Clear here to see the latest version of the Rules.

RULE 1

The Secretariat of the Union shall, under the control of the Executive Committee, exercise the functions for which it is responsible or those delegated to it in conformity with the Statutes (cf. Statutes, Art. 25.2).

RULE 2

The administration of the Secretariat and responsibility for exercising its intrinsic or delegated functions shall be entrusted to the Secretary General (cf. Statutes, Art. 25.1).

RULE 3

The Secretary General shall be appointed for a term of four years by the Inter-Parliamentary Council, on the proposal of the Executive Committee (cf. Statutes, Art. 21 (m), 24.2 (i) and 25.1). The Secretary General shall be eligible for reappointment. The terms of the Secretary General's appointment shall be fixed by the Executive Committee.

RULE 4

The Secretary General shall engage the necessary staff within the framework of the budget approved by the Council and shall inform the Executive Committee of appointments and terminations of employment (cf. Staff, Rule 2).

RULE 5

The Secretary General shall work solely for the Inter-Parliamentary Union and may not be a member of any Parliament.

RULE 6

The Secretary General or a member of the Secretariat appointed by the Secretary General shall be present, in a consultative capacity, at sessions of the Union's organs and at all meetings convened by the Union (cf. Conference, Rule 35-2; Council, Rule 42; Committees, Rule 36).

RULE 7

The Secretary General shall prepare each year, for submission to the Executive Committee, a draft work programme, together with a draft budget (cf. Statutes, Art. 25.2 (f); Financial Regs, Rule 3).

RULE 8

The Secretary General shall, at the time of the Conference or before 1 July if no Conference is held, submit an annual report to the Executive Committee on the work of the Secretariat.

RULE 9 (cf. Financial Regs, Rule 10)

1. The Secretary General shall be responsible for the execution of the budget of the Union and the administration of its assets.

2. The sums required for payments shall be withdrawn by the Secretary General. In case of the Secretary General's absence, the right of signature may be delegated to another member of the Secretariat.

RULE 10 (cf. Financial Regs, Rule 4)

1. In case of need, the Secretary General shall be authorized to make transfers from one budgetary heading to another in the course of a single financial period.

2. The Executive Committee shall give its opinion on these transfers before the accounts are transmitted to the Auditors appointed by the Council.

3. The Secretary General may not, without the consent of the Executive Committee, effect expenditure in excess of the overall credit included in the annual budget.

4. Should the budgetary credits voted by the Council appear to be insufficient to cover the expenditure required for the execution of the programme and the administration of the Union, the Secretary General shall so inform the Executive Committee, which may request the Inter-Parliamentary Council to grant supplementary credits (cf. Statutes, Art. 24.2 (j)).

5. In case of urgency, these credits may be granted by the Executive Committee, which must inform the Inter-Parliamentary Council of such action at the latter's next session (cf. Statutes, Art. 24.2 (j)).

RULE 11

The Secretary General shall provide the Executive Committee with full information on the financial administration of the Union, developments in income and expenditure, and the policy applied in this respect (cf. Statutes, Art. 24.2 (h)).

RULE 12

Each year, before 1 March, the Secretary General shall have the accounts for the previous financial period examined by an External Auditor and shall then submit the accounts to the Auditors who shall present them to the Council. The Council shall rule each year on the sanction to be given to the Secretary General in respect of the financial administration (cf. Statutes, Art. 22 (j); Financial Regs, Rule 12).