# VII. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ## **7.1 General Assembly** The General Assembly meeting of the GFMD shall take place every year. ## **7.2 Sovereign body** The [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) is the sovereign body of the GFMD and brings together all [members](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/membership), as well as [partners and supporters](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/partners-supporters), provided that only general members have the right to vote at General Assembly meetings. The General Assembly: * Receives a report on GFMD activities of the [Steering Committee](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/steering-committee) and [Secretariat](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/gfmd-secretariat) and the activities of subcommittees * Approves annual financial report, including remuneration of members of the Executive Committee and the Steering Committee, the appointment of auditors or representatives and their fees, and the annual budget * Deals with appeals from decisions of the Steering Committee * Is the only body that has the power to amend this Constitution * Confirms the election of the members of the Steering Committee at the fourth annual [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) meeting to take place since the incumbent Steering Committee was elected ## **7.3 General Assembly meetings** The timing and programme of the [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) will be prepared by the [Steering Committee](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/steering-committee) in consultation with the GFMD membership and with support from the Secretariat. Notice of the timing and location of a [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) meeting will be provided to members, partners and supporters at least 60 days before the meeting. The programme for a [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) meeting will be circulated at least 14 days before the meeting and all general members will be able to comment on it. When a [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) occurs in a year when the [Steering Committee](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/steering-committee) is not up for election, the meeting will be held online. The [Chairperson](#7.1-general-assembly) shall chair the [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) meeting. The [Deputy Chairperson](https://files.gitbook.com/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MR5bhYBAByNiK9AJSoj%2Fuploads%2F6Tdo9lt6FirzSO7UOBSO%2FGFMD%20Statutes%20English%20version.pdf?alt=media\&token=b238562c-4ceb-4fc3-b7a4-492dadb2bbd4) chairs the General Assembly in the absence of the Chairperson. Meetings of the [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) require no attendance quorum and decisions are made by a simple majority of votes. ## **7.4 Attendance and participation** All general members have the right to attend and participate in the [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) meeting. When a [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) falls on a year when the [Steering Committee](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/steering-committee) is up for election, every effort shall be made to ensure that all interested general members are able to attend in person. When a [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) falls on a year when the Steering Committee is not up for election, provision shall be made for an online meeting to enable general members to participate and vote virtually. [Affiliate members](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/membership#4.3-affiliate-membership), [partners](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/partners-supporters#5.1-partners), [institutional and individual supporters](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/partners-supporters#5.2-institutional-supporters) shall be invited to attend and participate in any additional programming - conferences, meetings or other activities - that may take place around a [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) meeting but they are not able to take place in the functions of the General Assembly as outlined in this [Constitution](https://files.gitbook.com/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MR5bhYBAByNiK9AJSoj%2Fuploads%2F6Tdo9lt6FirzSO7UOBSO%2FGFMD%20Statutes%20English%20version.pdf?alt=media\&token=b238562c-4ceb-4fc3-b7a4-492dadb2bbd4). ## **7.5 Voting at General Assembly meetings** Where a matter is put to a vote at a [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly) meeting, unless otherwise provided for by this [Constitution](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution), each general member shall be entitled to one vote and the matter shall be decided by a simple majority vote. The above shall also apply to any matter which is appealed to the [General Assembly](#7.1-general-assembly). All decisions of the General Assembly are communicated to members through the [GFMD member-only mailing list](https://groups.io/g/gfmd-members).