Printed for the General Cauncil by 
EDWARD TRUELOVE, 256, HIGH HOLBORN. 
1871. 

Title page of the English edition of the General Rules and Administrative 
Regulations of the International Working Men’s Association 

General Rules and Administrative Regulations of the I.W.M.A. 7 

transaction of business, such as a treasurer, a general secretary, 
corresponding secretaries for the different countries, etc. 

6. The General Council shall form an international agency 
between the different national and local groups of the Association, 
so that the working men in one country be constantly informed of 
the movements of their class in every other country: that an 
inquiry into the social state of the different countries of Europe be 
made simultaneously, and under a common direction’; that the 
questions of general interest mooted in one society be ventilated 
by all; and that when immediate practical steps should be 
needed—as, for instance, in case of international quarrels—the 
action of the associated societies be simultaneous and uniform. 
Whenever it seems opportune, the General Council shall take the 
initiative of proposals to be laid before the different national or 
local societies. To facilitate the communications, the General 
Council shall publish periodical reports. 

7. Since the success of the working men’s movement in each 
country cannot be secured but by the power of union and 
combination, while, on the other hand, the usefulness of the 
International General Council must greatly depend on the 
circumstance whether it has to deal with a few national centres of 
working men’s associations, or with a great number of small and 
disconnected local societies; the members of the International 
Association shall use their utmost efforts to combine the discon- 
nected working men’s societies of their respective countries into 
national bodies, represented by central national organs. It is 
self-understood, however, that the appliance of this rule will 
depend upon the peculiar laws of each country, and that, apart 
from legal obstacles, no independent local society shall be 
precluded from directly corresponding with the General Council. 

8. Every section has the right to appoint its own secretary 
corresponding with the General Council. 

9. Everybody who acknowledges and defends the principles of 
the International Working Men’s Association is eligible to become 
a member. Every branch is responsible for the integrity of the 
members it admits. 

10. Each member of the International Association, on removing 
his domicile from one country to another, will receive the fraternal 
support of the Associated Working Men. 

11. While united in a perpetual bond of fraternal co-operation, 

a4 The French edition has “in a common spirit”.— Ed. 

the working men’s societies joining the International Association 
will preserve their existent organizations intact. 

12. The present rules may be revised by each Congress, 
provided that two-thirds of the delegates present are in favour of 
such revision. 

13. Everything not provided for in the present rules will be 
supplied by special regulations, subject to the revision of every 
Congress.