IEEE Governing Documents

The IEEE Certificate of Incorporation (PDF, 522 KB) is a legal document, which was filed with the State of New York for the formation of IEEE as a corporation.

The IEEE Constitution and Bylaws (PDF, 858 KB) contains IEEE’s fundamental objectives, organization and procedures. Implementation of the Constitutional provisions, in specific organizational structures and procedure, is entrusted to the IEEE Bylaws.

The IEEE Policies (PDF, 973 KB) provides more detailed statements of specific policies, objectives, and procedures than are appropriate for inclusion in the Constitution and Bylaws.

• The IEEE Guide to Information Classification and Disclosure (PDF, 662 KB) provides procedures for the implementation of IEEE Policy 9.25 - Information Disclosure. The procedures are applicable to all members of the IEEE community, including employees, subcontractors, and volunteer leaders.
• The IEEE Guidelines for Working with Children (PDF, 683 KB) provides advice on appropriate and safe behaviors for all IEEE staff and volunteers when working with children as indicated by Policy 9.26 - Civility Policy.

The IEEE Code of Conduct describes IEEE members’ and staff’s commitment to the highest standards of integrity, responsible behavior, and ethical and professional conduct.

The IEEE Code of Ethics has been in existence since the merger with AIEE and IRE in 1963. Every IEEE member agrees to abide by the IEEE Constitution, Code of Ethics, Bylaws, and Policies when joining.

The IEEE Policy on Nondiscrimination (which is included in IEEE Policies Section 9) describes IEEE's commitment to the principle that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, services, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by IEEE policy and/or applicable laws.

The Finance Operations Manual (FOM) (PDF, 428 KB) contains policies and information related to IEEE finances, including policies and information related to financial stability, reporting requirements, asset and liability management, reserves, insurance coverage, business expense reporting, fund-raising, and contracts and purchase orders.

• The IEEE Travel and Expense Reimbursement Guidelines (PDF, 284 KB) establishes standards and procedures related to reimbursement of business expenses

The Investment Operations Manual (IOM) (PDF, 1 MB) contains policies and information related to IEEE investments, including policies and information related to the IEEE investment fund, spending rules, assets, conflict of interest policy, and the investment business continuity plan.

The Educational Activities Board Operations Manual (PDF, 2 KB) contains information related to EAB, its charge, mission and vision, functions, composition, terms, and nominations process, meetings, and activities. Additionally includes IEEE Position papers relative to education, information on CEUs, awards, and information including membership and charters for its operating committee, subcommittees, councils, and joint committees.

The Member and Geographic Activities Operations Manual contains information related to MGA Board, its mandate, mission, vision, functions, composition and terms, nominations process, meetings, and activities. Additionally includes specific responsibilities for key positions, membership and charters for its operating committee, MGA Assembly, subcommittees, and joint committees. Also includes overriding policy and procedures for the geo units including basic structure and formation procedures, responsibilities, and activities.

The Publication Services and Products Board Operations Manual (PDF, 1 MB) contains information related to PSPB, its mandate, mission, functions, composition and terms, nominations process, meetings, and activities. Additionally includes specific responsibilities for key positions, membership and charters for its operating committee, subcommittees, and joint committees, more detailed financial section relative to administration of PSPB finances including information on page rates and paper charges and pricing. Also includes procedures for OUs to follow including copyright, general publication guidelines and policy, advertising, detailed procedures relative to approval/changes to publications, and editorial decisions.

The IEEE Standards Association Operations Manual contains information related to SA BoG, its charge, mission, vision, functions, composition and terms, nominations process, meetings, and activities. Additionally includes specific responsibilities for key positions, membership and charters for its subcommittees, and more detailed procedures relative to relationships with external organizations.

The Technical Activities Board Operations Manual (PDF, 2 MB) contains information related to TAB, its mission, vision, functions, composition and terms, meetings, nominations process, and activities. Additionally includes specific responsibilities for key positions, nominations process, membership and charters for its operating committee, subcommittees, and joint committees. Detailed procedures and information relative to IEEE Societies and Councils and conferences is also included.

Other Technical Activities Governing Documents (sign-in required)

The IEEE-USA Operations Manual (PDF, 573 KB) contains information related to IEEE-USA, its mission, vision, functions, composition and terms, meetings, nominations process, and activities. Additionally, it includes specific responsibilities for key positions, nominations process, membership and charters for its operating committee, IEEE-USA Assembly, subcommittees, and joint committees. Also includes procedures relative to testimony, amicus briefs, publication, media contact, program review, and conflict resolution.

The Audit Committee Charter contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition and terms, meetings and includes procedures relative to activities with the external auditors.

The Awards Board Operations Manual contains information related to the Board, its charge, functions, composition and terms, meetings, individual position responsibilities, subcommittees, and council and activities, and specific provisions regarding establishment, naming, and funding of awards. Additionally includes the procedures for the appointment of representatives to external committees and agreements for joint awards.

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee Charter (PDF, 89 KB) contains additional information related to the Committee, its policies, and procedures.

The Election Oversight Committee Operations Manual (PDF, 151 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition, meetings, and activities.

The Employee Benefits and Compensation Committee Charter (PDF, 101 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition and qualifications (legal) for membership and terms, meetings and includes procedures for the presentation of various types of information relative to salaries.

The Ethics and Member Conduct Committee Operations Manual (PDF, 422 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, mission and vision, functions, composition and membership and terms, meetings, and activities. Additionally includes specific procedures on the Award for Distinguished Ethical Practices and ethics awareness activities.

The European Public Policy Committee Charter (PDF, 252 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, membership, meetings, operations, budget, and Policy Working Groups.

The Executive Performance and Compensation Committee Charter (PDF 101 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, membership, and meetings.

The Fellow Committee Operations Manual (PDF, 708 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition, meetings, and activities. Additionally includes details relative to the eligibility of all individuals involved, procedures related to the activities, membership, and responsibilities of society evaluating committees. Also includes process and procedures related to evaluation and scoring of nominations, communications, forms, and timeline of all related activities.

The Global Public Policy Operations Manual (PDF, 655 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition, meetings, and activities.

The Governance Committee Charter (PDF, 89 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition, meetings, and activities.

The History Committee Operations Manual (PDF, 95 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its vision, charge, and composition. The manual also provides information on the milestone program.

The Humanitarian Technologies Board Operations Manual (PDF, 566 KB) contains information related to the HTB, its charge, functions, composition and terms, meetings, and activities. Additionally, provides a guide for consistent application of practices and procedures.

The Industry Engagement Committee Charter (PDF, 169 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, membership, and meetings.

The Investment Committee Charter (DOC, 58 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition and terms, meetings, and activities. Access for IEEE members.

The New Initiatives Operations Manual (PDF, 184 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition and terms, meetings, and activities. Additionally defines the different types of initiatives, and the funding request procedures and approval processes.

The Nominations and Appointments Committee Operations Manual (PDF, 107 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition and terms, meetings, and activities. Additionally specific procedures related to communications and call for nominations, calendar and timeline of activities, and liaison assignments. Also includes reference information such as service history, nomination forms, and position descriptions.

The Organizational Unit Alignment Committee Charter (PDF, 238 KB) contains information related to the Committee, it charge, composition, meetings, and activities.

The Public Visibility Committee Charter (PDF, 23 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition, meetings, and activities.

The Strategy and Alignment Committee Charter (PDF, 150 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition, meetings, and activities.

The Tellers Committee Operations Manual (PDF, 226 KB) contains information related to the Committee, its charge, functions, composition and terms, meetings, and activities. Additionally includes specific procedures related to candidate responsibilities, election materials, timeline of activities, petition procedures, vendor responsibilities, and ballot count processing and validation.