- he/she fails to observe the Constitution or regulations of HAE.
- with his/her behaviour he/she obviously endangers the aims and purposes, interest or prestige of HAE.
Exclusion of members is decided by the Presidency, taking into consideration the viewpoint of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.
The members must pay a membership-fee. Members pay this membership fee in the currency of the country where they have their permanent residence. The amount of the membership fee is determined by the Presidency.
Deletion of membership: if a member doesn’t keep connection with HAE (doesn’t participate on events, annual assembly, etc. and in spite of written reminders – in one year at least three times sent reminder – doesn’t pay the memebership fee). About the deletion of membership the Presidency makes a decision, given the reason and sending it to the affected member. Agains deletion of membership may ask revision by a written justification, addressed to the General Assembly via Presidency.
Honorary member of HAE can be any Hungarian or foreign citizen who is nominated by the Presidency. A honorary member can be a natural person of foreign citizenship, but foreign citizens cannot be elected as officials of HAE.
- honorary member receives a certificate attesting his/her membership.
- honorary member may win any prize awarded by the HAE foundation.
- honorary member takes part in the General Assembly and is entitled to vote.

Chapter 4.
The organization of the HAE, the executive and representative bodies.
The organization of HAE:
-  General Assembly
-  The Presidency
-- President
-- two Vice Presidents
-- Secretary General
-- President of the Nominating Committee
-- at least further six elected members

The Presidency’s activity supported by
-- Honorary President
-- Secretariat 
-- Foreign Secretary
-- Spokesperson
-- Treasurer

- Control Committee (one President, two members, two supplementary members)
- Disciplinary and Ethics Committee (one President, two members and two supplementary members)
- Nominating Committee (nine members including the President, selected by the General Assembly and three members nominated by the Presidency.)
The persons mentioned above have the right to attend presidential meetings with the right to address the Presidency, furthermore the persons invited by the President.
The supreme body of HAE is the General Assembly, which must be held every third year. Re-election of officials occurs in every third year. An extraordinary General Assembly must be held if this is demanded at least by 33 % of the members in written form. An extraordinary General Assembly may be convened by the Presidency. The General Assembly is capable of making a decision when at least 50 % of the members + one are present at a session convened according to the rules. The General Assembly adopts resolutions or makes decisions by a simple majority. The exclusive powers of the General Assembly are:  to create and alter the Constitution of HAE, to decide on middle and long term aims and tasks, to elect the officials and the members of the Presidency by secret ballot, to elect and exclude persons mentioned in Chapter 4., to decide on acceptance of new members following an appeal, and the claims about membership acceptance, termination of membership occurs by exclusion, or by deletion.
If the General Assembly convened according to the rules is not capable of making decisions for lack of quorum, the Assembly may be reconvened in 30 days with the same agenda, and may then make these decisions irrespective of the number of members present.
Between two meetings of the General Assembly, its powers - except its exclusive ones - are exercised by the Presidency, which has to convene at least twice annually. The acceptance of the annual budget, the ratification and alteration of the regulations of the HAE as well as the admission or exclusion, fall within the jurisdiction of the Presidency.
The General Assembly has the exclusive right to amend the Constitution. To make such a decision, a 2/3 majority is necessary.
Between two presidential meetings its power is exercised by the President in the scope and manner determined in the Regulations. If the President is unable to fulfil this role, or in urgent situations, temporary the Secretary General or/and the Vice Presidents may perform this function together.
The right to represent HAE according to the Code of Civil Procedure is held by the President and the Secretary General individually, and by the Vice Presidents together as determined in the working regulations of HAE.
A certificate signed by the President and the Secretary General which proves membership is awarded to each member.
Rights of using titles: A member is entitled to use the name and crest of HAE in connection with his/her membership and elected functions. Honorary titles can be awarded to meritorious foreign citizens by the General Assembly.
Officers who are not re-elected are entitled to use their title in the next election period with the adjunctive "former", and they have the right to take part in the meetings of their previous committee with freedom of speech.
Honorary Presidency Member:  for those former Presidency members, chief executive officer, vice president, secretary general, who was elected at least two election periods for any of listed position and did not accept a position from any reason for the next period, the Presidency gives the titel of Honorary Presidency Member. The Honorary Presidency Member will get invitation for all Presidency meetings and has a consultancy right in the discussions.
Chapter 5:
 Financial matters
The HAE is managed in accordance with relevant regulations valid for social organizations. All the rules for financing questions are strictly regulated in HAE’s constitution in line to the valid regulations in Hungarian law.
The Presidency decides on accepting support from foundations and from the Government in order to fulfil its aims.