By-Laws of The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS)
Adopted October 31, 2012 upon the recommendation of the Interim Steering Committee
Article One
The name of the Society is The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State, herein referred to as “The Society”.
Article Two
The Society was established on September 1, 2012, at a closed Conference of individuals and organizations in the City of Dublin. The Conference elected an interim steering committee to establish these by-laws and a framework for The Society. The said committee formally dissolved upon the adoption of these by-laws by the permanent Society.
Article Three
The Society is a confederation of organizations and members governed by an Annual Convention and a Directorate, and by the Society’s Founding Charter and Statement of Principles and Aims. (attached)
Article Four
The supreme governing and decision making body of The Society is a Directorate of nine people, including a President and a Secretary General. The Directorate has the authority to formulate and impose policy for The Society, hire and fire staff and appoint agents, raise funds for and administer The Society, conduct negotiations on behalf of The Society, and create, review and maintain affiliated bodies. The Directorate shall convene on the first weekend of every month either in person or through skype or other media. A quorum of five of the Directors is required at all of its meetings and must include both the President and the Secretary General.
Article Five
The Directorate shall establish an Operational Bureau consisting of three people to run the day to day operations of The Society. One of these people shall be the Secretary General of The Society who will administer a Central Office of The Society. The Operational Bureau shall have the full authority of the Directorate and the power to appoint, train, supervise and demote Field Secretaries, who shall organize the practical work of The Society in local communities.
Article Six
The Operational Bureau shall appoint five Field Secretaries who shall be responsible for organizing the daily work of the Society in the following respective areas: North America and Western Europe (Zone 1), Eastern Europe and Russia (Zone 2), Asia, Australia and the Pacific (Zone 3), Africa (Zone 4), and Latin America (Zone 5). The work and expenses of these Field Secretaries will be directly provided and monitored by the Bureau. The Field Secretaries shall have the authority to appoint and oversee local agents to act in the name of the Society.
Article Seven
The Central Office of The Society shall be based in the City of Brussels, and is operated and maintained by a central administrative staff under the supervision of the aforementioned Operational Bureau. The Bureau shall establish and maintain a Security Force of trained Marshals to protect and support the Society and its Directors, officers, Field Secretaries and employees, as well as witnesses, informants, and others working with the Society.
Article Eight
The activities of the Directorate are subject to the review of a General Convention of all organizations and individuals affiliated to The Society, to be held annually during the month of September. Members of the Directorate may be elected, re-elected, censured or removed directly by the Convention, or upon the unanimous advice of the Operational Bureau. Directors may only be removed by the Convention after a formal review process. All Directors, Officers, employees and agents of the Society and its affiliated bodies shall have full voice and vote at the General Convention.
Article Nine
The Directorate may establish affiliated bodies with the authority to act in the name of The Society.
Article Ten
The Directorate shall establish, no later than one year after its creation, an affiliated body known as The International Common Law Court of Justice, herein referred to as The Court.
Article Eleven
The Court shall consist of a Governing Council of five judicial officers who are trained in both the common and the civil law. The Council shall convene litigation and cases and recommend joint action to The Society, and will establish all of the protocols, personnel and procedures necessary for the operation of a public court of law.
Article Twelve
The Court shall operate according to the philosophy and norms of the Common Law, as well as the principles of due process, public trial by jury, habeas corpus and legal rules of procedure. The Court shall have universal jurisdiction over all matters involving both civil and criminal law.
Article Thirteen
The Court shall establish and maintain a Secretariat to organize the practical work of the Court, including operating an enforcement arm, a Records department, a Bailiffs and a Sheriffs’ office, and a detention centre. The Secretariat shall formally liase with the Operational Bureau of The Society through a Liason officer who will make monthly reports to the Bureau.
Article Fourteen
The Court shall operate according to a set of Rules and Procedures that shall be enunciated in a separate set of By Laws.
Article Fifteen
The Directorate of the Society shall establish and maintain relations with affiliated bodies, governments and other societies in any country in the world.
Article Sixteen
The Directorate of the Society shall issue an Annual Report that details the operations, finances, administration and perspectives of the Society. The Report will include a financial audit and a Summary from the Court and other affiliated bodies.
Article Seventeen
Neither the Society, the Court, any of its Directors, officers or agents, nor any affiliated body of the Society shall receive any funding or benefits from any government, sectarian or religious body or corporation.
Article Eighteen
These By-Laws may be amended by a unanimous vote of the delegates of the Society’s Annual Convention, and by the unanimous recommendation of the Directorate.