Constitution

C 15.1 The General Congress is the highest authority of FINA and shall have the power to decide upon any matters arising in FINA. Decisions by the Technical Congress may be overruled by the General Congress. The Bureau may decide to consider proposals relating to Technical Rules as well as other proposals.

C 15.2 The General Congress of FINA shall consist of:

C 15.2.1 two (2) duly appointed delegates of each affiliated Member. Each delegate shall have one vote, provided, however, where a Member is represented by only one delegate, such delegate shall be entitled to two votes. Notice of the appointment of delegates, certified in writing by the Member they represent, must be lodged with the FINA Honorary Secretary prior to the commencement of the Congress.

C 15.2.2 all members of the Bureau without vote,

C 15.2.3 the Honorary Life President without vote, and

C 15.2.4 all Honorary Members without vote.

C 15.3 The President of FINA shall preside at all Congress meetings or in his absence one of the Vice Presidents appointed by the Bureau.

C 15.4 The Congress shall be convened every four (4) years. The Honorary Secretary shall inform the Members not later than twelve (12) months ahead of the exact date fixed for the Congress concerned. The Honorary Secretary shall send an invitation to all Members, together with the agenda for the Congress and the reports as in C 15.8.2 and C 15.8.3 below and together with all duly submitted motions and applications at least three (3) months prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

C 15.5 A special or extraordinary meeting of the Congress shall be convened by a decision of the Bureau or upon receipt of a written request of one third of the Members. The Honorary Secretary shall call such a meeting, not to be held earlier than five (5) months from the date of the notice, which shall state the reason for the meeting. No subject shall be discussed at the special meeting other than the matters stated in the requisition. The quorum shall be twenty (20) Members. Should there be no quorum present, the motion shall be deemed to have been lost and shall not be raised again until the next ordinary meeting of the Congress.

C 15.6 The General Congress may, in order to reward exceptional merit in or service for the advancement of international Swimming, elect an Honorary Life President, who shall be a member of the Bureau without vote. The General Congress may also elect Honorary Members.

C 15.7 The General Congress has a quorum if more than half of the Members are represented. If a quorum is not present at the previously announced opening time of the Congress, the meeting shall not open until one hour later, at which time the quorum shall not be fewer than forty (40) Members. Decisions by the Congress are made on vote of a majority of those Members present and voting.

C 15.8 At each regular General Congress the following items shall be included on the agenda:

C 15.8.1 declaration of a quorum,

C 15.8.2 report of the Bureau on its activities during the time since the previous Congress,

C 15.8.3 financial report of the Honorary Treasurer,

C 15.8.4 Confirmation of the new FINA Doping Panel members (C 21.2)

C 15.8.5 Confirmation of the new FINA Disciplinary Panel (C 22.2)

C 15.8.6 releasing the previous Bureau from responsibility,

C 15.8.7 proposals for changes and amendments of the FINA Constitution and General Rules,

C 15.8.8 election of Bureau members in accordance with C 17.4 and Officers in accordance with C 17.5 and honorary positions in accordance with C15.6, and

C 15.8.9 other business for which notice has been given.

C 15.9 Motions, applications and proposals for alteration of or addition to the Constitution or General Rules of FINA shall be considered only if submitted by a Member or by the Bureau. All motions, applications, and proposals to be considered by the General Congress must reach the Honorary Secretary at least eight (8) calendar months prior to the Congress and must appear on the agenda given to the Members in accordance with C 15.4. On a motion of urgency approved by a two thirds majority of those delegates present and voting, the Congress may deal with new proposals not appearing on the agenda.

C 15.10 Any alteration of or addition to the Constitution agreed upon by the Congress shall become effective immediately unless otherwise determined at the time of such approval. Any alteration of or addition to the General Rules agreed upon by the Congress shall not become effective earlier than two (2) months after the decision has been made.