International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature ) is the currently existing body of 28 members, which publishes the International Rules for Zoological Nomenclature ( ICZN Code ) in which the correct naming of any animal is governed internationally.

The Commission is working on the basis of a constitution ( " Constitution of the ICZN "), which is usually published with the ICZN Code together.

Members of the Commission are elected by a complicated process of the " Section on Zoological Nomenclature ", an almost completely unknown and unclear defined body that is convened by the International Union of Biological Sciences ( IUBS ) ( not yet determine the code the Constitution, as should be composed it ). This in practice means that members of the Commission choose themselves. They are not elected in a democratic process by registering and direct elections by professionals who have to accept the decisions of the Commission.

The regular term of office of a member of the Commission is 6 years, repeated re-election is possible ( after 18 years is prescribed a 3-year break before the person can be re-elected). Commissioners may be up to 75 years old. If they do not participate in the decisions and let more than 3 months to hear nothing of himself, the Commission has the right to terminate their membership.

The Commission's work is to handle applications of taxonomists and contested cases to be determined by arbitration, in which strict compliance with the ICZN Code would affect the stability of the use of names unnecessary. These decisions shall be published in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature.