IndexCom Statutes

The IndexCom Statutes govern the association's organisation, operation and aims. They set out its non-profit status, areas of activity, governing and representative bodies, and members' rights and obligations.
IndexCom, the Scientific Association for Research and Action in Social Communication, operates primarily in Spain and aims to promote research, public engagement and knowledge transfer in communication.

CHAPTER I

NAME, AIMS, ACTIVITIES, REGISTERED OFFICE AND

SCOPE

Article 1. Name

Under the name IndexCom, Asociación Científica para la Investigación y la Acción en Comunicación Social, a non-profit entity is established pursuant to Article 22 of the Spanish Constitution. It shall be governed by Organic Law 1/2002 of 22 March regulating the Right of Association, by the related provisions and any rules applicable at any given time, and by the Statutes in force.

Article 2. Duration

This Association is established for an indefinite period.

Article 3. Aims

The Association's aims are:

To promote the communication of scientific knowledge across disciplines and fields of study, fostering transfer between the academic community, institutions, private organisations and society.

To advance scientific research into all dimensions of communication, promoting critical and interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration between researchers, universities and specialist centres.

To analyse the production, circulation and reception of information, including information disorders, media narratives and digital environments, from an academic and evidence-based perspective.

To foster media and information literacy and critical thinking about communication content across formats and platforms by developing its own theoretical and analytical frameworks.

To promote study, research and knowledge transfer in clear communication from the perspective of graphic, editorial, digital, visual and interaction design, understood as a cultural and social device that mediates the construction of meaning, the circulation of knowledge and the transformation of social reality.

To promote the editing, publication and dissemination of academic journals and other scientific publications in communication, preferably through open access, ensuring standards of quality, evaluation and publishing ethics.

To encourage public engagement with science and knowledge transfer in communication through academic, publishing and public spaces.

To establish lasting relationships of cooperation and scientific exchange between Association members, other scientific associations, academic institutions and communication sector stakeholders, both nationally and internationally.

To foster academic and publishing synergies that increase the visibility of research and help meet scientific quality criteria.

To promote the study of communication from a broad, inclusive and cross-disciplinary perspective, addressing its diverse dimensions, approaches and areas of application.

Any other aims agreed by the Association's governing bodies in accordance with these Statutes.

Article 4. Activities

The following activities shall be carried out to fulfil these aims:

Specialist training for professionals, academics, students and the general public on topics related to science and communication.

Advice to public and private institutions and bodies, providing technical and strategic support for policies and projects related to science and communication.

Organisation of workshops, courses and seminars related to the Association's areas of activity.

Development of teaching materials and educational guides in print and digital formats for use in schools, universities and other educational, academic or civil society settings.

Development of applied communication research projects.

Collaboration with universities, research centres and international organisations on joint initiatives to pursue the aims set out in Article 3.

Dissemination of research findings through scientific publications, popular science articles and social media, bringing knowledge to different audiences.

Promotion of academic events and meetings, such as conferences, symposia and panel discussions, to strengthen the network of communication researchers and professionals.

Agreements with educational and government bodies to develop training and awareness programmes in media literacy and other areas of communication.

Creation, management and maintenance of indexed scientific journals, ensuring editorial quality, peer review and open access standards, to provide a rigorous platform for publishing studies in communication and related disciplines.

Article 5. Registered office

The Association's registered office is at calle Silvio Abad, número 4, piso 1.º D, 28026 Madrid.

Article 6. Territorial scope

The Association's activities shall be carried out primarily within Spain.

 

CHAPTER II

BODIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 7. Governing and representative bodies of the Association

The Association's governing and representative bodies are the General Assembly and the Executive Board, respectively.

The Association may establish sections and committees to serve the various objectives set out in these Statutes. Their aims and objectives must be approved by the General Assembly.

These sections and committees, which shall not be permanent, may be created and dissolved by the General Assembly.

 

CHAPTER III

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Article 8. Nature

The General Assembly is the Association's supreme governing body and shall comprise all members.

Article 9. Meetings

The General Assembly shall meet at least once a year.

Extraordinary meetings shall be held at the request of more than one third of the total membership.

Article 10. Notices of meetings

Notices of both ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies shall be issued in writing, specifying the place, date and time of the meeting and its agenda.

Fifteen days must elapse between the notice and the date set for the Assembly's first call. Where appropriate, the date of a second call may also be specified.

These notice periods may be shortened for reasons of urgency.

Meetings of the governing and representative bodies may be held in person or by electronic means that allow participants to be identified and decisions to be recorded, including videoconferencing, multi-party telephone calls or messaging applications, such as WhatsApp, that ensure such identification and recording.

The same rule shall apply to committees or similar bodies established within the Association. The meeting shall be deemed to take place at the legal entity's registered office.

Article 11. Quorum for valid constitution and adoption of resolutions

Both ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies shall be validly constituted when at least one third of members entitled to vote are present or represented.

Resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of the votes of those present or represented.

Article 12. Powers of the General Assembly

The General Assembly shall have the following powers:

a) To appoint the Executive Board and its officers, administrators and representatives, and honorary members.

b) To examine and approve annual budgets and accounts, where applicable.

c) To set ordinary or extraordinary membership fees.

d) To resolve to establish or join a federation of associations.

e) To resolve to expel members on a proposal from the Executive Board.

f) To apply for recognition as an association serving the public interest.

g) To resolve to dispose of and transfer assets by a qualified majority.

h) To approve the Internal Rules.

i) To agree, where applicable, on remuneration for Executive Board members.

j) To amend the Statutes.

k) To dissolve the Association.

l) To issue the provisions and directives governing the Association's representative body.

 

CHAPTER IV

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Article 13. Nature and composition

The Executive Board is the representative body that manages and represents the Association's interests in accordance with the provisions and directives of the General Assembly.

It shall comprise a president, a secretary and, where applicable, a vice-president, a treasurer and three board members, appointed by the General Assembly from members who are of legal age, enjoy full civil rights and are not subject to any legally established incompatibility.

Their term of office shall be four years.

The president, vice-president and secretary of the Executive Board shall also be president, vice-president and secretary of the Association and the General Assembly.

These positions are unpaid.

Article 14. Procedures for electing and replacing members

The General Assembly shall elect Executive Board members from submitted candidacies, which shall be allowed appropriate publicity fifteen days before the corresponding meeting.

If an Executive Board member is absent or ill, another member may act as a temporary replacement following appointment by a majority of its members, except that the president shall be replaced by the vice-president.

Executive Board members shall cease to hold office:

a) On expiry of their term.

b) By express resignation.

c) By resolution of the General Assembly.

Article 15. Meetings and quorum for constitution and adoption of resolutions

The Executive Board shall meet following notice given at least three days in advance, whenever its president so determines and at the request of four of its members.

It shall be constituted when half of its members plus one attend.

Resolutions must be adopted by a majority of votes to be valid. In the event of a tie, the president, or the person acting in that capacity, shall have the casting vote.

Article 16. Powers of the Executive Board

The Executive Board shall have the following powers:

a) To direct the Association's activities and manage its financial and administrative affairs, agreeing to enter into appropriate contracts and acts, without prejudice to Article 11(h).

b) To implement General Assembly resolutions.

c) To prepare annual budgets and accounts and submit them to the General Assembly for approval.

d) To appoint delegates for specific Association activities.

e) To exercise any other power not reserved exclusively to the General Assembly.

f) The Executive Board's powers shall in all cases be subject to Articles 26 and 27 of these Statutes.

Article 17. The president

The president shall have the following powers:

a) To represent the Association legally before all public and private bodies.

b) To convene, chair and close meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Board.

c) To direct the deliberations of both bodies.

d) To order payments and authorise documents, minutes and correspondence by signature.

e) To take any urgent measure advisable, necessary or appropriate for the Association's proper functioning and activities, reporting subsequently to the Executive Board.

Article 18. The vice-president

The vice-president shall replace the president during absence due to illness or any other reason and shall have the same powers.

Article 19. The secretary

The secretary shall direct the Association's administrative work, issue certificates, maintain its files and safeguard its documentation, and, where applicable, send communications to the authorities in accordance with the relevant requirements.

Article 20. The treasurer

The treasurer shall collect funds belonging to the Association and carry out payment orders issued by the president.

Article 21. Board members

Board members shall fulfil the duties inherent in their position on the Executive Board and those arising from any delegated responsibilities or working committees assigned by the Board.

 

CHAPTER V

SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL

Article 22. Scientific Council

The Scientific Council is the body responsible for safeguarding the Association, providing strategic guidance and preserving its founding principles.

It does not perform day-to-day management or administrative functions, which belong to the Executive Board, but its involvement is mandatory in decisions affecting the Association's identity, aims and essential structure.

Article 23. Composition

The Scientific Council shall comprise:

a) The Association's founding president, who shall chair it.

b) The founding members expressly designated in the Founding Act.

Article 24. Appointment and tenure

Scientific Council members shall hold that status indefinitely from the Association's establishment.

Membership of the Scientific Council may end on the following grounds:

a) Express and voluntary resignation.

b) Supervening legal incapacity.

c) A final criminal conviction seriously affecting the Association's standing or aims.

d) A serious and proven breach of the founding principles.

The Scientific Council alone shall determine whether these grounds apply.

Article 25. Powers of the Scientific Council

The Scientific Council shall be responsible for:

a) Defining, interpreting and safeguarding the Association's founding principles.

b) Issuing a mandatory and binding report on:

• Amendments to the Statutes.
• Changes to the Association's aims.
• Dissolution of the entity.
• Removal of the founding president.

c) Proposing, vetoing or ratifying appointments to the Executive Board under the terms of these Statutes.

d) Resolving disputes over interpretation of the Statutes that affect the Association's essential structure.

Article 26. Relationship with the General Assembly

The General Assembly shall exercise its powers in accordance with these Statutes, without prejudice to the functions assigned to the Scientific Council as guardian of the founding project.

On the matters set out in the preceding article, the General Assembly may not adopt valid resolutions without the mandatory involvement of the Scientific Council.

Article 27. Operation

The Scientific Council shall meet when convened by its president or at the request of at least one third of its members.

Resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority, except in matters concerning members' continued membership, which require an absolute majority of the full Council.

Article 28. Founding president

The founding president holds the highest institutional representation and strategic leadership of the Association.

She shall hold office indefinitely unless she resigns voluntarily or serious grounds arise under the terms of these Statutes.

Removal of the founding president shall require:

a) A favourable report from the Scientific Council.

b) A resolution of the General Assembly adopted by a three-quarters majority.

 

CHAPTER VI

MEMBERS

Article 29. Requirements for membership

Any person of legal age with legal capacity, not subject to any legal restriction preventing membership, and interested in furthering the Association's aims may freely and voluntarily join the Association.

Members must be ratified by the Scientific Committee.

Article 30. Classes of members

There shall be the following classes of members:

a) Founding members: those who take part in the act establishing the Association.

b) Ordinary members: those who join after the Association is established.

c) Honorary members: those whose standing or significant contribution to the Association's aims merits this distinction.

Article 31. Grounds for loss of membership

Membership shall be lost on any of the following grounds:

a) Voluntary resignation, notified in writing to the Executive Board.

b) Failure to fulfil financial obligations by ceasing to pay periodic fees.

c) Improper conduct or bringing the Association into disrepute through acts or words that seriously disrupt its events and normal relations between members.

In cases involving sanctions or removal, the member concerned shall always be informed of the facts that may give rise to such measures and shall be heard beforehand. Any decision adopted must state its reasons.

Article 32. Members' rights

Ordinary and founding members shall have the following rights:

a) To participate in the Association's activities and governing and representative bodies.

b) To vote and attend the General Assembly.

c) To be informed of the composition of the Association's governing and representative bodies, its accounts and its activities.

d) To be heard before disciplinary measures are adopted.

e) To challenge resolutions of the Association's bodies that they consider contrary to the law or the Statutes.

f) To make suggestions to Executive Board members to improve fulfilment of the Association's aims.

Honorary members shall have the same rights, except the right to vote in the General Assembly and to serve on the Association's Executive Board.

Article 33. Members' duties

Members shall have the following obligations:

a) To share the Association's aims and help achieve them.

b) To pay any fees, special levies and other contributions applicable under the Statutes, except honorary members.

c) To fulfil all other obligations arising from the Statutes.

d) To abide by and comply with resolutions validly adopted by the Association's governing and representative bodies.

 

CHAPTER VII

FINANCING, ACCOUNTING AND DOCUMENTATION

Article 34. Documentation and accounting obligations

The Association shall maintain an up-to-date list of members.

It shall also keep accounts giving a true and fair view of its assets, results, financial position and activities.

It shall also maintain an up-to-date inventory of its assets.

The minutes of meetings held by its governing and representative bodies shall be recorded in a Minute Book.

Article 35. Financial resources

The financial resources envisaged for the Association's aims and activities shall be:

a) Admission, periodic or extraordinary fees.

b) Grants, legacies or inheritances legally received from members or third parties.

c) Any other lawful resource.

The Association's ordinary expenses shall be limited to those strictly necessary for its basic operation, such as the website domain, administrative management and maintenance of digital tools.

The Association does not set an ordinary annual fee for its members.

However, the General Assembly may exceptionally, and with justification, agree to request one-off financial contributions as a special levy, solely to cover specific expenses necessary for activities or the Association's basic operation.

Such contributions must be approved by the Assembly and communicated to members in advance.

Article 36. Initial assets and financial year-end

The Association has no founding endowment.

Its assets shall be built from members' contributions, donations or grants, where applicable, and any other means provided for by applicable law.

The Association's financial year shall end on 31 December.

 

CHAPTER VIII

DISSOLUTION

Article 37. Resolution to dissolve

The Association shall be dissolved:

a) By the will of its members, expressed through a resolution of the General Assembly convened for that purpose, by a qualified majority of two thirds of the votes of members present or represented or, in any event, by the majority provided for dissolution in Article 10 of the Statutes.

b) On the grounds set out in Article 39 and subsequent articles of the Civil Code.

c) By court judgment.

Article 38. Liquidation committee

In the event of dissolution, a liquidation committee shall be appointed. Once debts have been settled, any remaining liquid assets shall be allocated to non-profit purposes as agreed by the General Assembly.

The liquidators shall have the functions set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 18 of Organic Law 1/2002 of 22 March.