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World Constitution and By-Laws

GENERAL NOTES

The Constitution of the Federation was signed and entered into force at

Luxembourg on 2 August 1946.

The Founding Members were the United Nations Associations of the

following countries:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia,

Denmark, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand,

Norway, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United

States of America.

The Rules of Procedure were adopted by the 12th Plenary Assembly, held

on 2/8 September 1957, Geneva. From 1983 onwards, they are known as

By-Laws.

Revisions

The Constitution was revised by:

5th Plenary Assembly, 6/12 September 1950, Geneva

11th Plenary Assembly, 2/8 September 1956, Geneva

15th Plenary Assembly, 5/10 September 1960, Warsaw

17th Plenary Assembly, 30 April/5 May 1962, Monrovia

21st Plenary Assembly, 22/27 April 1968, Geneva

22nd Plenary Assembly, 7/13 September 1969, Nicosia

24th Plenary Assembly, 13/18 August 1973, Geneva

25th Plenary Assembly, 1/6 October 1975, Moscow

27th Plenary Assembly, 8/13 October 1979, Barcelona

29th Plenary Assembly, 3/8 October 1983, Geneva

32nd Plenary Assembly, 9/14 October 1989. Moscow

33rd Plenary Assembly, 18/23 November 1991, Barcelona

The Rules of Procedure (as from 1983 called "By-Laws") were revised by:

24th Plenary Assembly, 13/18 August 1973, Geneva

25th Plenary Assembly, 1/6 October 1975, Moscow

26th Plenary Assembly, 26 September/1 October 1977, Geneva

27th Plenary Assembly, 8/13 October 1979, Barcelona

29th Plenary Assembly, 3/8 October 1983, Geneva

32nd Plenary Assembly, 9/14 October 1989, Moscow

THE CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THROUGH THEIR

GOVERNMENTS, HAVE DECLARED THAT THEY ARE DETERMINED

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in

our life time have brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of

the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations

large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations

arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be

maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

And to these ends

to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good

neighbors, and

to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and

to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods,

that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and

social advancement of all peoples,

And whereas their Governments, to accomplish these aims, have agreed to

the Charter of the United Nations and thereby have established the

international organization known as the United Nations,

WE, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS IN

OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES,

Believing that since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of

men that the defenses of peace must be constructed, and

Believing that the peace must be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the

intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind,

Have resolved to combine our efforts to form an association of the peoples

and, having agreed to the present Constitution, do hereby establish an

international organization to be known as the WORLD FEDERATION OF

UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS.

OBJECTIVES

Objectives

Article 1

The objectives of the World Federation of United Nations Associations are

(a) To be a peoples' movement for the United Nations;

(b) To co-ordinate and further the activities of its Members and to

promote the establishment of new United Nations Associations;

objects include the support of the United Nations and its development;

(d) To promote tolerance, understanding, solidarity and co-operation

among men, women and children throughout the world without distinction

as to race, sex, language, religion or political orientation;

(e) To contribute to the removal of obstacles to peace, to work for

justice, security and disarmament, and to promote the development of

peaceful co-existence and co-operation among nations;

(f) To strive for the recognition of and respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms throughout the world and for the recognition of the

responsibilities and duties which those rights involve for individuals, groups

and States;

(g) To promote economic development, enhancement of social progress

and better standards of life;

(h) To promote research, information and education about the goals of the

Charter of the United Nations and the work of the United Nations system.

MEMBERSHIP

Members and Associates

Article 2

(a) United Nations Associations which accept the objectives set out in

Article 1 of this Constitution and which are legally constituted in States

Members of the United Nations, in States which are not Members of the

United Nations, as well as in territories not responsible for the conduct of

their international relations, are eligible for admission as Members.

(b) Not more than one United Nations Association from any State or

territory shall be admitted as a Member.

institutions and non-governmental organizations which accept the

objectives set out in Article 1 of this Constitution are admissible as

Individual or Collective Associates. The primary aim of associate status

should be the establishment of a United Nations Association in the

respective countries. Associates shall have observer status in the Plenary

Assembly and in Regional Conferences.

(d) International, including regional organizations and non-governmental

organizations can be admitted as International Associates, provided they

accept the objectives, the aims and the Constitution of the Federation.

The Executive Committee may grant the consultative status with the

Federation to International Associates.

Admission

Article 3

(a) Any request for admission as a Member shall be submitted to the

Secretary-General, not less than four weeks before the session of the

Plenary Assembly which considers the request.

(b) The Secretary-General shall submit applications to the Executive

Committee, which shall present a report on each application to the Plenary

Assembly.

simple majority of those present and voting.

(d) If an application for admission is received more than twelve months

before an ordinary session of the Plenary Assembly, the Executive

Committee may admit a United Nations Association provided it does so

with the two-thirds majority of those present and voting and subject to

confirmation by the next ordinary session of the Plenary Assembly.

(e) All applications for membership of the Federation shall be accompanied

by:

1. a copy of the constitution of the applicant United Nations Association;

2. a certificate from the competent legal authorities confirming that the

establishment of the United Nations Association is in conformity with their

laws;

3. a declaration signed by the President and the Secretary-General of the

United Nations Association that it will co-operate with the Federation and

pay its dues to the Federation regularly;

4. an advance payment for the year of admission of half of one year's

dues calculated according to Article 37(c) of this Constitution.

Termination of Membership and of Association

Article 4

(a) Any Member which desires to resign must notify its intention in writing

to the Secretary-General not later than 30 September. Should such a

Member fail to observe this formality, its membership will continue for the

ensuing year.

(b) Any Member may, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee,

be expelled by the Plenary Assembly by a two-thirds majority of those

present and voting, provided that the proposal for expulsion appears on

the agenda. In particular, the Executive Committee must draw the

attention of the Plenary Assembly to any failure on the part of any

Member to comply with the requirements of Article 2 of this Constitution.

The cessation of membership for financial reasons is governed by Article

38 of this Constitution.

regulations adopted by the Executive Committee, but in any case shall

expire at the time when a United Nations Association from the State or

territory of such Associate is admitted as a Member of the Federation. In

the same way, the status of International Associates shall be governed by

regulations adopted by the Executive Committee.

Co-operation within the Federation

Article 5

a) Each Member shall co-operate with other Members in pursuing the

objectives of the Federation.

(b) Each Member shall endeavor to participate in activities conducted

under the auspices of the Federation.

activities since the previous session of the Plenary Assembly, as well as

keep him regularly informed of its work.

(d) Individual, Collective and International Associates shall endeavor to

participate In activities conducted under the auspices of the Federation

and shall maintain communication with the Secretary-General.

ORGANS

Article 6

The organs of the Federation shall be the Plenary Assembly, the Executive

Committee and the Secretariat

PLENARY ASSEMBLY

Composition

Article 7

(a) The Plenary Assembly shall consist of the delegations appointed by the

Members, together with the delegation appointed by the International

Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (hereinafter referred

to as ISMUN).

(b) Each Member, as well as ISMUN, shall be represented in the Plenary

Assembly by no more than five delegates. Each Member and ISMUN may

also appoint no more than five alternate delegates who may attend

meetings of the Plenary Assembly but cannot participate in discussions,

except as replacements for members of their own delegation. Delegates

and alternates must be members of the Member United Nations Association

or of ISMUN which appoints them.

members of the Executive Committee, shall have the right to attend the

Plenary Assembly, each in the capacity set forth in this Constitution.

Functions

Article 8

(a) The Plenary Assembly shall be the supreme organ of the Federation,

responsible for pursuing and achieving its objectives as defined in this

Constitution.

(b) The Plenary Assembly shall elaborate and adopt the policy as well as

the programme of activities of the Federation. It shall have the authority

to decide on all questions which any Member or the Executive Committee

may submit to it in accordance with the procedures set out in this

Constitution.

and on the termination of membership in accordance with Articles 3, 4 and

3 8(d) of this Constitution.

(d) The Plenary Assembly shall consider the general report submitted by

the Secretary-General.

(e) The Plenary Assembly shall approve the report of the Treasurer on the

financial status of the Federation as well as the audited accounts; adopt

the budget of the Federation; and determine the dues of the Members.

(f) The Plenary Assembly shall discuss the questions resulting from the

items included in its agenda; receive reports from its Commissions; and

adopt policy resolutions and decisions on internal matters.

(g) The Plenary Assembly shall elect the President, the Vice-Presidents,

the members of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer and the

Secretary-General of the Federation.

(h) The Plenary Assembly may, upon the recommendation of the Executive

Committee, confer the title of Honorary President of the Federation.

(i) The Plenary Assembly shall receive any appeal by a Member against

any decision of the Executive Committee. Except for an appeal concerning

the agenda of the Plenary Assembly, an appeal concerning any other

decision taken by the Executive Committee since the last session of the

Plenary Assembly shall be heard in the first instance by the Executive

Committee which shall forward such appeal, together with its comments,

to the Plenary Assembly. In each case, the Plenary Assembly shall have

the authority to decide upon the appeal only after having heard the

Member which originated it.

By-Laws

Article 9

Subject to this Constitution, the Plenary Assembly may adopt By-Laws of

the Federation.

Ordinary Sessions

Article 10

(a) The Plenary Assembly shall meet in ordinary session every two years.

(b) The Plenary Assembly shall decide upon the time and place of meeting

for its next session. Should it not exercise this power, the Executive

Committee and the Secretary-General, in consultation with the President,

shall take the decision.

Extraordinary Sessions

Article 11

(a) An extraordinary session of the Plenary Assembly shall be convened by

the Secretary-General

1. if a decision to this effect is taken by two-thirds of the members of the

Executive Committee; or

2. at the written request of two-thirds of the Members of the Federation.

(b) Unless the Executive Committee decides upon another place, an

extraordinary session shall be held at the Headquarters of the Federation.

which it is convened.

Notices

Article 12

The Secretary-General shall give notice as follows of each session of the

Plenary

Assembly

(a) Notice of an ordinary session shall be given at least eight weeks in

advance.

(b) Notice of an extraordinary session shall be given at least four weeks in

advance. The notice shall state the purpose for which the session is

convened.

Quorum

Article 13

The quorum of the Plenary Assembly shall consist of two fifths of the

Members.

Organization of Work

Article 14

(a) The Plenary Assembly shall adopt the report of the Credentials

Committee.

(b) The Plenary Assembly shall, upon the recommendation of the Executive

Committee, adopt its agenda.

(d) The Plenary Assembly shall appoint the Elections Committee.

(e) The meetings of the Plenary Assembly shall be open to the public

unless the Plenary Assembly otherwise decides.

(f) Detailed provisions governing the proceedings shall be regulated by the

By Laws of the Federation.

Voting Rights

Article 15

(a) Each Member and ISMUN shall have one vote in the Plenary Assembly.

(b) Only Members which have fully settled their dues as of 31 December of

the year preceding a session of the Plenary Assembly can exercise their

right to vote at that session.

Resolutions and Decisions

Article 16

(a) The resolutions on matters in the field of international relations and

amendments thereto shall require a two-thirds majority of those present

and voting.

(b) The decisions on internal matters shall be taken by a simple majority of

the vote of those present and voting, except as otherwise provided in this

Constitution.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Composition

Article 17

(a) The Executive Committee shall consist of seventeen individuals, each

from a different Member, elected by the Plenary Assembly, and the

representative of ISMUN.

(b) The President, the Treasurer and the Secretary-General shall

participate ex officio in the work of the Executive Committee. Honorary

Presidents and Vice- Presidents may attend the sessions of the Executive

Committee.

Members

Article 18

(a) Every member of the Executive Committee shall act in his personal

capacity.

(b) Each candidate for election to the Executive Committee must be

approved by the delegation of his United Nations Association to the

Plenary Assembly. He cannot be from a Member from which the President,

a Vice-President, the Treasurer or the Secretary- General is elected. In

electing members of the Executive Committee, the Plenary Assembly shall

give due regard to the qualifications of the nominees, their availability and

to equitable geographical distribution.

by and from Members which have the right to vote at the session of the

Plenary Assembly at which election is sought and have submitted a report

on their activities for the preceding biennium.

(d) The term of office of the members of the Executive Committee shall be

from the end of the session of the Plenary Assembly at which they are

elected to the end of the second following session of the Plenary

Assembly. They are eligible for re-election.

(e) Members of the Executive Committee may resign by submitting a

written instrument of resignation to the Chairman of the Executive

Committee. The term of office of a member of the Executive Committee

shall expire automatically with the termination of membership of his United

Nations Association in the Federation. The term of office of a member of

the Executive Committee shall expire by decision of the Executive

Committee after consideration of the written advice of his United Nations

Association and oral or written presentation of the views of the member

concerned.

(f) Members of the Executive Committee may be removed from office by

the Plenary Assembly. Such action shall be proposed in writing by at least

five Members and shall require a vote of two-thirds of those present and

voting. The vote shall be taken by secret ballot and the secrecy of the

ballot shall not be waived.

(g) In the event that a member of the Executive Committee resigns, is

removed or is otherwise unable to continue to serve until the end of his

term, the Executive Committee may co-opt, for the unexpired term, a

person from the same area, after consultation with the United Nations

Association of which the former member of the Executive Committee was a

member. If the co-opted member is not from the same United Nations

Association, his United Nations Association shall be consulted. The

co-opted member shall serve until his successor takes office at the end of

the next session of the Plenary Assembly.

Functions

Article 19

The Executive Committee shall be responsible to the Plenary Assembly for

promoting the purposes of the Federation, and in particular for

(a) 1. implementing the resolutions and decisions of the Plenary Assembly;

2. giving guidance and advice to the Secretary-General on any matters

related to the activities of the Federation;

3. supervising the work of the Secretariat

4. considering applications for membership in accordance with Article 3 of

this Constitution;

5. preparing the agenda for the Plenary Assembly as well as making

recommendations with respect to the work of the Plenary Assembly;

6. approving the agenda of the Regional Conferences of Member United

Nations Associations held under the auspices of the Federation;

(a) giving guidance on matters related to the finances of the Federation;

assisting in fundraising activities; controlling the administration and

finances of the Federation, including the opening and operation of bank

accounts and the designation of signers of cheques and contracts;

appointing Deputy Treasurers; appointing members of the Finance

Committee;

(b) adopting regulations related to the functioning of the Federation;

Rules of Procedure

Article 20

Subject to this Constitution and to the By-Laws of the Federation, the

Executive Committee may adopt its own rules of procedure.

Ordinary Sessions

Article 21

The Executive Committee shall be convened in ordinary session

immediately before and immediately after an ordinary session of the

Plenary Assembly and at such other time as the Executive Committee shall

decide.

Extraordinary Sessions

Article 22

(a) An extraordinary session of the Executive Committee shall be

convened by the Secretary-General

1. at the request of the Chairman of the Executive Committee in

consultation with the President; or

2. at the written request of five members of the Executive Committee.

(a) Unless the Chairman and the Secretary-General decide upon another

place, an extraordinary session shall be held at the Headquarters of the

Federation.

(b) An extraordinary session shall deal only with the item or items for

which it is convened.

Notices

Article 23

The Secretary-General shall give notice as follows of each session of the

Executive Committee to all persons entitled to attend it under Article

17(a) and (b) of this Constitution

(a) Notice of an ordinary session shall be given at least four weeks in

advance and shall be accompanied by the provisional agenda.

(b) Notice of an extraordinary session shall be given, if possible, at least

two weeks in advance. The notice shall state the purpose for which the

session is convened.

Quorum

Article 24

The quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of nine of its voting

members.

Organization of Work

Article 25

(a) The Executive Committee shall elect from among its members a

Chairman and two Vice-Chairmen. They shall be eligible for re-election for

one additional term of office. Insofar as the responsibilities of these

Officers are not set forth in this Constitution, they shall be defined by the

Executive Committee.

(b) The Chairman of the Executive Committee, or in his absence another

member appointed by the Executive Committee, shall be the spokesman of

the Executive Committee in the Plenary Assembly.

working groups.

(d) The meetings of the Executive Committee shall be private unless

otherwise specified by the Executive Committee.

Voting

Article 26

(a) Each member of the Executive Committee, the President and the

representative of ISMUN shall have one vote in the Executive Committee.

(b) The Executive Committee shall work on the basis of consensus. In

case this proved impossible, decisions shall be taken by a simple majority

of the vote of those present and voting.

SECRETARIAT

Composition

Article 27

(a) The Secretariat shall consist of the Secretary-General and such other

staff as required.

(b) The Secretary-General shall have authority to appoint the staff of the

Secretariat with due regard to competence and geographical distribution.

Secretary-General must be submitted to the Executive Committee for

approval.

(d) Upon the recommendation of the Secretary-General, the Executive

Commit tee may establish Regional and Functional Offices of the

Federation.

1. The Heads of such Offices shall be appointed by the Secretary-General;

as staff members of the Secretariat, they shall be subject to the rules and

regulations thereof.

2. The responsibilities of the Regional Offices shall be to co-ordinate the

activities of the United Nations Associations of their region and to carry

out such other functions as the Secretary-General may assign.

3. The responsibilities of the Functional Offices shall be to maintain a field

liaison with the United Nations system and to carry out such other

functions as the Secretary-General may assign.

General Regulations

Article 28

(a) Members of the Secretariat, including the Deputy Secretaries-General,

shall serve under the authority of the Secretary-General and in

accordance with regulations approved by the Executive Committee.

(b) The Secretary-General shall at sessions of the Plenary Assembly and

of the Executive Committee be the sole spokesman for the Secretariat.

shall not seek nor receive instructions from any Member or from any other

authority external to the Federation. They shall refrain from any action

which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible

only to the Federa