International Homeopathic Medical League LMHI

Constitution of the LMHI

Constitution of the LMHI (pdf-Download)

§ 1 Name and Registered Office
This association is named in the „Liga Medicorum Homoeopathic Internationalis" and exists under the article 60 ss. of the Swiss Civil Code. The association has its registered office in Geneva, Switzerland.

§ 2 Object
The purposes of the association are the following:

1. The development and securing of homoeopathy worldwide;
2. The creation of a link among licensed homoeopaths with medical diplomas and societies and persons who are interested in homoeopathy.

The association is exclusively devoted to non-profit activities serving philanthropic benefits.

§ 3 Membership
There are three types of members as follows:

1. National homoeopathic organisations and institutions ("institutional members").
2. Physical persons that are physicians, veterinary surgeons and dentists with a full medical, veterinarian or dental qualification of a State University or any other licensing authority duly recognised by a government of the country, in which the practise and who have had special education in homoeopathy and holy any kind of diploma recognised by the association ("individual full members").
3. All persons with qualifications recognised nationally, who have undertaken homoeopathic training recognised by the LMHI, such as pharmacists, medical students, chemists and all persons, who are licensed health care providers, such as naturopaths, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants an generally persons who by their profession can contribute to homoeopathy, such as scientists, researchers, authors may become associate members of the association ("associate members").

Admission to membership is decided by a two-third majority of the International Council.

§ 4 Membership Contributions
All members pay annual fees. The annual fees for each type of member are fixed by the International Council.
The association is liable for its obligations only through its capital. A personal liability of the members is excluded.
Members that do not affect the payment of the annual fee may be removed from the association by decision of a simple majority of the Executive Committee.

§ 5 Existence and Dissolution
This association will have perpetual existence.
If this association is dissolved, any assets remaining after payment of all liabilities may only be used for the purpose and goals of the association. They are to be given to an organisation with purposes and goals that are as similar as possible.

§ 6 Organisation
The association has the following governing bodies:

1. The International Council
2. The management and administration of the association consisting of:
   • the Executive Committee
   • the General Secretariat
3. The Auditor

§ 7 Composition of the International Council
Each country or nation is entitled to elect/have one National Vice-President in the International Council.
The National Vice-President is elected by the respective national institutional member or members.
If a country or nation does not possess an institutional member, then the individual members of any such country or nation are entitled to elect one representative in the International Council.
Details concerning the election of National Vice-Presidents are given in the Procedures.

The International Council is empowered as follows:

1. to elect the Executive Committee and the Vice-President;
2. to appoint other Working Committees;
3. to elect new members;
4. to determine the amount of the annual fees;
5. to approve the annual report of the Executive Committee, the budget and the report of the Auditor;
6. to modify or to add to the Constitution;
7. to ratify the Procedures;
8. to dissolve the association and dispose of its property;
9. to pass resolutions concerning business that is reserved for the International Council by the Constitution, the law or the Procedures.

§ 8 The International Council
The International Council convenes annually on invitation of the President issued in writing at least 30 days in advance of the meeting to each National Vice-President named by the members of the respective countries, in accordance with § 7 above ("Annual Meeting").
Special meetings of the International Council may be called by the Executive Committee at any time ("Extraordinary Meeting"). It must call such meetings when requested in writing by one-fifth or more of the National Vice-Presidents. Such request shall state the purpose of the meeting. Written Invitations of Extraordinary Meetings shall be given at least 30 days in advance, which interim shall be determined by the postmark of the mailed invitation.
Business transacted at the meeting (Annual and Extraordinary Meeting) shall be confined to the purpose stated in the invitation.
Each National Vice-President has one vote in the International Council.

§ 9 Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of the President, the Immediate Past-President, the Vice-President, General Secretary and other Secretaries and the Treasurer. The International Council elects the members of the Executive Committee and the Vice-President. Otherwise the Executive Committee allocates tasks among its members.
The members of the Executive Committee are elected for a term of three years.
The Executive Committee shall manage the business of the association. The Executive Committee may exercise all the power of the association except those that are explicitly reserved for the International Council in this Constitution. Further limitations may be contained in the Procedures.
Any member of the Executive Committee appointed by the International Council to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term.
The President chairs the International Council by the Executive Committee. The duties of other members of the Executive Committee are determined in the Procedures. In the event of the disability or absence of the President, the Vice-President shall take over all the duties and powers of the President. In the event of a prolonged disability or absence of any other officer, the Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy by appointment.

§ 10 General Secretariat
The General Secretariat consists of the General Secretary and one or more Secretaries. They are elected by the International Council. The General Secretary is responsible for the administration of the association as well as of the information of their members. The General Secretary is subordinated to the Executive Committee.
The organisation and the allocation of tasks among the Secretaries are determined in the Procedures.

§ 11 Auditors
The International Council elects two Auditors at its Annual Meeting. They may be selected from individual members or associate members. Non-members are elected by the international Council for a period of one year.
Instead of the two Auditors a chartered accountant or a trustee company may be nominated as Auditor.
Re-election of the Auditors is permissible.
The Auditors will check the Accounting of the association and submit a written report to the International Council on the annual balance sheet and of the result of their audit.

§ 12 Working Committees
The International Council and the Executive Committee may both appoint Working Committees which are composed of individual members and/or associate members or of third persons, as needed, in addition to those for whom there is provision in the Constitution and in the Procedures. Such Committees shall have powers, procedures and duties determined by the International Council or by the Executive Committee and limited in the Procedures.

§ 13 Procedures
Procedures are enacted by the Executive Committee and must be presented to the International Council for ratification.
Procedures may deal with matters explicitly stated in the Constitution and with all matters determined by resolutions of the Executive Committee.

§ 14 Modifications and Amendments of the Constitution
Amendments of the Constitution may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by any individual associate member. Amendments and modifications may be adapted by a two-thirds vote of the National Vice-Presidents present.

§ 15 Quorums
A quorum of the International Council shall exist, when at least one third of the National Vice-Presidents is present.
The International Council decides by simple majority vote of the delegates present, except where this Constitution, the law or the Procedures determine otherwise.

§ 16 External Affairs
The Executive Committee is responsible for the external affairs of the association.
Responsibility for external affairs, in particular signatory power, may be determined in the Procedures. In lack of a provision in the Procedures, then the Executive Committee shall determine who is empowered to sign for the association.

§ 17 Congress
The institutional members of every country may request the honour of organizing an international congress. There shall be only one congress per year. The congress shall be a platform at which homoeopathic information shall be presented.
The association will support the organisation of congresses by its institutional members.
The Annual Meeting shall be co-ordinated with the congress and be held before, during or immediately after the congress.