Permanent Mandates Commission > Rules of procedure

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Subject to the provisions contained in Article 3 of the present Rules, the Committee
may not receive depositions or consult international or national organisations, whether
public or private, or private persons. These may only send their complaints or observations
to the Committee through the intermediary of their respective Governments.
Article 2.
The Committee shall assemble in ordinary session once every two years, if necessary,
without prejudice to such extraordinary sessions as the Council of the League of Nations
may decide to convene.
The sessions shall be held at the seat of the League of Nations unless the Council fixes
some other place.
The date of the sessions shall be decided by the Chairman of the Committee and
communicated to the members of the Committee through the Secretariat of the League of
Nations.
Article 3.
The Committee consists of seven members appointed in pursuance of the Assembly
resolution of October 12th, 1932, interpreted by the Council’s decision of May 13lh, 1936.
The Committee shall avail itself of the technical assistance of the Secretariat of the
League of Nations ; it may also, in particular cases, consult native labour experts of the
International Labour Organisation.
Article 4.
At the beginning of each ordinary session, the Committee shall elect from among its
members, by secret ballot, a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. They shall hold office from
the opening of one ordinary session to the opening of the next ordinary session.
Article 5.
A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
The Committee shall take its decisions by a majority of the members present at the
meeting. In case of equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
Article 6.
The Chairman shall direct the work at the meetings, ensure that the provisions of the
Rules of Procedure are observed, and announce the results of ballots. He shall represent the
Committee in its relations with the organs of the League.
The Vice-Chairman shall take the place of the Chairman in the latter’s absence.
Article 7.
The secretariat of the Committee shall be provided by the Secretariat of the League
of Nations. It shall be responsible, inter alia, for :
(a) Receiving the documents sent to the League of Nations in virtue of Article 7
of the Slavery Convention of September 25th, 1926, and all other documents which the
Governments may transmit on subjects concerning slavery, and circulating such
documents to the members of the Committee;
(6) Collecting, for the use of the members of the Committee, information and
surveys published concerning slavery, and keeping the members of the Committee
constantly acquainted with the particulars thus collected ;
(c) Making a methodical classification of all documents and information ;
(d) Drawing up the Minutes of the Committee’s meetings and arranging for their
safe keeping.
Article 8.
The draft agenda for each session shall be prepared by the secretariat, submitted for
approval to the Chairman of the Committee and communicated to the members, together
with the notice convening the Committee, not less than six weeks before the date fixed for
the session.
The final agenda shall be adopted by a majority vote of the Committee at its first
meeting.
The Committee may decide, during the course of a session, by a two-thirds majority of
the members present, to add a question to its agenda or to modify the latter after its adoption.
Article 9.
During the discussion of any question, any member may move the previous question or
the adjournment. Any such motion/,sh?rh*'T^ve priority and shall be voted on without
discussion.
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