ICOM Statutes

Adopted by the 16th General Assembly of ICOM (The Hague, The Netherlands, 5 September 1989) and amended by the 18th General Assembly of ICOM (Stavanger, Norway, 7 July 1995)

Article 1 - Name and Legal Status

1. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is the international non-governmental organization of museums and professional museum workers established to advance the interests of museology and other disciplines concerned with museum management and operations.

2. ICOM consists of its members acting cooperatively in National and International Committees and Affiliated and Regional Organizations, assisted by its Secretariat.

3. The Registered Office and Secretariat of ICOM shall be at such place as the General Assembly, with the approval of UNESCO, may decide. ICOM shall take such steps as are necessary and appropriate to obtain such privileges and benefits as may be available under the law of the land where the ICOM registered office and Secretariat are located.

Article 2 - Definitions

1. A museum is a non-profit making, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, and open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment.
(a) The above definition of a museum shall be applied without any limitation arising from the nature of the governing body, the territorial character, the functional structure or the orientation of the collections of the institution concerned.
(b) In addition to institutions designated as "museums" the following qualify as museums for the purposes of this definition:
(i) natural, archaeological and ethnographic monuments and sites and historical monuments and sites of a museum nature that acquire, conserve and communicate material evidence of people and their environment;
(ii) institutions holding collections of and displaying live specimens of plants and animals, such as botanical and zoological gardens, aquaria and vivaria;
(iii) science centres and planetaria;
(iv) non profit art exhibition galleries; conservation institutes and exhibition galleries permanently maintained by libraries and archives centres.
(v) nature reserves;
(vi) international or national or regional or local museum organizations, ministries or departments or public agencies responsible for museums as per the definition given under this article;
(vii) non-profit institutions or organizations undertaking conservation, research, education, training, documentation and other activities relating to museums and museology;
(viii) cultural centres and other entities that facilitate the preservation, continuation and management of tangible or intangible heritage resources (living heritage and digital creative activity)
(ix) such other institutions as the Executive Council, after seeking the advice of the Advisory Committee, considers as having some or all of the characteristics of a museum, or as supporting museums and professional museum personnel through museological research, education or training.

2. Professional museum workers include all the personnel of museums or institutions qualifying as museums in accordance with the definition in Article 2, para. 1, having received specialized training, or possessing an equivalent practical experience, in any field relevant to the management and operations of a museum, and independent persons respecting the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics and working for museums as defined above, either in a professional or advisory capacity, but not promoting or dealing with any commercial products and equipment required for museums and services.

3. A member of ICOM in good standing is a person or institution that has paid the annual subscription (and any arrears owing) by 1 April in the year to which the subscription relates.

4. A State is a self-governing country that is a member of the United Nations or any of its Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency or a party to the Statutes of the International Court of Justice.

Article 3 - Objectives and Powers of ICOM

1. The objectives of ICOM are:
(a) to encourage and support the establishment, development and professional management of museums of all kinds;
(b) to advance knowledge and understanding of the nature, functions and role of museums in the service of society and of its development;
(c) to organise co-operation and mutual assistance between museums and between professional museum workers in the different countries;
(d) to represent, support and advance the interests of professional museum workers of all kinds;
(e) to advance and disseminate knowledge in museology and other disciplines concerned with museum management and operations.

2. In pursuit of these objectives ICOM may do all such things as are legal, convenient and necessary to enable it to carry out its functions.

Article 4 - Languages

1. English and French shall be the official languages of ICOM, each of which has equal status and may be used by a member at any international meeting of ICOM.

2. The General Assembly may adopt further official languages provided the costs of doing so are met by the membership.

Article 5 - Relations with other Organizations

1. ICOM shall take such steps as are necessary to establish and maintain consultative and associate relations with UNESCO. It may also establish working relations with such other international organizations (including the United Nations Economic and Social Council, ICOMOS, ICCROM) as may be deemed appropriate from time to time.

2. The representatives of international organizations, with which ICOM has established relations may be invited to be represented at General Assemblies of ICOM.

3. At the specific request of the President in relation to a particular organization the Secretary-General shall:
(a) negotiate such working relations; and
(b) submit the terms of any proposed relations to the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee for approval.

Article 6 - Categories of Membership

1. The members of ICOM shall be assigned to the following categories:
(a) Individual Members
(b) Institutional Members
(c) Supporting Members
(d) Honorary Members
(e) Student Members

The admission of persons to the various categories of membership shall be in accordance with Article 7 (Individual, Institutional, Supporting and Student Members) and Article 8 (Honorary Members).

2. Individual Members shall be persons who are either:
(a) working full-time or part-time as professional museum personnel as defined in Article 2, para. 2 of these Statutes;
(b) former museum professionals who have retired; or
(c) within the limit of 10 per cent of the membership of a National Committee, other persons who because of their experience or because of professional services rendered to ICOM or to a programme of ICOM, or to a National or an International Committee, are deemed to be worthy of membership of ICOM.

3. Institutional Members shall be museums or other institutions complying with the definition of a museum set out in Article 2, para. 1 of these Statutes, or organizations to which museums belong or on which they are dependent.

4. Supporting Members shall be persons or institutions that support ICOM and its objectives because of an interest in museums and in international co-operation between museums.

5. Honorary Members shall be persons who have rendered exceptional services to the international museum cause or to ICOM.

6. Student members shall be persons admitted to this category of membership by a National Committee in accordance with guidelines established by the Executive Council. Student members shall have no right to vote or to be candidate for election to any office within ICOM.

Article 7 - Applications for Membership

1. With the exception of Honorary Members, all persons or institutions wishing to become members of ICOM shall make application in writing in the manner prescribed by the rules for the particular category of membership sought.

2. Applications for Individual, Institutional, Supporting and Student Membership may be sent to the Secretary-General or to the National Committee of the country of residence of the applicant (where such a Committee exists). Applications received by the Secretary-General will be submitted to the appropriate National Committee where one exists. Applications from persons seeking Individual Membership under Article 6, para. 2 (c) shall be accompanied by a statement in support of the application.

3. The National Committee in question shall consider all such applications and accept or reject them, solely on the basis of the criteria set out in Article 6, paras. (2), (3) and (4) and (6) and without discrimination of any kind, other than that prescribed in para. 5 of this Article.

4. In the event that there is no National Committee established in the country of permanent residence of an applicant, the application shall be referred to the Executive Council for decision.

5. Membership of ICOM shall not be available under any circumstances, to any person or institution (including its employees) that is dealing (buying or selling for profit) in cultural property including all works of art, natural and scientific specimens, taking into consideration national legislations and approved international conventions. The same disqualification applies to persons or institutions who are engaged in an activity which could cause a conflict of interest to arise.

6. Upon acceptance of an application and receipt of the annual subscription specified by a National Committee (or the Executive Council as the case may be) membership rights accrue to the member.

7. In the case of new members accepted by a National Committee, the name of the member, together with a copy of the member's application form and the annual subscription for the current year, shall be forwarded to the ICOM Secretariat as soon as possible.

8. Upon receipt by the ICOM Secretariat of the details of admission of a new member and the annual subscription for the current financial year, the member shall be supplied as soon as practicable with proof of membership and such other services as are provided to members.

9. If an application for membership of ICOM is rejected by the National Committee, the applicant may seek review of the decision by the Executive Council. Such requests shall be made in writing addressed to the Secretary-General, who shall seek further information as seems appropriate before submitting the matter to the Executive Council. The Council's decision in any such review shall be final and not subject to further appeal.

Article 8 - Honorary Membership

1. Honorary Membership may be granted by the General Assembly, on the unanimous recommendation of the Executive Council to a person proposed by the Chairperson of a National Committee, the Chairperson of an International Committee, or a member of the Executive Council. Any such nomination must be accompanied by documentation outlining the nature of the exceptional services for which Honorary Membership is proposed.

2. Honorary Membership will be granted for life, and such members shall not be liable for any membership subscription. The number of living honorary members at any one time shall not exceed twenty.

Article 9 - Termination of Membership

1. The membership of an Individual or Institutional Member shall cease if any of the following circumstances apply:
(a) the member resigns in writing;
(b) the member having been notified by regular post of the annual subscription payable, fails to pay the subscription within one year of the due date;
(c) the member has ceased to be qualified for membership of ICOM by virtue of a change in professional status;
(d) the Executive Council, acting on a recommendation of a National Committee or in exceptional circumstances on its own initiative, terminates the membership of a member for serious reasons relating to professional ethics or to actions which are substantially inconsistent with the objectives of ICOM.

Article 10 - Annual Subscriptions

1. Each Individual, Institutional and Supporting Member of ICOM shall pay an annual subscription at a rate determined each year by the Executive Council under Article 22, para. 1 (g).

2. The annual subscription shall cover the period of the calendar year (1 January to 31 December) and shall be due and payable not later than 1 April in that year to the National Committee to which the Member belongs, or where no such Committee exists, to the Secretariat.

Article 11 - Membership Rights

1. Individual, Institutional and Supporting Members in good standing shall be entitled:
(a) to attend and participate in the General Conference of ICOM;
(b) to attend and participate in the General Assembly of ICOM;
(c) to participate in the activities of the National Committee of their country of residence;
(d) to participate in the activities of one or more International Committees of their choice;
(e) to receive any newsletters or other publications issued free to members;
(f) to make use of the services of the UNESCO-ICOM Museum Information Centre ¹;
(g) to receive an ICOM membership card and an annual sticker on payment of the subscription for each successive financial year (three cards and three stickers in the case of Institutional Members).

2. Individual Members in good standing are entitled to seek election:
(a) as Chairperson of the Advisory Committee;
(b) as President of ICOM or as a member of the Executive Council;
(c) as Chairperson or as a member of the Board of any National or International Committee of which they are voting members under Article 12, paras. 1 and 2;
(d) as Chairperson or as a member of the Board of a Regional Organization of which their National Committee is a member.

3. Institutional Members in good standing are entitled to designate persons who are professional museum workers to represent them in any National and International Committees of which they are members, and at the General Conference and General Assembly. Such persons need not be Individual Members of ICOM. The names of the designated representatives shall be conveyed to the Chairpersons or to the Secretary-General as the circumstances require, in writing signed by the head of the Institution concerned. Designated representatives of Institutional Members shall be entitled to seek election:
(a) as President of ICOM or as a member of the Executive Council;
(b) as Chairperson or as a member of the Board of any National or International Committee of which the Institution is a voting member under Article 12, paras. 1 and 2;
(c) as Chairperson or as a member of the Board of a Regional Organization of which their National Committee is a member.

4. Supporting members may not hold any office in ICOM.

5. Honorary Members shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges set out in para. 1 of this Article except that they will receive an ICOM membership card and sticker without payment of any fee. Honorary Members may not hold any office in ICOM.

Article 12 - Voting Rights

1. Each Individual or Institutional Member of a National Committee, if in good standing, may exercise a single vote in that Committee. The voting rights of an Institutional Member shall be exercised only by a designated representative of that member. The opinions or votes which a person is called upon to cast shall not bind the institution or the administration to which the person belongs.

2. An Individual or an Institutional Member in good standing may exercise a single vote in only one International Committee. At the time of joining an International Committee, a member shall indicate whether or not voting rights in that Committee are sought. All requests for voting rights in an International Committee shall be referred to the Secretary-General, who shall certify that the member holds no current voting rights in any other International Committee. The voting rights of an Institutional Member shall be exercised by a designated representative of that member. An Individual or Institutional Member with voting rights in an International Committee who is unable to attend a meeting of that Committee may appoint another voting member of that Committee as proxy for that meeting.

3. An Individual or Institutional Member in good standing may exercise a single vote at a General Conference of ICOM. The voting rights of an Institutional Member shall be exercised only by a designated representative of that member. No registered participant at such a Conference may dispose of more than one vote.

4. Voting rights of Individual and Institutional Members at the General Assembly are as prescribed in Article 19, para. 6 and in relation to the election of the Executive Council, are as prescribed in Article 27.

5. Supporting and Honorary Members are not entitled to vote, other than as individual registered participants at a General Conference of ICOM.

Article 13 - Component Elements of ICOM

1. The component elements of ICOM shall be:
(a) National Committees
(b) Regional Organizations
(c) National Correspondents
(d) International Committees
(e) Affiliated Organizations
(f) the General Assembly
(g) the General Conference
(h) the Advisory Committee
(i) the Executive Council
(j) the Secretariat
(k) the UNESCO-ICOM Museum Information Centre
(l) the ICOM Foundation.

Article 14 - National Committees

1. The National Committees are the fundamental units of ICOM, and the principal instruments of communication between ICOM and its members. A National Committee shall ensure the management of ICOM's interests within its State, represent the interests of its members within ICOM, including matters of a professional nature with which the National Committee is concerned, and contribute to the realization of ICOM's programmes.

2. A National Committee shall be the channel of communication between the members and ICOM headquarters, and shall in particular be responsible for:
(a) the promotion of membership of ICOM among professional museum workers and museums in that State;
(b) the provision of advice to the Advisory Committee, the Executive Council and the Secretary-General on any matter relevant to ICOM and its programmes;
(c) decisions on applications for Individual, Institutional and Supporting Membership of ICOM and their communication to the Secretariat;
(d) the designation of voting members for purposes of electing the Executive Council and for voting at the General Assemblies;
(e) the submitting of an Annual Report on its activities for the previous calendar year, to the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee;
(f) the collection of annual subscriptions on behalf of ICOM and their transmission to the Secretariat.

3. A National Committee shall be composed of all the members of ICOM resident in a State in which such a Committee has been established by the Executive Council. It shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure, which shall not be in conflict with any model rules for National Committees, prescribed under these Statutes.

4. If there is no National Committee in a State, an Individual Member resident in that State may, with the agreement of the National Committee of another State, and with the approval of the Executive Council, affiliate with that National Committee and participate in its affairs as if a resident of that other State.
Such affiliation will cease automatically should the number of members in the State of residence reach five.

5. A National Committee may be established in any State by the Executive Council, on receipt of a request in writing to the Secretary-General signed by at least five Individual or Institutional Members of ICOM resident in the State concerned.

6. Upon receipt of such a request, the Secretary-General shall inform all members of ICOM resident in the State concerned of the proposal, and invite their comments within thirty days. The Secretary-General shall transmit the request, together with any comments thereon from ICOM members resident in that State, to the Executive Council for decision.

7. If the Executive Council decides to establish a National Committee, the Secretary-General shall advise all the members resident in the State concerned, and shall designate one of the members to arrange and chair the first meeting of the Committee at which election of the Chairperson and members of the Executive Board shall take place and Rules of Procedure shall be adopted.

8. The Chairperson elected at the first meeting shall convey the minutes of the meeting to the Secretary-General at the earliest opportunity, together with a copy of the Rules of Procedure and the names and addresses of members of the Executive Board.

9. Where no National Committee already exists in a State, an Association representing museums and professional museum workers at the national level in that State may, upon making application in writing to the Secretary-General, receive from the Executive Council authorization to constitute itself as a National Committee of ICOM in that State. Such authorization will be given only where it has been demonstrated that the Association in question has a substantial proportion of its members who are also members of ICOM, and that the rules of the Association are not inconsistent with the Statutes of ICOM and with any model rules for National Committees prescribed under these Statutes.

10. Each National Committee shall elect its own Chairperson, and an Executive Board of not less than four persons (including the Chairperson). No person may serve as an ordinary member of the Executive Board for a continuous period of more than six years, unless subsequently elected as Chairperson or Vice- Chairperson. No person may serve as Chairperson or Vice- Chairperson for a continuous period of more than six years.

11. The Chairperson of each National Committee shall transmit a copy of the Committee's Annual Report for the preceding year to the Secretary-General, for submission to the Advisory Committee and Executive Council at their annual meetings. The Annual Report must be received by the Secretary-General at least six weeks before the date of the annual meetings.

12. Each National Committee shall hold a plenary meeting at least once a year at which the Executive Board shall present to the members an annual report on its activities and its financial position, and the Committee's programme shall be reviewed and endorsed.

13. The Executive Board shall be responsible for designating the persons who are to vote on behalf of the Committee in the election of the Executive Council and at the General Assembly.

14. Each National Committee shall establish links with the National Commission for UNESCO (where one exists) in the State in which it is established.

15. Each National Committee shall, whenever possible, establish relations with the Association or Associations representing the museum profession at the national level in that State.

16. The Executive Council may decide that the rights of a National Committee established under these Statutes shall be suspended if it is satisfied that the Committee is no longer functioning effectively.

17. The Executive Council may decide to withdraw recognition from a National Committee, either:
(a) on receipt of a request in writing supported by three quarters of the membership of the Committee, or
(b) where the Council receives conclusive evidence (and after consultation with the Committee) that the Committee in question has acted in flagrant violation of the Statutes or the Code of Professional Ethics of ICOM, and has not taken steps to correct the violation despite more than one warning of the possibility of withdrawal of recognition if the violation persists.

18. A National Committee under suspension may be re-activated by the Executive Council upon receipt of evidence that the matters giving rise to the suspension have been resolved and that the Committee is able to function effectively once again.

Article 15 - Regional Organizations

1. The Executive Council may, upon receipt of a request from three or more National Committees in a particular geographic region, accompanied by a recommendation in support from the Advisory Committee, agree to the establishment of a Regional Organization of ICOM. Such Regional Organizations shall be entitled ICOM, followed by the accepted designation of the geographic region in question, e.g., ICOM-Asia and the Pacific.

2. National Committees may apply to join a Regional Organization established for the geographic region of which their State is part. A National Committee's application for admission to membership of an ICOM Regional Organization shall be decided by the Executive Council after consultation with the existing or founding members of that organization and the Advisory Committee.

3. The objectives of an ICOM Regional Organization shall be to provide a forum for exchange of information and co-operation between National Committees, museums, and professional museum workers in the region for which they are established. They may at their own expense arrange conferences, produce newsletters or other publications and do all such other things as are necessary, or convenient, in pursuit of these objectives.

4. An ICOM Regional Organization shall be governed by an Executive Board, elected by the members at a meeting of the Organization. Each National Committee represented at the meeting shall be entitled to cast one vote. The Board shall consist of a Chairperson, and at least three other members. Any member of the Executive Council resident in the region, the President of ICOM, and the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall, ex officio, be members of the Board. The election of the first such Board for a newly established Regional Organization shall be conducted by the President of ICOM, or the President's designated representative. No person may serve as an ordinary member of the Executive Board for a continuous period of more than six years, unless subsequently elected as Chairperson. No person may serve as Chairperson for a continuous period of more than six years.

5. An ICOM Regional Organization shall establish Rules of Procedure for its activities not inconsistent with any model rules for Regional Organizations prescribed by the Executive Council under Article 28.

6. With the agreement of the Executive Council, the Secretary- General may provide such assistance to a Regional Organization in the conduct of its affairs as thought fit, including the appointment of a member of the ICOM Secretariat to be the Executive Officer of the Regional Organization, or the designation of a person resident in the region to carry out this function. The Executive Officer shall be responsible to the Executive Board of the Regional Organization, which shall accept responsibility for any costs incurred.

7. A Regional Organization may be dissolved or suspended by the Executive Council, on the advice of the Advisory Committee, for any of the following reasons:
(a) insufficient operational National Committees in the region to justify its continued existence;
(b) non-existent or insufficient activity;
(c) actions that are a serious violation of the Statutes or Code of Professional Ethics of ICOM.

8. A Regional Organization under suspension may be re- activated by the Executive Council upon receipt of evidence that the matters giving rise to its suspension have been resolved and that the Organization is able to function effectively once again.

Article 16 - National Correspondents

1. When there are members of ICOM resident in a State in which no National Committee exists, the Executive Council may designate a member of ICOM resident in that State to be the National Correspondent for that State, who shall be entitled to represent the members of ICOM in that State at the General Assembly and may attend as an observer meetings of the Advisory Committee and of any Regional Organization established covering the geographic region in which that State is located. A National Correspondent shall neither be entitled to vote at the General Assembly, nor in the election of the Executive Council.

Article 17 - International Committees

1. The International Committees shall constitute the principal instruments for the work of ICOM and for the realization of its programmes of activities. They shall be of an exclusively professional character.

2. An International Committee shall be a channel of communication between members of ICOM with similar professional interests, and it shall represent those interests to ICOM. In particular, it shall be responsible for:
(a) the development and implementation of ICOM's programme and of activities related to its specific mandate;
(b) the designation of voting members for purposes of electing the Executive Council members and for voting at General Assemblies;
(c) the submitting of an Annual Report on its activities for the previous calendar year to the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee;
(d) the provision of advice to the Advisory Committee, the Executive Council and the Secretary-General on any matter relevant to ICOM and its programmes.

3. An International Committee may be established by the Executive Council with a mandate covering a particular aspect of museology, of museum policy or practice, or one or more of the disciplines or professions concerned with museum management and operations. The Executive Council shall seek the views of the Advisory Committee before establishing a new International Committee. It shall be the exclusive right of the Executive Council to determine the precise areas which each International Committee shall cover, and to resolve any questions of overlap or duplication between the mandates of such Committees that may arise.

4. Each International Committee shall be composed of Individual Members or designated representatives of Institutional Members, who request membership of the Committee. It shall elect its own Chairperson and Executive Board, adopt its own Rules of Procedure which shall not be in conflict with any model rules for International Committees prescribed under these Statutes, and conduct its own activities. These may include:
(a) the holding of meetings;
(b) the production of newsletters and other publications;
(c) the consideration of matters by correspondence;
(d) collaboration with other professional organizations.
No person may serve as an ordinary member of the Board of an International Committee for a continuous period of more than six years, unless subsequently elected as Chairperson or Vice- Chairperson. No person may serve as Chairperson or Vice- Chairperson for a continuous period of more than six years.

5. An International Committee may be established on the initiative of the Executive Council, or upon the receipt in writing by the Secretary-General of a proposal outlining the subject matter proposed for the Committee and the reasons why it is considered necessary, signed by at least ten members of ICOM. When the Council proposes a new Committee, or upon receipt of such a request, the Secretary-General shall inform the Chairpersons of all other International Committees or Affiliated Organizations, inviting their comments on the proposal within sixty days. After the lapse of the 60-day period the Secretary- General shall submit the proposal together with any comments thereon, to the Advisory Committee for consideration.

6. The Secretary-General shall submit the proposal, together with any comments thereon from Chairpersons of the International Committees and Affiliated Organizations and any view expressed by the Advisory Committee, to the Executive Council for decision.
If the Executive Council decides to establish a new International Committee, the Secretary-General shall inform the members who made the proposal, and shall designate a person to arrange and chair the inaugural meeting of the Committee at which a Chairperson and an Executive board shall be elected and a set of Rules of Procedure adopted which shall not be in conflict with any model rules for International Committees prescribed under these Statutes. The Chairperson of the International Committee elected at the inaugural meeting shall convey the minutes of the first meeting to the Secretary-General at the earliest opportunity, together with a copy of the Rules of Procedure adopted and the names and addresses of the members of the Executive Board.

7. The Secretary-General shall inform the members of ICOM of the establishment of the new International Committee, of its mandate, and the names and addresses of its inaugural officers as soon as practicable after the inaugural meeting. Any member of ICOM in good standing shall thereafter have the right to become a member of that Committee, and may seek voting rights in accordance with Article 12, para. 2.

8. Only Individual Members and designated representatives of Institutional Members holding voting rights in an International Committee are eligible to vote on matters coming before that Committee, to stand for election as Chairperson or to the Board of the Committee or to be designated to vote on behalf of the Committee in the election of the Executive Council or at the General Assembly.

9. An International Committee shall meet in plenary session generally at least once a year, and in the years in which a General Assembly is held, at the time and place of the General Assembly. The board of each International Committee shall, when requested to do so by the Secretary-General, designate five persons, being Individual Members or designated representatives of Institutional Members of ICOM, to vote on its behalf at General Assemblies, and in the election of the members of the Executive Council. The Chairperson of each International Committee shall transmit an Annual Report on its activities for the previous calendar year to the Secretary-General for submission to the Advisory Committee and the Executive Council at their annual meetings. The Annual Report must be received by the Secretary-General at least six weeks before the date of the annual meetings.

10. The Chairperson of an International Committee shall inform the Chairperson of a National Committee established in a State if the International Committee decides to hold a meeting in that State.

11. An International Committee may establish such working groups as it considers necessary for the carrying out of its mandate.

12. An International Committee may be dissolved or suspended by the Executive Council, on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, for any of the following reasons:
(a) insufficient members to justify its continued operations; (b) non-existent or insufficient activity;
(c) repeated delays in the development and implementation of its programme;
(d) realization of the objectives of the Committee;
(e) actions that are a serious violation of the Statutes or Code of Professional Ethics of ICOM.

13. An International Committee in suspension may be re- activated by the Executive Council upon receipt of evidence that the matters giving rise to its suspension have been resolved and that the Committee is able to function effectively once again.

Article 18 - Affiliated Organizations

1. An International Organization composed of at least two- thirds of professional museum workers as defined in Article 2, para. 2, or of museums as defined in Article 2, para. 1 may apply to become an Affiliated Organization of ICOM.

2. Applications for affiliation shall be made in writing, addressed to the Secretary-General and accompanied by a copy of the Constitution and Rules of the Organization together with evidence as to the proportion of members who are professional museum workers or museums. The application shall set out the reasons why the Organization wishes to affiliate with ICOM.

3. Upon receipt of such an application, the Secretary-General shall inform the Chairpersons of all International Committees and Affiliated Organizations, inviting comments on it within sixty days. After the lapse of the 60-day period, the Secretary- General shall submit the application, together with any comments thereon, to the Advisory Committee for consideration.

4. The Secretary-General shall submit the application, together with any comments thereon from Chairpersons of International Committees or other Affiliated Organizations and any views expressed by the Advisory Committee, to the Executive Council for decision.

5. If the Executive Council decides to grant affiliated status to the Organization, it shall inform the Organization accordingly, with the request that at least one half of the members of the Organization become members of ICOM within one year of the date of the decision. In the event that less than one third of the members of the Organization are members of ICOM by the due date the affiliated status of the Organization shall lapse.

6. An Affiliated Organization shall have the right to be governed by its own constitution and rules, provided these rules are not in fundamental conflict with the Statutes of ICOM.

7. The affiliation of an International Organization may be terminated by the Executive Council, on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, for any of the following reasons:
(a) failure to maintain the required proportion of ICOM members;
(b) failure to maintain the required proportion of professional museum workers or museums among its members;
(c) non-existent or insufficient activity;
(d) actions that are a serious violation of the Statutes or Code of Professional Ethics of ICOM.

8. An International Organization whose affiliation has been terminated may re-apply for affiliation if the matters that resulted in termination of its affiliation have been resolved.

Article 19 - General Assembly

1. The General Assembly shall be the supreme policy-making body of ICOM. Its functions are to:
(a) adopt and, as necessary, amend the Statutes;
(b) approve the programme of ICOM for the following triennium;
(c) approve the budget for the following triennium;
(d) receive and adopt a report on ICOM's programme for the preceding triennium;
(e) receive and adopt the financial accounts for the preceding triennium;
(f) consider and decide upon matters referred to it by the Advisory Committee, the Executive Council and the General Conference;
(g) adopt such resolutions as it considers appropriate concerning matters relating to museums, museology and other subjects of interest to ICOM;
(h) give such directions to the Executive Council as it thinks necessary concerning the operations of ICOM;
(i) determine the time and place of the next General Assembly, and the theme of the next General Conference;
(j) adopt and amend as necessary its own Rules of Procedure and those of the General Conference.
The General Assembly's decisions shall be final and not subject to appeal.

2. All members of ICOM shall have the right to attend and participate in the General Assembly. Institutional Members may designate three persons to represent them at a General Assembly.

3. An Ordinary session of the General Assembly (and a General Conference) shall be held every three years, at a time and place and with a theme to be determined by the preceding General Assembly after considering any recommendations from the Advisory Committee and the Executive Council. In determining the place at which the next Assembly and Conference will be held, the General Assembly shall have regard to the desirability of meeting in the various regions, as well as the costs of doing so. The President or in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents, shall preside at each session of the General Assembly.

4. At least twelve months prior to the date of commencement of a General Assembly, the Secretary-General shall advise the Chairperson of each National Committee, International Committee and Affiliated Organization of the time and place of the General Assembly, and invite them to submit suggestions of items to be included on the Agenda. Any suggestions received shall be considered by the Executive Council which shall be responsible for drawing up the draft Agenda, and submitting it to the Advisory Committee at least six months prior to the Assembly for approval.

5. The President shall convene an Extraordinary session of the General Assembly of ICOM either:
(a) at the request of one third of the National Committees, or
(b) at the request of a majority of the members of the Executive Council.
An Extraordinary General Assembly shall take place at the location of the Secretariat of ICOM and shall be held within two months of the date of receipt of such request by the President.

6. The right to vote at sessions of the General Assembly and in the election of the Executive Council shall be exercised as follows:
(a) each National Committee shall have the right to designate five persons, being Individual Members or designated representatives of Institutional Members of ICOM who are members of that Committee, and including any members of the Advisory Committee or the Executive Council from the State concerned, to vote on its behalf on all matters coming before the General Assembly for decision;
(b) each International Committee shall have the right to designate five persons, being Individual Members or designated representatives of Institutional Members of ICOM who are voting members of that Committee, to vote on its behalf on all matters coming before the General Assembly for decision;
(c) each Affiliated Organization of which more than half the members are members of ICOM shall have the right to designate three persons, being Individual Members or designated representatives of Institutional Members of ICOM who are members of that Organization, to vote on its behalf on all matters coming before the General Assembly for decision. An Affiliated Organization of which less than one half the members are members of ICOM shall have the right to designate one such person to vote on its behalf;
(d) the Board of a National or International Committee or an Affiliated Organization shall have the right to designate another member of that Committee or Organization as proxy for a person designated to vote on its behalf under subpara. (a), (b) or (c) but unable to attend the Assembly.

7. The quorum of the General Assembly shall be constituted by designated voting members present, personally or by proxy, equal to two-thirds of the potential number of voting members, calculated on the basis of Article 19. para. 6. If this quorum is not reached, the General Assembly shall again be convened at the same place within twenty-four hours. Whatever the number of designated voting members then present, the deliberations of the General Assembly shall be valid. For the purposes of this Article, any Committee under suspension shall not be counted in calculating the quorum. A person who is designated as a voting member by more than one Committee or Organization shall be counted separately for each such Committee or Organization in establishing whether or not a quorum is present.

8. All matters considered at the General Assembly shall be decided by a simple majority of votes cast, except amendments to these Statutes which require a two-thirds majority (Article 29) and dissolution of ICOM which requires a three-quarters majority (Article 30).

Article 20 - General Conference

1. ICOM shall meet in General Conference every three years at the time and place of the Ordinary General Assembly. The General Conference shall be the forum for consideration and discussion of matters of a practical and theoretical nature concerning museology and museums and, in particular, matters relating to the theme of the Conference decided at the previous General Assembly. The Conference shall also receive and consider a report on the activities of ICOM for the preceding triennium, and its draft programme for the following triennium. The General Conference may propose such resolutions arising from its discussions as it thinks fit for consideration by the General Assembly.

2. Participation in the General Conference shall be open to all members of ICOM. Institutional Members may be represented by more than one person, but only one shall be the designated representative of that Member for voting purposes.

3. Individual Members, one designated representative of each Institutional Member, Supporting Members and Honorary Members registered as participants in a General Conference are each entitled to a single vote on matters coming before the General Conference for decision. No proxies may be given for the purposes of voting on matters at a General Conference. All matters at the General Conference shall be decided by a simple majority of votes cast.

Article 21 - Advisory Committee

1. The functions of the Advisory Committee are:
(a) to advise the Executive Council and the General Assembly on any matter relating to the policy, programme, procedures and finances of ICOM;
(b) to receive and approve the audited accounts for the preceding year, and the annual budget for the current year, presented by the Treasurer;
(c) to select the candidates for election to the Executive Council;
(d) to consider and advise on any proposed amendments to the Statutes of ICOM in accordance with Article 29;
(e) to do such other things as are required by these Statutes.

2. The members of the Advisory Committee shall be:
(a) the Chairpersons of National Committees or their appointed representatives;
(b) the Chairpersons of International Committees or their appointed representatives;
(c) the Chairpersons of Affiliated Organizations or their appointed representatives;
(d) the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee elected by the Advisory Committee from among the members of ICOM.

3. A person shall cease to be a member of the Advisory Committee:
(a) if the person ceases to hold the office of Chairperson of a National or International Committee or an Affiliated Organization of ICOM;
(b) in the case of the Chairperson, if the person becomes unable to perform the functions of the office, ceases to be a member of ICOM under Article 9 or resigns in writing addressed to the Secretary-General.

4. A member of the Advisory Committee (other than the Chairperson) may be represented by another member of ICOM at a meeting of the Committee, but no person may hold more than one such proxy. Such representatives must be appointed in writing by the member, and such an appointment may extend only for the duration of a particular meeting of the Committee. A representative appointed in this manner possesses all rights of the member during that meeting of the Committee including the right to vote.

5. The Advisory Committee shall at its meetings held in conjunction with the Ordinary General Assembly of ICOM, elect its Chairperson for a term of three years. A person elected to this position shall be an Individual Member of ICOM who may or may not be already a member of, or have served on, the Advisory Committee. A person may be re-elected once as Chairperson of the Advisory Committee. At least six months prior to the date of commencement of an Ordinary General Assembly, the Secretary- General shall write to the Chairperson of each National Committee, International Committee and Affiliated Organization seeking nominations for the position of Chairperson of the Advisory Committee. Nominations must be received by the Secretary-General no later than three months prior to that date. The Secretary-General shall communicate the names of candidates, together with such biographical data as they may choose to provide, to the members of the Advisory Committee, no later than two months prior to the date of commencement of the General Assembly.

6. The Advisory Committee shall be convened by the outgoing Chairperson immediately prior to the day of commencement of the General Assembly, and shall elect its next Chairperson by secret ballot on that occasion. The votes shall be counted by the Secretary-General, assisted by two scrutineers. The candidate receiving the most votes shall be declared elected, provided that the successful candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast. In the event that no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast, the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated and a further vote taken for the remaining candidates, and so on until one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast, who shall then be declared elected. The Chairperson-Elect will take up the position at the conclusion of the General Assembly and during the Assembly will be entitled to participate in the work and deliberations of the Advisory Committee as if already a member.

7. At its meeting following the close of the General Assembly, the Advisory Committee shall elect a Vice-Chairperson from among its number. The Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in the business of the Advisory Committee, and may represent the Chairperson at a meeting of the Executive Council or of the Board of a Regional Organization, under a specific written delegation by the Chairperson in relation to a particular meeting or a particular Organization.

8. The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall:
(a) convene and preside over meetings of the Committee;
(b) be ex officio a member of the Executive Council;
(c) be the Elections Officer of ICOM for the purposes of Article 27;
(d) be ex officio a member of the Board of all Regional Organizations.
In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall preside over a meeting of the Committee.

9. If a vacancy arises in the office of Chairperson or Vice- Chairperson of the Advisory Committee, the Committee shall, at its first meeting thereafter elect one of its member to be Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson for the remainder of the term of the former Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson.

10. The Advisory Committee shall meet at least once each year in ordinary session in association with a meeting of the Executive Council. When a General Assembly is to be held, it shall meet in ordinary session during the days preceding a session of the Executive Council at least six months prior to the General Assembly, at which session the candidates for election to the Executive Council shall be elected. It shall also meet immediately prior to and at the close of each General Assembly.

11. An extraordinary session of the Advisory Committee may be held at the request of the Executive Council or of one quarter of the members of the Advisory Committee, conveyed in writing to the chairperson, who shall forthwith convene a meeting for a date not later than two months after the request is received. Such Extraordinary sessions shall be held at the place where the ICOM Secretariat is located.

12. Members of the Executive Council, Chairpersons of Regional Organizations and any National Correspondents designated under Article 16 shall have the right to attend sessions of the Advisory Committee as observers. They shall have the right to speak but not to vote.

13. The quorum for a meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be 50% of the membership present in person or by proxy. If this quorum is not reached the Advisory Committee shall again be convened at the same place within twenty-four hours. Whatever the number of members then present, the deliberations of the Advisory Committee shall be valid. The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee and the Chairpersons (or their appointed representatives) of the National and International Committees and Affiliated Organizations, may each exercise one vote. A person who holds more than one position as Chairperson may vote on behalf of each such Committee or Organization. Matters shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee may exercise a casting vote.

13a. If a matter that has been discussed at a meeting of the Advisory Committee cannot be decided at that meeting because of the need for further study or information, the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee may subsequently submit the matter to the members of the Committee for decision out of session. In these circumstances, the proposal will be submitted to the members of the Committee in writing, specifying a date by which a response must be received. Voting may be by post, by facsimile, or by e-mail and the matter shall be decided by a simple majority of those whose votes are received by the specified date.

14. The Advisory Committee may request from the Executive Council or the Secretary-General, and shall be provided with, papers on any matter relating to ICOM, except for matters of a personal nature. The Committee may establish working groups comprised of one or more of its own members, one of whom shall be designated as Convenor, together with such other members of ICOM as it deems appropriate, to consider and report on it on any matter relating to ICOM.

Article 22 - Executive Council

1. The functions of the Executive Council are to:
(a) take such action as is necessary to give effect to the decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly;
(b) ensure that the approved programme of ICOM is carried out efficiently and effectively and in accordance with the approved budget;
(c) ensure that all significant matters relating to the policies, programmes and procedures of ICOM are referred to the Advisory Committee for consideration and advice;
(d) consider and take such action as is necessary to give effect to any proposals or recommendations from the Advisory Committee;
(e) maintain general oversight of and, as appropriate, co- ordinate the work of National Committees, International Committees and Affiliated Organizations;
(f) specify the number of International Committees which an Individual Member may join;
(g) determine the annual rate of subscriptions for each of the categories of membership;
(h) make such decisions and take such action (including decisions and actions that, under these Statutes, are the prerogative of the General Assembly or the Advisory Committee) in cases of emergency between sessions of the General Assembly or the Advisory Committee as it deems necessary in the interests of ICOM. Any such decisions or actions must be advised to the relevant component of ICOM as soon as practicable thereafter, together with an account of the circumstances which necessitated the decision or action.

2. The Executive Council shall consist of sixteen members of ICOM of whom fifteen shall be elected by the designated voting representatives of National and International Committees and Affiliated Organizations for a three-year term. The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall, ex officio, be a member of the Executive Council. Of the fifteen members elected, four will be Officers and eleven Ordinary Members of the Council. The Officers shall be the President, two Vice-Presidents and the Treasurer. The ballot shall be conducted during the General Assembly in accordance with Article 27, and the results shall be announced at the Assembly. The mandate of the elected members of the Executive Council shall extend from the close of an ordinary session of the General Assembly to the end of the next ordinary session of the General Assembly.

3. A person may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms as an Ordinary Member of the Council but may subsequently be elected in the next consecutive term as an Officer of the Council. A person may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms as an Officer of the Council, whether in the same office, or in a different office. No person may serve more than four consecutive terms as an elected member of the Executive Council. A person who completes a period of two or more terms on the Executive Council in accordance with the above provisions is not eligible for re-election to the Council until at least one three-year term has elapsed. Persons who have ceased to be members of Council for at least one three-year term are eligible for election as if they had not previously been members.

4. The above provisions shall not preclude a person who has served one or more terms as Chairperson of the Advisory Committee being elected for the next consecutive term as an Officer or an Ordinary Member of the Council nor shall a person who has served one or more terms on the Executive Council be precluded from serving on the Council in the next consecutive term as the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee.

5. A member of Council shall cease to hold office if the member becomes unable to perform the functions of the office, ceases to be a member of ICOM under Article 9, or resigns in writing addressed to the Secretary-General.

6. If a vacancy arises in an Officer position on Council during the triennium, the Council shall fill the position from among its number and shall fill any other Officer positions arising as a consequence from among its number. If a vacancy arises in an Ordinary Member position on Council during the triennium and more than six months before the date of commencement of a General Assembly, the Council shall co-opt a member of ICOM to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. In filling the vacancy Council shall have regard to the geographical region from which the former member came. If a vacancy arises less than six months prior to the date of commencement of a General Assembly, the position shall remain vacant until filled by election at the General Assembly.

7. The Executive Council shall meet in ordinary session at least twice in each year. On the occasion of each General Assembly, one of those meetings shall be at the place where the General Assembly is to be held. Meetings of the Executive Council held in association with the General Assembly will include sessions immediately prior to and following the General Assembly, and such additional sessions during the Assembly as the President determines. At the meeting held immediately following the General Assembly the newly elected Executive Council members shall assume office.

8. The Executive Council shall meet in extraordinary session at the request of the President, or on receipt in writing for such a meeting from five or more of the elected members of the Council. On receipt of a request for an extraordinary session of the Council, the President shall make the necessary arrangements forthwith and such meeting shall be held within thirty days of the date of receipt of the request.

9. A Member of the Executive Council who is unable to attend a meeting of the Council may appoint as proxy a person (not being another member of the Council) who is a member of ICOM. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall be valid only for the duration of the meeting in question. A proxy of a member shall, for the purposes of the meeting in question, have all the rights of the member including the right to vote. No person may be the representative of more than one member at a meeting of the Council.

10. The quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be seven members or duly appointed proxies provided at least five members of the Council are present in person. Matters shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting. Each member of Council shall have one vote. In the event of a tie, the President shall also have a casting vote.

11. A meeting of the Council may take place by simultaneous electronic communication between the members participating.

Article 23 - Officers of the Executive Council

1. The President of ICOM shall convene and preside over meetings of the General Assembly and of the Executive Council. In the intervals between sessions of the Executive Council, the President shall take such decisions and actions as seem to the President to be appropriate and necessary in the interests of ICOM. Any decisions or actions taken by the President in these circumstances shall be submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Council for ratification. The President shall represent ICOM in its dealings with States and with international organizations, in particular UNESCO, ICOMOS and ICCROM.

2. The Vice-Presidents shall assist and, as appropriate, deputize for the President. They may be allocated particular areas of responsibility by the President and, if the President is unable to perform the functions of the Presidency for any reason, one of the Vice-Presidents may act in place of the President, including convening and presiding over meetings of the Executive Council and the General Assembly.

3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the development and presentation of the triennial budget of ICOM at each General Assembly, and of a draft annual budget for each succeeding year at the annual meetings of the Advisory Committee and the Executive Council. The Treasurer shall regularly review the income and expenditure of ICOM and, as necessary, propose to the Executive Council such measures as are necessary to protect ICOM's financial position. The Treasurer shall arrange for ICOM's annual accounts to be audited by the person or organization appointed under Article 26, para. 5 and for the audited annual accounts to be submitted to the Advisory Committee for consideration and adoption. The Treasurer shall ensure that the audited accounts for the three years immediately preceding the General Assembly, together with any comments thereon by the Advisory Committee, are presented to the Assembly for adoption. The Executive Council may appoint a person, whether a member of ICOM or not, to assist the Treasurer.

Article 24 - Secretariat

1. The Secretary-General and the employees of ICOM shall together constitute the Secretariat.

2. The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the Executive Council, at such salary and on such conditions of employment as the Council may determine from time to time. The Secretary- General shall be employed on contract for a period not exceeding three years, but is eligible for reappointment. Any reappointment of the Secretary-General shall be considered by the Executive Council at least six months prior to the end of each term of appointment.

3. The Secretary-General of ICOM shall be its chief executive officer, and shall be responsible to the Executive Council for the efficient and effective administration of ICOM, and for the operations of the Secretariat. In day-to-day matters the Secretary-General shall be subject to direction by the President. The Secretary-General shall, subject to agreement of the Executive Council in relation to any positions specified in the rules, be responsible for the appointment and dismissal of Secretariat staff, whose conditions of employment (including job descriptions and salary grades) shall be set out in Staff rules, established in accordance with Article 28, para. 1.

4. The Secretary-General shall be responsible for:
(a) providing services to members;
(b) providing secretariat services to meetings of the Executive Council, the Advisory Committee and the General Assembly;
(c) preparing, realizing, evaluating and reporting on ICOM's programme of activities approved by the General Assembly;
(d) carrying out, under the Treasurer's direction, the financial operations of ICOM, including the payment of all accounts, the keeping of appropriate records, and the preparation of proper financial statements;
(e) facilitating the work of the International Committees;
(f) assisting the Secretariat of UNESCO in the realization of its programme.

5. The Secretary-General shall publish on a regular basis an information bulletin or newsletter in the official languages of ICOM which shall be sent to all members in good standing.

6. The Secretary-General may, with the approval of the Executive Council and in accordance with the approved programme and budget of ICOM, either on behalf of ICOM alone or in association with other international, national, public or private organizations, publish such other publications relevant to the work of ICOM as are required in such languages as are deemed appropriate.

7. The Secretary-General may make such publications available to members of ICOM and to other persons by sale or otherwise.

8. The Secretary-General shall be responsible for and maintain the UNESCO-ICOM Museum Information Centre, and shall provide such staff and financial resources as the Executive Council deems necessary for the operations of the Centre.

Article 25 - The ICOM Foundation

1. There shall be an ICOM Foundation established to support the work of ICOM. The General Assembly shall approve the Constitution and Rules of the Foundation, and any amendment thereto, which shall not be inconsistent with the Statutes of ICOM.

2. The President of the ICOM Foundation shall be invited to attend and participate in the work of the Executive Council, the Advisory Committee and the General Assembly, but shall have no right to vote.

Article 26 - Finance

1. The financial resources of ICOM shall be:
(a) the subscriptions payable by the members;
(b) the income derived from ICOM activities, including the sale of publications and the holding of conferences;
(c) grants, subventions, donations and legacies received from any source approved by the Executive Council;
(d) contributions received from the ICOM Foundation;
(e) payments made for services rendered by ICOM, or received under contracts (which shall be approved by the Executive Council) for the realization of specific projects and programmes.

2. The Executive Council shall be authorized to receive, obtain, borrow, hold and use, on behalf of ICOM, funds necessary for the realization of the statutory aims of ICOM.

3. The Treasurer shall have the power to receive grants, subventions, donations and legacies on behalf of ICOM, the acceptance of which has been approved by the Executive Council.

4. Expenditure of ICOM funds may be made only in accordance with the annual budget prepared by the Treasurer and approved by the Executive Council.

5. At its annual meeting each year, the Advisory Committee shall appoint a qualified person or organization as Auditor of ICOM at such rate of emolument as the Committee considers appropriate.

6. In any State where an officially constituted ICOM National Committee exists, a special bank account may be opened, with the approval of the Executive Council and in accordance with the laws of that State, for depositing funds which are the property of ICOM in that State but which are not freely transferable. Any such funds shall be expended only with the approval of the Executive Council. The Treasurer of ICOM shall give an annual accounting to the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee of the amount of these funds and of their use.

7. A National or International Committee shall not, without first obtaining approval of the Executive Council, enter into any contract or any legally binding agreement involving expenditure by ICOM, other than contracts and agreements that relate to its own activities and can be paid for from its own funds.

Article 27 - Election of Executive Council

1. The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall be the Elections Officer of ICOM and shall oversee the conduct of the elections and certify that the prescribed procedures have been followed.

2. The Secretary-General shall, at least three months prior to the meeting of the Advisory Committee at which the candidates for election to the Executive Council are to be selected, write to the Chairperson of each National Committee, International Committee and Affiliated Organization inviting nominations of persons (being Individual Members or designated representatives of Institutional Members of ICOM) as candidates for election as Officers and Ordinary Members of the Executive Council. Each nomination must be signed by persons other than the nominee.

3. Only nominations that are accompanied by brief biographical statements setting out the qualifications and experience of the person and by a signed statement from the person indicating willingness and ability to serve, will be considered by the Advisory Committee. The Secretary-General shall convey each such nomination to the Advisory Committee, together with a statement that the person is an Individual Member or the designated representative of an Institutional Member in good standing and is eligible for election as an Officer or Ordinary Member of Council in accordance with Article 22, paras. 3 and 4.

4. In selecting the list of candidates for election to the Executive Council, the Advisory Committee shall have regard to any views of the Executive Council, the National and International Committees and Affiliated Organizations as to the suitability of candidates for election as Officers of ICOM. The Advisory Committee will endeavour as far as practicable to ensure that candidates are representative of the geographical and professional interests of ICOM.

5. The Advisory Committee shall, by vote, select from among the persons nominated, no more than thirty names for inclusion in the list of candidates for election to the Executive Council. The list shall be drawn up in two parts. Part A shall include the names of candidates for election as Officers of the Council. Part B shall include the names of candidates for election as Ordinary Members of the Council. A candidate for one of the Officer positions shall not also be a candidate for election as an Ordinary Member of the Council.

6. (a) If a person who was selected by the Advisory Committee as a candidate for election as an Officer of the Council is subsequently unable to stand for election for any reason and there is no other candidate for that Officer position, the Executive Council shall, after consulting members of the Advisory Committee to the maximum extent practicable, select another member as a candidate for that position, provided that member is willing to stand for election;
(b) if a person who was selected by the Advisory Committee as a candidate for election as an Ordinary Member of the Council is subsequently unable to stand for election for any reason and if there are insufficient other candidates to ensure the election of eleven Ordinary Members, the Executive Council shall, after consulting the members of the Advisory Committee to the maximum extent practicable, select another member as a candidate for Ordinary Member, provided that member is willing to stand for election;
(c) in making selections of candidates under sub-paras. 6 (a) or 6 (b) the Executive Council shall have regard to the list of persons who were nominated for consideration by the Advisory Committee as potential candidates and to the results of voting on those nominations by the Advisory Committee at the meeting at which the candidates were selected;
(d) in the event that actions are taken by the Executive Council under sub-paras. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the Secretary-General will not be required to meet the time-limits set out in paras. 7 and 9 of Article 27.

7. The Secretary-General shall, not later than five months prior to the date of commencement of the General Assembly, write to the Chairpersons of National Committees, International Committees and Affiliated Organizations, advising them of the names of candidates listed by the Advisory Committee and inviting any Committee or Organization that will not be represented at the General Assembly to exercise its right to vote by mail.

8. A National Committee, an International Committee or an Affiliated Organization wishing to vote by mail shall inform the Secretary-General accordingly and shall ensure that the full names and addresses of the members designated in accordance with Article 19, para. 6 (a), (b) or (c) to vote on behalf of the Committee or Organization are received by the Secretary-General not later than three months prior to the date of commencement of the General Assembly.

9. The Secretary-General shall, not later than two months prior to the date of commencement of the General Assembly, send to each such designated voting member a ballot paper bearing the list of names of candidates both for election as Officers of the Council (Part A) and as Ordinary Members of the Council (Part B), together with the brief biographical statements setting out their qualifications and experience that accompanied their nominations.

10. The Secretary-General shall in a notice accompanying the ballot paper specify the method by which the ballot paper is to be completed. The ballot paper, the biographical statements and the notice shall be accompanied by an envelope (on which are printed the words "Executive Council Election" and the name of the relevant National or International Committee, or Affiliated Organization) in which the completed ballot papers must be placed and sealed before being placed in a postal envelope addressed to the Secretary-General.

11. The completed ballot papers must be received by the Secretary-General at least one week prior to the date of commencement of the General Conference in order to be counted as valid. The postal envelopes shall be opened by the Secretary- General in the presence of one or more other persons, and the sealed printed envelopes shall be marked with the date of receipt and initialled by the Secretary-General.

12. Any such ballots received by post shall be handed by the Secretary-General in their sealed printed envelopes to the Elections Officer at the commencement of the General Assembly.

13. A National or International Committee or an Affiliated Organization may, up to the opening day of the General Conference, cancel the votes cast by mail ballot, if the Committee or Organization concerned will be represented at the General Assembly. In such case, evidence in writing that the Board of the Committee or Organization in question has resolved to seek cancellation of the postal votes, and has designated persons to vote on its behalf at the General Assembly in accordance with Article 19, para. 6, must be received by the Secretary-General prior to the opening day of the Conference. Upon receipt of such evidence, the Secretary-General shall hand the sealed envelopes containing the ballots from that Committee or Organization together with the evidence of cancellation to the Elections Officer who shall forthwith destroy the ballot papers in the presence of witnesses.

14. The election of the Executive Council shall be conducted at the General Assembly by the Elections Officer, in accordance with the Rules of the General Assembly adopted under Article 28, para. 2. Only persons designated by National or International Committees and Affiliated Organizations in accordance with Article 19, para. 6, subparas. (a), (b) or (c) or their proxies designated under Article 19, para. 6, sub-para. (d) shall be entitled to cast a vote. All such designations must be submitted to the Secretary-General in writing, signed by the Chairperson of the Committee or Organization concerned. In the event of any dispute or uncertainty the Elections Officer shall have the absolute right to determine whether a person is entitled to vote or not and the decision shall not be subject to appeal.

15. The Elections Officer shall first open the sealed envelopes and add any votes received by mail to the votes cast at the General Assembly, and shall then examine all ballot papers to determine whether any are invalid through having been completed incorrectly.

16. The Elections Officer shall count the votes, assisted by two persons appointed by the General Assembly. Such persons shall be members of ICOM, but shall not be candidates for election, nor members of the Secretariat.

17. The valid votes shall be counted in the following manner:
(a) the votes for the Officer positions of the Council in Part A shall be counted first and for each Officer position the candidate with the most votes shall be declared elected;
(b) the votes for the Ordinary Members of the Council in Part B shall then be counted. The eleven candidates with the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected.

18. In the event of two candidates receiving an equal number of votes, the winner shall be determined by lot, conducted by the Elections Officer.

19. The Elections Officer shall announce the results of the election at the General Assembly, together with details as to:
(a) the number of valid votes cast;
(b) the number obtained by each candidate;
(c) whether any equality of votes was resolved by lot; and
(d) whether any votes were ruled to be invalid and if so, on what grounds.

20. The Secretary-General shall, as soon as practicable, convey the results of the election to all candidates in writing.

Article 28 - Rules of Application

1. The Executive Council shall adopt and may amend from time to time, after consultation with the Advisory Committee, such rules as are required to give effect to the provisions of these Statutes, other than the Rules of Procedure governing the General Assembly, the General Conference and the Advisory Committee.

2. The General Assembly and the Advisory Committee shall adopt, and may amend from time to time, their own Rules of Procedure. The General Assembly shall adopt, and may amend from time to time, the Rules of Procedure for the General Conference.

3. The Rules shall conform to these Statutes and neither limit nor extend:
(a) the powers of the members to exercise control over any matter specified under these Statutes as being a right or within the responsibility of the members; and
(b) the authority conferred by these Statutes on the General Assembly, the Advisory Committee and the Executive Council.

4. Any Rules in force on the date of adoption of these Statutes (except any part of them that is in direct contradiction with these Statutes) shall continue in force as if made under these Statutes until amended. The Council shall make, or review and amend as necessary, all rules necessary for the operation of ICOM within twelve months of the adoption of these Statutes. Any proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure for the General Assembly or the Advisory Committee shall be submitted to the relevant body for adoption or amendments as it deems appropriate.

5. Any rule or any amendment to a rule shall be communicated to the members as soon as possible after it is adopted or made.

6. A National Committee, or an International Committee, or an Affiliated Organization, or the Advisory Committee may ask the Executive Council to review a rule. Any such request shall be in writing addressed to the Secretary-General and shall set out the reasons why the review is considered necessary. The Executive Council shall undertake the review requested at the first available opportunity and shall advise the outcome of its review to the party requesting it as soon as possible thereafter. In the case of the Rules of Procedure governing the General Assembly or the Advisory Committee, any such proposal and the Executive Council's views on it shall be submitted to the relevant body for consideration and such action as it deems appropriate.

Article 29 - Application and Amendment of Statutes

1. These Statutes shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the General Assembly (but Article 22, para. 3 shall not operate so as to prevent the person who is elected as President of ICOM at the General Assembly at which these Statutes are adopted from serving two terms in that Office). They may be amended from time to time by the General Assembly in accordance with the procedures set out in this article.

2. A National Committee, an International Committee, or an Affiliated Organization, may propose amendments to these Statutes at any time. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing accompanied by a statement of the reasons why the amendment is considered necessary, to the Secretary-General, who shall refer the amendments to the next meeting of the Executive Council for comment.

3. The Secretary-General shall submit the proposed amendment, and the statement of reasons, together with any comments made by members of the Executive Council, to the next meeting of the Advisory Committee for consideration. If the Advisory Committee supports the proposed amendment, it shall advise the Secretary- General accordingly, who shall refer the proposal to the next General Assembly for decision.

4. If the Advisory Committee does not support the proposed amendment, it shall advise the Secretary-General accordingly, who shall inform the proposer; whereon the proposal shall lapse.

5. Amendments to these Statutes may also be proposed by the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee. Any amendments proposed by the Executive Council shall be submitted to the Advisory Committee for advice or comment.

6. The Secretary-General shall notify the Chairpersons of all National Committees, International Committees and Affiliated Organizations of any amendments supported by the Advisory Committee or proposed by the Executive Council at least sixty days prior to the date of commencement of the General Assembly.

7. Amendments submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with the above provisions shall require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast for adoption. If adopted, they shall become effective immediately, and the Secretary-General shall inform all National Committees, International Committees and Affiliated Organizations forthwith.

Article 30 - Dissolution

1. ICOM can be dissolved only by resolution of the General Assembly. The General Assembly may so resolve only if a written notice setting out the grounds for the proposed dissolution has been sent to all members at least six months prior to the date of commencement of the General Assembly. Any resolution to dissolve ICOM shall require a three-quarters majority of the total voting membership of ICOM in General Assembly as determined in accordance with Article 19, para. 6.

2. Any assets owned by ICOM at the time of dissolution shall be transferred, in consultation with UNESCO, to an organization having similar aims to those of ICOM.

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1. The designation "UNESCO-ICOM Museum Information Centre" replaces that of "UNESCO-ICOM Documentation Centre" as approved by the Advisory Committee (47th Session) and the Executive Council (71st Session) of ICOM in July 1990.