Membership in the International Rural Sociology Association is open to regional organizations and/or individuals that promote the objectives of the Association. The organization consists of the following statutory bodies: General Assembly, Council, Executive Committee, and Executive Officers.
The Council is responsible for the functioning of the organization. Council members serve for one Congress period starting from the end of one World Congress and finishing at the end of the next World Congress. Individuals may not serve more than two terms consecutively.
The Executive Committee is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Council. Nominees for positions on the Executive Committee are drawn from individuals who have previously served on IRSA Council, currently serve in that capacity, or are voting members of the incoming IRSA Council. An individual may not be nominated for the position of President if they are from the same member association as the outgoing President. Individuals may fill an office only once in their lifetime.