ARTICLE I.

NAME:

The organization shall be known as the “Canada-Germany Interparliamentary Group”.

ARTICLE II.

STATUS:

It shall function within the mandate of the Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons and with the support of the Parliamentary Relations Secretariat and in affiliation from time to time with selected groups of German parliamentarians.

ARTICLE III.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Group is to work for a greater friendship and goodwill between parliamentarians of Canada and Germany and thereby serve to further co-operative relations and mutual understanding between national parliaments of both countries and between both countries.

ARTICLE IV.

The following are entitled to become members of the Canada – Germany Interparliamentary Group:

1. The Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons, shall be ex-officio honorary Chairman of the Friendship Group;
2. Members of the Canadian Senate and the House of Commons, upon application and payment of the annual fee as determined from time to time by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND OPERATIVE YEAR:

1. The operating year of the Group is the federal fiscal year commencing on the first day of April and ending on the thirty first day of March.
2. The Group shall maintain a comprehensive financial reporting and auditing system of accounts as approved from time to time by the Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons.
3. The Executive Secretary shall be the custodian of the records of the Group including the financial accounts and shall report regularly thereon to the Executive.

ARTICLE VI.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:

1. An Annual General Meeting of the membership shall be held at least once in each fiscal year when Parliament is in Session at the call of the Executive Committee or any ten members of the Group. Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing and mailed at least two weeks in advance of the proposed date to the parliamentary office of each member.
2. It shall:
   1. elect the Executive Committee; the Annual Meeting, in its Choice, shall take into account the representative nature of the recognized parties of both Houses;
   2. receive and act on an Annual Financial Statement for the preceding year;
   3. receive and approve any proposals for amending the Constitution;
   4. receive the report of activities of the preceding year.
3. Following a general election, the Executive Committee duly elected during the previous Parliament shall be required to call an Annual General Meeting in order to elect a new Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING:

A Special General Meeting of the membership may be called at any time by the Chairman or any ten members of the Group. It shall transact only such business as was designated in the notice of the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII.

QUORUM:

1. Fifteen members shall constitute a Quorum at an Annual General or Special General Meeting.
2. Four members shall constitute a Quorum at an Executive Committee Meeting.

ARTICLE IX.

THE EXECUTIVE:

1. The Executive shall have the responsibility for the general management of the affairs of the Group and shall report thereon at each Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.
2. The Executive shall be elected for a period of two years at an Annual General Meeting.
3. The Executive shall consist of:

   i) a Chairman;

   ii) two Vice-Chairmen, at least one of whom shall be from the Senate;

   iii) four additional members, of whom, at least one shall be from the Senate, and one of whom shall be designated Parliamentary Treasurer of the Group by the Executive.

4. The Executive shall meet at least twice in each fiscal year. Its responsibilities include the preparation and presentation of the Annual budget, financial statement and program activities for the ensuing year.
5. Following a general Federal election, the Executive Committee shall be duly elected at the first Annual General Meeting to be held in the new Parliament.

ARTICLE X.

NOMINATIONS:

Nominations for any position on the Executive Committee may be received from the floor.

ARTICLE XI.

SUPPORT STAFF:

1. The Executive Secretary of the Canadian Group shall be assigned from the staff of the Parliamentary Relations Secretariat by the Secretary General for such term of office as may be determined by the Secretary General, with the approval of the Executive Committee.
2. His of her functions shall include:
   1. Being accountable to the Officers of the Canadian Group, particularly to the Chairman and to the Parliamentary Treasurer for financial matters;
   2. Being responsible for providing the administrative management for activities of the Canadian Group and for determining and co-ordinating any additional resources required to support these activities;
   3. Attending meetings of the Group and acting as clerk thereof;
   4. Giving notice of all meetings and being responsible for keeping the records and papers of the Group.

ARTICLE XII.

RULES OF PROCEDURE:

Meetings of the Group shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures and practices of the Canadian Parliament as applicable to public meetings in Canada.

ARTICLE XIII.

VOTING:

Voting at meetings shall be by show of hands unless a written ballot is demanded by at least five members present (two in the case of an Executive Committee meeting).