Our Statutes

1.1 Under the name "Friends of the Constitution", an association pursuant to Art. 60 et seq. exists.

1.2 The abbreviated names of the Association shall be "Friends of the Constitution", "Friends of the Constitution" or "FdV".

1.3 The seat of the Association shall be Bern.

2.1 The Association defends and strengthens the position of the Sovereign in the Constitution of the Swiss Confederation.

2.2 It shall be guided by the Preamble of the Federal Constitution and the Charter of the Association.

2.3 The association is non-profit-making and independent in every respect. It does not represent any particular interests, does not pursue any commercial objectives and does not seek to make a profit.

2.4 As a rule, the executive bodies work on an honorary basis. Expenses and compensation for mandates shall be defined in a set of regulations.

For the implementation of the association's purpose, the association has the following means at its disposal:

- membership fees
- Donations and contributions of all kinds
- Income from own events, sales and services.

The funds shall be used exclusively for the purpose of the Association.

4.1 Natural and legal persons who support the purpose of the Association may become members.

4.2 Each member shall be a member of a Section and a Regio Group at the same time, if possible.

4.3 Membership can be applied for by submitting an application on the association's website or by using the application form. The regional leaders and the board decide on the admission. Membership begins with the payment of the membership fee.

5.1 Membership shall lapse

- in the case of natural persons, by resignation, exclusion, death or if the membership fee remains unpaid despite two reminders.
- in the case of legal entities, by resignation, exclusion, dissolution or if the membership fee remains unpaid despite two reminders.

5.2 Resignation is possible at any time by letter or e-mail and becomes legally effective upon confirmation by the office. It shall take effect immediately. There is no entitlement to a pro-rata refund of the membership fee already paid.

5.3 A member may be expelled from the Association at any time by the Executive Committee by majority vote and without giving reasons.

6.1 The organs of the Association are:

(a) the general meeting
(b) the Management Board
(c) the auditors
d) the office
(e) the regional groups
(f) the sections

6.2 A cumulation of offices is generally permissible. Exceptions to this rule are the Auditors, who are independent, and the Executive Office, the head of which cannot be a member of the Executive Board at the same time.

7.1 The General Assembly is the supreme body of the Association.

7.2 The ordinary general meeting shall take place in the first half of the year. As a rule, the general meeting shall be held in person.

7.3 The Executive Committee shall announce the date of the Ordinary General Meeting at least 8 weeks in advance.

7.4 Members may submit a written request to the Executive Committee for an item to be placed on the agenda no later than six weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting, provided that at least 20 members signify their support for the item.

7.5 The Executive Board shall set the agenda and issue the invitation at least four weeks in advance.

7.6 The Executive Committee may convene an extraordinary General Assembly at any time, stating the purpose. This right is also available to one fifth of the members or one third of the Regional Group Leaders with a mandate from the members of the Regional Group. The meeting shall be held no later than two months after receipt of the request.

7.7 The General Assembly shall have the following duties:

a) Approval of the minutes of the last general meeting
b) Approval of the annual report of the Executive Board
c) Approval of the auditors' report and the annual accounts
d) Discharge of the Board of Directors and the Auditors
e) Election of the Board of Directors
As far as possible, an appropriate representation of the parts of the country and language regions should be sought.
f) Election of the Auditors
g) Determination of the membership fees
h) Decision of the annual budget
i) Decision on the launching of popular initiatives
j) Decision on the election and voting regulations
k) Deciding on amendments to the Charter of the Association by a simple majority vote
l) Decision on motions submitted by the members

7.8 The members present and the members of the Executive Committee are entitled to vote. The General Assembly shall constitute a quorum irrespective of the number of members present and entitled to vote. Resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. Details are set out in the Election and Voting Regulations.

7.9 Amendments to the Statutes require the approval of two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote.

7.10 In special circumstances, namely in case of time urgency or due to restrictions imposed by the authorities, the Executive Board may order the following forms of meetings as an alternative:

a) an assembly by electronic means. In this case, a discussion and a previously communicated voting and election procedure shall be ensured by electronic means. The discussion may also take place before the virtual meeting by e-mail.
(b) a vote or election by written or electronic means

8.1 Composition
The Board of Directors consists of five to eleven persons.
The Board of Directors shall constitute itself.
Re-election is possible.

8.2 Competences
The Board of Directors has all powers that are not assigned to another body by law or in accordance with these Articles of Association.
The Board of Directors may decide to initiate a referendum.
The Executive Committee may issue and amend regulations for the Association, subject to the election and voting regulations. Regulations shall be drawn up in cooperation with the persons entitled. The regulations may not contradict the statutes.

8.3 Activity
The Board of Directors shall conduct the day-to-day business, represent the Association externally and implement the purposes of the Association.
The Executive Board shall implement the resolutions of the General Assembly.
The Executive Board leads national projects and can appoint working groups.

8.4 Organisation
The Board of Directors shall meet as often as business requires.
Any member of the Board may request a meeting to be convened within 14 days, stating the reasons, if the majority of the Board agrees.
Resolutions on urgent business shall be valid by circular letter or by appropriate electronic means.
In the event of a tie, the Co-Presidency shall have the casting vote.
The Board of Directors shall in principle work on an honorary basis.
The Board may compensate Board members for operational projects.
The Board of Directors shall be entitled to reimbursement of effective expenses.
The Executive Committee may represent the Association by the signature of at least two members of the Executive Committee.
Board activities are subject to the principle of confidentiality.
The Board shall adopt mandatory guidelines to protect personal data.

9.1 The regional groups are organs of the association in which the national activities of the association take place. The concerns of the regional groups shall be forwarded to the responsible member of the Executive Committee.

9.2 When a new Regio Group is founded, the Regio Leader shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and must be confirmed by the Regio Group within one month. In the case of existing Regio Groups, the change of leadership must be made by the members in consultation with the Executive Committee.

9.3 The duties and rights of the Regional Group Leader in detail shall be defined by regulations which shall include a confidentiality declaration to ensure data protection. They are obliged to sign the confidentiality declaration.

10.1 The Executive Committee may form sections in an area defined by it. A Section shall be formed at the request of Regional Groups in cooperation with the Executive Committee.

10.2 The Sections shall perform administrative and coordination tasks.

11.1 The Advisory Councils shall be appointed and dismissed by the Executive Board. They support the Executive Board in their respective areas of expertise. They may attend the Board meetings and are subject to the principle of confidentiality.

11.2 They may lead or participate in projects and working groups. They shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses.

12.1 The General Assembly shall elect two auditors or an external auditor to audit the accounts and to report and propose to the General Assembly.

12.2 The financial year shall be the calendar year.

13.1 The Secretariat shall implement the tasks assigned to it by the Executive Board.

13.2 The staff of the office shall be paid for their work.

13.3 The Secretariat shall be managed by a Head of Secretariat who shall be elected by the Executive Committee. The Head of the Secretariat shall attend the meetings of the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity. He shall represent the business assigned to him and may submit motions.

Only the assets of the association shall be liable for the debts of the "Friends of the Constitution" association. A personal liability of the members and the executive committee beyond the owed membership fee is excluded.

15.1 The dissolution of the Association may be decided by a majority of three quarters of those present and entitled to vote at an Ordinary or Extraordinary General Meeting.

15.2 In the event of the dissolution of the Association, the assets of the Association shall go to a non-profit institution pursuing the same or a similar purpose. This decision of the general meeting shall be taken by simple majority.