Original: English

List of Contents
STATUTES RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL
Chapter 1 HEADQUARTERS I SESSIONS
Chapter II PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS II AGENDA
Chapter III MEMBERSHIP III REPRESENTATION
Chapter IV ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP IV CREDENTIALS
Chapter V CONSULTATIVE STATUS V CHAIR AND RAPPORTEUR
Chapter VI OBSERVER STATUS VI COMMITTEES
Chapter VII SPECIAL STATUS VII CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Chapter VIII ORGANS OF THE FEDERATION VIII VOTING
Chapter IX FINANCES IX ELECTIONS
Chapter X ENTRY INTO FORCE X LANGUAGES
Chapter XI AMENDMENTS XI AMENDMENTS
Chapter XII DEPOSIT OF THE STATUTES XII INTERPRETATION
FINANCIAL RULES


FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS' ASSOCIATIONS (FICSA)

STATUTES

(Revised effective 10 February 2003) (*)

Preamble

THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS/UNIONS OF THE ORGANISATIONS BELONGING TO THE UNITED NATIONS FAMILY,

Desiring to promote the harmonious development of an international civil service inspired by the greatest impartiality, integrity and devotion to the cause of international co-operation,

Aware of the interests of international civil servants, and also of those of the organisations belonging to the United Nations family,

Have agreed to co-ordinate their efforts and, to this end, to establish a Federation, the Statutes of which are set forth below.

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Chapter I HEADQUARTERS
  • Article 1
    The FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS' ASSOCIATIONS (hereinafter called the "Federation") shall have its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland.

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    Chapter II PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS
  • Article 2
    The purpose of the Federation shall be to promote amongst its member staff associations/unions (hereinafter called the "Members") and associate staff associations/unions (hereinafter called the "Associates") the exchange of information and views on all questions of common interest, the co-ordination of their activities, and to represent its Members in negotiations with bodies of the United Nations common system in order to:
    1. Ensure the closest co-operation at all levels, with the aim of achieving the purposes set forth in the Charter of the United Nations;

    2. Promote the development of the international civil service and the defence of its independence, in accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions and the staff regulations of the respective organisations;

    3. Defend the interests of international civil servants, with due regard for the international standards on human rights, proclaimed or reaffirmed by the organisations in the United Nations system, including international labour standards.

  • Article 3
    At the request of a Member or Associate and subject to the provisions of Article 19, the Federation shall take any action its considers desirable in the common interest.

  • Article 4
    The Federation shall provide advice and assistance to Members which wish to organise themselves in regional or other groups.

  • Article 5
    The Federation shall represent its Members in relations with common system bodies, executive or advisory, set up within the United Nations family, without prejudice to a Member’s rights to appear before or communicate with such bodies.

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    Chapter III MEMBERSHIP
  • Article 6
    The membership of the Federation shall be constituted by the staff associations/unions of organisations belonging to the United Nations family, or applying the terms and conditions of service of the United Nations common system, and by the staff associations/unions of regional offices of any of these organisations, which:
    1. Possess legislative organs consisting of elected representatives;

    2. Accept these Statutes in writing and undertake to respect them.

  • Article 7
    The application for membership, properly substantiated, shall be addressed to the Executive Committee. Approval of application shall require a decision of the Council by a two-thirds majority of votes cast, in the light of a recommendation by the Executive Committee.

  • Article 8
    A Member wishing to withdraw from the Federation shall give notice in writing to the Executive Committee. Withdrawal shall become effective six months after the notice has been received, without prejudice to the duty of the withdrawing Member to pay all outstanding dues and to fulfil all outstanding obligations to the Federation. The Executive Committee shall inform all Members and Associates of any such notice of withdrawal.

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    Chapter IV ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
  • Article 9
    Associate membership of the Federation shall be constituted by the staff associations/unions of international organisations not belonging to the United Nations family and not applying the terms and conditions of service of the United Nations common system which:
    1. Possess legislative organs consisting of elected representatives;

    2. Accept these Statutes in writing and undertake to respect them.

  • Article 10
    The application for associate membership, properly substantiated, shall be addressed to the Executive Committee. Approval of application shall require a decision of the Council by a two-thirds majority of votes cast, in the light of a recommendation by the Executive Committee.

  • Article 11
    An Associate wishing to withdraw from the Federation shall give notice in writing to the Executive Committee. Withdrawal shall become effective six months after the notice has been received, without prejudice to the duty of the withdrawing Associate to pay all outstanding dues and to fulfil all outstanding obligations to the Federation. The Executive Committee shall inform all Members and Associates of any such notice of withdrawal.

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    Chapter V CONSULTATIVE STATUS
  • Article 12
    Consultative status with the Federation may be granted by the Council, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, to associations/unions of actively employed or retired international civil servants and to similar bodies which do not fulfil the conditions stated in Article 6 but whose aims are similar to those of the Members of the Federation.

  • Article 13
    The rights and obligations deriving from consultative status shall be defined by the Council of the Federation, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

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    Chapter VI OBSERVER STATUS
  • Article 14
    Observer status with the Federation may be granted by the Council, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, to local interorganisational federations, upon their request.

  • Article 15
    The rights and obligations deriving from observer status shall be defined by the Council of the Federation, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

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    Chapter VII SPECIAL STATUS
  • Article 16
    Special status with the Federation may be granted by the Council for a period of one year to associations/unions that are potential Members. This status may be renewed once for an additional year by the Council at its next regular session.

  • Article 17
    The rights and obligations deriving from special status shall be defined by the Council of the Federation, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

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    Chapter VIII ORGANS OF THE FEDERATION
  • Article 18
    The Federation shall act through the Council and the Executive Committee.

    The Council
  • Article 19
    1. The Council shall be the highest organ of the Federation. Each Member shall be represented on the Council.

    2. Each Associate shall be represented on the Council, without voting rights.

    3. The Council shall draw up its rules of procedure and the financial rules.

    4. The associations/unions or local interorganisational federations having consultative, observer or special status may send representatives who may participate in discussions without voting rights.

  • Article 20
    1. The Council shall strive to make all decisions by consensus.

    2. In absence of consensus, voting shall take place if requested by one Member and seconded by another Member.

    3. On all matters including elections, in any particular round of voting, the votes shall be counted on the basis of each Member casting:
      1. one vote per Member; and

      2. one vote for each staff member represented by that Member.

    4. Except when a proposal relates to amendment of the Statutes or Rules of Procedure, it shall be deemed approved by the Council when it receives more than half of the votes cast under both paragraph (c)(i) and (ii).

    5. A proposal to amend the Statutes or Rules of Procedure shall be deemed approved by the Council when it receives at least two-thirds of the votes cast under both paragraph (c)(i) and (ii).

  • Article 21
    1. When under Article 20(d) or (e) there is a split simple majority or a split two-thirds majority, as the case may be, the final decision shall be made on the basis of a weighted voting system in which each Member’s weighted vote consists of the sum of: (1)
      1. the total number of staff represented by all Members of the Federation, divided by the number of Members of the Federation, multiplied by 0.6; plus,

      2. the number of staff represented by the Member, multiplied by 0.4.

    2. Except when the decision referred to in paragraph (a) relates to amendment of the Statutes or Rules of Procedure, it shall be deemed approved by the Council when it receives more than half of the total of all Members' weighted votes cast, as defined in paragraph (a).

    3. A proposal to amend the Statutes or Rules of Procedure shall be deemed approved by the Council when it receives at least two-thirds of the total of all Members' weighted votes cast, as defined in paragraph (a).

  • Article 22
    The Council shall hold one regular session each calendar year. It shall hold an extraordinary session at the request of the Executive Committee or of at least one-third of the Members of the Federation. At each regular session it shall fix the place and date of the following regular session.

  • Article 23
    The Council shall elect, for each session, a Chair and a Rapporteur. The report on the work of the session shall be distributed to all Members and Associates not more than six weeks after the closure of the session. The text of all resolutions and decisions of the Council shall be communicated to all Members and Associates not more than two weeks after the closure of the session.

  • Article 24
    The Council shall have the following functions:
    1. To consider matters referred to it by the Executive Committee or by Members or Associates;

    2. To define the policy of the Federation and draw up the programme of work of the Executive Committee;

    3. To approve the admission of new Members and Associates and to suspend membership rights;

    4. To grant consultative, observer and special status to organisations that have applied for such status, to define the rights and obligations deriving from each status and to suspend the rights and obligations attached thereto;

    5. To recommend collective or individual action by Members and Associates;

    6. To adopt the annual budget of the Federation, approve the scale of contributions and approve the Federation's accounts;

    7. To elect the members of the Executive Committee;

    8. To appoint external auditors.

  • Article 25
    The Executive Committee may submit to a postal vote of the Council any important or urgent matter on which a decision cannot be taken during a session of the Council. The result of the vote shall be regarded as a Council decision and shall be notified to Members and Associates.

  • Article 26
    Specially, in order to preserve the rights of a Member or Associate unable to be represented at a Council meeting, any member association/union, acting through its legislative body, may submit a reservation on any decision of the Council on a matter of substance. Such reservation, with an explanatory statement, shall be notified to the Executive Committee not later than one month after notification of the decision has been received. The Executive Committee shall circulate such reservation among Members and Associates.

  • Article 27
    To assist it in the performance of its functions the Council may establish subsidiary organs. It shall define their terms of reference, and elect the Chair and Vice-Chair(s) of any standing committee. Officers of a standing committee shall be eligible for re-election but their tenure of office may not exceed five consecutive terms, unless otherwise decided by the Council in a particular case.

    The Executive Committee
  • Article 28
    The Executive Committee shall be responsible for implementing the Council's decisions and recommendations. It shall be composed of seven members, including a President, a Vice-President, a General Secretary and four Regional Members. Candidates for the regional seats must be serving in the region concerned at the time of their election. The Council, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee, shall define from time to time the regions for the purpose of the elections of the members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall elect from amongst its members a treasurer and such other officers as it deems necessary.

  • Article 29
    The seven members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by the Council as representatives of the Federation. Each nomination for election shall require the support of the association/union to which the candidate belongs. No association/union may provide more than one member of the Committee. At the time of their election, the President and Vice-President shall not be members of associations/unions based in the same region.

  • Article 30
    The Council shall elect in the first place the President or General Secretary for a term of two years. Elections to the position of President shall be held in even-numbered years and elections to the position of General Secretary shall be held in odd-numbered years. The Vice-President and each of the Regional Members of the Executive Committee shall then be elected by the Council for a term of one year. Should there be no nominations from any one region, that seat on the Executive Committee would remain vacant until new elections are held at the next regular Council session.

  • Article 31
    The members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election, but no member of the Executive Committee may serve longer than five consecutive years.

  • Article 32
    1. If a seat on the Executive Committee becomes vacant in the interval between two regular elections to that seat, the Executive Committee shall arrange for a by-election for the unexpired portion of the term of office of the vacated seat.

    2. If the member of the Executive Committee whose seat became vacant was one of the Regional Members according to Article 30 of these Statutes, candidates for his/her replacement shall come from the same region.

    3. If the member of the Executive Committee whose seat became vacant was one of the officers enumerated in Article 28 above, the Executive Committee may, at its discretion, appoint provisionally any member of the Committee to the vacant post, pending by-election in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Article.

  • Article 33
    The Executive Committee may employ any person or persons and make any administrative arrangements necessary for carrying out its work.

  • Article 34
    The Executive Committee shall have the following functions:
    1. To provide liaison between the Members and Associates of the Federation;

    2. To prepare the sessions of the Council, for this purpose drawing up the provisional agenda, a report on the Federation’s activities and a draft annual budget;

    3. To implement the Council’s decisions;

    4. To administer the annual budget and other financial resources of the Federation;

    5. To organise representation of the Federation at organisations belonging to, and common system bodies set up within, the United Nations family;

    6. To take all appropriate action to protect the security and life of international civil servants.

  • Article 35
    Members, Associates, FICSA Executive Committee members and individual staff should ensure that the appropriate channels of communication are followed promptly.

    The Executive Committee should communicate with the Administration of the Members or Associates or individual staff members thereof only in agreement with the Member of the relevant organization(s).

    The Executive Committee should ensure that meetings and correspondence with the respective administration(s) are done in agreement with the relevant Member or Associate of the relevant organization(s).

    The Executive Committee should, upon request and where feasible, extend support within the framework of the present Statutes and of relevant Council decisions. If unable to provide such assistance, FICSA should explain in writing to the Member(s) concerned.

    The Executive Committee and Members or Associates of the Federation should conduct themselves in a manner becoming of an international civil servant.

    The Executive Committee should ensure, as appropriate, a constant and rapid flow of information to Members and Associates of the Federation and organize expressions of support. Members and Associates of the Federation should ensure that relevant information issued by the Federation is made available to their constituents.

  • Article 36
    The Executive Committee shall publish the provisional agenda, the annual report and the draft budget not less than four weeks before the Council session. For extraordinary sessions, it shall publish the provisional agenda at least one week before the session.

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    Chapter IX FINANCES
  • Article 37
    Members of the Executive Committee may be recalled by a vote of No Confidence if there is prima facie evidence of financial and/or professional mismanagement/misconduct.

    A vote of No Confidence may be called for if one Member in good standing requests one and 25 per cent of the Members of the Federation approve.

    It will then be put to a vote. Double majority will be required.

    If a vote of No Confidence is successful, Article 32 of the Statutes will be applied.

  • Article 38
    Members of the Executive Committee or an Association/Union may be reprimanded for conduct unbecoming of an international civil servant.

    A reprimand may be called for if one Member Association/Union in good standing requests one and 25 per cent of the Members of the Federation approve.

    It will then be put to a vote. Double majority will be required.

  • Article 39
    The Federation shall be financed by the regular contributions of Members and Associates and by voluntary contributions, gifts or bequests. The acceptance of any offer subject to conditions shall be approved by the Council on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

  • Article 40
    A Member which is in arrears of contributions with respect to any two preceding years by the opening date of the regular session of the Council shall not be entitled to vote or sponsor candidates at elections at that session and as long as a sum totalling more than one year’s contribution remains outstanding.

    After the General Secretary has reported to the Council on the credentials of delegations (according to Rule 15 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council), and before any other business is attended to, he/she shall indicate which, if any, of the Members correspond to the above criteria.

    At that point, the Member(s) thus cited will have to justify why the dues remain unpaid, and request for the provision of Article 40 to be waived. This request will then have to be seconded and voted upon. If not, the Member will be automatically suspended.

  • Article 41
    The Federation’s accounts shall be submitted each year to an external auditor, who shall report directly to the Council.

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    Chapter X ENTRY INTO FORCE
  • Article 42
    These Statutes shall come into force upon written notification of acceptance by six staff associations/unions.

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    Chapter XI AMENDMENTS
  • Article 43
    Without prejudice to Articles 20 and 21, amendments to these Statutes shall be considered as adopted by the Council if they have received a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. Amendments so adopted shall come into force upon their acceptance in writing by two thirds of the Members.

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    Chapter XII DEPOSIT OF THE STATUTES
  • Article 44
    These Statutes, in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic, shall be deposited at the headquarters of the Federation. Certified copies shall be furnished to all Members and Associates.

    FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS' ASSOCIATIONS (FICSA)

    RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL

    (As amended by the 56th Session of the FICSA Council, WHO/EURO Copenhagen, 10 to 14 February 2003)

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    I. SESSIONS
  • Rule 1
    The Council shall meet in regular session each calendar year at a place determined by the Council at its preceding regular session.

  • Rule 2
    The Council shall meet in extraordinary session pursuant to Article 22 of the Statutes within thirty days of the request for its convocation.

  • Rule 3
    The General Secretary of FICSA shall notify all member staff associations/unions (hereinafter referred to as "Members") and all associate staff associations/unions (hereinafter referred to as "Associates") of the date and place of the session, normally six weeks in advance of each regular session and two weeks in advance of an extraordinary session.

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    II. AGENDA
  • Rule 4
    At each regular session, the Council shall adopt on the proposal of the Executive Committee the draft provisional agenda for its next regular session.

  • Rule 5
    The Executive Committee shall prepare the annotated provisional agenda for each session of the Council and communicate it to Members and Associates not later than four weeks before the opening of a regular session or at the same time as the notification of an extraordinary session.

  • Rule 6
    The provisional agenda of any regular session shall include the following items:
    1. Adoption of the agenda;

    2. Election of the Chair of the session;

    3. Consideration of the report of the Executive Committee;

    4. Consideration of items which the Council decided at its preceding session to include in the agenda;

    5. Consideration of questions proposed by the Executive Committee;

    6. Consideration of questions proposed by any Member or Associate of FICSA;

    7. Election of members of the Executive Committee;

    8. Review of the accounts of FICSA for the past financial year;

    9. Approval of the scale of contribution and budget of FICSA for the current financial year.

  • Rule 7
    Between the communication of the provisional agenda of a regular session and the opening of the session, any Member or Associate may propose the inclusion in the agenda of important and urgent items.

  • Rule 8
    The provisional agenda for an extraordinary session shall consist only of those items proposed for consideration in the request for the holding of the session.

  • Rule 9
    Proposals from Members or Associates for the inclusion of an item shall be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum and, if necessary, by a draft resolution.

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    III. REPRESENTATION
  • Rule 10
    Each Member is represented in the Council by a delegation which shall have voting rights as specified in Articles 20 and 21 of the FICSA Statutes.

  • Rule 11
    Each Associate shall be represented on the Council, without voting rights unless Council grants (3) , upon the proposal of the Executive Committee, limited voting rights to individual Associates for the duration of that session and for postal votes to take place before the opening of the following session. To be eligible for limited voting rights, an Associate should have at least two years of associate membership and no arrears in contributions. When granted limited voting rights, an Associate shall vote on: resolutions expressing support for individual or groups of Members or Associates; and the statutory rights and duties of Associates (including contributions).

  • Rule 12
    FICSA shall normally defray the travelling and subsistence expenses of the members of the Executive Committee, but not those of other members of delegations.

  • Rule 13
    Associations/unions or local interorganisational federations having consultative, observer or special status in accordance with Articles 12, 14 or 16 of the FICSA Statutes may send representatives who may, at the invitation of the Chair, participate in the debates without voting rights.

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    IV. CREDENTIALS
  • Rule 14 bis
    The status of each Member and Associate in respect of their contributions and the possible application of Article 40 of the Statutes shall be assessed and circulated by the General Secretary to the membership at least 10 days before the opening of the session.

  • Rule 14
    The credentials of each delegation shall be communicated to the General Secretary of FICSA, if possible, one week before the opening of the session.

  • Rule 15
    The General Secretary of FICSA shall examine the credentials of delegations and report to the Council at the opening sitting of the session.

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    V. CHAIR AND RAPPORTEUR
  • Rule 16
    At the beginning of each session, the President of FICSA shall preside until the Council has elected the Chair of the session.

  • Rule 17
    The Council shall elect a Chair and two Vice-Chairs who shall remain in office until the closing of the session. The provisions of rule 37 and rules 40 to 43 shall apply mutatis mutandis to these elections. If the Chair is unable to exercise his/her functions during a meeting or part of a meeting, one of the Vice-Chairs shall replace him/her until the Chair is able to resume his/her functions.

  • Rule 18
    The Council shall elect a rapporteur who shall prepare a report on the proceedings of the session without delay and ensure, in consultation with the General Secretary of FICSA, the final editing of the resolutions and decisions adopted in the Council.

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    VI. COMMITTEES
  • Rule 19
    The Council may appoint such sessional committees as it deems necessary for the conduct of its business.

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    VII. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
  • Rule 20
    The Chair of the session declares the opening and closing of each meeting, directs the discussions, accords the right to speak, puts questions to vote and announces decisions. He/she rules on points of order and, subject to rule 22, proposes to the Council to limit the speaking time and the number of times each delegate should be permitted to speak on the same question.

  • Rule 21
    During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may raise a point of order, and the point of order shall immediately be decided by the Chair. Any delegate may appeal against the ruling of the Chair; such appeal shall immediately be put to the vote. Unless overruled by a decision taken by a simple majority of the votes cast, the ruling of the Chair shall stand.

  • Rule 22
    1. Unless the Council decides otherwise in special circumstances, the time allowed each intervention is limited to five minutes.

    2. The Chair may limit the number of times each delegate speaks on any question.

    3. The Chair shall call to order without delay any delegate who exceeds these limits.

  • Rule 23
    During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may move the closure of the debate. One delegate may speak against the motion of closure, after which the motion shall immediately be put to the vote.

  • Rule 24
    During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may move the adjournment of the debate. One delegate may speak against the motion, after which the motion shall immediately be put to the vote.

  • Rule 25
    During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may move the suspension of the meeting. The motion shall immediately be put to the vote.

  • Rule 26
    The order of priority of motions is as follows: to suspend the meeting; to adjourn the debate; to close the debate.

  • Rule 27
    The Council shall not normally proceed with proposals on matters of substance unless they have been communicated in writing to all delegations. However, the Chair may authorise discussion of amendments which have not been communicated in writing to all delegations.

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    VIII. VOTING (2)

  • Rule 28
    Each Member shall have the number of votes in the Council defined in Articles 20 and 21 of the FICSA Statutes. Members unable to have a delegate present may vote by proxy through another Member. No Member may exercise the proxy vote of more than one other Member. Powers of proxy shall be announced by the General Secretary of FICSA in submitting to the Council the report of his/her examination of the credentials of delegates.

  • Rule 29
    One half of the total number of FICSA Members shall constitute a quorum.

  • Rule 30
    Postal votes, in accordance with Article 25 of the FICSA Statutes, shall be closed on the thirtieth day following the date on which the General Secretary of FICSA has communicated to all Members the question at issue, or when the required majority has been obtained, whichever occurs earlier.

  • Rule 31
    When consensus has not been reached, voting shall be by roll-call.

  • Rule 32
    When amendments are moved to a proposal, the amendments shall be voted on first, beginning with the amendment furthest removed in substance from the original proposal. The proposal is finally put to the vote as a whole.

  • Rule 33
    If two or more proposals relate to the same question, the Council shall, unless it decides otherwise, vote on the proposals in the order in which they have been submitted. The Council may, after each vote, decide whether to vote on the next proposals.

  • Rule 34
    Parts of a proposal or amendment shall be voted on separately if a request is made to this effect. Those parts of the amendment or proposal which have been approved shall be put to the vote as a whole.

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    IX. ELECTIONS
  • Rule 35
    Elections to the Executive Committee shall be scheduled as the first item of the afternoon meeting of the penultimate day of the regular Council session.

  • Rule 36
    Elections to the Executive Committee shall be conducted by a secret ballot. However, if there is only one candidate for a given post, he/she may be elected by acclamation unless a Member present requests that a secret ballot take place.

  • Rule 37
    Each Member present has one vote and not more than one proxy vote.

  • Rule 38
    Nominations for election to the Executive Committee should normally be submitted to the General Secretary not less than 20 days, and circulated to all FICSA Members not less than 15 days, before the opening of the Council session. Should there be no nominations received prior to this deadline, nominations for the membership of the Executive Committee shall be submitted to the Chair of the Council session not less than 48 hours, and circulated to all delegations not less than 24 hours, before the elections are held. Each nomination shall be submitted in writing by the association/union to which the candidate belongs and shall be accompanied by a summary of the candidate's record as staff representative.

  • Rule 39
    Subject to the provisions of Articles 20, 21, 28, 29 and 30 of the FICSA Statutes, elections to the Executive Committee shall be conducted in the following manner:
    1. The Council shall first elect the President or General Secretary. The Council shall then elect the Vice-President and the four Regional Members of the Executive Committee.

    2. A candidate nominated for a particular post who has not been elected to that post will be eligible for another post.

  • Rule 40
    If no candidate obtains a double majority, a subsequent round of voting shall take place. If three or more candidates have been nominated for a particular post, the subsequent round shall be limited to the two candidates who have obtained the highest number of votes as specified in Article 20(c)(i) of the Statutes. However, if one of the two top candidates withdraws, the candidate who has received the next highest number of such votes shall participate in the subsequent round. Whenever two or more candidates have obtained the same number of such votes, the candidate receiving the most votes as specified in Article 20(c)(ii) of the Statutes shall participate in the subsequent round.

  • Rule 41
    If there has been one candidate nominated but not elected on the first round, further nominations may be put forward before the second round. Such nominations are not subject to the provisions of rule 38.

  • Rule 42
    At the request of a Member present, the vote shall be postponed after the second or subsequent round and further nominations may be put forward. Such nominations are not subject to the provisions of rule 38.

  • Rule 43
    If two consecutive rounds between the same two candidates have not resulted in a decisive double-majority vote, a tie-breaker situation will be deemed to exist. In all subsequent rounds, even if new candidates enter the field, the voting system described in Article 21 of the Statutes shall be used until a decisive vote is reached.

  • Rule 44
    The nominations for the provisions of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the standing committees shall be made by the members of the committees in their last meeting at each Council. Such nominations shall then be submitted to plenary for voting in accordance with Articles 20 and 21 of the Statutes. Election for these offices can, at the discretion of the Council, be by acclamation, unless there is more than one candidate for any single position, or in the event that a delegation requests voting by secret ballot. In either of these events Articles 20 and 21 of the Statutes and rules 37 and 40 to 43 shall apply.

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    X. LANGUAGES
  • Rule 45
    The Council shall conduct its proceedings in English and French. The report on the proceedings of the session and the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Council shall be published in both languages.

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    XI. AMENDMENTS
  • Rule 46
    The Council may, by a vote taken in accordance with Articles 20 and 21 of the Statutes, suspend the application of certain rules, except where such a decision would be contrary to the FICSA Statutes.

  • Rule 47
    These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision of the Council as outlined in Article 20(e).

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    XII. INTERPRETATION
  • Rule 48
    All questions not provided for in these rules shall be decided by the Chair, each delegate having the right to challenge the Chair's decision in conformity with rule 21.

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    FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS' ASSOCIATIONS (FICSA)

    FINANCIAL RULES

    (As amended by the 53rd Session of the FICSA Council, IAEA, Vienna, 7 to 11 February 2000)

  • Article 1
    The financial year of the Federation shall be the 12-month period beginning 1 January and ending 31 December.

  • Article 2
    Regular contributions from Member and Associate associations/unions shall fall due on the first day of the financial year. One quarter of assessed contributions becomes payable on each of the following dates: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. Any assessed contributions received by 31 March will entail a 5 per cent rebate, any assessed contributions received by 30 June will entail a 2.5 per cent rebate and any assessed contributions by 30 September will entail a 1.25 per cent rebate.

  • Article 3
    At the regular session of the Council each year, the Treasurer shall submit a report on the receipts and expenditures of the Federation during the previous financial year. The report of the Treasurer shall be accompanied by a summary statement of the income derived from fees, gifts or other sources and the manner in which the Executive Committee has administered these resources in accordance with Article 34(d) of the Statutes.

  • Article 4
    Prior to its submission to the Council, the annual report of the Treasurer shall be examined by an external auditor.

  • Article 5
    The Treasurer who should normally be bonded shall be responsible for keeping complete records of all cash receipts and disbursements, which shall be handed to the external auditor referred to in Article 4 above. Detailed financial records shall be retained for seven years.

  • Article 6
    The Executive Committee is authorised to incur ordinary administrative expenses in excess of the approved budget for the preceding year, not to exceed 15 per cent thereof. Such expenses shall cover the period immediately following the close of the financial year and terminating with the approval of the budget for the current fiscal year.

  • Article 7
    The Executive Committee may instruct the Treasurer to transfer credits between chapters or sub-chapters of the budget.

  • Article 8
    The funds of the Federation shall be deposited in such bank accounts as are determined from time to time by the Executive Committee. These accounts shall be drawn on only by cheques or bank transfer orders bearing the signature of two members of the Executive Committee, one of whom shall normally be the Treasurer.

  • Article 9
    A special reserve fund shall be established to be called "Reserve for Termination Indemnities for the Staff of the Federation's Secretariat". The amount of such reserve fund shall be established by the Council annually which will also determine the type of investment. The decision to utilise this reserve for purposes other than termination rests exclusively with the FICSA Council.

  • Article 10
    An emergency fund shall be set up. It may be drawn upon by unanimous agreement of the Executive Committee, and the circumstances which required such action shall be communicated to the Council at its next regular session.

  • Article 11
    The Executive Committee may decide to establish other reserve funds for specific purposes.

  • Article 12
    Reserve funds of the Federation may, by decision of the Executive Committee on the recommendation of the Treasurer, be held in interest-bearing negotiable instruments deposited with a bank at Geneva.

  • Article 13
    Any surplus at the end of the year shall be credited to the emergency fund unless otherwise decided by the Council.

  • Article 14
    FICSA will establish and maintain a legal defence fund. The fund will have an authorised level of CHF 60,000 at the beginning of each fiscal year of the Federation (with the exception of 1995). The fund will be constituted as follows:
    1. First, by the recovery of any legal costs and damages resulting from litigation currently supported by the Federation; secondly, the allocation to the fund of any moneys unexpended within the Federation’s audited accounts up to the authorised level as stated above; thirdly, voluntary contributions from associations and unions;

    2. Should the foregoing sources be insufficient to bring the level of the fund to CHF 60,000 (with the exception of 1995), then the amount of such shortfall shall be included as a regular budget item for approval in such fiscal year.

  • Article 15
    In addition, the full expected costs for the annual legal activities agreed during the Council after consideration by the Standing Committee on Legal Questions of ongoing and possible litigation, should be budgeted and assessed as part of the contributions for the year.

  • Article 16
    The legal defence fund will be treated as a special reserve for accounting and investment purposes. All returns from the investment of this fund will be credited to it and reported separately at each FICSA Council session and to the Executive Committee mid-year meeting.

  • Article 17
    Changes in these financial rules may be made only by the Council.

    (*) As adopted by the 55th Session of the FICSA Council, PAHO/WHO Washington, 4 to 8 February 2002.

    (1) The number of votes allocated to a FICSA Member for weighted voting shall be equal to total number of staff represented by FICSA Members x 0.6 divided by the number of members + total staff represented by the Member x 0.4

    For example, if the total number of staff represented by 28 FICSA Member Associations/Unions is 26,000, the weighted vote of a Member representing 2,000 staff members would be
    ((26,000 x 0.6)/28) + (2,000 x 0.4) = 557 + 800 = 1,377 votes.

    (2) As its 36th session, the FICSA Council adopted a recommendation by the Standing Committee on Legal Questions, according to which abstentions are not to be counted in determining the outcome of a vote. A majority is determined according to the number of affirmative and negative votes cast, excluding abstentions.

    (3) This shall be done at the beginning of each of its ordinary sessions, when credentials are examined.

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