Constitution

C 17.1 The Bureau shall consist of:

C 17.1.1 the President,

C 17.1.2 five Vice Presidents,

C 17.1.3 the Honorary Secretary,

C 17.1.4 the Honorary Treasurer, and

C 17.1.5 fourteen (14) additional members.

C 17.1.6 The Honorary Life President, the Immediate Past President, the Immediate Past Honorary Secretary, and the Immediate Past Honorary Treasurer are also members of the Bureau, but without vote. The Immediate Past President, the Immediate Past Honorary Secretary and the Immediate Past Honorary Treasurer shall stay as such only for one term of four (4) years.

C 17.2 Members of the FINA Bureau are not personally liable for the debts and obligations of FINA

C 17.3 The Bureau shall be elected by the General Congress. All the Bureau members, except the Honorary Life President, the Immediate Past President, the Immediate Past Honorary Secretary, and the Immediate Past Honorary Treasurer, shall be of different countries or Sport Countries. Candidates for Bureau membership shall be proposed by the Member from which they come. Persons not actually in attendance may be elected if a written declaration of consent is presented.

Candidates for President shall be nominated in writing to the Executive Director of FINA at the latest three (3) months before the Congress. The Executive Director shall notify to all FINA Members the candidates for President at least two (2) months prior to the Congress.

C 17.4 The Congress shall elect on the basis of geographical representation fifteen (15) members as follows:

C 17.4.1 three (3) from Africa,

C 17.4.2 four (4) from America,

C 17.4.3 three (3) from Asia,

C 17.4.4 four (4) from Europe,

C 17.4.5 one (1) from Oceania.

For this election, only the Members of the respective continent may nominate and vote on their candidates. Another seven (7) members shall be elected from the world at large, not exceeding one (1) from Africa, one (1) from Asia, one (1) from Oceania, two (2) from the Americas and two (2) from Europe.

C 17.5 The Congress shall elect from among those twenty two (22) Bureau Members

C 17.5.1 the President,

C 17.5.2 five (5) Vice Presidents who shall be elected on the basis of continental representation, one for each of the continents of Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. At the election of the Vice Presidents only the members of respective continents may nominate and vote on their candidates.

C 17.5.3 the Honorary Secretary, and

C 17.5.4 the Honorary Treasurer.

C 17.6 The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer and will be responsible for making decisions on matters referred to it in the FINA Rules and Regulations or matters referred to it by the Bureau or for other cases, which need decisions between the meetings of the Bureau.

The President may, from time to time, call persons with knowledge in special areas to attend meetings with the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall meet on call by the President, when there are items of such importance that cannot be solved by the President alone.

The Executive Director shall attend all the meetings without vote.

C 17.7 Twelve (12) members with vote shall form a quorum at any meeting of the Bureau. The members of the Bureau shall serve until their successors are elected and take office.

C 17.8 The members of the outgoing Bureau, will be eligible as candidates for any position within the incoming Bureau except for the President, the Honorary Secretary, and the Honorary Treasurer who can be elected only for a maximum of two terms in the same post. If the President, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer are not elected for a second period in their previous post or not elected for other posts, they shall remain as members of the incoming Bureau, only without vote, as immediate Past President, immediate Past Honorary Secretary and immediate Past Honorary Treasurer.

C 17.9 The travel and hotel expenses of the Bureau shall be paid by FINA.

C 17.10 The Bureau shall have the authority to fill any vacancy which occurs through death or resignation of any member of the Bureau elected in accordance with C 17.3 or of any Committee member, subject to compliance with the appropriate geographical representation set out in C 17.4

C 17.11 Where a Bureau member has been absent from two consecutive meetings without reasons acceptable to the Bureau, the Bureau shall have the right to declare that such a member has forfeited his membership. The Bureau according to C 17.10 may then fill the vacancy.

C 17.12 Rights and duties of the Bureau shall include the following:

C 17.12.1 to discuss and make decisions on all matters assigned to them by the Congresses,

C 17.12.2 to interpret and enforce the Rules of FINA.

C 17.12.3 to decide and take action on any matter pertaining to the affairs of FINA.

C 17.12.4 to submit proposals to the Congress,

C 17.12.5 to decide on and publish administrative by-laws, including time and manner of payment of any financial obligations,

C 17.12.6 to decide on and publish regulations for FINA competitions,

C 17.12.7 to decide on FINA awards,

C 17.12.8 to make decisions in case of emergency.

C 17.12.9 to approve the title of International Referee, Starter, or Judge on presentation of registered and certified candidates by the FINA Technical Committees. These titles are to be awarded to the Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Synchronised Swimming referees, starters, and judges who have received satisfactory marks for their officiating at major international competitions,

C 17.12.10 to establish rules of order for the meetings of the Congress, Bureau, Technical Committees, etc., provided that they will not be in opposition to the Constitution of FINA,

C 17.12.11 to determine the dates and sites of World Championships and other FINA competitions and to organise and control all Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Synchronised Swimming competitions at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and other FINA competitions,

C 17.12.12 to instruct the FINA Committees and control their activities,

C 17.12.13 to appoint delegates to the Olympic Games, World Championships, other FINA competitions, and other international competitions. The Organising Committee must guarantee proper accreditation. The responsibilities of the delegates are to observe the organisation and to report back to the FINA Bureau, and

C 17.12.14 to appoint the Executive Director, who shall attend all FINA meetings.
The Executive Director shall be an ex officio member of the Bureau without vote.
The Executive Director shall manage the FINA Office.
The Executive Director shall be responsible for the engagement of the FINA Staff, with the approval of the President and the Honorary Treasurer.

C 17.13 The FINA Bureau is not authorised to make any changes in the Constitution, General Rules, or Technical Rules.