Leadership Nominations

President-Elect: The Nominating Committee nominates for a one-year term as President-Elect a member of the Society who has previously served as Vice President. The term of the President-Elect coincides with the second year of the President's two-year term, after which the President-Elect automatically becomes the President for a two-year term. By tradition, the office of President alternates between an academic and a practitioner.

Vice President: The Nominating Committee nominates two (2) members of the Society to the office of Vice President for a one-year term. Nominees for Vice President must have served at least one three-year term as Council Member or Counsellor. By tradition, the Nominating Committee seeks to ensure that both the academic and practitioner communities are represented among the individuals serving as Vice President at any given time. Vice Presidents may be re-nominated for an additional one-year term. The Nominating Committee also nominates the Executive Director to a renewable one-year term as Executive Vice President.

Executive Council Member: The Nominating Committee nominates eight (8) members of the Society to serve as Executive Council Members for a single three-year term. Council Members are expected to have contributed significantly to the activities of the Society.

Counsellor: The Nominating Committee nominates eight (8) members of the Society to serve as Counsellors for a three-year term. Counsellors are senior members of the Society who have made significant contributions to the study and development of international law and to the Society. Counsellors serve as non-voting members of the Executive Council and may be re-nominated for a second three-year term.

1. The Committee operates in accordance with the Society's Constitution, Regulations, and Guidelines for the ASIL Nominating Committee, which describe the criteria for nomination and the duties of each office. The deadline for nominations for all positions is typically in early August.
2. Nominators and prospective nominees are strongly encouraged to review the Guidelines and the FAQs regarding society governance and the nominating process (see below).
3. Nominees must be members of the Society in good standing. It is expected that, if elected, they will participate actively in the work of the Society and assist in efforts to enhance its financial viability, including by contributing, within their means, to its financial support. Candidates not selected in prior years are welcome to reapply; however, they must submit a current application if they wish to be considered.
4. Nominations must be submitted using either the self-nomination form or the form to nominate another person.
5. Nominees are required to submit a statement of interest and a bio (maximum length 3000 characters each (approximately 500-750 words) together with a CV/Resume (maximum length 2 pages, PDF or Word file only). Please note that, in fairness to all candidates, if these items exceed permitted limits, the Committee will review only the portion within the limit.
6. The statement of interest should indicate why the candidate is seeking the nomination and meets the qualifications, and what the candidate would hope to accomplish if elected. The CV/Resume and bio should include a description of any prior ASIL service. The bio should be in paragraph form.
7. Submissions also may include up to two letters of recommendation (optional).
8. If you are nominating yourself, please upload these materials to the online form. If you are nominating another person, please ask the nominee to submit these materials directly to LeaderNominations@asil.org. The nominee also will receive an automated message (at the email address you provide on the form) indicating that he or she has been nominated and requesting this information.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Society Governance and Applying for a Leadership Position

1. What positions are available in the Society's Leadership?
   Each year the Nominating Committee, comprising five ASIL members and one alternate appointed by the President of the Society, nominates eight (8) members of the Society to serve as Executive Council Members, eight (8) to serve as Counsellors, and two (2) to serve as Vice Presidents. In alternate years, the Committee also selects one individual to serve as President-Elect or as Honorary President. The Committee also nominates the Executive Director to serve as Executive Vice President.
2. What is the difference between an Executive Council Member and a Counsellor?
   Executive Council Members are voting members of the Council; Counsellors do not vote. Counsellors are encouraged, however, to participate actively in discussions and attend Executive Council meetings and otherwise provide counsel to the Society’s leadership. Counsellors are senior members of the Society who have made significant contributions to the study and development of international law and to the Society. Individuals who have served at least one full term as either a Council Member or a Counsellor are eligible for nomination to the position of Vice President.
3. What are the qualifications for nomination?
   Nominees must be members of the Society in good standing. It is expected that, if elected, they will participate actively in the work of the Society. It is also expected that they will assist in efforts to enhance the Society’ financial viability, including by contributing, within their means, to its financial support. Nominators should ensure that the individuals they wish to nominate have consented to the nomination. In addition, nominators should ensure that their nominees understand that: (a) nominees must be members of the Society in good standing; and (b) if elected, they will be expected to participate actively in the work of the Society and assist in efforts to enhance its financial viability, including by contributing, within their means, to its financial support. Additional qualifications for particular offices are outlined in the Guidelines.
4. What factors does the Nominating Committee consider when making its selections?
   The Committee will consider a multiplicity of factors, including a candidate's history of engagement with the Society and readiness to assume additional responsibilities. In addition, the Committee makes maximum efforts to ensure that the composition of the leadership reflects the breadth and diversity of the membership, including with respect to diverse viewpoints and perspectives, as outlined in the Guidelines.
5. I've applied for a spot on the Council in previous years and haven't been selected. Should I continue trying?
   Given the limited number of open leadership positions in any given year, and the large number of nominations the Committee generally receives, it is not uncommon for individuals to apply multiple times before being selected.
6. 6) The nominating instructions say to submit a maximum length 2 pages CV/Resume/Bio. Can I send my whole CV instead?
   Nominees are required to submit a statement of interest and a bio (maximum length 3000 characters each (approximately 500-750 words) together with a CV/Resume (maximum length 2 pages, PDF or Word file only). Please note that, in fairness to all candidates, if these items exceed permitted limits, the Committee will review only the portion within the limit.
7. What is the purpose of submitting a statement of interest?
   The statement of interest should indicate why the candidate is seeking the nomination and meets the qualifications, and what the candidate would hope to accomplish if elected. The CV/Resume and bio should include a description of any prior ASIL service. The bio should be in paragraph form.
8. I applied for a position last year. Do I need to reapply?
   Yes. Candidates who were not selected in prior years are welcome to reapply; however, they must submit a current application if they wish to be considered.
9. Where can I ask questions that are not answered in these instructions?
   You may direct questions about the nominating process to LeaderNominations@asil.org.