International Federation Federación Internacional Internationale Föderation
of Psychoanalytic Societies de Sociedades Psicoanalíticas Psychoanalytischer Gesellschaften
Statutes of the IFPS
The International Federation of Psychoanalytic Societies (IFPS) is the successor organization of the International Study Group of Psychoanalytic Societies that was founded in Amsterdam July 30th, 1962. All the Founding Societies:
- Deutsche Psychoanalytische Gesellschaft e.V, gegründet 1910.
- Sociedad Psicoanalitica Mexicana, A.C.
- Wiener Arbeitskreis für Tiefenpsychologie.
- 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 the act of federation. For the realization of these aims the Signatory Societies have developed 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 headquarters (seat) of the Federation shall be the place of recidence of the Secretary-General in the office.
*2 Objectives for the IFPS
I. The Member Societies of 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 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 of on its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children and animals, as specified in section 501©(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 sction 501©(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 (exept 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 activities of the organization shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (exept 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 IFPS
The Federation fulfills its tasks by:
- holding an an international Forum of Psychoanalysis at regular intervals (two to four years)I.holding other scienticic meetings between the Fora.
- joint publications of the scientific findings submitted by the Member Societies.
IV.supporting the dissemination of the body of thought within the Members´ spheres of Influence.
V.scientific exchanges and contacts with persons and organizations from other scientific diciplines and from areas of human concern.
VI.promoting psychoanalytic training and practice.
*4 Prerequisites
The following Societies may become Members of IFPS:
Psychoanalytic Societies whose statutes comply with the objectives, purposes and principles of 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.
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 and therapy as initiated by Sigmund Treud and advanced by others, i.e. on the reconition and understanding of uncoscious 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 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.
The course of training must be accompanied by a training analysis, comprising not less than 300 individual sessions. As a rule, the frequency will be 3 sessions per week, lasting not less than 45 minutes.
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, colloquims etc.)
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 two different supervisors, and must include the therapy of at least one patient with minimum 200 psychoanalytic hours.
The course of training must be be concluded by an evaluation.
III. A faculty (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 with the following enclosures:
the operative statutes of the organization.
a complete and precise list of members.
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.
II.The Executive Committee shall examine the application for membership and decide wheter 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 is 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 volontary withdrawal of a Member Society.
II.In to withdraw in good standing, all membership obligations for the current year must be fulfilled prior to the 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 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:
If the Member Society does not fulfills its financial commitments in accordance with the the provisions of *11, it will be sent two reminders by the Secretary-General, one of these reminders being by registered letter.
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.
If payment has not been effected by the end of the second year, expulsion of the Member Society from 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 answer 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 year, otherwise proceedings pursuant to *9 se. II shall be initiated.
*12 Affiliated membership
The following Societies/Study Groups may become Affiliated Members of IFPS:
Psychoanalytic Societies/Study Groups with a minimum of four members, who are licensed or cerificated Psychiatrists or Psychologists.
The Group must meet once a week for one and a half hours for a total 60 hours per year, minimum.
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.
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:
the Assembly of Delegates (AD)
the Executive Committee (EC)
the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary General (SG and DSG).
*20 shall in no way be affected by sec. 1 – 3 above.
*14 The Regular Assembly of Delegates
I. The Assembly of Delegates is the Supreme Organ of the Federation. By 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.
II. In particular the tasks of the Assembly of Delegates shall be as follows:
election of the Executive Committee, of the Secretary-General and of the Deputy Secretary-General.
resolutions for conducting Fora, scientific meetings and business meetings
acceptance of annual reports of the Executive Committee and of the Secretary-General.
passing the resolution of the budget of the Federation and auditing the accounts.
assessment of membership fees (*11)
alteration of the Statutes.
dissolution of the Federation.
III. The Assembly of Delegates shall consist of the delegates of the Member Societies as per per *4 sec. I and II. as well as of the Executive Committee and the Secretaries-General.
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.
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
Each Member Society shall have two voting Representatives in the Assembly of Delegates.
Only regular members of a Society may be considered for the purposes of the specified schedule.
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.
V. Convocation of the Assembly of Delegates
The Assembly of Delegates shall be summoned bythe Secretary-General four months months in advance.
The notification of an Assembly of Delegates must contain the following:
a) the preliminary agenda.
b) all the motions up to then for deliberation by the Assembly of Delegates;
c) the request for the submission of further motions for deliberation.
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.
The number and 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. Cuorum and Voting
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.
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.
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.
In case of a tie vote a new vote has 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 total 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
I. Delegates
Upon its admission to the Federation, the Member Society shall appoint its Delegates.
A Delegate may be substituted; this is effected by written notification to the Secretary-General, and informing him of the new Delegates name, at the earliest Possible moment.
Upon his withdrawal from the organization which he/she represents, a Delegate shall lose his/her position as a Delegate.
Each Delegate is the authorized representative of his/her organization. As authorized representatives of their Member Society the Delegates act as liason and intermediary person between the IFPS and the respective Member Society.
A Delegate is not a member of the Executive Committee by virtue of his/her office.
The president of a Member Society is not a Delegate by virtue of his/her office.
During the Assembly of Delegates a Delegate has franchise and eligibility and can participate in every vote.
A Delegate can assume the votes of the other Delegate of his/her organization only by written proxy. The Secretary-General must receive a written notice in advance if possible, from the chief authority of the respective Member Society whenever a a Delegate is assuming votes in this way.
No Delegates can represent more than one Member Society, and no Delegate can serve a proxy for Delegate of another Member Society.
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.
II. Observers
In addition to its Delegates each Member Society may appoint two observers.
Observers shall not be entitled to voice nor vote.
*17 Executive Committee
I. The task of the Executive Committee shall be as follows:
deciding on all questions which either do not come under the competence of the Secretary-General or exceed this competence;
examining membership applications (*6) and making the corresponding recommendations to the Assembly of Delegates;
participating in expulsion proceedings (*9)
editing the IFPS publications;
deciding the winner of the Werner Schwidder Award;
supervising and coordinating the planning and conducting of the FORUM in accordance with the IFPS guide lines.
II. The Executive Committee shall consist of nine members: seven Members-at-Large, the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General.
The Deputive Secretary-General is an active member of the Executive Committee.
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.
No more than one member of any Member Society can serve on the Executive Committe at any time.
The Assembly of Delegates simultaneously elects two Alternate Members to assume duty in case a Member withdraws from the Executive Committee or is prevented from carrying out his functions for a period of more than six months.
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.
During this term of office a Member of the Executitive Committe cannot be disposed from office by his Member Society.
Not more than four Members of the Executive Commitee shall be changed at any due election time.
*18 The SecretaryGeneral
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 Chairman 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 necessarry financial means to fulfill his/her obligations and duties.
*19 Regulations common to the Executive Committee, the Secretary-General and the of Delegates
Members of the Executive Committee do not receive salaries for their services or reimbursements for their expenses. In view of the committments of time required by his/her duties, the Seretary-General is reimbursed for travel and accommodattins expenses incurred in the fullfilling 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 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 Member Societies may be reported to the Secretary-General. The latter shall strive to achieve an amical 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 after prior notifcation of the Secretary-General.
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:
election of the Secretary-General.
election of the Deputy Secretary-General.
elections of other Members of the Executive Committee and of Alternate Members;
election of the auditors and 2 alternate auditors.
III. The Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary.General shall be elected by a majority of 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 the Executive Committee, auditors, and alternate auditors shall be elected by a simple plurality.
*24 Honors
I. On the occation of the International Fora of Psychoanalysis, the Fderation 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 all FORA and scientific meetings of the Federation, the languages of the countries of all Member Societies shall be considered of equal standing and simultaneos translations 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 the Federation´s correspondence.
*26. The Business Year
The business year shall extend from July 1. to June 30.
*27 Alterations of the Statutes
I. An alteration of the Statutes is only possible by resolution of the ordinary Assembly of Delegates at which at lest 2/3 of the Member Societies are represented or an extraordinary Assembly of Delegates at which at least half 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 Delegates where at least three-quarters 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 International Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or to the federal government, or to a state or local government for a public purpose.
