Rules of Procedure of the Union of Arab Constitutional Courts and Councils

Article (1)

In implementation of article (10) of the statute of the Union of Arab Constitutional Courts and Councils, these rules of procedure shall be drawn up and called “Rules of Procedure of the Union of Arab Constitutional Courts and Councils.”

Article (2)

The aim of these rules is to organize the Union’s organs and the work thereof.

Chapter One: The General Assembly

Article (3)

The General Assembly is the principal organ of the Union. It is composed of the constitutional courts and councils and supreme courts which undertake constitutional judiciary in the member states of the Union. The General Assembly shall consider the issues listed on the agenda, in light of the objectives set out in the statute and on which decisions are made.

Article (4)

The permanent headquarters of the Union shall be in Cairo city.

Article (5)

The agenda of an ordinary session shall include the following:

• General report on the activities of the Union’s organs presented by the president thereof
• Suggested work program of the Union presented by the president thereof
• Suggestions of the members of the General Assembly or the Executive Office
• Issues related to organizing work in the Union

Article (6)

The General Assembly may hold an extraordinary session. The date and venue thereof shall be fixed by the Executive Office within at most three months of the date of request or suggestion referred to in article (11) of the statute. The members shall be invited thereto and notified of the agenda thereof at least (15) days before the date thereof.

Article (7)

A general discussion shall be held for each item listed on the agenda. Members of the General Assembly shall participate in the discussion after prior registration at the president of the Union.

Article (8)

Voting in the General Assembly shall be by a show of hands. If voting is related to specific persons, votes shall be cast in secret.

Voting by proxy is impermissible. Decisions shall be made by the majority of members present, unless otherwise specified in the statute.

Article (9)

Without prejudice to the provisions of the Union’s statute, the General Assembly shall adopt draft decisions by the majority of members present.

The president of the Union shall count votes and announce the result of the voting.

Chapter Two: The Executive Office

Article (10)

The Executive Office shall hold an ordinary session yearly.

The agenda of each ordinary session shall include the following:

• An annual report on the activities of the Union to be presented by the president thereof
• Draft budget of the Union and yearly draft budget allocation
• Draft decisions and recommendations to be submitted to the General Assembly
• Issues related to organizing work in the Union

Article (11)

The Office shall not start deliberation unless the absolute majority of the members thereof is present.

Article (12)

The Office may- at a call of the president thereof or a suggestion of a member thereof after the approval of the majority of all members thereof- hold an extraordinary session. The date, venue, and agenda thereof shall be fixed by the Union’s president within at most one month as of the date of the call or suggestion. Members of the Office shall be notified at least (15) days before the session is held.

Chapter Three: The President of the Union

Article (13)

The president of the Union shall mainly:

• Preside over the sessions of the Union’s General Assembly
• Preside over the sessions of the Executive Office and ensure the effectiveness thereof
• Put issues to the vote and announce the result thereof
• Represent the Union in official and international activities

Chapter Four: The Secretariat General

Article (14)

The secretary general shall be elected pursuant to the provisions of article (20) of the Union’s statute. He shall assume his responsibilities under the supervision of the Union’s president. He is not required to be available full time.

Article (15)

The secretary general shall be assisted by employees of the court at the headquarters country. Hence, he shall present to the president of the court all the requests related to work progress in the Union.

Article (16)

The secretary general shall organize the Secretariat General of the General Assembly and the Executive Office, attend the meetings thereof, and provide all clarifications and information related to work progress of the Union’s organs, upon the request of the members.

Article (17)

The secretary general shall supervise sending the reports and other documents to the members at least two months before the session is opened.

Article (18)

The Secretariat General shall receive the documents, reports, draft decisions, and recommendations, distribute them together with the records of the sessions of the General Assembly and the Executive Office, and keep the documents.

Article (19)

The secretary general shall present to the General Assembly and the Executive Office yearly the following:

• A statement of the work, decisions, and recommendations of the General Assembly and the Executive Office as well as the results of previous meetings
• A statement of the final accounts of the past fiscal year, the draft budget, and the yearly budget allocation

Chapter Five: The Scientific Committee

Article (20)

The Union’s Scientific Committee shall replace the researches and legal studies committees, the Union’s magazine committee, and the translation committee, and exercise the powers of such committees temporarily.

Article (21)

The Union’s headquarters in Cairo shall be the permanent headquarters of the Committee. It may meet in any of the member states according to the decision of the Executive Office in this regard.

Article (22)

The Committee shall meet at least semiannually, such that its last meeting coincides with the Executive Office’s session. The Committee shall also meet in extraordinary sessions at a call of the Union’s president or secretary general.

Article (23)

The accommodation expenses of the Committee members shall be covered by the Union and travel expenses by the states thereof.

Article (24)

The Committee’s meetings shall be deemed valid if attended by absolute majority of the members thereof. The decisions thereof shall be deemed valid if made by the majority of votes present.

Article (25)

The secretary general shall preside over the Committee. In case of absence thereof, the representative of the council or court presiding over the Union shall act therefor. He shall submit a report on the work thereof to the Executive Office.

Article (26)

The Committee shall submit the decisions and recommendations thereof to the Executive Office for approval.

Article (27)

The Scientific Committee shall be responsible for considering all that achieves the Union’s objectives in the field of culture: researches, studies, translation, the Union’s magazine and website, organizing conferences and legal seminars, and suggesting participation in international conferences.

Chapter Six: General Provisions

Article (28)

The General Assembly’s ordinary session shall he held in February or March at a call of the Union’s president.

Article (29)

These rules shall be effective as of the date the statute and amendments thereof are adopted by the General Assembly. At a suggestion of a member state, all or some rules may be amended by a decision of two-thirds of the General Assembly members.