NATURE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
BOARD OF ADVISORS

 The Board of advisors of The Journal of the History of El Puerto is consultative and observing authority, independent from the publisher (the Menesteo History Association of El Puerto de Santa María), comprised of prestigious researchers from different historiography disciplines.

 The researchers who comprise the Board of advisors do so individually and without remuneration, although not onerously. They are chosen every six years and may resign their post at their convenience.

 The composition of the Board of advisors is guided by the following criteria: a) to include researchers who are experts in the different historical aspects that are most important in the history of El Puerto related to national and universal history: b) to avoid including researchers who are potential authors and external evaluators for The Journal of the History of El Puerto, in order to guarantee objectivity and scientific diversification; and c) to unite historians from different universities and Spanish research centres and other nations.

 Although, as indicated above, the members of the Board of advisors of The Journal of the History of El Puerto will not be chosen if they are researchers who are considered potential authors of texts for the journal, given their research lines and regional scopes, if this situation were to arise, the journal cannot be hindered by this contingency. As such, and only in exceptional cases, the members of the Board of advisors may publish studies in the journal.

 In order to maintain a position that favours the objectivity of the external evaluators, the members of the Board of advisors of The Journal of the History of El Puerto will not act as external evaluators, unless their knowledge of the material makes their opinion essential.

 If the author or authors of the texts are members of the journal’s Board of advisors, the members of the Board of advisors who are experts in the field in question must designate external evaluators in order to guarantee impartiality.

 As a consultative body, the Editorial Board may call upon the members of the Board of advisors of The Journal of the History of El Puerto when their opinion is necessary for any aspect related to the journal and for their recommendations concerning external evaluators.

 The members of the Board of advisors will not be previously consulted by the Editorial Board concerning the contents of each issue of The Journal of the History of El Puerto, so they will not be responsible for these, or for the journal’s formal aspects.

 Notwithstanding the abovementioned point, as a consultative body, the members of the Board of advisors can, by their own initiative and at any time, make suggestions and proposals, and criticise any aspect of the journal in order to improve the quality of The Journal of the History of El Puerto.

 The Board of advisors main function is to analyse the evolution of the journal and evaluate its historiographical interest and quality, systematically and collectively.

 For this purpose, the members of the Board of advisors may collaborate with one another, when and how they wish, although the Executive Committee of the Menesteo History Association (publishers) and the Editorial Board of The Journal of the History of El Puerto will implement the measures they consider necessary at each moment (evaluation through surveys, meetings...) in order to guarantee this panel is correctly carrying out its advisory functions.