STATUTES AND INTERNAL RULES
(approved by the General Assembly on 11 May 2001)
PREAMBLE
The International Federation of Surveyors was founded in 1878 as
the Fédération Internationale des Géomètres (FIG) by seven national
associations of surveyors representing Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It is an international, non-government
organisation (NGO) registered in the country in which its permanent office is
domiciled, whose aim is to ensure that the disciplines of surveying and all who
practise them meet the needs of the markets and communities that they serve. It
operates under the following Statutes.
STATUTES
(approved by the General Assembly on 11 May 2001)
1.0 DEFINITION
1.1 In these Statutes the following definitions shall apply
- "Federation" means the International Federation of Surveyors
(FIG)
- "Internal Rules" means rules prescribed by the General Assembly
for the efficient and democratic management of the affairs of the Federation
- "Permanent Institution" means an institution established for the
purpose of pursuing specific on-going tasks
- "Office" means the permanent office for the purpose of
administering the work of the Federation
- ACCO means the Advisory Committee of Commission Officers
- "Surveyor" means a professional person as defined in Appendix 1.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
2.1 The objectives of the Federation are
- to provide an international forum for the exchange of information about
surveying and for the development of fellowship between surveyors
- to collaborate with the United Nations and other international and
regional agencies in the formulation and implementation of policies
affecting the use, development and management of land and marine resources
- to promote the disciplines of surveying, particularly in developing
countries and countries in economic transition
- to promote the role of the surveyor in the management of natural and
man-made environments
- to promote the development of national associations of surveyors and to
promote professional standards and codes of ethics and the exchange of
surveying personnel
- to promote high standards of education and training for surveyors and to
facilitate continuing professional development (CPD)
- to encourage the development and proper use of appropriate technology
- to encourage research in all disciplines of surveying and to disseminate
the results.
2.2 The Federation shall abstain from any interference in questions of a
political, racial or religious nature.
2.3 The Federation shall not permit any of its activities to be influenced by
statements or actions of a political, social or religious nature.
3.0 MEMBERS
3.1 There shall be the following categories of members
- member association: a national association representing one or more of the
disciplines of surveying
- affiliate: a group of surveyors or surveying organisation undertaking
professional activities but not fulfilling the criteria for member
associations
- corporate member: an organisation, institution or agency which provides
commercial services related to the profession of surveyor
- academic member: an organisation, institution or agency which promotes
education or research in one or more of the disciplines of surveying
- correspondent: an individual in a country where no association or group of
surveyors exists that is eligible to join the Federation as a member
association or affiliate
- honorary president: a past president who has rendered outstanding service
to the Federation during his or her period of office
- honorary member: an individual who has materially assisted the development
and promotion of the surveying profession at the international level.
3.2 The admission of a member association and the appointment of an honorary
president and honorary member shall be decided on a vote of the General
Assembly. All other admissions shall be decided by the Council.
3.3 Membership shall cease by resignation or by expulsion.
4.0 MEMBERSHIP FEES
4.1 The General Assembly shall set levels of fees, including minimum and
maximum levels, for member associations based on the numbers of their members.
4.2 Fees shall be payable annually on the first day of the calendar year in
which they fall due.
4.3 The General Assembly shall have powers to expel from the Federation any
member association whose fees are in arrears. The General Assembly shall under
normal circumstances expel from the Federation any member association whose fees
are three years in arrears. The Council shall take action to expel any other
member whose fees are in three years in arrears.
4.4 The fees payable by affiliates, corporate members, academic members and
correspondents shall be decided by the Council and reported to the General
Assembly.
4.5 Honorary presidents and honorary members shall not be required to pay any
fees.
5.0 ADMINISTRATION OF THE FEDERATION
5.1 The Federation is an international organisation with a registered Office.
5.2 The business of the Federation shall be directed by the Council under the
authority of the General Assembly and administered by the Office.
5.3 The Council is composed of the president of the Federation and four vice
presidents.
5.4 Additional ex-officio (non-voting) members of the Council may be
appointed by the General Assembly. These will include the Director of the
Office, an ACCO representative and the Director of the next Congress.
5.5 The term of office for all elected members of the Council is four years.
No individual may serve for more than two consecutive periods on the Council and
the term of office of the president is limited to one period of four years. The
term of office for the President, Vice Presidents and the ACCO representative
starts on 1 January in the year immediately following the preceding General
Assembly.
5.6 If any elected/appointed officer is unable to complete his or her period
of office, a replacement member shall be elected/appointed for the remaining
period.
6.0 GOVERNANCE OF THE FEDERATION
6.1 The Federation is governed by its General Assembly of member associations
which shall meet once each calendar year. The meetings of the General Assembly
should be held at intervals of about 12 months but must be no closer than nine
months apart, except in the case of an extraordinary meeting.
6.2 Meetings of the General Assembly are presided over by the president of
the Federation or, in his or her absence, by one of the vice presidents. A full
agenda, with motions for each item to be put to the meeting, shall be sent out
at least two months prior to each meeting and shall also be placed on the
Federation’s home page on the World Wide Web.
6.3 The powers of the General Assembly are
- to amend the Statutes of the Federation
- to admit member associations and to appoint honorary presidents and
honorary members
- to elect members and to confirm appointments to the Council and to approve
the responsibilities delegated to each of its members
- to set levels of fees for the member associations
- to establish commissions, ad hoc commissions, permanent institutions and
task forces and to elect chairs and vice chairs of the commissions and
directors of the permanent institutions
- to adopt plans of work, budgets and audited statements of accounts
- to prescribe Internal Rules
- to expel member associations
- to do all such other matters as the Federation sees fit for the
achievement and promotion of its objectives.
6.4 For a General Assembly to be constitutionally valid, there must be
present at least one individual member of at least one third of the member
associations. An individual member may represent only one member association.
6.5 All decisions of the General Assembly shall be taken by simple majority
vote. Only member associations which have paid their fees for the previous
calendar year and have no other arrears and which are represented at the meeting
by an individual member shall be entitled to vote. Each member association shall
nominate an individual member who shall be authorised to cast that member
association’s vote at any meeting or extraordinary meeting of the General
Assembly.
6.6 The number of votes which may be cast by a member association is one.
6.7 The vote shall be taken by a show of hands unless a ballot is ordered by
the chairperson or requested and seconded from the floor. Elections should
always be by ballot. In the case of an equality of votes the chairperson shall
cast the deciding vote except in the case of elections to office where the final
decision will be made by selecting a name by blind ballot.
6.8 The Council or one quarter of the member associations can demand the
convening of an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly. The period of
notice, quorum and voting procedures for an extraordinary meeting shall be the
same as those for the General Assembly.
7.0 POWER TO BIND AND LIABILITY
7.1 The Federation shall indemnify employees, members of the Federation and
all FIG officers and Directors against any liability in respect of actions
properly taken on behalf of the Federation.
8.0 FORCE MAJEURE
8.1 In the event of force majeure rendering liaison with the majority of
members of the Federation impossible, the Council shall take all measures
necessary for the safety of the Federation’s funds and its archives and for
the custodianship of the Federation; but otherwise all activity of the
Federation shall cease until conditions permit activities to be resumed.
9.0 LANGUAGE
9.1 The working language of the Federation shall be English.
10. LIQUIDATION
10.1 The decision to liquidate the Federation can be taken only at a meeting
or an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly.
10.2 Assets which may become available or realised shall be transferred to
the members in proportion to annual fees paid in the calendar year prior to
liquidation.
APPENDIX 1
DEFINITION OF SURVEYOR
A surveyor is a professional person with the academic
qualifications and technical expertise to practise the science of measurement;
to assemble and assess land and geographic related information; to use that
information for the purpose of planning and implementing the efficient
administration of the land, the sea and structures thereon; and to instigate the
advancement and development of such practices.
Practice of the surveyor’s profession may involve one or more
of the following activities which may occur either on, above or below the
surface of the land or the sea and may be carried out in association with other
professionals:
- The determination of the size and shape of the earth and the measurement of
all data needed to define the size, position, shape and contour of any part of
the earth.
- The positioning of objects in space and the positioning and monitoring of
physical features, structures and engineering works on, above or below the
surface of the earth.
- The determination of the position of the boundaries of public or private
land, including national and international boundaries, and the registration of
those lands with the appropriate authorities.
- The design, establishment and administration of land and geographic
information systems and the collection, storage, analysis and management of
data within those systems.
- The study of the natural and social environment, the measurement of land
and marine resources and the use of the data in the planning of development in
urban, rural and regional areas.
- The planning, development and redevelopment of property, whether urban or
rural and whether land or buildings.
- The assessment of value and the management of property, whether urban or
rural and whether land or buildings.
- The planning, measurement and management of construction works, including
the estimation of costs.
- The production of plans, maps, files, charts and reports.
In the application of the foregoing activities surveyors take
into account the relevant legal, economic, environmental and social aspects
affecting each project.
INTERNAL RULES
(approved by the General Assembly on 11 May 2001)
1.0 DEFINITIONS
1.1 In these Internal Rules the following definitions shall
apply
-
"congress" means an international meeting held
every fourth year and including meetings of the General Assembly, the
Advisory Committee of Commission Officers and the Council.
-
"host" means the member association or member
associations responsible for hosting and organising a meeting
-
"working week" means a period of activity
including an international or regional seminar and meetings of the General
Assembly, the Advisory Committee of Commission Officers and the Council.
2.0 MEMBER ASSOCIATION
2.1 A member association is comprised of individuals who possess
relevant academic qualifications (which should normally be equivalent to at
least UNESCO International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) level 5
degrees) plus approved professional experience; and who provide professional
services in accordance with ethical standards.
2.2 Associations which include technician grades of membership
are also eligible for membership of the Federation.
2.3 A member association shall be entitled to host congresses
and working weeks, to nominate candidates for election to the Council, to
nominate delegates to the commissions and ad hoc commissions of the Federation,
to participate in voting at meetings and extraordinary meetings of the General
Assembly and to receive all material disseminated in the name of the Federation.
A member association shall encourage its members to participate in the
Federation’s technical meetings.
2.4 In the case of an application received from an association
in a country which already has one or more member associations, these
associations shall be informed of the application and their comments sought.
2.5 An association wishing to become a member of the Federation
shall make an application to the Council which will consider it and submit it to
a vote of the General Assembly.
3.0 AFFILIATE
3.1 An affiliate is an organisation, comprised of individuals
who practise the profession of surveying, which does not fulfil the criteria for
membership as a member association.
3.2 An affiliate may be admitted to membership where the
discipline or disciplines it represents are not already represented within the
Federation by a member association from the same country. The admission of an
affiliate should normally be a step towards the development of an association
which can eventually become a member association.
3.3 An affiliate shall be entitled to nominate delegates to the
commissions and ad hoc commissions of the Federation and to receive all material
disseminated in the name of the Federation. An affiliate shall encourage its
members to participate in the Federation’s technical meetings.
3.4 In the case of an application received from a group or
organisation in a country which already has one or more member associations,
these associations shall be informed by the Council of the application and their
comments sought.
3.5 A group wishing to become an affiliate shall make an
application or organisation to the Council which will consider it and notify its
decision to the applicant and to the General Assembly. Under normal conditions
an affiliate must withdraw from membership consequent on the disciplines it
represents becoming represented within the Federation by a member association
from the same country.
4.0 CORPORATE MEMBERS
4.1 An organisation, institution or agency wishing to become a
corporate member shall make an application to the Council which will consider it
and notify its decision to the applicant and to the General Assembly.
4.2 A corporate member shall be entitled to contribute to the
work of the commissions and ad hoc commissions of the Federation, to receive all
material disseminated in the name of the Federation and to promote its products
and services through the medium of the Federation. Corporate members’
representatives shall be encouraged to participate in the Federation’s
technical meetings.
5.0 ACADEMIC MEMBERS
5.1 An organisation, institution or agency wishing to become an
academic member shall make an application to the Council which will consider it,
and notify its decision to the applicant and to the General Assembly.
5.2 An academic member shall be entitled to contribute to the
work of the commissions and ad hoc commissions of the Federation, to receive all
material disseminated in the name of the Federation and to promote its
educational and research activities through the medium of the Federation,
including the Federation’s surveying education data base. Academic members’
representatives shall be encouraged to participate in the Federation’s
technical meetings.
6.0 CORRESPONDENTS
6.1 A correspondent shall be a senior member of the profession
whose activities bring him or her into contact with more than one discipline of
surveying. There shall be no more than one correspondent per country.
6.2 Correspondents shall be entitled to contribute to the work
of the commissions and ad hoc commissions of the Federation and to receive all
material disseminated in the name of the Federation and have a duty to make this
material available to surveyors and others in their countries. Correspondents
and other surveyors in the countries they represent shall be encouraged to
participate in the Federation’s technical meetings.
6.3 The admission of a correspondent should normally be a step
towards the development of groups or associations in the same country which can
eventually become affiliates or member associations.
6.4 The admission of a correspondent shall be decided by the
Council and reported to the General Assembly.
7.0 HONORARY PRESIDENT AND HONORARY MEMBER
7.1 Nominations for these appointments shall be made by a member
association or the Council which will consider them and submit them to a vote of
the General Assembly.
7.2 Honorary presidents and honorary members shall be kept
informed about the activities of the Federation and welcomed at meetings of the
General Assembly.
8.0 OFFICE
8.1 The Office of the Federation is registered in Copenhagen,
municipality of Frederiksberg.
9.0. THE COUNCIL
9.1 The president is elected by the General Assembly in the year
of a Congress. Each nomination shall be made by the member association of which
the nominee is a member. The Council will write to member associations asking
for nominations and giving the closing date for their receipt by the Office.
This will normally be six months prior to the General Assembly.
9.2 The four vice presidents are elected by the General
Assembly. The election will take place on a phased basis so that two posts are
filled at the General Assembly held during a congress year and two posts at the
Assembly held two years later. Each nomination shall be made by the member
association of which the nominee is a member. The Council will write to member
associations asking for nominations and giving the closing date for their
receipt by the Office. This will normally be six months prior to the General
Assembly.
9.3 A member association can nominate a new candidate or
renominate a previously unsuccessful candidate whenever nominations are called
for the office of president or vice president.
9.4 The General Assembly shall establish a Nominations Review
Group (NRG) on the recommendation of the Council. The NRG shall normally consist
of three to five persons with considerable experience of the Federation and
shall be chaired by the immediate past president. Its members shall hold office
for four years, from Congress to Congress. A member of the current Council
cannot be a member of the NRG. If any member of the NRG is unable to complete
his or her period of office, a replacement shall be appointed by the Council and
ratification of that appointment sought from next meeting of the General
Assembly.
9.5 The Council shall promulgate guidance notes for the NRG
requiring it, inter alia, to review the nominations for president and
vice-presidents and, in making its selection, to consider the candidates’
qualifications and ensure a balanced distribution of candidates as between
different geographical regions and different surveying disciplines. The
recommendation of the NRG, together with relevant information on the candidates,
shall be circulated to members with the agenda and papers for the General
Assembly which will be voting on the recommendation. If a nominee of a member
association is not included in the recommendation of the NRG that member
association has to reconfirm that its candidate remains a nominee and for which
post(s) before or at the General Assembly.
9.6 If the recommendation of the NRG is not adopted as a package
the General Assembly shall be invited to vote for each candidate. The first vote
shall be between all candidates, including the one proposed by the NRG, for the
post in question. If no single candidate for that post gains an absolute
majority of the votes cast, a second vote will be held between the three
candidates that have the most votes. If there is no absolute majority a final
vote will take place between the two candidates that have gained the largest
number of votes in the second round. In the event of a tie on that vote, the
President shall order a ballot.
9.7 The Council shall meet whenever necessary and at least twice
year.
9.8 The Council shall develop and ensure the implementation of
the policy of the Federation and seek approval for the Federation’s plan of
work from the General Assembly. It shall prepare and submit to the General
Assembly for approval annual budgets and statements of account and ensure that
professional audits are conducted annually. It shall execute contracts to
maintain and staff the Office, lay down the responsibilities of the Office and
monitor its performance.
10.0 FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
10.1 The Federation shall finance its activities from fees
payable by its members; meetings, publications and other revenue-generating
activities; grants and subsidies; special levies; and gifts and legacies.
10.2 Changes to levels of fees set by the General Assembly must
be approved by the General Assembly during the calendar year that occurs two
years ahead of the one in which the changes are to take effect.
10.3 In the case of a member expelled for non-payment of fees,
membership can be restored on payment of the arrears by the decision of the
Council.
11.0 COMMISSIONS
11.1 Commissions shall be established to further the technical
and professional work of the Federation. Between them they shall cover all the
activities listed in the definition of a surveyor. The terms of reference of the
commissions and the duration of their work shall be decided by a vote of the
General Assembly so that together they shall be able to anticipate and respond
to market trends and client demand.
11.2 A commission shall be comprised of delegates appointed by
the member associations and affiliates. Each member association or affiliate
shall be entitled to appoint one delegate to each commission, who will be
expected to attend, as a minimum, at least one congress and, whenever possible,
technical meetings organised by the commission in the intervening years. It is,
however, recognised that much of the work of a commission will be conducted by
correspondence.
11.3 Correspondents, corporate members, academic members or
other persons appointed by commission chairs may contribute to the work of the
commissions but not to their administration.
11.4 Each commission shall be presided over by a chair who shall
take office at the conclusion of a congress and serve until the conclusion of
the next congress. The appointment of chairs of commissions shall be decided by
a vote of the General Assembly. In the case of each commission, nominations may
be made either by the current chair on behalf of the commission or by member
associations. The nominations shall be called for at least six months in advance
of the General Assembly at which the appointments are to be made to enable the
Council to ensure that the nominees command the support of their member
associations and the relevant commissions. A nominee shall preferably have
played an active part in the activities of the commission for which he or she is
being nominated as chair and shall have demonstrated possession of the personal
and professional capabilities needed to lead the work of the commission. In
addition, the Council shall assure itself as to the nominees’ practical
availability for service and that they have sufficient financial and
administrative support. In the event of no nomination being received for the
chair of a particular commission, the Council shall take such action as may be
needed to ensure that the position is filled.
11.5 No one country shall normally hold a chair of the same
commission for two consecutive terms.
11.6 Each commission chair shall attend and submit a report to
each meeting of the General Assembly and may participate in debate but shall not
have voting rights.
11.7 The Council shall promulgate guidance notes for commission
chairs.
11.8 The appointment of vice-chairs shall be decided by a vote
of the General Assembly at the same meeting at which chairs are appointed. In
the case of each commission nominations may be made either by the chair on
behalf of the commission or by member associations. The nominations shall be
called for at least six months in advance of the General Assembly at which the
appointments are to be made to enable the Council to ensure that the nominees
command the support of their member associations and the relevant commissions.
In the event of no nomination being received for the vice chair of a particular
commission, the Council shall take such action as may be needed to ensure that
the position is filled.
11.9 In the event that a chair or a vice-chair is unable to
fulfil the responsibilities of the office the Council shall make such
arrangements as it deems necessary to ensure the continuity of that
commission’s work, including the appointment of a new chair or new vice-chair
if necessary.
11.10 The work of the commissions shall be supported financially
by the Federation. Exact amounts of annual grants and any other support shall be
determined by the Council.
12.0 THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF COMMISSION OFFICERS (ACCO)
12.1 ACCO is constituted by the commission chairs and vice
chairs and the vice president responsible for commissions and the ACCO
representative on the Council. It shall be chaired by the vice-president and
shall be responsible to the Council. ACCO shall meet at least annually, during
either the working week or the period of a congress. It is responsible for co-ordinating
and advising the Council on the work of the commissions. It may also debate
other matters affecting the Federation and advise the Council accordingly.
12.2 ACCO shall be entitled to nominate a representative to the
Council whose term of office shall be two years. This representative shall be
knowledgeable about the commissions and their way of working and will normally
be a commission chair, vice chair or immediate past chair.
13.0 AD HOC COMMISSIONS
13.1 In addition to the commissions, ad hoc commissions may be
established by a vote of the General Assembly to carry out special technical
assignments, projects or studies, including cross-commission activities. Ad hoc
commissions will normally be established for a specified period and disbanded
following the acceptance of their reports by the General Assembly. Their
composition, chairs, terms of reference and work plans shall be approved by the
Council.
13.2 The work of an ad hoc commission may be supported
financially by the Federation.
14.0 TASK FORCES
14.1 Task forces may be established by the Council to research
and advise on matters of an administrative nature. They will normally be of
short duration and will be concluded on the presentation and acceptance of their
reports by the Council and, where necessary, the General Assembly. Their
composition, chairs, terms of reference and work plans shall be approved by the
Council.
15.0 PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS
15.1 The establishment of a permanent institution shall be
decided by a vote of the General Assembly for the purpose of pursuing specific
on-going tasks.
15.2 The work of a permanent institution shall be presided over
by a director, who shall be nominated by a member association in the country in
which the permanent institution is housed. The Council will consider the
nominations for the director and submit it to a vote of the General Assembly.
The Council will ensure that the work of a Permanent Institution accords with
the Federation’s plan of work.
15.3 Directors of permanent institutions may attend meetings of
the General Assembly and ACCO and may participate in debate but shall not have
voting rights. They shall present reports on the work of their permanent
institutions to each meeting of the General Assembly.
15.4 Each permanent institution shall be responsible for its own
finances and for any expenses incurred by its director.
16.0 LIAISON WITH INTERNATIONAL BODIES
16.1 The Council, together with the commissions where
appropriate, shall seek opportunities for the Federation to develop
relationships and undertake activities jointly with the United Nations and other
international agencies.
16.2 The Council shall take action to ensure that the profession
of surveying is correctly represented in international and regional
classifications of activities, occupations and educational programmes.
17.0 CONGRESSES AND WORKING WEEKS
17.1 Congresses provide opportunities for commissions to report
the results of their previous four years’ work and to establish the goals
which will guide their future work. Technical and professional meetings,
including those held during working weeks, and other technical and professional
events provide a medium for the commissions to present interim reports and
otherwise to review progress and identify trends that will influence their
future work.
17.2 A member association or associations wishing to host a
congress or a working week in its country shall make a submission, accompanied
by an outline budget, to the Council and the venue shall be selected five years
in advance on a vote of the General Assembly. If the host is subsequently unable
to fulfil its commitment, the Council will decide on an alternative venue, which
the General Assembly will be invited to ratify at its next meeting.
17.3 The Council will publish guidelines on procedures for
congresses and working weeks.
18.0 DOCUMENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
18.1 Documentation for and presentations at all meetings of the
Federation shall be in English apart from regional seminars and symposia and
special sessions during the working weeks and congresses. Host associations can,
if they so wish, organise the translation of documents into other languages. The
host may provide simultaneous interpretation into its own language. Other member
associations can bring their own interpreters and the host may provide
simultaneous interpretation facilities for a limited number of languages,
debiting the cost to the event budget.
19.0 PUBLICATIONS
19.1 The Council shall be responsible for publishing
-
a home page on the World Wide Web
-
an annual report, which is the Federation’s main medium of
external communication and its principal marketing tool
-
a quarterly bulletin, as the main medium of communication
between the Council; the commissions and their delegates; and the members of
the Federation
-
additions to the FIG publication series, which includes
formal policy statements and ethical, educational and technical guidelines
-
practice statements
-
minutes of meetings and extraordinary meetings of the
General Assembly and minutes of meetings of the Council.
20.0 BADGES AND CERTIFICATES
20.1 From time to time the Federation may award badges and
certificates in recognition of individuals who have made significant
contributions to the work of the Federation. The Council shall decide who merits
the awards and shall publish guidelines regarding the format of the badges and
certificates.
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