By-laws are the set of rules under which the organisation will operate.

They typically include such items as (a) number of members, term length, nomination process, committees, and meetings; (b) fiscal year/accounting cycles, committees, and officers’ responsibilities; (c) methodologies, tools, and strategies, monitoring and evaluation etc.; and (d) how to amend the by-laws themselves.

Typical by-laws of a non-profit organisation will contain the following information:

• Preamble
• Organisation name and acronym
• Organisational logo
• Basic aim and purpose of organization
• Mission statement
• Functions
• Membership (types, conditions/qualifications of members, status,  procedure to become members, rights and obligations, termination)
• Advisory board (role and functions, qualifications of board members, authority, elections, members)
• Organisational structure
• Asset management (Finance and property, membership fees)
• Legal status
• Contact address
• Dissolution of the organisation
• Amendments, modifications, revisions of by-laws

Examples of governance documents:

• By-laws from A to Z

(This whole document from the Global Development Research Center is excellent, and we highlight the What are by laws)

By-laws are not public documents, but making them readily available increases your accountability and transparency and encourages your board to pay closer attention to them. Your board should review them regularly and amend them as your organization evolves.

Examples of Statutes and/or By-Laws of European Patient Federations:

• Alfa Europe, Statutes (in English)
• Debra International, Statutes (in English)
• EAMDA, Statutes (in English)
• Euro-Ataxia, Statutes (in English)
• European Chromosome 11 Network, Statutes  called Memorandum of Association (in English)
• European Haemophilia Consortium, Statutes (in English and French)
• Eurordis (By-Laws in English and French)
• Fabry International Network, Statutes (in English)
• FEWS, Federation of European Williams Syndrome, Statutes, here called Constitution (in English)
• IAPO, Statutes and By-Laws (in English)
• IPOPI Statutes, called Charter &  IPOPI By-laws, called Rules of Procedure (in English)
• OIFE, By-laws (English), pdf below.
• PHA Europe, Statutes (in German and English)