As Amended and Adopted by ICP Council, Shanghai 2008

Click here to download the full document in a pdf file (210Kb pdf file).

CONSTITUTION

1. NAME
International Confederation of Principals hereafter referred to as “The Confederation”.

2. PREAMBLE
ICP is a global purposeful network of school leaders, which develops and encourages opportunities in n inclusive, affiliated and democratic manner.

The Confederation is non-political and non-sectarian.

ICP aspires to encourage a sense of belonging to the worldwide community of school leaders by:-
• Encouraging closer relationships among school leaders of all nations.
• Promoting the rights and responsibilities of school leaders and also their professional organizations and the material and ethical interests of the education profession.
• Promoting and enhancing the image and professionalism of the school leader.
• Promoting the exchange of people and professional publications among the constituent groups, and encouraging participation in meetings and conferences across national boundaries.
• Fostering school curricula, which will encourage international understanding and good will, and a respect for human rights and dignity across all races and cultures.
• Promoting and encouraging equal opportunities for all young persons to learn and develop to their fullest potential in achieving a respectable and productive quality of life.

3. CONSTITUENT ORGANIZATIONS
a. Each constituent organization shall have complete control of its internal affairs and shall retain full power to study and act upon problems and maintain its own external relations, provided that its constitution, its by-laws and its activities are in harmony with the general policy of the Confederation.
b. Resolutions from the constituent organizations shall be submitted to the Confederation and if approved by vote of the Council, shall be incorporated in the policy and program of the Confederation.

4. COUNCIL
a. The work of the Confederation shall be led by a Council comprised of up to three (3) representatives from each organization holding membership on the ICP.
b. The Council shall consist of those organizations that have been admitted as members in good standing.
c. The Council shall meet at least once annually.
d. At meetings of the Council each organization shall have one vote.
e. The Confederation shall be directed and administered by the Council.

5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
a. An elected Executive Committee shall work with the officers and staff of the ICP to carry out the work of the Council.
b. The Executive Committee shall be made up of the President, Immediate Past-President/Presidentelect, and five elected individuals who are current members of an ICP member organization in good standing. An Executive Secretary may be secretary to the Executive Committee.
c. The Executive committee shall be elected for a two year term at the Council meeting in the non-Convention year to take office on the 1st January to coincide with the term of the new President, except those members elected at the Special General Meeting in November 2008 and as referred to in section 26 of the Bylaws. All words in section 5c after ‘new President’ above will be removed
from the Constitution after 1/1/09.

6. OFFICERS
a. These shall be officers of the Council: President, Past-President and President-Elect.
b. The President shall be the official spokesperson of the ICP, shall preside at all ICP official events and will carry out duties as instructed by the Executive Committee and the Council.
c. The President shall be elected at the Council meeting of the biennial Convention. He/She shall become President-Elect the following 1st January, and assume the Presidency one year later. Upon completion of the two-year term, the President shall remain an officer as the Past-President for one year.
d. The President shall serve one, only, two year term. The Past-President and President-Elect shall each serve a one-year term.
e. The President shall have a casting vote. The President Elect and Past-President shall have full voting rights only if they are a delegate of their organisation at Council meetings, but will have full voting rights at Executive Committee meetings.
f. The President is empowered to act on behalf of the Council. He/She shall keep the Executive Committee and Council apprised of such actions.
g. The terms of office shall run from January 1st to December 31st.

7. MEMBERSHIP
a. Membership is open to any organization of school leaders whose constitution contains nothing contrary to the Constitution of the Confederation.
b. From time to time and subject to a majority vote of those present and voting, the Council may introduce alternative classifications of membership. Any alternative membership classification must be detailed within the By-Laws and carry a diminished status.
c. Applications for membership shall be acted on by the Executive Committee and ratified by the Council.
d. Procedures for entering into membership of the Confederation shall be as established in the By-Laws.
e All ICP members are obliged to pay annual subscriptions as set by the Council AGM. Annual subscriptions commence in the first full year of ICP membership.
f. Subject to a vote of a two-thirds majority of those members present and voting, the Council may terminate the membership of a member organization, which has ceased to fulfil the requirements of the Constitution and By-Laws.

8. VACANCIES
Vacancies will be filled as determined by the By-Laws to ensure the efficient organisation of the ICP.

9. SECRETARIAT
a. The Secretariat shall be an individual or organisation contracted to the ICP, which will provide such services as required by ICP. Contractual arrangements will be the delegated responsibility of the President and the Executive Committee.
b. The President and the Executive Committee along with the Secretariat will determine any other support staff required to carry out the business of the ICP and will contract such persons according to the By-Laws.

10. OBSERVER STATUS
The Council from time to time may confer observer status, which will entitle the observer to attend the meetings and take part in discussion without the right to vote.

11. MEMBERSHIP ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Council shall determine membership annual subscriptions, on the advice of Executive Committee.

12. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
The working language of the Confederation shall be English. Another language may be provided when the Council determines it necessary.

13. DISSOLUTION
The Confederation can be dissolved only by the Council where not less than two-thirds of those voting are in favour of dissolution, provided that at least six months notice has been given to a specific motion to this effect and provided that such motion makes specific provision for the discharge of any financial obligations of the Confederation and for disposal of any assets. In the event of the organisation being dissolved, the amount that remains after such dissolution and the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be transferred to another organisation with similar purposes and which has rules prohibiting the distribution of its assets and income to its members.

14. AMENDMENTS
a. Notices of motion to alter the Constitution and By-Laws must be submitted two months before the meeting of the Council. Such notices of motion shall be circulated to all members at least one month prior to the next meeting of the Council, together with any comments which the Council may wish to communicate to members.
b. An amendment shall be declared adopted if supported by not less than a majority of the total votes cast.