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ICCF STATUTES
(approved by the ICCF Congress in Mumbai, India 2004)
SECTION 1 - STATUS, PRINCIPLES AND AIMS
1.1 The International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
is the worldwide organisation for correspondence chess and is
independent. Its merger with any other organisation or its dissolution
requires the unanimous approval of the ICCF Congress.
1.2 Correspondence chess is defined as a game of chess in
which the players do not sit opposite each other at a chess
board to make their moves.
Moves are communicated by any form of long-distance transmission
with playing time normally being counted in days per move.
1.3 ICCF is a democratic organisation which does not permit
discrimination based on race, colour, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or social origin, property,
birth or other status. ICCF observes strict neutrality in the
internal affairs of member federations and any affiliated
organisations.
1.4 All ICCF officials work on an honorary basis.
1.5 The seat of ICCF is the residence of the ICCF President.
1.6 The aims of ICCF are to organise, develop and promote the
study and practice of international correspondence chess throughout
the world. It supports and promotes close international co-operation
between chess players, enthusiasts and with the Fédération Internationale
des Échecs (FIDE), thereby aiming to enhance contact and friendly
harmony amongst the peoples of the world.
1.7 ICCF is responsible for the rules for international correspondence
chess as defined in para 1.2, including those pertaining to
the official World Championships for both individuals and teams.
It also promotes and has the power to authorise other international
correspondence chess tournaments.
1.8 In accordance with its rules, ICCF produces individual
ratings and awards titles to correspondence chess players and
arbiters worldwide.
1.9 The financial year of ICCF begins on 1st January and ends
on 31st December each year. Accounts and all financial information
of ICCF are normally presented in Swiss Francs, unless otherwise
convenient to provide information in different currencies.
1.10 To facilitate communication and organisation, ICCF has
zones/tournament offices arranged where possible according
to regional points of view.
1.11 The official languages of ICCF are English, French, German,
Russian and Spanish. English is the working language of ICCF
and, in cases of divergence in documents issued in different
languages, the English version is authoritative. Other languages
are also encouraged to facilitate correspondence and discussions.
1.12 ICCF has its own emblem and its own motto "AMICI SUMUS"
(We are friends).
1.13 Changes to these Statutes require a two-thirds majority
vote in Congress (see Section 4).
SECTION 2 - ICCF MEMBERS, THEIR RIGHTS AND DUTIES
2.1 Members of ICCF are national correspondence chess federations
which have principal authority over correspondence chess activities
in their own country (where the country also has full membership
of FIDE) with only one federation per country allowed.
2.2 A national correspondence chess organisation wishing to
be affiliated to ICCF must present a written application to
the Membership and Services Director, informing him of the number
of members registered with the organisation, its Statutes and
any other relevant information requested by ICCF. Admittance
as a member in ICCF is decided by the Congress.
2.3 The designation of each country in ICCF will be in accordance
with the FIDE version of the 3-lettered International Standards
Organisation (ISO) code.
2.4 Members have the right to attend and vote in the Congress,
appoint proxies in writing to vote on their behalf and submit
proposals for consideration by the Executive Board and the Congress
of ICCF. Each Member Federation has the duty to nominate its
official delegate to ICCF for all purposes, including representation
at Congress, and inform the Membership and Services Director.
Member Federations are entitled to participate in team tournaments
organised by ICCF and nominate players for individual tournaments
according to the rules and quotas specified by ICCF. The provisions
of this paragraph are subject to the condition in paragraph
2.1.
2.5 The amounts of membership, tournament and other fees are
normally decided by the Congress.
2.6 Members are responsible for the monitoring and submission
of all entries to ICCF individual and team tournaments. If a
player is refused entry to an ICCF individual tournament by
the appropriate national federation, the player can appeal to
the World Tournaments Director who will take a decision about
participation or otherwise. In such cases, the World Tournaments
Director must obtain full information from the national federation
concerned before making the decision.
2.7 Members must acknowledge and observe the Statutes, rules
and decisions of ICCF and must remit their membership and other
fees promptly within the periods specified by the Finance Director.
Failure to comply with financial responsibilities or the committing
of acts, which run counter to the Statutes of ICCF can result
in the suspension or cancellation of membership by the ICCF
Congress, on the proposal of the Executive Board.
2.8 Those who have worked meritoriously as President of ICCF
may be elected as Honorary President of ICCF by a two-thirds
majority vote of the Congress.
Those who have worked meritoriously in the furtherance of international
correspondence chess may be elected as Honorary Members of ICCF
by a two-thirds majority vote of the Congress.
Honorary Presidents and Honorary Members have the right to
take part in all meetings of the Executive Board and all Congresses
as non-voting advisers. In addition, they shall be kept informed
about the activities of ICCF.
2.9 International correspondence chess clubs affiliated
to ICCF
2.9.1 ICCF can arrange for affiliation agreements with other
international correspondence chess clubs worldwide. Every affiliation
agreement and its terms, rights and duties must be approved
by the Congress.
An international correspondence chess club is defined as
a club with a formal structure, constitution and collective
administration.
2.9.2 Affiliated international correspondence chess clubs
will pay annual affiliation fees to ICCF in return for provision
of ICCF services.
2.9.3 International correspondence chess clubs affiliated
to ICCF are solely responsible for their commitments to their
own members.
SECTION 3 - STRUCTURE OF ICCF
3.1 The Divisions of ICCF are:
a. Congress
b. Executive Board
c. Management Committee
d. Auditor
3.2 The Executive Board shall comprise:
a. President
b. Deputy President and Development Director
c. Membership and Services Director
d. Finance Director
e. World Tournaments Director
f. Zonal Directors (not more than 4)
3.3 Management Committee comprises of the Executive Board and
functional Commissioners.
3.3.1 Executive Board members are elected by the Congress for
a period of four years.
3.3.2 Commissioners are appointed by the Executive Board, as
required, subject to ratification, as necessary, by the Congress.
3.3.3 Commissioners carry out functional responsibilities,
subject to overall scrutiny by Executive Board/Congress, but
without alterations to either numbers or designations of Commissioners
needing the prior authorisation of a Congress.
3.3.4 No person will be appointed to more than one position
on the Executive Board or Management Committee.
3.3.5 The normal retirement age for all ICCF Officers is age
70. The effective date is the 31st December, which immediately
follows their 70th birthday. For elected positions, candidates
must be able to complete a full 4 year period of service on
or before the 31st December following their 70th birthday.
SECTION 4 - THE PURPOSE OF THE DIVISIONS
4.1 The Congress
4.1.1 The Congress is the highest authority of ICCF which exercises
legislative power. It approves the ICCF budget, elects
the Executive Board and Auditor and determines the structure
of ICCF. It supervises activities delegated to the Executive
Board and ICCF Officials.
4.1.2 Members of the Executive Board and the Auditor are elected
for a period of four years, with responsibility from the 1st
January following the elections. In the case of a by-election
or mid-term appointment, the term of office will expire at the
end of the normal 4 year election period.
4.1.3 The Congress elects the President, Deputy President and
Development Director, Membership and Services Director, Finance
Director, World Tournaments Director and also appoints the Auditor.
Where no nomination is received, Congress has authority to decide
upon a suitable appointment. Immediately following such a Congress,
the elections of Zonal Directors will be arranged (see Membership
and Services Director's duties) and the successful candidates
will automatically become members of the Executive Board, also
from the 1st January following the Congress. If no nomination
is received for a Zonal Director position, a suitable appointment
will be decided by the Executive Board.
4.1.4 If a mid-term vacancy arises in the position of ICCF
President, then this will be filled by the next Congress, with
other Executive Board members temporarily deputising, as provided
for in the Outlines of Duties. However, where a mid-term vacancy
occurs in any other Executive Board position, the Executive
Board is authorised to agree and make appropriate interim changes
to ensure the continued efficient operation of ICCF.
4.1.5 If an Executive Board member, in the long run, fails
to fulfil his / her duties according to the Outline of Duties,
the Executive Board is entitled to dismiss him / her and to
appoint his / her successor. This appointment must be ratified
by the next Congress.
4.1.6 The voting members of the Congress are the official delegates
of member federations (see also conditions in 2.1).
4.1.7 No quorum is necessary for meetings of the Congress.
4.1.8 For the purpose of all voting, abstentions will be ignored.
4.1.9 Each voting member has one vote. A simple majority
vote is required to decide any resolution unless it is defined
or agreed otherwise.
4.1.10 Voting normally is by show of hands but a secret ballot
will be held if this is requested. Elections of persons will
be exclusively by secret ballot. Where a postal ballot is
necessary, the voting procedure will be decided by the Executive
Board and the completed ballot papers will be returned to the
ICCF Auditor for secret scrutiny and declaration of the result.
4.1.11 In the event of equal votes, the President will have
a casting vote.
4.1.12 When a member federation cannot be represented by its
delegate at a Congress, that federation shall be entitled to
exercise its voting rights:
a) through a substitute delegate from the same federation,
having written authority from the federation concerned,
b) by presenting an appropriate written declaration,
c) by conferring in writing its voting right (a proxy)
on another voting member or an Honorary President or Honorary
Member.
Substitute delegates under a) are eligible to accept proxies
from other Member Federations.
However, no person may register more than 3 votes in total.
4.1.13 The Congress shall meet at least every other year. The
arrangements of a Congress shall be decided by the preceding
Congress or, in the absence of such a decision, by the President.
4.1.14 Invitations, agenda and formal notices for a Congress
shall be sent by the ICCF Executive Board, together with the
invitation and information from the host federation, at least
four months in advance of the meeting dates. Proposals relating
to the agenda of the Congress must be received by the Membership
and Services Director, or the appropriate ICCF official, at
least one month prior to the commencement of the Congress.
The President of ICCF is empowered to cancel or rearrange a
meeting of Congress, should exceptional circumstances arise.
4.1.15 An extraordinary meeting of the Congress will be convened
by the President upon the request of one-third of the members
or two-thirds of the members of the Executive Board. It will
be convened within 6 months of receipt of such a request.
4.2 The Executive Board
4.2.1 The Executive Board is the executive authority of
ICCF.
4.2.2 The Executive Board conducts the general business of
ICCF and co-ordinates the activities of its officials and organisations.
It deals with more detailed consideration of issues and submits
recommendations to the Congress.
4.2.3 The Executive Board will meet at least once a year. Special
meetings may be convened by the President.
4.2.4 The Executive Board shall perform its work by written
or verbal communication with each member having one vote. In
the event of equal votes, the President will have a casting
vote.
4.3 The Auditor
4.3.1 The Auditor is responsible to the Congress for the verification
that ICCF accounts and financial statements are produced in
accordance with ICCF requirements and proper accountancy practices
and shall provide a report to the Congress.
SECTION 5 - APPEALS COMMISSIONS
5.1 The ICCF Appeals Commissions are:
- Appeals Commission (Playing Rules)
- Appeals Commission (Other ICCF Rules)
- Arbitration Commission
5.1.1 The Appeals Commission (Playing Rules) only deals with
cases concerning the application of ICCF Playing Rules.
5.1.2 The Appeals Commission (Other ICCF Rules) only deals
with cases concerning the application of Tournament Rules and
any other rules matters not covered elsewhere.
5.1.3 The Arbitration Commission deals with matters of a wider
nature, such as any complaint about the behaviour of an ICCF
official, tournament officer, member federation, or individual
player.
5.2 All ICCF Appeals Commissions are complementary and cannot
be considered as higher stages for additional appeals.
5.3 The Chairmen of the ICCF Appeals Commissions are appointed
by the Executive Board. These appointments must be ratified
by the next Congress.
5.4 The work of the ICCF Appeals Commissions is governed
by operating procedures. Players, Team Captains, Member Federations
or Officials should submit appeals to the Chairmen of the respective
Appeals Commissions.
5.5 The decisions of all ICCF Appeals Commission will be
final.
SECTION 6 - FINAL SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES (NOT COVERED IN
PREVIOUS PARAGRAPHS)
6.1 Disputes about matters which do not fall within the
jurisdiction of any of the ICCF Appeals Commissions, shall be
decided by an Arbitration Tribunal comprised of the Chairmen
of the three ICCF Appeals Commissions.
6.2 The decisions of this Arbitration Tribunal are final.
6.3 The decisions of all ICCF Appeals Commissions and this
Arbitration Tribunal may not be taken to any court of law.
These Statutes were approved by the ICCF Congress in Mumbai,
India, 2004 and are effective from 1st January, 2005.
Josef Mrkvicka
ICCF President
Pedro F. Hegoburu
ICCF Membership and Services Director
Notes: The allocation of "Countries in each Zone", the "Functional
Structure of ICCF" and "Outline Duties of Executive Board Members"
are summarised in separate Schedules A, B and C and are not
part of the Statutes.
The changes / amendments to the existing ICCF Statutes are
highlighted by a bold font.
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