Bylaws and Standing Rules

The bylaws and standing rules will tell you why TESOL does things the way it does. You can find out everything you ever wanted to know about TESOL International Association--and probably more. 

Bylaws describe the association's organizational structure and how it is constituted legally.

Standing rules specify how TESOL entities such as standing committees and interest sections are constituted and what these entities do.

Bylaws

• TESOL Bylaws, March 2013 (33KB PDF)
  Defines legal terms and policies for the association.

Standing Rules (March 2012)

• The Standing Rules Table of Contents (65KB PDF)
  TESOL operations are guided by standing rules. The standing rules are available as Adobe PDF documents and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or higher.
• There is no Standing Rule I.
• SR II. Mission (51KB PDF)
  States TESOL's mission.
• SR III. Membership (79KB PDF)
  Describes the types and benefits of membership.
• SR IV. Membership Dues (45KB PDF)
  Describes how TESOL's dues are established.
• SR V. Affiliates (92KB PDF) 
  Defines the terms of a TESOL affiliate.
• SR VI. Relationships with Other Organizations (60KB PDF)
  Defines how TESOL forms formal relationships, or linkages, with other organizations.
• There is no Standing Rule VII.
• SR VIII. Board of Directors (54 KB PDF)
  Describes duties, representation, nomination and election, qualifications, and responsibilities of the Board of Directors.
• SR IX. Officers (74KB PDF) 
  Defines the roles of the officers of the Board of Directors.
• SR X. Committees and Task Forces (358KB PDF) 
  Defines establishment of and provisions for standing committees and task forces.
• SR XI. Membership Groups Within TESOL (153KB PDF) 
  Defines roles and procedures for operations and activities of interest sections and caucuses and for conducting council meetings for affiliates and interest sections.
• SR XII. Annual Convention (73KB PDF) 
  States the purpose and goals of TESOL's annual convention.
• SR XIII. Meetings at the Annual Convention (76KB PDF) 
  Outlines the meeting time frame and purpose of the annual business meeting and the town meeting.
• SR XIV. Policy Determination (167KB PDF) 
  Describes how TESOL makes decisions for action.
• SR XV. Standing Rules (61KB PDF) 
  Describes the standing rule revision procedures.
• SR XVI. Programs and Services (121KB PDF)
• SR XVII. Budget and Finances (75KB PDF) 
  Describes the authority for and operating procedures of the administration and execution of TESOL's operating budget.