1.The Socialist International is an association of political parties and organisations which seek to establish democratic socialism.

2.The purpose of The Socialist International is to strengthen relations between the affiliated parties and to coordinate their political attitudes and activities by consent.

The Socialist International shall also seek to extend the relations between the Socialist International and other socialist-oriented parties not in membership which desire cooperation.

3.Composition of the Socialist International

The Socialist International consists of:

3.1 FULL MEMBER PARTIES which shall have the right to speak and to vote, and the obligation to pay affiliation fees.

3.2 CONSULTATIVE PARTIES which shall have the right to speak, and the obligation to pay affiliation fees, but shall not exercise a vote.

3.3 OBSERVER PARTIES which shall have the right to attend and observe statutory meetings and the obligation to pay an annual fee, but shall not exercise a vote.

3.4 FRATERNAL ORGANISATIONS namely the Socialist International Women (SIW), the International Union of Socialist Youth, and the International Falcon Movement/Socialist Educational International (IFM/SEI), which shall have the right to speak and to vote.

3.5 ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS of an international or regional character recognised by the Socialist International which shall have the right to speak, but shall not exercise a vote.

4. Organs of the Socialist International

The following organs of the Socialist International shall serve its purpose:

* the Congress
* the Council
* the Finance and Administration Committee
* the Secretariat

5. Organisation of the Socialist International

5.1 THE CONGRESS

The Congress is the supreme body of the Socialist International. It proclaims its principles, determines its Statutes and, on the recommendation of the Council of the Socialist International, decides by a two-thirds majority of all the members upon the admission and status of new members and organisations in relation to the Socialist International. The Congress shall receive a report of activities for the period since the last Congress.

The Congress, to be convened by the Council, shall meet regularly every three years. The Council shall decide its time and place, and draw up its agenda.

5.1.1 Voting rights in the Congress

Full member parties shall have the right to speak and to vote. The fraternal organisations, Socialist International Women, International Union of Socialist Youth, and International Falcon Movement/Socialist Educational International, shall have the right to speak and to vote.

Consultative parties and associated organisations shall have the right to speak but not to vote.

5.1.2 Representation at Congress

The delegations of member parties and fraternal organisations shall be limited to eight persons, those of consultative parties and associated organisations to four, and those of parties with observer status to three.

5.1.3 Expulsion of Parties

Decisions to expel parties and organisations from membership may be taken only by the Congress by a majority of two-thirds of parties voting.

5.2 THE COUNCIL

5.2.1 The Council of the Socialist International shall consist of all member parties, and the Socialist International Women, International Union of Socialist Youth, and International Falcon Movement/Socialist Educational International, each having one vote.

5.2.2 The Council shall make all necessary decisions of policy and principle between meetings of the Congress, and make recommendations to the Congress concerning new members, suspensions and expulsions and amendments to the Statutes.

5.2.3 The Council shall propose to the Congress candidates for President, Vice-Presidents and Secretary General.

5.2.4 The Council convenes the Congress. In addition, the Council shall have the right to convene special conferences, expert conferences, regional conferences, as well as study groups and committees, to appoint the chairman and secretary of these bodies, and to determine their terms of reference.

5.2.5 The Council approves the annual budget, presented by the Finance and Administration Committee.

5.2.6 The Council, when informed by the Finance and Administration Committee that a member party's membership fees have not been paid for three years, takes note that this party ceases to be a member of the Socialist International.

5.2.7 The Council shall establish its own rules of procedure.

5.3 THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

The Finance and Administration Committee shall consist of fifteen member parties and fraternal organisations elected by the Council from among the Council members. The Finance and Administration Committee shall consider reports and recommendations from the Council, the Secretary General, and individual members of the Council. It shall supervise the general and financial administration of the Socialist International and recommend to the Council the scale of dues to be levied by the International, and make recommendations concerning applications for membership.

The Finance and Administration Committee shall approve the terms of engagement of the political officers.

The quorum of the Finance and Administration Committee shall be eight member parties. The Finance and Administration Committee shall meet at least twice in each calendar year. It shall prepare and recommend to the Council a budget for the following year.

6. Finance

The Secretariat's expenditure shall be covered by:

* affiliation fees from the member parties, consultative parties and those with observer status
* contributions from fraternal and associated organisations
* donations

6.1 AFFILIATION FEES

The affiliation fees and contributions shall be fixed in relation to the finances and membership of parties and organisations.

Member parties and organisations shall be eligible to attend and to vote at meetings of the Socialist International provided they have fulfilled their financial obligations up to and including the current calendar year by January 31.

6.2 PROPERTIES AND RESERVE FUND

The freehold and leasehold properties and the Reserve Fund of the Socialist International shall be vested in three Trustees. The Trustees may act by a majority and may in emergencies allow any property to stand and to remain in the name of a nominee trust corporation.

The appointment of the Trustees shall be effected by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority vote at a meeting of the Council and the powers and duties of the Trustees shall be similarly determined. The term of office for the Trustees shall be determined by the Council.

6.3 BORROWING POWERS

Those officials empowered to operate the bank accounts of the Socialist International have the authority to borrow monies as follows:

Approval required (pounds sterling)

0 - 15,000	Secretary General
15,001 - 50,000	Chair of Finance and Administration Committee together with the Secretary General
50,001 and above	Finance and Administration Committee plus any two Trustees

6.4 LAY AUDITORS

Three lay auditors shall be appointed by the Council to inspect the accounts of the Socialist International on a yearly basis.

7. Officers of the Socialist International

7.1 THE PRESIDENT

who shall be elected by the Congress of the Socialist International.

The President shall convene meetings of the Presidium, consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents and the Secretary General, for discussion and preparation of specific questions. For the same purpose the President may also convene a meeting of a limited number of members of the Presidium.

The President shall convene conferences of party leaders.

The President, together with the Secretary General, and if necessary in consultation with one or more Vice-Presidents, shall take political decisions at his or her discretion between meetings of the Council.

The President has the right to attend all the meetings of the Socialist International.

7.2 THE VICE-PRESIDENTS

who shall be elected by the Congress of the Socialist International. The number of Vice-Presidents shall be a minimum of two and a maximum of twenty-five.

The President, or a Vice-President, shall preside at all meetings of Congress and Council.

7.3 THE SECRETARY GENERAL

who shall be elected by Congress on the proposal of the Council. The Secretary General shall supervise the administrative functions of the Secretariat and be responsible for the organisation of meetings held under the auspices of the Socialist International.

He or she shall, in addition, be responsible for the archives and, subject to the endorsement of the Finance and Administration Committee, engage the Secretariat's staff and fix the terms of their engagement. He or she shall prepare financial statements and budget estimates for consideration by the Finance and Administration Committee.

The Secretary General has the right to attend all the meetings of the Socialist International.

7.4 THE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

who shall be elected by the Finance and Administration Committee. He or she shall preside over all meetings of the Finance and Administration Committee. He or she should be consulted by the Secretary General on urgent financial and administrative matt ers in between meetings of the Finance and Administration Committee.

8. Changing the Statutes

Amendments to the Statutes can be made only by the Congress, on the recommendation of the Council, and by a majority of two-thirds of the parties and organisations voting.