B. GENERAL RULES OF THE ORGANIZATION

Rule I: Sessions of the Conference

Rule II: Agenda

Rule III: Delegations and credentials

Rule IV: Secretariat

Rule V: Attendance at plenary meetings of the Conference

Rule VI: Opening of the session

Rule VII: Nominations

Rule VIII: Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Conference and of the members of the Credentials and General Committees

Rule IX: Powers and duties of Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Conference

Rule X: General Committee

Rule XI: Proposals and amendments

Rule XII: Quorum and voting arrangements at meetings of Conference and Council

Rule XIII: Commissions of the Conference

Rule XIV: Committees of commissions

Rule XV: Other committees of the Conference

Rule XVI: Rapporteurs

Rule XVII: Participating international organizations

Rule XVIII: Records and reports

Rule XIX: Admission of additional Member Nations and Associate Members

Rule XX: Budget and finance

Rule XXI: Conventions and agreements

A. THE CONFERENCE

Rule I
Sessions of the Conference

1. The regular session of the Conference shall be held at the seat of the Organization in the months of October or November, unless it is convened elsewhere or at a different time in pursuance of a decision of the Conference at a previous session, or, in exceptional circumstances, of a decision by the Council. For the purposes of the Constitution, of these Rules and of the Financial Regulations, the term "regular session" means the biennial session contemplated by paragraph 6 of Article III of the Constitution, and the terms "biennium" and "financial period" mean the two-year period starting on 1 January following the date on which the regular session of the Conference normally convenes in accordance with this paragraph. Any other session, whether convened in pursuance of a decision of the Conference or under paragraph 2 of this Rule, shall be a special session.

2. If the Council should so direct, or if at least one-third of the Member Nations should so request, the Director-General shall convene the Conference to meet in special session within six months of such direction or request at such time and place as the Council may designate.

3. Notices convening a regular session of the Conference shall be dispatched by the Director-General not less than 90 days, and notices convening a special session not less than 30 days, before the date fixed for the opening of the session, to Member Nations and Associate Members, and to the international organizations which may be represented at the Conference in pursuance of paragraph 5 of Article III of the Constitution, and of Rule XVII. These international organizations are hereafter referred to in these Rules as "participating international organizations".

Rule II
Agenda

Regular sessions

1. A provisional agenda for each regular session of the Conference shall

be drawn up by the Director-General and dispatched to Member Nations and Associate Members and to participating international organizations not less than 90 days before the date fixed for the opening of the session.

2. The provisional agenda for a regular session shall include:

1. all items the inclusion of which may have been decided upon by the Conference at a previous session;
2. items approved by the Council after consultation with the Director-General; and
1. review of the state of food and agriculture and of the programmes of Member Nations and Associate Members, in the light of reports from the Council and the Director-General emphasizing policy issues which would require Conference consideration or which could be the subject of a formal recommendation by the Conference under paragraph 3 of Article IV of the Constitution;
2. a report by the Director-General on the work of the Organization;
3. the Director-General's draft programme of work and budgetary proposals for the ensuing financial period, to gether with a report by the Council on the audited final accounts of the Organization for the preceding financial period;
4. review of the activities of the Organization undertaken under the United Nations Development Programme and formulation of views for the guidance of the Director-General regarding the lines along which these activities should develop;
5. a report by the Council on its work;
6. applications for admission of additional Member Nations or Associate Members to the Organization, if any, in accordance with Rule XIX;
7. election of Members of the Council and appointment of the Chairman of the Council in accordance with Rules XXII and XXIII;
8. amendments to the Constitution, if any, in accordance with Article XX of the Constitution;
9. any item the inclusion of which has been agreed to by the Council, after consultation with the Director-General, upon the request of the United Nations or a specialized agency of the United Nations;
10. re-examination of the scale of contributions, if recommended or requested, under Rule XX, paragraph (d).

Special sessions

3. A provisional agenda for each special session of the Conference shall

be drawn up by the Director-General and dispatched to Member Nations and Associate Members and to participating international organizations not less than 30 days before the date fixed for the opening of the session.

4. The provisional agenda for a special session shall include:

1. all items the inclusion of which in the agenda of the special session may have been decided upon by the Conference at a previous session;
2. items approved by the Council, after consultation with the Director- General;
3. any items proposed for consideration in any request by one third of the Member Nations for the holding of the session, under Rule I, paragraph 2;
4. the filling of any vacancies on the Council, under Rule XXII,paragraph 6;
5. applications for admission of additional Member Nations or Associate Members to the Organization, if any, in accordance with Rule XIX.

Regular and special sessions

5. Any Member Nation or Associate Member acting within the limits of its status may, not less than 30 days before the date fixed for the opening of a session, request the Director-General to include specific items on the agenda. These items shall be placed on a supplementary list, which shall be dispatched to Member Nations and Associate Members not less than 20 days before the date fixed for the opening of the session, and shall be presented to the General Committee for recommendation to the Conference.

6. During any session the Conference may, by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, add to the agenda any item proposed by a Member Nation or an Associate Member acting within the limits of its status. No such item shall be considered in the absence of a report by the Director-General on its technical, administrative and financial implications, if any, unless the Conference shall otherwise decide in a case of urgency.

7. Proposals by Member Nations or Associate Members for the agenda of any session of the Conference, if not made at a session, shall be made to the Director-General, who shall present them to the General Committee together with a report on their technical, administrative and financial implications, if any. All agenda proposals made by Member Nations or Associate Members shall be accompanied by explanatory memoranda and, if possible, by basic documents or, where appropriate, by draft resolutions.

8. Where an item proposed for the agenda of a session of the Conference in conformity with these Rules contains a proposal for new activities to be undertaken by the Organization relating to matters which are of direct concern to the United Nations, one or more of the specialized agencies of the United Nations or other intergovernmental organizations with which the Organization has an Agreement of Relationship, the Director-General shall enter into consultation with the organizations concerned and report to the Conference on the means of achieving coordinated use of the resources of the respective organizations. Where a proposal put forward in the course of a session for new activities to be undertaken by the Organization relates to matters which are of direct concern to the United Nations or one or more of the other organizations referred to above, the Director-General shall, after such consultation as may be possible with the representative of the other organization concerned attending the session, draw the attention of the Conference to the interest which the other organization or organizations may have in the proposal. Before deciding on such proposals, the Conference shall either satisfy itself that adequate consultations have taken place with the organizations concerned or arrange for such consultations.

9. Copies of all reports and other documents to be submitted to the Conference at any session, in connection with any item which may be on the agenda, shall be furnished by the Director-General to the Member Nations and Associate Members and to participating international organizations, at the same time as the agenda or as soon as possible thereafter, except as may be otherwise provided in these Rules and the Financial Regulations. The Director-General's draft programme of work and budgetary proposals for the ensuing financial period shall, where practicable, be accompanied by the joint report of the Programme and Finance Committees, provided for in Rule XXVIII, paragraph 3 of these Rules.

10. The Conference shall not proceed to the discussion of any item on the agenda until at least 72 hours have elapsed since the documents referred to in paragraph 6 or 9, as the case may be, have been made available to delegations.

11. At each session the provisional agenda, together with items on the supplementary list, if any, which have been approved by the General Committee, shall be submitted to the Conference for approval as soon as possible after the opening of the session and, on approval of the Conference with or without amendment, shall become the agenda of the Conference.

Rule III
Delegations and Credentials

1. For the purpose of these Rules the term "delegation" means all the persons appointed by a Member Nation or an Associate Member to attend a session of the Conference, that is to say, its delegate and his alternates, associ ates and advisers.

2. The credentials of delegates, alternates, associates and advisers, and of the representatives of the participating international organizations shall, insofar as possible, be deposited with the Director-General not less than 15 days before the date fixed for the opening of each session of the Conference. The credentials of delegates, alternates, associates and advisers shall be issued by, or on behalf of, the head of state, the head of government, the minister of foreign affairs or the minister concerned. A Permanent Representative to the Organization does not require special credentials if his letter of accreditation to the Organization specifies that he is authorized to represent his government at sessions of the Conference, it being understood that this would not preclude that government from accrediting another delegate by means of special credentials.

3. There shall be a Credentials Committee of the Conference consisting of nine Member Nations.

4. The Credentials Committee shall examine the credentials deposited in accordance with paragraph 2 and report promptly thereon to the Conference, which shall decide any questions arising.

5. Any delegation or representative to whose admission a Member Nation has made objection shall be seated provisionally with the same rights as other delegations or representatives until the Credentials Committee has reported and the Conference has given its decision.

6. The Chairman of the Credentials Committee shall be elected by the Committee. He shall have, in relation to meetings of the Committee, the same powers and duties as the Chairman of the Conference in relation to meetings of the Conference. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Decisions in the Committee shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast. No member shall have more than one vote. Meetings of the Committee shall be held in private unless otherwise determined by the Conference.

Rule IV
Secretariat

1. The Director-General shall provide and direct such Secretariat and other staff and facilities as may be required by the Conference and by such commissions or committees as it may establish.

2. It shall be the duty of the Secretariat to receive, translate and circulate documents, reports and resolutions of the Conference and of its commissions and committees; to prepare the records of the proceedings; and to perform such other work as the Conference or any of its commissions or committees may require.

Rule V
Attendance at Plenary Meetings of the Conference

1. Plenary meetings of the Conference shall be open to attendance by all delegations, the representatives of participating international organizations, and such members of the staff of the Organization as the Director-General may designate.

2. Plenary meetings of the Conference shall be held in public unless the Conference decides otherwise.

3. Subject to any decision of the Conference, the Director-General shall make arrangements for the admission of the public and of representatives of the press and other information agencies to plenary meetings of the Conference.

Rule VI
Opening of the Session

At the opening of each session of the Conference, the Director-General shall preside until the Conference has elected a Chairman.

Rule VII
Nominations

The Chairman of the Conference, the chairmen of the commissions of the Conference, the three Vice-Chairmen of the Conference, the members of the Credentials Committee and the elected members of the General Committee, provided for by Rule X, paragraph 1 shall be nominated by the Council.

Rule VIII
Election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Conference and of the Members of the Credentials and General Committees

The Conference shall, after consideration of the Report of the Council, elect:

1. from the delegations, a Chairman and three Vice-Chairmen;
2. from the Member Nations:
1. the Credentials Committee, as provided in Rule III, para graph 3;
2. the seven members of the General Committee to be elected as provided in Rule X, paragraph 1.

Rule IX
Powers and Duties of Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Conference

1. In addition to exercising such powers as are conferred upon him elsewhere by these Rules, the Chairman shall declare the opening and closing of each plenary meeting of the session. He shall direct the discussions in plenary meetings, and at such meetings ensure observance of these Rules, accord the right to speak, put questions and announce decisions. He shall rule on points of order and, subject to these Rules, shall have complete control over the proceedings at any meetings. He may, in the course of the discussion of an item, propose to the Conference the limitation of the time to be allowed to speakers, the number of times each delegation may speak on any question, the closure of the list of speakers, the suspension or adjournment of the meeting, or the adjournment or closure of the debate on the item under discussion.

2. In the absence of the Chairman during a plenary meeting or any part thereof, one of the Vice-Chairmen shall preside. A Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman shall have the same powers and duties as the Chairman.

3. The Chairman, or a Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman, shall not vote but may appoint an alternate, associate or adviser from his delegation to vote in his place.

4. The Chairman, in the exercise of his functions, remains under the authority of the Conference.

Rule X
General Committee

1. There shall be a General Committee of the Conference consisting of the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Conference and seven Member Nations elected by the Conference under Rule VIII. The Chairman of the Conference shall be the Chairman of the Committee. He shall have, in relation to meetings of the Committee, the same powers and duties as he has in relation to meetings of the Conference. In the absence of the Chairman during a meeting of the General Committee, or any part thereof, one of the Vice-Chairmen shall preside. A Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman shall have the same powers and duties as the Chairman. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Decisions in the Committee shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast. No member shall have more than one vote. Meetings of the Committee shall be held in private unless otherwise determined by the Conference.

2. In addition to exercising such duties as are specified elsewhere in these Rules, the General Committee shall, in consultation with the Director-General and subject to any decision of the Conference:

1. arrange the time and place of all plenary meetings and of all meetings of commissions and committees established at plenary meetings during the session;
2. determine the order of business at each plenary meeting of the session;
3. propose the allocation to the different commissions and committees of the Conference of the various items of the agenda and propose the vice-chairmen of the commissions;
4. meet periodically throughout each session to review the progress of the Conference, to coordinate the work of all commissions and committees and to make recommendations for furthering such progress; and meet at such other times as the Chairman deems necessary or upon the request of any other of its members;
5. report on any additions to the agenda proposed during the session under Rule II, paragraph 6;
6. fix the date of adjournment of the session;
7. report to the Conference on any request by a participating international non-governmental organization to speak before a plenary meeting of the session (Rule XVII, paragraph 3);
8. report to the Conference on applications for admission to membership and associate membership in the Organization (Rule XIX);
9. make recommendations to the Conference on the election of members of the Council, formally draw the attention of the Conference to the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 of Rule XXII, and generally carry out its responsibilities with respect to the election of members of the Council as provided for in that Rule;
10. determine and announce the date of election of the Chairman of the Council, and of the Director-General, as soon as possible after the opening of the Conference session, and submit to the Conference recommendations with respect to the conditions of their appointment [Rules XXIII, paragraph 1 and XXXVI, paragraph 1 (c)];
11. otherwise facilitate the orderly dispatch of the business of the session.

3. The reports of all commissions and committees established to consider items of the agenda of any session of the Conference and the report of the session shall, before being submitted at a plenary meeting for final decision thereon at that session, be referred to the General Committee for coordination and editing and for such procedural recommendation as the General Committee may wish to make. Such reports, including draft resolutions and any recommendations of the General Committee, shall thereafter be circulated, insofar as is practicable, at least 24 hours in advance of the plenary meeting at which they are to be considered.

4. A Member Nation which is not represented on the General Committee or an Associate Member, either of which has requested the inclusion of an item on the agenda of the Conference in accordance with the provisions of Rule II, may attend any meeting of the General Committee at which its request is discussed, and may participate, without vote, in the discussion of the item.

Rule XI
Proposals and Amendments

1. Proposals relating to an item on the agenda shall be introduced in or referred to the commission or committee to which the relevant item has been allocated, except where the item concerned is to be considered at plenary meetings without prior referral to a commission or committee.

2. Proposals and amendments shall be introduced in writing and handed to the Secretary-General of the Conference, who shall arrange for their circulation as Conference documents.

3. Except as may be decided otherwise by the Conference at a plenary meeting or by a commission or committee, proposals shall not be put to the vote unless copies thereof have been circulated at least twenty-four hours before the vote. The Chairman of the Conference or of the commission or committee concerned may permit voting on amendments even though these amendments have not been circulated or have been circulated less than twenty-four hours before the vote.

4. A proposal may be withdrawn at any time before voting on it has commenced, provided that the proposal has not been amended. A proposal which has thus been withdrawn may be reintroduced by any member.

Rule XII
Quorum and Voting Arrangements at Meetings of Conference and Council

1. Subject to the Constitution and these Rules, the following shall govern the procedure in relation to voting and elections in the Conference and the Council:

2.

1. Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution or these Rules, in the Conference a majority of the Member Nations and in the Council a majority of the Members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.
2. Before proceeding to a vote or election, the Chairman shall announce the number of delegates or representatives present. If less than the number required for a quorum is present, the vote or election shall not be held.

3.

1. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or these Rules, the required majority for any decision or for any election to fill one elective place shall be more than one half of the votes cast.
2. Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, in the case of an election by the Conference to fill simultaneously more than one elective place, the required majority shall be the smallest number of whole votes necessary to elect no more candidates than there are seats to be filled. This majority shall be obtained by the following formula:
   Required majority = number of votes cast/number of seats + 1
   (disregarding any resultant fraction).
3. Subject to the provisions of Article XX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, when a two-thirds majority of the votes cast is required by the Consti tution or these Rules for a decision to be taken by the Conference, the total number of affirmative and negative votes cast shall be more than one half of the Member Nations of the Organization. If these conditions are not fulfilled, the proposal shall be considered as rejected.¹

4.

1. For the purpose of the Constitution and these Rules the phrase "votes cast" shall mean affirmative and negative votes, and shall not include abstentions or defective ballots.
2. In the case of an election to fill simultaneously more than one elective place the phrase "votes cast" shall mean the total number of votes cast by the electors for all elective places.
3. Abstentions shall be recorded:
1. in a vote by show of hands, only for those delegates or representatives who raise their hands in response to the Chairman's request for bstentions;
2. in a roll call vote, only for those delegates or representatives who reply "Abstention";
3. in a secret ballot, only for such ballot papers deposited in the ballot box as are either blank or marked "Abstention";
4. in a vote by electronic means, only for those delegates or representatives who indicate "Abstention".
4. 1. Any ballot paper carrying votes for more candidates than there are vacancies to be filled, or carrying a vote for an individual, nation or locality not validly nominated, shall be considered defective.
   2. In the case of an election to fill simultaneously more than one elective place any ballot paper carrying votes for less candidates than there are vacancies to be filled shall also be considered defective.
   3. The ballot paper shall carry no other notation or mark than those required for the purpose of indicating the vote.
   4. Subject to (i), (ii) and (iii) above, a ballot paper shall beconsidered valid when there is no doubt as to the intention of the elector.

5. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or these Rules, the nomination of any candidate for an elective place to be filled by the Conference or Council shall be made by the government of a Member Nation or by its delegate or representative. Subject to the procedure for nomination provided in the Rules, the appointing body shall determine the nomination procedure.

6. Voting shall be by show of hands, roll call or secret ballot.

7.

1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 10 of this Rule, a vote by roll call shall be taken either upon request of a delegate or representative, or if a majority of two thirds is required by the Constitution or these Rules. Voting by roll call shall be conducted by calling in English alphabetical order the names of all Member Nations entitled to vote. The name of the first nation to be called shall be designated by lot drawn by the Chairman. The delegate or representative of each Member Nation shall reply "Yes", "No", or "Abstention". At the conclusion of any roll call, the name of any Member Nation whose delegate or representative failed to answer shall be called again. The vote of each Member Nation participating in any vote by roll call shall be inserted in the record of the meeting.
2. The count and recording of votes by show of hands or by roll call shall be conducted by or under the supervision of the Conference or Council elections officer, appointed by the Director-General in accordance with the terms of paragraph 17 below.
3. If for two successive ballots by roll call the name of the same Member Nation is drawn, the name of another Member Nation shall be designated by lot or lots drawn by the Chairman.

8. When the Conference or Council votes by electronic means, a vote without recording names shall replace a vote by show of hands and a nominal vote shall replace a roll call. In the case of a nominal vote, the procedure of calling out the names of the Member Nations shall not be applicable unless the Conference or Council otherwise decides. The vote of each Member Nation participating in a nominal vote shall be inserted in the record.

9.

1. For the purpose of the Rules, the term "election" means the selection or appointment of one or more individuals, nations or localities. The election of Council Members shall take place in accordance with the procedure laid down in Rule XXII, paragraph 10 (g). In other cases, more than one elective place shall be filled at the same election, unless the Conference or Council decide otherwise.
2. When one elective place is to be filled, the method of election by secret ballot shall be as provided in paragraph 11 of this Rule. When more than one elective place is to be filled at the same election, the method of election by secret ballot shall be as provided in paragraphs 12 and 13 of this Rule.

10.

1. The appointment of the Chairman of the Council and of the Director-General, the admission of additional Member Nations and Associate Members shall be decided by secret ballot. Other elections shall likewise be decided by secret ballot, except that in the case of an election in which there are not more candidates than vacancies the Chairman may submit to the Conference or Council that the appointment be decided by clear general consent.
2. Any other matter shall be decided by secret ballot if the Conference or Council so determines.
3. 1. For the purpose of a secret ballot the Chairman of theConference or Council shall appoint two tellers from among the delegates or representatives, or their alternates. In the case of a secret ballot for an election, the tellers shall be delegates or representatives, or their alternates, who are not parties directly interested in the election.
   2. The duties of the tellers shall be to supervise the balloting procedure, count the ballot papers, decide on the validity of a ballot paper in any case of doubt, and certify the result of each ballot.
   3. The same tellers may be appointed for successive ballots or elections.
4. Ballot papers shall be duly initialled by an authorized officer of the secretariat of the Conference or Council. The elections officer shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with this requirement. For each ballot only one blank ballot paper shall be given to each delegation entitled to vote.
5. For a vote by secret ballot, one or more voting booths shall be set up, supervised in such a manner as to ensure complete secrecy of the ballot.
6. Should any delegate invalidate his ballot paper, he may, before leaving the precinct of the polling booths, request a new blank ballot paper, which shall be delivered to him by the elections officer on the surrender of the invalidated ballot paper. The invalidated ballot paper shall remain in the custody of the elections officer.
7. Should the tellers withdraw from the presence of the delegates or representatives in order to carry out the count of the votes, only the candidates or scrutineers appointed by the candidates may attend the count, but they shall not take part in the count.
8. Members of delegations and of the secretariat of the Conference or Council who are responsible for the supervision of any vote by secret ballot shall not disclose to any unauthorized person any information which might tend, or be presumed to tend, towards destroying the secrecy of the ballot.
9. The Director-General shall be responsible for the safe custody of all ballot papers until the elected candidates take office or for three months after the date of the ballot, whichever is the longer period.

11. In any election for one elective place, other than that of the Director-General, if a candidate fails on the first ballot to obtain a majority of the votes cast, successive ballots shall be taken at such time or times as the Conference or Council shall decide, until a candidate obtains such a majority.

12. In any election by the Conference to fill simultaneously more than one elective place the following shall apply:

1. Each elector, unless he wholly abstains, shall cast one vote for each elective place to be filled. Each vote shall be cast for a different candidate. Any ballot paper which is not in conformity with these requirements shall be declared defective.
2. Any candidate who receives the required majority of the votes cast as defined in paragraph 3 (b) of this Rule shall be declared elected.
3. If only some of the elective places have been filled after the first ballot, a second ballot shall be cast to fill the remaining elective places, under the same conditions as the first ballot.
4. This procedure shall continue until all the elective places have been filled.
5. If in any ballot no candidate received the required majority, the can didate having received the smallest number of votes in that ballot shall be eliminated and a further ballot held, in accordance with (c) above, between the remaining candidates.
6. If in any ballot no candidate receives the required majority and more than one candidate receives the smallest number of votes, a separate ballot between these candidates shall be held and the candidate receiving the smallest number of votes shall be eliminated.
7. If in the separate ballot provided for in (f) of this paragraph more than one candidate again receives the smallest number of votes, the above operation shall be repeated with respect to those candidates until one candidate is eliminated, provided that if all the same candidates receive the smallest number of votes in two successive separate ballots, such candidates as will have been designated by lot shall be eliminated.
8. If at any stage in an election other than a separate ballot all remaining candidates receive the same number of votes, the Chairman of the Conference shall formally announce that if in the two following ballots the votes are again equally divided he will suspend balloting for a period which he shall determine and then hold two further ballots. If after applying this procedure the final ballot again results in an equally divided vote, such candidate as will have been designated by lot shall be declared elected.

13. In any election by the Council to fill simultaneously more than one elective place, the following shall apply:

1. Two thirds of the membership of the Council shall constitute a quorum and more than one half of the number of Council Members casting valid votes shall constitute the required majority.
2. Each elector, unless he wholly abstains, shall cast one vote for each elective place to be filled. Each vote shall be cast for a different candidate. Any ballot paper which is not in conformity with these requirements shall be declared defective.
3. The candidates who receive the largest number of votes shall be declared elected in a number equal to the number of elective places to be filled, provided they have received the required majority defined in paragraph (a) above.
4. If only some of the elective places have been filled after the first ballot, a second ballot shall be cast to fill the remaining elective places, under the same conditions as the first ballot. This procedure shall be continued until all the elective places have been filled.
5. If, at any stage during the election, one or more of the vacant elective places cannot be filled because of an equal number of votes having been obtained by two or more candidates, a separate ballot shall be held among such candidates to determine which of them will be elected, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c) above. Such procedure will be repeated if necessary.

14.

1. If a vote is equally divided on a matter other than an election, a second vote shall be taken at a subsequent meeting to be held not less than one hour after the conclusion of the meeting at which the equally divided vote occurred. If the second vote is also equally divided the proposal shall be regarded as rejected.
2. At any stage in an election after the first ballot has been held, further balloting may be postponed by the Chairman with the concurrence of the Conference or Council.

15. Once voting has commenced, no delegate or representative may interrupt the voting except to rise to a point of order in connection with the voting.

16.

1. Any delegate or representative may challenge the result of a vote or election.
2. In the case of a vote by show of hands or roll call vote, should the result be challenged, the Chairman shall cause a second vote to be taken forthwith.
3. A vote by show of hands or by roll call may be challenged only immediately after the result has been announced.
4. A secret ballot may be challenged at any time within three months of the date upon which it took place or until the elected candidate takes office, whichever is the longer period.
5. Should a vote or election by secret ballot be challenged, the Director General shall cause the ballot papers and all relevant record sheets to be re-examined and shall circulate the result of the investigation, together with the original complaint, to all Member Nations of the Organization or of the Council, as appropriate.

17. An officer of the Secretariat designated by the Director-General for each Conference or Council session, who shall be known as the elections officer, shall, with the assistance of a deputy or deputies, be responsible for the following duties:

1. to ensure that the provisions of the Constitution and the General Rules of the Organization regarding voting and electoral procedure are correctly carried out;
2. to be responsible for all arrangements for voting and elections;
3. to advise the Chairman of the Conference or Council on all matters pertaining to voting procedures and mechanics;
4. to supervise the preparation of ballot papers and be responsible for their safe custody;
5. to report to the Chairman of the Conference or Council the presence of a quorum before any vote is taken;
6. to maintain records of all election results, ensuring that they are faithfully recorded and published;
7. to undertake such other relevant duties as may arise in connection with voting and elections.

18. If a decision is to be taken on a matter other than an election, for which a two-thirds majority is not required by the Constitution or these Rules, the Chairman may submit to the Conference or Council that the matter be decided by general consent without recourse to a formal vote.

19. Parts of a proposal or of an amendment shall be voted on separately if a delegate or representative requests such division, provided that, if objection is made, the question of division shall be decided by the Conference or Council. In addition to the delegate or representative requesting the division, two delegates or two representatives may speak for, and two against, the motion for division. If the motion for division is carried, those parts of the proposal or of the amendment which are subsequently approved shall be put to the vote as a whole. If all operative parts of the proposal or of the amendment have been rejected, the proposal or the amendment shall be considered to have been rejected as a whole.

20. The Conference or Council may limit the time to be allowed to each speaker and the number of times any delegate or representative may speak on any question. When debate is limited and a delegate or representative has spoken his allotted time, the Chairman shall call him to order without delay.

21. During the discussion of any matter, a delegate or representative may rise to a point of order and the point of order shall be immediately decided by the Chairman. A delegate or representative may appeal against the ruling of the Chairman, in which event the appeal shall immediately be put to the vote and the Chairman's ruling shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the votes cast. A delegate or representative rising to a point of order may not speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.

22. During the discussion of any matter, a delegate or representative may move the suspension or adjournment of the meeting. Such motion shall not be debated but shall be immediately put to the vote. The Chairman may limit the time to be allowed to the speaker moving the suspension or adjournment of the meeting. At any meeting the same delegate or representative may not move the suspension or adjournment of the meeting more than once during the discussion of any one matter.

23. During the discussion of any matter, a delegate or representative may move the adjournment of the debate on the item under discussion. In addition to the proposer of the motion, two delegates or two representatives may speak for, and two against, the motion, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote. The Chairman may limit the time allowed to these speakers.

24. A delegate or representative may at any time move the closure of the debate on the item under discussion, whether or not any other delegate or representative has signified his wish to speak. Permission to speak on the closure of the debate shall be accorded only to two speakers opposing the closure, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote. If the Conference or Council is in favour of the closure, the Chairman shall declare the closure of the debate. The Chairman may limit the time allowed to speakers under this paragraph.

25. The following motions shall have precedence in the following order over all other proposals or motions before the meeting, except a point of order:

1. to suspend the meeting;
2. to adjourn the meeting;
3. to adjourn the debate on the item under discussion; and
4. for the closure of the debate on the item under discussion.

26. When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered at the same session unless the Conference or Council so decides. Permission to speak on a motion to reconsider shall be accorded only to two speakers opposing the motion, after which it shall be immediately put to the vote.

27. When an amendment to a proposal is moved, the amendment shall be voted on first. When two or more amendments to a proposal are moved, the Conference or Council shall first vote on the amendment deemed by the Chairman to be furthest removed in substance from the original proposal, and then on the amendment next removed therefrom, and so on, until all the amendments have been put to the vote. Where, however, the adoption of one amendment necessarily implies the rejection of another, the latter shall not be put to the vote. If one or more amendments are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be voted upon. A motion is considered an amendment to a proposal if it merely adds to, deletes from, or revises part of that proposal, but not if it negatives the pro posal. An amendment by way of substitute shall not be voted on until the vote has been taken on the original proposal and any amendments thereto.

28. Subject to paragraph 27, any motion calling for a decision by the Conference or Council on its competence to adopt a proposal submitted to it shall be put to the vote before a vote is taken on the proposal in question.

29. Associate Members shall have the right to participate with Member Nations in matters pertaining to the conduct of business of meetings of the Conference, its commissions and committees, in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing paragraphs of this Rule, subject, however, to the limitations on voting and the holding of office stipulated in paragraph 1 of Article III of the Constitution, paragraph 3 of Rule XIII, paragraph 1 of Rule XIV and paragraph 1 of Rule XV of the General Rules of the Organization.

Rule XIII
Commissions of the Conference

1. The Conference may set up at each session such commissions as it considers desirable and, after consideration of the recommendations of the General Committee, shall allocate to these commissions the various items on its agenda.

2. The Conference shall, after consideration of the recommendations of the Council and the General Committee, elect a chairman and one or more vice-chairmen for each commission.

3. Each delegate shall be entitled to sit or be represented by another member of his delegation on each such commission and may be accompanied at meetings by one or more members of his delegation, who may speak but shall not vote. Delegates of Associate Members shall have the right to participate in the deliberations of each such commission, but shall not hold office or have the right to vote.

4. The chairman of each commission shall have in relation to meetings of his commission the same powers and duties as the Chairman of the Conference has in relation to plenary meetings. In the absence of the chairman, one of the vice-chairmen of the commission shall preside, with the same powers and duties.

5. The procedure in a commission shall be governed by the provisions of Rule XII, so far as applicable. One third of the members of a commission shall constitute a quorum for the consideration of items on the agenda of the commission and for decisions on questions of procedure with the exception of a motion for the closure of the debate on the item under discussion. A majority of the members of a commission shall constitute a quorum for decisions on substantive questions and for a decision on a motion for the closure of the debate on the item under discussion.

6. Meetings of commissions shall be held in public, unless the commission concerned decides otherwise.

7. Subject to any decision of the commission, the Director-General shall make arrangements for the admission of the public and of representatives of the press and other information agencies to meetings of commissions.

Rule XIV
Committees of Commissions

1. Any commission may set up such committees as it considers necessary. Delegates of Associate Members shall have the right to participate in the deliberations of these committees, but shall not hold office or have the right to vote.

2. The chairman and members of each such committee shall be appointed by the commission concerned, upon the recommendation of its chairman. A member of a committee who is unable to be present at any meeting may be represented by another member of his delegation.

3. The chairman of each such committee shall have in relation to meetings of his committee the same powers and duties as the Chairman of the Conference has in relation to meetings of the Conference.

4. A majority of the members of each such committee shall constitute a quorum. Decisions in each such committee shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast. No member of any such committee shall have more than one vote.

5. Meetings of such committees shall be held in private unless otherwise determined by the appropriate commission.

Rule XV
Other Committees of the Conference

1. The Conference may appoint, or authorize the appointment of, any temporary or special committee which it deems necessary. Delegates of Associate Members shall have the right to participate in the deliberations of any such committee, but shall not hold office or have the right to vote.

2. The chairman of any committee set up under this Rule shall be elected by such committee. He shall have, in relation to meetings of the committee, the same power and duties as the Chairman of the Conference has in relation to meetings of the Conference. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. Decisions in the committee shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast. No member shall have more than one vote. A member of the committee who is unable to be present at any meeting may be represented by another member of his delegation. Meetings of the committee shall be held in private, unless otherwise determined by the Conference.

Rule XVI
Rapporteurs

1. The Conference or any commission or committee referred to in Rules XIII, XIV and XV above may appoint from among the delegations to the Conference one or more rapporteurs to carry out a preliminary study of a specific item and to submit their suggestions or conclusions to the Conference, commission or committee, as the case may be.

2. The Council, or its Chairman between sessions of the Council, may likewise appoint one or more rapporteurs from among the representatives of Members of the Council.

Rule XVII
Participating International Organizations

1. A representative of the United Nations and a representative of any specialized agency of the United Nations, accompanied by advisers and assist ants, may attend the plenary meetings of the Conference and the meetings of any commission, of any committee of a commission, and of any committee established under Rule XV. Such representatives may, without vote, speak and participate in the discussions and may circulate to the Conference, without abridgement, the views of the organizations which they represent.

2. An observer of any other intergovernmental organization with which an agreement has been concluded providing for representation, accompanied by advisers and assistants, may attend the plenary meetings of the Conference, and the meetings of any commission, of any technical committee of a commission and of any technical committee established under Rule XV. Such observer may, without vote, speak and, upon the request of the Chairman, participate in the discussions. They may circulate to the Conference, without abridgement, the views of the organizations which they represent.

3. An observer of any international non-governmental organization having consultative status, accompanied by advisers and assistants, may attend the plenary meetings of the Conference and the meetings of any commission, of any technical committee of a commission and of any technical committee established under Rule XV. Such observers may, without vote, speak before such commissions and committees, participate in the discussions therein upon the request of the Chairman and, with the consent of the General Committee, speak before plenary meetings of the Conference. They may circulate to the Conference, without abridgement, the views of the organizations which they represent.

4. The Director-General shall determine provisionally what other international organizations shall be invited to any session of the Conference and shall submit the list of such organizations to the Conference for approval.

Rule XVIII
Records and Reports

1. Verbatim records shall be kept for all plenary and commission meetings. Unless otherwise expressly decided by the committee concerned, no record shall be kept of the proceedings of the General Committee, the Nominations Committee, the Credentials Committee, any committee of a commission, or any committee established under Rule XV, other than the reports presented to the Conference.

2. The verbatim records and reports referred to in paragraph 1 shall be circulated as soon as possible to delegations attending the Conference in order to give members of delegations who participated in the meeting concerned the opportunity to check the accuracy of the record of their interventions.

3. As soon as possible after the end of the session, copies of all verbatim records and a report embodying all resolutions, recommendations, conventions, agreements, and other formal decisions adopted or approved by the Conference shall be transmitted by the Director-General to all Member Nations and Associate Members.

Rule XIX
Admission of Additional Member Nations and Associate Members

1. Any nation or regional economic integration organization which desires to become a Member of the Organization and any Member Nation or authority which wishes to request admission to associate membership on behalf of a territory or a group of territories for whose international relations it is responsible shall submit an application to the Director-General. This application shall be accompanied or followed by the formal instrument of acceptance of the Constitution, required under Article II, paragraph 2 or 3 of the Constitution. This formal instrument shall reach the Director-General not later than the opening day of the Conference session at which the admission of the applicant is to be considered.

2. Any such application shall be transmitted immediately by the Director-General to Member Nations and shall be placed on the agenda of the next Conference session which opens not less than 30 days from the receipt of the application.

3. The first contribution of an additional Member Nation or Associate Member shall be determined by the Conference at the time of its decision on the application for membership.

4. The Director-General shall inform the applicant nation or regional economic integration organization of the decision of the Conference. If the application is approved, such notice shall also state the amount of the first contribution.

Rule XX
Budget and Finance

The Conference shall, at each regular session:

1. examine and adopt the budget for the ensuing financial period;
2. adopt the final accounts of the Organization for the preceding financial period, after having considered the report of the Council thereon;
3. consider the report of the Director-General on the receipt of contributions from Member Nations and Associate Members since the previous session; and
4. on the recommendation of the Council, or on the request of a Member Nation transmitted to the Director-General not later than 120 days before the opening of the session, re-examine the scale of contributions of Member Nations.

Rule XXI
Conventions and Agreements

1.

1. To secure proper consultation pursuant to paragraph 6 of Article XIV of the Constitution, the Director-General shall notify Member Nations and Associate Members of any proposal for a convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement under Article XIV of the Constitution, not later than the time when he dispatches the agenda of the session of the Conference or Council at which the matter is to be considered. Such notification shall be accompanied by:
1. any reports on the matter by the Director-General, including a report on the technical, administrative and financial implications, if any, of such convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement; and
2. a request for comments and information on the matter and for such representations as Member Nations or Associate Members may wish to make.
2. The Director-General shall, at the same time as he is requesting Member Nations and Associate Members for their comments on the proposed convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement, consult the United Nations and other specialized agencies and, at his discretion, other international organizations in respect of any provision of the proposed convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement which relates to the activities of such organizations or agencies.
3. The Conference or the Council, after having considered any representations that may have been made to it or comments submitted by Member Nations and Associate Members, and any comments from the United Nations, any specialized agency, or other international organi zation, may approve only such conventions, agreements, supplemen tary conventions or agreements as contain provisions to the effect that:
1. any international body or machinery to be set up or any activity to be undertaken under such convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement is within the framework of the Organization;
2. recommendations adopted and reports on activities carried out by any such body shall be transmitted to the Director-General of the Organization.

2. The Council shall report to the Conference any action it takes under paragraph 2 of Article XIV of the Constitution.

3. The receipt of the official text of a convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement, as approved by the Conference or Council, shall constitute due notice to each Member Nation concerned, and to the authority having responsibility for the international relations of an Associate Member, that its consideration thereof is invited with a view to acceptance. Each Member Nation accepting shall communicate its acceptance to the Director-General, who shall promptly inform the other Member Nations.

4. The full powers given to a government representative to sign a convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement should be issued by the authority endowed with the inherent power to bind the state, such as the government, the head of the state, the head of the government, the minister of foreign affairs or the minister of the department concerned. Instruments of accession or of acceptance should likewise be issued by one of these authorities. When speedy action is required, signature, accession or acceptance may be effected by the delegate of the government concerned or the head of its diplomatic mission in the country where the signature, accession or acceptance is to take place, subject to the deposit with the Director-General of a written statement issued by the head of the diplomatic mission certifying that such action is being taken in accordance with full powers conferred by the government and that the necessary formal instrument will be forthcoming.

5. The Director-General shall report to the Conference whenever a convention, agreement, supplementary convention or agreement has, in accordance with its terms, come into force or ceased to be in force, or has been amended and the amendments come into force.

Continue (a)

1 The following are the cases in which, for a decision to be taken by the Conference, a two-thirds majority of the votes cast is required, provided that the total number of affirmative and negative votes cast shall be more than one half of the Member Nations of the Organization:

• Admission of additional or Associate Members.
• Approval of conventions and agreements.
• Approval of agreements between the Organization and Member Governments.
• Decisions on the level of the budget.
• Formulation of recommendations to Member Governments.
• Inclusion of new items on the Conference agenda after it has been formally adopted by the Conference.
• Amendment or suspension of the General Rules of the Organization.

In the case of amendments by the Conference to the Constitution, a two-thirds majority of the votes cast is also required, provided that such majority is more than one half of the Member Nations of the Organization.

In the case of approval of agreements and supplementary conventions and agreements by the Council and the addition of items to the Council's agenda during a session, a two-thirds majority of the membership of the Council is required (i.e., at least 33 Council Members in favour).