WORLD CONSTITUTION AND PARLIAMENT ASSOCIATION
AMENDED BY-LAWS
15 April 2022
ARTICLE 1
Organization Name and Offices
Section 1.1 Name and Form. The World Constitution and Parliament Association (WCPA) is a non-profit and non-political activist organization with membership in a variety of countries worldwide. WCPA is committed to supporting global democracy, universal human rights, and ecological protection of the Earth within the framework of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth. It is registered in Colorado, USA. It collaborates with the Earth Constitution Institute (the “Institute”), a 501(c)(3) educational charity and Virginia non-profit. It also collaborates with the Earth Federation Institute, a section 108 corporation in India. Both of these educational, charitable organizations share the same goals as WCPA (stated above) and recognize the leadership of WCPA worldwide for the achieving of these goals. Each of these Institutes shall develop their own Boards of Trustees and slates of Officers according the the respective laws of the countries when they are located. The website and media movement known as WCPA.Global is designed to link the work of WCPA across these fields. The website known as earthconstitution.world is also designed to so link the work of WCPA across these fields. These are the official websites of WCPA, although recognizing additional official sites is not prohibited.
Section 1.2 WCPA Offices.
1.2.1 The registered office of the Institute and WCPA is 313 Seventh Avenue, Radford, Virginia USA 24141. The Earth Constitution Institute also has an office at the Peace Pentagon, located at 88 Oracle Way, Independence, VA 24348. The Earth Federation Institute in India has its registered office at: First Floor, RU Block, DDA Commercial Complex, Pitampura, Delhi-110034, India.
1.2.3 The primary business offices of WCPA in India is: First Floor, RU Block, DDA Commercial Complex, Pitampura, Delhi-110034, India, where the WCPA Global Office and Communications Center is located. WCPA may have such additional offices at such places, and such other offices within or without the Commonwealth of Virginia, as the Institute shall direct or the business of the Institute and WCPA shall require.
ARTICLE 2
Objects and Purposes
Section 2.1 Mission of WCPA. WCPA, author and sponsor of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, now cooperates with these Institutes in establishing democratic world government through adoption of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth (the “Earth Constitution”). The Earth Constitution secures freedom, peace, justice, and greater opportunities in life for all people while protecting our planetary environment.
Section 2.2 Duties of WCPA. In accordance with the Earth Constitution, WCPA shall cooperate in the work of the Institute by:
2.2.1 Forming the Provisional World Parliament and convening sessions of the Provisional World Parliament (PWP);
2.2.2 Delineating the world electoral and administrative districts (WEAD or WD) and creating secure voting systems for the people of Earth
2.2.3 Achieving ratification of the Earth Constitution by the nations and peoples of the world.
2.2.4 Drafting global legislation and creating agencies and systems under the Earth Constitution, such as a world military disarmament agency and an earth currency system; and
2.2.5 Cataloging recommendations for Earth Constitution amendment from the Provisional World Parliament, from WCPA Trustees, from the Commission for Legislative Review or from the general public who affirm the Earth Constitution, for presentation to the eventual World Constitutional Convention of Earth Constitution Article 18.4., but in conformance with the regulative guidelines of the Rules of Procedure of the World Constituent Assembly, to help obviate any perceived need for World Constituent Assembly; Approaching Earth Constitution proposals for amendment as a subject of deliberation only after commencement of the first operative stage of world government defined in Earth Constitution Article Sections 17.3. and 18.4 (see Appendices I and II).
2.2.6 Convening a World Constitutional Convention or World Constituent Assembly composed of delegates from national governments, representatives of the people, non-governmental organizations, and persons chosen for their qualifications by the WCPA Executive Council (see Appendices I and II). The Rules for the World Constituent Assembly are attached to these By-Laws as Appendix I;
Section 2.3 Additional Purposes. WCPA also shall facilitate, coordinate, record and promote the work of the Provisional World Parliament and its Standing Parliamentary Commissions or other Commissions called for under Article 19 of the Earth Constitution. To this end, WCPA may work alone or in cooperation with other corporations, individuals, groups or entities that promote a world-wide system of government. Notwithstanding the foregoing, WCPA is not empowered to interfere with the operation of Provisional World Parliament once established. Nor does WCPA engage with the internal politics within any of the world’s existing nation-states.
ARTICLE 3
WCPA Members
Section 3.1 Membership Types. WCPA will have various categories of non-voting Members and dues associated with each, as determined by the WCPA Council.
3.1.1 The highest honorary category is that of “Distinguished Advisor.” These are prominent persons whom the WCPA Council invites to be listed on our literature, who are signatories to and promoters of the Earth Constitution, and with whom the Council may seek consultation. Any member of the WCPA Council may nominate a Distinguished Advisor, and a simple majority vote of the Council confirms the appointment. The term of office is not limited, and the person may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Council.
3.1.2 Second, there is the category of “Donors and Patrons.” By simple majority vote, the WCPA Council may approve Donors and Patrons depending on the donor and patron level of support and the person may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Council.
3.1.3 Third, there is the category is “General Membership.” General Members receive our email newsletter and other forms of communication. General Members affirm support of the Earth Constitution.
Section 3.2 General Membership Term. Membership will be for two (2) years and renewable by the payment of membership dues (if any). Current WCPA Members are listed in Appendix II of these By-Laws. Membership is kept open in this document but may or may not be pursued by the organization. The organization will also pursue the voter-registration within the approximately 1000 World Electoral Districts called for by the Earth Constitution. This registration will serve as the foundation for secure on-line voting in which voters at first will be electing delegates to attend sessions of the Provisional World Parliament and possibly other issues consistent with our mission that are put before them.
Section 3.3 Rights and Privileges. Distinguished Advisors are ex-officio Honorary Sponsors of the Provisional World Parliament and its founding Ratification Conventions and World Constituent Assembly. By simple majority vote, the WCPA Council may approve the level of support category scales for Donors and Patrons to be awarded voluntary membership as Honorary Sponsors of the Provisional World Parliament. Council may determine other rights and privileges of membership.
Section 3.4. Reserved for future use.
Section 3.5 World Electoral and Administrative Districts (WEAD). Local chapters of WCPA by decision of the Board of Directors may be transformed into the core elements (as defined by the Earth Constitution) of World Electoral and Administrative Districts (sometimes abbreviated as WDs, World Districts or WEDs, World Electoral Districts.
Section 3.6 Membership Cards. The WCPA Council will issue membership cards, certificates of accomplishment, and/or world citizen identity cards, which may take the form of digital identification, at such a reasonable cost as may be decided by the Board, to be paid by the applicant, with the purpose of encouraging people to identify as world citizens or “global citizens” and take responsibilities as such. These cards may be adapted as interim voter registration cards by decision of the Board of Directors, where interim refers to actions and officer roles before any World Distinct general elections successfully take place.
ARTICLE 4
WCPA Trustees
Section 4. The Earth Constitution Institute’s Board of Directors shall generally oversee the management of ECI, its property, affairs, and activities. The WCPA Executive Council shall be charged with the direct and daily management of WCPA, its property, affairs, and activities. The Executive Council of WCPA shall cooperate closely with the Directors of the Earth Federation Institute of India and the Earth Constitution Institute of the USA.
Section 4.2 WCPA Council. WCPA members shall elect Trustees to be on the WCPA Council and to manage the affairs of WCPA and coordinate with the Institutes. Trustees shall perform their duties in good faith, in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Institutes and WCPA, and with the care of a prudent person in a like position, including a duty to make reasonable inquiry into all matters submitted to and considered by WCPA.
Section 4.3 Number of WCPA Trustees. The WCPA Council shall be comprised of not less than fifteen (15) and not more than thirty (30) Trustees, as determined by the WCPA Board. Trustees may be from any country. The President, Secretary General, Secretary for the organization, and Treasurer (defined below), also are voting members of the WCPA Council.
The WCPA Board recognizes three levels of organization:
1) The Executive Cabinet: Formed by a President, a Secretary General, an Administrative Secretary, one or more of the WCPA Board General Secretaries, and the Treasurer, with meetings as deemed necessary by this group;
2) the Extended Cabinet, which also includes the Vice Presidents of the regions (including any other region(s) recognized by the WCPA Board), with meetings as deemed necessary by this group; and
3) the Earth Constitution Council, which includes the WCPA Extended Cabinet and all the directors or presidents of the different Preparatory Commissions as defined under Article 19 of the Earth Constitution, which will meet as deemed necessary by this group.
Section 4.4 Nomination and Election of WCPA Executive Council. New Trustees shall be nominated by WCPA Board Members. Individuals so nominated become Executive Council Members upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the WCPA Executive Council Members at the Annual WCPA Meeting. Newly elected Trustees shall affirm the Mission Statement of WCPA and the Earth Constitution.
Section 4.5 Term of Executive Council Members. Trustees shall hold office for a term of five (5) years. Trustees will hold office until the later of the expiration of their term or the appointment of a successor, unless a Trustee’s tenure is earlier terminated by his or her death, disability, resignation, or removal. Any individual elected to fill a vacancy in the term of a deceased, disabled, resigned, or removed Trustee shall serve only until the expiration of the term of office of the Trustee being replaced.
Section 4.6 Annual Executive Council Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the WCPA Executive Council shall take place on or about the month of February of each year, as specified by the Council. More frequent meetings may be called or the meeting may be delayed by the presiding officers for a reasonable period of time due to credible reasons made apparent to the Board. All actions at such meetings shall be taken by resolution adopted by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees entitled to vote at such meeting. During the annual meeting, the Trustees will elect WCPA Officers, as set forth below.
Section 4.7 Regular and Special Council Meetings. The WCPA Executive Council shall regularly meet at least quarterly on dates determined by the Council to review the status of WCPA’s work. The Council shall have such additional special meetings as it may determine. Special Meetings of the Council shall be called by the President and Secretary General for any purpose which they deem appropriate.
Section 4.8 Notices of Meetings. The Secretary shall give notice to all Trustees of the annual meeting and of regular and special meetings at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting date. Notice shall be absolute if sent to a Trustee by the U.S. Postal Service, postage prepaid, and notice given in this manner will be deemed given on the date of its postmark. Notice given by another reasonable means, including telephone, facsimile, email, or internet shall be deemed given when actually or constructively received by the person to whom it was directed. Any Trustee may waive the requirement of such notice, prior to, during, or after any meeting.
Section 4.9 Action Without Meeting. The WCPA Council may act without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the actions taken at the meeting is signed by all of the Trustees either before or after the actions have been taken. Action taken under this section shall be effective when the last Trustee signs the consent, unless the consent specifies a different effective date and states a date of execution by each Trustee, in which event it shall be effective according to the terms of the consent.
Section 4.10 Quorum; Voting. A quorum of the Council is required for action to be taken at any meeting. A quorum is a majority of the number of Trustees serving at the time of the meeting. The act of a majority of the Council at the meeting at which there is a quorum constitutes an act of the WCPA Council (Board). Less than a quorum of the Council (Board) may adjourn a meeting. Trustees who agree after a meeting to action taken at the meeting shall be deemed present and shall be counted in constituting a quorum. At any meeting of the Council (Board), each Trustee shall be entitled to one vote on any matter. Any Trustee may vote and be present at any meeting by proxy, but a proxy is not valid unless it is in writing and signed by the Trustee or his duly authorized attorney-in-fact.
Section 4.11 Conduct of Council Meetings. All Council meetings will be presided over by the President or Secretary General. At any meeting of the Council, ordinary parliamentary procedures will be followed and the President or Secretary General will establish the order of business. A written record of the actions taken at any meeting of the WCPA Council will be made by the Secretary. The order of business shall, in all events, include the following items:
4.11.1 Calling the meeting to order;
4.11.2 Declaring that notice of the meeting has been given or waived;
4.11.3 Declaring that a quorum is present;
4.11.4 Reading and approving the minutes of the prior meeting;
4.11.5 Transacting new and old business, receiving committee reports, and electing Directors and Officers, when appropriate; and
4.11.6 Adjourning.
Section 4.12 Compensation. Any Trustee shall be entitled to such reasonable compensation and to reimbursement of such reasonable expenses as the WCPA Council and the Institute shall determine; provided, however, that no amount of compensation shall be paid which would constitute an act of self-dealing as defined in Section 4941 of the IRC. A Trustee receiving compensation shall not be barred from receiving reasonable compensation for other professional services rendered to WCPA or to the Institutes, including, but not limited to, any legal, academic, or accounting services.
Section 4.13 Removal and Resignation. A Trustee may be removed from the Council (Board) or from an office with or without cause by the unanimous vote of all the Trustees (excluding the vote of the Trustee to be removed); provided, however, that a Trustee may only be removed at a meeting called for that special purpose and the fact of a Trustee’s removal must be included in the notice of the meeting. Any Trustee may resign at any time by giving notice to the President and Secretary General, and such resignation shall take effect upon its delivery. A resignation need not be accepted before it becomes effective.
Section 4.14 WCPA Committees. The WCPA Council may appoint committees as needed. WCPA Members who are not Trustees may be invited to join committees by the President, Secretary General, or a majority vote of the Trustees. These committees will have the authority granted to them by the Council, which also will establish rules governing the procedure for committee meetings. WCPA committees will not have the power to bind either WCPA or either of the Institutes.
ARTICLE 5
WCPA Officers
Section 5.1 Designations. WCPA’s officers shall consist of a President, a Secretary General, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the WCPA Council may designate. The appointment of any Officer shall not itself create contract rights for such Officer. WCPA Officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined by the Council and the Institute. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 5.2 Election and Term. Officers are elected by a majority vote of the WCPA Council at its Annual Meeting. Officers shall serve for terms of five (5) years.
5.2.1 “Section 5.2 Qualifications for service on the board. To qualify as a Director, individuals must provide a written affirmation of the Earth Constitution and proof of knowledge and support of its provisions.”
5.2.2. To be nominated for the board, the applicant must have ratified the World Constitution and taken the oath, at least six months before that moment. He will provide a written affirmation of the Earth Constitution and proof of knowledge and support of its provisions.
5.2.3 During that period, the person must have been actively involved in promotional activities for the World Constitution. For this, he will present the curriculum with the activities carried out, duly supported.
5.2.4 Once the two previous points have been met, the applicant will be proposed by some of the directors, and seconded by at least one other, without any objection being raised by any of the directors. If there is any objection, it must be sustained. Only when the objection is positively clarified will the procedure be followed.
5.2.5 . From the moment he applies, if he is seconded and there are no objections, a tutor (one of the directors) is appointed, and he enters a six-month trial period, participating in the meetings as an observer, with the right to voice. Responsibilities will be assigned.
5.2.6 At the end of the trial period, the tutor submits a report to the board, proposing the action that he considers appropriate. The board will decide if the applicant enters as a manager. If so, he will be sworn in at a board meeting.
Section 5.3 WCPA President. The President will be a Trustee of the WCPA Council and a Director of the ECI Institute. The President is the primary officer of WCPA and will generally supervise, direct, and control the affairs and officers of WCPA. The President will work with the Secretary General, but without power of direction and control over the Secretary General. The President will preside at all meetings of the WCPA Council. The President will maintain a worldwide correspondence on behalf of WCPA and present a public face of the organization to the world, through writing, speaking, video, etc. In the event of the disability of the President, the Secretary General will assume leadership until the Council elects an interim or new President.
Section 5.4 Secretary General. The Secretary General will be a Trustee of the WCPA Council and a Director of the ECI Institute. The Secretary General will coordinate with the President in running the daily affairs of WCPA. The Secretary General will provide leadership in organizing WCPA meetings (on-line or in person conferences), including sessions of the Provisional World Parliament, Founding Ratification Conventions, World Constituent Assemblies or other conferences, or other offices designated under the Earth Constitution. The Secretary General will maintain a worldwide correspondence on behalf of WCPA and, in collaboration with the President, will develop WCPA documents and literature. The Secretary General will activate and promote on-line courses and other forms of education on behalf of the Institute, WCPA, and the Earth Constitution. In addition, the Secretary General will be an ex-officio voting member of all Standing Parliamentary Working Commissions. In the event of the disability of the Secretary General, the President will assume leadership until the Council elects an interim or new Secretary General.
5.5 Secretary of the Board is in charge of proposing and coordinating organizational levels of WCPA for its optimal functioning. The Secretary interacts with the various regional Vice Presidencies, national chapters, and partner organizations and will keep the WCPA membership register. The Secretary takes minutes at meetings and distributes these to Board members.
Section 5.6 WCPA Vice Presidents. Vice Presidents will promote the Earth Constitutionand the global goals of WCPA. Vice Presidents will actively participate in WCPA meetings and promote funding resources for WCPA. Vice Presidents who are Trustees will report on their activities on behalf of WCPA at the Council’s Annual Meeting and more frequently if the Vice President also is a President of a local WCPA chapter.
Section 5.7 WCPA Secretary. The Secretary will act under the supervision of the President and attend all meetings of the Council. The Secretary will record all votes and the proceedings of Council meetings in a book to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary will give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the Council, and will perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the President.
Section 5.8 WCPA Treasurer. The Treasurer will have custody of WCPA funds and securities and will keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to WCPA and the ECI Institute. The Treasurer will deposit all monies or other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of WCPA in depositories designated by the WCPA Council and the ECI Institute’s Board of Directors. The Treasurer will disburse WCPA funds as may be ordered by the President, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and will render to the President, the WCPA Council, and the ECI Institute’s Board of Directors, at regular WCPA Council meetings or whenever requested by the President or the Council (Board), an account of the Treasurer’s transactions.
Section 5.9 Other Officers. The Council may appoint other officers, and these other officers will have such duties as generally pertain to their offices, respectively, as well as those powers and duties prescribed by law or hereafter conferred on them by the Council and the ECI Institute.
Section 5.10 Compensation. WCPA Officers will be entitled to such reasonable compensation and to reimbursement of such reasonable expenses as the Council (Board) shall determine; provided, however, that no amount of compensation shall be paid which would constitute an act of self-dealing as defined in Section 4941 of the IRC of the USA. Any Officer receiving compensation will not be barred from receiving reasonable compensation for professional services rendered to the Institute, including, but not limited to, any legal or accounting services.
Section 5.11 Removal and Resignation. Any Officer may be removed with or without cause by a majority vote of the Council at any meeting, provided that notice was given to all Trustees that removal of the particular Officer would be voted on at such meeting. Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President and Secretary General and, unless otherwise specified in such written notice, such resignation shall take effect upon its delivery. A resignation need not be accepted before it becomes effective. Any vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Council.
ARTICLE 6
Indemnity of Trustees and Officers
Section 6.1 Indemnification. To the extent permitted by law, the WCPA and ECI Institute will indemnify each Trustee and Officer against liability, fines, penalties, and claims imposed on or asserted against him or her, including any amounts paid in settlement and any attorneys’ fees or other expenses incurred in connection therewith, by reason of having been a Trustee of WCPA.
Section 6.2 Gross Negligence or Willful Misconduct. No person will be indemnified in connection with any matter in which:
6.2.1 He or she shall have been finally adjudged to have been guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or Officer;
6.2.2 If there is a settlement, the WCPA or ECI Institute is advised by its independent counsel that the person, if an Officer, was guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties as an Officer; or
6.2.3 If there is a settlement, the WCPA or ECI Institute is advised that the person, if a Trustee was guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties as a Trustee.
Section 6.3 Definitions. References to “Trustee” or “Officer” in this Article includes both serving and former WCPA Trustees and Officers.
ARTICLE 7
Working Commissions
(Standing Parliamentary Preparatory Commissions)
Section 7.1 Definitions. Earth Constitution Article 19, Sections 1 and 2 provide for preparatory commissions to do provisional world government work between sessions of the Provisional World Parliament and between sessions of the World Constituent Assembly. In conformance with Article 19, the Provisional World Parliament has enacted world legislative provisions to inaugurate, implement and provide legislative guidelines for these standing parliamentary commissions (the “Working Commissions”).
Section 7.2 Purpose of Working Commissions.
7.2.1 Working Commissions develop and implement the purposes and programs of WCPA. The WCPA Executive Council may establish, terminate or combine Working Commissions as desirable or necessary within guidelines of Article 19 of the Earth Constitution and subject to confirmation of the Provisional World Parliament.
7.2.2 The WCPA Executive Council may change the names of Working Commissions within Article 19 guidelines. Working Commissions are operative when competent Provisional World Parliament members or WCPA Members are available and ready to devote the necessary time as chairpersons. The Provisional World Parliament may terminate WCPA-assisted Working Commissions on grounds of not being necessary. We issue regular calls to the UN representatives and the nations of the world to ratify the Earth Constitution.
Section 7.3 Working Commission Categories. Under Article 19, working commissions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Cities and Towns
Human Rights
Commission for Legislative Review
Membership
Communications
National Parliaments
Delegates & Credentials
Preparatory Commissions for Provisional
Elections Commissions
World Parliament
Environment Commissions
Publicity Commissions
Enforcement Commissions
Ratification of Constitution
Founding Ratification Conventions
World Court
Fundraising & Finances
World Constituent Assemblies
Education
Peace Research Commissions
World Problems
World Development Commissions
World Disarmament
Youth, Schools, Universities
Section 7.4 Organization.
7.4.1 The Council will assist Working Commissions created by legislation of the Provisional World Parliament for any area of activity. The Secretary General will coordinate and promote the Working Commissions and is an ex-officio voting member of each Working Commission.
7.4.2 The Speaker of the Provisional World Parliament may appoint the Working Commission chairs, subject to review by the Provisional World Parliament. When the Parliament is not in session, the WCPA Council may appoint a chair. The chair is an ex-officio officer of WCPA and member of the Provisional World Parliament. The chair of each Working Commission shall organize the commission and work under the general supervision of the Secretary General and in consultation with the WCPA Executive Council.
7.4.3 Each Working Commission is composed of persons who are chosen by the chair together with the persons appointed to the Working Commission by the WCPA Executive Council and the Secretary General.
7.4.4 Working Commission chairs may be removed, with or without cause, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Provisional World Parliament. When the Parliament is not in session, the chair may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the WCPA Council. The Secretary General will appoint a replacement, who then will serve subject to later confirmation by the Council and the Provisional World Parliament.
7.5 Rules and Responsibilities. The WCPA Council shall outline the responsibilities and duties of each Working Commission and establish rules for proper functioning. WCPA Trustees, Officers, Members and committees must not interfere with Standing Parliamentary Commissions. The chair or secretary of each Working Commission shall file reports with the Secretary General. The Secretary General may require a report from any Working Commission to be submitted within six (6) weeks after receipt of request. The Secretary General shall maintain public records of the Working Commission reports, minutes, and names and addresses of members. The Council will establish reasonable clerical fees for retrieval and transmission of these public records.
ARTICLE 8
General Provisions
Section 8.1 Fiscal Year. WCPA’s fiscal year will end on August 31 of each calendar year.
Section 8.2 WCPA Property. WCPA property in existence at the adoption of these By-Laws shall pass to and be held in the name of the WCPA under the laws of non-profits in force within the State of Colorado, USA, where WCPA is registered WCPA may hold a separate bank account in its name in addition to those of ECI or the EFI.
Section 8.3 Checks, Notes, and Drafts. Checks, notes, drafts, and other orders for the payment of money may be signed on WCPA’s behalf by the WCPA President and Treasurer, as well as the Institute’s President and Treasurer.
Section 8.4 Discipline. If any WCPA Member or Trustee feels it necessary to bring charges of misconduct, incompetence, or actions contrary to the purposes, program, and By-Laws of WCPA concerning any Trustee, Officer, or cabinet member, the person making the charge shall file the charge against the particular person in writing to the WCPA President and to the charged person, at least ten (10) days prior to the WCPA Council meeting at which the charges and discipline are to be considered.
Section 8.5 Applicable Law. These By-laws will be governed by and construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. All references to the IRC shall mean the IRC of 1968, as amended, or the corresponding provision of any subsequent federal tax law.
Section 8.6 Gender and Number. Whenever the context of these By-laws requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter, and vice versa, and the singular number includes the plural, and vice versa.
Section 8.7 Effective Date. These Bylaws will be effective on the date on which the WCPA Council approves them.
ARTICLE 9
Amendments
Section 9.1 Notice Requirements for Amendments. Notice of the proposal to change or add any provision of these By-laws must be included in the notice of the meeting at which such amendment or addition is to be voted upon.
Section 9.2 Voting Requirements for Amendments. The WCPA Council may propose an amendment to any provision of these By-laws by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Council at which a quorum is present. The proposed amendment will then be presented to the Institute’s Board of Directors for ratification or other disposition.
Adopted this 15 day of April, 2022
By the Trustees of the WCPA Council
APPENDIX I:
Rules of Procedure for the World Constituent Assembly
(Adopted under Article 18, Item 5, of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth,
by the Sixth Session of the Provisional World Parliament Meeting
in Bangkok, Thailand in March 2003)
1. Purposes of the Fifth Session of the World Constituent Assembly, are as defined in the Call to the Fifth Session of the World Constituent Assembly, subject to the Call being made by either the provisional World Parliament, in accordance with Article 18, Item 5 of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, or by the Standing Steering Committee for the World Constituent Assembly that the provisional World Parliament shall designate. Purposes must not supersede these Rules of Procedure.
2. The provisional World Parliament shall elect five chairpersons, a secretary and a treasurer to serve as the Standing Executive Cabinet of the provisional World Parliament. These seven members of the Standing Executive Cabinet of the provisional World Parliament shall comprise the initial Steering Committee for the administration of the World Constituent Assembly (as the organizing agent for the World Constituent Assembly), together with seven members elected by in Plenary Session on the 2nd day of the World Constituent Assembly. All members of the Steering Committee must be accredited delegates to the World Constituent Assembly, which includes the requirement of prior personal ratification of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth in its 1991 edition. The Steering Committee shall elect its own Chairperson and Secretary. Until the World Constituent Assembly has its own permanent financing, the Standing Executive Cabinet of the provisional World Parliament (organizing agent) of the World Constituent Assembly shall supervise any staff personnel for the Assembly, both paid and volunteer. The Steering Committee shall invite suggestions for proposed amendments. If there is a significant request, the Steering Committee shall recommend to the provisional World Parliament to call the World Constituent Assembly.
3. The Steering Committee shall nominate accredited delegates to serve official roles for the World Constituent Assembly, including Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. Simple majority vote of the World Constituent Assembly confirms these delegates. If simple majority confirmation is not forthcoming, the Steering Committee may make new nominations based upon nominations made from the floor of the World Constituent Assembly, subject to simple majority confirmation of the Assembly. The World Constituent Assembly shall hold elections no later than the third day of the particular full session of the World Constituent Assembly. Until the officers are determined, the original nominees of the Steering Committee shall serve. The term of office for World Constituent Assembly officers is for only one full session, with re-election permitted for any subsequent sessions.
One hundred (100) accredited delegates, paid and present, constitute a quorum to convene the World Constituent Assembly.
4. The business of the World Constituent Assembly is limited to consideration, deliberation and action on constructive amendment to the Constitution for the Federation of Earth. The World Constituent Assembly shall give sole consideration for amendment motions that conserve the basic non-military, federal and parliamentary attributes of the provisional World Government and World Government, and which strengthen the overall program for non-military, federal, democratic world government. Likewise, the World Constituent Assembly shall consider only proposals that conserve all of the seven major branches of the World Government: the tri-cameral World Parliament, the World Judiciary, the World Executive, the Enforcement System, the World Ombudsmus, the Integrative Complex and the World Administration. The Steering Committee and the Chair of the World Constituent Assembly shall give special consideration to strengthening of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, to strengthening of the World Parliament by increasing its accountability, and to the clarification of the relationship of the World Government to the United Nations Organization and related agencies, which are to undergo transfer, reconstitution and integration by the World Government in conformance with the Constitution for the Federation of Earth. The Steering Committee and the Chair shall also give special consideration to amendment proposals to improve the implementation and ratification process.
5. The Chair of the World Constituent Assembly shall rule as out of order any speeches or discussions during sessions of the World Constituent Assembly not clearly relevant to the business defined under #4 above, except for short greetings or presentations by Honorary Sponsors or by honorary invitees.
6. Proposals for constitutional amendments are not limited to those mentioned in the Call to the World Constituent Assembly. However, the Assembly, by simple majority vote, may require deliberative priorities. Any accredited delegate may submit an amendment proposal, which must receive simple majority vote for consideration, as defined by the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, Article XVIII Section 1.a., or by petitions signed by a total of 200,000 persons eligible to vote in world elections from a total of at least 20 World Electoral and Administrative Districts where the Earth Constitution has received final ratification, as defined by the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, Article XVIII. Section 1.b.
7. Persons may submit proposals for constitutional amendment by writing to the organizing agent, to be received at least 90 days in advance of the Assembly, so that the preliminary agenda may be adapted and printed for the Assembly. However, in any case, delegates shall submit all proposals of over thirty-five words in length in written form by the end of the first day of the World Constituent Assembly, with individual copies to each member of the Steering Committee and to each accredited delegate in attendance, at the expense of the delegate making the submission. Delegates making proposals have the sole responsibility for printing arrangements, not the Steering Committee for the Assembly, nor the organizing agent. Delegate shall submit written proposals that also meet the qualifications of item 3 and 7 of the Rules of Procedure for the World Constituent Assembly, pertaining to the reservation of the non-military, federal, and tri-cameral parliamentary structure of the World Government, and reserving the sovereignty of the people of Earth through the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.
8. At the time that the Agenda designates, the Chair may direct delegates to introduce proposals. The Chair shall allow one Session reading to seconded proposals. After reading, the delegate submitting a proposed amendment may have up to three minutes to present attributed merits of the proposal before the vote on deliberation. After this eulogy, questions for clarification are in order, but no judgmental statements. The Chair shall limit answers to questions for clarification to seven minutes total time per proposed amendment. The Secretary of the Assembly shall monitor the time electronically, giving the presenter one-minute’s notice to conclude each response for clarification. Any debate on the merits of any proposal must not take place until after the Assembly has decided whether to accept the proposal for deliberation by its simple majority vote. Reading of individual amendments are limited to a reading time of ten minutes.
9. The World Constituent Assembly shall vote on any deliberative priorities regarding proposed amendments after the conclusion of the initial readings of the written proposals for amendment, and after the adoption for deliberation of written proposals for possible amendment. After any simple majority decision to require deliberative priorities, the World Constituent Assembly establishes deliberative priorities by a signed rating sheet ballot (universal ballot), which shall include all written proposals that have been accepted for deliberation by the Assembly. After the ballot but before beginning deliberations, the Steering Committee shall publish a spreadsheet for the Assembly, to audit the rating sheet results (Abstentions in the rating sheet are permitted, but the audit shall discard any duplicate ratings in the sheet from any one delegate for the respective ratings in question).
10. The World Constituent Assembly may adopt measures to amend the Constitution for the Federation of Earth that are consistent with the principle of non-military, federal, democratic world government. Amendments to establish a military, to abolish the Parliament, or any of its three Houses, or to reduce the legislative power, other than proposals which thereby clearly increase overall legislative accountability, are out of order and must not be deliberated. Likewise, any proposal to eliminate any of the seven major branches of the World Government are out of order. The Steering Committee may screen out any out-of-order proposals after written submission, to preclude their coming to the Assembly floor.
11. Any amendment shall require the simple two thirds majority of delegates actually attending the Assembly, unless 25 national governments have given preliminary or final ratification to the Constitution for the Federation of Earth by the time that the 5th Session of the World Constituent Assembly convenes, in which case, an absolute two-thirds majority of delegates is required for passing an amendment.
12. No world legislation under the Constitution for the Federation of Earth may be debated at sessions of the World Constituent Assembly. At any session of the World Constituent Assembly, during recess, proposed legislation or legislative amendments may be caucused, without comment on the floor of the Assembly. The Steering Committee may then refer any legislative proposals to any respective Standing Parliamentary Commission of the Parliament. Legislative proposals may only be officially deliberated and voted upon at a session of the provisional World Parliament or World Parliament.
13. All delegates to the World Constituent Assembly shall register on approved registration forms, which include a pledge of support for the World Constituent Assembly, the provisional World Parliament, and World Legislation enacted to date by the provisional World Parliament, as well as pledge support to the principle of non-military federal, democratic world government. Delegates must pay the designated registration fees to the organizing agent for the World Constituent Assembly, unless the Steering Committee waives this as may be provided in the Call to the World Constituent Assembly.
14. All observers at the World Constituent Assembly shall register on observer registration forms, which shall include a pledge not to obstruct the work of the Assembly, and must pay registration fees for observers. Observers shall have neither vote nor voice on the floor of the Assembly.
15. The Steering Committee shall use registration fees only to finance the World Constituent Assembly and its related work, such as following reports. Before the next to the last day of the World Constituent Assembly, the Treasurer shall make a report of income and expenses. The Steering Committee shall publish the budget of the World Constituent Assembly by the next to last day of the particular full session of the World Constituent Assembly. If any expenses remain unpaid due to insufficient funds, the treasurer shall take a collection. The World Constituent Assembly must not adjourn until all legitimate expense bills have been paid.
16. The Steering Committee, by a two-thirds majority vote, may expel any participant from the World Constituent Assembly, whether a delegate or an observer, if found to be acting in a manner obstructive to the purposes of the World Constituent Assembly. A simple two thirds majority vote of the World Constituent Assembly may also expel any participant found to be acting in an obstructive manner.
17. The organizing agent, as well as those members of the Steering Committee who are retained by the organizing agent at the conclusion of each full session of the World Constituent Assembly, shall comprise the Continuation Steering Committee, to serve between sessions of the World Constituent Assembly. However, the World Parliament can reconstitute the Continuation Steering Committee upon the commencement of the First Operative Stage of World Government under the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.
18. During sessions of the World Constituent Assembly, the Steering Committee shall meet daily to take care of any necessary business, and may make changes to the Agenda of the World Constituent Assembly, if found necessary. Meetings of the Steering Committee require a quorum of seven members after the third day of the Assembly.
19. The Steering Committee shall publish a daily report of World Constituent Assembly proceedings. The Steering Committee shall publish a list of all World Constituent Assembly participants by the third day of the Assembly. The Steering Committee shall publish a final list of participants with home addresses upon the end of the World Constituent Assembly.
20. Except where otherwise specified, simple majority vote of those present and qualified to vote decides any questions of the Steering Committee, of other Commissions or Committees of the World Constituent Assembly, and of meetings of the Assembly itself.
21. Proxy voting is prohibited. Each delegate has only one vote. One hundred (100) accredited delegates, paid and present, constitute a quorum to convene the World Constituent Assembly.
Thereafter, quorum for each day’s session requires the attendance of at least 60% of the registered accredited delegates who have shown up for the particular full session.
22. The World Constituent Assembly shall not debate procedural matters, including these Rules of Procedure (after original adoption by the provisional World Parliament), in the sessions of the World Constituent Assembly. During the sessions of the Assembly, the rulings of the Speaker are final on procedural conduct of the Assembly. Delegates may refer any questions concerning Rules of Procedure or the Agenda to the Steering Committee for decision. After original adoption by the Parliament, the Rules of Procedure can be amended during sessions of the provisional World Parliament only by a two thirds absolute majority vote of the Parliament in Plenary Session.
23. Robert’s Rules of Order and Erskine May Code supplement these Rules of Procedure, but do not supersede these Rules of Procedure at any point of possible variance. Robert’s Rules of Order is the standard guide for meetings of the World Constituent Assembly, of the Steering Committee and of the Continuation Steering Committee on points not covered therein.
24. If any Founding Ratification Convention including representation from national governments determines that adjustment must be made to the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, the Founding Ratification Convention shall conform to these Rules of Procedure for the World Constituent Assembly.
* * * * * * * * * *
Adopted March 2003, Bangkok, Thailand
sixth session Provisional World Parliament
Attested: Eugenia Almand, JD, Secretary
Provisional World Parliament
APPENDIX II
Actualization Protocol for the Earth Federation under the Earth Constitution
- Notwithstanding the rules for a Constituent Assembly outlined in Appendix I, the Executive Board affirms the following Protocol as both implicit in the transitional passages of the Earth Constitution and as the preferable procedure for actualizing the Earth Federation under the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.
- The WCPA affirmed official process of actualization of the Earth Federation under the Constitution shall be understood in terms of the following steps:
2.1 Phase 1: Provisional World Government: jump starting, laying foundations in the PWP and WEDs, working for ratification, holding sessions of the Provisional World Parliament, establishing World Electoral Districts and voting processes for the people of Earth.
- Phase 2. First Operative Stage: legitimizing and activating the transformational infrastructure while addressing fundamental world problems as described by Article 17 of the Earth Constitution.
- Phase 3: Progressive Constitutional Amendments and/or a World Constitutional Convention (under Article 18): refining the transformational instrument named the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.
- Phase 4: Second Operative Stage: continues and focuses the process of demilitarization and planetary conversion to a world peace and sustainability system.
- Phase 5: Final Operative Stage: actualizing at the planetary scale the transformed world system premised on Liberty, Justice, Sustainability, Peace, and universal Human Dignity.
APPENDIX III:
List of WCPA Trustees, Officers, and Appointees
(Effective April 2022)
- WCPA Trustees who also are Officers:
President: Dr. Glen T. Martin (USA)
Secretary-General: Dr. Eugenia Almand (Atlanta, GA, USA)
Treasurer: Ms. Phyllis Turk (Radford, VA, USA)
Board Secretaries: Ms. Rosa Ferrerra (Cuba) and Dr. Seema Tyagi (India)
- Additional Trustees who are Vice-Presidents of WCPA:(alphabetical order)
Dr. Santinath Chattopadhyay (Kolkata, India)
Mr. Leopoldo Alberto Cook (Venezuela) Coordinator for Latin America
Ms. Zaklina Dimovska (Macedonia) Coordinator for Eastern Europe
Dr. Jagdish Gandhi (Lucknow, India)
Rev. Laura George, JD (Independence, VA)
Mr. Peter Graves-Goodman (Miami, FL)
Dr. Ushoshi Guha (Nagpur, India)
Dr. Mahboob Hussain (Bangladesh)
Mr. Salim Khan (Delhi, India)
Dr. Roger Kotila (San Francisco, CA)
Guruji Arun Kumar (Chennai, India, also a Distinguished Advisor)
Rev. Nomhle Mahlawe (South Africa)
Mr. E.P. Menon (Bangalore, India)
Prof. P. Narasimha Murthy (Bangalore, India)
Justice David Quispe Salsavilca (Lima, Peru)
Dr. Preeti Shankar (Lucknow, India)
Dr. Hemlata Talesra (Udaipur, India
Col. Tejendra Pal Tyagi, Delhi, India
- WCPA Appointed Positions:
Ambassador for International Outreach Ms. Neelam Gupta
Youth Outreach Mr. Kalani James Evans (Georgia, USA)
Social Media Coordinator: Mr. Cory Snider, head of Everscope Media (Virginia, USA)
Funding Coordinator: TBA
Environmental Minister: Mr. Jyotirmay Goswami (West Bengal, India)
Women’s Empowerment: Rev. Laura George
Administrative Assistant: Ms. Becky Galdo (USA)
Communications Coordinator for WCPA Global: Prof. P.N. Murthy
Ambassador for Africa: Amb. Fenton Mennoh, Uganda
Director for Technology: Major Sushil Goel (Ret.), India
Communications Center:
Co-Directors of the WCPA-PWP Offices in New Delhi: Glen T Martin, Prof. P N Murthy
Liaisons between WCPA and Voters Party International:
Bharat Gandhi and Dr. Glen T. Martin
4. Initial Honorary Distinguished Advisors (alphabetical order)
Major Sushil Goel, Delhi, India
Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, Chancellor, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Puna, India
Guruji Sri Yogacharya Arun Kumar, Founder Poornatvam Yoga, India
Justice David Quispe Salsavilca, Lima, Peru
Dr. Klaus Schlichtmann, Peace Historian, Japan
Dr. Kamal Taori, Chennai, India
Col. Tejendra Pal Tyagi, Delhi, India
one world renaissance 