The Executive Council sets overall Society policies and in general attends to the scientific and organizational health of ISSOL. The Council exercises the full legal and fiduciary responsibilities of the board of directors of any corporation. The members of Council are the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, twelve Councillors, and two Student Councilors. Elections are held every three years.
The Executive Council for 2008-2011 is
President Janet Siefert (USA)
First Vice President Nils Holm (SWEDEN)
Second Vice President Sandra Pizzarello (USA)
Secretary John Brucato (ITALY)
Treasurer Pascale Ehrenfreund (NETHERLANDS)
COUNCILLORS
Natalia Gontareva (RUSSIA)
Marie-Christine Maurel (FRANCE)
Kunio Kawamura (JAPAN)
Ariel Anbar (USA)
Oliver Botta (SWITZERLAND)
Ernesto di Mauro (ITALY)
Peter Gogarten (USA)
William M. Irvine (USA)
Kamaluddin (INDIA)
Bernd M. Rode (AUSTRIA)
Wolfram Thiemann (GERMANY)
Jeffrey Wong (HONG KONG/CHINA)
STUDENT COUNCILLORS
Ulises Iturbe (MEXICO)
Feng Tian (CHINA/USA)
The specific duties of the various officers are described in Statutes and Bylaws. This document also states any constraints placed on the actions of Council.