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Proposed amendment to IAP Constitution

4/29/2020

Proposal to amend IAP Constitution Article 3.4 to be approved by the General Meeting


During the development of a new digital membership administration system the IAP Secretariat became aware of some inconsistencies in the separation of powers in the processing of refusals of admission to membership of the Association. This motivated the Secretariat to submit a draft amendment of Article 3.4 for discussion by the Executive Committee during their 49th meeting which due to the Corona virus COVID-19 Outbreak was convened through a digital consultation in the first week of April 2020.

During the digital consultation, the Committee agreed to recommend to the membership an amendment of Article 3.4 of the IAP Constitution to allow for a clearer separation of powers and, as part of this, an introduction of a two-instance appeal system.

The IAP Constitution Article 3.4 currently reads:

“An application for individual membership may be refused if in the opinion of the Executive Committee, on referral of the matter to it by the Secretary-General, the admission to membership of the applicant would be inconsistent with or otherwise detrimental to the achievement of the objects of the Association. Appeal against the refusal may be made to the Conflict Committee by lodging a notice of appeal, setting out the grounds on which it is based, with the Secretary-General, who shall submit it to the Conflict Committee for decision.”

Proposal: To replace the existing provision with the following version:

“An application for individual membership may be refused if in the opinion of the Secretary General, the admission to membership of the applicant would be inconsistent with or otherwise detrimental to the achievement of the objects of the Association. Appeal against the refusal may be made within two months of being informed of the refusal to the Executive Committee by setting out the grounds of the appeal. The notice of the appeal is to be provided to the Secretary-General who shall submit it to the Executive Committee for their decision.  An appeal against the decision made by the Executive Committee may be made to the Conflict Committee within two months of being informed of the decision of the Executive Committee by written notice to the Secretary-General, who shall submit it to the Conflict Committee for final decision.”