The Board may revise the number of delegates per country; a resolution to this effect requires at least two thirds of the total number of delegates to have expressed themselves in favour of it.

3) Other countries than those mentioned in Article 2 may apply for sponsorship of the Journal, the application to be made by a national body representing the astronomers of the applying country. Acceptance of the application requires that at least two thirds of the delegates on the Board are in favour of the application.

4) The Board elects a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for a term of three years with a possibility of re-election. The Chairman, or in case of his absence or resignation the Vice-Chairman, represents the Board in all external matters, except in those legal matters which have been delegated to ESO. The Board may elect a Chairman-Elect one year prior to the resignation date of the Chairman.

An Executive Committee (EC) conducts the current affairs of the Journal, which do not involve important budgetary decisions. It consists of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, and a third member. The third member is either the Chairman-Elect, or Past-Chairman, or Past-Vice Chairman, or a member of the Board, chosen every year in that order of priority. The Chairman reports to the Board.

Administrative and financial services for the Board may be (partly) located at the office of ESO or at the editorial offices.

5) The Board meets at least once a year. One meeting is held in the first half of the year; in this meeting the Chairman presents the annual accounts for approval of the Board, as well as the External Auditors' report. The Editors present the editorial report. The annual accounts are prepared in consultation with the Editor(s) and the ESO Administration. In this meeting the Board adopts the budget for the next financial year. The draft budget is to be submitted to the contributing organisations of the member countries for their comments three weeks in advance of the Board meeting. The Chairman shall call the meetings.

6) In budgeting for the next financial year, the Board shall aim at maintaining a working capital of the order of two thirds of the total budgeted annual contribution.

7) Decisions to be taken at a Board meeting require at least half of the delegates to be present. Except where otherwise stated in these Standing Rules, the decisions of Board meetings shall be made by absolute majority of votes. Absent Board members can delegate their vote to a duly designated representative.

8) Decisions of the Board may be taken by correspondence; votes shall be handled by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman together.

9) The sponsoring organisations contribute to the budget by amounts proportional to the average net national revenues, calculated according to the rules established under Article VII, Paragraph 1 b of the Convention for the Establishment of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, signed at Paris, 1 July 1953. The minimum contribution shall be Euro 510,--. Exceptions may be made for associate members.

10) The Board appoints the Editors for a period of three years, renewable twice. The total duration should not exceed nine years. The Board enters a contract with the Editors about their tasks and responsibilities, and their remuneration.

11) Withdrawal of a member country from the Board requires notification to the Chairman of the Board. Such withdrawal shall take effect at the end of the second financial year which follows.

12) Authors from institutions of non-member countries are required to pay page charges to the journal. Particular cases may be exempted from this rule by decision of the Board.

13) Modification of these Rules requires the approval by a number of votes which is at least two thirds of the number of the members on the Board.

14) These revised Rules become effective as of 8 May 1999.