ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES
PERMANENT
COUNCIL
RULES OF PROCEDURE
OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL
(Approved
by the Permanent Council of the Organization
at
its regular meeting on October 1, 1980.
Including
the amendments adopted at the meetings
held
on August 22, 1984, January 22, 1992, and August 9, 1995)
|
GENERAL SECRETARIAT ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 |
CP |
ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES
PERMANENT
COUNCIL
OEA/Ser.G
CP/doc.1112/80
rev. 3
9
August 1995
Original:
Spanish
RULES OF
PROCEDURE
OF THE PERMANENT
COUNCIL
(Approved
by the Permanent Council of the Organization
at
its regular meeting on October 1, 1980.
Including
the amendments adopted at the meetings
held
on August 22, 1984, January 22, 1992, and August 9, 1995)
|
GENERAL SECRETARIAT ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 1995 |
CP |
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
I. NATURE AND COMPOSITION................................................................................
1
II. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE.......................................................................................
1
III. CHAIRMAN
AND VICE CHAIRMAN......................................................................
1
Terms
of Office...........................................................................................................
1
Order
of Succession.....................................................................................................
1
Provisional
Replacement of the Chairman......................................................................
2
Functions
of the Chairman............................................................................................
2
IV. AD HOC COMMITTEES FOR THE PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT
OF DISPUTES...................................................................................
3
Establishment...............................................................................................................
3
Membership
and Mandate.............................................................................................
3
Duration
of the Terms of Office of the Members...........................................................
3
V. COMMITTEES, SUBCOMMITTEES, AND WORKING
GROUPS.............................
4
Establishment...............................................................................................................
4
Permanent
Committees.................................................................................................
4
General
Committee.......................................................................................................
4
Committee
on Juridical and Political Affairs...................................................................
5
Committee
on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs......................................................
6
Committee
on Meetings and Organizations.....................................................................
7
Committee
on Panama Canal Tolls................................................................................
7
Committee
on the Environment......................................................................................
8
Committee
on Hemispheric Security..............................................................................
8
Membership.................................................................................................................
8
Duration
of Members’ Terms of Office.........................................................................
9
Installation,
Election, and Terms of Office
of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen...............................................................................
10
VI. PRIOR STUDIES AND REPORTS............................................................................ 11
Page
VII. MEETINGS................................................................................................................ 13
Regular
Meetings........................................................................................................ 13
Special
Meetings......................................................................................................... 13
Protocolary
Meetings................................................................................................... 13
Public
and Closed Meetings.......................................................................................... 14
Participation
in the Meetings......................................................................................... 14
Order
of Business........................................................................................................ 16
VIII. DEBATES.................................................................................................................. 16
Quorum...................................................................................................................... 16
The
Right to Speak...................................................................................................... 17
Proposals.................................................................................................................... 17
Withdrawal
of Proposals.............................................................................................. 17
Points
of Order............................................................................................................ 18
Suspension
of Debate.................................................................................................. 18
Closing
of Debate........................................................................................................ 18
Suspension
or Adjournment of the Meeting.................................................................... 18
Order
of Procedural Motions........................................................................................ 19
Reconsideration
of Decisions........................................................................................ 19
IX. VOTING.................................................................................................................... 19
Right
to Vote............................................................................................................... 19
Majority
Required........................................................................................................ 20
Voting
Procedure........................................................................................................ 20
Voting
on Proposals..................................................................................................... 22
Voting
on Amendments................................................................................................ 23
Voting
by Parts........................................................................................................... 23
Explanation
of Vote..................................................................................................... 23
X. GENERAL SECRETARIAT....................................................................................... 24
Functions.................................................................................................................... 24
Minutes....................................................................................................................... 25
Page
XI. PREPARATION FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY................................................. 25
Changes
of Site of a Regular Session of the
General Assembly.................................................................................................... 26
Selection
by the Permanent Council of the Site
for a Regular Session of the General
Assembly.......................................................... 26
Procedure
for Setting the Site for a
Regular Session........................................................................................................ 26
Special
Sessions.......................................................................................................... 27
XII. MEETING
OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE PERMANENT COUNCIL
WHEN IT SERVES PROVISIONALLY AS ORGAN
OF CONSULTATION............................................................................................. 27
Convocation
of the Meeting of Consultation in
Application of the Charter......................................................................................... 28
Convocation
of the Meeting of Consultation in
Application of the Inter-American Treaty of
Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR).................................................................................. 28
Decisions
of the Permanent Council Serving
Provisionally as Organ of Consultation....................................................................... 28
XIII. SCOPE AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES OF
PROCEDURE............................ 28
Transitory
Provision..................................................................................................... 29
RULES
OF PROCEDURE
OF
THE PERMANENT COUNCIL
I. NATURE AND COMPOSITION Article
1. The Permanent Council is one
of the organs of the Organization, and is composed of one representative of
each member state, especially appointed by the government thereof, with the
rank of ambassador. Each government
may appoint such alternate representatives or advisers as it considers advisable
and may, if necessary, accredit an acting representative. II. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE Article
2. The order of precedence of the
principal, acting, and alternate representatives shall be determined
according to the dates on which they present the respective documents
accrediting them as such. III. CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN Terms of Office Article
3. The chairman and vice chairman
of the Permanent Council shall hold office for a term of three months. The terms shall begin automatically on the
first day of the months of January, April, July, and October. Order of Succession Article
4. The office of chairman of the
Permanent Council shall be held by each of the principal representatives in
turn, following the Spanish alphabetical order of the names in Spanish of
their respective states. The office
of vice chairman shall be filled in the same way, in reverse alphabetical
order. Article
5. If the state to which the
chairmanship corresponds does not have a principal representative, the vice
chairman shall serve as chairman. If
the state to which the vice chairmanship corresponds does not have a
principal representative, the principal representatives of the states in
reverse alphabetical order shall serve in turn as vice chairman on an acting
basis. The incumbency of such
substitute in either office shall terminate with the arrival in the Permanent
Council of the principal representative of the state to which that office
pertains by right. Provisional Replacement of the Chairman Article
6. In the event of the temporary
absence or impediment of the chairman, the vice chairman shall replace him,
and in the event of the absence or impediment of both, the principal
representative with the greatest seniority shall preside. Article
7. If the offices of chairman and
vice chairman of the Permanent Council should both devolve upon the principal
representative of the same state, he shall be the chairman. The office of vice chairman shall devolve
upon the principal representative of the state next in reverse alphabetical
order, and thus successively. Functions of the Chairman Article
8. The chairman of the Council: 1. Shall call the meetings, open and
adjourn them, direct the discussions, recognize speakers in the order in
which they request the floor, put motions to a vote and announce the results
thereof, decide on points of order in accordance with the provisions of
Article 46 of these Rules of Procedure, install the committees, and, in
general, comply with and enforce the provisions of these Rules of Procedure. 2. May attend functions or ceremonies
when invited to do so in his capacity as such. 3. Shall appoint the committee of representatives
to receive, on behalf of the Council, the heads of state or government who
attend protocolary ceremonies and meetings. 4. May consult the members of the Council
in order to prepare the work for a forthcoming meeting. 5. Shall give welcome and farewell
addresses to representatives on the Council. 6. Shall carry out such other functions
as are expressly attributed to him by the Statutes, the Charter, and other
inter-American treaties, and those which are specifically entrusted to him
by the General Assembly, the Meeting of Consultation, and the Permanent
Council. IV.
AD HOC COMMITTEES FOR THE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES Establishment Article
9. In the exercise of its functions,
the Permanent Council may establish ad hoc committees with the consent of the
parties to a dispute. Membership and Mandate Article
10. The ad hoc committees shall
have the membership and the mandate that the Permanent Council agrees upon in
each individual case, with the consent of the parties to the dispute. Duration of the Terms of Office of the Members Article
11. The duration of the terms of
office of the members of the ad hoc committees shall be as determined by the
Permanent Council in each case at the time it establishes such committees. V.
COMMITTEES, SUBCOMMITTEES, AND WORKING GROUPS Establishment Article
12. The Permanent Council may
establish such permanent and special committees and such working groups as
it deems necessary. Special
committees and working groups shall be temporary. Article
13. The committees may establish
subcommittees and working groups, and must specify their mandate in each
case. Permanent Committees Article
14. The following are permanent
committees of the Permanent Council, without prejudice to any others that may
be established as such: General
Committee; Committee
on Juridical and Political Affairs; Committee
on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs; Committee
on Meetings and Organizations; Committee
on Panama Canal Tolls; and Committee
on the Environment. Committee
on Hemispheric Security General Committee Article
15. The General Committee shall
be composed of one representative of each member state. The chairman and vice chairman of the
Permanent Council shall be the chairman and vice chairman of the General
Committee, respectively. Article
16. The General Committee shall
have the following duties: a. To advise the Permanent Council and
its chairman on matters that are within the area of competence of the Council
and which, not having been assigned to other committees, have been assigned
to the General Committee; b. To consider and to make recommendations
to the Council, to its chairman, and to the chairmen of the other committees
on the course and coordination of their respective work, for which purpose it
may establish a subcommittee on coordination made up of those chairmen; c. To examine periodically, by mandate of
the Permanent Council, current working methods and procedures so as to
maximize efficiency and make the best possible use of time in its work; and d. Such other functions as are assigned
by the Council. Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs Article
17. It shall be the duty of the
Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs to study topics of this nature
entrusted to it by the Permanent Council. Article
18. The Committee on Juridical
and Political Affairs shall study the reports of the organs, agencies, and
entities referred to in Article 90.f of the Charter that are presented to it
by the Council for consideration, and shall submit a report thereon to the
Permanent Council. Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs Article
19. The Committee on Administrative
and Budgetary Affairs shall have the following duties: a. To recommend to the Permanent Council
any programs within the Council’s purview that may serve the General
Secretariat as a basis for preparing the proposed program-budget of the
Organization, as stipulated in Article 117.c of the Charter; b. To examine the proposed program-budget
that the General Secretariat transmits to the Permanent Council for consultation,
for the purposes indicated in Article 117.c of the Charter, and to submit to
the Council such observations as it may deem pertinent; c. To study any other subjects that the
Permanent Council may entrust to it in relation to the programs, budget,
administration, and financial aspects of the operations of the General
Secretariat; and d. To consider any annual evaluation
reports submitted by the Secretary General to the Permanent Council in
compliance with the provisions of the General Standards to Govern the Operations
of the General Secretariat and, on that basis, to evaluate the overall
effectiveness of the Organization’s programs, projects, and activities. Furthermore, to make any recommendations
it deems appropriate and submit them to the Permanent Council for
consideration and subsequent referral to the Preparatory Committee, so that
they may be considered by the General Assembly in conjunction with the
proposed program-budget. Committee on Meetings and Organizations Article
20. It shall be the duty of the
Committee on Meetings and Organizations, inter alia, to study the matters
entrusted to it by the Permanent Council with respect to the subsidiary
organs, agencies, and entities of the Organization. The
Committee shall also study matters related to: a. The holding of meetings and conferences
within the competence of the Permanent Council; b. Any necessary coordination with other
organs of the Organization with respect to meetings and conferences held
under the auspices of the Organization; c. The inter-American specialized organizations
and other inter-American entities within the competence of the Permanent
Council; and d. Any necessary coordination with the
appropriate subsidiary organs of the other councils with respect to inter-American
specialized organizations and other inter-American entities that are
outside the exclusive competence of any single council. Article
21. The Committee on Meetings and
Organizations shall examine the reports of the organs, agencies, and entities
cited in Article 90.f of the Charter that are presented for its consideration
by the Council, and shall submit a report thereon to the Council. Committee on Panama Canal Tolls Article
22. The Committee on Panama Canal
Tolls shall, among other functions, be responsible for preparing,
coordinating, and providing to the Panama Canal Commission the views of the
member states of the OAS that use the Canal. Committee on the Environment Article
23. It is the responsibility of
the Committee on the Environment to study and propose to the Permanent
Council the Organization’s policy in this area and to develop, coordinate,
evaluate, and monitor, among others, measures for regional cooperation in
environmental matters. Committee on Hemispheric Security Article
24. The functions of the
Committee on Hemispheric Security are to study and make recommendations to
the Permanent Council on any matters relating to hemispheric security that
may be entrusted to it by the Permanent Council and, through it, by the
General Assembly, in particular with a view to promoting cooperation in this
field. Membership Article
25. All the member states have
the right to be represented on the Permanent Committees. However, to facilitate its work, and
except as provided for the General Committee, the Permanent Council shall
install on these committees representatives of those member states that have
requested membership thereon. Article
26. In the installation of the
permanent committees, consideration shall be given to oral or written
requests made to the chairman of the Council by the member state
representatives either before or during the installation meeting. Participation after the installation of
the permanent committees shall be governed by the provisions of Article 39 of
these Rules of Procedure. Article
27. Each committee shall be
responsible for determining the number of members of its subcommittees and
working groups and for naming them.
Each committee may delegate this authority to its chairman. Article
28. The Permanent Council shall
appoint the members of the special committees and working groups that it has
established. The chairman shall make
appointments whenever the Permanent Council takes no decision thereon. Article
29 1. In the appointment of members of the
special committees, subcommittees, and working groups, not only shall
requests made by the representatives be taken into account, but so also shall
the range of opinions expressed on the matters in question and, insofar as possible,
the principle of equitable geographic representation. 2. When the General Assembly or the
Permanent Council assigns to a special committee a number of members smaller
than the number of the member states, the criteria provided in the preceding paragraph
shall be observed; however, if no agreement is reached on the composition of
such committee, the issue shall be resolved by ballot. Duration of Members’ Terms of Office Article
30 1. In order to facilitate the work, and
except as provided for the General Committee, the members of the permanent
committees shall be appointed for terms of one year. However, the members of the Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary Affairs appointed for terms of two years. 2. Even if the members of the subcommittees
and working groups have not completed their work, they shall terminate their
functions at the same time as the members of their respective permanent
committees. 3. The terms of office of members and
officers of the special committees, their subcommittees or working groups, or
the working groups of the Permanent Council shall expire when the Permanent
Council so decides, or when they have completed their work. Installation, Election, and Terms of Office of Chairmen
and Vice Chairmen Article
31 1. The chairman of the Permanent Council
shall install all committees within one month following the date on which the
regular session of the General Assembly closes. Except as provided in these Rules of Procedure in relation to
the General Committee, the respective chairmen and vice chairmen shall be
elected if possible at the installation meeting by the following procedure: a. Candidates may be nominated in writing
before the meeting and either orally or in writing during the meeting; b. The chairman and vice chairman of each
committee shall be elected by separate and secret ballot except when elected
by acclamation; c. The candidates who obtain the votes of
an absolute majority of the members of the committee shall be elected
chairman and vice chairman; d. If, in the balloting, no candidate
obtains the majority required for election, there shall be as many additional
ballots as may be necessary. 2. Each subcommittee or working group
shall elect its chairman. Article
32 1. Elections for the chairmen and vice
chairmen of the permanent committees--except for the General Committee--must
be held no later than the last meeting of the month following the close of
the regular session of the General Assembly.
With the exception of the General Commitee, pursuant to Article 3 of
these Rules of Procedure, the term of office for chairmen and vice chairmen
of these committees shall be one year. 2. Except in the case of the General
Committee, in the event of the permanent absence of the chairman of one of
the permanent committees within the first six months of his term of office,
the committee shall elect a new chairman. 3. Except in the case of the General
Committee, in the event of the permanent absence of the chairman of one of
the permanent committees after six months following the date of his
election, the vice chairman shall become chairman and shall immediately
convoke the committee to elect a vice chairman. 4. Except for those of the General
Committee, chairmen and vice chairmen of the permanent committees may not be
reelected for the following term unless they have served in that capacity for
less than six months. The outgoing
chairmen and vice chairmen shall continue to serve until the persons elected
to replace them take office. VI. PRIOR STUDIES AND REPORTS Article
33. Every matter presented to the
Permanent Council that, in its opinion, requires prior study shall be
referred to a committee, which shall present a report. Article
34. The Committees shall report
to the Permanent Council in writing on all matters entrusted to them. The final report shall contain a draft
resolution or a recommendation.
Members of a committee may present dissenting opinions jointly or
separately. Article
35 1. The annual and special reports to be
presented by the organs, agencies, and entities of the Organization in
compliance with Article 90.f of the Charter shall be delivered to the
Permanent Council through the secretary general at least 90 days before the
opening of each regular session of the General Assembly. 2. The Permanent Council shall consider
the reports of the organs, agencies, and entities referred to in Article
90.f of the Charter that have been presented within the statutory deadline
and shall submit to the General Assembly for its consideration such observations
and recommendations as it deems appropriate. The respective reports shall be circulated as reference
documents for a better understanding of the observations and recommendations
the Permanent Council submits to the General Assembly. The
Permanent Council shall exercise its authority in this regard in consonance
with the pertinent provisions of the Charter and the other inter-American
instruments. 3. The Council may issue observations
and recommendations on a report even if it is presented after the statutory
deadline; if it does not, it shall inform the General Assembly of the
circumstance that prevented it from doing so. 4. The Permanent Council may request the
chairmen, presidents, and directors of the organs, agencies, and entities of
the Organization to attend the meetings at which their reports are to be
considered in order to provide clarifying or supplementary information as
may be required. When a chairman,
president, or director is unable to attend, the Permanent Council may
receive such information from whoever represents him pursuant to the applicable
statutes or rules of procedure. 5. In keeping with the provisions of
Article 40 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, the
observations and recommendations of the Permanent Council on the said
reports shall in all cases be transmitted to the governments of the member
states not less than 30 days before the scheduled opening date of the regular
session of the General Assembly. VII. MEETINGS Regular Meetings Article
36. The Permanent Council shall
hold regular meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. If it should be necessary to advance or
postpone a regular meeting, the chairman of the Council may set another date
for it. The meetings of the Permanent
Council and its committees, subcommittees, and working groups shall begin
punctually at the time indicated in the meeting announcement. Special Meetings Article
37. The Permanent Council shall
hold special meetings, in keeping with Article 18 of its Statutes, when: a. The chairman considers it necessary; b. Any representative so requests in
writing, stating the purpose of his request; c. The secretary general expressly so
requests, in the exercise of the authority conferred upon him in the second
paragraph of Article 115 of the Charter; or d. The General Assembly expressly so
mandates. Protocolary Meetings Article
38 1. The chairman of the Permanent Council,
in agreement with the mission or delegation of the government concerned, or
at its request, shall convene a protocolary meeting in honor of a head of
state or government or minister of foreign affairs of a member state. 2. With the prior concurrence of the
General Committee, and in consultation with the mission or delegation of the
government concerned, if appropriate, or at its request, he shall also
convene protocolary meetings in honor of other eminent persons or to
celebrate or commemorate events of importance. Public and Closed Meetings Article
39. The meetings of the Permanent
Council shall be public. However, if
the chairman so provides or any representative so requests, the meeting shall
be closed and shall so continue unless the Council decides otherwise. When a public meeting is to become closed,
the chairman shall call a brief recess to allow all unauthorized persons to
leave the room. Except as provided in
Article 39, paragraph 5, of these Rules of Procedure, only the members of the
missions or delegations shall have access to closed meetings. Participation in the Meetings Article
40 1. The principal or acting representatives
and the alternate representatives and advisers may participate in the
meetings of the Permanent Council and of the committees, subcommittees, and
working groups. 2. Except as provided for the permanent
committees in paragraph 3 of this article, representatives on the Permanent
Council who are not members of committees, subcommittees, or working groups
have the right to participate in the meetings of these bodies with voice but
without vote. 3. A representative of a member state who
has not expressed interest in sitting on a permanent committee by the date of
its installation may thereafter participate in its meetings with voice and
vote after making a request to that effect to its chairman, who will advise
the Permanent Council thereof. Similarly,
delegations may participate with voice and vote when the Council has approved
their requests for such membership made to its chairman. Interested
delegations may participate with voice and vote in a subcommittee or working
group of a committee when that committee has approved their requests for
such membership made to its chairman. In all
cases, requests may be made orally or in writing, and shall be considered
without delay. 4. The Permanent Council or the committees
may create working groups that are open to all of the delegations for
participation, in which case the provisions of Articles 26, 27, and 28 of
these Rules of Procedure shall not apply.
The Council or committee, as appropriate, may determine the quorum
required for meeting and adopting decisions. 5. Permanent observers or their alternates
may attend the public meetings of the Permanent Council and, when invited to
do so by the chairman, may also attend closed meetings. They may also attend meetings of the
committees or working groups of the Permanent Council. In these cases they may speak provided the
chairman so decides. 6. The permanent observers or their
alternates may also attend the meetings of the subcommittees or of the
working groups when invited by the corresponding chairmen. 7. The secretary general, or his representative,
and the secretary of the Permanent Council may participate with voice but
without vote in all meetings of the Permanent Council and of its subsidiary
organs, agencies, and committees. Order of Business Article
41. The chairman of the Permanent
Council shall prepare the draft order of business for each meeting, and the
secretary shall transmit it to the missions and delegations at least three
working days in advance in the case of regular meetings, and as soon as
possible in the case of special meetings.
Any representative, subsidiary organ, or committee of the Permanent
Council, as well as the secretary general, may request the inclusion of
topics on the aforementioned draft order of business. Article
42. Each meeting shall begin with
consideration of the order of business.
If a new topic is proposed for inclusion on the draft order of
business, the Permanent Council may authorize its inclusion and discussion,
but the decision on the said topic shall be postponed to a later meeting, if
any representative so requests. VIII. DEBATES Quorum Article
43 1. A majority of the representatives of
the member states shall constitute a quorum for meeting in the Permanent
Council and in the General Committee. 2. In each of the other committees,
subcommittees, and working groups, one third of its members shall constitute
a quorum for meeting, but, for purposes of voting, a majority of its members
must be present. If, after two instances
of convocation, such a committee, subcommittee, or working group does not
succeed in meeting for lack of the indicated quorum, the chairman thereof
shall so inform the superior organ, so that the latter may take such measures
as it deems appropriate for the purpose of speeding up consideration of the
matters pending. The Right to Speak Article
44 1. No one may speak until he has been
recognized. The chairman shall grant
the floor in the order in which it is requested. 2. The chairman may call any representative
to order when his remarks depart from the subject under discussion. Proposals Article
45. Proposals that are submitted
to the Permanent Council for consideration shall be presented in writing to
its secretariat, which shall deliver copies to the representatives at least
24 hours prior to the meeting in which the matter will be discussed. However, by a two thirds vote of the
member states, the Council may authorize discussion of a proposal that has
not followed the established procedure because of its urgent nature. Withdrawal of Proposals Article
46. A proposal may be withdrawn
by its proponent before the original text or any amendment thereto has been
put to a vote. Any other
representative may reintroduce a proposal that has been withdrawn. Points of Order Article
47. During the discussion of a
matter, any representative may raise a point of order regarding the
application of these Rules of Procedure, which shall be decided upon
immediately by the chairman. While
raising a point of order, a representative may not go into the substance of
the matter under discussion. The
decision of the chairman may be appealed to the Permanent Council or the
committee in question, as the case may be.
The appeal shall be put to a vote immediately and shall be declared
approved if favored by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Suspension of Debate Article
48. The chairman or any representative
may request that debate be suspended.
Only two representatives may speak in favor of, and two against, a
motion to suspend debate. It shall
then be put to a vote immediately and shall be declared approved if favored
by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Closing of Debate Article
49. The chairman or any representative,
when he considers that a matter has been sufficiently discussed, may propose
that debate be closed. This motion
may be opposed by two representatives, after which it shall be declared
approved if favored by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Suspension or Adjournment of the Meeting Article
50. During any debate, the
chairman or any representative may propose that the meeting be suspended or
adjourned. Such a motion shall be put
to a vote immediately without discussion, and it shall be declared approved
if favored by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Order of Procedural Motions Article
51. Except as provided in Article
46 of these Rules of Procedure, the following motions shall have precedence
over all other proposals or motions in the order set forth below: a. Suspension of the meeting; b. Adjournment of the meeting; c. Suspension of discussion of the topic
under consideration; d. Close of debate of the topic under
consideration. Reconsideration of Decisions Article
52. Reconsideration of a decision
taken by the Permanent Council shall require the approval of the
corresponding motion by a two thirds vote of the representatives of the
member states. IX. VOTING Right to Vote Article
53. The representative of each
member state has the right to one vote. Majority Required Article
54 1. Decisions of the Permanent Council
shall be taken by the vote of an absolute majority of its members, except as
otherwise provided in the following:
the Charter of the Organization, the current Statutes of the Council,
other inter-American instruments, and decisions of the General Assembly, of
the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, or of the
Council acting provisionally as Organ of Consultation, in application of the
Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance. 2. Decisions of committees shall be taken
by the vote of a simple majority of the members present, provided there is a
quorum for voting purposes as required in Article 42. Voting Procedure Article
55 1. Votes shall be taken by a show of
hands, but any representative may request a roll-call vote, which shall be
taken beginning with the delegation of the state whose name is drawn by lot
by the chairman and continuing thereafter in the Spanish alphabetical order
of the names of the member states in Spanish. 2. In roll-call votes, the name of each
member state shall be called, and the representative shall give its vote in
favor, in opposition, or of abstention. 3. Votes shall be by secret ballot only
in the case of elections. However, if
it is so agreed, the Permanent Council may adopt a different procedure. Article
56. In accordance with the
provisions of previous articles: a. The affirmative vote of two thirds of
the members of the Permanent Council shall be required: i. To take decisions on budgetary matters; ii. To make recommendations to the General
Assembly on the admission of new members to the Organization; iii. To take decisions in the exercise of its
functions with respect to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the manner
prescribed in Article 32 of the Statutes of the Council, except for such
decisions as these Rules of Procedure allow to be adopted by a simple majority; iv. To take decisions on offers of a site for
a regular session of the General Assembly when it cannot be held at the
place selected by the Assembly; v. To
convoke a special session of the General Assembly; vi. To reconsider a decision of the Council; vii. To adopt amendments to these Rules of
Procedure when the articles involved stipulate a two-thirds majority of the
members of the Council; viii. To authorize the discussion of a proposal
that has not gone through the procedure set forth in Article 44 of these
Rules of Procedure. b. The affirmative vote of two thirds of the
members present shall be required: i. To approve an appeal of a decision by
the chairman on a point of order; ii. To suspend or close debate; iii. To suspend or adjourn a meeting during
the discussion of any matter; iv. To approve a motion to deny a request
that a vote be taken by parts; v. To decide that proposals shall be put to
a vote in an order other than that in which they were presented; vi. To adopt amendments to these Rules of
Procedure when the articles involved stipulate a two-thirds majority of the
members present. Voting on Proposals Article
57 1. After debate is closed, the proposals
presented, together with any proposed amendments, shall be put to a
vote. After the chairman has
announced the start of the voting, no representative may interrupt it, except
for a point of order relating to the manner in which the voting is being
conducted. 2. The process of voting and
vote-counting shall end when the chairman announces the result. Article
58. Proposals shall be voted on
in the order in which they are presented, except when the Permanent Council,
by the vote of two thirds of the members present, decides otherwise. Voting on Amendments Article
59. Amendments shall be submitted
for discussion and put to a vote before the voting on the proposal they are
intended to modify. A proposal that
would totally replace the original proposal, or that is not directly related
to it, shall not be considered as an amendment. Article
60. When several amendments to a
proposal are presented, the vote shall be taken first on the one that departs
furthest from the original text. The
other amendments shall be voted upon in like order. In case of doubt in this regard, they shall be voted upon in
the order of their presentation. Article
61. When the fact that one
amendment has been adopted necessarily implies the exclusion of another, the
latter shall not be put to a vote. If
one or more amendments are adopted, the complete proposal as amended shall be
put to a vote. Voting by Parts Article
62. Any representative may
request that the parts of a proposal or an amendment be put to a vote
separately, and must specifically indicate the parts involved. If any representative opposes such a
request, the motion to deny it shall be put to a vote, and a two-thirds
majority of the members present shall be required for approval. Only two representatives may speak in
favor of, and two against, a request for voting by parts. If the request for voting by parts is
accepted, the parts of the proposal or amendment that are successively
adopted shall be put to a vote as a whole.
When all the operative parts of a proposal or amendment have been
rejected, it shall be considered to have been rejected as a whole. Voting on a proposal by parts does not
exclude voting on it as a whole. Explanation of Vote Article
63. After the voting has ended,
and except when it has been by secret ballot, any representative may request
the floor to explain his vote. X. GENERAL SECRETARIAT Functions Article
64 1. The General Secretariat shall provide
the advisory services required by the Permanent Council and its subsidiary
organs and committees; it shall provide to them, on a permanent basis, adequate
secretariat services, and carry out their instructions and assignments; and
it shall receive, translate, and distribute their documents, reports, and
resolutions. 2. It shall keep a register of the
missions or delegations, in which the order of precedence of the principal
and acting representatives shall be indicated, in accordance with Article 2
of these Rules of Procedure. 3. It shall receive communications on the
appointment of alternate representatives and shall keep a register indicating
their order of precedence according to the dates of receipt of said
communications. 4. Pursuant to the provisions of Article
34 of these Rules of Procedure, it shall take the necessary measures to
ensure that the General Assembly has at its disposal the reports of the
organs, agencies, and entities of the Organization when it takes up the
observations and recommendations submitted by the Permanent Council in
keeping with the provisions of Articles 53.f and 90.f of the Charter and
Article 61 of the Statutes. 5. It shall receive communications on the
appointment of permanent observers and their respective alternates. 6. The General Secretariat shall provide
the rooms and assistance needed for informal meetings of members of the
Permanent Council. Minutes Article
65 1. The General Secretariat shall distribute
as soon as possible the verbatim minutes of each meeting of the Permanent
Council to the missions or delegations and, when applicable, to the
permanent observers. The missions
shall send to the General Secretariat any corrections in style that they
wish to make to their own statements within five working days following the
date of distribution. The corrected
verbatim minutes shall be distributed to the missions and, after five working
days have passed, shall be submitted to the Permanent Council at its next
meeting for adoption. The minutes as
adopted may not be amended. 2. The minutes as adopted and the
documents of the public meetings shall be distributed without
restriction. The minutes as adopted
and the documents of the closed meetings shall be distributed to the missions
or delegations of the member states as restricted documents. They shall not be distributed to the
public unless the Permanent Council so authorizes. XI.
PREPARATION FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Article
66. When acting as the Preparatory
Committee of the General Assembly, the Permanent Council shall be governed by
Articles 59 and 90.c of the Charter, by Article 41 of its Statutes, by the
pertinent provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, and
by such rules of procedure as the Committee itself may adopt. Changes of Site of a Regular Session of the General
Assembly Article
67. If the General Assembly
cannot meet at the site chosen by the Assembly itself, it shall meet at the
headquarters of the General Secretariat.
However, if one of the member states wishes to offer a site in its
territory, it must do so at least three months in advance of the date on
which the session is to begin. Within
30 days of the offer, the Permanent Council, by a vote of two thirds of the
representatives of the member states, may decide that the General Assembly
shall meet at the site offered. Selection by the Permanent Council of the Site for a
Regular Session of the General Assembly Article
68. When the General Assembly
does not select the site for a regular session and it falls to the Permanent
Council to do so, the Council shall be governed by the following provisions
adopted by the Assembly for that purpose.
If there has been no offer, the next regular session shall be held at
the headquarters of the General Secretariat. Nevertheless, should one of the member states make an offer of
a site in its territory at least six months in advance of the date on which
the session is to begin, the Council may decide, not more than six months or
less than five months in advance of that date, that the Assembly shall meet
at the site offered. Procedure for Setting the Site for a Regular Session Article
69. Whenever, in accordance with
the provisions of Articles 66 and 67 of these Rules of Procedure, it falls to
the Permanent Council to select the site for a regular session of the General
Assembly, the following procedure shall be observed for the application of
the principle of rotation: a. Member states that may wish to make an
offer of a site shall communicate the offer in writing to the Secretary
General of the Organization within the period established in each case. b. To decide on the offers of a site, the
Permanent Council shall also take into account: i. the
principle of an equitable geographical distribution; ii. the
previous sites of sessions of the General Assembly; and iii. the goods and services that the offering
states are in a position to provide for the session of the Assembly. Special Sessions Article
70. In special circumstances and
with the approval of two thirds of the representatives of the member states,
the Permanent Council shall convoke a special session of the General Assembly
and shall determine the date and place for it. XII.
MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE PERMANENT COUNCIL WHEN IT SERVES PROVISIONALLY AS ORGAN OF CONSULTATION Article
71. The functions of the Permanent
Council pertaining to the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign
Affairs shall be governed by the provisions of the Charter, of the
Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR), of the Statutes of
the Permanent Council, and of these Rules of Procedure. Article
72. When the Council serves
provisionally as Organ of Consultation, its proceedings shall be governed by
the provisions of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance
(TIAR). Convocation of the Meeting of Consultation in
Application of the Charter Article
73. When one or more member
states request that the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign
Affairs be convoked in accordance with the first part of Article 60 of the
Charter, the Permanent Council shall decide by the vote of an absolute
majority of its members whether the Meeting should be held. Convocation of the Meeting of Consultation in
Application of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) Article
74. When one or more of the
member states that have ratified the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal
Assistance request that the Meeting of Consultation be convoked in accordance
with Article 13 of that treaty, the Permanent Council shall decide by the vote
of an absolute majority of the states that have ratified that treaty whether
the Meeting should be held. Decisions of the Permanent Council Serving
Provisionally as Organ of Consultation Article
75. When the Permanent Council is
serving provisionally as Organ of Consultation in application of the
Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR), it shall take its
decisions, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 17 and 18 of the
TIAR, by the vote of two thirds of the states that have ratified that treaty. XIII. SCOPE AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE Article
76 1. These Rules of Procedure shall govern
the functioning of the Permanent Council and, insofar as they are
applicable, that of its committees, subcommittees, and working groups. 2. Procedural matters not provided for in
these Rules of Procedure shall be resolved by the Council itself. 3. These Rules of Procedure may be
amended by the Permanent Council. The
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Council shall be
required for the adoption of proposed amendments, except for articles
requiring a two-thirds majority, in which case a like majority shall be
required for amendment. Article
77 For
purposes of the Rules of Procedure, absolute majority shall be understood to
mean a majority of the member states that make up the Permanent Council or
one of its committees. The expression
simple majority means a majority of the members present. For the adoption of decisions, however, a
quorum shall be as defined in Article 42. Transitory Provision The
Committee on Regulations and Procedure and the Committee on Meetings and
Organizations and their officers and members shall continue to serve
independently until June 1992 in the functions entrusted to them prior to the
adoption of these Rules of Procedure. CP00854.E(1) |
SOURCES Arts. 1 and 2, Statutes Art. 4, Statutes Art. 6, Statutes Art. 5, Statutes SOURCES Art. 7, Statutes Art. 7, first paragraph, Statutes Art. 9, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 10, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 85, Charter; Art. 28, Statutes Art. 85, Charter; Art. 29, Statutes CP/CAJP-792/90 corr. 1 SOURCES Art. 19, Statutes Art. 21, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 30, current Rules of Procedure that were in force
until January 22, 1992; Resolutions AG/RES. 1031 (XX-O/90) and AG/RES. 1114
(XXI-O/91) Art. 31, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 32, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 33, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 90.f, Charter; Art. 61, Statutes SOURCES Art. 34, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992; AG/RES. 957/88 (XVII-O/88) SOURCES Art. 35, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 90.f, Charter; Art. 61, Statutes AG/RES. 1031 (XX-O/90) SOURCES AG/RES. 1114 (XXI-O/91) New article New article Art. 24, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Article 23.2, Rules of Procedure that were in force
until January 22, 1992 Art. 23.1, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 25, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 26, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 27, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 28, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 43, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 37, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Arts. 53.f, 90.f, 117.g, and 132 of Charter; Art. 32.b
of General Assembly Rules of Procedure; Art. 61 of Permanent Council
Statutes; Articles 41.g and 65 of the American Convention on Human Rights SOURCES SOURCES Art. 14, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 115, OAS Charter; Art. 18, Permanent Council
Statutes Art. 16, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 17, Rules of Procedure, that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 115, Charter; Art. 10, Statutes; Arts. 3, 4, and
29, Rules of Procedure that were in force until January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 115 (first paragraph), OAS Charter SOURCES Art. 18, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 19, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 40, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Arts. 41 and 42, Rules of Procedure that were in force
until January 22, 1992 Art. 44, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 45, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCDS Art. 46, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 47, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 48, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 49, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 50, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 51, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 52, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 53, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 57, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Arts. 7, 56, 57 and 88 of Charter; Art. 32, Statutes;
Art. 54, Rules of Procedure that were in force until January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 71, Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly;
Art. 55, Rules Procedure that were in force until January 22, 1992 Art. 56, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 58, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 59, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 60, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 61, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 62, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Arts. 2 and 11, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Arts. 12 and 13, Rules of Procedure that were in force
until January 22, 1992 Art. 63, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 64, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 65, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 66, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 SOURCES Art. 67, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 68, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 82, Charter SOURCES Art. 69, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 70, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Art. 71, Rules of Procedure that were in force until
January 22, 1992 Arts. 38, 39, and 72, Rules of Procedure that were in
force until January 22, 1992 SOURCES |