Article 1: The name of the WAAMA is: The World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic; English Name: The World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic; Abbreviation: WAAMA.

Article 2: The WAAMA is a non-profit academic social organization with both domestic and international attributes voluntarily formed by international non-governmental abacus and mental arithmetic education and research organizations.

Article 3: The aims of the WAAMA are:

Promoting the abacus culture, strengthen communication and cooperation among abacus and mental arithmetic organizations; pushing ahead with the spreading and development of abacus and mental arithmetic education; bringing the inspiration role of abacus and mental arithmetic into full play so as to create benefits for mankind.

Article 4: The WAAMA shall accept the business guidance, supervision and administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the financial departments of competent authorities.

Article 5: The domicile of the WAAMA is: Beijing, China.

Article 6: The business scope of the WAAMA includes:

(1) Organizing academic exchanges on abacus and mental arithmetic.

(2) Formulating level appraisal standards and competition rules for the level appraisal of abacus and mental arithmetic, organizing the level appraisals and competitions of abacus and mental arithmetic, and printing and issuing certificates for the level appraisal of abacus and mental arithmetic.

(3) Compiling and publishing academic journals, works and audio-visual products on abacus and mental arithmetic, publicizing and popularizing the knowledge of abacus and mental arithmetic, and maintaining and expanding the website.

(4) Organizing the appraisal of outstanding teaching and scientific research achievements on abacus and mental arithmetic, commending those who have made outstanding contributions to the development of abacus and mental arithmetic abacus.

Article 7: The types of members of the WAAMA are: Organization members;

The WAAMA is composed of organization members. All abacus skill as well as abacus and mental arithmetic associations or relevant teaching and research organizations registered in their countries or regions can apply for the WAAMA membership. A country or region may have more than one (1) abacus and mental arithmetic group participating in the WAAMA. Members are divided into Council members and non-Council members. Council members include: Members of the first Council; national or regional abacus skill as well as abacus and mental arithmetic organizations that have joined the WAAMA during the second and later Councils; the first abacus and mental arithmetic organization of a country or a region that has joined the WAAMA. Other abacus and mental arithmetic-related education and research groups are non-Council members.

Article 8: A member applying to join the WAAMA must meet the following conditions:

(1) Recognizing the Articles of Association of the WAAMA;

(2) Having the willingness to join the WAAMA;

(3) Having certain influence in the business field (industry, discipline) of the WAAMA; and　　  　　

(4) Actively carrying out the work related to the education, teaching and research of Abacus skill as well as abacus and mental arithmetic.

Article 9: The procedure for membership application is as follows:

(1) Submit an application for membership;

(2) Deliberation and adoption by the Council; in case of special circumstances, it may be examined and approved by the Standing Council; and

(3) A membership card shall be issued by the Council or an institution authorized by the Council.

Article 10: Members shall enjoy the rights to:

(1) Elect, be elected and vote;

(2) Participate in the activities of the WAAMA;

(3) Obtain the priority of the services provided by the WAAMA;

(4) Criticize, advise and supervise the work of the WAAMA;

(5) Voluntarily become a member or withdraw from the WAAMA;　　

(6) Council members have the right to elect, be elected and vote; non-Council members have the right to elect and vote, but not to be elected.

Article 11: Members shall perform the following obligations:

(1) Implementing the resolutions of the WAAMA;

(2) Safeguarding the legitimate rights of the WAAMA;

(3) Completing the tasks assigned by the WAAMA;

(4) Paying membership fees in accordance with the regulations;

(5) Feeding back to the WAAMA and providing relevant information;

(6) Abiding by these Articles of Association of the WAAMA.

Article 12: A member withdrawing from the WAAMA shall give the notification in writing and return the membership card. Members who have not paid membership fees or participated in the activities of the WAAMA for two (2) years shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the WAAMA automatically.

Article 13: If a member commits any serious violation of these Articles of Association, he/she shall be removed from the list after being voted by the Council or the Standing Council.

Article 14: The highest authority of the WAAMA is the Membership Representative Assembly, whose functions and powers are:

(1) To formulate and amend these Articles of Association;

(2) To elect and remove Council members;

(3) To review the work reports and financial reports of the Council;

(4) To formulate and revise membership fee standards;

(5) To decide on termination matters;

(6) To discuss the working principles and tasks of the WAAMA.

(7) To decide on other important matters.

Article 15: The Membership Representative Assembly can only be convened when at least 2/3 of the members’ representatives are present. Its resolution can only take effect after being voted for by at least half of the members’ representatives present at the meeting.

Article 16: Each session of the Membership Representative Assembly shall last for four (4) years. In case of the need to advance or postpone the change due to special circumstances, the matter must be voted by the Council, reported to the competent authorities for examination and get approval by the community registration authority. However, the extension of the term of office shall not exceed one (1) year.

Article 17: The Council is the executive body of the Membership Representative Assembly. It leads the WAAMA to carry out its day-to-day work when the Membership Representative Assembly is not in session and reports to the Membership Representative Assembly.

Article 18: The functions and powers of the Council are:

(1) To implement the resolutions of the Membership Representative Assembly;

(2) To elect and remove the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General; to elect and remove executive council members;

(3) To prepare for the convening of Membership Representative Assembly;

(4) To report its work and financial status to the Membership Representative Assembly;

(5) To decide on the admission or removal of members;

(6) To decide matters related to setting up offices, branches, representative offices and entities;

(7) To decide on the appointment of the Deputy Secretary-General and the principal heads of subordinate entities;

(8) To lead the WAAMA to carry out its work;

(9) To develop an internal management system;

(10) To implement the resolutions of the Membership Representative Assembly;

(11) To engage consultants.

(12) To decide matters related to holding academic exchange meetings, abacus and mental arithmetic level appraisal and competitions;

(13) To decide on other important matters.

Article 19: The Council can only be convened when at least 2/3 of the members are present, and its resolution can only take effect after being voted for by at least 2/3 of the members present.

If he/she cannot attend in person due to special circumstances, a member may appoint a representative to attend or express his/her opinions in writing, which shall be deemed as attendance. All proposals formed at the meeting shall be valid only after being voted for by at least 2/3 of the members present (or their representatives).

Article 20: The Council shall hold at least one (1) meeting every year. Under special circumstances, a teleconference or video conference can also be held.

Article 21: The WAAMA shall have a Standing Council. The Standing Council shall be elected by the Council and shall exercise the functions and powers specified in Items (1), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) of Article 18 when the Council is not in session. It shall report to the Council (the number of Standing Council members shall not exceed 1/3 of the number of Council members).

Article 22: The Standing Council can only be convened when at least 2/3 of the Standing Council members are present, and its resolution can only take effect after being voted for by at least 2/3 of the Standing Council members present.

Article 23: The Standing Council shall convene meeting at least once every six (6) months. Under special circumstances, a teleconference or video conference can also be held.

Article 24: The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the WAAMA must meet the following conditions:

(1) Adhering to the CPC’s line, principles, policies and good political integrity;

(2) Having great influence in the business field of the WAAMA;

(3) The maximum age for holding office for the Chairman and Vice Chairman shall not exceed seventy (70) years old;

(4) The highest age for holding office of the Secretary-General is no more than seventy (70) years old, and the Secretary General is a full-time job;

(5) Being in good health and able to keep up with daily work;

(6) Having not received any criminal punishment that includes deprivation of political rights; and

(7) Having full capacity for civil conduct.

Article 25: If the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the WAAMA exceed the maximum age for holding office, they shall not hold office unless having been voted for by the Council, reported to the competent authorities for examination and approved by the community registration authority.

Article 26: The term of office of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the WAAMA shall be four (4) years, and one person can only serve for no more than two (2) terms. If it is necessary to extend the term of office due to special circumstances, the matter must be approved by at least 2/3 of the members’ representatives of the Membership Representative Assembly, reported to the competent authorities for examination and get approval by the community registration authority.

Article 27: The Chairman of the WAAMA shall be the legal representative of the WAAMA. The legal representative shall sign relevant important documents on behalf of the WAAMA.

If, due to special circumstances, the Vice Chairman or the Secretary-General is required to act as the legal representative, the matter shall be reported to the competent authorities for examination and get approval by the community registration authority.

The legal representative of the WAAMA must not concurrently serve as the legal representative of any other organization.

Article 28: The Chair of the WAAMA shall exercise the following functions and powers:

(1) To convene and preside over the Council and the Standing Council meetings;

(2) To oversee the implementation of the resolutions of the Membership Representative Assembly, the Council and the Standing Council;

(3) To decide on the appointment and removal of the Assistant to Secretary-General; and

(4) To sign relevant important documents on behalf of the WAAMA.

Article 29: The Secretary-General of the WAAMA shall exercise the following functions and powers:

(1) To lead the office to carry out day-to-day work, organize the implementation of annual work plans;

(2) To coordinate the work of all branches, representative offices and entities;

(3) To nominate the Deputy Secretary-General and the principal heads of all offices, branches, representative offices and entities, and submit the names to the Council or the Standing Council for decision;

(4) To decide on the employment of full-time staff in offices, representative offices and entities;

(5) To sign relevant important documents on behalf of the Chair with authorization from the latter; and

(6) To handle other day-to-day affairs.

Article 30: The sources of funding for the WAAMA are:

(1) Membership fees;

(2) Donations;

(3) Government subsidies;

(4) Income from activities or services carried out within the approved business scope;

(5) Interests;

(6) Funds;

(7) Other lawful incomes.

Article 31: The WAAMA shall collect membership fees in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state.

Article 32: The funds of the WAAMA must be used for the development of the business scope and undertakings stipulated in these Articles of Association and shall not be distributed among the members.

Article 33: The WAAMA shall establish a strict financial management system to ensure that the sources of assets are legal, true, accurate and complete.

Article 34: The WAAMA shall have accounting personnel with professional qualifications. An accountant shall not serve concurrently as a cashier. Accounting personnel must carry out accounting and be subject to accounting supervision. When accounting personnel transfer jobs or leave their posts, they must complete the handover procedures with their successors.

Article 35: The asset management of the WAAMA must follow the financial management system prescribed by the state and be subject to the supervision of the Membership Representative Assembly and the financial department. If the sources of assets are state grants or social donations or subsidies, they must be subject to the supervision of audit institutions, and the relevant information shall be disclosed to the public in an appropriate manner.

Article 36: The WAAMA must accept the financial audit organized by the community registration authority and competent authorities before changing or replacing its legal representative.

Article 37: No organization or individual may encroach on, embezzle or misappropriate the assets of the WAAMA. 　　

Article 38: The salaries, insurance and welfare benefits of the full-time staff of the WAAMA shall be implemented with reference to the relevant regulations of the state on public institutions.

Article 39: Amendments to these Articles of Association of the WAAMA shall be submitted to the Membership Representative Assembly for deliberation after being voted for by the Council.

Article 40: The revised Articles of Association of the WAAMA shall come into effect within fifteen (15) days after being adopted by the Membership Representative Assembly, upon the examination and approval of the competent authorities, and upon the approval of the community registration authority.

Article 41: If the WAAMA has completed its purpose or dissolved itself or needs to be cancelled due to separation, merger and/or other reasons, the Council or the Standing Council shall propose a termination motion.

Article 42: The termination motion of the WAAMA must be approved by the Membership Representative Assembly, and then be submitted to the competent authorities for examination and approval.

Article 43: Before the termination of the WAAMA, a liquidation organization shall be established under the guidance of the competent authorities and relevant authorities to clear up the creditor’s rights and debts and deal with the aftermath. During the liquidation period, no activities other than liquidation shall be carried out.

Article 44: The WAAMA shall be terminated upon going through the formalities of deregistration at the community registration authority.

Article 45: The remaining property after the termination of the WAAMA shall be used for the development of undertakings related to the purposes of the WAAMA under the supervision of the competent authorities and the community registration authority in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state.

Article 46: These Articles of Association were voted and approved by the Fifth Membership Representative Assembly on July 28, 2018.

Article 47: These Articles of Association shall be interpreted by the Council of the WAAMA.

Article 48: These Articles of Association shall come into force on the date of approval by the community registration authority.