Contents -
A. Amended texts of the constitution, rules
of procedure, and financial regulations
B. Budget for the sixth financial year(ending
31 December 1951)
C. Scale of contributions, sixth financial
year (1951)
D. Delegates, representatives, and observers
attending the special session of the conference
A. Amended texts of the constitution, rules of procedure, and financial regulations
Constitution preamble
Rules of procedure
Financial regulations
Not amended
ARTICLE I
Functions of the Organization
Original Text
Functions of the organization
2. The Organization shall promote and, where appropriate, shall recommend national and international action with respect to
(b) the improvement of education and administration relating to nutrition, food, and agriculture; and the spread of public knowledge of nutritional and agricultural science and practice;
(c) the conservation of natural resources and the adoption of improved methods of agricultural production;
(d) the improvement of the processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products;
(e) the adoption of policies for the provision of adequate agricultural credit, national and international;
(f) the adoption of international policies with respect to agricultural commodity arrangements.
3. It shall also be the function of the Organization
(b) to organize in co-operation with the governments concerned, such missions as may be needed to assist them to fulfill the obligations arising from their acceptance of the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Food and agriculture; and
(e) generally to take all necessary and appropriate action to implement the purposes of the Organization as set forth in the Preamble.
Amended text
2. The Organization shall promote and, where appropriate, shall recommend national and international action with respect to
(b) the improvement of education and administration relating to nutrition, food, and agriculture, and the spread of public knowledge of nutritional and agricultural science and practice;
(e) the conservation of natural resources and the adoption of improved methods of agricultural production;
(d) the improvement of the processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products;
(e) the adoption of policies for the provision of adequate agricultural credit, national and international;
(f) the adoption of international policies with respect to agricultural commodity arrangements.
3. It shall also be the function of the Organization
(b) to organize, in co-operation with the governments concerned, such missions as may be needed to assist them to fulfill the obligations arising from their acceptance of the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Food and agriculture; and of this Constitution; and
(c) generally to take all necessary and appropriate action to implement the purposes of the Organization as set forth in the Preamble
ARTICLE II
Membership
Original Text
2. Additional Members may be admitted to the Organization by a vote concurred in by a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Conference and upon acceptance of this Constitution as in force at the time of admission.
Amended text
2. The Conference may, by a two-thirds majority of the votes east, decide to admit additional Members to the Organization, provided that a majority of the membership of the Organization is present. Membership shall commence upon the date of deposit of an instrument accepting this Constitution as in force at the time.
ARTICLE III
The Conference
Original Text
2. Each Member nation may appoint an alternate, associates, and advisers to its member of the Conference. The Conference may make rules concerning the participation of alternates, associates, and advisers in its proceedings, but any such participation shall be without the right to vote except in the ease of an alternate or associate participating in the place of a member.
3. No member of the Conference may represent more than one Member nation.
4. Each Member nation shall have only one vote. A Member nation which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the Conference if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years. The Conference may, nevertheless, permit such a Member nation to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member nation.
5. The Conference may invite any public international organization which has responsibilities related to those of the Organization to appoint a representative who shall participate in its meetings on the conditions prescribed by the Conference. No such representative shall have the right to vote.
6. The Conference shall meet at least once in every two years. The Conference may at any session, by a simple majority of the votes east, decide to meet in the following year.
7. The Conference shall elect its own officers, regulate its own procedure, and make rules governing the convocation of sessions and the determination of agenda.
8. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Constitution or by rules made by the Conference, all matters shall be decided by the Conference by a simple majority of the votes east.
Amended text
2. Each Member Nation may appoint an alternate associates, and advisers to its delegate. The Conference may determine the conditions for the participation of alternates, associates, and advisers in its proceedings, but any such participation shall be without the right to vote except in the ease of an alternate, associate, or adviser, participating in the place of a delegate.
3. No delegate may represent more than one Member Nation.
4. Each Member Nation shall have only one vote. A Member Nation which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the Conference if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the two preceding financial years. The Conference may, nevertheless, permit such a Member Nation to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member Nation.
5. The Conference may invite any international organization which has responsibilities related to those of the Organization to be represented at its meetings on the conditions prescribed by the Conference. No representative of such an organization shall have the right to vote.
6. The Conference shall met once in every two years in regular session. It may meet in special session:
(b) if the Council so instructs the Director-General, or if at least one-third of the Member Nations so request.
7. The Conference shall elect its own officers.
8. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Constitution or by rules made by the Conference, all decisions of the Conference shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast.
ARTICLE IV
Functions of the Conference
Original Text
2. The Conference may by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast make recommendations concerning questions relating to food and agriculture to be submitted to Member nations for consideration with a view to implementation by national action.
3. The Conference may by a two-thirds majority of the votes east submit conventions concerning questions relating to food and agriculture to Member nations for consideration with a view to their acceptance by the appropriate constitutional procedure.
4. The Conference shall make rules laying down the procedure to be followed to secure:
(b) proper consultation with governments in regard to relations between the Organization and national institutions or private persons.
5. The Conference may make recommendations to any public international organization regarding any matter pertaining to the purpose of the Organization.
6. The Conference may by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast agree to discharge any other functions consistent with the purposes of the Organization which may he assigned to it by governments or provided for by any arrangement between the Organization and any other public international organization.
Amended Text
2. The Conference shall adopt Rules of Procedure and Financial Regulations for the Organization.
3. The Conference may by a two-thirds majority of the votes east make recommendations to Member Nations concerning questions relating to food and agriculture, for consideration by them with a view to implementation by national action.
4. The Conference may make recommendations to any international organization regarding any matter pertaining to the purposes of the Organization.
ARTICLE V
Council of FAO
Original Text
2. The Conference may delegate to the Council such powers as it may determine, with the exception of powers set forth in paragraph 2 of Article II, paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Article IV, paragraph 1 of Article VII, Article XIII, and Article XX of this Constitution.
3. The Council shall appoint its officers other than the Chairman and, subject to any decisions of the Conference, shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
4. The Council shall establish a Co-ordinating Committee to tender advice on the co-ordination of technical work and the continuity of the activities of the Organization undertaken in accordance with the decisions of the Conference.
Amended Text
2. The Conference shall, in addition, appoint an independent Chairman of the Council.
3. The Council shall have such powers as the Conference may delegate to it, but the Conference shall not delegate the powers set forth in paragraph 2 of Article II, Article IV, paragraph 1 of Article VII, Article XII, paragraph 4 of Article XIII, paragraphs 1 and 3 of Article XIV, and Article XIX of this Constitution.
4. The Council shall appoint its officers other than the Chairman and subject to any decisions of the Conference shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
5. The Council shall establish a Co-ordinating Committee to tender advice on the co-ordination of technical work and the continuity of the activities of the Organization undertaken in accordance with the decisions of the Conference.
ARTICLE VI
Committees and Conferences
Not amended
ARTICLE VII
The Director-General
Not amended
ARTICLE VIII
Staff
Not amended
ARTICLE IX
Seat
Not amended
ARTICLE X
Regional and Liaison Offices
Not amended
ARTICLE XI
Reports by Members
Not amended
ARTICLE XII
Original Text
Relation to Any General World Organization;
2. Arrangements for defining the relations between the Organization and any such general organization shall be subject to the approval of the Conference. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article XX, such arrangements may, if approved by the Conference by a two thirds majority of the votes cast, involve modification of the provisions of this Constitution: Provided that no such arrangements shall modify the purpose and limitations of the Organization as set forth in this Constitution.
Amended Text
Relations with United Nations
2. Agreements defining the relations between the Organization and the United Nations shall be subject to The approval of the Conference.
ARTICLE XIII
Original Text
Co-operation with Other Organizations
2. The Director-General may, subject to any decisions of the Conference, enter into agreements with other public international organizations for the maintenance of common services, for common arrangements in regard to recruitment, training, conditions of service, anal other related matters, and for interchanges of staff.
Amended Text
Co-operation with Organizations and Persons
2. The Director-General may, subject to any decisions of the Conference, enter into agreements with other intergovernmental organizations for the maintenance of common services, for common arrangements in regard to recruitment, training, conditions of service, and other related matters, and for interchanges of staff.
3. The Conference may approve arrangements placing other international organizations dealing with questions relating to food and agriculture under the general authority of the Organization on such terms as may be agreed with the competent authorities of the organization concerned.
4. The Conference shall make rules laying down the procedure to be followed to secure proper consultation with governments in regard to relations between the Organization and national institutions or private persons.
ARTICLE XIV
Original Text
Supervision of Other Organizations
The Conference. may approve arrangements placing other public international organizations dealing with questions relating to food and agriculture under the general authority of the Organization on such terms as may be agreed with the competent authorities of the organization concerned.
Amended Text
Conventions and Agreements
2. The Council may, under rules to be made by the Conference. approve and submit to Member Nations regulations or supplementary agreements designed to implement any general convention or agreement which has come into force under paragraph 1. Any such regulations or supplementary agreements shall come into force for each Member Nation only after acceptance by it in accordance with its constitutional procedure.
3. The Conference. shall make rules laying down the procedure to be followed to secure proper consultation with governments and adequate technical preparations prior to consideration by the Conference. of proposed conventions and agreements.
4. The Director-General shall register with the United Nations any convention or agreement which has come into force as a result of action taken under this Article.
ARTICLE XV
Legal Status
Not amended
ARTICLE XVI (old Article XVII)
Original Text
Interpretation of Constitution
Any question or dispute concerning the interpretation of this Constitution or any international convention adopted thereunder shall be referred for determination to an appropriate international court or arbitral tribunal in the manner prescribed by rules to be adopted by the Conference.
Amended Text
Interpretation of Constitution and Settlement of Legal Questions
2. Any request by the Organization to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on legal questions arising within the scope of its activities shall be in accordance with any agreement between the Organization and the United Nations.
3. The reference of any question or dispute under this Article, or any request for an advisory opinion, shall be subject to procedures to be prescribed by the Conference.
ARTICLE XVII (old Article XVIII)
Original Text
Expenses
2. Each Member nation shall, upon its acceptance of this Constitution, pay as its first contribution its proportion of the annual budget for the current financial year.
3. The financial year of the Organization shall be 1 July to 30 June unless the Conference should otherwise determine.
Amended Text
Budget and Contributions
2. Each Member Nation undertakes to contribute annually to the Organization its share of the budget, as apportioned by the Conference
3. Each Member Nation shall, upon its acceptance of this Constitution, pay as its first contribution a proportion to be determined by the Conference of the budget for the current financial year.
4. The financial year of the Organization shall be the calendar year unless the Conference should otherwise determine.
ARTICLE XVIII (old Article XIX)
Withdrawal
Original Text
Any Member nation may give notice of withdrawal from the Organization at any time after the expiration of four years from the date of its acceptance of this Constitution. Such notice shall take effect one year after the date of its communication to the Director-General of the Organization subject to the Member nation's having at that time paid its annual contribution for each year of its membership including the financial year following the date of such notice.
Amended Text
Any Member Nation may give notice of withdrawal from the Organization at any time after the expiration of four years from the date of its acceptance of this Constitution. Such notice shall take effect one year after the date of its communication to the Director-General The financial obligation to the Organization of a Member Nation which has given notice of Withdrawal shall include the entire financial year in which the notice takes effect.
ARTICLE XIX (old Article XX)
Original Text
Amendment of Constitution
2. Other amendments shall take effect on adoption by the Conference by a vote concurred in by a two-thirds majority of all members of the Conference.
Amended Text
2. An amendment not involving new obligations for Member Nations shall take effect forthwith, unless the resolution by which it is adopted provides otherwise. Amendments involving new obligations shall take effect for each Member Nation accepting the amendment on acceptance by two-thirds of the membership of the Organization and thereafter for each remaining Member Nation on acceptance by it.
ARTICLE XX (old Article XXI)
Entry into Force of Constitution
Not amended
APPENDIX
Transitional Provisions (Obsolete but not repealed)
(Old) Article XXII | First Session of the Conference |
(Old) Article XXIII | Languages |
(Old) Article XXIV | Temporary Seat |
(Old) Article XXV | First Financial Year (together with Annex II, Budget and Scale of Contributions for the First Financial Year) |
(Old) Article XXVI | Dissolution of the Interim Commission |
Contents -