These bylaws first became effective on October 31 1999, having been modified since then, and should be read in conjunction with the Articles and Memorandum of Association.

PART 1. DEFINITIONS

1. The procedures defined in these bylaws are subject to the principles defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of IVU, and may not in any way exceed or overrule those documents.
2. The bylaws may be altered by a simple majority ofl members voting within the procedures defined in Part 7 below.
3. Any Appendices to these Bylaws may be altered by a majority decision of the International Council.
4. Any decision made by a majority of the Members may become a part of the bylaws.
5. The Bylaws of IVU constitute an agreement between the Members of IVU and are not subject to the laws of any country.
6. 'Members' or 'membership' in these Bylaws refers to Full Member Organisations unless stated otherwise.

1. The International Council may pursue any objectives that it considers, from time to time, to be appropriate, but these may not take priority over the objectives defined in Section 4 of the Memorandum of Association.

1. The IVU shall consist of all members and supporters as defined in Section 2 of the Articles of Association.
2. Full or Associate Membership becomes effective upon payment of an annual subscription, and acceptance of the application by the Manager and subject to ratification by the International Council.
   
3. New applicants for membership may be required to supply a copy of their constitution, or their rules, to the Manager, which may be subject to the approval of the International Council.
4. Any society concern, commission, or corporate body which is in sympathy with the aims and objectives of IVU, including animal welfare, humanitarian, health or similar relevant objectives and which shall be acceptable to the International Council, may become a Supporter of IVU. Individuals and families may become Supporters of IVU.
5. Supporters shall receive all the rights of membership and any other benefits considered appropriate by the International Council but shall have no voting rights unless as a delegate representing a Member organisation.
6. Fellows of IVU shall be individuals who may be elected for life by IVU members in recognition of their services to the world vegetarian cause. Such positions shall be non-executive and non-voting. They shall have no other rights than those given to individual supporters. The number of Fellows at any one time shall be limited to 12.
7. Patrons shall make a minimum donation to IVU, of such amount as shall be from time to time decided by the members. Their names shall appear on the list of honour and they shall be classed as lifetime supporters for the purposes of Section 2.3 of the Articles of Association.
8. Any proposed changes in the IVU Subscription Rates for any category of members or supporters shall be sent by the IC to all Member Organisations by email. A minimum of one month shall be allowed for members to make their views known before any changes become effective. Full details of all subscriptions, and the benefits available to each type of subscription, shall be recorded in Appendix E of these Bylaws.
9. Non-payment of subscriptions for a period of 3 months shall result in the deletion of the society from the membership list and the loss of voting and other rights. At its full discretion the International Council may accept late subscription.
10. All members and supporters of IVU shall abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Bylaws of IVU.
11. Members or supporters may be removed for conduct contrary to the aims and objectives of the IVU by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of all the members of the International Council, following a minimum of two months' notice of the charges and the opportunity to present their defence at a meeting of the International Council, either in person or by electronic means.

4.1. Congresses

1. The IVU shall hold World Vegetarian Congresses for the purposes of hosting the General Meeting of the Member Organisations and meetings of the International Council, exchanging information on the merits of vegetarianism, sharing experiences in the promotion of vegetarianism, and promoting vegetarianism in the host country and surrounding areas.
2. Each Congress shall be organised in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of IVU and the venue for the next but one Congress will be agreed during the current Congress. A Congress shall normally be held every two years, but this may be varied according to circumstances at the time.
3. All matters appertaining to the organisation of World Vegetarian Congresses shall be agreed by the International Council in accordance with the guidance document 'Congress Proposals & Organisation' which shall form Appendix A of these Bylaws.
4. Members of IVU undertake to publicise the details of each World Vegetarian Congress.

1. At each World Vegetarian Congress a General Meeting shall be held to deal with the business of IVU within the first three days of the Congress. Sufficient time shall be allowed to deal with all current business.
2. Other General Meetings may be called as a result of a request by a majority of members. Electronic ballots of members may be called by the International Council. Either shall be able to deal with any business which could be dealt with by a General Meeting at a World Vegetarian Congress.
3. IVU shall conduct all communications with member societies using email. Email addresses must be supplied by member societies as a means for them to take part in IVU discussions and voting, other than at a General Meeting.
   
4. The General Meeting shall carry out such business as has been requested of the Manager by the International Council or Member Societies at least two months prior to the commencement of the meeting. Items submitted on the day may be accepted at the discretion of the General Meeting.
5. A quorum for General Meetings shall be fifty percent of the official delegates attending the Congress.
6. Electronic ballots shall only be valid if a minimum of 50% of members respond to the call for a vote within 28 days of the ballot papers being sent.
7. A chairperson as shall be decided by the International Council or the General Meeting shall take the chair at all General Meetings.
8. Member societies may only vote at a General Meeting if their membership has been valid for a minimum of three months.
9. Each Member Society with a minimum of 12 members, and up to 150 members, shall be entitled to send one delegate to any World Vegetarian Congress or meeting of Members of IVU who shall be empowered to speak and vote on behalf of the Society.
10. Societies which have more than 150 members shall be empowered to send one additional delegate for each 500 members or part thereof up to a maximum of 5 delegates. Each such delegate shall be empowered to speak and to cast one vote on behalf of the member Society.
11. Each member organisation may use one proxy vote at General Meetings, but such proxies must be presented to the Manager in writing by the start of the relevant business meeting.
12. Only delegates of member organisations shall be entitled to vote at a General Meeting or ballot. All delegates must be vegetarians and a member of the society for which they are a delegate.
13. Each delegate may vote on behalf of only one organisation, either at a meeting or in an eletronic ballot, and shall provide the Managerwith written authority for such vote.
14. Voting at a General Meeting, except when concerning the Memorandum or Articles of Association, shall be by a simple majority.

1. The General Meeting shall elect the members of the International Council (IC).
2. All elected IC members shall be nominated by member societies. Voting shall be by a secret ballot of official delegates of member societies combined with an email poll of those member societies not sending delegates to the Congress. Member Societies which would be entitled to voting delegates at the General Meeting but are unable to send a delegate in person may cast a single vote by email, listing their choice of up to ten candidates. Such email votes shall be kept confidential until all votes have been cast in the IC election at the General Meeting, then counted with the other votes. Email votes should be sent to a person nominated by the International Council who will be attending the General Meeting and is not standing for election.
3. Calls for nominations shall be made by the Manager at least three months prior to a General Meeting. Anyone nominated who wishes to run shall be placed on the ballot, provided they are vegetarians and members of a member organisation.
4. The Manager shall email a list containing the names of all candidates to all voting member organisations one month prior to a membership meeting. The list shall be accompanied by position statements submitted by the candidates, of a length and format prescribed by the IC. The election shall be held at the General Meeting.
5. Ten Council members shall be elected by the General Meeting of member organisations at a World Congress for a term of office lasting until they or their successors have been elected at the next World Congress.
6. The IC shall appoint a Chairperson and shall allocate responsibilities to all other councillors as required.
7. In the case of a contested election, the IC shall appoint an election committee consisting of not less than two members, not standing for election themselves. The Election Committee shall count the ballots and shall declare those candidates receiving the most valid votes. The new IC members shall assume office upon election.
8. To fill an interim vacancy on the IC until the next regular election, requires a 2/3 vote of all members of the IC. The IC may choose at its discretion not to fill interim vacancies.

1. Regional Organisations (ROs) may become partners of IVU as defined in Section 4 of the Articles of Association.
2. The International Council (IC) shall conduct discussions with any RO interested in forming a partnership in a defined geographic region. Any such partnership shall be subject to ratification by the IVU Members at the earliest opportunity.
3. The IC and the RO shall negotiate and agree a contract which is appropriate to the circumstances of each region. The contract may not conflict with the IVU Memorandum or Articles of Association or Bylaws but may add any matters of relevance to the needs of the region.
4. Each RO shall determine its own constitution which may not conflict with any of the clauses contained within the Memorandum or Articles of Association or Bylaws of IVU. Any such contradiction shall invalidate the partnership.
5. Each RO shall nominate a Liaison Officer to the IC who shall be agreeable to the IC. In the event that the Liaison Officer is unable to attend an IC meeting then the RO may nominate a temporary replacement, subject to agreement by the IC. If an RO does not exist for a defined region, the IC may appoint a regional representative with a title appropriate to the circumstances of the region. All such positions shall be valid until the next General Meeting or such earlier date as IC shall determine by a 2/3 majority.
6. Regional representatives shall be responsible for regular contact between the IC and all IVU Members in the defined region. S/he shall encourage the formation of local/national societies within the region, and shall encourage the establishment of a suitable regional organisation to form a partnership with IVU.
7. Termination of a partnership with a RO shall be decided by the IVU Members, to which the IC may make recommendations.
8. During the years when there are no World Congresses, each of the ROs shall be encouraged to hold Regional Vegetarian Congresses or support others holding such events. IVU shall endeavour to assist in any way considered appropriate by the RO.

1. The fiscal year of the IVU shall begin and end on dates to be determined the IC subject to advice from the treasurer.
2. The Treasurer shall open or authorise to be opened banking accounts in the name of the IVU in such country or countries as the IC shall decide. The IC shall determine the signatories for IVU accounts.
3. The treasurer shall propose a budget to the IC, for the following financial year, not less than three months before the start of the financial year. The IC shall determine the budget not less than one month before the start of the financial year. Any alterations to the budget during the course of the year shall require the vote of a majority of the IC.
4. A statement of IVU accounts shall be prepared by the treasurer for each year, and these shall be presented for approval by the IC within three months of the end of the financial year. The treasurer shall provided the IC with interim financial reports as requested.
5. Auditors shall be appointed by the International Council but subject to approval by the General Meeting of member organisations. Audited annual accounts shall be presented at each Congress for the period since the last Congress.

1. Proposed alterations to the Memorandum and Articles Association shall be submitted to the Manager no later than three months before the opening of the next World Congress and shall be circulated to the member organisations and the members of the International Council no later than two months before the opening of the next World Congress. Additional amendments (to the proposed alterations) may be proposed at the General Meeting.
2. All proposed alterations shall be reviewed by the International Council which may make a particular recommendation to the General Meeting.
3. Proposed alterations shall become effective immediately upon approval with a minimum of 75% of the delegates present at the General Meeting voting in favour.
4. The Memorandum or Articles of Association may also be altered by email ballot subject to the same rules as above, with the date of the ballot be equivalent to the opening of the congress, and those responding being equivalent to those present. The quorum by either method is 50% of all voting members and the votes per delegate being as in the bylaws for the General Meetings.
5. Proposed Bylaw amendments must be submitted by the authorised representatives of two member societies of IVU, or by a majority of the IC. The IC shall schedule a vote on proposed amendments within three (3) months of receipt of said proposals.
6. Only voting members may vote on proposed amendments to the Bylaws.
7. The Bylaws shall be so amended only upon the affirmative vote of a majority of those responding.
8. Voting on Bylaw amendments may be made at a General Meeting or by electronic ballot.

• Appendix A: Congress Proposals & Organisation
• Appendix B: Roles and Responsibilities of International Council members
• Appendix C: Guidelines for the use of the ivu.org domain
• Appendix D: Agreement with VUNA
• Appendix E: Membership rates
• Appendix F: Applications for Grants (rules are on the application form)
• Appendix G: Membership of IVU in Developing and Poor & Indebted Countries