Chapter I - General Provisions

Article 1 

The name of this association is the "International Confucian Association," abbreviated as "ICA."

Article 2 

The association is a non-profit international academic and cultural organization voluntarily formed by academic groups, institutions, and individuals from various countries and regions related to Confucianism.

Article 3

The purpose of the association is to research and carry forward the essence of Confucianism and other thoughts in traditional Chinese culture, promote the spread and practice of Confucianism in the world, and carry out exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations, with the goal of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humankind, world peace and development, and the progress of human civilization.

The association abides by the Constitution, laws, regulations, and national policies of the People's Republic of China.

Article 4 

The association accepts the operational guidance and oversight of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, its supervisory government authority, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the government organ responsible for its registration management.

Article 5 

The association’s permanent headquarters is located in Beijing, China.

Article 6

The association’s fields of operation are as follows:

(1) Conducting Confucianism research;

(2) Carrying out exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations;

(3) Holding Confucianism-related conferences, forums, lectures, etc.;

(4) Carrying out Confucianism-related education, training, dissemination, and popularization activities;

(5) Compiling and publishing Confucianism-related books, journals, and materials;

(6) Carrying out member development, liaison, and service work;

(7) Collecting, collating, and releasing information about international Confucianism and other related academic and cultural undertakings, as well as editing and sending newsletters about the association's activities;

(8) Participating in the relevant activities of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and UNESCO as a consultative status organization of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and carrying out exchanges and cooperation with international organizations, governments of various countries, and other academic and cultural organizations;

(9) Expanding into other undertakings conducive to the development of international Confucianism.

Chapter II - Members

Article 7 

The members of the association are divided into group members and individual members.

Article 8 

Any group or institution related to Confucianism that agrees with the association’s Articles of Association may apply and can become a member once they complete membership procedures.

Any individual who agrees with the association’s Articles of Association and has received recommendations from two ICA Council members may apply and become an individual member after completing the membership procedures.

The council members, honorary advisors, and advisors of the association are naturally its individual members.

Members who seriously violate the association’s Articles of Association or engage in illegal activities shall be removed from membership after approval by the standing working bodies of the association and filing with the Executive Committee.

Article 9

Members have the following rights:

(1) Representatives of group and individual members have the right to elect, be elected, and vote. One group member has one vote;

(2) Participating in the activities of the association and using the facilities of the association;

(3) Making comments and suggestions on the work of the association;

(4) Voluntary membership and freedom to withdraw.

Article 10

Members shall fulfill the following obligations:

(1) Abiding by the association’s Articles of Association and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the association;

(2) Actively participating in the activities of the association;

(3) Completing the work assigned by the association;

(4) Providing the association with information on the development of Confucianism in their respective countries and regions.

Chapter III - Organizational Structure

Article 11 

The Congress is the highest decision-making body of the association.

Article 12 

The responsibilities of the Congress are:

(1) Electing the President, Vice Presidents, and Council members of the  association;

(2) Formulating and amending the association’s Articles of Association;

(3) Reviewing the work report and financial report;

(4) Deciding on other important matters.

Article 13 

The Congress shall convene once every five years and be presided over by the association's President. In the event of special circumstances necessitating an early or delayed convening, the government organ supervising the operation of the association shall be notified and approval from the government authority responsible for the registration management of the association be obtained.

The Congress shall not be convened unless more than half of the members can attend, and its resolutions shall not take effect unless passed by a vote of more than half of the members in attendance.

Article 14 

The association shall have one President, one Executive Vice President, and several Vice Presidents. The President shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and elected by the Congress. The Executive Vice President and Vice Presidents shall be nominated by the President, reviewed by the Executive Committee, and elected by the Congress. The term of office of the President, Executive Vice President, and Vice Presidents shall be five years, and they may be re-elected for a typical maximum of two consecutive terms.

The President is responsible for the overall work of the association, serves as the chairman of the Congress, and presides over the meetings of the Executive Committee when the Congress is not in session. The Executive Vice President assists the President in their work.

Article 15 

The Council shall have one Chairperson and several Vice Chairpersons. The Chairperson shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and elected by the Council Meeting. The Vice Chairpersons shall be nominated by the Chairperson and elected by the Council Meeting. The term of office of the Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons shall be five years, and they may be re-elected for a typical maximum of two consecutive terms.

The Chairperson presides over the Council Meeting and may co-chair the meetings of the Executive Committee with the President.

Article 16 

Council members shall be recommended by the standing bodies of the association, reviewed by the Executive Committee, and elected by the Congress. The total number of Council members shall not exceed 450.

Article 17 

The responsibilities of the Council are:

(1) Electing the Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons;

(2) Reviewing the plan for some council members to serve on the Executive Committee;

(3) Raising the funds required by the association;

(4) Organizing and coordinating exchange activities on international Confucianism and related academic undertakings.

Article 18 

The Council Meeting shall be convened at the same time as the Congress and presided over by the Chairman of the Council.

The Council Meeting shall not be convened unless more than half of its members can attend, and its resolutions shall not take effect unless passed by a vote of more than half of the Council members in attendance.

Article 19 

The Executive Committee is the executive body of the Congress and the Council.

The Executive Committee shall comprise the association’s President, Chairperson, Executive Vice President, Vice Presidents, Vice Chairpersons, some Council members, Secretary-General, Deputy Secretaries-General, and directors of various committees.

Article 20 

The responsibilities of the Executive Committee are:

(1) Deliberating on and recommending candidates for President, Chairperson, Executive Vice President, Vice Presidents, and Vice Chairpersons, reviewing Council candidates, proposing a plan for some Council members to serve on the Executive Committee, and submitting it to the Congress and the Council Meeting for voting;

(2) Reviewing proposals submitted by the standing bodies of the association;

(3) Reviewing matters such as the set-up of the standing bodies of the association;

(4) Acting on behalf of the Congress in performing the responsibilities stipulated in items (3) and (4) of Article 12 when the Congress is not in session and reviewing the adjustment plans for Vice Presidents, Vice-Chairpersons, Council members, and some Council members serving on the Executive Committee.

Article 21 

The Executive Committee shall meet once a year and may deliberate on relevant matters by correspondence as needed.

The Executive Committee meeting shall not be convened unless more than half of its members can attend, and its resolutions shall not take effect unless passed by a vote of more than half of the members in attendance.

Article 22 

The association shall establish a Secretariat, Academic Committee, Publication Committee, Education, Dissemination and Popularization Committee, International Liaison Committee, Advisor Liaison Committee, Confucianism and Business Management Committee, China Committee, and Member Liaison Committee as its standing bodies.

The Secretariat is a standing office, and the committees are standing working bodies.

Article 23 

The Secretariat shall have one Secretary-General and several Deputy Secretaries-General. The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the President, and the Deputy Secretaries-General shall be nominated by the Secretary-General and appointed by the President. The Secretary-General assists the President and the Executive Vice President in handling daily affairs, presides over the work of the Secretariat, and coordinates the work of the committees. The Deputy Secretaries-General assists the Secretary-General in his or her work.

Article 24 

Each committee shall have one Director and several Deputy Directors. The Directors of the committees shall be appointed by the President, and the Deputy Directors shall be nominated by the Directors and appointed by the President.

Article 25 

The association shall have Honorary Advisors and Advisors, generally held by individuals and renowned scholars who have made significant contributions to the association.

Article 26 

Honorary Advisors and Advisors are obligated to make suggestions and provide advice on the association's work.

Article 27 

Honorary Advisors and Advisors shall be nominated by the President and Chairperson and reviewed by the Executive Committee.

Chapter IV - Finance

Article 28 

The fiscal year of the association shall be from January 1 to December 31.

Article 29 

The financial income of the association shall be donations, government project funding, interest income, income from activities or services carried out within the approved fields of operation, and other legal income.

Article 30

The association's funds shall be used for activities within the fields of operation as stipulated in this document and for the development of the association's undertakings.

Article 31 

The association shall establish a strict financial management system to ensure that the accounting data is legal, true, accurate, and complete.

Article 32 

The asset management of the association shall comply with the financial management system of the asset’s country/region of registration and accept the supervision of the Congress, government financial departments, and audit authorities.

Article 33 

Before the association changes its leadership or legal representative, it shall accept financial audit organized by the government organ supervising the association's operations and the government authority responsible for the registration management of the association.

Chapter V - Termination Procedures and Disposal of Property after Termination

Article 34 

If the association dissolves voluntarily or due to reasons such as division or merger, the Executive Committee shall propose a termination motion.

Article 35 

The termination motion of the association shall be passed by the Congress and submitted to the government organ supervising the association's operations for review and approval.

Article 36 

Before the termination of the association, a liquidation organization shall be established under the guidance of the government organ supervising the association’s operations and relevant authorities to clear up claims and debts and handle relevant matters resulting from the liquidation. No activities other than liquidation shall be carried out during the liquidation period.  

Article 37 

The association shall be terminated after the government authority responsible for the registration management of the association completes the registration revocation procedures.

Article 38 

The remaining property of the association after termination shall be used for undertakings related to the purpose of the association under the oversight of the government organ supervising the association’s operations and the government authority responsible for the registration management of the association and in accordance with the relevant regulations of the property’s country/region of registration.

Chapter VI - Supplementary Provisions

Article 39 

The right to amend this document lies with the Congress, and the right to interpret it is vested in the Executive Committee by the Congress.

Article 40 

This document is passed by the 7th Congress of the International Confucian Association on October 19, 2024. The Chinese and English versions are the official versions of the document and shall take effect from the date of approval by the government authority responsible for the registration management of the association.