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 of IVU constitute an agreement between the Members of IVU and are not subject to the laws of any country.
3. 'Members' or 'membership' in these Bylaws refers to Full Member Organisations unless stated otherwise.
   

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, and subject to ratification, if required, by the International Council.
3. New applicants for membership may be required to supply a copy of their constitution, or their rules, 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 an Associate Member or 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 IC in recognition of their services to IVU. 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 normally be limited to 12, but may be temporarily varied at the discretion of IC.
7. Patrons shall make a minimum donation to IVU, of such amount as shall be from time to time decided by the International Council. 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 email.

1. At each World Vegetarian Congress a General Meeting shall be held to discuss the current state of the vegetarian movement and IVU's role in promoting that movement.
   
2. Email ballots of members may be called by the International Council, either from its own intiative or on the demand of ten member organisations.
3. IVU shall conduct all communications with member organisations using email. Email addresses must be supplied by member organisations as a means for them to take part in IVU discussions and voting.
   
4. The General Meeting shall carry out an agenda as has been requested by the International Council or Member Societies at least one month prior to the commencement of the meeting. Items submitted on the day may be accepted at the discretion of the General Meeting.
5. Email ballots shall only be valid if a minimum of 25% of members respond to the call for a vote within 28 days of the ballot papers being sent.
6. A chairperson as shall be decided by the International Council or the General Meeting shall take the chair at all General Meetings.
   

1. The International Council (IC) shall be elected by email ballot, with the results to be announced at the General Meeting.
2. All elected IC members shall be nominated by member organisations. Voting shall be by a secret ballot of official delegates of member organisations. Votes shall be kept confidential until the General Meeting. Votes shall be sent to a person or persons nominated by the International Council who will be attending the General Meeting and not standing for election.
3. Calls for nominations shall be made 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. A list shall be emailed 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. (see Appendix I for the format)
5. Ten Council members shall be elected for a term of office lasting until they or their successors have been elected at the next World Congress.
6. 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. The International Council (IC) shall be responsible to the membership of IVU for the running of the affairs of IVU.
2. The IC shall consist of ten elected members plus one coordinator for each designated region. Each councillor shall be expected to undertake agreed specific responsibilities on behalf of the Council.
3. Email ballots of the IC may be called by the Chairperson or by the request of 1/3 of all the International Council members. Two weeks shall be allowed for replies before the final result is announced. Anyone not replying within that time shall be deemed to have abstained. Seven members shall constitute a quorum.
4. The business of IC shall be discussed via email. It shall be expected that anyone elected to the IC shall arrange to be reasonably contactable by email. Any councillor not contactable by this means may be deemed have excluded themselves from discussions and voting.
5. IC shall elect a Chairperson and other IC members shall be elected to any roles as required. The detailed list of roles and responsibilities shall form Appendix B of these bylaws.
6. The IC may fill any vacancies which may occur on the Council and may co-opt up to three additional members who shall have full, voting rights. All such positions shall be valid until the next General Meeting or such earlier date as IC shall determine by a 2/3 majority.
7. All decisions of the IC shall be by majority vote, except where 2/3 majority is mandated elsewhere. Where there is even voting the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
8. Representatives of member organisations may be allowed read-only access to IC email discussions on request.
9. The IVU shall have no headquarters or central office. Responsibilities shall be divided amongst all members of the International Council and any staff in different parts of the world.
10. Council members may be removed from office for conduct contrary to the aims and objectives of the IVU by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of all Council members, following a minimum of two months' notice of the charges and the opportunity to present their defence .
11. Any council member who fails to communicate by email, phone or other means for a period of three months shall be removed from IC unless 2/3 of all IC members vote to keep her/him on the council.

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. IVU 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. A budget shall be proposed 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 preparedfor each year, and these shall be presented for approval by the IC within three months of the end of the financial year. IC may arrange interim reports as required.
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. The Memorandum or Articles of Association may only be altered by email ballot of all Full Member Organisations (as per 4.2.f. above). Proposed alterations shall be reviewed by IC which may make a recommendation to the members.
2. Bylaw alterations may be proposed and seconded by the authorised representatives of any two member societies of IVU, or by any two members of the IC. The IC shall schedule a vote on proposed amendments within one month of receipt of said proposals.
   
3. from the Articles of Association: The bylaws may be altered by a two-thirds (66%) majority of all International Council members.
4. Appendices to these Bylaws may be altered by a simple majority decision of the International Council.

Below is a possible re-think of clause 3 of the Articles of Association - just for discussion only, an actual change would require a 75% vote by the members:

3. GOVERNMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF IVU

1. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of IVU, and the election of the International Council, shall be governed by all IVU member organisations through email ballots.
2. Each Full Member Organisation shall have one vote, provided that organisation has been a member of IVU for a minimum of 6 months. Any full member organisation which itself has more than 150 individual voting members shall have one extra vote.
3. IVU shall be managed by IC, which shall consist of 10 members elected by the Member Organisations and Regional Coordinators appointed in accordance with S.4 below.
4. Responsibility for the day-to-day affairs of IVU shall be delegated to members of IC, and carried out according to the decisions of IC.