The I.P.A. was founded in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., in July, 1933 during the 16th Session of the International Geological Congress under the name of International Paleontological Union (I.P.U.). The first constitution was published in the Journal of Paleontology, Vol. 12 (1938). A revised constitution of I.P.U. was adopted in London, England on 17th July, 1958 during the 15th Session of the International Zoological Congress. The new name 'International Palaeontological Association' and a new constitution were adopted on 25th August, 1972 during the 24th Session of the International Geological Congress in Montreal, Canada. The 1972 Montreal constitution was published in Lethaia (1973, v. 6, no. 1, pp. 91-99). Amendments to the Montreal Constitution were adopted on 9 August 1984 during the 27th Session of the International Geological Congress in Moscow, USSR, and by the IPA General Assembly during the First Internatinal Paleontological Congress in Sydney, Australia, in 2002. The current, revised Constitution was adopted by the IPA General Assembly on 20 June, 2006 during the Second International Paleontological Congress in Beijing.