Rules of Procedure of the International Association for 3rd version adopted at the 18th General Assembly in Thessaloniki, Greece, 4th and 5th of April 2014. GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1 1. These Rules of Procedure are meant for governing the General Assembly of the International Association for, hereafter the Association. 2. These Rules of Procedure aim to let the General Assembly proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with the principle of sound administration. GENERAL ASSEMBLY Article 2 1. Each Association year there will be two General Assemblies: a. During the World Congress, to be held no later than April; b. During the Autumn Convention, to be held no later than October; 2. Written resolutions, proposals and discussion papers should be sent at least seven days prior to the General Assembly to the Executive Committee and published by the Executive Committee to all members at least five days prior to the General Assembly. Proposals by the Executive Committee should be published at least seven days prior to the General Assembly. PRESIDIUM OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Article 3 1. The presidium of the General Assembly presides over the General Assembly and it bears responsibility to let the General Assembly proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with the principle of sound administration. 2. The presidium of the General Assembly consists at most of: a. One Executive Committee member, preferably the secretary general; b. One Supervisory Committee member; c. One ordinary member of the General Assembly. 3. The remit of the presidium of the General Assembly consists of: a. Presiding over the General Assembly; b. Providing to take the minutes of the General Assembly; c. Providing to archive all documents of the General Assembly;
4. The members of the presidium of the General Assembly appoint a chairperson, a vice chairperson and a secretary general among themselves. The chairperson presides over the General Assembly. 5. The presidium of the General Assembly mutually decides on the competences of the remit of every member of the presidium of the General Assembly. 6. The presidium of the General Assembly may at any time confer one or more of its tasks and obligations as mentioned in article 3 paragraph 3 to other members of the Association. Those who thus exercise these tasks and obligations, act under the responsibility of the presidium of the General Assembly. 7. The term of the presidium of the General Assembly lasts from the start of the General Assembly through the end of the General Assembly. CODE OF CONDUCT Article 4 1. Members of the General Assembly are required to keep a professional conduct during the General Assembly sessions. Professional conduct includes a friendly, respectful and professional behaviour towards other members of the General Assembly. AGENDA OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Article 5 1. The Executive Committee proposes an agenda and sends the agenda along with all concerning documents and the call for the General Assembly at least thirty (30) days prior to the General Assembly. 2. All members and bodies of the Association may propose items to put on the agenda to the Executive Committee. Should the Executive Committee decide not to place a proposed item on the agenda, it shall forthwith inform the member of its decision. 3. When the General Assembly adopts the agenda, all members are free to propose items to put on or to remove from the agenda. Points on the agenda can also be moved from one position to another. 4. It requires a simple majority for the proposed agenda to be adopted. 5. Once the agenda has been adopted, the General Assembly will continue its work on the agenda as approved by majority. 6. Every agenda of the General Assembly consists of at least the following items: a. Opening of the General Assembly; b. Received documents c. Adoption of the agenda; d. Announcements;
e. Closing of the General Assembly. 7. At the start of every General Assembly and after every break there shall be an alphabetical roll call, to establish which members are present. Members, who are not listed on the roll, but are present and have fulfilled their pecuniary obligations to the association shall state their name and be added to the roll. DISCUSSION Article 6 1. During presentations and discussions of proposals all members, the Executive Committee or the Supervisory Committee: a. May raise a point of information; b. May raise a point of order; c. Have a right of reply. 2. The in paragraph 1 aforementioned actions can only be made by a member when it relates to the agenda item discussed. 3. The Chairperson can only grant one of the in paragraph 1 aforementioned actions, when a placard is raised by the member who wishes to make such an action. 4. The Chairperson may interrupt the member who is making one of the in paragraph 1 aforementioned actions, at any time when the Chairperson feels the action does not relate to the agenda item discussed, on the understanding that the Chairperson must provide a valid reasoning. 5. A decision of the Chairperson as for mentioned in paragraph 4 may be subject to appeal from all members, the Executive Committee or the Supervisory Committee. 6. Except for an action as mentioned in paragraph 1c, if the Chairperson does not grant such an action no appeal shall lie. POINT OF INFORMATION Article 7 1. A point of information consists of one question to whoever holds the floor during the debate. 2. Points of information concerning presentations may be granted when the presentation is finished. POINT OF ORDER Article 8 1. The order of speech will be interrupted when a point of order is raised, unless the chairperson decides otherwise with a reasoned decision.
2. The chairperson immediately makes a ruling on the point of order, after every member who so wishes has had the opportunity to speak about the point of order. RIGHT OF REPLY Article 9 1. The right of reply consists of a reply concerning the answer given to a point of information as for mentioned in article 7. 2. The right of reply may be granted to the member who made a point of information, after the person who has the floor has answered the point of information. MOTIONS Article 10 1. The Executive Committee and all members with voting rights may propose a motion. 2. During the discussion of every agenda item members or the Executive Committee my propose motions, provided they are related to the agenda item discussed. 3. Motions shall be submitted to the presidium of the General Assembly during the Assembly. AMENDMENTS Article 11 1. All members with voting rights or the Executive Committee may propose an amendment. 2. Amendments may be submitted related to documents for the Assembly, to agenda items and proposals. 3. The Chairperson may decide that an amendment does not relate to the original, or changes the intent of the original unacceptable, making it not possible to consider them as amendments. 4. Should the General Assembly accept an amendment, which in the opinion of the applicant of the original does the original unacceptable damage, the applicant may decide to withdraw the original. In this case the General Assembly will make no decision. VOTING Article 12 1. All present members with voting rights participate in the vote.
2. Members of the Executive Committee, the Supervisory Committee and the Editorial Board are expected to abstain from any vote. 3. During voting, all the doors are closed and no delegates outside the hall will have any possibility to enter before the voting has ended. Note passing will be suspended and all delegates must stay in their seats until the voting has ended. 4. Voting is done by holding up placards. There are three options for voting: a. In favour b. Against c. Abstain EXPLANATION OF VOTE Article 13 1. All members with voting rights may provide an explanation of vote, before the vote. 2. The Executive Committee and the Supervisory Committee may provide voting advice, before the vote. 3. The General Assembly may ask the Executive Committee or the Supervisory Committee to provide a voting advice. The Executive Committee or the Supervisory Committee may refuse to provide a voting advice. DEROGATION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE Article 14 1. The General Assembly may at any time decide to derogate from these rules of procedure, provided neither one of the present members, nor the Executive Committee, nor the Supervisory Committee, nor the presidium of the General Assembly objects and the derogation is not in conflict with the Statutes or the Internal Regulations. FINAL PROVISIONS Article 15 1. These rules of procedure come in effect after they are adopted by the General Assembly. 2. To amend these rules of procedure a majority of votes at the General Assembly is required.