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Approved by the General Assembly at the 9th World Congress, Jerusalem, September 3, 1986; amended by the General Assembly at the 11th World Congress, New Delhi, November 5, 1990; and amended by the General Assembly at the 16th World Congress, Madrid, September 18, 1998; and amended by the General Assembly at the 17th World Congress, Hamburg, September 8, 2000; amended by the General Assembly at the 19th World Congress, Yokohama, December 10, 2004.

Amended by the General Assembly at the 21st World Congress Adelaide, September 6, 2009

The International Society for Digestive Surgery (ISDS) founded as the Collegium Internationale Chirurgiae Digestivae (CICD), (hereafter ISDS), is organized for the purpose of promoting at an international level the study, diagnosis, and treatment of the diseases of the digestive system that are amenable to surgical techniques. The Society's primary role is to promote professional and cultural exchanges among surgeons of various countries worldwide through congresses, postgraduate courses, and other mechanisms for communicating advances in the discipline. The Society will encourage the development of refresher courses, travel fellowships, and research scholarships, and will interact with other national and international societies such as gastroenterologic and endoscopic societies that are concerned with the digestive system.

The official headquarters of the ISDS will be located at a place determined by the Executive Committee. The location may be changed upon recommendation of two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee and approval of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly.

The ISDS is composed of surgeons from all parts of the world, and is organized by National Sections and Regional Federations.  Each Section will have a local organizational structure that will provide for its national membership a mechanism for communication of the ISDS activities, recruitment of members, coordination of conferences and congresses, and other institutional endeavors. Each Section will identify by election an individual from its membership who could serve on the ISDS Membership Committee as nominated by the Section and as appointed by the Executive Committee. The Federations shall be composed of all the Sections in each region (Europe, Asia, Americas) and shall have their own organizational structure. A country having 10 or more members may form a National Section of the Society, to be known as:

English will be the official language used at the World Congresses. There may be an Official Journal of the ISDS devoted to publishing of articles of high quality in the field of digestive surgery and communicating the activities of the Society.

There will be three categories of membership:

The membership categories are described as follows:

A. Active Members will be composed of surgeons who have demonstrated a primary interest in the study or practice of digestive surgery. They must have completed a formal training program in surgery and attained an appropriate level of certification required by their country of training or practice. They may apply directly to the Membership Committee who will attest to their qualifications and present them as candidates to the Executive Committee for consideration for membership. It is the intent of the Society to be inclusive in its membership, but Active Members must be fully qualified surgeons with a demonstrated interest in digestive surgery and a fraternal interest in the development of the discipline around the world. A candidate may also apply directly to the Executive Committee.  Only Active Members have the right to vote at the General Assembly.

B. Senior Members will be Surgeons who have attained the age of 65 and who have retired from the active practice of digestive surgery. They must have been active dues paying members for at least fifteen years, or have been elected into membership after the age of fifty, and been an active dues paying member during their subsequent years of membership. Senior surgeons can be recommended for election in the Society by two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee. Senior members will not be allowed to hold office but otherwise will have the rights and privileges of an Active Member. They are not required to pay dues but may receive the Official Journal at a reduced rate to be determined by the Executive Committee.

C. Honorary Membership will be granted to clinicians or scientists of international repute who have rendered distinguished and special services to the field of digestive surgery in general. They will not be required to pay dues and will receive a copy of the Official Journal. Election to Honorary Membership will be made by a two-thirds vote recommendation by the Executive Committee and two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly.

The Executive Committee may in special cases nominate candidates for membership that do not fulfill all the requirements stated above for Active or Senior Membership.

Candidates who are not approved for membership by the Executive Committee shall automatically be reconsidered by that Committee for two consecutive years unless the application is withdrawn. If after these two consecutive years the applicant is still not accepted for membership, the candidate may submit a new application to the Executive Committee for further consideration.

Initiation and annual fees (dues) are determined by the General Assembly upon proposal by the Executive Committee. The annual dues include subscription to the Official Journal of the ISDS.

Only Members who are current in their dues will be entitled to vote in the General Assembly and hold office in the Society. Such members will have the privilege of attending all meetings of the Society at a reduced price and to receive the Journal at a reduced rate. Members who fail to pay their dues will forfeit these privileges for the following year, and failure to pay dues for two consecutive years will lead to loss of membership in the Society.

The official bodies of the Society are:

The General Assembly of Members will meet during each World Congress organized by the Society. Its function is to ratify the previous actions of the Executive Committee, elect the officers and members of the Executive Committee, establish initiation fee and annual dues and select dates and sites for future World Congresses.

The Executive Committee is composed of:

The Editor of the Official Journal is a member, without vote.

The Executive Committee shall meet twice in a year at the World Congress of the Society and at other congresses or at a time and place specially convened for the purpose.

By resolution of the Executive Committee, standing and ad hoc committees may be asked to supervise particular activities of the Society.

There shall be the following committees of the Society: (1) Membership, (2) Program, (3) Nominating, (4) Education, (5) International Relations Policy, and (6) other committees considered necessary or proper by the Executive Committee.

The Membership Committee shall comprise a Chairman to be appointed by the Executive Committee and at least five members as nominated by National Sections and appointed by the Executive Committee.  The term of the Chairman and the members shall be for two years with eligibility for re-election for one additional two-year term.  The Committee shall be responsible for soliciting and screening new members and other duties as charged by the Executive Committee.

The Program Committee shall be chaired by the President-elect and include at least five other members as nominated by the National Sections and the Chair and appointed by the Executive Committee.  The term of the Chairman and the members shall be for two years.  The Committee shall develop the Scientific Program for the ISDS World Congress.

The Nominating Committee is composed of all living Past Presidents. The Chairman is the Immediate Past President. The Nominating Committee will convene at each World Congress or as the Chairman deems necessary. The function of the Nominating Committee is to nominate, on majority vote of those present, Officers and new members of the Executive Committee.

The Education Committee shall be chaired by one of the Vice Presidents and include at least five other members as nominated by the National Sections and the Chair and appointed by the Executive Committee.  The term of the Chairman and the members shall be for two years with eligibility for re-election for one additional two year term. The Committee shall devote its work to all aspects related to education in the field of digestive surgery particularly to the educational program in developing countries.

The International Relations Policy Committee shall be chaired by one of the Vice Presidents and include at least five other members as nominated by the National Sections and appointed by the Executive Committee.  The term of the Chairman and the members shall be for two years with eligibility for re-election for one additional two year term. The committee shall identify and evaluate any form of collaboration with other organizations involved in scientific and cultural activities in gastointestinal tract diseases.

The President and President-Elect are elected for two years and are not eligible for re-election.

The Vice Presidents are elected for two years and are not eligible for re-election.

The Secretary-General and the Treasurer-General are elected for four years and are eligible for re-election for only one additional four-year term.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society, or designate such a presiding officer. He may execute all instruments requiring the signature of the President and shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees. He may appoint committees not otherwise provided for, announce the results of elections, and perform all other duties pertaining to the Office of the President.

The President-Elect shall in the absence of the President, or in the event of the Office of the President falling vacant, assume the presidency. He shall serve as Chairman of the Program Committee.  (and Chairman of the International Committee.)  He shall be an ex-officio member, with vote, of all standing committees.

The Vice-Presidents shall perform all duties customarily pertaining to the office of the Vice-President.  The Vice-Presidents shall assume duties as designated and assigned by the President and the Executive Committee.

The Secretary-General shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees. He shall attend and keep the minutes of all meetings of the Society. He shall attest all official acts in connection with the President and shall, in general, perform all duties pertaining to the Office of the Secretary, including notification of officers or committee chairmen of their election or appointment.

The Treasurer-General shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees. He shall receive and take custody of all securities, funds and monies belonging to the Society. He shall collect all the Society's dues and assessments, keep an accurate record of all receipts and disbursements of all monies received and paid on account of the Society. He shall pay all bills owed by the Society and verified by the Secretary. He shall prepare a budget for presentation at the World Congress of the Society. He shall present an account of audit.

Up to ten Councillors are elected each for two years and are eligible for re-election for only one additional two-year term. At least two members shall be elected every two years.

The Society is a non-profit organization, incorporated in the State of Wisconsin, U.S.A.

The funds of the Society are derived from membership fees, subscriptions, and donations.

A detailed financial statement will be presented at each World Congress.

A percentage of annual fees, determined by the Executive Committee may be allocated to the National Sections for administrative purposes.

The Society will organize World Congresses every other year. The World Congresses may be held in conjunction with other appropriate meetings. During the Congress there may be organized postgraduate courses.

The Medallion of the ISDS will be granted to distinguished digestive surgeons who are members of the ISDS and have contributed substantially to the development and advancement of Society. They will be nominated by members of the Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee. Decision will be made by the Nominating Committee. They will be presented in the Biennial World Congress of the Society by the President of the Society. The recipient will be awarded a Medallion and travel fund to attend the (next) World Congress of Society when the presentation takes place.

Amendments to the Statutes may be proposed by majority vote of the Executive Committee or by no less than 20 members of the Society. Amendments must be proposed in writing to the Secretary-General at least six weeks prior to the General Assembly and shall be sent by mail to all voting members of the Society at least one month prior to the General Assembly. These shall be adopted only if there is an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly. Once adopted the Statutes shall take effect.