Statutes
The International Federation of Psychoanalytic
Societies (IFPS) is the successor organization of the International Study Group
of Psychoanalytic Societies that was founded in
All the Founding Societies,
. the
Deutsche Psychoanalytische Gesellschaft e.V., gegrûndet 1910
. the
Sociedad Psicoanalítica Mexicana, A.C.
. the Wiener
Arbeitskreis fûr Tiefenpsychologie
. the William
Alanson White Psychoanalytic Society
were guided by the objective of intensifying the
scientific and personal contacts as well as the exchange of views among the
Psychoanalytic Societies by promoting a free discussion of psychoanalytic
theory and practice, by joint publications as well as by sharing experience
concerning questions of professional training.
The IFPS is committed to the concept of pluralism in psychoanalytic theory
and practice as well as to the interdisciplinary exchange in matters of micro-
and macro-social interest. Complete
organizational and scientific autonomy as well as equal standing of all Member
Societies are essential preconditions to the act of federation. For the realization of these aims the
Signatory Societies have adopted the following Statutes:
* 1 Designation
and Location
The
Organization consisting of autonomous Psychoanalytic Societies shall bear the
designation International Federation of
Psychoanalytic Societies (IFPS). The
head-
quarters (seat) of the Federation shall be the place of residence of the
Secretary-
General in the office.
* 2 Objectives
of the IFPS
I. The
Member Societies of the IFPS are committed to the exchange of scientific and
academic goals and experiences by means of free discussion of theory, practice
and training in psychoanalysis and to the promotion of scientific and personal
contacts between psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic organizations.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization
is organized exclusively for one more of the following purposes: religious, charitable, scientific, testing
for public safety, literary, or education purposes, or to foster national or
international amateur sports competition (but only if no part on its activities
involve
the
provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of
cruelty to
children or animals, as specified in section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue
Code
of 1954, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on
by
an
organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
II. The
IFPS pursues its tasks without striving for any material profit.
III. No
part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of any
member, trustee, director, officer of the organization, or any private
individual
(except that reasonable compensation may be paid for the services
rendered to or
for
the organization), and no member, trustee, officer of the organization or any
private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any
of the assets on
dissolution of the organization.
IV. No
substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on
propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as
otherwise
provided by Internal Revenue Code section 501 (h) or participating in,
or
intervening in (including the publication or distribution of
statements), any political
campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
* 3 Activity of the IFPS
The
Federation fulfils its tasks by:
years);
II. holding other scientific meetings between the
FORA;
III. joint publications of the scientific findings
submitted by the Member Societies;
IV. supporting the dissemination of the
psychoanalytic body of thought within the
Members´ spheres of influence;
V. scientific exchanges and contacts with persons
and organizations from other
scientific disciplines and from areas of human concern;
VI. promoting psychoanalytic training and
practice.
* 4 Prerequisites
The
following Societies may become Members of the IFPS:
I. Psychoanalytic Societies whose statutes
comply with the objectives, purposes and
principles of the IFPS, and whose members have a level of training that
corresponds
with the minimum requirements (* 5) stipulated by the
Federation. The
Societies shall have affiliated psychoanalytic training facilities whose
structure, size
and
training standards correspond with the minimum requirements (*
5)
stipulated by the Federation.
II. Before being admitted a Society and its
Training Institute must have been in active
existence for at least 6 years.
* 5 Minimum
Requirements with regard to Principles and Training
I. The minimum requirements stipulated by the
Federation with regard to the
fundamental
principles of the Member Societies shall be based on the psychoanalytic
theory and therapy as initiated by Sigmund Freud and advanced by others,
i,e. on the
recognition and understanding of unconscious mental processes and the
therapeutic
use
of the principles of transference and resistance.
II. The minimum requirements with regard to the
level of training stipulated by the
Federation for the Members of Member Societies are as follows: After completion
of a
full course of studies in medicine or psychology (or an equivalent graduate
course of studies), a minimum of three additional years of training in
psychoanalysis
and
its advancements and development is required.
1) The course of training must
be accompanied by a training analysis, comprising
not less than 300 individual session.
As a rule, the frequency will be three
sessions per week, lasting not less than 45 minutes.
2) The course of training must
consist of a curriculum of not less than three years
and 400 hours of theoretical and clinical instruction (lectures,
seminars,
colloquiums etc.)
3)
The course of training must contain a practical part
consisting of the
psychoanalytic treatment of single patients
under supervision, the minimum
requirement being a total of not less than 600 supervised psychoanalytic
sessions, at a frequency, as a rule, of three sessions per week. Supervised
sessions must take place over a period of at least three years, must be
conducted with at least two different supervisors, and must include the therapy
of at least one patient with minimum of 200 psychoanalytic hours.
4) The course of training must
be concluded by an evaluation.
III.
A facility (Institute) of
psychoanalytic training shall consist of not less than 6 training analysts, 6
supervising analysts and faculty members.
To be considered a
training analyst, an analyst must have been in active practice for at least 5
years following graduation from a recognized training institution.
* 6 Admission
Procedure
I. For the purposes of admission to the
Federation an application for membership must
be
submitted to the Secretary-General together with the following enclosures:
1) the operative statutes of
the organization;
2) a complete and precise list
of members;
3) a report covering the
scientific and academic activities of the Society for the 6
years prior to the application, which
should provide an insight into the scope of
the organization;
4) all further details with
regard to * 5.
II. The Executive Committee shall examine the application
for membership and decide
whether the applicant meets the requirements of the Federation (*5).
III. The Executive Committee shall appoint two of
its members to visit the Society
applying for membership, in order to inspect the work the organization
is doing.
At
least one of these two visiting members must not reside in the country of the
applying Society. The two visiting
members cannot be residents of the same country. The visiting members shall submit written
reports to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the
freedom to choose Executive members or Delegates of Member Societies who are
not members of the Executive Committee for this assignment.
IV.
Thereupon the Executive Committee shall or shall not recommend to the
Assembly
of delegates that membership in the Federation be granted.
V. The Assembly of Delegates shall make the
final decision concerning the admission
of
an applicant to the Federation.
* 7 Termination
of membership
Membership may cease as a result of the dissolution of the Federation (*
26), of
voluntary withdrawal from membership (* 8) and expulsion (* 9).
* 8 Withdrawal
I. The Secretary-General must be notified by
registered letter of the voluntary
withdrawal of a Member Society.
II. In order to withdraw in good standing, all
membership obligations for the current
year must be fulfilled prior to withdrawal.
III. Three months after fulfillment of the
obligations the withdrawal will become finally
effective.
* 9 Expulsion
I. Following a formal proposal by a member of
either the Executive Committee or the
Assembly of Delegates, the Assembly of Delegates can vote to expel a
Member
Society, if that Society consistently acts against the principles of the
Federation or
no longer complies with the requirements for membership in the
Federation.
Before
voting on expulsion, the Assembly of Delegates must receive a fully
comprehensive report from the Executive Committee.
II. Expulsion because of noncompliance with
contributory obligations becomes
effective according to the following procedure:
1) If the Member Society does
not fulfill its financial commitments in accordance
with the provisions of * 11, it will be sent two reminders by the
Secretary-General, one of these reminders being by registered letter.
2) If payment of annual dues
has not been effected by the end of the second
quarterly period of the current year, membership and the right to vote
of that
Society shall be suspended in all organs.
3)
If payment has not been effected by the end of the second year,
expulsion of the
Member Society from the IFPS shall become effective as of that date.
* 10 Rights
and Obligations of the Members
I. All Member Societies and the members thereof
bear the responsibility of complying
in
their conduct within and outside the Federation with the latter’s
reputation. It is
the
Member’s duty to promote to the best of their ability the Federation’s
objectives
as
per * 2 hereof.
II. Within the Federation all Member Societies
are entitled to unimpeded information
from other organs of the Federation.
III. It is the responsibility of the
Secretary-General of the Federation to provide an
answer to any questions a President or Delegate of a Member Society may
have.
IV. Each Member Society is required to provide
answers to any questions the
Federation may have.
V. It is the duty of all Member Societies to forward
all important information to the
Federation. The Federation must
be informed without delay of any fundamental or
significant changes in the Member Society (e.g. alterations of the
statutes).
* 11 Membership
Fees
I. Each Member Society is required to make
annual payment of a membership fee to
the Federation.
II. This amount will be determined by the
Assembly of Delegates.
III. The membership fee is payable in the first
quarterly period of the year, otherwise
proceedings pursuant to * 9 Sec. II.
shall be initiated.
* 12 Affiliated
membership
The following Societies/Study Groups may become Affiliated Members of
the
IFPS:
I. Psychoanalytic Societies/Study Groups with a
minimum of four members, who are
licensed or certified Psychiatrists or Psychologists.
II. The group must meet once a week for 1 ½ hours for a total of 60 hours per year
(minimum).
III. The group discussion should include both
theoretical and clinical issues in
psychoanalysis. The discussions
are to be based on weekly reading assignments
from psychoanalytic literature.
IV. The Group must have a Convener, whose task is
to set an agenda week by week,
keep a log of attendance, keep a log of topic under discussion and
required readings
and
report yearly of proceeding to the Secretary-General.
Study Groups will be approved by the Executive
Committee. Only when such groups
apply for full membership they will pay dues and
will have to be approved by the
Assembly of Delegates.
* 13 Organs
The Organs of the Federation are:
1) the Assembly of Delegates
(AD);
2) the Executive Commitee (EC);
3) the Secretary-General and
the Deputy Secretary-General (SG and DSG);
4) * 20 shall in no way be
affected by Sec. 1. - 3. above.
* 14 The
Regular Assembly of Delegates
resolution it settles all affairs of the Federation which according to
these
Statutes are not to be regulated by other
Organs. It can forward suggestions to the Member
Societies and give instructions to the Executive Committee as well as to the
Secretary-General.
2) In particular the tasks of
the Assembly of Delegates shall be as follows:
a) election of the Executive
Committee, of the Secretary-General, and of the
Deputy
Secretary-General;
b) resolutions for conducting
FORA, scientific meetings and business
meetings;
c) acceptance of annual reports of the
Executive Committee and of the
Secretary-General;
d) passing the resolution of
the budget of the Federation and auditing the
accounts;
e)
assessment of membership fees ( * 11);
f) alteration of the Statutes;
g) dissolution of the
Federation.
II. The Assembly of Delegates shall consist of
the delegates of the Member Societies as
per * 4 Sec.
General.
III. 1)
The Assembly of Delegates will attempt to meet at least once every two
years.
If possible, meetings of the Assembly of Delegates will be scheduled to
coincide with an
international Forum or another international activity organized by the Federation.
2) The agenda for a meeting of
the Assembly of Delegates shall be proposed, at
the very beginning of the meeting, by the Secretary-General, and must be
approved by the Assembly.
IV. Constitution of the Assembly of Delegates
1) Each Member Society shall
have two voting Representatives in the Assembly
of Delegates.
2) Only regular members of a
Society may be considered for the purposes of the
specified schedule.
V. Convocation of the Assembly of Delegates
1) The Assembly of Delegates
shall be summoned by the Secretary-General four
months in advance.
2) The notification of an
Assembly of Delegates must contain the following:
a) the preliminary agenda
b) all the motions received up
to then for deliberation by the Assembly of Delegates;
c) the request for the
submission of further motions for deliberation.
3) The acceptance of
corresponding motions for the Assembly of Delegates at issue can be limited
to a term of 8 weeks before the date set for the Assembly.
4) The number and the names of
the participating Delegates must be submitted to
the Secretary-General in good time and not later than 4 weeks before the
Assembly date.
VI. Quorum and Voting
1) The Assembly of Delegates
shall constitute a quorum, if not less than one-half of the Member Societies are
represented. Where amendments to the Statutes
are concerned, the Assembly of Delegates shall constitute a quorum of not less than two-thirds of the Member Societies
are represented. If the number of Member Societies represented is a fraction
below the number required for a quorum, the calculation shall be rounded off to
the next highest figure.
2) The Assembly of Delegates
will pass its resolutions by simple majority, i.e. only affirmative and
negative votes counted and abstentions shall not be counted.
3) A two-thirds majority shall
be required for
a) Amendments of the Statutes;
b) the admission of an
applicant for membership (* 6);
c) for the expulsion (* 9) of a
Member Society.
In these cases abstentions shall be counted as negative votes.
4) In case of a tie vote a new vote is to be
held after a second deliberation has taken place. If there is no change, this procedure shall
be repeated one more
time. If thereafter the vote is
still tied, the matter shall be adjourned until the
next Assembly of Delegates.
VII. The Secretary-General or his/her Deputy shall
have the chairmanship of the
Assembly of Delegates.
VIII.
Motions for the following Assembly of Delegates can be submitted at any
time to
the
Secretary-General. Neither the Secretary-General nor the Executive
Committee are entitled to
carry out a preliminary selection of the motions. Motions that have already been rejected by an
Assembly of Delegates can also continue to be submitted for deliberation.
IX. At each Assembly of Delegates, minutes shall
be taken and shall record the names
of all Delegates and the numerical proportions for all votes. The minutes must be
forwarded to all Delegates within three months after conclusion of the
Assembly of
Delegates.
* 15 Extraordinary
Assembly of Delegates
I. An extraordinary Assembly of Delegates can
be called upon the Executive
Committee’s
decision within four months by the Secretary-General.
II. An extraordinary Assembly of Delegates can
also be convened upon formal request
to the Secretary-General of not less than one-quarter of the regular
Delegates. If the number of Delegates making such
a request is a fraction below one-quarter of the
total number of regular Delegates, the calculation shall be rounded off
to the highest
figure.
III. The extraordinary Assembly of Delegates shall
constitute a quorum if not less than
one-third of the Member Societies are represented. If the number of Member
Societies represented is a fraction below one-third of the total number
of Member
Societies, the calculation shall be rounded off to the next highest
figure.
IV. Where amendments to the Statutes are
concerned, the extraordinary Assembly of
Delegates shall constitute a quorum if not less than one-half of the
Member
Societies are represented. If the
number of the Member Societies represented is a
fraction below one-half of the total number of Member Societies, the
calculation
shall be rounded off to the next highest figure.
* 16 Delegates
and Observers
Delegates
I. 1)
Upon its admission to the Federation the Member Society shall appoint
its
Delegates.
2) A Delegate may be
substituted; this is effected by written notification to the
Secretary-General and informing him of the new
Delegate’s name at the
earliest possible moment.
3) Upon his withdrawal from
the organization which he/she represents, a
Delegate shall lose his/her position as Delegate.
II. 1)
Each Delegate is the authorized representative of his/her organization.
As authorized representatives of their Member Society the Delegates act as
liaison and intermediary person between the IFPS and the respective Member
Society.
2) A Delegate is not a member of
the Executive Committee by virtue of his/her office.
3) The president of a Member
Society is not a Delegate by virtue of his/her office.
III. 1)
During the Assembly of Delegates a Delegate has franchise and
eligibility and can participate in every vote.
2) A Delegate can
assume the votes of the other Delegate of his/her organization only by written
proxy. The Secretary - General must receive written notice, in advance if possible, from the
chief authority of the respective Member Society whenever a Delegate is assuming votes in this
way.
3) No Delegates can represent more than one Member Society, and no
Delegate can serve a proxy for Delegate of another
Member Society.
4)
Each Member Society is entitled to send one Delegate to the session of the
Executive Committee as an observer. No
later than four weeks before such a session of the Executive Committee the
Secretary-General must be informed of a Delegate’s intention to attend the
session.
Observers
IV.
1) In addition to its Delegates each
Member Society may appoint two observers.
2) Observers shall not be
entitled to voice nor to vote.
* 17 Executive
Committee
I The tasks of the Executive Committee shall be
as follows:
1)
deciding on all questions which either do not come under the competence of the Secretary-General or which exceed
this competence;
2)
examining membership applications (*6) and making the corresponding recommendations to the Assembly of
Delegates;
3)
participating in expulsion proceedings (*9);
4)
editing the IFPS publications;
5)
deciding on the winner of the Werner Schwidder Award;
6)
supervising and coordinating the planning, organization and conducting of the FORUM in accordance with the IFPS guide
lines.
II. 1)
The Executive Committee shall consist of nine members: seven Members -at- Large, the Secretary-General
and the Deputy Secretary-General.
2)
The Deputy Secretary-General is an active member of the Executive Committee.
3)
The Members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Assembly of Delegates for a period of four years.
The candidates for that office are nominated
by the Assembly of Delegates.
4)
No more than one member of any Member Society can serve on the Executive Committee at any one time.
5)
The Assembly of Delegates simultaneously elects two Alternate Members to assume duty in case a Member
with-draws from the Executive Committee or is
prevented from carrying out his functions for a period of more than six
months.
6)
In the event that an Assembly of Delegates cannot be convened within two years of the preceding Assembly of Delegates,
members of the Executive Committee will retain their positions until the next
Assembly of Delegates can be held.
7)
During this term of office a Member of the Executive Committee cannot be
disposed from office by his Member Society.
8)
Not more than four of the Members of the Executive Committee shall be changed at any due election time.
* 18 The
Secretary-General
I. The Secretary-General shall
conduct the current business of the Federation.
II. The Secretary-General is
elected by the Assembly of Delegates for a period of four years. He/she is the Chair-man of the
Executive Committee. The Secretary-General may be voted out of office at any time
by a two-thirds majority of the Assembly of Delegates.
III. The Secretary-General
shall be provided with necessary financial means to fulfill his/her obligations and duties.
* 19 Regulations common to the Executive
Committee, the Secretary-General and the Assembly
of Delegates
Members of the Executive Committee do not
receive salaries for their services or reimbursements for their expenses. In
view of the commitments of time required by his/her duties, the
Secretary-General is reimbursed for travel and accommodations expenses incurred
in the course of fulfilling his/her duties to the Federation.
* 20 Auditors
I. The Assembly of Delegates
shall elect two auditors to hold office for two years; on the occasion of a FORUM they shall inspect the accounts
balance submitted by the Secretary-General and the Executive Committee.
II. The auditors shall present
their audit report to the Assembly of Delegates. Copies will be distributed among the delegates.
III. The Assembly of Delegates
shall furthermore elect two substitute auditors who are to assume the function
of the principal auditors whenever the latter are unable to do so.
IV. All auditors must be delegates; they
shall, however, belong to different Societies.
* 21 The
establishment of ad hoc Committees
I. If necessary, the Executive
Committee can establish further ad hoc committees in addition to those listed
in *12 without need of an alteration of the Statutes.
II. Such committees are
dissolved upon completion of their appointed tasks.
* 22 Fundamental
Disagreements
I. Fundamental disagreements
among the Member Societies may be reported to the Secretary-General. The latter
shall strive to achieve an amicable settlement of the disagreement and inform all Delegates.
II.
If the disagreement cannot be resolved, the
Secretary-General shall submit the matter to the Executive Committee.
III.
The Executive Committee shall attempt to achieve
settlement of the disagreement; if the matter is of particular importance to
the Federation, it will submit the problem to a regular or extraordinary
Assembly of Delegates.
IV.
Any should have the right to bring the matter directly
to the attention of the following regular or extraordinary Assembly of
Delegates after prior notification of the Secretary-General.
* 23 Elections
and Voting
I.
All elections are by secret ballot. All votes by the
Executive Committee or the Assembly of Delegates must, upon request by any
Member of these organs, be conducted by secret ballot
II.
At the Assembly of Delegates elections to the Organs
of the IFPS shall be held in the
following sequence:
1) election of the Secretary-General;
2) election of the Deputy Secretary-General;
3) election of the other Members of the
Executive Committee and of Alternate Members;
4)
election of the auditors and 2 alternate auditors.
III The Secretary-General and the
Deputy Secretary-General shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast.
Run-off votes shall be conducted until such a majority is achieved by one of the candidates. Members of the
Executive Committee, Alternate Members of the Executive Committee, auditors,
and alternate auditors shall be elected by a simple plurality.
* 24 Honors
I. On the occasion of the
International FORA of Psychoanalysis the Federation is entitled to bestow the Werner Schwidder Award.
II. The Werner Schwidder Award
shall be bestowed in accordance with the grant provisions.
* 25 Language
I. At FORA and scientific
meetings of the Federation, the languages of the counties of all Members
Societies shall be considered of equal standing and simultaneous translation shall be provided to the extent
possible.
II. Whenever translation into
other languages is not possible, English shall be the conference language at international meetings.
III. The English language shall
also be the language for Federation correspondence.
* 26 The
Business Year
The business year shall extend from 1 July through 30 June.
* 27 Alternation
of the Statutes
I. An alternation of the
Statutes is possible only by resolution of the ordinary Assembly of Delegates
at which at least 2/3 of the Member Societies are represented or an
extraordinary Assembly of Delegates at which at least ½ of the Member Societies
are represented.
II. For a resolution containing
an alteration of the Statutes a two-thirds majority of the Delegates present shall be required. (Abstentions
shall be counted as negative votes.)
III. Motions altering the
Statutes must be presented no later than four months before the Assembly of
Delegates. The Secretary-General must put the motion on the agenda and forward
it to each Delegate at the latest when the invitation and the agenda are sent.
* 28 Dissolution
of the Federation
I. The dissolution of the
Federation can be resolved only at an Assembly of Delegate
which at least ¾ of the Member Societies are represented. For the
resolution a three-quarters majority of the Delegates present shall be
required.
II. In the event of
dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the organization shall
after necessary expenses thereof be distributed to such organizations as shall
qualify under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as
amended, or to the federal government, or to a state or local government for a
public purpose.
*
(As amended
through June 2001)