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International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) Constitution
Definition | Objectives | Headquarters & Official Language | Structure & Membership | The Congress
Board of Directors | Finance | Standing Committees | Expulsion, Resignation, Suspension Honorary Members, Distinctions | Dissolution & Disposition | Effective Date Preamble We, the practitioners of Taekwon-Do, the art of physical, mental and moral training in the use of techniques of unarmed combat for self-defense as well as health, do hereby undertake to strengthen and promote Taekwon-Do and the International Taekwon-Do Federation founded by General Choi Hong Hi regardless of religion, race, national or ideological boundaries in accordance with the tenets of Taekwon-Do, namely Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control and Indomitable Spirit. We recognize that we are forever students of General Choi, and that it is our duty to serve the art and organization of Taekwon-Do to honor his immeasurable accomplishments and vision. We commit ourselves to act as good citizens who value the importance of being part of the building process of a better society where peace, freedom, justice, humanity and morality stand for the principles of human progress. Article I - Definition The International Taekwon-Do Federation (I.T.F.) is an international, non-governmental, non-political, non-profit organization of unlimited duration, which does not recognize differences of race, religion, sex or politics. Article II - Objectives §1 To promote the Korean art of self-defense known as Taekwon-Do (TKD) through friendly relations and understanding among its members. §2 To govern the teaching and demonstration of Taekwon-Do by taking steps that shall be deemed necessary or advisable to prevent infringement of the Statutes, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of the I.T.F. to regulate the introduction of proper methods or practices of Taekwon-Do. §3 To insure that there shall be no discrimination against a member, an individual member or other participant in Taekwon-Do for reasons of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or politics. §4 To coordinate and regulate Taekwon-Do activities around the world through meetings, conferences, seminars, camps, championships and other events. §5 To study and present technical, sport, organizational, ethical and moral innovations and standards. §6 To resolve discrepancies and conflicts between or among members and Continental Federations. Article III - Headquarters and Official Language §1 The location of the I.T.F. headquarters shall be determined by the Board of Directors. §2 English is the official language of the I.T.F. §3 The United States Dollar is the official measure of monetary fees quoted by the I.T.F. Article IV - Structure and Membership §1 The I.T.F. shall consist of the members who are affiliated to it and recognized by the I.T.F. as controlling Taekwon-Do within the spirit of this constitution in their respective countries. §2 Except as stated in this Article IV, only one association shall be recognized in each country. Where there is only one association in a particular country or where an association in a country where there is more that one association contains the name of that country in the title, that association will be referred to as a "National Association". §3 Within countries where there are member national associations there also can be iAllied National AssociationsĂ®. §4 For Allied National Associations to be formed, they must receive the approval of the Board of Directors of the I.T.F. following consultation with the National Association of the country within which the Allied National Association is located. §5 National Associations and Allied National Associations shall both be members of the I.T.F. The term imemberĂ® shall not include individual members who shall be referred to herein as iindividual membersĂ®. §6 Each member is entitled to conduct all I.T.F. business directly with I.T.F. headquarters in accordance with this Constitution, By-Laws and Rules. §7 Each member should report to the I.T.F., through the Secretary General, its events and activities. §8 Each member shall have committees, which will seek, among other responsibilities, ways of studying, recommending and helping the work of the I.T.F. in all aspects. §9 Members shall promote championships, seminars, courses, and meetings. §10 The National Association and all Allied National Associations within a country shall cooperate through a national federation for matters of national interest, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such as submitting teams for world, regional and continental championships. §11 Within the I.T.F. there also shall be iindividual membersĂ® who are degree holders and who will be affiliated to the I.T.F. through the members. §12 No member, individual member or group of any kind shall have authority to act on behalf of the I.T.F., and no member, individual member or group of any kind shall be deemed an agent, servant, employee or representative of the I.T.F. unless such member, individual member or group is a recognized body, officer or salaried employee of the I.T.F. and the relevant actions are being taken for the exclusive purpose of furthering the laws, goals or objectives of the I.T.F. §13 To become a member of the I.T.F. the applicant must be approved by the Board of Directors by a majority vote. §14 In order for an applicant to be considered for membership within the I.T.F., that applicant must be proposed to the Board of Directors by the Secretary General who will assure the Board of Directors that the applicantĂs statutes, calendar of activities, constituent clubs, grades, individual members, technical and organization levels are of a satisfactory nature. The applicant must also undertake to maintain these requirements at a satisfactory level. §15 Any organization, member or individual member which tolerates, allows or organizes competitions in which discrimination is practiced or which is established in a country where discrimination in sport is laid by law shall not be admitted to the I.T.F. or shall be expelled if it, he or she is already a member, or individual member. §16 The executive body of a member shall be appointed only by means of election within that association. The statutes of a member shall provide for an election procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the electorate. §17 The I.T.F. shall not recognize the executive body of a member, even on an interim basis, if it has not been appointed in accordance with clause IV.16. §18 Any decision taken by an outside body to suspend a member's executive body shall not be binding on the I.T.F. §19 National Associations, Allied National Associations, Continental Federations or other bodies with which any member or members wish to associate or commit themselves shall only be permitted with the I.T.F.Ăs express consent and shall be subordinate to the I.T.F. The Statutes, Laws, Regulations and Rules of any such National Association, Allied National Association, Continental Federation or other body shall be subject to the approval of the I.T.F. §20 The following are recognized as elemental components of the I.T.F.:
Article V - The Congress §1 The Congress is the supreme body of the I.T.F. Its quorum is one-third of the members, based on the official list of the Secretary General for the notice about the Congress meeting. §2 The Congress shall meet every two years. §3 The Board of Directors may call an Extraordinary Congress meeting of the I.T.F. at any time, at the written request of one-third of the members of the I.T.F. or if the Board of Directors by majority vote considers it necessary, upon not less than two (2) months notice to all members. An Extraordinary Congress meeting shall be called at the place chosen by the Board of Directors. §4 Each member shall have at least one (1) vote at the Congress meeting. If a member has fifty (50) plaques, it shall be entitled to a second vote and for each twenty five (25) plaques over the initial twenty five (25) it shall be allowed an additional vote, for a maximum of five votes. A member will not be allowed to split its number of votes for any agenda item. §5 Each member shall be allowed two (2) delegates to the Congress meeting. §6 The names of the delegates must be sent to the Secretary General at least one (1) week before the opening of the Congress meeting. The delegate having the right to vote must be indicated. Should this delegate leave the conference hall at any time during the Congress meeting, he or she shall be replaced by the other delegate. §7 Only the delegates present and entitled to vote shall decide any questions put to a vote. §8 No delegate shall be allowed to represent more than one (1) member. §9 During their term of office, members of the Board of Directors shall not be eligible to act as delegates of members. §10 Voting by letter or proxy is not allowed. §11 Delegates to the Congress meeting must be "bona fide" members of the member country and have been citizens or legal residents of the country that he/she represent for at least one year. §12 The date and place of the Congress meeting must be confirmed to the members by a letter sent at least two (2) months in advance of the Congress meeting. §13 Accidental error or omission in giving notice of any ordinary Congress meeting or extraordinary Congress meeting or non-receipt of a notice by a member shall not invalidate any resolution passed or proceedings taken. §14 The agenda specifying the nature of the business to be transacted, the Secretary General's report, the balance sheet and the auditor's report must be sent to the members two (2) weeks before the date of the Congress meeting. §15 All proposals and questions to be submitted to the Congress meeting by members must be sent in writing to the Secretary General at least one (1) month before the Congress meeting. Only those proposals and questions sent in time and included in the agenda may be discussed at the Congress meeting. §16 The Congress meeting alone may alter the Constitution of the I.T.F. §17 To be adopted, an amendment to the Constitution must receive the approval of two-thirds of the votes cast by the delegates present and entitled to vote, during a Congress meeting. §18 Proposals during a Congress meeting shall be passed by a simple majority of votes cast by the delegates present and entitled to vote. §19 Voting may be taken by a show of hands. §20 Voting for the elections shall be by secret ballot. In the case of a tied vote, the Chairman shall cast the deciding vote. §21 For the election of the President of the I.T.F., the winning candidate must receive an absolute majority of votes. If on any particular vote there are more than two (2) candidates and an absolute majority is not obtained, the candidate with the fewest number of votes will be dropped from the next ballot. This shall be repeated on succeeding ballots until one candidate receives an absolute majority. §22 Decisions taken at a Congress meeting shall come into operation and effect immediately following that particular Congress meeting, unless otherwise stipulated by that Congress meeting, in which case a date for the operation and effect of such decision will be stipulated by the Congress meeting. §23 The Secretary General shall keep the official minutes of the Congress, and they shall be distributed to those attending the Congress as soon as reasonably possible following the Congress meeting. §24 The President shall act as Chairman of the Congress meeting. In the absence of the President, or if he or she is unable to act, the Senior Vice-President shall act in his or her stead. In the absence of the President and Senior Vice-President, the meeting shall elect a Chairperson. Article VI - Board of Directors §1 The Board of Directors shall consist of:
§2 The Continental Federations are as follows (listed alphabetically):
§3 To be elected to the Board of Directors, a representative must come from a Continental Federation that has a minimum of fifty I.T.F. plaques within its geographic area in the year of elections. Continental Federation representatives are elected by Continental country members to a Congress meeting and ratified by the Congress. The Secretary General shall inform the meeting of the names of the eligible Continental Federations. §4 The President is the senior officer of the I.T.F. He represents the I.T.F. in all international functions. He is the leader of the I.T.F. In the role of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President is responsible for the development and maintenance of policy affecting the affairs of the I.T.F. The President shall act as Chair of the Congress meeting and of the Board of Directors. The President shall also be a Member ex officio of all I.T.F. Committees of the Federation. §5 The Senior Vice-President works in close cooperation with the President and shall perform such functions as the President requires. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such duties as are required by the President or the Board. The Continental Federation Representatives work in close cooperation with all members of the Board to advance the interests of the I.T.F. The treasurer is responsible for the supervision of the financial health of the I.T.F. The Secretary General will be in charge of the work of the General Secretariat, supervise the staff members of the I.T.F., support the Board of Directors and its committees, and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board. §6 The Secretary General shall keep the official minutes of the Board of Directors meetings, and they shall be distributed to the members of the Board of Directors as soon as reasonably possible following each meeting. §7 All members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the Congress meeting for a four (4) year term. §8 The President shall only be able to vote in the case of a tied vote and shall act as Chairman of the meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the President, or in the event he or she is unable to act, the Senior Vice-President shall act in the President's stead. §9 No two (2) of the President, Senior Vice-President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary General and Treasurer shall be from the same country. §10 If the President ceases to carry out or is prevented from performing his or her duties, the Senior Vice-President shall undertake them until the next Congress meeting. In such a case, the Congress shall elect a new President. §11 If the Senior Vice-President, the two Vice-Presidents, Secretary General and/or the Treasurer cease to carry out or are prevented from performing their duties, the Board of Directors shall appoint a replacement who shall occupy that position until the next Congress. In such case, the Congress will elect the replacement. §12 The Board of Directors shall be the executive body of the I.T.F. It shall be empowered to make decisions on all matters that are not exclusive to the Congress. §13 The Board of Directors shall meet at least once a year. It shall report on its activities at each Congress meeting. §14 At the request of five (5) members of the Board of Directors, the President must convene an extraordinary Board of Directors meeting. §15 The Board of Directors shall appoint the chairperson and from two (2) to four (4) members depending on the needs of each committee. §16 The Board of Directors may formulate and implement such By-Laws as may be necessary to conduct the business of the I.T.F., as long as those By-Laws are not in conflict with the Constitution. §17 Such changes to the By-Laws will be outlined in a report to the following regularly-scheduled Congress. Article VII - Finance §1 The financial year of the I.T.F. shall begin on the 1st day of January of each year. §2 Consolidated balance sheets shall be drawn up for the financial year ending the 31st of December. §3 Consolidated balance sheets shall be prepared every year and presented at each Congress meeting. §4 The Congress meeting shall appoint, at each regularly-scheduled meeting every two (2) years, a firm of chartered accountants, or equivalent, to examine the accounts of the I.T.F. and to prepare the yearly consolidated balance sheet, with explanatory notes, for presentation to the Board of Directors and to the Congress meeting. §5 Such firm of chartered accountants, or equivalent, is to be known as the auditors. §6 Except as stated as being the responsibility of the auditors, the control of the I.T.F. finances shall rest with the Treasurer. §7 The Treasurer shall report as required to the Congress meeting and to the Board of Directors on the financial situation of I.T.F. §8 Remuneration and expenses of the members of the Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons shall be set by resolution of the Board of Directors. §9 All expenses that may be eligible for reimbursement shall be set forth in the By-Laws. Article VIII - Standing Committees §1 The I.T.F. shall have the following six standing committees:
§2 The Board of Directors shall have the right to create ad hoc committees. §3 Each committee shall consist of a Chairperson and from two to four members, depending on the needs of each Committee, to be appointed by the Board of Directors for a term of two years. Each Committee may call for assistance in technical and/or organizational matters. §3 Committees shall report to the Board of Directors in accordance with the Board's requests. Committees may propose to the Board of Directors for approval of the terms of reference necessary to carry out their responsibilities. Article IX - Expulsion, Resignation, Suspension §1 Circumstances and procedures not covered herein shall be addressed in the By-Laws and Rules. §2 A member and/or Continental Federation membership can be withdrawn from the I.T.F. for the following reasons:
§3 An NGB and/or Continental Federation may resign from the I.T.F. by sending a notice to the Secretary General. Article X - Honorary Members, Distinctions Honors and distinctions may be bestowed upon deserving individuals in accordance with the By-Laws. Article XI - Dissolution and Disposition §1 The dissolution of the I.T.F. will require a vote by at least two-thirds of the members eligible to vote as registered with the I.T.F. at least sixty (60) days prior to the vote, which can only take place during a regular or extraordinary Congress meeting. §2 In the case of dissolution, the property of the I.T.F. will be given to a charitable society. Article XII - Effective Date This Constitution will be in force and effect immediately upon its approval by a simple majority of the Congress. The Undersigned, as the duly elected Directors of the International Taekwon-Do Federation, do hereby ratify and affirm the above Constitution on the date specified below. Dated this 13th day of June 2003, at the I.T.F. Congress, Warsaw, Poland. |