A. Members of the Executive Committee serve in an individual capacity.

B. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the immediate past‑President, eight other Vice‑Presidents and a Secretary‑General.

C. In addition to the President and to the retiring President, who becomes a Vice‑President for one further period, the eight Vice-Presidents shall be elected by the General Assembly or by postal ballot. They have specified duties: They shall stimulate activities and coordinate IGU Commissions while also representing the Union and furthering contacts within their own regions. One Vice-President shall act as a Publications Officer. The number of Vice‑Presidents may be modified by a vote of the General Assembly on a proposal of the Executive Committee. Except as specified in Section V - I of these Statutes, the Vice‑Presidents shall hold office for a period of four years and each shall be eligible for re‑election for one further period only. The Vice‑Presidents shall be chosen as widely as possible from amongst member countries of the Union, and at any given time the Executive Committee shall not include more than one representative from any one country. One of the Vice‑Presidents shall be appointed by the Executive Committee as First Vice‑President. He or she shall take the place of the President should the President be unable, temporarily or otherwise, to act. If the retiring President is unable to become a Vice-President, the IGU Executive Committee may designate one of the existing Vice-Presidents to replace the retiring president for the subsequent four-year period only.

D. Except as specified in Section V - J of these Statutes, a Secretary General shall be elected at a General Assembly or by postal ballot for a period of four years and shall normally be chosen from among those who have had experience as elected officers of the Union. He or she shall be eligible for re‑election for one further four-year period only. The Secretary General shall also act as Treasurer and shall maintain a permanent administrative office or secretariat. With the approval of the Executive Committee and in order to provide for the efficient administration of the Union's affairs, he or she may arrange for an Assistant Secretary‑General or Assistant‑Treasurer. The Secretary‑General shall make arrangements for the publication of a Bulletin or other means of keeping geographers informed, through their Committees for the IGU, of the activities of the Union and for the circulation of information on publications sponsored or assisted by the Union.

E. In the case of any vacancy occurring amongst its members, the Executive Committee shall have power to fill it. Any person so appointed shall hold office until the next meeting of the General Assembly, which should proceed to a definite election for the following period only.

F. Membership of the Executive Committee shall be unpaid but members shall be entitled to traveling expenses and subsistence allowances for attending meetings of the Executive Committee on scales determined, as from time to time may be necessary, by the Executive Committee.

G. The Executive Committee shall meet during each International Geographical Congress and at such times and places as the President in consultation with the Secretary‑General shall determine. There shall be at least one meeting between congresses at which the program proposed for the next congress shall be considered. The Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Congress or his or her representative shall be invited to this meeting for joint consideration of appropriate matters.

H. It is the task of the Executive Committee to monitor new trends and developments in the field of geographical education and research, to bring these to the knowledge of the committees of the IGU and to take all action required to ensure an optimal participation of the Union in international science programs. Further duties of the Executive Committee shall include those which have been entrusted to it from time to time by the General Assembly, and in particular:

1. the preparation of the Agenda for the General Assembly;
2. the consideration of invitations for general and regional congresses and the formulation of recommendations thereon for decision by the General Assembly;
3. collaboration with the organizers of the international congresses;
4. the consideration of items submitted by Committees for the IGU for inclusion in the agenda of the General Assembly;
5. the establishment of special or temporary committees or task forces for particular tasks;
6. the approval of Commissions to examine defined geographical problems.
7. the conferment, on behalf of the International Geographical Union, as a mark of distinction, of special honors on persons who have achieved particular distinction or who have rendered outstanding service for the international community of geographers.

F. In the August 2008 election for the IGU Executive Committee, four Vice Presidents shall be elected for single terms of six years (2008-2014) duration; the four Vice Presidents so elected shall not be eligible for re-election as IGU Vice Presidents at the conclusion of their terms in 2014. In the August 2008 election, four Vice Presidents shall be elected for terms of four years duration (2008-2012); the four Vice Presidents so elected will be eligible for re-election as Vice Presidents for one additional four year term (2012-2016) upon the completion of their original terms in 2012. From 2014 onward, four IGU Vice Presidents will be elected every even calendar year, and those elected will serve terms of four years, being eligible for election for no more than two consecutive terms.