Constitutions
WORLD LEBANESE CULTURAL UNION
INGO Associated with the DGC-UN | Accredited at ECOSOC-UN
Bogota - April 22, 2019 | With Mexico City - February 2023 Amendments
BASIC CONSTITUTION
Article 1: Definitions
"Affiliate" or "Affiliated Organization" means a Legal Entity who is associated with the WLCU, but does not hold WLCU membership, is not registered with the WLCU and may not use the name or likeness of the WLCU without the express written consent of the WLCU.
"Arbitration Committee" means a committee composed of (i) three legal practitioners, each of whom shall have attained a minimum of five years professional experience as a lawyer (as such qualifications may be applicable in his or her respective jurisdiction) prior to serving in such position on the committee and (ii) two alternate members each of whom meets the same qualifications.
"Board of Trustees" means a board composed of the seven most recent World Presidents, World Secretaries General and Chairpersons of the World Council for Youth, respectively.
"Chapter" means a legal entity, duly registered with the local statutory authority within its jurisdiction and that carries the name of the WLCU by virtue of its proper registration with the WLCU and by maintaining good standing with the WLCU, including having the minimum number of members, meeting all applicable criteria outlined in this Constitution and the Internal Regulations and abiding by its own governing documents, which shall in no event run afoul to anything in this Constitution or the Internal Regulations.
"Constituent Bodies" means each of (i) the World Congress, (ii) the World Council, (iii) the WSG, (iv) the Board of Trustees, (v) the Arbitration Committee, and (vi) the WCY.
"General Assembly" means the assembly that convenes during the World Congress, is convened and led by the World President and consists of the World Council members, the WSG and the World Treasurer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Assembly may, at its discretion, invite other individuals or Legal Entities to attend the World Congress, provided however, that no such individual or Legal Entity not so affiliated with the WLCU shall be entitled to vote on any matters.
"Geographic Regional Committee" means the committee that is composed of each of the presidents of the National or State Council.
"Geographic Regional Council" means an administrative board elected by the Geographic Regional Committee.
"Legal Entity" means any duly registered or incorporated corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, organization, trust, association or other entity in good standing within its respective jurisdiction.
"Members at Large" means each member of the WLCU that holds a valid Membership Card and is otherwise in good standing with the WLCU.
"National Council" means the Administrative Board that is composed of members in good standing, as elected by the Members at Large within the Countries of Europe, Africa, Hispanic America and the Islands of the Caribbean Sea. The Presidents of each of the Chapters within such territories are duly members of the National Council.
"State Council" means the administrative Board that is composed of members in good standing, as elected by the Members at Large within the States and Provinces of the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. The Presidents of each of the Chapters within such territories are duly members of the State Council.
"WCY" means the World Council for Youth, which shall be constituted by a board presided by a chairperson, who shall be assisted by five (5) board members. The board shall be comprised of the following positions [and no one person shall be entitled to hold more than one such position]: (i) a secretary, (ii) a treasurer, (iii) a cultural affairs officer, (iv) a social welfare officer and (v) a media officer.
"WLCU" means the World Lebanese Cultural Union, Inc., a not-for-profit New York corporation.
"World Congress" means a conference held once every two years, at a time and place determined by the World President where the General Assembly, the Board of Trustees and the WCY convene.
"World Commissions" means initially, each of (i) the Commission for International Relations, associated with the DPI and accredited at the ECOSOC of the UN, (ii) the Commission for International Communications, (iii) the Commission for Social Affairs, (iv) the Commission for Cultural Heritage, (v) the Commission for Business and Economics, (vi) the Commission for Protocol and Code of Ethics, (vii) the Commission for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), (viii) the Commission on Membership Affairs and (ix) the Commission on Archive. Appointment to each of the World Commissions shall be undertaken by the World President.
"World Council" means a council to be comprised of the following individuals: (i) the World President, (ii) the World Vice-President, (iii) the World Secretary General (with his or her deputies and assistants), (iv) the World Treasurer, (v) the Presidents of each of the National and State Councils, (vi) each of the Chairpersons of the Geographic Regional Councils, (vii) the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, (viii) the Chairperson of the WCY and (ix) the Chairpersons of the World Commissions.
"WSG" means the World Secretary General whose secretariat shall consist of: (a) the World Secretary General, (b) two (2) Deputies, (c) six (6) Regional General Secretaries and three (3) Assistant General Secretaries, one for each of (x) Administrative Affairs, (y) Financial Affairs and (z) Affairs of Specialized Committees.
Article 2: Organization; Authority
2.1 The WLCU is a civil institution, independent and non-governmental, non-political, non-sectarian, non-religious and non-profit making. The WLCU was established to ensure the preservation and propagation of pride in the Lebanese culture and its manifestation throughout the Diaspora and is autonomous and independent of any governmental institution either within the Republic of Lebanon or elsewhere in the world.
2.2 The WLCU has an unlimited duration and it is subject to this Constitution and to its Internal Regulations.
2.3 The WLCU is entitled to maintain an office in Lebanon.
2.4 The WLCU shall possess full juridical personality. To the extent permitted by law, the WLCU shall enjoy such legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfilment of its purposes, and in particular the capacity to: (i) contract; (ii) acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property; (iii) receive and disburse private funds; and (iv) institute legal proceedings.
2.5 To the extent permitted by law, the WLCU shall enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfillment of its purposes.
2.6 The WLCU, in compliance with its certification as a non-governmental organization associated with the Department of Public Information (the "DPI") of the United Nations (the "UN") and accredited to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (the "ECOSOC") affirms that:
a) It shall have democratically adopted this Constitution and that a copy of this Constitution shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the UN;
b) Policy matters of the WLCU shall be determined by the World Council; and
c) The WLCU shall have the authority to speak for its Members at Large through its authorized representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the WLCU is an organization that has a representative structure and possesses appropriate mechanisms of accountability to its Members at Large, who in turn shall exercise effective control over its policies and actions through the exercise of voting rights or other appropriate democratic and transparent decision-making processes in the conduct of its operations.
2.7 To the extent permitted by law, all officers of the WLCU, howsoever designated, and all representatives of the Geographic Regional Councils and the National and State Councils, and their staff shall likewise enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the WLCU.
2.8 The headquarters of the WLCU shall be located in New York, New York USA, but may be transferred to a city in a country as decided by the General Assembly; provided, however, that such decision shall not affect or interfere with the status or operation of the WLCU as the ultimate governing body of the National Councils, State Councils or Chapters.
Article 3: Purpose and Objectives
3.1 The WLCU was formed to ensure the preservation and the enhancement of the collective contributions made by the people of Lebanon. The WLCU aims to attain each of the following objectives:
a) to enhance, promote and foster the spirit of cultural pride, integration and allegiance of the Lebanese people throughout the Diaspora to their host nation;
b) to share in and promote for the benefit of their adopted nations within the Diaspora in all fields (particularly in education, culture and societal values of the Lebanese folklore and history promoted by the WLCU as a cultural and philanthropic institution on a strictly non-profit basis); and
c) to declare that the WLCU's Mission Statement is consistent with the principles of the Charter of the UN.
3.2 The WLCU shall endeavor to encourage the Lebanese Diaspora to organize and to be effective as a bulwark for Lebanon in its determination to remain sovereign, independent and democratic. The WLCU further endeavors to both preserve and spread Lebanese culture among the Lebanese emigrants, their descendants and the people of such host nations.
3.3 The means of achieving these aims shall be, as far as practicable:
a) the organization, promotion and support of international and regional programs, congresses, conferences, festivals, study tours, exhibitions, and other related activities;
b) the promotion and support of exchange programs between Lebanese youth from all countries throughout the Diaspora and Lebanon, in order to enable them to experience the culture and way of life in Lebanon;
c) the encouragement, circulation and exchange of all artistic pursuits including but not limited to drama, literature, poetry, theatre, music festivals and cultural activities generally for all members and their guests throughout the Diaspora and, in particular, for the children and youth in those communities;
d) cooperation with other international organizations with related interests and, in particular, those affiliated with the UN; and
e) the dissemination and support of proposals and/or initiatives made by organizations in order to advance Lebanese literature and the arts for all Lebanese citizens and descendants throughout the Diaspora, and to encourage the youth to liaise with and network (where appropriate) with national and international authorities and agencies who are responsible for the preservation and observance of culture and its propagation.
3.4 To the extent practicable, the WLCU further aims to achieve the following:
a) to consolidate the ties of friendship and concord amongst its members and promote the links thus attained to achieve mutual understanding throughout the nations in which members of the WLCU live, work and otherwise reside;
b) to create and promote the ties of friendship, mutual understanding and respect among host nations of members of the WLCU on the one hand and Lebanon on the other hand, and to forge and preserve those ties, thereby encouraging the cultural, social and economic activities of mutual interest between the citizens of Lebanon and the nations of the Diaspora in which Lebanese citizens and their descendants reside;
c) to promote and preserve the Lebanese heritage in the Diaspora and encourage the recognition and pride in the culture and history of Lebanon by active pursuit in fields of common endeavor with Lebanon and like institutions to the WLCU therein and the constituent members of the WLCU;
d) to acquaint, inform and educate members of the WLCU of Lebanon's civilization and the integral role it has played in the history of the world, in the service of humanity and to safeguard and ensure the existence of the Lebanese culture, tradition, folklore and ethos; and to support Lebanon in its pursuit for world peace and understanding, and to assist in the achievement of peaceful co-existence for the citizens of Lebanon;
e) to foster faith, nurture peace and cultivate understanding among the people of Lebanon and the members of the WLCU, to actively promote cooperation between their communities, irrespective of personal or material gain, and to aspire to realize a just standard for the conduct of all Lebanese in the fields of commerce, public works and private life, as is practically possible for all Lebanese throughout the Diaspora;
f) to consolidate the WLCU as a vehicle for promotion of the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon as a homeland for all Lebanese people (including descendants), regardless of secular adherence and/or political affiliation, and to responsibly realize the value of the distinctive identity of the Lebanese diaspora and its achievement in terms of its immigrant settlement, and in particular the expansion, organization and activity engaged in, collectively, on all fronts within the Diaspora;
g) to grant facilities and services as are available to all Lebanese citizens in need, throughout the world, and to assist their descendants within the means and limits of the WLCU, as it is able to accommodate;
h) to enhance confidence, peace and understanding among human beings by encouraging the members of WLCU to serve their local communities irrespective of personal or financial gain, and to endeavor to heighten the moral conscience in the fields of trade, public works and personal life;
i) to collaborate in the work of advancing mutual knowledge and understanding of all Lebanese people, through all means of social communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote free flow of ideas by work and image;
j) to give fresh impulse to popular education and to spread the culture of Lebanon and the host nation's culture in which the Diaspora have settled throughout the world by instituting collaboration among the nations to advance the idea of equality of educational opportunity without regard to race, sex or any distinction whether economic or social, and by suggesting educational methods best suited to prepare children of Lebanese ancestry (irrespective of whichever parent has Lebanese heritage) within the Diaspora; and
k) to maintain, increase and diffuse knowledge of Lebanese culture throughout the Diaspora by assuring the conservation and protection of Lebanon's inheritance of books, works of art and monuments of history and science, and recommending to Lebanon the enforcement of necessary international conventions to protect and reclaim Lebanon's antiquity.
Article 4: Structure, Membership and Affiliation
4.1 The World Council shall be comprised of the individuals holding the titles outlined in Article 1 hereto.
4.2 Initially, there are to be seven (9) World Commissions, as defined in Article 1 hereto. The World President shall, in his or her discretion, have the authority to increase or decrease the number of World Commissions.
4.3 The Internal Regulations shall define the practice and procedures of matters put forth before the constituent bodies and the World Commissions of the WLCU.
4.4 Geographic Regional Committees are comprised of the Presidents of the National and State Councils. Each Geographic Regional Committee is responsible for electing the members of the Geographic Regional Council for each respective region.
4.5 Geographic Regional Councils are to be established in the following regions: a) Africa, b) Europe, c) Hispanic America & the Islands of the Caribbean Sea, d) USA & Canada, e) Brazil, f) Australia, New Zealand, Oceania and South East Asia.
4.6 Each Chapter shall be required to expressly affiliate with the WLCU and shall be further required to have a constitution and bylaws (or a similar governing document), in each instance, not in conflict with this Constitution or the Internal Regulations. Furthermore, as a condition of membership with the WLCU, each Chapter and Member at Large shall execute and be bound by an application, a memorandum of understanding and a confidential agreement, the form of which shall be provided by the WLCU. Chapters shall further execute a licensing agreement.
4.7 Each Chapter granted a certificate of membership in the WLCU and accepting the same thereby accepts, ratifies, and agrees to be bound in all things, not contrary to law, by this Constitution and the Internal Regulations of the WLCU, and any amendments thereto, and to faithfully observe the provisions.
4.8 No later than the last day of February of every year or at least three months before the World Congress (whichever comes later), each National Council, State Council and Chapter shall submit the following to the World Secretary General:
a) Memorandum of understanding signed by the directors or similar governing body of such entity;
b) Current certificate of registration from the local government;
c) Copy of the entity's local constitution;
d) Copy of the entity's minutes covering the last 12 months;
e) Copy of the entity's financial statements covering the last 12 months;
f) Copy of the entity's latest bank statement; and
g) Proof of at least two activities conducted within the last two years (corroborated by documentary evidence and social media) consisting of, but not limited to, publications, photos, Facebook events, flyers, newspaper and electronic articles, website links and any media publicity in either hard copy or electronic form evidencing the conduct of such events. At least one of the two activities, preferably dedicated, to support the UN and its activities.
Furthermore, each National and State Council shall submit to the World Secretary General the contact details, including physical address, phone number and email address. Similarly, each Chapter shall submit a list of its Members. A list of all Members at Large to be submitted by the National or State Council, including all required documentation indicating such members' compliance with membership requirements.
4.9 Each National and State Council, as the case may be, shall pay its membership dues in an amount determined by the World Treasurer (which in no event is to fall below $1,000), to be paid to the World Treasurer, on or before the last day of February of each year or at least three months before the World Congress (whichever comes first). In the event such membership dues are not paid on time, the National or State Council in default, as the case may be, shall not be entitled to participate in the affairs of the WLCU and will not be able practice its right at any World Congress, including but not limited to, the right to vote.
4.10 Each National and State Council, as the case may be, shall be required to maintain financial accounts to a standard sufficient to enable an external audit (if so required by the World Secretary General acting on the instructions of the World President).
Article 5: Geographic Regional Council Elections
5.1 The Geographic Regional Committees shall participate in the election of the Geographic Regional Council in the region in which such Geographic Regional Committee belongs.
5.2 The presidents of the administrative board of each of the National and State Councils are entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of Chapters and Affiliates that are licensed within his or her jurisdiction, in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Regulations. In the event there are no Chapters within such National or State Council, as the case may be, such National or State Council shall be entitled to one vote in respect of all Members of Large in such National or State Council.
5.3 The World Secretary General, or his or her regional delegate, shall supervise the elections for the Geographic Regional Council. The WSG shall prepare a report on the outcome of the election and file that report as the declaration of the ballot conducted under the electoral provisions of the Geographical Region.
5.4 Electronic voting ("e-voting") shall be accepted as an alternative to in-person meeting.
Article 6: Compliance with Rules
6.1 All Members at Large shall comply with the objectives of the WLCU. This Constitution and the Internal Regulations shall be binding on the Members at Large through their membership with the WLCU.
6.2 Each National Council, State Council and Chapter shall formally adopt and abide by this Constitution and the Internal Regulations. It shall be the duty of the World Secretary General to undertake, from time to time, an audit to ensure that each National Council, State Council and Chapter is in compliance with, and adhering to, the Constitution and Internal Regulations. Should any of the foregoing be found to not be in compliance, such National Council, State Council or Chapter shall be called upon to show cause why its affiliation and membership with the WLCU should not be withdrawn.
Article 7: Election of World President and World Vice President
7.1 The World President and the World Vice President shall be elected by secret ballot in the General Assembly of the WLCU as convened pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution and the Internal Regulations. The election of the World Vice-President shall take place in a procedure separate from the election of the World President. The World Vice President can run for the same position for consecutive terms.
7.2 The nominated candidates for the election to the office of World President and the World Vice President shall be submitted to the electoral college attending the General Assembly (as designated in the Internal Regulations) (the "Electoral College").
7.3 The Electoral College is entitled to vote for the candidates nominated for the offices of World President and World Vice President in accordance with Regulation [17] of the Internal Regulations.
7.4 The National and State Councils, as the case may be, are entitled to the number of votes in accordance with the distribution set forth below and subject to the conditions of Article [4] hereto:
| Jurisdiction / Country / State | Vote |
|---|---|
| (a) USA | |
| New York | 1 |
| New Jersey | 1 |
| California | 2 |
| Massachusetts | 1 |
| Oregon | 1 |
| Florida | 1 |
| Cleveland, Ohio | 1 |
| Texas | 1 |
| (b) Canada | |
| Quebec | 1 |
| Ontario | 1 |
| Alberta | 1 |
| British Columbia | 1 |
| (c) Australia, New Zealand, Oceania and South East Asia | |
| New South Wales | 1 |
| Victoria | 1 |
| ACT/Canberra | 1 |
| Queensland | 1 |
| South Australia | 1 |
| Western Australia | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 |
| (d) Hispanic America & the Islands of the Caribbean Sea | |
| Argentina | 3 |
| Bolivia | 1 |
| Chile | 1 |
| Colombia | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Ecuador | 1 |
| Mexico | 3 |
| Uruguay | 1 |
| Venezuela | 1 |
| Dominican Republic | 1 |
| (e) Europe | |
| Country: | Vote: |
| Belgium | 1 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Denmark | 1 |
| England | 1 |
| France | 2 |
| Germany | 1 |
| Italy | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| (f) Brazil - 8 votes | |
| Africa | |
| Burkina Faso | 1 |
| Ghana | 1 |
| South Africa | 1 |
7.5 The General Assembly shall call for the nomination and seconding of a Member at Large of the WLCU in attendance with a minimum of five years seniority within the ranks of the WLCU to conduct and supervise the election of the candidates for the offices of World President and World Vice President.
7.6 The term of the World President shall be two (2) years (the "Term"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be afforded a maximum period of two (2) months (the "Transitional Period"), for the extension or shortening of the term of office of the World President, who is entitled to determine this period as he or she deems appropriate, via a letter sent to the Secretary-General, after the approval of the Board of Trustees by a majority vote of those present, three (3) months prior to the date of the World Conference.
7.7 The incumbent World President shall not be eligible for reelection for two consecutive terms.
Article 8: Representative Role and Responsibilities of the World President
8.1 The World President shall be the official representative of the WLCU as and when required in the following geographic centers:
a) Lebanon;
b) in each country, state and geographic area throughout the Diaspora in which there are Members at Large; and
c) at all official WLCU functions, irrespective of whether they are national, international or private as to their status and/or nature.
8.2 For each Geographic Regional Council, the World President shall be represented by the World Vice President. In the absence of the World Vice President, the World President shall be represented by the Chairperson of such Geographic Regional Council.
8.3 The World President is required to notify the World Vice President of his or her attendance at any of the functions referred to in Article [8.1] above. The World President is also to request from the World Vice President his or her attendance at such function(s) in his or her official representative capacity as the World Vice President. The World President shall be required to adhere to input of the World Vice President as to his or her contribution to the matters as may be required to be addressed by the World President at any of the functions as stipulated in Article [8.1].
Article 9: Financial Resources of the WLCU
The financial resources of the WLCU shall be sourced from the following:
a) Membership fees of the Members at Large;
b) Membership fees of the National and/or State Councils;
c) Membership fees of the Chapters;
d) Donations, aid grants and any other monetary payment howsoever described as made by an international organization to the WLCU;
e) Aid grants as made from time to time by Lebanese cultural entities from within the Diaspora; and
f) Gifts, bequests and all other monetary payments as may be made with the nominated beneficiary as the WLCU.
Article 10: Amendments to the Constitution
The General Assembly is the only entity of the WLCU entitled to amend this Constitution. Any amendment to this Constitution shall be made at a general meeting of the General Assembly, ordinary or exceptional, and approved by two-thirds of the members in attendance at such meeting. Any such amendment shall be based on proposals, together or independently, from:
(a) the World President;
(b) the World Secretary General in consultation with the Board of Trustees;
(c) the absolute majority of the attending members of the World Council during a normal or exceptional meeting with legal quorum; and
(d) all members of the electoral college in the World Congress, provided that such proposals should reach the World Secretary General at least one month before the conclusion of the World Congress. It shall be permissible for any amendment proposed to be forwarded electronically within the time stipulated for the service of the proposals as provided.
Article 11: WLCU Internal Regulations
11.1 The Internal Regulations of WLCU are an annexure to this Constitution and, as such, are to be regarded as an integral adjunct to this Constitution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event there is any inconsistency arising between this Constitution and the Internal Regulations, this Constitution shall prevail.
Article 12: Official Language and Texts of WLCU
12.1 The Arabic, English, Spanish, Portuguese and French texts of this Constitution and its Regulations shall be regarded as equally authentic. The Lebanese dialect may be used during discussions.
12.2 Insofar as the original text of the Constitution was in Arabic, it shall be utilized as far as is practicable, as the reference text to resolve any conflict concerning the application, clarification or resolution of a matter arising upon or from one of the translated texts in the languages nominated in Article [12.1].
Article 13: WLCU Constitution Not Enforceable in Law
13.1 In this Article "WLCU Constitution" means all organizations and constituent instruments within the regions in which there are Geographic Regional Councils and includes all resolutions of the General Assembly.
13.2 It is intended that the WLCU Constitution and everything done in connection with it (including all arrangements relating to it, whether express or implied, and any agreement or business entered into or payment made or under the WLCU Constitution), will not bring about any legal relationship, rights, duties or outcome of any kind, or be enforceable by law, or be the subject of legal proceedings. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Constitution, the Internal Regulations and/or membership with the WLCU shall be submitted to the Arbitration Committee.
13.3 Without limiting Article [13.2], it is further expressly intended that all disputes within the WLCU, or between one member and another that relates to the WLCU, be resolved in accordance with this Constitution and the Internal Regulations and not through legal proceedings save for the protection of the WLCU Logo and Intellectual Property as set out in Article [14].
13.4 By joining the WLCU and remaining as a member, all Members at Large consent to be bound by this Article and this Constitution.
Article 14: Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Protection
14.1 At all times, the WLCU logo, setup and property (both tangible and intangible) contained therein is and was the intellectual property of the WLCU.
14.2 No Geographic Regional Council, National Council, State Council nor Chapter shall disclose, or allow any of its members to disclose any of the Information to any third party without the prior approval of the World President, it being understood that such approval shall not be given unless and until such third party has agreed to execute an agreement of confidentiality, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the World President obligating such third party not to reveal or use the Information except in the terms provided therein.
14.3 No Geographic Regional Council, National Council, State Council nor Chapter shall allow its members make use of any of the Information, including Disclosed Data (as hereinafter detailed) except in furtherance of the business of the WLCU, or except pursuant to a written agreement between the WLCU, on the one hand, and the Geographic Regional Council, National or State Council (as the case may be), Chapter or Members at Large, on the other hand. Such written agreement shall be approved by the World President prior to taking effect. This section shall not apply to any information which is or becomes generally available to the public or is generally disclosed to third parties by the WLCU without restrictions on such third parties (such information, "Disclosed Data").
14.4 Each Member at Large shall, at all times during the term of his or her membership and thereafter, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Constitution, use his or her best efforts and take all appropriate steps to safeguard the secrecy and confidentiality of the WLCU's marketing plans, membership records, customer information, specialized information, databases, financial information and all other confidential information regarding the WLCU and its activities including the use of its logo, the copyright entailed in the logo, and the logo's graphic design (collectively, the "Information").
14.5 Each Member at Large agrees that only those members of the WLCU who need to know or use the Information in order to carry out the purposes of this Constitution or the Internal Regulations shall have access to the Information and further agree that such access shall be limited only to so much of the Information as is necessary for the particular member to perform his or her function.
14.6 The Members at Large are aware that the WLCU will be severely damaged by any breach or violation of the provisions of this Article 14 and that such damages cannot be adequately compensated by money damages. Accordingly, each Geographic Regional Council, National Council, State Council, Chapter and Member at Large shall be independently entitled to equitable relief including temporary and permanent injunctions against any actual or threatened breach of this Article 14 by any of the foregoing, without the need to put up any bond or other security and without having to demonstrate special or unique damages in addition to all other rights and remedies.
Article 15: Dissolution
15.1 The WLCU shall only be dissolved by virtue of a resolution of the General Assembly passed by a majority of not less than three-quarters of the votes cast by a quorum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the members of the General Assembly who are present (in-person or by proxy) at the meeting and who received the motion in advance of their attendance. The World Vice President shall be informed thereof at least thirty (30) days prior to the General Assembly meeting. The dissolution shall take effect upon the period provided for in such resolution.
15.2 Upon dissolution of the WLCU, and after the satisfaction of all liabilities (including any rights to compensation), any assets that remain shall be for the benefit of the Lebanese Red Cross Society.
15.3 The rights in the name, logos, copyright and trademark of the WLCU shall be assigned to an entity to be determined and approved by the General Assembly.
15.4 In addition to the foregoing, all licenses of the WLCU and all other benefits granted to the WLCU shall be assigned or distributed, as the case may be, to the entity to be determined by the resolution passed at the General Assembly as referred to in Article 15.1 above.
15.5 No part of the net earnings of the WLCU shall inure to the benefit of the World President or the World Vice President or the World Secretary General or any other officer or member, or any private individual, except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered. Any such compensation shall be determined and declared at the General Assembly prior to the passing of the resolution for the dissolution and/or liquidation of the WLCU.
15.6 After the dissolution and/or liquidation of the WLCU, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, all books and records shall remain in the custody of the person designated for that purpose by the liquidator or liquidators for a period of ten (10) years. Thereafter, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, such books and records may be given to such library, museum or archive in an appropriate institution for posterity as that person in his or her sole deliberate judgment decides.
INTERNAL REGULATIONS
MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERS AT LARGE
Reg. 1: All persons who are in compliance with Articles [3] and [4] of the Constitution, whether a citizen or otherwise of Lebanese descent, married to a person from a Lebanese descent, irrespective whatever other citizenship he or she may hold shall be entitled to membership of the WLCU (an "Eligible Person").
Reg. 2: Eligible Persons must apply for membership with the appropriate National or State Council, subject to the applicable conditions as may be provided. Membership in more than one Chapter, National and/or State Council is not permitted.
Reg. 3: Each duly admitted Member at Large shall receive an annual renewable membership card issued by the National or State Council, as the case may be, signed by the World Secretary General and countersigned by an officer of such National or State Council. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a membership card may be substituted with a statement issued by the World Secretary General via the internet affirmatively renewing such membership.
Reg. 4: Honorary membership cards signed by the World President and the World Secretary General may be issued in favor of non-members, upon specific requests by Members at Large. Such honorary membership cards shall be for a period of not more than twelve (12) months. An honorary member holding such honorary membership card shall not be entitled to run for elections or vote unless he or she is duly admitted to membership.
Reg. 5: Every member, duly admitted, shall be entitled to all the benefits of membership as offered by WLCU.
ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP OF CHAPTERS AND AFFILIATES
Reg. 6.1: Group membership qualification of the WLCU is restricted to current Chapters as well as those Chapters that shall be established in the future.
Reg. 6.2: All legal entities within the domestic jurisdiction of the National and/or State Councils may apply for membership of the WLCU upon satisfaction of compliance with the conditions for admission to membership as a Chapter as hereafter provided. In all other cases, entities that do not satisfy admission as a chapter shall be admitted as Affiliates.
CHAPTER AND AFFILIATE DUES
Reg. 7.1: Each Chapter or Affiliate shall pay a minimum of $100.00 annual dues (to be paid in United States currency), to the World Treasurer no later than the last day of the month of February, unless the World Secretary General agrees to modify the term. The youth organizations shall pay $50.00 as annual dues to the World Treasurer no later than the last day of February.
Reg. 7.2: The dues payable by those organizations that cover the youth within the WLCU shall pay a minimum of $50.00 as annual dues (to be paid in United States currency) to the World Treasurer. Such dues shall be payable on or before the last day of February.
ADMINISTRATION OF CHAPTERS AND AFFILIATES
Reg. 8.1: Each Chapter shall be registered with the local statutory responsible for the recognition and registration of such associations that seek to be registered in the jurisdiction in which the Chapter is located.
Reg. 8.2: The Chapter shall have as a governing body a board with a minimum of five (5) members, comprising a president, two (2) vice presidents, a secretary and a treasurer.
Reg. 8.3: Each member duly admitted to membership of the Chapter as a Member at Large of the WLCU shall be entitled to vote for the election of the administrative board of the Chapter. Membership in more than one Chapter is not permitted.
Reg. 9.1: The World Secretary General shall be responsible for the establishment of admission to membership of the WLCU of Chapters, including the authorization of the establishment of more than one Chapter in any single geographical location. The World Secretary General shall, as permitted under the Constitution and these Internal Regulations, delegate to the six Regional Secretaries General (each of whom serves within the World Secretariat General) such tasks for the establishment of, and admission of, Chapters and the recognition of Affiliates of the WLCU as he or she sees fit and in accordance with Reg. [32] of these Internal Regulations.
Reg. 9.2: (a) An application for establishing a Chapter shall be submitted to the World Secretary General upon endorsement by either the National and/or State Council within the applicable geographic region. (b) The National and/or State Council shall forward the application submitted to it by the prospective Chapter to the World Secretary General no later than two months from the date of its receipt, failing which, the proposed Chapter may submit its application directly to the World Secretary General. Unless and until the period of two months has expired, no prospective Chapter shall have the right to file its application directly with the World Secretary General.
Reg. 10.1: A Chapter shall become a constituent body within the WLCU upon the World Secretary General's satisfaction of the applicant's compliance with the required conditions set forth in these Internal Regulations. The World Secretary General shall then advise the National or State Council accordingly and register the decision in the minutes kept by the World Secretary General.
Reg. 10.2: The approved Chapter is a legal entity that enjoys administrative and financial independence. It shall enact its own regulations, provided however, that such regulations do not in any way contradict, conflict and are otherwise not inconsistent in any manner whatsoever with the Constitution or these Internal Regulations. Furthermore, such independent regulations shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the National or State Council under which the Chapter is formed and shall be made in accordance with the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and otherwise situated.
Reg. 11.1: Each National or State Council shall have an administrative board to ensure the governance of the National or State Council, as the case may be.
Reg. 11.2: The President of a Chapter shall notify the World Secretary General (through notifying the National or State Council in which the Chapter is operating) of the governing documents of the Chapter. Each Chapter shall also be responsible for providing the Chapter's address, the names, addresses and sample signatures of the Chapter's Members at Large. The names, address and sample signatures of the governing board of the Chapter (such as a board of directors or similar governing body) shall also be provided.
Reg. 11.3: The President of a Chapter shall submit to the World Secretary General and to its National or State Council (as the case may be), an annual report on the activities of the Chapter. A Chapter must organize and hold at least two activities every two years.
Reg. 12: Constituent Bodies and World Commissions
Reg. 12.1: The Constituent Bodies are those referred to in Article [1] of the Constitution.
Reg. 12.2: The World President, in consultation with the Board of Trustees shall appoint Chairpersons for each of the World Commissions.
Reg. 13: The World Congress
Reg. 13.1: The World Congress consists of the: a) World President; b) Presidents of the administrative boards of the National and State Councils; c) Chairpersons of the Geographic Regional Councils; d) Chairperson of the Board of Trustees; e) Chairperson of the World Council for Youth; f) World Vice President; g) Presidents of the Chapters; h) Chairpersons of the World Commissions; i) World Secretary General; and j) World Treasurer.
Reg. 13.1.2: Each head of a WLCU organization ("Member Organization") is permitted representation at any session of the General Assembly by a delegate of his or her choice by providing written authorization specifying the session or sessions for which the delegate has authority to partake (a "Proxy"). The written authorization shall bear the stamp of the Affiliate Organization and the signature of its president. Any such Proxy must hold a valid Membership Card.
Reg. 13.1.3: The credentials of each Proxy shall be sent in advance to the World Secretary General to be lodged no later than seven (7) days set before the commencement of the General Assembly and accepted at the commencement of the General Assembly and no other Proxies may be admitted during the meeting.
Reg. 13.2: Each President of a Chapter and or Affiliate is entitled to vote for resolutions at the World Congress, so long as such Chapter is (i) registered with the WSG at least 5 months prior to the World Congress, (ii) is in good standing with the WLCU (which includes, but is not limited to, payment of its membership dues at least three months prior to the World Congress) and (iii) can provide evidence that it has held at least two events within the previous two years.
Reg. 14: The General Assembly is the highest authority of WLCU. It alone has the authority and power to enact and amend the Constitution and these Internal Regulations and further, has authority over each Affiliate Organization, thereby enabling it to enact such provisions as may be necessary from time to time to meet the needs and objectives of the WLCU.
Reg. 15: Conduct of the Ordinary Meetings of a General Assembly
Reg. 15.1: The World Congress shall, under normal circumstances, convene as a General Assembly once every two years, in Lebanon or elsewhere. The President shall announce the meeting by advising and requesting the World Secretary General to give notice of it being convened as to the time and place.
Reg. 15.2: The World Secretary General shall call the meeting, and forward not earlier than 90 days of the scheduled meeting, its agenda to all Affiliate Organizations by certified mail or messenger services and/or electronic or digital media as may be facilitated in the circumstances.
Reg. 15.3: The World President shall chair the ordinary meeting and shall be assisted by the World Secretary General and six auditors, one from each of the six (6) geographical regions. These member auditors shall record the names of the attendees ensuring the validity of their representative authority, that a quorum is present and record the vote cast in the course of the deliberations of the General Assembly.
Reg. 15.4: The World Secretary General shall record the minutes of the meeting and cosign them with the President.
Reg. 15.5: The quorum for the first ordinary session of WLCU shall be the absolute majority of the invited members present. In the event quorum cannot or is not achieved, there shall be a two-hour recess. If after such recess there is still no quorum, a second ordinary session shall be held and quorum shall be considered achieved upon having a majority of individuals that were present during the first ordinary session.
Reg. 15.6: At the General Assembly of the WLCU, decisions agreed upon by the casting of affirmative votes, by raising hands, of the majority of the attending members shall be binding on the WLCU.
Reg. 15.7: The session shall be opened by the World President with a statement that a quorum has been attained and by the reading of the agenda which shall be in the following format: i. The Report of the World President and the reading of a vote of approval or otherwise; ii. The Administrative and Financial Reports of the World Secretary General and the World Treasurer and the recording of a vote of approval or otherwise; and iii. Proposing and deliberating a plan of activities and tasks to be undertaken by the WLCU in the forthcoming two (2) years and recording a vote of approval as to it being carried and implemented.
Reg. 16: Conduct of the Extraordinary Meetings of a General Assembly
Reg. 16.1: An extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly shall be held whenever warranted. a) It shall be called upon the request by the majority of the attending members of an ordinary or extraordinary meeting of the World Council; or b) It shall be called upon the written request of the President utilizing procedure applicable to the calling of an ordinary General Assembly of WLCU. In any event, whether the extraordinary meeting is called upon via the methods in (a) or (b) above, the World President shall chair the extraordinary meeting.
Reg. 16.2: A quorum is attained in the first extraordinary session of the General Assembly by the attendance of two thirds of the invited members failing which it shall be by attendees of the second session, irrespective of their number, which will be held upon the expiration of two (2) hours from the posted time of the first session. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall an extraordinary session convene without the World President in attendance.
Reg. 16.3: At an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly of the WLCU, decisions agreed upon by the affirmative votes cast, by raising hands, of two-thirds of the attending members shall be binding on the WLCU.
Reg. 17: General Assembly Voting Provisions
Reg. 17.1: At General Assembly meetings of the WLCU, whether ordinary or extraordinary, voting shall be by the raising of hands save that it shall be by secret ballot for the election of the World President and the World Vice President.
Reg. 17.2: The Electoral College of the General Assembly of the WLCU entitled to vote at the General Assembly shall be further identified below as follows: a. The World President - (1 vote); b. The Chairpersons of the six (6) Geographical Regions of the WLCU - (6 votes); c. The Chairperson of the World Council for Youth (3 votes); d. The Presidents of National and/or State Councils within the six Geographical Regions in accordance with Article 7.4 of the Basic Constitution.
Reg. 17.3: No member of the Electoral College shall be entitled to vote unless they meet the conditions entitling him or her to be considered a duly admitted Member at Large. No member of the Electoral College is allowed to hold more than one Proxy and the holder must be from the same National or State Council.
Reg. 17.4: In case of a tie, the World President shall be deemed to have two (2) votes, casting an additional vote to determine the outcome of the election.
Reg. 18: The World Council
Reg. 18.1: The World Council is comprised of: a) The World President b) The World Vice President c) The Presidents of National and State Councils d) The Chairpersons of the Geographic Region Councils e) The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees f) The Chairperson of the World Council for Youth g) The Chairpersons of the World Commissions. The following persons holding the respective offices as identified are entitled to be present and participate at the World Council save that they do not have a right to vote on any motion proposed. The persons so entitled are as follows: (1) The World Treasurer; (2) The Secretary General, his or her deputies and his or her assistants.
Reg. 19: Authority of the World Council
Reg. 19.1: The World Council shall have the power to: a) Supervise the implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly through the World President and the World Secretary General. b) Study, discuss and approve the annual budget of WLCU. c) Make the necessary recommendations and decisions to be implemented by the World President and the World Secretary General. d) Call for a General Assembly to be convened in either an ordinary and/or extraordinary session.
Reg. 19.2: The World Council will, under normal circumstances, meet in Lebanon or elsewhere: a) In an ordinary meeting, once a year as specified in the agenda convening the meeting. The World President will call for the meeting of the World Council. b) In an extraordinary meeting, upon a request by the World President, or upon a recommendation made to the World President by the World Secretary General or by any of the Geographic Regional Councils. Such requests shall be in writing. c) The World President will decide on the recommendation within one month from the date of having received it and if he or she so decides, he or she shall cause it to be convened within one month from having accepted to call the meeting of the World Council.
Reg. 19.3: The World President shall chair the meeting and shall be assisted by the World Secretary General and by six auditors appointed by the World President, each auditor representing one of the six (6) geographical regions.
Reg. 19.4: A quorum is attained in the first session by the attendance of half of the invited members plus one; otherwise by attendees at the second session, irrespective of their number, which will be held, under normal circumstances, upon the expiration of two (2) hours from the posted time of the first session.
Reg. 19.5: Decisions shall be taken by an affirmative vote by the absolute majority of the attending delegates and voting shall be made by raising hands. Voting shall be governed by the provisions of [Reg 17].
Reg. 19.6: Each eligible member of the World Council is permitted representation at any session of the World Council by a delegate of his or her choice, chosen from the members of the organization over which he or she presides. He or she shall empower the chosen delegate with a written authorization for the specific session. The authorization shall bear the stamp of the organization and the signature of its respective president or its chairperson, as the case may be.
Reg. 20: Geographic Regional Committees ("GRCom")
Reg. 20.1: Each Geographic Regional Committee shall consist of the Presidents of the administrative board of the National or State Councils within the countries defining the geographical region.
Reg. 21: The Geographical Region Committees are empowered, through the World President and the World Secretary General, to execute the decisions of the General Assembly, and to coordinate the work and decisions of the National and/or State Councils in each geographical region and to ensure cooperation and integration between members of the regional bodies.
Reg. 22: Modus Operandi of the Committees
Reg. 22.1: Geographic Regional Committees shall ensure that their internal regulations are duly passed and conform to the objectives of the WLCU and abide by the WLCU Constitution and its Regulations and the civil law of the host country. A copy of the Regulations so promulgated shall be forwarded to the World Secretary General.
Reg. 22.2: Geographic Regional Committees shall meet at least once every two years on a date not conflicting with any scheduled date of the World Council.
Reg. 22.3: Each Geographic Regional Committee shall elect a president and an administrative board, which is the Geographic Regional Council, in the manner prescribed in Article 5 of the Basic Constitution.
Reg. 22.4: The term of the president of the Geographic Regional Council and the terms of the Board members of the Geographic Regional Councils shall, in each case, be for a two (2) year term, with the ability to stand for re-election at the end of the first term. The elected president may be elected to only two (2) consecutive terms and is thereafter ineligible for reelection until two (2) years have elapsed following his or her reelected term.
Reg. 22.5: The Geographic Regional Council elected by the GRCom may also include professional officers who are not members of the GRCom.
Reg. 23: The National and State Councils
Reg. 23.1: Each National or State Council shall consist of an Administrative Board that is composed of members in good standing as elected by the members at large within each perspective territories. The Presidents of the Chapters within such territories are duly members of the State or National Council.
Reg. 23.2: The National or State Councils, as the case may be, may elect to have committees made up of members of the Chapter or Chapters within such council's jurisdiction. Such committees shall have the directives of the National and or State Council.
Reg. 24: The National or State Council is empowered to execute the decisions of the World Congress and those of the World Council and to coordinate between the Chapters and Affiliates, societies, confederations and unions or such other legal entities as may exist pursuant to the laws of the host country to ensure cooperation and interaction between them.
Reg. 25: General Management of Councils
Reg. 25.1: The National or State Council shall hold its annual meeting on a date not conflicting with the scheduled date of a meeting of the World Council and/or the Geographic Regional Council.
Reg. 25.2: An Administrative Board elected by the members at large within the National and or State Councils for a term of two years, shall comprise a President, two Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and an Executive Secretary. Presidents of each of the Chapters within the State or National Council are duly members of the Administrative Board.
Reg. 25.3: The term of the president and the Board Members of the National or State Council shall be for a two (2) year term and be able to stand for reelection at the end of the first term. The elected President may be elected to only two (2) consecutive terms.
Reg. 25.4: The President is ineligible for reelection until two (2) years have elapsed following his or her re-elected term.
Reg. 25.5: The presidents of Chapters and Affiliates are duly member of the Administrative Board of the Council.
Reg. 25.6: The National or State Council Administrative Board may also include elected professionals who are not necessarily presidents of Chapters or Affiliates provided they are WLCU members in good standing.
Reg. 25.7: Minutes of the election of the Administrative Board of such National or State Council (with a schedule of the elected members of the board, their full addresses and samples of their signatures) shall be certified and sent to the World Secretary General.
Reg. 25.8: In countries or states where affiliation with an organization from another state is not feasible, a sole Chapter may itself become a National or State Council upon an application for extraordinary approval submitted to the World Secretary General.
Reg. 25.9: A National or State Council shall have the option of forming any committee or a chapter that carries the name of the WLCU.
Reg. 26: Wherever required for purposes of internal organization in certain geographical regions, State Councils comprised of the organizations affiliated to WLCU may replace National Councils. It is further provided that State Councils may also constitute, a Geographical Region Council after applying in writing and receiving approval from the World Secretary General as ratified by the President.
Reg. 27: The World President and the World Vice President
Reg. 27.1: The World President and the Vice President are elected by secret ballot and as prescribed in [Reg. 17] of these Internal Regulations. The voting for the World President and one (1) World Vice President, insofar as it is required to be undertaken by secret ballot, shall be done according to the manner and form of a secret ballot to be undertaken by the issuing of ballot papers of the candidates and for the execution of the vote on those ballot papers to be returned, ensuring the anonymity and secrecy of the voter. It shall be the responsibility of the World Secretary General to be the returning officer for the conduct of the secret ballot of the World President and the World Vice President.
Reg. 27.2: The term of the World President shall be for two years non-renewable until 2 years has elapsed from the term being served. A maximum period of two (2) months shall be allocated for the extension or shortening of the term of office of the World President, who is entitled to determine this period as he or she deems appropriate, via a letter sent to the Secretary-General, after the approval of the Board of Trustees by a majority vote of those present, three (3) months prior to the date of the World Conference. The World Vice President can run for the same position for consecutive terms.
Reg. 27.3: The World Vice President shall have the right and responsibility to serve as the World President in the event of death, disability or removal (or similar events) of the World President.
Reg. 27.4: The World President, during his or her term, chairs the meetings, signs the correspondence, and represents the WLCU as its Chief Executive Officer.
Reg. 28: The World President has the executive authority within the WLCU. He or she organizes, directs and administers the general affairs of the WLCU and oversees the undertaking of the decisions taken by the World Congress and by the World Council in particular. The World President, along with the World Secretary General may delegate this authority as needed or desired.
Reg. 29: The World President is held responsible by the World Congress for any violations he or she commits against the Constitution and/or these Internal Regulations. The General Assembly has the right to dismiss the World President before expiry of his or her term by an irrevocable ratified decision to this effect in an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly.
Reg. 30.1: During the World Congress, the World President shall appoint, for a renewable term of two years, subject to consultation with the Board of Trustees, a World Treasurer and a World Secretary General to administer the affairs of the WLCU, assisted by two Deputy Secretaries General and six Regional Secretary Generals appointed upon his or her recommendation.
Reg. 30.2: The World Secretary General is held responsible by the World President for violations committed by him or any of his assistants and/or agents against the Constitution or the Regulations of the WLCU. In the event both the World President and the World Secretary General are in violation of the Constitution or these Internal Regulations, they shall be held responsible by the General Assembly.
Reg. 30.3: The World President is empowered to summarily dismiss the World Secretary General for serious or willful misconduct or if found to be in violation of the Constitution and/or these Internal Regulations, or in violation of the decisions of the World Congress or for any injury occasioned to the WLCU by the actions of the World Secretary General or any of his assistants or agents. Such dismissal shall be effected in accordance with the rules of natural justice and due process more particularly stipulated hereafter under the provisions and procedures applying to dispute resolution according to [Reg. 48d]. The World President may dismiss Regional Secretaries General upon the recommendation of the World Secretary General but only after natural justice and due process has been afforded to the officer concerned.
The World Secretary General
Reg. 31: The World Secretary General has the authority to implement the directions and decisions of the World President, and is further responsible under his or her delegated responsibility, for all matters within the jurisdiction of the World President and in particular the following: a) To ensure realization of the objectives of WLCU as defined in the Constitution; b) To ensure execution of the decisions agreed upon by the World Congress and the World Council as delegated by the World President through his or her authority; c) To implement and oversee the convening of the World Congress; d) To implement and oversee the convening of the World Council; e) To accept and process membership of Chapters and the recognition of Affiliates and to issue Membership Cards to Members at Large; f) Where appropriate, to supervise the establishment of Chapters and to authorize the establishment of more than one Chapter in any one city; g) To coordinate the work of the National and State Councils, the Geographic Regional Councils and the Chapters of those organizations; h) [To render judgment in differences between members and the organizations in which they are members with the WLCU and particularly, between National and State Councils, including, but not limited to, disputes and/or differences as occur between Chapters and the National or State Councils as and when they arise;] i) To appoint specialized committees for executing specific objectives of the WLCU as they arise from time to time; j) To appoint administrative, technical and counselling officials; k) To sign, receive and accept correspondence, and where appropriate and necessary give powers of attorney; l) To administer the funds of WLCU and sign financial documentation in respect of transactions with the World Treasurer, to appoint an auditor, after approval by the World President, for auditing the books and certifying the budget and submitting an annual financial report to the World Council; provided however, that any expenditures outside of the pre-approved budget requires the World President's approval; m) To attend meetings of the General Assembly and the World Council and to record the minutes of the meetings, personally or through a delegate, and to cosign the said minutes with the World President; n) To attend, whether personally or through a delegate the meetings of the GRComs during the elections of the Geographic Regional Council; and o) To release, whenever necessary, the decisions of the World President, the World Congress and the World Council.
Reg. 31.2: The remuneration of the World Secretary General shall be fixed in accordance with the recommendation and approval of the World President.
Reg. 31.3: During the absence of the World Secretary General, he or she shall be represented by the World Deputy Secretary General or any Regional Secretary General delegated to that end by the World Secretary General.
Reg. 31.4: If the position of World Secretary General becomes vacant, the Senior World Deputy Secretary General, pending the appointment of his or her successor, shall fulfill his tasks.
Reg. 31.5: In the event that the World Secretary-General is nominated for the position of World Presidency, he must resign from his position four (4) months prior to the date of the World Conference.
Reg. 32: Assistant Secretaries General
Reg. 32.1: The Assistant Secretaries General shall assist the World Secretary General upon his or her delegation, who shall summon them to the secretariat, to submit their report on the manner in which they have undertaken their assignments.
Reg. 32.2: The World Secretary General shall assign specific functions and authority to the Regional Secretaries General in the following specialties: a) Assistant Secretary General for Administrative Affairs b) Assistant Secretary General for Financial Affairs c) Assistant Secretary General for the Affairs of Specialized Committees d) Six Regional Secretaries General, who shall reside and undertake the work abroad.
Reg. 32.3: Each Assistant Secretary General represents the World Secretary General within his or her assigned specialty as more particularly stipulated below.
Reg. 33.1: The Assistant Secretary General for Administrative Affairs may be assigned the following tasks in lieu of the World Secretary General: (i) he or she shall maintain the minutes of meetings and the records of decisions and recommendations relating to the organizations of the WLCU, in particular those of the Global Constituent Organizations and the Commissions; (ii) he or she shall receive incoming mail and submit it to the World Secretary General who in turn, shall refer the correspondence to the concerned parties; (iii) he or she shall record the minutes of the Secretariat General and cosign them with the World Secretary General; (iv) he or she shall be responsible for the records and documents of the WLCU, for the preparation of schedules of names, addresses and dates of recognition of attainment of membership of the Members at Large and the Chapters and issuing of Membership Cards and all other tasks as may be required to keep accurate records of membership; (v) in connection with (iv) above and where requested, he or she shall be responsible for the privacy of the individual Members at Large, including maintain and preserving such privacy; (vi) he or she is in charge of distributing Membership Cards, of receiving and directing incoming funds and donations; and (vii) he or she represents the World Secretary General during his/her absence.
Reg. 34.1: The Assistant Secretary General for Financial Affairs shall be responsible for the following: (i) the funds of WLCU and countersigning all documents relating to financial transactions; (ii) collecting subscriptions, contributions and donations and issuing receipts; (iii) conducting an acceptable accounting system and be assisted by experienced accountancy specialists; and (iv) preparing the annual budget and submitting it to the World Secretary General. It is further stipulated that the duties of the Assistant Secretary General for Financial Affairs will encompass being responsible for depositing in one or more banking institutions as stipulated by the World Secretary General funds of the WLCU in excess of $1,000.00 USD.
Reg. 34.2: In the absence of the Assistant Secretary General for Administrative Affairs, the Assistant Secretary General for Financial Affairs shall assume and undertake such role.
Reg. 35.1: The Assistant Secretary General for the Affairs of Specialized Committees shall supervise the specialized committees, coordinating their work where necessary and completing an annual report on their activities. Furthermore, he or she shall: (ii) seek, with the consent of the World Secretary General, the assistance of experienced personnel and/or institutions to facilitate the work of the specialized committees; and (iii) receive the recommendations of the specialized committees and refer them to the World Secretary General with his or her comments.
Reg. 36.1: The World General Secretary shall delegate as he or she sees fit to each Regional Secretary General, within the scope of his or her work, such functions as he or she may be accountable for towards the World General Secretary.
Reg. 36.2: It is hereby stipulated for abundant caution that whatever may be delegated to an Assistant Secretary General shall hold them liable for any failure to have the delegation undertaken in a satisfactory manner and they shall be accountable for any consequence that may be detrimental to the image and/or reputation of the WLCU as a result thereof.
Reg. 37: Specialized Committees
Reg. 37.1: The World Secretary General shall appoint specialized committees of persons having recognized expertise to undertake tasks referable to specialized committees as identified hereunder.
Reg. 37.2: The specialized committees are the following: a) Financial Committee to apply the resources of WLCU, recommending as a priority the disbursement of those resources, and to attend to financial investments. b) Economic Committee - to evaluate and devise strategies whereby the Diaspora can contribute in the rebuilding of Lebanon and to strengthen economic relations between Lebanon and the host nations of the Diaspora. c) Information Committee to contribute in the exchange of electronic, video, audio and written information programs between Lebanon and the host nations of the Diaspora. d) Social Committee - to undertake and study the plight of the needy and the state of poverty in Lebanon within the resources available and to report on such measures as may be feasibly implemented and/or considered to alleviate, to the extent financially and economically possible, according to the resource levels of the WLCU, the poverty so identified within Lebanon. e) Educational Committee - to spread the Lebanese legacy in the countries of the Diaspora, and to encourage the opening of schools for the teaching of the Arabic language and in particular the Lebanese dialect. f) Advisory Committee - to provide, upon request, the necessary counseling and guidance to affiliated members of WLCU. g) Organization Committee - to prepare programs for conferences, and to plan for realizing the objectives of the WLCU and promoting its efficacy. h) Statistical and Authenticating Committee to attend to authentication matters in general, to raise detailed lists of such matters, and to maintain statistical records.
Reg. 38: The specialized committees shall make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary General for the Affairs of Specialized Committees who shall refer them, with his or her comments, to the World Secretary General.
Reg. 39: The World Secretary General is authorized to appoint other specialized committees, whenever necessary, upon the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary General for the Affairs of Specialized Committees after consulting the World President and the Board of Trustees on the need for such appointments.
Reg. 40: Board of Trustees
Reg. 40.1: The Board of Trustees of the WLCU is the advisory board of WLCU.
Reg. 40.2: The Board of Trustees consists of permanent members that include former WLCU World presidents, former World Secretaries-General and former Chairpersons of the World Council for Youth of Lebanese Descent.
Reg. 40.3: The Board of Trustees may, at its discretion, choose to include a number of temporary members, not to exceed the number of permanent members. In selecting temporary members, the Board of Trustees shall be guided by the merit of each of the proposed candidates and, in particular, their contribution to public life and/or professional recognition achieved by them in their particular disciplines pursued in the course of their livelihood.
Reg. 41.1: The Board of Trustees shall convene under the chairmanship of the most senior of its members who was formerly a World President, for agreeing to name or elect by secret ballot in case of disagreement, two of its members as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, respectively.
Reg. 41.2: The Board of Trustees shall, under normal circumstances, meet annually at the same location and at the same time as the World Council and the World Congress, whenever and wherever they are convened.
Reg. 41.3: At the convening of the World Congress, the Board of Trustees shall either agree upon or elect its Chairperson and Vice Chairperson respectively after the announcement of the names of the new temporary members by the World President.
Reg. 41.4: It shall within the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees to consider and propose to the World President advice on matters pertaining to contracts, agreements and protocols as and when required, and such advice is to be given to the World President to assist in the promotion of the objectives of the WLCU as may be required from time to time.
Reg. 41.5: The Board of Trustees shall cause to the minutes of the meetings conducted by it to be compiled and shall submit the minutes to the World Secretary General to be submitted in turn to either the World Council or the General Assembly of the World Congress as appropriate.
Reg. 41.6: The Vice Chairperson shall represent the Chairperson in his or her absence. In case of absence of both, the most senior attending member shall chair the meeting.
Reg. 41.7: The World Secretary General or his or her delegate shall be the Reporter to the Board of Trustees.
Reg. 41.8: A quorum shall be attained upon attendance of, at least, one third of the members of the Board of Trustees in the first session, and by whatever number of members attending in the second or subsequent sessions.
Reg. 41.9: The Board of Trustees shall call for a meeting to be held at least one month before its assigned date. All decisions shall be determined by the majority of the attending members.
Reg. 41.10: The Board of Trustees shall give, where necessary, advice and guidance for consolidating the realization of cooperation between Lebanon and the host nations and the descendants of those emigrants' resident in the host nations of the Diaspora.
Reg. 42: Arbitration Committee
Reg. 42.1: The Arbitration Committee shall consist of three (3) persons who shall constitute the tribunal for the purpose of considering and adjudicating upon such disputes as may be referred to the Arbitration Committee.
Reg. 42.2: The members shall be legal practitioners who have attained a minimum of five years professional experience as a lawyer (and may, but need not, include retired judges). The Arbitration Committee shall have two alternate members in the event that the three permanent members are unable to sit as and when required or are conflicted, in such case requiring their recusal.
Reg. 43: The General Assembly shall receive nomination for appointment of members to the Arbitration Committee from the World President, including the alternate members from suitably qualified candidates who are prepared to serve on the Arbitration Committee. Upon appointment by the majority vote of the General Assembly, the Arbitration Committee members shall serve for a period of two years subject to re-appointment at the next General Assembly. In the event that there is an arbitral dispute referred to the Arbitration Committee which is still undetermined at the conclusion of the two-year appointment, such Arbitration Committee members are entitled to continue to sit until the matter is determined, despite the appointment coming to an end by effluxion of time.
Reg. 44: It shall be a condition of membership of the WLCU that any member and for the avoidance of doubt, any organization, however, constituted shall, upon subscribing to membership of the WLCU and being so admitted shall consent to have any dispute arising in the course of its membership pertaining to the WLCU, its Constitution and these Internal Regulations and the interpretation and/or application thereof, referred to arbitration pursuant to these Internal Regulations and that the determination of such dispute, controversy or difference shall be resolved by the Arbitration Committee in the ensuing code of practice and procedure.
Reg. 45: Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the interpretation, application or performance of the Constitution or these Internal Regulations including their existence, validity or termination of any member or body pursuant to the Constitution or these Internal Regulations, shall be settled by final and binding arbitration in accordance with the determination of the Arbitration Committee.
Reg. 46: The Arbitration Committee may resolve any dispute arising between the constituent bodies and their members.
Reg. 47: The language(s) to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be English or Arabic and/or the language of the member that he or she determines to be the language that they seek to have the ability to be able to converse in, both in writing and orally, for the purposes of having their position put, along with their support person, that they may utilize to assist them in the presentation of their case before the Arbitration Committee.
Reg. 48: The place of arbitration shall be determined by the parties and, in the event the parties do not consent, it shall be resolved to be determined by audio-visual link, the cost to be borne by the party seeking arbitration, in terms of establishing the audio-visual link and the participation of the Arbitration Committee in the proceedings for the determination of the dispute or controversy, as may be referred to it. The procedure for determination of the matter referred to the Arbitration Committee shall be as follows: a) Each party shall submit, in writing, its grievance and, respectively, its response to the grievance, utilizing statements verified and, where appropriate, written submissions in advance of the determination of addressing the Arbitration Committee. b) Each person shall be entitled to have either a legal representative of his or her choice and/or a support person if a legal representative is not to be utilized to present their case. c) The Arbitration Committee shall either hear the parties in person or utilizing an audio-visual link but in any event requiring the parties to appear, either in person or on the audio-visual link and after determining the matter, shall render its judgment in the form of an arbitral award which shall not be amenable to any further review or challenge after its determination and publication. d) The Arbitration Committee shall, where appropriate, impose disciplinary measures that it deems fit in the exercise of its judgment after adjudicating the controversy and/or dispute in issue in respect of matters concerning the breach of the Constitution and/or these Internal Regulations and shall impose measures including but not limited to reprimand, suspension of membership or, if necessary, termination of membership. In the event membership is to be terminated, prior to exercising such a measure, the Arbitration Committee shall call on the member and/or organization to show cause prior to the penalty being imposed, thereby affording a further and final opportunity to be heard before termination of membership is imposed.
WLCU RESOURCES
Reg. 49.1: The resources of the WLCU are derived from annual subscriptions, fees, donations, gifts and contributions in accordance with Article [9] of the Constitution.
Reg. 49.2: The annual subscription fee for each Member at Large shall be determined by the General Assembly from time to time. The annual fee shall become due and payable at the beginning of each fiscal year and any part of an incomplete year is considered one complete year for purposes of the calculation of the membership fee payable.
WLCU FUNDS
Reg. 50.1: The funds of WLCU shall be deposited in its name in one or more prime banks chosen by the World President and the World Secretary General. The decision of the World President and the World Secretary General to choose the financial institution(s) for the banking of the funds is conditional upon the Assistant Secretary General for Financial Affairs maintaining a suitable accounting system and that the accounting records and annual budgets are being audited by a qualified auditor in accordance with the appropriate accounting standards as required by these Internal Regulations.
Reg. 50.2: The disbursement of funds shall be made against requesting checks or payment vouchers signed by both the World President and the World Secretary General or their delegates, respectively.
Reg. 50.3: The disbursement of funds of the WLCU shall be the decision of the World President in consultation with the World Secretary General who administers the funds. The Assistant General Secretary for Financial Affairs shall pay the amounts approved against a payment voucher signed by the World Secretary General stating the name of the beneficiary, the date and the reason for the expenditure.
Reg. 50.4: In each annual ordinary meeting of the World Council, the World Secretary General shall, with the approval of the World President, allocate the remuneration payable to the committees and their staff from the budget set up for emergency purposes.
The Fiscal Year
Reg. 51: The fiscal year begins on the first day of January of each year and ends on the thirty-first day of December of the same year. An inventory of WLCU funds, movable and non-movable, shall be calculated as held and the final total balance carried forward.
Reg. 52: On the first month of each fiscal year, the World Secretary General shall submit to the World President a financial report requesting the approval of the accounts of the past year and the clearance of the account of the General Secretariat. He or she shall attach to the said financial report, an annual report both of which are prepared by the Accounts Controller who shall be appointed by the President.
Amendment of the Internal Regulations
Reg. 53: The same procedure that applies for amending the Constitution shall be followed for amending these Internal Regulations.
Reg. 54: Negotiations and Execution of Agreements
Reg. 54.1: The WLCU may, by its World President, conclude a cooperation agreement with the Government of the Republic of Lebanon in the fields of emigrant affairs in the Diaspora to the extent it furthers the mission of the WLCU and is not otherwise in contravention to anything in the Constitution or these Internal Regulations.
Reg. 54.2: The WLCU may, by its World President, conclude agreements with any group or association of Lebanese immigrant cultural associations not affiliated to the WLCU but fulfilling all conditions for affiliation to the extent it furthers the mission of the WLCU and is not otherwise in contravention to anything in the Constitution or these Internal Regulations.
Reg. 54.3: The WLCU may, by its World President, conclude any or all agreements that cover the subject matters of education, socio-economic and/or sporting functions and/or ventures or initiatives with any national world organization or with any international institution, including but not limited to memoranda of understanding and Protocol Agreements that are consistent with and achieve and realize the aspirations of the WLCU as espoused in its objectives more particularly set out in its Constitution.
Reg. 54.4: The World President shall be under a duty to consult with the World Vice President and such other parties as may be required to ensure that the consultation undertaken with respect to the negotiation and execution of any of the agreements referred to in Regulations 54.1 - 54.3 above are only negotiated to finality when such consultation has been undertaken and not otherwise.
Reg. 54.5: The WLCU is authorized to cooperate with any similar organization in any country for the mutual interest and for the benefit of Lebanese citizens in Lebanon and in the Diaspora to the extent it furthers the mission of the WLCU and is not otherwise in contravention to anything in the Constitution or these Internal Regulations.
Reg. 54.6: It is further provided by these Internal Regulations that all Committees, National Councils, State Council, Chapters and Affiliate Organizations having the status of being part of or associated with the WLCU in the Diaspora have the ability to conclude Co-Operation Agreements among themselves and/or with other bodies such as institutions, clubs and/or societies to achieve the aims and objectives of the WLCU.
Reg. 55: General Regulations
Reg. 55.1: No person is permitted to hold two elected positions with the exception of the President of the administrative board of a National or State Council who may be, at the same time, president of a chapter, club, society, confederation, institution or union.
Reg. 55.2: Issues and communications together with statements concerning the same related to international or Lebanese affairs shall be exclusively the domain of the World President who shall speak for the WLCU. There shall be no right or ability for a member organization to make any communication and/or statement and they must refrain from issuing recommendations, resolutions or press releases that express a particular position or political view.
Reg. 55.3: No member of the WLCU is permitted to engage in the dissemination, distribution and/or publication of emails by sending them out en masse where such emails are defamatory and/or disparaging of any fellow member of the WLCU or any of their constituent organizations or the officials of the WLCU. In the event that such conduct is engaged in, it shall be within the right and entitlement of the member so affected to refer the matter to Commission for Protocol and Code of Ethics and ultimately to the Arbitration Committee.
Reg. 55.4: These Internal regulations shall be read in conjunction with the Constitution and are to be regarded as an adjunct to the Constitution.
Reg. 55.5: In the event that a member of the Union is appointed to an executive position, this member must decline acceptance of this appointment if he or she is engaged in a political task concurrent with this appointment, except in the event in which he or she resigns from the political duties within a period not exceeding one month. Elected members shall be exempted from this procedure. The notice of resignation must be sent to the World Secretariat. Failure to comply with the terms of this article constitutes an automatic dismissal from the aforementioned official WLCU position.
Reg. 56: World Council for Youth
Reg. 56.1: Each National Council shall form a committee for the youth who are the descendants of Lebanese emigrants. The Committee shall be considered part of the National Council. Membership to the World Council of Youth shall be restricted to individuals who are not older than thirty (30) years of age.
Reg. 56.2: All Committees formed from the youth descendants of Lebanese origin shall together be known as the World Council for Youth and they shall elect a Chairman who shall preside over and coordinate the affairs of the World Council for Youth with the Secretary General of WLCU. The Chairman of the Youth Council is to be elected during the WLCU World Conference.
Reg. 56.3: The World Council for Youth shall enact its own internal regulations, not conflicting with the WLCU Constitution and Regulations, for approval by the World Council of WLCU.
Reg. 56.4: The Chairman of the World Council for Youth shall have the status of a Vice President. He shall be a member of the World Council of the WLCU and the Electoral College of the General assembly.
Reg. 57: New Amendments
The current basic constitutional law approved for WLCU during the 21st World Conference held in Bogota, Colombia on April 22, 2019 will apply with all its provisions, rules, articles and sentences, with the following amendments, which were approved during the Extraordinary World Conference held in Mexico City, Mexico on February 23-24-25, 2023:
1. Adding the Commission on Membership Affairs, whose mission is to assist the Secretariat General in creating social and commercial incentives to attract new members in general, and work on creating a membership App.
2. Adding the Commission on Archive.
3. Amendment to Article 7.1: The election of one World Vice-President, instead of six, shall take place by secret ballot and in a procedure separate from the election of the World President. The World Vice President can run for the same position for consecutive terms.
4. Amendment to Article 7.6: A maximum period of two (2) months shall be allocated for the extension or shortening of the term of office of the World President, who is entitled to determine this period as he or she deems appropriate, via a letter sent to the Secretary-General, after the approval of the Board of Trustees by a majority vote of those present, three (3) months prior to the date of the World Conference.
5. In addition to Article 55: In the event that a member of the Union is appointed to an executive position, this member must decline acceptance of this appointment if he or she is engaged in a political task concurrent with this appointment, except in the event in which he or she resigns from the political duties within a period not exceeding one month. Elected members shall be exempted from this procedure. The notice of resignation must be sent to the World Secretariat. Failure to comply with the terms of this article constitutes an automatic dismissal from the aforementioned official WLCU position.
6. In addition to Article 31: Global Secretary-General: In the event that the World Secretary-General is nominated for the position of World Presidency, he must resign from his position four (4) months prior to the date of the World Conference.
World President
Professor Nabih Chartouni
World Secretary General
Roger Hani