Constitution of WFCMS

Constitution of WFCMS

CONSTITUTION OF THE WORLD FEDERATION
OF CHINESE MEDICINE SOCIETIES
CHAPTER1 GENERAL RULES
Article 1

The name of the organization is World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies and its abbreviation is WFCMS.

Article 2

WFCMS is an international non-profit academic organization formed by Chinese medicine societies of various countries (and regions) on a volunteer basis.

Article 3

The objectives of the organization are to promote the understanding and cooperation among the academic groups of Chinese medicine world-wide, to strengthen the international academic exchanges, to improve the professional level of TCM personnel, to protect and develop Chinese medicine, to help Chinese medicine get into the mainstream of medical system of different countries, to propel exchanges and cooperation among Chinese medicine and other medicines in the world and to make greater contributions to the health of mankind.

Article 4

The general headquarter of the organization is in Beijing, China.

CHAPTER2 SCOPE OF ACTIVITY
Article 5

The scope of activity of the organization is as follows:

To work out and publicize the international professional standard related to Chinese medicine, by which to push forward its healthy development in countries (or regions) of the world.
To promote international exchange and cooperation among the organizations of Chinese medicine and with seminars, symposiums, exhibitions, information consultation and service, and publications to improve the academic level of Chinese medicine and help to bring about cooperation in scientific research and medical treatment.
To give publicity to the unique advantages of Chinese medicine and expand its influence internationally, and explore into the current situation of Chinese medicine in various countries and its way to get access to the mainstream of medical system
To conduct international education and training of Chinese medicine with workshops, distance education and group consultation and qualification examinations to improve the quality and academic level of the professionals of Chinese medicine.
To conduct international medical exchange and cooperation, and learn from others’ strong points and advantage to raise the academic level jointly.
To be engaged in other activities related to the objectives of the organization.

CHAPTER3 MEMBERSHIP
Article 6

The organization is composed of member societies of Chinese medicine, senior and honorary members.

Article 7

Qualifications for joining the organization are as follows:
Society membership:

1.Society membership:

         ⑴Any member society shall apply for a membership voluntarily with promise to observe the Constitution and work actively within the organization.
         ⑵ Any registered society in a country (or region) formed by relevant people who have been engaged in Chinese medicine treatment, research, education and exploration and application of Chinese medicine.
         ⑶ Any society of Chinese medicine that has a history for more than one year and with more than 30 members can be the member of the organization. (If the number of members is less than 30 because of lack of TCM professionals in that country or region, the case will be settled as the organization sees fit.
         ⑷ The society of Chinese medicine has to have its constant name and office.
         ⑸ The society of Chinese medicine has to have its own constitution which tallies with the related law and status of its own country or region.
         ⑹ The society of Chinese medicine has to have its funds.
         ⑺ The members of any society of Chinese medicine intending to join the organization shall have one of the following qualifications:
                1)They are either registered or licensed practitioners of Chinese medicine or herbal pharmacists in their own countries (or regions).
                2)They are licensed practitioners of Chinese medicine or herbal pharmacists in their former countries (or regions) where Chinese medicine is legalized and then they have moved to the countries (or regions) where Chinese medicine is not legalized.
                3)They are registered doctors or pharmacists of Western medicine who have received systematic training of Chinese medicine (or acupuncture), and at present they are practicing Chinese medicine or integrated Chinese and Western medicine.

2. Senior member:
A senior member denotes an individual who has applied for the membership with his own name, especially approved by the WFCMS and who has worked in the field of Chinese medicine or integrated Chinese and Western medicine for more than 30 years with outstanding success and prestige in his own country (or region), and who has made significant contributions to the development and international dissemination of Chinese medicine.
3. Honorary member:
An honorary member denotes the professional or non-professional people who have been conferred the honor title from the WFCMS as their deep devotion to Chinese medicine and contributions made to the development of Chinese medicine. With international higher prestige, he has worked hard for the development of the organization.

Article 8

Procedure for joining the organization: Anyone who intends to join the organization shall hand? in a written application to the 1.secretariat and submit the following documents:

               ⑴ To fill out the application form and hand in the resume of the chief, deputy-chief and secretary-general (their bareheaded photos enclosed)
                ⑵ To supply a list of all its members (each member with his bareheaded photo enclosed)
                ⑶ To surrender a copy of its registration form
                ⑷ Anyone who wants to apply for a senior or honorary membership shall fill out a form related to his or her outstanding achievements
                ⑸ To pay the registration fee once only (including the cost of production)
         2. After a preliminary investigation by the secretariat, the application is submitted to the executive council for review. Membership would be granted by a single majority of vote or correspondence vote of the executive council.
3. All kinds of the membership certificate are issued by the general headquarter and renewed every four years.
"Society Member of the WFCMS"is written on the cover at the conspicuous place of a membership certificate, while the seal of the WFCMS is affixed on the certificate. The certificate is renewed every four years.

Article 9

When any other group inconsistent with Article 7 (e.g. non-professional group of Chinese medicine but with activity of Chinese medicine)　wants to join the organization, admission shall be based on a 2/3 majority of vote of the council.

Article 10

The society membership and senior members enjoy the following rights, while the honorary members enjoy the rights from 4,5,6:

To have the right to select deputies based on the quota to attend the general assembly
To have the right to vote and to stand for election
To raise criticism, suggestion and have the right of supervision
To have priority to participate in the world academic conference on Chinese medicine, symposiums or other events sponsored by the organization, and enjoy preferential treatment
To have the regular communicating channels with the WFCMS and priority to get update information and other materials of the organization
To join or withdraw from the organization on a volunteer basis

Article 11

Obligations:

To observe the Constitution of the organization, actively participate in the events sponsored by the organization, perform the work assigned, carry out the resolutions of the organization and uphold unity
To strive for the legal status of Chinese medicine in his own country, safeguard the just rights and international prestige of the organization
To raise suggestions and comments, to report its work and supply related information to the organization

Article 12

Any member who wants to withdraw from the organization shall submit a written application and the matter is decided by the chairpersons meeting (or correspondence meeting). The membership certificate shall be cancelled and the dismissed status shall be made public on the web page of the organization.

Article 13

Membership shall be terminated for one of the following reasons, and the dismissed status shall be made public on the web page. Termination of membership shall be decided by the executive council by a single majority of vote.

Failure to take part in the events sponsored by the organization for two years
Failure to fulfill the obligations
Serious violation of the Constitution of the organization or engaged in activities against the objectives of the organization

CHAPTER4 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, ELECTION, RECALL AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION AND LEADING STRUCTURE
General Assembly
Article 14

The WFCMS has a chairperson, vice-chairpersons, members of the executive council and council and the general assembly. The highest authority is the general assembly of the organization.

Article 15

Distribution of the quota of deputies:
The number of deputies of the general assembly is related to the society‘s actual number listed in its registration form at the secretariat of the organization. One deputy is elected when the society has less than 100 members, two deputies for 101-500 members, three deputies for 501-1000 members, four deputies for 1001-2000 members, five deputies for 2001-5000, six deputies for 5001-10000 members. The maximum is 6 deputies for each society. The number of the society must be consistent with the member registration form submitted to the secretariat. The senior and honorary members can be deputies, but they are not in the quota of deputies. Ten is the maximum and they are recommended by the previous chairperson.

Article 16

The participants of the general assembly are the regular, specially invited and non-vote deputies. It shall be held only when over 1/2 deputies are present and the resolutions are only valid when they are passed by a single majority of vote.

Article 17

The general assembly is elected for a term of four years. It shall be held together with the world academic conference on Chinese medicine. On special cases the general assembly can be convened before or after the due date, and the decision has to be made by vote of the executive council, and?? no more than one year for the delayed general assembly is permitted.

Article 18

Any member society that intends to host the next general assembly shall submit a written application with the suggested place of the meeting to the organization three months before the coming general assembly and fill out the application form, and on the present session of the general assembly it shall state its reasons. By vote of the deputies the place of the next general assembly shall be confirmed and publicized. An agreement shall be signed with the secretariat of the WFCMS. When there are two or more societies apply for hosting the next general assembly the one that gets the majority of vote wins. If it fails to host the meeting, the applied member society is required to present a written report to the organization one year before the meeting.

Article 19

Functions of the General Assembly:

To draw up or revise the Constitution
To review the working and financial reports of the council
To elect the members of the council and executive council, vice-chairpersons and chairperson, and engage the honorary positions
To review the working plan of the present council
To review other necessary matters

Council and Executive Council
Article 20

The council and executive council are the standing organs and leading body when the general assembly is not in session. The council is responsible for the general assembly. The council has its session every two years, and the executive council has its session every year. For emergency cases the council and executive council may call a special meeting or a correspondence meeting. The date and place to hold the council and executive council meeting are decided by the chairpersons meeting.

Article 21

The council is made up of the following persons:
One chairperson, 16 vice-chairpersons (including the secretary-general and treasurer), about 49 members of the executive council (including the chairperson and vice-chairpersons), about 100 members of the council (including the members of the executive council) for a term of 4 years.

Article 22

The candidates for the chairperson, vice-chairpersons, executive council members and council members, chief and deputy-chief supervisors of the board of supervision and its executive members are nominated by the previous chairperson with consideration of a balanced distribution of continent, society, profession and age, and then elected by the general assembly by single-candidate election.? The election is valid only when they are passed by a single majority of vote. The members of the first council are decided through consultation with the founding members.

Article 23

The council is elected every 4 years and all the members can be reelected, but three terms of office are the maximum. The members may not exceed the age of 70. Anyone who needs to prolong his term for special reasons shall be nominated by the chairpersons meeting and approved by the council meeting with vote by ballot.
When the position of vice-chairperson, executive council and council members become vacant, the proposed name list is put forward after deliberations with the continent. The candidates are decided by the chairpersons meeting (or correspondence meeting) by vote and then they are adopted by vote at the executive council meeting once every year and confirmed at the council meeting once every two years.

Article 24

The council meeting can be legally held only if the attendance of the deputies reaches the quorum of a single majority, and the resolutions are valid when they are passed by a single majority of vote.

Article 25

Qualifications for the council members:

He must be a member of his society or a senior member of the WFCMS with higher prestige in the organization and in the country (or region), and concern much about development of Chinese medicine. He must actively work for the organization with dedication, with open-up spirit and financial strength.
He must be younger than 70 years old.
He is in good health to carry out the task.

Article 26
Functions the council:

It performs the functions of the general assembly when it is not in session.
The council meeting shall be held between two sessions of the general assembly. Its task is as follows.

1)To review the report of work done in the previous two years and the working plan of the latter two years

2)To make a part adjustment of the personnel

Article 27

Functions and power of the executive council:

To implement the resolutions of the general assembly and council meeting
To discuss and decide the annual working plan and other important matters (e.g. convening the general assembly before or after the due date, or prolonging the terms of the council members etc).
To hold a by-election for the vacant position of the vice-chairperson, executive council and council members
To decide admission of new members or termination of membership
To decide to set up professional committees

Chairmen Meeting
Article 28

For important matters the chairperson may call and preside the chairpersons meeting at any time (the chairperson, vice-chairpersons, secretary-general and treasurer participating the meeting). When necessary, a correspondence meeting may be called.

Article 29

Functions and power of the chairpersons meeting:

To be in charge of the routine work of the WFCMS and implement the resolutions of the general assembly, executive council and council
To nominate the candidates for the honorary chairperson, vice-chairpersons, executive council members, council members, chief supervisor and deputy-chief supervisors and members of the board of supervision
To decide important matters of the routine work , e.g. withdrawal from the organization, place to hold the executive council meeting or council meeting, special meeting and symposium
To appoint the deputy-secretary-generals, members of the advanced specialist advisory committee and consultative committee
to exercise leadership of the secretariat

Article 30

When a vacancy occurs in the presidency, the position shall be filled by one of the vice-chairpersons on the suggestion of the executive council until a new chairperson is elected.

Article 31

Functions and power of the chairperson:

To call and preside the chairpersons meeting , executive council and council meetings
To review the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the general assembly or council meeting
To sign important documents on behalf of the organization

Article 32

The vice-chairpersons assist the chairperson with his task. When a position becomes vacant, the nomination is raised by the chairpersons meeting and approved by the executive council meeting, confirmed by the council meeting.

Article 33

The chairperson or one of the vice-chairpersons or the secretary-general, or treasurer can be the legal representative according to actual conditions.

Board of Supervision
Article 34

The board of supervision is an inside supervisory organ which exercises its rights as to supervise the leaders, secretariat, member societies and individual members of the organization, and make disciplinary proposals for those (societies or individuals) who have violated the Constitution or resolutions.

Article 35

The board of supervision is made up of 17-21 persons, i.e. one chief supervisor, 5-7 deputy-chief supervisors and 10-15 executive members. They have the right to attend the council meeting as observers. The deputy-chief supervisors have the right to attend the executive meeting as observers and the chief supervisor has the right to attend the chairpersons meeting as an observer. All of them can state their views on the meeting, but they have no right to vote.

Article 36

Qualifications for the members of the board of supervision:

His organization must be a member of the WFCMS or he, himself is a senior member of the WFCMS.
They are not the council members of the WFCMS.

Secretariat
Article 37

The secretariat is subordinated to the council.

Article 38

The secretariat takes care of the routine work when the general assembly is not in session. It has one secretary-general, several deputy-secretary-generals.

Article 39

The secretary-general takes care of the routine work of the secretariat. When the position of the secretary-general becomes vacant, a temporary secretary-general shall be nominated by the chairperson, and when he is approved by the executive council, the nominated secretary-general takes his position until a new secretary-general is elected.

Article 40

Functions and power of the secretary-general:

To take charge of the routine work and accomplish the annual working plan
To coordinate the work of all the supporting service organs
To nominate deputy-secretary-generals, members of the advanced specialist advisory committee and consultative committee
To decide employment of the office workers of the secretariat and the supporting service organs
To prepare draft work proposals and other important suggestions, and to formulate detailed regulations for approval by related meetings
Routine business administration

Article 41

The deputy-secretary-generals are classified into two categories: sole duty deputy-secretary-generals and sideline deputy-secretary-generals. The sole duty secretary-generals are nominated by the secretary-general and approved by the chairpersons meeting, but the sideline deputy-secretary-generals are engaged by the secretary-general when necessary.

Article 42

About the functions and power of the treasurer see Article 56.

Article 43

The secretariat performs its duties based on the requirements of the international academic organizations.

CHAPTER5 HONORAY POSITIONS
Article 44

Those who have made great contributions to the set-up and development of the organization are engaged as the honorary positions, such as honorary chairperson, honorary vice-chairpersons, honorary executive council members and honorary council members.

Article 45

The honorary positions are nominated by the secretariat and approved by the chairpersons meeting (or correspondence meeting) for 4 years and they can be re-engaged.

CHAPTER6 ADVANCED SPECIALIST ADVISIORY COMMITTEE、
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND SPECIALLY ENGAGED POSITIONS
Article 46

The organization has an advanced specialist advisory committee, the members of which are nominated by the secretariat and approved by the chairpersons meeting.? Its members , vice-chairpersons and chairperson have the right to attend the council meeting, executive council meeting and chairpersons meeting respectively as observers.

Article 47

The organization has a consultative committee, the members of which are nominated by the secretariat and approved by the chairpersons meeting. Its members, vice-chairpersons and chairperson have the right to attend the council meeting, executive council meeting and chairpersons meeting respectively as observers.

Article 48

For smooth performance of work the organization has the specially engaged positions which are nominated by the secretariat and approved by the chairpersons meeting (or correspondence meeting). Its term is 4 years and they can be re-engaged.

CHAPTER7 FUNDS MANAGEMENT AND USE PRICIPLES

Article 49

Funds raising sources:

Member fee, individual, social and group donations
Government support
Income from activity or service provided by the organization
Interests
Other legal revenues

Article 50

The council members who do not involve in the routine work serve without pay.

Article 51

The organization has a strict financial management system to assure the legality, truth, accurateness and completion of the accounting documents.

Article 52

The organization has full-time accounting personnel and they are not permitted to serve as cashiers. The accountants must experience accounting assessment and supervision. When they transfer to another jobs or resign a handing over procedure must be completed.

Article 53

The financial management of the organization accords with the requirements of the national financial management system and it is supervised by the general assembly and government financial department. Funds from the financial allocations or social donations shall be audited, and the result of the audit shall be publicized to the general assembly and society.

Article 54

In each year and before the expiration of the term of office or change of the official representative, an independent audit shall be completed.

Article 55

The assets and funds of the organization can never be embezzled, illegally allotted or diverted.

Article 56

Functions and power of the treasurer:

To be in charge of the assets, materials and management of funds to guarantee the smooth functioning of the organization
To make a draft budget and final accounts and submit them to the executive council or general assembly for approval
To formulate the detailed regulations of the revenue and expenditure and supervise and check up the items of revenue and expenditure

CHAPTER8 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Article 57

In the process of amendments to the Constitution suggestions are raised by the secretariat and approved by the executive council. Then it is submitted to the general assembly to put to vote.

CHAPTER9 WORLD ACADEMIC CONFERENCE ON CHINESE MEDICINE
Article 58

The world academic conference on Chinese medicine is held every four years sponsored by the organization. A symposium is held every year and seminars of the professional committee may be held when necessary.

Article 59

The world academic conference on Chinese medicine and the general assembly are held spontaneously, which will be undertaken by the same host. Symposium and the every year’s executive council meeting shall be held at the same time and undertaken by the same host. Any member society that intends to host a symposium or seminar shall make an application to the secretariat at least one year before the meeting, which shall be reviewed and approved by the chairpersons meeting and secretariat.

Article 60

When a decision on the host is made for the world academic conference or symposium on Chinese medicine, the conference chairperson of that society shall be elected to carry out the preparatory work, and the conference chairperson has the right to attend the executive council meeting as an observer.

CHAPTER10 TERMINATION PROCEDURE AND
AFTERMATH FINAACIAL MANAGEMENT

Article 61

A termination motion shall be raised by the chairpersons meeting when the organization has fulfilled its mission or disbands by itself, or splits or merges into another institution.

Article 62

The termination motion shall be approved by the executive council and the general assembly by vote.

Article 63

Before the termination of the organization, a clearing department shall be set up by the council to clear up liabilities and deal with the aftermath, during which other functions are suspended.

Article 64

The registration of the organization at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, PRC, shall be nullified after the termination procedure is completed.

Article 65

The surplus funds of the organization after termination shall be used to aid other activities related to the objectives of the organization according to the decision of the council.

CHAPTER11 SUPPLEMENTARY RULES
Article 66

The present Constitution is valid on September 25, 2003 when it was adopted by the general assembly by vote.

Article 67

The final right of interpreting the Constitution belongs to the council. Matters not mentioned in the Constitution are to be decided by the council, and they shall be passed by vote on the next general assembly.

Article 68

Chinese and English are the working languages of the organization.

Article 69

The Constitution is written in Chinese and English and both texts are equally authentic.