(approved: September 1978; revised: August 1988)

ARTICLE I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise (also referred to as the ICBEN or the Commission). The working groups within the ICBEN shall be the International Noise Teams (also referred to as the INT or the Teams).

ARTICLE II. Object
The object of the Commission shall be to encourage international cooperation in the study of the biological effects of noise; to promote communication among research scientists, governmental agencies, industrial workers and managers, and other parties and entities concerned with noise and noise effects; and to stimulate the exchange and dissemination of information about the biological effects of noise.

ARTICLE III. Finances
The officers and the Executive Committee are authorized to solicit funds in support of the activities of the ICBEN.

ARTICLE IV. Officers
Section 1. Appointment. The officers of the ICBEN shall be the Chairman, the Past Chairman, the Cochairman, and the Secretary, each to serve for a five-year term. The Executive Committee, by a majority vote, shall elect the Chairman, Cochairman, and Secretary. Announcement of these appointments shall be made during the business meeting that is held during the Congress. Following the announcement, the Chairman shall assume the office of Past Chairman. Except for interim appointees, no person shall hold the same office for longer than one term.

Section 2. Interim Appointments. The Cochairman shall succeed to the office of chairman should an interim vacancy in that office occur. After consultation with the Executive Committee, the Chairman shall appoint a new Cochairman or a new Secretary should an interim vacancy in either of those offices occur. An interim appointee in any office shall serve the remainder of the five-year term and shall be eligible for a full-term appointment to the same office. A vacancy in the office of Past Chairman shall remain vacant.

Section 3. Removal from Office. Should the Executive Committee determine by a two-thirds majority that any officer is performing the duties of office inadequately, it may remove that person from office and elect another person to complete the term. The new officer shall be eligible for an full-term appointment to the same office just as any interim appointee would be.

ARTICLE V. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers, all former Past Chairmen of ICBEN, the Chairmen and Cochairmen of the INTs, and no more than six other people appointed by the Chairman of the ICBEN. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision over the affairs of the ICBEN and the INTs and shall perform such other duties as are specified in this Constitution.

ARTICLE VI. Meetings
Section 1. Congress. The ICBEN shall sponsor and conduct a Congress every fifth year. The proceedings of the Congress shall be published.

Section 2. Business Meeting. A business meeting shall be scheduled during each Congress for the purpose of announcing the appointment of new officers, of nominating new INT Chairmen and Cochairmen, and of receiving reports; and for any other business that might arise. Anyone may attend and participate in the business meeting.

Section 3. Other Meetings. Conferences for planning the Congress and meetings that may be useful or necessary for conducting the business of the ICBEN may be called by any officer or by any five members of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Notice. Written notice of any meeting must be sent to every member of the Executive Committee at least four weeks prior to that meeting. The notice should include information about the time and place of the meeting and should also include a statement of the meeting's purpose.

ARTICLE VII. International Noise Teams
Section 1. Formation. With the approval of the Executive Committee, a new International Noise Team may be formed to study and to communicate information about a special aspect of the biological effects of noise. Each Team shall be responsible for the portion of the Congress program that is dedicated to surveys, reviews, and studies of that special aspect for which it was formed, as well as for communications with governments, industries, workers, scientists, and other concerned parties and entities both as part of the Congress program and as part of the Team's work during the period between Congresses.

Section 2. Chairmen and Cochairmen. With the approval of the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the ICBEN shall appoint a Chairman and a Cochairman for each INT. These two people shall not be citizens of the same country except with special authorization from the Executive Committee. No person shall serve as Chairman or Cochairman of a Team for more than two five-year terms.

Section 3. Team Membership. With the approval of the Executive Committee, the Chairman and Cochairman of each Team shall appoint a maximum of ten additional Team members. No more than two members of each Team shall be citizens of the same country except with special authorization from a majority of the officers of the Commission.

ARTICLE VIII. Alumni Members
Team members and Commission officers, upon the completion of their terms, become Alumni Members of the ICBEN and should be kept informed of Team and Commission activities and, when appropriate, should be consulted by Team Chairmen and Cochairmen.

ARTICLE IX. Sponsorship and Affiliation
The Executive Committee may, by a two-thirds vote, elect to accept sponsorship for the ICBEN, for any INT, or for any ICBEN or INT activity from any other organization. The Executive Committee may, by a two-thirds vote, elect to accept affiliation with any other organization.

ARTICLE X. Amendment of the Constitution
Any amendment of this Constitution shall require the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members of the Executive Committee.