Chapter I – Name, Objects and Purpose of the Association
Article 1
Liberal International, abbreviated as LI, is an Association of political parties and movements, groups, cooperating organisations and individuals from countries throughout the world who support Liberal principles and who accept the Liberal Manifesto of 1947, the Declaration of Oxford of 1967, the Liberal Appeal of Rome of 1981 and the Andorra Liberal Manifesto of 2017, hereafter called the basic documents of the Liberal International.
Article 2
Liberal International’s purpose is to promote general acceptance of Liberal principles which are international in their nature throughout the world, and to foster the growth of a free society based on personal liberty, personal responsibility, democracy, the rule of law, gender equality, sustainable development and social justice, and to provide the means of cooperation and interchange of information between the member organisations, and between men and women of all countries who accept these principles.
Chapter II – Membership
Section A: Member Organisations
Article 3
(1) Membership shall be open to national and supranational political parties that accept the basic documents of Liberal International. Membership shall also be open to recognised international organisations of Liberal parliamentarians, to an international Liberal youth organisation and to an international Liberal women’s organisation which accepts the basic documents.
(2) In special circumstances membership can be granted to groups that are not political parties or movements, provided they accept the basic documents; however an affiliated party that ceases to operate as a political party and becomes a group must re-apply.
(3) Member Organisations shall pay an annual subscription and have the right of representation and to vote.
Article 4
Membership of the Liberal International is incompatible with membership of other political internationals. In special circumstances regional branches of such political parties can apply for membership as a group, as in Article 3 paragraph 2.
Article 5
It is desirable that in each country where there is more than one member recognised by Liberal International the member organisations should maintain a close relationship.
Article 6
Each member organisation shall file a copy of its constitution in the applicable valid version with the Permanent Secretariat.
Article 7
The Executive Committee shall by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting decide whether or not an application for affiliation, proposed by the Bureau, shall be accepted. This decision shall come into effect immediately and shall be reported for information to the next following meeting of the Congress.
Article 8
(1) The Executive Committee shall have power, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, to suspend from one to a maximum of three years, any member organisation which it considers does not adequately represent Liberal opinion in its country or which has lost the electoral support and political relevance required to be a meaningful representative of Liberal opinion or does not internally follow democratic principles. The Secretary-General will report to the Bureau if such a situation appears to exist. The Executive Committee shall decide upon the advice of the Bureau the conditions of the suspension.
(2) The Executive Committee can with the same procedure disaffiliate a member organisation. Such a procedure can also be started during a suspension period. At least two months’ notice of intention to propose disaffiliation shall be given to the member organisation concerned. This decision shall come into effect immediately and shall be reported for information to the next meeting of the Congress. The same procedures should apply for any member organisation which by October 1st of the current year has not paid its subscription for the current year and for the year before. If a party has ceased to exist or has resigned its status, disaffiliation will be automatically enforced by the Bureau subject to ratification by the Executive Committee by a simple majority.
(3) The Member shall not be suspended or disaffiliated unless the member has been notified of the grounds on which the suspension or disaffiliation is to be considered and has given a reasonable opportunity to reply. The Member shall be suspended or disaffiliated immediately after the decision but the suspended or disaffiliated Member shall be liable for its financial obligations vis-à-vis the Association until the end of the financial year.
Article 9
When a country is already represented by a national political party a second member organisation from that country may not be affiliated except with the written consent of that national political party. When such consent is not given, the Executive Committee can decide by a three-quarters majority of those present and voting whether or not this application for affiliation should be accepted. This decision shall be reported for information to the next following meeting of the Congress.
Article 10
The affiliation of the second member organisation from any country will entitle that member organisation to representation on the Executive Committee and Congress based on the allotment of votes under Art 19 (b) and Art 25 (b).
Article 11
A third, and further member organisation from any one country may be affiliated on the same terms as a second member organisation.
Section B: Individual Membership
Article 12
(1) Upon written application to the Permanent Secretariat, Individual Members, who must be 16 years or older, accept the basic documents of LI, are not members of any party affiliated to another international political association and are accepted by the Bureau, may be accepted as Individual Members on the following terms:
(a) The minimum annual subscription shall be fixed by the Executive Committee;
(b) Individual Members shall be entitled to attend the Executive Committee other than its administrative sessions and the Congress as non-voting delegates. They shall not be entitled to vote unless they are appointed as delegates by a member organisation;
(c) Individual members shall receive regular information from the Association as well as any service that the Association may provide for members of member organisations;
(d) No Individual member shall be enrolled against the advice of a member organisation of the same country and of the Executive Committee.
(2) The Bureau may revoke the Individual Membership on one or more of the following grounds:
(a) material disagreement, evidenced by conduct, with the fundamental values and objectives of Liberal International;
(b) conduct which has brought, or likely to bring, Liberal International disrepute;
(c) membership of or support for another political international.
Membership shall not be revoked unless the member has been notified of the grounds on which revocation is to be considered and has been given a reasonable opportunity to reply. The membership shall be automatically and immediately suspended while revocation is being considered; the expelled Individual Member shall remain liable for its financial obligations vis-à-vis the Association until the end of the financial year.
Section C: Observer Organisations
Article 13
(1) A political party or other organisation that is in sympathy with the principles of the basic documents may be granted Observer status for a period of three years. Before the end of two consecutive three year periods the Observer organisation should have applied for Membership. If this does not happen the affiliation of the organisation ceases immediately. In special circumstances Observer status can be granted to groups that are not political parties, provided they accept the basic documents; however an affiliated party that ceases to operate as a political party and becomes a group has to re-apply. The procedure of Articles 6 to 8 applies. If the consent of the national political party is not given, the procedure of Art 9 applies.
(2) Observer Organisations shall pay an annual subscription and have the right of representation but in no case the right to vote.
Section D: Cooperating Organisations
Article 14
(1) Political Institutes or other organisations that do not operate as a political party can join the Liberal International as a Cooperating Organisation. This status can be granted, on proposal by the Bureau, by the Executive Committee by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
(2) Cooperating Organisations shall contribute to the association either through payment of an annual subscription or in-kind support and have the right of representation but no right to vote.
Section E: Regional Organisations
Article 15
(1) Regional Organisations, recognised by Liberal International, have the right of representation and to vote.
(2) Political parties which are members of Regional Organisations, accepted by the Executive Committee, but are neither Observer nor Full Member of Liberal International may, with the agreement of the Bureau and their Regional Organisation, attend, speak but not vote at meetings of the Congress and the Executive Committee. Invitations to attend shall be issued through their Regional Organisation, who should encourage them to consider applying for Observer and, in due course, for Full Member status.
Chapter III – Organisation
Article 16
The following will constitute the executive bodies of the Liberal International:
(a) The Congress;
(b) The Executive Committee;
(c) The Bureau.
Section A: The Congress
Article 17
(a) The Congress shall be the prime legislative body of the Association, and shall have the power to direct the policy of the organisation.
(b) The Chairperson of the Congress shall be the President or, if unable to attend, the Deputy President, the Immediate Past President or a President of Honour.
(c) Unless otherwise provided for in the Articles of the Constitution, decisions of the Congress shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast. Abstentions shall not be taken into account and, in the case of a written vote, blank and invalid votes shall not be counted in the votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the decision will be rejected. Split votes are admissible.
(d) Election of the Officers on the Bureau shall be conducted at each Congress by the Secretariat using the single transferable vote system (STV).
(e) The Secretary-General shall draw up the minutes of the Congress, which shall be kept at the Permanent Secretariat of the Association. All members will receive draft copies of theses minutes within four weeks of each Congress. The minutes are approved during the next meeting of the Congress and signed by the Chair of the approving Congress.
Article 18
(1) The Congress shall meet in alternate years not later than twenty-five months after the last Congress. So far as possible no two succeeding meetings should be held in any one country.
(2) A special Congress is convened by the Bureau each time this is necessary for the interest of the Association or upon written request of one third of the full members.
(3) Any Congress may also be convened for important cause as a virtual Congress in which individual or all delegates, by means of electronic communication through simultaneous video and audio transmission, participate without being present at the meeting place and exercise their participation rights, in particular the right to speak and the right to vote. Instead of a virtual Congress, a Congress with on-site attendance shall be convened if this is requested in writing by the request of one fourth (1/4) of the full members. The request for on-site attendance must be received by the Secretary-General two weeks after the announcement of the virtual Congress.
(4) If the Congress under paragraph (1) is organised in virtual or hybrid form, the following Congress shall be held in person, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.
Article 19
The Congress shall consist of:
(a) The Officers on the Bureau, who shall be:
(i) The President;
(ii) The Deputy President;
(iii) The Immediate Past President;
(iv) Up to six Executive Vice-Presidents;
(v) Two Treasurers.
These Officers serve Liberal International as a whole and are not representatives of their Member Organisations. In this right they are entrusted with voting rights in the executive bodies of the Association. They carry individual votes and cannot take proxy votes of another Officer. They have the right to attend all the meetings of Liberal International.
(b) Each full member party, group or cooperating organisation has the right to nominate one non-voting non-executive vice-president.
(c) A maximum number of voting delegates equal to their amount of votes nominated by each member organisation. Votes per party or group delegation as follows:
(i) a basic number of five votes;
(ii) in addition, one vote for each 100.000 votes or a major part thereof, cast for that party at the last general election, up to a maximum number of twenty additional votes.
(d) Twenty delegates nominated by the international Liberal youth organisation, having a total number of twenty votes.
(e) Twenty delegates nominated by each recognised international organisation of Liberal parliamentarians, each organisation having a total number of twenty votes.
(f) Twenty delegates nominated by the international Liberal women’s organisation, having a total number of twenty votes.
(g) Ten delegates nominated by each Regional Organisation, each organisation having a total number of ten votes.
(h) Observer Organisations and Cooperating Organisations will each have a maximum of three non-voting delegates.
Article 20
(a) The representation of any organisation above is subject to its annual subscription according to Art 47.
(b) In order to qualify for representation any organisation above must have paid its subscription for the current year and the previous year.
Article 21
Standing Orders for the conduct of the Congress and Executive Committee meetings shall be prepared by the Secretariat, reviewed by the Bureau, and approved by the Executive Committee.
Article 22
The President shall be elected by the Congress for the period until the end of the next Congress, and shall be eligible for re-election except that no President shall serve for more than three consecutive terms unless no other candidate shall be proposed for the office of President. The same procedure applies for the election and term of the Deputy President.
Article 23
The Vice-Presidents and the Treasurers shall be elected by the Congress for the period until the end of the next Congress, and shall be eligible for re-election. No Treasurer or Executive Vice-President shall serve in that capacity for more than three consecutive terms.
Article 24
In the event of any of the above Officers retiring during the term of office the vacancy shall be filled by election by the Congress immediately following. When the Executive Committee feels it is required it can appoint an above mentioned officer on a temporary basis until the next Congress.
Section B: The Executive Committee
Article 25
The Executive Committee shall consist of:
(a) the Officers on the Bureau as described in Art 19 (a);
(b) one basic delegate per member organisation, plus one additional delegate for parties that were entitled to fifteen votes or more under the rule of Art 19 (c) (i and ii) at the most recent Congress;
(c) two delegates nominated by the international Liberal youth organisation;
(d) two delegates for each recognised international organisation of Liberal parliamentarians;
(e) two delegates nominated by the international Liberal women’s organisation;
(f) one delegate nominated by each Regional Organisation;
All such delegates are represented at Executive Committee with the right to vote.
Article 26
On invitation by the Executive Committee each Observer Organisation or Cooperating Organisation can be represented by one delegate, who will have the right to speak but not to vote.
Article 27
The Chairperson of the Executive Committee shall be the President or, if unable to attend, the Deputy President, the Immediate past President or a President of Honour.
Article 28
The delegates enumerated under Art 25 (b) to (f) shall be appointed by the member organisations for one year. Member organisations may appoint deputy delegates. If the deputy replaces the delegate at the meeting prior notice of this should be given to the Secretariat.
Article 29
The Executive Committee may co-opt up to two Liberals of international reputation who have not been appointed by any member organisation and who have the right to vote.
Article 30
(1) The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a year not later than June 30th, and in alternate years under Art 18 it convenes the Congress. The Executive Committee is convened by the Bureau each time this is necessary for the interest of the Association or upon written request of one fourth of the full members. So far as possible no two succeeding meetings should be held in any one country.
(2) Any Executive Committee may also be convened for important cause as a virtual Executive Committee in which individual or all delegates, by means of electronic communication through simultaneous video and audio transmission, participate without being present at the meeting place and exercise their participation rights, in particular the right to speak and the right to vote. Instead of a virtual Executive Committee, an Executive Committee with on-site attendance shall be convened if this is requested in writing by the request of one forth (1/4) of the full members. The request for on-site attendance must be received by the Secretary-General two weeks after the announcement of the virtual Executive Committee.
(3) If the Executive Committee is organised in virtual or hybrid form, the following Executive Committee shall be held in person, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.
Article 31
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the supervision of the work of the Association between meetings of the Congress and shall be entitled to pass policy resolutions and to initiate fresh activities. It will also be responsible for all financial matters including the discharge of members of the Bureau.
Article 32
(1) The Executive Committee, on proposal of the Bureau, can install Standing Committees to deal with most important challenges of our time and with global impact. The Standing Committee can make public statements on political matters in line with its mission statement and its field of responsibility if in its opinion this is necessary. It will submit a written report of its activities to all executive bodies of Liberal International under Art 16. This report will be discussed for approval in the next meeting of the executive body. The Rules of Procedure for Standing Committees, on proposal of the Bureau, shall be adopted by the Executive Committee.
(2) The Executive Committee can appoint special sub-committees for dealing with problems of its organisation, the planning of its activities or for treating political subjects of common interest to Liberal International member parties. The chairperson and members of such sub-committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and they shall report back to the Executive Committee.
Article 33
(1) Unless otherwise provided for in the Articles of the Constitution, decisions of the Executive Committee shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast. Abstentions shall not be taken into account and, in the case of a written note, blank and invalid votes shall not be counted in the votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the decision will be rejected. Split votes are admissible.
(2) The Secretary-General shall draw up the minutes of the Executive Committee, which shall be kept at the Permanent Secretariat of the Association. All members will receive draft copies of theses minutes within four weeks of each Executive Committee. The minutes are approved during the next meeting of the Executive Committee and signed by the Chair of the approving Executive Committee.
(3) The Executive Committee shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.
Section C: The Bureau
Article 34
(1) The Bureau shall consist of:
(a) The Officers on the Bureau as described in Art 19 (a);
(b) Ex officio non-voting members, who shall be:
(i) The Secretary-General of the Association who shall serve as secretary of the Bureau;
(ii) The Chairpersons of Standing Committees if they are not Officers on the Bureau;
(iii) The President of each of Regional Organisation, the international Liberal youth organisation and the international Liberal women’s organisation, as defined in the Constitution.
(iv) Presidents of Honour, unless appointed before the alteration of the Constitution of 2020 in which case they shall have a vote.
(2) Third parties may be invited by the President to take part in meetings of the Bureau as observers.
(3) Any Bureau meeting may also be convened for good reason as a virtual meeting in which individual or all members, by means of electronic communication through simultaneous video and audio transmission, participate without being present at the meeting place and exercise their participation rights, in particular the right to speak and the right to vote. Instead of a virtual Bureau meeting, a Bureau meeting with on-site attendance shall be convened if this is requested in writing by the request of one third (1/3) of the members under paragraph (1) (a). The request for on-site attendance must be received by the Secretary-General one week after the announcement of the virtual Bureau meeting.
Article 35
(1) The Bureau shall be responsible for all administrative and financial matters, and shall report on them and present them for adoption to the Executive Committee annually.
(2) There shall be a ballot for the discharge of members of the Bureau. Bureau members do not have voting rights concerning the annual discharge of the Bureau.
(3) Unless otherwise provided for in the Articles of the Constitution, decisions of the Bureau shall be taken with a simple majority of the votes cast. Abstentions shall not be taken into account and, in the case of a written vote, blank and invalid votes shall not be counted in the votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the decision will be rejected.
Article 36
The Bureau shall be responsible for all political matters arising between meetings of the Congress and the Executive Committee. The Bureau can make public statements on political matters if in its opinion this is necessary. It will submit a written report of its meeting within 30 days to the Executive Committee.
Chapter IV – Appointments of Honour
Article 37
The Congress can, on the proposal of the Executive Committee, appoint a former President of outstanding merits to Liberalism and to Liberal International other than an Immediate Past President as a President of Honour. Presidents of Honour have the right to be present at the Congress and the Executive Committee with the personal right to speak and to vote.
Article 38
The Congress can, on the proposal of the Executive Committee, appoint persons including Past Presidents who are no longer serving as Officers on the Bureau, who have been for a long time active in thought and deed in Liberalism and in Liberal International, as patrons. Patrons have the right to be present at the Congress and the Executive Committee with the personal right to speak and to vote.
Article 39
The Bureau can, on the proposal of member parties and members of the Bureau, award LI ‘Hans van Baalen Medal of Liberalism’ to persons who have been dedicated to promoting Liberalism on local, national, regional or international level for a long time. The Bureau reports back to the Executive Committee on its decision to award LI ‘Hans van BaalenMedal of Liberalism’.
Article 40
The Executive Committee can, on the proposal of the Bureau, award the Prize for Freedom to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of freedom and human rights. Details shall be regulated by the rules of procedure.
Chapter V – The Permanent Secretariat
Article 41
The head of the Permanent Secretariat shall be the Secretary-General, who shall be the employee of the Association and accountable to the Bureau and the Executive Committee. The Secretary-General, who should belong to a Member Organisation of the Liberal International, shall be appointed by the Bureau and endorsed by the Executive Committee. The Secretary-General shall be eligible for re-appointment by the Executive Committee, based on proposal of the Bureau, except that no Secretary- General shall serve for more than three two-year consecutive terms unless no other candidate shall be proposed for the post of Secretary-General.
Article 42
The Secretary-General shall be responsible for the implementation of the Bureau decisions, as well as those of the Congress and the Executive Committee, shall assist the Association, regularly consult the President on all significant political and administrative matters, maintain contacts among the membership of the Association, and supervise the administrative functions of the secretariat.
Article 43
The Secretary-General shall appoint the staff of the Permanent Secretariat with the consent of the Bureau.
Article 44
The Secretary-General shall prepare financial statements and budget estimates for consideration by the Treasurers for further adoption by the Bureau and the Executive Committee according to Arts 31 and 35. Between meetings of the Bureau the Treasurers should be consulted by the Secretary-General on all significant financial matters, which are not in line with the approved budget.
Article 45
The Headquarters of the organisation shall be in the country selected by the Executive Committee. It is desirable that it should not be moved from one country to another at less than five year intervals.
Article 46
The President and the Secretary-General shall present reports on the activities of the Liberal International to Congress and Executive Committee.
Chapter VI – Finance
Article 47
(1) The Association’s expenditure shall be covered by:
(a) Subscription from Member, Observer and Cooperating Organisations and from Individual Members;
(b) Contributions from cooperating organisations;
(c) Donations and fundraising activities in accordance with LI Fundraising Code of Conduct;
(d) Any other form of authorised financial resource.
(2) The annual subscription shall be fixed in relation to the finances and the membership status, on proposal of the Bureau, by the Executive Committee. The proposal shall be based on the financial report by the Treasurers.
(3) The subscription shall be fixed in accordance with each Member Organisation’s and Observer Organisation’s size and its electoral support at the immediate previous national election or regional election if not participating in national elections. The subscription subject to the voting rights shall recognise the principles of equal treatment, fairness and transparency; its criteria are determined by the Executive Committee on recommendation by the Bureau. The proposal stipulates the minimum annual subscription of any member organisation.
(4) The annual subscription is due January 1st of each year and shall be paid by May 1st. Voting rights in Congress and Executive Committee are suspended if the annual subscription has not been paid up to the statutory events.
(5) In case of hardship, and upon a written request, the Treasurers may propose to the Bureau – which may agree – a variation in the financial obligations of any Member, Observer or Cooperating Organisation.
Article 48
The organisation may open banking accounts in all affiliated countries. Its main account shall be held in the country in which the Permanent Secretariat is located. The Treasurers shall be entitled to operate or delegate to any Officer or to the Secretary-General the right to operate accounts.
Article 49
The financial year of the organisation shall run from January 1st to December 31st. Accounts shall be audited by a Chartered Accountant firm, appointed for a renewable period of four years by the Executive Committee on the proposal of the Bureau, at the end of each financial year and shall be presented for approval to the next following meeting of the Executive Committee.
Chapter VII – Alterations
Article 50
Amendments to this Constitution shall be made by the Congress on the proposal of: the Bureau to the Executive Committee, which will decide by a simple majority; or any member organisation. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting shall be necessary.
Article 51
At least ten weeks’ notice of intention to propose such an amendment must be given to the member organisations. Debate and voting on proposals for amendments should be held in the Administrative Session of the Executive Committee convening the Congress and the Congress. Changes to the Constitution become operative immediately after the Congress.
Chapter VIII – Legal Provisions
Article 52
(1) The Association shall be validly represented with respect to all acts, including court proceedings, by either the President or any two Officers on the Bureau acting jointly, who shall not be obliged to offer proof to third parties of a prior decision of the Bureau.
(2) The Secretary-General shall individually represent the Association with respect to all acts of daily management, including court proceedings, and shall not be obliged to offer proof to third parties of a prior decision of the Bureau.
Article 53
(1) The members of the Association, the Officers on the Bureau and persons entrusted with the daily management of the Association will not be personally liable for the obligations of the Association.
(2) The liability of the Officers on the Bureau or persons entrusted with daily management is limited to the proper performance of their mandate.
Standing Orders
The rules and procedures for activity at LI statutory events, as revised by the Extraordinary Online Congress held on October 20th, 2020.
Chapter I – Composition
1. Membership of the Congress is as prescribed in the Constitution.
2. Individuals and organisations specifically invited by the Bureau may attend the Congress as guests.
3. In the event of any member organisation being unable to send its full quota of delegates, a delegate of that member organisation can enjoy more than one vote, provided however, that the total number of votes shall not exceed the full quota of that member organisation as specified in Art 19 (b) to (g) and Art 25 (b) to (e) of the Constitution.
Chapter II – Order of Business & Theme of the Congress
4. The Chairperson and Rapporteurs of the Congress sessions shall be appointed by the President.
5. The date and place of the Congress shall be decided by the Executive Committee at the proposal of the Bureau.
6. The agenda for the Congress shall be proposed by the Bureau and determined by the Congress itself.
7. The theme of the Congress, if any, shall be decided by the Bureau in consultation with the host party. The Bureau shall appoint a Rapporteur on the theme. The Bureau shall jointly propose a draft theme resolution and an explanatory memorandum at the initiative of the Rapporteur no later than ten weeks before the Congress.
8. Alternative resolutions to the theme resolution can only be proposed before the deadline of eight weeks before the Congress as a resolution. An alternative theme resolution cannot be proposed as an amendment. The Bureau shall be entitled to refuse alternative resolutions.
9. Congress shall appoint a minimum of three Scrutineers charged with counting votes at the elections.
Chapter III – Resolutions
10. Draft resolutions may be proposed by the Bureau, the Executive Committee and any organisation with full member status. Draft resolutions have to be filed with the Secretariat not later than eight weeks before the start of the Congress. The texts of the draft resolutions shall be circulated to all member organisations at least six weeks before the opening of the Congress. Resolutions should be short, to the point and focused on the political issue to be decided.
11. The Bureau shall decide, after consultation with the proposers, whether resolutions shall be consolidated with others or, where a single country is concerned, whether it should be included in a summarised form in the World Today Resolution. Resolutions which repeat and do not add to previously adopted resolutions shall be referred back to the proposers by the Secretariat, appending the text of the earlier resolution.
12. The President shall be entitled to authorise the submission of an urgency resolution to the Congress by 10.00 am on the day before the start of the Congress (local time at the Congress venue). Urgency resolutions can be no longer than 200 words. In any case, urgency resolutions can only be considered as such if its observations, political statements made and actions demanded all and exclusively relate to events after the eight-week deadline mentioned above.
13. The Executive Committee should follow the same procedure for dealing with resolutions under deadlines decided by the Bureau.
Chapter IV – Amendments to resolutions
14. Amendments to the resolutions may be submitted until four weeks before the start of the Congress by any organisation with full member status. Such amendments should be delivered to the Secretariat of Liberal International in London in writing, preferably in electronic form.
15. The text of all resolutions and amendments shall be circulated no later than two weeks before the Congress to the affiliated parties as well as to all the Congress participants whose names and addresses are known by the Secretariat at that time.
16. (a) Amendments cannot be proposed after the deadline or during the Congress.
(b) Urgency resolutions are open for amendments and alterations in the working groups.
Chapter V – Working commissions
17. The resolutions and amendments will first be debated by a working commission. The President shall decide about the number of working commissions and the division of work among them. Any Congress participant can take part in any of the working commissions.
18. The President shall appoint a Chair and Rapporteur for each working commission. The Chair shall come from among the delegates of the full member parties, whereas the Secretary-General may nominate a member of the Staff as Rapporteur.
19. There can be no votes in the working commissions. However, the Chair can determine support for an amendment or a resolution in broad terms by asking for a show of hands of the principals of the delegations represented.
20. In the Working Commission, amendments can be altered. An update of resolutions or amendments where the facts have altered since the deadline for its submission can be introduced. Several amendments of the same substance can be merged into one. In either case, acceptance of new amendments is at the discretion of the Chair. If the alteration is not accepted by the proposer of the resolution or amendment, it has to be confirmed by decision of the Congress.
