1. Name

The group shall be called Teaching and Learning Politics (TLP) and is one of the standing groups of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR).

2. Objectives

The purpose of this group is to promote teaching and learning in the field of political science in Europe. The primary focus of the group is on assisting those beginning their academic careers as teachers of political science. There is great variation in the provision of pedagogic training to these new colleagues across Europe, and our group seeks to disseminate best practice and call upon the experience of its members in doing so.

The group also wishes to cater to the needs of more senior political science teachers by engaging all political science scholars in meaningful discussion on improving the quality of political science education. We particularly support innovative learning methods taking into account the changing environment of the political science classroom. The group attempts to spread the concept of scholarship of teaching and learning with the aim of improving the recognition of pedagogy/teaching among the responsibilities of political science scholars. With its activities the group continues the work started by the European Political Science Network that began to advance political science education in Europe.

3. Membership

Membership shall be open to all scholars, interested in teaching and learning politics. All Standing Group members must conform to the ECPR Standing Group framework.

4. Types of activities to be carried out

In order to achieve the aims described in article 2 of these statutes, the activities of the group shall include organizing and supporting organization of specialized events around the theme of political science teaching and learning. For example, the group will support various workshops, conference panels, summer schools, training programs, conferences, prizes and awards. Also, the group will provide activities, such as a website, a mailing list, a newsletter, etc. as well as facilitate publications on the pedagogy of political science teaching and learning (journal articles, research papers, edited volumes, books, book series and similar).

5. Steering Committee

The work of the group will be coordinated by a Steering Committee (SC). The SC will have 3 or 5 or 7 members elected by TLP members. The number of the SC members will depend on the number of candidates in these elections. There must always be at least one more candidate than the number of positions in the SC. The elections will take place by electronic means (e.g. e-mail, online poll such as surveymonkey).

The elections will be organized by an Election Commission comprised from two members of the group who do not stand up for a position in the SC. Only members of the group at the time of election can become candidates for a position in the SC. Each member of the group can cast his or her vote in the elections to a maximum of 4 different candidates. Those candidates who will receive the highest number of ballots will become the SC members taking into account the condition that each country can be represented in the SC by no more than two members. The term of office of the SC is three years. Each from the members can serve in the SC for no more than two consecutive terms. The majority of the Steering Committee must be affiliates of ECPR member institutions

6. TLP Convenor

The work of the Steering Committee will be coordinated by the TLP convenor whose role will be to represent the group. The members of the SC will decide by vote on the TLP convenor by choosing one of them. The term of office of the TLP convenor is the same as the term of office of the SC. The TLP convenor has to be affiliated with an ECPR member institution.

7. TLP treasurer

The group finances will be maintained by the TLP treasurer. The members of the SC will decide by vote on the TLP treasurer by choosing one of them except for the TLP convenor. The term of office of the TLP treasurer is the same as the term of office of the SC. The TLP treasurer has to be affiliated with an ECPR member institution.

8. Group meeting

The SC members may arrange a meeting of the group members with the purpose of discussing and facilitating the group activities. Such a meeting can be for example convened at a workshop, conference or a similar event in which a number of group members are likely to be present.

9. Termination of membership

Any Standing Group member affiliated to an ECPR member institution or non-member institution can terminate their membership through logging into their myECPR account. The SG Steering Committee can decide to terminate the membership of any member who is not affiliated to the Steering Committee if that member is no longer active. The SC will keep the list of current and past members.

10. Vacation of office

Any SC member can vacate his or her office upon resignation. In that case, a new SC member/ members may be selected by the Steering Committee from volunteers within the group for the remaining period. If half or more of the EC members vacate their office, new elections must be held within two months to replace the members who had resigned.

11. Funding and finance

The group can be funded from ECPR grants, as well as from other public and private sources, including membership fees. The SC members are responsible for fundraising and they can decide how current and expected income is to be spent each year. The group funds will be spent to support its activities.

12. Group Reports

Every year the Annual Report on Activity shall be prepared by the SC and presented to the ECPR. Each year a Financial Report shall be prepared by the TLP treasurer and presented to the ECPR. Both reports are available to any group member upon request.

13. Amendment of the Statutes

These statutes may be amended or altered by two-thirds of the votes cast in a voting procedure where at least half the members of the group participated.