THE STATUTES OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE OF HUNGARIANS IN ROMANIA

 

Contents

 

Fundamental principles of activity
The names of the Alliance
The goals of the Alliance
Membership
Territorial organizations
Platforms
Associated members
The Congress
The Council of DAHR Representatives
The Council of Mediation
The president of the Alliance
The honorary president
The executive president and the Executive Presidium

The Operative Council
The Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes
The Committee of Ethical and Disciplinary Problems
The Auditing Committee
The parliamentary group
General Council of DAHR Mayors and Councilors
The Consultative Council of Regional Presidents
The governmental executives of the Alliance
About the possessions of the Alliance
About cessation of the Alliance
About the official's inconsistently criteria
Temporary dispositions

 

 

I. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVITY

1.     The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (henceforth referred to as: the Alliance) operates on the principle of constitutional self-government.
In order to enforce the principle of self-government, the Statutes co-ordinates the activity of the leading bodies, the parliamentary group, the regional organizations, the platforms and the associated members. It also defines the sphere of authority of decision-making, executive and controlling bodies.

2.     The supreme corporate body of the Alliance is the Congress.
When the Congress is not in operation or is suspended, its powers devolve to the Council of DAHR Representatives, the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation, as well as the Operative Council.

3.     The executive body of the Alliance is the Executive Presidium, which carries out the resolutions adopted by the Congress, the Council of DAHR Representatives, the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation, as well as the Operative Council. In order to fulfil its tasks, it also makes decisions within its sphere of authority.
The top-level representative of the Alliance is the President.
The consultative bodies of the Alliance are the Council of Mediation, the Consultative Council of Territorial Presidents and the General Council of DAHR Mayors and Councillors.
At parliamentary and governmental level, as well as at the level of local authorities, political representation of the Alliance is carried out by the Parliamentary Group, the representatives of administrative authorities, the mayors, the deputy-mayors elected on the DAHR election lists, as well as the governmental office-holders nominated by the Alliance.

4.     The controlling bodies of the Alliance are the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes, the Auditing Committee and the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee.

5.     Elections within the Alliance are general, based on secret ballot.

 

II. THE NAME OF THE ALLIANCE

6.     The name of the organisation is: the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania – DAHR.
The Alliance is a legal entity registered in Romania.
The seat of the DAHR is in Bucharest. The executive body resides in Cluj (Kolozsvár). Other leading bodies of the Alliance may have their seats in other localities, too.

7.     The official stamp of the Alliance states its name and residency in Romanian and Hungarian. Headers of official documents may indicate the name of the Alliance in other languages, too.

 

III. THE GOALS OF THE ALLIANCE

8.     The Alliance is the representative association for the safeguarding of common interests of the ethnic Hungarian community in Romania. Its function is to support the self-organization of the Hungarian community in order to protect and maintain its national identity. Community representation and the protection of interests are practised in the spirit of democracy and pluralism, in a manner whereby all members of the Alliance can assert their own free wills.

9.     The goals of the Alliance are listed in its Programme.

 

IV. MEMBERSHIP

10. Any Romanian citizen, who applies in written form to one of the local organizations of the Alliance, declaring his desire to join and his agreement with the Programme and the Statutes of the Alliance, can become an individual member of the Alliance.
Individual members are active within territorial organizations, platforms or associated members.
Individual members of 18 or over can elect and can be elected in all the bodies of the Alliance.
Detailed regulations regarding individual membership are included in the statutes of the territorial organizations, platforms and associated members.

11. The territorial organizations and platforms are represented in the Council of DAHR Representatives at the level of the Alliance.
The associated members of the Alliance are represented in the Council of Mediation and the councils of mediation of territorial organizations or councils of representatives (committees).

12. The territorial organizations, platforms, associated members and office holders may not dissociate themselves from the resolutions of the Congress, the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation or the Operative Council. They cannot delimit themselves from the positions taken by the president of the Alliance in conformity with the above mentioned resolutions either.
The territorial organizations, the platforms and the associated members are obliged to:

a.     comply with the Statutes of the Alliance;

b.    contribute quarterly to the financial support of the Alliance with 10% of their income obtained by subscription;

c.     elaborate their own internal statutes and programmes, and lay them before the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes within 30 days from its passing.

13. If the commitments undertaken are broken, the respective associated member can be expelled, the platform dissolved, whereas in the case of a territorial organization the election of officials is called.
The Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes decides whether the engagement has been broken or not.
The Council of DAHR Representatives determines if sanctions are to be imposed.

 

A. TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATIONS

14. Territorial organizations are the largest autonomous entities within the Alliance created freely by members operating according to their internal rules and regulations. They are in the service of the Alliance in achieving its objectives by the means and the spheres of authority provided by the Statute.
In order to establish new territorial organizations or to reorganize existing ones, the Council of DAHR Representatives must make a decision in this respect.
The territorial organizations co-ordinate the activity of both the local and associated organizations.

15. According to the principle of internal self-determination, the Alliance is organized in the following levels:

a.     local organizations comprising individual members;

b.    two or more local organizations forming district organizations;

c.     two or more local, respectively district organizations forming territorial/regional organizations, these regions having to conform with the counties as defined by the Romanian official administration; the exceptions are enumerated in the last paragraph.

d.    counties where several territorial organizations operate, are obliged to supervise co-operation and establish a council of mediation in order to make county level decisions, respectively to supervise the activity of the governmental executives and county councillor; the resolutions adopted are binding for both the respective territorial organizations and the executives enumerated above;

e.     a number of adjacent territorial organizations may establish a regional council of mediation in order to solve specific regional problems, reconcile divergent opinions and for united represention.

f.      In those counties where the percentage of the population belonging to the Hungarian community in Romania is low, several local organizations of the same county, as well as district organizations may form a territorial organization or join a territorial organization in the neighbouring county.

16. Organizations referred to in paragraphs c.), d.) and e.) must have their own regulations. The prerequisite of their existence is that their regulations are submitted to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes and their goals are consistent with the Statutes and the Programme of the Alliance.

17. Decision-making, executive and supervisory bodies effect the management of territorial organizations.
The mandate of these bodies and their officials – including that of territorial presidents – is specified in the statutes of the territorial organizations, but it cannot exceed 4 years. In case the (re)election of the officials is failing to take place, the Executive Presidium must convene the general meeting for the (re)election of the officials. In case it fails to convene the meeting, the Executive Presidium nominates a delegate president.

18. The decision-making bodies of territorial organizations are as follows:

a) the supreme decision-making body is the Assembly of Deputies;

b) between two meetings of the Assembly of Deputies, decisions are made, according to the resolutions of the Assembly of Deputies by:

b/1) a one corporate board or

b/2) a two corporate board formed of the Council of Territorial Representatives and the Territorial Council of Mediation; the latter also fulfils consultative and reporting tasks.

19. The Assembly of Deputies is formed of the territorial delegates. The Council of Territorial Delegates decides on the total number of the deputies. The Council of Territorial Delegates shall also decide upon the number of deputies delegated by local organizations according to the number of paying members or the number of votes received by the Alliance at the last parliamentary elections.

20. Sphere of authority of the Assembly of Deputies:

a.     passes the programme of action and the statutes of the territorial organization which must be consistent with the Programme and the Statutes of the Alliance;

b.    elects the territorial president, respectively decides on the modalities of the election;

c.     elects the Auditing Committee, the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes and the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee;

d.    decides on the number, the composition and the modality of election of the board;

e.     asks the persons and bodies elected by it to render account of their activity; hears and passes their reports or rejects them and decides upon sanctions;

f.      in case it decides to elect the territorial president and the members of the Council of Territorial Representatives by local internal elections, it establishes the date and the modalities of those election;

g.     hears and passes the report on the activity of the board, or rejects it and decides upon sanctions.

h.     finalizes the list of candidates for Parliament in consensus with the Operative Council, based on the relevant resolution of the Council of DAHR Representatives, in case Article 95 paragraph 1 is not effective.

21. The Council of Territorial Representatives consists of elected territorial representatives, the members of parliament, a number of mayors and councillors as established by the Council of Territorial Representatives, the members of the Council of DAHR Representatives, the representatives of platforms at the level of the respective territorial organization, the representatives of youth and student organizations operating on their territory. The number of the latter members may equal 15% of the total number of the Council.
The one corporate board shall also include the representatives of the associated organization and churches. The number of members representing platforms, associated members and the representatives of churches cannot exceed 30% of the total number of the Council members.
Those county councillors who are not members of the Council must participate with consultative right at the meeting of the Council of Territorial Representatives.
The staff of the board, respectively that of the regional Council of DAHR Representatives must count at least 15 members.

22. Sphere of authority of the Council of Territorial Representatives, respectively of the Board:

a.     elects the Standing Bureau of the board (president, vice-president, secretaries);

b.    passes resolutions about the activity of the territorial organization;

c.     passes the territorial estimates;

d.    takes decisions about territorial membership fees;

e.     passes resolutions on the internal territorial partitioning;

f.      settles salaries for territorial employees;

g.     adopts the modality in which the resolutions adopted by the Alliance are carried out at territorial level;

h.     elaborates its own organizational-operational regulations;

i.       passes the organizational-operational regulations of the territorial executive presidium;

j.      confirms the territorial executive president at the proposal of the territorial president;

k.    confirms the status of the members named for the territorial executive staff at the proposal of the territorial executive president;

l.       assigns territorial administration officials, except for the cases enumerated in paragraph 18/d;

m.   elaborates the procedure for nominating future senators, deputies and administrative officials in accordance with the resolution of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

n.     in justified cases, orders the (re-)election of the board of a local or district organization;

o.    fulfils any other duties set by the assembly of deputies.

23. Each territorial organization has an elected president.
The president of the territorial organization is elected by secret ballot and the total majority of votes (half plus one) of the assembly of deputies using the same procedure as in the case of the election of the president of the Alliance.
Sphere of authority of the territorial president:

a.     represents and leads the activity of the territorial organization;

b.    convenes the Council of Territorial Representatives, the Territorial Council of Mediation, the Territorial Council of DAHR Mayors and Councillors and the Territorial Operative Council;

c.     coordinates the activity of bodies set up within territorial organizations;

d.    supervises the carrying out of resolutions at territorial and national level, as well as the activity of the Territorial Executive Presidium;

e.     recommends candidates for the position of the executive president to the board and the Council of Territorial Representatives;

f.      participates with consultative power in the sessions of the Council of Territorial Representatives, Territorial Council of Mediation and the Territorial Council of DAHR Mayors and Councillor;

g.     announces and organizes the elections in local, district and territorial organizations, in case the (re)election of the officials fails to take place; nominates a delegate president if he fails to organize the elections;

h.     fulfils any other duties set by the assembly of deputies.

24. The sphere of authority and responsibility derived from national registration required in the activity of the territorial organizations can be assigned to the territorial president through a letter of credence, signed by the President of the Alliance or the Executive President, in conformity with paragraph 60/r, chapter 8 and paragraph 67/j, chapter 10. It can be also revoked in case the Statutes has been violated.

25. The executive body formed of an executive president and vice-presidents lead the executive activity of a territorial organization.The territorial executive body, the Council of Territorial Representatives operates in conformity with its own activity rules and regulations adopted by the board and the Council of Territorial Representatives; it is subordinated exclusively to its board and the Assembly of Deputies.

26. The territorial ethical and disciplinary committees, the territorial committees forhe supervision of the statutes and the territorial auditing committees are elected by the assemblies of the deputies; their activity operates in conformity with the activity rules and regulations of the corresponding committee at the level of the Alliance.

27. The Territorial Council of DAHR Mayors and Councillors is the supreme representative, co-ordinating and consultative body of mayors, deputy mayors and councillors elected on the lists of the Alliance at territorial level.
The territorial councils elaborate their own activity rules in conformity with the Statutes of the General Council of DAHR

 

B. PLATFORMS

28. The platforms are freely formed internal political organizations.

29. The conditions for the recognition of platforms within the Alliance, the modalities of co-operation, as well as the ghts and obligations within the Alliance are stipulated in the present Statutes, as well as in independent resolution issued by the Council of DAHR Representatives.

30. In order to be accredited as members of the Alliance, the platforms have to submit the following documents to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes:

a.     the Statement of Intentions, including the statement of their political aims;

b.    the Programme and activity regulations;

c.     a list signed by the supporters of the platform, to justify the political need in support of their existence.

31. The platforms become members of the Alliance on the basis of the draft resolution of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes. Following the registration request of the platform, the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes must submit the draft resolution concerning that registration to the Council of DAHR Representatives at its first meeting after filing the documents.

32. The platforms have the right to:

a.     be represented in the territorial and central bodies of the DAHR according to results obtained during the internal elections;

b.    get moral and financial support for their activity from the of the Aliiance-budget;

c.     organize different programmes, have operational conditions at the headquarters of the territorial organizations, depending on local possibilities, based on an agreement made with the territorial presidium.

33. The duties of the platforms are to:

a.     observe the Statutes of the Alliance;

b.    have their own organizational-operational regulations;

c.     proclaim their goals in a "statement of intentions", not running counter to the programme of the Alliance;

d.    fulfil the rules on internal organizations stipulated in the resolutions of the Council of DAHR Representatives;

e.     apply to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes for being accredited as internal organizations.

 

C. ASSOCIATED MEMBERS

34. Associated members are those groups consisting of individual members that are prompted by ideological, social, scientific, artistic, professional or other reasons, which submit in writing their wish for co-operation to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes.
Appropriate bodies take resolutions on the association of territorial or local civic organizations.

35. The specialized activity of the Alliance for the defence of interests is effected in common by the associated members and the Executive Presidium.

 

V. THE CONGRESS

36. The supreme decision-making body of the Alliance is the Congress. The Congress consists of the members of the Council of DAHR Representatives, the Council of Mediation, and delegates assigned in accordance with principles defined by both bodies.

37. The President convenes the Congress every four years for its normal session or, for exceptional sessions, at any time the Council of DAHR Representatives decides so by a majority of two-thirds of the votes.
Sessions of the Congress are chaired by the Chairing Presidium, proposed to the Congress by the Council of DAHR Representatives.
The delegates are commissioned in writing by their organizations; their mandates are attested by the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes prior to the opening of the Congress. The Congress has a quorum if two-thirds of the representatives are present.
The members of the Executive Presidium, the Auditing Committee, the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee and the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes participate with consultative power, in case they do not possess another mandate.

38. The Congress has the absolute power to:

a.     approve the Statutes and the Programme;

b.    elect the President of the Alliance;

c.     hear, assess and pass the report of the President;

d.    hear and pass the report presented by the elected bodies;

e.     relieve the president of the Alliance at the proposal of the joint session of the Council of Representatives and of the Council of Mediation.

39. The Congress takes decisions supported by the simple majority (half plus one) of votes of the members present; the Statutes and the Programme are voted by a majority of two-thirds of the attendance.

 

VI. THE COUNCIL OF DAHR REPRESENTATIVES

40. The Council of DAHR Representatives is composed of the representatives elected during the elections of the Alliance.
The heads of the historical Hungarian churches and the Standing Bureau of the Council of Mediation may participate with consultative right at the sessions of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

41. The members of the Council of DAHR Representatives are of equal rank within the Alliance. The Council of DAHR Representatives is convened in regular meetings every three months, and in extraordinary session at any time. It has a quorum in the presence of the simple majority of its members. The meetings are chaired by the President of the Council of DAHR Representatives or, if he is absent, by the vice-presidents.

42. The activity of the Council of DAHR Representatives is managed by its Standing Bureau, which is charged to make the arrangements for the meetings of the Council and to ensure the flow of information.
At the proposal of one-third of its members, the Council of DAHR Representatives is bound to re-elect its Standing Bureau.
Meetings of the Council of DAHR Representatives are convoked by the President of the Alliance at the proposal of the Standing Bureau or of one-third of the members of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation. In case of his hindrance, the Executive President convokes the Council of DAHR Representatives.

43. Sphere of authority of the Council of DAHR Representatives:

a.     adopts resolutions concerning organizational matters and activity problems which do not imply modifications of the Statutes or of the Programme;

b.    hears the biannual reports of the Executive President on the activity of the executive body;

c.     hears the standpoint of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes, when this one is invited to report;

d.    hears the special report of the Executive Presidium, of the executive vice-president in question or of the governmental executives at the initiative of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

e.     in justified cases orders the (re-)election of the board of local organization;

f.      hears the reports of the governmental executives of the Alliance, biannually or at the end of office;

g.     elects the president, vice-presidents and secretaries of the Council of DAHR Representatives;

h.     hears and assesses the report of the parliamentary factions biannually or at the end of their mandate.

44. Resolutions adopted by the Council of DAHR Representatives can be organic or simple resolutions.
With organic resolution the Council of DAHR Representatives:

a.     makes fundamental and long-range decisions, deduced from the programme of the Alliance;

b.    adopts the internal rules and regulations of the Council;

c.     ratifies agreements concerning the Alliance;

d.    elects the president of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the members of the Standing Bureau;

e.     ratifies the membership of platforms and parties or decides the cancelling of these memberships;

f.      settles the date and methods of elections within the Alliance;

g.     approves the organizational and activity regulations of the Executive Presidium;

h.     approves the activity rules and regulations of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statues, of the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee and of the Auditing Committee;

i.       fixes the date of the Congress;

j.      approves the activity regulations of the Parliamentary Group;

k.    makes decisions about joining international organizations;

l.       regulates the method of nominating future members of parliament and administrative officials in accordance with the resolution of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

46. Simple decisions are taken by the majority vote of the attendance. Organic decisions are taken with the two-thirds of the votes of the attendance.
Resolutions regarding persons are taken by secret ballot.

47. Any member of the Council, the President of the Alliance, the Honourary President, the Executive President and the Council of Mediation can propose draft resolutions.
All the draft-resolutions are passed by specialized committees prior to their submitting to the Council of DAHR Representatives.
Recalling of the Executive President may be proposed in writing by at least one-third of the members of Council of DAHR Representatives.
The Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes can revise the activity of the President of the Alliance at the demand in writing by one-third of the members of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

48. The members of the Council of DAHR Representatives dispose of personal mandates. Their mandates are valid up to the first assembly of the new representatives succeeding them.
They make decisions according to their full personal conviction and are not amendable for them within the Alliance.
The mandate can cease by resignation, withdrawal, decease or due to inconsistency.

49. The Conciliation Round-Table is the corporate body of the Council of DAHR Representatives which embodies internal pluralism and prepares its resolutions.
It holds compulsory meetings prior to those of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

 

VII. THE COUNCIL OF MEDIATION

50. The Council of Mediation is the representative, co-ordinating, consultative and – on its own authority –, decision-making forum of professional, social and cultural organizations joined within the Alliance. Through its associated organizations, it represents the pluralism of values and interests of the Hungarians in Romania.

51. The membership of the Council of Mediation consists of the representatives of associated members, church dignitaries, cultural, academic and of public personalities.
The Council of Mediation is composed of:

a.     church dignitaries, cultural, academic and public personalities, not more than 15 persons in all;

b.    6 representatives of the associated cultural organizations;

c.     3 representatives of the associated higher educational institutions;

d.    5 representatives of other associated educational organizations;

e.     4 representatives of associated learned societies;

f.      2 representatives of women's associations;

g.     6 representatives of associated youth and students organizations;

h.     2 representatives of each associated professional and hierarchical organizations.

52. Church dignitaries, cultural, academic and public personalities are invited into the Council of Mediation by the President of the Alliance. They can obtain total or consultative power.
Other hierarchical organizations may also participate in the activity of the Council of Mediation as observers, with one (1) representative each, at their own request, if they are willing to co-operate.

53. The delegated members of the Council of Mediation dispose of individual mandates for a period of four years.
They may be replaced with new delegated members only by the adequate forums.

54. The Council of Mediation elects its president and the members of its own Standing Bureau.
The Standing Bureau is charged to put into force the resolutions adopted by the Council, to prepare its meetings and ensure the flow of the required information.
The Standing Bureau may attend the meetings of the Council of DAHR Representatives as consultants.

55. Sphere of authority of the Council of Mediation:

a.     takes a fundamental position regarding the basic problems of the Hungarians in Romania;

b.    coordinates the activity of the associated members;

c.     proposes draft resolutions to the Council of DAHR Representatives;

d.    may qualify the resolutions adopted by the Council of DAHR Representatives; may ask for one more debate on the resolutions;

e.     gives assistance to the decision-making bodies of the Alliance; associated organizations are also initiated into this activity;

f.      may ask for accounts from the President of the Alliance, the Executive President, and the leaders of Parliamentary factions;

g.     elaborates its own organizational and activity regulations.

56. The President of the Alliance convenes the sessions of the Council of Mediation at the suggestion of the Standing Bureau of the Council, or at the proposal of one-third of the members of the Council of Mediation, at least biannually for normal session. One-third of the members of the Council of Mediation may request the recall of the Executive President.
The Council has a quorum in the presence of the majority of its members; decisions are taken by two-thirds of votes.

57. The Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation must have joint meetings at least once a year.
Sphere of authority of the joint meeting:

a.     designates the Executive Presidium at the proposal of the President of the Alliance;

b.    elects the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes, the Committee of Ethical and Disciplinary Problems and the Auditing Committee;

c.     hears the annual reports of the officials and of its elected committees;

d.    evaluates the implementation of the estimates for the previous year based on the report of the Auditing Committee and approves the new annual estimates;

e.     passes the activity regulations of the Operative Council;

f.      may dispose of the authorities of the Council of DAHR Representatives as set in paragraph a) of its sphere of authority.

Joint meetings are convoked by the President of the Alliance, at the proposal of the two Standing Bureaus or of one-third of its members. In case of the President's hindrance, the Executive President convenes the meeting.

The two standing bureaux chair the joint meeting.

 

VIII. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALLIANCE

58. The Congress elects the President of the Alliance for a period of four years.
The candidates for presidency have to report their intention to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes at least a month prior to the elective session (Congress). They must present the list of their supporters including at least two collective members (one of these is compulsorily a territorial organization), or a thousand of individual members.
The President is elected by secret ballot, by the total majority of the votes.
If the first round is a draw, a second round follows with the participation of those two candidates who gained most of the votes.
In case at the end of the first round two or more candidates are on the first position with equal number of votes, they will all participate in the second round.
This is equally true if candidates getting the same number of votes are on the second position.

59. The President relates about his activity in front of the Congress, the Council of DAHR Representatives and the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.
The President's Cabinet composed of experts supports the activity of the President.
The President is recompensed for his activity with a fee adjudged by the Council of DAHR Representatives.

60. The President's sphere of authority:

a.     represents the Alliance at the highest level;

b.    is responsible for the external policy of the Alliance;

c.     occasionally charges its office-holders to represent the Alliance in political questions;

d.    presents draft resolutions to the Council of DAHR Representatives, the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation, the Operative Council and the Executive Presidium;

e.     co-ordinates politically activities at each level;

f.      participates with consultative right in the meetings of the Council of DAHR Representatives, the Council of Mediation and the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation;

g.     convenes the normal and extraordinary sessions of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation at the proposal of the standing bureaux;

h.     convokes the Congress;

i.       proposes candidates for the post of executive president to the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation. If the candidate fails to obtain the required number of votes, that person may be proposed only one more time.

j.      issues declarations, statements in the spirit of the Programme of the Alliance, resolutions made by the Congress, the Council of DAHR Representatives, the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation or the Operative Council;

k.    calls for internal elections at the decision of the Council of DAHR Representatives;

l.       conciliates the interests of different bodies, respectively of the associated members of the Alliance;

m.   appoints the caretaker Executive Vice-President at the proposal of the Executive President;

n.     may establish consultative bodies;

o.    may apply to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes with problems regarding the interpretation of the Statutes;

p.    convokes the Operative Council;

q.    relates about the state of the Alliance to the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation, answers questions;

r.      may apply to the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee, the Auditing Committee and the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes;

s.     may delegate authorities based on mandates or withdraw them in case the Statutes is violated;

t.      supervises the activity of the parliamentary factions;

u.     supervises the activity of the governmental executives of the Alliance.

61. In case of the President's decease or hindrance, he is deputised by the President of the Council of DAHR Representatives.
The Operative Council establishes his hindrance.

62. In case the activity of the President of the Alliance violates the stipulations of the Statutes, the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes supervises the President's activity at the written request of one-third of the members of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation; the Committee may suggest the President's exemption or inform the bodies on the groundlessness of the motion.
The joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation decides about the exemption by a majority of two-thirds of the attendance's vote.
The Congress convoked in extraordinary session by the president of the Council of DAHR Representatives decides on the exemption within 30 days, by half plus one of the votes of the delegates present.

 

IX. THE HONOURARY PRESIDENT

63. The Honourary President may be an outstanding member of the Alliance, a highly respected personality of the Hungarian community from Romania.

64. The Honourary President:

a.     represents the Alliance;

b.    is a member of the Operative Council;

c.     may participate with consultative power the meetings of the Council of DAHR Representatives, the Council of Mediation, the Council of Mayors and Councillors and the Executive Presidium.

d.    may present draft resolutions at the meetings of the above mentioned bodies;

e.     attends the conferences of strategic importance of the Alliance as well as the high level inland and abroad talks.

65. The experts and the infrastructure of the Executive Presidium support the activity of the Honourary President.

 

X. THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDIUM

66. The Executive President and the executive vice-presidents are nominated or recalled by the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.
The Executive President and the executive vice-presidents are responsible for their actions before the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.
The Executive President is a full-time employee.
The executive vice-presidents are or are not full-time employees.

67. The sphere of authority of the Executive President:

a.     organizes and leads the activity of the Executive Presidium, supervises the activity of the executive bodies of territorial organizations, supervises the execution of resolutions passed by the Congress, the Council of DAHR Representatives, the Operative Council on territorial organizations;

The Executive President is the common employer of the executive officials of the Executive Presidium, of the President's Cabinet and of the territorial organizations who get their salary from central funds.

b.    concludes employment contracts with the employees of the Executive Presidium, DAHR President's Cabinet, as well as the employees of territorial organizations;

c.     represents the Alliance in its quarters of competence;

d.    may delegate his mandate to the members of the Executive Presidium, in conformity with its activity regulations;

e.     elaborates and submits the organizing and activity rules and regulations of the Executive Presidium for approval to the Council of DAHR Representatives;

f.      proposes for confirmation and appoints the Executive Vice-Presidents and the caretaker vice-presidents;

g.     submits biannual written reports on the state of the Alliance to the Council of DAHR Representatives;

h.     participates with consultative power in the meetings of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation;

i.       supports the activity of the parliamentary factions and the representatives in the executive by lending expert assistance;

j.      may delegate authorities derived from internal registration and required in the activity of territorial organizations;

k.    convenes the Operative Council in case of the President's hindrance.

68. The Executive President may be recalled at the initiative of one-third of the members of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation or the President of the Alliance.
The Executive President is decided at the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation by half plus one of the votes of the members.

69. The members of the Executive Presidium are: the Executive President, his deputy assigned among the vice-presidents and confirmed by the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation and the other vice-presidents.
The Executive Presidium is confirmed or recalled by the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.
The term of office of the Executive Presidium is of four years.
The Executive Presidium stays in office until the new Executive Presidium is nominated by the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.

70. The Executive Presidium makes decisions in the presence of two-thirds of its staff, by absolute majority of votes. As stipulated in the regulations of the Executive Presidium, its members may decide independently within their fields. They must acknowledge the Executive Presidium about these resolutions.

71. The executive offices of the Alliance are subordinated to the Executive Presidium.
One of the vice-presidents of the Executive Presidium is responsible for the activity of territorial organizations. He supervises, supports and coordinates the activity of the executive bodies of territorial organizations, and may be called by the Executive Presidium or the Council of DAHR Representatives to give account about the activity effected.

72. The Executive President may decide about the assignment, or the withdrawal of any of the executive vice-presidents, as stipulated in paragraph 68/f. Resolutions of this kind are announced in writing to the concerned persons and reported at the very next session of the Executive Presidium. Resolutions come to force after being reported.

73. The Executive President may propose the President of the Alliance to fill vacant vice-presidential functions with caretaker vice-presidents within 15 days. The President of the Alliance confirms the caretaker vice-presidents.
If the Executive Presidium with permanent members cannot be formed on the subsequent meeting of the Council of DAHR Representatives, the Executive President must submit his resignation to the President of the Alliance.

74. The Executive Presidium has regular deliberations with the Consultative Council of Territorial Presidents; in its operative decisions having organizational or operational character, and regarding the co-ordinated activity of the Alliance, the Executive Presidium takes into consideration the opinion of the Council, too.

75. The Executive Presidium surveys the state of the DAHR members – including the Moldavian Chango-Hungarians – and financially supports them by allocations at the recommendation of a special council.

 

XI. THE OPERATIVE COUNCIL

76. The Operative Council is a permanent corporate body having 9 members which holds meetings when required. It operates according to its own regulations passed by the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.
The Operative Council is convoked by the President of the Alliance or, in case of his hindrance, by the Executive President.
The Operative Council is convoked compulsory at the initiative of at least three of its members.
Prior to decision-making, the Operative Council must consult the presidents of the territorial organizations.

77. The President of the Alliance must inform the Council of DAHR Representatives on the activity of the Operative Council. The Council of DAHR Representatives rules whether to pass or annul the resolution of the Operative Council on the basis of the report.

78. The members of the Operative Council are the President of the Alliance, the Honourary President, the Executive President, the President of the Council of DAHR Representatives, the President of the Council of Mediation, the president of the Council for DAHR Mayors and Councillors, the presidents of DAHR factions of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the vice-president specially assigned to deputize the Executive President.
The Operative Council disposes both of the authorities of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation as set in paragraph a.) of their sphere of authority.
The Operative Council has the power to issue resolutions.

79. The Operative Council cannot limit the activity of the supervisory committees of the Alliance.

 

XII. THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SUPERVISION OF THE STATUTES

80. The Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes is a central corporate body which supervises the consistency of the system of rules within the Alliance and the regularity of its operation in all respects and at all levels. It is a corporate body having five members who are jurist. They are elected at the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation for a period of five years.

81. Sphere of authority of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes:

1.    at first level:

a.     examines the consistency of the resolutions adopted by decision-making bodies with the Statutes;

b.    examines the programmes and statutes of territorial organizations, platforms and associated members, as well as their consistency with the Programme an the Statutes of the Alliance;

c.     interprets the Statutes with exclusive validity;

d.    investigates the ethical or disciplinary offenses of the members of the Committee of Ethical and Disciplinary Problems;

e.     makes decisions in any other cases attributed in its sphere of authority by the present Statutes, the Council of DAHR Representatives or the President of the Alliance.

2.    at second level:

a.     makes decisions in case an appeal was lodged against the decision of the territorial Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes.

82. The Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes elaborates its own operational regulations and statutes and submits for approval to the Council of DAHR Representatives. Within two weeks from their approval, the Executive Presidium must publish them in its official publications and send their copies to each territorial organization, platform, associated member and other central bodies. The Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes may start its activity only after the publication of its operation.
A president elected from its member’s leads its activity.
The Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes makes decisions in the presence of all its members.
The resolutions of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes may be resolutions on accordance with the regulations, on interpretation, authoritative ruling or resolutions relating to discipline. Its resolutions are taken by a majority of votes. In case of an even number of votes, the vote of the president is conclusive.
The resolutions of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes are non-appealable.
Presents annual reports at the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.

83. Its activity is supported by the Executive Presidium.
Its activity is financially supported by a special allocation from the budget of the DAHR.

84. The mandate of the members of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes ceases in case of resignation before term or of decease.

 

XIII. THE COMMITTEE OF ETHICAL AND DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS

85. The task of the Committee of Ethical and Disciplinary Problems is to examine all of the ethical problems arising within the Alliance and to propose solutions to the competent decision-making bodies. It is a corporate body having seven members out which at least three are jurist. They are elected at the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation for a period of five years.
A president elected from among its members leads its activity.
It presents annual reports at the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.

86. The committees of ethical and disciplinary problems are bodies charged to pass judgement on ethical and disciplinary affairs within the Alliance. The committees of ethical and disciplinary problems respect the following hierarchy:

a.     the local (territorial, county) committees of ethical problems are the absolute first-grade judging bodies proceeding in local (territorial, county) ethical and disciplinary affairs;

b.    the Primary Council of the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee is a first-grade, three-member forum, proceeding in ethical or disciplinary offences within the Alliance. It is also the forum of appeal for the contested resolutions of local committees of ethical problems. The Primary Council decides whether the ethical offence in case is to be debated at the level of the Alliance.

c.     the General Council of the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee is the five-member forum for appeal for resolutions brought by the Primary Council. It has the power to re-discuss/re-examine final resolutions at any level adopted by committees of ethical problems.

A secretary, appointed in each case in part by the Executive Presidium supports the activity of the Committee of Ethical and Disciplinary Problems. Its activity is financially supported by allocations from the budget of the DAHR.

87. The Committee of Ethical and Disciplinary Problems elaborates the general rule of procedure on ethical and disciplinary problems and submits it for approval to the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation. After it is published in the official publications of the Alliance it has a binding force for all the committees of ethical and disciplinary problems at all levels.

88. The mandate of the members of the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes ceases before term in case of resignation or of decease.

 

XIV. THE AUDITING COMMITTEE

89. The Auditing Committee is charged to continuously verify the financial and property management of the Alliance. Its five members are elected at the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation for a period of five years. They are financial and management experts.

90. The Auditing Committee submits annual reports on the implementation of the estimates of the Alliance at the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation.

91. The Auditing Committees of the Alliance and the territorial auditing committees form a uniform system. The Council of DAHR Representatives approves its rules and regulations. Within this uniform system the Auditing Committee of the Alliance may order the territorial auditing committees to start up inquiries; on the other hand, appeals against resolutions of territorial auditing committees may be lodged to the Auditing Committee of the Alliance as well. The Committee solves the latter cases immediately.
The Ethical and Disciplinary Committee and the territorial (local, county) auditing committees intervene at request or officially.
The organization and operation of the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee and of territorial (local, county) auditing committees are directed by special resolutions of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

92. A secretary, appointed in each case in part by the Executive Presidium supports the activity of the Auditing Committee.
Its activity is financially supported by a special allocation from the budget of the DAHR.

93. The mandate of the members ceases before term in case of resignation or of decease.

 

XV. THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

94. The Parliamentary Group is composed of the deputies and senators of the Alliance. It has its own rules and regulations approved by the Council of DAHR Representatives.
The Parliamentary Group is competent to make decisions required in the Parliamentary activity.
The competent members of the special parliamentary committees express and submit their opinions in writing to the Executive Presidium on candidates to be nominated as ministers or secretaries of state.
During their entire political activity the members of the Parliamentary Group are compelled to respect the resolutions of the Congress, the Council of DAHR Representatives, the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and of the Council of Mediation, the Operative Council, respectively the resolutions of the group or factions passed with a majority of two-thirds.
The factions elect their leaders annually.

95. Based on the resolutions of the boards of territorial organizations, the future deputies and senators are nominated during general and direct, equal and secret pre-elections, except the person of the current president of the Alliance, who is nominated as to obtain ex officio a mandate. The Council of DAHR Representatives decides upon the constituency of the President of the Alliance.
In case the procedure regulated in the first paragraph is not effective, the assembly of county deputies nominates the future deputies and senators in concert with the Operative Council.
The organization of the pre-elections or the procedure of election in case of failure is stipulated in a separate resolution of the Council of DAHR Representatives.
The expenditure of the pre-elections are covered by the Executive Presidium and the territorial organization.
The President of the Alliance signs the lists of candidates.

 

XVI. GENERAL COUNCIL OF DAHR MAYORS AND COUNCILLORS

96. The General Council of DAHR Mayors and Councillors is the representative, co-ordinating and consultative body of mayors, deputy mayors and councillors elected on the lists of the Alliance at national level.

97. Its sphere of authority contains problems of local administration, including their professional projection, and the defence of interests.

98. It operates according to its own organizing and activity rules and regulations, approved by the Council of DAHR Representatives. The president of the General Council of DAHR Mayors and Councillors is elected in accordance with its own organising and activity rules and regulations. The president of the General Council of DAHR Mayors and Councillors is member of the Operative Council.

 

XVII. THE CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF REGIONAL PRESIDENTS

99. The Council consists of the presidents of territorial organizations. It is a consultative body which is active mainly in the process of preparing the important decisions, fundamental political satandpoints of the President of the Alliance, the Executive Presidium, the Council of DAHR Representatives, the Operative Council. The exact duties, the organizational and activity regulations of the Council are approved by the Council of DAHR Representatives.

 

XVIII. THE GOVERNMENTAL EXECUTIVES OF THE ALLIANCE

100.                     The Council of DAHR Representatives makes decisions on the participation of the Alliance in the governmental coalition.

101.                     In case of functions concerning posts of ministers and state secretaries, the persons of the nominee is decided by the Operative Council, based on the proposal of the Executive Presidium. In both cases, the territorial organizations and platforms, as well as the associated members have the right to put forward proposals.
In the case of functions concerning posts of prefects and deputy-prefects, as well as in the case of functions at county level – after a prior consultation with professional organizations – the right of nomination is due to the territorial organization, respectively the county council of mediation.

102.                     The governmental executives represent the priorities of value and interest of the Alliance according to the best of their knowledge.
The President of the Alliance supervises their activity.
The governmental executives are obliged to give accounts to the Council of DAHR Representatives, the joint session of the Council of DAHR Representatives and the Council of Mediation, the President of the Alliance and the Executive President.

103.                     The group of governmental executives also functions as the consultative body of the President of the Alliance. An executive vice-president nominated by the Executive President from among its members co-ordinates their activity and is assisted by a Bucharest-centred information bureau.
In problems concerning professional questions, as well as in those for the defence of interests, they address the competent departments of the Executive Presidium.
The Operative Council recalls the governmental executives at the proposal of the Executive Presidium.
The recalling may be initiated by one-third of the Council of DAHR Representatives. In this case the Council of DAHR Representatives decides by majority of votes.
The governmental executives of the Alliance participate compulsorily with consultative right at the meetings of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

 

XIX. ABOUT THE POSSESSIONS OF THE ALLIANCE

104.                     Sources of funds of the Alliance:

a.     incomes derived from donations and contributions of supporting members;

b.    incomes derived from cultural and legal economic activities;

c.     10% of the income of territorial organizations and platforms resulting from subscriptions;

d.    estimates.

105.                     The sources of income of Alliance are as follows: dues, contributions, donations, association fees, estimates and other legally obtained incomes.
The registration, managing and transfer/remittance of the possessions of the Alliance are done with the assent of the Executive Presidium.

106.                     The individual members pay membership dues; these dues are registered by the territorial organizations.
The territorial organizations make an annual report on the payment of membership dues.
The stamp on the membership card and the receipt given proves the payment of membership dues.

107.                     The membership dues of those officials who had obtained their functions due to the DAHR is regulated by the Council of DAHR Representatives.

108.                     By donations we mean those legally obtained allowances in money, services or possessions offered by private individuals or legal entities, which aim at supporting the activity of the Alliance.

109.                     The funds deriving from the state budget are managed by the Executive Presidium.

110.                     The territorial organizations and platforms receive financial assistance from the budget of the Alliance under criteria passed by the Council of DAHR Representatives.
The Executive Presidium supports the associated organizations of the Alliance which do not represent political interests according to its financial possibilities.
The expenses for the activity in the interest of the Alliance of members of the Council of DAHR Representatives who are not senators or deputies are covered from the budget of the Alliance.

 

XXI. ABOUT CESSATION OF THE ALLIANCE

111.                     The Alliance ceases to exist if the specially convoked assembly of the Council of Mediation and the Council of DAHR Representatives decide about the cessation or merging with other organizations by a majority of two-thirds of the votes. Voting is nominal.

112.                     In case the Alliance ceases to exist, the Council of Mediation and the Council of DAHR Representatives dispose over its possessions in common.
If neither of the councils can be convened, a board of trustees consisting of the representatives of the Hungarian churches decides about the possessions of the Alliance. The board of trustees is obliged to expend those possessions on the maintenance of education in the mother-tongue, on promoting of Hungarian cultural traditions and on institutionalized social assistance.

 

XXII. ABOUT THE OFFICIALS' INCONSISTENCY CRITERIA

113.                     The officials' inconsistency criteria are as follows:

a.     The officials of the Alliance cannot occupy leading functions in political organizations not represented in the Council of DAHR Representatives;

b.    Cannot be member of the Council of DAHR Representatives:

c.     the President of the Alliance;

d.    the Honourary President;

e.     the Executive President;

f.      the members of the Executive Presidium (except the Executive President and the vice-president in charge with governmental questions) cannot be members of the parliamentary group and cannot be governmental officials at central level;

g.     members of the Supervisory Committee of the Statutes, of the Auditing Committee and of the Ethical and Disciplinary Committee, as well as their members at local/territorial level may not have any other functions in other institutions of the Alliance.

h.     the Executive President cannot be a governmental official at central level;

i.       former members of the Securitate cannot hold leading functions in the DAHR.

114.                     Inconsistencies should be resolved not later than a period of 30 days.
If the inconsistency is not resolved within 30 days, the official looses the function that creates the inconsistency.

 

XXIII. TEMPORARY DISPOSITIONS

115.                     The Parliamentary Group shall submit its statutes to the Council of DAHR Representatives for approval within 60 days from the Congress.

116.                     The territorial organizations, platforms and associated members shall make their statutes consistent with the present Statutes within 90 day from its passing and submit it to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes within 30 days. In case the statutes of these organizations lack statutory provisions in a certain question, the provisions of the Statutes of the Alliance shall be normative.

117.                     The platforms are obliged to submit the documents needed for their re-entrance to the Committee for the Supervision of the Statutes prior to the first meeting of the Council of DAHR Representatives.

118.                     The present mandate of the members of the Council of DAHR Representatives is valid until the first meeting of the Council of DAHR Representatives elected during the internal elections.

Adopted by the 6th Congress of the DAHR
Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda), 15–16 May 1999