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mitted as national organizational members or international organizational members only if they have a substantial interest in conservation of nature and natural resources.

Transfer

12 — The council shall transfer a member to another group of membership if in the opinion of a two-thirds majority of the council that member is incorrectly classified. The members of IUCN shall be notified of the transfer together with the reasons. If within the three months following this notification an objection is lodged by the member in question or by another voting member, the transfer shall be submitted to the general assembly for ratification by a two-thirds majority of votes cast by each category of voting member.

Suspension and rescission

13 — Only members in category A or B may propose the suspension or rescission of the membership of a member in their respective category, should that member persistently violate the objectives set forth in these Statutes; in respect of a State member, only another State member may submit such a proposal and any decision in respect of a State may be taken only by State members.

14 — a) Any proposed suspension or rescission of the membership of a member shall be presented to the council. By a two-thirds majority of votes cast, the council may request the member to present within three months the reasons why in its opinion such action is not justified.

b) After examining the arguments presented by the member, or in the absence of such arguments, = the council by a two-thirds majority of votes cast may decide to inform the member of the council's intention to propose to the relevant category of members that the membership of the member be suspended or rescinded.

c) If within three months of the notification of this proposal the member does not inform the director general of its opposition, the member is considered to haver withdrawn from membership of the Union. If the member does oppose the proposal, the director general shall submit the proposal together with the arguments of the member to the voting members of the relevant category, which shall decide on the proposal at the next session or the general assembly, by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by those members present and entitled to vote.

Payment ot membership dues

15 — Membership dues for any year become due and payable on the first day of January of that year. The voting rights of a member shall ipso facto be suspended when the dues of that member are one year in arrears. If the dues of a member are two years in arrears, the matter shall be referred to the general assembly which may decide to suspend all the remaining rights of the member concerned. Such suspension shall be lifted if the member concerned pays all arrears of membership dues.

Withdrawal

16 — Any member may withdraw from membership of IUCN at any time by giving notice in writing to the

director general to that effect. The member withdrawing shall not be entitled to any refund of membership dues paid. If such a member seeks readmission to membership all membership dues outstanding at the time of withdrawal shall be paid before the member is readmitted.

Voting rights

17 — Only members in categories A and B have the right to vote.

18 — Whenever a formal vote, other than in a multiple-choice election, is to be taken pursuant to article iv, paragraph 10, or by mail ballot pursuant to article v, a simple majority (unless otherwise specified by these Statutes) of affirmative votes cast by each category of member shall be required for a motion to be carried; abstentions shall not be counted as votes cast. In a multiple-choice election the rankings obtained by a separate count of the votes of each category shall be added to produce one combined ranking, as prescribed in the rule of procedure.

19 — Governmental members shall have voting rights as follows:

a) Each State member shall have three votes, one of which shall be exercised collectively by the agency members (if any) from that State provided this is consistent with the constitution of the State concerned; and

b) Agency members from a State that is not a State member shall collectively have one vote.

20 — Non-governmental members shall have voting rights as follows:

a) National organizational members shall each have one vote: provided that the total value of the votes of such members from one State shall not exceed ten per cent of the total voting rights of the members in the non-governmental category; and

b) International organizational members shall each have two votes.

Article III

Organization

IUCN shall consist of:

a) The general assembly;

b) The council;

c) The bureau;

d) The commissions; and

e) The director general.

Article IV The general assembly

Composition

1 — The general assembly, the highest policy organ of IUCN, shall consist of the duly accredited delegates of the membres of IUCN meeting in session.

2 — The council may invite to the general assembly observers without the right to vote.