SRZ Congress: the association's supreme body

In the hierarchy of Slovenský rybársky zväz the Congress is the supreme body and has the final say on key questions about where the organisation is heading. Its standing, powers and way of working are set out precisely in the statutes, and its decisions are binding on the whole structure of the association.

Frequency and convening

The ordinary Congress is held regularly once every 4 years. It is convened by Rada SRZ, and the date and agenda must be announced at least one month in advance. The statutes also cover extraordinary situations – if at least one third of the members of Rada SRZ or a majority of all member organisations so request, Rada SRZ must convene an extraordinary congress within 90 days.

Who makes up the Congress?

The Congress is not a meeting of all members; it works on the principle of delegation. It consists of:

1. Delegates: They are elected for a four-year term by the committees of the basic member organisations according to a set key, on the principle of parity representation.
2. Members of Rada SRZ: They take part in the Congress automatically.
3. Guests: They may be invited, but they have no voting rights.

For the Congress to be quorate, two thirds of the elected delegates must be present. Resolutions are then adopted by a simple majority of the delegates present (unless the statutes provide otherwise).

Main powers and tasks of the Congress

The Congress holds the most important powers over appointments, legislation and strategy:

• Election of the leadership: In a direct, separate vote it elects the association's two most senior officers for four years – the SRZ secretary and the SRZ president.
• Elective role: It elects delegates to Rada SRZ (32 members by region) and to the association's Audit Committee (8 members by region).
• Legislation and strategy: Only the Congress may debate the association's statutes and amend or supplement them. It also sets the main tasks for the association's activities and finances for the coming period.
• Oversight: It discusses and approves the report of Rada SRZ on its activities in the past period, as well as the summary report of the association's Audit Committee.
• Dissolution of the association: It is the only body that can decide to dissolve the association, and only by a three-fifths majority of all elected delegates.

The Congress is chaired by a presiding committee made up of the secretary, the president and elected delegates; to keep proceedings running smoothly it elects working committees (drafting, credentials and electoral).