Source: https://www.hsfk.de/en/the-peace-research-institute/constitution/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 14:15:04+00:00

Document:
of the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) in Frankfurt/M.
The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt was founded by the federal state of Hesse as a foundation under public law, holding legal capacity. With the consent of the Hessian government it may in addition choose the name of a public person that rendered outstanding services for peace.
The foundation keeps its offices in Frankfurt/M. It can keep a branch office in Berlin.
The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt investigates the causes, the development and the possibilities of how conflicts can be settled or controlled. The institute does not limit its research to analyzing conflict conditions but, on the basis of such investigations, seeks to develop innovative transformation and problem solving-concepts that are able to connect decreasing violence, increasing social justice and political freedom in the international scheme and in the individual societies. The foundation introduces the findings of peace and conflict research to the public and in particular seeks to bring them into effect in political education.
The foundation, its research departments and the academic staff members pursue their work, enjoying scientific independence and freedom. This freedom does not release them from loyalty to the constitution of the state of Hesse and to the German Constitution.
(1) The foundation is subdivided into research departments.
(3) If the term of office ends, the members of the respective governing bodies remain in office until their successors have been elected.
two public figures proposed by the Executive Board and appointed for four years by the Board of Trustees. A repeat appointment is permitted.
the chairperson of the Research Council.
(3) The chair of the Board of Trustees is held by the Hessian Minister for Science and Art or a representative nominated by him/her.
(4) As a rule, the Board of Trustees assembles for a regular meeting twice, and a minimum of once, a year. An extraordinary meeting needs to be summoned if requested by half the members of the Board of Trustees or by the Executive Board. The items of the agenda need to be communicated at the time when the meeting is summoned.
(5) The Executive Board attends the meetings of the Board of Trustees.
(6) The Board of Trustees has the quorum if more than half the members are present. Decisions are made with simple majority of the votes cast. In matters of importance to research policy, of considerable financial implications or with regard to the managerial staff of the institute, a decision can neither be taken against the vote of the representative of the state of Hessen nor the representative of the federal government. The meeting needs to be recorded in the minutes.
(7) Each member of the Board of Trustees may transfer the vote to one of the other members.
However, one member may only be entitled to a maximum of two votes.
(8) The Board of Trustees may take decisions by written consent in place of a meeting. Details are governed by the rules of procedure.
approve the rules of procedure of the Executive Board and of the Research Council as well as adopt the Advisory Board’s rules of procedure.
(2) For controlling the foundation’s administration, the Board of Trustees may at any time request information from the Executive Board. The Board of Trustees can authorize individual members to monitor the administration, to check the annual report, the evaluation reports as well as the annual financial statement. For special tasks it may be considered necessary to consult experts.
(3) For special tasks the Board of Trustees can form committees, where persons may cooperate who are not necessarily members of the Board of Trustees. These committees may be endowed with decision-making authority. Following the suggestions of the Executive Board, the Board of Trustees appoints the selection committee appointing the PRIF heads of the research departments.
(4) The Board of Trustees may adopt its own rules of procedure.
(1) The Executive Board is composed of the heads of the research departments, the administrative director and two academic staff members.
(2) The Research Council elects its representatives in the Executive Board according to § 12, clause 1, 1 and 2, for two years from among its staff members. Entitled to vote are the academic staff members according to § 12, clause 1.
(3) The Executive Board elects from among the research department heads and the administrative director the executive director, the deputy director and the budget officer. The term of office is four years.
(4) The Executive Board takes decisions by simple majority of the members being present. In case of equal vote, the vote of the executive director decides. In matters regarding the budget and with considerable financial implications, decisions cannot be taken against the vote of the budget officer.
(5) In legal transactions the Executive Board always needs to be represented by two commonly acting members of the Executive Board, one of them always being the executive director, the deputy director or the administrative director.
supervising the current administrative activities.
(2) The Executive Board can adopt its own rules of procedure.
(1) According to §12, clause 1, the research department heads as well as the scientific staff members are eligible to vote for the Research Council.
(2) The Research Council elects a chairperson as well as two deputies for a period of two years.
(3) The Research Council is responsible for designing the scientific program as well as for developing and approving the research projects together with the Executive Board. If in individual cases no agreement can be reached, the Executive Board and the Research Council, guided by the head of the Advisory Board, separately discuss the subject again and then form a commission with equal representation. Their vote is binding.
(4) The Research Council assists, in consultation with the Executive Board, in the scientific quality control, in particular regarding PRIF’s own publications.
(5) The Research Council has to be consulted before the appointment of the research department heads, the employment of the scientific staff and the invitation of guest scientists through the Executive Board.
(6) The Research Council can adopt its own rules of procedure.
(1) The Board of Trustees appoints an Advisory Board that is composed of no more than ten expert members. There should also be foreign scientists in this board. The Board of Trustees, at the suggestion of the Executive Board, appoints the members for four years. The appointment is renewable once.
(2) The Advisory Board is destined to promote and to support the scientific work of the foundation. It provides advice to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Board and to the Research Council in designing the scientific program and in developing research projects.
(3) The Advisory Board comments on the Executive Board’s draft for the research budget and presents a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
(4) The Advisory Board establishes criteria for evaluating the research and service achievements. On the basis of these criteria, in communication with the Executive Board and the Research Council, it evaluates in regular intervals the achievements of the individual research departments and of the institute as a whole. It informs the Board of Trustees regularly about the evaluation.
(5) The Advisory Board may consult additional experts.
(6) The members of the Advisory Board work on an unsalaried basis. They receive travel expenses and an attendance fee. Furthermore, in case of special requirements, an additional remuneration may be granted.
(7) The Board of Trustees releases the rules of procedure for the Advisory Board and determines the amount payable as attendance fee as well as possible additional remunerations.
(2) In addition, non-permanent scientific staff, in particular guest scientists, will work at the foundation.
The foundation assets may only be used in accordance with the foundation objective.
(1) The foundation’s accounting year corresponds to the accounting year of the state of Hessen.
(2) The economic administration as well as accounting and auditing are determined by the principles valid in the state of Hessen.
(3) The foundation is subject to the auditing of the “Bundesrechnungshof” (federal court of audits) and the “Rechnungshof des Landes Hessen” (court of audits of the state of Hessen).
Constitutional changes are decided by the Board of Trustees by a two-thirds majority of its members according to the constitution. The decision may not be taken against the votes of the representatives of the state of Hessen or of the federal government in the Board of Trustees. The foundation objective may not be altered. The constitutional changes may not jeopardize or prevent the fulfilment of the foundation objective.
(1) The dissolution of the foundation may be decided by the Board of Trustees by a two-thirds majority of its members according to the constitution, following a hearing of the Executive Board.
(2) In case of a dissolution, the foundation assets go to the state of Hessen, that may only use it directly and exclusively in accordance with the foundation objective. The state of Hessen takes care of the foundation’s commitments.
(1) Following the entry into force of this constitution, § 5, clause 3 is valid accordingly for the members of the organs of the foundation.
(2) The Board of Trustees, composed of the members according to § 6, clause 1, 1-5, during its first meeting appoints the members of the Board of Trustees according to § 6, clause 1, 6.
This constitution comes into force upon approval by the Darmstadt Regional Council.

References: § 12
 § 12
 §12
 § 5
 § 6
 § 6